College Hoops Thread '10-'11

[The Poet]

Before I get into scores and schedules, there's one sizable story to present. The SEC has suspended Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl for the first 8 conference games for "violating NCAA rules and misleading investigators". It is important to note that this is a move by the SEC commissioner, persuant to his authority to do so, and will NOT preclude any additional or more severe future sanctions which the NCAA itself may impose, following the conclusion of their own investigations.


Some of the other scores from yesterday not yet covered, which jumped out at me:


# 3 Kansas State 76 - Presbyterian 67 = Good lord. Presbyterian? Are you kiddin' me? Talk about your bad wins. For at least the next month, I don't wanna hear any K-State fans cryin' that they ain't gettin' no respect.

# 5 Pitt 79 - Maryland 70 = Now here is a good 9-point win for you.

Texas 90 - # 13 Illinois 84 = And here's an even better 6-point one for the Longhorns.

# 15 Missouri 66 - Western Illinois 61 = Well, at least one team from the Land of Lincoln showed up to play. Or maybe the Big 12 ain't nearly as big as it thinks it is.

Santa Clara 66 - Rice 65 = One nice tight victory for Santa Clara here. It's not the biggest win the Broncos have ever had, but it's a good one nonetheless.

Iona 81 - Richmond 77 (2OT) = And here's an even nicer, tighter win for the Gaels over the Spiders.


So far today, West Virginia has sent Vandy packing from Puerto Rico, 74-71, while ODU's dispatched St. Peter's 59-52. Neither game was high-powered, but both were competitive. In action to follow:

# 1 Duke vs. Colgate = Colgate? Hey, everybody eats some cupcakes in November, I realize that. But I took a look at Dook's non-conference schedule, and they aren't playing much of anybody all year! OK, after this they have Marquette and Oregon, then Michigan State and Butler, then Bradley, St. Louis, Elon, UNC-G, UAB, St, John's, Temple . . . yes, there are a few tests in there, but mostly they are pop-quizzes.

# 5 Pitt vs. Texas = Now here, here we have us a game. Let's see if the Longhorns can build upon their "upset" of the Illini, or if the Panthers keep moving beyond their win against the Terps.

# 7 Kansas vs. North Texas = Ehhhhh. Pass.

# 8 UNC vs. Minnesota = This will be the Heels first real test. Seems that Roy Williams wants to run again. If the Gophers try to do so, heels may be all they see, all night long. But if they can control the pace and limit the possessions, they could keep the score lower and have at least a decent shot.

# 11 (for now) Illinois vs. Maryland = Here are two good teams, both coming off of painful losses. It shapes up to be a total war.

# 12 Kentucky vs. Portland = As would you, I'd expect this one to be over early.

N.C. State vs. George Mason = This pits the darling of the 2006 NCAA Tourney against a previous one . . . if anyone beside me is old enough to remember 1983. I'd expect the Wolfpack to have about as easy a time as they did yesterday against ECTC, but with young talent one can never tell.

Xavier vs. Iowa = And this matches a perennial mid-major factor against a perennial Big Ten non-factor. Still, it could be reasonably close.


I saw no early Saturday games of much interest, so I will wait until noonish to report. Until then . . . enjoy.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by The Poet

# 1 Duke vs. Colgate = Colgate? Hey, everybody eats some cupcakes in November, I realize that. But I took a look at Dook's non-conference schedule, and they aren't playing much of anybody all year! . . . yes, there are a few tests in there, but mostly they are pop-quizzes.

You're kidding right? They will face 5 tournament teams in a row (Marquette, K State, Oregon, Mich St then Butler) before going into the conference schedule which is tough enough, as you know. Who else will do that?

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

You're kidding right? They will face 5 tournament teams in a row (Marquette, K State, Oregon, Mich St then Butler) before going into the conference schedule which is tough enough, as you know. Who else will do that?

Yeah, I'm kidding a little, but not as much as you protest. Nobody expected Marquette to give Duke the problems they did, K-State was not scheduled but only a potential opponent out in Kansas City (and are not known for winning big games either), Oregon out of the "meh" Pac-10 ain't exactly unbeatable, Michigan State . . . well, I'll give you that one, though it's beginning to look like they are not yet up to snuff (as we speak Washington's up by one over them), and if anybody expects Butler to be what they were last year they are nuts.

I never said they weren't good, and they will be tested some this season. But you also didn't note that they follow those games you posted with Bradley, Saint Louis, Elon, and N.C. Greensboro . . . not exactly top-flight talent. Be a fan, but be fair, my brother of a different blue color.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by The Poet

Saint Louis, Elon, and N.C. Greensboro . . . not exactly top-flight talent.

Compared to who? UNCA, CoC, Evansville, Long Beach St., William and Mary, Rutgers or St. Francis?

I don't know about you, but I knew Marquette was a very tough team this year and so did most of the talking heads on tv and radio. Everybody and their brother knew they would be facing K State. Yeah, Pac 10 sux but Oregon is still a tourny team and that is a very, very tough place to play on the road. Agreed on Butler but they are also still a tourny team. And Mich St. has always had Duke's number no matter how good or bad they are. That games scares me most as Izzo is the K-Buster.

I'm as fair as anyone. All teams have "cupcakes" as you can't and don't wanna schedule all top 25 teams for the non-con. But when you contrast those cupcakes with tough teams in Duke's schedule, it seems quite balanced to me.

BTW, I watched Harrison Barnes play three games and even though he went off in one of them, he is about as All American as a Zippo knock-off from China.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Compared to who? UNCA, CoC, Evansville, Long Beach St., William and Mary, Rutgers or St. Francis?

I don't know about you, but I knew Marquette was a very tough team this year and so did most of the talking heads on tv and radio. Everybody and their brother knew they would be facing K State. Yeah, Pac 10 sux but Oregon is still a tourny team and that is a very, very tough place to play on the road. Agreed on Butler but they are also still a tourny team. And Mich St. has always had Duke's number no matter how good or bad they are. That games scares me most as Izzo is the K-Buster.

I'm as fair as anyone. All teams have "cupcakes" as you can't and don't wanna schedule all top 25 teams for the non-con. But when you contrast those cupcakes with tough teams in Duke's schedule, it seems quite balanced to me.

BTW, I watched Harrison Barnes play three games and even though he went off in one of them, he is about as All American as a Zippo knock-off from China.

I could argue that Charleston is a tough team (just ask the Terps), and that Rutgers is improving. But I won't. I could also protest that you left Illinois, Kentucky, and Texas off your list of UNC opponents above. But I won't. And I could argue that, after losing to the Heels for the previous three years, and crapping out of the NCAA Tourney early to boot, the Dookies have been crowing for the last one about how much better they are than the Heels, and thus SHOULD have a tougher schedule than their neighbors over in Chapel Hill. But I won't. Yet I must insist that not all schools have cupcakes in their non-conference schedule, since those self-same cupcakes always have a tough row to hoe, and are working low cotton all fall long.

As for Barnes, I myself have said I never buy into pre-season hype, much less the pre-career hype that was dumped on this young man. Until you prove it on the court, both you and everyone else should just hold their peace. There's a big difference between potential and production. However, I will submit that, had he signed with Duke, as most experts thought he would before he shocked them by going to the Heels, you may have a bit more patience and tolerance with his learning-curve.

I'll be back sometime today with the post-holiday update.

[jcruse64]

Well,

that was a nice slap to the back of the head of Calipari & Co .

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Well,

that was a nice slap to the back of the head of Calipari & Co .

Indeed. And to be honest (for a change ), my only problem with it was that Cal and Calhoun couldn't both lose.

For those who don't know what we're talking about, I shall start my update with some Wednesday scores, including:


U. Conn 84 - Kentucky 67 = The Huskies came into this season unranked and with low expectations. That has been dramatically changed in the last few days, what with back-to-back wins over the Spartans and the Wildcats. I would never have predicted this. But in my defense, nobody else did either. And I did predict that UK would not be as good as they were last year. So it's not a "glass half-empty or half-full" issue . . . I just need a different glass. I did not think U. Conn would win either game, and I certainly did not think they would spank UK this badly.

# 2 Michigan State 76 - # 13 Washington 71 = Those aforementioned Spartans bounce back with a nice win against the presumed class of the Pac-10, and had to come back from 15 or so down to do so. Is it early-season growing pains? Are they overrated, or these Huskies "underrated"? Ask me again in a few months.

# 7 Villanova 82 - UCLA 70 = I'm not sure what this means. 'Nova hasn't exactly been a world-beater so far, and the Bruins may be as weak as they were in their last campaign, yet may be improved, and so this win by a dozen either may or may not be a good one. But it is a W, regardless.

# 24 Tennessee 77 - VCU 72 = Again, this one bothers me. VCU has often been a quality mid-major, but this is awfully close against a ranked team. Plus, the Vols only beat Missouri State by 4, so they could be in trouble once the SEC kicks off their wars. It is worth keeping an eye on, for sure.

Cincinnati 54 - Savannah State 41 = It is not rare, but it is uncommon, for two college teams to score under 100 points collectively. I won't diss Savannah for their showing, but the Bearcats should be concerned.

Presbyterian 69 - Princeton 67 = The Tigers are supposed to contend for the Ivy this year, and they may do so. Nobody can fault them for losing to Duke in Cameron, but this one and the L against James Madison does not bode well.

Rhode Island 74 - Drexel 68 = I had me that feeling this could be a good one, and seems like it was. Watch out for these Rams . . . they won't be an easy out.

St. John's 78 - Ball State 73 (OT) = Some contests are a game of 2 halves, but this was one of three. The Johnnies outscored BS 34-22 in the first, ended up tied in regulation by going 29-41 in the second, then won with a 15-10 extra session. As this was part of the so-called Great Alaska Shootout, maybe it was a factor of only one side of the gym being heated, thus making it "cold" at one end.


On Turkey Day, we had a few games that weren't turkeys:


California 57 - # 21 Temple 50 = All the talk last season was about how weak the Pac-10 had become. I never totally bought into that, and their performance in the NCAAs showed they were not the pansies everyone thought. As for the Owls, I questioned their relatively high regard from the get-go. Hey, they ain't bad, don't get me wrong. But aside from this loss, keep in mind they only got by Seton Hall 62-56 earlier, so may not be the giant-killers some of their fans hoped.

Notre Dame 89 - Georgia 83 (2OT) = Here was a total war between the Irish and the Bulldogs, and those in the seats got their money's worth. My only problem is, with two "name" teams going head-to-head, that's really not a lot of points for 50 minutes of play.

Oklahoma State 60 - DePaul 56 = Another good game, and a nice win for the 'Boys from Stillwater.

Murray State 55 - Stanford 52 = And I don't care if the Pac-10's down or not, this win by the Racers over the Tree is a good one.

Boston College 67 = Texas A&M 65 = And here's a good one for a projected mid-pack ACC squad.

UNLV 80 - Tulsa 71 = It's much too soon to know if either of these will do much this year, but both have had success in the past, and they gave us a decent matchup.


Today, the Wisconsin Badgers have already rained on BC's one-day parade by knocking them out of the Old Spice Classic () 65-55 with a strong second-half comeback. To follow we have:


# 3 Ohio State vs. Miami OH = Oh oh. Unless you're a Buckeye, don't waste your time, as this Battle of Ohio won't be one.

# 4 Kansas State vs. Texas Southern = Nor will this border war.

# 6 Kansas vs. Ohio U. = And even though OU took out the Hoyas last March, don't look for them to shoot down the Jayhawks.

# 7 Villanova vs. # 24 Tennessee = This one could be a real good fight, though when one considers how iffy both teams have played so far, it may not have the significance one might believe.

# 9 Syracuse vs. Michigan = On paper, the Orange should own the Wolverines. But there's two buts, or perhaps just two cheeks to one butt. First, both team are undefeated so far. Second, neither team has actually played anybody so far. This is the first test for both squads, so is worth watching in that regard at least.

# 10 Purdue vs. Southern Illinois = Here's another feasting on leftover turkey.

# 18 San Diego State vs. San Diego Christian = I wouldn't watch this one if you paid me. Well, maybe if you paid me, but not otherwise.

#21 Temple vs. Georgia = Now here, here's a game I'd watch. At this point, both teams have something to prove, and I expect both to come out focused.

# 23 BYU vs. South Florida = Persuant to our previous discussion regarding cupcake schedules, quiz me this one: Are the Stormin' Mormons ever gonna play somebody?

UCLA vs. VCU = This is one of those game that might tell us if either, or both, of these programs are coming back. Could be a tight one.

Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech = And I'd almost bet you this will be a good one.

California vs. Notre Dame = Here's another good shot at a nice one.

UTEP vs. Georgia Tech = And again.

Richmond vs. Wright State = Ditto.

Santa Clara vs. Arizona = Dit-three.

Tulsa vs. Stanford = Ibid.

Weber State vs. Arizona State = And here, coupled with a handful already mentioned above, could give us a better indication regarding the strength or weakness of the Pac-10.

UAB vs. Arkansas = Another potential very nice game.

St. Mary's vs. Texas Tech = Not only have the Gaels already beaten St. John's, they embarassed Chi. State 121-52 . . . for what that's worth. The Red Raiders may win down in South Padre, but they won't do it in a walk.

UNLV vs. Murray State = A generation back, and this would be a laffer. Today, it could be a squeaker.


That's all I got for now. I migth pop back after I gag down my lunch, but in any case . . . enjoy.