College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[The Poet]

Too little time, too many games. Saturday:


UCLA 75 - Washington 69 = The Bruins at least salvage a little pride by preventing the Huskies from winning the Pac-12 outright . . . even though they did back into it Sunday.

Marquette 83 - Georgetown 69 = Not surprising Marquette won, but the margin does not bode well for the Hoyas' post-season hopes. Their youngsters may be getting tired.

Illinois State 65 - Wichita State 64 = This one shocked me so much it moved me to an unforced error. I put the Shockers in the league championship game, and they did not make it there. They will probably still get an at-large, however.

Mississippi - Alabama 51 = A good win for Ole Miss, though it may be too little too late for them. Like many other schools, they could need a run in the conference tourney to get off the bubble.

Tennessee 68 - Vanderbilt 61 = And I'm not sure this gets the Vols off either, though it does go a good ways towards putting them into serious consideration. But the SEC is so top-heavy the league may not get as many at-large as they are accustomed to receive.

Syracuse 58 - Louisville 49 = Hey, if you score less than 50 points, you don's deserve to win. Yet if you score less than 60 points, you may find yourself in serious trouble down the road. If you are an aspiring Cinderella, wish for the Orange in your bracket.

San Diego State 98 - TCU 92 (OT) = Here's that blow-out I referenced above with Larry. Though his Aztecs came into the game with much better odds of getting an at-large than did Joe's Racers in his game, I feel certain Larry was sweating this one out also.

Penn 68 - Yale 47 = That's one of the wins the Quakers needed to tie Harvard for the Ivy. One more, against Princeton, and we'll have that play-in game again this year, with the Crimson maybe NOT snapping their NCAA-less streak going back to 1946 once more.

Iowa State 80 - Baylor 72 = I think I told you I could see this one coming. And I know I told you long ago that the Baylor Bears were not as good as the polls said they were 6 weeks ago.

North Carolina 88 - Duke 70 = Can you say revenge? Or can you say hubris, since the Blue Devils decided to poke the bear before the game started by playing highlights of their win in Chapel Hill, and the crowd started chanting insults at Zeller. Well, go ahead, Dookies, have your fun. Let's see who's laughing now. BTW, that 48-24 halftime deficit was the largest in Cameron Indoor Sty-dium history.

Harvard 67 - Cornell 63 = The Crimson tried awfully hard to hand the Ivy to Penn here, and there's no excuse for them letting Big Red play them this tight. There's also no way they can feel disrespected if they are not granted an at-large if they cannot win the conference, based on this poor performance in a must-win situation. Yeah, they got the W. Big whup.

Valparaiso 65 - Butler 46 = Valpo shatters Butler's dream of making it back to the Dance. Well, it was a good run for Brad Stevens and the Bulldogs.

Kansas 73 - Texas 63 = As with the 'Cuse win above, it is not a very impressive victory by a probable #1-seed. And the 'Horns really could have used the win to get a better grasp on an at-large.


Sunday:


Stanford 75 - California 70 = I start with this one as it's the backhalf of that UCLA/Wash game above. The Huskies needed help from the Trees to win the Pac-12, with the Golden Bears end up in a tie for 2nd with the Ducks. Will all three of these teams get bids? Will somebody else steal the league tourney and grab the automatic, sending one of these to the pine? This could get real interesting.

Kentucky 74 - Florida 59 = The 'Cats looked real good in this one . . . either that, or the Gators looked awfully bad. Me, I'd split the difference, and give UK props for playing well, and Billy Donovan none for having his team ready for this one.

Florida State 80 - Clemson 72 = I'm not sure the Tigers would have gotten any serious at-large consideration had they taken this one, but you can be pretty sure they'll need a run in the ACC tourney to get a look now.

N. C. State 70 - Virginia Tech 58 = And I'm not sure the W over the "meh" Hokies helped the hopes of Jerry's Wolfpack much either. They too likely need to win maybe 2 this week in the tourney to feel safe . . . or at least to have a legitimate reason to moan-and-cry if they get dissed.

Michigan 71 - Penn State 65 = Another case of a better team playing down to their opponent this weekend. OK, so the Logans did break that 65-point mark I've been harping on so long. Yet for a team tied with 2 others for the Big Ten+ crown to win by two possessions against the Nuttin'ly Lions? Pretty poor, you ask me.

Virginia 75 - Maryland 72 (OT) = I was shocked last week to hear some experts putting UVA on the bubble. OK, so this one was in College Park, but even if I still do not buy that, I can at least understand where they were coming from.

Creighton 83 - Illinois State 79 (OT) = Did you watch this Missouri Valley championship game? Man, it was great. Both teams played well, both fought to the finish, and the Redbirds will likely get nothing out of it save a pat on the back . . . and maybe an invite to the NIT.

Arizona State 87 - Arizona 80 = What? What are you telling me? The Sun Devils beat the Desert 'Cats, and thus put the final nails in their coffin for any hope at all for an at-large bid? Wow. I like Herb Sendek, so I'm happy he could play the spoiler. Now 'Zona's only chance at all it to win the Pac-12 tourney . . . and ruin the at-large hopes of some other team to boot.

Ohio State 72 - Michigan State 70 = Another great game, fought down to the last second. Me, I'm of two minds here. I like the Spartans and Izzo, and I don't much like the Buckeyes and Matta. On the other hand, this result coupled with UNC's spanking of Duke pencils my Heels into that final #1-seed in the NCAAs (though I'm not going to ink it in yet). Regardless, I enjoyed watching this one. And the Spartans have no reason to complain, seeing as how they jumped out on OSU about as badly as my guys did against the Blue Devils, yet could not close it out on their own court. Them's the breaks, but you make most of your own in that regard.


There will be a few more automatics handed out this evening:


VCU vs. Drexel = Both these Colonial teams deserve a ticket to The Dance, and I expect them both to get one. Still, one never knows, so nail it down when you get the chance. This one could be a total war. Flip a coin.

Western Carolina vs. Davidson = The Catamounts and the Wildcats square off for what will likely be the sole Southern Conference dancer. Me, I'm picking the feline from the Old North State in this one.

Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's = Like that Colonial one above, both these WCC teams should have bids in their pockets already. Since I do like the Gaels, and only respect the loud-mouthed 'Zags, I'll pull for St. Mary's tonight.


That's all for me for now. I am looking forward to the end of small-and-midlevel conference tournaments to end, and for the big ones to kick off tomorrow. If nothing else, the reduction in the number of games will mean less work for me here.

Until later then, enjoy.

[jcruse64]

VCU is looking like it will win the CAA, w/ under 3min to go. Loyola is besting Fairfield in the MAAC, w/ less than 4 min to go, but they are both under 50pts, so it's not pretty.

I got home yesterday and saw that H1 UNC/dook score and grinned, knowing you were just lovin' it .

Speaking of UK, I heard this morning that Bob Knight was asked to name his top 5 players and teams for the season, and no mention of UK or Davis. Now, I know he hates Calipari's guts, and can kinda understand the disrespect to the team, but Davis is probably going to be one of the best players for the season, and I can't believe he doesn't get a sniff from the General. However, this is what, the 3rd season for Coach Cal, and I just keep waiting for the shoe to drop. Time will tell.

Now Drexel is within 3 of VCU...tight finish.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

VCU is looking like it will win the CAA, w/ under 3min to go. Loyola is besting Fairfield in the MAAC, w/ less than 4 min to go, but they are both under 50pts, so it's not pretty.

I got home yesterday and saw that H1 UNC/dook score and grinned, knowing you were just lovin' it .

Speaking of UK, I heard this morning that Bob Knight was asked to name his top 5 players and teams for the season, and no mention of UK or Davis. Now, I know he hates Calipari's guts, and can kinda understand the disrespect to the team, but Davis is probably going to be one of the best players for the season, and I can't believe he doesn't get a sniff from the General. However, this is what, the 3rd season for Coach Cal, and I just keep waiting for the shoe to drop. Time will tell.

Now Drexel is within 3 of VCU...tight finish.

No, neither the Colonial nor MAC finals were pretty wins, exciting as they were. Prettier and more exciting were the Southern and WCC ones, as I'll note below.

Thanks for the thought about my Heels, but that's the past. It's time for me to focus on the ACC Tourney now.

I always had a lot of respect for Bobby Knight (yeah, Bobby, I'm old enough to call you that, and not the Bob you started insisting upon back about the time you started tossing chairs around), but I never liked the man much. I have to agree with you that it's just his foul and stubborn personality which moved him to diss some teenage kid who has clearly had an outstanding season. Me, I have my problems with the program at Kentucky also, and neither respect nor like Calipari. Still, fair is fair, no matter one's personal opinions. Finally, as for that "other shoe dropping" point, I'm still giving even odds which comes first . . . a championship, or probation.

Originally Posted by mase

VCU - Drexel really interesting right now with 45 seconds to go. VCU up by 4.

But the Rams do hang on and survive a furious comeback by the Dragons to edge them out. It's too bad that Drexel's marvelous season ends, as the Colonial will likely get no at-large. To get to specifics, last night:


VCU 59 - Drexel 56 = What need be said has already, betwixt the three of us, and VCU get the automatic ticket to Dance.

Loyola (MD) 48 - Fairfield 44 = That other ugly conference final, this one in the MAC for their sole automatic. Remember back in November, when I reported the experts predicted Iona would be this season's Cinderella in the NCAA tournament? Well, guess what . . . it ain't gonna happen. Congratulations to the Greyhounds in besting the Stags.

Davidson 93 - Western Carolina 91 (2OT) = Now THIS is more like it! Two teams just a 2-hour busride (if that) from each other fighting like wet cats in a sack for the Southern Conference automatic, and taking an extra 10 minutes to wrap it up for the Wildcats. I wonder if Lefty Dreisell will now start whining that, since the Terps did not name their court after him, they should name the one at Davidson after him instead of some damn store clerk.

St. Mary's 78 - Gonzaga 74 (OT) = Another tight fight, and one with my preferred Gaels stuffing a sock, for now anyway, in the Bulldogs's maws. I figure they'll both be Dancing regardless, but I love it when a braggart gets some comeuppance.


Aside from more conference tourney action today, much of it already over, and including the start of Big East play . . . upon which hinges the hopes of bobble teams like U Conn and Seton Hall . . . we have four huge games this evening:


Penn vs. Princeton = If the Quakers win this one, they earn a share of the Ivy League and force another 1-game playoff with Harvard (as did Princeton last season) for the automatic bid. Of course, if the Tigers win, the Crimson get to Dance for the first time since 1946. Do you think Tommy Amaker and his boys will be watching this one?

Valparaiso vs. Detroit = This is for the Horizon championship, and likely the only bid they'll see. Bryce Drew won't be on the court hitting shots for Valpo tonight, but he shall be on the sidelines calling the shots. I don't know about you, but I'm gonna pull for them to win this one.

North Texas vs. Western Kentucky = And this is for the automatic in the Sun Belt, and their sole shot at a "one-and-done" appearance. Maybe Joe's pulling for WK here, but even though I've a brother in San Antonio, I've no dog in this fight. Let's just hope it's a good clean contest.

South Dakota State vs. Western Illinois = And here's the Summit final, and another "one-and-done" automatic Dance. I know little about either team, and truthfully care even less. Again, let's hope we are entertained.


That's all I'll give you for now, save to report for those Big East fans that both U Conn and Pitt survive their first tests towards miracle runs, putting DePaul and St. John's out of The Garden on the first day. Until later then, enjoy.