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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Last night's limited action included:
# 12 Florida 90 - Rider 69 = I told you not to bother. Me, I'm surprised it was even this close. U Mass 83 - Siena 78 = This one does surprise me a little too because so far this year Siena hasn't been all that good. That's why I didn't post it yesterday, figuring U Mass would roll. They won, but it was a decent fight. VCU 73 - Richmond 51 = And this one surprises me a lot, not by the win but by the margin. The Spiders normally don't get spanked like this. Iowa State 86 - Iowa 76 = No big shock here, although I thought it might be closer. Wyoming 65 - Colorado 54 = As I did here, but blame the Buffaloes, not me. This was tied at 30 at the break, so that 11-point margin was all in the 2nd half. In Boulder, no less, which makes it an even poorer showing. Fairfield 59 - ODU 51 = A decent enough game, at least compared to some others. Idaho 74 - Oregon State 60 = Well, I try to give the Badgers a bit of respect, and they gnaw down the sapling before it even leafs. And this was in Corvallis too. Guess this does answer my query as to if they are for real, however. Today's early games has yet to produce any finals, nor any surprises yet, so let me get to other Saturday games first. As usual, there are far too many to note them all, so I've cut it down from that to 'way too many: Kent State vs. Western Carolina = This could be fun. The Catamounts are home in Cullowhee, and remember they lost to Purdue by only 5. Kent State's been decent so far also, and I feel it may be tight. LIU vs. Columbia = And though this game also won't mean a lot over the long haul, it has potential too. Butler vs. Ball State = The fans who'd jumped on the Bulldog bandwagon over the past two seasons are holding onto the railings and looking for a soft spot to land once they bail. Butler wants to reach .500 today, and the Lettermans want to improve to 6-2. Keep an eye on this one. Wisc. Milwaukee vs. Northern Iowa = Both these teams are 8-1, so they have some confidence. As for me, I have more in NIU than the boys from Wisconsin. But speaking of that . . . # 14 Wisconsin vs. UNLV = Talk about your contrast in styles! The Rebels are runnin' again, while the Badgers only will when they have their opponent totally outclassed. Otherwise, they channel the last Ice Age named for their state, and are glacial. They did manage to get the type of game against a running Tar Heel team, yet fell just short. Will they do the same today, or will UNLV chase them off the court? For this alone, it will be worth watching. # 15 Pittsburgh vs. Oklahoma State = Several times this year I've said that the Panthers do not lose games like this one. But this one is not one of those ones, and the Cowboys might very well give them more than they want. Arkansas vs. Oklahoma = Neither of these teams seem to be a national power, but neither one sucks. Expect a close one. # 2 Ohio State vs. # 13 Kansas = The Jayhawks have not shown me nearly as much as the Buckeyes have to date. But the game is in Allen Fieldhouse, which is a hard place to play. Furthermore, Sullinger is still questionable with his bad back, so even if he does suit up he may not play effectively, if at all. Don't bet on the "upset", but don't be shocked if OSU takes its first L of the year. # 20 Michigan vs. Oakland = Actually, I can see this being pretty tight, at least for a while. The Logans have struggled to score at times, which gives a scrappy team extra shots, and half-a-shot anyway at the upset. I don't expect that, but weirder things have happened. # 17 Mississippi State vs. Troy = One of those weirder things would be Troy making a game of this one. Yeah, I have little faith in the Bulldogs, but come on! Clemson vs. Arizona = I also have little faith in the Desert 'Cats, but even less in the Tigers. Hell, they couldn't even beat the 'Cocks on their own floor! AU may not be golden, but they win this one by several possessions. # 25 Harvard vs. BU = The Crimson have no reason to be red-faced over their first loss to U Conn, and will rebound today. Lehigh vs. Wagner = Here's just one of those that pop for me, don't ask why. # 5 Louisville vs. Fairleigh-Dickinson = And this one will be fairly ridiculous. # 10 Missouri vs. Navy = The Midshipmen sink again. Villanova vs. Temple = Now this is more like it! We have a Battle of Brotherly Love here, so flip a coin. # 1 Kentucky vs. Indiana = And I have a feeling this will be pretty damn good too. The Hoosiers have yet to get any love in the rankings, which surprises me. Maybe they are not "back" yet, but they have been playing very well. Of course, so have the Wildcats, so the upset may be unlikely. Yet I do think we'll see Calipari sweating before it's over. Penn State vs. Duquesne = This is just another one that hopped off the page for me. # 4 North Carolina vs. Long Beach State = In the Dean Dome, but that's not the only reason the Heels should be favored. However, don't expect another 2-for-1 win here. Remember, the 49ers beat Pitt already, and lost to KU by only 8, so they are by no stretch total cupcakes. Davidson vs. Charlotte = A battle for the Queen City here, and I think it will be a good one. Penn vs. UCLA = At 2-5, the Bruins were self-destructing even before Ben Howland dismissed forward Reeves Nelson from the team last night for "insubordination". Oooo-kay. Penn's not great, but aren't pushovers either. Thus this one is interesting on both counts. # 3 Syracuse vs. George Washington = And this one is not, in any way. Youngstown State vs. Buffalo = But this one could be. Again, don't ask me why, but it looks to be a fun one. New Mexico vs. USC = As does this one. Miami vs. West Virginia = And this one, with me giving a slim edge to the Mountaineers . . . more for what the 'Canes haven't shown me than for what WVA has. # 22 Texas A&M vs. LA Monroe = The Aggies continue to hoe in high cotton, refusing to work hard for their supper. But a diet of cupcakes will eventually give you a tummyache. Not tonight, however. Wake Forest vs. Seton Hall = Both of these teams have been down in recent years, and both have played much better than expected so far. I can see this one being an all-out war. # 23 Gonzaga vs. Michigan State = This one too. The Spartans have recovered and won something like 7 in a row. I give them a good shot at knocking off the 'Zags, even in Spokane. # 11 Marquette vs. Green Bay = But I can't see GB winning here, or even hanging tough for long. Nevada vs. Montana = However, for you nightowls, this one ought to be a pretty good contest. Lemme take a break before I come back with early finals and Sunday games. Later, brohs. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Here are some early finals of note:
Duke 86 - Washington 80 = The Blue Devils tried several times to run away with this one, but the Huskies hung tough and made a real nice game of it. A quality win for Dook, though not that big a statement. St. Joseph's 80 - Creighton 71 = But here's a statement for you. The Hawks stunk up the joint last year, and have already had some good victories this one. It's always nice to see programs with some history rebound. Austin Peay 74 - Tennessee 70 = Wow. Who'd a thunk? The Governors lost their first nine games before finally winning one, and now they've made it two inna row, over the Vols. Maybe Bruce Pearl knew what he was doing when he "left" to become a bagboy at the grocery store. :r Tomorrow's limited action has a few decent games scheduled: Quinnipiac vs. Vermont = Both have some history, and both are fighting to stay above .500 early. Figure on a fight. Iona vs. Marshall = These are two better teams here, both with post-season aspirations. This one ought to be a lot of fun. N. C. State vs. N. C. Central = This one, not so much, but I gotta get Jerry's kids on here somehow. :D Norfolk State vs. Virginia Tech = Not only does the game have some potential by itself despite the Hokies holding both the advantage and the home court, but it will be interesting (if maybe a bit morbid) to see how the team and crowd reacts following the latest tragedy there in Blacksburg. Santa Clara vs. Washington State = I'm going with Santa Clara here, in a tight one. # 21 Memphis vs. Murray State = Joe's Racers are 9-0. I figure it's about 70/30 they'll go 9-1 here. Still, the Tigers have shown they are vulnerable, so they do have a shot. Keep an eye on this one. # 16 Alabama vs. Detroit = I give the guys from the Motor City less of a shot here, but as we've all seen, EVERY SEC-West team seems vulnerable. Keep maybe half-an-eye on this one. Eastern Washington vs. CSU Fullerton = They seem to be fairly well-matched, so this could be decent also. # 24 Illinois vs. Coppin State = And even though I'm still not sure about the Illini, I'd be stunned if they get their first loss in Champaign tomorrow. That's about it for me. See you Monday, same time, same channel. Until then then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Yeah, I was shocked at The Peay winning the "in-state rivalry". Are to Vols that bad???
Nice try by Washington to come back on Dook, but not enough. Rumble in the streets of Cincinnati-cross town rivals Xavier and Cincinnati go at it, and the bonus round is a round of MMA!!! Wow! Horrible, disappointing end to a game. Gonna be some suspensions from this one. UK/IU just starting H2, and we got a game on here!!! And...Go Racers!!!!! |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Well that sucked.
Umm freethrows, guard the 3 etc. UK didn't deserve that game. And Terrence Jones looked like his mom had just died before the game or something. Wonder what was wrong with him? Good for IU. Still don't think they are that good, but that program needed this win big time. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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Cinci/Xavier fight didn't shock me. Anyone see the big white dudes eye after that? That bone might be broken. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
UK looked horid today. IU looked very good...Zeller looks like a player. :D
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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Crazy fight tonight in the Xavier/Cinn game. There has to be a couple suspensions forthcoming and I wouldn't be surprised if a couple Bearcats get booted from their squad.
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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
I agree with you; Cronin is way mad at the team. I think/hope that he does give one or two the boot.
UK showed the same problem in H1 of the UNC game-let 'em have the 3. I do NOT understand Calipari letting them do that, because they have shown that they can shut the 3 down, if they work at it. Don't even get me started on freebies. IU definitely deserved to win that game, and UK deserved to lose. They should have, and could have won it though. I hope a few guys are sitting at the freebie line today. You're right about Jones, too. Definitely not "there" for this game. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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But in the end its their first road game and its a regular season game. I won't start to worry until losing on the road becomes a trend this year. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Woooooooooo!!!!!!!
Racers Win!!! 10-0! Almost blew it!!!! Work on the inbound and how to handle full court pressure this week, coach!!! :banger:D 2 nice wins for the OVC this weekend. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
'Cuse should move to # 1.
Nice. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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As to other issues raised in posts above, let me first comment on that ugly mess between Xavier and Cincinnati. In one way, albeit a totally negative one, this was a throwback to the past. Basketball players are called ''cagers" because, back in the day, they often played their games behind chicken-wire barricades in an attempt to keep the fights in the bleachers from interrupting the fights on the court. Even after that time such nonsense would occur. I can particularly recall a nasty brawl between Duke and UNC when Frank McGuire was the coach in Chapel Hill, with McGuire himself out in the lane stomping on Dookies sprawled on the court. Yet I think we all agree there is NO PLACE FOR THIS NONSENSE IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS!! The suspensions that have been announced so far, IMHO, are not nearly strict enough, and I would hope the NCAA takes a hand to impose worse ones on players, coaches, and the schools themselves to dissuade such actions not only there but elsewhere. Congratulations to Joe's Racers, not only for their victory over Memphis 76-72, but for edging into the rankings at No. 24. :tu And as for Kentucky: Indiana 73 - Kentucky 72 = Am I the only person, at least outside the state of Indiana, who is not stunned by this? I told you the Hoosiers have been playing well, and had been too far under everybody's radar. I also said they had a shot at the upset, and that's exactly what they had . . . a three at the buzzer, to be precise. Congratulations to a program that's not had much to cheer about for too long a time. As for you Wildcat faithful, console yourself in the hope that your young talent may have learned something from this which will help them further down the road. I've too much to cover properly, so will now limit myself to: Kansas 78 - Ohio State 67 = Here also I said the Jayhawks had a shot, so am not shocked either. Even if the Buckeyes had Sully on the court it may have been tight, as KU's awfully tough at home. But don't despair, Buckeyes . . . you still have a great team, and I myself would have cast MY 1st-place vote for you this weekend, and not the Orange (for the reason above) despite this loss. Wisconsin 62 - UNLV 51 = The Badgers got exactly the type of game they wanted here, and the Rebels were unable to run. UCLA 77 - Penn 73 = In itself, this win for the Bruins means very little . . . except for the fact that it wasn't another loss. But that whole mess out in La-La-Land is so interesting, just to see what develops, that I find it fascinating. Michigan State 74 - Gonzaga 67 = This is another one that didn't surprise me at all. The Spartans had a rough start, but you just KNEW that Izzo would get them playing well before too long. North Carolina 84 - Long Beach State 78 = Hey, I said the 49ers were a scrappy bunch of guys. I consider this a good win for the Heels even if you don't, even if only for the fact that they had to come from behind and fight for the victory. It's also a "good loss" for LBS, as it shows they can hang tough with top teams on the road. Kudo to them. (As an aside, do you know the Tar Heel beat the 49ers twice this weekend? On Sunday the men's soccer team defeated Charlotte to win the NCAA National Championship. :tu ) On Sunday: Marshall 82 - Iona 63 = Now this one does shock me. I'm not surprised the Herd won, but I didn't think they'd spank the Gaels this badly. N. C. State 65 - N. C. Central 60 = And this one surprises me too, with how poorly Jerry's Wolfpack played. In Raleigh, to boot! Yeah, OK, so the Eagles had five wins coming into the game, but not a single one of those was over a Division 1 opponent. Sorry, Jerry, but this is just pitiful. Washington State 93 - Santa Clara 55 = And this is another shock. I never thought Santa Clara would lose so badly. Murray State 76 - Memphis 72 = To recap this one mentioned above, here's the other surprise for me. OK, I wish the Racers all the best, and I know the Tigers have been up-and-down, but this one really snuck up on me. There's not a lot tonight, though the Fordham/Siena and Portland State/Oregon games may be pretty good. So I'll leave it at that and just wish you a good evening. Enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
I'm with you on Xavier/Cinci; I was reminded earlier of the kid from OSU getting booted after sucker-punching a Boise State trash talker in a football game. Should be something similar happening here with a couple of Cinci players. I'd like to see Xavier's coach get something for being dumb enough to let his kids go to media time after the brawl.
And yeah, I WAS surprised to see IU do that, but as a homer, I make it a point to ignore IU :r:r;). I thought they did great, actually, and have a team this year capable of going far, given the talent, coaching, and their teamwork (it hurt to say that :r). I don't see 'Cuse staying at 1 for long, either. Don't really care if the Cats get it back, until it counts-when they cut the nets down after March Madness. It will be interesting to see how Ohio State and the Cats react to the losses. I hope there is a lot of freebie practice this week in Lexington. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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I'm with you on all points too, save for that "net-cutting" one. Go Heels! ;) Tonight's limited action has a few meaningful or fun games: # 20 Michigan vs. AR Pine Bluff = This one is neither, except that the Logans are presently ranked. They shall stay that way after this mis-match. Presbyterian vs. South Carolina = But this one could be a lot of fun. The Blue Hose may be able to cover the 'Cocks, and will almost certainly give them game regardless. Belmont vs. Middle Tenn. State = And here's another decent match-up which should be close. # 14 Wisconsin vs. Wisc. Milwaukee = And this one could be closer than the Badgers would prefer. Both team are 8-2 at the moment. I figure the Beer Boys will lose to the men from Madison, but not by more than 2 or 3 possessions. # 17 Mississippi State vs. Florida Atlantic = Skip this one. I don't have a lot of faith in the 'Dogs, but please. UCSB vs. San Diego = And for you nightowls, this one may be pretty good. That's about it for now. Enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Three ranked teams were in action last night, but only one performed as I assumed:
# 14 Wisconsin 60 - Wisc. Milwaukee 54 = I figured the Badgers would win a relatively close one, and they did. # 17 Mississippi State 75 - Florida Atlantic 68 = But despite my doubts about the Bulldogs, I never thought they'd have so much trouble here. Hey, a couple of 3s here or there, and this would have gone the other way. It's much the same with . . . # 20 Michigan 63 - AR Pine Bluff 50 = OK, so a 13-point win is better than a 1-point loss, but if the Wolverines think they can challenge in the Big Ten by playing this poorly, they shall be sadly disappointed. Other scores of some note: South Carolina 66 - Presbyterian 58 = The Blue Hose held onto the 'Cocks for over a half, and actually led 25-19 at the break. I felt it would be a decent game, and it was OK at least. Middle Tenn State 65 - Belmont 62 = Here's another I thought would be good, and it totally lived up to expectations. UCSB 65 - San Diego 61 = Ditto. Today Iona and Richmond are already in action against each other, with the Gaels starting to break open a tight one midway through the 2nd half, leading by 11 as I type. Other match-ups include: Cincinnati vs. Wright State = I have learned not to expect the Bearcats to be either good or bad, since they've been both so far. WS may again give them a fight, and I'm just hoping it's not another brawl. :r # 2 Ohio State vs. South Carolina Upstate = Despite the absence of Sully from the lineup, I give the Buckeyes a slim edge here. :D # 6 Baylor vs. Bethune-Cookman = Much as with the Orange, I can't see how the Bears have shown us they deserve this high a ranking. Again, as with Syracuse, they may actually be good, but we have been given no reason to believe so. Their 7-0 record has decent wins against San Diego State and Northwestern, but nobody else of note. That situation does not change tonight. South Florida vs. Auburn = The Tigers are 4-1, but that loss was a stomping by the Seton Hall Pirates. Even on their home court, I can see the Bulls goring them this evening. Eastern Washington vs. UCLA = And I shall continue to keep my eye on the Bruins, just to see whether or not their start from hell turns around. That's about all for me. I will update you by saying Iona's about sewed up a win over the Spiders in Richmond with only 2 minutes left, so they have responded well from that whuppin' they took from Marshall. Otherwise, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
I got hammered at work today (Hey, if YOU worked in a likker store, you'd get hammered too, right?), and have no time to post much. Thank goodness nothing much happened of any real import last night, and nothing much seems likely tonight. Yeah, Joe, I know your Racers are going up against Lipscomb in hopes of holding onto that #24 ranking, but even though the game may be fairly close, they ought to win. And if they don't, then they've nobody to blame but themselves, right?
So maybe I can catch up a bit tomorrow, or certainly on Saturday. Until then then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Aside from Joe's Racers handling Lipscomb fairly easily, 89-65, there were a few very close games last night but none of much import. And tonight the only game I see that interests me is the Cal/Weber State one, as I think the Wildcats have half-a-chance at giving the Golden Bears a good game.
There are a ton of contests tomorrow, yet none of the ones with an early tip-off seem to promise much. Michigan/Alabama A&M? Ohio State/South Carolina? Please. As my boss is here at the moment, and I cannot post for long, I guess that's a good thing too. He might even be here tomorrow, which will totally screw me up, but what's a guy to do? I can't lock him out . . . he has his own key. So if you don't hear back from me until next week, don't worry: I'm likely NOT back in the hospital. So until when then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Hey, I finally get a chance to talk a little hoops again. I found no scores that much interested me last night, but today has a ton of fun in store for us. Already Miami/Florida Atlantic have gone to OT, with several others surviving scares too:
Ohio State 74 - South Carolina 66 = I never thought the 'Cocks could stand up so well. Sully went out of the game with a bad foot, but I've not heard what the X-Rays says. Mississippi State 80 - Detroit 75 = And once again the SEC West demonstrates why I've little faith in any of them. Iona vs. Vermont = This has tipped off, and I expect a good one. Purdue vs. Butler = Here too. Neither team seems as good as they've been, so the potential is there. # 6 Baylor vs. BYU = Finally, the Bears actually play somebody. This is out in Utah, but even if it was in Texas I'd give the Mormons a shot at the "upset". At last look, BYU had a slim lead, but it's awfully early. # 13 Florida vs. # 22 Texas A&M = And also at last, the Aggies have an opponent on their schedule. Don't be surprised if the Gators snap their feet off at the knees. Temple vs. Texas = Like Purdue/Butler above, these two are "down", so this could be a nail-biter. Arizona vs. Gonzaga = To a somewhat lesser degree, it's the same story here . . . by which I mean they are not as "down", yet are fairly evenly matched. # 4 Louisville vs. Memphis = And if the Tigers can manage to actually show up for a game, this could give the Cardinals a scare. Mississippi vs. Southern Miss = And this is just another of those potential fun ones that pop out at me. # 18 Indiana vs. Notre Dame = Here also, though I'm giving the Hoosiers the edge until they prove me otherwise. # 19 Illinois vs. UNLV = And this is sort of like that Louisville/Memphis one, in that the Runnin' Rebels are capable of beating anybody . . . if they can get into that runnin' game. The Illini may have all they can handle here, if not more. ODU vs. UCF = Just another of those "poppers" for me. # 25 Vanderbilt vs. Indiana State = Here's another potential close one, more for the fact that Vandy's been so inconsistent. If they are today, they could easily lose this one. # 5 North Carolina vs. Appalachian State = The Mountaineers come out of the boonies down the Catawba, forge the Yadkin, and visit Chapel Hill. It may not be much of a game, though the Heels haven't practices all week due to exams (yeah, they have them there and even take them seriously :D ), and may be a bit rusty. But Jason Capel returns home as head coach for ASU, so the crowd will be into that anyway. # 1 Syracuse vs. N. C. State = Believe it or not, but this game's in Raleigh, and not in the Carrier Dome! I wonder who made that scheduling error! I wish I could give Jerry's Wolfpack a chance against the Orange, but I don't think they have the experience to handle that zone of Boeheim's. But hey, I could be wrong. # 21 Michigan State vs. Bowling Green = The Falcons may be able to give the Spartans a good 10 minutes or so, but Izzo's got them playing so much better I can't see much more than that. Lamar vs. Rice = Again, this one jumped out as being a pretty decent match-up. Villanova vs. St. Joseph's = And these Big Five games are always fun. Both teams are fighting to earn a bit more respect, so look for a donnybrook in Philly tonight. # 24 Murray State vs. Arkansas State = I don't believe Joe's Racers will have much of a problem here. Oakland vs. Valparaiso = Just another one with the po' to be good. # 23 Alabama vs. Kansas State = It's not in Manhattan, but it is in KC. That might be enough of an edge to push the struggling Wildcats over the Tide. After all, this IS another of those SEC West teams, remember? New Mexico vs. Oklahoma State = These two teams have been making efforts to move up a notch in college hoops, and both have had some success at it. A win here helps either program, and I look for a tight one. I'm breaking for lunch now, and hope to get back with more early finals, plus a glimpse at Sunday games. Later. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
A few more early finals:
Miami 93 - Florida Atlantic 90 (2OT) = The 'Canes hold on in a high wind by the skin of their teeth. A win's a win, but with ACC play starting soon this does not bode well for UM. Iona 73 - Vermont 72 = Just about exactly the tight one I expected. With time running out, both Purdue/Butler and Baylor/BYU are too close to call. But at the half the Gators are all over the Aggies, 50-25. Color me totally unsurprised. Tomorrow has limited action, but a few games of interest include: Wake Forest vs. Gardner-Webb = The Deacs have played better than was expected, but I can see them being tested here, believe it or not. # 8 Xavier vs. Oral Roberts = I don't know how many Musketeers have been suspended for this game due to that fight with Cincy, which may affect the Preachers' odds. But either way, this could be decent for a while anyway. # 9 U Conn vs. Holy Cross = Calhoun's home cooking continues, and Holy Cross should be crucified. # 10 Missouri vs. William & Mary = This might last a half or so, but I'd not think much longer than that. Loyola Marymount vs. Florida State = As the Semiholes have not played as well as was expected, this one may be more fight than they'd prefer. I give them an edge, but not a huge one. Virginia vs. Oregon = Unlike FSU, UVA has played above all expectations so far. Even out in Eugene, they can give the Ducks a run for their money. The Cavs may not win, but they won't go down without a fight. Eastern Illinois vs. Northwestern = This one may depend on how the Smarty 'Cats rebound from their poor showing today. I did not mention it above, but they just edged Central Conn. State by 6 points. EI's a better team, so if this game today did not focus NW they might just get knocked off. Montana State vs. Pepperdine = These two teams are just above .500 now, and both want to stay there. It's in Malibu, so maybe the Waves have a slim advantage in that, but otherwise it has potential to be a blast. Portland State vs. Oregon State = Though it is in Corvallis, I'm not sure what sort of home court advantage that means for OSU in this in-state game. I can see it lasting well into the 2nd half at least, and maybe going down to the last few possessions. While typing this nonsense, two other finals happened: Baylor 86 - BYU 83 = Like I said, BYU had a chance at the upset. They didn't pull it off, but they scared the Bears for sure. Butler 67 - Purdue 65 = And like I said, I expected a good one here, and that's just what we got. At last look, the Gators were still 18-up on the Aggies with 5 minutes gone in the 2nd, but I'm not gonna hang around here all damn day just to give you sports desk updates. So that's it from me for now. Have a great balance of the weekend, and enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Swamped at work again today, and have no time for posting. Much of my time was spent getting a small Christmas order together for one customer. It is all liquor, mostly various types of scotch and vodka, with some Hennessy and a little gin and liquers thrown in. In total, it's about 140 liters of booze. :r
I'm glad I won't be at THAT party. Maybe I'll get a chance to catch up on the action tomorrow or the next day, but you can feel free to post your own comments. Sorry, but that's the holidays for you. :sh |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
I'm still too busy, and too pressed for time, but lemme take a few minutes to hit a couple of highlights over the last few days. On Saturday:
Florida 84 - Texas A&M 64 = The Aggies finally got around to playing somebody, and got their butts handed to them by the Gators. Southern Miss 86 - Mississippi 82 = Another loss by an SEC West team. UNLV 64 - Illinois 48 = I'm not surprised the Rebels beat the Illini, but the score seems awfully low to me. Indiana State 61 - Vanderbilt 55 = The Comms continue to prove they were over-ranked. St. Joseph's 74 - Villanova 58 = The Hawks continue their good season, and the Philly 'Cats continue to struggle. Kansas State 71 - Alabama 58 = Again, I'm not shocked the Manhattan 'Cats beat the Tide, but the margin is a bit surprising. K-State's down. On the other hand, we're talking SEC West again, so there's that. On Sunday: Oral Roberts 64 - Xavier 42 = The Musketeers pay the price for their fight with Cincy, and get embarrassed. Good. Serves them right. Seton Hall 80 - Mercer 77 (OT) = Why note this one? Well, the Pirates have been crowing that they're back, but this is NOT a good sign of that. Mercer? Please. Virginia 67 - Oregon 54 = The Cavs have been playing very well, and this W got them back into the rankings for the first time since they spent one whole week there back during the 2007-08 campaign. On Monday: Marshall 87 - Belmont 86 = Just a great game between two good mid-majors. Illinois 64 - Cornell 60 = Were I an Illini, I would not consider this much of a bounce-back victory after that UNLV loss. Hey, Cornell's not Harvard nor Princeton. LSU 67 - Maraquette 59 = OK, so I give enough grief to SEC West teams, it's time I was able to give them some props. A very good win for the Tigers. Davidson 80 - Kansas 74 = And speaking of good wins, this is the best one the Charlotte 'Cats have had since Curry left, at least. Tonight's limited action has some with potential, but I'll limit myself to: Oakland vs. Arizona = I have that feeling this could be damn good, or at least better than the Desert 'Cats would wish. Ohio State vs. Lamar = And this one could stay fairly competitive for a half or more too. Louisville ve. Charleston = I don't think Charleston's as good as in the past, but I do think they can give the Cardinals a decent game. Sorry, that's all I have time for today. Maybe the Christmas rush will give me more of a break soon. Until then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Forgive me for not getting to this yesterday, but hopefully the worst of the Christmas rush is over. Still, I'm pressed for time, so here's a short update:
On Tuesday, scores of note (to me, anyway); Louisville 69 - Charleston 62 = I expected a good game, and we got one. N. C. State 67 - St. Bonaventure 65 = Not a great win for the 'Pack, but a good one nonetheless. Richmond 90 - ODU 82 (OT) = And a great in-state fight here. Wright State 80 - Idaho 78 (OT) = And a great out-state one here, since one can't get much more out-state than Idaho. On Tuesday: North Carolina 82 - Texas 63 = OK, so the 'Horns are down this year. The Heels were down the last two years, and lost both games to UT, so this is sweet . . . especially when you consider that we also won the Battle of the Barnes, meaning Harrison over Rick. Fresno State 68 - Arizona State 65 = The Sun Devils still struggle to find themselves, just as much of the Pac-12 has. Middle Tennessee State 68 - Mississippi 56 = I can't prove it, but had I had the time yesterday I would have called this one. Ole Miss keeps up the poor rep of the SEC West. Today's action includes a lot of games that might be pretty good, such as: Kansas State vs. Southern Illinois = K-State's trying to get better, yet they may be tested here. Charleston vs. Coastal Carolina = An in-state battle with potential. Florida vs. Florida State = Here's another, if the 'Noles show up. Syracuse vs. Tulane = Hey, would you believe I give the Green Wave half-a-shot in the Dome (of course, in the Dome) tonight? If nothing else, they are smart enough to recognize a zone defense. Davidson vs. U. Mass = This is one of those that popped out for me. Georgetown vs. Memphis = The Hoyas have done better than most expected, and the Tigers have done worse. Still, keep an eye on this one to see how things develop. Gerogia Tech vs. Mercer = Yeah, one may think the Wreck will roll, but I'm not so sure of that. Elon vs. San Diego State = And these two can maybe give us a close one also. Miami vs. Charlotte = Ditto. West Virginia vs. Missouri State = Dit-three. Rice vs. Texas A&M = And dit-four for this in-stater. Louisiana Tech vs. Arkansas = Don't ask me why, but I got that tickle here again. South Florida vs. Southern Miss = Here, I'm more confident we'll have a game. Creighton vs. Northwestern = Here too. Boise State vs. Iowa = And here. Illinois vs. Missouri = Perhaps the key match-up of the night, and one will drop in the rankings. The other may rise, or may not. St. Mary's vs. Baylor = This one could be just about as tough on the Bears as that BYU game was. I'm not going to say the Gaels will win, but as we've seen too little of Baylor against good competition . . . well, anything is possible when you don't know what you got. That, sadly, is all I've time for. Hopefully I'll be able to do a better job in the near future. Until then then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
How about my Missouri Tigers! These boys are on fire. Actually hurt themselves a bunch in tonight's game but a win is a win.
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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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So far so good for Missou, though they tried their best to give it back to the Illini. And even though they've not played all that tough a schedule, this win plus the ones over Cal and 'Nova are nice. Enjoy your undefeated season while it lasts, because it ends eventually. :r Too damn busy again today for any update, so maybe I can do some tomorrow. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Internet problems today. I suspect my boss downloaded some malwear on my work computer. You know how bosses are . . . they think they know it all because they are bosses. :gary So despite some interesting results last night (like Pitt losing again, and the X-Men losing their 3rd inna row, and Baylor getting sorely tested by WVA), there will be no good update today. Thank God there's not much action scheduled over the holiday weekend. And thank God the company laptop's still OK (so far), so I may be able to do some work here Monday, when I'm working here Monday all damn day.
Have a great Christmas everybody. As always, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
I maybe have the chance to catch up a little now, so lemme get to it, with at least those scores that I found of interest. On Thursday 12/22:
UTEP 61 - Clemson 48 = I can't say it's a good win for UTEP, but it is certainly a poor showing by the Tigers. Michigan 77 - Bradley 66 = And with all due respect to Bradley (but no more than that), this is not a great showing by the Wolverines, especially in Ann Arbor. Yeah, a win's a win. Still . . . UConn 79 - Fairfield 71 = Speaking of which, with this one in Hartford, it's not that good a win for the Huskies either. N. C. State 88 - Northeastern 59 = However, considering the lower expectations for Jerry's 'Pack, this is a nice one for them in Raleigh. Florida 82 - Florida State 64 = I can't say I'm surprised the Gators won, but I am a bit surprised that the 'Noles gave them no game whatsoever. I guess that vaunted defense of theirs was guarding the wrong goal. Mercer 65 - Georgia Tech 59 = It looks as though the Ramblin' Wreck is indeed one, or at least a wreck. Rice 65 - Texas A&M 58 = Do you recall me telling you we'd see what the Aggies are once they actually started playing somebody? Well, this made their 2nd loss in a row. You can't fault them for losing to the Gators, but the Owls had lost THEIR last two before this win, and to Lamar and Temple . . . decent teams, but not monsters. Butler 71 - Stanford 66 = A very good road win for the Bulldogs, who needed one badly. Missouri 78 - Illinois 74 = Here's the one referenced above, where the Tigers were running away from the Illini before they tried to choke. A good win for them, but maybe not as good a sign for things to come. Michigan State 90 - Lehigh 81 = Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of this one. The Spartans have turned things around from their bad start, and Lehigh's not a total cupcake. But it's still not much of a statement, considering it was in East Lansing. Long Beach State 68 - Xavier 58 = The Musketeers pay again for their idiocy in the Bearcats fight. Good. Serves them right. As for Long Beach . . . well, I'll get to that below. Kansas 63 - USC 47 = This must have been one snorer of a game, but with it out in LA it's an OK win for the Jayhawks. On Friday 12/23: Clemson 83 - Southern Illinois 75 (OT) = The Tigers actually show up for a change, at least in the extra 5 minutes. UNLV 85 - Cal 68 = Either the Golden Bears are ormolu, or the Rebels just ran them over. Tennessee 66 - East Tennessee State 63 = Wow. The Vols win one. Not by much, but they win one. Louisville 70 - Western Kentucky 60 = And the Cardinals win one too, yet almost equally unimpressively. Well, I guess it's better than losing one unimpressively. Wagner 59 - Pitt 54 = Another terrible loss for the Panthers. But then again, maybe not. Looking at their schedule so far, they've really played next to nobody much, and their other loss came at home (like this one) to Long Beach State. As for LBS, I'll get to that. Baylor 83 - West Virginia 81 (OT) = And speaking of not playing much of anybody, consider now the Bears. Just a week before they escaped BYU 86-83 in their FIRST tough challenge of the year, and now they needed OT to handle their second. I see a bad fall coming this winter, since they cannot hibernate throughout the Big 12 schedule. UCLA 71 - Rochmond 63 = OK, I know the Spiders have played a little down so far this year. But the Bruins were flat-out flatlined, so I must consider this a good step forward for them. Hawaii 84 - Xavier 82 (OT) = Losing 3 in a row is never a good thing, at least for a team with national aspirations. But losing it to the Rainbows? Lawsy mercy. Long Beach State 64 - Auburn 43 = Another spanking issued to a SEC West team. As for those 49ers what handled the paddles . . . well, let's review. They earlier beat Pitt, and have just beaten Xavier, and now the Tigers. They did lose at Kansas, but by only 8 points. So why did my Heels get so much grief from the "experts" when they won their game 84-78? Hey, just askin', that's all. On Sunday 12/25, in very limited action: Xavier 87 - Southern Illinois 77 = Finally, the X-Men stop the bleeding and end a 3-game slide. Still, I'm not sure their internal acrimony has ended, so for that we'll need to wait and see. UTEP 83 - Auburn 76 = A game, between two teams likely to go nowhere. Hawaii 75 - Clemson 68 = And what goes for Xavier also goes for the Tigers, albeit to a somewhat lesser degree. Hey, nobody much expected Clemson to be a power, yet still a loss to the Rainbows is not good. Kansas State 77 - Long Beach State 60 = The 49ers go down fairly hard in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic, to a K-State team that everybody said would be down this year. But so far the Manhattan 'Cats have lost only to West Virginia (another supposed "down" squad), and beated decent teams like Virginia Tech and Alabama, and in these Hawaiian games Southern Illinois and UTEP. Maybe they're not as bad as some believe. We'll maybe find out between Jan. 4-10, when they face in succession Kansas, Missouri, and Baylor. That's all for now. There are no games today, and not many worth watching (IMHO) tomorrow either. I'll give youse guys a chance to reflect and respond, and shall be back later to deal with that slim handful on 12/27. Later. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Alright, let me get these Tuesday games out of the way now. Conference play kicks off a little bit for some, including:
Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame = In South Bend. The Panthers have lost at home to no less than Wagner, so you know they can lose on the road to the Irish. I don't think they shall, but it should be a decent game. Providence vs. St. John's = The opening of the Big Mouth Conference season for these two too. It's in Sweater Stadium, but I give the Friars the edge over the Red Whatever-They-Call-Themselves-This-Week. Illinois vs. Minnesota = And the start of Big Ten + Two play for them also, in what should really be a damn good game. Yeah, the Illini have gotten more respect, but the Gophers have perhaps been ignored too much. Illinois has already lost in Champaign once, so don't be shocked if they drop another. Wisconsin vs. Nebraska = It's in Lincoln, and shall be the Cornhuskers' inaugeration into the Big Ten+ . . . with a loss, I predict. The Badgers' two Ls came at the hands of ranked UNC and Marquette, while the Huskers' three came from Oregon, Wake Forest, and Creighton . . . not cupcakes, but not killers either. This could be the beginning of a looooong few weeks in Lincoln too; after this, Nebraska faces Michigan State, @ Ohio State, @ Illinois, Penn State, @ Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio State again. Damn! Maybe they'd better win this one, or their conference season may be over before January's done. Virginia vs. Maryland Eastern Shore = The Cavs remain ranked, and won't lose that here. But there seems to be something going on in Charlottesville. Two of their players announced they want to transfer out of the program over this weekend. Did they just get fed up with the fact that UVA actually expects you to go to class and pass exams, or is there another problem? As much as I'd like to see the Cavs do well, I worry that, if this stuff continues, their ACC success may be limited. That's it for now. If I don't talk at you tomorrow I'll be back Wednesday. Until when then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
I got slammed again at work today, so have not time to post. As I'll be here longer tomorrow, I should get a chance to catch up then.
Enjoy, even without me. ;s |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Hey hey hey, I might actually get a chance to do this today, and catch up a little on what we've missed. And in fact we've missed some good ones, such as on Tuesday 12/27:
Notre Dame 72 - Pittsburgh 59 = Considering how iffy the Panthers have played, this loss in South Bend is no shock. But I cannot figure out what in the hell is wrong with Jamie Dixon's team . . . and apparently he can't either. They normally don't choke until March, and unless the Irish are better than I believe a 13-point defeat is a choke, even on the road. There's no doubt their previous loss at home to Wagner was one. St. John's 91 - Providence 67 = And I don't think the Friars are as good as they've been before, at least so far, and I KNOW the Johnnies are not much more than decent. This kind of a spanking is hard to understand, and I don't care that it was in Louie's house. Georgia 92 - Winthrop 86 (OT) = In Athens, no less. If this is any indication, the Bulldogs need not even shw up for upcoming games against Kentucky and Florida. Illinois 81 - Minnesota 72 (2OT) = Wow. What a start to the Big Ten+ season for both teams. Neither is likely to challenge for the league championship, but they both are likely to receive at-large consideration, so both wanted this early victory. Can't you tell? Wisconsin 64 - Nebraska 40 = One of these teams IS likely to challenge for the conference lead, and the other is NOT. The Badgers got the glacial style of game they prefer (yeah, I know they've said they like to run more than in the past, but that's a load), while the 'Huskers could only manage 14 points in the 2nd half. Shucks, you can't win that way. On Wednesday 12/28, two undefeated teams went down: Georgetown 71 - Louisville 68 = Before the season started, nobody gave the young Hoyas much thought. If they haven't by now, then this will certainly get their attention. And keep in mind, this was in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket also, which makes the drumstick all the crispier. Michigan State 80 - Indiana 65 = And nobody gave either one of these two much thought back in November, especially after the Spartans dropped their first two. As for the Hoosiers, they were expected to be a year or so away still, yet surprised a lot of people by going undefeated to this point, which included their handing Kentucky their first loss. This was a game of runs that was much closer than the final, so you MSU fans should not get too up, nor you IU ones too down. I still don't know how real either of these two are, but I respect both programs and wish both well. Oklahoma State 68 - SMU 58 (2OT) = I didn't see it, but it was probably an exciting game to watch, though it may not have been very entertaining. Hey, only 126 total points in 50 minutes of play? The Cowboys finally broke the Mustangs with a 10-0 run . . . in that 2nd OT, when they pitched a shutout. Missouri State 77 - Creighton 65 = If you're looking for a surprise, here it is. The Bluejays are a much better team than the Bears, and should never have lost by a dozen to a squad struggling to stay above .500, particularly in Omaha. Not so much a surprise is . . . U Conn 60 - South Florida 57 = The Huskies are NOT a Top Ten team, and if not for Calhoun's home-cooking of one batch of cupcakes after another they wouldn't be thought one either. Well, the picnic's over, and this visit to Tampa to face a "meh" Bulls team came within a possession of proving my contention. And speaking of over-ranked teams . . . Baylor 54 - Mississippi State 52 = When it comes to cupcakes, those Dogs above have nothing on these Bears here. Baylor has to date faced only three quality opponents. If you total their margins of victory over BYU, WVA, and now THESE Dogs, you only come up with seven in all. Yeah, they're still one of the four undefeated teams left, but that ends soon . . . as it will for both Syracuse and Missouri, you can bet on it. Joe's Racers MAY stay unblemished for a while, but I would not bet on that. Tonight we have a number of games that are interesting for one reason or another: Campbell vs. N. C. State = The Fghting Camels are a pretty decent mid-major, and Jerry's Wolfpack is still trying to find themselves. It's in Raleigh, so give the 'Pack an edge, but expect a good one. Harvard vs. Boston College = I don't expect a good one here, and not because the Eagles are an ACC team. They appear to suck, and the Crimson have played well. I could be wrong, but I think this will be over long before it's over. Penn vs. Davidson = But now this match-up of Northern Ivy vs. Southern Ivy could be a lot more fun. I believe the Wildcats are better than the Quakers (they did beat Kansas in Lawrence, remember?), and the game's in Charlotte (well, Davidson, actually, but some of you don't even know where CHARLOTTE is, much less Davidson), but it might be fairly entertaining, though maybe not as entertaining as . . . Yale vs. Wake Forest = Two more Mason/Dixon Ivies pair off, in Greensboro. One of them will win. I have little faith in either one, so this could be an all-out War Of Northern Aggression. VCU vs. Akron = And this just looks to be a good match-up. Florida vs. Rutgers = And this doesn't. The Gators have played better of late, and the Scarlet Knights are . . . well, the Scarlet Knights. It's in Piscataway, but that should make no difference whatsoever. North Carolina vs. Elon = In fact, this one may be closer than the one above. The Heel should prevail with a reasonably comfortable margin before it's done, but don't expect the Phoenixes to totally flame out. Michigan vs. Penn State = I've no idea what the Nittany Lions have this year, but I do know the Logans can struggle to score. Keep your eye on this one to see if an "upset" develops. Kansas vs. Howard = And keep your eye off this one, unless you happen to actually be in Allen Fieldhouse tonight. Instead, watch . . . Marshall vs. Belmont = Because this one should be a game, start to finish, just like . . . Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State = With NI's D, I give them some edge. But I don't know who has the edge with . . . Wisc.-Milwaukee vs. Valparaiso = Nor do I know which way to go with . . . Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati = Both can play OK, and both can stink up an gym. Speaking of stinking up gyms . . . Vanderbilt vs. Marquette = The Commodores have done a lot of that. The Golden Eagles have not. If Vandy can manage to show up (and I've stopped expecting that they will), this will be a hell of a game. Oregon State vs Washington = This might too, though nobody seems to know, or believe in, ANY Pac-12 team, such as . . . Oregon vs. Washington State = Both these games are in the state of Washington, which leads me to ask the same question that seems to enter my head each year when previewing the scheduling in this conference: Do they have agreements where teams from the same state share airplanes and busses to the games? Are they really that "green" on the Left Coast? But to finish with the West Coast games, perhaps the best on the docket is . . . BYU vs St. Mary's = The Gaels stumbled against Denver, and again against Baylor, but otherwise they've been solid. The Cougars also lost to those Bears and to the Wisconsin Badgers, plus a stumble of their own in their opener at Utah State, yet have been solid themselves. This one in Moraga, wherever the hell that is, but wherever it is it ain't in Utah. If you can stay up this late you might catch a good one here. That's it for today, my brothers. See you hopefully tomorrow. Until then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Glad to see my Hoyas keep winning. Crazy things happening...
5 minutes to go and Marquette down by 20 to Vandy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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Georgetown has played a lot better than was expected from this young squad. Good for them. I'll be interested to see how they continue once Big East games begin in earnest. The Commodores have perhaps been the biggest disappointment to the "experts" so far this year, but this was definitely a great win for them, especially on the road, and by such a large margin. But the biggest shock of the night was that double-OT win by Rutgers over the Gators. I'm too busy, or maybe too lazy, to do a full update today. If I'm not too slammed tomorrow . . . and why would a liquor store be busy on New Year's Eve? . . . I'll play a little catch-up Saturday, or at the latest Monday. Until then then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Yeah that Rutgers win was incredible.
Hope that tomorrow isn't too bad for you. Enjoy New Year's Eve if you can. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Rutgers game was very good; looked like the gators just folded up in OT2.
Murray State is 14-0!!!! Yeah, I'm a homer :r:r:r Got tickets to the Austin Peay game, an ESPNU showing. If they show a short, blonde spitfire in MSU garb being forcibly removed from the arena, prayers and bail would be appreciated; it will be my wife ;). Really looking forward to a good UK/UL matchup today. Happy New Year, folks!!! |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
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The Battle of the Bluegrass State has already tipped off, and I'll keep an eye on it as I'm preparing my update. Back shortly, I hope. Enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Big games in progress have not been so big so far, with UConn and UK handing it to St. John's and Louisville, and unless they turn around both games are already over. While they continue, lemme catch up some. On Thursday:
Rutgers 85 - Florida 83 (2OT) = As mentioned above, this one's a shock. I realize the Gators have been spotty at times, but letting the Scarlet Knights take them is inexcusable. Vanderbilt 74 - Marquette 57 = This one would not be as much a surprise, despite the fact that this other SEC team has been even more spotty than Florida. However, both the margin and the fact that the Comms were on the road add significance to a badly-needed win for them. N. C. State 87 - Campbell 81 = The Wolfpack has been somewhat better than "meh", while the Fighting Camels have been humping along fairly well, considering. Jerry may not be delighted by this win, but I feel it is at least a decent one, and certainly better than a loss. Wake Forest 72 - Yale 71 = And considering where the Demon Deacons were last year, this is not a bad win either. Also, regarding head-to-head between the "Two Ivy Leagues" . . . Davidson 75 - Penn 70 = Had this happened during the Curry era (or the Lefty one, for you old-timers), this would not be that good a win. But were I a Wildcat, I'd take it, thank you very much. VCU 76 - Akron 75 (OT) = I expected a battle in this one, and we got it. Belmont 79 - Marshall 74 = Ditto. Illinois State 65 - Northern Iowa 61 = Same here, though I thought NI'd take it. Shows what I know. Wisc-Milwaukee 57 - Valparaiso 55 = And here's another one, which despite the low scoring was one fine contest between two good mid-majors. Cincinnati 56 - Oklahoma 55 = And here again, with the Bearcats getting a win they desperately needed. St. Mary's 98 - BYU 82 = Way to go, Gaels. Not only did they beat the Mormons, they kinda spanked them too. On Friday: Georgia 58 - Delaware State 51 = The Bulldogs post a totally unimpressive victory. Northeastern 53 - Vermont 51 = Both programs have been better in the past, yet still gave us a fun game. Missouri 75 - ODU 68 = Missou remains undefeated, though against an ODU team that's also been better before this year. 'Grats to the Tigers, and enjoy it while you can . . . your run will end soon. Princeton 75 - Florida State 73 (3OT) = Wow. The Garden State sure handed it to the Sunshine State over these two days, with both the Scarlet Knights and the Tigers hanging L's on the Gators and 'Noles . . . though it took a comnbined 5 OTs to do it. George Mason 84 - Charleston 76 = I don't think CoC's as good as before, and I know GM's not going to reach another Final Four this year. Still, it's a good win for them. Temple 66 - Delaware 63 = But like that Georgia win above, I can't consider this to be a very good showing by the Owls. Auburn 78 - Georgia Southern 75 = Nor is this one by the Tigers. Murray State 73 - Eastern Illinois 40 = I normally refrain from posting blowouts, but I wanna keep on Joe's good side . . . and give some props to the Racers for staying unblemished to date. Seton Hall 67 - West Virginia 48 = Speaking of blowouts, what about this one? By itself it means little, as we know the Mountaineers are down some this year. But have you noticed that the Pirates are quietly 12-2 so far, including decent wins over VCU, St. Joe's, Auburn, Wake, and Dayton? Are they for real? We may find out come this Tuesday, when they face the UConn Huskies. James Madison 71 - Stetson 69 (OT) = Neither team is likely to make much noise this season, but the did give us an entertaining contest here. Wagner 64 - Santa Clara 62 = The Seahawks follow up their stunning victory over the Pitt Panthers by edging a decent Broncos squad. Good for them. While I was typing the above, Louisville made a huge comeback to get back into their game in Rupp. However, St. John's has not done the same against those Huskies. Some other games which tip-off early today include: Viginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State = The Cowboys have grabbed a slim lead over the Hokies with 5 gone in the second, but it's still too close to call. I expect it to stay that way. Iowa vs. Wisconsin = The Hawkeyes are up a trey in Madison over the Badgers, but it's only midway through the first. Anything can happen, and I think those Badgers will wrest control eventually. But I don't expect a blowout. Rice vs. Texas = I get that feeling that this Lone Star War will be exactly that. N. C. State vs. Western Carolina = And if Jerry's 'Pack want to keep any sort of respect, they'd better take care of the Catamounts in this in-state fight. I believe they will, but it might be closer than Jerry'd wish. Florida vs. Yale = You'd expect the Gators to bounce back from that embarrassing loss to Rutgers. I'd expect that too. Still, if the Scarlet Knights can beat them, so can the Eli. Wis-Milwaukee vs. Butler = The Bulldogs, national runner-up the last two years, are struggling at 7-7 so far. Me, I think they'll drop below .500 today. Boise State vs. Idaho = Get out your potato guns. This one could be fun. Georgetown vs. Providence = The Hoyas have done very well, and the Friars have not. Still, anything can happen in conference play, so keep an eye on this one. Mississippi State vs. Utah State = I've yet to be convinced that MSU's for real. A win here won't convince me they are, nor will a loss convince me they aren't. I get that feeling this will be close, even if it is in Starkville. Northwestern vs. Oklahoma = And I get that feeling about this one too. Michigan State vs. Nebraska = And I don't get that feeling about this one. The Spartans have won a dozen inna row, and Izzo likely won't let them lose focus. As for the Cornhuskers . . . well, their nightmare introduction to the Big Ten+ has just begun. Drake vs. Missouri State = Yeah, nobody much cares about either one of these teams, but I think it may be a pretty decent match-up. South Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee State = Same here. I'll be back a little later with early finals and other games today and Sunday. Enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
As promised, here's a few early finals:
Kentucky 69 - Louisvlle 62 = The Cardinals made a late run in the first half to make it a game, then made another late in the 2nd to make it respectable. I didn't get to see it, but as I doubt that either defense was all that dominant, the game must have been pretty sloppy. UK may not move up in the polls, but Louisville shall certainly drop a few spots. U Conn 83 - St. John's 69 = The Johnnies were totally outclassed by the Huskies in Hartford. Virginia Tech 67 - Oklahoma 61 = Not a great win for the Hokies, but a decent ony anyway. South Carolina 72 - S. C. Upstate 66 = And not a great win for the Gamecocks, nor a decent one either. Later games today include: Harvard vs. St. Joseph's = This one ought to be tons of fun. I can easily see the Crimson losing to the Hawks, and losing their ranking to boot. Purdue vs. Illinois = Both the Boilermakers and the Illini need all the conference wins they can muster to keep pace with the big boys. This should be a war. UCLA vs. California = The Bruins have had a horrid start, and a win against the Berkeley boys would go a long way towards improving their outlook. I can't see it happening, but UCLA does have the talent . . . if they show up, finally. Kansas vs. North Dakota = Don't bother. Arizona vs. Arizona State = And despite my respect for Herb Sendek, don't bother all that much with this one either. Yeah, the Sun Devils could surprise me, but I wouldn't bet on that. Oregon State vs. Washington State = Both start out 0-1 in league play, so both want the win. As the Pac-12 might be fairly open, at least below the top one or two spots, every team needs any victory they can steal. Creighton vs. Wichita State = It's in Wichita, but even if it wasn't I'd give the Shockers a shot here. Ohio State vs. Indiana = In Bloomington, so you have to give the Hoosiers one also. The Buckeyes have not been as dominant as expected, while IU's been much better than was thought. They may not be back yet, but a win here would go a long way towards that aim. Saint Louis vs. New Mexico = Here's one of those match-ups of good teams that hold the potential for a nail-biter. UNLV vs. Hawaii = The Runnin' Rebels visit Honolulu, but a win by the Rainbows would be a definite lulu. Gonzaga vs. Xavier = Has the Musketeers recovered from their brawl with Cincy? If so, they ought to edge the 'Zags. If not, it could be another ugly loss. Charlotte vs. Memphis = The Tigers have been just another of those teams from the Volunteer State that have sorely disappointed their fans so far. The 49ers don't have the personnel to compete with Memphis if they play up to their pre-season hype, but as they've rarely done so so far this might be a good one. Oregon vs. Washington = Like that other Great NW fight above, both teams would like to challenge for, at least, respectability in the Pac-12. This should focus both of them to play well. On Sunday, in limited action, we have: Rutgers vs. South Florida = Can the Scarlet Knights do a double-dip against the Sunshine State and gore the Bulls. Hey, if they can beat the Gators, they can win this one. But for some reason I expect them to have a let-down, so it may be just as close as their last OT game. Marquette vs. Villanova = You'd expect the Golden Eagles to be angry after their embarrassment at home against Vandy, which does not bode well for a so-far so-so 'Nova. I'm not saying the Wildcats can't win, as I've a lot of respect for Jay Wright. However, Jay Wright won't be in uniform, so I'd bet on Marquette were I you. North Carolina vs. Monmouth = The game itself doesn't promise to be much, as the Hawks have only won 2 games so far this season. Yet it does hold interest for Tar Heels, as it shall mark the return to Chapel Hill of former players King Rice, Derrick Phelps, and Brian Reese, all teammates in the 90's. The Monmouth coaching staff will likely get the biggest hand of the day in the Dean Dome. Michigan vs. Minnseota = So if you're looking for a more competitive contest, tune this one in. I can see it going either way, and expect it to come down to who executes in the final few minutes. Akron vs. Marshall = And on a slightly different level, I'd expect much the same here. Syracuse vs. DePaul = And believe it or not, I expect it here too. The 'Cuse have again screwed up their scheduling, and are actually playing a road game in Rosemont! Who'd a thunk? The Orange will probably previal, but I think the Blue Demons will give them a scare or two before it's over. Duke vs. Penn = But I don't expect the Blue Devils to get much of one from the Quakers. Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh = Here's an intereting match-up for you, as both teams have had some downright stinkers, with upsets they should never have allowed. They may not actually fight, but they should battle even if only out of pride. That's it for now. I may be back a little later, and may not. In either case, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Actually, the Bluegrass Battle was VERY physical, I thought. Lots of fouls called, but the refs let them play. I thought we might get a couple of fights, for a minute. In H2, both teams had some foul number issues. While play got sloppy at times, there was very good D on both sides, and a fantastic number of blocks for both teams. While I am an admitted Cats Homer, and wanted them to win, I was hoping for a fight, and got it. I think the Cats took their foot off the pedal late in H1, and got lazy, and the Cards went into a press and made them pay. Pitino usually can teach a group how to put a full court press to great advantage, and the H1 run was a product of that.
I'd agree with UK not moving in the polls, except that IU slapped a loss onto The Ohio State, their 2nd "giant killer" game. That ought to smart on The OSU, though I'd like to see UK stay off the #1 spot until the end of the Final Four. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Quote:
Weekend update to follow shortly after I enjoy my post-luncheon dog-rocket. ;) |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Well, both those games referenced above influenced the polls, not surprisingly. As UK and OSU were pretty much "tied" in the voting, the Buckeye loss dropped them down out of the Top Five . . . which may be too much. Louisville dropped even more, but there's the excuse of back-to-back Ls to explain that. So to recap some more of the meaningful scores, on Saturday 12/31:
Indiana 74 - Ohio State 70 = I told you the Hoosiers had a shot at home against the Buckeyes. I'm still not totally convinced they are back to Knightly glory, but it is good to see them competing on a high level again. Iowa 72 - Wisconsin 65 = But this one surprises me quite a bit. I didn't think the Hawkeyes had much of a chance in Madison against the Badgers . . . which shows you once again what little I know, and why they play the games. Boise State 76 - Idaho 73 = This one was about what I did expect, however. I thought it would be a good game, and it certainly was. N. C. State 82 - Western Carolina 55 = The victory by Jerry's 'Pack was pretty much expected, but the size of the margin was not, which may be a sign that this team is starting to play together better. Georgetown 49 - Providence 40 = And though the Hoya win was expected, the crappy scoring by both sides makes that UK/Louisville score look like an old UNLV/Loyola Marymount romp. Butler 54 - Wisc. Milwaukee 50 = Another low-scorer, but I'm sure the Bulldogs are happy they've stayed above .500, at least for now. Michigan State 68 - Nebraska 55 = Nothing at all surprising here. In fact, what would be is if the Cornhuskers manage to win more that 2 or 3 games in conference play all season. Mississippi State 66 - Utah State 64 = Some of you may have looked askance when I said this would be a good one. Well, :gary Purdue 75 - Illinois 60 = I missed this one, or maybe the Illini missed the bus. Although I figured it could go either way, so the Boilermaker win is no shock, the significant margin does shock me some. Harvard 74 - St. Joseph's 69 = And you may think I missed this one too, as I pretty much called for St. Joe's to knock off the Crimson. But blame the Hawks for this, not me . . . they were up by 10 at the half, then didn't manage to make it out of the locker-room. Speaking of which . . . Creighton 68 - Wichita State 61 = I gave the Shockers a shot here, and THEY were up 8 at the break. Looks like I'm the one who couldn't catch one . . . a break, I mean. New Mexico 64 - Saint Louis 60 = I made no call here, save for a good game, and it was. UNLV 74 - Hawaii 69 = But though the Rebels won, as I predicted, I never thought the Rainbows could hang so close. Gonzaga 72 - Xavier 65 = Well, it wasn't all that ugly a loss for the Musketeers, but they continue to self-destruct. Maybe that crosstown win over the Bearcats was the worst thing that could have happened to the X-Men. This also means I have no clue if this was a good win for the 'Zags, or not. Furthermore, to contrast this . . . On Sunday 1/1: Cincinnati 66 - Pittsburgh 63 = Since that fight mentioned above, the one that seemingly ruined Xavier's momentum, the previously struggling Bearcats have won 6 in a row after that row. Meanwhile, Pitt slips deeper into the pits, which is unusual for them. They normally don't collapse until March. :D South Florida 67 - Rutgers 65 = The Scarlet Knights follow up their stunning victory over the Gators by dropping this one to the Bulls. Who can figure this $#!+ out? Marquette 81 - Villanova 77 = As I thought, Marquette rebounded from their loss with a win. But there's some hope for the Philly 'Cats here, since they made a pretty damn good showing of it, so maybe they can get better before the end of the year. North Carolina 102 - Monmouth 65 = And as I thought, not much of a game. But also as I thought, and my sole (or is that "soul"?) reason for mentioning this at all was the 30-second standing ovation King Rice et. al. received during introductions. Some programs are just programs, but others are family. Akron 67 - Marshall 51 = I'm a bit disappointed that the Herd didn't give the Zips all the game I predicted. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. Michigan 61 - Minnesota 56 = Now this is more like it, and more of the contest I expected. A good win for the Wolverines, though I'm still concerned with their lack of scoring ability. So far this season they've only had 2 games when they've scored over 80 pionts, and 6 when they've tallied under 65. And they ain't exactly the Hoyas of the 80s either. Today's action has already started in some places, but only one final so far has any real meaning: Rhode Island 78 - Boston College 72 (2OT) = The Rams pretty much stink this year, and this is only their 3rd victory so far. Guess that means the Eagles won't be challenging for the ACC crown. :r In other games: ODU vs. James Madison = As I type it's at the half, with JM up 2. I think ODU will make a game of it before it's done. Chattanooga vs. Tennessee = In most years, one would have to favor the Vols fairly heavily. I don't know if the Mocs can beat this present batch in Knoxville, but they may scare them a bit. Virginia vs. LSU = It's in Baton Rouge, so despite my misgivings about SEC West teams I gotta give the Tigers a shot here, at least to challenge the Cavs. UVA's played much better than expected (and good for them), but not only am I not totally convinced they are for real, I also suspect they have some internat turmoil disturbing their chemistry. Hey, players don't leave in the middle of a season without some reason, be it good or bad. Baylor vs. Texas A&M = And speaking of not being convinced someone's for real, I don't buy into the Bears all that much. If the Aggies can play up to their pre-season hype for a change, they could hang that first L around Baylor's neck. Drexel vs. Georgia State = This is just one of those I get that feeling could be fun. Wofford vs. Wake Forest = This one could be too, though I'm more interested to see how the Deacs play. After the abysmal last few years they've had down in Greensboro, they can use any W they can get. Coastal Carolina vs. Campbell = Here's two pretty good mid-majors going head-to-head, so keep an eye on this. Vanderbilt vs. Miami (OH) = And much like that Wake/Wofford game, my interest stems from my curiosity as to which group of Commodores will show up in Nashville tonight. That's all for me today. See you later, and enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
In last night's limited action there were only a few scores of note:
Baylor 61 - Texas A&M 52 = The Bears remain undefeated, and I remain unconvinced about them. The Aggies have been one of the more disappointing teams so far this year, though not as disappointing as . . . Vanderbilt 69 - Miami OH 62 = I guess a bad win is better than a worse loss, but this does not impress me at all, at least not favorably. What does more is . . . Virginia 57 - LSU 52 = Yeah, I know the Tigers aren't a great team, but a win on the road by the Cavs at this point of the season means a lot in Charlottesville, I'm sure. ODU 67 - James Madison 61 (OT) = I figured ODU'd get back into this one before the horn, and they did, even if just barely. Then after the horn, they did what they needed to do. Wofford 56 - Wake Forest 52 = A decent win for the Terriers on the road, and a sign that the Deacons will continue to slide, even if not quite as far as last year. Campbell 70 - Coastal Carolina 65 = Again, I figured on a pretty good game here, and the Camels managed to get over the hump for a decent victory. Tonight also has limited action, but there are a few marquee match-ups: Ohio State vs. Nebraska = This isn't one of them. The Buckeyes will recover from their "upset" by the Hoosiers and shuck the 'Huskers, who'll need to wait a while longer before they earn their first Big Ten+ win. Michigan State vs. Wisconsin = But this one could be a real barn-burner. These two are seemingly headed in different directions, with the Spartans on a roll and the Badgers digging themselves a hole. One wants to keep the streak going, and the other needs to turn it around. It is in Madison, but if the Hawkeyes can beat UW there so can MSU. Look for a war. U Conn vs. Seton Hall = And this may be one too, considering how well the Pirates have looked at times, and considering that the Huskies are doing what they've yet to do much of this year . . . playing a decent opponent in a true road game. And against South Florida away from the Nutmeg State, U Conn won by only 3 lousy points. You should definitely keep an eye on Newark tonight. Florida vs. UAB = In most years I'd think this one could be fun, but UAB hasn't shown us much so far. At times, neither have the Gators, yet I feel they'll be able to handle this with some ease. Kentucky vs. AR Little Rock = And I'd also give the Wildcats a slight edge over the 5-10 Trojans. ;) Harvard vs. Fordham = It's in duh Bronx, but the Rams ain't the Yankees. The Crimson ain't the Rod Sux either, but they oughta take it, bad. Louisville vs. St. John's = And this is in the Garden, but I don't give the Johnnies much hope here. The Cardinals rebound from their back-to-back losses against the Hoyas and 'Cats. Missouri vs. Oklahoma = The Tigers are another of those teams I've not bought into yet, due mainly because they've not played much of anybody. A win against the Sooners won't change my mind, but a loss just might. For this alone the game is of interest. Alabama vs. Georgia Tech = And I'm not sure either the Tide or the Wreck can play with The Big Boys. 'Bama has a better record, but 2 or their three losses have come on the road. This one's in Atlanta. Like above, a Tide win will tell me little. One by the Jackets will tell me a little more, though not all that much. SMU vs. Mississippi = Here again, I'm not sure what this will tell us, at least about the Rebels. A win by the Mustangs in Oxford may indicate they're not gawd-awful, yet won't tell us that they are any damn good. So again, no prediction here, but just an interest to see what's what. That's about all for this evening. Pick your poison, and enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Pressed for time again today, so this will need be short and sweet. Last night:
Fordham 60 - Harvard 54 = The most stunning result from these games, and not because I didn't give the Rams a shot in hell. Can you blame me? They haven't won at home against a ranked opponent since 1978, which was before some of you were born. Seton Hall 75 - U Conn 63 = I've been surprised at how well the Pirates have played so far this year, and the fact that they dominated this game surprises me some also. But I'm not surprised the Huskies lost. I felt they started out over-ranked to begin with, and furthermore felt this would start to manifest itself once they got out of their home state and actually played some decent teams on the road. Michigan State 63 - Wisconsin 60 (OT) = The Spartans swipe a tough one in Madison, but despite the fact that a tying 3-pointer by the Badgers was disallowed at the 2nd buzzer they did not STEAL it. If Wisconsin had really deserved the victory, maybe they should have hit more that 5 of their first 20+ treys before they "hit" the post-final one. Alabama 73 - Georgia Tech 48 = Good God, is the Wreck in that bad a shape? Lawsy mercy. Mississippi 50 - SMU 48 = About what I figured it might be, though awfully low-scoring. Although there are not a ton of games this evening, there are quite a few that look to be good match-ups . . . too many, in fact, for me to give them all justice. So here's my highlights: Xavier vs. LaSalle = Have the X-Men gotten over their post-brawl blues? Even if so, LaSalle could give them game. Auburn vs. Florida State = Going into the season I'd have thought the 'Noles would romp here. However, they've played like crap, so this one interests me, even if only for that. Georgetown vs. Marquette = Two good teams should give us one good game. Until the Hoyas show me otherwise, I'll stick with them for now. St. Joseph's vs. Duquesne = The Hawks have been much better than they were last year, yet this still might be some fun. Tulane vs. UCF = This could be too. Illinois vs. Northwestern = The Smarty 'Cats have NOT been quite as good as last year, but the Illini have shown they can be vulnerable. West Virginia vs. Rutgers = And the Mountaineers have also not been as good, while the Scarlet Knights have been 'way up, and fairly down too. If RU shows up, should be close. Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati = Unlike Xavier, the Bearcats got hot after that fight. The Irish may not be able to cool them off, but keep an eye on this one to see what develops. Duke vs. Temple = The Owls are decent anyway, though not the mid-major power they've often been in the past. But the Blue Devils may have a bit more of a fight than they'd wish, even if only for the fact that . . . believe it or not . . . they AREN'T PLAYING IN DURHAM!!! How the hell did K let that happen? :r Murray State vs. Eastern Kentucky = I won't pick against Joe's Racers until after they give me some reason, but I can see them facing a challenge at home here. Kansas vs. Kansas State = I'm not sure I need to say much more. KU's played about as expected, while K-State's played better than was thought. Plus, they don't much like each other, in case you didn't know. Look for a war in Allen Fieldhouse, and figure the Jayhawks in a tight one. Saint Louis vs. Dayton = And figure on much the same here, on a mid-major level. Syracuse vs. Providence = Just like Dook, the Orange have screwed up again and scheduled a game outside the Dome. Were it many places aside from Rhode Island, I might look for them to take their first loss tonight. That loss will come, but I can't see the Friars handing it to SU. Iowa vs. Minnesota = In case you haven't noticed, these two "also-rans" in the Big Ten+ have surprised a few people. Both now have ambitions to make the NCAAs come March, and need every conference win they can muster to get there. If nothing else, they should come into this focused. Sad to say, I've no time for other good ones today, like maybe Indiana State/Northern Iowa or Illinois State/Missouri State to name just two. But feel free to jump in and name them yourselves, fellas! I can use all the help I can get here! Later then. Enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
After that Georgetown comeback, I was so delirious that I offered to take down all of our Christmas ornaments. I don't even remember doing it.
Wild night - Temple upsets Duke. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Down goes dook!!!!! Wish I'd got to see all the game, but the wife said it was a hot one.
That Michigan St-Wisconsin game was a good one also; enjoyed, and agree with your assessment. That has become a really good rivalry. Looks like the G'Town game was also a good, close game. Cinci did not have a close game; what, 7-0 since the Brawl? Murray State had a finish that was closer than the final score showed. Eastern has a decent team, and may beat us in Richmond later on. Hopefully, Aska's hand will be healed up by then. Glad the team can play without an important piece there. Looks like Providence is giving 'Cuse a game tonight also. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Hoot!....My Owls upset Duke!!...and I was there.....great game....gotta say the Owls took it to the big bad Blue Devils....outplayed and out hustled 'em!!
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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Various computer problems kept me from posting yeasterday, and are delaying me also today. Hopefully I'll get a chance to catch up Saturday.
I will say that, good as it was for the Temple Owls, I'm not so sure how huge an upset it was. Yeah, Cosby U's a little down this season, but remember that I told you from the get-go that I felt the Blue Devils were too highly-ranked when one considers what and who they lost from their program over the last few years, and how iffy the performance of young replacements can be regardless of how touted they may be. And if you think the above is the ranting of a Dook-hater, keep in mind that in non-conference play I always root for the ACC team . . . though that may change next year, when The Orange hit the league. :r |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
OK. I have neither the time nor the energy for a complete update, so lemme just hit the highlights over the past few days. On Wednesday 1/4:
Temple 78 - Duke 73 = As stated above, I don't consider this as big an upset as many seem to do. The Owls aren't scared of anybody, and though the Blue Devils will have their typical great season they aren't invincible. LaSalle 80 - Xavier 70 = With all due respect to LaSalle, my interest here lies in the way these Musketeers have crashed and burned. I really want to see if they can right the ship. St. Joseph's 84 - Duquesne 82 (OT) = Just a great game between two good mid-majors. Georgetown 73 - Marquette 70 = The young Hoyas continue to surprise people. Memphis 69 - Tennessee 51 = In and of itself, this in-state battle holds little interest to me, save that the Tigers may be learning how to play together. But you'll see below why today's action makes this Vol loss notable. Kansas 67 - Kansas State 49 = I'm not surprised the Jayhawks won, but I did think the 'Cats might make a better showing than this pitiful effort. Dayton 79 - Saint Louis 72 (OT) = Another of those exciting contests. Iowa State 77 - Texas 71 = OK, I realize Rick Barnes' "one-and-done" recruits have screwed this program again, but please . . . Iowa State?? And speaking of the state of Iowa . . . Iowa 64 - Minnesota 62 = It was a good night for those corn-fed hicks. On Thursday 1/5: Indiana 73 - Michigan 71 = Another good win for the Hoosiers, though with the way the Wolverines have played at times I'm not sure it's a great one. Personally, I'm glad to see IU's coming back, though it's still too early to know for sure if they are. DePaul 84 - Pittsburgh 81 = Maybe I should no longer be stunned when the Panthers lose. This time it came due to a 3 with 1.3 seconds left, to a team they should have dominated . . . were Pitt as good as was expected, anyway. Penn State 65 - Purdue 45 = Firstly, I don't get why the Boilermakers haven't played better. And secondly . . . 45 stinkin' points? WTF? What's with all the football scores in college hoops this year? Oregon 78 - Stanford 67 = A good night for the Great Northwest, and not one for the Bay Area when you also consider . . . Oregon State 92 - California 85 = The Pac-12 seem likely to be another clusterfark this year, with teams repeatedly trying to give the lead to somebody else, such as with . . . UCLA 65 - Arizona 58 = Does this mean the Bruins are finally starting to play up to their pre-season hype, or is it that the Desert 'Cats are starting to play down to their actual abilities? On Friday 1/6: Butler 63 - Wright State 62 = A close one for the Bulldogs, who need every W they can steal if they want to get another shot in March. Valparaiso 73 - Detroit 71 = Pretty much the same story here. So far today we've seen some fascinating action, including this one referenced above: Tennessee 67 - Florida 56 = Not only did the sub-par Vols beat the Gators, they beat them fairly handily. OK, so it was in Knoxville, but still. This makes another road loss for Florida, who may be showing they do NOT travel well. Wake Forest 58 - Virginia Tech 55 = A very good win for the Deacs to kick off their ACC campaign. As these may be few and far between, they need savor each one. It looks like West Virginia's gonna knock off Georgetown, and Georgia Tech's giving Duke about all they can handle too. I'll be back later with more early finals, and hopefully some previews of weekend action. I say hopefully, because the boss has threatened to come in here and try once again to screw up my computer. :r Either way, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
A few more early finals for you:
West Virginia 74 - Georgetown 62 = The Hoyas' climb in the polls takes a step backwards with this huge win for the Mountaineers. Duke 81 - Georgia Tech 74 = This game was really closer than the final. Dook struggles on the road again, though they do escape with a W over the Wreck. Xavier 67 - Fordham 59 = The Musketeers get only their 2nd win in their last 7 in the wake of their Bearcat brawl. Meanwhile the Rams follow their stunner over Harvard with a loss to "meh" U Mass, then this. There's far too many great games scheduled today, so I'll just hit the big ones: Missouri vs. Kansas State = At this point it's looking like the Manhattan 'Cats will hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. It's not over, but if it holds up it won't be Missou's last loss. LSU vs. Mississippi = And these Tigers are trying to stomp the Rebels, holding a 20-point lead at the break. Baylor vs. Texas Tech = The Bears have only a single point edge at the break, and are actually in more of a game than I'd have thought. Kansas vs. Oklahoma = The Sooners are hanging tough with the Jayhawks in Norman, up by one with 4 minutes to go in the first. It's early, so I'd expect KU to prevail eventually. North Carolina vs. Boston College = In this ACC opener for both, I'd not expect the Eagles to be able to give the Heels much of a contest, as they've not shown that ability prior to this. Yet I'd not have thought the Yellow Jackets could hang with the Blue Devils either, so there's that. In conference play, anything can happen. Ohio State vs. Iowa = The Hawkeyes have had a couple of very good, and somewhat unexpected, wins already. If they can take this one from the Buckeyes, it would be their biggest. I don't think they shall, but you never know. OSU has NOT been al-powerful. Kentucky vs. South Carolina = Nor have the Wildcats, but the 'Cocks have been awfully limp so far. I don't give them a shot in hell in Rupp. Syracuse vs. Marquette = It's back in the Dome, so you'd have to give the Orange a slight nod. Still, Marquetts has played very well at times, and they might have a shot of knocking off another undefeated today. Dayton vs. Temple = Can the Owls build upon their huge victory over Duke? This one ought to be close throughout. Louisville vs. Notre Dame = If the right Cardinals team shows up in the Crum Bucket, I don't give the Irish much of a chance. Virginia vs. Miami = The Cavaliers have been the surprise of the ACC so far, and the 'Canes have struggled mightily. I'll go with UVA until they show me something otherwise. U Conn vs. Rutgers = Hey, whaddaya know? The Huskies are once again risking a trip outside the Nutmeg State, and the Scarlet Knights did beat pretty badly the Gators in Piscataway. So anything can happen, even if you claim lightning cannot strike twice. I'll try to get back later with some more scores and some Sunday games too. Until later then, enjoy. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Yep, the Hoyas had a tough one today.
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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Tough losses in the top 25. UL took one, and I expected them to win over Notre Dame. Gotta say I was surprised about the Florida loss also, even on the road.
Murray State stays undefeated against Austin Peay, on the road. Although, it sure had the feel of a home game; felt like over half of us in attendance were wearing the Blue and Gold. Peay is not good this year, but they played tough, and would not go away. Gotta say, though, I don't understand the top 20 ranking. We've played great, and beat Memphis, but the non-con schedule was dominated by lesser mid-majors or worse. I figure we're no better than 25, but it is nice to get the recognition for the program, and I'm proud of the squad and its new coach. |
Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
Curious to see the rankings today after all the losses.
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