College Hoops Thread '10-'11

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by rebelknight

Ok. I agree that the votes for #1 will be split up to 5 ways but I was at the game last night and as a team Ohio State didn't play bad. ESPN would like people to believe otherwise because they keep posting his stats but the only player who stuck out to me as playing truly worse than usual was Sullinger. He looked soft. Every time he got touched he was calling for a foul and he was not moving up and down the court efficiently enough to be a defensive threat. That combined with his complaining about being spit on has taken him down a page in my book. I still like the kid and think hes the best thing we have on the team but the truth is without Buford, Wisconsin would have beat us by a lot more than 4 and MSU probably would have stole one on the road. Buford has now played 2 back to back great games. My only other complaint was Jon Diebler who didn't contribute anything on either side of the ball in the first half. However in the second half he really came out ready to play. Either way I'm glad we still have a few more weeks to correct things before the games really start to matter. And as always go BUCKS.

On an other note, I'm from Rochester, NY and my girlfriend goes to Syracuse so I really hope they get things going over there. Long time Boheim fan and it sucks seeing one of his teams struggle this much.

I did not see the game, so cannot comment on the specifics. But I tend to give freshmen some slack, and although at this point in the season there are no "real" freshmen, Sullinger should be expected to disappear from time to time. As for that whole "spitting" incident, I saw the story yet decided not to comment, since we always seem to get a few "non-stories" like that every year. If it happened as reported by Sully, then it was at least bad Badger form. However, there are idiots everywhere, so it's best to make your point then let it go.

And as for Syracuse, they pull this stuff almost every year. Me, I've gotten to the point where I don't so much consider it "struggling" as I think it's just Orange basketball as usual. They'll have a good season, make the NCAAs, and go bye-bye in the second round.


Update to follow.

[SD Beerman]

I agree that you just want to stay up high in the rankings to get the good seed. OSU will probably get back to one, but you never know with Duke, the media favorite.....

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by SD Beerman

I agree that you just want to stay up high in the rankings to get the good seed. OSU will probably get back to one, but you never know with Duke, the media favorite.....

Well, I'd have no problem if the Buckeyes get that #1 back, for what it's worth, but remember this: In last week's voting, Kansas took the top spot with 22 1st-place votes, OSU took 2nd with 14, and Texas took 3rd . . . with 23 1st place votes!! (Pitt was the pits, with 6, and Dook got dookie).

So somebody out there somewhere REALLY hates the Longhorns, and there's little evidence that they're kissing K's keister.

[jcruse64]

Can't begin to guess who will get #1 on Monday. If I were a Longhorn fan, I'd be praying NOT to get ti though, given their history of getting a high ranking and then failing soon afterward, the last few seasons.

Let's go Racers??????? SEMO????? Really?????? The Morehead game at home just got a LOT more interesting.

Really surprised the Cats pulled off the home win. Really HATED the new overhead camera!!!!!

Go Vols! Hope you take the East!

Go St. John's; I'm rooting for a high Dance seed for you.

Screw you, Dook!

[BigAsh]

Went to the Temple/Richmond game last nite.....man my Owls looked good!....20 point win against a good Richmond team....

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Can't begin to guess who will get #1 on Monday. If I were a Longhorn fan, I'd be praying NOT to get ti though, given their history of getting a high ranking and then failing soon afterward, the last few seasons.

Let's go Racers??????? SEMO????? Really?????? The Morehead game at home just got a LOT more interesting.

Really surprised the Cats pulled off the home win. Really HATED the new overhead camera!!!!!

Go Vols! Hope you take the East!

Go St. John's; I'm rooting for a high Dance seed for you.

Screw you, Dook!

I hear what you say about the 'Horns. Seems like they can't take the pressure when there's a target on their backs.

That Murray/Morehead game may be even bigger, on a smaller scale, than the UNC/Dook one that could decide (maybe anyway) a share of the ACC.

I'm rarely surprised when the 'Cats win in Rupp. It's not an easy place to visit. As for that "rafter cam" crap, I'm with you . . . and apparently a lot of other detractors.

I'll take a look at the Vols' and Gators' rermaining schedule before I comment on their chance to take the SEC East. But personally, I would not mind Vandy getting it.

The Johnnies might get the double-bye come March, if they continue to win. But I imagine Lavin and his team . . . and the long-suffering Red Storm fans . . . will be happy with any sort of bid at all.

Finally, I'm one of those Tar Heels who only hates Duke between tip-off and the horn. Hey, had you (like I did) sat in the stands in the old Carmichael Auditorium, and had Dean Smith turn around and glare at you if you showed disrespect for the other team, you too would realize why.

Originally Posted by BigAsh

Went to the Temple/Richmond game last nite.....man my Owls looked good!....20 point win against a good Richmond team....

Yes, a good win for the Owls, over a truly tough nest of Spiders. I can see both teams winning a game, or even two, come March.


Update soon.

[The Poet]

A number of games went in unexpected directions last night, but many had the same net result, and that being to further confuse their conference races:


U. Conn 78 - Georgetown 70 = Though is seems as if Notre Dame is the only team willing to challenge Pitt for the regular season, the fight for 3rd place goes 6 or 8 deep. That includes these two, as well as . . .

Cincinnati 63 - Louieville 54 = The Bearcats looked dead in this hunt after losing 3 of 4, but this one keeps them at least mathematically in the hunt. NOT in that hunt are . . .

Pitt 67 - South Florida 55 = The Panthers would have to totally crumble to drop into that pack, and the Bulls would have to kidnap the commish to even get a sniff. Still, I don't much like this. For a team with aspirations for a # 1 ranking to beat a crappy team like this by just a dozen, on their home court no less, ain't much of a statement.

Duke 56 - Virginia 41 = Nor is this, though there is the slim excuse that the Blue Devils were on the road. Still, for them not to break 60, and for Singler to end up with 2 points, 4 fouls, and 5 turnovers . . . yeah, there's a first-team All-American for you.

Vanderbilt 64 - Georgia 56 = Hey, Vandy's won 4 in a row now, and with a little help could even catch the Gators for the SEC East. What with UK and the Vols in that mix, who'd a thunk?

Illinois 54 - Michigan 52 = A close one, and I suppose a decent win for the Illini, though what it means in the larger picture I cannot say. Illinois "improves" to 17-9, and if the can run the table (fat chance of that!) they will not join the other 6 Big Ten teams who already "boast" double-digits in the loss column.

Purdue 70 - Wisconsin 62 = The Badgers follow up their huge win against the Buckeyes by spitting the bit against the Boilermakers. Now they can get ready for their Sunday go-to-meeting with OSU.

San Diego State 68 - New Mexico 62 = Hey, I told you the Lobos would give the Aztecs game! A bucket here, a steal there, and this would have gone the other way.

Southern Mississippi 64 - UTEP 51 // Memphis 62 - UAB 58 = Like those that follow, I lump these for good reason. There are 6 teams still looking for the CUSA crown, including all 4 of these. And neither game did much to resolve the issue either. And the same goes for . . .

Wisconsin Milwaukee 79 - Valparaiso 76 // Cleveland State 74 - Wright State 72 = In the Horizon, there are 4 teams with conference records between 12-4 and 11-5. You think the next two weeks will just be playing out the string? Well then, consider . . .

Morehead State 76 - Eastern Kentucky 68 (OT) // SE Missouri State 64 - Murray State 57 = Joe's Racers did not do what they needed, and the Eagles did, albeit it took them extra innings. This ties the two MSUs atop the OVC at 12-4, with two others still on their necks with 11 league wins. It truly ain't over 'til it's over, brothers.


In tonight's action we have:


Minnesota vs. Penn State = We haven't heard much from either of these two lately, as both come in with 6-7 Big Ten records. Neither is totally safe with an at-large yet, though the Gophers might be close, so tonight would be a great time for somebody to step up and make a statement.

Clemson vs. N. C. State = The Tigers have likely secured an at-large, but the Wolfpack would need to win the ACC Tourney to steal one. That won't happen. Still, a big win in Raleigh would give the fans something to cheer for. But will it save Sidney Lowe's job? Ehhhhhh, I dunno.

Temple vs Richmond = The Owls have a good team. The Spiders have a good team. Both are at 9-2, a game back of Xavier, in the A-10. Me, I'd give both an at-large anyway, regardless, but they can't afford to think that way. Here we have us a war.

Belmont vs. East Tennessee State = You can just about give Belmont the Atlantic Sun now. If they beat their nearest competition in the Buccaneers tonight, you can damn well give it to them. As they would have earned it, completely, good for them.

Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga = Yeah, OK, I guess there's a shot that one of these might be able to steal the WCC from St. Mary's, though they're gonna need some help along the way. Still, if one of them has hopes of snaring a bid, the'd best show up for this one.

And tonight might be "Moving Day" in the Pac-10, since we have these:


Arizona vs. Washington State // Washington vs. Arizona State // UCLA vs. Stanford = With the possible exception of the Huskies/Sun Devils game, these could go either way . . . and I'm not so sure that Herb Sendek can't pull some magic mushrooms out of his desert demons down in Tempe either. With those Huskies at 9-4 in conference play, the UCLA Bruins at 9-3, and 'Zona all the way up at 10-2 . . . well, I think you see my point.


That's it for me tonight. Enjoy, and Screw Drew.

[The Poet]

As previously mentioned, Temple got a big conference win over Richmond last night, 73-53. Although the outcome does not surprise me, the margin of victory does a bit, since I expected a closer game out of the Spiders. This win moves the Owls to within 1/2 game of Xavier atop the A-10. As these teams will not face each other again, and as both have relatively easy remaining competition (only 1 team each left with a decent shot at an upset), this one could go down to their head-to-head tie-breaker a month back . . . which the X-Men won by 11.


In other action last night, there were a few shocks, including:


DePaul 79 - Providence 76 = The Blue Demons suddenly leap into contention for the Big East crown by improving their conference mark to 1-12. And in Rhode Island, to boot. It's been nearly 3 years since DePaul has won a Big East road game! Well, good for them.

N. C. State 69 - Clemson 61 = And here's another surprise, at least of sorts. Don't get me wrong . . . the Wolfpack has some talent. But they haven't played as if they do of late, and lost 7 or 8 before putting together this 2-game winning streak. OK, so you can toss out the one over Wake Forest, but beating Clemson? A great win for NCSU. But will it save Lowe's job? Stay tuned.

Penn State 66 - Minnesota 63 = As for this one, I'm not sure either outcome would be worth remarking. Both teams have gotten good wins, both have suffered bad losses, and both are mid-pack Big Ten teams. Somebody had to win, and somebody needed to lose. Since I'm still not sure how the Nittany Lions are managing to compete, I will give them credit however.

Belmont 68 - East Tennessee State 58 = It's all over but the shouting in the Atlantic Sun, and it's the Bruins basking in the Nashville springtime. Yeah, the math tells you ETSU could run the table, and Belmont fold up against the crappy teams it still must face, which would lock them into a tie . . . which would go to Belmont with the tie-breaker. Hey, NOBODY is officially in The Dance so far, but if Belmont does not make it, there is no justice.


And as for "Moving Day" in the Pac-10 . . . nobody did so.


Arizona 79 - Washington State 70 // UCLA 69 - Stanford 65 // Washington 79 - Arizona State 62 = So things remain same as they ever was, same as they ever was, save with one fewer shot at changing all that. It's still anybody's league to win between these three victors, and they will fight it out amongst themselves, soon. This could be a lot of fun.


You might already expect that there's not much of note this evening . . . and you'd be wrong:


U. Conn vs. Louisville = Don't ask me how this ended up a Friday game, but who's complaining? It ought to be a good one out in the Cru - ummmmmm, the KFC Yumi, what with both teams ranked, both teams at 8-5 in conference play, and both team in need of a few more good wins to earn the highest possible at-large bid. Plus, there's the perception that Calhoun and Pitino are not exactly the closest of friends. If this one's not spicy and extra crunchy, demand your money back.

VCU vs. Wichita State = And don't ask me how such a great non-conference matchup like this made it into the 2nd half of February. Here's two very good NCAA-caliber teams, both in line for an at-large at the least, yet both wanting that little bit of extra insurance. Whoever wins this one will get just that. Don't pick 'em, don't flip a coin . . . just sit back, and enjoy.

Princeton vs. Yale // Harvard vs. Cornell = Although it is STILL too early to know for sure, all indications are that the Tigers and the Crimson may be the ones to beat in the Ivy. Remember, there is no conference tourney there, so the team that takes the season takes the bid . . . and there won't be but the one. However, though they may be better than most of the rest of the league, they are not dominant, and either (or both) could stumble on any given night. With very little margin for error, every game is vital. Both teams need to focus each and every night, and you can bet your bottom dollar they are both smart enough to know that. You may not really give a dinky-damn about the Ivy, but then that's your loss. THIS, this is what college sports is SUPPOSED to be about.


I'll likely be back a little later with early Saturday tip-offs. 'Til then, then.

[The Poet]

Early games tomorrow afternoon include:


Villanova vs. DePaul = Can the Blue Demons get hot, and give their hometown crowd a second conference win to cheer about? Me, I can't see it happening. It's not that I don't realize that 'Nova's had its problems from time to time, but rather that I think DePaul's been ALL problems for the most part all year long. They got their one win in the Big East to get off the snide, and that's likely their fun ride for the season.

Pitt vs. St. John's = The Johnnies have, on the other hand, gotten genuinely hot. Can they do to Pitt what they did to Duke in the Garden? Yeah, maybe. I'm still not totally convinced they are yet for real, but the Panthers haven't exactly been crushing people either. Me, I figure Pitt by three possessions. But hey, you never know.

Duquesne vs. Dayton = We talked above about Xavier and Temple in the A-10, but the Dukes still have a shot at it too. They cannot afford to stumble against the Flyers however, and as I expect that they know this, I'd also expect them to come out focused and intense. Dukes, by at least half-a-dozen.

Notre Dame vs. West Virginia = The Irish have already achieved more than most thought they would this season. The Mountaineers started off being better than was expected, but have tripped up a bit of late. It would not shock me if they gave ND a tough time in Morgantown, nor even if they get the win. But I'm sticking to Baby Brother Ben and the Irish for now.

Georgia vs. Tennessee = This has the potential to be a really good game in Knoxville. Both teams have played good ball from time to time, and both are tied with Kentucky at 6-5 for 3rd in the SEC East. Neither wants to drop to .500, and even possibly drop out of consideration for an at-large. Dawgs, or Vols? Pick your poison.

Virginia Tech vs. Virginia = Were we to talk Merit scholars here, or even Rhodes, this would be no contest. And it is in Charlottesville, where the Cavs did edge out Clemson by a deuce, so there's always a shot. But that's about all there is, one shot. The Hokies, by 8 or 10.

Florida State vs. Wake Forest = And this is in Greensboro . . . as if that makes any difference. And true, the Seminoles did lose their junior forward Chris Singleton to a broken foot . . . the one player they likely could least afford to lose. And also true I'd like for the Deacs to help out my Heels and steal a win here, to ease the pressure from below for 2nd in the ACC. But I don't see it happening. FSU here, by near or far, depending on how they react to the missing piece.

Austin Peay vs. Fairfield = Here is another nice non-conference game, with top teams from the OVC and the MAAC facing off. For those who like such things, like me, this one looks like fun.


That will be it for now. Enjoy. Screw Drew.

[jcruse64]

Wow! You called it on the VCU/Wichita State game. Literally down to the wire, and WS nearly sank the buzzer beater.

Here we go with the Cards/UConn game....

[gettysburgfreak]

Since I am home in NY for a week I got tickets to see Syracuse play Rutgers this afternoon in the Dome! Can't wait.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Wow! You called it on the VCU/Wichita State game. Literally down to the wire, and WS nearly sank the buzzer beater.

Here we go with the Cards/UConn game....

Well, even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then:

VCU 68 - Wichita State 67 = And not only did that despairation 3 rim out at the horn, VCU had to hit 2 FTs with 0.8 ticks to take that lead.

And there goes Calhoun's Huskies, back to CT with tails between their legs:

Louisville 71 - U. Conn 58 = I am not a big Cardinal fan, though I do dislike Pitino less than I disliked Denny Crum. But I really don't like Calhoun one damn bit. Not only do I think he cheats, I purely hate his "Get outta my face, you farkin' @$$hole!" attitude. So I love it when he gets spanked like this.

Originally Posted by gettysburgfreak

Since I am home in NY for a week I got tickets to see Syracuse play Rutgers this afternoon in the Dome! Can't wait.

I hope you have a good time, and get to enjoy a good game . . . though I suspect you really don't want TOO good a game. Me, I would not think the Scarlet Knight would give you one, so no worries . . . unless they are hitting their shots over the zone, and the Orange cannot score, again.

Back soon with weekend previews.

[The Poet]

Aside from the scores mentioned above, both Princeton and Harvard did what they needed to stay up in the Ivy. The Tigers remain 8-0 by taking Yale 58-51, while the Crimson stay just back at 8-1 with their 73-60 win over Cornell. Both are right back in action today, on short rest, facing Brown and Columbia resp't. I'd not expect Princeton to have much trouble with Brown, but the Harlem Lions could give Haa'vad some problem. They are not really all that good, but they do not totally suck. Other big games include:


Morehead State vs. Indiana State = OK, so this ain't all that big, as it is not a conference game, so won't help decide if Morehead or Joe's Racers take the OVC. And I'd tend to think it will go Morehead's way, though Bird's old team can hoop a bit. But I had to mention it to keep Joe happy, since . . .

Murray State vs. Evansville = Here's another non-OVC game, and if the Racers don't race away with it I will be shocked . . . and Joe will be p!$$ed.

Mississippi vs. Mississippi State = No way these two will take the SEC West, but it should be some fun anyway.

Missouri vs. Iowa State = And if the Tigers don't stomp all over I-State, they should be stomped on some themselves.

Texas vs. Nebraska = And if the Longhorns want even a shot at that # 1 ranking come Monday, they need to shuck the 'Huskers. They ought to, even though Nebraska itself is not half-bad. They are, however, just half-good, so if Texas doesn't take 'em by 20, Barnes needs to chase them around campus like unbranded heifers.

San Diego State vs. Air Force = The Aztecs should not have much trouble with the Falcons either, and ought to take control by the half.

Kansas vs. Colorado = This one has half-a-chance of being a decent game. The Jayhawks are better, but they are inconsistent. The Buffaloes have shown the ability to play a good game from time to time. This might be decided in the last five minutes.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina = You could say about the same thing here. I'd give the Wildcats a decided edge over the Gamecocks, but not by more than three or four possessions.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma = Maybe these Wildcats have once more found their feet, if that game against KU was any indication. Then again, who knows? Me, I'd pick them over the Sooners anyway, though not by much.

North Carolina vs. Boston College = And I don't expect the Heels to pluck the Eagles by as much as they did up north earlier. In fact, if they play as poorly as they did in their lackluster win over Wake, they could just as easily lose. But if Roy got their attention, and got them to refocus, they should win by a handful or two.

Vanderbilt vs. Auburn = And the Commodores should beat the Tigers like a red-headed stepchild.

Syracuse vs. Rutgers = Like I said to the 'freak above, the Orange ought to take RU to the woodshed . . . IF the Knights have a cold afternoon from outside the zone, and IF the 'Cuse can actually hit a few themselves.

BYU vs. TCU = If this one lasts longer than a half, I'll be surprised.

Michigan vs. Iowa = I'm not exactly sure either of these two are truly any good, but they are neither all that terrible. This one could be fun, though if the young talent of the Wolverines have a good day, they may run away with it.

Missouri State vs. Valparaiso = Here's another pretty good non-conference matchup . . . maybe not as good as that VCU/Wichita one last night, but damn decent anyway.

Arizona vs. Washington = And here's a key game in the Pac-10 race. The desert 'Cats have a meaningless slim lead over these Huskies, with even less of one over UCLA. Since those Bruins are bright enough to realize both can't lose, I'd assume they'll pull for Washington. Me, I just want a good game, and I think this will be one. 'Zona, by a bucket.

Cincinnati vs. Providence = The Bearcats have slipped a bit of late, and are not the challenge they've been in past years. The Friars just gave DePaul their first conference win all season (so far ), so will wish to rebound from that embarrassment. This could be some fun too.

George Mason vs. Northern Iowa = So could this one. NIU may not be nearly as good as they were last year, but they ain't half-bad either. GM's fairly well- matched with them. I figure it will be close, start to finish.

Arkansas vs. Alabama = The Tide want to grab onto the SEC West so nobody can steal it from them. The 'Hogs won't do so, yet would like to play the spoiler. I'm really not convinced either of these teams are all that good, speaking on a national level anyway, so I'm not sure how to go here. So, I'll leave that to the SEC fans to pick 'em as they sees 'em.

Georgetown vs. South Florida = If the Hoyas have any trouble at all from the Bulls, I will be shocked.

Xavier vs. Fordham = Again here too. This one's already over.

Memphis vs. Rice = Make that here three. The Tigers stay on top of the CUSA, for now anyway.

San Francisco vs. Gonzaga = Although the Dons are barely above .500 overall, they are tied with Gonzaga 8-3 in WCC play. Both are behind St. Mary's 10-2, and I don't believe either one will catch the Gaels. For sure, whoever loses this one won't. Here's your late-day fun. Speaking of the Gaels . . .

Utah State vs. St. Mary's = You may have gathered from previous posts that I'm dubious about the # 25 ranking of the Aggies, based upon their winning streak against two dozen cupcakes. Well, St. Mary's is not cupcake, despite the name. In fact, I'm gonna pick them to spank the Aggies, and take their cupcakes too.

Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State = Here are two more teams I've yet to figure out. These Aggies have been more consistent, so I'd go with them. Still, I would not be surprised if the Coyboys give them a fight, for a half or so at least.

Seton Hall vs. Marquette = I almost left this game out, as it's getting to the point it does not matter, for either squad. But there are some good players on both teams, so it might be worth a look.

Illinois vs. Michigan State = Yet this one matters a lot for the Spartans. With their 14-11 record, and despite their "respectable" 6-7 Big Ten mark, they are in danger of missing the cut for an at-large bid. They follow this game @ Minnesota, then hosting Purdue, so they are looking at the potential of 3 straight losses, and a .500 record. They finish against Iowa and Michigan, both winnable, but both losable too, which would leave the conference tournament their final shot at getting a ticket to The Dance. A win over the Illini today won't resolve the issue either way, yet they really REALLY need to win a few more games. Here's a chance to, and they need to take advantage . . . or blame nobody but themselves.


Back shortly with some early scores (including a few surprises), and Sunday games.

[The Poet]

As promised, a few early finals:


Villanova 77 - DePaul 75 (OT) = The Blue Demons damn near follow up their first conference win in 20+ tries with their 2nd in a row, over a highly-regarded 'Nova team. They had it, they lost it, they got another shot, and they lost it again. A tough fight by them, and give them all the credit. As for the Wildcats, escaping with the win . . . well, I guess it beats escaping with the loss, but not by much.

St. John's 60 - Pitt 59 = And I'd imagine the Panthers would agree with that. It has gotten to the point when a win by the Red Storm is no surprise, yet this should be a bit of one. Another great victory for Lavin's boys, which will certainly earn them that bid they desire. And although Pitt still may remain the class of the Big Mouth, this knocks down their shot at the # 1 ranking on Monday, and could open up the door for Notre Dame for the league lead . . . if not for . . .

West Virginia 72 - Notre Dame 58 = Wow. OK, the other two might be shocks, major or minor, but at least the scores were close. This, this constitutes a whipping. Well, the Mountaineers needed a good win more, to keep their fading hopes for a bid alive.

Virginia 61 - Virginia Tech 54 = Wow again. Yeah, I mighta given the Cavs half-a-chance to win one at home, but I never really thought the Hokies would allow that. UVA has had damn few wins lately, losing 10 of 14 before today, and I hope they savor this one.

Georgia 69 - Tennessee 63 = And a good win on the road for the Bulldogs here, with another bad loss by the Vols. You know, they actually played better when Bruce Pearl was on suspension, and was not coaching them? Who'd a thunk.


Oh, and Florida State and Mississippi State spanked Wake and Ole Miss too, but at the moment I'm paying more attention to the Texas/Nebraska game, where the Shucks hold a double-digit lead with 2 to play. Oops, now it's 8, with a buck-and-a-half. This is getting to be fun!


Sunday games include:


Cleveland State vs. ODU = Another very good non-conference game. Me, I like ODU here.

Ohio State vs. Purdue = And if the Buckeyes want that # 1 back (don't ask me why, it just brings trouble, but that ain't my biznizz), they'd best not pull a Pitt, or what the 'Horns are trying hard to do. I'd call this a pick 'em, except for the fact that the 'Makers have not had a horrid shooting night lately, and they're due.

Florida vs. LSU = If the Gators don't chomp on the Tigers, I don't know what.

Clemson vs. Miami = And although these Tigers have slipped some in the previous few weeks, I can't see them having too many problems with the 'Canes.

Temple vs. St. Joseph's = In the past, this would be one of those games I'd wait for all year long. This year? Not so much. That does not mean the Hawks can't still show up and give the Owls trouble, but I certainly don't believe it.

N. C. State vs. Maryland = The Wolfpack is just playing out the string, which might be a good thing for their young talent, giving them a chance to relax and simply play. But the jocks must be getting a little tight in College Park, since many more losses means NIT for the Terps. The last time I remember that happening, Gary Williams whined and cried and baitched about his team getting too little respect, and not making the NCAAs not for lack of merit but for prejudice. Then they promptly went out and lost their first NIT game, on their own stinkin' court no less. Part of me would like to see that again, and part of me never wants to see such a pitiful display ever again. Bottom line, UM needs to win.

Duke vs. Georgia Tech = And it's beginning to look like Dook might get a few more votes than zip for the # 1 slot on Monday, if they can win this one. Me, I can't see the Wreck wrecking that.

Wisconsin vs. Penn State = But I can see the Nittany Lions wrecking the week a bit more for the Badgers, who came off their big win against OSU just to lose to Purdue. Yet, on second though, it is in Madison, where it's not easy to win. Ehhhhh, I'll go with the home boys here.

UCLA vs. California = The Bruins need to win to stay in touch for the Pac-10 lead. I see them taking this Bear-fight, as I think they have a few pounds on the boys from Berkeley.


Oh, and if you've been waiting for it:


Nebraska 70 - Texas 67 = See, Joe? How right we are! Even a sniff at a shot at a chance at a #1 rank, and the Longhorns stampede. What a load of bull.


See you next week, same time, same station. Enjoy. Screw Drew.

[rebelknight]

With Kansas, Pitt, and Texas all falling this week it kind of makes my earlier question irrelevant. Now Ohio State just needs to beat Purdue on the road tomorrow.

[jcruse64]

Boy, St John's just won't go away, will they? Some pretty impressive Top 25 wins for them, that had better not go unnoticed come Selection Sunday.

UK looked, and played, pretty determined today. I just wish they could sustain this type effort, especially on the road.

Looks like Peay got beat in its Buster game; hope Murray nails theirs. We stayed home for this one, but basic cable doesn't have enough ESPN's for us to catch it.

Notre Dame takes a loss to WVU; Texas gets bounced. Lots of shuffling in the top 15 this week.

[jcruse64]

Oops! OSU goes down.

Interesting week.

[rebelknight]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Oops! OSU goes down.

Interesting week.

Wow. Tomorrow should be interesting when those rankings come out. Too bad OSU couldn't pull it together today.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Boy, St John's just won't go away, will they? Some pretty impressive Top 25 wins for them, that had better not go unnoticed come Selection Sunday.

UK looked, and played, pretty determined today. I just wish they could sustain this type effort, especially on the road.

Looks like Peay got beat in its Buster game; hope Murray nails theirs. We stayed home for this one, but basic cable doesn't have enough ESPN's for us to catch it.

Notre Dame takes a loss to WVU; Texas gets bounced. Lots of shuffling in the top 15 this week.

Don't worry. St. John's is in. I'd bet a handful of my crappy cigars on that.

Nobody ever said the UK 'Cats couldn't play, when they feel like it anyway. They proved this, spanking the 'Cocks 90-59 at home. As for their road woes . . . well, if they cut Cal's pay in half, they could afford to put Rupp Arena on wheels and take it with them everywhere.

Yeah, AP goes down in their BB game to Fairfield 76-69, but there's no shame in losing to the Stags, especially on the road. They've had a solid team all season. And your Racers just crushed Evansville 72-47, due mainly to outscoring them 2-to-1 (actually 42-21) in the 2nd half.

And if you think YOU'RE confused by what happened the past week, consider the voters! Earlier, when this "# 1 Rank" discussion began, I stated that 5 teams might be in the mix. Turns out, it was six of them. First-place votes in the AP Poll went to Duke (35), OSU (10), KU (5), Pitt (12), UT (1), and . . . hold the phone! . . . BYU (2). So don't feel rained on. The good news is, unlike the BCS Football rankings, all this garbage don't mean $#!+.


Even with a number of games already mentioned, there were far too many for me to cover today. So I've picked those which best interested me. Saturday:


San Diego State 70 - Air Force 58 = By itself, the game means squat. But the Aztecs keep rolling, making their head-to-head with BYU this weekend HUGE.

Alabama 69 - Arkansas 56 = Pretty much the same lack of importance in itself here too, at least for the Tide. It might cost the Hogs down the road, but that's their problem to solve, if they can. 'Bama has the SEC West all sewn up, yet are still likely the 4th or 5th best team in the conference. Just my .

Arizona 87 - Washington 86 = A great win for the desert 'Cats, and gives them a second leg up in the Pac-10 race. As for the Huskies, they once again disappoint their fans by failing to achieve their expectations. Though maybe not as badly as . . .

Texas Tech 78 - Baylor 69 = Is this a joke? Can you remember when the Bears were nationally ranked, as high as (at least, as I recall) # 11 in the country? What the hell? Sheesh. This is almost as bad as . . .

Brown 75 - Princeton 65 = OK, so maybe the Tigers were tired after back-to-backers. Still, there's no damn excuse for spitting up the Ivy lead like this, to a team like Brown anyway.

Michigan 75 - Iowa 72 (OT) = The young Logans did it again, and continue to do their part to make the mid-pack of the Big Ten one giant clusterfark. At this point we know which teams want to try to win it, and which ones don't have a shot in hell, but all the rest are in one messy lump. Case in point:

Michigan State 61 - Illinois 57 = And what does all this mean? Well, the Big Ten will get its fair share of at-large bids, and maybe even one or two more than that. But it won't get enough to make everybody there happy, and somebody will be left out in the cold. So somebody, anybody, in this mosh pit better step up and make some statement, soon.

Kansas State 77 - Oklahoma 62 = To a lesser degree, the same might be said of the Big 12. I think that, despite their mid-season woes, the prairie 'Cats are pretty safe for an at-large. And though this win was not NEARLY as good as their previous one, it's still a decent one for a team that's not had as many as they maybe should.

North Carolina 48 - Boston College 46 = Ugly, ugly, ugly win. And don't tell me BC did what it wanted to by slowing the game down. The Heels should have taken them out of that gameplan when the built a double-digit lead, had they but kept the pressure on, since you can't slow the game when you keep falling further and further behind. I guess Roy said it as well as anyone: "Not a lot to say. We won. That's the bottom line." True. Pitiful, but true.

George Mason 67 - Northern Iowa 66 = Seem like I said this would be a good 'un.

Rice 67 - Memphis 52 = And I can't recall mentioning this game at all, as there was no way in hell that Rice could win it. And why would they? Rice has never . . . NEVER!! . . . beaten Memphis before. Well, I do recall remarking earlier that the CUSA was a mess.

Utah State 75 - St. Mary's 65 = Yeah, I know. I picked the Gaels to beat the Aggies. So, sue me. I still don't think Utah State has faced any tough games, and I did feel that St. Mary's would not stumble again. Hey, I've been wrong before, and the only way I won't be wrong again is if I just STFU.

Georgetown 61 - South Florida 55 = Here's more proof I'm an idiot. I figured the Hoyas would beat the Bulls like a drum. I still think they should have. Yet that was not the only Big East shock, aside from the Pitt and ND losses already noted:

Syracuse 84 - Rutgers 80 (OT) = Are you joking? Extra innings, in the Dome, against the Scarlet freakin' Knights? Good golly Miss Molly. Forget the Knicks or Nets getting Carmelo Anthony, it's the Orange needs him back!


Then, on Sunday, we all saw:


Purdue 76 - Ohio State 63 = Or maybe I should just post "E'Twaun Moore beats the Buckeyes". You don't often see a show like that one he put on by getting his career-high 38 (exactly 1/2 of all 'Maker points made) on such a huge stage. Yeah, so it wasn't the NCAA Championship game, but still. Give the Buckeyes credit for not quitting, and cutting a 10-point lead to 4 with plenty of time to go. Give Moore more, for saving that potential backcourt violation, then hitting the 3 to take the air out of OSU's balloon. The game was sloppy at times, but all in all a lot of fun . . . if you're not a Buckeye, anyway.

Duke 79 - Georgia Tech 57 = No surprise, no shock, and not much of a game at Cameron. Dook spanks a team it was expected to spank, and backs into a # 1 ranking due to the fact that they managed to keep from falling on their faces.

Clemson 63 - Miami 59 = Not all that long ago the "experts" were all up in Clemson's business, saying how they were moving up. Well, they won, on the road, against a garbage 'Cane squad, by 4 whole points. So, there's that.

California 76 - UCLA 72 (OT) = And that's more than the Bruins can say. They too were just starting to get a little attention, and were still in the hunt with Arizona for the Pac-10. I guess mathematically they still are, but this bad loss to a team they should have beaten, coupled with 'Zona's good win against the OTHER league competition, does not help one damn bit.

ODU 74 - Cleveland State 63 = Another one of those good Bracket Buster matchups, and a nice win for the Monarchs. It won't help them steal the CAC from Geo. Mason, but it might just have sealed an at-large for them.


Today already we've had one upset, with the UCF Knights beating CUSA-leading UTEP 74 - 68. I don't know how the Miners let this happen, in El Paso no less, but as the Orlando Mickeys haven't had much to cheer about lately, we'll give it to them

In limited action, we also will have:


Syracuse vs. Villanova = At this point there are only 8 Big East teams with either 5 or 6 conference losses, so the picture there is clear . . . compared to tar. Hey, it has gotten to the point that nobody can predict these games, and the home team rarely seems to have much advantage, so I'm hesitant to even say the game's in Philly. I believe that one of these two teams will win the game, and the other shall lose it. Take that to the bank.

Kansas vs. Oklahoma State = In contrast, playing a game in Phog Allen Fieldhouse is almost always an advantage for the Jayhawks, even though they may not need much of one against the so-so Coyboys. But KU will be missing their starting PG Tyshawn Taylor, who's been suspended from the team for violating team rules. So, if their freshman "phenom" Josh Selby doesn't show up pretty big, they might struggle a bit. Stay tuned.

Kent State vs. W. Michigan = And none of you guys may care, but this is a pretty big game in the Mid-American. Both teams are at or near the top of their divisions in the MAC, and neither one will get a sniff at an at-large here in a few weeks.


That's all for me today. See you here tomorrow. Enjoy. Oh, and Screw Drew.

[The Poet]

Interesting week? Quite a bit more than that, IMHO. This is the first time all four top-ranked teams (well, FIVE, if you count the Buckeyes twice ) lost in the same week since November 2003. What makes that even more significant is the fact that, in November, we really have very little idea of which teams are actually good, whereas by February we have a pretty solid idea.

Update soon.