There were a number of important scores from last night, but only one was a shocker:
St. John's 89 - U. Conn 72 = Yeah, I know the Johnnies have played some good games on occasion, and that they laid the wood to Dook not long ago. But I never thought they'd grab another huge win against a "Top Ten" team. I put that distinction in quotes not for the Blue Devils, who likely deserve it, but rather for the Huskies. Once again, I must protest. U. Conn is # 10 in the nation, yet in a 5-way tie for 7th in the Big East? Man, I'd like to take those voters and just
!!!
Florida State 72 - Georgia Tech 63 = This one I place in this prime position not for the expected victory for FSU but rather for its potential significance down the road. This keeps the Seminoles alone at 3rd in the ACC race, just 1/2-game below the Heels. Looking at their remaining schedule, I see only 2 more games which should not be automatic wins for them . . . at Maryland, and hosting UNC. This race could go down to the wire.
UCLA 64 - Oregon 54 = Much the same can be said here for the Pac-10. The Bruins remain in 2nd place behind the Arizona Wildcats, and have a fairly managable row to hoe . . . at least until they end the season with those 'Cats and the two Washington teams. It is still a horserace on the Left Coast.
Illinois 71 - Minnesota 62 = And although it seems that the Buckeyes have the Big Ten all to their lonesome, these "also-ran" games are vital, if only for possible seedings come March. The Gophers are go-for-ing the basement fast, with this their 4th loss in a row, and their 5-7 conference mark is now, believe it or not, worse than . . .
Michigan State 75 - Penn. State 57 = The Spartans, who move to .500 in league play at 6-6, and "improve" to . . . gulp, 14-10 overall. Izzo still has a lot of work to do to keep his NCAA streak alive, but this is a small positive sign. Now, let's see him beat the Buckeyes next Tuesday.
Vanderbilt 81 - Alabama 77 = This one was a tight fight from start to finish, with 11 ties and 10 lead changes, but in the end it was the same old story for the Crimson Tide in Nashville . . . wait 'til next decade to win one at the Comms. Vandy hangs on by the whiskers on the Robber Baron's chin, and keep the SEC East in a 4-way tie for 2nd behind the Gators. Yet 'Bama does stay 2 games up in the SEC West . . . for what that seems to be worth.
Valparaiso 82 - Detroit 74 = And this one keeps Valpo at the zenith of the Horizon, although their Crusade is not yet over, thanks to . . .
Butler 71 - Wright State 63 = It won't be easy for either of these, at 9-5 and 10-5 respectively, to catch both Valpo (10-3) and Cleveland State (10-4). One or the other, maybe, but both? Still, there are games left, and so there's time to do it . . . if they can do it.
Murray State 55 - Tennessee Tech 44 = And this keeps Joe's Racers atop the OVC, a full game better than Morehead State (who beat Eastern Illinois themselves last night). Yet winning this game, nor winning the regular season in that conference, won't get them to the Dance. Regardless, they did what they needed to do, ugly though it was (99 total points scored combined? Crap.), and a win is a win is a win. Right, Gertrude?
As we have come to expect, Friday night's mostly a heaping pile of who gives a fark. I spot only two games tonight which, barring something like "upsets" in the Ivy League, seem to have any real significance:
Yale vs. Harvard = Since I don't think the league-leading Princeton Tigers will get much of a fight from the Columbia Lions this evening, this is the key Ivy game to watch, as the Crimson and the Elis (don't feed me none of that "Bulldog" bull . . . there's too many dogs in the NCAA as it is) battle to remain 2nd and/or 3rd in the race for that one lone lonely bid the Ivy shall receive.
That will be it for now. If I have time, I'll come back with some quickies on the early tips on Saturday. Either way, enjoy. Screw Drew.