Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

$#!+ happens, especially with young teams. But hey, you didn't expect to see them there anyway, so it's all good.

Louisville's been one of those teams that's been hard to figure out all year, though not as badly as Pitt or Memphis or Xavier. So too has the Gators, though not as much as their neighbors the Semiholes.

I agree it's odd to see Murray State up to, I believe, 15th now. On the other hand, I pay damn little attention to the polls until March, and not much then even. Yet if it helps your Racers gain the attention of a few recruits, and maybe a few extra bucks here and there to boot, more power to them.

Like I said, or implied anyway, it's just bragging rights. Those you thought would drop did, and both the Orange and the Bears will stumble shortly and falter soon. I imagine that the climb of the Spartans and the Hoosiers has about reached their respective peaks, now that head-to-head Big Ten+ play has begun, and soon the usual suspects will hold onto the top slots.

Once more my boss has stepped on my nincomputer time today, so I can't do my weekend update until tomorrow at the earliest. Thank God there's only two notable games tonight, those being Big Mouth contests between UConn/WVA and G'town/Cincy. Considering how things have gone for ALL concerned with those 4 teams, I'd say you can flip a coin to call the winners.

Back tomorrow, hopefully, with more amazing insights :r Until then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Now maybe I can catch up a little bit here, if I skip much too many good games and just hit the biggies. In the balance of action Saturday 1/7:


Kansas State 75 - Missouri 59 = I've been saying all along that the Tigers' easy scheduling would come back and bite them in the butt eventually. The K-State win does not surprise me one bit, and even the margin's not a total shock.

St. John's 57 - Cincinnati 55 = And considering how the Bearcats have played at times, even with the run they made after that Xavier brawl, this is not much of a shock either.

Notre Dame 67 - Louisville 65 (2OT) = But this is somewhat of one, especially as the better team lost in double-OT at home.

Illinois 59 - Nebraska 54 = And the surprise here is how close the 'Huskers came to their first ever Big Ten+ win.

Rutgers 67 - U Conn 60 = Much like Missou, and as I've said before, the Husky losses will keep coming once they go on the road and actually play somebody . . . and apparently, much to my surprise, the Scarlet Knights can actually BE somebody, on certain nights anyway.

Charlotte 57 - St. Joseph's 52 = The shock here is not only that the "meh" 49ers could beat the decent Hawks, but that they could do so in Philly.

Syracuse 73 - Marquette 66 = The handwriting is on the wall for the Orange, if you ask me. You don't believe me, and think a 3-possession win is good enough? Well, take note that the score at the half was 37-19 for the 'Cuse, yet the Golden Eagles came damn close to stealing the victory despite the fact they did not even get to the game until after the break.

Dayton 87 - Temple 77 = I don't know, maybe the Owls feel that beating Dook made their season already, and they have no need to show up anymore. Don't get me wrong . . . I'm not convinced the Blue Devils are great, nor am I unaware that the Flyers are pretty decent. Still . . . .

Virginia 52 - Miami 51 = Hmmmmm. The Cavs may be beginning to unravel, as the 'Canes have shown no sign of being able to play ball so far this year to date. But maybe it was just an off night, since everybody has them.

Arkansas 98 - Mississippi State 88 = This must have been a track meet, and certainly not the defensive "40 minutes of hell" the 'Hogs used to boast. Just consider . . .

Stanford 103 - Oregon State 101 (4OT) = It took these two twice as long to score nearly as much. A hard-fought win for the Tree, who'll need them to challenge their neighbors in Berkeley for the Pac-12.


On Sunday 1/8:


Michigan 59 - Wisconsin 41 = As much as the two games above were NBA-type scores, this ugly contest was more typical of a football contest between these teams, as was . . .

Arizona 57 - USC 46 = At least the snarling mammels just cited had the excuse that the Badgers almost always play slowly. But these two? Maybe they merely suck. Speaking of which . . .

N. C. State 79 - Maryland 74 = OK, the Terps are supposed to suck this year, yet they made a game of it against Jerry's 'Pack. It's a decent win for Moo U to begin their ACC season, but maybe it's not a very good sign of things to come.


On Monday 1/9:


U Conn 64 - West Virginia 57 = The Huskies do win, but don't dissuade me of my opinion. The Mountaineers are OK, and probably better than was expected, but U Conn thought they'd repeat as champs this year, the silly gooses.

Cincinnati 68 - Georgetown 64 = And the young Hoya squad stumbles twice in a row, against a yo-yo Bearcat team this time. I just hope they get their act back together before they face the likes of Syracuse and the aforementioned Huskies. :D


Tonight has some potential for decent conference matchups:


Florida vs. Georgia = This may not be one of them. Yeah, the Gators have tripped a few times, but the Bulldogs haven't even crawled, much less walked.

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech = It was supposed these two would challenge for the upper half of the ACC, though not for the top two slots. They've not shown much sign of that, but that makes this head-to-head all that more important to both.

Louisville vs. Providence = Although the Firars have had a decent game or three so far, I can't see them taking the Cardinals. But then again, I couldn't see some others doing so, so Pitino's boys have the "ability" to disappoint their fans . . . amongst whom I do NOT count myself. :r

DePaul vs. Seton Hall = Despite a few very surprising good wins, I still don't have much long-term faith in the Pirates. But the Blue Demons ain't exactly the Lakers, so though this may be close I'll give the locals an edge.

Iowa vs. Michigan State = And despite a good win or two by the Hawkeyes, I think the Spartans will continue to roll, for now anyway.

Baylor vs. Kansas State = If the Manhattan 'Cats play as well as they did against the Missou Tigers, they will back-to-back hand teams their first loss of the year. Me, I'm gonna say it happens, and the Bears go down this evening.

Illinois State vs. Wichita State = Just one damn fine game between two good programs.

Northern Iowa vs. Creighton = Same here.

Ohio State vs. Illinois = I think the Buckeyes have much more talent than do the Illini, but they've proven that this does not mean they know how to win. I can see this being a close one in Champaign, and don't be shocked if OSU drops another one.

North Carolina vs. Miami = But be surprised if the Heels lose this one. They are ending a long homestand, and despite a few lapses from time to time have started to play some pretty dominant ball for the most part. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have fairly much stunk. Anything can happen in league play, but some things should not be expected.

San Diego State vs. Chicago State = And here's the laffer of the night for you. The Aztecs may not be as good as last year's version, but the boys from the Windy City have failed to win a game all year to date. That win will come tonight only if the Aztec bus breaks down and forces a forfeit.


Well, my fingers are starting to bleed, so I'll call it quits for now. Pipe up with your own thoughts, brothers, and until later then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Going back an forth between the Gators/Bulldogs and UL/Providence right now. The Gators starting to pile on the Dogs early in H2. Probably won't change much on that aspect.

UL, at the half, is getting their butts handed to them by Providence. I'd hate to be in Ricky's locker room right now. They played like they're asleep in H1, but the Cards are a team that put a run on very quickly, if a fire is lit under them.

Hope I get to see a little of the OSU/Illini game before I fall asleep in the chair.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, the Gators did dogpile on UGA, so maybe BillyBoy is starting to get their attention after too many stumbles. And Pitino had no success in lighting a fire under his Cards, who got fried by the Friars 90-59, at home no less.

As for OSU/Illini, it was the Buckeyes who fell asleep. :D


Illinois 79 - Ohio State 74 = I'm not too surprised by this at all, since OSU has NOT played up to the level I expected of them.

Baylor 75 - Kansas State 73 = And no, I'm still not backing down on my stance about the Bears being overrated, though I must give them some credit for their uncanny ability (so far) to win close games. This is the 4th one they've won by a mere one possession, meaning that of their 16 wins 25% have come due to a shot either made or missed here and there.

Florida State 63 - Virginia Tech 59 = The Seminoles were supposed to be the only ACC team capable of challenging UNC and Duke for the top, yet have shown little sign of that so far. This is a decent win for them, but I hope they got it out of their system before my Heels visit soon. Speaking of which . . .

North Carolina 73 - Miami 56 = UNC ends its long homestand with another fairly easy victory, which wasn't really as close as the final margin. The best thing to come out of this was that Carolina's backcourt, considered to be weaker than their bigs AND the guards for the 'Canes, did most of the damage to build the lead on a night when the frontcourt struggled.

San Diego State 73 - Chicago State 65 = I cite this one because I'm a little shocked the Aztecs had so much trouble at home with a team without a win all year. That's not a good sign, and I bet Stevie's p!$$ed about it.

Wichita State 65 - Illinois State 62 = Hey, I told you this would be a good game.

Creighton 63 - Northern Iowa 60 = Ditto, bro.


There are a number of interesting games this evening, including:


Michigan vs. Northwestern = The Smarty 'Cats can beat the Logans if they play well, considering how UM struggles to score too damn often. I don't think they will, but it's worth keeping an eye on this one.

Rutgers vs. Pittsburgh = If you think you know who'll win this one, you're a better man than me. Both teams have shocked me this year, either by losing games they should have won, or winning those they should have lost. For that alone, it's worth keeping track.

Charlotte vs. U Mass = Can the 49ers build upon their big road win over Temple with another here?

St. John's vs. Marquette = Much like the Big East contest above, this one's hard to call. I feel the Golden Eagles should soar above the Storm, yet they have stalled before.

Duquesne vs. Xavier = And this one could be a flat-out war. The X-Men have better talent, but they also seem to still be screwed up between the ears.

Syracuse vs. Villanova = I like Jay Wright and the Philly 'Cats better than I doo Boeheim and his Orange, but so far this year they've rarely shown me enough to pick them, even on their home court. As much as I expect the 'Cuse to stumble soon, I can't see that happening tonight.

Wake Forest vs. Maryland = Both these teams were predicted to suck, and they've both shown that "ability", though the Deacs have played somewhat better than was thought. I'm tempted to pick them to take the Terps in College Park, but as I have no faith in either squad I'd just be whistling in the dark.

Missouri vs. Iowa State = Will Missou rebound from their first loss (read, "spanking") of the season, or shall they drop another already? I give the Cyclones a decent shot in Ames, seeing as how they've already racked up decent wins against Providence, Iowa, and both Texas and Texas A&M. While we're on the subject . . .

Texas vs. Texas A&M = The Aggies were once in the position the aforementioned Missouri Tigers were, and considered to be a national power. Meanwhile, the 'Horns were expected to be down, and haven't shown the experts wrong. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, so look for blood to be shed before this is done.

Kentucky vs. Auburn = And look for blood to be shed here also . . . all of it Tiger blood.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi = Though neither team is likely to be standing long in March, they are both at least OK. This should be a lot of fun.

Penn State vs. Nebraska = I don't know if the Cornhuskers can earn even a single conference victory in their first Big Ten+ season, but this one in Lincoln may be their best shot at one.

Temple vs. Saint Louis = Two good mid-majors go head-to-head, which is almost always a good show.

Georgia Tech vs. N. C. State = I'm not sure how many victories Jerry's Wolfpack can manage in ACC play, so they can't let ones like this one get away from them . . . especially if they have serious aspirations to get back to the NCAAs again come Spring.

Kansas vs. Texas Tech = I didn't bother to take note where this one's being played. I don't think it matters all that much. The Jayhawks should build a double-digit margin, then coast.

LSU vs. Alabama = So if you want to see a battle, look here instead. I heard rumors that these two recently met on the gridiron in some meaningless post-season bowl, so you'd think both teams and the crowd might be a bit into this roundball rematch.


That's gonna do it for me for now. Keep those cards and letters coming, kiddies, and as always . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Well, let's see if these penny-ante gamblers bugging me for Lotto tickets will leave me be long enough to do this today. There were a ton of close and exciting games last night, but I'll only post a few more important results:


Michigan 66 - Northwestern 64 (OT) = The Logans did manage to eek out a victory, and actually managed to score over 65 points this time . . . even though it took them an extra 5 minutes to do so.

Memphis 60 - Southern Miss 58 = Another close victory, and one the Tigers need in their attempt to regain some of their pre-season juice.

Rutgers 62 - Pittsburgh 39 = Speaking of juice, the Panthers have become all pits and no meat. Considering some of the good wins the Scarlet Knights have had, it's no big shock they won this one. But scoring under 40 points, at home? That's just Pitt-iful.

Kentucky 68 - Auburn 53 = OK, yeah, it was on the road for the Wildcats. OK, yeah, it's a 15-point win. But still, I'm not all that impressed with this performance by the supposed #2 team in the nation.

Nebraska 70 - Penn State 58 = Woo-hoo, 'Huskers! You get your first Big Ten+ win, ever! Savor it, as there won't be many more, at least this season anyway.

Georgia Tech 82 - N. C. State 71 = Jerry's Wolfpack could not defend their home court, at least in the 1st half. They were down 11 at the break, and lost by that same margin.

Temple 72 - Saint Louis 67 = The Owls get what's at least a decent win here, my quibble being this: The Billikens began by winning 12 of their first 13 games, and created quite the buzz. But last night marked their 3rd loss out of the last 4, so maybe the Dollies have sprung a leak.

Alabama 69 - LSU 53 = Roll Tide, I guess. And look on the bright side, Tigers . . . at least you scored in this game. :r


There looks to be a lot of good match-ups going on tonight, but many of them involve teams nobody much cares about. If I skip yours, do't be hurt . . . be vocal, and post your own thoughts, dammit! Here's my picks for the highpoints:


Wisconsin vs. Purdue = The Badgers were supposed to be the ones to challenge the Buckeyes for the conference, yet have not shown they are capable of that . . . or WOULD not have, had not OSU itself disappointed expectation so far. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers have played a bit better than was thought, and have shown at times they can compete with most anybody. This game is big for both teams. Pick 'em, since I can't.

Clemson vs. Boston College = BC showed against UNC that they won't give up, even when behind. It did not help them much, but it's a good sign for a team that's struggled badly. Clemson has been a bit better, but they themselves have stumbled too. This one could be fun.

Murray State vs. Jacksonville State = If Joe's Racers drop this homegame, I don't wanna hear a peep out of him for a week! :D

Minnesota vs. Indiana = The Golden Gophers have been less than golden in league play, and go for an 0-5 start in Bloomington tonight. I'm gonna stick with the surprisingly good Hoosiers until they throw a shoe . . . or a chair.

Virginia vs. Duke = And speaking of being a pleasant surprise, what about those Cavs? They have at least a slim shot at competing with Dook and UNC for the ACC, IF they continue to play like they have so far. A win in Cameron this evening would go a looooong way towards that goal. Me, I don't see it happening, but the Blue Devils are far from invincible, so you never know. Keep an eye on this one.

Oregon State vs. Arizona = A key Pac-12 battle in Tucson, with the Desert 'Cats hoping to keep pace with the TRUE Left Coast teams. This could be fun.

Oregon vs. Arizona State = This could be over by the half, for despite my respect for Herb Sendek his Sun Devils have not showm me much. Neither have the Ducks, but even in Tempe they should not lay an egg.

Tennessee vs. Mississippi State = The Vols are just barely above .500 this year, but are coming off a huge win over the Gators. The Bulldogs maintain a national ranking, yet lost their only SEC game thus far, and are thereby behind UT in that regard. MSU needs to win in Starkville tonight, whereas the Vols need to win anywhere anytime they can. I'm interested to see what happens here, as I've little faith in the 'Dawgs, and less in UT.

Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's = God, I hope the Gaels absolutely spank and skin the Bulldogs tonight. Don't get me wrong . . . I have a lot of respect for the 'Zags, and for the job Mark Few has done out there to build a quality mid-major program. But I am sick and tired of listening to these Great NW bozos bragging and whining all the damn time, saying crap like "We've got the best point guard/shooting guard/power foward in the nation!" or "We'll play anybody anywhere anytime, and beat them at our game or theirs!" . . . all this while giving us much more reason to dispute rather than to prove their claims. Yet dispite these repeated bouts of hubris, they are already at it again, first whining that they should be ranked, then whining that they should have been ranked sooner and/or higher. STFU and play, $#!+heads, and show me a Geroge Mason/Butler/VCU run before you run off at the mouth any more! And THAT'S why I hope St. Mary's pops them a good one in the piehole at home tonight. :su


That's it for me for now. Enjoy, fellas. :tu

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Heh! You won't hear a peep, you'll hear a POP!!!! :D Looks like fan interest if coming on; Saturday's home game is already sold out.

I was VERY disappointed in the Cat's performance, until the last 4 or 5 minutes. They were FLAT most of the game. The Tigers almost chewed 'em up.

Go Virginia!!!

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

So, which got thrown last night? A HUGE surprise, to me. I wonder if the Gophs can find a way to keep playing like that over the course of the rest of the season. Some people are calling for Tubby's job, because he has underachieved since he's been here, and had a tremendous amount of players that have left the program that are playing well elsewhere.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Keep expecting the Cuse to lose, eventually you'll get it right, LOL.

or not.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Farkers won't leave me farkin' alone today, fark it all! I'll get back to this tomorrow, guys.


;s

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Were I you, Joe, I'd be disappointed in the relatively narrow victory over a "meh" Jack State squad. Still. a W's a W.

Go Virginia? Well, I guess they went pretty good in Cameron under the circumstances, before they finally went . . . with a fight, but went regardless.

I was not so surprised as you with the Gopher win, for although I know the Hoosiers have played well above expectations (and am personally glad to see a storied program make strides back to prominence), they are also young and vulnerable to stumbles. As I stated earlier, when they made it into the Top Ten in the ranks, they had likely reached about as high as they could go. I do believe that Tubby gets less respect than he's earned, both at Minnseota (not a traditional hoops power, so what more do they want?) and previously at Kentucky. He seems to me a class act, on and off the court, which should count for as much as wins and losses do. True, it's hard for the fans to see this at times, but there it is nonetheless.


If you are a longtime Orange fan, or at least one who's paid attention, you know how this goes. The 'Cuse will begin each season playing a lot of homegames against lower to mid-level opponents who haven't the talent and/or experience to deal with Boeheim's zone, and they will rack up a string of victories. Then they start playing those who are capable and knowledgeable to take advantages of said zone, who are able to attack it successfully and build a lead on the Orange, who are then either unable to make up the deficit because the zone does not lend itself to catch-up success, or they are forced to try to create more possessions by changing to a press, which they haven't practiced enough to pull off.

Hey, I'm not putting them down with this assessment, but merely citing history.

Lemme try to play some catch-up myself now, and prepare a update. Back soon, I hope.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

OK, let's toss it up and tip this off. In Thursday games, some of which were noted above:


Murray State 66 - Jacskonville State 55 = A win, and good enough I suppose, but not a strong statement at home for the Racers.

Duke 61 - Virginia 58 = And considering the situation, a better statement by the Cavs down in Durham than is was one by the Blue Devils. Still, it's a win for Dook, so there's that.

Minnesota 77 - Indiana 74 = A close battle too, and not only a badly-needed good win for the Gophers but a valuable learning experience for the young Hoosiers, who'll perhaps do better in the future to be successful in tight fights.

Wisconsin 67 - Purdue 62 = I give the Badgers credit for getting the win, but they'll need to do a lot more than edge the Boilermakers before they regain the respect with which they began the season.

Boston College 59 - Clemson 57 = Now this one surprises me a bit. The Eagles have been crappy all year, and even though the Tigers haven't been much better they should have been able to take it.

Arizona 81 - Oregon State 73 (OT) = Much like the Badgers, the Desert 'Cats make one step towards regaining their early hype. Besides, this was a war, save for the extra 5 minutes.

Mississippi State 62 - Tennessee 58 = And much like the Dook/UVA game, this one looks to me to be a better sign for the Vols than for MSU.

Stanford 68 - Utah 65 = If the Cardinal wants me to take them for real, they need to do a bit better than this.

California 57 - Colorado 50 = Ditto for their neighbors, the Golden Bears.

St. Mary's 83 - Gonzaga 62 = YES!! That's what I'm talking about! Again, I emphasize I don't hate the Zags, though I will confess I like the Gaels better. But I am sick and tired of hearing all that hot air flowing out of the Great NW, and maybe this fat lip will quiet them somewhat. I doubt it, but you never know. Perhaps if they changed their name from Gonzaga to Seattle-Tacoma Free University, so that every time they looked at their teammates and their own jerseys they may get the message . . . STFU.


Last night's limited action gave us:


Cleveland State 76 - Butler 69 = The Bulldogs, national runner-ups the last two years, fall to 9-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The party's over, boys.

South Florida 56 - Seton Hall 55 = I can't prove it, but I planned to call this one yesterday. Remember, Rutgers got that big win over the Gators before falling to the Bulls. Now the Pirates do much the same thing, with 4 good wins (including against U Conn) followed by this. So rack up another meaningful "upset" for those Bulls.

Northern Iowa 61 - Missouri State 60 = Again, I have no proof, but this was on my radar as a close tight game for two solid programs. It was indeed.


In early action today, U Conn has already fairly well handled Notre Dame 67-53 in South Bend, due to a 2nd-half surge. No surprise there. What might be one is that UT lead UK at the half in Knoxville, though only by 6 points. Another might be 'Nova over Cincy by 4 with under 18 to go. There's time enough in both these for anything to happen, yet both are worth keeping your eye on. Other early games of note include:


Michigan vs. Iowa = My doubts about the Wolverines stem from their struggles to score the ball. The Hawkeyes have a decent chance of winning this home game, and should at least give the Logans problems.

N. C. State vs. Wake Forest = Jerry's 'Pack have shown a few signs, and maybe even enough to win this one in Winston-Salem, especially since the Deacs have shown some but fewer signs themselves. NCSU's trying to build a double-digit lead early in the contest to grab control.

Texas vs. Missouri = It's in Mizzou Arena, and the 'Horns haven't hooked many good teams this season. Yet they ought to stay competitive with the Tigers, at least for a while, and anything can happen.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma = K-State has a better record, and a few better wins, but they are also as volatile as is their coach. This means they are capable of either exploding on the Sooners in Norman, or blowing up instead. If this is close at the half, it could also be close at the end.


I'll go look at later starts now, and be back with those plus more early finals later. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Both the UK/UT and the 'Nova/Cincy games are still too close to call. What else is up in this crowded day of action? As I can't possibly cite all the potentially good ones, I'll limit myself to far too many:

Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M = Though the Aggies were supposed to be a power this year, both teams come into this 0-3 in conference play. I predict one of them will get their first league win today.

Mississippi vs. Auburn = I don't believe either team is all that good, but they should be pretty evenly matched, and give us a good show.

North Carolina vs. Florida State = I fully expect my Heels to have their hands full here. They go on the road for the first time in a long while, and the Seminoles have talent, despite the fact that they've not played as though they do at times. Yet you'd think they'd be up and focused for this one, especially in front of their own crowd. You have to give UNC the advantage, but I'm not gonna pencil it in, at all.

Saint Louis vs. Charlotte = I get that feeling this Billiken/49er one will be fun.

Pittsburgh vs. Marquette = I have absolutely no idea what has gone wrong with the Panthers, nor do I have much of a better idea what Marquette truly is either. For this alone, I'm fascinated by it.

Rutgers vs. West Virginia = Nobody much expected either of these to play as well as they have so far. Because of this, both have some confidence, and both are hungry for more. Look for a war.

Michigan State vs. Northwestern = The Spartans have played very well, and should handle the Smarty 'Cats OK. I don't expect a blowout, but a comfortable win is likely.

Oklahoma State vs. Baylor = As you know, I haven't a ton of faith in the Bears. Yet I'm not gonna give the Cowboys more than a puncher's chance here.

Virginia Tech vs. Boston College = BC sucks, but it's the Hokies who are 0-2 in the ACC so far. They need to turn that around fast, and this would be a great place to start, even up in Chestnut Hill instead of atop that hill in Blacksburg.

Kansas vs. Iowa State = Much like the UNC/FSU game, you've got to give the Jayhawks the nod, but don't think it will be a cakewalk.

St. Joseph's vs. U Mass = Two decent teams will give us one good game.

Alabama vs. Mississippi State = Here too.

DePaul vs. Louisville = The Cardinals have been another of those bi-polar teams to date, playing lights-out and as if the lights are out. They ought to be able to handle the Blue Demons. But they ought to have handled others also, so keep your eye on this one.

Georgia vs. Vanderbilt = Vandy's another of those iffy teams. The Comms have the talent to take command over the 'Dawgs. If they don't it's their own damn fault.

Colorado vs. Stanford = As is seems likely at this point that the Pac-12 won't get a ton of at-large bids again this year, each game becomes vital. Both of these want to dance in March, so hopefully we'll get a good one.

UNLV vs. San Diego State = And if you think those two above want wins, consider these two with certain (even if somewhat limited) national aspirations. They may need to call out the Marines in San Diego before this one's done.

Providence vs. Syracuse = In the Dome, so don't expect the Orange to tally that first loss today. Hey, stranger things have happened, and the Friars have had a few good wins already, but Resipsa's boys should be safe for another weekend or so.

Tennessee Tech vs. Murray State = And Joe's Racers better play better in this one than they did against Jacksonville State if they want to stay undefeated. TT can hoop a little, and if it stays tight the Racers may tighten up also.

Air Force vs. Boise State = Nobody much cares about either of these, but it is one of those which jumps out at me with the po' for a good 'un.

UCF vs. Marshall = Maybe a few more care about these, and the same holds true.

Temple vs. Richmond = And definitely a few more care about these, with much the same expectations for a battle. Though I respect the Owls, I sorta like the Spiders, and hope they can bite their avian foes.

Florida vs. South Carolina = If the Gators don't absolutely beat the 'Cocks into raw meat, they should go back to the Sunshine State afoot.

LaSalle vs. Dayton = Another good match-up here. Flip a coin.

Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount = The 'Zags will want to bounce back from the flailing they took from the Gaels, but don't expect LM to roll over for them. It's just as likely the Bulldogs will get their 2nd L in a row.

Rice vs. Tulane = Though one might feel these two should sooner face off in a College IQ Bowl, this could actually be a damn decent athletic contest here.

LSU vs. Arkansas = That first point above can't be said of these two, but the second one holds true.

Memphis vs. Houston = Though I am not a Tiger fan, I am curious as to whether or not they've found their game. The Cougars may not prove this one way or the other, yet they should provide another test.

TCU vs. Colorado State = Here's another of those games with promise of excitement.

Montana vs. Weber State = And again.

Hawaii vs. Nevada = And again, believe it or not. The Rainbows have actually played fairly decent ball at times, in case you haven't noticed.


While typing the above:


Kentucky 65 - Tennessee 62 = The Wildcats escape what would have been an embarrassing loss to the Vols. I'm sure Cal is glad to get the W, but he can't be very happy. His team seems to be regressing.

Cincinnati 82 - Villanova 78 = I guess it's an OK win for the Bearcats over a "meh" PhillyCat squad suffering a down year, and I know Jay Wright's miffed at another disappointing loss in one he could have won.

Also, Iowa is kicking Michigan's butt, and NCSU is absolutely slaughering the Demon Deacons. I'll be back later with those finals, and maybe other, as well as (hopefully) Sunday games. Until later then.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Michigan loses, K-State loses, and my Heels are getting embarrassed. So it goes. Yet I can't take anymore for now, and thus will see you Monday.

Enjoy, hopefully better than I've done. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Well, you DID say don't pencil the win in for the 'Heels. Wow, did not expect that from them though. Be interesting to see how they respond to this.

SDSU popped the Rebels pretty nicely.`

Coach Cal needs to take a few of the guys to the wood shed. Pitiful win.

Murray stays undefeated...barely. Teams are seeing some success in doubling/tripling Canaan up, and our inside game is not the same with Aska out. But, despite having to rely mostly on guard play, they continue the bend-but-don't-break style to get the win. I still don't see them as a top 20 team, even though I'm loving the attention this is giving them.

Pitino should be happy for a win, but it looks to me like he's lost control of his team. They just seem to go off the face of the Earth sometimes.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

SDSU is doing well in their rebuilding year, huge win Sat. tough league this year.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...hockingly-good

check out this video.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

:tu:tu

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I had a bad feeling about that UNC/FSU game, so the loss did not surprise me. I was, however, sadly shocked at their bad play in the first half, and the horrible play in the second. A very good win for the Semiholes, and hopefully a wake-up call for the Heels.

Yeah, the Aztecs pretty much cut the hearts out of UNLV. I'll say good for them despite the fact I'm not a fan of Steve Fisher, partly due to the fact I still dislike the Rebs from back in Tark the Shark days. Yeah, I'm an old fogey, but my memory's still good. :r

UK has a lot of young talent, and you get what you get with yound talent . . . which often includes head-slapping frustrations. Count your blessings that the SEC pretty much seems to be the Wildcats, then everybody else . . . as if that's anything new. ;)

As with my Heels, I figured your Racers would face a challenge in that game. But they survived, a win's a win, and though they may not actually be (as of now) the 12th best team in the nation they have done what they've needed to do, and deserve the success and acclaim. Enjoy it as long as it lasts.

You'd know better than me about the Cardinals. I do know Pitino earned the "reputation" of recruiting willful bad boys at times, many of whom felt they were the cat's @$$ and had to listen to nobody save those voices in their own heads . . . many of them from here in New Jersey. You're welcome, Rick. :tu

Aside from needing to pay some more on my massive medical bills online and other such crap today, the penny-ante lotto bozos have started bugging me again today, so I have no time for a full update. Maybe I can catch up on the biggies at least tomorrow. Until then then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, I hear you on Pitino's recruiting. A shame; I thought he looked like a great coach when he took over a UK program that was lucky to have one blue chipper in Mashurn, and made lemonade from lemons. Those were the days...

Pitt has just lost again; never saw that coming :r. Tough season.

Baylor-KU just starting.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

The only other thing I'll say about Pitino is that there are some coaches I like less, and many I like better.

As for Pitt, I'll risk bad karma by saying thank goodness some team out there is making the struggle my Heels have had look minor. :D

Bears/Jayhawks now over, and so's Baylor's undefeated season. Color me shocked. :r

I'm hoping to catch up a little, so keep your fingers crossed. Later.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

As I don't know how my remaining time will go, lemme flop-flip my normal post and cite today's action before I return to recent history. Tonight:


Georgetown vs. DePaul = Could be a really good game. After finding themselves, the young Hoyas have come back down to earth a bit. The Blue Demons are maybe not as good, yet have played quite well at times.

Michigan State vs. Michigan = Aside from the fact that these two are rumored to dislike each other, they have comparable talent. I'm not a fan of the Spartans, but I prefer them much more than the Wolverines, for various reasons. Yet I give them the edge here not so much because of that then for the fact the Logans cannot score the ball.

Auburn vs. LSU = These two are doing better than I expected so far, and as conference wins may get few and far between for both this one is huge. Look for a battle.

Iowa vs. Purdue = Different league, same story here.

Maryland vs. Florida State = A different different league, and aside from that spanking the 'Noles gave my Heels it is the same here too. Can FSU build upon their huge win, or can the Terps catch them complacent? Should be interesting.

Arkansas vs. Kentucky = And speaking of interesting, note that the Wildcats have survived several scares recently against inferior talent. Can they keep that up, or are they bound to stumble a few times? Keep your eye on this one, since the 'Hogs have a chance, even in Rupp.

Boise State vs. Colorado State = And this is one of those tight mid-major ones which can turn out to be the best match-up of the night.


Over the past few days I've missed a ton of games, and many of them very good. As I both can't and shan't bore you with all of them, I'll just mention a few key ones not already noted elsewhere. In the balance of Saturday action:


Auburn 69 - Mississippi 68 (2OT) = Quite a fight here, despite the low-scoring involved. A nice win for the Tigers, if not a great one.

Oklahoma 82 - Kansas State 73 = But this was a very good one for the Sooners. Can anyone in Manhattan KS tell me if Frank Martin's head has exploded yet?

Marquette 62 - Pittsburgh 57 = Though I predicted from the get-go that the Panthers wouldn't make much noise in March, I never thought they'd be so silent this soon.

Northwestern 81 - Michigan State 74 = Many of you may have been shocked by this. Me, my surprise is tempered by the fact that I foresaw the Spartans had had a great run, which was doomed to end soon. Izzo is a great coach, but even he can only do so much.

Richmond 76 - Temple 65 = As I stated at the time, I respect the Owls but root for the Spiders. They needed a good win like this one.

Marshall 65 - UCF 64 = I'm not so certain this is a good W for the Herd, but it sure beats a loss.


On Sunday 1/15:


Ohio State 80 - Indiana 63 = As with those Spartans above, I was glad to see the Hoosiers make themselves relevant but felt they'd done about all that could be reasonably expected. This whippin' lends them some perspective, let's assume.

Duke 73 - Clemson 66 = Maybe I should just hold my peace on this one, considering how my Heels did, but even down in Littlejohn this ain't much of a win for Dook against a weaker team. Shoot, just look at some of the teams Clemson's already lost to this year? Still, it's a W for the Blue Devils, even if K isn't happy about it.


On Monday 1/16:


Marquette 74 - Louisville 63 = The Cardinals grabbed an early double-digit lead, then p!$$ed it away, and into a double-digit loss. Though the old saw says it couldn't happen to a nicer guy, in Rick's case it easily could. :r

Syracuse 71 - Pittsburgh 63 = I suppose I could take the opportunity here to bash the Panthers again, yet when one considers how many bad losses they've already posted, and consider that this was against an undefeated team on their court, I think it is actually a pretty decent showing. And for those Orange fans who still believe your boys will go without a L all year, take warning as you look at both this and at . . .

Kansas 92 - Baylor 74 = Am I the only one who shrugs at this and thinks "OK, so?" I've told you and told you the Bears were (a) playing too many cupcakes, and (b) were escaping by the skin of their teeth when they dared face any decent competition. The Jayhawks have always been the class of the league, and this Bear-skinning shows they still are, until somebody else proves otherwise.


Well, that's all I've time for, but I welcome you guys picking out others I've missed. Believe me, there's a buttload. Until later then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Can't believe they are losing the way they are...

Making college basketball much less fun for me this year. :sad

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I feel you, but take note that the FIRST year I started doing this thread on here was back when my Heels followed up their 2009 championship by going 17-17 in regular season play before going on a run to make the finals again . . . in the NIT. :D

I could have said the hell with it all and quit, but winning or losing is NOT the point of amateur athletics . . . which is why winning's so important in Lexington. :r

Hopefully back soon with an update, if my internet stops farking me around.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Maybe I can get this in, if I'm concise. Read, "hasty". Last night:


Georgetown 83 - DePaul 75 = The Hoyas need every league win they can get to try and keep pace, or at least pace enough to get a higher-seed in the Big East tourney.

LSU 65 - Auburn 58 (OT) = I believe I said they'd both want this one badly.

Michigan 60 - Michigan State 59 = Once again, the Wolverines fail to score over 65 points. Luckily for them, the Spartans scored one fewer than did the home team.

Western Carolina 141 - Toccoa Falls 39 = Yeah, you read that right. The score at the half was 72-17 Catamounts. Well, at least it wasn't the bullet-dodging of their 2001 meeting, when WCU edged this small Christian school 133-58. I guess The Doors were right: "You CANNOT petition The Lord with prayer!" :D


Tonight has a lot of great mid-major action, plus a few biggies:


LaSalle vs. Temple = This ought to be fun.

St. Joseph's vs. Xavier = Here too.

Clemson vs. Miami = Here too, as they fight to stay out of the ACC cellar.

U Conn vs. Cincinnati = Ditto, if the Bearcats play the way they are capable of doing, even up in Storrs.

Kent State vs. Ohio = And the hits just keep on coming.

Murray State vs. Morehead State = In previous years this would be another war. Maybe not so much tonight, but Joe's Racers should not get complacent.

Indiana vs. Nebraska = And last year the 'Huskers may have had a better chance against the Hoosiers, but this one is most likely IU's to win . . . or lose, in lieu of beating beaten.

Marshall vs. West Virginia = No waffling here . . . this will be a war.

Memphis vs. UCF = And this one too, since both are hoping to gain enough momentum to gain at-large attention come March.

Wyoming vs. Air Froce = Nobody much cares (well, maybe some do about service academies, but only for that), yet I can see this one being damn good too.

Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa = Both have the talent and tradition to make this a contest.

Creighton vs. Missouri State = MSU hasn't the same tradition as Creighton, but they will put up a fight nonetheless.

Texas vs. Kansas State = The 'Horns have not shown us much so far this year, but the Manhattan 'Cats have had some struggles of late. A win by UT would not only help their confidence, it might give Frank Martin a stroke. :r

Mississippi State vs. Mississippi = OK, it ain't Duke/UNC, or UK/Louisville, or even UCLA/USC, but it is an in-state rivalry between teams that have had their moments this season.

San Diego State vs. New Mexico = The Aztecs get back into the Top 25 this week, based upon their good play. If they aren't careful, they will drop out of the Top 25 after this game. It's in Albuquerque, and the Lobos can hoop a little.

TCU vs. UNLV = And I even give those horny Texans a shot at the Rebels, even in Vegas. OK, not much of one, but it could be closer than you'd think.


Sorry for the brevity, but that's the way it goes. Hey, do you expect War and Peace every freakin' day? Jeez. So until later . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

MSU vs MSU ended up being a war for sure :r. Down by 11 twice, I think, and only got a lead back late in the 2nd. Morehead was looking to make a statement on defending home, and they gave a great shot on it. Morehead has a good coach, I think, and he likes to put the zone to good advantage. Murray has had problems wit the zone. Despite a rough game, including a horrible start, I was glad they had such a struggle. I think it will help later on.

That LSU game was a good one for sure.

Watching Texas/Kansas St now. K State was laying it on good, but Texas has come to within 1 early in H2; fun game also.

2 undefeateds left. Murray could get nailed by anyone, although getting Aska back in the next week or so will help a lot. What about 'Cuse-who do you see knocking them off???

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I'll deal with this one first, Joe. As with your Racers, anybody can knock Syracuse from the undefeated ranks. Against a zone, all it takes is one guy getting hot from downtown, or a bad defensive rebounding effort from the Orange, and they're down by 6 or 8 possessions . . . from which a zone-based team has difficulty recovering, especially as they have no experience pressing to force turnovers and increase possessions. But to be more specific, here's the games I'd be more leery of, were I Jim Boeheim:

1/21 @ Notre Dame = The Irish are not great, but they don't stink either. Plus, South Bend is not the Dome.

1/23 @ Cincinnati = The Bearcats have some bad losses, and some good wins too. And again, the Orange will be on the road.

2/8 Georgetown = 'Cuse is back home, but this is a dangerous Hoya squad. They themselves may not be experienced, but their coach has seen that zone many times, and knows how to attack it.

2/11 U. Conn = Pretty much the same story here, save that the Huskies do have more experience, and maybe a bit more talent too.

2/13 @ Louisville = The third tough game for Syracuse in less than a week, on the road again, and against another dangerous team. Yeah, Pitino's boys have sucked at times, but you know Rick will have them focused for this one. If they can respond . . . well, that's another question.

2/19 @ Rutgers = I don't know how they are doing it, but the Scarlet Knights have managed to surprise better teams, on their own court anyway. Even if the Orange survive all the above, and maybe more so if they do, I could see them coming into this one with a cocky attitude, and taking one in the stones.

2/25 @ U. Conn = In a mirror-image of the 'Cuse, the Huskies are tough at home and not so much on the road. Playing in the Nutmeg State perhaps adds enough spice to turn the table.

3/3 Louisville = You'd suspect, or if you are a Cardinal fan you'd hope, that by this point in the season Pitino'd have his team primed and ready for post-season. This game may not be key to Syracuse to secure them a high NCAA bid, but it might be huge for Louisville. If Rick can impart that to his kids, they should be hyped and focused.


Plus, even if the Orange can survive this minefield, they then enter the Big East tournament, where anything can happen. Remember last year, with the Huskies coming in with a 9-9 conference record, only to ride Kemba Walker all the way to the championship? And ALL of the above ignores the other possible factors: injuries, illness, suspensions, bad calls, bad weather, whatever. So there might not be your answer, but it may help some (including Orange faithful) understand why I don't see them going without a loss all year.


Back later, I hope.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Here's some of the best games from last night:


Murray State 66 - Morehead State 60 = As Joe said, his Racers needed to come from 'way back to keep their season unblemished. I thought they'd have a little easier time of it, but I did realize how tricky road games can be against a long-standing rival.

Temple 76 - LaSalle 70 = Such as these two rivals, and about what you'd expect.

Cincinnati 70 - U. Conn 67 = If there is a surprise for the evening, it's maybe this one, even if only for the fact that it was in Storrs. Yeah, the Bearcats have played well on occasion, and the Huskies have had some problems. Still, I'd not have bet on this one.

Nebraska 70 - Indiana 69 = Nor this one, to be frank. True, I thought the Hoosiers had just about shot their bolt for now. But again, I figured they could handle the Cornhuskers. Shows what I know.

UCF 68 - Memphis 67 = And this was, as I felt it would be, a war.

Wichita State 71 - Northern Iowa 68 = Here also.

Creighton 66 - Missouri State 65 = Also also.

Kansas State 84 - Texas 80 = To be frank, the Longhorns came closer to giving Martin that stroke than I thought. Rememeber, lest I am mistaken, this was in Manhattan and not Austin.

San Diego State 75 - New Mexico 70 = Here's about exactly what I figured on, with the Lobos giving the Aztecs more fits than they wanted.


Tonight's action includes a lot of "who cares?" games, plus these:


Charleston vs. Davidson = Two good teams who need to either win their conference or make a lot of noise elsewhere to earn a bid, so it's big for both.

Duke vs. Wake Forest = I have to go with a wake tonight in Durham, for the Deacons. If the Blue Devils don't slaughter them, Coach K should retire. :D

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama = These two have p!$$ed away a lot of the respect they had early in the year, yet neither one is totally dead yet . . . like maybe Pitt. ;) Should be fun.

Virginia vs. Georgia Tech = As with my prior comments saying schools such as Indiana and Michigan State had maybe shot their bolt already, the same may be true of the Cavaliers. If they lose to the Yellow Jackets it may be one further indication of that . . . and no, I don't care that it's in Hot'Lanta.

Boston College vs. N. C. State = And Jerry's 'Pack needs to jump on the Eagles here, if they want to stay at least mid-pack in the ACC.

Illinois vs. Penn State = I can't give the Nittany Lions much of a chance against the Illini, even in State College. However, you may remember that last year about this time PSU went on a bit of a run to win some they maybe shouldn't have. Hey, it's conference play, so who knows?

North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech = Speaking of who knows, who knows how the Heels will react in Blacksburg to that embarrassing performance (or lack of same, more accurately) against FSU. If Roy got their attention in practice this week, it could be bad news for the Hokies. If he didn't, and they put up another stinker, maybe he'll just throw in the towel for good. :r

UCLA vs. Oregon State = I've not mentioned the Bruins much of late, mainly due of course to their poor start. But if you haven't noticed, after losing 5 of their first 7 games, they've only lost twice since then, and that @ both Stanford and California, so they weren't the "bad" losses they posted earlier. Have they turned things around? Certainly, to some extent. This game won't tell us if this turn-around's for real or not, but maybe we should all start keeping an eye on Westwood once again. Oh, wait . . . we can't. They're not playing in Pauley this year, so even their home games are on the road. ;)


That's it for me for now. Thanks for all your cards and letters, and keep 'em coming boys. Until later, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Some really tough, close games last night. I thought Texas "might" come down with the win, but just couldn't. Also thought IU would come up with a win. I thought the Bearcats might pull that one off; I do not have any confidence in UConn, but I thought the same last year. Shows what I know.

Managed to get tickets for the rest of Murray's home games yesterday. The wife wants to hit the OVC tourney again this year; it's always a lot of fun, win or lose. She swears we are going to the Dance if Murray makes it this year. I had the opportunity to go the year MSU beat Valvano's team in round 1 and were narrowly beaten by Danny Manning's KU, but just could not afford it and eat too. Maybe this time...I still think we must win the OVC tourney to get in. One loss anywhere, in the OVC means no at-large, and they would likely drop out of the top 35 with a loss.

Dook is handling Wake pretty well, midway through H2. Vandy also handling Bama easily on the road.

Hey Poet, where did Mark Gottfried end up? I heard he is coaching again.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Unknowingly, you sorta answered your own question there brother. Gottfried is midway through his first year as head coach of Jerry's N.C. State Wolfpack, and is doing fairly well so far. He may do even better next year and thereafter, as he's supposedly landed one of the best recruiting classes in the nation for 2012-13.

Update shortly.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

And speaking of The Wolfpack:


N. C. State 76 - Boston College 62 = Though not surprising that they took the low-flying Eagles in Raleigh last night, it is a little that they are now 14-5 overall and 3-1 early in ACC play. Furthermore, aside from that horrible loss to Georgia Tech, all the other 4 Ls have been "good" ones, against Vandy, Indiana, Stanford, and Syracuse. So even though they don't have any really good wins so far to go along with that, they are certainly on track to earn an at-large bid at the least.

And speaking of Georgia Tech:

Virginia 70 - Georgia Tech 38 = Wow. Now maybe you understand why I called NCSU's loss to them a bad one. Not even 40 points, in Atlanta no less? Is that some freakin' joke? The Cavs have played well, but please.


Most other action last night was pretty much what you'd think, so I'll only note a few:


Penn State 54 - Illinois 52 = This may have shocked a few aside from Illini fans, but as I told you yesterday the Lions turned from Nuttin'y to Nittany ones for a bit this time last season also. I'm not saying they shall keep it up, but just like chili history does repeat at times.

North Carolina 82 - Virginia Tech 68 = And just like that Florida State game, the Heels were down by a couple of possessions at the half. However, unlike that stinky loss, they actually came out of the locker-room for the second stanza, much to the chagrin of the Hokie fans in attendance.

California 69 - Washington 66 = Not only was this a key game for the Pac-12 chase, it was one of the few times last night the Golden State boys struck color against the GNW. For instance . . .

Washington State 81 - Stanford 69 = Instead of winning a close one, the Trees fell hard.

Oregon State 87 - UCLA 84 = At least the Bruins made it respectable in Corvallis.

Oregon 65 - USC 62 = As did the Trojans in Eugene.

Gonzaga 74 - San Francisco 63 = Well, at least ONE Bay Area team managed a W, but it don'na be the Dons.


To be perfectly honest with you, I see absolutely NOTHING worth watching tonight, so go ahead and let your SO rent that chick flick from Blockbuster . . . if you can find one that's still open anyway. I'll likely be back later with some early Saturday games. Later then.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Alright, now this is more like it! If you're looking for some lunchtime action tomorrow, you have a regular smorgasbord available, including:


Maryland vs. Temple = This could be a key non-conference win in the eyes of the Selection Committee come March, so I'd expect a war in Philly here, since both may need all the help they can get.

Rutgers vs. Georgetown = And if the Scarlet Knights want to keep building on their unexpected success, they need to let their young team take advantage of the Hoya's young one. I don't know which way to go on this one, as I didn't think either one would be worth much, and am still not sure if either is for real or not.

Alabama vs. Kentucky = And it is even possible that the Tide can roll into Rupp and catch the young 'Cats napping. I wouldn't bet on it, however.

Wake Forest vs. Boston College = Just as every team wants to finish atop their league, no team wishes to end up on the bottom of the pile. Here's two in the ACC with that potential, so I'd look for a fight.

Villanova vs. St. John's = Different conference, same story.

South Carolina vs. Auburn = And here we go again. One may wonder why we'd bother, but sometimes mere survival is more intriguing than is thriving.

Purdue vs. Michigan State = The Boilermakers likely need this more, but I got the feeling that Izzo will once again have his Spartans wanting it more. It should be fun, regardless.

Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State = So could this one in Stillwater, no matter what the oddsmakers think. Yeah, the Manhattan 'Cats have been better than the Cowboys, but they've looked bad at times also. And even though Oak State's Big 12 records sucks on the road . . . Travis Ford is 5-22 for his career . . . he is 21-5 in league games at home. Keep your eye on this one.

SMU vs. Memphis = Had you asked me to pick this one in November, I'd have gone with the Tigers to pull down the Mustangs and have them for lunch. Now, I'm not so sure. Neither team has shown me much, and since 2 of their 6 losses have been in Memphis I'm not sure home-court means much either. Could be fun, though.


That's the early tip-offs for you, and if we don't get snowed out tomorrow I'll be back with later games. Until then then then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

We've already one final for today:


Temple 73 - Maryland 60 = Maybe not a great win for the Owls, but a decent one anyway, and another disappointing performance for the Terps.

Aside from that, only the Michigan State/Purdue game seems to be "over", with the Spartans holding a healthy lead. All the others are much too close to call, including Kentucky/Alabama in Lexington. I'll try to keep you advised.

Later action today is far too vast to cover properly, with many games looking to be good. I shall mention many, but not bore you with them all:


Michigan vs. Arkansas = Even if this wasn't in Fayetteville, I'd give the Hogs a shot. I have not been impressed with the Wolverines's scoring ability, though they could win a close one on the road. Should be interesting either way.

Missouri vs. Baylor = And this would have been more interesting had both still remained undefeated to this point. Still, with both at 17-1, you'd imagine this will be a war.

Georgia Tech vs. Clemson = So will this one, albeit for different reasons. The battle for the basement of the ACC has begun.

Belmont vs. South Carolina Upstate = I've been a bit disappointed so far with Belmont's play, as I expected them to continue to rule their roost. And the SCU Spartans should not provide a huge challenge, even in Spartenburg. But if the Bruins want to return to the NCAAs they need to get busy, soon.

Cincinnati vs. West Virginia = These two came into the season with differing expectations, with the Bearcats slipping somewhat and the Mountaineers climbing a lot. This conference game is huge for both.

Indiana State vs. Creighton = The Sycamores could maybe bring Bird back and have a good chance against the Bluejays, but without him I expect they'll just provide a comfortable nest for those indigo avians.

Florida State vs. Duke = The Seminoles finally had a great win last week . . . either that, or my Heels just sucked . . . but that was at home. A better indication as to whether or not they've turned things around to meet early predictions would be a win against the Blue Devils in Cameron today. I would not bet on it, but I wouldn't bet against it either. This will be interesting, one way or the other.

Kansas vs. Texas = So will this one, although the Jayhawks must be favored. The Longhorns do have 12 wins, but none of them can be called good ones. Perhaps their best performance was last week, in a "good loss" at K-State by 4 points. KU is the 'Horns 3rd ranked opponent in a row, and even a blind steer finds a haybale now and then. But I don't think that's gonna happen.

Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M = Remember when the Aggies were ranked? I do, even if they don't. These two meet today with identical 10-7 and 1-4 records, so you can expect both to be ready for a fight.

U Conn vs. Tennessee = The Huskies again risk leaving the Nutmeg State, and even though it's against the "meh" Volunteers they might regret that unfortunate decision to actually schedule a few road games. The Vols, despite their problems, are 7-3 in Knoxville, including a close loss to Memphis and a stunning win over the Gators. This one's worth keeping an eye on.

U Mass vs. Richmond = So is this one, as it pits two good mid-major programs against each other. Besides, I always keep an eye on Spiders.

Stanford vs. Washington = As happened last year, a logjam is forming atop the Pac-12. Cal holds an early 6-1 advantage, but these two here enter play with 5-2 & 4-2 resp't records. That alone tells you how important this game is, as is . . .

Arizona vs. Colorado = . . . because the Desert 'Cats and the Buffaloes have 4-2 league records themselves, and are part of that jam-up. So you know they both want this one.

Syracuse vs. Notre Dame = It's in South Bend, which gives the Irish that anyway. It may not be enough to squeeze the Orange, but you gotta know Boeheim's not gonna think that way. He knows he can't go without a loss all year, even if you don't. :r

LSU vs. Florida = On the one hand, I don't give the Tigers much of a chance here. On the other, the Gators have managed to stink up the joint at times. Me, I can't see a contest here, but what do I know?

Marshall vs. Southern Mississippi = It seems that teams like these two almost always give us a good show, maybe because they know they can't skate into the NCAAs with a handful of at-large bids allocated for their league.

Kent State vs. Akron = Same story here, and two teams that have done pretty well so far.

Colorado State vs. Wyoming = And here again also.

California vs. Washington State = The Cougars are not part of that Pac-12 pack mentioned above, but if the Bears want to stay on top of the pile they can't afford to stumble up in Pullman tonight. For that reason alone, it's big.

Marquette vs. Providence = On the surface, this does not look to be much of a match-up, even in Rhode Island. But remember that the Friars did manage to edge Louisville recently, by a slim 90-59 margin. Anything can happen.

Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt = The Commodores were, like those aforementioned Gators, subject to several early disappointing performances. However, they have won 8 in a row now, and maybe have finally found their game. And despite the Bulldogs higher ranking, they are 2-2 in the SEC, with Vandy 4-0. Besides, that funky floating court in Nashville is a baitch for many teams. This could be fun.

South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State = Yeah, nobody outside the Dakotas cares, one way or the other. But this one just hopped out at me. They are resp't. 15-5, 7-1 and 13-5, 6-2, so even though you don't give a damn you can bet your bottom dollar they do.

Ohio State vs. Nebraska = In Lincoln, as if that makes a difference. The only thing more shocking than a Buckeye loss today is the fact the Cornhuskers have actually won 2 Big Ten+ games already. Yeah, it could happen again . . . but not tonight.

ODU vs. VCU = So if you want to watch a close game in this timeslot, tune in this one instead.

Louisville vs. Pittsburgh = Or even this one, if those above are sucky by halftime. The Cardinals have had a crazy season, and the Panthers have been even nuttier. Hell, I never thought they'd come into this holding 2-4 and 0-6 Big East records, did you? But this does mean that neither can stand many more Ls, so figure both Pitino and Dixon will have their boys primed.

Murray State vs. SIU Edwardsville = And if Joe's Racers don't absolutely romp over the 5-11, 3-4 Cougars, even if it's on the road, then they should add a dishonorary loss onto their unblemished record just on general principles. ;)

Air Force vs. San Diego State = Quietly, or at least more quietly than last year, the Aztecs are building another great season. The Falcons could spoil that late tonight, as they can hoop and swoop a little, but I would not count on it. Still, it ought to be fun.

New Mexico vs. UNLV = So should this one, and even in Sin City I give the Lobos a decent chance at pulling down the Runnin' Rebels, or at the least nipping at their heels all night.

St. Mary's vs. Santa Clara = For no particular reasons I can name, I have grown to like both these teams over the years. Maybe it's because they play well, play clean, play tough opponents, and pretty much keep their yaps shut. The Gaels have the much-superior squad this year, but I don't expect the Broncos to simply roll over on their own court. They won't win, barring strange circumstances, but they will do their best to compete.


While typing all that garbage above, a few more finals came in:


Georgetown 52 - Rutgers 50 = The Hoyas avoid what might have been an embarrassing loss on their court, even if just barely. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights can't be too disappointed with another good showing, despite the loss.

Wake Forest 71 - Boston College 56 = Wow. Though I'm not surprised the Deacs won, seeing as how they've played better at times than was expected, such a spanking was unexpected. Hey, this was in Chestnut Hill, not Winston-Salem or Greensboro!

Michigan State 83 - Purdue 58 = Another somewhat surprising spanking, for much the same reason. True, it was in East Lansing, and the Spartans have been better than the Boilermakers. Still, a 25-point margin between these two is unusual.

Kentucky 77 - Alabama 71 = And there is nothing at all surprising about this one, at least to me. The Wildcats win at home, and the Tide gave them much more of a fight than they wanted. It's somewhat lucky for Calipari that his young team seems to have learned how to win the tight ones as opposed to lose them. I guess I could give the credit to Cal's coaching, but as I don't think he actually DOES any, I cannot bring myself to do so. :r


Lunchtime, brothers. I'll try to get back later with some more early finals, and a look at Sunday games. Bye for now.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

A few more early finals for you now:


Dayton 87 - Xavier 72 = After winning 4 in a row, and giving some indication that they'd finally gotten back on track, the X-Men drop their 6th loss since the Bearcat Brawl to the Flyers.

Villanova 79 - St. John's 76 (OT) = Big East wins will be few and far between for both teams, so it's no wonder they fought so hard for this one. A good road victory for the Philly 'Cats, considering.

Memphis 63 - SMU 45 = Not a great showing by the Tigers, but an even worse one by the Schmoo.


In rather limited Sunday action, we will have:


N.C. State vs. Miami = I don't know how good Jerry's 'Pack is, but I do think they are better than these 'Canes. But can they travel, that's the question.

Penn State vs. Indiana = The Hoosiers have started to come back down to earth, yet are still gonna be tough in Bloomington. So, do I think that PSU can follow up their upset of the Illini with another one? No.

Wisconsin vs. Illinois = Speaking of the Illini, they will have a tough time trying to rebound from that loss in State College against the Badgers. True, the boys from Madison have not been all they were thought, but they are still a tough out. This might be the best game of the day. Speaking of Wisconsin . . .

Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Cleveland State = This one may be just as good, or even a little better.

South Florida vs. DePaul = Or maybe this one will be, since both teams are equally capable . . . or at times, incapable.

Virginia Tech vs. Virginia = Or maybe this one will be, if the Hokies can recover from that slapping around my Heels gave them in the second half the other evening. But as it is in Charlottesville, and as the Cavs have remained the surprise of the ACC so far (or at least the pleasant one :D ), I'll go with them, by 4 possessions at least.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota = The Smarty 'Cats don't travel well. Yet prior to the 20-point whippin' they just took from those Badgers above, they did beat Michigan State, and lost to Michigan by only a deuce. As for the Gophers, they lost their first 4 conference games before winning the last two over Indiana and Penn State, so both teams enter this 2-4 in league play. Look for a good one here.

Drake vs. Northern Iowa = And this one's just another of those that jumped off the page and smacked me in the schnozz. Of course, considering its size, how could it miss? :r


That's it from me for now. Until later then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Wow! FSU on an ACC romp! Sweet buzzer shot sinks dook at home, breaking their home court streak. Yeah, I'm cheering! :r

UK juuust got by 'Bama, and I'm loving Davis more every game, and feeling cold over Jones more every game. Can't tell if the hand is still bothering him, or he's in a mood swing again.
Watching 'Cuse right now, and ND has pretty much had their way with them, at the half. I understand 'Cuse is without a couple of players this game.
Bearcats go down in a tough, last second loss.
Uconn has lost, what..3 or 4 out of the last 6?? UT showed up today.
Speaking of SEC, Michigan gets beat by Arkansas.
Pretty good game with KU vs Texas also.
Baylor loses again.

UL vs Pitt??? I'm going with Pitt on this one, the way the Cards have acted lately.

Go Racers!!!!!!!!

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, there was a lot of good action over the weekend, though many of the "upsets" were no huge surprise to me. Take for instance:


Notre Dame 67 - Syracuse 58 = I told you and I told you and I told you that once the Orange got out of the Dome and started playing teams who knew their zone they would lose. The margin may be a bit more than I'd have expected, but the result was inevitable. And don't think the Irish are exactly new at this sort of thing. Though it hasn't happened since 1987, this marks the 8th time they have knocked off the #1 team in the nation, moving them into a tie for 4th in that accomplishment. (P.S., FYI, North Carolina leads that group with 12 such wins. One might argue which mark is more impressive. On the one hand, though the Irish have a long and successful basketball history, they cannot be put into the same league as the top dozen or so traditional powers. This makes their #1 upsets remarkable in that way. However, while it is admittedly difficult to beat the top team in the country under such circumstances, it is absolutely impossible to beat the top team when you ARE the top team. As the Heels have found themselves in that position often, they've had that limitation to overcome. :r )

Tennessee 60 - U Conn 57 = And if you think I'm shocked by this one, then you just haven't been paying any attention. True, the Vols have been pretty crappy. But I told you from Day One that the Huskies were OK at best, and much too highly regarded. Like Syracuse, their early success was largely based upon their dependence upon home court advantage, and their weaknesses would show up more readily on the road.

Florida State 76 - Duke 73 = And the only thing that might surprise me some here is that it was in Cameron, where Dook is hard to beat. Otherwise, I also said from Day One they would likely compete at a slightly lower level this season, and that FSU could challenge in the ACC with them and UNC.

Arkansas 66 - Michigan 64 = Here there's no surprise at all. What is the now, the 10th time the Logans have failed to break the 65-point ceiling? This ain't baseball here, so pitching can't keep you in it . . . you have to score the ball.

Missouri 89 - Baylor 88 = And though I'm no huge believer in the Tigers, I believed even less in the Bears. The only surprise here is that they lost by a single stinkin' point.

West Virginia 77 - Cincinnati 74 (OT) = And perhaps the surprise here is that the Bearcats managed to take it into extra innings.

Kansas 69 - Texas 66 = While here the surprise is that the 'Horns actually had a shot at this upset in Austin . . . which would actually have BEEN an upset, unlike those others.

Texas A&M 81 - Oklahoma 75 (OT) = I'm not sure there's anything of note here at all, but it was a fun game.

Washington State 77 - California 75 = OK, you want an upset? Well, here it is. Again, as last year, the jam for the Pac-12 has gotten jammier, as there are now 4 teams atop with 2 losses each.

Mississippi State 78 - Vanderbilt 77 (OT) = The Comms take a step backwards, and earned it. Hey, if you can't defend your home court, even when given a second chance in OT, you don't deserve the W.

Louisville 73 - Pittsburgh 62 = If you're looking for a surprise here, then it's in the continued collapse of the Panthers. Nobody, and I do mean NOBODY, thought they'd be 11-9, and 0-7 in Big East play. Pitt fails in the spring, not in the fall and winter.

Murray State 82 - SIU Edwardsville 65 = No surpirse at all to be found here, either in the result or in the fact that the cheese stands alone now. Joe's Racers remain as the only undefeated team left in Division 1 hoops, and I feel confident I told you somewhere up above they were the most likely candidate for that distinction. I do believe that, barring more injuries or something, they have a decent shot of going unbeated . . . until March, when somebody will hand them their lunch and point them towards the door. :D

South Dakota State 91 - North Dakota State 88 (OT) = I threw this in because I still don't know why it jumped out at me on Saturday as looking to be a good one. Hell, like a broken clock, I'm right twice a day.


Sunday's games:


N. C. State 78 - Miami 73 = Joe's old boy Gottfried continues to take Jerry's 'Pack back towards the promised land. OK, a win over the 'Canes means little in itself, but take note that NCSU is presently tied atop the ACC with Dook and FSU at 4-1, and are a half-game ahead of my 3-1 Heels. That will likely chance come Thursday, when they visit Chapel Hill, but I reckon it's pretty sweet at the moment.

Indiana 73 - Penn State 54 = Though some may think the passing of JoePa was a negative factor here, a distraction for the Lions they could not overcome, I myself feel the Hoosiers would have taken this one in Bloomington regardless of the circumstances.

Wisconsin 67 - Illinois 63 = The Badgers hand the Illini another loss, and get a win they needed badly.

Virginia Tech 47 - Virginia 45 = This one is a tiny surprise for me, as I felt the Cavs would be able to win this in-state rivalry at home. But judging by the score, it was as much a case of the Cavs losing as the Hokies winning, so there's my out.


Tonight has only a few games of note:


Syracuse vs. Cincinnati = It is entirely possible that the 'Cuse will get their second loss tonight . . . but only if the Bearcats show up. As it is on their court, they have little excuse not to, but they seem to show up only about a third of the time, so who knows? I think it might be tight, but the Orange rebounds . . . for now, anyway. Still, keep an eye on it.

Belmont vs. East Tennessee State = The Belmont Bruins were supposed to walk away with the Atlantic Sun this year, as usual. But they've yet to gel, despite returning veterans, and as in the Pac-12 there's a mob at the top, with 5 teams at either 6-2 or 5-3 in league play. These are two of them, so this is big for both.

Texas A&M vs. Kansas = In Lawrence, so I wouldn't think the Jayhawks would have the problems with the Aggies they just had with the Longhorns in Austin. But now that I think about it more, the x-factor may be that those Aggies need to know that if they are going to make a move, they have to start now. But now that I think about it more more, it's as hard to beat KU in Allen Fieldhouse as it is to beat Dook in Cameron Indoor Sty-dium. But now that I think about it more more more, the Semiholes just did just that. Ahh, fug it all. Kansas by a dozen.


Later then. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Well, the Bearcats were playing 'Cuse pretty good, but now are down 6 with less than 1 minute.

The Cards surprised me; I really figured Pitt to try to make a turn there. Flat out stink this season.

Aggies against the Jayhawks up on the WWL next; hope the Aggies turn it on.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Syracuse 60 - Cincinnati 53 = Yeah, I thought it had a chance to be pretty close, though I also felt the Bearcats have been too inconsistent to actually get the W. The Orange bounce back from their first L, but it wasn't much of a statement for them.

Kansas 64 - Texas A&M 54 = And this wasn't all that big a statement for the Jayhawks either. I did not see the game, so have no idea if the Aggies turned it on or not, yet when you consider the problems they've had, it's not too terrible a loss in Lawrence.

And yes, Pitt has been the pits. :confused: :sh


In limited action, here's the other few scores I note:


Belmont 82 - East Tennessee State 70 = A good win for the Bruins against a conference contender. The odd thing about this one is that it was a tale of two halves, for both squads. The score was 27-12 at the break, so 75% of the scoring was done in the second stanza . . . by both damn teams, not just collectively. What, did somebody take the lids off the buckets during while they were in the lockerrooms?

Siena 65 - Iona 62 = And this is notable to me because the experts told us before the season started that the Gaels would be the Butler this year, the mid-major who could kill the giants. OK, I guess it could happen, as they haven't stunk up the joint like, say, Pitt has done. But with this loss to the 9-10 and 4-5 Jaspers, they fall to 15-5 and 7-2 in the MAAC, which means they can't even dominate in their own league. As for me, I can easily see the Gaels going deep into the NCAA tournament. Yet those Gaels will be from St. Mary's, a continent away from Iona. :r


There are a few games of interest tonight:


Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt = While the Commodores have been disappointing expectations, the Volunteers have at least managed to give their fans a pair of stunning "upsets" over highly-ranked teams. But those have been in Knoxville, while this one's down Mighty I-40 from Malfunction Junction into the Music City. Yeah, Vandy's been unable to defend home court. However, the Vols stink on the road. If the Comms don't win this one, they should just quit athletics and go back to class.

Michigan vs. Purdue = This could be a pretty close one. True, the Wolverines have gotten more attention and respect, and the Boilermakers are not as good as they've been recently. Yet I still don't like how the Logans score . . . or, more accurately, do NOT score. That alone could keep this tight.

Akron vs. Ball State = And this fight between the Zips and the Lettermens could be a good one too. They are fairly well matched, though Akron gets more press. As they also have a more-experienced program that's been there before, I'll give them a slim edge.

Baylor vs. Oklahoma = The Bears have now lost two games, both on the road and at home also. This one in Norman might be their third, if their confidence has been destroyed by these losses . . . which is entirely possible, especially in a program that's not really been there before. However, the Sooners are not exactly the best competition in the Big . . . uh, how many teams have stuck around out there? So though a Bear loss would not shock me, I would not bet on it.

South Florida vs. Marquette = So if you're looking for an upset, look at this. The Bulls have had a habit of knocking off teams, sneaking up on those who overlook them,and the Golden Eagles are primed for such an error. Marquette's always had a 'tude about them, going back at least to Al McGuire's time, and thus can be subject to hubris.

San Diego State vs. Wyoming = And to be honest, with all due respect for the Aztecs, they have begun to show some early signs of this disease themselves. Perhaps a little "come to Jesus" out in Laramie can cure them, or at least arrest the spread of the infection. ;)

Kentucky vs. Georgia = This game is in Athens, yet it takes no Delphic Oracle to predict the likely outcome. Yeah, true, the young 'Cats could always beat themselves on any given night, but the Bulldogs couldn't beat them to the concession stand, even on their home court.

Miami vs. Georgia Tech = Here's an early key game to decide the ACC race . . . for the cellar. There are presently 3 teams with only 1 conference win so far, and this is two of them. So, why bother? Well, it just my be a full-out war, for that reason alone.


That's what I got for you today. So until tomorrow then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I can't really say any scores from last night were a surprise at all, and most were uninteresting blowouts, so I'll just note one of them:


Michigan 66 - Purdue 64 = Well, what do you know? The Wolverines not only win, but actually manage to break the 65-point barrier! Hey, they even could have won had they failed at that. :r


There are a lot of good matchups this evening, but as many of them involve teams who are not likely to go far I'll limit myself to the potentially more significant ones:


Penn State vs. Ohio State = No offense intended, but the Nittany Lions will mourn another funeral, with this one in Columbus being much less sad, albeit no less expected, than the one in State College.

Villanova vs. Louisville = The young Philly 'Cats have struggled mightily to find themselves, and the Cardinals have had their problems at times also. Even if this wasn't in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket, you'd have to favor L'ville here. But as their fans know too well, anything can happen with this team.

BYU vs. Virginia Tech = The Hokies scored a big win on the road against UVA, and could make a huge step towards turning around their season with a home victory over the Cougars. I give them a decent shot at it. Yet I'd put no money on it however.

Dayton vs. St. Joseph's = Who will take wing tonight, the Flyers or the Hawks? They both have pretty good teams, and this should be a fun one.

Providence vs. Pittsburgh = OK, I know I began by dismissing games involving teams going nowhere fast, but as these two are "prominent" programs fighting to stay out of the Big East basement (1-6 and 0-7 resp't.), I feel it is worth noting.

Saint Louis vs. Xavier = Much like that mid-major one above, here's two schools capable of winning a game, or maybe even two, in March. But they have to get there first, so this one's big.

Florida State vs. Wake Forest = The Semiholes are on a roll, and are likely to continue in Winston-Salem tonight. Although the Deacs have played better than they did last year, and even better than was expected of them, their chances are pretty slim. But anything can happen in conference play, as the Hokies showed the Cavs last week. Pencil in FSU, yet don't ink it yet.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma State = And here's another team that ought to romp on the road. I do not believe for a second that the Tigers are the 2nd best team in the country, but they are better than the Cowboys, in Stillwater or not.

UCF vs. Tulsa = And these two are going to fight tooth-and-nail for a win here. The Knights lead the CUSA by a half-game at 5-1, but the Golden Hurricane are at 4-2, and need this to stay in the hunt (along with Southern Miss, Memphis, and Marshall, all at 4-1). Yeah, it's still early, but you can't make up losses. It's in Tulsa, which might make this closer than UCF would wish.

LSU vs. Mississippi State = Though I'm not a big believer in the Bulldogs, I'm less of one in the Tigers. If you wanna keep half-an-eye on it for a while, go ahead, but don't look for it to be a contest in the last 10 minutes.

Minnesota vs. Michigan State = You might have a better shot here, though again I feel the Spartans will prevail over the Golden Gophers. It might be only by 2 or 3 possessions, however.

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech = And the Prairie 'Cats should be able to take the Red Raiders to the woodshed, even if they don't know where one is in Lubbock.

Duke vs. Maryland = As should the Blue Devils, who should make soup of the Terps in College Park. Yeah, I know Dook has weaknesses, but UM seems to have next to nothing.

UNLV vs. Boise State = Is the court in Boise gawd-awful blue too? Even if it isn't, it will be for the Runnin' Rebels if the Broncos can corral them. As they've lost 7 of their last 9, I can't see that happening, so figure UNLV paints Boise red.

Colorado State vs. New Mexico = The Lobos won 13 in a row, and figured to be a factor in the Mountain West. But as 2 of their first 3 conference games were against SDSU and UNLV, and as both were Ls, they presently find themselves mid-pack. Nor do the Rams look to be pushovers either. Still, I feel NM can get back on the winning track tonight in Albuquerque . . . if they don't make that famous wrong turn. :D


That's my nonsense for today. Back later, brothers. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I'm tired and worn out today, and my mind's all fuzzy. Despite some interesting results last night, and a few good one this evening, I guess I'd best wait until tomorrow to catch up on things.


;s


But hell, nobody's stopping YOU from putting YOUR :2 in! :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

My :2:

NC State better have something better in the bag than that last-second 80-footer, or the drive home will be tough.

I know it's on the road, but the Gators act like they've been hit by a Mack truck. Not too good.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

As for Jerry's Wolfpack, that 80-footer was the only thing they had to cheer about last night. And the drive back to Raleigh may have been tough, but it's at least short.

As for the Gators, they did manage to survive down in Oxford, even if they nearly got Faulknered. I'm not sure what that means, but it sounds cool anyway.

But before I get to last night's action any deeper, lemme tell you a few Wednesday scores of note:


Oklahoma State 79 - Missouri 72 = The biggest surprise of the night, for even though I felt the Tigers are not as good as the "experts" believe, I still felt they'd handle Oak State. Shows what I know too. :r

Pittsburgh 86 - Providence 74 = Not a shock at all, as both teams have stunk, and somebody had to win. Yet it is notable for being Pitt's first conference win.

St. John's 78 - West Virginia 62 = So if you're looking for a shocker in the Big East, here it is. Yeah, the Red Storm has played pretty well from time to time, though not much recently. And the Mountaineers have over-achieved from expectations, so a loss is no huge stunner. Yet that margin, even in MSG, is fairly substancial.

Saint Louis 73 - Xavier 68 = The demise of the X-Men continues. They lose on their own court, still reaping the bad karma from that brawl with Cincy.

BYU 70 - Virginia Tech 68 = Though the Hokies cannot build upon their upset of UVA, they do give the Cougars one damn good fight. Considering, this may be a better loss for them than it is a win for BYU.

Duke 74 - Maryland 61 = I guess this is about what one would expect . . . a double-digit win over the Terps in College Park, being neither a stomping nor a nail-biter.

UNLV 77 - Boise State 72 (OT) = If the home team had managed to show up for that extra 5 minutes, the Broncos would have had a signature win. Still, a damn good game.


And last night, beginning with those already referenced by Joe and me:


North Carolina 74 - N. C. State 55 = The 'Pack came into Chapel Hill with a piece of the ACC lead, and left with their tails shaved. The win may not mean the Heels are now focused for the rest of the season, but perhaps the loss will help Gottfried get HIS boys focused on what they need to do . . . if it does not completely smash their confidence. But what should they have expected? They haven't won in the Smith Center in nearly a decade.

Florida 64 - Mississippi 60 = The Gators played their half-dozenth bad game of the year (at least), but did escape with a W. Tell me, does Billy Donovan have any hair left?

Nebraska 79 - Iowa 73 = Wow. The Cornhuskers not only win their 3rd Big Ten+ game, they actually do so on the road! Will wonders never cease?

Wisconsin-Milwaukee 53 - Butler 42 = If the score is any judge, this was a sloppy contest. But notable is the fact that the Bulldogs, national runner-up the past two years, fall to 12-10 . . . though at 6-4 can still be a factor in the Horizon race, IF they can win some games that is.

Wisconsin 57 - Indiana 50 = And the bloom is off in Bloomington, as the surprising Hoosiers have started to play down to their potential. Well, they've probably already had a better year than they expected to, and it's never too late to make adjustments. Meanwhile, the Badgers needed a "quality" win to bolster their sagging reps.

Virginia 66 - Boston College 49 = Plus, the Cavs needed one to rebound from that shocker against the Hokies. This one over the Eagles ain't it however, though it is better than another loss.


There's very few games this evening, and only two hold any interest to me at all:


Iona vs. Fairfield = For those not in the know, this match-up is usually a war. And even though the Gaels were supposed to dominate this year, they have not shown many signs of it. This alone makes it potential fun.

Harvard vs. Yale = Yeah, it's the Ivy, but one of the teams in the league will dance come March, and this game may be key. The Crimson was projected to win the conference, but they and the Eli are 2-0 early. And remember last year, when Harvard lost that one-game tie-breaking playoff to miss the NCAAs for the umpteenth-squared time. Every win and every loss, in a league with only one bid and no conference tournament, is huge.


If I get a chance, I'll look at the early Saturday games and get back to you. If not, I'll see you tomorrow. Whichever, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Those two games last night were pretty good, and horrible:


Iona 71 - Fairfield 62 = Not a total fight, but decent enough.


Harvard 65 - Yale 35 = And in New Haven, no less. The Eli had a lousy 1st half, scoring only 19, then followed with a worse 2nd with just 16 points. Sheesh.


Some early games today are already in progress:


Marquette vs. Villanova = The last time I looked, 'Nova was doubling-up on the Golden e
Eagles. If they can pull this off, it would be one of their best wins all year.

St. John's vs. Duke = And though it's in Cameron, the Johnnies hung tough . . . for a while. Now the Blue Devils are up by 11 or so, late in the 1st.

Wake Forest vs. Clemson = A tight battle so far, as they fight to stay away from the ACC cellar.


Other key early games:


Texas vs. Baylor = As it's in Waco, and as the 'Horns have been "meh" at best, you'd have to favor the Bears here. Still, I'd give UT a shot, if they had a better coach than Barnes. :r

West Virginia vs Syracuse = This could be interesting. The Mountaineers have done much better than was expected, but were knocked off by St. John's in MSG earlier this week. That may have ticked them off. So even in the Dome you'd give them a chance. I'm far from sure they can do it, yet as I'm far from sure the Orange can handle adversity you should keep an eye on this one.

Mississippi State vs. Florida = If anybody's gonna challenge Kentucky in the SEC, it seems these are the most likely candidates. As both teams have been schizo, I'd toss a coin.

Arkansas vs. Alabama = The 'Hogs are better, but the Tide need any signature wins they can accumulate to keep alive their hopes for an at-large. Could be fun here.

Texas Tech vs. Missouri = And should be over by the half. Though I've little faith in the national ambitions of the Tigers, they are by far the better team here. Plus, you'd think they'd be ready for this one, after that upset at Oak State's hands.


I'll come back later with more games, plus some early finals. Bye for now.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Still no big finals to announce, so lemme give some more Saturday games. I can't possibly name all the important ones, but here's my picks:


Valparaiso vs. Wisc. Milwaukee - Tied for 2nd in the Horizon, and only a 1/2-game back, this is huge for both teams.

Kansas vs. Iowa State = Yeah, it's in Ames, but the Cyclones have little chance against the Jayhawks, despite the fact they lost in Lawrence by a respectable 9-point margin. But KU has some weaknessess, so it's worth keeping track of for a while, just to see.

Saint Louis vs. U Mass = With 4-2 records they are in a 5-way tie atop the A-10, with Temple at 3-2 plus 5 others with only 3 losses each. If your math is poor, that's makes 11 teams vying for 1st place at the moment. Games don't get much bigger than this.

Virginia Tech vs. Maryland = And this is big only in that neither wants to end up in the basement of the ACC.

Wofford vs. Charleston = As Davidson seems to have total control for the southern division of the Southern Conference, one may wonder why I've selected these 2 wanna-bes. Well, Charlesto will be playing without famed head coach Bobby Cremins, who's announced he's leaving for the rest of the season (at least) due to health problems. That alone makes it notable.

Georgetown vs. Pittsburgh = For some odd reason I still keep expecting the Panthers to pull their heads out of their butts and play a good game against a quality opponent. They finally got off the snide and scored their first Big East win, and could at least regain a little dignity if they can take the young Hoyas. This could get interesting.

Colorado vs. UCLA = And I'm interested in this one because the Bruins, foreseen to be a power once again, are presently struggling to stay above .500. At 11-9 now, they need this one in LA, although not in Pauley (closed for renovations, in case you forgot).

Kentucky vs. LSU = As with KU above, there's no doubt UK's the better team. As stated about them before, the young Wildcats may beat themselves, but the Tigers aren't likely to beat them without such help.

St. Joseph's vs. Temple = Here's some more of that A-10 jam-up noted above, so it's just as big.

San Diego State vs. Colorado State = Again, I'll admit the Aztecs have the better team. But this is in Fort Collins, so they'd best have the oxygen ready, and be ready to play, or their flight back home will be awful quiet . . . except maybe for Steve Fisher. :r

Oklahoma vs. Kansas State = In Manhattan, so you'd figure the 'Cats would have the advantage. I do too, but I do think the Sooners can give them some anxious moments before it's done.

Washington vs. Arizona = Much like the A-10, there are presently 1/2 the teams in the Pac-12 in the hunt for 1st place. Here's two of them, and both will fight tooth and nail for a win. Seeing as how both Huskies and Wildcats have teeth and nails, this should be tons of fun.

Virginia vs. N. C. State = Just as the Wolfpack started to gain some attention and confidence, they got spanked by my Heels. And just as the Cavaliers started to show they may actually be for real, they dropped one at home to putrid Va. Tech. My heart will go with the 'Pack in Raleigh, but my head leans slightly towards UVA. I think it will be close, regardless.

Louisville vs. Seton Hall = Depending upon which Cardinal team makes it to Newark today, this will either be a blowout or another shocking Pirates win. I've heard that The Rock is a terrible place for basketball, with sightlines that throw the shooters off. This could give the Hall a slight advantage, but will it be enough to offset the better talent on Pitino's bench? I'd vote nay, but what do I know?

Eastern Illinois vs. Murray State = Joe's Racers defend homecourt and remain undefeated. Take it to the bank.

Illinois vs. Minnesota = Even as mid-pack Big Ten+ teams, they have ability and experience, on the court and on the sidelines. This ought to be a blast.

St. Mary's vs. BYU = And this one in Provo ought to be so also. Me, I like the Gaels, yet I know the Cougars can hoop enough to give them game. Whoever wins will earn it, and I expect the margin to be slim.


We got a few finals while I was typing all that:


Duke 83 - St. John's 76 = The Red Storm stormed back to make a game out of it, but had dug themselves too far into a hole to steal this one in Durham. Really, it's about as much of a good loss for them as a bad win for the Blue Devils.

Clemson 71 - Wake Forest 60 = The Tigers don't exactly maul the Deacons, but they did give them a little come to Jesus.



Marquette has made a huge 2nd-half run to grab a tiny late lead over 'Nova, but there's a little time left. Meanwhile, both Texas and West Virginia are giving Kansas and Syracuse all they want, and then some.


Back after lunch for updates and Sunday games.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Here's a feew more finals for you:


Syracuse 63 - West Virginia 61 = The Orange dodge a bullet in the Dome, and the Mountaineers either once again showed how they were underestimated, or how the 'Cuse is over-estimated.

Baylor 76 - Texas 71 = Another near-upset on a home-court, and again either a sign that the 'Horns are finding their game or that the Bears are not for real. Me, I'm going with the latter.

Florida 69 - Mississippi State 57 = The Gators did what they needed to do. They now have South Carolina and Vandy remaining as tune-ups before they travel to Lexington to face the Wildcats, hoping to do better against THIS top team than they've done previously.

Missouri 63 - Texas Tech 50 = No surprise here. Yeah, I may not be a big believer in Missou, but I don't believe in the Red Raiders at all.


Sunday games include:


Notre Dame vs. U. Conn = Hey, if WVU can give Syracuse fits in the Dome, the Irish can give the Huskies problems in Hartford. They have had better teams in the past, but this one did win at Louisville, then beat the Orange also.

Michigan vs. Ohio State = The only chance the Wolverines have to win in Columbus is if their defense can shut down the Buckeyes, because they can't outscore them. This one could get ugly, fast.

Providence vs. South Florida = It may be a pretty meaningless game in itself, but the teams are fairly close in ability, which may make it tight. Me, I think the Bulls can handle the Friars.

Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina = And I think the Tar Heels can handle the Yellow Jackets in Chapel Hill. Hell, I think the Heels can handle the Wreck in Atlanta, in Poland, on Mars. Stranger things have happened, but this should be a laffer.

Iowa vs. Indiana = The Hoosiers need to turn things back around, and this is a good chance for them in Bloomington. True, the Hawkeyes won't be a walk-over, and maybe Indiana has lost its mojo for good, but I see a home win by a few possessions here.

Stanford vs. Califorina = This Battle By The Bay is huge in the Pac-12 race. The Golden Bears are one of 4 teams on top at 6-2, and the Tree is tied with 'Zona just below at 5-3 in conference play. With some so-called experts already calling for the new-and-unimproved Pac-12 to get only ONE NCAA bid this year (?????WTF????), a win or a loss here or there becomes life-and-death.


That may be all for me until Monday, so I hope you have a good weekend, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

OK, this one just could not wait:


Iowa State 72 - Kansas 64 = A huge upset in Ames, and the best win the Cyclones have had in a looooong time. Yeah, I know I said the Jayhawks had weaknessess, but who'd a thunk Iowa State could take advantage of them? Not only will this knock KU down a notch nationally, it puts the entire Big 12 Minus 2 conference race in flux. Well, not the ENTIRE league, to be honest, as no team aside from Baylor in the states of Texas or Oklahoma have a snowball's chance, but still.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I was shocked over the KU loss, as well. Did not look for that kind of an upset.

We were on the road, and I've yet to see a replay; was WV robbed by the refs??? Coach Huggins says that last block was goal tending.

Racers win!!! Very fun to see the big crowds. We'll have a good game against SEMO Thursday.

VERY shocked by the Hoyas loss! Who knew?!?!?!?!?

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Another wild weekend. The Hoyas have looked quite shaky of late. Not shooting well at all. Hope they turn it around.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, I did not see that Jayhawks loss coming, but this was nearly one of those weekends all the way 'round.

As for 'Cuse/WVA, I did not see it either, but according to most reports it was a goaltend. Hey, $#!+ happens, and besides that the Mountaineers have nobody to blame but themselves. After the Orange took the lead, WVA had 4 shots in the last 88 seconds to tie or win, including the last one after SU turned the ball over with 6 seconds left. You may not be happy with the ref, but you can't put the fault on him when your own players fail to respond.

Racers? Who dey? :D

As for Georgetown . . .

Like he said. Besides . . .


Pittsburgh 72 - Georgetown 60 = I believe I said something about the Panthers not being nearly as bad as their record, and that they HAD to eventually play a good game or three somewhere along the line. Told ya so. That's why I'm not all that surprised. So look elsewhere for your shocks, like maybe . . .

Colorado State 77 - San Diego State 60 = Or maybe not. I foresaw the Aztecs maybe having problems here, though I admit I did not expect such a relative blow-out.

Samford 77 - Davidson 74 = Yeah, nobody cares much about the Southern Conference, but this one's a real stunner. While the Wildcats were rolling through the southern division, Samford now "improves" to 7-13 and 4-5 in the putrid northern division, which is led at 6-4 by perennial basketball powerhouse UNC . . . Greensboro. Hey, isn't that a girl's school? :r

Rutgers 61 - Cincinnati 54 = To be honest, I can't figure either of these two out. The Scarlet Knights beat people they're supposed to lose to, then lose to ones they ought to beat. Meanwhile, the Bearcats pulled themselves off the mats after getting beaten (in more ways than one) at that brawl with Xavier, and proceeded to win 7 in a row. Since that run, however, they've lost 4 of 7, but 2 of those wins were AT Goorgetown and AT U. Conn. If you know what's going on, please tell me.

Oklahoma 63 - Kansas State 60 = Considering this was in Manhattan, it is surely as big an upset as that KU loss, and adds up to a lost weekend for the state of Kansas. As a further example . . .

Drake 93 - Wichita State 86 (3OT) = Not merely an upset, but a heartbreaker to boot.

Virginia 61 - N. C. State 60 = A good, if low-scoring, contest by two ACC teams fighting to remain in contention . . . for 4th place in the league, at least, and for an at-large. I'm not sure how good a win it is, but it is definitely a loss that stings for Jerry's 'Pack.

Minnesota 77 - Illinois 72 (OT) = Much like the one above, a key conference win for the Gophers, and a painful loss for the Illini.

Murray State 73 - Bradley 59 = No shock here, and only mentioned to keep Joe happy. ;)

UNLV 65 - Air Force 63 (OT) = Another of those almost-stunners we had this weekend. Yeah, the Falcons aren't total crap, and they were at home, but still.


On Sunday we saw:


Notre Dame 50 - U. Conn 48 = If you want to be shocked that the Irish beat the Huskies in Hartford, OK. If you want to be shocked that the Huskies did not break 50 points, OK too. But if you're shocked they lost, I urge you to go back to Page 1, Post 1 of this thread, where I flat-out told you not to expect much from the defending national champions this year.

Ohio State 64 - Michigan 49 = Like the Wolverines so far this year, the Buckeyes were unable to score more than 65 points in this contest. And like those Huskies above, the Logans could not manage to break 50. I guess it's a good win for OSU, but even for a Big Ten+ game it was pretty ugly.

South Florida 81 - Providence 78 = This game meant much less than the ones above, but not only was it better played, it was also about what I predicted. Send your checks to my snaily. :banger

North Carolina 93 - Georgia Tech 81 = Did I not know that this game was not NEARLY as close as the final score, and that Roy took the foot off the pedal and played everybody but the mascot before it was done, I'd be a bit disappointed by the relatively narrow margin of victory. Fact is, the Jackets were done before they got their jackets off, and the Heels were hitting threes like it was practice.

Indiana 103 - Iowa 89 = A badly-needed win for the stumbling Hoosiers, but one thing bothers me. Yeah, I don't much like those 50-48 finals, yet I can remember when they actually played some defense in Bloomington. NBA-type scores in a Big Ten game is odd.


There are only a few games tonight, but some have significance:


Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia = The Panthers are coming off a rare conference win, and hope they are finally finding themselves. The Mountaineers are coming off a heartbreaking loss, where they feel they were robbed. This one ought to be a blast.

Princeton vs. Penn = If the Tigers want to get to the NCAAs, they need to keep pace with Harvard, Penn, Yale, and Cornell. Also, every team in the Ivy has played 4 league games already save these two, who've only had a pair apiece. The Quakers are 2-0, and Princeton 1-1. Remember, whoever wins the Ivy regular season dances, and everybody else preps for finals.

Mercer vs. Florida Gulf Coast = WTF? Why would I mention this one? Well, the Mercer Bears are tied at 8-2 with Belmont atop the Atlantic Sun, while the Eagles aren't totally dead yet at 6-4. And when you couple this game with . . .

Belmont vs. North Florida = . . . this one, with those Music City Bruins hosting the 5-5 Ospreys, you can see why this one's big, at least for those involved.

Austin-Peay vs. Tennessee State = As would this one be big also for the Governors and Tigers, who are tied at 6-4 in the OVC . . . were it not for Joe's Racers, who've spoiled all the fun with their 9-0 mark.

Missouri vs. Texas = Yes, the Longhorns have started to play a little better, even getting close to knocking off Baylor. Yes, the game is in Austin, where they've only lost twice this year. Yes, including that Baylor game Saturday they have 5 losses of 5 points or less. And yes, the Missouri Tigers are one of those teams I've said is NOT as good as their record. But does any of this mean the 'Horns can hook 'em tonight? Actually, yes. I wouldn't bet on it, but that may be due to the fact I cannot abide Rick Barnes.


So that's it for today, folks. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

So far, Pitt is giving the Mountaineers a good game, and have it at the half. Could be a good 2 here.

Yeah, you DID call on Uconn, and I don't see anyone coming in to fill Walker's shoes this time to push them through the end. Digger's giving them down the road on The World-Wide Leader as I type.

I hear ya on the Bearcats. I bet Cronin is frustrated; just don't know for sure what team is going out on the floor, from game to game.

I just saw that Murray has drawn #18 St. Mary's for the Bracket Buster game. This will hopefully be a great test for the Racers, and one that they pass with racing colors going into the end of the season and preparing for tourney time.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

It is too early to feel the Panthers and the Mountaineers are heading in opposite directions, but it is true Pitt's winning streak is preferable to WVA's losing one. :D

Don't give me too much credit on calling the Huskies. With all due respect for U. Conn's 2010 championship, and the amazing post-season Kemba Walker produced for them, that trophy was as huge an upset as was NCSU's 1983 run by Valvano's Cardiac Kids. The odds of that happening again, even WITH Walker, were astronomical. Without, it's cosmological.

Cronin may take some comfort in the fact that his is not the only team that's been all over the place this year. ;)

It's news to me that your Racers drew the Gaels. Not only should that be a tremendous game, it looks to be the major stumbling block remaining for that undefeated regular season MSU is persuing. I shall look forward to the contest, but maybe you shouldn't. :r


Last night's most important scores:


Pittsburgh 72 - West Virgina 66 = As referenced above, it's another good win for a Pitt team that's had too few, and another hertbreaker for the Mountaineers . . . this one at home.

Penn 82 - Princeton 67 = It's no surprise the Quakers won in the venerable Palestra, but the size of that margin is a bit of one. As I've noted several times already, these regular-season conference games in the Ivy are key.

Missouri 67 - Texas 66 = Did you think I was nutz when I gave the 'Horns a shot at hooking these Tigers? Well, I am nutz, admittedly, but still UT came within that shot of doing precisely that.


There are not a lot of games this evening, yet a fair number involve big names:


Clemson vs. Virginia = The Tigers visit Charlottesville, where the Cavs have already been upset by the VT Hokies. As Clemson's about on the same level, they too could pull one off. Yet I feel UVA is not only superior but has also learned a valued lesson, and shall defend their home court.

Michigan State vs. Illinois = The Illini started off better than projected, but have struggled lately, losing 6 of their last 11 and 3 in a row. Me, I think that will extend to 4 in Champaign tonight, as Izzo tries to get his Spartans into a tie with the Buckeyes atop the big Ten+.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky = Do I think the Volunteers can beat the Wildcats in Rupp? I've already confessed to being nutz, but I'm not that crazy.

Wisconsin vs. Penn State = And even though the Nittany Lions upset a few people in State College both this year and last (and even though the distractions of the Paterno/Sandusky stories are presumably lessened), I can't reasonably expect them to take the Badgers.

Seton Hall vs. Marquette = And even though the Pirates have had a few good wins, and the Golden Eagles a few bad losses, I can't call for an upset here either.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State = So if you're looking for that possible upset, look here. The Wildcats dropped one to a "meh" Sooner squad in Manhattan, and one day after the Cyclones stormed the court in Ames following an upset of the Jayhawks. Can they make it 2 in a row there? Yes. Will they? Ehhh, maybe. It's worth keeping an eye on anyway.

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas = As is this one in Fayetteville. The Commodores have been inconsistent, both at home an on the road, and the 'Hogs have found an acorn here and there this year. This could be a good one.

North Carolina vs. Wake Forest = And this one could be an ugly one. I don't care if it's Winston-Salem or not, the Demon Deacons do not have the personnel to compete with the Tar Heels. They have lost 6 or their last 8 games, and will in all likelyhood fall to .500 for the season this evening. Again, weird things happen, but if so it will not be a case of the Deacs beating the Heels, but rather the Heels beating themselves.


So that's it for tonight. See you later, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

It was a night of ugly, ugly basketball to end the month of January:


Illinois 42 - Michigan State 41 = Perhaps I let my respect for Tom Izzo, or my desire for the Spartans to tie the Buckeyes atop the league, cloud my judgement on this one. I did not expect this loss, even on the road, and I certainly did not expect the football score. My only excuse is that I did say previously that I felt both the Spartans and the IU Hoosiers had climbed about as high as they could reasonabley go, so slippage should be no surprise.

Virginia 65 - Clemson 61 = Despite the unexpected success of the Cavaliers so far, I find it a bit surprising they had so much trouble with a "meh" Clemson squad in Charlottesville.

Wisconsin 52 - Penn State 46 = And though this low-scoring affair is a little more forgivable, considering the Badgers are renowned for their glacial style, such a close one facing the Lions is somewhat disturbing.

North Carolina 68 - Wake Forest 53 = Though never in any real danger, due to their dominance of the boards with subsequent stick-backs, and a ability for scoring off TOs while not allowing the Deacs to do the same, the Heels had a horrible shooting night. Still, anytime Wake made a run, UNC answered with a bigger one, and avoided an upset with relative ease.

Iowa State 72 - Kansas State 70 = The giant-killing Cyclones strike again, and send the 'Cats back to Manhattan with their fuzzy tails tucked. Or if not, rest assured Frank Martin's tucked them good today already.

Arkansas 82 - Vanderbilt 74 = Like a number or touted teams this season, the Commodores continue to shock me with their inability to find any rhythm with their game.


Tonight's key games include:


Indiana vs. Michigan = Both of these have had better seasons than was initially thought, especially the Hoosiers. Both are in line to earn at-large bids in March, yet both would be well-served to win some more games to help insure that fate. It behooves both to win this game, yet as that's not possible I do expect a war.

Davidson vs. Furman = The Queen City 'Cats seem well in control of their division of the Southern Conference, but need to recoup from that stunning loss to crappy Samford. If that did not get their attention, then give Furman a chance here.

Geroge Mason vs. Delaware = GM is not so much in control of the CAC, though they do lead with a 10-1 league record. But there are 3 others at 9-2, so every conference game becomes huge. Also, one of those teams at 9-2 is . . .

VCU vs. William & Mary = As little chance I give Delaware to take George Mason in that one, I give W&M even less against VCU. There may be no change atop the CAC tonight, but the pressure shall remain.

U. Conn vs. Georgetown = Aside from the conference importance, we have here two teams that have seemingly hit the wall. They both need to earn a few more wins, and neither can take many more losses. This one in DC is also huge.

Gerogia Tech vs. Florida State = This one, not so much. The Wreck would need the 'Noles to wreck in order to have any reasonable chance here, and I can't see that happening. As for FSU, they have the easiest road left in the ACC regular season, with their biggest tests being home-and-home with UVA and a hosting of Duke (they do NOT face UNC in Chapel Hill this year). The Semiholes may stumble somewhere along the way, like they did early in the season, but it won't be tonight.

N. C. State vs. Boston College = Jerry's Wolfpack is well on its way to earning their own at-large bid, but need 3 or 4 more wins to get a firmer grasp on that brass ring. They have an excellent shot at grabbing one against the Eagles in Chestnut Hill this evening. Two more Ws may come against Wake and the Wreck following this contest, but as it gets tougher afterwards (@ Dook, FSU, UNC all in a row) they'd best get some while they can.

Memphis vs. Southern Mississippi = The Tigers and the Golden Eagles are tied atop the CUSA at 6-1, with Tulsa 1/2-game back at 6-2. 'Nuff said?

Oklahoma vs. Kansas = The Sooners are coming off a good upset over K-State in Manhattan, while the Jayhawks had an equalling bad loss to Iowa State in Ames. This is in Lawrence, so you'd have to give KU an edge. Allen Fieldhouse is a baitch for visitors. Still, if OU can beat the 'Cats on the road, you at least need to keep an eye out here to see what develops.

Baylor vs. Texas A&M = Though I never did much believe in the Aggies, still I thought that (like Pitt) they might actually show up some night and play a good game. As I don't believe all that much in the Bears either, tonight would be as good a night as any. It is in College Station, which may be worth a bucket or three for the Aggies. Will that be enough? Ehhh, mebbe.

Colorado State vs. UNLV = The Rams just beat the SDSU Aztecs, but that was at altitude. Can they hobble the Runnin' Rebels in the desert? Again, mebbe, but I'd check the odds in Vegas before I placed any bets on it.


That's my picks for this first day of February. Until later then, enjoy.