Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Yes indeed they are. And if they can get through the next few weeks, against Cincy, Pitt, 'Nova, an improved Seton Hall and Marquette, then U. Conn, you might actually have a valid point. :r


And I also can't see any team going without a loss (well, maybe San Diego State in the regular season, but not through April). But I've also come to the realization that a #1 seed means little after the first weekend. Just look at last year as an example. Bragging rights does not win games in March. That's my :2 , and worth every penny.

Update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There were a few notable scores last night, including:


Minnesota 70 - Purdue 67 = Though this can be classed an upset, it does not qualify as a shock. The Gophers have played very well at time, and the Boilermakers have too often struggled to score. Against a team as deliberate on offense as Minnesota, with limited possessions available, this problem can be compounded. And so it was last evening. A good win for the distracted Gophers, in a tough spot against a tough conference foe.

Stanford 58 - Washington 56 = However, the Huskies could not overcome their off-court distractions, and dropped an important Pac-10 game against a Cardinal team which is decent, but supposedly not on the same level as Washington. This win might not make Stanford's season, but it just might spell the beginning of the end for the Huskies.

Oregon 68 - USC 62 = And speaking of distractions, the story here are the "on-court" distractions of the Ducks' new $230 million arena. Reportedly the reflections from the floor gave viewers headaches, and the players could not see the midcourt or three-point lines worth a doodly. So give the Ducks one point for the victory, and take two away for causing epileptic seizures all over the Northwest.

California 88 - Washington State 81 (OT) = Over the long haul, I expect this outcome will prove to mean little, but give both teams credit for an entertaining show.

Drexel 62 - ODU 57 = But as I said yesterday, this one was important for both teams. In this particular fairy tale, the Dragons top the Monarchs in a hard-fought battle.

Rhode Island 78 - Richmond 74 = And, as I said yesterday, this one was the same story . . . and the same sort of tight fight. A good win for the Rams, and a disappointing loss for the Spiders.

North Carolina 64 - Virginia Tech 61 = Not a great win for the Tar Heels, but better than a bad loss at home. Like too often last year, and like their previous game against UVA, UNC fell behind big (by 16 last night) and needed to fight back for the late lead. Unlike last year, they actually did so. Two positive signs, however, aside from the outcome. First, much-hyped then much-maligned freshman Harrison Barnes scored 8 of his 12 points in the final 3 1/2 minutes to help secure the victory. Second, another freshman Kendall Marshall garnered 9 assists. Not impressed? Well, 9 assists in a game where you scarcely break 60 is a monstrous effort, if you ask me.


Tonight has very few games on the slate, and only three of them interest me in the least:


Valparaiso vs. Wright State = These two are pretty evenly matched, and should give us a close contest right up until the end.

Iona vs. Rider = Same thing here.

Butler vs. Detroit = The profiles of these programs may be slightly higher than the previous ones, but my point is the same. I see a good game here, start to finish.


Now this weekend we have far too many games scheduled to give proper coverage to them all. I'll get a jump on the bigger ones now by giving you some which tip off early on Saturday:


Louisville vs. Marquette = Though the Cardinals have been getting better press, I see this as a pick 'em. The Golden Eagles may not win, but on any given day they can beat anybody.

Temple vs. Duquesne = And it's about the same story here. Well, OK, so the Dukes can't beat anybody (like Duke, f'instance), but they can beat the Owls. I don't think they will, but I don't think they'll be embarrassed either. Might actually be pretty tight.

Syracuse vs. Cincinnati = The Orange try to keep their streak alive, but it won't be easy, even in their Dome. The Bearcats have only lost one themselves, to Villanova, and if they can hit some shots over Boeheim's zone they can make a real battle of this one.

Georgetown vs. Rutgers = And the Hoyas need to do something now to turn their season around. All things being equal, I would not give the Scarlet Knights a snowball's chance, yet since Georgetown's not shown me much lately, who knows? Bet the Hoyas, but don't give too many points.

Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee = And here both teams have been up, then down, then up, then down. Though it would surprise me if both teams lost, it would not if neither actually tried to win. This one I'm curious about, just for that reason alone . . . not "which team will show up?", but "will one show up at all?"

Marshall vs. Memphis = The Memphis Tigers makes a third "name" team from the Volunteer State that has yo-yo'ed all over the place. Don't be surprised at all if the Thundering Herd tramples all over them.

Villanova vs. Maryland = 'Nova has only one loss so far, and I would not expect they will drop this one on their home court. However, the Terps do have a pretty good team, so give them a puncher's shot. This might be closer than Jay Wright would prefer, but figure it will be Gary Williams crying at the buzzer.

Northwestern vs. Michigan State = And here's another one that's hard to call. The Spartans are starting to prove the wrong thing . . . that they ain't all that good. The Wildcats aren't either, but they ain't garbage, and only lost to MSU by 3 in their first meeting. I would expect the Spartans to pull it out, yet Tom Izzo might just gain a few more gray hairs before it's over.

Missouri vs. Texas A&M = And here, without a doubt, we have us a tossup game. The # 15 Tigers (15-2, 1-1) are visiting the # 14 Aggies (15-1, 2-0) in a vital early conference game for both, and in a conference neither is favored to win. You think they won't be focused here?


That's it until tomorrow afternoon for me. I'll see you then. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Always a good read.....Thanks:=::=:

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Louisville 71-Marquette 70. Wow!!! What a blaster for the last 5 minutes! Ricky's guys can play, when they focus.
I thought Marquette had them, but good. Comebacks like this are why college b'ball is such a blast to watch, and also sometimes so frustrating to watch :r.

Vandy on top of UT 46-41 right now, as UT is mounting its own comeback.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

OK, so that Butler/Detroit game wasn't so good, what with the Titans having a Midget 1st half and falling behind by 22 to the Bulldogs. But the other two I picked were: A) pretty good, with Valpo coming from behind to take Wright State 71-60. B) danged good, with Iona outlasting Rider 100-96 in OT. As for the early games today, Cincy is hanging tough with the Orange, while Marquette, Vandy, Memphis, and Duquesne have nice leads over Louisville, Tennessee, Marshall, and Temple resp't. But there's still plenty of time left, so let's move on for now.

The balance of today's action is so jam-packed with potential great games I refuse to post them all. Here is my redacted selection, believe it or not:

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech = Although I never felt K-State was an elite program, I can't see them losing this game. Hey, it could happen, but that would totally shock me.

Alabama vs. Arkansas = Nobody's much talked about these two teams, but both are quietly having a pretty decent season so far. Neither is likely to take the SEC, yet they are on track for an at-large bid in March. A win today would be another step in that direction, and you'd best believe they both know that.

Oklahoma State vs. Colorado = And here's two more who need a new press agent. Same story, and same importance. Expect a fight.

South Carolina vs. Florida = One more time. Both have had good wins and bad losses. Both need to stay around .500 at worse in conference play to dance come March. Both are aware, and both should be ready to play today.

Duke vs. Virginia = OK, here . . . not so much. You'd have to figure the Blue Devils would have to collapse completely to miss the NCAAs, and I can't see that happening. As for the Cavs, their wins over Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Va. Tech are nice, but they will need more of the same on their resume before Selection Sunday. That will most likely NOT occur in Cameron today.

U. Conn vs. DePaul = If this is still a game at halftime, I will be surprised. The Huskies should romp.

Kansas vs. Nebraska = But the Jayhawks, not so much. Not only are the 'Huskers better than the Blue Demons, but KU has remained unbeaten yet not looked unbeatable over the previous week. Give them the edge, as they are a better team and are in Phog Allen, but it just might be pretty tight.

Arizona vs. Arizona State = The Wildcats are in the early hunt for the Pac-10, and the Sun Devils . . . are not. Although most anything can happen in conference play, especially between in-state rivals, I'd not expect that scenario to change today.

Illinois vs. Wisconsin = These are two of the recent "upset" victims, although you'd have to class the Illini's one to Penn State a bigger flop than the Badgers' to the Spartans. Regardless, both want to get back on the right track. This one could get nasty.

N.C. State vs. Florida State = Will the Wolfpack's young talent finally demonstrate its abilities? Will the Semiholes still be celebrating their win over Dook, and will said hangover cost them focus today? I give FSU a slim edge, but I would not be shocked if they trip.

LSU vs. Kentucky = Calipari has begun to criticize his team for lack of intensity and control. In doing so, he hopes to correct these bad tendencies. It might work. It might backfire, as a young team sometimes takes such things too personally. Either way, figure the Tigers have enough to give the Wildcats a good game, yet not quite enough to beat them . . . not in Rupp, anyway.

Texas vs. Oklahoma = As for the Sooners, they are most aptly named today. This game against the 'Horns will be over sooner rather than later.

ODU vs. Hofstra = For mid-majors like these, every win is vital. You can only drop so many games before you drop off the radar entirely. This one should be a lot of fun.

UCF vs. Southern Mississippi = The totally-overrated Orlando Mickeys got their first loss last Saturday. I would not surprise me one bit if they get their second one down in Hattiesburg today.

Georgia vs. Mississippi = The Bulldogs got a huge win over Kentucky, then followed it with a disappointing loss to Vandy. Figure they get back into the W column today, though it might be close for a half, or a half and a half even.

Ohio State vs. Penn State = Had you asked me a week ago about this game, I would have said the Nittany Lions had absolutely no shot at all of beating the Buckeyes. But in the last seven day PSU upset Michigan State and Illinois, and have become the talk of the Big Ten. So, what do I say about this game today? The Nittany Lions have absolutely no shot at all of beating the Buckeyes.

Baylor vs. Iowa State = But the Cyclones do have a shot at beating the Bears. Baylor has not played all that well recently. I think they will win, but they could fall on their fuzzy faces once again.

San Diego State vs. New Mexico = I said a month back that I would not pick against the Aztecs until they gave me reason to do so. Their narrow and ugly victory over UNLV is not in and of itself sufficient reason. Yet I do find it incumbent to point out that the Lobos have a pretty good team themselves, so don't have a heart attack if SDSU makes a left turn in Albuquerque.

Boston College vs. Miami = Believe it or not, but the Eagles are at present soaring at the top of the ACC. And believe it or not, the 'Canes are sulking down in the basement with the Wrecks and Wakes of the league. I don't expect either situation will last all that long, and it may even end today. I would not bet on it, but it could.

Pitt vs. Seton Hall = And though the Pirates are a few steps out of the Big East cellar, it is still pretty much the same thing here. Only difference, I don't give them a Chinaman's chance against the Panthers.

Dayton vs. Xavier = But here, here we've got us a real contest. Expect it to go down to the final 2 minutes.

Washington State vs. Stanford = The Cardinal are one of those teams competing for the early edge in the Pac-10, whereas the Cougars are trying to remain relevant. I believe Stanford is building on success, and will continue today.

Michigan vs. Indiana = Both of these are storied programs (the Hoosiers much more so), and both have fallen on difficult times of late (again, the Hoosiers much more so). Both are attempting to regain some of their lost luster. Both have had some limited success, and both are still falling considerably short of their desires. Both want this victory. If that doesn't get you interested, then you're beyond my help.


I'm gonna take a little break, then come back with early finals and Sunday previews. See you soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Thanks, Larry. I try to entertain, without p!$$ing off too many people. And if I do, well screw 'em if they can't take a joke.

Yes, Joe, that was a great comeback. I too thought Marquette had it, but Louisville owned the end of the game and squeaked out a good win. Say what you want about Rick Pitino, the man can coach a little, no doubt.

Oh, and the Vols themselves made a great late comeback to edge Vandy 67-64. Here we have two teams that can't seem to figure out who they are, so what shot do we mere mortals have?

Other early finals:

Syracuse 67 - Cincinnati 52 = And again, the Bearcats managed to hang tough for much of the game, but the Orange took it to them in the second half to remain undefeated.

Memphis 71 - Marshall 61 = The outcome is no big surprise to me, as I knew the Tigers had better, albeit younger, talent. I did think the Herd could stick closer, but a bad first half killed them.

Georgetown 74 - Rutgers 65 = No surprise here at all. The Hoyas have been inconsistent, but Rutgers has been pretty consistent . . . consistently bad, that is.

Duquesnse 78 - Temple 66 = And if there is an upset so far today, here it is. Although I did not predict it, I did feel the Dukes could give the Owls a good game. Seems like they gave them a better game than Fran wanted.


There are many fewer games on Sunday, but still some with potential:


Notre Dame vs. St. John's = The Irish started off like a house afire, but the embers have begun to cool a bit. Meanwhile, the Johnnies have even surprised themselves at how well they have played. They actually have a shot at winning this one in MSG. I don't believe they will, but they can make it interesting.

Valparaiso vs. Detroit = And here just one more of those mid-major matchups both teams want on their resume. Expect a total war.

Creighton vs. Indiana State = Same thing here.

Purdue vs. West Virginia = The Boilermakers have played very well, but fell back into their scoring woes against the Golden Gophers. The Mountaineers were expected to take several steps backwards, yet have made some strides lately. This one could give the bookies fits.

Rhode Island vs. St. Bonaventure = If you've been paying any attention, you'll know both of these can hoop a little. Should be fun.

Butler vs. Wright State = And again. Should be fun, and could be even more fun.

North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech = The Heels have not played up to the level their talent is capable of doing. They are vulnerable, and will remain so until the prove otherwise. But the Jackets are not nearly as good as they were last season, and are playing precisely that way. UNC should be favored by a few possession, but road victories in the ACC are not easy to come by, and must be earned. Just ask Duke, if you don't believe me.

Washington vs, California = As was the case last year, the Huskies are supposed to be head-and-shoulders above all other Pac-10 teams. So far, they've only managed to get their pointy little ears up over the competition. On the other side, Cal has struggled and comes in barely better than .500 at 9-7 and 2-2. Yet they do have a few quality wins, over New Mexico, Temple, Iowa State, Arizona State, and Washington State. If they can hit their shots, they can keep it relatively close. And who knows? The police may haul off some more Huskies before gametime! :r


That's it for now. I might pop my head back in after I have some lunch, and I might not. In either case . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Right now, it looks like the Cats have had their tails yanked, and are getting feisty. Pretty commanding lead at the half. Now we'll see if they are disciplined enough to keep the pedal down at the whistle.

Will be switching back and forth between this and the AFC matchup...the Steelers just made an uncharacteristic blunder that cost 7.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

;s Big 'Cuse fan! Going to have to say they win the Big East this year. Uconn I think is overrated, once the Big East really gets underway, they'll lose.

As for the other conferences, still undecided.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

SDSU was impressive in The Pit this weekend @BYU next week, big game.....:banger

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, UK did spank LSU, bad . . . for what that's worth. Hey, be honest. The Tigers haven't been relevant in hoops for a long time.

So far so good for the Orange. But were I you, brother, I'd worry less about how good or bad are the Huskies, and more about getting past Pitt tonight. Just :2 , and worth every penny.

Oh, and as for the Big Mouth Conference, I am never undecided. Their traditional collapses in the NCAA Tourney long ago convinced me they are always overrated. :r

Yes, another good win for your Aztecs. The Lobos gave them a good game, and your boys held up under some pressure. Plus, their 87 points was just slightly better than the 55 they scored against UNLV.


Weekend update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There were a lot of good close games this past weekend, as well as a fair number of blowouts, but there were only a handful of scores that really surprised me:


Indiana 80 - Michigan 61 = The Hoosiers are improving over past seasons, but they haven't improved this much. And the young Wolverines had shown some signs of late, particularly in their last few losses against Kansas and Ohio State. Scoring only 15 in the first half is one bad sign, and losing this one by a greater margin than those prior 2 combined is even worse.

Iowa State 72 - Baylor 57 = Though I though the Cyclones could beat the Bears, I would never have predicted such a spanking as this.

Kansas 63 - Nebraska 60 = OK, so maybe this wasn't such a shock. I told you I'd not been all that impressed by what I saw of the Jayhawks, and that the 'Huskers could keep it tight. But still . . . .

Michigan State 71 - Northwestern 67 (OT) = Here again, maybe I should not be surprised. Hey, I myself predicted it would be close enough to give Izzo more gray hair, and it was definitely that. But again, still . . . .

Ohio State 69 - Penn State 66 = And maybe the closeness of this one should not surprise me either, considering how PSU has suddenly seemed to find its game. Still, the Buckeyes tried their damnedest to blow their new # 1 ranking before they even got it.

Southern Mississippi 86 - UCF 69 = And even though I did say I would not be surprised if UCF got their second loss in as many games, yet a spanking such as this was not on my radar.


And speaking of spankings not on my radar, on Sunday:


Georgia Tech 78 - UNC 58 = Pitiful, just pitiful. The Heels were horrible on defense, and even worse on offense. It is one thing to allow an opposing player to score 30 points . . . hey, it happens . . ., but to couple that with a shooting percentage of 27.6? How bad is that? Well, it is Carolina's worst percentage from the field since they shot 25.7% against N.C. State . . . in 1955. As for the Jackets, it's a good win . . . or maybe not, come to think of it. :sh

St. John's 72 - Notre Dame 54 = Although I gave the Red Storm a shot at taking this one in the Garden, I did not think they would. I most certainly did not think they would whup up on the Irish, and take their lunch to boot. This was a bad a beating as their previous loss to Marquette, and with Cincy, the Golden Eagles again, and Pitt coming up, this might be the beginning of the end for the leprechauns.

West Virgina 68 - Purdue 64 = Actually, I felt this one would be pretty close, so there's no big shock here. WVU gets a very good win, and the Boilermakers get a reality check.


In early action today, the "overrated" U. Conn Huskies have already edged the . . . even-more-so-overrated? . . . Villanova Wildcats 61-59 up in Storrs. Meanwhile, two more overrated teams, Missouri and Kansas State, just tipped off in what should be a pretty good one. Games to follow include:


Charleston vs. Chattanooga = Nobody much talks about teams like this, nor seem to much care, until they come up and bite some big boy in the butt. Don't kid yourself: These two are good, and should give us a very nice contest.

Fairfield vs. Rider = Like I just said. Weren't you listening?

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh = The supposed # 3, and certainly undefeated, Orange visit the supposed # 5, and 17-1, Pitt Panthers. Now maybe you understand why I suggested above to wait until you PLAY the Huskies before you question their relative ability. :D

Kansas vs. Baylor = The Jayhawks have dodged a few bullets lately to remain amongst the undefeated themselves. The Bears have struggled, and are coming off a stomping, so need to try and turn things around. A win in Waco would go a long way towards doing that. I don't expect it, but as I have said, I don't have a ton of faith in KU either. So, pick your poison. If the line's over three possessions, take Baylor.


That's it for today. See you tomorrow. Until then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Did I warn you, or not?


Pitt 74 - Syracuse 66 = Though I feel certain the Orange faithful are disappointed, this should come as no big surprise. No only does Pitt have a good team, but Boeheim's zone has always, and will always, be vulnerable to the outside shot. Plus, when they push it out to pressure the shooters, it opens lanes for passing and penetration down low. Plus plus, as with all zones, it too often allows the opponent to outrebound you. Last night Pitt had 14 more than Syracuse, which more than made up for having 7 more turnovers also. So, one more undefeated team goes by the wayside.


In some other action:


Missouri 75 - Kansas State 59 = The outcome is no shock. The margin is a bit of one, but considering how the Wildcats have seemed to hit a wall, losing 3 of their last 4, maybe it should not be one. And when you look at their upcoming schedule (Texas A&M, Baylor, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa State, Colorado, and Kansas again), one could see things going from bad to worse.

Chattanooga 91 - Charleston 88 = I told you this would be a good one, didn't I?

Fairfield 65 - Rider 57 = And this one could have been a little better, but was still a pretty decent contest.


Tonight has a somewhat limited slate of games, yet there are still a few worth noting:


Colorado vs. Nebraska = These two are not getting the attention that several other Big 12 schools have received, but they are both doing quite well, and should give us a very nice game.

Michigan State vs. Illinois = And these two are perhaps receiving a bit TOO much attention in the Big Ten, as both have had their struggles. Still, it ought to be some fun in Champaign tonight.

Georgetown vs. Seton Hall = And there should be some fun in Newark also, though I would expect the Hoyas to have most of it.

Tennessee vs. Georgia = These two have demonstrated they can play with the best, and fold up like cheap suits . . . more so the Vols than the 'Dawgs, as Georgia's three losses (Notre Dame, Temple, and Vandy) are all "better" ones than UT's 6 Ls. So, as it is in Athens, give the Bulldogs the edge.

Maine vs. Vermont = I realize not many of you care all that much, but these are two pretty good teams (in their weight-class, anyway) fighting for the lead in the American East. If nothing else, it should be competitive.

Kentucky vs. Alabama = After Cal reamed out his players last week, the played at least one game with the focus and intensity he wants. I don't think they'll need to be Canute to hold back the Tide.

North Carolina vs. Clemson = But if anybody need to turn the tide, it is the Tar Heels. They got crushed by Georgia Tech on Sunday, and had their worst shooting night since 1955. On the other side, the Clemson Tigers visit the Smith Center in the hopes of ending an 0-54 streak on Carolina's court. Figure something's gotta give.

Michigan vs. Northwestern = Although neither of these two figure to do a whole lot in the Big Ten, both have played a few good games. So once again, something will give, one way or the other.

BYU vs. TCU = And although I do not believe for one second that the Cougars are a Top Ten team nationally, I really can't see the Horned Frogs being much more than road kill in Provo this evening. TCU's lost 5 of their last 6, and they will almost certainly fall to 10-10 tonight.


That's about all I see, though as always one of the "other" games (Texas Tech/Oklahoma? Evansville/Southern Ill.?) could turn into a barn-burner. So make your own choice, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There were a few surprises for me last night, and the biggest one was:


Alabama 68 - Kentucky 66 = There is no way in hell the Tide should have beaten the Wildcats. I guess Calipari thinks so too, as he was caught on camera cussing out one of his freshman players on the sidelines. He apologized today, saying he got caught up in the moment, but that this is no excuse. Damn right it ain't, Cal . . . you &^@$!%' @$$&#!* you! Oh, and a great win for 'Bama, by the way.

Tennessee 59 - Georgia 57 = And this is a mild surprise, if only because it was in Athens, and the Vols have been losing more than winning lately. But as I did imply, it was a close call, and so it proved.

Illinois 71 - Michigan State 62 = And this one does not shock me with its outcome, although the margin was a tad higher than just the home court edge. But what does shock me is that the Spartans, now 12-6, are STILL being ranked nationally. Hey, I like MSU, and respect Izzo too, but fair is fair. Vote them out of the Top 25, and keep them out until they clearly demonstrate otherwise.

Georgetown 80 - Seton Hall 75 = And this is a minor shock in that the Hoyas should never have allowed the Pirates to stay this close. I don't give a crap if the game was in the Rock, or out on Broad Street in Newark, there's no good reason for this.

UNC 75 - Clemson 65 = And this one is no surprise at all, unless you consider it one that the victory keeps the Tar Heels in a 4-way tie for the lead in the ACC. And though there were a few other good signs for the Heels, there's no way it can be considered a turnaround win. But it does keep their 55-0 home streak against the Clemson Tigers intact. Just think about that a second. These two played their first basketball game in Chapel Hill over 80 years ago, and Clemson has yet to win one single game there. A run like that is hard to believe, much less to beat.


There are a lot more games tonight of import, so let's get to them:


Ohio State vs. Iowa = The Buckeyes almost blew their brand-new # 1 ranking before they even got it, but managed to squeak by a "surging" Penn State to remain undefeated. They should retain that against the Hawkeyes. However, do NOT think they are unbeatable. In their last four games, they won by a combined 15 points total . . . not a dominant performance, by any reckoning.

Memphis vs. Southern Mississippi = One team has not played as well as some expected, and the other has been better. This one could be real close.

James Madison vs. ODU = And this one's just a nice even matchup between two decent teams, and should be close also.

Virginia vs. Boston College = The Eagles are one of those 4 teams atop the ACC (so far, that is), while the Cavs are one of those striving to leave Wake Forest alone in the basement. If the guards for UVA can hit from outside, they can keep this one close up in Chestnut Hill, but I'd expect BC to pull it out.

Louisville vs. St. John's = The Cardinals needed a furious comeback against Marquette to edge them by one Saturday, and the Johnnies got a great win against Notre Dame Sunday. This game is in the new KFC Crumbucket, so give L'ville an edge. But I am very interested to see if the Red Storm can continue to improve.

Cincinnati vs. Notre Dame = Both of these are coming off of tough losses, and both need a win. I predict one of them will get it tonight.

George Washington vs. Richmond = And these are two who need all the wins they can garner before the Selection Committee meets, so plan on a war here.

Wake Forest vs. Georgia Tech = And these two are already planning to sit out the Big Dance, barring some miracle. Yet neither wants to be embarrassed, so they should show up and play.

Duke vs. N. C. State = The last time the Blue Devils left the friendly confines of Cameron Indoor Stydium, they lost. I would not bet on that being the case in Raleigh tonight, yet stranger things have happened. In conference play, against in-state rivals, all things are possible.

Missouri State vs. Indiana State = Here are two more of those teams nobody talks about, but both are not only capable of making the NCAAs, they could actually win a game or two there. Should be fun.

U. Mass vs. Charlotte = And both of these have had their ups-and-downs, which means they really need to make a move soon, or resign themselves to wait 'til next year. For that alone, it is worth keeping half an eye on.

Arkansas vs. South Carolina = Believe it or not, these two are presently challenging for the lead in their respective SEC divisions. If that does not focus them, nothing would.

SMU vs. UAB = The Blazers are not accustomed to being in a hole, and are trying to climb out. The Mustangs have been in that same hole for a while, yet are trying to keep from sinking deeper. This might actually be a pretty good game.

West Virginia vs. Marshall = So should this one. The Mountaineers are on a bit of a roll, and the Thundering Herd is hoping to start a new one. I'd give WVA the edge, but it may be fairly close even late in the contest.

Northern Iowa vs. Wichita State = Here are two more of those squads which are under most people's radar, but who can play a bit of ball. They are teams you don't want to meet in the second game of the NCAAs, as they can sneak up and bite you. Flip a coin here.

Purdue vs. Penn State = The Boilermakers did not lose a game in December, and have already lost two this month. So despite their nickname, it's Penn State who's gotten hot. Yet I don't expect them to stay hot, so put your penny on PU, not PSU.

Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt = Vandy has stumbled a bit from time to time, yet always against quality opponents. The Rebels started out better than their fans expected, yet have now dropped 3 in a row. I figure that will reach 4 down in Nashville this evening.

Texas vs. Texas A&M = And if there is a "pick 'em" amongst the top tier teams tonight, this is the one. It is in Austin, so the 'Horns have that. It is also the time of year when the 'Horns start their traditional collapse, so they also have that. As for the Aggies, they have only lost once so far, and that was to Boston College by two points 'way back at Thanksgiving. They'd best make both teams check their Colts at the door for this one.

Florida State vs. Miami = It may be news to you, but these two teams don't much like each other. Plus, they are close enough in talent to be equals. This one just might end in bloodshed also.

Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State = Both of these squads have notched some quality wins, and both are headed towards the cellar of the Big 12. Neither wants to be there, and to be honest, I don't think neither belongs their either. So here's another war for you to watch.

San Diego State vs. Air Force = And if this one WAS a war, and not a basketball game, the Air Force would just bomb the Aztecs back to the Stone Age, where they belong. However, it is not. Figure the Falcons may stay close for a while, but SDSU builds a decent lead in the 2nd half.

Colorado State vs. UNLV = And while those Aztecs and BYU are fighting for the lead in the Mountain West (not tonight, but soon), these two are fighting to stay in contention there. The Rams are visiting the Rebels, so give the house the odds . . . but don't bet your shirt.

St. Mary's vs. San Diego = And why this one? Well, it may have escaped your attention, but the Gaels are once again having a tremendous season. So far, they even lead the fabled Gonzaga for the WCC title. Tonight they pit their 4-0 conference record against the Toreros 0-4 one. Which one do you THINK I'm gonna pick, hunh?


That should be enough for you on a Wednesday, don't you think? So, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

I'm feeling pretty crappy today, so don't expect my typical long (and hopefully lively) posts. There were, as noted above, many games last night, but only a few were truly much fun:

Boston College 70 - Virginia 67 = The Cavs hung tough, but dropped another close one to a better team.

Indiana State 70 - Missouri State 69 = I thought this could be a good one, and it was.

Oklahoma State 96 - Iowa State 87 (OT) = It proved to be the war I predicted.

Florida State 55 - Miami 53 = And this was another tight conference battle, though the score seems more typical of a football game between the 'Canes and 'Holes.

Purdue 63 - Penn State 62 = I guess the time is passed to be shocked at the Nittany Lions. Yes they lost again on the road, after dropping one by only 3 at Ohio State, but be honest . . . could YOUR team lose two better games? I said you should put a penny on the Boilermakers, and a penny was what it was.

South Carolina 81 - Arkansas 74 (OT) = And I told you these two would be focused on the victory. Seems the 'Cocks kept it up just a bit longer.

Memphis 76 - Southern Mississippi 75 = I thought it might be close. It couldn't have been much closer.

Marshall 75 - West Virginia 71 = And if there was an upset, this one is it. It's a mild one at best, but still a good win for the Herd.

Northern Iowa 77 - Wichita State 74 = It's sometimes hard to get a good read on how good some mid-majors are, but you're pretty safe with these two. The Panthers made a lot of noise last year, and the Shockers have been around the block a time or three themselves.


And speaking of such games, there may be quite a few tonight. However, most seem to be of the type that, entertaining as they may be, there's little national import and few people really care all that much. Detroit/Cleveland State? Oakland/South Dakota State? Gonzaga/Santa Clara? Even some of the "big boys" fall into this gap, like Cal/UCLA, USC/Stanford/ Rutgers/South Florida . . . hell, even Florida/Auburn, as you'd expect this to be over by the half. But I did spot 3 that piqued my interest a bit:

Wisconsin vs. Indiana = There is no doubt the Badgers are a better team than the Hoosiers, who just won their first following a 6-game losing streak. But four of those six were under 10 points at the end, so it is possible IU can stay close to a team as . . . uh, shall we be kind and say "deliberate"? . . . as is Wisconsin.

Virginia Tech vs. Maryland = The Hokies want to stay at least mid-pack in the ACC for now, in the hope they can take advantage if somebody stumbles. The Terps want to get there, for the same reason. Both need every game like this.

Arizona vs. Washington = And as it is for those "competing" on the Right Coast, so it is for these two trying to stay on top of the Left one. Only the winner of this will stay so.


That's all I feel like doing today. I hope you shall enjoy, as I don't think I will much.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Hope you feel better soon....:tu

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Why, thank you Larry. I'm about twice as good as yesterday, but still not up to par.


A handful of the games last night were pretty decent:


Florida 45 - Auburn 40 = But I'm not sure this was one of them. The Gators are supposed to be fairly good, while the Tigers purely stink. This is better than a loss, but not by much.

Virginia Tech 74 - Maryland 57 = Nor was this one all that hot. The Terps have lost 3 of their last 4, and to get spanked by the Hokies like this, in College Park no less, does not bode well. But it's a good road win for VT, and puts them above .500 in the ACC.

Wisconsin 69 - Indiana 60 = And though I'm sure the Hoosiers would prefer a victory, there's no shame in keeping it this close against the Badgers, in Madison.

UCLA 86 - California 84 = The Bruins tried to p!$$ this one away, dropping most of a 14-point lead in the last 4 minutes, but managed to hang on by the tips of their claws to remain relevant in the Pac-10 . . . for what that's worth.

Eastern Illinois 61 - Murray State 60 = But the Racers dropped a squeaker on their home court to slip a full game out of the OVC race. It's still early, yet they need to find some consistency in their play before it's not still early, and rather too late.

UMBC 74 - Hartford 70 (2OT) = Though nobody much cares, any game as hard fought as this one deserved a bit of attention.

Mo. Kansas City 85 - IUPUI 77 (2OT) = Here too.

Utah Valley 107 - North Dakota 96 (4OT) = Here, X 2.


There are slim pickin's tonight. The Lipscomb/East Tenn. State, the Valpo/Wisc. Milwaukee, and Butler/Wisc. Green Bay games might be pretty good, while Fairfield/Canisius and Siena/St. Peter's should be competitive, but none of those teams seem likely to make much noise this season. However, on Saturday there's once again altogether too many games to do proper justice to. I'll be back a bit later to preview at least the ones which tip off early. Until later then.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Some years back, a buddy of mine and I figured out we'd watched over 200 college basketball games between Thanksgiving and Easter. Were you to watch those tomorrow which have a chance to be good ones, you yourself could get a big jump on that total. Even before your brunch settles properly, we'll have:


George Mason vs. James Madison = These two are a game out of the Colonial lead, and tied with ODU at 5-2 in league play. Both are good teams, and both want the win to stay within reach, since even with a expanded field of 68 the Committee may not go 5-deep in the CAC.

Richmond vs. U. Mass = And it's pretty much the same story here, except that it's a five-way tie at second in the A-10. As there's no damn way they'll go 7-deep in ANY mid-major conference, all these games are vital.

Ohio State vs. Illinois = OK, so neither of these need worry much about dancing come March. However, the Buckeyes would like to keep their # 1 ranking, and their undefeated record, intact a while longer if at all possible. It is certainly possible, but a visit to Champaign may burst their bubble.

Syracuse vs. Villanova = Here again, a potential NCAA bid is probably not on the line. But both teams are coming off of conference losses (to Pitt and U. Conn. resp't), and both would like to turn that around as quickly as possible. The Orange have the home advantage, but 'Nova has four or five players who can hit shots over Boeheim's zone. If they do, this one could be very tight.

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia = Neither of these squads are conference contenders, much less national one, but neither one is the total garbage some would want you to believe, since both are capable of winning games. This could be more fun than you might expect.

Rutgers vs. Seton Hall = And that holds true for this Battle of New Jersey also. One thing you can count on happening in Newark tomorrow . . . The Rock will be rockin'.

Eastern Kentucky vs. Morehead State = Remember what I said about the Colonial and A-10 games above? Well, just substitute Ohio Valley Conference, and you'll know what this one means.

Colorado vs. Oklahoma = The Buffaloes have been the surprise of the Big 12 so far, despite their stumble to the Cornhuskers on Tuesday. The Sooners have been . . . well, not a whole hell of a lot, to be honest. But this one's in Norman, so figure they will at least make it to the game, whether or not they actually show up. And who knows? We might luck up and have a decent contest.

Mississippi vs. LSU = The Rebels came into conference play with only 3 losses, then dropped their last 4 in league play to remain winless in the SEC West. Meanwhile, the Tigers played like total crap throughout their "preseason", yet have managed to win 2 of 3 so far in the conference, including a nice one over Arkansas (and yes, an embarrassing spanking by Kentucky). Truth be told, I have no idea what to predict here, and even though the game's in Baton Rouge I can't pick a favorite. Hey, the stadium may be named after Pistol Pete, but I don't think he's gonna suit up!


I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with more weekend action, and some early scores. Until then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

As I figured, most of that handful of games last night were fairly close, but the only real effect they had was that Fairfield and Iona remained atop the MAAC with their wins, while the wins by Valpo and Butler kept them both in contention in the Horizon. Today's action has begun, but everything's too early and too close to call, though 'Nova did have a double-digit lead over Syracuse when I started typing this. I say that because this may take a while, for even with throwing out a bunch of games that should be noted, I'm left with pages to cover. Such as:


Wright State vs. Cleveland State = As with that Valpo/Butler reference above, this one is a big one on the Horizon.

St. Mary's vs. Vanderbilt = And here's a big non-conference game, since Vandy will be the best opponent the newly-ranked Gaels have faced in nearly two months, and so might give us some indication how real Gael be.

Texas A&M vs. Kansas State = The Aggies continue to play better than was expected, and the Wildcats continue to sink towards the Big 12 basement. I think that should still apply in College Station this afternoon.

Stanford vs. UCLA = The Pac-10 is not getting much respect, just like last season. And if you remember how they did in the NCAA Tourney, they deserved a good deal more last year, and just might this one too. These mid-pack contests are vital, as the Selection Committee is notoriously stupid, and may not go very deep in the Pac-10, because they believe the experts more than they believe the actual action.

U. Conn vs. Tennessee = As the Huskies have been more consistent than have the Vols, I would give them the edge here even if they were not playing the game at home . . . of course. Of UC's 15 wins, ten have been on friendly hardwood. Calhoun should change their mascot name to the Chicken$#!+s.

Clemson vs. Maryland = As with the Pac-10 comment above, the experts think the ACC is pretty crummy (and nevermind that the last 2 champs have come from there). They might not go as deep into them as normally come March, which makes games such as this one huge for both teams.

Temple vs. Xavier = Different conference, same story.

VCU vs. ODU = Yes, again.

New Mexico vs. UNLV = And once more.

Oklahoma State vs. Baylor = Make that twice more, as both of these two have struggled a bit lately, and lost some luster.

Pitt vs. DePaul = But not the Panthers, who gave the Orange their first loss. They will give the Blue Demons their umpteenth today.

Chattanooga vs. Furman = The Southern Conference will be lucky to get two bids in March. Both these teams want one, and when you throw Charleston into the mix that leaves one hangin'. These guys know all that, so expect a fight.

Texas vs. Kansas = And both these teams have already made their March travel plans. But the 'Horns are tired of losing to the Jayhawks, so don't expect them to mail one in. This could be fun.

Washington vs. Arizona State = These Huskies figure they are safe. The Sun Devils know they are anything but. They may not win, but they will come to play.

Duke vs. Wake Forest = And if things stay true to form, the Deacs ain't got a prayer against the Dooks.

Cincinnati vs. St. John's = But the Red Storm do have a shot against the Bearcats. That would be true even if the game wasn't in Carnesecca Arena. Don't bet on it, but don't be shocked by it either.

Mississippi State vs. Georgia = And this one should be fun too, since the SEC seems to be a lot less "top heavy" than . . . uh, say maybe, Ashley Judd?

Louisville vs. Providence = This one could get ugly, fast. The Friars played some decent ball early, but lately they have crumbled.

Creighton vs. Missouri State = But this one could stay close until the buzzer.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina = And this one too. Don't think the 'Cats are gonna easily beat the 'Cocks. Remember, last year they suffered their first loss against USC, when they had a better team than this one.

Portland vs. Santa Clara = Just another of those important conference games, which can make or break both teams' seasons. No biggie.

Memphis vs. UAB = And though these two are more likely to be awarded an at-large than some others mentioned above, they are still in a tie with two others for the CUSA lead. Expect them to be focused.

UTEP vs. Houston = And here's that other two tied atop the CUSA. Same deal, same intensity.

Boston College vs. Florida State = Different conference, same deal. Along with Dook, there's a three-way at 4-1 in the ACC, with the Heels a half back at 3-1. Yeah, it's early, but as in baseball, you can't make up losses.

Minnesota vs. Michigan = The Gophers are ranked # 15 in the nation, and are presently 6th in the Big Ten with their .500 conference record. One or the other is totally bogus. speaking of bogus, the Wolverines have made a step back for every one they've made forward. Put those two things together, and I'm hoping they BOTH lose today.

Notre Dame vs. Marquette = And I think either of these two could lose today also. It's a toss-up, no doubt.

Arkansas vs. Florida = I see this one as that too.

Indiana State vs. Wichita State = Again.

Michigan State vs. Purdue = Pretty much here too, though the inconsistent Boilermakers have STILL been more consistent than the psychotic Spartans.

Missouri vs. Iowa State = The Tigers have gotten all the press, but the Cyclones have played some good ball too. This is likely to be closer than you'd expect.

BYU vs. Colorado State = And here again, we've got that same story. Figure the Rams to hang tough, especially in Fort Collins.

Arizona vs. Washington State = Neither team wants to slip further down into the Pac pack, so you can expect them both to show up. I think the desert 'Cats are a tiny bit better, but they are on the road, so flip a coin.


I'm going to check on some early finals now, and look at Sunday games. Back shortly.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

So here's some early finals for you:


Ohio State 73 - Illinois 68 = And it was actually closer than that. The Illini had a little dry spell in the 2nd half, yet got within a point inside the last minute.

Villanova 83 - Syracuse 72 = Hey, I told you that 'Nova could keep it tight by hitting some outside shots. Their 11 treys helped them. Their 22 FTs helped them even more.

George Mason 75 - James Madison 73 = As a figured it would be, a tight contest.

Richmond 84 - U. Mass. 68 = But I figured this would be tighter than this. Hey, I'm happy for the Spiders, but I'd prefer a closer game, if only for the entertainment.

Rutgers 66 - Seton Hall 60 = Now that's more like it. Though nobody outside the state of New Jersey really gives a damn (and there's many in-state that don't either, such as myself), this is the kind of action you want on a Saturday afternoon.

Virginia 72 - Georgia Tech 64 = And you might think this was too, but you'd be wrong. The Jackets had to make a furious comeback to get the margin down to respectable from laughable, and UVA had it from midway through the 1st. A good win for them, and a ding for the Wreck.


Lunchtime. Back with more a bit later.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

I haven't noticed any other meaningful finals so far, so lemme just give you a few Sunday games of note:


Wisconsin vs. Northwestern = An important Big 10 game for both, though the Wildcats need a quality win more than do the Badgers.

Miami vs. N.C. State = And a not-so-vital ACC contest, as it mainly concerns these two trying to stay out of Wake's basement.

Indiana vs. Iowa = Pretty much the same cellar-stopper as that one above, but back in the Big 10.

West Virginia vs. South Florida = But the Bulls seem happy enough down there with the DePauls and the Providences of the Big East, so let them stay there.

Belmont vs. East Tennessee State = And this just might turn out to be the most competitive, and best-played, game of the day.



Maybe I have a few more finals now. If so, I'll be back. If not . . . well, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Aside from numerous others, there's three more meaningful finals:


Texas A&M 64 - Kansas State 56 = This is no surprise, as these two have been heading in opposite directions for some time now.

Vanderbilt 89 - St. Mary's 70 = And neither is this one. The Gaels are a good team, but not at Vandy's level. Besides, it is awfully disconcerting, playing on that court suspended in mid-air down in Nashville.

U. Conn 72 - Tennessee 61 = And this too should have been expected. The Huskies are tough on their court, and the Vols can't seem to get out of their own way at times.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Wow! KU's home win streak is busted, and by Texas?!?!?!?

Louisville Cards lose; they really could have used this win.

Pitt wins again-#2 spot????

'Cuse loses again???????

Vandy beats St. Mary's; nice win for this SEC team.

UK handles South Carolina handily.

UT doesn't fare well against UCONN.

Murray State beats an emasculated SEMO tonight (only 2 scholarship players this season, I think) by 38. Hey, we needed a win like this. Morehead lost, but Austin Peay won today, so we didn't gain much ground.

Lot's of good B'Ball on today. We got to go to the MSU game tonight.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Good and valid points all, Joe, but none of them shocked me much . . . except that is for the Louisville loss. I said two weeks ago, after watching Kansas against Michigan, that I was not impressed by the Jayhawks all that much. As for the Longhorns beating them, even in Lawrence, keep in mind that Rick Barnes always seems to recruit a lot of talent . . . his problem has been teaching them how to play as a team.

However, I never thought there was any way in hell the Friars could beat Louisville. Yeah, I know Providence has played OK at times, but for them to break their 6-game losing streak, and get their 1st Big East win, against the Cardinals instead of, say, St. John's, Rutgers, or South Florida? You can't make some of this $#!+ up, that's for sure.

Pitt beating DePaul is as huge an upset as Duke beating Wake. :D Either one of them might deserve the # 2 ranking (for what that's worth in January), partly due to their own play, and partly due to the losses suffered by others.

As for the Orange, I am never surprised when they lose to a conference team, or to a good team with an experienced coach. Syracuse's biggest strength is also its greatest weakness, and that is Boeheim's zone. If their opponent has the talent and the knowhow to properly attack it, the 'Cuse can find themselves in trouble. And when they do, a zone is not conducive to forcing the action and recovering from a sizable deficit.

I figured Vandy would beat St. Mary's. The Gaels are a good team, but Vandy is a better one . . . when they actually show up to play. And as I noted, that court in Nashville can throw off an opponent's game, if they are not used to looking down at their coach and the bench. Come to think of it, who besides the Comms are used to that?

It's no surprise that Kentucky beat the 'Cocks. I had hoped for a closer game, but a victory against the Wildcats would have been nearly as big an upset as was the one last year.

As for Tennessee, I have almost come to expect them to lose. Shoot, had they scored 15 or 20 fewer total points this season in a select number of their games, they'd have as many losses as wins.

And as for your Racers, they had better try to build on this win and stay no worse than they are in the OVC if they want to have a hope for a bid in March. The Committee may or may not consider more than 2 teams from the conference, and Murray State does not have a "quality" win against a big-name school . . . and as there are none left on their schedule, they won't get one either.


I'm gonna look see what other scores strike me as important, or interesting, and will be back soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

As Joe noted, there were a lot of good games over the weekend. But since I don't have all day to jot them all down, and you don't have all day to read about them all, I'll just note a few more that, for one reason or another, surprised me. Besides, what real meaning did the Oklahoma/Colorado or Oregon/Oregon State games truly have, in the long haul?

In the balance of Saturday's action:


Florida 75 - Arkansas 43 = I'm not surprised the Gators won, but for the Razorbacks to basically not even show up like this . . . well, that was not expected.

Florida State 67 - Boston College 51 = And this is nearly as drastic a failing by the Eagles . . . especially with the ACC lead on the line.

Maryland 79 - Clemson 77 = Now this is more like it . . . though I'd have thought the Terps could protect their home court a little better.

Minnesota 69 - Michigan 64 = And though I realize the young Wolverines have been playing a little better, there's not much excuse here for the Gophers.

San Francisco 96 - Gonzaga 91 (OT) = Now be honest with me: Did you ever think you'd see the Dons beat Gonzaga? OK, so maybe if you're old enough to remember Bill Russell on their team.

Texas Tech 72 - Nebraska 71 = And how did the Red Raiders steal one from the 'Huskers, who have been playing pretty good ball of late? Well, late is right now.

Rice 57 - UCF 50 = Here's another, though I'm not as shocked as some may be. The UCF Knights won 14 in a row, and made it into the Top 20. Now they have dropped their last four games, and have disappeared back to where they probably belonged all along. OK, so they were overrated . . . but to let the Owls "improve" to 9-10 by dropping you? Sheesh.

Wichita State 93 - Indiana State 83 (3OT) = Although I felt this was a toss-up from the get-go, I never thought it would be this great a game. Give them both some props.


On Sunday I only noticed two scores which puzzled me:


West Virginia 56 - South Florida 46 = Alright, so it's a win for the Mountaineers. And maybe they have been playing better than was expected coming into the season. But the Bulls have been purely awful, winning only 2 of their last 13 contests. OK, so they didn't win this one either, but they did keep it within striking distance. So don't tell ME that WVA's all that good.

Wisc. Milwaukee 86 - Butler 80 (OT) = And we all knew that Butler would not be nearly as good this year as they were in 2010. But there's no damn excuse for this one, which is just as bad as that SF/'Zags game above.


Tonight's action is fairly limited, but there are a handful of important games, mainly as they relate to standings at or near the top in conference play:


Furman vs. Wofford = Such as the Southern Conference. This one should be tight.

James Madison vs. Hofstra = Or in the CAC. Here's another tight one.

ODU vs. N.C. Wilmington = Again, Colonial Athletic action, and another decent matchup.

Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh = And here's one from one of those smaller, less important, conferences. It is in the Steel City, but the Irish have at least a shot at stealing one.

Baylor vs. Kansas State = The Bears have been up and down since Christmas. Still, that's better than the Manhattan Wildcats, who have been down and downer since before Christmas. This one is vital to both teams, if only for their confidence.

George Mason vs. Delaware = And we're back in the CAC again, with another game important to both. Furthermore, when you realize that the other 2 CAC teams still at .500 or better (VCU & Drexel) are also playing this evening, you may understand just what one day may mean to the NCAA hopes of all involved.


Back tomorrow with more. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Pitt vs ND just starting.

No, MSU wont have a prayer for a bid if we don't win our tourney, and we really need to get a home opener for it, too. The committee will never pick 2 from the OVC, if it didn't back in the late 80's/early 90's. And they shouldn't; it's not that good a mid-major conference.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Always an honest post from you, Joe, and I appreciate it. It's great you can be a fan without being a homer. Oh, and that Pitt/ND game's now over:


Notre Dame 56 - Pitt 51 = Well, I said the Irish had a shot at stealing one, and it didn't hurt with the Panthers playing like the Pitts. But looking at the stats, the loss is hard to understand. Pitt didn't shoot great, but neither did ND. The fouls, the rebounds, and the turnovers were pretty equal too. But hey, everybody has nights like that, and if you don't show up you don't deserve to win.

Kansas State 69 - Baylor 61 = I can't say I would have been surprised regardless of which way this one went. Both teams have had their good and bad moments, and last night belonged to the 'Cats.

Morehead State 50 - Ball State 48 = I debated yesterday mentioning this one, as I thought it might be close, but then gave it a pass. Shows how dumb I am.

Hofstra 92 - James Madison 90 (OT) = But I didn't skip this one, since I saw last night as an important one midway through the CAC schedule. The Pride just had a little more of that than did the Dukes.

VCU 80 - Towson 76 = And though I mentioned this in passing, I did not post it separately, as I did not think the Tigers had a snowball's chance against the Rams. Again, how dumb am I? Though I won't call ANY conference win a "bad" one, I might just consider this a "good" loss for Towson.

Furman 73 - Wofford 68 (OT) = Yet, dumb as I am, I did call this as being tight for a key Southern Conference game. It's a great win for the Paladins . . . but much like Joe's Murray State, it won't earn them a bid.

AR Pine Bluff 90 - Prairie View A&M 85 (2OT) = And though this SWAC game will prove to be totally meaningless over the long haul (these 2 teams have a collective 8-31 record), it behooves us to give some attention to anybody who puts on such a show.


Tonight has a decent selection of good games, or at least important games with the potential to be good:


Richmond vs. Dayton = Unlike some of the smaller mid-majors listed above, the A-10 will receive multiple bids. However, they won't go 6 deep in it, so this one's big for both teams if they want to stay near the top.

N.C. State vs. Clemson = And unlike some of the big conferences, they may not go 6 deep in the ACC. It likely won't matter one way or the other to these two, but neither wants to end up down in the Demon Deacons' personal hell. As this one's down in Littlejohn, give the Tigers an edge over the Wolfpack.

Florida vs. Georgia = And this one is in Athens, so I'm tempted to give the 'Dawgs a tiny edge too, despite the fact that I think the Gators have a better team. Yet Florida has been as changeable as their weather, so who know which Gator team will make it up the highway?

Syracuse vs. Seton Hall = It's been a bad week for the Orange, losing their first AND their second game all year, back-to-back. I suspect that trend will turn around against the Pirates in the Dome tonight.

Kansas vs. Colorado = And it's not been a great week for the Jayhawks either, losing both their first game of the season AND their home winning streak. They are on the road in Boulder tonight, so cannot restart both streaks . . . and might not even begin one. They are better than the Buffaloes, but despite their 2 losses in a row coming into this Colorado has posted wins against Missouri and K-State. Plus, they are used to playing at altitude, so they do have a chance here.

Belmont vs. Lipscomb = The Bruins have taken control of the Atlantic Sun, and I would not expect that to change tonight. OK, the Bisons are fairly decent, and can win, but the last time these 2 faced off, Belmont spanked them 88-52. You can't plan on such a margin every night, yet Lipscomb's home court can't be worth 30+ points!

U. Conn vs. Marquette = But this one should be a lot closer. I won't say the Golder Eagles will beat the Huskies in Milwaukee, but they have played well enough at times to beat anybody. Regardless of the final, this one should be fun.

Ohio State vs. Purdue = And if the Boilermakers can hit a few shots, this one could be too. You have to give the Buckeyes the advantage, up to the point when somebody actually proves otherwise, but despite their 20-0 record they have NOT played dominant ball. So far they have dodged bullets fired by Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Penn State, and Illinois. Someday, somebody's bound to hit something.

Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech = The Hokies have thumped Wake and Maryland (and Longwood, for what that mean) of late, and have hopes of hanging around for an at-large bid. The Wreck is not yet dead either, but they need this one just as badly to stay on life support. If nothing else, both should be focused.


That's what I see up this evening. Take your pick, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There were a few surprises last night, and even one huge upset:


Seton Hall 90 - Syracuse 68 = And in the Carrier Dome, no less! I did not think there was a chance in hell the Pirates could beat the Orange, no matter where they played the game. Yet for them to whip up on them like this, it's totally unbelievable. But the Hall hit 10 threes, and even outrebounded the 'Cuse . . . for which there's only one excuse. Need I say it again? Boeheim's zone will win him many games, but will turn and bite him in the @$$ from time to time. This makes the third time in a row, and as they travel to Marquette and U. Conn next, it still may not be over.

Georgia Tech 72 - Virginia Tech 57 = This one is nearly as big a surprise. I know the Wreck has played a few good games . . . hey, they wrecked my Heels not long ago . . . but the Hokies have been playing consistently better. And I could more easily accept a close victory down in Hot 'Lanta, but a 15-point one? You can't make this $#!+ up.

Lipscomb 73 - Belmont 64 = Here again, I'm surprised that the Bisons gored the Bruins. Belmont is a better team, so for them to lose by 3 full possessions shocks me.

Ohio State 87 - Purdue 64 = OK, so maybe this isn't as big a shock as the others. One might have expected the Buckeyes to win, even if not by such a margin. However, the Boilermakers have had the tendency to struggle from the field. Last night they shot under 40%, and OSU grabbed more defensive rebounds than Purdue had in total.

Kansas 82 - Colorado 78 = But this one's no surprise at all. The Jayhawks bounce back from their loss to Texas, and yet the Buffaloes hung tough too. All in all, as good a game as you could reasonably expect.

Florida 104 - Georgia 91 (2OT) = Pretty much the same story here, and an even tighter contest. The Gators needed a good win, and the Bulldogs wanted one too.

U. Conn 76 - Marquette 68 = Another pretty decent conference game, and a nice road victory for the Huskies.

Clemson 60 - N.C. State 50 = But this one, not so much. The margin is close enough, I suppose, but for these guys to score so poorly does not speak well of their offensive capabilities. And no, although I did not see the game, I will not believe it was caused by their tenacious defenses.

Richmond 70 - Dayton 61 = This is a little more like it. The Spiders get an important A-10 victory on the road, and stay within reach of the league lead at 5-1.

Florida Gulf Coast 111 - Stetson 103 (3OT) = Wow. Wanna bet those guys slept good last night?


There are many good conference matchups tonight, and I can't post them all. Here are two handfuls which jumped out at me:


Louisville vs. West Virginia = Both of these teams have played well, and played poorly. If both come in focused, and they both have good reason to do so, this could be a war.

Drexel vs. James Madison = Another of those big games in a small conference. The CAC seems to have twice as many teams who deserve a bid to the NCAA than they will likely receive, so each win counts hugely.

Georgetown vs. St. John's = The Red Storm have shown great improvement over past seasons, and are capable of beating the Hoyas, even down in DC. In fact, they are actually a 1/2-game ahead of Georgetown in the Big Mouth at this point. But honestly, I don't think they will be so tomorrow. Well, truth be told, I KNOW they won't, one way or the other. :D

East Carolina vs. Southern Mississippi = These two are not the usual suspects in the CUSA, but they both are still in the race. Considering how badly they'd like to stay there, this one should be fun.

Villanova vs. Providence = The Wildcats are coming off a huge victory over Syracuse. The Friars are coming of an even bigger one, for them anyway, over Loiuisville. Though this one is in Rhode Island, I don't think the home court will be a deciding factor. If 'Nova shows up, this one won't be close. If Providence does, and 'Nova struggles even a bit, it just might. But don't bet on that, for sure.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State = The Cowboys have played very well at time, yet have had problems in conference play. The Longhorns just got one of the biggest wins in their history, yet this is the traditional time of the year when they start to crash and burn. If you're anywhere near Stillwater tonight, you know where you should be. This one will either be a romp by the 'Horns, or a real barnburner.

North Carolina vs. Miami = One so-called "expert" has cited a report from Chapel Hill that the Tar Heels are "close to turning the corner". I don't know what the hell that means, and I won't believe it anyway until I see it on the court. The only good sign I've seen lately is the improved play of freshman gruad Kendall Marshall, and subsequent increased minutes granted by Roy. The Heels will likely need at least 6 more conference wins to grab a bid in March. They'd better get one of them against the bottom-feeding 'Canes in Coral Gables tonight.

LSU vs. Tennessee = The Tigers were not supposed to challenge in the SEC this season, and so far they've accomplished precisely that. The Vols were supposed to have at least a shot at challenging Kentucky, and so far they have repeatedly disappointed expectations. I have little faith in either of these teams, so flip a coin.

Murray State vs. SIU Edwardsville = As important as it is for my Heels to win some conference games against the bottom-feeders, it is much more important for Joe's Racers to do so. This should be a spanking, and if not, shame on them.

Minnesota vs. Northwestern = The Golden Gophers just lost their point guard to injury, so if there's any time for the Wise'Cats to pounce on them, it is tonight. They are in general not as good a team, but they don't suck, and the Gophers may have problems adjusting with Al Nolen cheering from the bench while nursing his broken foot.

SMU vs. Tulsa = Here's two teams with a bit of history (some good, some bad) which are trying desperately to remain better than .500 squads. This one could get nasty.

Rutgers vs. Cincinnati = The Bearcats have home court, and a better team. The Scarlet Knights are probably still a year or two away. But hey, if Providence can beat Louisville, and Seton Hall beat Syracuse, then Rutgers can beat Cincy . . . right?

Rhode Island vs. LaSalle = The Rams have beated good teams, and have lost to crappy ones. The Billikens are a crappy team. As above, who knows?

Creighton vs. Northern Iowa = Both of these teams are decent, and both are chasing teams above them in the Missouri Valley. If this one is not close, I'd be shocked.

San Diego State vs. BYU = And we end the day with a game I've been looking forwards to all month. The Aztecs is the only other undefeated team left in the country (other than the Buckeyes, that is), and their remaining schedule does not offer them the challenges OSU will face. But here is one of them. Although I don't believe the 19-1 Cougars are truly the 9th best team in the nation, I do know they can give the 20-0 and 4th-ranked Aztecs as much as they can handle . . . especially at home. Ultimately, this game in Provo may not provo anything, one way or the other, but it still should be of interest to any college hoops fan.


That's all for now. See you tomorrow, if I don't get snowed in. Until then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

I could post a couple of pages on the important conference games last night, which is typical of this time of year. Yet I shall limit myself to a dozen or so of note:


Providence 83 - Villanova 68 = Yeah, I know the Friars have had a few good games this season. Yeah, I know 'Nova has had its problems from time to time. Yeah, I know the game was in Rhode Island, and I also know the Big East has had a number of big upsets over the last couple of weeks. But this approaches a whuppin', and I never expected this. Another great win for Providence, and another piece of evidence that the Philly'Cats have issues to address.

Memphis 77 - UCF 61 = And amongst those other things I also know, I fully realize I didn't buy into the "national ranking" crap for the Orlando Mickeys when they started off 14-0. Thus I can't claim to be in total shock that they have now lost 5 in a row, and reside in the CUSA cellar alone. Yet a spanking like this begs the question of how the hell they managed to win those other games.

BYU 71 - San Diego State 58 = To a much lesser degree, the same point applies here. OK, I never expected the Aztecs to go undefeated all year, as I don't expect any team to do so these days. And though I never thought they were the 4th best team in the nation, just as I still don't think the Cougars are the 9th best (and maybe even moving up from that), I did understand that SDSU could lose this game in Provo. Yet they didn't just lose it . . . they got beat, but good. Go figure.

Charleston 65 - Georgia Southern 61 = And this one's somewhat surprising, since I feel Charleston is a much better team, is amongst the class of the Southern Conference,and should have chased GS off the court . . . even if that court was in Statesboro. Well, a win's a win, I reckon. Speaking of which . . .

ODU 51 - Georgia State 48 = This is pretty much the same story in the CAC, and the Monarchs nearly cacked it up. Again, a win's a win, but still. And still speaking of such . . .

UNC 74 - Miami 71 = Another league contender, in another league, just squeaking by a bottom-feeder in a road game. The Heels fell behind big early, but made a run to close the gap. Harrison Barnes hit a 3 at the halftime buzzer to tie it at 39 going into the break, and hit a 3 with 6.6 seconds left to give Carolina its winning margin. Those were his only 2 treys for the game, so I guess he deserves some props for picking the right spots. Once more, a win's a win. And while we're on the subject . . .

Murray State 67 - SIU Edwardsville 61 = Joe's Racers tried too damn hard to p!$$ this away. SIU-E is a pig of the independents, and has only won 4 D-1 games all year. For this one to be a 2-possession victory . . . well, again, it is better than a 1-possession loss, but not by much. Speaking of which . . .

Jacksonville 63 - North Florida 62 (OT) = OK, so maybe I will give the Dolphins a bit of a pass on this one. On the surface, one might think they should have totally outclassed the Ospreys, as their 13-6 record shames NF's 8-13 one. But look closer. The Ospreys came in 5-4 in the Atlantic Sun, as opposed to J'ville's 6-3. That's no significant diff. Furthermore, the Osprey losses include ones to Florida State, Pitt, Missouri, Purdue, Texas, Maryland, and Kansas State . . . not to mention good teams like Furman, Belmont, and Lipscomb. With experience like that, it no surprise they gave Jacksonville such a good game.

Louisville 55 - West Virginia 54 = And aside from the disgracefully low score, I will give both teams a pass on this one. I expected it to be a war, and it was.

SMU 59 - Tulsa 58 = I could say exactly the same thing here, but why bother? I tend to repeat myself enough already.

Northern Iowa 71 - Creighton 66 = The NIU Panthers kept at least some hope alive that they may get a shot at repeating their NCAA magic of last season by keeping pace in the Missouri Valley Conference. But they still must face all 3 of the other MVC contenders, so they'd better not stub their toes upon the also-rans.


Tonight's line-up includes even more vital conference action, including:


Michigan State vs. Michigan = Alright, so maybe this one's not all that vital. The Wolverines want it so as to stay out of the Big Ten basement, and the Spartans don't wish to drop out of a tie for 5th. Yet when you consider the fact that, at 12-7 and 4-3, MSU is STILL ranked 25th in the country, what difference does it really make. It seems as if they could lose a few more, and perhaps even move up the standings. :rolleyes:

Hofstra vs. VCU = But there's no doubt this one's a biggie. Both of them are 8-1 in the CAC, just above George Mason and ODU. So both of them want the win badly. As it is down in Richmond, give the Rams a slim edge over the Pride. Still, it could go either way, and should be a real good one.

Maryland vs. Virginia = And here, the dreams of both for a NCAA bid is quickly becoming a fantasy. They are both 2-3 in ACC play, and have perhaps too much work to do to earn a slot come March. Tonight could be the first step up for one, and will be another step down for the other. They play it in Charlottesville, so the Cavs might be favored by a bucket or so.

Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State = The Comms are still on the national radar, while the Bulldogs are not. Yet they are both 2-2 in SEC play, while MSU is actually in a better position in the West division than is Vandy in the (admittedly tougher) East. Even though the game is in Starksville, I have to go with Vandy here. I think they are a better team, and I KNOW they are a more experienced one. The 'Dawgs have not beaten a quality opponent all year . . . and mainly because they really haven't PLAYED a quality opponent all year, unless you count spankings by Virginia Tech, Washington State, St. Mary's, Alabama, and Georgia as "experience".

Austin Peay vs. Eastern Kentucky = The AP Governors want to keep pace with Tennessee State atop the OVC, and the Colonels can't afford to drop any lower than they are at present. They are the host, and as neither team seems to be that much better or worse than the other, it should be tight throughout.

Rider vs. Iona = And although the Fairfield Stags are ahead of both the Broncos and the Gaels in the MAAC (just barely, but still), both teams want to stay in touch with the lead. In their first meeting, Iona took it 100-96. These are good squads, so expect another fight to the finish.

Duke vs. Boston College = These are good squads too, and even though it is in Durham you can give the Eagles a shot at pulling off the upset, and remain in the hunt for the ACC. I wouldn't bet on it, as the Blue Devils are hard to beat in Cameron, but we should have a fairly decent game here.

UCLA vs. Arizona = Here are two storied programs, and at 5-2 both are still in the Pac-10 race. I think the desert 'Cats have played a little better, and this one is in Tucson to boot. I figure AZ by maybe three possessions.

Illinois vs. Indiana = OK, so I really don't give the Hoosiers much of a chance here, even in Bloomington. However, the Illini have lost 3 road games in a row, and their 14-6 record (though not as bad as Michigan State's 12-7) scarcely seems to justify their Top 20 rating. But hey, what do I know? Well, I know Indiana will show up, and may even give them game.

St. Mary's vs. Gonzaga = The Gaels are coming off a loss to Vandy, and a loss of their brief national ranking, yet at 5-0 hold a slim lead over surprising San Francisco in the West Coast Conference. Even more surprising, Gonzaga is a passable 13-7 overall, and at 3-2 in WCC play is tied for 3rd with Santa Clara . . . and not at their accustomed zenith. These factors make this a huge game for both schools, and I'd expect barns to be burning in Spokane tonight.


That's all for me today. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

You're right; the Racers....Arrrgh!

Go Eastern!!!!!

The Vandy game is pretty good, so far.

Michigan/Michigan St started off good, but Michigan is starting to trounce them late in the 2nd.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Wow! Good finish to the Mich vs Mich St game.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

I think SDSU will be fine, not much you can do with Fredette shooting like that.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Would you farkin' believe it? I just spent the last hour typing my post, and as I got to the last entry some non-English speaking bozoette came in here to play a stinkin' dollar on the stinkin' lottery, and I lost the whole damn thing!

I'll play some catch-up tomorrow. I'm just to p!$$ed off at the moment to do anything but cuss.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

So lemme put on a full-court press and play a little catch-up here. First, some replies:

I'm not sure Tom Izzo would agree with you on that. :r

I agree with both assessments. I'm not worried about the Aztecs still winning their share, and earning a bid at the least. Can they then make a "George Mason" or even a "Butler" run? We will see. As for dealing with a hot shooter, you can always adopt the Duke defense for one . . . break his nose with your elbow. :D

I'll check on early games, and be back with more soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Already today, Temple has stomped St. Joe's 72-54 . . . as might have been expected. The Hawks have been awfully dovey this year, and are no match for the Owls.

Xavier has a modest 7-point lead over Richmond starting the 2nd half. It is far from safe, and I figure this one will go down to the wire.

U. Conn and Louisville just started the 2nd up in Storrs, and the Huskies hold a meaningless 3-point edge. They may hold on for a victory, but I expect another war here.

For some reason, George Mason is having more trouble with William&Mary than I thought, and only lead by 8. They will likely run away in the second, but who knows?

Clemson, playing in Littlejohn, hold a surprising 9-point lead over Florida State at the half. I'm not surprised that the Tigers are giving the Semiholes game, but the fact that FSU scored only 18 in that first 20 minutes is not a good sign for an ACC-leading team, even on the road.

Georgetown has built a 8-point lead at Villanova, but it's still early in the second. Whoh, as I was typing that, it moved to 11 points. 'Nova better wake up, as they are not capable of catching up too much against the Hoya D.

Early in the first, Mississippi State has a slim lead over Florida. The Gators have the talent and the time to do whatever needs to be done down in Starkville, so this one means nothing yet.


I'll be back a bit later.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

OK, while I'm waiting to see what happens in those games, why don't I get some old business out of the way? Thursday night:


Michigan 61 - Michigan State 57 = Yeah, I know the young Wolverines have started to play a little better. Yeah, I know the Spartans have been folding up like a cheap suit. But for them to lose on their home court, and fall to 12-8 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten? Who'd have thunk? I know one thing for sure . . . if the Spartans are still ranked come Monday, I'm calling for a congressional investigation. Yet give credit to UM for a very good win. Staying with surprises in the B-10 . . .

Indiana 52 - Illinois 49 = I did feel as though the Hoosiers could hang tough on their own floor with the Illini, but I really never thought they could win. Good for them, for sad to say, wins like this is about all IU has had to cheer about of late.

VCU 82 - Hofstra 67 = And although the outcome was no shock, the size of the margin is one. I figured the Rams might win, but for them to spank the Pride like this, and take 1st place in the CAC with so little juice in the game . . . well, I would never believe it.

Rider 61 - Iona 59 = This one was precisely what I thought it would be: A tough tight one that either one could take.

Vanderbilt 81 - Mississippi State 74 = But I called this one, so it was no surprise at all. As I said, Vandy is a better team. However, the win is meaningful for one thing more than the conference race . . . this was the first Commodore win in Starkville in a long time, and broke a 8-loss streak there. Speaking of breaking losing streaks . . .

St. Mary's 73 - Gonzaga 71 = Not only did this give the Gaels an extra leg up over the traditional WCC champ, it was their first win in Spokane since 1995. But if you think that is something . . .

Oregon 67 - Stanford 59 = This was the Ducks first win at the Cardinal since 1986, for cryin' out loud! Not only that, but Stanford has played much better overall than the Ducks, so here's one I would have never guessed.


So now, I've done some of what I didn't get done yesterday, and cut the deficit to single digits. I'll try to get ahead after the break.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Louisville and U. Conn are tied at 61 in OT. 'Nova is a point behind G'town with 1:59 to go. One final:


Clemson 62 - Florida State 44 = A big win for the Tigers, and an even bigger loss for FSU. This is their 2nd in the ACC, and if my Heels can take the Wolfpack in the Dean Dome (it just tipped off) that would leave them and Dook as the only 1-loss teams in league play. It's still too early to mean much, but it's better than being in the basement.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Louisville/U. Conn going to 2 OTs . . . at least. Another final:

Georgetown 69 - Villanova 66 = A very good win for the Hoyas, and a loss that should drop 'Nova from the Top Ten.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, the good new is the Tar Heels have a decent lead over N. C. State at the half, 34-21. The bad news is, it should really be a lot bigger, had they not missed so many layups and tip-ins, and had they gone better that 2-11 from the charity stripe. In other action:


Louisville 79 - U. Conn 78 (2OT) = A very nice one for Pitino's guys up in Storrs. So even if the Huskies remain at 5th in the nation, they now are at best 3rd in the Big Mouth.

Mississippi State 71 - Florida 64 = So far, it's not a good day for the Sunshine State. I can't say I am surprised that the Gators lost, seeing as how inconsistent they have played, but there's still not much of an excuse for losing to these 'Dawgs. Hey, they ain't terrible, but they are not all that good either.

Purdue 73 - Minnesota 61 = The Boilermakers are another of those teams you just can't figure out. Then again, it's not as if the Gophers have been knocking people's eyes out either.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

More finals:


Baylor 70 - Colorado 66 = The Bears make a furious comeback to steal one from the Buffales, outscoring them 49-31 in the 2nd half. They really needed a good win like this.

Auburn 79 - South Carolina 64 = What? Are you kidding me? And in Columbia, no less! The Tigers purely suck, and the 'Cocks have been stiff competition all year. This one I just don't get, at all.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Nice ink. I'm not sure what Phog Allen would think about it, but I know what Dean Smith would say: "Cover up!" :r

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Unless my Heels find some way to blow a 20+ point lead in the last 2 1/2 minutes, they will take one from the Wolfpack.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

UNC 84 - NCSU 64 = It has been a while, but Roy got a chance to clear the bench late in this game. Barnes finally had a decent game, scoring 25 points, while 3 other Heels scored in double-digits also. If this team ever truly finds its feet, this will be the problem opponents will face, because they have a lot of scoring options . . . when they can score at all.

Oh, and at 5-1 now, they are a half-game ahead of FSU, and a half-game behind idle (in league play, that is) Dook for the ACC lead.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

This one's a bit of a surprise:


Nebraska 57 - Texas A&M 48 = So what if the game was in Lincoln? The 'Huskers have been "meh" at best, while the Aggies have beed pretty good. I did not see this coming.


Oh, and Syracuse is having problems with Marquette, though with 13 minutes left there's still plenty of time for them to erase a 7-point deficit

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There was a ton of good action this weekend, and a good number of surprises also. Aside from those already noted above, this happened in the balance of Saturday games:


UCLA 73 - Arizona State 72 (OT) = This can be considered a surprise on several fronts. First, the Bruins have been playing better than the Sun Devils, so they maybe should not have had as much trouble with them as they did. And second, UCLA was still supposed to be a year or two away from competing in the Pac-10, yet with this victory they improve to 6-3, and are only a game back of leaders Arizona and Washington.

Marquette 76 - Syracuse 70 = It is no longer a shock that the Orange lost, as this is their 4th in a row. It is also no shock that Marquette beat them, as they have played well at times this year. What is surprising, however, is that this loss puts the 'Cuse in a 4-way tie for 7th place in the Big Mouth. Two weeks ago, who'd a thunk?

Kentucky 66 - Georgia 60 = And it is really no surprise that the Wildcats got some revenge for their earlier loss to the Bulldogs down in Athens. Yet when one considers that they are generally considered to be a Top 20 team, it is a bit odd that they managed only a 2-possession win in Rupp. Hey, it's still a good win, and better than a loss for sure, but still.

Marshall 85 - Memphis 70 = And although I have lost all faith that the young Tigers will ever get it together this season, this is one I'd not have guessed. OK, the Herd has played some good ball from time to time, and a close victory would not have been unforeseen. But this approaches a spanking.

New Mexico 86 - BYU 77 = So does this one. Again, I realize the Lobos have had some success, and for them to edge the traditionally overranked Cougars on their home court is no biggie. But a 3-possession win, when BYU has a shooter who can score 77 points himself ( :D ) . . . well, let's just say I wouldn't have bet on this.

Ohio State 58 - Northwestern 57 = Here we have the second-biggest shock of the weekend. The Buckeyes dodge another bullet by getting a steal with 17 seconds left, then breaking a tie with the traditional dog of the Big Ten by hitting one from the line. They improve to 22-0, and even earned more than half of those victories. :r

Penn State 56 - Wisconsin 52 = So maybe this is no longer a reason for surprise. Not only is this the Nittany Lions' 3rd win against a nationally-ranked conference opponent, but they lost 2 others, to OSU and Purdue, by a combined 4 points. However, this is the first time they have beaten the Badgers since 2003, which has to mean something anyway. Furthermore, if they can steal a few moe wins and get themselves a bid to the NCAAs, they will be one of those 10-seeds you do NOT want to face that first weekend.

Portland 85 - St. Mary's 70 = Earlier the Gaels gained a ranking, and grabbed control over the WCC race by beating Gonzaga. Well, they spat the bit here. OK, so they are still atop league play, but they have opened the door they just slammed shut a tiny crack here.

Pitt 65 - Rutgers 62 = This one is nearly as bad a win as was the Buckeye one above. There is no way the Scarlet Knights should have been a shot away from taking this game, and the Panthers are lucky they got out of Jersey alive. Hey, they wouldn't be the first!

UAB 74 - UCF 69 = Speaking of Knights, the Orlando Mickeys continue to plunge into the depths. I have no problem believing UAB beat them. Yet when a team wins 14 in a row, then goes on a 6-game losing streak, something is not right.

Arkansas 89 - Vanderbilt 78 = Once again, I've seen enough of Vandy's up-and-down play to understand how they could lose to the Hogs . . . who have themselves played a few good games. But to lose by 11, in Nashville no less? I thought these guys were smarter than that.

Wake Forest 76 - Virginia 71 = What's that? The Demon Deacons actually won an ACC game? Really? Wow. They are on a roll now, and look to improve on their 8-13 record. ;)


There were even a few puzzlers on Sunday, most notably:


St. John's 93 - Duke 78 = And if you saw this game, you know it wasn't even that close. The Blue Devils needed a flurry of late 3s to even get the final score up to "embarrassing". Last year's National Championship team was often described by experts as being "spectacularly unathletic", and from what I saw they are just as stunningly so this year. The Red Storm out-quicked and out-hustled them all game long, and totally deserved a great victory for them by dominating the game from tip to buzzer.

Washington State 87 - Washington 80 = Though not nearly the shocker as the one above, this one surprises me a bit too. Hey, I don't believe the Huskies are all that good, but I also don't think the Cougars are any damn good either. It is as good a win for them as the one for the Johnnies, and as a conference one, it is even more meaningful.

Michigan State 84 - Indiana 83 (OT) = In East Lansing, keep in mind. Now, the Hoosiers are not the worst team in the Big Ten, but they are pretty damned close. And although, as always, a win is better than is a loss, I would not be surprised if Tom Izzo is developing a serious drinking problem. If he pulls out any more of his hair, he might be drinking Rogaine.

Maryland 74 - Georgia Tech 63 = And what is possibly surprising about this one? Everybody knows the Terps are a fairly decent team, and the Jackets have struggled most of their games. Still, it is important to note that this is their first conference loss in Atlanta, so give them some props for holding serve up to now, and UM some for breaking it.


There is not a lot of top-class action scheduled for tonight, but still there are two big games for you:


Louisville vs. Georgetown = The Cardinals want to stay within reach of league-leading Pitt, while the Hoyas don't wish to drop to .500 in the conference. The teams, and the coaches, are fairly evenly matched, so I'd expect a tight one, start to finish, down in DC.

Texas vs. Texas A&M = And it is pretty much the same story down in College Station, although the Longhorns are 6-0 with the Aggies two back at 4-2 in Big 12 play. They'd better check their guns at the door for this war, pardner.


That's all for me until tomorrow, brothers. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Heh, heh....Duke.....

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Your glee reminds me of that "Glee" quote from last season: "I hate Duke like I hate the Nazis". Boy, did THAT one p!$$ off Colonel Klink . . . uh, I mean, Coach K. :D

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, that Texas/Texas A&M game was a disappointment, unless you're a diehard 'Horn. I had hoped for a better contest, but seems the Aggies didn't make it back to the barn. It's one thing to lose by 20 points. It's quite another when your opponent only scored 69, and you lose by 20 points.

Still, there were a few good games last night, including:


Georgetown 62 - Louisville 59 = Now that's more like it, although it was an ugly, ugly game for both teams. Poor shooting and turnovers were the most significant stats, and that's never a good thing. And the Hoyas tried to give the Cardinals another miracle come-fro-behind victory by blowing most of an 11-point lead to make it a game. But Pitino's gone to that well all too often lately, and it wasn't in the Cards last night. A badly-needed conference win for the Hoyas . . . who move into 7th place all by their lonesome. :rolleyes:

Fairfield 70 - Canisius 55 = OK, so this one wasn't nearly as close. However, it does get the Stags to 10-1 in MAAC play, with a full 2-game lead over St. Peter's, so that alone makes it notable.

Norfolk State 110 - Coppin State 108 (2OT) = And this one means nothing at all, as we are unlikely to hear about either of these teams come March . . . or as far as that goes, any other team from the Mid-Eastern Conference, for more than 20 minutes or so. So why not give them some press now? Both squads wanted to stay in contention for their league lead, and neither wanted to lose. Good show from them, and thanks for playing.


There are a decent number of meaningful games scheduled for tonight (I say "scheduled", as poor weather may cause some postponements), including:


Purdue vs. Wisconsin = At 7-2 in Big Ten play, it looks unlikely that the Boilermakers can take the top spot from 9-0 Ohio State unless the Buckeyes give them a lot of help. But they can go a long way towards securing the 2nd spot by giving the Badgers their 4th conference loss tonight, and thus drop them into a scrum for the 3-hole. It won't be easy. Wisconsin is a tough team to play even when they suck, and they don't suck this year. Plus, it's in Madison. Plus plus, Purdue ain't exactly been world-beaters so far, especially on offense. Luckily for them, you usually don't have to score a ton against the glacial Badgers, so maybe they have a slim edge there. Yet this one can go either way, and I expect a tight one.

Penn State vs. Illinois = Here are two of those Big Ten "scrum" teams mentioned above, with both of them having 4 league losses so far. It goes without saying that they don't want another tonight. These two teams seem to be heading in opposite directions. The Illini have dropped 4 or their last 5, and have dropped from national ranking also. On the surface, it might seem as though PSU is not much more successful, being a .500-team since the first of the year. Yet this includes a number of wins nobody expected them to get, and a number of razor-close losses to the teams atop the conference. If the Nittany Lions can make it to Champaign for the game, it may just be a good one.

Vanderbilt vs. Florida = Vandy is one of only two SEC teams presently ranked nationally, yet is mired in the middle of the East division with a 3-3 league record. The Gators have yo-yo'ed between good and crap all year (as has the Comms, to be fair), yet at 5-2 lead that same division over that other ranked team, UK (4-2). To be totally honest, I can't figure out either one of these teams. Flip a coin.

New Mexico vs. Air Force = The Lobos are coming off a huge win for them, beating BYU this past weekend. The Falcons, on the other hand, needed OT to edge the bottom-feeding TCU Horned Frogs by a point. Yet they are tied in Mountain West play with 3-4 records. Even though this one's in the Rockies and not the desert, I'd go with the Lobos.

Kentucky vs. Mississippi = The Wildcats travel down to Oxford to challenge the Rebels. I can't see it being much of one. Calipari is whining that his bench is paper-thin . . . as if he didn't ask for that by recruiting one-and-dones and semi-pros. Well, he should not need a bench against Ole Miss. Sure, they could possibly maybe somehow perhaps give them a game. I don't expect that, but stranger things have happened.

Baylor vs. Oklahoma = The Bears have been another of those inconsistent teams, following a good game with a poor one. The Sooners have been much more consistent . . . consistently bad, that is. Sure, they have one quality win over Colorado, but otherwise they have pretty much sucked, start to finish. If I had any faith in Baylor at all, I'd bet the farm on them tonight. But as I don't, I won't. I figure they will win, and maybe even big, but they have squirted games away before.

Kansas vs. Texas Tech = And here's the other big match . . . or should I say mis-match . . . in the Big 12 tonight. The Jayhawks take their 1-loss record down to Lubbock to take on the 11-11 Red Raiders. If KU gets their 2nd loss tonight, Bill Self should make the team walk back to Lawrence.

Wichita State vs. Indiana State = The Shockers want this bad, as a win would assure they will stay at worst tied for 1st place in the Missouri Valley. The Sycamores want it just a bad, as a win would keep them in contention, thus giving them some post-season hopes despite their 12-10 overall record. If the game is not iced over in Terre Haute tonight, it should be a real good one.

North Carolina vs. Boston College = This is a huge game for the Tar Heels, as a victory up in Chestnut Hill would tie them with Duke at 6-1 atop the ACC, and also drop BC to .500 at 4-4. A win would also build on the momentum, minimal though it be, which has crept them back into the rankings. But a win won't be easy. The Eagles have talent, and the home court, and have won the last few meetings with UNC. It might go down to the wire.

Wake Forest vs. Florida State = Speaking of momentum, the Demon Deacons got their 1st ACC win against Virginia Saturday, and are hungry for more. Meanwhile, the Semiholes took their 2nd conference loss against Clemson, scoring only a putrid 44 points in Littlejohn. Do I think the Deacs can deek their way to another league win down in Tallahassee tonight? No way in hell. But hey, I guess most anything is possible with the power of prayer, so "Go Deacs!"


That's it for now. Feel free to toss your own :2 in here, as it is worth as much as my ravings. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, the Cards/Hoyas game was a fight, for sure!

Duke....heh,heh... St. Johns did look pretty good there.

The Cats are being tested in Oxford, and the 2nd half is about to start...

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

1. You'd think Rick Pitino might have learned something from Rex Ryan's Jets . . . you can't pull them all out of your butt.

2. I'm old enough to remember when the Redmen (as they were called in pre-PC days past) were perennial powers. But when they improved their campus by building dormatories, they lost a huge NYC-area recruiting advantage, and fell on hard times. See, before they had on-campus housing, the NCAA rules let them provide "housing allowances" for the players, which meant they could legally give local players money to pay rent . . . even if they elected to live at home and commute as day-students. Since that time, they have not been able to lure as much local talent, and have fallen on hard times as a national power. Yet as far as I'm concerned, it is good to see them making some sort of comeback. I'm a bit of a traditionalist, meaning I like to see them win, and U. Conn lose 20 games a year. :r

3. The 'Cats failed that test, as my update will explain. I'll be back later with that, and others.