College Hoops Thread '09-'10

[JaKaacH]

Kansas 73 handles UCLA 61
Markieff Morris with a career-high 19 points.
This is Kansas' 1,977th victory, third-best in NCAA Division I history.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by JaKaacH

Kansas 73 handles UCLA 61
Markieff Morris with a career-high 19 points.
This is Kansas' 1,977th victory, third-best in NCAA Division I history.

Yes indeed, KU is a great program with a great history. But let's get real for a second. Imprimis, a 12-point victory over the Bruins is all well and good, but the Jayhawks have been top-ranked all year while UCLA came into the game at 2-4 with losses to such powers as CSU Fullerton and Long Beach State. Twelve points is hardly a spanking under such circumstances, even though the game was in Pauley. Secundus, KU seems to have the best team at this point in the season, but they do not have the best talent. They may still have the best team come March, yet teams such as Kentucky or UNC might develop into some stiff competition for the Jayhawks.

Don't get me wrong - I like Kansas, both this year's team and in general. There is a connection between KU and my Tar Heels (one often overlooked in Lawrence, but never in Chapel Hill) which goes back at least to 1957's triple-overtime championship. They gave us Dean, we gave them Larry Brown (and welcome to him) and Danny Manning, and we loaned them Roy Williams. I never have a problem when Kansas wins - as long as they aren't beating my boys.

Scores from games of interest that were NOT complete stompings of the overmatched, with updated rankings:

# 8 Duke 80 - St John's 71 = Duke kicked SJU all over Cameron for the first half, then had to hold on. Is Dook weak, or are the Redman for real again? Time will tell.

# 18 UNLV 66 - Santa Clara 63 = Santa Clara has proven themselves a tough little nut several times in the past, so this close score does not - necessarily - mean the Runnin' Rebels are wanna-bes.

Charlotte 87 - formerly # 20 and now unranked Louisville 65 = I felt the 49ers had a shot at winning this one, but I admit I did not expect this whuppin'.

Wake Forest 77 - # 21 Gonzaga 75 = I predicted a war, and we got one.

Sunday's scores of note, aside from the KU/UCLA at top:

# 3 Villanova 95 - Maryland 86 = A nice win in a competitive matchup.

# 14 U. Conn 79 - Harvard 73 = A bad win in what shouldn't have been competitive, no matter how you slice it.

# 17 Washington 88 - CSU Northridge 76 = A win, period.

Clemson 72 - South Carolina 61 = And although a good win for the Tigers over instate rival Gamecocks, it was not enough to keep Clemson within the ranked teams.

There's not a lot of action at the top this evening, and none of them should be close, as all we have are:

# 2 Texas vs. Long Beach State
# 12 Michigan State vs. The Citadel
# 19 Texas A&M vs. North Texas

However, the Siena/Iona game may be fun. Whatever - enjoy.