College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[The Poet]

Maybe the frost's not on the Halloween pumpkin where you are, but here in Joisey it's been snowing like a SOB for a few hours, with almost an inch on the ground already. So, speaking of pumpkins, the preseason NCAA basketball polls are out, with many of the expected usual suspects cited. The minor differences between the AP (Writers') and ESPN/USA Today (Coaches') polls are simple displacements amongst the same 25 teams, and since both are totally meaningless aside from bragging rights and predicted (read "guesswork") expectations, I'll use the AP to begin my breakdown. This will likely take a few days, but with a solid week+ before they actually toss up the first orange, we have time.

So, without further ado, let's start the countdown to lift-off with:

# 1 - North Carolina = With their talent, depth, size, and experience, it's little wonder my Tar Heels are seen as an overwhelming favorite to begin the season. Some believe they will be the last team standing when Spring's sprung. Ehhh, ask me what I think in March, thank you. Some think they shall go undefeated. Yeah, right. We'll not likely ever see that happen again, what with the way the college game has changed. Some assume they'll not only win the ACC outright, but go unbeaten in a weakened league. Even if I didn't know Duke and Florida State might have different ideas, I'd know they every other conference team already has certain dates circled on their calendars, and they will be up for those games. And this is even without considering stuff like injuries or bad nights, or outstanding nights by an opponent. Bottom line, let's see how they play first before we crown them champs. Still, it's better to be thought good than to be known crappy.

# 2 - Kentucky = Unlike in his first two years in Lexington, Calipari has some experience left from his top-star recruits, which is a good thing for Wildcat fans. Like his first two, Cal has a ton of new talent coming into the program, which is a good thing and a bad one. One never knows how quickly freshmen will adapt, or how their reps will translate into production. Yet with 3 of the top 5 recruits, it is unlikely all of them will be busts, even to the point that it's more likely all 3 will excell. We will know more when they get a dozen games under their belts, but I expect them to be a tough challenge to anyone.

# 3 - Ohio State = The Buckeyes probably have the best big man in the nation, and he's not the only good player on this team. (Last year I was especially impressed with what I saw from that Craft-y guard) And I have no problem seeing them contending for a Final Four again, or even taking it all. But aside from an early test hosting Florida (11/15) and a match against Dook 11/29, their schedule won't tell us much about them until Big Ten, Thirteen, Twenty-Seven, whatever, play begins in earnest. And if Sullinger goes down for any appreciable period of time, the bottom might drop out of their season, quick.

# 4 - Connecticut = There is little doubt that the Huskies were under-rated last season. There is little doubt in my mind that they are over-rated this one. Sure, they'll have a good team, and will compete in what appears to be a disintegrating Big East. But without Kemba Walker's heroics in both the conference and national tournaments, UConn would have struggled to win the NIT last year. They will be without those heroics all this year, and have already had a few problems with injured and ineligable players, not to mention the NCAA looking at their 25% graduation rate with the stinkeye. I could be wrong, but keep your eye on them too.

# 5 - Syracuse = The Orange have a fair amount of talent, but most of their bigs are young, which can be a bit of a problem. Plus, their "star" hoopster Scoop sort of fell off the face late last year, so who knows which one will show up this season? And, typically for Boeheim's teams, we my need a while to see what they really have, since their pre-January schedule has more cupcakes than a kid's birthday party. Their zone will win them a good number of games, but I can't see it keeping them in the Top 5 unless their freshman catch fire.

# 6 - Duke = Here too I think the ranking is more a function of the program's and the coach's rep than the reality I see. True, they got the No. 1 recruit in the nation with Austin Rivers, who's supposed to be the real deal. Yet that remains to be seen. Seth Curry is quite good as an outside threat, but he's not his big brother. Andre Dawkins is pretty good too, though not a game-changer. The Plumlees have shown only flashes, and usually against donut teams, while even Coach K says they look ready to make a big step up this year. OK, maybe, but at best that's damning with faint praise. Also, don't forget they lost LAST year's super-frosh Irving, plus key veteran Nolan Smith, plus some other guy namer Singler or something like that. I do expect the Blue Devils to be a tough out (they almost always are), but I would be surprised if they were not, eventually, an out nonetheless.

That's about a quarter of the field, and enough for one day anyway. I'll probably be back Monday afternoon with the next handful of teams receiving early props, properly or not. Please post any comments, questions, complaints, boasts, or public service announcements you wish. I welcome all and sundry. :tu

[kelmac07]

If Roy Williams get UNC playing like they were at the end of the season right out the gate...I don't see anyone touching them.

[The Poet]

If Roy Williams get UNC playing like they were at the end of the season right out the gate...I don't see anyone touching them.


My first reaction is to say "From your lips to God's ear, Mac." But I'll refrain, and merely say that I don't care if they get touched a bit, as long as they don't get slapped around. :r

I'm a bit fuzzy from two days without power, but I'll try to get a few more pre-season rankings in, beginning with:


# 7 - Vanderbilt = It's good to see some other SEC team foreseen to give UK a challenge, and it's even better as far as I'm concerned that it is a "quality" program like the Commodores. But I'm not yet convinced their frontcourt talent will be enough to carry them, at least on the road. In Nashville, however, on that funky elevated court of theirs, they will be tough.

# 8 - Florida = Though the Gators are not expected to be as good as their back-to-back team was, keep in mind that THAT team was not supposed to be as good as they turned out either. We know Donovan will have them ready to play . . . even though he didn't get them ready last year, at least early in the season. I don't expect he'll make the same mistake again.

# 9 - Louisville = Despite what Calipari believes, there's more than one team in Kentucky. I'm not much better a Pitino fan than I'm Cal's, but one must admit Rick knows his hoops. He likely won't be as distracted this year by off-the-court (or more precisely, in-court) issues, so I won't be surprised if they can make a little noise in the KFC/Yumi Crum Bucket. ;)

# 10 - Pittsburgh = Every year we seem to hear about how good the Panthers are, and how far they will go. Every year they have a nice season, then fall off the face of the earth when the chips are down. If they want to make their place in Big East history, they'd better do it soon, since they'll be moving to the ACC once they get all their bags packed and tickets punched. Me, I'll believe it when I see it, because I haven't seen it yet.

# 11 - Memphis = It is remarkable what a good job young Josh Pastner has done for the Tigers. Calipari robbed the cupboard bare when he fled to UK, yet Pastner managed to get his team back into the CUSA hunt by the end of last season. This year, they should be able to do what they are used to doing in conference play, and rule the roost.

# 12 - Baylor = Much like Vandy above, the Bears are supposed to have a superior frontcourt, which leads to this relatively high regard. Again, I have to say I want to see it first. It's not easy for a team that has little history of competing at a top level to be able to actually do so on the court night after night, and this is precisely the situation I see here. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it, but they will have to prove me wrong first.


This brings us about halfway through the Top 25, yet there are still some interesting teams to notice . . . including a few big names. I'll get back to those ASAP, but for now the fuzz in my brain has bugun to leak out my ears. Later, brothers.

[jcruse64]

Good reviews!!!!!

As much as I despise :D;) the "off-color" shades of blue, I agree with the rankings, and the Heels look to be VERY tough this season. And whether or not Dook has an off year, the Tobacco Road battles are NEVER settled merely on paper.

Looking forward to a good OVS season. Murray State has a new coach; it will be interesting to see how we do. Morehead should still be a VERY tough opponent, as will the Peay.

I'm also looking forward to SEC play, and how UK will stand against the Vols, Gators, Razorbacks, and Commodores. Nice on Vandy for the high, early ranking.


Toss it up, ref!!!!!!!

[The Poet]

Good reviews!!!!!

As much as I despise :D;) the "off-color" shades of blue, I agree with the rankings, and the Heels look to be VERY tough this season. And whether or not Dook has an off year, the Tobacco Road battles are NEVER settled merely on paper.

Looking forward to a good OVS season. Murray State has a new coach; it will be interesting to see how we do. Morehead should still be a VERY tough opponent, as will the Peay.

I'm also looking forward to SEC play, and how UK will stand against the Vols, Gators, Razorbacks, and Commodores. Nice on Vandy for the high, early ranking.


Toss it up, ref!!!!!!!


Though the Tar Heel bandwagon is sizable, I really don't want so many hopping on the tailgate that the front end loses steering. :r And you're of course right that the Blue Devils won't roll over when they see those North Carolina jerseys on the opposing bench.

As with most mid-majors, the OVC will be both interesting and unpredictable. In these leagues, the addition of one good player on one decent team can change the whole season, for everyone. Good luck to your Racers. I took a quick look at their schedule, and aside from the conference rivals you mention, I see four tough games outside the league: UAB, Dayton, Memphis, and Lipscomb. If MSU can take one or two of them, it will help their post-season odds.

The SEC should be dominated by UK, but they won't go unscathed. You can also throw The Tide into that mix. Lucky for the 'Cats, they only face them once, and that in Rupp.

More rankings to follow.

[The Poet]

We move into the backend of the Top 25 with a name normally seen much closer to the roof:


# 13 - Kansas = The Jayhawks have been bitten heavily of late by early withdrawals, and they've also had personal personnel problems to deal with too. Already a pair of players have been shut down for their first two exhibition games. Those are of course meaningless, but it's not a good sign. I feel confident Bill Self will do his best with what he has, and we'll see if they move up, or crash.

# 14 -Xavier = I have a lot of respect for the Musketeer program, and for the A-10 at large. They have a few good guards, and a few transfers from other schools to give them depth and experience. But to be among the top 15? With a suspension for their center Frease, and star guard Holloway sitting out their opener for a "violation"? In a league with Temple, Richmond, Duquesne, GW, RIU, St. Bonnies, UMass, La Salle, and Sts. Louis oad Joe's? Plus non-conference foes Georgia, Vandy, Purdue, Butler, Cincy, Zags, and Memphis on their plate? Hey, if they stay where they are in the polls, they with EARN it!

# 15 - Wisconsin = The Badgers will coast . . . well, plod, actually . . . through their first few weeks of cupcakes, but will get an early quiz when they visit Chapel Hill 11/30. Were I Bo Ryan, I might let PG Jordan Taylor wear sneakers for that one, but everybody else should be in Wolverines: If they try to run with the Heels, the game's already over. I can see the boys from Madison competing for the Big Seventy-Eight regular season witn OSU, the Michigan schools, and maybe Purdue, but I'll believe they'll be a national contender when it happens.

# 16 - Arizona = This sounds about right to me, with 'Zona being a Sweet Sixteen come March. If I remember correctly, the Desert 'Cats did a lot better last year than was expected, so they might even move up. This can occur with a team that's been there before, and though I don't much care for the program I am glad to see SOME Pac-47 teams get some respect. Speaking of which:

# 17 - UCLA = Remember these guys? I've been told they used to win a game or three from time to time. In a way, it's good to see them get at least partway back. In another way, I'm not so pleased. See, the joke around my alma mater is that the Blue-and-Gold is Carolina Lite, what with the Wear twins getting back on the court this year, and He-Whose-Name-Will-Not-Be-Mentioned maybe playing for the Bruins next year . . . MAYBE, if he plays well enough to get off the bench, and if he doesn't go crying home to Mommie once again. As with those other fuzzy creatures above, the Badgers, I can see UCLA competing in conference, though maybe not outside of it. And maybe not even that, when you consider that they have NO HOME GAMES this year: Pauley is closed for renovations, and not only will John Wooden not be in the stands, his name won't be on the court as well.

# 18 - Michigan = These guys started off like crap last year, and turned it around to get up as high as decent. To tell you the truth, I don't know which team will show up this season, and I'm not sure anybody will until the dust clears next spring. The Logans haven't scheduled much out-of-conference (Memphis, UVA, Bradley being the only potential non-pastry squads), so we may not know much at all until league play is well under way. For some reason, I see them going down instead of moving up, but as I said, who knows?


That's about all I can handle for one day, and I wanna go out and have a short smoke before the sun goes down. Pipe up and pipe in, brothers, and I'll be back later.

[The Poet]

OK, let's see if I can finish off this Top 25 list, plus maybe mention the best of the rest:


# 19 - Alabama = I'm not exactly sure where this optimism comes from. Yes, the Tide won the Western Division of the SEC last year, but half the teams in the Eastern half could have done so, and that only got them into the NIT. They haven't made the NCAAs in about 5 prior tries. They have only one senior and two juniors, and even with 2 foreign 7-footers on the squad (both sophs) they are considered small down low. Well, more power to them if they can make some noise, but they are still a football school, so don't expect them to stick around after the first month or two.

# 20 - Texas A&M = But the Aggies might be for real. They surprised a lot of people last year, and they have a lot of experience returning. Their biggest problem early may be a factor of the fact that their new coach Billy Kennedy (Joe's old buddy from Murray State) has benched himself due to illness: Parkinson's, which is no minor issue. If this does not distract the team too much, they may not only stick around, but also move up.

# 21 - Cincinnati = The Bearcats had a winning season in the tough Big East last year (11-7), which isn't an easy task. They have a nice balance of both experience and youth, and backcourt/frontcourt players. They may not compete for the top of their disintegrating conference, but they will come to play every night, and will most likely earn an at-large come March.

# 22 - Marquette = The Golden Eagles did NOT have a winning Big East season, going 9-9, but they won a few big games and shocked a few people. They might do so again this year, yet the problem I see is a lack of depth. Their official roster lists only 12 players, so a few key injuries could send them off the rails quickly. If they can avoid this, and maybe get a couple decent walk-ons (at least to practice against), they should be OK. However, I'm not sure they'll be OK enough.

# 23 - Gonzaga = Mark Few's crew had a see-saw season, and barely saved their well-earned rep before their year ended. I have enough respect for the coach and the program to give them the benefit of the doubt, at least for one more go-around, unless they prove me wrong. Still, their biggest problem has always been hubris: They always think they are much better than they actually are. Every year they whine that they don't get the respect they deserve, and brag they have the best guard, the best forward, the best whatever in the nation. And nearly every year they have a great regular season, then fall on their face in March because they DON'T. Until they can actually pull off a Butler or a George Mason or two, I'd expect the same from them.

# 24 - California = The Golden Bears had a "meh" season in the equally "meh" Pac-47 last year . . . which was a bit of a shock. According to them anyway, they have the most experience in the conference, and more depth than they did a year ago, which could put them above the "meh" mark in the league. It remains to be seen what that will mean on the national scale. As with many others, I'll believe it when I see it.

# 25 - Missouri = The Tigers make the 4th team from the Big-12 ranked in the polls, but none of them are foreseen to be a Top 10 squad. This may mean Missou has a shot as the conference champ, yet they may be more a factor of the league's slippage than this team's quality. We won't know that until conference play is nigh well over, as I see it. And we might not learn much early about this team, for all the "quality" opponents they face in the first few weeks . . . Notre Dame, Villanova, William&Mary, Illinois, and ODU . . . are not expected to be world-beaters. Aslo, I see a potential problem in their new head coach, Frank Haith. Shoot, if he couldn't get 'er done in Miami, what makes you think he can do it there?


There are a number of name-brand also-rans who got some votes too. Missouri made the cut with 139 AP points, and here's the best of the rest coming in between 131 and 21 each:

Florida State = They WILL move up.

Michigan State = They will to, of Izzo has to suit up himself.

Temple = By the time the tough A-10 gets rolling, so shall the Owls.

Washington = The last few years they got more respect than they deserved. This year, they likely got the right amount.

New Mexico = I am interested to see if this team can perform as well as they did last season. Other than that . . . ? ? ?

Butler = Hey, you really didn't think these guys could stick around forever, did you? Still, they surprised me last year, so do't give up on them yet.

Texas = What happened, did Rick Barnes not land a bunch of top one-and-dones again? Did Calipari steal them all away? :r


You may have noticed a few names you're used to seeing missing from the above. These include Villanova, Purdue, Belmont, WVA, and Illinois, all of whom have had success in the past, and all of whom got a little love from the voters. Perhaps more of a shock are several that got no points at all, most notably names like Georgetown, Maryland, and Kansas State. I'd espect a few of these handful to make a move upwards before the season ends, as I can't believe they all will suck. But I guess that's why they play the games . . . and it can't start soon enough to suit me.


Jump in anytime you wish with your comments, complaints, cheers, or whatever crap you want.

[The Poet]

Hey, believe it or not, I actually have a score worth reporting. True, it was just an exhibition game, but under the circumstances it is interesting:


Northern State 53 - Butler 50 = The national runner-up for the past two seasons shot under 40% for the night, and this Division II team from South Dakota made them pay for it. The Bulldogs did have a 50-41 lead with 4 1/2 left, but didn't score again. Meanwhile their opponent managed 9 whole points during the vast majority of that remaining time, which is a point every 30 seconds for you math-challenged, then hit a 3 at the buzzer to cap their 12-0 run and steal the victory. Nobody knows what a team can develop into through the course of a year, but if this is any true indication it might be a loooooong one for the Butler faithful.

[jcruse64]

Though the Tar Heel bandwagon is sizable, I really don't want so many hopping on the tailgate that the front end loses steering. :r And you're of course right that the Blue Devils won't roll over when they see those North Carolina jerseys on the opposing bench.


Don't worry, I'll be out on the road in front, digging potholes for the powder-blue bandwagon to get lost in...:r-(P:hy


Also looking forward to see what happens in the Big East, and am wondering just how Big it will be in the near future.

Saw on FoxSports.com that the NCAA has been compared to the mafia. The next story noted that it was a bad comparison, as the mafia did not mind getting their hands dirty when needed, which is quite the opposite of the NCAA. I think I can't get more disgusted with the NCAA, and then I see the story on the stipends. The kids ought to have their own "Occupy" movement, lay down the gameball, and organize their own league.

[The Poet]

Don't worry, I'll be out on the road in front, digging potholes for the powder-blue bandwagon to get lost in...:r-(P:hy


Also looking forward to see what happens in the Big East, and am wondering just how Big it will be in the near future.

Saw on FoxSports.com that the NCAA has been compared to the mafia. The next story noted that it was a bad comparison, as the mafia did not mind getting their hands dirty when needed, which is quite the opposite of the NCAA. I think I can't get more disgusted with the NCAA, and then I see the story on the stipends. The kids ought to have their own "Occupy" movement, lay down the gameball, and organize their own league.


Do what you need to do, Joe, but remember we have enough tar to patch most holes you'll dig. And if you don't want to call it what it is, Carolina-blue, you could at least call it what inspired it . . . sky-blue. I'll not bore you with the legend unless you ask for it.

Though I have some sympathy for the Big East fans, I have none for the league. They formed themselves by robbing other leagues in order to grab a slice of newly-minted (read ESPN) basketball money, and signed their own DNR papers when they gave short-shrift to football, baseball, track, fencing, tennis, whatever other sports constitute a REAL conference. I think they will survive in some way or another by again robbing other leagues . . . which would bother me less if they did not whine so much about their OWN league being robbed. Live by the sword, etc.

I saw that report about some politician (from Indiana, I believe) calling the NCAA a Mafia, but as it was a politician I did what I normally do . . . I ignored it. I have no interest in what any of them think, and no faith in their ability to hold a valid opinion on any topic. I also am reluctant to get into any long discussion about the pros and cons of the NCAA, and shall limit myself to confessing I am NOT one of those who hate the organization, and admitting I prefer rules to the lawlessness of the Wild Wild Midwest. :r

[The Poet]

Here are two more exhibition-game scores I found interesting:


# 18 Michigan 47 - Wayne State 39 = Yes, this is a basketball score, not a football one. The Wolverines struggled with their shots in Ann Arbor, hitting 5-24 from three-point-range, and seemed reluctant to push the ball down low against a smaller team. This is not a good sign, but they did survive a meaningless game, unlike . . .

Northern Kentucky 77 - West Virginia 74 = In Morgantown, the unranked but respected Mountaineers dropped a close one to this Division II program. Perhaps they can file another lawsuit, and get the unfavorable outcome overturned in court. :r

[jcruse64]

Good Grief!!! A win is a win, but WOW!

Yeah, I know you'll tar the holes....it's too early to say anything for sure, but UK will likely have its hands full with the 'Heels this time.

On the NCAA, yeah, it could be debated for pages. Not sure I prefer their rules though. There is SO much money in football and basketball now, and all on the backs of the students playing these games. I cringe to see high school games shown on The Worldwide Leader; just more money and opportunity for shenanigans.

[BryanB]

Hopefully it will be an up year for the ACC. Of coarse the top dogs will be good but hopefully FSU and Miami will step up.
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[The Poet]

Good Grief!!! A win is a win, but WOW!

Yeah, I know you'll tar the holes....it's too early to say anything for sure, but UK will likely have its hands full with the 'Heels this time.

On the NCAA, yeah, it could be debated for pages. Not sure I prefer their rules though. There is SO much money in football and basketball now, and all on the backs of the students playing these games. I cringe to see high school games shown on The Worldwide Leader; just more money and opportunity for shenanigans.

A) - Wow, indeed. The Logans need to show some claws once the season starts, or you can scratch them off.

B) - If the Wildcat freshman live up to their hype, that #1/#2 matchup will be a toss-up war.

C) - Shenanigans aside, I find too many people confused by the "big money" question in college athletics. True, some schools make money on football and basketball, but many just break even. And what "profit" schools make from the sports that generate revenue is normally spent, and then some, on other athletic programs. What school makes money on fencing, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, track and field, tennis, field hockey, or even soccer and baseball? If "profits" from hoops and the gridiron are funnelled elsewhere, the only two options schools are left with are to either cut non-generating sports or raise student fees. I don't like either of those choices.

Hopefully it will be an up year for the ACC. Of coarse the top dogs will be good but hopefully FSU and Miami will step up.
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Aside from UNC, Duke, and maybe Florida State, I can't see many other ACC teams making much noise, sad to say. I do think maybe three more earning at-large bids come March, yet I'd be surprised (pleasantly) were any of them to survive for the second weekend. Next year may be different however, as the Wolfpack has managed to scarf up several top-notch recruits. :tu


Though the action does not kick off in earnest until Friday, there are a few REAL games slated tonight:


Willaim & Mary vs. St. John's = This could be one hell of a game. Wm.&Mary has a decent mid-major program, and the Johnnies are already facing some "personnel" problems which might retard the progress they made last year.

Eastern Kentucky vs. Mississippi State = And this might be decent too. The Colonels are not total cookies, and the Bulldogs are facing some "personnel" problems of their own.

Valparaiso vs. # 16 Arizona = Valpo's day in the sun has long set, so despite my reservations about the Desert 'Cats I can't see this one lasting more than a half. But if it does, the rest of the Pac-63 may take heart. :D


That's not a lot, but it's more action than you'll see in the NBA tonight. :r So pull up a chair, pull on a beer, and enjoy.

[The Poet]

I'm not feeling all that good about my first predictions, though looking deeper I guess they weren't that bad:


St. John's 74 - William & Mary 59 = The final was not the great game I thought it could be, but note that Wm&M had a 33-26 lead at the half. Maybe during the break they went out and grabbed a few Nathan's dogs, which slowed them down in the second frame.

Mississippi State 76 - Eastern Kentucky 66 = And note that I never said the Colonels would beat the 'Dogs on their own court. I just said it could be decent. A 10-point margin is within MY margin of decency.

# 16 Arizona 73 - Valparaiso 64 = But in this case, a margin under 10 is indecent. Fact is, 'Zona only had a 32-30 halftime bulge. If the Desert 'Cats are supposed to be amongst the elite on the Left Coast, this might just be another season when they are largely left out come March.


There is no action tonight, and damn little tomorrow. I'll get into that then, and maybe even get a jump on the monstrous long list come Friday.

No action tonight, and not much tomorrow either.

[The Poet]

Tonight's there's four games on tap, which look to be easy wins for the home teams. Yet looks can be deceiving, and I'd expect one or two of these to be nail-biters with 5 minutes left. So, who's visiting who this evening? Well, it's:


Akron vs. Mississippi State = The Zips had a really good mid-majors campaign last year, and the Bulldogs are . . . the Bulldogs, and not the Butler ones. I'd expect MSU to pull it off, as they have better talent and home court, but it won't be a cakewalk.

Lehigh vs. St. John's = And the Mountain Hawks flew pretty high too last year, so I figure they can at least keep it fairly respectable in the Louie Bowl. A road win? No. A road embarrassment? Also, no.

Liberty vs. # 16 Texas A&M = Though they too were OK last year, I can't see the Flames hanging for long with the Aggies, save by the grace of a fundamentalist God on their side. ( :D ) It's my guess those young Christians will go down in flames.

Duquesne vs. # 16 Arizona = And it's about the same story here. The Dukes will need a good amount of help from the Desert 'Cats to steal a victory, though they are capable of taking advantage of this situation, were it to occur. It will probably be a 10+ final margin, but there could be some anxious moments in Tucson before it's done.


There's still no marquee match-ups here, as one might expect this early in the season. Truth be told, there are only a handful of them coming up on a loaded Veteran's Day of action Friday. But like the Third Army, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Until then then . . . enjoy.

[Mutombo]

We move into the backend of the Top 25 with a name normally seen much closer to the roof:


# 16 - Arizona = This sounds about right to me, with 'Zona being a Sweet Sixteen come March. If I remember correctly, the Desert 'Cats did a lot better last year than was expected, so they might even move up. This can occur with a team that's been there before, and though I don't much care for the program I am glad to see SOME Pac-47 teams get some respect. Speaking of which:

# 17 - UCLA = Remember these guys? I've been told they used to win a game or three from time to time. In a way, it's good to see them get at least partway back. In another way, I'm not so pleased. See, the joke around my alma mater is that the Blue-and-Gold is Carolina Lite, what with the Wear twins getting back on the court this year, and He-Whose-Name-Will-Not-Be-Mentioned maybe playing for the Bruins next year . . . MAYBE, if he plays well enough to get off the bench, and if he doesn't go crying home to Mommie once again. As with those other fuzzy creatures above, the Badgers, I can see UCLA competing in conference, though maybe not outside of it. And maybe not even that, when you consider that they have NO HOME GAMES this year: Pauley is closed for renovations, and not only will John Wooden not be in the stands, his name won't be on the court as well.


That's about all I can handle for one day, and I wanna go out and have a short smoke before the sun goes down. Pipe up and pipe in, brothers, and I'll be back later.

Huge UCLA fan here...

Funny seeing your take on the UNC transfers to the Bruins. I think most fans view taking Drew II as a mixed bag...his attitude problems are well documented (as well as his overbearing mother), but so far the Wears are getting pretty good reviews. David looks to be playing a lot of time at the 3 this year since our frontcourt is so loaded, the major question is whether or not he can guard the position. And Howland absolutely LOVES the Wears.

The game plan is going to be simple this year...feed the bigs. Josh Smith looks about the same weight as last year, which isn't good since he's probably at least 50 lbs over where he should be. However, even at 365 lbs (or whatever he is) I don't think there are many players in the country that can stop him if he can stay out of foul trouble. He went for 26 pts (on 14 of 18 free throw shooting) in our first exhibition win over the weekend.

Regarding Arizona...I think they are going to miss Derrick Williams A LOT. I've seen both their exhibitions and the opener against Valpo..they really don't have a guy outside of the freshman Nick Johnson who seems like he wants the ball in his hands. I see them losing a lot of games early but getting better by the end of the season as the freshmen gain more experience. Keep in mind, they've already lost to Division 2 Seattle Pacific in their opening exhibition game.

I think Cal or Washington will be challenging UCLA for the Pac 12 title this year, not Arizona.

Good thread, I'll definitely be following.

[The Poet]

Huge UCLA fan here...

Funny seeing your take on the UNC transfers to the Bruins. I think most fans view taking Drew II as a mixed bag...his attitude problems are well documented (as well as his overbearing mother), but so far the Wears are getting pretty good reviews. David looks to be playing a lot of time at the 3 this year since our frontcourt is so loaded, the major question is whether or not he can guard the position. And Howland absolutely LOVES the Wears.

The game plan is going to be simple this year...feed the bigs. Josh Smith looks about the same weight as last year, which isn't good since he's probably at least 50 lbs over where he should be. However, even at 365 lbs (or whatever he is) I don't think there are many players in the country that can stop him if he can stay out of foul trouble. He went for 26 pts (on 14 of 18 free throw shooting) in our first exhibition win over the weekend.

Regarding Arizona...I think they are going to miss Derrick Williams A LOT. I've seen both their exhibitions and the opener against Valpo..they really don't have a guy outside of the freshman Nick Johnson who seems like he wants the ball in his hands. I see them losing a lot of games early but getting better by the end of the season as the freshmen gain more experience. Keep in mind, they've already lost to Division 2 Seattle Pacific in their opening exhibition game.

I think Cal or Washington will be challenging UCLA for the Pac 12 title this year, not Arizona.

Good thread, I'll definitely be following.


I myself would like to see the Bruins get back to, at least, relevance, though I don't desire (nor anticipate) their long-gone dominance occurring again. As for the "Carolina Lite" observation, let me say this: I had little problem with the Wear twins leaving UNC. I thought it put last year's squad in a bind, what with them being thin down low, but if they felt Chapel Hill was not right for them, they were right. We don't want players who aren't happy to be there. And even though their departure was a surprise, they at least waited until the end of the season before they sprung the news. However, when it comes to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, to split in the middle of a campaign, in his junior year, solely because he lost his job to a better player, and felt he hadn't received the respect he hadn't earned on the court, and because he allowed his parents to tweet and chirp about how great he was . . . well, that's just wrong on many levels.

Unless both his attitude and his game changes a lot, I can't see him being more than a back-up for UCLA next year. His problems at Carolina were that he played east-west, not north-south, which killed the secondary break, and he was reluctant to make the pass to the scorers, which meant they got it too late to take advantage of position before the defense recovered. He-Who-Etc. was a game-changer . . . for the opposition.

I also think Smith will be your key post-player, and if the Wears can be "Plumlee-like" subs for 15-20 minutes a game each, you should be OK. And I also think Arizona might struggle some, and would not be shocked if they fell out of the rankings for a while.

Regular update ASAP.

[The Poet]

Last night's games went pretty much as I anticipated, with one minor surprise:


# 16 Arizona 67 - Duquesne 59 = The Desert 'Cats had about all they wanted from the Dukes, and maybe a bit more. I'll stick with their 16th rank for now (though it may NOT stick with them :D ) because I think they will improve. Still, it gives one pause.

# 20 Texas A&M 81 - Liberty 59 = And like I thought, the Flames went down in them, lacking the size and talent to bring a cropper to the Aggies.

St. John's 78 - Lehigh 73 = It took a late run by the Red(men)Storm to edge the Mountain Hawks, even with the inspiration (or distraction) of Steve Lavin's return to courtside following his prostate-cancer surgery. I said Lehigh would not win, but would acquit themselves respectfully. They did so.

Akron 68 - Mississippi State 58 = Had I the stones, and had it been later in the season, giving me more info to go on, I may have called for the "upset" here. I hedged my bet by saying it would be no cakewalk, yet felt that the homecourt should give the Bulldogs a boost over the Zips. And maybe it did, though not enough of one. Nobody expected MSU to be amongst the class of the SEC, yet this could be a sign that the conference is very top-heavy . . . again.



There are no games this evening, but with all the action slated for Friday I might be back with some early previews, just to get a jump on it. Either way, I'll be back soon.

[The Poet]

Let me start on Friday's full schedule with the "ranked" games, though most of those shall be just that . . . rank. There should be a few exceptions however, including:


# 1 North Carolina vs. Michigan State = They are calling this the Carrier Classic, even though San Diego is a long way from Syracuse. But this Veteran's Day celebration will be played on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, with most of the spectators being military personnel, from CoC POTUS to lowly seamen (insert your favorite Clinton joke here). I'd expect my Tar Heels to win, but I'd also expect the Spartans to play much better than they did in that 2009 championship blowout in Detroit. Though the Spartans may be a bit down this year, you know Tom Izzo will have them ready to play . . . as I hope Roy Williams shall the Heels. In a strange venue like this, with odd sigthlines on a temporary court, anybody can have a cold night, so for that reason alone this could be tighter than the experts predict. That won't be the case with ;

# 2 Kentucky vs. Marist = The Wildcat faithful won't be leaving Rupp early, but there will be little reason for them to stay.

# 3 Ohio State va. Wright State = I have the feeling this may be a game for a half or so, but the Buckeyes will pull away by double-double-digits before the horn.

# 4 U Conn vs. Columbia = The Huskies will win the game, but the Lions will graduate, then get their revenge when they refuse to hire drop-outs from Storrs. :r

# 6 Duke vs. Belmont = An in-state scrimmage at Cameron for the Blue Devils.

# 7 Vanderbilt vs. Oregon = Hmmm. This one could actually be OK for a while. Though I'd like to think the Commodores are good enough to compete with UK in the SEC, I need to see it first. And though I don't see the Ducks being a PAC-12 power, they aren't total cupcakes either. As it's on that funky floating court in Nashville, give another edge to the more-talented Music City Robber-Barons . . . though I don't know why they're tipping off at 10 PM. :confused:

# 8 Florida vs. Jackson State = The first half may be a bit sweaty for the Gators, but they'll be chillin' before it over.

# 9 Louisville vs. Tenn-Martin = I'm not sure Pitino's got a Top Ten team, but they won't have a problem in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket here.

# 10 Pittsburgh vs. Albany = The Panthers don't lose games like this, and will roll.

# 12 Baylor vs. Texas Southern = Another in-state scrimmage.

# 13 Kansas vs. Towson = Please. The Jayhawks may be down, but not this far. It's over by halftime.

# 14 Xavier vs. Morgan State = I like the X-Men, but I'm not sure they are THIS good. However, they are good enough to romp here.

# 17 UCLA vs. Loyola Marymount = We will learn little here about the Bruins, as LMU can't score all game what they used to do in a half. This should be ugly.

# 18 Michigan vs. Ferris State = Though maybe not as ugly as this one. Ferris State? In Ann Arbor? I thought the exhibition season was over!

# 19 Alabama vs. North Florida = As with all but 3 or 4 SEC schools, I have reservations about the league. Still, the Tide ought to survive this one with few problems.

# 22 Marquette vs. Mount St. Mary's = Two storied programs here, yet the ending will only be happy for the Golden Eagles.

# 23 Gonzaga vs. Eastern Washington = The Zags had a slow start last year, and Mark Few has likely pounded that into this squad. This may last a half or so, but no longer.

# 24 California vs. UC Irvine = Still one more of those local scrimmages.

# 25 Missouri vs. SE Missouri State = And again. Unless you're a Tiger, don't even check the score.


I'll look tomorrow to see if I spot any other interesting games. Well, truth be told, I already have seen a few. But until then then, that's it for now.

[Mutombo]

I myself would like to see the Bruins get back to, at least, relevance, though I don't desire (nor anticipate) their long-gone dominance occurring again. As for the "Carolina Lite" observation, let me say this: I had little problem with the Wear twins leaving UNC. I thought it put last year's squad in a bind, what with them being thin down low, but if they felt Chapel Hill was not right for them, they were right. We don't want players who aren't happy to be there. And even though their departure was a surprise, they at least waited until the end of the season before they sprung the news. However, when it comes to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, to split in the middle of a campaign, in his junior year, solely because he lost his job to a better player, and felt he hadn't received the respect he hadn't earned on the court, and because he allowed his parents to tweet and chirp about how great he was . . . well, that's just wrong on many levels.

Unless both his attitude and his game changes a lot, I can't see him being more than a back-up for UCLA next year. His problems at Carolina were that he played east-west, not north-south, which killed the secondary break, and he was reluctant to make the pass to the scorers, which meant they got it too late to take advantage of position before the defense recovered. He-Who-Etc. was a game-changer . . . for the opposition.

I also think Smith will be your key post-player, and if the Wears can be "Plumlee-like" subs for 15-20 minutes a game each, you should be OK. And I also think Arizona might struggle some, and would not be shocked if they fell out of the rankings for a while.

Regular update ASAP.

I agree, the way Drew left UNC raises a lot of red flags. A lot of UCLA fans said that we shouldn't have taken him just because of the way he handled his departure from UNC.

I expect him to be the primary backup next year behind incoming freshman Kyle Anderson. Drew is the only pure PG on the roster, so he's bound to play a pretty large role in the backcourt. I think he will be better in Howland's half court offense than he was in Roy's fast break offense, though.

[The Poet]

I agree, the way Drew left UNC raises a lot of red flags. A lot of UCLA fans said that we shouldn't have taken him just because of the way he handled his departure from UNC.

I expect him to be the primary backup next year behind incoming freshman Kyle Anderson. Drew is the only pure PG on the roster, so he's bound to play a pretty large role in the backcourt. I think he will be better in Howland's half court offense than he was in Roy's fast break offense, though.


Yes, He-Who-Etc. may do better in a half-court game, IF he gives up the ball to the right scorer at the right time. He was inconsistent at Carolina, however. One can give him a pass on his freshman year, as he understandably got little time playing behind Ty Lawson. In his other 1 1/2 seasons, he'd have one good game (say, 20 pts., 7 assts.), one "meh" game (8 and 5 with 4 TOs), and one stinker (4 and 3, and 7 TOs). At UNC, we don't expect the PG to score, but the rest just did not cut it. That, along with both his and his parents attitudes that his struggles was Roy's fault, not his, and that this was preventing him from becoming a superstar lottery pick, was the reason he lost his starting position to Kendall Marshall. It is likely also the main reason Harrison Barnes had such a slow start offensively at Chapel Hill. He-Who would NOT pass Barnes the ball, maybe thinking that would dim He-Who's light in contrast. Kendall had no such delusions, and accepted the team concept, so subsequently Barnes' game exploded in the second half of the season.

Update soon.

[The Poet]

There are already a few scores from early games today, but in contests that mean little to any but their fans. Speaking for myself, I find these "unranked" games notable, for one reason or another:


Arizona State vs. Montana State = In progress, with the Sun Devils holding a slim margin midway thru the first. I'd expect them to hold it throughout, and my interest stems from the fact that I consider Herb Sendek to be amongst the nation's most under-rated coaches.

Eastern Illinois vs. Indiana State = Without knowing who has what this year, I'd still think this could be competitive.

Northeastern vs. Boston U. = Same here.

Fairfield vs. Quinnipiac = Ditto.

N. C. Asheville vs. N. C. State = Maybe not so much this one, but Asheville is NOT a total cupcake, while the Wolfpack needs its new coach to do more with their talent than Sidney Lowe managed. I want to see how Jerry's (Col. Kurtz) boys do.

Rider vs. Robert Morris = Could be another competitive match-up.

Cornell vs. St. Bonaventure = Here too.

Villanova vs. Monmouth = By reputation alone, one would expect the Philly 'Cats to mop their homecourt with the Hawks' pinions. But 'Nova's supposed to be down some this year, and one of my boys, King Rice, begins his head-coaching career at Monmouth here (with 2 of his Tar Heel teammates on the bench with him), so I'll keep an eye on this.

Florida State vs. Jacksonville = The Semiholes are slated as the third-best team in the ACC. And if I recall rightly, the Dolphins had a few good wins last year, and have a nice balance of experience and youth on the roster. If FSU struggles tonight, this could be closer than you'd think. If it's a blow-out, the experts may be correct.

Rhode Island vs. George Mason = Here is another potential toss-up.

Wofford vs. Georgia = Much like the FSU/J'ville game, this is one the pundits might overlook. thinking that Bulldogs can easily handle Terriers. But Georgia is a middlin' SEC basketball power, while Wofford has earned NCAA bids the past 2 years. Muddying the waters more, both teams are rebuilding after numerous key losses from last year's squads. This intrigues me.

Murray State vs. Harris Stowe = This does not ( :r ), as Joe's Racers should romp, but he'd never forgive me if I did not mention this one. ;)

Oral Roberts vs. West Virginia = Normally I'd not think the Golden Eagles could give the Mountaineers much of a game, and maybe they won't. But WVU is supposed to be down this season, so I want to see what they have.

Army vs. Air Force // Citadel vs. VMI = I lump these two together because they are, along with the UNC/MSU Carrier game, part of the Veteran's Day lineup of games. Aside from that (which is reason sufficient enough in itself), the contests may be close, but nobody will much care. :D


That's it for now. If I missed your school, feel free to pipe up with your take. Until later then . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

Just a quick FYI or four:

Arizona St. holds a 10-point lead with under 3 to play, while both the Eastern Ill/Indy St. and Northeastern/BU games are 1 or 2 possession ones midway thru the 2nd . . . as I predicted.

Also, I took a quick look at Saturday's games, and it ain't much, so I'll wait until tomorrow afternoon to post on those.

[The Poet]

After blowing most of a double-digit lead, the Sun Devils hold on for a 78-72 victory. Montana State scored 21 in the 1st half, and 51 in the 2nd.

Northeastern opens up by 11 over BU with 4 1/2 left. BU has only tallied only 19 in the 2nd so far.

EI/IS still anybody's with 3 1/2 left.

[jcruse64]

Come in there, buddy!!!! Go Racers :D:r

UNC had a tight 1st half, but are opening up a can of Whoop Ass in the 2nd. Very cool venue for a game, too.

[Mutombo]

Ouch, embarrassing loss by UCLA!

[The Poet]

Come in there, buddy!!!! Go Racers :D:r

UNC had a tight 1st half, but are opening up a can of Whoop Ass in the 2nd. Very cool venue for a game, too.

Yeah, a great win over perennial powerhouse Harris Stowe, brother! :r

UNC/MSU comment follows. :tu

Ouch, embarrassing loss by UCLA!


Considering this was NOT the LM of Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, I must agree. More in my regular update . . . if my customers leave me alone enough to do it. :D

[jcruse64]

Yeah, a great win over perennial powerhouse Harris Stowe, brother! :r :D

-(P:D:r

[The Poet]

This early in the season, too many games are blowouts against cupcakes. As these interest me little, I'll stick to those scores that do:


# 1 North Carolina 67 - Michigan State 55 = As Joe noted, one big run by UNC made the difference in this game. That, and maybe the work of Carolina's new Secretary of Defense (with apologies to Dudley Bradley) in front of his two Commanders-in-Chief. John Henson had 9 blocks, which was key considering that, as expected for such a cool yet funky venue, the outside shooting was atrocious for both teams. Kudos to an outmatched Spartan squad for hanging tough, and cutting a 21-point bulge to 10 late in the game.

Loyola Marymount 69 - # 17 UCLA 58 = Much to Justin's dismay, this was the big upset of the evening. I think the Bruins can regroup and recover before PAC-12 play begins, but Howland may have more of a job on his hands than he thought likely.

# 6 Duke 77 - Belmont 76 = This was almost the biggest upset, however. Yeah, I know Belmont has played good "giant-killer" games before, and I know I expressed grave doubts about Dook's high ranking, considering what they've lost off their team over the past two seasons. And yes, it is early. But a squeaker, in Cameron with 9000 Crazies in the stands, with The Captain chasing The Genreal's record? It gives one pause. A win is a win? Cold comfort in Durham, I imagine.

# 4 UConn 70 - Columbia 57 = And this one in Storrs, as the Huskies unveiled their championship banner. The same points mentioned above re Dook apply, but a 13-point win by a presumptive Final Four team over Columbia, at home? Not much of a statement, unless it's a negative one.

# 14 Xavier 74 - Morgan State 63 = It's pretty much the same story here too. I respect the X-Men program, but this is not acceptable.

# 18 Michigan 59 - Ferris State 33 = And isn't this the same Wolverine team that posted a "football" score against somebody (Wayne State?) in an exhibition? A Top Twenty team? Against Ferris State? Are they suddenly the Wisconsin Badgers, or are they just inept at scoring the ball?

# 23 Gonzaga 77 - Eastern Washington 69 = OK, this one I can sorta kinda live with, as the competition was more even. Still, it's not a good sign that the Zags can hang amongst the ranked for long.

Northeastern 82 - Boston U. 74 (OT) = Hey, I told you this could be a good one.

George Mason 92 - Rhode Island 90 (OT) = And I told you here too.

Florida State 79 - Jacksonville 67 = I also said the Dolphins might give the 'Holes some problems. It remains to be seen if FSU can claim a high spot in the ACC race, but this was certainly no big statement by them.

Indiana State 79 - Eastern Illinois 72 = Again, I though this was one worth watching.

Kansas State 72 - Charleston Southern 67 = I did not mention this one yesterday, because despite the fact I thought K-State's days in the sun had set, I never thought they'd drop this far. Yeah, they won. But by 2 possessions, over a nobody? Sheesh.

N. C. State 84 - N. C. Asheville 75 = This is not nearly as bad, by a good ways. Jerry's 'Pack hasn't been back for a while, and Asheville has played enough tough games over the years to feel little fear, so the field was more level. But it seems maybe NCSU will struggle to compete in the ACC again, for at least one more season.

Utah State 69 - BYU 62 = Much like Boise State in football, BYU politely whines each year about how little respect they get. I don't hate the program, or the school, or even the religion, but I do dislike the whining. Hopefully, this will stick a cork in Rodney Dangerfield's maw.

St. Joseph's 72 = Western Kentucky 61 = I have no idea what kind of team either has this year, but an old timer like me likes it when a storied program such as St. Joe's makes a step back into the spotlight. Was this one? Too soon to tell, yet one might hope.


If you wanna chime in about your team's win . . . or loss . . . or if you question my analysis or my ignoring of your boys, please do so. Meanwhile, I'm going to go see if there's anything worth watching over the next two days. Back soon, hopefully.

[The Poet]

Today and tomorrow have far too many games to cover properly, but then again most don't need covering. Do you really care that Georgetown spanked Savannah State, or that Wisconsin is absolutely crushing Kennesaw State? I don't. But here are some others of possible note. Today:


Dayton vs. Western Illinois = I'd expect the Flyers to do just that, but this might be a decent game.

Lehigh vs. Iowa State = And this too, believe it or not.

# 5 Syracuse vs. Fordham = The only chance Fordham has is if their outside shooters can bust up Boeheim's zone. If you get the Orange out of that, an NAIA team can outscore them, as they cannot play defense any other way.

Butler vs. Evansville = Aside from having potential in itself, the game may tell us more about what Butler has become.

# 6 Duke vs. Presbyterian = Even though I was wrong thinking the Belmont game would be a gimme, I'm gonna give the Blue Devils this one now. But I do want to give props to Presbyterian, who once again show they'll play anybody, anywhere.

South Florida vs. Vermont = Truth be told, I don't know why this one jumped out at me. But it did, so I went with my gut.

Northern Iowa vs. ODU = I DO know why this one jumped. This may be a barn-burner.


On Sunday we have:


# 1 North Carolina vs. N. C. Asheville = One would expect that, if State can take them, the Heels can. And even though it's up in the Smokies, not in Chapel Hill, this should not be close by the time the horn blows.

# 7 Vanderbilt vs. Cleveland State = This could be a little closer, but maybe not by much.

# 9 Louisville vs. Lamar = Please, Rick. What point is there in passing 600 Ws against a baker's dozen from Cupcake U? The Cardinals should drop 5 spots in the polls just for that.

# 10 Pittsburgh vs. Rider = And once again, this is a bit better, but not a ton.

# 12 Baylor vs. Jackson State = Man, I can't wait until the bakery closes up for the winter.

# 16 Arizona vs. Ball State = How quickly does icing melt in the desert?

# 20 Texas A&M vs. Southern = Good Lord. :rolleyes:

# 21 Cincinnati vs. Alabama State = Are you as sick of this as me?

# 24 California vs. George Washington = First in war, first in peace, won't last a half, and thankfully last in this list.


If I get a chance, I'll look and see if there's any more that pop for me. Back later today, or early next week. Either way . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

I'm getting a late start, and am pressed for time, so let me hit what I consider the highlights.

Saturday:


Evansville 80 - Butler 77 (OT) = I thought this could be a good one. It may not tell us yet what the Bulldogs will be, but it's not a good early sign.

Northern Iowa 63 - ODU 46 = In Norfolk, no less. I'm not shocked that NIU won, but for ODU to be so crappy at home . . . that is odd.

Seton Hall 75 - St. Francis (NY) 71 (OT) = Short of, of course, Penn State football, the Pirates basketball team has had perhaps the most checkered recent off-court past lately. If this showing against what should have been a cupcake is any indication, these problems have killed their program.

South Florida 61 - Vermont 59 = I still don't know why this one popped off the page at me, but at least I wasn't wrong.


On Sunday:


Cleveland State 71 - # 7 (formerly) Vanderbilt 58 = By far, the biggest surprise of the weekend. And in Nashville, to boot. OK, anybody can have a bad night. OK, even a cupcake can have some lumps in it. But this, this is just embarrassing.

# 10 Pittsburgh 86 - Rider 78 = Despite the victory, this isn't much better either.

# 16 Arizona 73 - Ball State 63 = Nor this one. And yes, in Tucson, not Dave Letterman's backyard.

Maryland 71 - N. C. Wilmington 62 = And yes, in College Park. This does not bode well for the Terps chances in the ACC.

Washington 77 - Florida Atlantic 71 = And wasn't Washington supposed to be the dark horse in the PAC-12 this year? Man, it might be getting dark early in the Great NW.

# 1 North Carolina 91 - N. C. Asheville 75 = And although I could come up with at lease a half dozen "good" excuses for this one, it also does not please me very much. The 91 scored doesn't bug me, but the 75 allowed does. Too many TOs, too may possessions p!$$ed away.

Gardner-Webb 74 - Lipscomb 71 = I'm not sure what to make of this one. Lipscomb has a good history, while Gardner-Webb is . . . well, Gardner-Webb. I'll need to keep an eye on both these teams.

San Francisco 71 - LA Lafayette 70 = SF had probably its best season last year since Bill Russell left. Hey, maybe he's left them again. :D


There are a few HUGE games in the next few day, but only a couple tonight that pique my interest:


Penn vs. Temple = Penn had a surprisingly good season last year, and the Owls are the Owls. I'm curious how both will play.

Northeastern vs. U Mass = And I get the feeling these two will match up well.

Murray State vs. Morgan State = These two, maybe not so well. But I have to keep Joe on board, so ;) .

Richmond vs. Davidson = Two storied programs, and two decent coaches. Could be fun.

USC vs. Nebraska = Both are more football than basketball schools, but that may mean they also match up well on the hardwood.

Northern Iowa vs. St. Mary's = And both of these have a chance at earning NCAA bids before the smoke clears. If you can stay up late, check it out.


Sorry about the "quick and dirty" postings, but what can I do? :sh Man, I hate it when work gets in the way of fun. :r

[The Poet]

Oh, and if you guys want a giggle, go to the vaunted RPI Ratings to see what nonsense THAT is. For instance, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, and N.C. Asheville are all 0-2 while UNC is 2-0, but all are tied for # 22 in the nation.

:confused: :rolleyes: :r

[jcruse64]

Go Racers!!!

[The Poet]

Go Racers!!!

Yeah, if they can beat Morgan State, they can beat anybody! :D


Again, work has gotten in the way of this, and I'm pressed for time. Yesterday:


# 4 U Conn 78 - Wagner 66 = A dozen points better than Wagner? The Huskies defense of their national title is off to a blazing start. ;)

# 23 Gonzaga 89 - Washington State 81 = Last year the Zags were losing these type of games. Maybe Mark Few has their attention earlier this season.

Boston College 67 - New Hampshire 64 = I had that weird feeling again that this would be a good 'un.

Temple 73 - Penn 67 (OT) = This one, I felt more certain would be good.

Nebraska 64 - USC 61 (2OT) = And this one too, though I didn't predict two extra sessions.

Purdue 67 - High Point 65 = High Point? High Point?? Maybe Robbie Hummel needs to break his leg again. :r


Tonight has a ton of games, but I don't have time for them all. Here's the . . . uh, high points:


# 2 Kentucky vs. # 12 Kansas = UK and KU . . . you don't need to say much more. The 'Cats may have the better personnel, but you can be fairly sure Bill Self will have the Jayhawks ready to play.

# 3 Ohio State vs. # 7 Florida = Last year the Gators were NOT ready to play this game. I'd expect the Buckeyes to win again, but I'd hope Billy Donovan hasn't made THAT mistake a second time.

# 5 Syracuse vs. Albany = And just because Boeheim is again, as usual, home-cooking cupcakes, there's no reason to call the Orange yellow. :)

# 6 Duke vs. Michigan State = The Spartans hung tough with the Heels under difficult conditions. Meanwhile, Dook just edged Belmont at home before spanking Presbyterian. I'm not calling for the upset, but I expect a contest.

# 11 Baylor 77 - San Diego State 67 = Yeah, this one's in the books. SDSU was one of last year's darlings, and acquited themselves well here too . . . if one assumes the Bears are as good as the "experts" believe.

# 13 Xavier vs. IPFW = And I'd pee Eff-Dubya too, if the X-men lose this one.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. Bucknell = The Commodores rebound from their opening loss tonight.

# 20 Cincinnati vs. Jacksonville State = There's enough else happening, so you can ignore this garbage.

# 23 California vs. Austin Peay = Hmmmmmm. I dunno. I'm not convinced Cal's as good as people say, and I do know A-P can play pretty tough. Keep your eye on this one.

UCLA vs. Middle Tennessee State = And nobody knows what the Bruins are either, after dropping a stinker to Loyola-Marymount. Plus, they're dropping players left and right, either to injuries or to "violations of team rules". Much as I'd sort of like to see UCLA make a comeback, they need to show us that they can. I'm don't believe MTSU can give us that info . . . unless they too spank the Bruins.


That's all I have time for. Please jump in with your own :2 to fill the gaps. Thanks, and enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Yeah, if they can beat Morgan State, they can beat anybody! :D

I like the way you think!!! :r

Lots of games tonight, including the ladies field. I hate to say "go Peay!", but I do hope they win. Also hope to see the Cats over the Jayhawks.

Dook did not get an easy one tonight; be an interesting game to watch.

Pat Summit on the floor with her girls against one of her proteges from Miami.

[BryanB]

903 is all I'm going to say for now. I got a ticket stub from 902, hopefully I can one from 903 on fleabay.
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[Mutombo]

Taking the Wears looking like a HUGE mistake. They can't play defense, take too many shots, and are surprisingly terrible rebounders considering their size.

I'm depressed. In for another long season.

[The Poet]

I like the way you think!!! :r

Lots of games tonight, including the ladies field. I hate to say "go Peay!", but I do hope they win. Also hope to see the Cats over the Jayhawks.

Dook did not get an easy one tonight; be an interesting game to watch.

Pat Summit on the floor with her girls against one of her proteges from Miami.

You like the way I think? You may be the only one. :r

Why don't you start a women's thread, Joe? I say this because you'll not hear much from me about the distaff side, though I am glad to see Pat Summit up and about. As for Austin-Peay, they might have made a game of it against Cal, had they not Peay'd away the first half.

Duke's game went about the same as Carolina's did against the Spartans: One big run was the whole contest.

903 is all I'm going to say for now. I got a ticket stub from 902, hopefully I can one from 903 on fleabay.
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Congratulations to Coach K for his 903rd win. Now let's see if he'll have the same grace and dignity as did John Wooden and Dean Smith, and move towards retirement to finally give Wojo a chance, or if The Captain shall have the same stubborn bull-doggedness of The General (or worse, JoePa), and risk becoming a parody and sideshow of himself. :D

Taking the Wears looking like a HUGE mistake. They can't play defense, take too many shots, and are surprisingly terrible rebounders considering their size.

I'm depressed. In for another long season.

Sorry, Justin. I knew the Wears did little for my Heels, but for your sake had hoped it was more a consequence of them being freshmen, and of playing behind Zeller and Henson. Don't write them off yet, however. As the old saw says, you can't coach 7 feet. But maybe that's the problem . . . you can't coach them. :r

[The Poet]

Dammit, for the third day in a row I'm pressed for time. Here's MY highlights:


# 2 Kentucky 75 - # 12 Kansas 65 = A sloppy first half left this tied at 28, with more total TOs than FGs. The 'Cats were slightly less sloppy in the 2nd, and won by a respectable, if not dominant, margin. But like I thought, the Jayhawks gave them game, and might have won had they not started the second stanza so poorly.

# 3 Ohio State 81 - # 7 Florida 74 = Pretty much what I thought it would be, with a Buckeye victory over a Gator team that played better this year on the road than they did last year at home against OSU.

# 6 Duke 74 - Michigan State 69 = You likely didn't need Bryan to tell you this was Coach K's 903rd win, taking the top spot from his old mentor Bobby Knight. Again, congratulations. And again, congratulations to the Spartans, who did what they did against Carolina by falling behind big but not giving up, and making a good game of it before the buzzer.

# 23 California 77 - Austin Peay 53 = As referenced above, A-P might have been able to steal this one, had they not scored a mere 13 points in the first half. Shoot, their FOOTBALL team could have done as well against the Golden Bears.

Middle Tennessee State 86 - UCLA 66 = Remember when the Bruins were good? No, I don't mean the Wooden era, I mean before the season started and they were ranked. A loss to Loyola-Marymount was bad. A spanking by MTSU is just wrong. So, Justin, if you want to hop on the Tar Heel bandwagon, feel free. The blue's about the same shade, anyway. ;)

Charlotte 77 - Central Michigan 75 (2OT) = Aside from being a barn-burner, this interests me because the 49ers used to be pretty danged good. I'm not sure what this tells us, as I've no idea how good (or bad) Cent. Mich. is, so we'll have to wait another month or two.

Texas 100 - Rhode Island 90 = About the same situation here, though I do know the Longhorns are supposed to be a little down, while the Rams have been improving over the past few years. Again, wait and see applies.

Coastal Carolina 71 - LSU 63 // Elon 58 - South Carolina 53 = I lumped these two together to make a point about the SEC. What with earlier unexpected losses by Vandy and Mississippi State, these might foretell that the SEC is even more top-heavy than we expected.


Tonight's actions includes:


# 9 Pittsburgh vs. Long Beach State = Ehhh, I can see this lasting a half or so, but as I've said before, this is not the kind of game the Panthers lose.

# 14 Wisconsin vs. Colgate = As with the SEC, it's possible the Big Eighty-Six is top-heavy too. Yet the Badgers play a tough grind-'em-out style that's hard to beat, even if you AREN'T Colgate. If you ARE, then it's already over. I can see Wisconsin doing something it rarely can do . . . approach the century mark in scoring.

# 25 Florida State vs. Stetson = And I can't see Stetson cracking the Seminoles defense either. FSU needs to make a statement in this one, to start solidifying its claim as an ACC power.

N. C. State vs. Princeton = However, though the Wolfpack likely won't do the same, at least until next year's class of classy freshmen arrive, they do need to win some for their new coach while they can. The Tigers are not what they used to be, so this should give NCSU an opportunity to do so.

Creighton vs. UAB = And this is just another of those match-ups that pop out at me. This may have a shot at being a decent game.

Indiana vs. Evansville = This one too. Much like the Wolfpack, the Hoosiers aren't there yet, but they have been making steps back to where they were. And Evansville has already had a "signature" win over Butler, so that alone makes this interesting to me.

N. C. Asheville vs. Mars Hill = And this one is interesting to me because I'm wondering where in the hell these guys can find a place that's flat enough to play some hoops. :r


That's it for me. Keep those cards and letters coming fellas . . . and there's plenty of bandwidth for more of you to chip in also.

[The Poet]

Yo, Justin! Re your Bruins, I just saw a post from some yahoo on Yahoo stating that it's time to fire Howland and "bring back Larry Brown." I answered him by asking if he didn't have enough Tar Heels already. :r

[The Poet]

There were a few notable scores from last night, but none more that:


Long Beach State 86 - # 9 (for now) Pittsburgh 74 = Wow. I have expressed my doubts clearly in the past about the Panthers, but I never expected this. Pitt normally does not lose such games, especially at home. Coupled with other doubts I've already voiced about some Big East teams, I'm wondering if this foretells a down year for them.

# 25 Florida State 79 - Stetson 66 = And I find this surprising not so much with the margin of victory as with the fact that the 'Noles are supposed to have defensive strength, so to allow Stetson to score 66 when they themselves couldn't break 80 is a bit disturbing.

Indiana 94 - Evansville 73 = This is the opposite situation here. The Hoosiers are improving, but not yet that much. Meanwhile, Evansville did handle a "down" Butler squad, and for them to have such a lousy first half to kill their chances . . . in their house, no less . . . is confusing.

N. C. State 60 - Princeton 58 = In Raleigh, to boot. OK, like Indiana, the 'Pack is a year or so away, it is only Gottleib's 3rd game as coach, the team is down a few key players for various reason AND lost their outside threat to a twisted ankle before the fans had settled in, AND even a "down" Princeton team is tough to play. But for this to come down to a jumper with 4 ticks left, and THEN white-knuckle time watching a half-court heave for the win fall short. Ehhh, I hope Jerry's happy about the W. Me, I'm not so much, and NOT because I live an hour from Princeton either.

Oklahoma State 90 - UTSA 85 (OT) = Hey, I thought the Cowboys were supposed to be building a basketball power down there. For them to let a bunch of Rick Barnes' rejects ( :D ) take them to OT . . . well, I can't see it.

San Francisco 83 - San Jose State 81 // Savannah State 73 - Jacksonville 70 (OT X 2) = Yeah, I don't think we'll be talking much about ANY of these teams come March, but give all four props for putting on a show.

N. C. Asheville 126 - Mars Hill 75 = And though Asheville could earn themselves another automatic bid in March, so we'd talk about them for a day or so, I'm not so much interested in that regard as to the fact they not only BROKE 100, they shattered the century mark. It makes me feel a little better about my Heels "holding" them to 75 a earlier this week. :r


We already have a few interesting scores from today's action, including:


Purdue 91 - Iona 90 = This might shock Boilermaker (or Big Ten) fans, but it's not that big a deal. Purdue seems more lost so far WITH Hummel than they were without him, and the Gaels were predicted to potentially be this year's mid-major giant killer. There's nothing shocking about this one.

Northwestern 88 - LSU 82 = Nor this one. The Brainiacs of the Big Ten had a great start last year, while LSU has become another one of those irrelevant SEC programs. Maybe the Tigers should ease up with the football for a while, and try to convince Shaq to come back and finish school. ;)

# 16 Alabama vs. Maryland = This one has tipped off already, and so far in the first half the Terps have lived up to their mascot's rep and gotten off to a sloooooow start. As this one's in Puerto Rico, there's no reason for them to be so cold. I'd figure the Tide could take it anyway, yet I do expect the Terps to make some sort of game of it eventually.

VCU vs. Seton Hall = I have no faith in the Pirates however, and believe VCU will take this with relative ease.

# 19 Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State = The Bulldogs have already lost a game I thought they should have won, so I can't see them upsetting the Aggies.

# 4 U Conn vs. Maine = Here's my prediction here: One of these days Calhoun's dropouts will do two things . . . play somebody who's not a cupcake, and play on the road. And don't feed me that crap about the Big Mouth's regular season being tough enough as it is without playing tough competition out-of-league. Hey, why do you think so many of these Big Mouth teams fail so quickly in the NCAA Tournament? And for the defending champs to pu$$yfoot around like this, it's unforgivable.

Wichita State vs. Colorado = As has happened before to me, this one just pops out as having potential.

Georgia Tech vs. St. Joseph's = Same here, though the reason is more clear. These two programs have good histories, but poor recent pasts. I wouldn't mind seeing them both improve, yet even if they haven't they may match up well.

# 24 Missouri vs. Niagara = Niagara falls. Sloooowly I turned . . . step by step, inch by inch. 'Nuff said?

# 7 (for now) Florida vs. North Florida = I have a feeling the Gators will rebound from their loss to the Buckeyes. ;)

Murray State vs. Tennessee Temple = And I again wish Joe's Racers good luck, as they continue their march through hell. :r

# 17 Michigan vs. Western Illinois = And here I want to see if the Wolverines can score more than a football team.

# 15 Arizona vs. St. John's = I've not been overly impressed with the Desert 'Cats so far, and the Johnnies have played better early than they were expected to, what with so many of their vaunted recruits being deemed ineligable. Plus, this is in MSG, so you know who the crowd will be behind. That said, though I can see the locals giving 'Zona some problems, I don't think they can pull off the upset. But hey, I've been wrong before, and you never know.

USC vs. San Diego State = The Trojans are likely mid-PAC12 at best, and the Aztecs are likely a bit down from last year's surprising squad . . . though they are already 3-0 at home, and looking for the 4th tonight. Keep half-an-eye on this one, if you are able to keep half an eye open that late anyway.


That's it for now. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Billy Kennedy's Aggies are having a tough time with Miss St tonight. They are laying it n the Aggies early and often. Not looking good.

Also saw that the Terps got nailed by Bama.

[The Poet]

Billy Kennedy's Aggies are having a tough time with Miss St tonight. They are laying it n the Aggies early and often. Not looking good.

Also saw that the Terps got nailed by Bama.


Yeah, One big surprise to me, and one mild one:

Mississippi State 69 - # 19 (for now) Texas A&M 60 = The Bulldogs lost by ten at home to Akron, and I figured they'd have a long season. They may still, and this upset over the Aggies doesn't make their year. But it helps.

# 16 Alabama 62 - Maryland 42 = The Tide win doesn't shock me, as I knew the Terps were down again this year. But I did think they'd make more of a game of it. They didn't, following their 20-point first half with a 22-point second.

Other action I noted:

# 17 MIchigan 59 - Western Illinois 55 = Another bucket or two either way and here'd have been another stunner. Once again the Logans showed an inability to score the ball. They can't keep this up for long without taking one in the snout.

Penn 78 - Rider 72 (OT) = Aside from being a war, this one's a surprise because I did not think Rider could make this much of a game of it.

Seton Hall 69 - VCU 54 = And this one's one because I did not think the Pirates had a chance in hell. Yet not only did they prevail, they won handily.

# 15 Arizona 81 - St. John's 72 = But this one seems about right to me. As I've said, I'm not totally sold on the Desert 'Cats yet, while the Johnnies can play tough in MSG or the Louie Dome. If you're a 'Zona fan, be happy with it and move on.

San Diego State 56 - USC 54 = And this one was the struggle I expected, though I could not predict they'd both struggle so much offensively. A nice win for the Aztecs, and hopefully a learning loss for the Trojans.


As with yesterday, we already have some scores today:


Purdue 85 - Temple 77 = Not the nail-biter the Boilermakers had against the Gaels, but maybe a tighter fight with the Owls than they'd hoped for, I'd imagine.

Tulsa vs. Northwestern = With under 4 to play as I type, this one's still to close to call . . . which is what you'd think.

# 19 (for now) Texas A&M vs. St. John's = And closing in on the half, the Johnnies are hanging within 2 or 3 possessions with the Aggies. Maybe yesterday we'd not thought this, but it's easier to believe today.

# 6 Duke vs. Davidson = In Cameron, so these Wildcats only have a shot if they can borrow little brother Seth Curry for the night. ;)

Seton Hall vs. St. Joseph's = Here's one of those that could be a damn nice tight contest.

TCU vs. Virginia = And this one too, if the Cav guards can hit a few open jumpers.

Maryland vs. Colorado = The Terps are likely cheesed at the way they stunk up the joint last evening, so hopefully they can give the Buffs a better showing.

# 15 Arizona vs. Mississippi State = Much like the Aggies/RedStorm one above, I wouldn't have given the 'Dogs much chance yesterday against these 'Cats. But that was yesterday, and they are playing today. Keep your eye on this one, as it could be interesting before it's all done.

# 13 Xavier vs. Miami OH = So could this one . . . save for the fact that it's all done before the tipoff. :D

Houston vs. Arkansas = Hmmmm. Again, this one popped out. I can see it being pretty damn close, wire to wire.

# 21 Marquette vs. Winthrop = And I can see this being pretty damn over by the half.

VCU vs. Georgia Tech = Two teams that need a victory now, and if they both show up this could be some fun.

Akron vs. Valparaiso = I'd give the Zips a definite edge here, but Valpo won't just roll over.

New Mexico vs. Arizona State = In Tempe. The Sun Devils may be on their way up a little, and the Lobos might be on their way down some from last season. Here's another one with potential.

# 16 Alabama vs. Wichita State = Here too, believe it or not. The Shockers may not be able to pull of the shocker, but I think they'll give the Tide some game.

# 3 Ohio State vs. Jackson State = And I think Jack State will show up for this game too . . . if their bus does not break down. ;) Aside from that, it won't matter jack $#!+.


If I get a chance, I'll look at early match-ups on Saturday. If not, I'll get to them tomorrow. Either way . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

Northwestern take Tulsa 69- 65 in a good close game. In another, Ole Miss bests Drake 63-59.

With about 5 minutes gone in the second stanza, St. John's is within a bucket of the Aggies.


There's really only one early game of note tomorrow:


# 2 Kentucky vs. Penn State = And that note will be sour for the Nittany Lions, who've had enough problems of late to need this. The game's at the Mohegan Sun in CT, but don't place your bets. I've no idea what the line is, yet I doubt PSU can cover.

[The Poet]

Texas A&M 58 - St. John's 57 = Wow. The Aggies hit a jumper with 6 seconds left to go ahead by one. Then, with 2 ticks left, they foul a Johnnie to send him to the line for a pair. He clunks them both, and A&M dodges a bullet. You want to bet Steve Lavin's a bit p!$$ed?

[The Poet]

Aside from those already reported, here are the scores from Friday that struck me:


Mississippi State 67 - # 16 (though not for long) Arizona 57 = Those Bulldogs seem to have found their feet all of a sudden. This one is a bit of a shock, though I've said I have limited faith in 'Zona before now. Coupled with other early-season struggles involving PAC-12 teams, this year may be just as long as the prior several have been.

# 13 Xavier 66 - Miami OH 60 = It is much the same situation here also. As much as I do respect the Musketeers for having a quality mid-major program, I felt their pre-season ranking was a tad elevated. Coupled with their win over Morgan State by only a 74-63 margin, this 2-possession victory may indicate I'm not a total fool. Hey, it's early, and the X-Men could become monsters, but I'll need to see it first.

Valparaiso 62 - Akron 59 = And this surprises me too. I felt the Zips might be one of those "noisy" mid-majors, largely based on their road win over Miss. State, so thought they'd handle Valpo with relative ease. But they went cold at the precise wrong time, allowing Valpo to score the final 8 points. Well, looks like young Bryce Drew has a few more miracles left in his bag.

New Mexico 76 - Arizona State 71 = And this surprises me none at all. I figured it would be a tight contest, and it was.

Houston 87 - Arkansas 78 = And I figured this one would be tight too, and it was closer than the final score might indicate. The Cougars and the Hogs were tied 36-all at the break.

Maryland 78 - Colorado 71 = And this is probably about what one should have expected. Neither team is lousy, and neither is great either. I'm glad for the Terps getting a needed victory, but I don't expect this is any big statement one way or the other.

# 6 Duke 82 - Davidson 69 = When you consider the fact that this was in Cameron, and the fact that the Wildcats held a 35-34 lead at the half, and the assumption that the Blue Devils are a Final Four contender, this is not a very impressive margin of victory. As with Michigan State, Dook's one big run gave them a bulge to work with. I have no problem with that per se. Yet coupled with that squeaker against Belmont, it should perhaps give the folks in Durham pause.

Georgia Tech 73 - VCU 60 = As with the Terps, the Jackets have been a "down" program of late. This is no proof they are on their way back, but it is a decent win for them.


Already today Kentucky has spanked Penn State 85-47, to nobody's surprise, while Princeton is doing a comperable number so far on Buffalo down in Jadwin Gym. There's too many games for me to note all that may be good, so I'll just go with:


ODU vs. South Florida = These two should be pretty competitive, start to finish.

# 8 Louisville vs. Butler = And though I'd give Pitino's Cardinals a definite edge here, this one may be better than he'd like it to be.

Virginia vs. Drexel = I may be weeeeellllll off here, but I just have that feeling about this one.

# 20 Cincinnati vs. Presbyterian = Give the Blue Hose credit for once more being willing to play with the Big Boys. Give the Bearcats credit for being willing to sign a check over to them. :D

# 5 Syracuse vs. Colgate = You don't need to wonder where the yellow went this time of year. As is usual, the Orange are facing another cupcake in the Carrier Dome, as this one follows wars against Fordham, Manhattan, and Albany. Did you know that the 'Cuse won't play at someone else's home until they face N.C. State on Dec. 17th? Gawd-awful, you ask me. :td

Long Beach State vs. San Diego State = Like that UVA/Drexel game, I have that itch here also.

Duquesne vs. Akron = And here I go scratching it again.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. N. C. State = I don't know if Vandy's early upset loss was an abberation or not, and I don't know if the 'Pack can continue to play as well as they have to date. So my interest in this one lies in the hope I'll get some sort of answer . . . and hopefully, a game at least close enough for Jerry to enjoy.

Charleston vs. Clemson = As I access my inner Simpsons, I avow that this just might be a match-up between the two best teams . . . in South Carolina. Could be a lotta fun too. :)

# 14 Wisconsin vs. Wofford = The Terriers just lost big to the Georgia Bulldogs, so I don't think they'll have much chance against the Big Bad Badgers. In fact, their only shot is to come out hot, grab a sizable early lead, and force the Glaciers to try and run a little. It's likely Wisconsin will own the boards, so Wofford's gonna hafta force some TOs for those extra possessions. Can that happen? Yes. Will it? I don't think so.

# 22 Gonzaga vs. Hawaii = If Mark Few can get his 'Zags off the beach, they shold have few problems arching over the Rainbows.


I'll come back later with some Sunday action. Until then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

With all the early-season tip-off tourneys and invitationals, many of Sunday's match-ups are yet TBD, depending on the outcome of games. For instance, Kentucky will face the winner of the ODU/South Florida contest . . . and win. There are a lot of others like that. So all I can give you are the "givens" up tomorrow:


Washington vs. Saint Louis = One might think a Husky would have no problem tearing a Billiken to shreds. Yet the PAC-12 as a whole has been as a hole so far, and SL can hoop a bit. This may be a nice game, at least midway through the 2nd half.

# 4 U Conn vs. Coppin State = Kay-riest! Did you read what I said about Syracuse above? Well, as for these Huskies, they've obviously been neutered too. This is their 4th home cupcake to open their defense of the crown, following Columbia, Wagner, and Maine, and they won't hit the road until they face South Florida on 12/28. Plus, they have NO ranked teams out-of-conference scheduled for the entire season! I think they are over-ranked at #4. I also think they shall remain over-ranked until they actually have the nerve to play somebody, come January. Sheesh.

Iona vs. Maryland = Yesterday I probably would have given the Gaels a decided edge over the Terps, who have not played all that well. But UM played better against the Buffaloes, so now I think this may be a pretty good one afterall.

# 1 North Carolina vs. Mississippi Valley State = And I don't think this one will be much good at all, save maybe for us Tar Heels. And before you object that UNC should be lumped in the same boat as I put U Conn and the 'Cuse, note not only that this is their FIRST game in the Dean Dome, after opening up on the road on that flattop and that mountaintop in Asheville, but that they will host Wisconsin and visit Kentucky in the near future. So I think they've earned a little scrimmage against the Delta Devils.

LSU vs. Georgia Tech = Two so-so teams in two basketball-rich conferences. That could mean a decent game for us to enjoy.

# 25 Florida State vs. South Alabama = Though I'm not expecting the Semiholes to have much of a problem, I want to see if their defense does a better job than they did against Jacksonville and Stetson.

Murray State vs. UAB = Aside from being of interest to Joe, this might tell us a bit about the Racers' chances of having a good season. UAB should be at least a tough out, and maybe even too tough.

Iowa vs. Creighton = And this IMHO will just be a dogfight.

Duquesne vs. Valparaiso = Here's another one, at least potentially.

Temple vs. Wichita State = And here's another.

Michigan State vs. AR Little Rock = And here's the Spartans' shot to get to .500 after opening up with losses to UNC and Dook. Give Izzo credit though. He's willing to play these two, even though he's something like 1-for-11 in his last dozen against the Tobacco Road duo.

Tulsa vs. St. Joseph's = I could see this one going down to the last few possessions.

# 16 Alabama vs. Purdue = And I could see this one doing the same damn thing.

# 21 Marquette vs. Mississippi = And this might not be quite as close, but still should not be a blow-out.

Northwestern vs. Seton Hall = The Hall's played better than I'd expected so far. I think they're gonna hafta continue to in order to compete here.

Washington State vs. Portland = Do any of you remember last year, when Portland got off hot and even got ranked for a bit? Or was that the year before? Anyway, the Pilots have a shot at making some noise in the Great NW if they can take it to the "meh" Cougars. Keep your eye on this.


That's it for now. Though I may reply to any comments, I shan't be back until Monday afternoon. So until then . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

Once more, too many games, too little time. Here's my highlights from Saturday:


Presberterian 56 - Cincinnati 54 = Each year we have many surprises, and numerous shocks, but true stunners are rarer. Here's one. Don't get me wrong; I have a lot of respect for the Blue Hose, but it's not for their abilities and rather for their willingness to play anybody, anytime, anywhere. This should not have been a game at all. The Bearcats opened up a comfortable 15-point bulge with 10 minutes to play, as one would expect. Yet from that point it was not PU who stunk up the joint, but instead Cincy. And though they still held a 1-point edge with 7 ticks left, they left a Blue Hoser open for a game-winning trey . . . then could not answer to at least tie for the OT. Yeah, the Big East is the Monster of the East they always claim to be.

Cal Poly 42 - Southern Cal 36 = And this nearly qualifies as as big a stunner. It's so weird, it reminds me of an episode of Numbers, where they brought in some ringers from the Lakers. Plus, aside from losing, the Trojans were not just pitiful at scoring, they were absolutely atrocious. Shame, shame.

Duquesne 81 - Akron 76 = Now here we had a really good game, which I believe I predicted.

Charleston 72 - Clemson 69 = Here again, and not the shocker those not familiar with CoC hoops might believe.

Harvard 77 - Loyola Marymount = This one interests me because LM loses for the second time in a row, following a 7-point loss to Middle Tenn. State, and after embarrasssing then-#17 UCLA by 11 in the opener.

# 18 Vanderbilt 86 - N. C. State 79 = Maybe the Commodores are recovering from their shocking early loss too. Still, a decent showing by Jerry's Wolfpack. Besides, he should be happy enough with their victory over Clemson on the gridiron to not let this bother him. :D

Oregon State 100 - Texas 95 (OT) = I felt this would be an interesting match-up also. Seems it was.

San Diego State 77 - Long Beach State 73 (OT) = Ditto.

ODU 68 - South Florida 66 (OT) = Dit-three.


On Sunday we saw:



# 2 Kentucky 62 - ODU 52 = Ohhhh, baby! Those freshmen for the Cats are talented, but they are freshmen, so it took an upperclassman to come off the bench and save Cal's butt in this one. And don't let that 10-point final margin fool you, since it was much closer than that.

# 4 U Conn 87 - Coppin State 70 = In Hartford, no less. When you consider the fact that Coppin ain't no danged ODU, this one's just about as bad. A win's a win, but I don't think Calhoun's all that happy today.

# 16 Alabama 65 - Purdue 56 = I guess this one's about right. The Tide's been decent so far, and the Boilermakers have been iffy.

# 25 Florida State 80 - South Alabama 39 = I normally don't report on blow-outs, but I've been waiting for that vaunted Seminole defense to show up. Maybe it has started to do so. Either that, or South 'Bama didn't show up at all.

Belmont 87 - Middle Tennessee State 84 (2OT) = Now this Volunteer State marathon surprises me a bit. Yeah, Belmont pulled it out, finally, but it seems maybe I need to pay more attention to MTSU, to see if they can hoop a little more than I thought.

Saint Louis 77 - Washington 64 = I knew, and I said, that the Billikens could hoop some. Still, I hadn't the stones to call for an "upset" here. Good for them . . . and one more strike against the PAC-12.

Northwestern 80 - Seton Hall 73 = Well, the Hall did manage to compete with the Braini'cats, so I guess that's a moral victory for the Parish Pirates.

St. Joseph's 79 - Tulsa 75 = I called this one going down to the last possessions, and it certainly did so.

Temple 78 - Wichita State 74 = And I called this dogfight too.

Murray State 62 - UAB 55 = Well, I guess Joe's happy. His Racers finally played somebody that somebody else has actually heard of, and they came away with the W. Good on them! :tu ;)


Here's some selected Monday action:


Already # 15 Michigan has beaten # 8 (for 6 1/2 more days :r) Memphis 73-61. I'm not surprised the Logans won, but do take note that they actually managed to score a little bit this evening. Also, Virginia's beaten Drake 60-52, if anybody cares. ;) Otherwise:


# 6 Duke vs. Tennessee = Out in Maui. This one's already midway thru the 1st, with the Blue Devils and the Vols in a real fight. I give UT a chance here, since Dook does not travel often, or well, in the early season, but I really believe Coach K will wake them up after the break and have them pull away.

TCU vs. Mississippi = Eh, might be a pretty good game here.

N. C. State vs. Texas = And here too.

# 10 Florida vs. Wright State = The Raiders were spanked by Ohio State, and the Gators were at least slapped around by the Buckeyes themselves. Yet that won't make this one a contest. Gators gulp WS whole.

# 21 Missouri vs. Notre Dame = Baby Ben has departed South Bend, so I don't know what the Irish have. Still, I don't think the Tigers are the cat's meow either, so this could be decent.

Presbyterian vs. Davidson = The Blue Hose come off their huge win over the Bearcats, and the Wildcats hung real tough in Cameron against Dook . . . well, at least tougher than did the Presbers. This one interests me just because it does, since I want to see what each team has.

# 16 Marquette vs. Norfolk State = And this one interests me none at all.

# 3 Ohio State vs. North Florida = Nor this one.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. Oregon State = OK now, this might be a little more like it. Might be, if Vandy struggles again, and if this OSU isn't the same crap we've come to expect from the PAC-12, like . . .

UCLA vs. Chaminade = No offense, Justin. Considering how they've played, I can't bet on your Bruins, though I wouldn't think they could possibly lose. Still, if Chaminade does pull it off, this won't be the upset it was when they beat Ralph Sampson's UVA squad.

# 20 California vs. Georgia = And while we're talking PAC-12, I can see this one being a pretty decent game too. The Bulldogs don't purely stink, and the Golden Bears haven't proven anything to me yet.

# 14 Kansas vs. Georgetown = Here again, I could see a pretty good one, for at least a half or so. The Jayhawks are a little down this season, though maybe not as much as the Hoyas. Still, I don't expect Georgetown to completely roll over and play dead. This is one to keep one's eye on, just to see what's cooking.


That's quick and dirty, and all I've time for. So go amuse yourselves for a while, and enjoy.

[mase]

# 14 Kansas vs. Georgetown = Here again, I could see a pretty good one, for at least a half or so. The Jayhawks are a little down this season, though maybe not as much as the Hoyas. Still, I don't expect Georgetown to completely roll over and play dead. This is one to keep one's eye on, just to see what's cooking.



The Hoyas have some unproven freshmen talent, but most of their experience graduated last year. I hate to say it but I agree that Kansas will likely win this one.

[The Poet]

The Hoyas have some unproven freshmen talent, but most of their experience graduated last year. I hate to say it but I agree that Kansas will likely win this one.


Right on both counts, Kevin. But who was right about the game being decent? :D


# 12 Kansas 67 - Goergetown 63 = You can't much fault the Jayhawks for dropping one to Kentucky. You also can't have a ton of faith in them following a tight one like this over a team they maybe should have beaten by double-figures.


In other action yesterday:


UCLA 92 - Chaminade 60 = Means nothing, but I thought I'd get this out of the way for Justin right off the bat. ;)

Davidson 68 - Presbyterian 54 = After shocking the Bearcats by two, the Blue Hose fall to the Wildcats by 14. Does this make Cincy's collapse even bigger? You tell me.

# 6 Duke 77 - Tennessee 67 = A win in Maui, where the Blue Devils don't seem to lose, but not a very dominant showing over a Vol team still in turmoil after all that Bruce Pearl mess last season. But they are Dook, so nobody's gonna pay any attention to that . . . yet.

# 10 Florida 78 - Wright State 65 = And pretty much the same danged story here. The Gators win, yet not by a safe enough margin to impress me. Still, it is better than . . .

# 21 Marquette 59 - Norfolk State 57 = Are you kidding me? This from a team that's supposed to compete with the Big Boys of the Big Mouth Conference? I don't think so.

# 18 Vanderbilt 64 - Oregon State 62 = OK, the Comms have more of an excuse here, but bottom line's the same. Are they ready to challenge UK or Fla. in the SEC? As much as I might like that, it looks doubtful so far.

N. C. State 77 - Texas 74 = And OK, the Longhorns are down this year. Blame Barnes for recruiting so much "one-and-done" talent, I think. Still, this is a very good win for Jerry's Wolfpack, who have been down for a lot longer.


Already again today we've got action, with # 8 Memphis edging in-state rival Tennessee in a real dogfight 99-97 in 2OT. All in all, I see no reason for the Vols to hang their heads, and not much reason for the Tigers to celebrate. Also, the Hoyas are starting to build a margin over Chaminade, as they should. Other games I find of note coming include:


Elon vs. Princeton = "Say what?", you ask. Well, you know the Tigers play tough, especially in Jadwin Gym (or Cameron North, as I call it :r ), but you've perhaps forgotten that the Phoenix beat South Carolina a week or so back. This might be a decent one.

# 17 Pittsburgh vs. LaSalle = And this one might be better than the Panthers would prefer. I already made the mistake once by saying Pitt does not lose games like this one, then they dropped one by 10 to Long Beach State, at home. Plus, the Explorers only lost by 7 on Villanova's court, so don't chalk this one up yet as a gimme.

# 6 Duke vs. # 15 Michigan = To my eyes, neither of these teams have played up to their rankings yet. It's not that they've been bad, but Dook's not owning other teams and the Logans have problems scoring too often. So this one out in Maui could be fun, even if only to see if one or the other will finally show up . . . if either is actually there at all to begin with.

# 7 Louisville vs. Arkansas State = Please. :rolleyes:

# 1 North Carolina vs. Tennessee State = Please again, though I'm interested to see if my Heels can start to hit some 3s, hit more FTs, and defend a little better.

Cleveland State vs. Kent State = Now here, we might have us a game already.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia = And though these two didn't show up last night, that could bode well for some competition this night.

# 11 Wisconsin vs. Mo. Kansas City = Another :rolleyes:.

# 14 Kansas vs. UCLA = Are the Jayhawks ready to find their feet? Are the Bruins ready to pull themselves up off the mat? This one's a hard call. It could be OK, it could be another stinker by the SoCal So-Sos. Me, I'd expect KU to romp, but I'm not convinced they are all that good, nor am I convinced that UCLA sucks. This makes it intriguing.

Richmond vs. Illinois = And here we have a good mid-major program facing a mid-pack major one. I can see this going down to the final 5 minutes, or less even.

# 9 Baylor vs. South Carolina State = I did not trust my memory so I had to stop and check on this. I was right. Much like Syracuse and U Conn, the Bears haven't faced much of anything so far, and all at home too. The only game that wasn't a total "gimme" was their 10-point win over San Diego State, and the Aztecs ain't the Aztecs of last year either. Don't watch this game, and refuse to watch any Baylor game until they finally get off the pot.

Boise State vs. Long Beach State = Here's just another one of those that hops off the page for me. Could be fun.

# 20 California vs. # 21 Missouri = And if these rankings have any relevance whatsoever, this one WILL be fun. Hey, I've not seen enough from either team to have much faith yet, but I'm willing to concede that they both can hoop a bit. If they both show up late tonight, this will be a war.


That's again all I can do today. So until later, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Would you believe a liquor store is busy on Thanksgiving Eve? I may get no chance to post anything today. Crap. Maybe I'll have to do a make-up on Firday, when I'm here all freakin' day.

[The Poet]

OK, let's see if I can catch up a little bit here. In Wednesday's games:


Colorado 76 - Air Force 73 (OT) = Just a damn fine contest up in the mountains, though the scoring was not as high as the altitude.

Murray State 64 - Alaska 62 = And too damn fine a contest to suit Joe, I'd presume.

San Diego State 61 - # 23 (or was) Arizona 57 = I don't think the Aztecs will have as good a season as last year's, but this is one good win for them, for sure. And one bad loss for the Desert 'Cat faithful.

# 9 Baylor 75 - Tx. Arlington 65 = And a win for the Bears, but it tells me more about what they aren't than what they are. Not very impressive, IMHO.

Butler 68 - Gardner-Webb 66 = And since we still don't know what Butler is this year, much less what G-W may be, I'm not sure what to make of this. A win's a win, but that's all it is.

Detroit 94 - Austin Peay 93 (OT) = Another nice exciting battle.

# 6 Duke 68 - # 14 Kansas 61 = And another nice win for the Blue Devils in Maui, plus another tough loss for the Jayhawks against good competition.

Georgetown 91 - # 8 (or used to be) Memphis 88 (OT) = The Hoyas may be a surprise to many this year. Or maybe the Tigers will be one, albeit a bad one.

Iona 104 - St. Joseph's 99 (2OT) = Dang, I wish I'd seen this game. The Gaels are supposed to be good this year, and the Hawks are already playing better this season than they did last one.

Loyola Marymount 79 - Idaho State 76 (OT) = I'm not sure this means much by itself, but when you consider LM beat UCLA by 11, then needed OT to edge Potato State by a trey . . . well, it puts the Bruins into an even worse light.

South Alabama 79 - LSU 75 (OT) = A good win by a mid-major over this SEC team, which pleases me no end. I've "hated" the Tigers since 1983, when some bozo slapped a hard foul on Kenny Smith's breakaway layup and snapped one of Jet's bones in the process . . . in a game where LSU had already lost. Any day those chippies lose is a good one for me, to this day.

# 15 Michigan 79 - UCLA 63 = Well, at least Justin's Bruins were sort of in this one against a ranked team. Yet it's poor consolation, considering their only W so far was against Chaminade. :rolleyes:

Vermont 65 - ODU 63 (OT) = Anybody who didn't see this one as being a good one on the schedule just doesn't know his hoops. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

# 5 Syracuse 69 - Virginia Tech 58 = I guess it's a good win for the Orange, though I'd have been more impressed had it not been in MSG, their second "home court".


In limited Turkey Day action:


UCF 74 - Charleston 63 = This one surprises me a bit, since CoC has a better program than UCF, so I'd have expected a win, or at least a tight loss.

# 4 U Conn 73 - N. C. Asheville 63 - Once again, I'm not very impressed by the performance of a supposed top team and defending champ. It's not that Asheville's a total cupcake, but they did lose to NCSU by 9 and UNC by 16 on their home court. Again, a 10-point victory beats a 1-point loss, but it is not much of a statement.

Fairfield 55 - Arizona State 44 = But this is a statement, if the statement you seek is regarding the continued struggles of PAC-12 teams. No disrespect to Farifield, but this performance by Sendek's squad is just putrid.

Saint Louis 62 - Boston College 51 = However, the statement being made by Rick Majerus and his Billikens is quite positively noisy so far. Remember, they also beat Washington by 13 earlier, so already have 2 "BCS" wins.

Santa Clara 79 - New Mexico 76 (OT) = A very good game, a good win for Santa Clara (who've shocked a few people in the past as well in early season upsets), and a tough loss for the Lobos coming off a nice season last year.

Dayton 80 - Wake Forest 76 = And a decent win for the Flyers, even though the Deacs haven't been the Deacs of old for a while. Still, Wake fans need not hang their heads over this close loss, as it may indicate they won't lose 23 more this year, like they did in 2010-11.

Oklahoma 74 - Washington State 59 = Ouch. OK, with all due respect for the Sooners, this is embarrassing. At this moment, the PAC-12 has started the season with an 33-23 overall record. Sorry, Left Coast fans, but that's just pitiful.


There are a ton of games today, several already in progress. But I'm gonna pause for lunch and be back shortly with them. Later, brohs.

[The Poet]

I'm back, and already have a final for today:


Minnesota 76 - Indiana State 69 = A pretty decent game, with the Gophers needing a big second half to take this one from Bird's old school. Not a great victory, but OK I guess.

At the moment, UCF is giving U Conn a lot more than they want, with only 3 minutes left. Opps . . . now they're up by 3 with 2:11 left. If they can hold on and take the Huskies, everybody will be shocked. I'll likely have a final before I finish talking about:


Texas Tech vs. DePaul = I figured this would be tight, and so far it is. I'll try to update this one too.

Villanova vs. Saint Louis = I figured this would be tight too, but so far the Billikens are rolling pretty good. There's still time for a 'Nova run, yet they need to start it soon.

Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State = This too looked tobe good, and at the moment the Hokies are up by a trey.

Miami vs. Mississippi = This tips off about now, and should also be decent.

# 22 Florida State vs. Harvard = And this one too, believe it or not. The 'Noles have a defensive edge, but the Crimson aren't the cupcakes they used to be.

Dayton vs. Fairfield = Here too, we should have a good match-up. Me, I give the Flyers the nod.

# 5 Syracuse vs. Stanford = So far, the Trees have been one of the PAC-12's few bright spots. I give them a shot at handing the Orange a loss here.

Rice vs. Northern Iowa = And I can see this one being pretty good also.

BYU vs. Nevada = And this one too.

# 3 Ohio State vs. Valparaiso = But I can't see Valpo hanging around more than a half in this one. The Buckeyes have entirely too much talent for that . . . if they show up, anyway.

Marshall vs. Cincinnati = However, I can see the Bearcats having some trouble here. They may surprise me and run away with it, but they've already proven they are vulnurable.

# 10 Florida vs. Jacksonville = I can't see the Gators having too much trouble building a double-digit lead here before the horn.

# 17 Pittsburgh vs. Penn = And the Panthers should hold off these in-state "rivals", in hoops if not academically.

Elon vs. N. C. State = But I can see Elon giving Jerry's Wolfpack a good game. I hope they can win it, yet a margin over 10 would surprise me a bit.

# 7 Louisville vs. Ohio = If this one'd not done by halftime, Pitino will have a heart-attack in the lockerroom.

Charleston vs. N. C. Asheville = But I can maybe see this one being close. I don't think Charleston has shown they are as good as they've been in the past, while Asheville has competed well against some tough competition.

Wake Forest vs. Arizona State = Here's a "down" ACC school against one from the "down" PAC-12. Should be fun, and will be interesting at least.

USC vs. UNLV = I have no idea what kind of team the Runnin' Rebels have this year, but 5 will get you 10 they can take the crappy Trojans.

# 24 Mississippi State vs. Tenn- Martin = After a rough home loss to open the season, the Bulldogs have turned things around fast. I can't see them bothered much here.

Campbell vs. Creighton = Maybe it's my imagination, but I foresee a nice one here.

UAB vs. Wichita State = Both squads need a win badly, so here's another one to watch.

# 11 Wisconsin vs. Bradley = Bradley's not a complete dog, but the Badgers ought to handle them just fine.

Providence vs. Iowa State = Neither team will compete for the lead in their respective conferences, so this could be some fun also.

Washington State vs. New Mexico = WSU may have a fight on its hands, and could easily add to the PAC-12's woes.

Murray State vs. San Francisco = Sorry, Joe, but I can see your Racers having problems here. They struggled against Alaska, and the Dons are better than them.

# 1 North Carolina vs. South Carolina = My Heels go back on the road to take on the Gamecocks out in Sin City. Back in the day, when a young Dean Smith would go up against his old (and disgraced) boss Frank McGuire, this game would have been a dogfight, on the court and in the stands. Those days are long gone, and I can't see much of a fight breaking out here.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. Monmouth = And although I'd like to see my (and Dean's) man make a game of this, I can't see one here either, despite the Comms earlier problems.

Southern Mississippi vs. New Mexico State = But this one could be decent.

Oklahoma vs. Santa Clara = And this one too, believe it or not. We're not talking football here, so the Left Coast boys have a shot at the Sooners.


Lemme go see what finals are up, and maybe what early games are on tap tomorrow. Later.

[The Poet]

Here's your headline for today:


UCF 68 - # 4 (and dropping) U. Conn 63 = Hahahahahahaha! I said from the get-go that the Huskies were over-ranked, considering that their success last year all hinged on the departed Kemba Walker's heroics in March. Still, this one is by far the biggest shock of the season to date.

DePaul 76 - Texas Tech 70 = Stayed tight start to finish, and a nice W for the Blue Demons.

Saint Louis 80 - Villanova 68 = As I stated earlier, the Billikens were handling the Philly 'Cats just fine, thank you very much. Yet it's a bit of a surprise, despite my respect for that old fat man Majerus. Hey, I have respect for that young thin man Jay Wright too, and thought his boys would at least show up. Seems like they didn't, however.

Virginia Tech 59 - Oklahoma State 57 = Another tight one tip-off to buzzer, and a nice win for the Hokies.

[The Poet]

And here's another early final of interest, at least to me:


Mississippi Valley State 90 - Tennessee State 89 (2OT) = Aside from being an all-out dogfight start to finish, and taking an extra 10 minutes to finally decide by one stinkin' point, the Delta Devils get their first victory of the season and survive to advance in the Las Vegas Invitational . . . the same tourney my Heels help kick off tonight in the nightcap with the Gamecocks. This is the same Delta Devils UNC spanked by 26 once they finally got back to the Dean Dome. Can you say "rematch"? Maybe you can, but I can't. First, I need my Heels to take them one at a time, thank you very much. And second, I'm far from certain that MVS can survive long enough to make that game, unless maybe they are paired up next. Either way, with this victory maybe it will allow the vaunted RPI Index to give them some credit . . . which may move UNC up from 94th in the nation, by that computer's count. :D


There's not a lot happening early tomorrow, and much of the action is of the "TBA" variety, awaiting the results of tourneys and invitationals so common this time of year. So unless somebody posts some comment for my reply, that should be it for me today. In either case, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Aside from that stunner yesterday, with Calhoun's Huskies falling to that Mickey Mouse team from Orlando (with a Jordan on the squad, but not his daddy by a ways), here's the scores that struck me:


Marshall 73 - Cincinnati 69 (OT) = I told you the Bearcats might have trouble with this one. Had I the stones, I may have picked the Herd to trample them. It's early in the year, and Cincy could rebound, but two mid-major losses already (Does Presbyterian count as a mid-major? :D ) does not bode well for their Big East chances.

Harvard 46 - # 22 (yeah, OK) Florida State 41 = And I told you that Haa-Vaad wasn't a cupcake also, though this win was as much a factor of the ugliness of the game overall. Hey, it was tied at 14 at the break! The Semiholes are supposed to be defensive monsters, so maybe they defended their own goal here.

# 7 Louisville 59 - Ohio 54 = Yes, I said Ohio, the Bobcats, and not OSU, the Buckeyes. Talk about your ugly wins, it can't get much worse than this without being an ugly loss.

Mississippi 64 - Miami 61 (OT) = I expected a good game in this one, and we got it.

New Mexico 72 - Washington State 62 = And I'm not surprised at all that PAC-12 teams continue to stink up the joint.

N. C. State 82 - Elon 67 = But this one surprises me a bit, albeit in a good way. Remember, Elon beat South Carolina earlier, and I figured Jerry's Wolfpack was only a step or two above the 'Cocks. Therefore I consider this a better win than you might.

Northern Iowa 64 - Rice 60 = Another good game, like I felt it would be.

Murray State 70 - San Francisco 67 = Congratulations to Joe's Racers for taking one I thought they'd lose . . . though I'm sure he had a few sweaty moments towards the end. After all, the Dons only scored 19 in the first half, and it looked like MSU would run away with it. But 'Frisco charged back hard in the second stanza to make a nail-biter out of it. Yet this does not detract from what is drfinitely a good win.

# 5 Syracuse 69 - Stanford 63 = And if this other Bay Area squad had played with the same drive, they would have given us the second big Big East upset of the day. I told you Stanford had a shot, and they actually had a good one . . . and would have won, had they just limited the Orange's run at the end.

Charleston 68 - N. C. Asheville 66 = Here's snother I predicted as good, and it certainly was. I'm still not sure what CoC's gonna have before the season's over, but I do know UNC-A has become a decent mid-major program that nobody seems to pay much attention to.

UNLV 66 - USC 55 = I told you 5 'ud get you 10 were you to bet the Rebels over the Trojans, and their 55 was actually 11 short of a push. I saw it coming, but I still don't understand why the Left Coast has fallen off the map so far.


I also still don't see any early games of interest today, with maybe the exception of Siena/Vermont. So I'll take a little break and be back later, once I do find a few contests worth watching.

[The Poet]

There are a ton of "Who gives a fark?" match-ups today, which I'll skip. For instance, does anybody but a Boilermaker care that Purdue spanked Coppin State? But here's some (prolly too many) for one to note:


# 4 (yeah, right) U Conn vs. # 22 (ehhh, OK) Florida State = This could have been a pretty decent championship game in this funky new tourney, save for the fact that it is the consolation game. Both teams spit the bit yesterday, though it is arguable that the Huskies spat it a good deal further. However, the size of the trophy does not affect the quality of the game, and this has good potential. You'd want to think both teams will be focused anyway, and both coaches would be p!$$ed. As for that championship contest . . .

Harvard vs. UCF = I have respect for any Ivy League team that can compete on a "national" level, and have a homegrown regard for any team which has a Jordan on the court. Other than that, I don't much care either way. That does not affect the possibility of a really good game here, however.

Penn State vs. St. Joseph's = And this could be a pretty good one too, as I think they'll match up well.

Northeastern vs. St. John's = And this could be better than Steve Lavin would wish.

# 25 Texas A&M vs. TAMU Corpus Christi = If I recall rightly, TAMU-CC pulled off a big upset over somebody last year. Today? Well, I'm not sure this would be as big a one, and I don't think it will be one at all. Aggies, comfortably.

# 19 Gonzaga vs. Western Michigan = OK, can somebody tell me how the 'Zags have managed to go 3-0 so far? Hey, I don't mean "How are they still undefeated?", but rather "Why have they only played thrice?". What are they waiting on, Christmas? Were they also involved in the NBA lockout somehow? Other than that, I really don't care how badly . . . or narrowly . . . they beat WMU.

# 20 California vs. Denver = And I don't care much here either, as a Golden Bear victory still won't tell us how much they deserve their ranking, one way or the other.

Bradley vs. Nevada = But here, well I don't know exactly why, yet I've got that feeling we could have a good 'un.

Charlotte vs. Wright State = And here too.

Detroit vs. Akron = And again here.

U Mass vs. Charleston = And again.

# 2 Kentucky vs. Portland = And . . . well, I guess the folks in Rupp will enjoy it.

USC vs. USC = That's right. The Gamecocks versus the Trojans in the consolation game out in Las Vegas. This should be a fairly close game, and I will go with USC ove USC in this one. :tu

Iowa State vs. Rice = Here's another of those games I just have that feeling about. No, about which I just have that feeling, for all you grammarians out there.

TCU vs. Houston = And this in-state battle could be OK too, though I think the Cougars will eventually de-horn the Frogs.

# 11 Wisconsin vs. BYU = This also may be closer than the Badgers want, but I'm not sure I can recommend watching it. Both teams can have the tendency to plod, so unless you enjoy half-court contests in the 60s this may not be your cup of tea.

Tulsa vs. Missouri State = Here again, I don't have any clue why this popped out at me, but it did.

New Mexico State vs. San Francisco = I've a better idea why I like the potential for a battle here. I think they match up fairly well.

San Diego State vs. UCSB = Yet here again, I don't know why, but I feel the Aztecs will have a bit of a fight on their hands here.

Utah vs. N. C. Asheville = And for some reason I've latched onto the Bulldogs this year, which I'm not able to explain. Why would this 2-4 squad fascinate me so? Still, facing the 1-4 Utes gives us a shot at a decent struggle.

Northern Iowa vs. Providence = And here's just one more of those with that potential.

Southern Mississippi vs. Murray State = I foresee anther tough trial for Joe's Racers here, but I won't pick against them again . . . yet. ;)

# 1 North Carolina vs. UNLV = The championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational, with the 6-0 Runnin' Rebels playing within walking distance of their home court. Meanwhile, the 5-0 Heels put 3,000 fans into the available 8,000 seats last night, so there's that going for them. These teams both like to run, and so far this year they are # 1 and # 2 in the nation for assists. The game will likely hinge on rebounds and TOs, as do many games. This will be Carolina's biggest test since that flattop game against the Spartans. They may falter, but I really don't think they will. Heels by 3 or 4 possessions.


Lunchtime. I'll likely be back shortly with early scores, and some select games from Sunday. Later.

[The Poet]

Well, that Vermont/Siena game was what I expected, with VT taking it 64-62. Also, that FSU/UConn one is also what I thought . . . it just went into OT tied at 71. The 'Noles had a 3-point edge, but fouled Husky freshman Boatright on a trey-attempt with 7.3 left, and he hit all 3 from the stripe.


Sunday games to note:


Wake Forest vs. Texas Tech = This should be a nice match-up, and may tell us more about both teams.

Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan = This may not tell us much about the Spartans, but they still need the W.

Arizona State vs. DePaul = So far, the Blue Demons have played better than the Sun Devils, so I'llhave to go with the northern fallen angels.

# 24 Mississippi State vs. North Texas = I don't yet believe in the Bulldogs, but I can't see this being much of a contest.

# 21 Missouri vs. Binghamton = Yet it might be more of one than this turkey.

New Mexico vs. Boston College = However, this one has the potential to entertain, if the Eagles manage to show up.

# 17 Pittsburgh vs. Robert Morris = So watch that one above, and skip this.

St. Bonaventure vs. Virginia Tech = Though I think the Hokies have better talent, I can see this one being pretty decent, at least for a while.

Santa Clara vs. Villanova = Same here.

Butler vs. Indiana = Two teams headed in different directions. I still believe the Hoosiers are a year or so away, but I'll give them the edge in this one.

Oklahoma vs. Saint Louis = And the way the Billikens have been playing, one would need to be a Sooner to think the Sooners would be able to skate.

# 13 Alabama vs. VCU = The Tide's been better than expected, and VCU has not yet been what they've been in the past. Much as I'd like to do otherwise, I'll go with the Tide.


Lemme see what's happening in that OT contest. I may be back, but if not . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

It's over in the Bahamas, with the Huskies holding on by the skin of their teeth to edge the 'Noles 78-76 in OT. It is likely bitter-sweet for them, but I guess it's better than the bitter-bitter Semihole sensation.

'Bye until Monday afternoon.

[SD Beerman]

Good to see you are keeping an eye out for my Aztecs. Starting off well after losing 4 starters but a tough road ahead... Thanks.

Hope all is well with you.-(P

[The Poet]

Good to see you are keeping an eye out for my Aztecs. Starting off well after losing 4 starters but a tough road ahead... Thanks.

Hope all is well with you.-(P


Larry, your boys earned the right to get a little attention last year, so I'll give them some until and unless they prove otherwise.

And thanks for asking . . . things are well enough, I suppose, for a crippled old man anyway. :D


Speaking of the SDSU Aztecs:

San Diego State 76 - UCSB 75 (OT) = Well, they came close to "proving otherwise" here. I'm not putting Santa Barbara down, and a win's a win, but this was a little too close for comfort.


But without a doubt, the biggest news of the weekend was:


UNLV 90 - # 5 (now) North Carolina 80 = I figured this would be a challenge, with the Heels taking it by a few possessions. And that's the way it started out, with them up by 4 at the half. But they didn't come out in the second half, while the Rebels did. A great win for UNLV, and a loss that hopefully gets the attention of the Tar Heels. At the very least, it takes a target off their chests for a while.


Other than that, in Saturday action:


TCU 81 - Houston 80 = A good game, and a very good win for the Frogs.

Murray State 90 - Southern Miss 81 (2OT) = Man, I bet Joe was sweating this one out. Aside from the unusually large margin for an OT victory, this was a great battle.

USC 63 - South Carolina 60 = Another good game, and a badly-needed win for the PAC-12.

Charlotte 70 - Wright State 66 = And a nice win for the 49ers here.



In Suday games:


Alabama 72 - VCU 64 = I'm a little surprised that VCU made it this close, seeing as how they've not shown a lot so far this year. But on the other hand, I'm a little surprised that the Tide's as highly regarded as they currently are, so maybe this one's about right.

Bowling Green 67 - Temple 64 = Not a good sign for the Owls here, who may struggle to compete for the A-10 this season.

UC Riverside 64 - Washington State 63 = As good as that Trojan win was for the PAC-12, this one more than offsets it as a bad loss. UC-Riverside? Are you kidding me?

DePaul 68 - Arizona State 64 = And though this is another loss for that league, this one at least is "acceptable".

Gardner-Webb 76 - Chattanooga 74 (OT) = Just a good tight game between two well-matched teams.

Pittsburgh 81 - Robert Morris 71 = But here, were I a Pitt Panther, I'd be embarrassed by this 10-point victory.

Saint Louis 83 - Oklahoma 63 = Man, these Billikens are making a lot of noise so far. Remember, this follows wins over Washington, BC, and Villanova, all of whom might be considered "out of their league" in more ways than one. The experts who picked the Iona Gaels to be this year's giant-killer may have missed the boat.

Wake Forest 70 - Texas Tech 61 = The Deacs had a lousy season last year. This one may not be much better, but even baby steps like this are positive ones in the right direction, are are doubtless welcome at Wake.

Santa Clara 65 - Villanova 64 = Well, I thought this would be decent, and if you're not a Philly 'Cat I guess you'd have to admit it was.


Tonight has some light action, but of note we'll see:


Akron vs, West Virginia = The Mountaineers haven't been what they were, and the Zips have not built on their early "upset" at Miss. State, so this could be competitive.

# 10 Florida vs. Stetson = Unlike this one.

# 6 Louisville vs. Long Beach State = This may be a little better, but not a great deal so.

# 11 Xavier vs. # 20 Vanderbilt = But here, here we may have a fight down in The Music City. I'm leaning towards the Comms, as I think they have the edge down low . . . not to mention the weirdness of that elevated court of theirs which can throw off visiting teams.

# 22 Memphis vs. Jackson State = This should not be a game at all. Yet I do find one thing interesting here. I have no problem with UNC dropping from # 1 to # 5 with their loss in Vegas, nor with U Conn dropping from # 4 to # 8 after being edged by UCF in Nassau. But the Tigers are 2 and 2, with losses to then-#17 MIchigan and unranked Georgetown, so how are they still at # 22? Did somebody confuse their record with their ranking? :r

# 16 Marquette vs. Jacksonville = This could be pretty close for maybe a half or so, but I can't see it lasting much longer than that.

Georgia vs. Colorado = And though I don't see either of these squads making much noise over the long haul, they should be able to tee it up enough to make this entertaining.

# 24 California vs. McNeese State = OK, if you want to waste 2 hours watching this one, feel free. But were I on the Left Coast, I'd watch . . .

Pepperdine vs. UCLA = Two weeks ago I'd not have given the Waves much of a chance to surf past the Bruins, but so far those guys have not been as advertised. Also, the dudes from Malibu have beaten Arizona State and UTSA, so they have a shot at hanging within 10 here too. And if not, we'll maybe see if UCLA can turn things around and get their 2nd win of the season.

Weber State vs. St. Mary's = Here's another one of interest to me. I've no idea what Weber has, but I know what a decent program St. Mary's has had, so I'll be sure to check on this tomorrow.


And speaking of tomorrow, I'll be back then. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

I started to wonder if the 'Heels took the half to go to Casa Fuente for a Don Carlos and a mojito???? They didn't show up for the 2nd bell, and the Runnin' Rebs made them pay. VERY surprising, but I do not envy the 'Heels next opponent.

UK now has the #1 spot; let's see how long it takes for the Curse to hit them :sl.

How 'bout them Racers!!!!! Nice tourney for them, and one of their better starts to a season.

Watching the Vandy game now, before MNF. Vandy's looking pretty good, early in the 2nd.

[rebelknight]

OSU vs Duke tomorrow. Both teams in the AP top 3. Does an early season game get any better than this? Can't wait for an awesome game tomorrow.

[OLS]

Memphis is discovering that they can't rebound and they have been unable for two years to defend the perimeter.
They are going down SO hard. Shame, too, the coach is a nice guy, maybe too nice. These are one senior and all
the rest fresh and sophs. They are in too big a hurry to one and done to learn anything. Don't put money on the Tigers.

[The Poet]

I started to wonder if the 'Heels took the half to go to Casa Fuente for a Don Carlos and a mojito???? They didn't show up for the 2nd bell, and the Runnin' Rebs made them pay. VERY surprising, but I do not envy the 'Heels next opponent.

UK now has the #1 spot; let's see how long it takes for the Curse to hit them :sl.

How 'bout them Racers!!!!! Nice tourney for them, and one of their better starts to a season.

Watching the Vandy game now, before MNF. Vandy's looking pretty good, early in the 2nd.

As for UNC/UNLV, I am as always of the opinion that if you don't play well, you deserve to lose. And as for their NEXT opponent, I hope Barnes can play better on a gimpy ankle against Wisconsin that he did against the Rebels, and that Marshall can defend the point better, and that the others who didn't show up (pretty much everybody except freshman P.J. Hairston off the bench) Saturday show up tomorrow.

The Wildcats are welcome to that # 1 ranking as long as they wish to hold it, as far as I'm concerned. It's only bragging rights until the end or March anyway. As for when the "curse" will strike . . . well, at this point I'd not put money on my Heels evoking it this weekend, much as I may like it to happen.

Go Racers, just as far as you can! :tu

And regarding the Commordores, looking good to start the 2nd didn't do much for them in OT. :r

OSU vs Duke tomorrow. Both teams in the AP top 3. Does an early season game get any better than this? Can't wait for an awesome game tomorrow.

I'm hoping it's a good game, and if both teams play up to potential it should be. I can see Dook edging out a win. I can also see the Buckeyes spanking them, what with their advantage down low. Either way, they won't be 2 and 3 in next week's polls. ;)

Memphis is discovering that they can't rebound and they have been unable for two years to defend the perimeter.
They are going down SO hard. Shame, too, the coach is a nice guy, maybe too nice. These are one senior and all
the rest fresh and sophs. They are in too big a hurry to one and done to learn anything. Don't put money on the Tigers.

I've heard good things about that coach . . . Pastner, or something like that? . . . and if true I wish him ultimate success. No offense intended, however, but my main hope is that he can clean up the mess that's too often hit that program, and run a clean one, regardless of success on the court.

Update shortly.

[The Poet]

Scores of note from last night include:


# 12 Xavier 82 - # 18 Vanderbilt 70 (OT) = And on Vandy's court, to boot. As referenced above, the Comms did not show up for the extra 5 minutes, scoring only 4 points to make this into a relative rarity . . . a blowout in OT.

Oakland (MI) 89 - Tennessee 81 = And to add to the pain in the Volunteer State today, we have this surprise. OK, I know Bruce Pearl left the program in turmoil, but this is just sad.

# 7 Louisville 79 - Long Beach State 66 = This is not nearly as sad, since the 49ers are not total cupcakes, and the Cardinals did win the game. Yet +13 points is not much of a statement for a Top Ten team.

Colorado 70 - Georgia 68 = I just noticed this as a third SEC loss of the night. Although the ACC may top that futility this evening as their challenge with the Big Ten kicks off ( :D ), it still is notable. Otherwise, take note I called for a good game here, and we got one. You're welcome. :r

UCLA 62 - Pepperdine 39 = I have no idea if this means anything at all, as it tells me little about the Bruins and even less about the Waves. Still, I'd wager Ben Howland will take anything he can get these days.


Tonight, as I said, the ACC/Big Ten challenge begins, and the marquee match-up is:


# 2 Ohio State vs. # 3 Duke = I pretty much said it all above. Toss it up, let them play, and let's see who's for real.

# 14 Michigan vs. Virginia = Early the Wolverines had problems scoring, but have been doing better lately. The Cavs, on the other hand, are under everybody's radar, and perhaps rightfully so. However, for some reason I can see UVA giving UM some game here, so keep your eye on the scoreboard.

Northwestern vs. Georgia Tech = On the third hand, I can't see the Wreck doing all that much against what's been an improving Windy City Wildcat squad. It won't be Sherman's March through Atlanta tonight, but I do believe the Jackets willget burned.

Illinois vs. Maryland = Neither of these programs are what they used to be, and to be totally honest I have no idea what to predict here. Flip a coin.

Miami vs. Purdue = This one may get pretty ugly for the Hurricanes, and fast. Purdue has started to play better, and if Robbie Hummel's hitting his shots this could be over quickly.

Clemson vs. Iowa = But this one's about the same as the Illini/Terps game. Nobody knows who's who, if either one is actually anybody anyway. I'm leaning towards the Tigers a tiny bit, but the Hawkeyes may easily prove me wrong.


Otherwise, there's:


# 4 Syracuse vs. Eastern Michigan = Despite all the off-court distractions for the Orange, I really can't see them letting this one get away. Their style, much as I may dislike it, is too disiplined for said distractions to throw them off for long.

# 7 Baylor vs. Prairie View A&M = I had to double-check on this, and my suspicions were correct. So far the Bears have only played one decent team, and that Larry's SDSU Aztecs. Plus, they seem too shy to leave their den too. I guess we'll all have to wait a month or two to see if they deserve their ranking also.

# 23 Saint Louis vs. Loyola Marymount = And though I don't know how long the Billikens can remain amongst the ranked, I have no problem whatsoever accepting the fact that they have earned their distinction. They may get a test for a half or so this evening, but I'm gonna stick with Majerus' boys for now.

East Carolina vs. ODU = This one I just see as having some potential to be a good game.

Miami (OH) vs. Cincinnati = And this one interests me solely because I've become curious as to what in the hell the Bearcats are this year. If you're a Cincy fan, you doubtless know what I mean by that.

Arizona vs. New Mexico State = It's pretty much the same situation here, although my interest is not merely limited to the Desert 'Cats, but includes the entire PAC-12. The one difference is that I do think this could be pretty decent.

UTEP vs. Oregon = And for some odd reason, I think the same thing here.


That's my report for today. Thanks for all those who've jumped in with their comments, and please feel welcome to add your own :2 , brothers. Until later then, enjoy.

[Adriftpanda]

So glad to see this thread! I love college hoops more than anything, almost.

Good game on tonight, #3 OSU vs #6 Dukie.

Im a big Standford Cardinal fan.

[The Poet]

So glad to see this thread! I love college hoops more than anything, almost.

Good game on tonight, #3 OSU vs #6 Dukie.

Im a big Standford Cardinal fan.


I love it too, Huy, but I try to keep it in perspective. Hell, as a Tar Heel who's followed it since the days of Larry Miller and Charlie Scott ("Who?"), I'd be a fool to consider it more than a game.

And not only am I hoping for a competitve match between the Buckeyes and the Blue Devils, I also wouldn't mind one bit seeing your Trees make a little noise this season. As opposed to the Big Athletic programs based at schools, I always prefer those schools with priorities in order who educate first and field teams secondly.

[The Poet]

So let's kick this off with the big news from last night:


# 2 Ohio State 85 - # 3 (yeah, right) Duke 63 = Well, I halfway called this one for you. As I said, I could maybe see Dook winning a tight one, but could see the Buckeyes blowing them off the court also. Thus this spanking does not surprise me much, mainly because I've never seen enough from the Plumlees to think they could deal with Sully. They couldn't.

Northwestern 76 - Georgia Tech 60 = And I called this one for sure. The Wreck has been pretty much exactly that for some years now, with the Smarty 'Cats doing quite well, thank you very much.

Virginia 70 - # 14 (yesterday) Michigan 58 = And I contend I called this one too. The Logans returned to their earlier scoring woes, and the Cavs made more than a game of it. Good for them, and a possible warning to those who insist the ACC's top-heavy.

Purdue 76 - Miami 65 = And my only hesitation for claiming I called this one is that I thought the Boilermakers might even make it uglier that that final 11-point margin.

Clemson 71 - Iowa 55 = But if you want to get picky, you can diss me on this one if you like. I leaned towards the Tigers, but that "lean" of 16 points makes the Tower of Pisa look like the Washington Momument.

Illinois 71 - Maryland 62 = I made no call on this one, and consider myself wise in doing so. A win by 3 or 4 possessions is a cointoss IMHO, so there is no surprise here.


In other action outside the ACC/Big Ten challenge:


Cincinnati 56 - Miami OH 47 = A win for the struggling Bearcats, but not a very impressive one.

Loyola Marymount 75 - # 23 (bye-bye!) Saint Louis 68 = The Billikens made it into the polls for the first time in a long while, and promptly spit the bit. It's not a terrible loss, if you recall that LM knocked UCLA out of the rankings right off the bat, but it's one that likely rankles Rick Majerus . . . who's never found a spotlight he didn't like, if he could find one large enough to illuminate his entire frame. :D

Arizona 83 - New Mexico State 76 = And the Desert 'Cats are another PAC-12 team that dropped out of sight early. This won't get them back, but it's a step in the right direction.

ODU 63 - East Carolina 58 = This is just one of those I thought could be good, and it was.

Oregon 64 - UTEP 59 = And this is another I had that feeling about, and The Force was with me here also.


Tonight's action includes a few too many games with potential to note here, so I'll stick with ones I see as relevant:


Marshall vs. Ohio = The Bobcats may not be able to stick with the Herd from start to finish, yet Marshall's one of those mid-majors we need to keep one eye upon. They can give you a scary first-round game come March, if they make it there.

Northeastern vs. La Salle = And although I can't see (at this point anyway) either of these two making it to March, I do think they could entertain us for 30 minutes or so, if not all the way to the buzzer.

Bucknell ve George Mason = Here too it's the same thing, as I don't see GM making another miracle run anytime soon. Still, this may be fun.

# 17 Pittsburgh vs. Duquesne = And considering the way the Panthers have played from time to time, this one could also be more fun than Dixon would prefer.

South Florida vs. VCU = This one's another that could be a nail-biter going either way.

Tulsa vs. Oklahoma State = And this in-state match-up should be close also. Me, I lean slightly towards Tulsa here.

# 15 Kansas vs. Florida Atlantic = And I lean slightly towards the Jayhawks here. :rolleyes:

Colorado vs. Colorado State = Another in-stater with potential.

Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State = Ditton.

Lamar vs. TCU = I don't know, and don't much care, where Lamar is, but I do think they might give TCU some game before it's over.

# 25 Texas A&M vs. Alcorn State = And if this isn't done by halftime, I'll be surprised.

Drake vs. Boise State = I've no clue as to why this one popped, but I've learned to pay attention to my hunches.

# 18 UNLV vs. UCSB = But I know exactly why this one popped. Not only do I want to see what the Runnin' Rebels have left after taking my Heels, I'm getting that feeling Santa Barbara may give them game. Hey, they beat a good Santa Clara team, and lost to a good Aztec squad by a point. Speaking of Aztecs . . .

Creighton vs. SDSU = This one pops for me too. Though those Aztecs have made noise the past 12 months or so, Creighton's on occasion been making noise for decades. Watch the scoreboard here.

# 19 Gonzaga vs. Notre Dame = The 'Zag Bulldogs haven't played much of anybody yet, so their 4-0 record means little. The Irish have played even more nobodies so far, thus their 5-2 record means even less. We might find out who's who this evening, or at least finally get some hints.


Then, with the continuation of the ACC/Big Ten challenge:


Indiana vs. N. C. State = The Hoosiers are supposed to be a year or two away, yet have played better than was expected early this season. The exact same thing can be said of the Wolfpack. As I see this going either way, with maybe a slim edge to the home team in Raleigh, I'd suggest you put your money on "red". :r

Florida State vs. Michigan State = The 'Noles started warm, if not hot, then cooled. The Spartans started cool, yet have warmed up considerably. Ehhh, ummmm . . . beats me. I like Izzo a lot, so may have to go against league loyalty here.

Wake Forest vs. Nebraska = If the fact that the Cornhuskers are now Big Ten isn't enough to confuse you, consider that the lame@$$ Demon Deacons have already won about as much as they did all last season. This just might be a pretty decent game out in Lincoln.

Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota = And this one too, come to think of it. The Hokies play well about 2 out of 3 times, which is pretty much what the Gophers do too. If both show up, we might just have us a contest here.

# 5 North Carolina vs. # 9 Wisconsin = Man, I truly have no idea what to say about this one in Chapel Hill. Don't make too much of the old saw about not wanting to face a good team after an upset . . . like with baseball, momentum lasts as long as the next day's pitcher. The Tar Heels exhibited some weaknesses in rebounding, perimeter defense, FT percentage, and outside shooting even before that Las Vegas game. And the Badgers are both big enough and (unlike their rep) fast enough to take advantage. Still, I think they'll make a mistake if they try to run with the Heels. I can see this being Carolina's 2nd loss in a row with a game in the 70s, or a win if it gets up around 90. But they'd better play better than they did Saturday, or the home crowd will let them hear it, for sure. Flip a coin.


Speaking of coins that's it for my :2 today. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

My mojo was off some on a number of my "picks" yesterday. So it goes. Here are those which stuck out for me:


# 17 Pittsburgh 80 - Duquesne 69 = I figured on a Pitt victory, but not a very impressive one. Seems that's what we got here too.

George Mason 61 - Bucknell 57 = I also thought this could be fun, and so it was.

Ohio 70 - Marshall 68 = But this one surprises me. I would not have given the Bobcats a chance to trample the Herd, and they didn't. However, they did win, and good for them.

Buffalo 84 - Dayton 55 = Yet speaking of trampling herds, this one has me buffaloed. Since when can they beat the Flyers by even a late FT, much less by almost 30 points?

Indiana 86 - N. C. State 75 = Jerry's 'Pack could not defend homecourt, and the Hoosiers get another decent victory. I'd not be shocked to see them creep into the bottom of the rankings next week . . . if they don't stumble before then.

Michigan State 65 - Florida State 49 = But I would be a bit surprised to see the Spartans make it into those ranks yet, though I'd be even more shocked if the Seminoles remain there. Bye bye!

Eastern Illinois 85 - Maine 80 (OT) = A game that may mean nothing over the long haul, but sure was fun while it lasted.

Oklahoma State 59 - Tulsa 56 = I did lean a tad towards Tulsa here, but still it was about what I expected.

Colorado State 65 - Colorado 64 = I didn't lean either way here, yet thought it could be decent. Seems it was even more than that.

TCU 77 - Lamar 72 = And I still don't know why I felt Lamar would give TCU a game here, so just chalk this up to luck.

# 18 UNLV 94 - UCSB 88 (2OT) = Hey, did I not tell you Santa Barbara might give the Rebels fits? Vegas damn-near spit out the rep they got from beating my Heels. This still does not tell us if they were good in that game, or if UNC was just bad, so I make no further judgement yet.

Minnesota 58 - Virginia Tech 55 = Here again I made no pick, save to predict the potential for a war. I'll take it.

Creighton 85 - San Diego State 83 = And I told you to keep an eye on this one too. The Aztecs played well, but Creighton played just a tad better for a really good win.

Wake Forest 55 - Nebraska 53 = Even though the 'Huskers are not considered much of a basketball school, unlike Wake's past glory, this is a very good win for the Deacons on the road for a team that's had dang few of them of late.

# 5 North Carolina 60 - # 9 Wisconsin 57 = A win's a win, and this is a good one which the Tar Heels needed to recoup from their earlier "upset" out in Vegas, but I'm a bit confused by it. The score indicates the type of game the Badgers wanted, keeping the Heels from showing them as they ran down court. And UNC had a huge rebounding edge, perhaps more to do to UW's poor outside shooting; they missed 20 of 28 from beyond the arc. Me, I'll take it, but I don't understand it completely.


Tonight has a number of potentially close match-ups between "Who dey?" and "Who cares?", which I'll skip. Otherwise:


Harvard vs. Vermont = These are two teams with dreams of making the tourney come March. Both want a victory badly here, and if both show up this could be a war.

Davidson vs. Wofford = And here's a southern version of the same darn thing.

# 1 Kentucky vs. St. John's = Were this in the Garden, or even better, on Louie's court, I just might give the Johnnies half a chance of making a game out of this one. But it is in Rupp, and I think the Red Storm squad is still too young not to be intimidated by 20,000+ rabid Wildcats. And though they have one slim shot of giving us some thrills before it's done, I'd more expect a rout.

Murray State vs. Western Kentucky = Speaking of undefeated teams from the Bluegrass State, Joe's Racers want to stay that way a while longer. I can't see them dropping the ball this evening.

Mississippi vs. DePaul = Hey, this one may be quite decent, and could be the one to watch were it not for . . .

Stanford vs. Seattle = Me, I don't expect much of a game here, but since I want all the help I can get to keep this thread moving I'll make the nod towards Huy's team. :D

# 12 Alabama vs. Georgetown = For some reason the Tide's been getting a lot or respect so far this season. Maybe they deserve it too, though it remains to be proven to me. And for soem reason the Hoyas haven't gotten much respect at all, not only despite their superior history but also despite the fact they lost at Kansas by a mere 4 points, and beat Memphis by 3 to boot. OK, lemme show a little guts here, and call for the "upset": Georgetown by 2 late possessions hold back the Tide.


I'll leave it at that for now. Enjoy.

[never_enough]

Go UK!!!

I love college bball too. Will have to remember this thread.

[mase]

# 12 Alabama vs. Georgetown = For some reason the Tide's been getting a lot or respect so far this season. Maybe they deserve it too, though it remains to be proven to me. And for soem reason the Hoyas haven't gotten much respect at all, not only despite their superior history but also despite the fact they lost at Kansas by a mere 4 points, and beat Memphis by 3 to boot. OK, lemme show a little guts here, and call for the "upset": Georgetown by 2 late possessions hold back the Tide.


I'll leave it at that for now. Enjoy.

I hope you're right on this one. This group of Hoyas is pretty feisty - toughness these past few JTIII teams haven't had. Looking forward to this game.

[The Poet]

Go UK!!!

I love college bball too. Will have to remember this thread.


Yeah, me too. ;)

I fully expect UK to "go" tonight against St. John's, and hope they can "go" in an entirely different way Saturday against my Heels. :r

[The Poet]

I hope you're right on this one. This group of Hoyas is pretty feisty - toughness these past few JTIII teams haven't had. Looking forward to this game.


Well, I wouldn't put any money on my gut, cosidering I so recently had 30% of it cut out of me. :D Still, I've just got that feeling that a mid-pack Big East team can give any SEC West one fits.

As for Hoya feistiness, consider that a JTIII is better than no JT at all. :r

[jcruse64]

Murray comes into tonight's game against an old, in-state rival and former conference foe in pretty good shape. 7-0 is the best start I can remember, but we also haven't played a real "major" this season either.

the Cats are looking good, into H2, and they are laying it on with the blocked shots tonight. Looking forward to seeing 'Bama later on also.

As for Dook, I hadn't watched them too much yet, but ouch!

[never_enough]

Yeah, me too. ;)

I fully expect UK to "go" tonight against St. John's, and hope they can "go" in an entirely different way Saturday against my Heels. :r

Slow offensively tonight in the first half, but the d was great the whole game.

Going to be a great game Saturday. To bad I don't get to watch it.:td:(:sad

Going on a weekend trip with the g/f. I can't believe I'm going to miss the game. I use to never miss a game. Now that I moved up here with the g/f, I missed half of last season and will miss a few games this year I'm sure. Pisses me off.

[mase]

Well, I wouldn't put any money on my gut, cosidering I so recently had 30% of it cut out of me. :D Still, I've just got that feeling that a mid-pack Big East team can give any SEC West one fits.

As for Hoya feistiness, consider that a JTIII is better than no JT at all. :r

Can't believe the Hoyas pulled that off. Were up by 9 with 2:30 to go and lost the lead. Great game.

[never_enough]

A couple of really good games to end the night. Sucks bama couldn't pull it off in the end.

[The Poet]

All those comments above are on point. I'd reply individually, but work's gotten in the way again, and I'm pressed for time. So I need to skip a number of really good games and give you here only the relevant highlights:


# 1 Kentucky 81 - St. John's 59 = Pretty much what one would expect. Both teams are young, but the 'Cats are by far the more talanted.

Murray State 70 - Western Kentucky 59 = And maybe what Joe expected, or at least hoped for. So far so good for the Racers.

Ole Miss 70 - DePaul 68 = Did I not tell you this would be close? There were others I also called, which I'll let slide, but the one I won't skip is . . .

Georgetown 57 - Alabama 55 = Well, you can't say I didn't warn you. Not only did the Hoyas get the "upset" victory I predicted, it pretty much came down to the late 2 possessions I called for. Send my commission checks out by the end of the fiscal quarter. ;)


There aren't many games tonight, but a few should be worth watching:


# 10 Florida vs. # 5 Syracuse = I might give the Gators a shot were this not (of course) in the Carrier Dome. They still have a slim one, but I figure the Orange will bounce north, like most of them do this time of year.

Cincinnati vs. Georgia = Neither team has played particularly well, so this could be some fun.

# 13 Missouri vs. Northwestern State = And this one should not be.

Auburn vs. Seton Hall = I'm tempted to do what I did yesterday, going with the Pirates over the Tigers here. But since it would be no upset either way, I'm just interested to see what these two have, if anything.

Washington vs. Nevada = And for some reason this one too strikes me as having the potential for being entertaining.

# 20 Vanderbilt vs. # 6 Louisville = We have some idea what Vandy is, and that's inconsistent. We have less idea what the Cardinals are, mainly doe to the fact that with the exception of one trip to a "down" Butler squad, they haven't played anybody, and all of them in the Crum Bucket too boot. If the Commodores show up tonight, we may find out a thing or three. If they don't, we still won't know if Pitino's boys are real or not.


To be quite honest, Saturday's early schedule (tipoffs by 1:00 PM) is much better than tonight's fare. Consider this line-up:


# 1 Kentucky vs. # 5 North Carolina = I don't know what else needs to be said. UNC has more experience, and UK has at least as much young talent. Toss it up and let 'em play.

# 2 Ohio State vs. Texas Pan American = The Buckeyes can't help their chances of taking the #1 ranking by spanking these bozos. But the votes are already split, so even if the 'Cats win the above matchup in a tight one, the tally may be confused enough to put OSU on top.

# 14 Michigan vs. Iowa State = The Wolverines have not been so good that they can feel comfortable about this one. They may win, but they may not win by much.

Richmond vs. Wake Forest = Had I noted this game before the season started, I'd have picked the Spiders big. But the Deacons have played much better than I expected them to, so this could be a lot of fun.

U Mass vs. Miami = So could this one, as neither team is a world-beater, and neither one outright stinks.

ODU vs. Northeastern = Same thing here.

Vermont vs. Yale = Ditto.


And all that's before a late lunch, brothers! I'll talk about the rest of Saturday tomorrow afternoon, between checking the score of UK/UNC. Until then then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Well, it's halftime in Lexington, with my Heels holding a slim 43-38 edge over the 'Cats. So far, so good, but there's a whole half to go. Lemme see if I can get some of this stuff out of the way before action gets serious again. Last night:


# 4 Syracuse 72 - # 10 Florida 68 = No big surprise here. What may be one is if the Gators don't drop more in the polls. One can't fault them much for losing on the road to the Buckeyes and the Orange, but on the other hand the only decent wins they have are against Wright State and Jacksonville . . . which ain't all that decent. Yet on the third hand, the 'Cuse finally have a decent win of their own, even if it was a close one at home.

Cincinnati 57 - Georgia 51 = This is not so decent a win for the Bearcats, but it sure beats some of the lousy losses they have had.

# 6 Louisville 62 - # 20 Vanderbilt 60 (OT) = A good game, and perhaps the one "good loss" the Commodores have had so far. However, as much as I'd like to see Vandy do well, I can't see how their 5-3 record can manage to keep them ranked. As for the Cardinals, they hung tough enough, and though not impressive they survived.

Columbia 69 - Loyola Marymount 61 = This battle of the Lions interests me for one reason only: After wins over UCLA and Saint Louis, LM fans may have gotten the idea that they were back. This loss to a 'meh" Ivy team should dissuade them of such fantasies for a while.


Aside from the early games already posted above, we have far too many to fully cover, even if I were not already distracted by that contest in Rupp Arena. However, here are a good number of picks:


BU vs. BC = This war in Boston could be some fun, especially considering that the Eagles seem to be struggling so far.

Valparaiso vs. Butler = Valpo's played pretty good, and Butler's down from the previous two seasons. I give Bryce Drew's boys an edge here.

Vermont vs. Yale = And for some reason I get the feeling this may be decent too.

Georgia Tech vs. Tulane = Here too, though the Jackets need to play a bit better than they have so far.

USC vs. Minnesota = I see the Trojans, who've been inept at scoring the ball, going down . . again.

Colorado State vs. Northern Iowa = However, this might go down to the final few minutes before it's over.

# 11 Xavier vs. Purdue = I give the Boilermakers a very good shot at knocking off the X-Men here.

# 8 U Conn vs. Arkansas = And I give the 'Hawgs a half-a-shot at taking the Huskies in a close one, though I'd not put money on it.

# 19 Gonzaga vs. Illinois = The same goes for the Illini here.

Arizona State vs. Tulsa = However, as much as I respect Herb Sendek, his Sun Devils haven't shown me any reason to believe they can take Tulsa.

# 9 Wisconsin vs. # 16 Marquette = The Badgers will be looking to bounce back from their loss in Chapel Hill. They may just do that, but I don't think it will be easy.

Texas vs. UCLA = Although the Longhorns don't seem to be nearly the team they've been of late, the Bruins need wins so badly they are looking for any sort of "quality" win. Yet Rick Barnes will want one too, quality or not, so this could be a lot of fun.

Oregon vs. BYU = And these two should be pretty closely matched also.

# 15 Kansas vs. South Florida = I can see Bulls hanging tough for a while, but the Jayhawks should prevail with relative ease.

# 17 Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee = I'm not sure the Vols have much to offer against the Panthers, but I'm also far from convinced the Panthers have all that much to offer either. If UT can hang close with 10 minutes left, this has some potential. Yet a blowout by Pitt would not shock me one bit.

Penn vs.Villanova = Penn was better than expected last year, and 'Nova seems a little down. I figure the war in Philly would go the Wildcats' way, but not by a ton.

LSU vs. Rutgers = I don't expect either of these two to have great seasons, but that may mean we'll have a great game.

# 25 Texas A&M vs. Stephen F. Austin = Please. If the Aggies don't win by at least 15, they should give up their ranking just on general principles.

# 23 Saint Louis vs. Portland = The Billikens want to rebound from their first loss, but Portland can give them game. I'm going with Majerus by 2 buckets.

# 22 Memphis vs. Austin Peay = Don't even bother.

# 21 Mississippi State vs. West Virginia = However, we have a chance for a good game here. The Mountaineers may be down, but the Bulldogs aren't worldbeaters either.

Indiana State vs. Boise State = And here's another that could go down to the final few possessions.

St. Mary's vs. Cal Poly = The Gaels have had good teams for a while, while the Mustangs are completely off the radar. But CP's beaten San Jose State and USC, so they may be more than just a blip. Keep a eye on this one, if you can stay awake for it.


I gotta get back to my game. See you later today with more.

[The Poet]

It's over in Lexington, with Kentucky holding onto a slim late margin to take a 73-72 win over the Tar Heels. A great game that wasn't over until the final buzzer. Though I'd a bit disappointed in how some of my guys shot the ball, I can't fault them for effort. Congratulations to the 'Cats, who may or may not hold onto their # 1 ranking for now. Hey, I still think it's possible that Ohio State's drubbing of Duke will split the votes enough to make it close.

[jcruse64]

Wow!!! Great, up-and-down game for the 'Heels and Cats! One thing that surprised me was that KY never got into team foul trouble in the 2nd, but the Heels had UK shooting freebies, which helped out. Really fun game to watch. Fantastic ball played on both sides.

I really thought Fl and Vandy would get a win, but ya gotta play all game.

[kelmac07]

Great game between NC and UK!! :tu :tu Kinda disappointed that after Hinson had his shot blocked in the final seconds, the Tarheels just gave up...with like 5 seconds left.

[The Poet]

Wow!!! Great, up-and-down game for the 'Heels and Cats! One thing that surprised me was that KY never got into team foul trouble in the 2nd, but the Heels had UK shooting freebies, which helped out. Really fun game to watch. Fantastic ball played on both sides.

I really thought Fl and Vandy would get a win, but ya gotta play all game.

I'm still licking my wounds, so can't comment much more on Heels/'Cats yet. As for Gators and Comms, I'm personally not all that surprised at the outcomes. Although I'm not convinced either Syracuse or Louisville are as good as their rankings, I have started to conclude that the early evidence leads one to believe the SEC is as "top-heavy" as is the ACC, while neither Vandy nor Florida have yet demonstrated they are all that good. That could change before the season's over, however . . . it's early December after all.

Great game between NC and UK!! :tu :tu Kinda disappointed that after Hinson had his shot blocked in the final seconds, the Tarheels just gave up...with like 5 seconds left.

I'm at work, Mac, so you'd know better than me. All I will say is that the outcome was about what I expected, being a tight one going either way.

I suppose I could add, were I of a mind, that Carolina won a tight one in Chapel Hill last year only to fall to UK in the Elite Eight. Maybe turnaround will be fair play. :D

[The Poet]

While I'm waiting for a few more early games to go final, let's talk briefly about some Sunday games:


New Mexico State vs. Southern Miss = I've got that feeling again that this one will be fun.

Dayton vs. Murray State = And even though Joe's Racers have played a bit better than the Flyers, this one has potential also. Keep your fingers crossed, Joe.

VCU vs. George Washington = Most years I'd call this a gimme for VCU, but they've struggled a bit so far. I still think they'll take it by double-digits, yet it may be tighter.

South Carolina vs. Clemson = This Palmetto war is in Littlejohn, but I don't much care where they play it considering how the 'Cocks have been limp. Tigers, fairly easily.

# 7 Baylor vs. Northwestern = Yet even if this was down in Tejas, and not up in Evanston, I'd give the Smarty 'Cats a good shot at skinning the Bears here. They have already beaten LSU and Tulsa there, plus at Seton Hall and Georgia Tech. Meanwhile, the only decent team Baylor's played was hosting the SDSU Aztecs, so their undefeated record doesn't mean as much as does Northwestern's. If you're looking for an "upset", here's a place to start.

N. C. State vs. Stanford = And though I don't see Jerry's Wolfpack pulling of anupset here, I do think they can keep it competitive with the Trees.

# 18 UNLV vs. Wichita State = After surviving UCSB in OT, the Runnin' Rebels should be looking to make a statement here. Even on their homecourt, the Shockers should not shock them. However, I don't expect a blowout either.

Indiana vs. Stetson = I would be shocked if Stetson's still around at halftime. The Hoosiers have played above expectations, and I'd not be shocked to see them creep into the Top 25 next week.

Notre Dame vs. Maryland = The Irish haven't shown us much so far, but the Terps have shown us even less. The game's in DC, which is much closer to College Park than South Bend, but I don't know if that will be enough to help Maryland here.

# 24 California vs. San Diego State = Even before the latest news out of Berkeley, I'd have expected a pretty good game here. But Cal has just announced it has suspended their sophmore forward Richard Solomon for "conduct contrary to academic department values". Kudos to them for actually being a school which HAS academic department values, considering that so many others do NOT. They may not miss his 6 PPG, but his team-leading 7.3 rebounds will leave a hole. Here's a shot for the Aztecs to pull off a signature victory, if they can take advantage of it.

Nebraska vs. Creighton = The Cornhuskers don't seem to have much to work with, whereas the Bluejays have racked up nice wins over UAB, Iowa, and the aforementioned SDSU Aztecs. Go with Creighton here.

Kansas State vs. Virginia Tech = The Manhattan 'Cats are apparently down from previous years, and the Hokies are about what the Hokies always seem to be . . . feisty, if not great. In Blacksburg, so I give them the narrow edge.

Mississippi vs. Penn State = Both teams are in major conferences, yet both are "also-rans" respectively. Flip a coin.


Some of those early finals I promised:


# 2 Ohio State 64 - Texas Pan American 35 = You expected something different? My only quibble is that 64 points seems awfully low against such awful competition . . . if you can even call it that.

# 14 Michigan 76 - Iowa State 66 = Again, just about what one might expect.

ODU 69 - Northeastern 59 = Maybe a slightly bigger margin than I thought, but still about right.

Miami 83 - U Mass 75 = Not quite the same thing here, but pretty close.

Virginia 86 - Longwood 53 = Just as meaningless a score as that Buckeye one above. Good for the Cavs . . . now go play somebody, will ya?

Richmond 70 - Wake Forest 62 = I thought it could be closer, but I'm far from surprised that the Spiders won. They have been good for a long time, and better than the Deacons for a while also.


I may be back later, I may not see you until Monday. But regardless, enjoy.

[rebelknight]

# 2 Ohio State 64 - Texas Pan American 35 = You expected something different? My only quibble is that 64 points seems awfully low against such awful competition . . . if you can even call it that.

I couldn't find the game on tv any where but after looking at the stats it looks like Matta used a lot of subs and didn't push his starters to hard. That and Sullinger being out with back spasms could help to explain the lack of offensive production.

[The Poet]

I couldn't find the game on tv any where but after looking at the stats it looks like Matta used a lot of subs and didn't push his starters to hard. That and Sullinger being out with back spasms could help to explain the lack of offensive production.


Valid point about Sully, as I'd forgotten he was out. And my quibble was no diss, since I don't much like a team that runs up the score either . . . like that high-school game recently. Did you hear about that one? The program is facing suspension because it beat the opponent 100-2. :sl


Some more scores from Saturday:


Valparaiso 77 - Butler 71 (OT) = A very good game here, with Bryce Drew getting the slim edge I thought he IImight.

Xavier 66 - Purdue 63 = I gave Purdue a shot at winning this one, and they gave it a good one . . . just not quite good enough.

Illinois 82 - Gonzaga 75 = And I gave the Illini half-a-shot at taking this one, which they did, for a good victory over a decent team.

Arizona State 67 = Tulsa 63 = But I don't believe I gave the Sun Devils a chance here, yet they pulled off their best win of the year so far.

Charleston 87 - Chattanooga 85 (2OT) = Just one damn good hard-fought contest.

Marquette 61 - Wisconsin 54 = I fugured this one wouldn't be easy for the Badgers, and it certainly wasn't.

# 17 Pittsburgh 61 - Tennessee 56 = I waffled a lot on this one, saying both that the Vols may keep it fairly close and that Pitt might roll. I still have no idea what UT has, but I'm more and more convinced that Dixon's boys are going to be dixon around all year, as usual.

Weber State 91 - San Jose State 89 (2OT) = As with that C/C one above, an extra 10 minutes in an extra tight fight.

St Mary's 59 - Cal Poly 54 = Who exactly are these Cal Poly guys? True, they did not win, but they sure gave the Gaels all the game they wanted.


In Sunday action:


Maine 76 - Rhode Island 74 (OT) = Another good fun match-up.

Murray State 75 - Dayton 58 = With all due respect to Joe's team, I never thought the Racers could handle the Flyers with such ease. Good for them.

South Carolina 58 - Clemson 55 = And I never thought the Gamecocks could win this one in Littlejohn. As I've little reason to hate USC any longer, I'll say good for them too.

Stanford 76 - N. C. State 72 = And I didn't give Jerry's 'Pack much of a chance to win this one either. They didn't, but they did at least make a very respectable showing.

Wichita State 89 - UNLV 70 = This is sort of a shocker by the Shockers, for not only did they win, they spanked the Runnin' Rebels. After UNLV's upset of my Heels, they needed OT against Santa Barbara, then dropped this one badly. Hubris, I imagine, and they're now runnin' away.

San Diego State 64 - California 63 = But here I gave the Aztecs a shot at knocking off the Big Bears from upstate, and they hit just enough of them to pull it off. Good for them.


There are about 16 games tonight, but to be honest I didn't see a single one worth watching. Don't get me wrong . . . some could be fun, but I doubt any will mean much over the long haul. Post your own ideas if you have any, but that's it for me tonight. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

I'd have to say I did not think South Carolina would win that one either, so good for them. Also loving this Racer start!!!

[never_enough]

Finally got to watch the UK vs. UNC game on replay. What a great game, and it helps that the team I'm a fan of won :r Wish I could have been at rupp for that one.

[The Poet]

I'd have to say I did not think South Carolina would win that one either, so good for them. Also loving this Racer start!!!

So far so good for your boys, Joe. :tu

Finally got to watch the UK vs. UNC game on replay. What a great game, and it helps that the team I'm a fan of won :r Wish I could have been at rupp for that one.

And so far so good for yours too. As long as you're not the too-typical UK fanatic, who believe it's them and nobody else, it's OK with me if you like your 'Cats.

Update coming.

[The Poet]

There were a number of close games last night, such as Siena/Albany, Yale/Sacred Heart, Fordham/Hampton, Long Island/Lafayette, and Elon/UNC-G, but only one had much long-term potential significance:

Detroit 69 - St. John's 63 = Detroit has a decent mid-major program, so the win's no surprise. The Red Storm has aspirations to get back to their glory days, but after winning their first 3 they've now lost 5 of 6. Wait 'til next year . . . or the next.


Tonight's games include:


# 4 North Carolina vs. Evansville = E'ville's not a total cupcake, but the Heels should not have too much trouble handling them this evening. But "should not" and "will not" are two different matters, so pay attention for a half or so.

# 10 Missouri vs. Villanova = Part of me wants to do what I did with Georgetown, and call for an upset here, but so far Wright's team hasn't shown me quite enough for that. Still, I can't see a blowout here, and thus it could be a lotta fun before it's over.

Kent State vs. James Madison = And this one should be fun, with the two pretty evenly matched.

# 3 Syracuse vs. Marshall = I give the Herd half-a-shot at giving the Orange their first loss. I don't think they can do so, not in the Dome, but keep your eye on the scoreboard here too.

Texas Tech vs. TCU = Though I'd not think either one of these will make noise come March, they ought to raise a bit of ruckus tonight.

# 15 Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Military = Don't even bother, unless you're a Panther.

George Mason vs. Virginia = I'd expect this one to be a close one too, with maybe a slight edge going to the Cavs . . . who've not played badly at all.

Robert Morris vs. Duquesne = This is another one of those with the potential to be exciting.

U Mass vs. East Carolina = Here too.

Iowa vs. Northern Iowa = But here, my gut tells me the Hawkeyes will be overmatched with the defensive intensity of NIU.

# 21 Memphis vs. Miami = The Tigers have not played up to their early hype. But the 'Canes have not played well enough for me to pick them here. It could be close for a while, and if Memphis does not show up, like they've not shown up a couple of times already, Miami has a shot. Me, I wouldn't bet on it, but you boys can if you like.

# 13 Kansas vs. Long Beach State = Actually, if you're looking for the upset, you might just have a better shot here. I personally think the Jayhawks will roll, but as with Memphis they have to show up to do so. If you're feeling lucky, take LBS and the points . . . whatever that may be. :r

# 11 Marquette vs. Washington = So far this season nobody, and I do mean NOBODY, in the PAC-12 has shown me all that much. Go with the Golden Eagles here, by a sizable margin.


That's my picks for the good, or at least meaningful, action tonight. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Well, Mizzou started rolling on them hard after the 10 minute mark in H1. Don't see it changing in H2.

Jimmy V Classic. Whatever your views were on Jimmy V, that ESPY speech will ALWAYS get you to stop and listen. I was watching that night, and have watched it several times since. Tonight, I'll watch again. I hate cancer.

[never_enough]

So far so good for your boys, Joe. :tu



And so far so good for yours too. As long as you're not the too-typical UK fanatic, who believe it's them and nobody else, it's OK with me if you like your 'Cats.

Update coming.

:r No I don't think like that. Do I think we can win it all this year? Of course. But **** happens and there are several other good teams at the top. But when its a single elimination tourney, you never know what will happen. Who the hell thought last years team would go farther than the team UK had two years ago? Not me.

[never_enough]

Small crowd at the mizz game.

[never_enough]

Well, Mizzou started rolling on them hard after the 10 minute mark in H1. Don't see it changing in H2.

Jimmy V Classic. Whatever your views were on Jimmy V, that ESPY speech will ALWAYS get you to stop and listen. I was watching that night, and have watched it several times since. Tonight, I'll watch again. I hate cancer.

Yep, cancer sucks.:td

[The Poet]

Well, Mizzou started rolling on them hard after the 10 minute mark in H1. Don't see it changing in H2.

Jimmy V Classic. Whatever your views were on Jimmy V, that ESPY speech will ALWAYS get you to stop and listen. I was watching that night, and have watched it several times since. Tonight, I'll watch again. I hate cancer.

A reasonably good win for the Tigers, though against a "down" 'Nova team. As for the crowd in The Garden, it's not surprising. NYC turns into a college basketball town for the Big East Tourney, and that's about it.

Don't get me started on Jimmy V. To my way of thinking, his positive points were so largely offset by his negative ones that his early tragic death by cancer was the ONLY thing that saved his reputation. Just my :2 , and worth every penny.

:r No I don't think like that. Do I think we can win it all this year? Of course. But **** happens and there are several other good teams at the top. But when its a single elimination tourney, you never know what will happen. Who the hell thought last years team would go farther than the team UK had two years ago? Not me.

Well, that's good to know, but I wasn't so much talking about having hopes and ambitions for your school as I was about the attitude that UK is without question the greatest basketball program in history, bar none, and that anyone who thinks otherwise is a "jealous hater", to use their own words . . . especially if they voice even the slightest criticism at the Wildcats, or the way they have too often conducted themselves. If I hear one of them proclaim as justification the phrase "Everybody cheats" one more time, I'm gonna puke! :r


Update ASAP.

[The Poet]

Here's my choice of scores from last night, starting with one already referenced:


# 10 Missouri 81 - Villanova 71 = 'Nova made something of a game of this, so they weren't embarrassed. As for the Tigers, a decent enough win, but no huge statement.

Monmouth 69 - Navy 67 = My man King Rice gets his first victory as a head coach against the Midshipsmen. Only 900+ to go, and he can start to challenge Coach K. :D

Robert Morris 64 - Duquesne 60 = I believe I said this one could be fun. Seems it was too.

# 3 Syracuse 62 - Marshall 56 = And I believe I gave the Herd a tiny shot at taking this one in the Dome. Maybe if they hadn't scored a stinkin' 18 points in the first half, they would have.

# 4 North Carolina 97 - Evansville 48 = The ONLY reason I bring up this double-down blowout is to advise you that, speaking for myself anyway, a win like this is an embarrassment to a Tar Heel. Move along, nothing to see here.

U Mass 63 - East Carolina 58 = I figured this one to be close also, and 2 possessions count in my book anyway.

TCU 75 - Texas Tech 69 = Ditto.

Virginia 68 - George Mason 48 = But I was 'way off here. Yeah, I gave the Cavs an edge, and I realize GM's not the Cinderella they were back when. Yet I never expected such a spanking. Speaking of spankings . . .

Northern Iowa 80 - Iowa 60 = Again, I picked the winner, but I did not think they'd win so big.

# 13 Kansas 88 - Long Beach State 80 = Though I did not actually call for the upset here, I did figure the surfer boys could give the Jayhawks game. They did just that. And once again, speaking of giving game . . .

# 11 Marquette 79 - Washington 77 = This one's as big a shock to me as that UVA margin. OK, Marquette won, but they were more than just nervous about it, I am sure.

Louisiana Tech 94 - Northwestern State 93 (2OT) = And this one's just one of those hard-fought battles, with both teams deserving props.


Tonight's action will include:


# 12 Florida vs. Arizona = The Gators have not shown all that much against better teams, and 'Zona needs a big win to start turning their poor start around. Figure on a fight here.

# 7 Duke vs. Colorado State = And figure that Dook bounces back from their spanking by the Buckeyes. :rolleyes:

Ohio vs. Oakland = This is just another of those that pop out at me. Might be fun.

Michigan State vs. Central Conn State = This one probably won't be, but as the Spartans have won 6 in a row since dropping openers to UNC and Duke we need to notice. The run goes to 7 this evening.

Vanderbilt vs. Davidson = The Commodore faithful likely had this one chalked up as a win before the season started. At this point, I'm not so sure of that. Keep an eye on the scoreboard, as the Wildcats may actually show up at home to give Vandy a scare . . . if not more.

Temple vs. Toledo = I just got that tingly feeling about this one too.

Boston U vs. St. Joseph's = Same here, I'm not sure why.

# 16 Alabama vs. Dayton = Can the Flyers regain altitude after being out-Raced by Joe's guys? If so, this could be tighter that the Tide would like. I give them the nod, but by 3 or 4 possessions only.

Georgia Tech vs. Georgia = This in-state rivalry pits two 4-4 teams against each other. Neither is all that good, but neither purely stinks either. Figure on a fun one here.

# 5 Louisville vs. IUPUI = But speaking of "stinks", this one has P-U written all over it.

# 14 Wisconsin vs. Green Bay = It's been a rough ride for the Badgers lately, losing to UNC and Marquette. They stop the bleeding tonight.

Wichita State vs. Tulsa = Another of those games with damn-good potential.

# 22 Texas A&M vs. Sam Houston State = Will the Aggies win? Sure. Will they ever play anybody that matters? Ehh, maybe. Consider that, to date, their best opponents resulted in a loss to Mississippi State and a 1-point victory over St. John's. And they are a Top 25 team? WTF? :confused:

Southern Miss vs. South Alabama = Here's another of those decent match-ups for you.

Oklahoma State vs. Missouri State = And for some odd reason I see this as maybe being one also.

Weber State vs. BYU = But I am more confident that this one shall be fun.

# 8 Xavier vs. Butler = And despite the fact that the 2-time national runner-up Bulldogs are presently 4-4, and despite the fact that I don't think they'll make a 3-peet of that, I do think they can hang with the Musketeers for most of the game anyway.

Iona vs. Denver = The Gaels are supposed to be giant-killers this year, and have beaten OK teams like Western Michigan, Maryland, and St. Joe's. Plus, their only loss was to Purdue by a point. Their visit to Colorado should be successful, yet for some odd reason I've got that funny feeling again.

# 24 Illinois vs. St. Bonaventure = But I don't have one here. I'm not sure the Illini are for real, but I'm fairly certain the Bonnies aren't. You can probably skip this one by the half.

San Diego State vs. San Diego = The Aztecs are likely the overwhelming favorite in everybody's book, including mine. However, these crosstown rivalries can sneak up on you if you're not careful. Keep your sleepy eyes on this one for a bit, just to see if a game shows up. :r


That's if for now. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

I'm pressed for time again today, so let me hit the highlights, starting with:


Dayton 74 - # 16 Alabama 62 = Well, I need to trust my instincts to distrust any and all SEC West teams. I thought the Flyers could keep this one tight, but I never figured they would so totally roll back the Tide . Let's face it . . . considering the hype (or lack of same re Dayton), this is a complete blowout.

# 12 Florida 78 - Arizona 72 (OT) = I told you to figure on a fight here. It even went extra rounds. A good win for the Gators, and another disappointment for the Desert 'Cats. Speaking of 'Cats . . .

Vanderbilt 87 - Davidson 83 = These 'Cats didn't win either, but they sure gave the Comms a damn good contest, and the scare I predicted.

Ohio 84 - Oakland 82 = Another one I thought would be close.

Purdue 65 - Western Carolina 60 = I didn't pick this one yesterday, mainly because I really didn't think the Catamounts could mount much against the Boilermakers. See, I can be wrong too! :r

Maryland 78 - Mount St. Mary's 75 = And I didn't pick this one either, for much the same reason. Now, I am old enough to remember when Jim Phelan was the nation's winninngest coach at MSM, but that was a ways back now. And despite my knowledge of how the Terps are struggling lately, I never figured they'd have this kind of struggle here. This is one of those embarrassing wins. Another one was . . .

# 24 Illinois 48 - St. Bonaventure 43 = Man, I missed this by a mile too. This one should not have lasted until the half, yet it went down to the wire. My only rerdeeming grace is that I DID say I wasn't sure the Illini were for real. Hey, maybe they aren't.

Iona 80 - Denver 78 (OT) = And maybe the Gaels are not as real as the experts felt. Still, I told you I had that funny feeling about this one, and my gut didn't fail me this time.

Oklahoma State 72 - Missouri State 67 = Nor this time, as it was about as good a match-up as you can reasonabley expect.


There's not a lot of quality games this evening, but the few with potential are:


Cleveland State vs. Robert Morris = Here's just another of those I get that feeling for.

# 8 U Conn vs. # 25 Harvard = The Crimson are ranked for the very first time in their long history. Good for them. :tu However, despite my misgivings about the Huskies, I can't see that lasting past this one up in Storrs (Of course in Storrs. I'm beginning to suspect Jim Calhoun's wearing one of those tracking bracelets. :D ). Yet I also don't think Haa'vaad's gonna just roll over and play dead either. Keep an eye on this one, as it could turn into one of those unexpected shockers. Hey, if UCF can beat UConn, these guys can too.

Oral Roberts vs. Oklahoma = Ehh, maybe it's just the slim pickin's tonight, but this one popped a bit for me. Don't ask me why.

West Virginia vs. Kansas State = I do know why this one popped. These are two programs trying to rebuild after having good success in recent years. A win here would get neither one back, but it would be a step in a positive direction. Both teams and coaches want this one, so I figure on an all-out war.


Talk to you later, guys. In the meantime . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

There are only a few notable scores from last night, and a few more notable games this evening:


# 9 U Conn 67 - # 25 Harvard 53 = It's no surprise the Huskies won, yet I felt the margin might be tighter. But if the Crimson had shown up for the second half, seeing as how they only trailed by 2 at the break, it may have been so.

Cleveland State 62 - Robert Morris 58 = The type of close game I expected.

West Virginia 85 - Kansas State 80 (2OT) = And the type of all-out war I expected here too, considering how badly both teams wanted a "quality" win.


Tonight's limited action includes:


# 12 Florida vs. Rider = Please. Don't bother.

Iowa vs. Iowa State = Instead, watch this one, as it should be a lot better, though maybe not as good as . . .

Richmond vs. VCU = Another in-state rivalry, bot one pitting teams with more recent good history.

ODU vs. Fairfield = And I can see this one being some fun too.

Wyoming vs. Colorado = As with this one.

Idaho vs. Oregon State = Despite the travails of PAC-12 teams so far, the Beavers have done pretty well in comparison. They haven't faced a lot of top teams, but they did beat Texas by 5, and their only loss was to Vandy (for what that's worth :D ) by a deuce. The Vandals may not give them enough of a game to convince me that THIS OSU is for real, yet if they do do so it could nudge me towards the belief that they are NOT.


While I have the time, lemme give you some of the early games on Saturday as well:


# 18 Georgetown vs. Howard = The Hoyas were off the radar at the start of the season. This one won't put them more in focus, but it won't knock them out either.

# 7 Duke vs. Washington = This one has a better chance of being a decent game, though I figure the Blue Devils will stretch out a sizable lead before it's over.

# 19 Creighton vs. St. Joseph's = And this one could even be better, considering that the Hawks don't seem to be as down as they were last year.

# 8 Xavier vs. Cincinnati = The Bearcats have had a really rough start, and need a big win (or at the least a tight loss) in the worst way. Meanwhile, the Musketeers have had an excellent start, but there's no way in hell they are as good as their ranking. Their good wins were over a "meh" Georgia, an apparently over-rated Vandy, and the decent-but-down Purdue (by only 3) and Butler. That's better than Cincy's done, for sure, but a win here is no lead-pipe cinch for the X-Men.


That's it for me for now. Until tomorrow then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Last night's limited action included:


# 12 Florida 90 - Rider 69 = I told you not to bother. Me, I'm surprised it was even this close.

U Mass 83 - Siena 78 = This one does surprise me a little too because so far this year Siena hasn't been all that good. That's why I didn't post it yesterday, figuring U Mass would roll. They won, but it was a decent fight.

VCU 73 - Richmond 51 = And this one surprises me a lot, not by the win but by the margin. The Spiders normally don't get spanked like this.

Iowa State 86 - Iowa 76 = No big shock here, although I thought it might be closer.

Wyoming 65 - Colorado 54 = As I did here, but blame the Buffaloes, not me. This was tied at 30 at the break, so that 11-point margin was all in the 2nd half. In Boulder, no less, which makes it an even poorer showing.

Fairfield 59 - ODU 51 = A decent enough game, at least compared to some others.

Idaho 74 - Oregon State 60 = Well, I try to give the Badgers a bit of respect, and they gnaw down the sapling before it even leafs. And this was in Corvallis too. Guess this does answer my query as to if they are for real, however.


Today's early games has yet to produce any finals, nor any surprises yet, so let me get to other Saturday games first. As usual, there are far too many to note them all, so I've cut it down from that to 'way too many:

Kent State vs. Western Carolina = This could be fun. The Catamounts are home in Cullowhee, and remember they lost to Purdue by only 5. Kent State's been decent so far also, and I feel it may be tight.

LIU vs. Columbia = And though this game also won't mean a lot over the long haul, it has potential too.

Butler vs. Ball State = The fans who'd jumped on the Bulldog bandwagon over the past two seasons are holding onto the railings and looking for a soft spot to land once they bail. Butler wants to reach .500 today, and the Lettermans want to improve to 6-2. Keep an eye on this one.

Wisc. Milwaukee vs. Northern Iowa = Both these teams are 8-1, so they have some confidence. As for me, I have more in NIU than the boys from Wisconsin. But speaking of that . . .

# 14 Wisconsin vs. UNLV = Talk about your contrast in styles! The Rebels are runnin' again, while the Badgers only will when they have their opponent totally outclassed. Otherwise, they channel the last Ice Age named for their state, and are glacial. They did manage to get the type of game against a running Tar Heel team, yet fell just short. Will they do the same today, or will UNLV chase them off the court? For this alone, it will be worth watching.

# 15 Pittsburgh vs. Oklahoma State = Several times this year I've said that the Panthers do not lose games like this one. But this one is not one of those ones, and the Cowboys might very well give them more than they want.

Arkansas vs. Oklahoma = Neither of these teams seem to be a national power, but neither one sucks. Expect a close one.

# 2 Ohio State vs. # 13 Kansas = The Jayhawks have not shown me nearly as much as the Buckeyes have to date. But the game is in Allen Fieldhouse, which is a hard place to play. Furthermore, Sullinger is still questionable with his bad back, so even if he does suit up he may not play effectively, if at all. Don't bet on the "upset", but don't be shocked if OSU takes its first L of the year.

# 20 Michigan vs. Oakland = Actually, I can see this being pretty tight, at least for a while. The Logans have struggled to score at times, which gives a scrappy team extra shots, and half-a-shot anyway at the upset. I don't expect that, but weirder things have happened.

# 17 Mississippi State vs. Troy = One of those weirder things would be Troy making a game of this one. Yeah, I have little faith in the Bulldogs, but come on!

Clemson vs. Arizona = I also have little faith in the Desert 'Cats, but even less in the Tigers. Hell, they couldn't even beat the 'Cocks on their own floor! AU may not be golden, but they win this one by several possessions.

# 25 Harvard vs. BU = The Crimson have no reason to be red-faced over their first loss to U Conn, and will rebound today.

Lehigh vs. Wagner = Here's just one of those that pop for me, don't ask why.

# 5 Louisville vs. Fairleigh-Dickinson = And this one will be fairly ridiculous.

# 10 Missouri vs. Navy = The Midshipmen sink again.

Villanova vs. Temple = Now this is more like it! We have a Battle of Brotherly Love here, so flip a coin.

# 1 Kentucky vs. Indiana = And I have a feeling this will be pretty damn good too. The Hoosiers have yet to get any love in the rankings, which surprises me. Maybe they are not "back" yet, but they have been playing very well. Of course, so have the Wildcats, so the upset may be unlikely. Yet I do think we'll see Calipari sweating before it's over.

Penn State vs. Duquesne = This is just another one that hopped off the page for me.

# 4 North Carolina vs. Long Beach State = In the Dean Dome, but that's not the only reason the Heels should be favored. However, don't expect another 2-for-1 win here. Remember, the 49ers beat Pitt already, and lost to KU by only 8, so they are by no stretch total cupcakes.

Davidson vs. Charlotte = A battle for the Queen City here, and I think it will be a good one.

Penn vs. UCLA = At 2-5, the Bruins were self-destructing even before Ben Howland dismissed forward Reeves Nelson from the team last night for "insubordination". Oooo-kay. Penn's not great, but aren't pushovers either. Thus this one is interesting on both counts.

# 3 Syracuse vs. George Washington = And this one is not, in any way.

Youngstown State vs. Buffalo = But this one could be. Again, don't ask me why, but it looks to be a fun one.

New Mexico vs. USC = As does this one.

Miami vs. West Virginia = And this one, with me giving a slim edge to the Mountaineers . . . more for what the 'Canes haven't shown me than for what WVA has.

# 22 Texas A&M vs. LA Monroe = The Aggies continue to hoe in high cotton, refusing to work hard for their supper. But a diet of cupcakes will eventually give you a tummyache. Not tonight, however.

Wake Forest vs. Seton Hall = Both of these teams have been down in recent years, and both have played much better than expected so far. I can see this one being an all-out war.

# 23 Gonzaga vs. Michigan State = This one too. The Spartans have recovered and won something like 7 in a row. I give them a good shot at knocking off the 'Zags, even in Spokane.

# 11 Marquette vs. Green Bay = But I can't see GB winning here, or even hanging tough for long.

Nevada vs. Montana = However, for you nightowls, this one ought to be a pretty good contest.


Lemme take a break before I come back with early finals and Sunday games. Later, brohs.

[The Poet]

Here are some early finals of note:


Duke 86 - Washington 80 = The Blue Devils tried several times to run away with this one, but the Huskies hung tough and made a real nice game of it. A quality win for Dook, though not that big a statement.

St. Joseph's 80 - Creighton 71 = But here's a statement for you. The Hawks stunk up the joint last year, and have already had some good victories this one. It's always nice to see programs with some history rebound.

Austin Peay 74 - Tennessee 70 = Wow. Who'd a thunk? The Governors lost their first nine games before finally winning one, and now they've made it two inna row, over the Vols. Maybe Bruce Pearl knew what he was doing when he "left" to become a bagboy at the grocery store. :r


Tomorrow's limited action has a few decent games scheduled:


Quinnipiac vs. Vermont = Both have some history, and both are fighting to stay above .500 early. Figure on a fight.

Iona vs. Marshall = These are two better teams here, both with post-season aspirations. This one ought to be a lot of fun.

N. C. State vs. N. C. Central = This one, not so much, but I gotta get Jerry's kids on here somehow. :D

Norfolk State vs. Virginia Tech = Not only does the game have some potential by itself despite the Hokies holding both the advantage and the home court, but it will be interesting (if maybe a bit morbid) to see how the team and crowd reacts following the latest tragedy there in Blacksburg.

Santa Clara vs. Washington State = I'm going with Santa Clara here, in a tight one.

# 21 Memphis vs. Murray State = Joe's Racers are 9-0. I figure it's about 70/30 they'll go 9-1 here. Still, the Tigers have shown they are vulnerable, so they do have a shot. Keep an eye on this one.

# 16 Alabama vs. Detroit = I give the guys from the Motor City less of a shot here, but as we've all seen, EVERY SEC-West team seems vulnerable. Keep maybe half-an-eye on this one.

Eastern Washington vs. CSU Fullerton = They seem to be fairly well-matched, so this could be decent also.

# 24 Illinois vs. Coppin State = And even though I'm still not sure about the Illini, I'd be stunned if they get their first loss in Champaign tomorrow.


That's about it for me. See you Monday, same time, same channel. Until then then, enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Yeah, I was shocked at The Peay winning the "in-state rivalry". Are to Vols that bad???

Nice try by Washington to come back on Dook, but not enough.

Rumble in the streets of Cincinnati-cross town rivals Xavier and Cincinnati go at it, and the bonus round is a round of MMA!!! Wow! Horrible, disappointing end to a game. Gonna be some suspensions from this one.

UK/IU just starting H2, and we got a game on here!!!

And...Go Racers!!!!!

[never_enough]

Well that sucked.

Umm freethrows, guard the 3 etc. UK didn't deserve that game. And Terrence Jones looked like his mom had just died before the game or something. Wonder what was wrong with him?

Good for IU. Still don't think they are that good, but that program needed this win big time.

[never_enough]

Yeah, I was shocked at The Peay winning the "in-state rivalry". Are to Vols that bad???

Nice try by Washington to come back on Dook, but not enough.

Rumble in the streets of Cincinnati-cross town rivals Xavier and Cincinnati go at it, and the bonus round is a round of MMA!!! Wow! Horrible, disappointing end to a game. Gonna be some suspensions from this one.

UK/IU just starting H2, and we got a game on here!!!

And...Go Racers!!!!!

The Vols are confusing. They shouldn't be good, but some games they play really tough.

Cinci/Xavier fight didn't shock me. Anyone see the big white dudes eye after that? That bone might be broken.

[kelmac07]

UK looked horid today. IU looked very good...Zeller looks like a player. :D

[yourchoice]

Crazy fight tonight in the Xavier/Cinn game. There has to be a couple suspensions forthcoming and I wouldn't be surprised if a couple Bearcats get booted from their squad.

[jcruse64]

I agree with you; Cronin is way mad at the team. I think/hope that he does give one or two the boot.

UK showed the same problem in H1 of the UNC game-let 'em have the 3. I do NOT understand Calipari letting them do that, because they have shown that they can shut the 3 down, if they work at it. Don't even get me started on freebies. IU definitely deserved to win that game, and UK deserved to lose. They should have, and could have won it though. I hope a few guys are sitting at the freebie line today. You're right about Jones, too. Definitely not "there" for this game.

[never_enough]

I agree with you; Cronin is way mad at the team. I think/hope that he does give one or two the boot.

UK showed the same problem in H1 of the UNC game-let 'em have the 3. I do NOT understand Calipari letting them do that, because they have shown that they can shut the 3 down, if they work at it. Don't even get me started on freebies. IU definitely deserved to win that game, and UK deserved to lose. They should have, and could have won it though. I hope a few guys are sitting at the freebie line today. You're right about Jones, too. Definitely not "there" for this game.

They hit their first 6 3's in the second half too!!! Thats just nuts. Just guard the damn 3. I'm with you and don't understand how this has gone on for two games in a row.

But in the end its their first road game and its a regular season game. I won't start to worry until losing on the road becomes a trend this year.

[jcruse64]

Woooooooooo!!!!!!!

Racers Win!!! 10-0!

Almost blew it!!!!

Work on the inbound and how to handle full court pressure this week, coach!!!

:banger:D

2 nice wins for the OVC this weekend.

[Resipsa]

'Cuse should move to # 1.

Nice.

[The Poet]

'Cuse should move to # 1.

Nice.

I respectfully disagree, brother. Yes, I figured they would likely do so, and they did (by a considerable margin), and their 10-0 record is the primary reason. But they haven't played the tough competition other teams have faced, and they've done that either in the Carrier Dome or MSG, with significant "home court" advantage. But let them have the top spot for as long as they can hold onto it. I never put much stock in it anyway, as it is simply bragging rights.

As to other issues raised in posts above, let me first comment on that ugly mess between Xavier and Cincinnati. In one way, albeit a totally negative one, this was a throwback to the past. Basketball players are called ''cagers" because, back in the day, they often played their games behind chicken-wire barricades in an attempt to keep the fights in the bleachers from interrupting the fights on the court. Even after that time such nonsense would occur. I can particularly recall a nasty brawl between Duke and UNC when Frank McGuire was the coach in Chapel Hill, with McGuire himself out in the lane stomping on Dookies sprawled on the court. Yet I think we all agree there is NO PLACE FOR THIS NONSENSE IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS!! The suspensions that have been announced so far, IMHO, are not nearly strict enough, and I would hope the NCAA takes a hand to impose worse ones on players, coaches, and the schools themselves to dissuade such actions not only there but elsewhere.

Congratulations to Joe's Racers, not only for their victory over Memphis 76-72, but for edging into the rankings at No. 24. :tu

And as for Kentucky:


Indiana 73 - Kentucky 72 = Am I the only person, at least outside the state of Indiana, who is not stunned by this? I told you the Hoosiers have been playing well, and had been too far under everybody's radar. I also said they had a shot at the upset, and that's exactly what they had . . . a three at the buzzer, to be precise. Congratulations to a program that's not had much to cheer about for too long a time. As for you Wildcat faithful, console yourself in the hope that your young talent may have learned something from this which will help them further down the road.


I've too much to cover properly, so will now limit myself to:

Kansas 78 - Ohio State 67 = Here also I said the Jayhawks had a shot, so am not shocked either. Even if the Buckeyes had Sully on the court it may have been tight, as KU's awfully tough at home. But don't despair, Buckeyes . . . you still have a great team, and I myself would have cast MY 1st-place vote for you this weekend, and not the Orange (for the reason above) despite this loss.

Wisconsin 62 - UNLV 51 = The Badgers got exactly the type of game they wanted here, and the Rebels were unable to run.

UCLA 77 - Penn 73 = In itself, this win for the Bruins means very little . . . except for the fact that it wasn't another loss. But that whole mess out in La-La-Land is so interesting, just to see what develops, that I find it fascinating.

Michigan State 74 - Gonzaga 67 = This is another one that didn't surprise me at all. The Spartans had a rough start, but you just KNEW that Izzo would get them playing well before too long.

North Carolina 84 - Long Beach State 78 = Hey, I said the 49ers were a scrappy bunch of guys. I consider this a good win for the Heels even if you don't, even if only for the fact that they had to come from behind and fight for the victory. It's also a "good loss" for LBS, as it shows they can hang tough with top teams on the road. Kudo to them. (As an aside, do you know the Tar Heel beat the 49ers twice this weekend? On Sunday the men's soccer team defeated Charlotte to win the NCAA National Championship. :tu )


On Sunday:


Marshall 82 - Iona 63 = Now this one does shock me. I'm not surprised the Herd won, but I didn't think they'd spank the Gaels this badly.

N. C. State 65 - N. C. Central 60 = And this one surprises me too, with how poorly Jerry's Wolfpack played. In Raleigh, to boot! Yeah, OK, so the Eagles had five wins coming into the game, but not a single one of those was over a Division 1 opponent. Sorry, Jerry, but this is just pitiful.

Washington State 93 - Santa Clara 55 = And this is another shock. I never thought Santa Clara would lose so badly.

Murray State 76 - Memphis 72 = To recap this one mentioned above, here's the other surprise for me. OK, I wish the Racers all the best, and I know the Tigers have been up-and-down, but this one really snuck up on me.


There's not a lot tonight, though the Fordham/Siena and Portland State/Oregon games may be pretty good. So I'll leave it at that and just wish you a good evening. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

I'm with you on Xavier/Cinci; I was reminded earlier of the kid from OSU getting booted after sucker-punching a Boise State trash talker in a football game. Should be something similar happening here with a couple of Cinci players. I'd like to see Xavier's coach get something for being dumb enough to let his kids go to media time after the brawl.

And yeah, I WAS surprised to see IU do that, but as a homer, I make it a point to ignore IU :r:r;). I thought they did great, actually, and have a team this year capable of going far, given the talent, coaching, and their teamwork (it hurt to say that :r).

I don't see 'Cuse staying at 1 for long, either. Don't really care if the Cats get it back, until it counts-when they cut the nets down after March Madness. It will be interesting to see how Ohio State and the Cats react to the losses. I hope there is a lot of freebie practice this week in Lexington.

[The Poet]

I'm with you on Xavier/Cinci; I was reminded earlier of the kid from OSU getting booted after sucker-punching a Boise State trash talker in a football game. Should be something similar happening here with a couple of Cinci players. I'd like to see Xavier's coach get something for being dumb enough to let his kids go to media time after the brawl.

And yeah, I WAS surprised to see IU do that, but as a homer, I make it a point to ignore IU. I thought they did great, actually, and have a team this year capable of going far, given the talent, coaching, and their teamwork (it hurt to say that).

I don't see 'Cuse staying at 1 for long, either. Don't really care if the Cats get it back, until it counts-when they cut the nets down after March Madness. It will be interesting to see how Ohio State and the Cats react to the losses. I hope there is a lot of freebie practice this week in Lexington.


I'm with you on all points too, save for that "net-cutting" one. Go Heels! ;)


Tonight's limited action has a few meaningful or fun games:


# 20 Michigan vs. AR Pine Bluff = This one is neither, except that the Logans are presently ranked. They shall stay that way after this mis-match.

Presbyterian vs. South Carolina = But this one could be a lot of fun. The Blue Hose may be able to cover the 'Cocks, and will almost certainly give them game regardless.

Belmont vs. Middle Tenn. State = And here's another decent match-up which should be close.

# 14 Wisconsin vs. Wisc. Milwaukee = And this one could be closer than the Badgers would prefer. Both team are 8-2 at the moment. I figure the Beer Boys will lose to the men from Madison, but not by more than 2 or 3 possessions.

# 17 Mississippi State vs. Florida Atlantic = Skip this one. I don't have a lot of faith in the 'Dogs, but please.

UCSB vs. San Diego = And for you nightowls, this one may be pretty good.


That's about it for now. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

Three ranked teams were in action last night, but only one performed as I assumed:


# 14 Wisconsin 60 - Wisc. Milwaukee 54 = I figured the Badgers would win a relatively close one, and they did.

# 17 Mississippi State 75 - Florida Atlantic 68 = But despite my doubts about the Bulldogs, I never thought they'd have so much trouble here. Hey, a couple of 3s here or there, and this would have gone the other way. It's much the same with . . .

# 20 Michigan 63 - AR Pine Bluff 50 = OK, so a 13-point win is better than a 1-point loss, but if the Wolverines think they can challenge in the Big Ten by playing this poorly, they shall be sadly disappointed.


Other scores of some note:


South Carolina 66 - Presbyterian 58 = The Blue Hose held onto the 'Cocks for over a half, and actually led 25-19 at the break. I felt it would be a decent game, and it was OK at least.

Middle Tenn State 65 - Belmont 62 = Here's another I thought would be good, and it totally lived up to expectations.

UCSB 65 - San Diego 61 = Ditto.


Today Iona and Richmond are already in action against each other, with the Gaels starting to break open a tight one midway through the 2nd half, leading by 11 as I type. Other match-ups include:


Cincinnati vs. Wright State = I have learned not to expect the Bearcats to be either good or bad, since they've been both so far. WS may again give them a fight, and I'm just hoping it's not another brawl. :r

# 2 Ohio State vs. South Carolina Upstate = Despite the absence of Sully from the lineup, I give the Buckeyes a slim edge here. :D

# 6 Baylor vs. Bethune-Cookman = Much as with the Orange, I can't see how the Bears have shown us they deserve this high a ranking. Again, as with Syracuse, they may actually be good, but we have been given no reason to believe so. Their 7-0 record has decent wins against San Diego State and Northwestern, but nobody else of note. That situation does not change tonight.

South Florida vs. Auburn = The Tigers are 4-1, but that loss was a stomping by the Seton Hall Pirates. Even on their home court, I can see the Bulls goring them this evening.

Eastern Washington vs. UCLA = And I shall continue to keep my eye on the Bruins, just to see whether or not their start from hell turns around.


That's about all for me. I will update you by saying Iona's about sewed up a win over the Spiders in Richmond with only 2 minutes left, so they have responded well from that whuppin' they took from Marshall. Otherwise, enjoy.

[The Poet]

I got hammered at work today (Hey, if YOU worked in a likker store, you'd get hammered too, right?), and have no time to post much. Thank goodness nothing much happened of any real import last night, and nothing much seems likely tonight. Yeah, Joe, I know your Racers are going up against Lipscomb in hopes of holding onto that #24 ranking, but even though the game may be fairly close, they ought to win. And if they don't, then they've nobody to blame but themselves, right?

So maybe I can catch up a bit tomorrow, or certainly on Saturday. Until then then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Aside from Joe's Racers handling Lipscomb fairly easily, 89-65, there were a few very close games last night but none of much import. And tonight the only game I see that interests me is the Cal/Weber State one, as I think the Wildcats have half-a-chance at giving the Golden Bears a good game.

There are a ton of contests tomorrow, yet none of the ones with an early tip-off seem to promise much. Michigan/Alabama A&M? Ohio State/South Carolina? Please. As my boss is here at the moment, and I cannot post for long, I guess that's a good thing too. He might even be here tomorrow, which will totally screw me up, but what's a guy to do? I can't lock him out . . . he has his own key. So if you don't hear back from me until next week, don't worry: I'm likely NOT back in the hospital. So until when then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Hey, I finally get a chance to talk a little hoops again. I found no scores that much interested me last night, but today has a ton of fun in store for us. Already Miami/Florida Atlantic have gone to OT, with several others surviving scares too:


Ohio State 74 - South Carolina 66 = I never thought the 'Cocks could stand up so well. Sully went out of the game with a bad foot, but I've not heard what the X-Rays says.

Mississippi State 80 - Detroit 75 = And once again the SEC West demonstrates why I've little faith in any of them.

Iona vs. Vermont = This has tipped off, and I expect a good one.

Purdue vs. Butler = Here too. Neither team seems as good as they've been, so the potential is there.

# 6 Baylor vs. BYU = Finally, the Bears actually play somebody. This is out in Utah, but even if it was in Texas I'd give the Mormons a shot at the "upset". At last look, BYU had a slim lead, but it's awfully early.

# 13 Florida vs. # 22 Texas A&M = And also at last, the Aggies have an opponent on their schedule. Don't be surprised if the Gators snap their feet off at the knees.

Temple vs. Texas = Like Purdue/Butler above, these two are "down", so this could be a nail-biter.

Arizona vs. Gonzaga = To a somewhat lesser degree, it's the same story here . . . by which I mean they are not as "down", yet are fairly evenly matched.

# 4 Louisville vs. Memphis = And if the Tigers can manage to actually show up for a game, this could give the Cardinals a scare.

Mississippi vs. Southern Miss = And this is just another of those potential fun ones that pop out at me.

# 18 Indiana vs. Notre Dame = Here also, though I'm giving the Hoosiers the edge until they prove me otherwise.

# 19 Illinois vs. UNLV = And this is sort of like that Louisville/Memphis one, in that the Runnin' Rebels are capable of beating anybody . . . if they can get into that runnin' game. The Illini may have all they can handle here, if not more.

ODU vs. UCF = Just another of those "poppers" for me.

# 25 Vanderbilt vs. Indiana State = Here's another potential close one, more for the fact that Vandy's been so inconsistent. If they are today, they could easily lose this one.

# 5 North Carolina vs. Appalachian State = The Mountaineers come out of the boonies down the Catawba, forge the Yadkin, and visit Chapel Hill. It may not be much of a game, though the Heels haven't practices all week due to exams (yeah, they have them there and even take them seriously :D ), and may be a bit rusty. But Jason Capel returns home as head coach for ASU, so the crowd will be into that anyway.

# 1 Syracuse vs. N. C. State = Believe it or not, but this game's in Raleigh, and not in the Carrier Dome! I wonder who made that scheduling error! I wish I could give Jerry's Wolfpack a chance against the Orange, but I don't think they have the experience to handle that zone of Boeheim's. But hey, I could be wrong.

# 21 Michigan State vs. Bowling Green = The Falcons may be able to give the Spartans a good 10 minutes or so, but Izzo's got them playing so much better I can't see much more than that.

Lamar vs. Rice = Again, this one jumped out as being a pretty decent match-up.

Villanova vs. St. Joseph's = And these Big Five games are always fun. Both teams are fighting to earn a bit more respect, so look for a donnybrook in Philly tonight.

# 24 Murray State vs. Arkansas State = I don't believe Joe's Racers will have much of a problem here.

Oakland vs. Valparaiso = Just another one with the po' to be good.

# 23 Alabama vs. Kansas State = It's not in Manhattan, but it is in KC. That might be enough of an edge to push the struggling Wildcats over the Tide. After all, this IS another of those SEC West teams, remember?

New Mexico vs. Oklahoma State = These two teams have been making efforts to move up a notch in college hoops, and both have had some success at it. A win here helps either program, and I look for a tight one.


I'm breaking for lunch now, and hope to get back with more early finals, plus a glimpse at Sunday games. Later.

[The Poet]

A few more early finals:


Miami 93 - Florida Atlantic 90 (2OT) = The 'Canes hold on in a high wind by the skin of their teeth. A win's a win, but with ACC play starting soon this does not bode well for UM.

Iona 73 - Vermont 72 = Just about exactly the tight one I expected.


With time running out, both Purdue/Butler and Baylor/BYU are too close to call. But at the half the Gators are all over the Aggies, 50-25. Color me totally unsurprised.


Tomorrow has limited action, but a few games of interest include:


Wake Forest vs. Gardner-Webb = The Deacs have played better than was expected, but I can see them being tested here, believe it or not.

# 8 Xavier vs. Oral Roberts = I don't know how many Musketeers have been suspended for this game due to that fight with Cincy, which may affect the Preachers' odds. But either way, this could be decent for a while anyway.

# 9 U Conn vs. Holy Cross = Calhoun's home cooking continues, and Holy Cross should be crucified.

# 10 Missouri vs. William & Mary = This might last a half or so, but I'd not think much longer than that.

Loyola Marymount vs. Florida State = As the Semiholes have not played as well as was expected, this one may be more fight than they'd prefer. I give them an edge, but not a huge one.

Virginia vs. Oregon = Unlike FSU, UVA has played above all expectations so far. Even out in Eugene, they can give the Ducks a run for their money. The Cavs may not win, but they won't go down without a fight.

Eastern Illinois vs. Northwestern = This one may depend on how the Smarty 'Cats rebound from their poor showing today. I did not mention it above, but they just edged Central Conn. State by 6 points. EI's a better team, so if this game today did not focus NW they might just get knocked off.

Montana State vs. Pepperdine = These two teams are just above .500 now, and both want to stay there. It's in Malibu, so maybe the Waves have a slim advantage in that, but otherwise it has potential to be a blast.

Portland State vs. Oregon State = Though it is in Corvallis, I'm not sure what sort of home court advantage that means for OSU in this in-state game. I can see it lasting well into the 2nd half at least, and maybe going down to the last few possessions.


While typing this nonsense, two other finals happened:


Baylor 86 - BYU 83 = Like I said, BYU had a chance at the upset. They didn't pull it off, but they scared the Bears for sure.

Butler 67 - Purdue 65 = And like I said, I expected a good one here, and that's just what we got.

At last look, the Gators were still 18-up on the Aggies with 5 minutes gone in the 2nd, but I'm not gonna hang around here all damn day just to give you sports desk updates. So that's it from me for now. Have a great balance of the weekend, and enjoy.

[The Poet]

Swamped at work again today, and have no time for posting. Much of my time was spent getting a small Christmas order together for one customer. It is all liquor, mostly various types of scotch and vodka, with some Hennessy and a little gin and liquers thrown in. In total, it's about 140 liters of booze. :r

I'm glad I won't be at THAT party. Maybe I'll get a chance to catch up on the action tomorrow or the next day, but you can feel free to post your own comments. Sorry, but that's the holidays for you. :sh

[The Poet]

I'm still too busy, and too pressed for time, but lemme take a few minutes to hit a couple of highlights over the last few days. On Saturday:


Florida 84 - Texas A&M 64 = The Aggies finally got around to playing somebody, and got their butts handed to them by the Gators.

Southern Miss 86 - Mississippi 82 = Another loss by an SEC West team.

UNLV 64 - Illinois 48 = I'm not surprised the Rebels beat the Illini, but the score seems awfully low to me.

Indiana State 61 - Vanderbilt 55 = The Comms continue to prove they were over-ranked.

St. Joseph's 74 - Villanova 58 = The Hawks continue their good season, and the Philly 'Cats continue to struggle.

Kansas State 71 - Alabama 58 = Again, I'm not shocked the Manhattan 'Cats beat the Tide, but the margin is a bit surprising. K-State's down. On the other hand, we're talking SEC West again, so there's that.


On Sunday:


Oral Roberts 64 - Xavier 42 = The Musketeers pay the price for their fight with Cincy, and get embarrassed. Good. Serves them right.

Seton Hall 80 - Mercer 77 (OT) = Why note this one? Well, the Pirates have been crowing that they're back, but this is NOT a good sign of that. Mercer? Please.

Virginia 67 - Oregon 54 = The Cavs have been playing very well, and this W got them back into the rankings for the first time since they spent one whole week there back during the 2007-08 campaign.


On Monday:


Marshall 87 - Belmont 86 = Just a great game between two good mid-majors.

Illinois 64 - Cornell 60 = Were I an Illini, I would not consider this much of a bounce-back victory after that UNLV loss. Hey, Cornell's not Harvard nor Princeton.

LSU 67 - Maraquette 59 = OK, so I give enough grief to SEC West teams, it's time I was able to give them some props. A very good win for the Tigers.

Davidson 80 - Kansas 74 = And speaking of good wins, this is the best one the Charlotte 'Cats have had since Curry left, at least.


Tonight's limited action has some with potential, but I'll limit myself to:


Oakland vs. Arizona = I have that feeling this could be damn good, or at least better than the Desert 'Cats would wish.

Ohio State vs. Lamar = And this one could stay fairly competitive for a half or more too.

Louisville ve. Charleston = I don't think Charleston's as good as in the past, but I do think they can give the Cardinals a decent game.


Sorry, that's all I have time for today. Maybe the Christmas rush will give me more of a break soon. Until then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Forgive me for not getting to this yesterday, but hopefully the worst of the Christmas rush is over. Still, I'm pressed for time, so here's a short update:


On Tuesday, scores of note (to me, anyway);


Louisville 69 - Charleston 62 = I expected a good game, and we got one.

N. C. State 67 - St. Bonaventure 65 = Not a great win for the 'Pack, but a good one nonetheless.

Richmond 90 - ODU 82 (OT) = And a great in-state fight here.

Wright State 80 - Idaho 78 (OT) = And a great out-state one here, since one can't get much more out-state than Idaho.


On Tuesday:


North Carolina 82 - Texas 63 = OK, so the 'Horns are down this year. The Heels were down the last two years, and lost both games to UT, so this is sweet . . . especially when you consider that we also won the Battle of the Barnes, meaning Harrison over Rick.

Fresno State 68 - Arizona State 65 = The Sun Devils still struggle to find themselves, just as much of the Pac-12 has.

Middle Tennessee State 68 - Mississippi 56 = I can't prove it, but had I had the time yesterday I would have called this one. Ole Miss keeps up the poor rep of the SEC West.


Today's action includes a lot of games that might be pretty good, such as:


Kansas State vs. Southern Illinois = K-State's trying to get better, yet they may be tested here.

Charleston vs. Coastal Carolina = An in-state battle with potential.

Florida vs. Florida State = Here's another, if the 'Noles show up.

Syracuse vs. Tulane = Hey, would you believe I give the Green Wave half-a-shot in the Dome (of course, in the Dome) tonight? If nothing else, they are smart enough to recognize a zone defense.

Davidson vs. U. Mass = This is one of those that popped out for me.

Georgetown vs. Memphis = The Hoyas have done better than most expected, and the Tigers have done worse. Still, keep an eye on this one to see how things develop.

Gerogia Tech vs. Mercer = Yeah, one may think the Wreck will roll, but I'm not so sure of that.

Elon vs. San Diego State = And these two can maybe give us a close one also.

Miami vs. Charlotte = Ditto.

West Virginia vs. Missouri State = Dit-three.

Rice vs. Texas A&M = And dit-four for this in-stater.

Louisiana Tech vs. Arkansas = Don't ask me why, but I got that tickle here again.

South Florida vs. Southern Miss = Here, I'm more confident we'll have a game.

Creighton vs. Northwestern = Here too.

Boise State vs. Iowa = And here.

Illinois vs. Missouri = Perhaps the key match-up of the night, and one will drop in the rankings. The other may rise, or may not.

St. Mary's vs. Baylor = This one could be just about as tough on the Bears as that BYU game was. I'm not going to say the Gaels will win, but as we've seen too little of Baylor against good competition . . . well, anything is possible when you don't know what you got.


That, sadly, is all I've time for. Hopefully I'll be able to do a better job in the near future. Until then then, enjoy.

[jsnake]

How about my Missouri Tigers! These boys are on fire. Actually hurt themselves a bunch in tonight's game but a win is a win.

[The Poet]

How about my Missouri Tigers! These boys are on fire. Actually hurt themselves a bunch in tonight's game but a win is a win.


So far so good for Missou, though they tried their best to give it back to the Illini. And even though they've not played all that tough a schedule, this win plus the ones over Cal and 'Nova are nice.

Enjoy your undefeated season while it lasts, because it ends eventually. :r


Too damn busy again today for any update, so maybe I can do some tomorrow.

[The Poet]

Internet problems today. I suspect my boss downloaded some malwear on my work computer. You know how bosses are . . . they think they know it all because they are bosses. :gary So despite some interesting results last night (like Pitt losing again, and the X-Men losing their 3rd inna row, and Baylor getting sorely tested by WVA), there will be no good update today. Thank God there's not much action scheduled over the holiday weekend. And thank God the company laptop's still OK (so far), so I may be able to do some work here Monday, when I'm working here Monday all damn day.

Have a great Christmas everybody. As always, enjoy.

[The Poet]

I maybe have the chance to catch up a little now, so lemme get to it, with at least those scores that I found of interest. On Thursday 12/22:


UTEP 61 - Clemson 48 = I can't say it's a good win for UTEP, but it is certainly a poor showing by the Tigers.

Michigan 77 - Bradley 66 = And with all due respect to Bradley (but no more than that), this is not a great showing by the Wolverines, especially in Ann Arbor. Yeah, a win's a win. Still . . .

UConn 79 - Fairfield 71 = Speaking of which, with this one in Hartford, it's not that good a win for the Huskies either.

N. C. State 88 - Northeastern 59 = However, considering the lower expectations for Jerry's 'Pack, this is a nice one for them in Raleigh.

Florida 82 - Florida State 64 = I can't say I'm surprised the Gators won, but I am a bit surprised that the 'Noles gave them no game whatsoever. I guess that vaunted defense of theirs was guarding the wrong goal.

Mercer 65 - Georgia Tech 59 = It looks as though the Ramblin' Wreck is indeed one, or at least a wreck.

Rice 65 - Texas A&M 58 = Do you recall me telling you we'd see what the Aggies are once they actually started playing somebody? Well, this made their 2nd loss in a row. You can't fault them for losing to the Gators, but the Owls had lost THEIR last two before this win, and to Lamar and Temple . . . decent teams, but not monsters.

Butler 71 - Stanford 66 = A very good road win for the Bulldogs, who needed one badly.

Missouri 78 - Illinois 74 = Here's the one referenced above, where the Tigers were running away from the Illini before they tried to choke. A good win for them, but maybe not as good a sign for things to come.

Michigan State 90 - Lehigh 81 = Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of this one. The Spartans have turned things around from their bad start, and Lehigh's not a total cupcake. But it's still not much of a statement, considering it was in East Lansing.

Long Beach State 68 - Xavier 58 = The Musketeers pay again for their idiocy in the Bearcats fight. Good. Serves them right. As for Long Beach . . . well, I'll get to that below.

Kansas 63 - USC 47 = This must have been one snorer of a game, but with it out in LA it's an OK win for the Jayhawks.


On Friday 12/23:


Clemson 83 - Southern Illinois 75 (OT) = The Tigers actually show up for a change, at least in the extra 5 minutes.

UNLV 85 - Cal 68 = Either the Golden Bears are ormolu, or the Rebels just ran them over.

Tennessee 66 - East Tennessee State 63 = Wow. The Vols win one. Not by much, but they win one.

Louisville 70 - Western Kentucky 60 = And the Cardinals win one too, yet almost equally unimpressively. Well, I guess it's better than losing one unimpressively.

Wagner 59 - Pitt 54 = Another terrible loss for the Panthers. But then again, maybe not. Looking at their schedule so far, they've really played next to nobody much, and their other loss came at home (like this one) to Long Beach State. As for LBS, I'll get to that.

Baylor 83 - West Virginia 81 (OT) = And speaking of not playing much of anybody, consider now the Bears. Just a week before they escaped BYU 86-83 in their FIRST tough challenge of the year, and now they needed OT to handle their second. I see a bad fall coming this winter, since they cannot hibernate throughout the Big 12 schedule.

UCLA 71 - Rochmond 63 = OK, I know the Spiders have played a little down so far this year. But the Bruins were flat-out flatlined, so I must consider this a good step forward for them.

Hawaii 84 - Xavier 82 (OT) = Losing 3 in a row is never a good thing, at least for a team with national aspirations. But losing it to the Rainbows? Lawsy mercy.

Long Beach State 64 - Auburn 43 = Another spanking issued to a SEC West team. As for those 49ers what handled the paddles . . . well, let's review. They earlier beat Pitt, and have just beaten Xavier, and now the Tigers. They did lose at Kansas, but by only 8 points. So why did my Heels get so much grief from the "experts" when they won their game 84-78? Hey, just askin', that's all.


On Sunday 12/25, in very limited action:


Xavier 87 - Southern Illinois 77 = Finally, the X-Men stop the bleeding and end a 3-game slide. Still, I'm not sure their internal acrimony has ended, so for that we'll need to wait and see.

UTEP 83 - Auburn 76 = A game, between two teams likely to go nowhere.

Hawaii 75 - Clemson 68 = And what goes for Xavier also goes for the Tigers, albeit to a somewhat lesser degree. Hey, nobody much expected Clemson to be a power, yet still a loss to the Rainbows is not good.

Kansas State 77 - Long Beach State 60 = The 49ers go down fairly hard in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic, to a K-State team that everybody said would be down this year. But so far the Manhattan 'Cats have lost only to West Virginia (another supposed "down" squad), and beated decent teams like Virginia Tech and Alabama, and in these Hawaiian games Southern Illinois and UTEP. Maybe they're not as bad as some believe. We'll maybe find out between Jan. 4-10, when they face in succession Kansas, Missouri, and Baylor.


That's all for now. There are no games today, and not many worth watching (IMHO) tomorrow either. I'll give youse guys a chance to reflect and respond, and shall be back later to deal with that slim handful on 12/27. Later.

[The Poet]

Alright, let me get these Tuesday games out of the way now. Conference play kicks off a little bit for some, including:


Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame = In South Bend. The Panthers have lost at home to no less than Wagner, so you know they can lose on the road to the Irish. I don't think they shall, but it should be a decent game.

Providence vs. St. John's = The opening of the Big Mouth Conference season for these two too. It's in Sweater Stadium, but I give the Friars the edge over the Red Whatever-They-Call-Themselves-This-Week.

Illinois vs. Minnesota = And the start of Big Ten + Two play for them also, in what should really be a damn good game. Yeah, the Illini have gotten more respect, but the Gophers have perhaps been ignored too much. Illinois has already lost in Champaign once, so don't be shocked if they drop another.

Wisconsin vs. Nebraska = It's in Lincoln, and shall be the Cornhuskers' inaugeration into the Big Ten+ . . . with a loss, I predict. The Badgers' two Ls came at the hands of ranked UNC and Marquette, while the Huskers' three came from Oregon, Wake Forest, and Creighton . . . not cupcakes, but not killers either. This could be the beginning of a looooong few weeks in Lincoln too; after this, Nebraska faces Michigan State, @ Ohio State, @ Illinois, Penn State, @ Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio State again. Damn! Maybe they'd better win this one, or their conference season may be over before January's done.

Virginia vs. Maryland Eastern Shore = The Cavs remain ranked, and won't lose that here. But there seems to be something going on in Charlottesville. Two of their players announced they want to transfer out of the program over this weekend. Did they just get fed up with the fact that UVA actually expects you to go to class and pass exams, or is there another problem? As much as I'd like to see the Cavs do well, I worry that, if this stuff continues, their ACC success may be limited.


That's it for now. If I don't talk at you tomorrow I'll be back Wednesday. Until when then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

I got slammed again at work today, so have not time to post. As I'll be here longer tomorrow, I should get a chance to catch up then.

Enjoy, even without me. ;s

[The Poet]

Hey hey hey, I might actually get a chance to do this today, and catch up a little on what we've missed. And in fact we've missed some good ones, such as on Tuesday 12/27:


Notre Dame 72 - Pittsburgh 59 = Considering how iffy the Panthers have played, this loss in South Bend is no shock. But I cannot figure out what in the hell is wrong with Jamie Dixon's team . . . and apparently he can't either. They normally don't choke until March, and unless the Irish are better than I believe a 13-point defeat is a choke, even on the road. There's no doubt their previous loss at home to Wagner was one.

St. John's 91 - Providence 67 = And I don't think the Friars are as good as they've been before, at least so far, and I KNOW the Johnnies are not much more than decent. This kind of a spanking is hard to understand, and I don't care that it was in Louie's house.

Georgia 92 - Winthrop 86 (OT) = In Athens, no less. If this is any indication, the Bulldogs need not even shw up for upcoming games against Kentucky and Florida.

Illinois 81 - Minnesota 72 (2OT) = Wow. What a start to the Big Ten+ season for both teams. Neither is likely to challenge for the league championship, but they both are likely to receive at-large consideration, so both wanted this early victory. Can't you tell?

Wisconsin 64 - Nebraska 40 = One of these teams IS likely to challenge for the conference lead, and the other is NOT. The Badgers got the glacial style of game they prefer (yeah, I know they've said they like to run more than in the past, but that's a load), while the 'Huskers could only manage 14 points in the 2nd half. Shucks, you can't win that way.


On Wednesday 12/28, two undefeated teams went down:

Georgetown 71 - Louisville 68 = Before the season started, nobody gave the young Hoyas much thought. If they haven't by now, then this will certainly get their attention. And keep in mind, this was in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket also, which makes the drumstick all the crispier.

Michigan State 80 - Indiana 65 = And nobody gave either one of these two much thought back in November, especially after the Spartans dropped their first two. As for the Hoosiers, they were expected to be a year or so away still, yet surprised a lot of people by going undefeated to this point, which included their handing Kentucky their first loss. This was a game of runs that was much closer than the final, so you MSU fans should not get too up, nor you IU ones too down. I still don't know how real either of these two are, but I respect both programs and wish both well.

Oklahoma State 68 - SMU 58 (2OT) = I didn't see it, but it was probably an exciting game to watch, though it may not have been very entertaining. Hey, only 126 total points in 50 minutes of play? The Cowboys finally broke the Mustangs with a 10-0 run . . . in that 2nd OT, when they pitched a shutout.

Missouri State 77 - Creighton 65 = If you're looking for a surprise, here it is. The Bluejays are a much better team than the Bears, and should never have lost by a dozen to a squad struggling to stay above .500, particularly in Omaha. Not so much a surprise is . . .

U Conn 60 - South Florida 57 = The Huskies are NOT a Top Ten team, and if not for Calhoun's home-cooking of one batch of cupcakes after another they wouldn't be thought one either. Well, the picnic's over, and this visit to Tampa to face a "meh" Bulls team came within a possession of proving my contention. And speaking of over-ranked teams . . .

Baylor 54 - Mississippi State 52 = When it comes to cupcakes, those Dogs above have nothing on these Bears here. Baylor has to date faced only three quality opponents. If you total their margins of victory over BYU, WVA, and now THESE Dogs, you only come up with seven in all. Yeah, they're still one of the four undefeated teams left, but that ends soon . . . as it will for both Syracuse and Missouri, you can bet on it. Joe's Racers MAY stay unblemished for a while, but I would not bet on that.


Tonight we have a number of games that are interesting for one reason or another:


Campbell vs. N. C. State = The Fghting Camels are a pretty decent mid-major, and Jerry's Wolfpack is still trying to find themselves. It's in Raleigh, so give the 'Pack an edge, but expect a good one.

Harvard vs. Boston College = I don't expect a good one here, and not because the Eagles are an ACC team. They appear to suck, and the Crimson have played well. I could be wrong, but I think this will be over long before it's over.

Penn vs. Davidson = But now this match-up of Northern Ivy vs. Southern Ivy could be a lot more fun. I believe the Wildcats are better than the Quakers (they did beat Kansas in Lawrence, remember?), and the game's in Charlotte (well, Davidson, actually, but some of you don't even know where CHARLOTTE is, much less Davidson), but it might be fairly entertaining, though maybe not as entertaining as . . .

Yale vs. Wake Forest = Two more Mason/Dixon Ivies pair off, in Greensboro. One of them will win. I have little faith in either one, so this could be an all-out War Of Northern Aggression.

VCU vs. Akron = And this just looks to be a good match-up.

Florida vs. Rutgers = And this doesn't. The Gators have played better of late, and the Scarlet Knights are . . . well, the Scarlet Knights. It's in Piscataway, but that should make no difference whatsoever.

North Carolina vs. Elon = In fact, this one may be closer than the one above. The Heel should prevail with a reasonably comfortable margin before it's done, but don't expect the Phoenixes to totally flame out.

Michigan vs. Penn State = I've no idea what the Nittany Lions have this year, but I do know the Logans can struggle to score. Keep your eye on this one to see if an "upset" develops.

Kansas vs. Howard = And keep your eye off this one, unless you happen to actually be in Allen Fieldhouse tonight. Instead, watch . . .

Marshall vs. Belmont = Because this one should be a game, start to finish, just like . . .

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State = With NI's D, I give them some edge. But I don't know who has the edge with . . .

Wisc.-Milwaukee vs. Valparaiso = Nor do I know which way to go with . . .

Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati = Both can play OK, and both can stink up an gym. Speaking of stinking up gyms . . .

Vanderbilt vs. Marquette = The Commodores have done a lot of that. The Golden Eagles have not. If Vandy can manage to show up (and I've stopped expecting that they will), this will be a hell of a game.

Oregon State vs Washington = This might too, though nobody seems to know, or believe in, ANY Pac-12 team, such as . . .

Oregon vs. Washington State = Both these games are in the state of Washington, which leads me to ask the same question that seems to enter my head each year when previewing the scheduling in this conference: Do they have agreements where teams from the same state share airplanes and busses to the games? Are they really that "green" on the Left Coast? But to finish with the West Coast games, perhaps the best on the docket is . . .

BYU vs St. Mary's = The Gaels stumbled against Denver, and again against Baylor, but otherwise they've been solid. The Cougars also lost to those Bears and to the Wisconsin Badgers, plus a stumble of their own in their opener at Utah State, yet have been solid themselves. This one in Moraga, wherever the hell that is, but wherever it is it ain't in Utah. If you can stay up this late you might catch a good one here.


That's it for today, my brothers. See you hopefully tomorrow. Until then, enjoy.

[mase]

Glad to see my Hoyas keep winning. Crazy things happening...

5 minutes to go and Marquette down by 20 to Vandy.

[The Poet]

Glad to see my Hoyas keep winning. Crazy things happening...

5 minutes to go and Marquette down by 20 to Vandy.


Georgetown has played a lot better than was expected from this young squad. Good for them. I'll be interested to see how they continue once Big East games begin in earnest.

The Commodores have perhaps been the biggest disappointment to the "experts" so far this year, but this was definitely a great win for them, especially on the road, and by such a large margin. But the biggest shock of the night was that double-OT win by Rutgers over the Gators.

I'm too busy, or maybe too lazy, to do a full update today. If I'm not too slammed tomorrow . . . and why would a liquor store be busy on New Year's Eve? . . . I'll play a little catch-up Saturday, or at the latest Monday. Until then then, enjoy.

[mase]

Yeah that Rutgers win was incredible.

Hope that tomorrow isn't too bad for you. Enjoy New Year's Eve if you can.

[jcruse64]

Rutgers game was very good; looked like the gators just folded up in OT2.

Murray State is 14-0!!!! Yeah, I'm a homer :r:r:r Got tickets to the Austin Peay game, an ESPNU showing. If they show a short, blonde spitfire in MSU garb being forcibly removed from the arena, prayers and bail would be appreciated; it will be my wife ;).

Really looking forward to a good UK/UL matchup today.

Happy New Year, folks!!!

[The Poet]

Yeah that Rutgers win was incredible.

Hope that tomorrow isn't too bad for you. Enjoy New Year's Eve if you can.

Thanks, Kevin, and the same to you.

Rutgers game was very good; looked like the gators just folded up in OT2.

Murray State is 14-0!!!! Yeah, I'm a homer :r:r:r Got tickets to the Austin Peay game, an ESPNU showing. If they show a short, blonde spitfire in MSU garb being forcibly removed from the arena, prayers and bail would be appreciated; it will be my wife ;).

Really looking forward to a good UK/UL matchup today.

Happy New Year, folks!!!

And a Happy New Year to you, Joe, and to everybody else also. Have a great time at that AP game. Go Racers! They may be the only ones with a legitimate shot at going without a regular season loss this year. Then, come March, we'll maybe see how real they are. :D

The Battle of the Bluegrass State has already tipped off, and I'll keep an eye on it as I'm preparing my update. Back shortly, I hope. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

Big games in progress have not been so big so far, with UConn and UK handing it to St. John's and Louisville, and unless they turn around both games are already over. While they continue, lemme catch up some. On Thursday:


Rutgers 85 - Florida 83 (2OT) = As mentioned above, this one's a shock. I realize the Gators have been spotty at times, but letting the Scarlet Knights take them is inexcusable.

Vanderbilt 74 - Marquette 57 = This one would not be as much a surprise, despite the fact that this other SEC team has been even more spotty than Florida. However, both the margin and the fact that the Comms were on the road add significance to a badly-needed win for them.

N. C. State 87 - Campbell 81 = The Wolfpack has been somewhat better than "meh", while the Fighting Camels have been humping along fairly well, considering. Jerry may not be delighted by this win, but I feel it is at least a decent one, and certainly better than a loss.

Wake Forest 72 - Yale 71 = And considering where the Demon Deacons were last year, this is not a bad win either. Also, regarding head-to-head between the "Two Ivy Leagues" . . .

Davidson 75 - Penn 70 = Had this happened during the Curry era (or the Lefty one, for you old-timers), this would not be that good a win. But were I a Wildcat, I'd take it, thank you very much.

VCU 76 - Akron 75 (OT) = I expected a battle in this one, and we got it.

Belmont 79 - Marshall 74 = Ditto.

Illinois State 65 - Northern Iowa 61 = Same here, though I thought NI'd take it. Shows what I know.

Wisc-Milwaukee 57 - Valparaiso 55 = And here's another one, which despite the low scoring was one fine contest between two good mid-majors.

Cincinnati 56 - Oklahoma 55 = And here again, with the Bearcats getting a win they desperately needed.

St. Mary's 98 - BYU 82 = Way to go, Gaels. Not only did they beat the Mormons, they kinda spanked them too.


On Friday:


Georgia 58 - Delaware State 51 = The Bulldogs post a totally unimpressive victory.

Northeastern 53 - Vermont 51 = Both programs have been better in the past, yet still gave us a fun game.

Missouri 75 - ODU 68 = Missou remains undefeated, though against an ODU team that's also been better before this year. 'Grats to the Tigers, and enjoy it while you can . . . your run will end soon.

Princeton 75 - Florida State 73 (3OT) = Wow. The Garden State sure handed it to the Sunshine State over these two days, with both the Scarlet Knights and the Tigers hanging L's on the Gators and 'Noles . . . though it took a comnbined 5 OTs to do it.

George Mason 84 - Charleston 76 = I don't think CoC's as good as before, and I know GM's not going to reach another Final Four this year. Still, it's a good win for them.

Temple 66 - Delaware 63 = But like that Georgia win above, I can't consider this to be a very good showing by the Owls.

Auburn 78 - Georgia Southern 75 = Nor is this one by the Tigers.

Murray State 73 - Eastern Illinois 40 = I normally refrain from posting blowouts, but I wanna keep on Joe's good side . . . and give some props to the Racers for staying unblemished to date.

Seton Hall 67 - West Virginia 48 = Speaking of blowouts, what about this one? By itself it means little, as we know the Mountaineers are down some this year. But have you noticed that the Pirates are quietly 12-2 so far, including decent wins over VCU, St. Joe's, Auburn, Wake, and Dayton? Are they for real? We may find out come this Tuesday, when they face the UConn Huskies.

James Madison 71 - Stetson 69 (OT) = Neither team is likely to make much noise this season, but the did give us an entertaining contest here.

Wagner 64 - Santa Clara 62 = The Seahawks follow up their stunning victory over the Pitt Panthers by edging a decent Broncos squad. Good for them.


While I was typing the above, Louisville made a huge comeback to get back into their game in Rupp. However, St. John's has not done the same against those Huskies. Some other games which tip-off early today include:


Viginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State = The Cowboys have grabbed a slim lead over the Hokies with 5 gone in the second, but it's still too close to call. I expect it to stay that way.

Iowa vs. Wisconsin = The Hawkeyes are up a trey in Madison over the Badgers, but it's only midway through the first. Anything can happen, and I think those Badgers will wrest control eventually. But I don't expect a blowout.

Rice vs. Texas = I get that feeling that this Lone Star War will be exactly that.

N. C. State vs. Western Carolina = And if Jerry's 'Pack want to keep any sort of respect, they'd better take care of the Catamounts in this in-state fight. I believe they will, but it might be closer than Jerry'd wish.

Florida vs. Yale = You'd expect the Gators to bounce back from that embarrassing loss to Rutgers. I'd expect that too. Still, if the Scarlet Knights can beat them, so can the Eli.

Wis-Milwaukee vs. Butler = The Bulldogs, national runner-up the last two years, are struggling at 7-7 so far. Me, I think they'll drop below .500 today.

Boise State vs. Idaho = Get out your potato guns. This one could be fun.

Georgetown vs. Providence = The Hoyas have done very well, and the Friars have not. Still, anything can happen in conference play, so keep an eye on this one.

Mississippi State vs. Utah State = I've yet to be convinced that MSU's for real. A win here won't convince me they are, nor will a loss convince me they aren't. I get that feeling this will be close, even if it is in Starkville.

Northwestern vs. Oklahoma = And I get that feeling about this one too.

Michigan State vs. Nebraska = And I don't get that feeling about this one. The Spartans have won a dozen inna row, and Izzo likely won't let them lose focus. As for the Cornhuskers . . . well, their nightmare introduction to the Big Ten+ has just begun.

Drake vs. Missouri State = Yeah, nobody much cares about either one of these teams, but I think it may be a pretty decent match-up.

South Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee State = Same here.


I'll be back a little later with early finals and other games today and Sunday. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

As promised, here's a few early finals:


Kentucky 69 - Louisvlle 62 = The Cardinals made a late run in the first half to make it a game, then made another late in the 2nd to make it respectable. I didn't get to see it, but as I doubt that either defense was all that dominant, the game must have been pretty sloppy. UK may not move up in the polls, but Louisville shall certainly drop a few spots.

U Conn 83 - St. John's 69 = The Johnnies were totally outclassed by the Huskies in Hartford.

Virginia Tech 67 - Oklahoma 61 = Not a great win for the Hokies, but a decent ony anyway.

South Carolina 72 - S. C. Upstate 66 = And not a great win for the Gamecocks, nor a decent one either.


Later games today include:


Harvard vs. St. Joseph's = This one ought to be tons of fun. I can easily see the Crimson losing to the Hawks, and losing their ranking to boot.

Purdue vs. Illinois = Both the Boilermakers and the Illini need all the conference wins they can muster to keep pace with the big boys. This should be a war.

UCLA vs. California = The Bruins have had a horrid start, and a win against the Berkeley boys would go a long way towards improving their outlook. I can't see it happening, but UCLA does have the talent . . . if they show up, finally.

Kansas vs. North Dakota = Don't bother.

Arizona vs. Arizona State = And despite my respect for Herb Sendek, don't bother all that much with this one either. Yeah, the Sun Devils could surprise me, but I wouldn't bet on that.

Oregon State vs. Washington State = Both start out 0-1 in league play, so both want the win. As the Pac-12 might be fairly open, at least below the top one or two spots, every team needs any victory they can steal.

Creighton vs. Wichita State = It's in Wichita, but even if it wasn't I'd give the Shockers a shot here.

Ohio State vs. Indiana = In Bloomington, so you have to give the Hoosiers one also. The Buckeyes have not been as dominant as expected, while IU's been much better than was thought. They may not be back yet, but a win here would go a long way towards that aim.

Saint Louis vs. New Mexico = Here's one of those match-ups of good teams that hold the potential for a nail-biter.

UNLV vs. Hawaii = The Runnin' Rebels visit Honolulu, but a win by the Rainbows would be a definite lulu.

Gonzaga vs. Xavier = Has the Musketeers recovered from their brawl with Cincy? If so, they ought to edge the 'Zags. If not, it could be another ugly loss.

Charlotte vs. Memphis = The Tigers have been just another of those teams from the Volunteer State that have sorely disappointed their fans so far. The 49ers don't have the personnel to compete with Memphis if they play up to their pre-season hype, but as they've rarely done so so far this might be a good one.

Oregon vs. Washington = Like that other Great NW fight above, both teams would like to challenge for, at least, respectability in the Pac-12. This should focus both of them to play well.


On Sunday, in limited action, we have:


Rutgers vs. South Florida = Can the Scarlet Knights do a double-dip against the Sunshine State and gore the Bulls. Hey, if they can beat the Gators, they can win this one. But for some reason I expect them to have a let-down, so it may be just as close as their last OT game.

Marquette vs. Villanova = You'd expect the Golden Eagles to be angry after their embarrassment at home against Vandy, which does not bode well for a so-far so-so 'Nova. I'm not saying the Wildcats can't win, as I've a lot of respect for Jay Wright. However, Jay Wright won't be in uniform, so I'd bet on Marquette were I you.

North Carolina vs. Monmouth = The game itself doesn't promise to be much, as the Hawks have only won 2 games so far this season. Yet it does hold interest for Tar Heels, as it shall mark the return to Chapel Hill of former players King Rice, Derrick Phelps, and Brian Reese, all teammates in the 90's. The Monmouth coaching staff will likely get the biggest hand of the day in the Dean Dome.

Michigan vs. Minnseota = So if you're looking for a more competitive contest, tune this one in. I can see it going either way, and expect it to come down to who executes in the final few minutes.

Akron vs. Marshall = And on a slightly different level, I'd expect much the same here.

Syracuse vs. DePaul = And believe it or not, I expect it here too. The 'Cuse have again screwed up their scheduling, and are actually playing a road game in Rosemont! Who'd a thunk? The Orange will probably previal, but I think the Blue Demons will give them a scare or two before it's over.

Duke vs. Penn = But I don't expect the Blue Devils to get much of one from the Quakers.

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh = Here's an intereting match-up for you, as both teams have had some downright stinkers, with upsets they should never have allowed. They may not actually fight, but they should battle even if only out of pride.


That's it for now. I may be back a little later, and may not. In either case, enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Actually, the Bluegrass Battle was VERY physical, I thought. Lots of fouls called, but the refs let them play. I thought we might get a couple of fights, for a minute. In H2, both teams had some foul number issues. While play got sloppy at times, there was very good D on both sides, and a fantastic number of blocks for both teams. While I am an admitted Cats Homer, and wanted them to win, I was hoping for a fight, and got it. I think the Cats took their foot off the pedal late in H1, and got lazy, and the Cards went into a press and made them pay. Pitino usually can teach a group how to put a full court press to great advantage, and the H1 run was a product of that.

I'd agree with UK not moving in the polls, except that IU slapped a loss onto The Ohio State, their 2nd "giant killer" game. That ought to smart on The OSU, though I'd like to see UK stay off the #1 spot until the end of the Final Four.

[The Poet]

Actually, the Bluegrass Battle was VERY physical, I thought. Lots of fouls called, but the refs let them play. I thought we might get a couple of fights, for a minute. In H2, both teams had some foul number issues. While play got sloppy at times, there was very good D on both sides, and a fantastic number of blocks for both teams. While I am an admitted Cats Homer, and wanted them to win, I was hoping for a fight, and got it. I think the Cats took their foot off the pedal late in H1, and got lazy, and the Cards went into a press and made them pay. Pitino usually can teach a group how to put a full court press to great advantage, and the H1 run was a product of that.

I'd agree with UK not moving in the polls, except that IU slapped a loss onto The Ohio State, their 2nd "giant killer" game. That ought to smart on The OSU, though I'd like to see UK stay off the #1 spot until the end of the Final Four.

You mean you don't want your Racers to knock them off that first weekend? What kind of fan are you? :r

Weekend update to follow shortly after I enjoy my post-luncheon dog-rocket. ;)

[The Poet]

Well, both those games referenced above influenced the polls, not surprisingly. As UK and OSU were pretty much "tied" in the voting, the Buckeye loss dropped them down out of the Top Five . . . which may be too much. Louisville dropped even more, but there's the excuse of back-to-back Ls to explain that. So to recap some more of the meaningful scores, on Saturday 12/31:


Indiana 74 - Ohio State 70 = I told you the Hoosiers had a shot at home against the Buckeyes. I'm still not totally convinced they are back to Knightly glory, but it is good to see them competing on a high level again.

Iowa 72 - Wisconsin 65 = But this one surprises me quite a bit. I didn't think the Hawkeyes had much of a chance in Madison against the Badgers . . . which shows you once again what little I know, and why they play the games.

Boise State 76 - Idaho 73 = This one was about what I did expect, however. I thought it would be a good game, and it certainly was.

N. C. State 82 - Western Carolina 55 = The victory by Jerry's 'Pack was pretty much expected, but the size of the margin was not, which may be a sign that this team is starting to play together better.

Georgetown 49 - Providence 40 = And though the Hoya win was expected, the crappy scoring by both sides makes that UK/Louisville score look like an old UNLV/Loyola Marymount romp.

Butler 54 - Wisc. Milwaukee 50 = Another low-scorer, but I'm sure the Bulldogs are happy they've stayed above .500, at least for now.

Michigan State 68 - Nebraska 55 = Nothing at all surprising here. In fact, what would be is if the Cornhuskers manage to win more that 2 or 3 games in conference play all season.

Mississippi State 66 - Utah State 64 = Some of you may have looked askance when I said this would be a good one. Well, :gary

Purdue 75 - Illinois 60 = I missed this one, or maybe the Illini missed the bus. Although I figured it could go either way, so the Boilermaker win is no shock, the significant margin does shock me some.

Harvard 74 - St. Joseph's 69 = And you may think I missed this one too, as I pretty much called for St. Joe's to knock off the Crimson. But blame the Hawks for this, not me . . . they were up by 10 at the half, then didn't manage to make it out of the locker-room. Speaking of which . . .

Creighton 68 - Wichita State 61 = I gave the Shockers a shot here, and THEY were up 8 at the break. Looks like I'm the one who couldn't catch one . . . a break, I mean.

New Mexico 64 - Saint Louis 60 = I made no call here, save for a good game, and it was.

UNLV 74 - Hawaii 69 = But though the Rebels won, as I predicted, I never thought the Rainbows could hang so close.

Gonzaga 72 - Xavier 65 = Well, it wasn't all that ugly a loss for the Musketeers, but they continue to self-destruct. Maybe that crosstown win over the Bearcats was the worst thing that could have happened to the X-Men. This also means I have no clue if this was a good win for the 'Zags, or not. Furthermore, to contrast this . . .


On Sunday 1/1:


Cincinnati 66 - Pittsburgh 63 = Since that fight mentioned above, the one that seemingly ruined Xavier's momentum, the previously struggling Bearcats have won 6 in a row after that row. Meanwhile, Pitt slips deeper into the pits, which is unusual for them. They normally don't collapse until March. :D

South Florida 67 - Rutgers 65 = The Scarlet Knights follow up their stunning victory over the Gators by dropping this one to the Bulls. Who can figure this $#!+ out?

Marquette 81 - Villanova 77 = As I thought, Marquette rebounded from their loss with a win. But there's some hope for the Philly 'Cats here, since they made a pretty damn good showing of it, so maybe they can get better before the end of the year.

North Carolina 102 - Monmouth 65 = And as I thought, not much of a game. But also as I thought, and my sole (or is that "soul"?) reason for mentioning this at all was the 30-second standing ovation King Rice et. al. received during introductions. Some programs are just programs, but others are family.

Akron 67 - Marshall 51 = I'm a bit disappointed that the Herd didn't give the Zips all the game I predicted. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

Michigan 61 - Minnesota 56 = Now this is more like it, and more of the contest I expected. A good win for the Wolverines, though I'm still concerned with their lack of scoring ability. So far this season they've only had 2 games when they've scored over 80 pionts, and 6 when they've tallied under 65. And they ain't exactly the Hoyas of the 80s either.


Today's action has already started in some places, but only one final so far has any real meaning:


Rhode Island 78 - Boston College 72 (2OT) = The Rams pretty much stink this year, and this is only their 3rd victory so far. Guess that means the Eagles won't be challenging for the ACC crown. :r


In other games:


ODU vs. James Madison = As I type it's at the half, with JM up 2. I think ODU will make a game of it before it's done.

Chattanooga vs. Tennessee = In most years, one would have to favor the Vols fairly heavily. I don't know if the Mocs can beat this present batch in Knoxville, but they may scare them a bit.

Virginia vs. LSU = It's in Baton Rouge, so despite my misgivings about SEC West teams I gotta give the Tigers a shot here, at least to challenge the Cavs. UVA's played much better than expected (and good for them), but not only am I not totally convinced they are for real, I also suspect they have some internat turmoil disturbing their chemistry. Hey, players don't leave in the middle of a season without some reason, be it good or bad.

Baylor vs. Texas A&M = And speaking of not being convinced someone's for real, I don't buy into the Bears all that much. If the Aggies can play up to their pre-season hype for a change, they could hang that first L around Baylor's neck.

Drexel vs. Georgia State = This is just one of those I get that feeling could be fun.

Wofford vs. Wake Forest = This one could be too, though I'm more interested to see how the Deacs play. After the abysmal last few years they've had down in Greensboro, they can use any W they can get.

Coastal Carolina vs. Campbell = Here's two pretty good mid-majors going head-to-head, so keep an eye on this.

Vanderbilt vs. Miami (OH) = And much like that Wake/Wofford game, my interest stems from my curiosity as to which group of Commodores will show up in Nashville tonight.


That's all for me today. See you later, and enjoy.

[The Poet]

In last night's limited action there were only a few scores of note:


Baylor 61 - Texas A&M 52 = The Bears remain undefeated, and I remain unconvinced about them. The Aggies have been one of the more disappointing teams so far this year, though not as disappointing as . . .

Vanderbilt 69 - Miami OH 62 = I guess a bad win is better than a worse loss, but this does not impress me at all, at least not favorably. What does more is . . .

Virginia 57 - LSU 52 = Yeah, I know the Tigers aren't a great team, but a win on the road by the Cavs at this point of the season means a lot in Charlottesville, I'm sure.

ODU 67 - James Madison 61 (OT) = I figured ODU'd get back into this one before the horn, and they did, even if just barely. Then after the horn, they did what they needed to do.

Wofford 56 - Wake Forest 52 = A decent win for the Terriers on the road, and a sign that the Deacons will continue to slide, even if not quite as far as last year.

Campbell 70 - Coastal Carolina 65 = Again, I figured on a pretty good game here, and the Camels managed to get over the hump for a decent victory.


Tonight also has limited action, but there are a few marquee match-ups:


Ohio State vs. Nebraska = This isn't one of them. The Buckeyes will recover from their "upset" by the Hoosiers and shuck the 'Huskers, who'll need to wait a while longer before they earn their first Big Ten+ win.

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin = But this one could be a real barn-burner. These two are seemingly headed in different directions, with the Spartans on a roll and the Badgers digging themselves a hole. One wants to keep the streak going, and the other needs to turn it around. It is in Madison, but if the Hawkeyes can beat UW there so can MSU. Look for a war.

U Conn vs. Seton Hall = And this may be one too, considering how well the Pirates have looked at times, and considering that the Huskies are doing what they've yet to do much of this year . . . playing a decent opponent in a true road game. And against South Florida away from the Nutmeg State, U Conn won by only 3 lousy points. You should definitely keep an eye on Newark tonight.

Florida vs. UAB = In most years I'd think this one could be fun, but UAB hasn't shown us much so far. At times, neither have the Gators, yet I feel they'll be able to handle this with some ease.

Kentucky vs. AR Little Rock = And I'd also give the Wildcats a slight edge over the 5-10 Trojans. ;)

Harvard vs. Fordham = It's in duh Bronx, but the Rams ain't the Yankees. The Crimson ain't the Rod Sux either, but they oughta take it, bad.

Louisville vs. St. John's = And this is in the Garden, but I don't give the Johnnies much hope here. The Cardinals rebound from their back-to-back losses against the Hoyas and 'Cats.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma = The Tigers are another of those teams I've not bought into yet, due mainly because they've not played much of anybody. A win against the Sooners won't change my mind, but a loss just might. For this alone the game is of interest.

Alabama vs. Georgia Tech = And I'm not sure either the Tide or the Wreck can play with The Big Boys. 'Bama has a better record, but 2 or their three losses have come on the road. This one's in Atlanta. Like above, a Tide win will tell me little. One by the Jackets will tell me a little more, though not all that much.

SMU vs. Mississippi = Here again, I'm not sure what this will tell us, at least about the Rebels. A win by the Mustangs in Oxford may indicate they're not gawd-awful, yet won't tell us that they are any damn good. So again, no prediction here, but just an interest to see what's what.


That's about all for this evening. Pick your poison, and enjoy.

[The Poet]

Pressed for time again today, so this will need be short and sweet. Last night:


Fordham 60 - Harvard 54 = The most stunning result from these games, and not because I didn't give the Rams a shot in hell. Can you blame me? They haven't won at home against a ranked opponent since 1978, which was before some of you were born.

Seton Hall 75 - U Conn 63 = I've been surprised at how well the Pirates have played so far this year, and the fact that they dominated this game surprises me some also. But I'm not surprised the Huskies lost. I felt they started out over-ranked to begin with, and furthermore felt this would start to manifest itself once they got out of their home state and actually played some decent teams on the road.

Michigan State 63 - Wisconsin 60 (OT) = The Spartans swipe a tough one in Madison, but despite the fact that a tying 3-pointer by the Badgers was disallowed at the 2nd buzzer they did not STEAL it. If Wisconsin had really deserved the victory, maybe they should have hit more that 5 of their first 20+ treys before they "hit" the post-final one.

Alabama 73 - Georgia Tech 48 = Good God, is the Wreck in that bad a shape? Lawsy mercy.

Mississippi 50 - SMU 48 = About what I figured it might be, though awfully low-scoring.


Although there are not a ton of games this evening, there are quite a few that look to be good match-ups . . . too many, in fact, for me to give them all justice. So here's my highlights:


Xavier vs. LaSalle = Have the X-Men gotten over their post-brawl blues? Even if so, LaSalle could give them game.

Auburn vs. Florida State = Going into the season I'd have thought the 'Noles would romp here. However, they've played like crap, so this one interests me, even if only for that.

Georgetown vs. Marquette = Two good teams should give us one good game. Until the Hoyas show me otherwise, I'll stick with them for now.

St. Joseph's vs. Duquesne = The Hawks have been much better than they were last year, yet this still might be some fun.

Tulane vs. UCF = This could be too.

Illinois vs. Northwestern = The Smarty 'Cats have NOT been quite as good as last year, but the Illini have shown they can be vulnerable.

West Virginia vs. Rutgers = And the Mountaineers have also not been as good, while the Scarlet Knights have been 'way up, and fairly down too. If RU shows up, should be close.

Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati = Unlike Xavier, the Bearcats got hot after that fight. The Irish may not be able to cool them off, but keep an eye on this one to see what develops.

Duke vs. Temple = The Owls are decent anyway, though not the mid-major power they've often been in the past. But the Blue Devils may have a bit more of a fight than they'd wish, even if only for the fact that . . . believe it or not . . . they AREN'T PLAYING IN DURHAM!!! How the hell did K let that happen? :r

Murray State vs. Eastern Kentucky = I won't pick against Joe's Racers until after they give me some reason, but I can see them facing a challenge at home here.

Kansas vs. Kansas State = I'm not sure I need to say much more. KU's played about as expected, while K-State's played better than was thought. Plus, they don't much like each other, in case you didn't know. Look for a war in Allen Fieldhouse, and figure the Jayhawks in a tight one.

Saint Louis vs. Dayton = And figure on much the same here, on a mid-major level.

Syracuse vs. Providence = Just like Dook, the Orange have screwed up again and scheduled a game outside the Dome. Were it many places aside from Rhode Island, I might look for them to take their first loss tonight. That loss will come, but I can't see the Friars handing it to SU.

Iowa vs. Minnesota = In case you haven't noticed, these two "also-rans" in the Big Ten+ have surprised a few people. Both now have ambitions to make the NCAAs come March, and need every conference win they can muster to get there. If nothing else, they should come into this focused.


Sad to say, I've no time for other good ones today, like maybe Indiana State/Northern Iowa or Illinois State/Missouri State to name just two. But feel free to jump in and name them yourselves, fellas! I can use all the help I can get here!

Later then. Enjoy.

[mase]

After that Georgetown comeback, I was so delirious that I offered to take down all of our Christmas ornaments. I don't even remember doing it.

Wild night - Temple upsets Duke.

[jcruse64]

Down goes dook!!!!! Wish I'd got to see all the game, but the wife said it was a hot one.

That Michigan St-Wisconsin game was a good one also; enjoyed, and agree with your assessment. That has become a really good rivalry.

Looks like the G'Town game was also a good, close game. Cinci did not have a close game; what, 7-0 since the Brawl?

Murray State had a finish that was closer than the final score showed. Eastern has a decent team, and may beat us in Richmond later on. Hopefully, Aska's hand will be healed up by then. Glad the team can play without an important piece there.

Looks like Providence is giving 'Cuse a game tonight also.

[BigAsh]

Hoot!....My Owls upset Duke!!...and I was there.....great game....gotta say the Owls took it to the big bad Blue Devils....outplayed and out hustled 'em!!

[The Poet]

Various computer problems kept me from posting yeasterday, and are delaying me also today. Hopefully I'll get a chance to catch up Saturday.

I will say that, good as it was for the Temple Owls, I'm not so sure how huge an upset it was. Yeah, Cosby U's a little down this season, but remember that I told you from the get-go that I felt the Blue Devils were too highly-ranked when one considers what and who they lost from their program over the last few years, and how iffy the performance of young replacements can be regardless of how touted they may be.

And if you think the above is the ranting of a Dook-hater, keep in mind that in non-conference play I always root for the ACC team . . . though that may change next year, when The Orange hit the league. :r

[The Poet]

OK. I have neither the time nor the energy for a complete update, so lemme just hit the highlights over the past few days. On Wednesday 1/4:


Temple 78 - Duke 73 = As stated above, I don't consider this as big an upset as many seem to do. The Owls aren't scared of anybody, and though the Blue Devils will have their typical great season they aren't invincible.

LaSalle 80 - Xavier 70 = With all due respect to LaSalle, my interest here lies in the way these Musketeers have crashed and burned. I really want to see if they can right the ship.

St. Joseph's 84 - Duquesne 82 (OT) = Just a great game between two good mid-majors.

Georgetown 73 - Marquette 70 = The young Hoyas continue to surprise people.

Memphis 69 - Tennessee 51 = In and of itself, this in-state battle holds little interest to me, save that the Tigers may be learning how to play together. But you'll see below why today's action makes this Vol loss notable.

Kansas 67 - Kansas State 49 = I'm not surprised the Jayhawks won, but I did think the 'Cats might make a better showing than this pitiful effort.

Dayton 79 - Saint Louis 72 (OT) = Another of those exciting contests.

Iowa State 77 - Texas 71 = OK, I realize Rick Barnes' "one-and-done" recruits have screwed this program again, but please . . . Iowa State?? And speaking of the state of Iowa . . .

Iowa 64 - Minnesota 62 = It was a good night for those corn-fed hicks.


On Thursday 1/5:


Indiana 73 - Michigan 71 = Another good win for the Hoosiers, though with the way the Wolverines have played at times I'm not sure it's a great one. Personally, I'm glad to see IU's coming back, though it's still too early to know for sure if they are.

DePaul 84 - Pittsburgh 81 = Maybe I should no longer be stunned when the Panthers lose. This time it came due to a 3 with 1.3 seconds left, to a team they should have dominated . . . were Pitt as good as was expected, anyway.

Penn State 65 - Purdue 45 = Firstly, I don't get why the Boilermakers haven't played better. And secondly . . . 45 stinkin' points? WTF? What's with all the football scores in college hoops this year?

Oregon 78 - Stanford 67 = A good night for the Great Northwest, and not one for the Bay Area when you also consider . . .

Oregon State 92 - California 85 = The Pac-12 seem likely to be another clusterfark this year, with teams repeatedly trying to give the lead to somebody else, such as with . . .

UCLA 65 - Arizona 58 = Does this mean the Bruins are finally starting to play up to their pre-season hype, or is it that the Desert 'Cats are starting to play down to their actual abilities?


On Friday 1/6:


Butler 63 - Wright State 62 = A close one for the Bulldogs, who need every W they can steal if they want to get another shot in March.

Valparaiso 73 - Detroit 71 = Pretty much the same story here.


So far today we've seen some fascinating action, including this one referenced above:


Tennessee 67 - Florida 56 = Not only did the sub-par Vols beat the Gators, they beat them fairly handily. OK, so it was in Knoxville, but still. This makes another road loss for Florida, who may be showing they do NOT travel well.

Wake Forest 58 - Virginia Tech 55 = A very good win for the Deacs to kick off their ACC campaign. As these may be few and far between, they need savor each one.



It looks like West Virginia's gonna knock off Georgetown, and Georgia Tech's giving Duke about all they can handle too. I'll be back later with more early finals, and hopefully some previews of weekend action. I say hopefully, because the boss has threatened to come in here and try once again to screw up my computer. :r

Either way, enjoy.

[The Poet]

A few more early finals for you:


West Virginia 74 - Georgetown 62 = The Hoyas' climb in the polls takes a step backwards with this huge win for the Mountaineers.

Duke 81 - Georgia Tech 74 = This game was really closer than the final. Dook struggles on the road again, though they do escape with a W over the Wreck.

Xavier 67 - Fordham 59 = The Musketeers get only their 2nd win in their last 7 in the wake of their Bearcat brawl. Meanwhile the Rams follow their stunner over Harvard with a loss to "meh" U Mass, then this.


There's far too many great games scheduled today, so I'll just hit the big ones:


Missouri vs. Kansas State = At this point it's looking like the Manhattan 'Cats will hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. It's not over, but if it holds up it won't be Missou's last loss.

LSU vs. Mississippi = And these Tigers are trying to stomp the Rebels, holding a 20-point lead at the break.

Baylor vs. Texas Tech = The Bears have only a single point edge at the break, and are actually in more of a game than I'd have thought.

Kansas vs. Oklahoma = The Sooners are hanging tough with the Jayhawks in Norman, up by one with 4 minutes to go in the first. It's early, so I'd expect KU to prevail eventually.

North Carolina vs. Boston College = In this ACC opener for both, I'd not expect the Eagles to be able to give the Heels much of a contest, as they've not shown that ability prior to this. Yet I'd not have thought the Yellow Jackets could hang with the Blue Devils either, so there's that. In conference play, anything can happen.

Ohio State vs. Iowa = The Hawkeyes have had a couple of very good, and somewhat unexpected, wins already. If they can take this one from the Buckeyes, it would be their biggest. I don't think they shall, but you never know. OSU has NOT been al-powerful.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina = Nor have the Wildcats, but the 'Cocks have been awfully limp so far. I don't give them a shot in hell in Rupp.

Syracuse vs. Marquette = It's back in the Dome, so you'd have to give the Orange a slight nod. Still, Marquetts has played very well at times, and they might have a shot of knocking off another undefeated today.

Dayton vs. Temple = Can the Owls build upon their huge victory over Duke? This one ought to be close throughout.

Louisville vs. Notre Dame = If the right Cardinals team shows up in the Crum Bucket, I don't give the Irish much of a chance.

Virginia vs. Miami = The Cavaliers have been the surprise of the ACC so far, and the 'Canes have struggled mightily. I'll go with UVA until they show me something otherwise.

U Conn vs. Rutgers = Hey, whaddaya know? The Huskies are once again risking a trip outside the Nutmeg State, and the Scarlet Knights did beat pretty badly the Gators in Piscataway. So anything can happen, even if you claim lightning cannot strike twice.


I'll try to get back later with some more scores and some Sunday games too. Until later then, enjoy.

[mase]

Yep, the Hoyas had a tough one today.

[jcruse64]

Tough losses in the top 25. UL took one, and I expected them to win over Notre Dame. Gotta say I was surprised about the Florida loss also, even on the road.

Murray State stays undefeated against Austin Peay, on the road. Although, it sure had the feel of a home game; felt like over half of us in attendance were wearing the Blue and Gold. Peay is not good this year, but they played tough, and would not go away. Gotta say, though, I don't understand the top 20 ranking. We've played great, and beat Memphis, but the non-con schedule was dominated by lesser mid-majors or worse. I figure we're no better than 25, but it is nice to get the recognition for the program, and I'm proud of the squad and its new coach.

[never_enough]

Curious to see the rankings today after all the losses.

[The Poet]

Yep, the Hoyas had a tough one today.

$#!+ happens, especially with young teams. But hey, you didn't expect to see them there anyway, so it's all good.

Tough losses in the top 25. UL took one, and I expected them to win over Notre Dame. Gotta say I was surprised about the Florida loss also, even on the road.

Murray State stays undefeated against Austin Peay, on the road. Although, it sure had the feel of a home game; felt like over half of us in attendance were wearing the Blue and Gold. Peay is not good this year, but they played tough, and would not go away. Gotta say, though, I don't understand the top 20 ranking. We've played great, and beat Memphis, but the non-con schedule was dominated by lesser mid-majors or worse. I figure we're no better than 25, but it is nice to get the recognition for the program, and I'm proud of the squad and its new coach.

Louisville's been one of those teams that's been hard to figure out all year, though not as badly as Pitt or Memphis or Xavier. So too has the Gators, though not as much as their neighbors the Semiholes.

I agree it's odd to see Murray State up to, I believe, 15th now. On the other hand, I pay damn little attention to the polls until March, and not much then even. Yet if it helps your Racers gain the attention of a few recruits, and maybe a few extra bucks here and there to boot, more power to them.

Curious to see the rankings today after all the losses.

Like I said, or implied anyway, it's just bragging rights. Those you thought would drop did, and both the Orange and the Bears will stumble shortly and falter soon. I imagine that the climb of the Spartans and the Hoosiers has about reached their respective peaks, now that head-to-head Big Ten+ play has begun, and soon the usual suspects will hold onto the top slots.

Once more my boss has stepped on my nincomputer time today, so I can't do my weekend update until tomorrow at the earliest. Thank God there's only two notable games tonight, those being Big Mouth contests between UConn/WVA and G'town/Cincy. Considering how things have gone for ALL concerned with those 4 teams, I'd say you can flip a coin to call the winners.

Back tomorrow, hopefully, with more amazing insights :r Until then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Now maybe I can catch up a little bit here, if I skip much too many good games and just hit the biggies. In the balance of action Saturday 1/7:


Kansas State 75 - Missouri 59 = I've been saying all along that the Tigers' easy scheduling would come back and bite them in the butt eventually. The K-State win does not surprise me one bit, and even the margin's not a total shock.

St. John's 57 - Cincinnati 55 = And considering how the Bearcats have played at times, even with the run they made after that Xavier brawl, this is not much of a shock either.

Notre Dame 67 - Louisville 65 (2OT) = But this is somewhat of one, especially as the better team lost in double-OT at home.

Illinois 59 - Nebraska 54 = And the surprise here is how close the 'Huskers came to their first ever Big Ten+ win.

Rutgers 67 - U Conn 60 = Much like Missou, and as I've said before, the Husky losses will keep coming once they go on the road and actually play somebody . . . and apparently, much to my surprise, the Scarlet Knights can actually BE somebody, on certain nights anyway.

Charlotte 57 - St. Joseph's 52 = The shock here is not only that the "meh" 49ers could beat the decent Hawks, but that they could do so in Philly.

Syracuse 73 - Marquette 66 = The handwriting is on the wall for the Orange, if you ask me. You don't believe me, and think a 3-possession win is good enough? Well, take note that the score at the half was 37-19 for the 'Cuse, yet the Golden Eagles came damn close to stealing the victory despite the fact they did not even get to the game until after the break.

Dayton 87 - Temple 77 = I don't know, maybe the Owls feel that beating Dook made their season already, and they have no need to show up anymore. Don't get me wrong . . . I'm not convinced the Blue Devils are great, nor am I unaware that the Flyers are pretty decent. Still . . . .

Virginia 52 - Miami 51 = Hmmmmm. The Cavs may be beginning to unravel, as the 'Canes have shown no sign of being able to play ball so far this year to date. But maybe it was just an off night, since everybody has them.

Arkansas 98 - Mississippi State 88 = This must have been a track meet, and certainly not the defensive "40 minutes of hell" the 'Hogs used to boast. Just consider . . .

Stanford 103 - Oregon State 101 (4OT) = It took these two twice as long to score nearly as much. A hard-fought win for the Tree, who'll need them to challenge their neighbors in Berkeley for the Pac-12.


On Sunday 1/8:


Michigan 59 - Wisconsin 41 = As much as the two games above were NBA-type scores, this ugly contest was more typical of a football contest between these teams, as was . . .

Arizona 57 - USC 46 = At least the snarling mammels just cited had the excuse that the Badgers almost always play slowly. But these two? Maybe they merely suck. Speaking of which . . .

N. C. State 79 - Maryland 74 = OK, the Terps are supposed to suck this year, yet they made a game of it against Jerry's 'Pack. It's a decent win for Moo U to begin their ACC season, but maybe it's not a very good sign of things to come.


On Monday 1/9:


U Conn 64 - West Virginia 57 = The Huskies do win, but don't dissuade me of my opinion. The Mountaineers are OK, and probably better than was expected, but U Conn thought they'd repeat as champs this year, the silly gooses.

Cincinnati 68 - Georgetown 64 = And the young Hoya squad stumbles twice in a row, against a yo-yo Bearcat team this time. I just hope they get their act back together before they face the likes of Syracuse and the aforementioned Huskies. :D


Tonight has some potential for decent conference matchups:


Florida vs. Georgia = This may not be one of them. Yeah, the Gators have tripped a few times, but the Bulldogs haven't even crawled, much less walked.

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech = It was supposed these two would challenge for the upper half of the ACC, though not for the top two slots. They've not shown much sign of that, but that makes this head-to-head all that more important to both.

Louisville vs. Providence = Although the Firars have had a decent game or three so far, I can't see them taking the Cardinals. But then again, I couldn't see some others doing so, so Pitino's boys have the "ability" to disappoint their fans . . . amongst whom I do NOT count myself. :r

DePaul vs. Seton Hall = Despite a few very surprising good wins, I still don't have much long-term faith in the Pirates. But the Blue Demons ain't exactly the Lakers, so though this may be close I'll give the locals an edge.

Iowa vs. Michigan State = And despite a good win or two by the Hawkeyes, I think the Spartans will continue to roll, for now anyway.

Baylor vs. Kansas State = If the Manhattan 'Cats play as well as they did against the Missou Tigers, they will back-to-back hand teams their first loss of the year. Me, I'm gonna say it happens, and the Bears go down this evening.

Illinois State vs. Wichita State = Just one damn fine game between two good programs.

Northern Iowa vs. Creighton = Same here.

Ohio State vs. Illinois = I think the Buckeyes have much more talent than do the Illini, but they've proven that this does not mean they know how to win. I can see this being a close one in Champaign, and don't be shocked if OSU drops another one.

North Carolina vs. Miami = But be surprised if the Heels lose this one. They are ending a long homestand, and despite a few lapses from time to time have started to play some pretty dominant ball for the most part. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have fairly much stunk. Anything can happen in league play, but some things should not be expected.

San Diego State vs. Chicago State = And here's the laffer of the night for you. The Aztecs may not be as good as last year's version, but the boys from the Windy City have failed to win a game all year to date. That win will come tonight only if the Aztec bus breaks down and forces a forfeit.


Well, my fingers are starting to bleed, so I'll call it quits for now. Pipe up with your own thoughts, brothers, and until later then . . . enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Going back an forth between the Gators/Bulldogs and UL/Providence right now. The Gators starting to pile on the Dogs early in H2. Probably won't change much on that aspect.

UL, at the half, is getting their butts handed to them by Providence. I'd hate to be in Ricky's locker room right now. They played like they're asleep in H1, but the Cards are a team that put a run on very quickly, if a fire is lit under them.

Hope I get to see a little of the OSU/Illini game before I fall asleep in the chair.

[The Poet]

Going back an forth between the Gators/Bulldogs and UL/Providence right now. The Gators starting to pile on the Dogs early in H2. Probably won't change much on that aspect.

UL, at the half, is getting their butts handed to them by Providence. I'd hate to be in Ricky's locker room right now. They played like they're asleep in H1, but the Cards are a team that put a run on very quickly, if a fire is lit under them.

Hope I get to see a little of the OSU/Illini game before I fall asleep in the chair.


Yeah, the Gators did dogpile on UGA, so maybe BillyBoy is starting to get their attention after too many stumbles. And Pitino had no success in lighting a fire under his Cards, who got fried by the Friars 90-59, at home no less.

As for OSU/Illini, it was the Buckeyes who fell asleep. :D


Illinois 79 - Ohio State 74 = I'm not too surprised by this at all, since OSU has NOT played up to the level I expected of them.

Baylor 75 - Kansas State 73 = And no, I'm still not backing down on my stance about the Bears being overrated, though I must give them some credit for their uncanny ability (so far) to win close games. This is the 4th one they've won by a mere one possession, meaning that of their 16 wins 25% have come due to a shot either made or missed here and there.

Florida State 63 - Virginia Tech 59 = The Seminoles were supposed to be the only ACC team capable of challenging UNC and Duke for the top, yet have shown little sign of that so far. This is a decent win for them, but I hope they got it out of their system before my Heels visit soon. Speaking of which . . .

North Carolina 73 - Miami 56 = UNC ends its long homestand with another fairly easy victory, which wasn't really as close as the final margin. The best thing to come out of this was that Carolina's backcourt, considered to be weaker than their bigs AND the guards for the 'Canes, did most of the damage to build the lead on a night when the frontcourt struggled.

San Diego State 73 - Chicago State 65 = I cite this one because I'm a little shocked the Aztecs had so much trouble at home with a team without a win all year. That's not a good sign, and I bet Stevie's p!$$ed about it.

Wichita State 65 - Illinois State 62 = Hey, I told you this would be a good game.

Creighton 63 - Northern Iowa 60 = Ditto, bro.


There are a number of interesting games this evening, including:


Michigan vs. Northwestern = The Smarty 'Cats can beat the Logans if they play well, considering how UM struggles to score too damn often. I don't think they will, but it's worth keeping an eye on this one.

Rutgers vs. Pittsburgh = If you think you know who'll win this one, you're a better man than me. Both teams have shocked me this year, either by losing games they should have won, or winning those they should have lost. For that alone, it's worth keeping track.

Charlotte vs. U Mass = Can the 49ers build upon their big road win over Temple with another here?

St. John's vs. Marquette = Much like the Big East contest above, this one's hard to call. I feel the Golden Eagles should soar above the Storm, yet they have stalled before.

Duquesne vs. Xavier = And this one could be a flat-out war. The X-Men have better talent, but they also seem to still be screwed up between the ears.

Syracuse vs. Villanova = I like Jay Wright and the Philly 'Cats better than I doo Boeheim and his Orange, but so far this year they've rarely shown me enough to pick them, even on their home court. As much as I expect the 'Cuse to stumble soon, I can't see that happening tonight.

Wake Forest vs. Maryland = Both these teams were predicted to suck, and they've both shown that "ability", though the Deacs have played somewhat better than was thought. I'm tempted to pick them to take the Terps in College Park, but as I have no faith in either squad I'd just be whistling in the dark.

Missouri vs. Iowa State = Will Missou rebound from their first loss (read, "spanking") of the season, or shall they drop another already? I give the Cyclones a decent shot in Ames, seeing as how they've already racked up decent wins against Providence, Iowa, and both Texas and Texas A&M. While we're on the subject . . .

Texas vs. Texas A&M = The Aggies were once in the position the aforementioned Missouri Tigers were, and considered to be a national power. Meanwhile, the 'Horns were expected to be down, and haven't shown the experts wrong. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, so look for blood to be shed before this is done.

Kentucky vs. Auburn = And look for blood to be shed here also . . . all of it Tiger blood.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi = Though neither team is likely to be standing long in March, they are both at least OK. This should be a lot of fun.

Penn State vs. Nebraska = I don't know if the Cornhuskers can earn even a single conference victory in their first Big Ten+ season, but this one in Lincoln may be their best shot at one.

Temple vs. Saint Louis = Two good mid-majors go head-to-head, which is almost always a good show.

Georgia Tech vs. N. C. State = I'm not sure how many victories Jerry's Wolfpack can manage in ACC play, so they can't let ones like this one get away from them . . . especially if they have serious aspirations to get back to the NCAAs again come Spring.

Kansas vs. Texas Tech = I didn't bother to take note where this one's being played. I don't think it matters all that much. The Jayhawks should build a double-digit margin, then coast.

LSU vs. Alabama = So if you want to see a battle, look here instead. I heard rumors that these two recently met on the gridiron in some meaningless post-season bowl, so you'd think both teams and the crowd might be a bit into this roundball rematch.


That's gonna do it for me for now. Keep those cards and letters coming, kiddies, and as always . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

Well, let's see if these penny-ante gamblers bugging me for Lotto tickets will leave me be long enough to do this today. There were a ton of close and exciting games last night, but I'll only post a few more important results:


Michigan 66 - Northwestern 64 (OT) = The Logans did manage to eek out a victory, and actually managed to score over 65 points this time . . . even though it took them an extra 5 minutes to do so.

Memphis 60 - Southern Miss 58 = Another close victory, and one the Tigers need in their attempt to regain some of their pre-season juice.

Rutgers 62 - Pittsburgh 39 = Speaking of juice, the Panthers have become all pits and no meat. Considering some of the good wins the Scarlet Knights have had, it's no big shock they won this one. But scoring under 40 points, at home? That's just Pitt-iful.

Kentucky 68 - Auburn 53 = OK, yeah, it was on the road for the Wildcats. OK, yeah, it's a 15-point win. But still, I'm not all that impressed with this performance by the supposed #2 team in the nation.

Nebraska 70 - Penn State 58 = Woo-hoo, 'Huskers! You get your first Big Ten+ win, ever! Savor it, as there won't be many more, at least this season anyway.

Georgia Tech 82 - N. C. State 71 = Jerry's Wolfpack could not defend their home court, at least in the 1st half. They were down 11 at the break, and lost by that same margin.

Temple 72 - Saint Louis 67 = The Owls get what's at least a decent win here, my quibble being this: The Billikens began by winning 12 of their first 13 games, and created quite the buzz. But last night marked their 3rd loss out of the last 4, so maybe the Dollies have sprung a leak.

Alabama 69 - LSU 53 = Roll Tide, I guess. And look on the bright side, Tigers . . . at least you scored in this game. :r


There looks to be a lot of good match-ups going on tonight, but many of them involve teams nobody much cares about. If I skip yours, do't be hurt . . . be vocal, and post your own thoughts, dammit! Here's my picks for the highpoints:


Wisconsin vs. Purdue = The Badgers were supposed to be the ones to challenge the Buckeyes for the conference, yet have not shown they are capable of that . . . or WOULD not have, had not OSU itself disappointed expectation so far. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers have played a bit better than was thought, and have shown at times they can compete with most anybody. This game is big for both teams. Pick 'em, since I can't.

Clemson vs. Boston College = BC showed against UNC that they won't give up, even when behind. It did not help them much, but it's a good sign for a team that's struggled badly. Clemson has been a bit better, but they themselves have stumbled too. This one could be fun.

Murray State vs. Jacksonville State = If Joe's Racers drop this homegame, I don't wanna hear a peep out of him for a week! :D

Minnesota vs. Indiana = The Golden Gophers have been less than golden in league play, and go for an 0-5 start in Bloomington tonight. I'm gonna stick with the surprisingly good Hoosiers until they throw a shoe . . . or a chair.

Virginia vs. Duke = And speaking of being a pleasant surprise, what about those Cavs? They have at least a slim shot at competing with Dook and UNC for the ACC, IF they continue to play like they have so far. A win in Cameron this evening would go a looooong way towards that goal. Me, I don't see it happening, but the Blue Devils are far from invincible, so you never know. Keep an eye on this one.

Oregon State vs. Arizona = A key Pac-12 battle in Tucson, with the Desert 'Cats hoping to keep pace with the TRUE Left Coast teams. This could be fun.

Oregon vs. Arizona State = This could be over by the half, for despite my respect for Herb Sendek his Sun Devils have not showm me much. Neither have the Ducks, but even in Tempe they should not lay an egg.

Tennessee vs. Mississippi State = The Vols are just barely above .500 this year, but are coming off a huge win over the Gators. The Bulldogs maintain a national ranking, yet lost their only SEC game thus far, and are thereby behind UT in that regard. MSU needs to win in Starkville tonight, whereas the Vols need to win anywhere anytime they can. I'm interested to see what happens here, as I've little faith in the 'Dawgs, and less in UT.

Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's = God, I hope the Gaels absolutely spank and skin the Bulldogs tonight. Don't get me wrong . . . I have a lot of respect for the 'Zags, and for the job Mark Few has done out there to build a quality mid-major program. But I am sick and tired of listening to these Great NW bozos bragging and whining all the damn time, saying crap like "We've got the best point guard/shooting guard/power foward in the nation!" or "We'll play anybody anywhere anytime, and beat them at our game or theirs!" . . . all this while giving us much more reason to dispute rather than to prove their claims. Yet dispite these repeated bouts of hubris, they are already at it again, first whining that they should be ranked, then whining that they should have been ranked sooner and/or higher. STFU and play, $#!+heads, and show me a Geroge Mason/Butler/VCU run before you run off at the mouth any more! And THAT'S why I hope St. Mary's pops them a good one in the piehole at home tonight. :su


That's it for me for now. Enjoy, fellas. :tu

[jcruse64]

Heh! You won't hear a peep, you'll hear a POP!!!! :D Looks like fan interest if coming on; Saturday's home game is already sold out.

I was VERY disappointed in the Cat's performance, until the last 4 or 5 minutes. They were FLAT most of the game. The Tigers almost chewed 'em up.

Go Virginia!!!

[Wanger]

Minnesota vs. Indiana = The Golden Gophers have been less than golden in league play, and go for an 0-5 start in Bloomington tonight. I'm gonna stick with the surprisingly good Hoosiers until they throw a shoe . . . or a chair.


So, which got thrown last night? A HUGE surprise, to me. I wonder if the Gophs can find a way to keep playing like that over the course of the rest of the season. Some people are calling for Tubby's job, because he has underachieved since he's been here, and had a tremendous amount of players that have left the program that are playing well elsewhere.

[Resipsa]

Yeah, the Gators did dogpile on UGA, so maybe BillyBoy is starting to get their attention after too many stumbles. And Pitino had no success in lighting a fire under his Cards, who got fried by the Friars 90-59, at home no less.

As for OSU/Illini, it was the Buckeyes who fell asleep. :D


Illinois 79 - Ohio State 74 = I'm not too surprised by this at all, since OSU has NOT played up to the level I expected of them.

Baylor 75 - Kansas State 73 = And no, I'm still not backing down on my stance about the Bears being overrated, though I must give them some credit for their uncanny ability (so far) to win close games. This is the 4th one they've won by a mere one possession, meaning that of their 16 wins 25% have come due to a shot either made or missed here and there.

Florida State 63 - Virginia Tech 59 = The Seminoles were supposed to be the only ACC team capable of challenging UNC and Duke for the top, yet have shown little sign of that so far. This is a decent win for them, but I hope they got it out of their system before my Heels visit soon. Speaking of which . . .

North Carolina 73 - Miami 56 = UNC ends its long homestand with another fairly easy victory, which wasn't really as close as the final margin. The best thing to come out of this was that Carolina's backcourt, considered to be weaker than their bigs AND the guards for the 'Canes, did most of the damage to build the lead on a night when the frontcourt struggled.

San Diego State 73 - Chicago State 65 = I cite this one because I'm a little shocked the Aztecs had so much trouble at home with a team without a win all year. That's not a good sign, and I bet Stevie's p!$$ed about it.

Wichita State 65 - Illinois State 62 = Hey, I told you this would be a good game.

Creighton 63 - Northern Iowa 60 = Ditto, bro.


There are a number of interesting games this evening, including:


Michigan vs. Northwestern = The Smarty 'Cats can beat the Logans if they play well, considering how UM struggles to score too damn often. I don't think they will, but it's worth keeping an eye on this one.

Rutgers vs. Pittsburgh = If you think you know who'll win this one, you're a better man than me. Both teams have shocked me this year, either by losing games they should have won, or winning those they should have lost. For that alone, it's worth keeping track.

Charlotte vs. U Mass = Can the 49ers build upon their big road win over Temple with another here?

St. John's vs. Marquette = Much like the Big East contest above, this one's hard to call. I feel the Golden Eagles should soar above the Storm, yet they have stalled before.

Duquesne vs. Xavier = And this one could be a flat-out war. The X-Men have better talent, but they also seem to still be screwed up between the ears.

Syracuse vs. Villanova = I like Jay Wright and the Philly 'Cats better than I doo Boeheim and his Orange, but so far this year they've rarely shown me enough to pick them, even on their home court. As much as I expect the 'Cuse to stumble soon, I can't see that happening tonight.

Wake Forest vs. Maryland = Both these teams were predicted to suck, and they've both shown that "ability", though the Deacs have played somewhat better than was thought. I'm tempted to pick them to take the Terps in College Park, but as I have no faith in either squad I'd just be whistling in the dark.

Missouri vs. Iowa State = Will Missou rebound from their first loss (read, "spanking") of the season, or shall they drop another already? I give the Cyclones a decent shot in Ames, seeing as how they've already racked up decent wins against Providence, Iowa, and both Texas and Texas A&M. While we're on the subject . . .

Texas vs. Texas A&M = The Aggies were once in the position the aforementioned Missouri Tigers were, and considered to be a national power. Meanwhile, the 'Horns were expected to be down, and haven't shown the experts wrong. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, so look for blood to be shed before this is done.

Kentucky vs. Auburn = And look for blood to be shed here also . . . all of it Tiger blood.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi = Though neither team is likely to be standing long in March, they are both at least OK. This should be a lot of fun.

Penn State vs. Nebraska = I don't know if the Cornhuskers can earn even a single conference victory in their first Big Ten+ season, but this one in Lincoln may be their best shot at one.

Temple vs. Saint Louis = Two good mid-majors go head-to-head, which is almost always a good show.

Georgia Tech vs. N. C. State = I'm not sure how many victories Jerry's Wolfpack can manage in ACC play, so they can't let ones like this one get away from them . . . especially if they have serious aspirations to get back to the NCAAs again come Spring.

Kansas vs. Texas Tech = I didn't bother to take note where this one's being played. I don't think it matters all that much. The Jayhawks should build a double-digit margin, then coast.

LSU vs. Alabama = So if you want to see a battle, look here instead. I heard rumors that these two recently met on the gridiron in some meaningless post-season bowl, so you'd think both teams and the crowd might be a bit into this roundball rematch.


That's gonna do it for me for now. Keep those cards and letters coming, kiddies, and as always . . . enjoy.
Keep expecting the Cuse to lose, eventually you'll get it right, LOL.

or not.

[The Poet]

Farkers won't leave me farkin' alone today, fark it all! I'll get back to this tomorrow, guys.


;s

[The Poet]

Heh! You won't hear a peep, you'll hear a POP!!!! :D Looks like fan interest if coming on; Saturday's home game is already sold out.

I was VERY disappointed in the Cat's performance, until the last 4 or 5 minutes. They were FLAT most of the game. The Tigers almost chewed 'em up.

Go Virginia!!!

Were I you, Joe, I'd be disappointed in the relatively narrow victory over a "meh" Jack State squad. Still. a W's a W.

Go Virginia? Well, I guess they went pretty good in Cameron under the circumstances, before they finally went . . . with a fight, but went regardless.

So, which got thrown last night? A HUGE surprise, to me. I wonder if the Gophs can find a way to keep playing like that over the course of the rest of the season. Some people are calling for Tubby's job, because he has underachieved since he's been here, and had a tremendous amount of players that have left the program that are playing well elsewhere.

I was not so surprised as you with the Gopher win, for although I know the Hoosiers have played well above expectations (and am personally glad to see a storied program make strides back to prominence), they are also young and vulnerable to stumbles. As I stated earlier, when they made it into the Top Ten in the ranks, they had likely reached about as high as they could go. I do believe that Tubby gets less respect than he's earned, both at Minnseota (not a traditional hoops power, so what more do they want?) and previously at Kentucky. He seems to me a class act, on and off the court, which should count for as much as wins and losses do. True, it's hard for the fans to see this at times, but there it is nonetheless.

Keep expecting the Cuse to lose, eventually you'll get it right, LOL.


If you are a longtime Orange fan, or at least one who's paid attention, you know how this goes. The 'Cuse will begin each season playing a lot of homegames against lower to mid-level opponents who haven't the talent and/or experience to deal with Boeheim's zone, and they will rack up a string of victories. Then they start playing those who are capable and knowledgeable to take advantages of said zone, who are able to attack it successfully and build a lead on the Orange, who are then either unable to make up the deficit because the zone does not lend itself to catch-up success, or they are forced to try to create more possessions by changing to a press, which they haven't practiced enough to pull off.

Hey, I'm not putting them down with this assessment, but merely citing history.

Lemme try to play some catch-up myself now, and prepare a update. Back soon, I hope.

[The Poet]

OK, let's toss it up and tip this off. In Thursday games, some of which were noted above:


Murray State 66 - Jacskonville State 55 = A win, and good enough I suppose, but not a strong statement at home for the Racers.

Duke 61 - Virginia 58 = And considering the situation, a better statement by the Cavs down in Durham than is was one by the Blue Devils. Still, it's a win for Dook, so there's that.

Minnesota 77 - Indiana 74 = A close battle too, and not only a badly-needed good win for the Gophers but a valuable learning experience for the young Hoosiers, who'll perhaps do better in the future to be successful in tight fights.

Wisconsin 67 - Purdue 62 = I give the Badgers credit for getting the win, but they'll need to do a lot more than edge the Boilermakers before they regain the respect with which they began the season.

Boston College 59 - Clemson 57 = Now this one surprises me a bit. The Eagles have been crappy all year, and even though the Tigers haven't been much better they should have been able to take it.

Arizona 81 - Oregon State 73 (OT) = Much like the Badgers, the Desert 'Cats make one step towards regaining their early hype. Besides, this was a war, save for the extra 5 minutes.

Mississippi State 62 - Tennessee 58 = And much like the Dook/UVA game, this one looks to me to be a better sign for the Vols than for MSU.

Stanford 68 - Utah 65 = If the Cardinal wants me to take them for real, they need to do a bit better than this.

California 57 - Colorado 50 = Ditto for their neighbors, the Golden Bears.

St. Mary's 83 - Gonzaga 62 = YES!! That's what I'm talking about! Again, I emphasize I don't hate the Zags, though I will confess I like the Gaels better. But I am sick and tired of hearing all that hot air flowing out of the Great NW, and maybe this fat lip will quiet them somewhat. I doubt it, but you never know. Perhaps if they changed their name from Gonzaga to Seattle-Tacoma Free University, so that every time they looked at their teammates and their own jerseys they may get the message . . . STFU.


Last night's limited action gave us:


Cleveland State 76 - Butler 69 = The Bulldogs, national runner-ups the last two years, fall to 9-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The party's over, boys.

South Florida 56 - Seton Hall 55 = I can't prove it, but I planned to call this one yesterday. Remember, Rutgers got that big win over the Gators before falling to the Bulls. Now the Pirates do much the same thing, with 4 good wins (including against U Conn) followed by this. So rack up another meaningful "upset" for those Bulls.

Northern Iowa 61 - Missouri State 60 = Again, I have no proof, but this was on my radar as a close tight game for two solid programs. It was indeed.


In early action today, U Conn has already fairly well handled Notre Dame 67-53 in South Bend, due to a 2nd-half surge. No surprise there. What might be one is that UT lead UK at the half in Knoxville, though only by 6 points. Another might be 'Nova over Cincy by 4 with under 18 to go. There's time enough in both these for anything to happen, yet both are worth keeping your eye on. Other early games of note include:


Michigan vs. Iowa = My doubts about the Wolverines stem from their struggles to score the ball. The Hawkeyes have a decent chance of winning this home game, and should at least give the Logans problems.

N. C. State vs. Wake Forest = Jerry's 'Pack have shown a few signs, and maybe even enough to win this one in Winston-Salem, especially since the Deacs have shown some but fewer signs themselves. NCSU's trying to build a double-digit lead early in the contest to grab control.

Texas vs. Missouri = It's in Mizzou Arena, and the 'Horns haven't hooked many good teams this season. Yet they ought to stay competitive with the Tigers, at least for a while, and anything can happen.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma = K-State has a better record, and a few better wins, but they are also as volatile as is their coach. This means they are capable of either exploding on the Sooners in Norman, or blowing up instead. If this is close at the half, it could also be close at the end.


I'll go look at later starts now, and be back with those plus more early finals later. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

Both the UK/UT and the 'Nova/Cincy games are still too close to call. What else is up in this crowded day of action? As I can't possibly cite all the potentially good ones, I'll limit myself to far too many:

Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M = Though the Aggies were supposed to be a power this year, both teams come into this 0-3 in conference play. I predict one of them will get their first league win today.

Mississippi vs. Auburn = I don't believe either team is all that good, but they should be pretty evenly matched, and give us a good show.

North Carolina vs. Florida State = I fully expect my Heels to have their hands full here. They go on the road for the first time in a long while, and the Seminoles have talent, despite the fact that they've not played as though they do at times. Yet you'd think they'd be up and focused for this one, especially in front of their own crowd. You have to give UNC the advantage, but I'm not gonna pencil it in, at all.

Saint Louis vs. Charlotte = I get that feeling this Billiken/49er one will be fun.

Pittsburgh vs. Marquette = I have absolutely no idea what has gone wrong with the Panthers, nor do I have much of a better idea what Marquette truly is either. For this alone, I'm fascinated by it.

Rutgers vs. West Virginia = Nobody much expected either of these to play as well as they have so far. Because of this, both have some confidence, and both are hungry for more. Look for a war.

Michigan State vs. Northwestern = The Spartans have played very well, and should handle the Smarty 'Cats OK. I don't expect a blowout, but a comfortable win is likely.

Oklahoma State vs. Baylor = As you know, I haven't a ton of faith in the Bears. Yet I'm not gonna give the Cowboys more than a puncher's chance here.

Virginia Tech vs. Boston College = BC sucks, but it's the Hokies who are 0-2 in the ACC so far. They need to turn that around fast, and this would be a great place to start, even up in Chestnut Hill instead of atop that hill in Blacksburg.

Kansas vs. Iowa State = Much like the UNC/FSU game, you've got to give the Jayhawks the nod, but don't think it will be a cakewalk.

St. Joseph's vs. U Mass = Two decent teams will give us one good game.

Alabama vs. Mississippi State = Here too.

DePaul vs. Louisville = The Cardinals have been another of those bi-polar teams to date, playing lights-out and as if the lights are out. They ought to be able to handle the Blue Demons. But they ought to have handled others also, so keep your eye on this one.

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt = Vandy's another of those iffy teams. The Comms have the talent to take command over the 'Dawgs. If they don't it's their own damn fault.

Colorado vs. Stanford = As is seems likely at this point that the Pac-12 won't get a ton of at-large bids again this year, each game becomes vital. Both of these want to dance in March, so hopefully we'll get a good one.

UNLV vs. San Diego State = And if you think those two above want wins, consider these two with certain (even if somewhat limited) national aspirations. They may need to call out the Marines in San Diego before this one's done.

Providence vs. Syracuse = In the Dome, so don't expect the Orange to tally that first loss today. Hey, stranger things have happened, and the Friars have had a few good wins already, but Resipsa's boys should be safe for another weekend or so.

Tennessee Tech vs. Murray State = And Joe's Racers better play better in this one than they did against Jacksonville State if they want to stay undefeated. TT can hoop a little, and if it stays tight the Racers may tighten up also.

Air Force vs. Boise State = Nobody much cares about either of these, but it is one of those which jumps out at me with the po' for a good 'un.

UCF vs. Marshall = Maybe a few more care about these, and the same holds true.

Temple vs. Richmond = And definitely a few more care about these, with much the same expectations for a battle. Though I respect the Owls, I sorta like the Spiders, and hope they can bite their avian foes.

Florida vs. South Carolina = If the Gators don't absolutely beat the 'Cocks into raw meat, they should go back to the Sunshine State afoot.

LaSalle vs. Dayton = Another good match-up here. Flip a coin.

Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount = The 'Zags will want to bounce back from the flailing they took from the Gaels, but don't expect LM to roll over for them. It's just as likely the Bulldogs will get their 2nd L in a row.

Rice vs. Tulane = Though one might feel these two should sooner face off in a College IQ Bowl, this could actually be a damn decent athletic contest here.

LSU vs. Arkansas = That first point above can't be said of these two, but the second one holds true.

Memphis vs. Houston = Though I am not a Tiger fan, I am curious as to whether or not they've found their game. The Cougars may not prove this one way or the other, yet they should provide another test.

TCU vs. Colorado State = Here's another of those games with promise of excitement.

Montana vs. Weber State = And again.

Hawaii vs. Nevada = And again, believe it or not. The Rainbows have actually played fairly decent ball at times, in case you haven't noticed.


While typing the above:


Kentucky 65 - Tennessee 62 = The Wildcats escape what would have been an embarrassing loss to the Vols. I'm sure Cal is glad to get the W, but he can't be very happy. His team seems to be regressing.

Cincinnati 82 - Villanova 78 = I guess it's an OK win for the Bearcats over a "meh" PhillyCat squad suffering a down year, and I know Jay Wright's miffed at another disappointing loss in one he could have won.

Also, Iowa is kicking Michigan's butt, and NCSU is absolutely slaughering the Demon Deacons. I'll be back later with those finals, and maybe other, as well as (hopefully) Sunday games. Until later then.

[The Poet]

Michigan loses, K-State loses, and my Heels are getting embarrassed. So it goes. Yet I can't take anymore for now, and thus will see you Monday.

Enjoy, hopefully better than I've done. :r

[jcruse64]

Well, you DID say don't pencil the win in for the 'Heels. Wow, did not expect that from them though. Be interesting to see how they respond to this.

SDSU popped the Rebels pretty nicely.`

Coach Cal needs to take a few of the guys to the wood shed. Pitiful win.

Murray stays undefeated...barely. Teams are seeing some success in doubling/tripling Canaan up, and our inside game is not the same with Aska out. But, despite having to rely mostly on guard play, they continue the bend-but-don't-break style to get the win. I still don't see them as a top 20 team, even though I'm loving the attention this is giving them.

Pitino should be happy for a win, but it looks to me like he's lost control of his team. They just seem to go off the face of the Earth sometimes.

[SD Beerman]

SDSU is doing well in their rebuilding year, huge win Sat. tough league this year.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/44874/sdsus-aztec-motto-shockingly-good

check out this video.

[jwintosh]

:tu:tu

[The Poet]

Well, you DID say don't pencil the win in for the 'Heels. Wow, did not expect that from them though. Be interesting to see how they respond to this.

SDSU popped the Rebels pretty nicely.`

Coach Cal needs to take a few of the guys to the wood shed. Pitiful win.

Murray stays undefeated...barely. Teams are seeing some success in doubling/tripling Canaan up, and our inside game is not the same with Aska out. But, despite having to rely mostly on guard play, they continue the bend-but-don't-break style to get the win. I still don't see them as a top 20 team, even though I'm loving the attention this is giving them.

Pitino should be happy for a win, but it looks to me like he's lost control of his team. They just seem to go off the face of the Earth sometimes.


I had a bad feeling about that UNC/FSU game, so the loss did not surprise me. I was, however, sadly shocked at their bad play in the first half, and the horrible play in the second. A very good win for the Semiholes, and hopefully a wake-up call for the Heels.

Yeah, the Aztecs pretty much cut the hearts out of UNLV. I'll say good for them despite the fact I'm not a fan of Steve Fisher, partly due to the fact I still dislike the Rebs from back in Tark the Shark days. Yeah, I'm an old fogey, but my memory's still good. :r

UK has a lot of young talent, and you get what you get with yound talent . . . which often includes head-slapping frustrations. Count your blessings that the SEC pretty much seems to be the Wildcats, then everybody else . . . as if that's anything new. ;)

As with my Heels, I figured your Racers would face a challenge in that game. But they survived, a win's a win, and though they may not actually be (as of now) the 12th best team in the nation they have done what they've needed to do, and deserve the success and acclaim. Enjoy it as long as it lasts.

You'd know better than me about the Cardinals. I do know Pitino earned the "reputation" of recruiting willful bad boys at times, many of whom felt they were the cat's @$$ and had to listen to nobody save those voices in their own heads . . . many of them from here in New Jersey. You're welcome, Rick. :tu

Aside from needing to pay some more on my massive medical bills online and other such crap today, the penny-ante lotto bozos have started bugging me again today, so I have no time for a full update. Maybe I can catch up on the biggies at least tomorrow. Until then then, enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Yeah, I hear you on Pitino's recruiting. A shame; I thought he looked like a great coach when he took over a UK program that was lucky to have one blue chipper in Mashurn, and made lemonade from lemons. Those were the days...

Pitt has just lost again; never saw that coming :r. Tough season.

Baylor-KU just starting.

[The Poet]

Yeah, I hear you on Pitino's recruiting. A shame; I thought he looked like a great coach when he took over a UK program that was lucky to have one blue chipper in Mashurn, and made lemonade from lemons. Those were the days...

Pitt has just lost again; never saw that coming :r. Tough season.

Baylor-KU just starting.


The only other thing I'll say about Pitino is that there are some coaches I like less, and many I like better.

As for Pitt, I'll risk bad karma by saying thank goodness some team out there is making the struggle my Heels have had look minor. :D

Bears/Jayhawks now over, and so's Baylor's undefeated season. Color me shocked. :r

I'm hoping to catch up a little, so keep your fingers crossed. Later.

[The Poet]

As I don't know how my remaining time will go, lemme flop-flip my normal post and cite today's action before I return to recent history. Tonight:


Georgetown vs. DePaul = Could be a really good game. After finding themselves, the young Hoyas have come back down to earth a bit. The Blue Demons are maybe not as good, yet have played quite well at times.

Michigan State vs. Michigan = Aside from the fact that these two are rumored to dislike each other, they have comparable talent. I'm not a fan of the Spartans, but I prefer them much more than the Wolverines, for various reasons. Yet I give them the edge here not so much because of that then for the fact the Logans cannot score the ball.

Auburn vs. LSU = These two are doing better than I expected so far, and as conference wins may get few and far between for both this one is huge. Look for a battle.

Iowa vs. Purdue = Different league, same story here.

Maryland vs. Florida State = A different different league, and aside from that spanking the 'Noles gave my Heels it is the same here too. Can FSU build upon their huge win, or can the Terps catch them complacent? Should be interesting.

Arkansas vs. Kentucky = And speaking of interesting, note that the Wildcats have survived several scares recently against inferior talent. Can they keep that up, or are they bound to stumble a few times? Keep your eye on this one, since the 'Hogs have a chance, even in Rupp.

Boise State vs. Colorado State = And this is one of those tight mid-major ones which can turn out to be the best match-up of the night.


Over the past few days I've missed a ton of games, and many of them very good. As I both can't and shan't bore you with all of them, I'll just mention a few key ones not already noted elsewhere. In the balance of Saturday action:


Auburn 69 - Mississippi 68 (2OT) = Quite a fight here, despite the low-scoring involved. A nice win for the Tigers, if not a great one.

Oklahoma 82 - Kansas State 73 = But this was a very good one for the Sooners. Can anyone in Manhattan KS tell me if Frank Martin's head has exploded yet?

Marquette 62 - Pittsburgh 57 = Though I predicted from the get-go that the Panthers wouldn't make much noise in March, I never thought they'd be so silent this soon.

Northwestern 81 - Michigan State 74 = Many of you may have been shocked by this. Me, my surprise is tempered by the fact that I foresaw the Spartans had had a great run, which was doomed to end soon. Izzo is a great coach, but even he can only do so much.

Richmond 76 - Temple 65 = As I stated at the time, I respect the Owls but root for the Spiders. They needed a good win like this one.

Marshall 65 - UCF 64 = I'm not so certain this is a good W for the Herd, but it sure beats a loss.


On Sunday 1/15:


Ohio State 80 - Indiana 63 = As with those Spartans above, I was glad to see the Hoosiers make themselves relevant but felt they'd done about all that could be reasonably expected. This whippin' lends them some perspective, let's assume.

Duke 73 - Clemson 66 = Maybe I should just hold my peace on this one, considering how my Heels did, but even down in Littlejohn this ain't much of a win for Dook against a weaker team. Shoot, just look at some of the teams Clemson's already lost to this year? Still, it's a W for the Blue Devils, even if K isn't happy about it.


On Monday 1/16:


Marquette 74 - Louisville 63 = The Cardinals grabbed an early double-digit lead, then p!$$ed it away, and into a double-digit loss. Though the old saw says it couldn't happen to a nicer guy, in Rick's case it easily could. :r

Syracuse 71 - Pittsburgh 63 = I suppose I could take the opportunity here to bash the Panthers again, yet when one considers how many bad losses they've already posted, and consider that this was against an undefeated team on their court, I think it is actually a pretty decent showing. And for those Orange fans who still believe your boys will go without a L all year, take warning as you look at both this and at . . .

Kansas 92 - Baylor 74 = Am I the only one who shrugs at this and thinks "OK, so?" I've told you and told you the Bears were (a) playing too many cupcakes, and (b) were escaping by the skin of their teeth when they dared face any decent competition. The Jayhawks have always been the class of the league, and this Bear-skinning shows they still are, until somebody else proves otherwise.


Well, that's all I've time for, but I welcome you guys picking out others I've missed. Believe me, there's a buttload. Until later then . . . enjoy.

[SteelCityBoy]

Pitt has just lost again; never saw that coming :r. Tough season

Can't believe they are losing the way they are...

Making college basketball much less fun for me this year. :sad

[The Poet]

Can't believe they are losing the way they are...

Making college basketball much less fun for me this year. :sad

I feel you, but take note that the FIRST year I started doing this thread on here was back when my Heels followed up their 2009 championship by going 17-17 in regular season play before going on a run to make the finals again . . . in the NIT. :D

I could have said the hell with it all and quit, but winning or losing is NOT the point of amateur athletics . . . which is why winning's so important in Lexington. :r

Hopefully back soon with an update, if my internet stops farking me around.

[The Poet]

Maybe I can get this in, if I'm concise. Read, "hasty". Last night:


Georgetown 83 - DePaul 75 = The Hoyas need every league win they can get to try and keep pace, or at least pace enough to get a higher-seed in the Big East tourney.

LSU 65 - Auburn 58 (OT) = I believe I said they'd both want this one badly.

Michigan 60 - Michigan State 59 = Once again, the Wolverines fail to score over 65 points. Luckily for them, the Spartans scored one fewer than did the home team.

Western Carolina 141 - Toccoa Falls 39 = Yeah, you read that right. The score at the half was 72-17 Catamounts. Well, at least it wasn't the bullet-dodging of their 2001 meeting, when WCU edged this small Christian school 133-58. I guess The Doors were right: "You CANNOT petition The Lord with prayer!" :D


Tonight has a lot of great mid-major action, plus a few biggies:


LaSalle vs. Temple = This ought to be fun.

St. Joseph's vs. Xavier = Here too.

Clemson vs. Miami = Here too, as they fight to stay out of the ACC cellar.

U Conn vs. Cincinnati = Ditto, if the Bearcats play the way they are capable of doing, even up in Storrs.

Kent State vs. Ohio = And the hits just keep on coming.

Murray State vs. Morehead State = In previous years this would be another war. Maybe not so much tonight, but Joe's Racers should not get complacent.

Indiana vs. Nebraska = And last year the 'Huskers may have had a better chance against the Hoosiers, but this one is most likely IU's to win . . . or lose, in lieu of beating beaten.

Marshall vs. West Virginia = No waffling here . . . this will be a war.

Memphis vs. UCF = And this one too, since both are hoping to gain enough momentum to gain at-large attention come March.

Wyoming vs. Air Froce = Nobody much cares (well, maybe some do about service academies, but only for that), yet I can see this one being damn good too.

Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa = Both have the talent and tradition to make this a contest.

Creighton vs. Missouri State = MSU hasn't the same tradition as Creighton, but they will put up a fight nonetheless.

Texas vs. Kansas State = The 'Horns have not shown us much so far this year, but the Manhattan 'Cats have had some struggles of late. A win by UT would not only help their confidence, it might give Frank Martin a stroke. :r

Mississippi State vs. Mississippi = OK, it ain't Duke/UNC, or UK/Louisville, or even UCLA/USC, but it is an in-state rivalry between teams that have had their moments this season.

San Diego State vs. New Mexico = The Aztecs get back into the Top 25 this week, based upon their good play. If they aren't careful, they will drop out of the Top 25 after this game. It's in Albuquerque, and the Lobos can hoop a little.

TCU vs. UNLV = And I even give those horny Texans a shot at the Rebels, even in Vegas. OK, not much of one, but it could be closer than you'd think.


Sorry for the brevity, but that's the way it goes. Hey, do you expect War and Peace every freakin' day? Jeez. So until later . . . enjoy.

[jcruse64]

MSU vs MSU ended up being a war for sure :r. Down by 11 twice, I think, and only got a lead back late in the 2nd. Morehead was looking to make a statement on defending home, and they gave a great shot on it. Morehead has a good coach, I think, and he likes to put the zone to good advantage. Murray has had problems wit the zone. Despite a rough game, including a horrible start, I was glad they had such a struggle. I think it will help later on.

That LSU game was a good one for sure.

Watching Texas/Kansas St now. K State was laying it on good, but Texas has come to within 1 early in H2; fun game also.

2 undefeateds left. Murray could get nailed by anyone, although getting Aska back in the next week or so will help a lot. What about 'Cuse-who do you see knocking them off???

[The Poet]

2 undefeateds left. Murray could get nailed by anyone, although getting Aska back in the next week or so will help a lot. What about 'Cuse-who do you see knocking them off???


I'll deal with this one first, Joe. As with your Racers, anybody can knock Syracuse from the undefeated ranks. Against a zone, all it takes is one guy getting hot from downtown, or a bad defensive rebounding effort from the Orange, and they're down by 6 or 8 possessions . . . from which a zone-based team has difficulty recovering, especially as they have no experience pressing to force turnovers and increase possessions. But to be more specific, here's the games I'd be more leery of, were I Jim Boeheim:

1/21 @ Notre Dame = The Irish are not great, but they don't stink either. Plus, South Bend is not the Dome.

1/23 @ Cincinnati = The Bearcats have some bad losses, and some good wins too. And again, the Orange will be on the road.

2/8 Georgetown = 'Cuse is back home, but this is a dangerous Hoya squad. They themselves may not be experienced, but their coach has seen that zone many times, and knows how to attack it.

2/11 U. Conn = Pretty much the same story here, save that the Huskies do have more experience, and maybe a bit more talent too.

2/13 @ Louisville = The third tough game for Syracuse in less than a week, on the road again, and against another dangerous team. Yeah, Pitino's boys have sucked at times, but you know Rick will have them focused for this one. If they can respond . . . well, that's another question.

2/19 @ Rutgers = I don't know how they are doing it, but the Scarlet Knights have managed to surprise better teams, on their own court anyway. Even if the Orange survive all the above, and maybe more so if they do, I could see them coming into this one with a cocky attitude, and taking one in the stones.

2/25 @ U. Conn = In a mirror-image of the 'Cuse, the Huskies are tough at home and not so much on the road. Playing in the Nutmeg State perhaps adds enough spice to turn the table.

3/3 Louisville = You'd suspect, or if you are a Cardinal fan you'd hope, that by this point in the season Pitino'd have his team primed and ready for post-season. This game may not be key to Syracuse to secure them a high NCAA bid, but it might be huge for Louisville. If Rick can impart that to his kids, they should be hyped and focused.


Plus, even if the Orange can survive this minefield, they then enter the Big East tournament, where anything can happen. Remember last year, with the Huskies coming in with a 9-9 conference record, only to ride Kemba Walker all the way to the championship? And ALL of the above ignores the other possible factors: injuries, illness, suspensions, bad calls, bad weather, whatever. So there might not be your answer, but it may help some (including Orange faithful) understand why I don't see them going without a loss all year.


Back later, I hope.

[The Poet]

Here's some of the best games from last night:


Murray State 66 - Morehead State 60 = As Joe said, his Racers needed to come from 'way back to keep their season unblemished. I thought they'd have a little easier time of it, but I did realize how tricky road games can be against a long-standing rival.

Temple 76 - LaSalle 70 = Such as these two rivals, and about what you'd expect.

Cincinnati 70 - U. Conn 67 = If there is a surprise for the evening, it's maybe this one, even if only for the fact that it was in Storrs. Yeah, the Bearcats have played well on occasion, and the Huskies have had some problems. Still, I'd not have bet on this one.

Nebraska 70 - Indiana 69 = Nor this one, to be frank. True, I thought the Hoosiers had just about shot their bolt for now. But again, I figured they could handle the Cornhuskers. Shows what I know.

UCF 68 - Memphis 67 = And this was, as I felt it would be, a war.

Wichita State 71 - Northern Iowa 68 = Here also.

Creighton 66 - Missouri State 65 = Also also.

Kansas State 84 - Texas 80 = To be frank, the Longhorns came closer to giving Martin that stroke than I thought. Rememeber, lest I am mistaken, this was in Manhattan and not Austin.

San Diego State 75 - New Mexico 70 = Here's about exactly what I figured on, with the Lobos giving the Aztecs more fits than they wanted.


Tonight's action includes a lot of "who cares?" games, plus these:


Charleston vs. Davidson = Two good teams who need to either win their conference or make a lot of noise elsewhere to earn a bid, so it's big for both.

Duke vs. Wake Forest = I have to go with a wake tonight in Durham, for the Deacons. If the Blue Devils don't slaughter them, Coach K should retire. :D

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama = These two have p!$$ed away a lot of the respect they had early in the year, yet neither one is totally dead yet . . . like maybe Pitt. ;) Should be fun.

Virginia vs. Georgia Tech = As with my prior comments saying schools such as Indiana and Michigan State had maybe shot their bolt already, the same may be true of the Cavaliers. If they lose to the Yellow Jackets it may be one further indication of that . . . and no, I don't care that it's in Hot'Lanta.

Boston College vs. N. C. State = And Jerry's 'Pack needs to jump on the Eagles here, if they want to stay at least mid-pack in the ACC.

Illinois vs. Penn State = I can't give the Nittany Lions much of a chance against the Illini, even in State College. However, you may remember that last year about this time PSU went on a bit of a run to win some they maybe shouldn't have. Hey, it's conference play, so who knows?

North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech = Speaking of who knows, who knows how the Heels will react in Blacksburg to that embarrassing performance (or lack of same, more accurately) against FSU. If Roy got their attention in practice this week, it could be bad news for the Hokies. If he didn't, and they put up another stinker, maybe he'll just throw in the towel for good. :r

UCLA vs. Oregon State = I've not mentioned the Bruins much of late, mainly due of course to their poor start. But if you haven't noticed, after losing 5 of their first 7 games, they've only lost twice since then, and that @ both Stanford and California, so they weren't the "bad" losses they posted earlier. Have they turned things around? Certainly, to some extent. This game won't tell us if this turn-around's for real or not, but maybe we should all start keeping an eye on Westwood once again. Oh, wait . . . we can't. They're not playing in Pauley this year, so even their home games are on the road. ;)


That's it for me for now. Thanks for all your cards and letters, and keep 'em coming boys. Until later, enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Some really tough, close games last night. I thought Texas "might" come down with the win, but just couldn't. Also thought IU would come up with a win. I thought the Bearcats might pull that one off; I do not have any confidence in UConn, but I thought the same last year. Shows what I know.

Managed to get tickets for the rest of Murray's home games yesterday. The wife wants to hit the OVC tourney again this year; it's always a lot of fun, win or lose. She swears we are going to the Dance if Murray makes it this year. I had the opportunity to go the year MSU beat Valvano's team in round 1 and were narrowly beaten by Danny Manning's KU, but just could not afford it and eat too. Maybe this time...I still think we must win the OVC tourney to get in. One loss anywhere, in the OVC means no at-large, and they would likely drop out of the top 35 with a loss.

Dook is handling Wake pretty well, midway through H2. Vandy also handling Bama easily on the road.

Hey Poet, where did Mark Gottfried end up? I heard he is coaching again.

[The Poet]

I had the opportunity to go the year MSU beat Valvano's team in round 1.

Hey Poet, where did Mark Gottfried end up? I heard he is coaching again.


Unknowingly, you sorta answered your own question there brother. Gottfried is midway through his first year as head coach of Jerry's N.C. State Wolfpack, and is doing fairly well so far. He may do even better next year and thereafter, as he's supposedly landed one of the best recruiting classes in the nation for 2012-13.

Update shortly.

[The Poet]

And speaking of The Wolfpack:


N. C. State 76 - Boston College 62 = Though not surprising that they took the low-flying Eagles in Raleigh last night, it is a little that they are now 14-5 overall and 3-1 early in ACC play. Furthermore, aside from that horrible loss to Georgia Tech, all the other 4 Ls have been "good" ones, against Vandy, Indiana, Stanford, and Syracuse. So even though they don't have any really good wins so far to go along with that, they are certainly on track to earn an at-large bid at the least.

And speaking of Georgia Tech:

Virginia 70 - Georgia Tech 38 = Wow. Now maybe you understand why I called NCSU's loss to them a bad one. Not even 40 points, in Atlanta no less? Is that some freakin' joke? The Cavs have played well, but please.


Most other action last night was pretty much what you'd think, so I'll only note a few:


Penn State 54 - Illinois 52 = This may have shocked a few aside from Illini fans, but as I told you yesterday the Lions turned from Nuttin'y to Nittany ones for a bit this time last season also. I'm not saying they shall keep it up, but just like chili history does repeat at times.

North Carolina 82 - Virginia Tech 68 = And just like that Florida State game, the Heels were down by a couple of possessions at the half. However, unlike that stinky loss, they actually came out of the locker-room for the second stanza, much to the chagrin of the Hokie fans in attendance.

California 69 - Washington 66 = Not only was this a key game for the Pac-12 chase, it was one of the few times last night the Golden State boys struck color against the GNW. For instance . . .

Washington State 81 - Stanford 69 = Instead of winning a close one, the Trees fell hard.

Oregon State 87 - UCLA 84 = At least the Bruins made it respectable in Corvallis.

Oregon 65 - USC 62 = As did the Trojans in Eugene.

Gonzaga 74 - San Francisco 63 = Well, at least ONE Bay Area team managed a W, but it don'na be the Dons.


To be perfectly honest with you, I see absolutely NOTHING worth watching tonight, so go ahead and let your SO rent that chick flick from Blockbuster . . . if you can find one that's still open anyway. I'll likely be back later with some early Saturday games. Later then.

[The Poet]

Alright, now this is more like it! If you're looking for some lunchtime action tomorrow, you have a regular smorgasbord available, including:


Maryland vs. Temple = This could be a key non-conference win in the eyes of the Selection Committee come March, so I'd expect a war in Philly here, since both may need all the help they can get.

Rutgers vs. Georgetown = And if the Scarlet Knights want to keep building on their unexpected success, they need to let their young team take advantage of the Hoya's young one. I don't know which way to go on this one, as I didn't think either one would be worth much, and am still not sure if either is for real or not.

Alabama vs. Kentucky = And it is even possible that the Tide can roll into Rupp and catch the young 'Cats napping. I wouldn't bet on it, however.

Wake Forest vs. Boston College = Just as every team wants to finish atop their league, no team wishes to end up on the bottom of the pile. Here's two in the ACC with that potential, so I'd look for a fight.

Villanova vs. St. John's = Different conference, same story.

South Carolina vs. Auburn = And here we go again. One may wonder why we'd bother, but sometimes mere survival is more intriguing than is thriving.

Purdue vs. Michigan State = The Boilermakers likely need this more, but I got the feeling that Izzo will once again have his Spartans wanting it more. It should be fun, regardless.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State = So could this one in Stillwater, no matter what the oddsmakers think. Yeah, the Manhattan 'Cats have been better than the Cowboys, but they've looked bad at times also. And even though Oak State's Big 12 records sucks on the road . . . Travis Ford is 5-22 for his career . . . he is 21-5 in league games at home. Keep your eye on this one.

SMU vs. Memphis = Had you asked me to pick this one in November, I'd have gone with the Tigers to pull down the Mustangs and have them for lunch. Now, I'm not so sure. Neither team has shown me much, and since 2 of their 6 losses have been in Memphis I'm not sure home-court means much either. Could be fun, though.


That's the early tip-offs for you, and if we don't get snowed out tomorrow I'll be back with later games. Until then then then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

We've already one final for today:


Temple 73 - Maryland 60 = Maybe not a great win for the Owls, but a decent one anyway, and another disappointing performance for the Terps.

Aside from that, only the Michigan State/Purdue game seems to be "over", with the Spartans holding a healthy lead. All the others are much too close to call, including Kentucky/Alabama in Lexington. I'll try to keep you advised.

Later action today is far too vast to cover properly, with many games looking to be good. I shall mention many, but not bore you with them all:


Michigan vs. Arkansas = Even if this wasn't in Fayetteville, I'd give the Hogs a shot. I have not been impressed with the Wolverines's scoring ability, though they could win a close one on the road. Should be interesting either way.

Missouri vs. Baylor = And this would have been more interesting had both still remained undefeated to this point. Still, with both at 17-1, you'd imagine this will be a war.

Georgia Tech vs. Clemson = So will this one, albeit for different reasons. The battle for the basement of the ACC has begun.

Belmont vs. South Carolina Upstate = I've been a bit disappointed so far with Belmont's play, as I expected them to continue to rule their roost. And the SCU Spartans should not provide a huge challenge, even in Spartenburg. But if the Bruins want to return to the NCAAs they need to get busy, soon.

Cincinnati vs. West Virginia = These two came into the season with differing expectations, with the Bearcats slipping somewhat and the Mountaineers climbing a lot. This conference game is huge for both.

Indiana State vs. Creighton = The Sycamores could maybe bring Bird back and have a good chance against the Bluejays, but without him I expect they'll just provide a comfortable nest for those indigo avians.

Florida State vs. Duke = The Seminoles finally had a great win last week . . . either that, or my Heels just sucked . . . but that was at home. A better indication as to whether or not they've turned things around to meet early predictions would be a win against the Blue Devils in Cameron today. I would not bet on it, but I wouldn't bet against it either. This will be interesting, one way or the other.

Kansas vs. Texas = So will this one, although the Jayhawks must be favored. The Longhorns do have 12 wins, but none of them can be called good ones. Perhaps their best performance was last week, in a "good loss" at K-State by 4 points. KU is the 'Horns 3rd ranked opponent in a row, and even a blind steer finds a haybale now and then. But I don't think that's gonna happen.

Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M = Remember when the Aggies were ranked? I do, even if they don't. These two meet today with identical 10-7 and 1-4 records, so you can expect both to be ready for a fight.

U Conn vs. Tennessee = The Huskies again risk leaving the Nutmeg State, and even though it's against the "meh" Volunteers they might regret that unfortunate decision to actually schedule a few road games. The Vols, despite their problems, are 7-3 in Knoxville, including a close loss to Memphis and a stunning win over the Gators. This one's worth keeping an eye on.

U Mass vs. Richmond = So is this one, as it pits two good mid-major programs against each other. Besides, I always keep an eye on Spiders.

Stanford vs. Washington = As happened last year, a logjam is forming atop the Pac-12. Cal holds an early 6-1 advantage, but these two here enter play with 5-2 & 4-2 resp't records. That alone tells you how important this game is, as is . . .

Arizona vs. Colorado = . . . because the Desert 'Cats and the Buffaloes have 4-2 league records themselves, and are part of that jam-up. So you know they both want this one.

Syracuse vs. Notre Dame = It's in South Bend, which gives the Irish that anyway. It may not be enough to squeeze the Orange, but you gotta know Boeheim's not gonna think that way. He knows he can't go without a loss all year, even if you don't. :r

LSU vs. Florida = On the one hand, I don't give the Tigers much of a chance here. On the other, the Gators have managed to stink up the joint at times. Me, I can't see a contest here, but what do I know?

Marshall vs. Southern Mississippi = It seems that teams like these two almost always give us a good show, maybe because they know they can't skate into the NCAAs with a handful of at-large bids allocated for their league.

Kent State vs. Akron = Same story here, and two teams that have done pretty well so far.

Colorado State vs. Wyoming = And here again also.

California vs. Washington State = The Cougars are not part of that Pac-12 pack mentioned above, but if the Bears want to stay on top of the pile they can't afford to stumble up in Pullman tonight. For that reason alone, it's big.

Marquette vs. Providence = On the surface, this does not look to be much of a match-up, even in Rhode Island. But remember that the Friars did manage to edge Louisville recently, by a slim 90-59 margin. Anything can happen.

Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt = The Commodores were, like those aforementioned Gators, subject to several early disappointing performances. However, they have won 8 in a row now, and maybe have finally found their game. And despite the Bulldogs higher ranking, they are 2-2 in the SEC, with Vandy 4-0. Besides, that funky floating court in Nashville is a baitch for many teams. This could be fun.

South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State = Yeah, nobody outside the Dakotas cares, one way or the other. But this one just hopped out at me. They are resp't. 15-5, 7-1 and 13-5, 6-2, so even though you don't give a damn you can bet your bottom dollar they do.

Ohio State vs. Nebraska = In Lincoln, as if that makes a difference. The only thing more shocking than a Buckeye loss today is the fact the Cornhuskers have actually won 2 Big Ten+ games already. Yeah, it could happen again . . . but not tonight.

ODU vs. VCU = So if you want to watch a close game in this timeslot, tune in this one instead.

Louisville vs. Pittsburgh = Or even this one, if those above are sucky by halftime. The Cardinals have had a crazy season, and the Panthers have been even nuttier. Hell, I never thought they'd come into this holding 2-4 and 0-6 Big East records, did you? But this does mean that neither can stand many more Ls, so figure both Pitino and Dixon will have their boys primed.

Murray State vs. SIU Edwardsville = And if Joe's Racers don't absolutely romp over the 5-11, 3-4 Cougars, even if it's on the road, then they should add a dishonorary loss onto their unblemished record just on general principles. ;)

Air Force vs. San Diego State = Quietly, or at least more quietly than last year, the Aztecs are building another great season. The Falcons could spoil that late tonight, as they can hoop and swoop a little, but I would not count on it. Still, it ought to be fun.

New Mexico vs. UNLV = So should this one, and even in Sin City I give the Lobos a decent chance at pulling down the Runnin' Rebels, or at the least nipping at their heels all night.

St. Mary's vs. Santa Clara = For no particular reasons I can name, I have grown to like both these teams over the years. Maybe it's because they play well, play clean, play tough opponents, and pretty much keep their yaps shut. The Gaels have the much-superior squad this year, but I don't expect the Broncos to simply roll over on their own court. They won't win, barring strange circumstances, but they will do their best to compete.


While typing all that garbage above, a few more finals came in:


Georgetown 52 - Rutgers 50 = The Hoyas avoid what might have been an embarrassing loss on their court, even if just barely. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights can't be too disappointed with another good showing, despite the loss.

Wake Forest 71 - Boston College 56 = Wow. Though I'm not surprised the Deacs won, seeing as how they've played better at times than was expected, such a spanking was unexpected. Hey, this was in Chestnut Hill, not Winston-Salem or Greensboro!

Michigan State 83 - Purdue 58 = Another somewhat surprising spanking, for much the same reason. True, it was in East Lansing, and the Spartans have been better than the Boilermakers. Still, a 25-point margin between these two is unusual.

Kentucky 77 - Alabama 71 = And there is nothing at all surprising about this one, at least to me. The Wildcats win at home, and the Tide gave them much more of a fight than they wanted. It's somewhat lucky for Calipari that his young team seems to have learned how to win the tight ones as opposed to lose them. I guess I could give the credit to Cal's coaching, but as I don't think he actually DOES any, I cannot bring myself to do so. :r


Lunchtime, brothers. I'll try to get back later with some more early finals, and a look at Sunday games. Bye for now.

[The Poet]

A few more early finals for you now:


Dayton 87 - Xavier 72 = After winning 4 in a row, and giving some indication that they'd finally gotten back on track, the X-Men drop their 6th loss since the Bearcat Brawl to the Flyers.

Villanova 79 - St. John's 76 (OT) = Big East wins will be few and far between for both teams, so it's no wonder they fought so hard for this one. A good road victory for the Philly 'Cats, considering.

Memphis 63 - SMU 45 = Not a great showing by the Tigers, but an even worse one by the Schmoo.


In rather limited Sunday action, we will have:


N.C. State vs. Miami = I don't know how good Jerry's 'Pack is, but I do think they are better than these 'Canes. But can they travel, that's the question.

Penn State vs. Indiana = The Hoosiers have started to come back down to earth, yet are still gonna be tough in Bloomington. So, do I think that PSU can follow up their upset of the Illini with another one? No.

Wisconsin vs. Illinois = Speaking of the Illini, they will have a tough time trying to rebound from that loss in State College against the Badgers. True, the boys from Madison have not been all they were thought, but they are still a tough out. This might be the best game of the day. Speaking of Wisconsin . . .

Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Cleveland State = This one may be just as good, or even a little better.

South Florida vs. DePaul = Or maybe this one will be, since both teams are equally capable . . . or at times, incapable.

Virginia Tech vs. Virginia = Or maybe this one will be, if the Hokies can recover from that slapping around my Heels gave them in the second half the other evening. But as it is in Charlottesville, and as the Cavs have remained the surprise of the ACC so far (or at least the pleasant one :D ), I'll go with them, by 4 possessions at least.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota = The Smarty 'Cats don't travel well. Yet prior to the 20-point whippin' they just took from those Badgers above, they did beat Michigan State, and lost to Michigan by only a deuce. As for the Gophers, they lost their first 4 conference games before winning the last two over Indiana and Penn State, so both teams enter this 2-4 in league play. Look for a good one here.

Drake vs. Northern Iowa = And this one's just another of those that jumped off the page and smacked me in the schnozz. Of course, considering its size, how could it miss? :r


That's it from me for now. Until later then, enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Wow! FSU on an ACC romp! Sweet buzzer shot sinks dook at home, breaking their home court streak. Yeah, I'm cheering! :r

UK juuust got by 'Bama, and I'm loving Davis more every game, and feeling cold over Jones more every game. Can't tell if the hand is still bothering him, or he's in a mood swing again.
Watching 'Cuse right now, and ND has pretty much had their way with them, at the half. I understand 'Cuse is without a couple of players this game.
Bearcats go down in a tough, last second loss.
Uconn has lost, what..3 or 4 out of the last 6?? UT showed up today.
Speaking of SEC, Michigan gets beat by Arkansas.
Pretty good game with KU vs Texas also.
Baylor loses again.

UL vs Pitt??? I'm going with Pitt on this one, the way the Cards have acted lately.

Go Racers!!!!!!!!

[The Poet]

Yeah, there was a lot of good action over the weekend, though many of the "upsets" were no huge surprise to me. Take for instance:


Notre Dame 67 - Syracuse 58 = I told you and I told you and I told you that once the Orange got out of the Dome and started playing teams who knew their zone they would lose. The margin may be a bit more than I'd have expected, but the result was inevitable. And don't think the Irish are exactly new at this sort of thing. Though it hasn't happened since 1987, this marks the 8th time they have knocked off the #1 team in the nation, moving them into a tie for 4th in that accomplishment. (P.S., FYI, North Carolina leads that group with 12 such wins. One might argue which mark is more impressive. On the one hand, though the Irish have a long and successful basketball history, they cannot be put into the same league as the top dozen or so traditional powers. This makes their #1 upsets remarkable in that way. However, while it is admittedly difficult to beat the top team in the country under such circumstances, it is absolutely impossible to beat the top team when you ARE the top team. As the Heels have found themselves in that position often, they've had that limitation to overcome. :r )

Tennessee 60 - U Conn 57 = And if you think I'm shocked by this one, then you just haven't been paying any attention. True, the Vols have been pretty crappy. But I told you from Day One that the Huskies were OK at best, and much too highly regarded. Like Syracuse, their early success was largely based upon their dependence upon home court advantage, and their weaknesses would show up more readily on the road.

Florida State 76 - Duke 73 = And the only thing that might surprise me some here is that it was in Cameron, where Dook is hard to beat. Otherwise, I also said from Day One they would likely compete at a slightly lower level this season, and that FSU could challenge in the ACC with them and UNC.

Arkansas 66 - Michigan 64 = Here there's no surprise at all. What is the now, the 10th time the Logans have failed to break the 65-point ceiling? This ain't baseball here, so pitching can't keep you in it . . . you have to score the ball.

Missouri 89 - Baylor 88 = And though I'm no huge believer in the Tigers, I believed even less in the Bears. The only surprise here is that they lost by a single stinkin' point.

West Virginia 77 - Cincinnati 74 (OT) = And perhaps the surprise here is that the Bearcats managed to take it into extra innings.

Kansas 69 - Texas 66 = While here the surprise is that the 'Horns actually had a shot at this upset in Austin . . . which would actually have BEEN an upset, unlike those others.

Texas A&M 81 - Oklahoma 75 (OT) = I'm not sure there's anything of note here at all, but it was a fun game.

Washington State 77 - California 75 = OK, you want an upset? Well, here it is. Again, as last year, the jam for the Pac-12 has gotten jammier, as there are now 4 teams atop with 2 losses each.

Mississippi State 78 - Vanderbilt 77 (OT) = The Comms take a step backwards, and earned it. Hey, if you can't defend your home court, even when given a second chance in OT, you don't deserve the W.

Louisville 73 - Pittsburgh 62 = If you're looking for a surprise here, then it's in the continued collapse of the Panthers. Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY, thought they'd be 11-9, and 0-7 in Big East play. Pitt fails in the spring, not in the fall and winter.

Murray State 82 - SIU Edwardsville 65 = No surpirse at all to be found here, either in the result or in the fact that the cheese stands alone now. Joe's Racers remain as the only undefeated team left in Division 1 hoops, and I feel confident I told you somewhere up above they were the most likely candidate for that distinction. I do believe that, barring more injuries or something, they have a decent shot of going unbeated . . . until March, when somebody will hand them their lunch and point them towards the door. :D

South Dakota State 91 - North Dakota State 88 (OT) = I threw this in because I still don't know why it jumped out at me on Saturday as looking to be a good one. Hell, like a broken clock, I'm right twice a day.


Sunday's games:


N. C. State 78 - Miami 73 = Joe's old boy Gottfried continues to take Jerry's 'Pack back towards the promised land. OK, a win over the 'Canes means little in itself, but take note that NCSU is presently tied atop the ACC with Dook and FSU at 4-1, and are a half-game ahead of my 3-1 Heels. That will likely chance come Thursday, when they visit Chapel Hill, but I reckon it's pretty sweet at the moment.

Indiana 73 - Penn State 54 = Though some may think the passing of JoePa was a negative factor here, a distraction for the Lions they could not overcome, I myself feel the Hoosiers would have taken this one in Bloomington regardless of the circumstances.

Wisconsin 67 - Illinois 63 = The Badgers hand the Illini another loss, and get a win they needed badly.

Virginia Tech 47 - Virginia 45 = This one is a tiny surprise for me, as I felt the Cavs would be able to win this in-state rivalry at home. But judging by the score, it was as much a case of the Cavs losing as the Hokies winning, so there's my out.


Tonight has only a few games of note:


Syracuse vs. Cincinnati = It is entirely possible that the 'Cuse will get their second loss tonight . . . but only if the Bearcats show up. As it is on their court, they have little excuse not to, but they seem to show up only about a third of the time, so who knows? I think it might be tight, but the Orange rebounds . . . for now, anyway. Still, keep an eye on it.

Belmont vs. East Tennessee State = The Belmont Bruins were supposed to walk away with the Atlantic Sun this year, as usual. But they've yet to gel, despite returning veterans, and as in the Pac-12 there's a mob at the top, with 5 teams at either 6-2 or 5-3 in league play. These are two of them, so this is big for both.

Texas A&M vs. Kansas = In Lawrence, so I wouldn't think the Jayhawks would have the problems with the Aggies they just had with the Longhorns in Austin. But now that I think about it more, the x-factor may be that those Aggies need to know that if they are going to make a move, they have to start now. But now that I think about it more more, it's as hard to beat KU in Allen Fieldhouse as it is to beat Dook in Cameron Indoor Sty-dium. But now that I think about it more more more, the Semiholes just did just that. Ahh, fug it all. Kansas by a dozen.


Later then. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

Well, the Bearcats were playing 'Cuse pretty good, but now are down 6 with less than 1 minute.

The Cards surprised me; I really figured Pitt to try to make a turn there. Flat out stink this season.

Aggies against the Jayhawks up on the WWL next; hope the Aggies turn it on.

[The Poet]

Well, the Bearcats were playing 'Cuse pretty good, but now are down 6 with less than 1 minute.

The Cards surprised me; I really figured Pitt to try to make a turn there. Flat out stink this season.

Aggies against the Jayhawks up on the WWL next; hope the Aggies turn it on.


Syracuse 60 - Cincinnati 53 = Yeah, I thought it had a chance to be pretty close, though I also felt the Bearcats have been too inconsistent to actually get the W. The Orange bounce back from their first L, but it wasn't much of a statement for them.

Kansas 64 - Texas A&M 54 = And this wasn't all that big a statement for the Jayhawks either. I did not see the game, so have no idea if the Aggies turned it on or not, yet when you consider the problems they've had, it's not too terrible a loss in Lawrence.

And yes, Pitt has been the pits. :confused: :sh


In limited action, here's the other few scores I note:


Belmont 82 - East Tennessee State 70 = A good win for the Bruins against a conference contender. The odd thing about this one is that it was a tale of two halves, for both squads. The score was 27-12 at the break, so 75% of the scoring was done in the second stanza . . . by both damn teams, not just collectively. What, did somebody take the lids off the buckets during while they were in the lockerrooms?

Siena 65 - Iona 62 = And this is notable to me because the experts told us before the season started that the Gaels would be the Butler this year, the mid-major who could kill the giants. OK, I guess it could happen, as they haven't stunk up the joint like, say, Pitt has done. But with this loss to the 9-10 and 4-5 Jaspers, they fall to 15-5 and 7-2 in the MAAC, which means they can't even dominate in their own league. As for me, I can easily see the Gaels going deep into the NCAA tournament. Yet those Gaels will be from St. Mary's, a continent away from Iona. :r


There are a few games of interest tonight:


Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt = While the Commodores have been disappointing expectations, the Volunteers have at least managed to give their fans a pair of stunning "upsets" over highly-ranked teams. But those have been in Knoxville, while this one's down Mighty I-40 from Malfunction Junction into the Music City. Yeah, Vandy's been unable to defend home court. However, the Vols stink on the road. If the Comms don't win this one, they should just quit athletics and go back to class.

Michigan vs. Purdue = This could be a pretty close one. True, the Wolverines have gotten more attention and respect, and the Boilermakers are not as good as they've been recently. Yet I still don't like how the Logans score . . . or, more accurately, do NOT score. That alone could keep this tight.

Akron vs. Ball State = And this fight between the Zips and the Lettermens could be a good one too. They are fairly well matched, though Akron gets more press. As they also have a more-experienced program that's been there before, I'll give them a slim edge.

Baylor vs. Oklahoma = The Bears have now lost two games, both on the road and at home also. This one in Norman might be their third, if their confidence has been destroyed by these losses . . . which is entirely possible, especially in a program that's not really been there before. However, the Sooners are not exactly the best competition in the Big . . . uh, how many teams have stuck around out there? So though a Bear loss would not shock me, I would not bet on it.

South Florida vs. Marquette = So if you're looking for an upset, look at this. The Bulls have had a habit of knocking off teams, sneaking up on those who overlook them,and the Golden Eagles are primed for such an error. Marquette's always had a 'tude about them, going back at least to Al McGuire's time, and thus can be subject to hubris.

San Diego State vs. Wyoming = And to be honest, with all due respect for the Aztecs, they have begun to show some early signs of this disease themselves. Perhaps a little "come to Jesus" out in Laramie can cure them, or at least arrest the spread of the infection. ;)

Kentucky vs. Georgia = This game is in Athens, yet it takes no Delphic Oracle to predict the likely outcome. Yeah, true, the young 'Cats could always beat themselves on any given night, but the Bulldogs couldn't beat them to the concession stand, even on their home court.

Miami vs. Georgia Tech = Here's an early key game to decide the ACC race . . . for the cellar. There are presently 3 teams with only 1 conference win so far, and this is two of them. So, why bother? Well, it just my be a full-out war, for that reason alone.


That's what I got for you today. So until tomorrow then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

I can't really say any scores from last night were a surprise at all, and most were uninteresting blowouts, so I'll just note one of them:


Michigan 66 - Purdue 64 = Well, what do you know? The Wolverines not only win, but actually manage to break the 65-point barrier! Hey, they even could have won had they failed at that. :r


There are a lot of good matchups this evening, but as many of them involve teams who are not likely to go far I'll limit myself to the potentially more significant ones:


Penn State vs. Ohio State = No offense intended, but the Nittany Lions will mourn another funeral, with this one in Columbus being much less sad, albeit no less expected, than the one in State College.

Villanova vs. Louisville = The young Philly 'Cats have struggled mightily to find themselves, and the Cardinals have had their problems at times also. Even if this wasn't in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket, you'd have to favor L'ville here. But as their fans know too well, anything can happen with this team.

BYU vs. Virginia Tech = The Hokies scored a big win on the road against UVA, and could make a huge step towards turning around their season with a home victory over the Cougars. I give them a decent shot at it. Yet I'd put no money on it however.

Dayton vs. St. Joseph's = Who will take wing tonight, the Flyers or the Hawks? They both have pretty good teams, and this should be a fun one.

Providence vs. Pittsburgh = OK, I know I began by dismissing games involving teams going nowhere fast, but as these two are "prominent" programs fighting to stay out of the Big East basement (1-6 and 0-7 resp't.), I feel it is worth noting.

Saint Louis vs. Xavier = Much like that mid-major one above, here's two schools capable of winning a game, or maybe even two, in March. But they have to get there first, so this one's big.

Florida State vs. Wake Forest = The Semiholes are on a roll, and are likely to continue in Winston-Salem tonight. Although the Deacs have played better than they did last year, and even better than was expected of them, their chances are pretty slim. But anything can happen in conference play, as the Hokies showed the Cavs last week. Pencil in FSU, yet don't ink it yet.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma State = And here's another team that ought to romp on the road. I do not believe for a second that the Tigers are the 2nd best team in the country, but they are better than the Cowboys, in Stillwater or not.

UCF vs. Tulsa = And these two are going to fight tooth-and-nail for a win here. The Knights lead the CUSA by a half-game at 5-1, but the Golden Hurricane are at 4-2, and need this to stay in the hunt (along with Southern Miss, Memphis, and Marshall, all at 4-1). Yeah, it's still early, but you can't make up losses. It's in Tulsa, which might make this closer than UCF would wish.

LSU vs. Mississippi State = Though I'm not a big believer in the Bulldogs, I'm less of one in the Tigers. If you wanna keep half-an-eye on it for a while, go ahead, but don't look for it to be a contest in the last 10 minutes.

Minnesota vs. Michigan State = You might have a better shot here, though again I feel the Spartans will prevail over the Golden Gophers. It might be only by 2 or 3 possessions, however.

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech = And the Prairie 'Cats should be able to take the Red Raiders to the woodshed, even if they don't know where one is in Lubbock.

Duke vs. Maryland = As should the Blue Devils, who should make soup of the Terps in College Park. Yeah, I know Dook has weaknesses, but UM seems to have next to nothing.

UNLV vs. Boise State = Is the court in Boise gawd-awful blue too? Even if it isn't, it will be for the Runnin' Rebels if the Broncos can corral them. As they've lost 7 of their last 9, I can't see that happening, so figure UNLV paints Boise red.

Colorado State vs. New Mexico = The Lobos won 13 in a row, and figured to be a factor in the Mountain West. But as 2 of their first 3 conference games were against SDSU and UNLV, and as both were Ls, they presently find themselves mid-pack. Nor do the Rams look to be pushovers either. Still, I feel NM can get back on the winning track tonight in Albuquerque . . . if they don't make that famous wrong turn. :D


That's my nonsense for today. Back later, brothers. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

I'm tired and worn out today, and my mind's all fuzzy. Despite some interesting results last night, and a few good one this evening, I guess I'd best wait until tomorrow to catch up on things.


;s


But hell, nobody's stopping YOU from putting YOUR :2 in! :r

[jcruse64]

My :2:

NC State better have something better in the bag than that last-second 80-footer, or the drive home will be tough.

I know it's on the road, but the Gators act like they've been hit by a Mack truck. Not too good.

[The Poet]

My :2:

NC State better have something better in the bag than that last-second 80-footer, or the drive home will be tough.

I know it's on the road, but the Gators act like they've been hit by a Mack truck. Not too good.


As for Jerry's Wolfpack, that 80-footer was the only thing they had to cheer about last night. And the drive back to Raleigh may have been tough, but it's at least short.

As for the Gators, they did manage to survive down in Oxford, even if they nearly got Faulknered. I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds cool anyway.

But before I get to last night's action any deeper, lemme tell you a few Wednesday scores of note:


Oklahoma State 79 - Missouri 72 = The biggest surprise of the night, for even though I felt the Tigers are not as good as the "experts" believe, I still felt they'd handle Oak State. Shows what I know too. :r

Pittsburgh 86 - Providence 74 = Not a shock at all, as both teams have stunk, and somebody had to win. Yet it is notable for being Pitt's first conference win.

St. John's 78 - West Virginia 62 = So if you're looking for a shocker in the Big East, here it is. Yeah, the Red Storm has played pretty well from time to time, though not much recently. And the Mountaineers have over-achieved from expectations, so a loss is no huge stunner. Yet that margin, even in MSG, is fairly substancial.

Saint Louis 73 - Xavier 68 = The demise of the X-Men continues. They lose on their own court, still reaping the bad karma from that brawl with Cincy.

BYU 70 - Virginia Tech 68 = Though the Hokies cannot build upon their upset of UVA, they do give the Cougars one damn good fight. Considering, this may be a better loss for them than it is a win for BYU.

Duke 74 - Maryland 61 = I guess this is about what one would expect . . . a double-digit win over the Terps in College Park, being neither a stomping nor a nail-biter.

UNLV 77 - Boise State 72 (OT) = If the home team had managed to show up for that extra 5 minutes, the Broncos would have had a signature win. Still, a damn good game.


And last night, beginning with those already referenced by Joe and me:


North Carolina 74 - N. C. State 55 = The 'Pack came into Chapel Hill with a piece of the ACC lead, and left with their tails shaved. The win may not mean the Heels are now focused for the rest of the season, but perhaps the loss will help Gottfried get HIS boys focused on what they need to do . . . if it does not completely smash their confidence. But what should they have expected? They haven't won in the Smith Center in nearly a decade.

Florida 64 - Mississippi 60 = The Gators played their half-dozenth bad game of the year (at least), but did escape with a W. Tell me, does Billy Donovan have any hair left?

Nebraska 79 - Iowa 73 = Wow. The Cornhuskers not only win their 3rd Big Ten+ game, they actually do so on the road! Will wonders never cease?

Wisconsin-Milwaukee 53 - Butler 42 = If the score is any judge, this was a sloppy contest. But notable is the fact that the Bulldogs, national runner-up the past two years, fall to 12-10 . . . though at 6-4 can still be a factor in the Horizon race, IF they can win some games that is.

Wisconsin 57 - Indiana 50 = And the bloom is off in Bloomington, as the surprising Hoosiers have started to play down to their potential. Well, they've probably already had a better year than they expected to, and it's never too late to make adjustments. Meanwhile, the Badgers needed a "quality" win to bolster their sagging reps.

Virginia 66 - Boston College 49 = Plus, the Cavs needed one to rebound from that shocker against the Hokies. This one over the Eagles ain't it however, though it is better than another loss.


There's very few games this evening, and only two hold any interest to me at all:


Iona vs. Fairfield = For those not in the know, this match-up is usually a war. And even though the Gaels were supposed to dominate this year, they have not shown many signs of it. This alone makes it potential fun.

Harvard vs. Yale = Yeah, it's the Ivy, but one of the teams in the league will dance come March, and this game may be key. The Crimson was projected to win the conference, but they and the Eli are 2-0 early. And remember last year, when Harvard lost that one-game tie-breaking playoff to miss the NCAAs for the umpteenth-squared time. Every win and every loss, in a league with only one bid and no conference tournament, is huge.


If I get a chance, I'll look at the early Saturday games and get back to you. If not, I'll see you tomorrow. Whichever, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Those two games last night were pretty good, and horrible:


Iona 71 - Fairfield 62 = Not a total fight, but decent enough.


Harvard 65 - Yale 35 = And in New Haven, no less. The Eli had a lousy 1st half, scoring only 19, then followed with a worse 2nd with just 16 points. Sheesh.


Some early games today are already in progress:


Marquette vs. Villanova = The last time I looked, 'Nova was doubling-up on the Golden e
Eagles. If they can pull this off, it would be one of their best wins all year.

St. John's vs. Duke = And though it's in Cameron, the Johnnies hung tough . . . for a while. Now the Blue Devils are up by 11 or so, late in the 1st.

Wake Forest vs. Clemson = A tight battle so far, as they fight to stay away from the ACC cellar.


Other key early games:


Texas vs. Baylor = As it's in Waco, and as the 'Horns have been "meh" at best, you'd have to favor the Bears here. Still, I'd give UT a shot, if they had a better coach than Barnes. :r

West Virginia vs Syracuse = This could be interesting. The Mountaineers have done much better than was expected, but were knocked off by St. John's in MSG earlier this week. That may have ticked them off. So even in the Dome you'd give them a chance. I'm far from sure they can do it, yet as I'm far from sure the Orange can handle adversity you should keep an eye on this one.

Mississippi State vs. Florida = If anybody's gonna challenge Kentucky in the SEC, it seems these are the most likely candidates. As both teams have been schizo, I'd toss a coin.

Arkansas vs. Alabama = The 'Hogs are better, but the Tide need any signature wins they can accumulate to keep alive their hopes for an at-large. Could be fun here.

Texas Tech vs. Missouri = And should be over by the half. Though I've little faith in the national ambitions of the Tigers, they are by far the better team here. Plus, you'd think they'd be ready for this one, after that upset at Oak State's hands.


I'll come back later with more games, plus some early finals. Bye for now.

[The Poet]

Still no big finals to announce, so lemme give some more Saturday games. I can't possibly name all the important ones, but here's my picks:


Valparaiso vs. Wisc. Milwaukee - Tied for 2nd in the Horizon, and only a 1/2-game back, this is huge for both teams.

Kansas vs. Iowa State = Yeah, it's in Ames, but the Cyclones have little chance against the Jayhawks, despite the fact they lost in Lawrence by a respectable 9-point margin. But KU has some weaknessess, so it's worth keeping track of for a while, just to see.

Saint Louis vs. U Mass = With 4-2 records they are in a 5-way tie atop the A-10, with Temple at 3-2 plus 5 others with only 3 losses each. If your math is poor, that's makes 11 teams vying for 1st place at the moment. Games don't get much bigger than this.

Virginia Tech vs. Maryland = And this is big only in that neither wants to end up in the basement of the ACC.

Wofford vs. Charleston = As Davidson seems to have total control for the southern division of the Southern Conference, one may wonder why I've selected these 2 wanna-bes. Well, Charlesto will be playing without famed head coach Bobby Cremins, who's announced he's leaving for the rest of the season (at least) due to health problems. That alone makes it notable.

Georgetown vs. Pittsburgh = For some odd reason I still keep expecting the Panthers to pull their heads out of their butts and play a good game against a quality opponent. They finally got off the snide and scored their first Big East win, and could at least regain a little dignity if they can take the young Hoyas. This could get interesting.

Colorado vs. UCLA = And I'm interested in this one because the Bruins, foreseen to be a power once again, are presently struggling to stay above .500. At 11-9 now, they need this one in LA, although not in Pauley (closed for renovations, in case you forgot).

Kentucky vs. LSU = As with KU above, there's no doubt UK's the better team. As stated about them before, the young Wildcats may beat themselves, but the Tigers aren't likely to beat them without such help.

St. Joseph's vs. Temple = Here's some more of that A-10 jam-up noted above, so it's just as big.

San Diego State vs. Colorado State = Again, I'll admit the Aztecs have the better team. But this is in Fort Collins, so they'd best have the oxygen ready, and be ready to play, or their flight back home will be awful quiet . . . except maybe for Steve Fisher. :r

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State = In Manhattan, so you'd figure the 'Cats would have the advantage. I do too, but I do think the Sooners can give them some anxious moments before it's done.

Washington vs. Arizona = Much like the A-10, there are presently 1/2 the teams in the Pac-12 in the hunt for 1st place. Here's two of them, and both will fight tooth and nail for a win. Seeing as how both Huskies and Wildcats have teeth and nails, this should be tons of fun.

Virginia vs. N. C. State = Just as the Wolfpack started to gain some attention and confidence, they got spanked by my Heels. And just as the Cavaliers started to show they may actually be for real, they dropped one at home to putrid Va. Tech. My heart will go with the 'Pack in Raleigh, but my head leans slightly towards UVA. I think it will be close, regardless.

Louisville vs. Seton Hall = Depending upon which Cardinal team makes it to Newark today, this will either be a blowout or another shocking Pirates win. I've heard that The Rock is a terrible place for basketball, with sightlines that throw the shooters off. This could give the Hall a slight advantage, but will it be enough to offset the better talent on Pitino's bench? I'd vote nay, but what do I know?

Eastern Illinois vs. Murray State = Joe's Racers defend homecourt and remain undefeated. Take it to the bank.

Illinois vs. Minnesota = Even as mid-pack Big Ten+ teams, they have ability and experience, on the court and on the sidelines. This ought to be a blast.

St. Mary's vs. BYU = And this one in Provo ought to be so also. Me, I like the Gaels, yet I know the Cougars can hoop enough to give them game. Whoever wins will earn it, and I expect the margin to be slim.


We got a few finals while I was typing all that:


Duke 83 - St. John's 76 = The Red Storm stormed back to make a game out of it, but had dug themselves too far into a hole to steal this one in Durham. Really, it's about as much of a good loss for them as a bad win for the Blue Devils.

Clemson 71 - Wake Forest 60 = The Tigers don't exactly maul the Deacons, but they did give them a little come to Jesus.



Marquette has made a huge 2nd-half run to grab a tiny late lead over 'Nova, but there's a little time left. Meanwhile, both Texas and West Virginia are giving Kansas and Syracuse all they want, and then some.


Back after lunch for updates and Sunday games.

[The Poet]

Here's a feew more finals for you:


Syracuse 63 - West Virginia 61 = The Orange dodge a bullet in the Dome, and the Mountaineers either once again showed how they were underestimated, or how the 'Cuse is over-estimated.

Baylor 76 - Texas 71 = Another near-upset on a home-court, and again either a sign that the 'Horns are finding their game or that the Bears are not for real. Me, I'm going with the latter.

Florida 69 - Mississippi State 57 = The Gators did what they needed to do. They now have South Carolina and Vandy remaining as tune-ups before they travel to Lexington to face the Wildcats, hoping to do better against THIS top team than they've done previously.

Missouri 63 - Texas Tech 50 = No surprise here. Yeah, I may not be a big believer in Missou, but I don't believe in the Red Raiders at all.


Sunday games include:


Notre Dame vs. U. Conn = Hey, if WVU can give Syracuse fits in the Dome, the Irish can give the Huskies problems in Hartford. They have had better teams in the past, but this one did win at Louisville, then beat the Orange also.

Michigan vs. Ohio State = The only chance the Wolverines have to win in Columbus is if their defense can shut down the Buckeyes, because they can't outscore them. This one could get ugly, fast.

Providence vs. South Florida = It may be a pretty meaningless game in itself, but the teams are fairly close in ability, which may make it tight. Me, I think the Bulls can handle the Friars.

Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina = And I think the Tar Heels can handle the Yellow Jackets in Chapel Hill. Hell, I think the Heels can handle the Wreck in Atlanta, in Poland, on Mars. Stranger things have happened, but this should be a laffer.

Iowa vs. Indiana = The Hoosiers need to turn things back around, and this is a good chance for them in Bloomington. True, the Hawkeyes won't be a walk-over, and maybe Indiana has lost its mojo for good, but I see a home win by a few possessions here.

Stanford vs. Califorina = This Battle By The Bay is huge in the Pac-12 race. The Golden Bears are one of 4 teams on top at 6-2, and the Tree is tied with 'Zona just below at 5-3 in conference play. With some so-called experts already calling for the new-and-unimproved Pac-12 to get only ONE NCAA bid this year (?????WTF????), a win or a loss here or there becomes life-and-death.


That may be all for me until Monday, so I hope you have a good weekend, and enjoy.

[The Poet]

OK, this one just could not wait:


Iowa State 72 - Kansas 64 = A huge upset in Ames, and the best win the Cyclones have had in a looooong time. Yeah, I know I said the Jayhawks had weaknessess, but who'd a thunk Iowa State could take advantage of them? Not only will this knock KU down a notch nationally, it puts the entire Big 12 Minus 2 conference race in flux. Well, not the ENTIRE league, to be honest, as no team aside from Baylor in the states of Texas or Oklahoma have a snowball's chance, but still.

[jcruse64]

I was shocked over the KU loss, as well. Did not look for that kind of an upset.

We were on the road, and I've yet to see a replay; was WV robbed by the refs??? Coach Huggins says that last block was goal tending.

Racers win!!! Very fun to see the big crowds. We'll have a good game against SEMO Thursday.

VERY shocked by the Hoyas loss! Who knew?!?!?!?!?

[mase]

Another wild weekend. The Hoyas have looked quite shaky of late. Not shooting well at all. Hope they turn it around.

[The Poet]

I was shocked over the KU loss, as well. Did not look for that kind of an upset.

We were on the road, and I've yet to see a replay; was WV robbed by the refs??? Coach Huggins says that last block was goal tending.

Racers win!!! Very fun to see the big crowds. We'll have a good game against SEMO Thursday.

VERY shocked by the Hoyas loss! Who knew?!?!?!?!?

Yeah, I did not see that Jayhawks loss coming, but this was nearly one of those weekends all the way 'round.

As for 'Cuse/WVA, I did not see it either, but according to most reports it was a goaltend. Hey, $#!+ happens, and besides that the Mountaineers have nobody to blame but themselves. After the Orange took the lead, WVA had 4 shots in the last 88 seconds to tie or win, including the last one after SU turned the ball over with 6 seconds left. You may not be happy with the ref, but you can't put the fault on him when your own players fail to respond.

Racers? Who dey? :D

As for Georgetown . . .

Another wild weekend. The Hoyas have looked quite shaky of late. Not shooting well at all. Hope they turn it around.

Like he said. Besides . . .


Pittsburgh 72 - Georgetown 60 = I believe I said something about the Panthers not being nearly as bad as their record, and that they HAD to eventually play a good game or three somewhere along the line. Told ya so. That's why I'm not all that surprised. So look elsewhere for your shocks, like maybe . . .

Colorado State 77 - San Diego State 60 = Or maybe not. I foresaw the Aztecs maybe having problems here, though I admit I did not expect such a relative blow-out.

Samford 77 - Davidson 74 = Yeah, nobody cares much about the Southern Conference, but this one's a real stunner. While the Wildcats were rolling through the southern division, Samford now "improves" to 7-13 and 4-5 in the putrid northern division, which is led at 6-4 by perennial basketball powerhouse UNC . . . Greensboro. Hey, isn't that a girl's school? :r

Rutgers 61 - Cincinnati 54 = To be honest, I can't figure either of these two out. The Scarlet Knights beat people they're supposed to lose to, then lose to ones they ought to beat. Meanwhile, the Bearcats pulled themselves off the mats after getting beaten (in more ways than one) at that brawl with Xavier, and proceeded to win 7 in a row. Since that run, however, they've lost 4 of 7, but 2 of those wins were AT Goorgetown and AT U. Conn. If you know what's going on, please tell me.

Oklahoma 63 - Kansas State 60 = Considering this was in Manhattan, it is surely as big an upset as that KU loss, and adds up to a lost weekend for the state of Kansas. As a further example . . .

Drake 93 - Wichita State 86 (3OT) = Not merely an upset, but a heartbreaker to boot.

Virginia 61 - N. C. State 60 = A good, if low-scoring, contest by two ACC teams fighting to remain in contention . . . for 4th place in the league, at least, and for an at-large. I'm not sure how good a win it is, but it is definitely a loss that stings for Jerry's 'Pack.

Minnesota 77 - Illinois 72 (OT) = Much like the one above, a key conference win for the Gophers, and a painful loss for the Illini.

Murray State 73 - Bradley 59 = No shock here, and only mentioned to keep Joe happy. ;)

UNLV 65 - Air Force 63 (OT) = Another of those almost-stunners we had this weekend. Yeah, the Falcons aren't total crap, and they were at home, but still.


On Sunday we saw:


Notre Dame 50 - U. Conn 48 = If you want to be shocked that the Irish beat the Huskies in Hartford, OK. If you want to be shocked that the Huskies did not break 50 points, OK too. But if you're shocked they lost, I urge you to go back to Page 1, Post 1 of this thread, where I flat-out told you not to expect much from the defending national champions this year.

Ohio State 64 - Michigan 49 = Like the Wolverines so far this year, the Buckeyes were unable to score more than 65 points in this contest. And like those Huskies above, the Logans could not manage to break 50. I guess it's a good win for OSU, but even for a Big Ten+ game it was pretty ugly.

South Florida 81 - Providence 78 = This game meant much less than the ones above, but not only was it better played, it was also about what I predicted. Send your checks to my snaily. :banger

North Carolina 93 - Georgia Tech 81 = Did I not know that this game was not NEARLY as close as the final score, and that Roy took the foot off the pedal and played everybody but the mascot before it was done, I'd be a bit disappointed by the relatively narrow margin of victory. Fact is, the Jackets were done before they got their jackets off, and the Heels were hitting threes like it was practice.

Indiana 103 - Iowa 89 = A badly-needed win for the stumbling Hoosiers, but one thing bothers me. Yeah, I don't much like those 50-48 finals, yet I can remember when they actually played some defense in Bloomington. NBA-type scores in a Big Ten game is odd.


There are only a few games tonight, but some have significance:


Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia = The Panthers are coming off a rare conference win, and hope they are finally finding themselves. The Mountaineers are coming off a heartbreaking loss, where they feel they were robbed. This one ought to be a blast.

Princeton vs. Penn = If the Tigers want to get to the NCAAs, they need to keep pace with Harvard, Penn, Yale, and Cornell. Also, every team in the Ivy has played 4 league games already save these two, who've only had a pair apiece. The Quakers are 2-0, and Princeton 1-1. Remember, whoever wins the Ivy regular season dances, and everybody else preps for finals.

Mercer vs. Florida Gulf Coast = WTF? Why would I mention this one? Well, the Mercer Bears are tied at 8-2 with Belmont atop the Atlantic Sun, while the Eagles aren't totally dead yet at 6-4. And when you couple this game with . . .

Belmont vs. North Florida = . . . this one, with those Music City Bruins hosting the 5-5 Ospreys, you can see why this one's big, at least for those involved.

Austin-Peay vs. Tennessee State = As would this one be big also for the Governors and Tigers, who are tied at 6-4 in the OVC . . . were it not for Joe's Racers, who've spoiled all the fun with their 9-0 mark.

Missouri vs. Texas = Yes, the Longhorns have started to play a little better, even getting close to knocking off Baylor. Yes, the game is in Austin, where they've only lost twice this year. Yes, including that Baylor game Saturday they have 5 losses of 5 points or less. And yes, the Missouri Tigers are one of those teams I've said is NOT as good as their record. But does any of this mean the 'Horns can hook 'em tonight? Actually, yes. I wouldn't bet on it, but that may be due to the fact I cannot abide Rick Barnes.


So that's it for today, folks. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

So far, Pitt is giving the Mountaineers a good game, and have it at the half. Could be a good 2 here.

Yeah, you DID call on Uconn, and I don't see anyone coming in to fill Walker's shoes this time to push them through the end. Digger's giving them down the road on The World-Wide Leader as I type.

I hear ya on the Bearcats. I bet Cronin is frustrated; just don't know for sure what team is going out on the floor, from game to game.

I just saw that Murray has drawn #18 St. Mary's for the Bracket Buster game. This will hopefully be a great test for the Racers, and one that they pass with racing colors going into the end of the season and preparing for tourney time.

[The Poet]

So far, Pitt is giving the Mountaineers a good game, and have it at the half. Could be a good 2 here.

Yeah, you DID call on Uconn, and I don't see anyone coming in to fill Walker's shoes this time to push them through the end. Digger's giving them down the road on The World-Wide Leader as I type.

I hear ya on the Bearcats. I bet Cronin is frustrated; just don't know for sure what team is going out on the floor, from game to game.

I just saw that Murray has drawn #18 St. Mary's for the Bracket Buster game. This will hopefully be a great test for the Racers, and one that they pass with racing colors going into the end of the season and preparing for tourney time.


It is too early to feel the Panthers and the Mountaineers are heading in opposite directions, but it is true Pitt's winning streak is preferable to WVA's losing one. :D

Don't give me too much credit on calling the Huskies. With all due respect for U. Conn's 2010 championship, and the amazing post-season Kemba Walker produced for them, that trophy was as huge an upset as was NCSU's 1983 run by Valvano's Cardiac Kids. The odds of that happening again, even WITH Walker, were astronomical. Without, it's cosmological.

Cronin may take some comfort in the fact that his is not the only team that's been all over the place this year. ;)

It's news to me that your Racers drew the Gaels. Not only should that be a tremendous game, it looks to be the major stumbling block remaining for that undefeated regular season MSU is persuing. I shall look forward to the contest, but maybe you shouldn't. :r


Last night's most important scores:


Pittsburgh 72 - West Virgina 66 = As referenced above, it's another good win for a Pitt team that's had too few, and another hertbreaker for the Mountaineers . . . this one at home.

Penn 82 - Princeton 67 = It's no surprise the Quakers won in the venerable Palestra, but the size of that margin is a bit of one. As I've noted several times already, these regular-season conference games in the Ivy are key.

Missouri 67 - Texas 66 = Did you think I was nutz when I gave the 'Horns a shot at hooking these Tigers? Well, I am nutz, admittedly, but still UT came within that shot of doing precisely that.


There are not a lot of games this evening, yet a fair number involve big names:


Clemson vs. Virginia = The Tigers visit Charlottesville, where the Cavs have already been upset by the VT Hokies. As Clemson's about on the same level, they too could pull one off. Yet I feel UVA is not only superior but has also learned a valued lesson, and shall defend their home court.

Michigan State vs. Illinois = The Illini started off better than projected, but have struggled lately, losing 6 of their last 11 and 3 in a row. Me, I think that will extend to 4 in Champaign tonight, as Izzo tries to get his Spartans into a tie with the Buckeyes atop the big Ten+.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky = Do I think the Volunteers can beat the Wildcats in Rupp? I've already confessed to being nutz, but I'm not that crazy.

Wisconsin vs. Penn State = And even though the Nittany Lions upset a few people in State College both this year and last (and even though the distractions of the Paterno/Sandusky stories are presumably lessened), I can't reasonably expect them to take the Badgers.

Seton Hall vs. Marquette = And even though the Pirates have had a few good wins, and the Golden Eagles a few bad losses, I can't call for an upset here either.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State = So if you're looking for that possible upset, look here. The Wildcats dropped one to a "meh" Sooner squad in Manhattan, and one day after the Cyclones stormed the court in Ames following an upset of the Jayhawks. Can they make it 2 in a row there? Yes. Will they? Ehhh, maybe. It's worth keeping an eye on anyway.

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas = As is this one in Fayetteville. The Commodores have been inconsistent, both at home an on the road, and the 'Hogs have found an acorn here and there this year. This could be a good one.

North Carolina vs. Wake Forest = And this one could be an ugly one. I don't care if it's Winston-Salem or not, the Demon Deacons do not have the personnel to compete with the Tar Heels. They have lost 6 or their last 8 games, and will in all likelyhood fall to .500 for the season this evening. Again, weird things happen, but if so it will not be a case of the Deacs beating the Heels, but rather the Heels beating themselves.


So that's it for tonight. See you later, and enjoy.

[The Poet]

It was a night of ugly, ugly basketball to end the month of January:


Illinois 42 - Michigan State 41 = Perhaps I let my respect for Tom Izzo, or my desire for the Spartans to tie the Buckeyes atop the league, cloud my judgement on this one. I did not expect this loss, even on the road, and I certainly did not expect the football score. My only excuse is that I did say previously that I felt both the Spartans and the IU Hoosiers had climbed about as high as they could reasonabley go, so slippage should be no surprise.

Virginia 65 - Clemson 61 = Despite the unexpected success of the Cavaliers so far, I find it a bit surprising they had so much trouble with a "meh" Clemson squad in Charlottesville.

Wisconsin 52 - Penn State 46 = And though this low-scoring affair is a little more forgivable, considering the Badgers are renowned for their glacial style, such a close one facing the Lions is somewhat disturbing.

North Carolina 68 - Wake Forest 53 = Though never in any real danger, due to their dominance of the boards with subsequent stick-backs, and a ability for scoring off TOs while not allowing the Deacs to do the same, the Heels had a horrible shooting night. Still, anytime Wake made a run, UNC answered with a bigger one, and avoided an upset with relative ease.

Iowa State 72 - Kansas State 70 = The giant-killing Cyclones strike again, and send the 'Cats back to Manhattan with their fuzzy tails tucked. Or if not, rest assured Frank Martin's tucked them good today already.

Arkansas 82 - Vanderbilt 74 = Like a number or touted teams this season, the Commodores continue to shock me with their inability to find any rhythm with their game.


Tonight's key games include:


Indiana vs. Michigan = Both of these have had better seasons than was initially thought, especially the Hoosiers. Both are in line to earn at-large bids in March, yet both would be well-served to win some more games to help insure that fate. It behooves both to win this game, yet as that's not possible I do expect a war.

Davidson vs. Furman = The Queen City 'Cats seem well in control of their division of the Southern Conference, but need to recoup from that stunning loss to crappy Samford. If that did not get their attention, then give Furman a chance here.

Geroge Mason vs. Delaware = GM is not so much in control of the CAC, though they do lead with a 10-1 league record. But there are 3 others at 9-2, so every conference game becomes huge. Also, one of those teams at 9-2 is . . .

VCU vs. William & Mary = As little chance I give Delaware to take George Mason in that one, I give W&M even less against VCU. There may be no change atop the CAC tonight, but the pressure shall remain.

U. Conn vs. Georgetown = Aside from the conference importance, we have here two teams that have seemingly hit the wall. They both need to earn a few more wins, and neither can take many more losses. This one in DC is also huge.

Gerogia Tech vs. Florida State = This one, not so much. The Wreck would need the 'Noles to wreck in order to have any reasonable chance here, and I can't see that happening. As for FSU, they have the easiest road left in the ACC regular season, with their biggest tests being home-and-home with UVA and a hosting of Duke (they do NOT face UNC in Chapel Hill this year). The Semiholes may stumble somewhere along the way, like they did early in the season, but it won't be tonight.

N. C. State vs. Boston College = Jerry's Wolfpack is well on its way to earning their own at-large bid, but need 3 or 4 more wins to get a firmer grasp on that brass ring. They have an excellent shot at grabbing one against the Eagles in Chestnut Hill this evening. Two more Ws may come against Wake and the Wreck following this contest, but as it gets tougher afterwards (@ Dook, FSU, UNC all in a row) they'd best get some while they can.

Memphis vs. Southern Mississippi = The Tigers and the Golden Eagles are tied atop the CUSA at 6-1, with Tulsa 1/2-game back at 6-2. 'Nuff said?

Oklahoma vs. Kansas = The Sooners are coming off a good upset over K-State in Manhattan, while the Jayhawks had an equalling bad loss to Iowa State in Ames. This is in Lawrence, so you'd have to give KU an edge. Allen Fieldhouse is a baitch for visitors. Still, if OU can beat the 'Cats on the road, you at least need to keep an eye out here to see what develops.

Baylor vs. Texas A&M = Though I never did much believe in the Aggies, still I thought that (like Pitt) they might actually show up some night and play a good game. As I don't believe all that much in the Bears either, tonight would be as good a night as any. It is in College Station, which may be worth a bucket or three for the Aggies. Will that be enough? Ehhh, mebbe.

Colorado State vs. UNLV = The Rams just beat the SDSU Aztecs, but that was at altitude. Can they hobble the Runnin' Rebels in the desert? Again, mebbe, but I'd check the odds in Vegas before I placed any bets on it.


That's my picks for this first day of February. Until later then, enjoy.

[SD Beerman]

SDSU is definetly getting worn out playing 7 players. Fisher needs to loosen up the bench and get these guys some minutes so they can get the starters some rest.

[The Poet]

SDSU is definetly getting worn out playing 7 players. Fisher needs to loosen up the bench and get these guys some minutes so they can get the starters some rest.


You'd know better than me, Larry, but I'd agree in principle that if he has any bench at all Steve needs to get them some court time. Not only is there the issue of fatigue, there's the potential of injuries, foul trouble, and just the advisibility of having a bit of experience off the pine to help scramble or give fouls late in close games.

Update will hopefully follow, if I get a chance. Time is tight tonight.

[The Poet]

Update just ain't gonna happen today. Customers keep coming in handing me money, damn them. Luckily, although there were a number of good games last night there were very few unexpected results, and although there are several important games tonight, only the Murray State/SE Missouri State and the Gonzaga/BYU games look to be potential "upsets".

I'll try to catch up tomorrow. Thanks for your understanding . . . if it is forthcoming. :r

[The Poet]

Again today my time is too tight to post an update. Luckily, again last night there were no shockers, and again tonight there are no huge games . . . with the possible exception of Harvard's hosting of Cornell and Penn's trip to Yale, which means a lot in the Ivy. Translation: It means little outside the Ivy.

I hope I can do some work here tomorrow, if I don't have to do too much work here tomorrow. :D

[The Poet]

First, before I try to catch up some, lemme get the early Saturday games up:


Georgetown vs. South Florida = At this point the Hoyas are gelding the Bulls pretty badly. As there's less than 10 minutes left, that's not likely to change.

Syracuse vs. St. John's = The Johnnies hung tough for a while in MSG, but the Orange has grabbed control. There's plenty of time left for anything to happen, yet it's not looking good for the locals.

Seton Hall vs. U. Conn = The Huskies are trying to break their losing streak with George Blaney on the bench, as Jim Calhoun has left the team for medical reasons. Has he coached his last game? Maybe. The Pirates are still in this one in Hartford, but again there's lots of time.

Vanderbilt vs. Florida = If any SEC teams are going to challenge UK, it could be one of these two. Both have had good wins, and bad losses. The Gators have been a bit more consistent, and the game's in Gainesville. Still, the Comms could surprise us and actually have another good game in them.

Virginia vs. Florida State = And if any ACC team is going to knock a hole in the 'Noles' ambitions, the Cavs have as good a shot as anyone. Remember, FSU has the easier remaining schedule of the top league teams, so their tests are fewer and less taxing. This one could be vital in the ACC race.

Wake Forest vs. N. C. State = The Wolfpack need to make hay towards their at-large hopes, and here's one of their best shots before things get hairy for these canines. If they lose this one in Raleigh, I don't wanna hear no whining from Jerry.

Xavier vs. Memphis = I think both of these are relatively safe in their quests for NCAA bids, but they need to finish well, even if not strong. A win here helps greatly, so I'd expect a battle.

Marquette vs. Notre Dame = The Golden Eagles are quietly having a great season. Good for them. The Irish are tough in South Bend, and can give anybody game on any given day. Don't bet on an upset, but don't bet on a blow-out either.

Baylor vs. Oklahoma State = The Bears spanked the Cowboys at home, and they might spank them in Stillwater also. Yet Oak State did upset the OTHER Big 12 Minus 2 pretenders to the throne, those Mizzou Tigers, so anything is possible. This one's worth keeping an eye on.


I'll try to look back at missed action a bit later, as well as give you updates and other upcoming action. 'Til then then.

[The Poet]

Georgetown has crushed South Florida 75-45, Syracuse is doing much the same against St. John's, and U Conn is taking control over Seton Hall. Other early action is just that . . . early. So lemme backtrack a bit. I can't possibly cover all important games so far this month, but I'll give a lick and a promise to those that struck me most. On Wednesday 2/1:


Delaware 65 - George Mason 60 = Looking for an upset? You may not need look any further than this one, unless you want to look at . . .

Rhode Island 81 - U Mass 78 (OT) = The Rams sneak up on the Minutemen and butt them into a ditch, and thus improve to 5-18 overall in what should have been a gimme to UM in the A-10.

Miami 90 - Maryland 86 (2OT) = Neither team seems to be going much of anywhere, but you gots to gives 'em props for a good show.

Southern Miss 75 - Memphis 72 = But this was a meaningful game in the CUSA, which once again this year is jammin' at the top.

Baylor 63 - Texas A&M 60 = The Bears escape with another tight victory, and the Aggies continue to disappoint their expectations and their fans.

San Diego State 58 - Boise State 56 = I reckon Larry's right about the Aztecs getting worn out. Still, a win's a win, so take it, say thank you, and move on.



Thursday 2/2, Groundhog's Day:


Elon 99 - Charleston 98 (2OT) = We may see neither of these teams come March, but we certainly saw some of them that evening.

Murray State 81 - SE Missouri State 73 = As I understand it, the game was closer than the final. I'm not surprised Joe's Racers got a game here, but am curious to see if they are in danger of hitting the wall.

Arizona 78 - California 74 = A very good win for the Desert 'Cats in Berkeley, which moved both teams into 2/3rds of the 3-way tie for 2nd in the Pac-12. This race gets more interesting day-to-day.

BYU 83 - Gonzaga 73 = I'm sorta locked in a dilemma here. I've more respect for the 'Zags program, but I don't like the way they pop off their mouths alla time. The Cougars pop off some too, though less obnoxiously, but I just don't much like them. As I have no real reason I can put my finger on for this, I'll be glad they beat Gonzaga, though I KNOW it STILL won't shut them up.


On Friday 2/3:


Yale 60 - Penn 53 = The Eli hand the Quakers their first loss in the Ivy, and help the Haa'vaad Crimson at the same time. Talk about your damned if you do/don't situations! :r


I also cannot possibly cover all the remaining games today, so here's my cherry-picks:


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin = The Badgers welcome the Buckeyes to Madison, and as they are a mere 1/2-game back in the Big Ten+ they further hope to gift them with a loss. It could just happen. This one should be fun.

Arizona vs. Stanford = As should this one, while the 'Cats try to road-sweep the Bay Area competition this week. They and the Golden Bears are 6-4 i Pac-12 play, and this one's key for both if they wish to stay in the hunt.

Texas A&M vs. Kansas State = Two teams with polar expectations and results. The Aggies were supposed to be good, and haven't been. The 'Cats were supposed to be down, and haven't been all that bad. Give K-State the edge in Manhattan, since A&M has yet to give much indication they've found their game.

North Carolina vs. Maryland = The Tar Heels have lost the last 3 times they visited College Park. It could happen again today, but only if the Heels play down to the Terps' level and beat themselves. And if UNC shows up to play, this could get ugly, fast.

UNLV vs. Wyoming = But this one in Laramie could be a huge struggle for the Runnin' Rebels. I won't call for the "upset", but I expect a good one here.

Creighton vs. Northern Iowa = And again here, in Cedar Falls.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina = And here, I don't know why the 'Cocks are even going to show up, even for a home game. Hell, they haven't shown up all season, so what makes them think they can today?

Indiana vs. Purdue = So watch this one instead. The Hoosiers are hoping to stop the bleeding, and the Boilermakers are desperately trying to turn themselves around. This should be a blast.

Murray State vs. Tenn-Martin = And this should be forfeited. Do you really think the Skyhawks can give Joe's Racers their first L of the year, and thus improve on their 3-21 record? OK, yeah, it can happen. And look out for those monkeys flying out of butts too.

Marshall vs. Tulsa = So again, watch this one, as it is a key CUSA contest to keep both in the conference race.

Kansas vs. Missouri = This one in Columbia, along with that OSU/Wisc. one, are the marquee games today. KU leads the Big12nomore at 8-1, with the Tigers 'way behind at 7-2. Yet nationally Mizzou's ranked slightly above the Jayhawks. They may need ambulances before this one's done.

Oregon vs. Colorado = They likely won't need those emergency vehicles for these two laid-back squads, but the game itself holds huge Pac-12 import. The Ducks visit Boulder sporting the same 7-3 record as the Buffs. This one ought to be fun too.


I'll take a break now before I return with early finals and some Sunday games. UNtil later then, enjoy.

[The Poet]

Some more early finals for you, including more Big East blowouts:


Syracuse 95 - St. John's 70 = This was over midway through the first.

U Conn 69 - Seton Hall 46 = Had the Pirates scored more than 17 in the first half, they may have made sort-of a game of this.

Florida 73 - Vanderbilt 65 = An important win for the Gators, though the way Vandy's played at times I'm not sure how "good" it is.

Florida State 58 - Virginia 55 = And an even more important W for the 'Holes, though the Cavs did make a great effort of it.

N. C. Statte 87 - Wake Forest 76 = The Deacs managed to give the 'Pack a scare midway through the 2nd, but NCSU pulled away for an important win for their hopes. It's a little surprising Wake scored as much as they did, consdering how paltry they've been in that department. Did the 'Pack D suck, or did the Deacs finally find the range?

Memphis 72 - Xavier 68 = The Tigers get a nice victory, and the Musketeers get some more bad karma from that now-infamous brawl.

Notre Dame 76 - Marquette 59 = On a persona level, I love this. No, I'm not an Irish fan, nor do I hate Marquette. But this week one of the basketball "experts" on Yahoo gave his predicted Field of 68 for the NCAAs based upon performance so far, and made Marquette a 2-seed and No. 7 overall, with UNC also a 2 at No. 8. Hey, I have no problem if he wants to put my Heels on the 2-line, and in the 8th spot, as I know they've shown some holes. I also grant the Golden Eagles have had a very good season up to this point. But that perception of his . . . well, I flat-out called him nuts, or high. Maybe this spanking will let him realize I'm not just some brain-dead homer. :r


There are not a lot of games tomorrow, but there are a few:


West Virginia vs. Providence = The Mountaineers have been better than the Friars, but both have had ups and downs. I would expect WVA to take it on the road, yet anything can happen.

Minnesota vs Nebraska = The Gophers also are on the road, but I don't think they'll be roadkill in Lincoln. They are better than the 'Huskers, who are not yet competitive in the Big Ten+.

Michigan vs. Michigan State = There's not a lot more that needs to be said here. I ALWAYS pull for the Spartans over the Wolverines, mainly because I've more respect for the program and the coach. However, either can win this rivalry game, in any given year. So watch this one.

Villanova vs. Pittsburgh = Or if you're interested to see if either of these Big East teams can make a late run, and get a legitimate shot at an at-large, watch this one. Considering how they've played, I'd say flip a coin here too.

Miami vs. Duke = And flip a coin in Durham also, but only to decide if you're gonna flip back and forth between this and the Stupidbowl pregame marathon. Otherwise, don't bother. Dook may not be a Final Four team, but the 'Canes are fighting to remain above .500 in the ACC, and should get blown right out of Cameron.

Northwestern vs. Illinois = The Illini got that big win over Michigan State, and have been as tough in Champaign as have those aforementioned Blue Devils in Durham, holding at present a 12-1 home mark. Yeah, you can get better than that, but not much. The Smarty 'Cats may give them a contest, yet it's become hard to bet against Illinois on their court.


I may be back today, or may not. Either way, continue to enjoy.

[The Poet]

Two more early finals I'll get out of the way now:


Baylor 64 - Oklahoma State 60 = The Bears get another close win, with this one over the Cowboys being the eighth by a margin of 5 or fewer points. As that's about 40% of ALL their wins, you'd have to say they're pretty damn lucky.

Ohio State 58 - Wisconsin 52 = About the type of close fight you'd expect. A good win for the Buckeyes, and a tough loss for the Badgers.

[jcruse64]

Tough loss on the Cowboys. I thought they were going to pull it out.

The Gators got a nice win, and I still agree with you on Vandy; you never know what will walk on the floor to play ay given day.

MSU is ahead of UT-Martin, but it does not appear, from the ESPN scorebox, that they are putting the knife in yet. They oughta be up 15. Went to the SEMO game, and was shocked at the lack of effort on defense in H!. Almost like they were spotting points, to make it more exciting in H2. I love my Racers, but definitely not top 10, and capable of a couple of losses, if they start letting up on OVC teams, or anyone else. A killer instinct is required at this point in the season.

As for the Gamecocks, I believe those WERE actual birds dressed out to play UK tonight, given the score throughout the game. Davis makes the SEC rookie blocks record today, dethroning Shaq. I really enjoy watching that kid play.

The Irish looked awfully good in their game today.

[The Poet]

Tough loss on the Cowboys. I thought they were going to pull it out.

The Gators got a nice win, and I still agree with you on Vandy; you never know what will walk on the floor to play ay given day.

MSU is ahead of UT-Martin, but it does not appear, from the ESPN scorebox, that they are putting the knife in yet. They oughta be up 15. Went to the SEMO game, and was shocked at the lack of effort on defense in H!. Almost like they were spotting points, to make it more exciting in H2. I love my Racers, but definitely not top 10, and capable of a couple of losses, if they start letting up on OVC teams, or anyone else. A killer instinct is required at this point in the season.

As for the Gamecocks, I believe those WERE actual birds dressed out to play UK tonight, given the score throughout the game. Davis makes the SEC rookie blocks record today, dethroning Shaq. I really enjoy watching that kid play.

The Irish looked awfully good in their game today.


You're right in all regards there, Joe, at least as I see it. As for your Racers, that was NOT the kind of win I expected over UT-M. Are they tired, or complacent, or have they become too cocky to believe they need to come out focused every night? You've seen them all year, so you tell us.

Will do my upmost for a full update shortly.

[The Poet]

Again, I haven't time to hit all the good or important games over the balance of the weekend, so here's my cherry picks. Saturday:


Arizona 56 - Stanford 43 = The Desert 'Cats complete a road sweep in the Bay Area, and are making a late move to be relevant in the Pac-12 race . . . if the Pac-12 is relevant at all, that is.

Mississippi State 91 - Auburn 88 = OK, so the Tigers are a little better than they've been in the recent past, but for a supposed Top 25 team to have so much trouble on their own court is not a good sign for their long-term prospects.

North Carolina 83 - Maryland 74 = College Park has never been too kind to the Tar Heels. Be they good, bad, or indifferent, the Terps always get up for this contest, dating back at least to Lefty Driesell's days. This, and the fact that the Heels were down 9 in the 2nd, with Zeller and Marshall benched with 4 fouls each, yet won by 9 and thus made an 18-point turnaround for the victory makes this a good one in my eyes.

Wyoming 68 - UNLV 66 = Some of you may have thought me nuts to give Wyoming a shot at this "upset". Well, maybe I am, but not this time.

Northern Iowa 65 - Creighton 62 = Nor this one, come to think of it. Maybe those meds are starting to work for me.

Indiana 78 - Purdue 61 = The Hoosiers do stop their bleeding, and get a larger win on the road than I thought they might.

Murray State 65 - Tenn-Martin 58 = As Joe said, and as I concurred, this is NOT a good sign for his Racers. Yeah, they kept the string going and got the W, but they really should have chased the Skyhawks right out of their nest. They didn't, and I wonder why.

Alabama 69 - Mississippi 67 (2OT) = OK, we're not talking two hoops powers here, and neither may make any noise come March. And true, that's not a lot of points for double-OT. Still, it was a good show, so give 'em both some props.

Missouri 74 - Kansas 71 = And give, reluctantly or not, some props to the Tigers for defending their home court against THE traditional Big 12 Minus 2 power, and forging a 3-way tie with the Jayhawks and Baylor Bears above this disintegrating league.


On Sunday, I begin with:


Miami 78 - Duke 74 (OT) = It is odd when the Blue Devils lose in Cameron. It is odder still when they lose twice. One might forgive the one to Florida State, but to the 'Canes? In Durham? In OT? I'm sure Coach K won't forgive them, or at least won't forget how they've dropped out of a tie for the ACC lead . . . right before they travel to Chapel Hill, no less.

West Virginia 87 - Providence 84 (OT) = I said I expected the Mountaineers to take the Friars on the road, but that anything could happen when you considered how both teams have played (or not played) at times. Well, here you go.

Michigan State 64 - Michigan 54 = I watched much of this game, and still don't understand why it was so close. The Spartans seemed to be dominating in all aspects, yet the Logans held on with their adamantium claws until the end. The game was ugly at times, but fun nonetheless.

Pittsburgh 79 - Villanova 70 = Don't look now, and don't bet on it meaning much over the long haul, but the Panthers have won 4 in a row now. They have enough time, and enough potential victories left on their schedule, to actually re-enter the NCAA discussion again, but they cannot afford many more stumbles. Keep your eye on this team, just to see what happens.

Northwestern 74 - Illinois 70 = This one shocks me almost as much as the Miami/Dook one. OK, the Smarty 'Cats do not suck, and the Illini have holes. But they have been tough in Champaign, and I see little excuse for a lapse like this one.


There are not a lot of games tonight, but there are a few notable ones:


U Conn vs. Louisville = This one's in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket, but I'm not sure if that means anything much. Both teams have had their ups-and-downs, and either could win . . . due to their own efforts or the lack of same from the opponent. Me, I wouldn't bet this one with YOUR money.

Wofford vs. Davidson = These are two of the better teams in the Southern Conference, and ought to give us a good show down Charlotte way tonight.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma = The Sooners did beat the K-State 'Cats twice, and this is in Norman. Still, you've got to favor the Tigers here by at least 3 or 4 possessions, for unlike Baylor, they have only maybe 3 or 4 squeaker victories so far. :r

Marquette vs. DePaul = The Golden Eagles got spanked by the Irish, and this might be bad news for the Blue Demons. Yet DePaul did beat Pitt (back before that meant anything much, but still), and it is in the Rosemont. If this is a game at the half, it might be one at the end also.


That's all for me for now, so until tomorrow . . . enjoy.

[The Poet]

Last night's limited action yielded:


Louisville 80 - U Conn 59 = The way the Cardinals have played on occasion, and the way the Huskies have played once they finished their Homemade Cupcake run, I'm not surprised at the result, even if the margin seems a tad lopsided. Gee, I guess U Conn really is as bad as I thought.

Missouri 71 - Oklahoma 68 = And here's another clue as to why I've my doubts regarding the Mizzou Tigers. Even on the road, a one-possession win over the "meh" Sooners does not lend much credence to their lofty ranking. But on the bright side, they are making a late run at Baylor's string of squeakers. :D

Texas 70 - Texas A&M 68 = Another loss for the Aggies, and in College Station too. This team began with a pre-season ranking of # 20, and I even thought that was reasonable. But they lost their coach, Joe's boy from the Racers Billy Kennedy, to illness before they even started, and are now 12-11 and 3-8. Meanwhile, the 'Horns have started playing better, and still hope to make a late push for a bid in March. Had they the luck of Baylor, they'd already be in . . . UT has LOST 6 games by 5 points or fewer.

Marquette 89 - DePaul 76 = This keeps the Golden Eagles in the hunt for the Big East lead, and they have a fairly easy road through the balance of the regular season. If the Orange, the Hoyas, and the Irish stumble, they could actually steal it.


Tonight also has limited action, but a few important games. OK, ones like Maryland/Clemson, Providence/Villanova, and Alabama/Auburn may be competitive ones amongst BCS-level schools, but they may mean little, compared to:


Florida vs. Kentucky = It's in Rupp, and the Gators have been iffy from time to time. Still, they have to be given a shot at getting the upset here, and as they are about the only competition the 'Cats seem to have in the SEC they should be focused for this test.

Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State = Maybe you haven't noticed, but the Cyclones have huffed-and-puffed their way to a 17-6 and 7-3 record, which is good enough for 4th in the Big 12 Less 2 Conference. A few more wins and they'll earn an at large, and this one in Stillwater is a good chance for one.

Creighton vs. Evansville = Can the Bluejays bounce back from the loss to Northern Iowa that broke their loooong winning streak? Likely, as the Aces . . . well, aren't.

Purdue vs. Ohio State = And can the Boilermakers stun the Buckeyes in Columbus? Ehhh, yeah, I guess they maybe could. Yet as that would really be a stunner, I would not hold my breath.


That's it for now. See you later. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

With less than 5 minutes left, the Gators look MUCH worse than iffy, down 20 points. Good H1, but the Cats really kicked it up in H2.

Don't look now, but the Murray State Racers are ranked higher than the dook Blue Devils!!! Be on the alert; pigs MAY begin flying at any moment :r:D:banger. Wow! 2 home losses. The Tobacco Road Duel is going to be interesting.

Nice win for the Cards, and Uconn looks horrible.

Marquette is kinda looking good, and here's Pitt trying to kick-start the season. I kinds like the Irish though. I think they will be dangerous, come Dance time.

I think the Racers are playing to the level of their competition, a dangerous game to play. St. Marys is going to be a harsh test, especially in the paint. The guard play will have to be superb to have a shot here.

I look at the top 25, and think, "they're in there???". Interesting season.

[SD Beerman]

The Mountain West is tough this year. And playing in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming are tough road games....

[The Poet]

With less than 5 minutes left, the Gators look MUCH worse than iffy, down 20 points. Good H1, but the Cats really kicked it up in H2.

Don't look now, but the Murray State Racers are ranked higher than the dook Blue Devils!!! Be on the alert; pigs MAY begin flying at any moment :r:D:banger. Wow! 2 home losses. The Tobacco Road Duel is going to be interesting.

Nice win for the Cards, and Uconn looks horrible.

Marquette is kinda looking good, and here's Pitt trying to kick-start the season. I kinds like the Irish though. I think they will be dangerous, come Dance time.

I think the Racers are playing to the level of their competition, a dangerous game to play. St. Marys is going to be a harsh test, especially in the paint. The guard play will have to be superb to have a shot here.

I look at the top 25, and think, "they're in there???". Interesting season.


Again, no argument from me. As for that Racers/Gaels Bracket Buster that WILL be your boys first loss if they continue to play down to their competition. St. Mary's has been here before, and will not be complacent. I'm not sure I can say the same for Murray State in either regard. Should be fun, admittedly.


The Mountain West is tough this year. And playing in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming are tough road games....

Your Aztecs may have benefitted some last year by catching opponents by surprise also. They were not expected to be that good. Once you gain a reputation, you paint a target on your back.

Update shortly, I hope.

[The Poet]

In one way or another, each of these scores from last night are surprising, beginning with:


Kentucky 78 - Florida 58 = It's no shock at all the 'Cats won in Rupp, but for the Gators to be so ineffective does surprise me somewhat. I figured they could at least make a competitive game of it, and not a practice scrimmage.

Oklahoma State 69 - Iowa State 67 = The Cowboys derail the Cyclones in their push for respect, and I'm shocked they did not take advantage of this opportunity in Stillwater against lesser opposition. Still, it was not the biggest upset of the evening, which was instead . . .

Evansville 65 - Creighton 57 = What? The Aces top the Bluejays, and improve to .500 twice with their 12-12 and 7-7 marks? What? I can make no sense of this at all, and Creighton has as little excuse as Dook did against Miami Sunday. Pitiful, just pitiful.

Ohio State 87 - Purdue 84 = Yeah, OK, I guess I did say the Boilermakers could maybe sorta have a chance in Columbus against the Buckeyes. Still, for them to come this close to a HUGE upset . . . well, moral victories don't count in the standings, but it does count in my book.


Tonight's action has a few games of marginal interest, beginning with:


Penn State vs. Michigan State = Last year the Nittany Lions gained at least a little late respect by winning some games they were not supposed to. Those wins have been fewer this season, and I would not expect them to take this one in East Lansing from a superior (albeit flawed) Spartan squad.

Florida State vs. Boston College = And even though this one's in Chestnut Hill, I wouldn't give the Eagles a snowball's chance against the red-hot 'Noles.

Kansas vs. Baylor = Therefore, skip those two games and watch this match-up in Waco instead. The Jayhawks lost a heartbreaker to Mizzou to put them into a 3-way tie for the league lead with those Tigers and these Bears. This one is not only huge in the regional sense, but on the national level as well.

Pittsburgh vs. South Florida = And this one . . . not so much. But if you're like me, you want to see if the Panthers can continue their late push against the Bulls tonight. This ought to be a tight and competitive fight to the finish.

Georgetown vs. Syracuse = As should this one, which pits two of the best of The Beast against each other in the Dome. No doubt the line goes to the Orange at home, but I'd say you may as well flip a coin. The Hoyas seem to be the only team trying to challenge 'Cuse in the conference race, and should be ready to play. As they are young, and subject to excitement, that could be a bad thing. So keep an eye on this one, for if it's close at the half it will be close at the end.

Wake Forest vs. Virginia = And this should be over by the half. Still, remember the Cavs did lose to the Hokies at home, and VT's not all that much better than the Deacs.

Michigan vs. Nebraska = The Wolverines are better than the Cornhuskers, but as I've said often this season they do have trouble scoring the ball. You can win games in the 60s, true . . . if you hold the other guy in the 50s, however. I can't see that being a big problem, but you never know.

Notre Dame vs. West Virginia = The Mountaineers got hot for a while, then cooled off somewhat. They are still pretty good. By contrast, the Irish has made more noise recently, with wins over Syracuse, U Conn, and Marquette. Hey, if they can take those guys, they can take WVA, even in Morgantown. But you gotta do it first. Both teams want this badly, and it should be fun, though maybe not as much fun as our nightcap . . .

Duke vs. North Carolina = Do I really need to say any more than that? OK, if you insist. The Heels need a win to stay tied atop the ACC with FSU, since they cannot reasonably expect any help from BC tonight. The Blue Devils REALLY need a win tonight, for following their loss to the 'Canes they are in eminent danger of falling out of that race entirely with a third conference loss . . . which would not only tie them with 3 others in the L-column, but with games still remaining at FSU and hosting UNC would make wins there absolute necessities, barring outside help from someone. True, Carolina has the harder row to hoe from here out, for after this game they host UVA, visit Miami, host Clemson (ehh), then visit NCSU and UVA before hosting the Terps and ending at Dook. Hey, would you want that schedule? I make no prediction here. Let's just toss it up and let them settle it in the Dean Dome tonight.


That's gonna be it for now. I hope you enjoy this evening's fare. Me, I won't know about that until about 11 PM. :r

[mase]

Man, a tough one to lose for the Hoyas. Overtime and played Cuse tight. Really wanted that one.

[BryanB]

We finally have our superstar. Austin Rivers for president.


I know Carolina is a better team but dammit that was awesome.

[The Poet]

Man, a tough one to lose for the Hoyas. Overtime and played Cuse tight. Really wanted that one.

Hey, I don't wanna hear it, considering . . .

We finally have our superstar. Austin Rivers for president.


I know Carolina is a better team but dammit that was awesome.


Indeed, just one more verse in the epic poem of Duke/Carolina.


More to follow.

[BigAsh]

Hey, I don't wanna hear it, considering . . .




Indeed, just one more verse in the epic poem of Duke/Carolina.


More to follow.

Duke/Carolina!!...what a game...woke my wife up, 2 floors up, when Rivers hit that trey!!:tu

[The Poet]

Duke/Carolina!!...what a game...woke my wife up, 2 floors up, when Rivers hit that trey!!:tu

I woke her up long before that, and jumped out the window when you whooped. :r (That's for bustin' my stones, Keith! ;) )


Though I don't feel all that talkative today, lemme do this, starting with:


Duke 85 - North Carolina 84 = The Heels had this one in their pocket, and Dook took it away from them. Hey, it's happened before, both ways. A great win for the Blue Devils to steal, and they needed it after that Miami fiasco. As for Carolina, the only thing that even partly saved the night was . . .

Boston College 64 - Florida State 60 = That result above should not have shocked anybody who knows jack about college hoops, but this is a stunner. The Seminoles could have grabbed the ACC lead for themselves, but due to this huge upset there is again a 3-way tie atop the league between the Big Dawgs, with NCSU and UVA both just a game behind. Fun fun fun! As for BC, well I guess they deserve a little fun this year too.


Syracuse 64 - Georgetown 61 (OT) = I can see why Hoya fans would be disturbed by this, but take solace in the fact that this young team has played well above expectations and acquitted themselves admirably against the Orange on their court. It only bodes well for their future. Good win for 'Cuse however.

Kansas 68 - Baylor 54 = And a good win for the Jayhawks in Waco too.

South Florida 63 - Pittsburgh 51 = Either the Panthers took a step backwards, or the Bulls got themselves another nice victory. They do that, several times each year.

Notre Dame 55 - West Virginia 51 = As do the Irish, and this one on the road counts as another.


Tonight:


Mississippi vs. Mississippi State = Could be a pretty decent in-state rivalry game in Starkville, though without the import of the one in Chapel Hill last night.

N. C. State vs. Georgia Tech = Jerry 'Pack has 17 wins so far, and at 6-3 are still in the ACC race. They may have already earned an at-large, though a few more wins would ice it. Here's a great shot at one in Atlanta tonight.

Wisconsin vs. Minnesota = And this Big Ten+ battle should be a close battle, with post-season import for both teams.

Tennessee State vs. Murray State = Joe's Racers may get a bit of a game at home tonight, but if they can regain some of the focus they've let slip lately they ought to prevail by 3 or 4 possessions.

Illinois vs. Indiana = It's hard to tell whose going to show up on any given night with either of these two. In Bloomington I'd give the Hoosiers an edge, but the Illini are capable of making it one hell of a game.

Colorado vs. Arizona = And this should be one hell of a fight in the desert for two of the better Pac-12 teams. Even in Tucson, the Buffs have a good chance of skinning the 'Cats. I'd flip a coin on this one.

Virginia Tech vs. Miami = The 'Canes got their signature win Sunday, and at 14-7 and 5-3 they even have a shot for at-large consideration. But they need to build on that upset of Dook, and cannot stumble against the Hokies here. This could get interesting.

St. Mary's vs. Gonzaga = And this will almost certainly be interesting in Spokane late tonight. The Big Boys on the Left Coast may be "meh" squads, but there are several mid-majors who can hoop with the best. Here's two of them. I'm not sure my head can follow my heart, which picks the Gaels over the Zags, so bet this one at your own peril.


That's about all I can stands for one night, and likely you feel the same. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

OK, I guess I'd best start with what's the biggest news of last night, that being:


Tennessee State 72 - Murray State 68 = And then there were none. I figured the Tigers might give Joe's Racers a game, but I also thought MSU would have learned from surviving a few scares that they needed to close out games. Apparently they haven't, and blew a late lead to drop their first one of the season. Furthermore, they STILL had a chance to pull it out late, but played the sloppiest last 10 seconds you've seen in a loooong time. It started with a stolen pass off an inbounds with the Racers down one, followed by a loose-ball foul off a fumbled dribble, with THAT followed with a fullcourt baseball pass that went to the stands. Pundits are asking if Murray State jinxed itself by printing T-shirts proclaiming them the "last of the unbeaten" . . . much like Syracuse jinxed themselves with their "20-0" shirts earlier this year. Yeah, OK. And the real reason they lost is that Joe forgot to turn his cap inside out. :D (That's also the likely reason Middle Tennessee State also won over Western Kentucky last night, thus making it a miserable night for Joe.) Regardless, congratulations to Murray State for getting this deep into the season without a loss.

N. C. State 61 - Georgia Tech 52 = Not an unexpected victory for Jerry's Wolfpack, considering how crappy the Wreck is this year, but one that may have sealed an at-large for State. As this would be their first trip to the NCAAs since they (wrongly, IMHO) fired Herb Sendek, this is big in Raleigh.

Wisconsin 68 - Minnesota 61 (OT) = A very good, hard-fought battle, which unsurprisingly either team could have won. The one odd thing about this game is that the Badgers managed to score only 19 points in the 2nd half, yet tallied 17 in OT. WTF?

Indiana 84 - Illinois 71 = Nothing unexpected here, and maybe the young Hoosiers have gotten their second wind.

Arizona 71 - Colorado 57 = Though I'm not surprised the Desert 'Cats won in Tucson, I did expect more of a challenge from the Buffs. But that's my problem, not yours or theirs. What is germaine is that this result ties these two for 2nd place in the Pac-12 at 8-4, along with . . .

Oregon 82 - Washington 57 = . . . the Ducks, who spanked the Huskies to make that a 3-way for 2nd place. And as for those Huskies, this decisive loss drops them to 9-2 and into a 2-way tie for 1st with . . .

California 75 - USC 49 = . . . da Bears. So what's with all the blowouts in the Pac-12 last night? Or maybe it was for the entire Left Coast, considering . . .

Gonzaga 73 - St. Mary's 59 = Again, I'm not so much surprised by the result as I am with the margin of victory. A good win for the 'Zags, and a pretty ugly performance by the Gaels. And speaking of the Gaels . . .


Tonight's very limited action includes:


Iona vs. Loyola (MD) = Believe it or not, the all-but unknown Greyhounds are tied with the Gaels for 1st place in the MAAC with their identical 11-2 records. I should not need say more as to the importance of this game. One less important in a conference race is . . .

Wisc. Milwaukee v.s Detroit = . . . because the Horizon race seems to involve only Valpo and Cleveland State. Yet this should be a very good game between well-matched teams. Still, if you want to concentrate on those with true league-meaning, you can choose either . . .

Harvard vs. Penn = In the Palestra, so you have to give the 4-1 Quakers a shot at knocking off the 6-0 Crimson. And if they can manage to give Haa'vaad their first Ivy loss, it could move them into a tie with their arch-enemy . . .

Yale vs. Cornell = . . . for with the Eli at 5-1, they too are part of the hotly-contested Ivy race. And keep in mind that the Ivy has NO conference tourney and NEXT TO NO chance of getting more than a single NCAA bid, so each and every league game is almost a must. This is in Ithaca, but unlike the Crimson the Big Red pretty much suck, so I'd go with the Yalies here.


That's gonna be it for me tonight. I'd planned on previewing some early games tomorrow, but with a 300+ million dollar Powerball drawing I've been bugger every couple of minutes with pennyante gamblers who actually think they got a snowball's chance. However, speaking of snowballs, it's supposed to snow a bit tonight, so maybe I'll be slow enough tomorrow to do some work here . . . meaning here on this thread, not here at work. Hey, if I wanted to work, I'd get a REAL job, right? Until later then, enjoy.

[SD Beerman]

Big game for the Aztecs in Vegas. It should be a great game either way. Mountain West is tough this year.

[jcruse64]

Well, at least they lost at home, where the crowd's not gonna shout "over-rated" -(P. Tough loss for the Racers, and they actually played the best H1 I've seen from them in a few games. Then go up by 13 early in H2, and I caught the faint whiff of the brakes, and a shift into cruise control. While there were some calls that no home team should be on the end of (horrible "contact" call with an emmy nomination by TSU's leading scorer, and the "foul" against Caanan in the last 15 secs as he drove in and the ball was knocked away and he knocked to the floor), the Racers BLEW it. Several minutes w/o a FG; not hitting freebies; lack of offense from the bench and EVERYONE else but Caanan. When TSU took the lead and at the 3:30 mark, I could see panic in their eyes AND their play ( we lucked into front row bench seats). The 1st year coach showed his inexperience with the serious lack of any plan on 2 inbounds plays with less than 30 secs left (although we almost caught the across-the-court-pass). My hat's off to TSU players and staff for coming in and being a road team giant killer. They deserved to win.

Quite simply, the Racers bought the hype, and thought the swagger would win the season out. TSU did them a BIG favor, I think/hope. Also hope we stay out of the top 20 till after the Dance. Now, let's start another win streak :banger. Tough 2 weeks coming up.

Well, Harvard has popped Penn.
Looking forward to seeing UK/Vandy tomorrow. I know Vandy's all over the place, but I will not be surprised to see a 2nd Cats loss here.

[The Poet]

Well, at least they lost at home, where the crowd's not gonna shout "over-rated" -(P. Tough loss for the Racers, and they actually played the best H1 I've seen from them in a few games. Then go up by 13 early in H2, and I caught the faint whiff of the brakes, and a shift into cruise control. While there were some calls that no home team should be on the end of (horrible "contact" call with an emmy nomination by TSU's leading scorer, and the "foul" against Caanan in the last 15 secs as he drove in and the ball was knocked away and he knocked to the floor), the Racers BLEW it. Several minutes w/o a FG; not hitting freebies; lack of offense from the bench and EVERYONE else but Caanan. When TSU took the lead and at the 3:30 mark, I could see panic in their eyes AND their play ( we lucked into front row bench seats). The 1st year coach showed his inexperience with the serious lack of any plan on 2 inbounds plays with less than 30 secs left (although we almost caught the across-the-court-pass). My hat's off to TSU players and staff for coming in and being a road team giant killer. They deserved to win.

Quite simply, the Racers bought the hype, and thought the swagger would win the season out. TSU did them a BIG favor, I think/hope. Also hope we stay out of the top 20 till after the Dance. Now, let's start another win streak :banger. Tough 2 weeks coming up.

Well, Harvard has popped Penn.
Looking forward to seeing UK/Vandy tomorrow. I know Vandy's all over the place, but I will not be surprised to see a 2nd Cats loss here.


Thanks for the play-by-play, Joe. I agree that a team can often learn more from a loss than a win, if they are capable of learning. And as the OVC may not get an at-large (whether they deserve one or not), it is important your Racers close out the season and league tourney, and forget about rankings and streaks. Play them one at a time, brother. :tu

Aside from that 'Cats/Comms game, there are a lot of big games today. I'll try to get back ASAP with some of those.

[The Poet]

I picked four games from the slim pickin's last night, and hit gold with them all:


Harvard 56 - Penn 50 = As Joe observed earlier, the Crimson took out the Quakers, though I'd opine calling it a "pop" is a bit of a stretch. :D But they did what they needed to do to take control of the Ivy for now, as the win put them 2 1/2 up over Penn, as well as . . .

Cornell 85 - Yale 84 (OT) = A full 2 over the Eli following this upset at Ithaca to the Big Red. I am truly shocked that Yale could not take this one.

Loyola (MD) 87 - Iona 81 = And I'm a bit shocked that the Greyhounds beat the Gaels, but mainly because I've paid not attention to them so far this season, so they've snuck up on me out of nowhere. This huge win for them puts these 'Dawgs atop the MAAC.

Detroit 58 - Wisc. Milwaukee 57 = Aside from being the good tight contest I expected, this may have little import. Yet it is fun, when you consider this result makes it a 4-way tie for 3rd place in the Horizon. This race may also be affected by the first game I'll note below.


Early action today includes:


Butler 52 - Cleveland State 49 = This early final affects that Horizon race, as the Bulldogs were part of that 3rd place tie before this big win over the Vikings . . . which also knocked them down out of a loss-column tie with Valpo.

Louisville vs. West Virginia = At this moment it's just past halftime in Morgantown, with the Mountaineers up 10 over the psycho Cardinals. Anything can still happen, and I expect a war before it's done. If not, Pitino will be cheesed.

DePaul vs. Notre Dame = And midway through the 2nd the Irish are up a couple buckets over the Blue Demons. Again, anything can happen, as both teams have played good and bad games this year. I'd favor ND in South Bend, but their recent push may have made them complacent.

Virginia vs. North Carolina = The Heel have NO reason to be complacent in Chapel Hill, even before they p!$$ed away that Dook game. This one seems slow in starting, but I always only ask two things from my Tar Heels . . . the lead, and the ball. With that, I'm happy. UNC need a win to stay in that tie atop the ACC, and the Cavs need it to stay in touch with that. I'll keep you posted, you can believe that.

Miami vs. Florida State = The Seminoles dropped that shocker to BC, and also need a win to stay with the Heels and Blue Devils. Meanwhile, the 'Canes have one signature win on the road over Dook, and another at FSU today may punch them a ticket come March. This one could be fun, as well as important.

U. Conn vs. Syracuse = And even though the Huskies have come 'way back down to earth, they are capable of giving the Orange a contest in the Dome. At the moment it's tied, but it's too early to attribute any meaning to that.

AR Little Rock vs. Middle Tennessee State = And why would I put these two No-Names in with the Big Boys? Well, this is a huge game in the Sun Belt Conference, so in all fairness we ought to give them some thought.

Baylor vs. Missouri = Just as we ought to give these two some thought. Yeah, I know I've been busting on both of them all year as being over-ranked, yet the importance of this game on the conference and national levels is large. I'm hoping for a good one here.


I'll be back a bit later with updates and later games. Bye for now.

[The Poet]

Another early final:


Notre Dame 84 - DePaul 76 = A pretty good game on both sides, and another nice win for the Irish.

WVA still leads Louisville with about 3 left, but only by one possession. Speaking of one possession, FSU's up that over Miami at the break, as is my Heels over the Cavs.


As is normal, I can't cover all the upcoming games. Here's my picks:


Kansas State vs. Texas = This has all the makings of a battle. K-State's been iffy of late, and UT's been a little better. Should be fun in Austin.

Saint Louis vs. LaSalle = There's a logjam near the top of the A-10, and these two are in the midst of it. It's huge for them both. Me, I'll favor the Billikens, mainly because I like typing "Billikens" instead of all the Wildcats, Tigers, and Bears I usually get. Oh my!

VCU vs. ODU = As above, the Rams are in a 3-way for 1st in the Colonial, with ODU just one back. Need I say more?

Cincinnati vs. Marquette = A key Big East battle for these two "also-rans" for the league's elite.

Tennessee vs. Florida = I've learned not to have a lot of faith in the Gators, but I have even less in the Vols. Hey, strange things happen, but I don't think it shall here.

California vs. UCLA = Remember me speaking of bears above? Well, the Golden ones need to take care of the Bruins down in La-La to stay in the Pac-12 lead.

Maryland vs. Duke = And the Blue Devils need to defend home turf against the Terps to do the same in the ACC. If they're not still too jazzed by that win in Chapel Hill, they should be able to.

Oklahoma State vs. Kansas = I can't give the Cowboys much of a shot against the Jayhawks in Lawrence, can you?

San Diego State vs. UNLV = As Larry noted above, this is a huge game for the Aztecs against the Runnin' Rebels, and one that could go either way. You can pick one if you choose, but it's a gamble. But it is in Vegas, so you're in the right place for one.

Wichita State vs. Creighton = And here's another big game, with the two best teams in the MVC facing off in Omaha for the league lead. The Shockers hold it at this moment (21-4, 12-2), but just barely over the Bluejays (21-4, 11-3). For a "small" conference, they don't get much bigger.

Washington State vs. Oregon = When one considers how the Pac-12 has been slipping towards "small" status in hoops lately, you might think this one's huge too. Well, for the Ducks it is.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State = And here's another "small" conference match-up for you. :D With the Spartans 8-3 and the Buckeyes 9-2 in Big Ten+ play, they don't get a lot bigger. I'd give MSU a chance in Columbus, but they'd better bring their A game.

Harvard vs. Princeton = The Tigers don't look like they're going to compete for the Ivy this year, but they may be able to muddy the waters some if they can upset the Crimson in Jadwin Gym. You know they'd like to play spoilers, again, so this may be some fun.

Austin Peay vs. Murray State = Will Joe's Racers rebound from their first loss of the season? Well, if they can't beat the crappy Governors, they ought to just up and quit.

Xavier vs. Temple = And here's another key game in the jammed-up A-10, with the X-Men fully capable of knocking the Owls down into the rest of the pack . . . if they have exorcised the bad karma still floating around them from that Cincy brawl.

Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt = OK, it's in Nashville, on that funky floating court suspended above the benches. OK, the Commodores have won a few big games. But do you really think they've shown enough consistency to pick them over the 'Cats? I'm not a gambling man, and certainly not a UK fan, but if you do I'll take some of that action.

Santa Clara vs. St. Mary's = The Left Coast Gaels got spanked pretty badly by Gonzaga, and may just take it out on the Broncos late tonight. As those Broncs have been whipped more than once already, and are pretty well broken, I'd expect as much.


One final while I was typing all that crap above:


Louisville 77 = West Virginia 74 = The Cardinals do just enough late to take this one, and hand the Mountaineers another heartbreaker. Not a bad game, if you like Big Mouth basketball. :r


Back a little later, guys. I gotta keep an eye on my Heels for a bit now.

[The Poet]

Only one more final so far, though a few are getting close:


North Carolina 70 - Virginia 52 = An ugly, ugly ugly win for the Heels. Neither team could shoot worth a doodly-squat from the field. But it does bounce them back from that Duke fiasco, and put the Cavs a bit out-of-reach in the ACC for now. And FYI, John Henson again dunked the ball at the end, like he did against the Terps, and so has likely p!$$ed them off as well. :r


Lunch time. I'll return shortly with some more scores and some Sunday games too.

[The Poet]

As promised, or threatened, here's some more early finals:


Florida State 64 - Miami 59 = The 'Canes made a game of it, but were unable to help out my Tar Heels by stealing this one. On the bright side, they were also unable to help Dook too.

Syracuse 85 - U Conn 67 = Though I'd hoped for a slightly better game, I'm not shocked at the outcome. The Huskies have now lost 8 of their last 11 games, lost their head coach due to health issues, and lost their appeal to the NCAA to allow them to swap regular-season games in exchange for a post-season ban imposed in 2013 for sanctions following their abysmal academic standing. Not a good time to be in Storrs, I'd imagine.

Missouri 72 - Baylor 57 = And though not as precipitous as with U Conn, the Bears have now lost 4 or their last 8 contests. Seem to me I kept saying that, once cupcake-time was over, so would be Baylor.

Georgia 70 - Mississippi State 68 (OT) = This would have been a shocker in Athens, but in Starkville, it's just nuts.


Sunday's limited action includes:


Pittsburgh vs. Seton Hall = Aside from being important when it comes to future positioning in the Big East tourney, we have two teams squarly on the bubble here. A few wins or losses here or there will spell the difference, so I'd look for a war in this one. Besides, most of us are curious to see if Pitt can actually get its act together, before it's too late.

Illinois vs. Michigan = And I'd assume both these are safely off the bubble, on the plus side. Still, it's two pretty good Big Ten teams head-to-head, and either one can win this game. As I'm wary of the Wolverines' scoring woes, I'd not expect a huge margin either direction.

St. John's vs. Georgetown = And I'd assume both of THESE are safely off the bubble too, yet on differing sides. The Red Storm seems to have blown out to sea, and the Hoyas have done much more than expected. If this one in DC's still a contest with 10 minutes left, I'd be surprised.

Washington vs. Oregon State = Yeah, seems like nobody much cares about the Pac-12 anymore, but that does not mean this one ain't huge, particularly for the Huskies on the road.

Northwestern vs. Purdue = And now we're back on that damned bubble again. I could see one, or both, or neither of these two getting an at-large, so every game down the stretch could be the deciding factor. You figure they have a better chance grabbing Ws against the also-rans as opposed to the kingpins, so you can also figure they will be focused for this one.


I may be back today, I may not see you until Monday. In either case, enjoy.

[mase]

St. John's vs. Georgetown = And I'd assume both of THESE are safely off the bubble too, yet on differing sides. The Red Storm seems to have blown out to sea, and the Hoyas have done much more than expected. If this one in DC's still a contest with 10 minutes left, I'd be surprised.



This one was a lot closer than anticipated. The final score is not indicative of how close this game was.

[The Poet]

This one was a lot closer than anticipated. The final score is not indicative of how close this game was.

Did the Hoyas play down to their competition, Kevin, or did the Johnnies play up?


Regular update shortly.

[The Poet]

OK, let's try to do this now. There were a lot of good close games, and too many to cover, so I'll again just hit the ones I feel most notable:


Texas 75 - Kansas State 64 = For a while these two teams were headed in different directions. Guess what? They still are. The 'Horns have won three in a row, and the Prairie 'Cats have lost 3 of their last 5 games. With 6-6 records, they are presently tied for 5th in the Big12Minus2 Conference. Both may get to Dance, but neither may Dance for long.

Charleston 86 - Davidson 78 = Though CoC's not been bad this year, they're not as good as they've been in the past. The Wildcats have been the class of the Southern Conference, but have stumbled a few times lately. Either one of these can get hot and make a run to the NCAAs, or get cold and fall flat. Keep an eye on this.

Tennessee 75 - Florida 70 = One of several big "upsets" this weekend, and one I would not have called. Yes, the Gators have been spotty, and the Vols have had a good win or three. But for UT to beat this ranked team in Gainesville? Beats me too.

UNLV 65 - San Diego State 63 = The sort of tough game Larry and I expected, and the tough loss Larry was hoping his Aztecs could avoid.

Wichita State 89 - Creighton 68 = Another "upset", though in my eyes only by the sizable margin by the Shockers on the road. And if you've followed college hoops, you know these two have been dooking it out like Dook/Carolina for decades, so it's really not a shocker at all.

Michigan State 58 - Ohio State 48 = But this one may be one, not so much for the Spartan win but for the fact the Buckeyes could not break 50 on their own court. Yet take nothing away from MSU's great win.

Princeton 70 - Harvard 62 = And take nothing away from this Tiger one in Jadwin Gym. Princeton may not be going anywhere this year, but you know they love to spoil things for the Crimson.

Youngstown State 71 - Valparaiso 53 = Much like that MSU/OSU one above, the result's not as surprising as is the margin. Valpo's been not all that much better a team, yet a spanking like this was not expected.

Kentucky 69 - Vanderbilt 63 = Do you give the Comms any props for making a decent game of this? Me, I won't give them much, considering how many times they've already disappointed me this year. On the other hand, it's hard to give much props to the 'Cats either. Yeah, they won. Good for them. But even on the road, the "best team in the country" should have maybe done better against one that's struggled as much as Vandy.


And speaking of struggling, on Sunday we saw:


Seton Hall 73 - Pittsburgh 66 = The Panthers looked for a week or so that they'd finally found their game. Well, apparently they haven't. Meanwhile, after losing 6 in a row, the Pirates are trying to make a late push for an at-large. As the Selection Committee may again give a .500 . . . or sub. . . . Big Mouth team a bid (the Hall's 6-7 in conference play), they do have a shot, if they don't blow it over the next few weeks.

Michigan 70 - Illinois 61 = And speaking of sub .500 in league play, the Illini are midpack in the Big Ten+ at 5-7, and with 5 of their last 6 being potential tough ones (Purdue, OSU, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin) they are in danger of getting that kiss-from-your-sis NIT invite.

Georgetown 71 - St. John's 61 = I did not see this one, so don't know if it was truly as close as Kevin says (though I've no reason to doubt him). As for me, I'll take a 10-point win any day. Yeah, the Johnnies have pretty much stunk this year, but remember they do have some young talent that did win as Cincinnati and at home over West Virginia, so they can hoop a bit . . . from time to time, anyway. Hey, on any given night, right?


And tonight's few games include a couple worth noting:


Syracuse vs. Louisville = Can Pitino's Cards get up for the Orange in the Crum Bucket, and get that one signature win they've failed to so far? (Hey, at this point it's hard to count those against Vandy, Pitt, or U Conn :D ) Maybe. They have enough talent, and Rick does know how to bust up that zone. This could be fun.

Iowa State vs. Baylor = And even though this one's in Waco, this one could be fun also. The Bears may have had their confidence shaken lately, and the Cyclones have played quite well on occasion. It's at least worth keeping watch on, for a half or so anyway, to see how things are shakin'.

MeNeese State vs. Northwestern State = Say what? Who? Well, these two look to be amongst the class of the Southland, with the Cowboys at 8-2 and the Demons at 7-4 in the East Division, good for 1st and a tie for 2nd place. And I'll let you find out for yourself which one's the Cowboys and which the Demons, and which one's hosting in Natchitoches. Where? :r

Mississippi Valley State vs. Southern = And this one pitting the 12-0 Delta Devils against the 9-3 Jaguars is a key one in the Southwestern Athletic Conference race. Yeah, you and I might not give a damn, but rest assured somebody does.

Kansas vs. Kansas State = In fact, you may not give a damn about this one either. The Jayhawks no longer have a stranglehold on the Big12NoMore lead, being tied at 10-2 with the Mizzou Tigers. And the 'Cats aren't going to challenge either one of those, as they've slipped into that mid-pack tie mentioned above with the 'Horns at 6-6. Still, this is in Manhattan, not Lawrence, and I also have been led to understand that these two teams don't much care for each other. The knives might come out tonight.


That's all for now. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

FYI, I did my regular update, but when I clicked Post Reply it would not load, would not load, would not load, would not load . . . then it went away.

Hell, I ain't doing it again. ;s :td

[The Poet]

OK, let me do this quick and dirty, and hopefully it won't get lost in the ozone today. Monday scores of some note:


Syracuse 52 - Louisville 51 = A disappointing loss for the Cardinals, and maybe even a disappointing win for the Orange, though better than a loss.

Baylor 79 - Iowa State 64 = The Bears bounce back from the skinning they took from Mizzou.

Kansas 59 - Kansas State 53 = Not quite the offensive offensive of the 'Cuse/L'ville game, and not a very impressive win for the Jayhawks over the struggling 'Cats, even in Manhattan.


Last night gave us a few big upsets, if there's really any such thing in college hoops:


Clemson 60 - Virginia 48 = Littlejohn's almost as tough a place to play as is Cameron or the Dean Dome, and the Tigers took advantage of a Cav team that again could not shoot the ball.

TCU 102 - UNLV 97 (OT) = Wow. I may not be a huge believer in the Rebels, but I never thought the Horned Frogs could take them. Honestly, did you?

LSU 69 - Mississippi State 67 (OT) = This one's not nearly as big a shock to me. True, the Bulldogs came into it at 19-6, but had lost 3 of their last 7 games. This makes 4 of 8 now, which for you mathematically-challenged ones is 50%.

Texas 69 - Oklahoma 58 = And even in Norman I'm not surprised at this. The 'Horns continue to make their late move towards an at-large.

Florida 61 - Alabama 52 = With both teams hobbled by suspensions and injuries, this was a toss-up. The Gators rebound from what must have been an embarrassing loss to the crappy Volunteers.

Seton Hall 94 - St. John's 64 = Are the Pirates for real, or is it that the Johnnies just suck? Maybe, and almost certainly.


Tonight:


Northwestern vs. Indiana = The Hoosiers have earned national ranking . . . or have they? Yes, they have won a lot more games than was predicted, but don't forget they are only 7-6 in Big Ten+ play. I give the Smarty 'Cats at least half-a-shot at an upset in Bloomington to drop IU to .500.

Rutgers vs. Notre Dame = And I'll even give the Scarlet Knights a half-a-half-a-shot at an upset over the Irish in South Bend. No, I don't think it's gonna happen, but I also don't think ND's good enough to be consistent night after night.

Detroit vs. Wright State = A big game in a smaller conference, which may mean it means even more.

North Carolina vs. Miami = The Heels have been spotty, and more so on the road. Yeah, they ought to beat the 'Canes handily. However, if Miama could beat Dook in Durham, they can also beat Carolina in Coral Gables.

Murray State vs. SE Missouri State = Has Joe's Racers learned their lesson? If not, I could see a tight one on the road tonight.

Purdue vs. Illinois = At 16-9 each, both of these are bubblicious for now. The Illini have the signature wins (Gonzaga, OSU, MSU), but have lost 6 of 7 lately. The Boilermakers don't have those good wins (unless you count one over Illinois) and have lost 6 of their last 10 games. Big as this is for both, you're best off if you flip a coin.

Oklahoma State vs. Missouri = Hey, if TCU can beat UNLV, the Cowboys can beat the Tigers. They WON'T, but they can.

New Mexico vs. San Diego State = The Aztecs face another tough challenge here, and could drop their 2nd in a row. At present they are tied with the Lobos for the Mountain West lead at 6-2, with the Runnin' Rebels just 1/2-back at 6-3 (thanks to those TCU Frogs). This should be a dogfight.

Loyola Marymount vs. St. Mary's = And this could be one also. LM's not as good as the Gaels, who are at home to boot, but they can hoop enough to make a game of it.


I could give you more, but if it goes away again I've just wasted more of my time . . . not to mention yours. So I'll see you later. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

OK, this is weird. I just went to Yahoo to check the latest RPI rankings, as it takes at least this long in the season for it to begin to make even the slightest bit of sense. Well, I don't know why, but at this moment they list at the top of the rating:

Nebraska Omaha!!


:confused:


They apparently have a 10-16 overall record, and against other rated teams they are 0-2 against RPI 1-50 teams, 0-1 against 51-100, 0-2 against 101-150, 0-0 against 151-200, and 1-8 against 200+ teams. I'm assuming their other 9 wins came against non-D1 squads.

Somebody's screwed up badly here, and it wasn't me this time. :r

[The Poet]

Many of last night's game were about what you'd expect, so I'm limiting my notes to:


Indiana 71 - Northwestern 66 = The 'Cats hung tough in Bloomington, but the Hoosiers and little brother Zeller did enough to get the win. Maybe their mid-season slump is over, and they've gotten a second wind.

Murray State 75 - SE Missouri State 66 = Unless I'm mistaked, Joe, this should clinch the regular season league championship for your Racers. I'm not sure what that gets you, however, since the NCAA may still insist you win the tournament to get a ticket to the Dance. I'm also not sure how I feel about that either, as it's both unfair if it happens, and unfair to a bubble-team that's played a tougher schedule who gets left out in the cold if the OVC gets an at-large.

North Carolina 73 - Miami 64 = Most of the Heels' wins have come off of outscoring and outrebounding opponents. Last night UNC again struggle from the field, and the 'Canes kept the battle of the boards close too. Thus the Heels had to win on the defensive end, making key stops and scoring off forced turnovers. I guess in a way that's a good thing, but I'd REALLY like to see them put it all together at least ONCE this year! Still, a W's a W, and at 9-2 it puts UNC 1/2-game up in the ACC.

Tennessee 77 - Arkansas 58 = And what's up with the Vols all of a sudden? They have won 5 of their last 6, with their only loss in that stretch being AT Kentucky, and improve to 14-12 and 6-5. They may need to run the table to earn an at-large at this point, or make that run in the SEC Tourney, but at least the folks in Knoxville have something to cheer about . . . for now.

Purdue 67 - Illinois 62 = On the other side of that coin, the Illini are in freefall, and Bruce Weber's on the hotseat for it. Since they got that huge win over Ohio State, Illinois has lost 7 of 8, and that one win was by a single point over MSU, an ugly 42-41 "triumph". Meanwhile the Boilermakers continue their late push for an at-large, improving to 17-9 and 7-6. I can see at least 2 more Ws in their future, hosting Nebraska and Penn State. They have no signature wins so far, yet they do have 3 more shots at that too, hosting MSU and at Michigan and Indiana. Should be interesting.

New Mexico 77 - San Diego State 67 = Did I not tell you the Aztecs could lose their 2nd in a row? The Lobos grab the Mountain West lead, and in San Diego to boot.

Loyola-Marymount 75 - St. Mary's 60 = And did I not also tell you LM could hoop enough to give the Gaels problems on THEIR homecourt. Yet even I did not expect such a lop-sided victory as this one was.


Tonight has some very important games, including:


Wisconsin vs. Michigan State = The Badgers are 4th in the Big Ten+ race at 8-4, with the Spartans in 2nd at 9-3, with the Buckeyes a whole 1/2-game on top at 10-3. Need I say any more about the vitalness of this for both teams? Yeah, both likely have bids already, but still.

Virginia Tech vs. Florida State = And the Seminoles need this one to regain a tie with the Tar Heels atop the ACC. I can't give the Hokies much of a shot for the upset down in Tallahassee, but I can always hope for the best. :D

West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh = At this point of the season I'm just curious about both these squads. Neither may Dance in March, or at least not for long if they do, but as both have good traditions and "meh" performance . . . well, as I said, I'm curious. Ain't you?

N. C. State vs. Duke = Like FSU above, the Blue Devils need the win to get back into that tie with UNC. But the Wolfpack may need this even more. They do have records of 18-7 and 7-3, which puts them alone in 4th place behind those Big Boys, and which one might think would assure them an at-large already. But their RPI is fairly low (around 50 the last I looked), and their win over Indiana 'way back on Nov. 30 can't be counted as a signature win, as the Hoosiers hadn't found their footing at that point. It would be great for Jerry's 'Pack to get one, and if they don't get it tonight in Durham they can try again in their next two chances in Raleigh . . . against FSU and UNC. If you look at the Big Picture for all 4 teams, you see how huge this could be.

Arizona vs. Washington State = And this could be as huge in the equally-logjammed Pac12. The Desert 'Cats are in a 3-way tie for 3rd in the league at 9-4, a full game behind Cal and Washington at 10-3. Couple this with . . .

Oregon vs. California = In Berkeley, where the Golden Bears have only lost twice all year (which is maybe twice too many, but whatever), and with the Ducks being another of those 3rd-place 9-4 squads, and with . . .

Arizona State vs. Washington = The Huskies almost assured of a victory at home against the putrid Sun Devils, and you can see what a big night it will be on the Left Coast this evening.

Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi = I threw this in for much the same reason I did the WVU/Pitt one . . . because I'm curious. Yeah, maybe Vandy's been a bit better than those 2 Big Mouth Conference teams, yet they've been no more consistent. By this time of the year one normally knows if a team's for real or not, but the Comms still have me baffled . . . though I'm leaning towards NOT.

Gonzaga vs. Santa Clara = The stumble by St. Mary's last night has opened the door for the Bulldogs to steal the WCC from them late. A win over Santa Clara tonight would put the 'Zags just a game behind the Gaels, and even-up on the loss-side. I don't expect the Broncos can defend their home court tonight, as they pretty much suck this year.


That's gonna be all for me for now. Enjoy.

[The Poet]

Oh, and I forgot to tell you, Nebraska-Omaha beat Nebraska-Kearney 85-68 last night to improve to 11-16 and retain their spot on top of the RPI Ratings . . . according to Yahoo, anyway. :r

[Col. Kurtz]

...

N. C. State vs. Duke = Like FSU above, the Blue Devils need the win to get back into that tie with UNC. But the Wolfpack may need this even more. They do have records of 18-7 and 7-3, which puts them alone in 4th place behind those Big Boys, and which one might think would assure them an at-large already. But their RPI is fairly low (around 50 the last I looked), and their win over Indiana 'way back on Nov. 30 can't be counted as a signature win, as the Hoosiers hadn't found their footing at that point. It would be great for Jerry's 'Pack to get one, and if they don't get it tonight in Durham they can try again in their next two chances in Raleigh . . . against FSU and UNC. If you look at the Big Picture for all 4 teams, you see how huge this could be.....

Amazing season so far. Much better that expected in Gottfried's debut. (even if he is a 'bama boy). The schedule is one thing he vowed to fix in his first interview here. He seems to be real competitor. He said he'd rather lose close games to the best in the country than win against Belmont Abbey.... He won me over right there.

Of course we've been getting spanked by some of the best in the country just down 70 and 54 for many years now. :tf

However, I suspect Bryan will be crying tonight....



or I'll be saying "Just wait till football season!"

[jcruse64]

Col,

we liked Gottfried just fine, when he was here at Murray State. I hope he does well for ya'll too.

Murray wins a road game, but rival SEMO did not fold on them. Good match for the Racers to get ready for the weekend's BracketBuster.
Also, that DID clench the regular season title, but will likely mean nuthin if the OVC tourney title is lost, even with a win this weekend. I would hate it, but can also understand it, unless the selection they lose goes to a 17-win program...

This FSU/VT game is ending.....

Holy Cow!!!! What a finish!!! VT can't hit 2 freebies w/ 10s left, and FSU goes down and hits a 3 t win. VT pops the rim at the buzzer to lose. Wow!!! And VT had FSU down BADLY in H2. Wow! Gotta hit your freebies.

Okay, now to watch Pitt/WV and Vandy/Ole Miss.

[The Poet]

Amazing season so far. Much better that expected in Gottfried's debut. (even if he is a 'bama boy). The schedule is one thing he vowed to fix in his first interview here. He seems to be real competitor. He said he'd rather lose close games to the best in the country than win against Belmont Abbey.... He won me over right there.

Of course we've been getting spanked by some of the best in the country just down 70 and 54 for many years now. :tf

However, I suspect Bryan will be crying tonight....



or I'll be saying "Just wait till football season!"

Just wait for till football season, Jerry . . . even though "Duke football" is sort of an oxymoron. :r

Well, your 'Pack had its shot, but the Blue Devils made another late comeback to steal it from you. Hey, I know how you feel there, brother. :D But had you held on, and had the Hokies done the same, it would have been a GREAT night for both of us.

I agree about State's surprising season so far, and with the job Gottfried's done. Plus, if that stellar recruiting class he's got coming in next year lives up to expectations it will only get better at Moo U.

Col,

we liked Gottfried just fine, when he was here at Murray State. I hope he does well for ya'll too.

Murray wins a road game, but rival SEMO did not fold on them. Good match for the Racers to get ready for the weekend's BracketBuster.
Also, that DID clench the regular season title, but will likely mean nuthin if the OVC tourney title is lost, even with a win this weekend. I would hate it, but can also understand it, unless the selection they lose goes to a 17-win program...

This FSU/VT game is ending.....

Holy Cow!!!! What a finish!!! VT can't hit 2 freebies w/ 10s left, and FSU goes down and hits a 3 t win. VT pops the rim at the buzzer to lose. Wow!!! And VT had FSU down BADLY in H2. Wow! Gotta hit your freebies.

Okay, now to watch Pitt/WV and Vandy/Ole Miss.


Yeah, like Jerry's 'Pack (and my Heels also) the Hokies just could not catch a break last night. And though I felt NCSU could give Dook a game, I never thought VT could hang so tough on the road at FSU. Once more, shows what I know.

As for your Racers maybe getting dissed by the Selection Committee if they don't take the OVC tourney, I will feel you pain, or even anger. Yet you do seem to have a good handle on reality, and thus won't let it completely ruin a magical season . . . or your sleep and digestion. :tu

Back with details in update shortly.

[The Poet]

OK, to get firstly to those scores already mentioned above:


Duke 78 - N. C. State 73 = The 'Pack came into Cameron hot, but could not cool down the Curry to hold off the Blue Devils. NCSU led by 16 at the break, and got it up to 20 or so, yet could not keep Dook from surging back to steal it away from them. Well, they did play well, and have two more shots at that "upset" they want to follow, both in Raleigh. And congrats to Duke for playing tough when it really counted.

Florida State 48 - Virginia Tech 47 = The 'Noles dodged a bullet on their home court also, and the Hokies missed a shot at their best win since they got the Cavs in Charlottesville earlier. Again, good for them for playing tough, but I'm not going to give 'grats to the Semiholes for exhibiting more luck than skill. If they play that way in Raleigh Saturday, Jerry may have something to grin about.

Michigan State 69 - Wisconsin 55 = Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, the Spartans started off 0-2 and were predicted to crash and burn. Meanwhile, in a distant star system, the Badgers were supposed to be the singular challenge to The Evil Empire in Columbus OH for control of The Force in Big Ten+ play. How things can change when a Jedi like Tom Izzo gets his lightsaber humming. (Hell, I don't know why I went there, aside from being bored, unless I've been tempted by The Dark Side.)

West Virginia 66 - Pittsburgh 48 = It has stopped being surprising when the Panthers lose, but even against a decent Mountaineer squad this one puzzles. Pitt was only down 1 at the half, yet were still blown out . . . AT HOME! Pitiful.

Vanderbilt 102 - Mississippi 76 = Speaking of blowouts, the Comms got one I did not expect here. Sure, they had to be favored over the Rebels, but just as I said I'd about been convinced they are not for real, they just purely stomp their opponent, on the road.


Tonight gives me only a pair of games I've even the slightest interest in:


Cornell vs. Penn = With Harvard at 7-1 and Yale at 6-2, both Big Red (5-3) and the Quakers (5-2) are gonna need some help along the way to take the Ivy. Still, they have to win tonight to keep those hopes reasonably alive, and as they both can't do so this one's huge.

Valparaiso vs. Loyola-Marymount = One of ESPN's early Bracket Buster games, and it should be a pretty good one to boot.


And since I've got a little time, lemme also get some early Saturday action posted here now:


Drexel vs. Cleveland State = Another BB game, and with the same potential to be a Barn-Burner.

Louisville vs. DePaul = A pretty important game for the Cardinals in Rosemont, as at the least Pitino wants his kids gearing up for post-season play in hostile environments. As for the Blue Demons, it would be a huge upset for them were they to take this one, though its meaning over the long haul would be next-to-nothing. Unless they run the table in the Big East Tourney, they're already dead.

Marquette vs. U. Conn = The same might even hold true for the Huskies . . . kinda like it did last year. :r A win in Hartford would go some ways towards saving U Conn's season, though with the way they've played this last month deems that unlikely. And even though they are safely out of the cellar, another loss would put them 2 games under .500 in league play. Me, I'm expecting just that.

Wichita State vs. Davidson = Another Bracket Buster, but though I'd like to give the Wildcats a decent chance in Charlotte (well, its suburbs, anyway) here, I really think the Shockers are the better team. Would it be a shocker if Davidson won? No, but it would be at least a minor upset.

UCLA vs. St. John's = No, NOT a BB-matchup, though maybe it might as well be one. Much like DePaul, the Johnnies ain't going nowhere without a miracle. The Bruins might not either, although their play of late has improved . . . if that's really saying anything. Hey, even the Wear twins have contributed in big ways recently, and this Tar Heel has no problem saying "Good for them." This is in MSG, and it's a hard one to call. SJU has talented freshmen who show up to play about every 3rd or 4th game, and UCLA's seemingly played down to their opponents all year. Flip a coin over these two legendary programs.

Maryland vs. Virginia = The Terps haven't done much this year, while the Cavs have done a lot more than was expected of them. Yet they have also lost 3 or their last 4, which isn't a good sign. It's in Charlottesville, and UVA's only lost to VT there so far, and I'd lean towards them in this one.

Florida State vs. N. C. State = Here's the Wolfpack's second chance for that signature win they need to solidify that at-large they lust for, badly. I'm gonna give them at least as good a shot at it as I did last night against Duke, and you know how close that one was. Plus, of the 'Noles' 7 losses, 4 of them came on the road. On the other hand, 4 of State's losses have come at home, so there's that too. :r

UNLV vs. New Mexico = The Runnin' Rebels are coming off a big upset loss at TCU, while the Lobos are coming off a huge win at San Diego State. So one wants to turn things around, and the other wants to continue on its roll. I'm looking for a war in Albuquerque.

Tennessee vs. Alabama = Can the Vols continue to surprise people by finally winning some games, and will the Tide continue to recede by losing them? I'd say it's about 50/50.

Kansas State vs. Baylor = The 'Cats have dropped two in a row already now, and are likely to make that four, what with this one in Waco followed by a visit to Missouri. As I'm not a big fan of of Frank Martin, I'd have to say it couldn't happen to a much-nicer guy. ;)


That's about all for the moment. If I don't see you here later today, I'll be back tomorrow with later weekend action. Until when then, enjoy.

[SD Beerman]

The NC State meltdown was bad. But not as bad as VT against FLA State. I expect SDSU to bounce back Sat.

[Col. Kurtz]

..
Duke 78 - N. C. State 73 = The 'Pack came into Cameron hot, but could not cool down the Curry to hold off the Blue Devils. NCSU led by 16 at the break, and got it up to 20 or so, yet could not keep Dook from surging back to steal it away from them. Well, they did play well, and have two more shots at that "upset" they want to follow, both in Raleigh. And congrats to Duke for playing tough when it really counted.
..

The Pack played 30 minutes of great basketball. However, the last ten is what counted.. It looked like the Pack was worn out. Dook put the full court press on in the second half and just outran our guys. It's easy to do when you have three first strings. The pack seems to have about 4/5 of a first string. That and foul troubles were too much.... Perhaps next year...

Of course the local radio callers are saying the officials threw if for Duke. :tf

[The Poet]

The NC State meltdown was bad. But not as bad as VT against FLA State. I expect SDSU to bounce back Sat.

From the perspective of THIS Tar Heel, BOTH meltdowns sucked. :r

I've not looked yet - who's your Aztecs facing tomorrow Larry?

[The Poet]

The Pack played 30 minutes of great basketball. However, the last ten is what counted.. It looked like the Pack was worn out. Dook put the full court press on in the second half and just outran our guys. It's easy to do when you have three first strings. The pack seems to have about 4/5 of a first string. That and foul troubles were too much.... Perhaps next year...

Of course the local radio callers are saying the officials threw if for Duke. :tf


I was rootin' for them, Jerry, though for somewhat selfish reasons. ;)

And yeah, the zebras always get the blame . . . and even on rare occasions deserve some. :r

[jcruse64]

Speaking of "zebra blame"; I do not claim to know all the rules of the college game, so I will ask you guys. Saw a weird "call" at the last Racer home game. Racers are on D, and covering pretty good, when the ref blows the whistle. Everyone stands there for about 5 s, and the ref NEVER makes a signal or vocal call. After about 5s, he goes to the scorers' table without making the call and asks to see the display for a replay. Stands there with another ref and watches relay for a couple of minutes, and then walks back on-court and signals the foul (I don't even remember now, I was so shocked by the actions). Is that even LEGAL?!?!?!?!? I thought the rule was, you blow the whistle, you make your call, NOT "I think there's gonna be a foul here, so I'll blow, then go look and see".

I thought this on par with last year during the Racer's BracketBuster game, when the refs stopped play and actually went to the ESPN crew and ASKED THEM what they thought they saw. We have had some horrible refs the last few seasons, and I've seen some awful calls made against Racer opponents also, so I do not say this out of "homerism".

[The Poet]

Speaking of "zebra blame"; I do not claim to know all the rules of the college game, so I will ask you guys. Saw a weird "call" at the last Racer home game. Racers are on D, and covering pretty good, when the ref blows the whistle. Everyone stands there for about 5 s, and the ref NEVER makes a signal or vocal call. After about 5s, he goes to the scorers' table without making the call and asks to see the display for a replay. Stands there with another ref and watches relay for a couple of minutes, and then walks back on-court and signals the foul (I don't even remember now, I was so shocked by the actions). Is that even LEGAL?!?!?!?!? I thought the rule was, you blow the whistle, you make your call, NOT "I think there's gonna be a foul here, so I'll blow, then go look and see".

I thought this on par with last year during the Racer's BracketBuster game, when the refs stopped play and actually went to the ESPN crew and ASKED THEM what they thought they saw. We have had some horrible refs the last few seasons, and I've seen some awful calls made against Racer opponents also, so I do not say this out of "homerism".

Having not seen it, I'd be foolish to comment specifically on that call brother. But off the top of my head I'd have to agree with the oddness of such a "replay" call. As far as I know, refs only consult replays to make a determination of time, not of fouls or possessions. As with baseball, what the official calls at the point of play IS WHAT IS, right or wrong. True, you do on occasion see refs consult with each other on the validity of the initial call, yet this is much more common in football than other team sports.

And as for refs in general, I myself have seen too many bad calls over the years to allow myself to agonize over them overly. If it goes against my team, I just say "What's that $#!+??", and move on. If it goes for them, I just say "Well, OK, I'll take it, thank you", and hope it does not determine the outcome of the game. This is one reason I, as a long-time Tar Heel, so valued the equally long-time radio announcer for UNC, Woody Durham, who retired after the end of last season. He always called it like he saw it, and if it was a bad call either way he'd say so. This seemed to me not only just, but vital for a radio play-by-play voice, since we then knew we could trust him to tell us exactly what had happened without any taint of "homerism" . . . which I consider a fault to be avoided at all costs.

Thanks for bringing up an interesting issue, Joe, and also thanks for exhibiting a balanced attitude about it. :tu

Back shortly with update.

[The Poet]

So here's a few scores from last night:


Penn 73 - Cornell 66 = The Ivy race may be decided more today with the upcoming Yale/Harvard game, but this win was vital for the Quakers to keep their hopes alive.

Loyola-Marymount 61 - Valparaiso 53 = I guess it was a decent enough BracketBuster game, and I've not much more to say about it.

VCU 77 - Northern Iowa 68 = But this one may have more meaning in the long run . . . and may not. The Rams improve to 23-6 (13-3 in the Colonial Athletic), and remain in the hunt for a bid. But it's hard to predict how deep the NCAA will go into the CAC, and with a RPI of 75 at the moment, it does not look good for VCU . . . unless they keep winning, that is. Keep your eye on them.


The one early final today was a blowout, with Drexel taking Cleveland State 69-49. I'd hoped for a better game, but what can you do? Meanwhile, Marquette is spanking U Conn at the break 43-29 (no surprise), and DePaul is up 10 over Louisville at halftime (somewhat a surprise), but there's plenty of time for anything to happen.


Later games today include:


Missouri vs. Texas A&M = It's in College Station, but the Aggies haven't done it all year, so who can think they'll do it against the surging Tigers?

Arizona vs. Washington = With their competition facing what should be "gimme" games today, this is the key contest in the Pac12 today. The Desert 'Cats are 3rd in the league at 10-4, with the Huskies tied with Cal on top at 11-3. When you consider how far the conference has dipped in the respect it receives (justified or not), and the NCAA possibly giving few at-larges to them, each win is huge.

Nevada vs. Iona = One of those BB games that could be a lot of fun.

Seton Hall vs. Cincinnati = At 18-8 each, you'd have to feel the post-season hopes of both hinge upon how they close out the balance of the year. A win may not get the victor safely over the bubble, but a loss may put them on the backside. Then again, maybe not, since the Selection Committee seems to labor under the fantasy that a losing record in the Big Mouth Conference does not mean you should not Dance.

Clemson vs. North Carolina = OK, so Clemson's not all that good this year, despite the fact they did beat UVA in Littlejohn, and have 3 Ws in a row. And OK, so the Tigers have struggle a little bit when they play in Chapel Hill, where their record stands presently at 0-55 there. Still, I've got that funky feeling about this one. The Heels have been winning ugly lately, and their loss to Dook was ugly too. If both team play their best, it will be a blowout for UNC. However, as the Heels have only played their best for about 5 minutes at a time all season, I think this may be closer than Roy would wish.

San Diego State vs. Air Force = Larry said yesterday he expected SDSU to bounce back today. Hey, me too. Yes, the game's in Colorado Springs, but I figure the Aztecs will make feathered cloaks out of the Falcons.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State = I'm not a Longhorn fan, though I don't really hate them. My main problems stem from Mac Brown's (understandable, but still) desertion from UNC to coach at UT, and Rick Barnes' verbal arrogance against Dean Smith while he was at the aforementioned Clemson. Still, I am intrugued by their late push towards a possible at-large bid, which I figure will continue today in Stillwater.

Mississippi vs. Kentucky = Please. Do you really think the Rebels can upset the rolling 'Cats in Rupp?

Illinois vs. Nebraska = The Illini are reeling, but have a good shot at stopping the bleeding against the 'Huskers in Lincoln. And if they don't, they might as well just hang it up. They're toast.

St. Mary's vs. Murray State = Even though a tiny bit of the lustre's off this one following the Racers' first loss, this is still one hell of a great match-up between two very good mid-major programs. Me, I won't call it, even if I had a clue. On the one hand, I like and respect Joe's devotion to MSU. On the other, I like and respect the Gaels. So just sit back and enjoy the fun.

Florida vs. Arkansas = And I'm not going to pick this one either, because both teams have been good and lousy. Since they don't seem to know who they are, how the hell can you expect me to know it?

LaSalle vs. U Mass = Like that Racers/Gaels one above, this is another very good match-up which could go down to the final few possessions.

Yale vs. Harvard = Here's the key Ivy game of the day, and maybe of the year. The Eli are in 2nd at 7-2, and the Crimson in 1st at 8-1. And don't forget, there is NO IVY TOURNEY!, so whoever takes the regular season gets the league's only bid. Need I say more? I didn't think so.

Georgetown vs. Providence = Yeah, it's true the Friars spanked Louisville 90-59 a while back. But that was after a 4-game losing streak, which was followed by another 4-game losing streak, then after a W against Rutgers has been followed by a 3rd 4-game losing streak. Even in RI, and even with the Hoya youth, that streak should go to 5 this evening.

Gonzaga vs. San Francisco = I'm gonna give the Dons a decent chance of knocking off the 'Zags in The City By The Bay tonight. Not only does SF have a good team, they have had the Bulldogs number on their home court lately, winning the last 3 there. They well could make that 4 before the day is done.

Dayton vs. Xavier = Another of those mid-major match-ups, and one that could go a ways towards determining the possible post-season ambitions of both teams.

Texas Tech vs. Kansas = Come on. The Red Raiders have one conference win all year. Do you really think they will get their 2nd in Lawrence? Jeez.

Ohio State vs. Michigan = If you've been reading this thread, you know I've been busting the Wolverines all year for their lack of scoring. Then the Buckeyes went a scored a whole 48 points in their loss to the Spartans . . . AT HOME! Hmmm. Could be damned interesting, at least.

Notre Dame vs. Villanova = Much like that Mizzou/Tex.A&M game, I see no reason to expect the Philly 'Cats can stop the roll those Irish have made lately.

Long Beach State vs. Creighton = I do believe the Bluejays are a better team, but the 49ers ain't no pushovers. This is in Omaha, but it still could be a pretty tight game.


While typing the above, both U Conn and Louisville have made good comebacks, while Wichita State has put a 2nd-half stomping on the Davidson Wildcats. I'll be back a little later with some finals, and with some Sunday games.

[The Poet]

Louisville has opened up an 8-point lead in OT with 49 ticks left, and looks like they will dodge a bullet here. Meanwhile:


Marquette 79 - U Conn 64 = The Huskies tried for a time to make a game out of this, but ran out of steam in the last 10 minutes.

Wichita State 91 - Davidson 74 = And the Queen City 'Cats were only down one at the half, but didn't manage to find their way out of their own lockerroom for the second stanza.

Also, New Mexico has started to open up a nice lead over UNLV with 8 minutes left. St. John's is up a few possessions over UCLA in The Garden, Memphis is in a dogfight with UTEP, and Florida State is flat-out skinning Jerry's Wolfpack with time running low.


Sunday's games include:


Michigan State vs. Purdue = The Boilermakers are capable of giving the Spartans a good game at home, but I can't really see them winning. They've not been consistent enough for that. Still, it would not be a HUGE upset if they could pull it off.

Syracuse vs. Rutgers = Now this would be one for the Scarlet Knights. It's been a long time since wins in Piscataway against Florida and an over-rated U Conn team, and of late RU's lost 7 of 9. Make that 8 of 10 tomorrow.

Vanderbilt vs. Georgia = If the Commodores can't beat this "meh" Bulldog team in Athens, their trip back to The Athens Of The South (that's Nashville, for you unenlightened) will be long and sad . . . as it should be.

Penn State vs. Wisconsin = As anyone would be foolish to bet on a Lion win or Badger loss, or find somebody foolish enough to take a bet, your best one would be the over-under: Will these two team collectively score 100 points?

Duke vs. Boston College = If you haven't seen the trend here so far, please note that there's not a lot of top-flight competition scheduled.

Indiana vs. Iowa = But this could be an exception. Yeah, the Hoosiers are likely superior to the Hawkeyes, but of their 6 losses they've had 5 on the road. And Iowa's not a bunch of total stiffs either. Keep an eye on this one for a half or so, as it could turn into a battle.

Oregon vs. Stanford = And this one better be a battle, since both teams need to win here. As mentioned previously, the NCAA may not go all that deep into the Pac-12 this year, and their 18-8 records (9-5 Ducks and 8-6 Trees conference) do NOT insure an at-large so far. Me, I think they are both Field of 68 quality, but I don't get a vote.


Only one more final while typing the above, though some are getting close . . . or are almost over anyway, such as that FSU/NCSU debacle, or the one developing in Charlottesville, with UVA outscoring the Terps nearly 4-1 in the second half. And that final? :

Louisville 90 - DePaul 82 (OT) = I'm unsure whether I should give the Blue Demons props for hanging so tough, or bash Pitino's boys for being such wussies . . . again. Yet a win is better than a loss, so I guess he'll take it, like it or not.


Lunchtime. I'll probably be back with some more finals for you, but if not, enjoy.

[Col. Kurtz]

State loses to the Seminoles. NIT here we come. Or maybe CIAA???