Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

So I've goofed around long enough, and need to get to this. Scores of note (to me, anyway) from last night includes one stunner:


Mississippi 71 - Kentucky 69 = The Rebels hit a late 3 to steal one at home against the Wildcats. I did not think they had a chance at beating UK, which is just one more indication of how dumb I am. Maybe Cal was right to whine about his lack of depth.

Wichita State 70 - Indiana State 54 = Though I am not shocked that the Shockers won the game, I did feel it would be a lot closer than this. The win puts them 1/2-game up in the MVC, and drops the Sycamores into 4th.

Wisconsin 66 - Purdue 59 = But I can't say I'm even a bit surprised by this. I espected a low-scoring and tight contest, and we got one. It would have been even tighter had the 'Makers made more shots, as they only managed to score 19 in the first half.

Florida 65 - Vanderbilt 61 (OT) = Well, I told you to flip a coin on this one, since both teams have been suffering from ADD all season long. They will win a few, then lose a few, then win, then lose, then win. But at least they are consistently inconsistent.

Kansas 88 - Texas Tech 66 = And I also told you this would be no contest at all. The Jayhawks improve to 6-1 in the Big 12. However, if they want to catch Texas (7-0) they not only have to continue to win their games, they will need some help from somebody else. They have no head-to-head with the Longhorns left on their schedule. Their best bet? Hope that Rick Barnes pulls his traditional crap, and blows a few from the bench. :D

North Carolina 106 - Boston College 74 = And I told you that this one might go down to the wire. Again, how dumb am I? The Heels spanked the Eagles up in Boston, and Harrison Barnes topped his newly-minted season high set against NCSU Saturday by scoring 26. UNC moves into a tie with Duke atop the ACC, and if they get some help from the Terps tonight, they shall own it alone. Have they turned things around? It's still too early for me to say that . . . lemme see them squash ten or twelve more teams first. ;)


There is a bunch of action scheduled tonight, barring more postponements due to weather. For instance, last night's Baylor/Oklahoma game was moved to this afternoon, with the Bears owning a 5-point bulge at the half. Other games include:


Minnesota vs. Indiana = The Hoosiers did manage to beat Illinois in Bloomington, so they are certainly capable of beating the Gophers too. I don't see it happening, but remember . . . I did not see Ole Miss beating UK either.

West Virginia vs. Seton Hall = And the Pirates absolutely crushed the Orange in the Dome not long ago, so they too have a shot in Morgantown. Yet again, I don't expect that to happen.

Hofstra vs. George Mason = Both of these want to stay as near the top of the CAC as possible, and with their competition for that lead playing the "have-nots" of the league, they both will want this win tonight. I look for a close fight to the finish in Fairfax.

Syracuse vs. U. Conn = This may be the premier marquee matchup of the night up in icy Hartford (as opposed to snowbound Syracuse). After winning their first 18, the 'Cuse has dropped 4 in a row. It gets no easier for them tonight. Then again, it might not be so easy for the Huskies either, coming off their homecourt heartbreaker against Louisville. I dunno why, but I have a feeling Boeheim will turn his boys around this evening.

Villanova vs. Marquette = And I'd expect this one to be as good a game as the one above. These two are pretty even, and either is capable of playing a good game. 'Nova has home court, so maybe they have the slight edge. But they just lost to the Hoyas in Philly, and thus I'd not bet the farm on it.

Virginia Tech vs. N.C. State = The Wolfpack is coming off that whuppin' by the Heels in Chapel Hill, and are probably glad to be in Raleigh tonight. The Hokies have, at times, played much better than NCSU, yet they have had some problems on the road. It does not look as if either team will make a serious move in the ACC, but both look to still be in contention for post-season play, be it NCAA, NIT, or one of those "Hunh?" tourneys. This one might be better than you'd think.

BYU vs. Wyoming = And this one should be over by the half. I don't care if it's in Laramie or not, and I don't care that I consider BYU to be grossly over-rated . . . the Coyboys don't have the horses to corral the Cougars. But while we're on the subject, explain this one to me . . . the Stormin' Mormans lost their last game to an unranked New Mexico squad, after beating rival San Diego State in the previous game. Subsequently, the Aztecs drop from 4th to 7th in the national ranks, while the Cougars drop from 9th to . . . 8th? What? And just how many votes does Joseph Smith get? Hey, it's not as if I really care all that much about this ranking nonsense, but I'd at least hope for some sensible nonsense.

Alabama vs. Mississippi State = The Tide is on top of the SEC West, and when you consider their overall 13-7 record, they'd better stay there if they want to Dance come March. The Bulldogs are coming off a huge win against the Gators, which got them to .500 in league play, and up a step above garbage with their 11-9 mark. This might just be the smallest of the big games this evening, for I don't think it much matters who wins . . . they both have a fairly high stinkage rating.

UTEP vs. UCF = I find this game interesting for two reasons. First, I wonder if, after opening their season 14-0, can the Orlando Mickeys ever win another game? Second, UTEP is involved in a 7-team logjam for the CUSA crown, with all 7 clustered between 5-2 and 4-3 in league play. Others in that dogpile include:

Southern Mississippi vs. UAB = As you might gather from the above, this one is vital for both teams to keep them in that dogpile cited above. Plus, it is just as vital for . . .

SMU vs. East Carolina = And if that's not enough to get your attention, consider that . . .

Memphis vs. Tulsa = . . . all 7 of those CUSA teams are in action tonight, with 6 of them going head-to-head! Although you can't honestly call this "Moving Day", you may get some idea of how big a night it might be for these guys. Whatever you do, stay tuned.

Nebraska vs. Kansas State = The Cornhuskers, believe it or not, have actually played some pretty decent ball lately, losing close ones to Missouri and Kansas, and beating Texas A&M by 9 points. Meanwhile, the disintegration of K-State continues, for not only have they lost 5 of their last 7 games, their top underclassman Wally Judge has just quit the team. What with their best players graduating after this season, this means that next year may be as much a challenge to them at this one has become. Don't forget . . . before the season started, many "experts" pencilled them into the Final Four! (To be fair, Michigan State was also considered chalk, so that shows you what the experts know.) I'm not going to say the 'Huskers will take this one in that other Manhattan, but I will say I won't be shocked if they do.

Iowa vs. Michigan State = And speaking of the Spartans, they'd better do something quick if they want to keep Izzo's NCAA streak alive. Tonight's game in Iowa City would be a good place for them to start, since, as bad as MSU has been, the Hawkeyes have been worse . . . much worse.

Duke vs. Maryland = In College Park, and for some strange reason, not in Cameron! So despite appearances to the contrary, the Blue Devils actually DO play road games! Speaking of which, they are coming off that embarrassment to St. John's in MSG on Sunday, and it is hard to predict how that will affect them tonight. Sometimes it focuses a team, and sometimes it gives them a hangover. If the latter, the Terps are certainly capable of taking advantage of the situation, dropping Dook below the Heels in the ACC. I don't expect that, but it would not surprise me . . . and one can always hope. ;)

Clemson vs. Virginia = The Cavs are pretty much out of that race already, but the Tigers are lumped in with 3 others for 4th, so they still have an outside shot. When one considers that the other 2 teams in that "lump" also play tonight . . . the aforementioned Hokies and Terps . . . one can see that this is almost as big a night in the ACC as it is in the CUSA.

Georgia vs. Arkansas = The Bulldogs, at 3-4, are in the basement of the SEC East. The Hogs, at 4-3, are near the top of the SEC West. Does anybody but me consider this whole "East/West" dichotomy in the SEC to be totally bogus? Hey, there's only 12 teams total, so it's not exactly like there's any justifiable reason for it. Regardless, they are both decent teams, and this one down in Fayetteville should be a lot of fun.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma State = The Missou Tigers, ranked 14th in the country, are closer to the basement of the Big 12 than they are to the lead with their 3-3 conference mark. A few more league losses, such as in their upcoming TWO meetings with Kansas, and they may even drop out of the Top Twenty. Oak State has a shot at giving them another in Stillwater tonight, for although they have lost 5 of their last 6, they have beaten a few good teams this year. I wouldn't bet on them winning tonight, but most anything can happen in conference play, on any given night.

San Diego State vs. Colorado State = Such as the Rams giving the Aztecs their 2nd loss of the season in Fort Collins tonight. Hey, SDSU may be the young darling of this season, but those Rams have played pretty good ball also . . . on occasion, anyway. Plus, I am always a bit leery when a "sea-level" team suits up for a mile-high game. Keep your eye on this one . . . if you can keep your eyes open at all that late in the evening.

USC vs. UCLA = Here's another interesting late-night contest for you. Maybe the Bruins aren't back, but they are only one game back in the Pac. I'd give them the edge no paper over the Trojans even if it wasn't in Pauley, but as it will be played on a Wooden court, I think they won't need OT like they did against ASU to take the win.

Utah State vs. Nevada = People have started talking about the Aggies, not only because they already have a 3-game lead in the WAC (for what that's worth, considering it is jammed with teams just above or well below .500), but because since they lost to Georgetown 'way back on Dec. 4th they have not lost, and bring a 15-game streak onto their home court tonight. I don't expect the crappy Pack to snap it this evening. Fact is, as they really don't play any serious competition until they face St. Mary's on the 19th, they will likely extend that streak for a while yet. Still, that does not make them a Top TwentyFive team, and if you believe they are . . . well, I have this bridge I'd like to sell you.



By the way, in case you are interested, the Sooners had a huge 2nd half down in Norman, and beat Baylor 73-66. Not only is this a good win for Oklahoma, it just further muddles up that clusterfark in the middle of the Big 12 race. You can pencil Texas and Kansas in at the top, but the rest of it will take a looooooong time to shake out.

That's all for now. Hey, ain't that enough? As always, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

No love for the Arizona Wildcats yet. That is ok we can stay under the radar for a while. I don't know that we have really won any notable games yet but I guess time will tell.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Freaking SEC this year....

Ole Miss put up a great fight, didn't give up after the press came, and held on for a good win for them. Why Cal didn't keep the press on after catching up....

No whining about your depth either, Johnny...your own fault. I liked the way Lamb looked though.

Well, Syracuse's streak is broken, finally.
OSU and Mizzou caught a snow plow and made it into the game tonight. Travis Ford's squad is up at the half.

Dook is laying it on the Terps right now.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

glad to see my hometown team the Cuse got their act together and finally pulled off a win, they needed that big time.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

It seems as though the Pac-10 in general has gotten no respect the last few years. When you consider the success they had in the NCAA Tourney, much to the surprise of the "experts", it's a bit hard to justify . . . especially viewed in light of the respect given to the Mountain West, for far less reason. Well, so be it. But you're not the only one who feels rained on, since my Heels didn't receive any props either until last week's blowout of NCSU. Don't sweat it . . . things will shake out in the end, one way or the other.

The SEC has half their teams on my "All Psycho" list, by which I mean I can't figure out which squad will show up from one game to the next, be it UK, Vandy, UT, Gators, Georgia 'Dogs, 'Cocks, you name 'em. And you're right that Cal has nobody to blame for his lack of depth aside from himself. I wonder if he yet regrets saying on Draft Day, when 5 of his players went in the first round, that it was "the greatest day in Kentucky history". :r

You knew the 'Cuse would not lose them all from here on out, and to beat the Huskies in Hartford was a great way for them to break their streak. As for Oak State and Missou . . . well, the Coyboys showed up for the game anyway, even if the Tigers didn't. ;)

And as for K's kids, I kinda figured he'd get them on track quickly after that stinker in the Garden. Besides, Gary Williams rarely seems to keep his teams on the rails for long.

No doubt they needed the W. But what they really need is for Boeheim to hire a defensive-minded assistant who can teach their talent how to mix it up on D, and not depend on the same-old same-old each and every night.


Update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Too much to cover, and too little time.


Syracuse 66 - U. Conn 58 = As noted, a big and badly-needed win for the Orange. And as for the Huskies, this drops the supposedly # 6 team in the nation to a tie for # 8 in the Big Mouth Conference, and a whole 1/2-game ahead of St. John's.

Oklahoma State 76 - Missouri 70 = Also as noted, a nice victory for the Cowboys, but it only drops the # 14 team into a tie for 7th in the Big 12. Does anybody but me pay any attention to stuff like this?

Indiana 60 - Minnesota 57 = But the Golden Gophers should consider themselves lucky in comparision. This huge win by the Hoosiers only puts the # 18 team into a tie for 5th in the Big Ten, and at 5-5 only 4 1/2 out of the league lead.

Iowa 72 - Michigan State 52 = So, not only did the Hoosiers get their 3rd conference victory, the Hawkeyes got their 2nd against a Spartan team that has completely fallen off the map. All of a sudden, it seems as if Tom Izzo wants to try and copy Roy Williams' run of last year.

Duke 80 - Maryland 62 = The Blue Devils rebound from their recent whipping to give pretty much the same to the Terps, and regain the top of the ACC over my Heels by a 1/2-game.

Georgia 60 - Arkansas 59 = In the short run, this win by the 'Dawgs over the Hogs means very little, since they both are wallowing in the SEC. But over the long haul, both will need all of these they can get to earn an at-large come March. They both may make it anyway, yet better safe than sorry.

Charlotte 66 - Xavier 62 = This one in the A-10 may have been the biggest upset of the evening. The Musketeers are fighting for the lead with Duquesne in the conference, while the 49ers have been digging a hole all year long. I don't care that this one was in The Queen City or not . . . there's no explaining it.

San Diego State 56 - Colorado State 54 = I had me a feeling this would be a close one, and as even a blind hog finds an acorn on occasion, I turned out to be right. The Aztecs eek out a win over a pesky flock of Rams, and keep their tie with BYU for the Mountain West. Speaking of which . . .

BYU 69 - Wyoming 62 = Are you kidding me? There are high-school teams who could beat Wyoming better than this. Hey, there are teams that stink, and others that purely suck. Last week the Cougars lost a game, and moved UP in the polls. A win like this one, and they need to move down.

Virginia 49 - Clemson 47 = Speaking of moving down, the Clemson Tigers were starting to get some notice nationally, especially after beating Florida State badly last weekend. Well, that's over with for now. This is a huge W for the Cavs, who with a 12-10 record have not had many.

Tulsa 68 - Memphis 65 = And at 12-10 themselves, this is equally huge for the Golden Hurricanes. As for the Tigers, their growing pains continue. However, they still remain in the hunt for the CUSA crown, and as nobody seems willing to step up and grab it, that race may go down to the wire.

Villanova 75 - Marquette 70 = And with the exception of league-leading Pitt, the same is true of the Big East. Would you believe that, below the Panthers, there are ten teams with conference records between 6-3 and 5-5? Talk about your dogfight!


There is some big-name action tonight, and some important conference action in the smaller leagues:

Valparaiso vs. Cleveland State = And this one in the Horizon is a big as the small ones get. Valpo is a 1/2-game back of the Vikings for the lead, so this road game is huge for them both.

IPFW vs. IUPUI = This alphabetical battle is also vital for both, as they fight for 2nd place in the Summit.

Wofford vs. Charleston = Here we have another key matchup, with two of the premier teams in the Southern Conference.

Liberty vs. Coastal Carolina = The Big South Conference here, and the same big game.

Belmont vs. Jacksonville = Once more, in the Atlantic Sun now.

Murray State vs. Tennessee State = And even once more, with Joe's Racers facing a key game in the Ohio Valley. All these games cited take on added significance when you realize that none of these conferences are likely to receive more than one bid to the NCAAs each, so they must make hay while the sun still shines on their hopes.

Ohio State vs. Michigan = OK, so one of these two teams is pretty confident that it will get themselves a ticket to The Dance. The other? Not so much. Yet the young Wolverines have started to play some decent ball of late, and they do have a shot at improving their odds by pulling off the upset tonight, and give the Buckeyes their 1st loss of the year. I don't expect it, but remember that they DID take Kansas to OT not so long ago . . . and remember how many games OSU has won by a point or three also.

Notre Dame vs. DePaul = And one of these teams thinks they have already earned a bid, whereas the other knows they'd have to steal the conference tournament crown to get one. I'm not saying the Irish already have the victory in hand, but I wouldn't bet a dime on the Blue Demons' chances.

Arizona vs. Stanford = And if the desert 'Cats want to get a bit more respect, they had better chop down that big-a$$ Tree out in NoCal this evening. I'd give them the edge, even on the road, but keep two things in mind: The Cardinal did edge Pac-10 co-leader Washington on home court, and whatever their talent may be, they are doubtlessly a LOT smarter than the guys from 'Zona. :r

Washington vs. Oregon State = The Huskies are on the road in Corvallis also, but I wouldn't expect the Beavers to give them much of a game. Shoot, they haven't given much of anybody one so far, so why start now? Oh wait . . . they did beat the "Rodney Dangerfield" Wildcats, didn't they. Nevermind. ;)

Gonzaga vs. Portland = These two teams are not where they wanted to be . . . mired in the middle of the WCC. Though both have played well from time to time, both have also dropped games they were not expected to lose. Neither one may make much noise for the rest of this season, yet both still have some hopes. So, no matter what else transpires after this evening, you can plan on a fight tonight.


I could do twice as much, both on last night's and tonight's action, but I'm out of time and out of energy. Feel free to post your own picks, brothers, and until later . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Hey now, I will give them that. But lets say they are a lot smarter than the guys from most schools out there:sl Arizona will be in good shape as long as we take care of one of the bay area schools. In the Pac it is defend your home court and split on the road. As long as you do that, you are in good shape. Although, that is probably the case with most conferences out there.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

To be honest, I'm not sure I'd want a Final Four of Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, and Penn myself. Maybe Stanford, Dook, Vandy, and UNC, but not the former. ;)

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Go Racers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:r One of these days, I'll pony up the $$$ to get expanded cable and get ESPN U ;).

THE OSU is getting a fight from Michigan. Pretty tight game at 14 minutes left in the 2nd.

The AP...I like that, and it certainly fits the SEC this season. It makes it competitive, I guess.

The Big East...who you think will win the conference????

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Yes, a good win for Murray State, which keeps them in contention for the OVC . . . and makes their Saturday game with Austin Peay huge. That game there, and with games with the other league leaders still on their schedule, it puts the Racers' fate in their own hands.

The Wolverines were able to give the Buckeyes a half, or even a half-and-a-half. Too bad for them they couldn't give them a complete game.

The SEC is not the only league with schizophrenic squads, but they do seem to have more than their share this season.

As for the Big East, I guess it depends on what you mean by "win the conference". I think Pitt will take the regular season, since they seem the most consistent. But when the conference tourney starts, they'll just toss it up and let them play, so it's anybody's guess.

Back soon with the update.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

It will be a short update today, for three reasons. One, only a couple of scores from last night were any surprise at all, so why bother with the others? Two, there's damn little action on a Friday night, so why bother with more than a couple of those also? And three, because I just read some news that has me miffed, and I don't wanna splash my anger over into other people's plates. What is said news, you ask? Well:

Junior point guard for the UNC Tar Heels Larry Drew II announced out of the blue (yeah, sky-blue I reckon) that he is leaving the team immediately . . . just as both he and the team have started to play better. He stated he was leaving because "it's in my best interest to continue my education and basketball career elsewhere" . . . and I suppose to hell with his present teammates. Perhaps it is due to him being replaced in the starting lineup in recent games by freshman Kendall Marshall, but not only was Drew still getting significant minutes on the court, he was also producing off the bench better than he had done as a starter, on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The announcement came as a complete shock to everyone, as apparently the only person he discussed the matter with was his father, Atlanta Hawks head coach Larry Drew.

Now to be completely honest, I am not angry that he has decided to leave the Carolina program, as his development and progress has not been what was expected, and because he is certainly free to persue his options elsewhere. His progress as a player was definitely hindered by the fact that he received little time as a freshman, playing behind both Ty Lawson and Bobby Frasor. Then he was tossed into the fire as a sophmore in last year's disaster of a campaign, and was the target of much of the criticism, be it justified or not. He did little in the first half of this season to change anyone's opinion, averaging only 4.4 points and 3.9 assists (and 1.8 turnovers) per game. So, had he made the same decision the Ware twins made at the end of last season, and announced after completing this year that he was leaving, I would simply thank him for what he had hepled to accomplish, and wish him well. However, for him to quit the team just as they seem to be turning things around a bit, and with the toughest stretch of the season just beginning . . . well, screw the selfish basturd, that's all I have to say.


As I said above, before starting my rant, I was surprised by only three of last night's games:


Oregon State 68 - Washington 56 = Don't get me wrong. It's not that I think the Huskies are all that good, but please. The Beavers, as I said yesterday, are no damn good at all. OK, so they did edge Arizona earlier in the year. So what? This was no squeaker, and there's no damn excuse for it.

North Florida 72 - Lipscomb 62 = And there's no damn excuse for this one either. Lipscomb is a much better team than are the Ospreys, and should have plucked them good.

Youngstown State 62 - Butler 60 = And though this was a tight one, there's again no damn reason for it. Sure, Butler's not as good as they were last year. What's your point? The Penguins are absolutely horrible, and this victory boosted their Horizon record to 2-10, and 8-14 overall. Gimme a freakin' break!


Tonight's games include only two that hold even the slightest interest to me:


Harvard vs. Princeton = The Ivy chase has yet to scarcely begin, but this is still a big one for both teams.

Fairfield vs. Iona = And if the Gaels want to have any shot at all of catching Fairfield in the MAAC, they need to take this one tonight.


If I manage to calm down a bit, I'll be back later with some early tips tomorrow. If not . . . well, enjoy or don't, what do I care. I'm still p!$$ed, so &@^# it all.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

OK, I took a deep breath, had a short smoke (JR Ult Habanito, if you care to know), and calmed down a bit, so lemme give a quick preview of Saturday's early games:


Cleveland State vs. Butler = The Vikings hod a slim lead atop the Horizon, while the Bulldogs are just about out of it for this year. C-State can put them at .500 in league play, and put themselves a bit further out of reach with a victory here.

West Virginia vs. Villanova = Both teams have strengths and weaknesses, and either one can win. The Mountaineers are on the road, so maybe the Philly 'Cats have a slight edge. But this one will go to whichever plays best, and so pick your poison here.

Georgetown vs. Providence = This one's not much different, though I'd favor the Hoyas more than the Friars here.

VCU vs. James Madison = VCU is tied with George Mason at 10-1 in CAC play, so they really want this one badly. It won't be a gimme, as JM can play a bit too. Should be a good one.

St. John's vs. UCLA = Can the Johnnies knock off another non-conferece foe this weekend? Hey, if they can beat Dook, they can beat the Bruins, that's for sure. But me, I gotta see it happen again before I believe it. Steve Lavin's return to Pauley Pavilion might turn into a disaster for him, in more ways than one.

Illinois vs. Northwestern = The Illini should not have any problems with the Windy 'Cats, yet games are not won on should'as and coulda's. If they don't show up, they might drop one they need to win, if only to keep them respectable in the Big Ten.

Wake Forest vs. Maryland = The Terps lost their last home game, but that was to Dook. I don't expect them to drop two inna row in College Park . . . not when they're facing Wake, anyway.

Virginia Tech vs. Boston College = Though it is unlikely either of these two can reach the top of the ACC, 2nd place is still a possibility for them. They need to win this one, however, and I'd bet on a good game.

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech = The Tigers are still in the mix a bit too, and need to make a Wreck of Tech to rebound from a stinker against Virginia. I figure they will do just that.

Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina = If you've been paying attention, you realize that it has become damn-near impossible to handicap the SEC. It's in Nashville, and the Charlie Daniels may be favored, but me . . . I'm gonna flip a coin.

Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State = Oak State has been more consistent, but the Sooners have surprised a few people this year too. In Stillwater, I'd pick the Cowboys, but you just can't predict these in-state conference games.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State = Although I never bought into the pre-season hype for K-State, I never thought they would be as mediocre as they have been. Can the Cyclones steal one in Ames? Well, as that would give them only their 2nd victory in conference play, my guess would be no. The other Manhattanites may not be great, but they don't stink that bad. Yet on second thought, their team seems to be falling apart at the seams, so who knows? Stay tuned.

ODU vs. George Mason = Hey, do you remeber 'way up at the top of this post, when I talked about the CAC race? Well, here's another huge game in that scrum for the league lead, with the 9-3 Monarchs looking to tie the 10-2 Patriots. You can figure on a close one here.


That's all I'll do for now . . . partly because some butthole in an SUV is illegally parked outside, shining his brights into my eyes through the window. God, I can't see a damn thing! So now, I'm p!$$ed again. Will this day ever end? :confused:

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Hey Thomas,

How about composing your post in Word or Notepad and copy/paste a reply when you are done.

Just thinking out loud.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Jerry, buddy, where the hell you been my friend! I'm sure I'm not the only one who's missed you. Sorry about how my Heels embarrassed your 'Pack last week, but you'll get your shot in Raleigh soon enough. Hey, maybe by that time a few more players will quit the team, and you'll have a better shot! :r

Thanks for your suggestion, but you assume I know something about these kumpooter thingies, and actually know what you're talkin' about. :sh


Update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Last night Fairfield grabbed a 2-game lead in the MAAC by beating Iona 75-71, while Princeton kept pace with their competition across the Delaware, Penn, with their 65-61 win over Harvard, and are 3-0 in this early stage of the Ivy. So far today we have some finals:

Xavier 76 - Saint Louis 68 = The X-men had more trouble with the Billikens than they should have, but did hold on.

Georgetown 83 - Providence 81 = And the Hoyas had all they could handle from the Friars, and are lucky to have avoided the upset.

Villanova 66 - West Virginia 50 = Looks as though the Mountaineers didn't make it to Philly. I did not think they would win, but I did expect a better showing than this.

Butler 73 - Cleveland State 61 = Now this one's a bit of a surprise. CS has been pretty good, while Butler has been spotty. Here's a good win for a team that needed one bad.

VCU 70 - James Madison 66 = And this one was precisely the war I thought we'd have.


Other action scheduled today, aside from those already mentioned, is far too vast for me to note. So I've selected those which piqued my pickle:


Rhode Island vs. Temple = A huge A-10 matchups, and either one can win it.

Baylor vs. Texas A&M = If the Bears can find their game, they can give the Aggies all they want.

Syracuse vs. South Florida = And if the Bulls can find their game, they will only be beaten by the Orange, and not crushed.

Buffalo vs. Ball State = Who cares, you ask? Well, this one's for the top spots in the MAC, East and West respectively, so you can't get any bigger a game . . . at this level, anyway.

ODU vs. George Mason = And a higher level here, but pretty much the same story.

Virginia vs. Miami = And as neither of these want to sink down to Wake's level in the ACC, I'd expect a good one here. Me, I pick the Cavs.

UAB vs. Tulane = UAB can't afford a let-up against a team that they have an advantage over. If they drop this one, shame on them. That's not to knock Tulane, who can ball a little bit. But still . . . .

BYU vs. UNLV = The Casino Runs made a little noise early in the season, but we've not heard more than peeps from them since. The Cougars want the win, but the Rebels NEED it. This one could be fun.

Kansas vs. Nebraska = And this one could be more fun than the Jayhawks are looking for. Were I a gambler, I'd put a few on KU, but a 'Husker upset would not stun me.

Memphis vs. Gonzaga = This one pits two "name" teams from mid-majors who are used to better seasons than they've had to date. A win by either would go a long way towards securing an at-large. The 'Zags may need it more, so I feel they will be focused. There could be blood on the court before this one's done.

Washington vs. Oregon = And if the Huskies can't bounce back against the Ducks, then just maybe the Pac-10 does not deserve any respect.

Furman vs. Charleston = Here's another vital conference matchup, this one in the southern division of the Southern Conference . . . so one of these good squads will go south, for sure. Pick 'em.

Alabama vs. Tennessee = Another pick 'em game in another conference with Southern in its name. Off the top of my head, I can't recall which however.

Pitt vs. Cincinnati = The Bearcats are another team you've not heard much about of late. They could change that quickly with an upset today. It likely won't happen, but you never know about these things.

Marshall vs. Southern Mississippi = If this one is decided by more than 6 or 8 points, I will be shocked.

Duke vs N. C. State = And if this one in Cameron lasts more than 6 or 8 minutes, I will be shocked. No offense, Jerry, but your Wolfpack has no offense.

Mississippi vs. Arkansas = Another matchup in the SEC, and if you've been paying any attention at all, you'll know nobody can predict who will win here. The only consistent thing about SEC play so far this year has been its inconsistency.

U. Conn vs. Seton Hall = Though the Pirates did get one HUGE upset over the Orange, and in the Dome no less, I don't think they have another in them. Sure, the game's in Newark, and sure, the Huskies just proved they can be beaten, twice in a row now, yet I don't think that streak will reach three today.

Missouri vs. Colorado = Though one of these two has gotten all the press, while the other's gotten squat, don't kid yourself . . . this one will be tight. It would not surprise me one damn bit if the Buffaloes take it.

Arizona vs. California = But I don't expect those boys in Berkeley to hold serve against the Wildcats. 'Zona wants to get back to their sweet music Lute played, and they won't let some pack of dirty hippies stand in their way.

Louisville vs. DePaul = Louisville will win. It's that simple. The only question is, will Pitino's boys channel their inner "Cardiac Kids" again, and wait until the last few minutes before they pull it out of their butts? If so, then their post-season run will be very very short, and not jsut because Pitino's not Valvano.

Murray State vs. Austin Peay = Yeah, Joe, I know how huge this one is for your Racers. If they win, they hold the lead in the OVC. If they lose, they slip into a three-way . . . and not the good kind. This one should be tons of fun, start to finish.

Kentucky vs. Florida = And if both teams actually show up, this one will be a lot of fun too. The problem is, neither team seems capable of showing up night after night. You gotta give UK an edge, but you'd be just as safe if you flipped a coin.

Texas vs. Texas Tech = But this one's already over. Why are they even playing it? The Red Raiders should just forfeit, and stay at home to study for mid-terms.

Utah State vs. Boise State = And even though I think the Aggies are bogus (OK, so they are 21-2 . . . those 2 losses were to the only 2 decent teams they've played all year, so who cares?), I don't think they'll have a problem with the Broncos. Hell, nobody else has lately, so why should they be the exception?

San Diego State vs. TCU = With all due respect for the Aztecs, you can merely substitute the names in that post immediately above and be damn close to accurate, start to finish. The Horned Frogs are not the worst team in the nation, but SDSU's not the 7th best either. Still, chalk it up for them now, and don't even bother to watch.


I'll be back in a while with some other early finals, and some Sunday games too.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Here's a few more early finals for you, including one which gives me pause:


Northwestern 71 - Illinois 70 = Though it may have seemed I waffled a bit on the Illini in my preview of this game, I really didn't think the Wildcats had a snowball's chance in this one. Guess I should stop thinking.

Clemson 65 - Georgia Tech 56 = But this, this is about what I expected.

Boston College 58 - Virginia Tech 56 = Same here. I figured on a tight contest, and that's what we got.

Maryland 91 - Wake Forest 70 = And the only surprise here is that Wake actually scored 70 points, on the road.

Vanderbilt 78 - South Carolina 60 = So, leesee here. Vandy lost its previous two games, and the 'Cocks won their last one. Yeah, judging by the rest of the SEC this year, this is what you'd expect. From day to day, these guys can't figure out who's coming and who's going.

Kansas State 86 - Iowa State 85 = Wow. Though K-State did hang on by the skin of their teeth, this is nearly as big a shock as the N'Western/Illini game. Yeah, I sorta kinda joked that the Cyclones might just steal one from a stumbling Wildcat team, but I never ever really thought they could. Well, they didn't . . . they fell a bucket short.


Tomorrow there are some key games scheduled, including:


Notre Dame vs. Rutgers = The Irish are much better than the Scarlet Knights, and should have little trouble. Yet at times the Big East has been as puzzling as the SEC, so don't bet the farm here.

Michigan vs. Penn State = Here are two who have actually started to play some pretty decent ball. It's a pick 'em, far as I'm concerned.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan State = As much as it displeases me, I've about given up on the Spartans this year. If they can beat the Badgers, it would be, at this point, a major upset. It could happen, but I'll have to see it first.

Ohio State vs. Minnesota = Thad Matta is apparently displeased with his team's 23-0 record, and has started to complain that opponents are playing "Hack-A-Sully". Gimme a break, ya whinin' bozo! If he doesn't like contact, he shouldn't be in the Big Ten, for krissakes! Though I never wish any player harm, I hope the Gophers read this, and break his freakin' neck tomorrow. But that aside, I give the Buckeyes a slim edge, despite their tendency to eek out victories . . . and their new one, of cryin' foul.

North Carolina vs. Florida State = It is beginning to appear as if the Seminoles are the only team willing to attempt a challenge to Duke and UNC for the ACC. Before yesterday's stunning announcement out of Chapel Hill, I would have given my Heels a slight edge in the Smith Center. Now, it depends upon how the team reacts to Drew's quitting like a snivelling little brat. If they mope and obsess about it, they could collapse tomorrow, and for the remainder of the season. If it p!$$es them off as much as it does me, and if they can focus this anger in a positive direction, then the rest of the ACC, and the rest of the country, better watch out.

Rider vs. Fairfield = The Stags want to maintain control of the MAAC. The Broncos want to harness up and make a charge at them. This one may decide it for both teams.


That's enough for now. If I don't make it back until Monday . . . enjoy.


Oh, and I'm adding a new tag-line to my posts: Screw Drew. :sl

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Still no respect for the Cats of AZ. With a sweep over the Bay Area schools, I think they are going to move up to about 17 when this weeks rankings come out. I was not sure how good we are, but we are showing some real resilience here late in the season.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, SEC is STILL the SEC. Freaking UK........

I was surprised Washington dropped the game last night. Tough loss. Was no surprised at Duke cleaning the Wolfpack up though. Nice win for Northwestern.

Go Racers!!!!!!!!!! We got tickets with another couple and followed the Racers on a road game. Less than 1 hour apart, both teams usually show great road support to their respective teams, and the Racers did not disappoint last night. Crazy first half-only about 40 total points, 6 total fouls, and I think the 20 minutes only took 8 minutes. Never seen a half go by so fast! Second half was better, but the Racers took command and held the lead to the end. Good win for us, but it really means nothing if we don't win the last OVC game of the season, in Nashville in March.

OSU up on Minnesota by 10, with 5 left in the 1st.Wisconsin is killing Michigan State in the 2nd right now. Ouch!!!

Now, to take the rest of the afternoon to psyche up for the end of the 2010-2011 NFL season (and, quite possibly, the 2011-2012 season). Thank goodness for college B'ball, the next 2 months help cushion the blow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

They actually jumped to 15, for what that's worth. And I'm also not sure how good they are myself, especially when they needed 3 OTs to edge past the totally average Golden Bears.

Yeah, the SEC continues to do what they've done best so far this year . . . confuse their fans, their coaches, and the experts.

Me, I'm a bit surprised that the Ducks could beat anybody, but since the Huskies haven't exactly been monsters, I am not stunned by it. Nor am I stunned that NCSU lost in Cameron, big. As for Northwestern's win . . . well, maybe you haven't noticed, but aside from the Buckeyes, the Big Ten is getting just about as confusing (and confused) as the SEC.

And 'grats to your Racers on a great win. Yeah, it won't get them to the Dance, but it has to make them feel awfully good about their chances.

Update coming ASAP.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There's no way I can possibly reference all the good games this weekend, so forgive me if I skip your team . . . and jump in and do it your-damn-self, ya lazy bastids! In the balance of Saturday's action:


Murray State 67 - Austin Peay 58 = As said above, a great win for the Racers. I thought they had a good chance to win it, yet I thought it might be closer. Maybe this MSU is getting some of that good karma that MSU in Michigan seems to have lost.

Mississippi 69 - Arkansas 60 = If some team in another league wants to win a conference championship this season, see if you can move into the SEC now. Seems as if nobody else wants it.

Boston College 58 - Virginia Tech 56 = Aside from being a low-scoring affair, a good game for two who hope to get bids in March. Both need to earn a few more Ws, so keep your eye on the rest of their season.

Arizona 107 - California 105 (3OT) = A win on the road is always good, but as I said above, the fact that it took the 'Cats an extra 15 minutes, and they STILL just squeaked by a 13-10 team, should not promote a lot of confidence in their fans.

Charleston 73 - Furman 54 = Another big conference victory, putting CoC atop the Southern Conference (South).

Duke 76 - N. C. State 52 = This one should come as no surprise to anyone. But Sidney Lowe could look on the bright side, for if he's fired at the end of this season, this will be the last time he gets spanked in Cameron.

East Carolina 68 - UCF 61 = I throw this in because I am fascinated by the Orlando Mickeys' story so far. After their 14-0 start, this makes 7 losses in a row, and if their game with UTEP had not been postponed that would likely be 8. Good night, Knights.

Florida 70 - Kentucky 68 = A very good game, close from start to finish, and precisely what I'd wish for. I do not like Billy Donovan all that much. I dislike John Calipari quite a bit more. Since both could not lose, I'll take this. :D

Memphis 62 - Gonzaga 58 = Speaking of Cal, here's a good non-conference win for his former employer. Were the 'Zags as good as they've been in past years, it would even be a great one, but the Tigers will take all they can get at this point.

Louisville 61 - DePaul 57 = Are you joking? Louisville beats an absolutely lousy Blue Demon squad by a stinkin' 4 points, and in their new Crum Bucket, and needed more late-game heroics to even manage that? Do you think I'm stating this too strongly? Forget that DePaul is now at 6-16 this year. Even forget they are 0-10 in league play. All you need know is this is their 23rd straight loss to a Big East foe.

Mississippi State 58 - LSU 57 = And this victory is just about as bad . . . or would be, were it not for the fact that it is about what we've learned to expect in the SEC.

Miami 70 - Virginia 68 (OT) = Well, if nothing else, we at least know that neither of these two teams want to end up in the ACC cellar with Wake Forest. Both wanted the win, and they gave us a good contest.

Oklahoma State 81 - Oklahoma 75 = I guess this is a good enough win for the Cowboys, and a disappointing loss for the Sooners. But I'd imagine they are a bit more focused now on the count of sexual battery and three counts of "rape by instrumentation" (I hestitate to guess) charged against starting forward Darrell Williams today. And I thought the Larry Drew II story was embarrassing.

Oregon 81 - Washington 76 = I mentioned this above, and stick with what I said. I am not surprised the Huskies lost a game they maybe should have won. I am surprised that it was the Ducks who did it.

San Diego State 60 - TCU 53 = Much as with the Louisville/DePaul game above, this one's hard to believe. Are you telling me the Aztecs beat the absolutely horrid Horned Frogs by a couple of possessions . . . on their own court? OK, fine, but don't tell me you actually believe they're one of the best teams in the nation also. I'll believe one or the other, but not both.

U.Conn 61 - Seton Hall 59 = And the only difference here is that the game was in Newark, not Storrs nor Hartford. That's still insufficient excuse, and the Huskies dodged a bullet the size of Calhoun's ego here.

St. Bonaventure 64 - Duquesne 62 = This one was of huge significance in the A-10, as it dropped the Dukes into a tie at 8-1 with Xavier. I expect both of these two to get NCAA bids, but it's always better safe than sorry. Watch this race closely from now on.

Baylor 76 - Texas A&M 74 (OT) = The Bears haven't had as good a win as this one all year. Plus, coming off their loss to the Sooners, they needed one.


There was much less notable action Sunday:


Rider 96 - Fairfield 87 = A bit of a shock to me, since I thought the Stags would take a stranglehold on the MAAC with a win here. They still have a 2-game cushion, but that's not yet a safe margin. Again, here's one to keep your eyes on.

Notre Dame 76 - Rutgers 69 = Just one more of those "WTF?" games. And yes, it was in South Bend too. Why oh why do all these experts think the Big Mouts Conference is so great, when they can't even dominate their own cellar-dwellers? They must have a lot of reporters on the payroll, that's all I can think.

North Carolina 89 - Florida State 69 = It is no big surprise that the Tar Heels beat FSU in Chapel Hill, since they've been doing that with nice consistency for decades. Hell, that's the proximate cause of Charlie Ward's famous quote about the "wine and cheese crowd" of Tar Heel fans. Shoot, what reason did the Heel faithful have to get excited when the Semiholes came to town? Hey, if Charlie had been a better point guard (or a worse quarterback) and played for Dook instead, he'd have seen some lightning in the stands. But back to the game: This is the reaction I hoped for, after He Who Shall Remain Nameless fled town Friday night. The team got hurt, got confused, then got mad. Kendall Marshall had 9 points and 16 assists, Dexter Strickland scored 15 and grabbed 6 boards, Barnes, Henson and Zeller also scored in double digits, and FSU got no closer than 7 in the 2nd half. So, an expected win became a welcome stomping, and is the 3rd such spanking issued in a row. It might not last ( :D ), but it's fun while it does.


Tonight has only a few games of import:


Pitt vs. West Virginia = I figure the Panthers won't have all that much trouble with the Mountaineers, despite the fact that WVA has played very well on occasion. But Pitt knows it can put its hands around the throat of the regular season and make it their own, so I expect them to remain focused on the task at hand.

Murray State vs. Eastern Illinois = Joe's Racers should not have much trouble with these Panthers, since nobody much else has had a lot of trouble with them so far. But sometimes after a big win a team can let down. I'm not sure EI is good enough to take advantage if that occurs, but who knows?

Missouri vs. Kansas = The Jayhawks are somewhat better, and have been more consistent than the Tigers. But Missou, despite their 4-4 conference mark, are capable of beating most anybody on a given night. Can they do what Texas managed, and shoot down the Jayhawks in Allen Fieldhouse? Probably not, but it should be fun to watch anyway.


That's all I have time for tonight. Enjoy, and Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

:r:r:r:r

I think you might be right about the SEC. Sheeeesh!

Pitt has its hands full, with less than 6 minutes to the half.

Go Racers!!!!!

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

A. Well, to be fair to the Gators and the Tide, I guess we should recognize they have a leg up in the East and West divisions. Florida may be a tiny bit of a surprise there, given their division competition, but 'Bama is a total puzzler to me. Then again, the West seems to be much weaker than its eastern sister, so I guess somebody has to be on top.

B. We have seen the Mountaineers play some good ball so far, and though I see Pitt taking the Big East regular season I never thought they'd face no challenges along the way.

C. Go Racers? They seem to be doing just that. Case in point:


Murray State 66 - Eastern Illinois 53 = The victory in itself was no shock, but it does give your Racers their 6th in a row. Furthermore, had they not lost by 2 to Austin Peay in their first meeting, and this EI squad by a single point a few weeks ago, this would have made 16 in a row. Not too shabby.

Pitt 71 - West Virginia 66 = A couple of buckets, a couple of boards, a bounce or two the other way, and we'd have had what the experts call an upset here. Don't kid yourself . . . in big-time conference play, there are few true upsets. It would have been a good win for the Mountaineers, but it's also a good one for the Panthers.

Kansas 103 - Missouri 86 = I pretty much assumed the Jayhawks would take this one, yet I find the margin a bit lopsided. But this leads me into what is rapidly becoming a pet peeve with me. OK, so Missou has an 18-6 overall record, but how can one justify a team getting a top 25 ranking when they are just above, at, or under .500 in their own conference? I'm not picking on the Big 12 here, since the same is or has been true in the Big East, Big Ten, and SEC. Me, I do not get it, one damn bit.

Wright State 74 - Youngstown State 70 = Although the Raiders really should have handled the crappy Penguins with much more ease than this, the win does keep them in touch with Valpo and Cleveland State for the zenith of the Horizon.


There are a few interesting games tonight, leading up to Wednesday's big night of action. But that's to follow, so this evening we have:


Purdue vs. Indiana = Although the Hoosiers have played some decent ball from time to time, and actually have managed to steal a win or three they were not supposed to, I can't really see them going on the road to take the Boilermakers . . . unless, as they have done too often, the 'Makers make no shots. Other than that, I see this lasting a half, then unraveling for IU like one of Bobby's old red sweaters.

Cincinnati vs. DePaul = And though the Bearcats have been eminently beatable at times, the Blue Demons have yet to manage to win a league game so far. I don't expect this to be their first.

Xavier vs. Georgia = Big non-conference games are few and far between this time of year. A victory here would look good on both resumes come Selection Sunday, so plan on this one being a war down in Athens. I see this as a pick 'em.

Princeton vs. Penn = Although the Ivy season is still much too young to call, this one may prove key down the stretch. The Tigers want to hold onto their meagre early lead, and the Quakers would like to tie them up . . . even if that puts Harvard up by a 1/2 game. This is in Jadwin, so I'll go with the boys east of the Delaware here.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky = Bruce Pearl has served his 8-game conference suspension, and will be back on the bench tonight. I do not expect he will score any points or grab any rebounds, though he may make a couple of "turnovers" if he tries to get three weeks of yelling at the refs out of his system all tonight. If the Vols can steal one up in Rupp, they can put Cal's 'Cats under .500 in SEC play (see my gripe above), and considering how things are shaking out so far in this league, I see no reason why they can't . . . except for the fact that they themselves have been as inconsistent as has UK. Were I to wager, I'd give the home team a two-possession edge, but this one should be a blast from start to finish. Don't be surprised if the team that makes the plays in the final 2 minutes walks away with the W.

San Diego State vs. Utah = The Aztecs were not very impressive in wins against Colorado State and TCU, and probably need to turn up the juice a bit tonight by spanking the hapless Utes. If they do so, it may mean little save that they have refocused. But if they again slip by with a one or two possession victory . . . or a huge home upset . . . they had best steel themselves for a marvelous regular season, and a extremely short post-season run.

Boston College vs. Clemson = At the moment 4 teams are tied for 4th in the ACC with 5-4 records, and here are two of them. Though it is possible that the Selection Committee might go 7-deep in the conference, it is more likely they will only let at most 6 into the Dance. You don't think these guys don't know that already? This one down in Littlejohn is huge for these two teams, both of which have been in and out of the national spotlight during the course of the season so far. I figure this may just get nasty in Death Valley, so keep you eye on it.


That's all for today. I'm late for practice for THE BIG ONE tomorrow already, so I leave you with . . . enjoy. Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Not a lot of games last night, and no surprises either. Well, maybe one:

Cincinnati 71 - DePaul 68 = OK, so it was in the Rosemont, but for the Blue Demons to come so close to their first conference win does not speak well of the Bearcats.

Xavier 65 - Georgia 57 = Early in the year I almost gave up on the X-Men. Shows just how dumb I am. You can view this as another big win for them, or another funky loss for the SEC.

Clemson 77 - Boston College 69 = A good showing from two of the "also-rans" in the ACC. The game may neither clinch a bid or lose one for either team, but it does help the Tigers' chances.

Kentucky 73 - Tennessee 61 = No shock here at all. Despite their struggles, UK is a better team . . . especially in Rupp.

Purdue 67 - Indiana 53 = And that's pretty much the same tale here. The 'Makers still can't score worth a doodly, but they didn't have to against the Hoosiers.

Princeton 62 - Pennsylvania 59 (OT) = A nice, hard-fought win for the Tigers to keep them in the early Ivy lead.

San Diego State 85 - Utah 53 = Now that's more like it, Aztecs. I guess Steve Fisher saw the same thing I did, and lit a fire under your butts.


There is entirely too much good action tonight for me to do it all justice, especially as I have to devote so many keystrokes to THE GAME. So I have cherry-picked these:


Temple vs. Fordham = I don't expect the Owls to have a problem with the Rams, but it is of some importance for Fran's team to spank them and continue to regain some respect earlier losses took away.

Northwestern vs. Michigan = And this one may have minimal national importance, but the teams are well-matched so should put on a good show.

Georgetown vs. Syracuse = But this one, here's a true big game. Not THE BIG GAME, yet still an important one that may later decide the difference between, say, a # 2 or a # 4 seed in the NCAAs. If this one is not tight, I will be shocked.

Notre Dame vs. Louisville = And the stakes are just as high in this Big East clash. The Irish have been better than expected, and the Cards have been the 2011 version of The Card-iac Kids. I figure it will be close, so maybe Pitino will get a shot at pulling another one out of his butt.

James Madison vs. Drexel = Though it seems as if these two are out of the running for the CAC, they are still good teams and I figure on a nice game here.

Dayton vs. Rhode Island = And in the A-10, it's the same situation. This one should be fun.

UAB vs. Marshall = Pretty much the same story here, although the Blazers still have a good shot at the CUSA title. But don't expect the Herd to let them run amok.

Ball State vs. Bowling Green = Here's a key game in the MAC race, and both squads want the W. Another good chance for a thriller here.

Wake Forest vs. Miami = Though this could be competitive, I'm more interested to see if the Deacs can earn a second victory in the ACC. They don't have all that many chances left, and this one in Greensboro might be their best shot.

Florida vs. South Carolina = If this SEC season holds to form, the Gators will get screwed by the 'Cocks tonight, and further confuse the conference . . . and the experts . . . and me. I'm not calling for the upset, as I'm not certain it would be one anyway, but it is worth keeping an eye on.

Nebraska vs. Baylor = The Bears are not going to catch both the Longhorns and the Jayhawks in the Big 12. The 'Huskers aren't even gonna sniff them. Yet this one should be a decent game regardless of these facts.

Arkansas vs. Mississippi State = Back in the SEC again, which means the only thing you can bet on is that one will win, and the other will lose. This applies particularly to these two teams, since they seem to be of .500 quality in conference play anyway.

Maryland vs. Longwood = What? Longwood?? What is this November game doing in February? Uhhhh, ummmmm, I think I'll go with the Terps here.

Villanova vs Rutgers = It is in Piscataway, which is the only advantage the Scarlet Knight will have tonight. Still, the Wildcats have not been dominating, so it may be close for a while. It should not end that way.

Wisconsin vs. Iowa = I can't see this one being much of a game, unless the Hawkeyes can somehow grab an early lead at home, and thus force the Badgers to try and speed up. As good as they are, that's one thing they cannot do.

Texas A&M vs. Colorado = However, although the Aggies have gotten more press, and more respect, than have the Buffaloes, this one could actually go either way. Not only can those bison play a bit, they host the lowlanders up in Boulder. Break out the O2 tanks, fellas.

Texas vs. Oklahoma = And this one is in Norman. Big freakin' deal. If the Longhorns do not gore the Sooners sooner, they will almost certainly stick it to them later.

BYU vs. Air Force = Yeah, OK. The Cougars are playing tonight. Another big freakin' deal. Take a look at their schedule, both conference and non-conference, and tell me how in the high holy hell they've "earned" an RPI rating of # 2, and a Strength of Schedule rating of # 10 in the nation. Are these guys on crack? Sheesh. If the Falcons only lose by 10 or so, I will be pleasantly surprised. But again . . . big deal.

Utah State vs. Idaho = And lest you think that comment above is some anti-Mormon rant, consider this: The Aggies have not lost a game since Georgetown dropped them by nearly 20 back on December 4th. This is mainly due to the fact that the Aggies have not PLAYED anybody worth a crap since they lost to the Hoyas. But still, those idiots who are allowed to decide such stuff think they are a Top 25 team. Well, let's see them put their own money on 'em down in Vegas, come Tourney time. Please.

Now, for the main event: THE GAME!!!

North Carolina vs. Duke = Two weeks ago, I would not have given my Heels more than a snowball's chance to win this game in Durham . . . or anywhere else, for that matter. But UNC has romped in their last 3 games, and perhaps have actually turned that corner Roy said they would. Meanwhile, Duke showed against St. John's that, if their outside shots are not dropping, they can be out-quicked and out-hustled, and out-classed even. Carolina does have the athletes to beat the Blue Devils down the court, and beat them to rebounds and loose balls, and if they don't take a step backwards they can do that. But the Tar Heel D will give Duke open looks from outside, so if they are canning their 3s it may turn real ugly, real fast. The X-factor may be the Cameron Crazies, and the news is not all good for the home team either. Those Crazies are renowned for their clever (and often tactless) taunts launched at the opposition, and I fully expect them to fire some pointed "Drew" darts at the Heels this evening. The tactic may backfire, however, since the team has had time to fully process the betrayal, and those taunts will merely anger them. If they can focus that anger in a positive way, it can only help their chances. You still have to give Duke the edge tonight, but I don't believe Kyrie Irving's pre-season prediction of another 30-point thrubbing will occur. This one may very well hinge on who steps up and makes plays in the last 5 minutes.


That's all for now. See you tomorrow, rain or shine. Until then, enjoy. Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

"San Diego State 85 - Utah 53 = Now that's more like it, Aztecs. I guess Steve Fisher saw the same thing I did, and lit a fire under your butts."



What he said!!!!

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

THE GAME...coming up!

While there have been some blowouts, this is almost always a great game. I'll usually always watch, even though I despise the ACC, as ALL good Wildcat fans should...... :r:r:r:noon

Even when one team is really having a down season, they show up big for this game. I WILL be watching, not listening, Baybeee...

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

And what I said likely had far fewer censored comments than what Fisher said. ;)

Another great game, and although I may have hoped for a slightly different outcome, no one can complain about the show they gave us. And if you can't stand Dicky V's banter, you can always try to find a feed online from Woody Durham out of Chapel Hill. There may be radio announcers as good, and as fair, as him, but there are none better.

Update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

So let's start this update by finishing up on THE GAME:


Duke 79 - UNC 73 = The Heels had this one most of the way, but the greater experience of the Blue Devils allowed them to edge it out late. The final is deceptive, as the game was much closer than that 2-possession margin. A very good win for Duke, and not a bad loss for the Heels, since they were expected to lose, and since I feared they may take a step backwards. Though they did not take one forward, they did show they could play with anyone, and if they keep this up and continue to improve, UNC is one team you won't want to see in your bracket come March.


Though this game was no surprise, and was exactly what I thought it might be, there were some shocks last night, the biggest being:


Rutgers 77 - Villanova 76 = I would say this is a huge win for the Scarlet Knights, and give them much credit, but from what I understand they did not win as much as 'Nova lost. The Wildcats blew a comfortable lead in the last few minutes, then fouled the shooter on a game-tying trey with 8/10th left, putting him on the line for the W. Jeez.

Wisconsin 64 - Iowa 59 (OT) = And this was nearly a big a shock, with the Badgers needing the extra 5 to take care of business.

Idaho 64 - Utah State 56 = And this was no surprise to me at all, at least in one regard. Hey, I flat-out told you yesterday the Aggies were over-rated. But dropping one to the Spuds . . . uh, I mean Vandals, who pretty much reek? Don't tell me it was in Moscow, as I don't care if it was played in Red Square! Their winning streak of 17 would have ended long ago, had they the guts to schedule some better competition.

VCU 84 - Delaware 74 (2OT) = This one's also a surprise to me, since I figured the Rams would have less trouble plucking the Blue Hens. Give Delaware some props for hanging tough, and VCU for hanging just a bit tougher to remain tied atop the CAC.

Marquette 59 - South Florida 58 = Much like the 'Nova loss, the Bulls gave this away. Much UNLIKE it however, is the fact that Marquette should not have had this much trouble in the first damn place.

Memphis 63 - UCF 62 = And the Knights came that close to breaking their long losing streak, against a CUSA-contending team that should have chased them out of the gym. You just can't figure college hoops.

Georgetown 64 - Syracuse 56 = And not to beat a dead horse here, but I still can't figure how the supposed # 12 Orange can be 7th in the Big Mouth at the same time. One or the other has to give. This is a good win for the Hoyas in the Dome. As for the 'Cuse . . . I've said their problem is their zone, but I'm beginning to believe a bigger one is their inability to shoot the ball.

Notre Dame 89 - Louisville 79 (OT) = Another nice win for the Irish, and another heart-attack night for Rick Pitino. Maybe he should consider going back to the NBA, where the money is better, and the stress is less.

Baylor 74 - Nebraska 70 = I figured on a good game here, and that's just what they gave us.

Bowling Green 65 - Ball State 64 = And did I not tell you this one would be tight?

Texas A&M 73 - Colorado 70 (OT) = Here again, did I not call for a high-altitude dogfight? Sometimes I scare myself, I'm so damn good. :D

Miami 74 - Wake Forest 73 = Well, give the Deacs some credit for giving it the old college try, and just barely missing their 2nd conference win last night. It took 2 'Cane FTs with 4 ticks left to get the lead, and a rimmed-out 3 at the buzzer to save it. Well, Wake still gets to host NCSU and Ga. Tech, so it ain't their final chance.


There are some pretty decent games tonight, though mostly small potatoes compared to last evening's:

U. Conn vs. St. John's = Both teams have shown that they can beat the best, and both have shown they can spit the bit. I really don't think the Red Storm can steal another stunner in the Garden, so expect the Huskies to take it fairly easily.

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama = Vandy is ranked nationally, and are 4-4 in the SEC East. The Tide is unranked, and 7-1 in the SEC West. 'Bama looks for its first win in Nashville in 20 years. Can they get one? Judging by the conference history so far this year . . . I have no clue. :r

Illinois vs. Minnesota = Both of these teams have been ranked at some point this season. Both are at best .500 in the Big Ten so far. Both need the win. Both can't get it. Flip a coin.

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech = The Semiholes got chased out of Chapel Hill Sunday, yet with a win tonight can get within a 1/2-game of the Heels for 2nd place in the ACC, with plenty of games left . . . including a home rematch with UNC. The Jackets have played some good games in Atlanta, but may have trouble scoring against FSU's D. I figure the 'Noles by 3 possessions, unless they pull another stinker like they did on the road at Clemson.

Penn State vs. Michigan State = Tom Izzo seems to believe his Spartans can still earn a bid to the NCAAs, despite their present 13-10 record. Well, I've looked at their schedule. With 7 games left, and with Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, and Purdue amongst them, they had better start their push tonight. The Nittany Lions have shocked better teams already this year, so don't expect them to just roll over. This one could be a lot of fun, and much too "questionable" to call.

Oregon vs. UCLA = Believe it or not, the Bruins are 2nd in the Pac-10, behind the 'Zona Wildcats. They feel at least as dissed as those desert 'Cats, and with even more historical justification. They think they deserve to Dance. Me, I do too. But they had best press the Ducks tonight, or face my wrath tomorrow.

Washington vs. California = And believe it or not, the Huskies have gotten almost all the Pac-10 props so far, yet their 7-4 conference records is a scarce improvement over Cal's 6-5 mark. It is in The Emerald City, where they very rarely lose . . . as opposed to the yellow-brick road, where they've now lost 3 in a row. Must be all the caffeine. I figure they won't make that 4 tonight, but who knows?

Wright State vs. Butler = And now to the mid-majors, with a vital game for both teams in the Horizon race . . . which is also the case for . . .

Detroit vs. Valparaiso = So here four of the top six Horizon clubs face off against each other. You don't think there will be some scoreboard watching this evening? Speaking of important mid-major matchups . . .

Murray State vs. Tennessee Tech = Joe's Racers hold the slimmest of leads for first in the OVC with their 10-3 record. How slim? Well, the TT Golden Eagles at 9-5 are tied for 3rd with Austin Peay, with Morehead State just ahead at 9-4 (and who play bottom-feeder Eastern Illinois tonight, so figure they'll hit 10-4). You don't think this is one big game in one small conference?


That will do it for me tonight. As always, enjoy. And as recently, Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

There were a number of important scores from last night, but only one was a shocker:


St. John's 89 - U. Conn 72 = Yeah, I know the Johnnies have played some good games on occasion, and that they laid the wood to Dook not long ago. But I never thought they'd grab another huge win against a "Top Ten" team. I put that distinction in quotes not for the Blue Devils, who likely deserve it, but rather for the Huskies. Once again, I must protest. U. Conn is # 10 in the nation, yet in a 5-way tie for 7th in the Big East? Man, I'd like to take those voters and just :sl !!!

Florida State 72 - Georgia Tech 63 = This one I place in this prime position not for the expected victory for FSU but rather for its potential significance down the road. This keeps the Seminoles alone at 3rd in the ACC race, just 1/2-game below the Heels. Looking at their remaining schedule, I see only 2 more games which should not be automatic wins for them . . . at Maryland, and hosting UNC. This race could go down to the wire.

UCLA 64 - Oregon 54 = Much the same can be said here for the Pac-10. The Bruins remain in 2nd place behind the Arizona Wildcats, and have a fairly managable row to hoe . . . at least until they end the season with those 'Cats and the two Washington teams. It is still a horserace on the Left Coast.

Illinois 71 - Minnesota 62 = And although it seems that the Buckeyes have the Big Ten all to their lonesome, these "also-ran" games are vital, if only for possible seedings come March. The Gophers are go-for-ing the basement fast, with this their 4th loss in a row, and their 5-7 conference mark is now, believe it or not, worse than . . .

Michigan State 75 - Penn. State 57 = The Spartans, who move to .500 in league play at 6-6, and "improve" to . . . gulp, 14-10 overall. Izzo still has a lot of work to do to keep his NCAA streak alive, but this is a small positive sign. Now, let's see him beat the Buckeyes next Tuesday.

Vanderbilt 81 - Alabama 77 = This one was a tight fight from start to finish, with 11 ties and 10 lead changes, but in the end it was the same old story for the Crimson Tide in Nashville . . . wait 'til next decade to win one at the Comms. Vandy hangs on by the whiskers on the Robber Baron's chin, and keep the SEC East in a 4-way tie for 2nd behind the Gators. Yet 'Bama does stay 2 games up in the SEC West . . . for what that seems to be worth.

Valparaiso 82 - Detroit 74 = And this one keeps Valpo at the zenith of the Horizon, although their Crusade is not yet over, thanks to . . .

Butler 71 - Wright State 63 = It won't be easy for either of these, at 9-5 and 10-5 respectively, to catch both Valpo (10-3) and Cleveland State (10-4). One or the other, maybe, but both? Still, there are games left, and so there's time to do it . . . if they can do it.

Murray State 55 - Tennessee Tech 44 = And this keeps Joe's Racers atop the OVC, a full game better than Morehead State (who beat Eastern Illinois themselves last night). Yet winning this game, nor winning the regular season in that conference, won't get them to the Dance. Regardless, they did what they needed to do, ugly though it was (99 total points scored combined? Crap.), and a win is a win is a win. Right, Gertrude?


As we have come to expect, Friday night's mostly a heaping pile of who gives a fark. I spot only two games tonight which, barring something like "upsets" in the Ivy League, seem to have any real significance:

Yale vs. Harvard = Since I don't think the league-leading Princeton Tigers will get much of a fight from the Columbia Lions this evening, this is the key Ivy game to watch, as the Crimson and the Elis (don't feed me none of that "Bulldog" bull . . . there's too many dogs in the NCAA as it is) battle to remain 2nd and/or 3rd in the race for that one lone lonely bid the Ivy shall receive.


That will be it for now. If I have time, I'll come back with some quickies on the early tips on Saturday. Either way, enjoy. Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

OK, I'm back with the Saturday games scheduled to tip by 1:00 PM EST:


Notre Dame vs. South Florida = If the Irish don't just hammer the Bulls, I'll be surprised . . . though to be fair, 7 of the Bulls 8 wins came on their home court. But so did 6 of their 17 losses, so there's that too.

Syracuse vs. Louisville = And speaking of losses, both of these are coming off of one. Also, both of these teams are in that 8-way Big Mouth cluster with records between 7-4 and 6-5 in conference play. Put those facts together, and you can figure on a war out in the Crum Bucket.

Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt = By comparison, the SEC East is a cakewalk, as their are only 4 2nd place teams with 5-4 marks. Kentucky has more talent, and less depth. Vandy has home-court, and a short turnaround time. And that's ignoring the fact that the SEC has had the consistency of a bride's first gravy this year . . . lots of lumps and bumps. Pick 'em.

North Carolina vs. Clemson = The Tar Heels are 3/4ths the way through their single toughest stretch of the ACC season (@ BC, FSU, @ Dook), and so far 2-1 is about as good as one could expect. They need to visit the Tigers and take care of business to remain above the Semiholes in 2nd place. It won't be easy, but I'd give them a slight edge.

Maryland vs. Boston College = And this one might even be more important in the ACC, and I'll tell you why. At 5-4 and 5-5 resp't, neither one will make it to the top of the regular season standings. Yet, barring a possible run in the ACC Tourney, this one may determine whether or not one or the other (and likely not both) will receive a bid to the NCAAs. Can the Terps travel up to Chestnut Hill and take one from a struggling Eagle squad? It should be a lot of fun to watch.

Temple vs. Dayton = The Owls may be ranked, and may even deserve to be, but they are in 3rd place in the A-10. Just barely, mind you, at 8-2 as opposed to the Dukes and X-Men at 8-1, but still. Also, and still still, they are tied for third with . . .

Richmond vs. St. Louis = Though the Owls above may have problems with the Flyers, I can't see the Spiders having all that much with the Billikens. So pencil in Richmond with the W, which means the Owls HAVE to beat Dayton, or fall to 4th in the A-10 race. Hey, I figure all four may get bids anyway, but it's best not to gamble on such stuff.


Tomorrow I'll give you more weekend action, plus some early scores.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

If I were a betting man, I'd say UK will flame out down at Vandy.

The St John's win was great! They ain't too shabby.


Go Racers!!!!!:noon Will be there tomorrow to see if the streak continues.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

A. Well, it certainly would not be the first time the 'Cats got their tails stuck under a rocker.

B. The Johnnies made a bit of a move last year, and Steve Lavin seems to have them on a positive track. Let's see if they can continue to climb back to where they were once, without landing on the NCAA's $#!+list. Hey, it wouldn't be Lavin's first time there.

C. As by this time you're already in the stands, I won't tell you to enjoy. Still, I hope you do . . . and if they win, you likely shall.


Back soon with an update.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

My bad. That game's tonight, so only the janitors are in the stands now. :r


Last night Harvard edged Yale 78-75 to stay in touch with Princeton in the Ivy, while East Tennessee State just spanked Jacksonville 80-64 to grab 2nd in the Atlantic Sun behind Belmont. Today there is far too much going on for me to do proper justice to it all, so by throwing out the mismatches and the bottom-feeders I'm left with:


Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech = Well, actually one of these is a bottom-feeder, but as the Aggies are ranked I have to mention their game, even if I don't think it will be much of one.

LSU vs. Arkansas = And the only way I see the Tigers giving the 'Hogs much of one resides in the fact that the SEC has been all over the map, so there's that.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma = And with Missou being ranked at 18-6, with the Sooners just above .500 at 12-11, this seems a mismatch too. But they are both 4-5 in the Big 12, so you can never tell. It could actually be close, at least for a while.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin = Can the Buckeyes travel up to Madison and stay undefeated? Sure they can. Can the Badgers plod them into frustration, and steal one at home? Sure they can. If somebody scores more than 70, go with OSU. Under that, it could be anybody's game.

ODU vs. VCU = This one should be tons of fun. VCU is tied for 1st in the CAC, with ODU 'waaaay down in 3rd place. Break out the sharp knives.

Virginia vs. Florida State = On the one hand, the Cavs seem to be safely a few steps out of the ACC basement. On the other, the 'Noles want to stay in touch with UNC for 2nd in league play, as well as hope that Duke stumbles somewhere. I can't see UVA winning, yet I do expect they'll show up and give 'em game.

Mississippi vs. Alabama = The Tide want to bounce back from that squeaker at Vandy, and further strengthen their hold atop the SEC West. The Rebels don't want to drop any lower than 3rd, and would love to get back to .500 there. As this is the SEC, and the West to boot, flip a coin.

Indiana vs. Michigan = Two young teams with more pride and tradition than ability, though both have shown flashes. The Logans hold home court, so give them a 3-possession edge over the Hoosiers. Then, wait 'til next year, when both may open some eyes.

UCLA vs. Oregon State = The Bruins may be the surprise of the Pac-10, and may be the only one who can steal the conference from Arizona. As this one's at Pauley, and as the Beavers are as flat as their tails, go UCLA here.

Texas vs. Baylor = The Longhorns don't have a lot of competition left on their schedule, with the Bears being one of the few with half-a-shot. Unless the 'Horns assume they're winning and slack off, they should take it by 10 or better. But Baylor can play a bit, so UT best not fall asleep.

West Virginia vs. DePaul = Although the Blue Demons have come close a time or two of actually winning a conference game, they have as yet not managed to do so. I do not expect they shall today either, despite the fact that the Mountaineers have also fallen off the ridge a time or three themselves.

Kansas vs. Iowa State = And if the Jayhawks drop this one in Lawrence, Bill Self should shoot the mascot.

Georgia vs. South Carolina = Neither team seems likely at this point to make much noise nationally, but both have demonstrated they can play on occasion. Even were this NOT in the SEC, it would be a pick 'em.

George Mason vs. James Madison = Gentlemen, choose your weapons. This duel in the CAC impacts that ODU/VCU game above, as GM is the one tied with VCU. I'm not sure the Dukes can give the Rams any help on the Patriot's court, but JM can play a little themselves, so who knows? If you have any mid-major interest at all, keep an eye on this one, as well as the one above.

Florida vs. Tennessee = Can the Gators grab a stranglehold on the SEC East down in Gainesville today. No doubt. Can the Vols actually show up for a change and throw a wrench in the works? Well, maybe. They have enough skill available, but problems on and off the court have kept them off-balance all season. Yet if they want to make a late push, today would be a good time to start. If it's close at the half, it could be close at the end also.

Southern Mississippi vs. Memphis = And if you think the picture in YOUR conference is muddy, take a look at the CUSA! Amongst the top 6 teams there, one has a 6-2 record, two are at 7-3, and three at 6-3! Hell, you could throw a rock and hit all six! These two are amongst that clusterfark, so you know damn well they will be focused.

BYU vs. Utah = The first time these 2 met, the Utes only lost by 25 points. I don't expect much better a showing today.

California vs. Washington State = They may not be the class of the Pac-10, but at 6-6 each they both want this victory. This might be a nail-biter.

San Diego State vs. UNLV = The Aztecs only have a few more shots at p!$$ing away their tie with BYU atop the Mountain West, and a good piece of their national rep to boot. Tonight in Sin City is one of those. I vowed I'd not pick against them until they fell on their obsidian knives, so I shan't. Still, stay tuned with this one.

Detroit vs. Butler = Neither one of these will win the Horizon without a lot of help from others, yet they are decent teams and will most likely give us one heck of a contest.

Wright State vs. Valparaiso = But here, here we have a truly vital Horizon game. With Valpo leading at 10-3, Cleveland State on their necks at 10-4, and the WS Raiders all the way back at 10-5 . . . well, you get the picture.

Murray State vs. Jacksonville State = If Joe's Racers do not beat the 'Cocks into bloody stumps, he has no reason to complain. On paper, it's no contest.

Stanford vs. Washington = The Huskies stopped their 3-game losing streak by beating one NoCal team, and hope to keep the wins coming against the other tonight. They likely will, as the Cardinal is pretty much a .500 team at best. Still, the fact remains that the Huskies are not nearly as good as they were supposed to be, so who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Pitt vs. Villanova = Only one of these has been consistently good all year, but again the fact remains that 'Nova can beat almost anybody on a given night. This may not be that given night, however, and I won't pick a Big East team to knock off the Panthers until they give me some evidence to the contrary. It should be close for a while, yet the Wildcats have had problems sealing the deal. Pitt by 3 possessions.

Kansas State vs. Colorado = Along with the MSU Spartans, K-State's Wildcats have had the most disappointing collapse this season. But the Buffaloes have been no better of late, dropping 6 of their last 7. Hey, maybe they both suck! Pick 'em, if you dare.

Utah State vs. Fresno State = The Aggies dropped their first game in two months on Wednesday. I don't think they'll drop one to the aptly-named 'Dogs today.

SMU vs. UTEP = Remember above, when I talked about the moshpit CUSA race? Well, here's two more in the thick of it. I'd give the Miners a slim edge over the Mustangs, but it could go either way.

Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa = And here, in the Missouri Valley, is another key game. The Shockers are tied on top with Missouri State at 11-3, with the Panthers in 3rd place at 9-5. Both want it bad. I think the Shockers are a little better, but the game's in Cedar Falls, which might be worth a few points. Regardless, it should be a good one.

St. Mary's vs. San Francisco = It should not shock people who follow college hoops that the Gaels have a good team, and are on top of the WCC race. But unless your beard and memory are both loooong, you'd not expect the Dons to be in 2nd place, ahead of Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Pepperdine, Portland, Loyola Marymount - all names from more recent times. Hey, I know at least one other person who'll have an eye on this one, besides me, and that's Bill Russell. :D


It's getting to crunch time in my game, so I'll be back later with early scores and Sunday games. Later.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

The Cards hung in for the win over 'Cuse.

UK...tight game in Nashville with 5 left to play.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Indeed, two times, so first some early finals:


Louisville 73 - Syracuse 69 = A close one in the Crum Bucket, with Pitino giving Boeheim another tough loss. Though the Orange are not dropping like a stone, they are approaching lead balloon territory.

Vanderbilt 81 - Kentucky 77 = Not to gloat, but I love it. Me, I have a lot of respect for what Vandy manages to do, year after year, and still maintain a high academic standard. As for UK . . . well, they have half of that going for them anyway. :D

Notre Dame 78 - South Florida 55 = Just about what I expected here. The Irish are hot, and the Bulls are gelded.

Boston College 76 - Maryland 72 = A very good home win for the Eagles over the Terps. The middle of the ACC's quickly becoming a muddle.

Richmond 64 - Saint Louis 52 = And the only shock here is that the Spiders had such a relatively hard time with the Billikens.

UNC 64 - Clemson 62 = Well, I said it wouldn't be easy, with the Heels having a slight edge. Harrison Barnes broke a tie at 51 with a dunk with 3:01 to play to give Carolina the lead for good . . . though it would have been for gooder had they hit a few more stinkin'g FTs late, or even earlier. :rolleyes:

Temple 75 - Dayton 63 = I'd hoped for a closer one, but I'm not surprised the Owls took it. This one just about ends the Flyers' hopes . . . and maybe their whole season.

Arkansas 80 - LSU 61 = Well, what do you know? One SEC game that actually turns out to be what you'd think.

Missouri 84 - Oklahoma 61 = I figured the Tigers would get to the Sooners sooner or later. Seems like it was sooner.

Texas A&M 70 - Texas Tech 67 = Hunh? You mean the Aggies let the Red Raiders stay so close? WTF?

And now, for the biggie:


Wisconsin 71 - Ohio State 67 = And the last one bites the dust. Not just a great win for the Badgers, but one which defines modern college hoops: Nobody goes home without a scratch.


Back soon with some Sunday picks.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Games of note come Sunday include:


St. John's vs. Cincinnati = Can the Red Storm keep on stormin', and shave the Bearcats on the road? At this point, I'd hate to pick against them . . . but I will. Cincy in a close one.

N.C. State vs. Wake Forest = The Wolfpack is not the worst team in the ACC. Let's see if they can prove that against the Deacs in Greensboro.

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech = And the Yellow Jackets are also not the ACC's worst. But they are not as good as the Hokies. Sure, they can win. But I don't think they will.

Georgetown vs. Marquette = Although the Hoyas will probably have problems putting the Golden Eagles away, they ought to manage that down in DC.

Purdue vs. Illinois = Both of these have shown they can win, and they can just as easily lose too. Flip a coin.

Xavier vs. Duquesne = A huge game in the A-10, with the two teams tied atop going head-to-head. I'm looking for blood in the lane before this one's done.

Duke vs. Miami = The last time the Blue Devils went down to the Sunshine State, they came back with a loss. But that was against the Seminoles, and not the Hurricanes, so as much as I would like it, as it would help my Heels, I can't see a repeat of that happening. Duke, big.

U. Conn vs. Providence = And as much as I like seeing Jim Calhoun lose, I can't see the Friars winning in Storrs. It could happen, but that would be at least a minor shock to me.

Arizona vs. Arizona State = There is little doubt that the desert 'Cats have a better squad than does the Sun Devils. That being said, when it comes to in-state conference rivals, on ASU's court, you have to give Sendek's boys at least an outside shot at it. I'll believe it when I see it, but you never know.


I'm bushed, so that's it until Monday. 'Til then then, enjoy. Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Awright, first, ya gotta quit calling it the Crum Bucket, for the love of Rick!!!! The new digs goes by the official name "Pitino's Palace", or "The House That Rick Built". Show some respect! :D:D:D Good win for them, by the way, but they sure tried to let it slip at the end.

It IS easy to feel good about Vandy and Stallings program. A top notch school, with great academic programs and a med school and facilities that are among the nations best, and still manage to put a good team on the floor nearly every year. I had a feeling this was going to happen. UK had the game, and took their foot off the gas right after bagging the lead. No bench and no consistent focus = no Final Four for this squad this year. Kills me to say that.

Racers win!!!!! By the skin of their teeth, at 1 point at the buzzer. Ugly game for the Racers, who couldn't hold a lead until 7 minutes left in the game, and shooting a typical (for them) 50% from the line. Pitiful, and no excuse for it.

Missed the game while in Murray; looks like Pitt had a close game.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Hey, I thought I was showing some respect! :r Let's get real: It wasn't Pitino who built the Louisville program, but Denny Crum. What with so many other former coaches honored with their names on courts. . . Phog Allen, Adolph Rupp, John Wooden, Dean Smith, Lou Carnesecca, etc. . . I thought that this appellation was apt. Besides, I'M not the one who called it the KFC Yumi in the first place, so don't blame ME for the "Bucket" part! :D

Update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Joe, I'm totally with you on Vandy. No offense intended, but that is the only SEC school I hold in unreserved respect. As for UK blowing the lead, with "no bench and no consistent focus", I put that all on Cal. He recruits the best "one-and-dones" in the country, then pretends his "dribble-drive" streetball approach is actual coaching, as opposed to just throwing out the orange and letting his guys hoop, in the hope they can outplay all others. Again, no offense, but it does NOT kill me to say THAT.

As for your other 2 points:

Pitt 57 - Villanova 54 = I'm not surprised the Panthers won, and not surprised they had a tough one in Philly. Aside from the relatively poor shooting, this one's about right, all the way around.

Murray State 60 - Jacksonville State 59 = How true, a win is a win. But how true that your Racers should never have had this much trouble with a 5-22 team. Yeah, everybody has a cold shooting night now and then, but that's when the better teams dig deep and hustle to make something work, somehow. You were there, and maybe they did that, but still :rolleyes:. I'm pulling for your Racers, but games like this don't make that easy. And the squeaker was even more important for them, due to . . .

Morehead State 64 - SE Missouri State 52 = One way or the other, "MSU" was going to be atop the OVC. That one-point win keeps Murray State there by a full game, instead of being tied with the Eagles for the conference.

Alabama 74 - Mississippi 64 = But it does seem as if the Tide has taken complete control over the SEC West, so barring their total collapse it is theirs.

Colorado 58 - Kansas State 56 = These two haven't any chance at all to take the Big 12, yet I'm a bit surprised on two fronts. One, I did not expect the Buffaloes to get some of the "quality" wins they've managed to so far. Two, although I never thought K-State was as good as their pre-season hype, I never thought they would just crumble like they have either.

Columbia 75 - Penn 62 = OK, so Penn's not as good as they have been in some past seasons. But to let the West Harlem Lions beat them like this? Please.

Florida 61 - Tennessee 60 = I felt this could be close, so maybe I'm not totally stupid after all. The Gators did just enough to do what they needed to grab the SEC East by the throat. Meanwhile, the Vols have not responded to the return of Bruce Pearl, and if they can't beat the 'Cocks on Wednesday they will join them in the basement.

Florida State 63 - Virginia 56 = For a little while I thought the Cavs would help my Heels by knocking off the 'Noles down south. But FSU hung on for a win that keeps them right on my Heels for 2nd place in the ACC.

Memphis 67 - Southern Mississippi 61 = A good win at home for the Tigers, but it still does little to resolve the CUSA race. With 1/2 the teams still in contention, this could go down to the final week, or even the final game.

Texas 69 - Baylor 60 = I predicted that the Longhorns should take it by 10 or better. They let me down, and only won by 9. So, I'm an idiot, OK? Feel better now?

San Diego State 63 - UNLV 57 = I can't say this is much of a shock, since the Aztecs have been fairly consistent all season. However, even giving the Casino Runs a few possessions for home-court advantage, I'd have to say it's not very impressive for a "Top Ten" team against one that hasn't sniffed a ranking so far this year. Yet again, a win's a win, so there is that.

Valparaiso 58 - Wright State 56 = Here's a huge win in the Horizon for the Crusaders to give them the slimmest lead there, but much like the CUSA this one's far from over. Hey, four more teams could spit and hit them, easy.

ODU 70 - VCU 59 = By comparison, the CAC's a cakewalk to call, what with only 4 teams bunched at the top. I'm a little surprised the Monarchs won by double-digits, but I knew it could go either way. So here's another mid-major race to keep in mind>


Now on Sunday here's the big ones:


St. John's 59 - Cincinnati 57 = I wondered if the Johnnies could shave the Bearcats, and they managed by a whisker. With six games left on their schedule, three tough and three not-so-much, it's beginning to look like they might actually earn themselves an at-large this year.

Xavier 71 - Duquesne 63 = Aside from the relatively "huge" margin of victory, no surprise here. The X-Men grab the slimmest of leads in the A-10 . . . in another race that won't be over 'til it's over.

Duke 81 - Miami 71 = Some Blue Devil fans may have thought that, what with Ohio State losing, and Pitt and Texas not showing dominance in their games either, they might actually move up a bit in the polls. Well, not when you beat a "meh" team like the 'Canes so weakly. OK, so Miami has lost a handful of conference heartbreakers. Granted, but on the other hand their conference wins have been heartbreakers also, just sneakers on the other foot. This was NOT a very powerful statement, Dook.

Purdue 81 - Illinois 70 = The Illini had their chances at home, but they could not make the plays in the final minutes. Regardless, a good win for the Boilermakers, which gives them an outside shot at taking the Big Ten . . . if they take care of their own business, and get a little more help against the Buckeyes.


Tonight I only spot two games that interest me at all:


Syracuse vs. West Virginia = The Mountaineers have shown they are, on any given night, capable of beating almost anyone. The Orange have lately shown they are equally capable of losing to almost anybody, as they've done 6 of their last 8 games. This one's in the Dome, but even that hasn't been much help to the 'Cuse so far. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, and make this a pick 'em.

Kansas vs. Kansas State = Speaking of doubt, you have no doubt read my posts about how hard it is to predict in-state conference rival games. Well, I predict that if K-State finally finds it feet again and manages to knock off the newest # 1 team in the polls then I shall report it tomorrow. I may report it anyway, unless it is the complete Jayhawk spanking I expect. KU over KSU, double-digits.


See you tomorrow, I presume. Until then, enjoy. Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

They could have easily blown them out they pretty much led most of the game. They have been missing their starting #2 guard and their sixth man for the last 3 games. Bright spot was that their supposed weakness is the foul line and they hit 8 in a row at the end of the game. Everyone is getting ready for the 26th against BYU. thanks for keeping up.:tu

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

St. John's play has me rooting for them to get an at-large. I like Lavin, and was disappointed he did not get more time at UCLA. That was also where Pitino lost me as a fan (like he needs me). I thought he was pretty classless in the way he expressed interest in Glavin's job while Glavin was still working it.

'Cuse is trying to put WV away with 6 minutes left.

Got no argument with you on Vandy either, Poet! And Vandy is a TOUGH road game.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, thanks for posting. And I wasn't trying to diss the Aztecs. It's not easy to win on the road. Hey, my Heels only edged Clemson by a deuce (though it would have been more had they hit FTs like your boys did down the stretch), and Duke beat a pretty crappy Miami squad by only ten. Sometimes escaping with the W is the best you can hope for.

Oh, and sometimes it's not even easy at home. Just ask Joe about his Racer's game! :D

I suspect Lavin was a bit tarred with Harrick's brush, and was on short leash at UCLA. Then, with a handful of Sweet Sixteens, and one Elite Eight, followed by a 10-19 campaign, and that was all she wrote. This might not be fair, but it is the UCLA Bruins we're talking about here. Hey, for a similar situation, ask Matt Doherty what that's like. :r

As for Ricky P, I've never been much of a fan. He always struck me as a greaseball version of another guy I'm supposed to like, but really have some trouble doing so . . . Larry Brown. They both seem to be auditioning for their NEXT job. ;)

Update soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, of the two games I selected from last night's meagre action, we had one shocker and one mocker:


Kansas State 84 - Kansas 68 = OK, so THAT # 1 ranking didn't last too long now, did it! This is one I still cannot believe. Although I have said once or twice that I've not been all that impressed with the play of the Jayhawks, I have been more "impressed" by what seemed the total and complete collapse of the prairie 'Cats. Hey, had they even managed to eek out a home win against KU on a buzzer-beater, I would have been surprised. Keep in mind, in the last 27 times the Jayhawks had visited Manhattan, they had won 26 times. But thanks in large part to a monster game by Jacob Pullen, K-State wasn't pullin' this one out their butts late, and owned it from start to finish. A huge win for a team that's had one of the most disappointing seasons in the nation. And I don't wanna hear no whinin' about KU missing some players to injuries either. Almost everybody has to play through missing pieces during the course of the season, and that's what the bench is for. Besides, we had enough whinin' last night from upstate NY . . .

Syracuse 63 - West Virginia 52 = The Orange needed a quality conference win badly, and got one against a good WVA team. The Orange did NOT need Jim Boeheim jumping into the $#!+ of the local media after the win, blasting them for criticism of SU's recent 2-6 skid. How DARE they disrespect him by finding fault with stuff like losing by 22 points to Seton Hall, in the Dome! Shut up, Jimbo. You don't like bad press? Then win all your stinkin' games. Just my :2 , worth every penny, and now I'll do what Boeheim didn't . . . button it.


There are 4 times more important games tonight than last night, and despite the size of the conference none bigger than:


George Mason vs. VCU = It's starting to get late early around the Colonial Athletic, and with these two vying for the lead, at 13-2 and 12-3 respectively, they both want a win tonight. Figure on a fight to the finish.

Kentucky vs. Mississippi State = Although they've been spotty at times, UK has the better team and the home court. They should rebound from their loss to Vandy, and move back over .500 in the SEC East.

Missouri vs. Texas Tech = I see this as pretty much the same story in the Big 12 here, though the Red Raiders did give Texas A&M all they could handle in their previous game, losing by only three. The Tigers may not like a similar outcome tonight, but they'll take it.

Villanova vs. Seton Hall = It is in Newark, and 'Nova has dropped 5 of their last 8. So has the Hall, and they have several big wins so far this year. Still, you gotta go with the Wildcats to best the Pirates, even if only by 2 or 3 possessions.

Maryland vs. Virginia Tech = The Terps are starting to slip off the bubble for a bid come March, and if you think Jim Boeheim can whine, wait until Gary Williams misses another at-large! They need some wins, and quick. The Hokies seem fairly safe at this point, and yet will not wish to co-operate with the plans of the Turtles, especially in Blacksburg. UM can certainly win, but I'd go with VT myself.

North Carolina vs. Wake Forest = There is no reason in the world why the Tar Heels should lose this game. They have superior players, more experienced coaching, and home court. But that does not mean it cannot happen, nor that it will not happen. Still, you have to favor UNC, and personally, if they do not chase the Deacons back down I-40/85, I shall be disappointed. Not as much as if the Heels do manage to blow it, but still.

Ohio State vs. Michigan State = The Buckeyes just lost their first game all year. The Spartans just won their first game all month, after not winning all that many in January either. No matter how badly Tom Izzo wants this one, and no matter how badly MSU needs a quality victory to help them towards an at-large in March, I cannot see that happening. Buckeyes, by a dozen.

St. John's vs. Marquette = This is one of those 3 tough games I mentioned on the Johnnies remaining schedule, and in Milwaukee to boot. At this point, it's hard to pick against them . . . but I will. I still think the Red Storm will earn a bid, but I don't think they will get closer to it tonight. The Golden Eagles, in a tight one.


That's it for now. Enjoy, and Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

With Kansas losing last night do you think Ohio State reclaims number 1 (assuming a win tonight and Sunday at Purdue)? Or is it more likely Texas or Pitt will take over?

I'm a little biased being a student at Ohio State but I say Ohio States one loss is still better than Pitt's 2 or Texas' 3. Quality wins against MSU and Purdue should be enough to get the top spot back in my opinion.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

That's a tough call, even if you assume your Buckeyes can beat Purdue on the road this Sunday . . . which is far from a guarantee. It's not only tough because one could see five teams splitting first-place votes, if you toss Duke into that mix, but also because the voters seem to latch onto certain teams, and certain leagues, and are lothe to abandon their favorites at times. And you must admit, OSU didn't help themselves much last night, what with their relatively close victory over the 14-11 Spartans, in Columbus too. More on that to follow.

But all in all, who really cares? It's just bragging rights, and as long as they stay within reach of a 1 or 2-seed in the tourney, that's all that truly matters.


Update soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

OK, since we've already mentioned it, let's start with that OSU/MSU game:


Ohio State 71 - Michigan State 61 = To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what to make of this. Is it a good bounce-back win for the Buckeyes after their first loss of the year, or is it a good loss for a Spartan team that hasn't shown us much for a while? Are all those close wins OSU got earlier an indication they are NOT as good as people think, or has Izzo managed to turn his boys around? One thing for sure, this game was not so much settled on the court, but at the stripe . . . and maybe even BY the stripes, if you can believe Izzo over Matta. The Buckeyes went 23-29 from the line. The Spartans? 5 of 6. Do you really expect me to believe that, in a Big Ten game, only a few shooting fouls occurred? Please.

St. John's 80 - Marquette 68 = Yeah, I know, I picked Marquette to win this one. Maybe you think I should have noticed how the Red Storm has gotten hot. Maybe you think I haven't given Lavin enough credit for showing his veteran players that they need not lose once they fall behind. But can you blame me? They broke a streak of 11 straight losses to this team last night, and if I recall correctly haven't beaten them since 1966! So, call me dumb, but don't call me clueless.

Kentucky 85 - Mississippi State 79 = This is probably closer than it should have been, but considering the struggles UK's had at times, I believe they'll take it. Speaking of taking it . . .

North Carolina 78 - Wake Forest 64 = Yeah, I'll take it, but I am not happy. The Heels played without focus and intensity, and just sort of puttered to a fairly easy win . . over a team they should have beaten like a rented mule. If the coach says his team played poorly, you might take it with a grain of salt. If the players say as much about themselves, you know it's a fact. This ain't gonna cut it, what with BC, Terps, and some other local team visiting the Dean Dome soon. Roy, I have one word for you . . . "Suicides!!"

Villanova 60 - Seton Hall 57 = Well, at least the Philly 'Cats have the excuse that they were on the road. That ain't much of one, and if anybody except me was paying attention, the Big Mouth Conference would NOT have 7 of the Top Twenty ranked teams in the nation.

Missouri 92 - Texas Tech 84 = And here's another one that's hard to understand. OK, I don't think Missouri is that great a team, but TT has been PP all year. Well, maybe all these are just due to late-season doldrums. Again, speaking of which . . .

Virginia Tech 91 - Maryland 83 = I figured the Hokies would win, so no surprise they did just that. But the Terps need two or three more quality Ws to have any shot at a NCAA bid, and they are running short of chances. OK, they can beat remaining teams NCSU, Miami, UVA . . . CAN, if they but DO . . . but if they don't, what chance do they have against FSU and UNC?

George Mason 71 - VCU 51 = I'm a little surprised here that GM won so easily. But what with VCU helping them out so much by only scoring 19 in the first half, I guess it's to be expected.

Wichita State 80 -Evansville 74 // Missouri State 60 - Drake 51 = I luimp these two together because they are most definitely lumped together. With both teams winning, they are tied at 13-3 each atop the Missouri Valley. Both have one "winnable" conference game left on the schedule, before they end the season in a face-off for the marbles. Talk about your fun!


Tonight there are too many games, so let me briefly hit the highlights:


Wisconsin vs. Purdue = Though without some major help neither will catch OSU for the Big Ten, they both still have an outside shot. Can the Badgers build on their huge win? Can the 'Makers make it to their Buckeye game without another loss? I figure this will be close, start to finish.

Vanderbilt vs. Georgia = Vandy's been more consistent than the 'Dawgs, but that hasn't meant much in the SEC this year. It's in Athens, but the home court hasn't meant much more either. Flip a coin.

Rider vs. Loyola MD = Who cares, you ask? Well, MAAC-leading Fairfield faces garbage Marist tonight, so figure they will win. Meanwhile, these two are tied for 2nd in conference play. So there's your answer . . . they care.

Xavier vs. St. Joseph's = As much as it pains me to say so, St. Joe's reeks this year. The X-Men had some early struggles, yet lead the A-10 over Temple . . . by a whole 1/2-game. They cannot afford to lose focus, and let the Hawks swoop down on them.

Duke vs. Virginia = In Charlottesville, if that matters. Although the Cavs have some guards who can hit from deep, I don't expect they'll give Dook much of a challenge. Still, the Blue Devils are not an overpowering physical team, and if UVA gets hot from outside, you never know.

South Carolina vs. Tennessee = On the one hand, the 'Cocks have lost three in a row. On the other, the Vols . . . have lost three in a row. I expect one of those streaks to end in Knoxville tonight.

UAB vs. Memphis = The CUSA race looks like a NASCAR sprint restart at the moment, and it's anybody's game. So's this game.

Pitt vs. South Florida = The Panthers, big, and that's no Bull.

Louisville vs. Cincinnati = But this Big East one could go either way. The Cardinals have a better conference record, but you may recall all those they pulled out of their @$$ in the final seconds. Despite some stumbles by the Bearcats, they can play some ball when they try. I think it will be close, so pick 'em.

Georgetown vs. U. Conn = Lately it's been all about the Hoyas, and not so much about the Huskies. Me, I'm not so sure either one of them is nearly as good as their ranking might indicate . . . though don't ask me who I'd put in their place, as I have no clue there either. Since I have more respect for G'town than for Calhoun's pre-prison majors, I'll go with them, by two possessions.

Murray State vs. SE Missouri State = Joe's Racers have the OVC lead, and now all they have to do is hold onto it. If they don't do that against a crappy SEMS tonight, they have no one but themselves to blame.

Texas A&M vs. Iowa State = And here's another mis-match in a different conference. The Aggies won't win the Big 12, but if they lose to the cellar-dweller Cyclones . . . well, I'll be blown away. And not in a good way, mind.

Michigan vs. Illinois = And neither of these will win the Big Ten. But will both of them earn a bid come March? It's not etched in stone yet, what with their 16-10 and 16-9 records, and may well depend on what they do in these last few weeks. Tonight would be a good time for them to start. Pick 'em.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State = I think there's a pretty good chance the Longhorns will get a bid, and would even be willing to bet you on that. And though the Cowboys have a few good wins on their resume (Stanford, K-State, Missouri), I don't give them much of a shot in Austin tonight. But if they bulldog the 'Horns, it would go a loooong way of getting them off any potential bubble. Don't expect a miracle, but keep half-an-eye on this.

Utah State vs. . . . Montana-Western???? = Are you freakin' kidding me? Montana-Western?? And on the Aggies home court to boot, for cryin' out loud? This team is supposed to be good, based on the fact that they have beaten people some high-school teams could take? They can take their # 25 AP ranking, couple it with their RPI Strength Of Schedule rating of 144, and kiss my hairy white @$$. Sheesh, stuff like this just p!$$es me off, no end.

San Diego State vs. New Mexico = The Lobos have a few good wins, such as Colorado and BYU, so if the Aztecs don't stay focused and walk into their own building with the intention to win, they could easily lose, and lose their lead in the Mountain West. Much like that UT/Oak State game above, keep an eye on the scoreboard here.


That's it for tonight. Enjoy. Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Ok. I agree that the votes for #1 will be split up to 5 ways but I was at the game last night and as a team Ohio State didn't play bad. ESPN would like people to believe otherwise because they keep posting his stats but the only player who stuck out to me as playing truly worse than usual was Sullinger. He looked soft. Every time he got touched he was calling for a foul and he was not moving up and down the court efficiently enough to be a defensive threat. That combined with his complaining about being spit on has taken him down a page in my book. I still like the kid and think hes the best thing we have on the team but the truth is without Buford, Wisconsin would have beat us by a lot more than 4 and MSU probably would have stole one on the road. Buford has now played 2 back to back great games. My only other complaint was Jon Diebler who didn't contribute anything on either side of the ball in the first half. However in the second half he really came out ready to play. Either way I'm glad we still have a few more weeks to correct things before the games really start to matter. And as always go BUCKS.

On an other note, I'm from Rochester, NY and my girlfriend goes to Syracuse so I really hope they get things going over there. Long time Boheim fan and it sucks seeing one of his teams struggle this much.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

I did not see the game, so cannot comment on the specifics. But I tend to give freshmen some slack, and although at this point in the season there are no "real" freshmen, Sullinger should be expected to disappear from time to time. As for that whole "spitting" incident, I saw the story yet decided not to comment, since we always seem to get a few "non-stories" like that every year. If it happened as reported by Sully, then it was at least bad Badger form. However, there are idiots everywhere, so it's best to make your point then let it go.

And as for Syracuse, they pull this stuff almost every year. Me, I've gotten to the point where I don't so much consider it "struggling" as I think it's just Orange basketball as usual. They'll have a good season, make the NCAAs, and go bye-bye in the second round.


Update to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

I agree that you just want to stay up high in the rankings to get the good seed. OSU will probably get back to one, but you never know with Duke, the media favorite.....

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

A number of games went in unexpected directions last night, but many had the same net result, and that being to further confuse their conference races:


U. Conn 78 - Georgetown 70 = Though is seems as if Notre Dame is the only team willing to challenge Pitt for the regular season, the fight for 3rd place goes 6 or 8 deep. That includes these two, as well as . . .

Cincinnati 63 - Louieville 54 = The Bearcats looked dead in this hunt after losing 3 of 4, but this one keeps them at least mathematically in the hunt. NOT in that hunt are . . .

Pitt 67 - South Florida 55 = The Panthers would have to totally crumble to drop into that pack, and the Bulls would have to kidnap the commish to even get a sniff. Still, I don't much like this. For a team with aspirations for a # 1 ranking to beat a crappy team like this by just a dozen, on their home court no less, ain't much of a statement.

Duke 56 - Virginia 41 = Nor is this, though there is the slim excuse that the Blue Devils were on the road. Still, for them not to break 60, and for Singler to end up with 2 points, 4 fouls, and 5 turnovers . . . yeah, there's a first-team All-American for you.

Vanderbilt 64 - Georgia 56 = Hey, Vandy's won 4 in a row now, and with a little help could even catch the Gators for the SEC East. What with UK and the Vols in that mix, who'd a thunk?

Illinois 54 - Michigan 52 = A close one, and I suppose a decent win for the Illini, though what it means in the larger picture I cannot say. Illinois "improves" to 17-9, and if the can run the table (fat chance of that!) they will not join the other 6 Big Ten teams who already "boast" double-digits in the loss column.

Purdue 70 - Wisconsin 62 = The Badgers follow up their huge win against the Buckeyes by spitting the bit against the Boilermakers. Now they can get ready for their Sunday go-to-meeting with OSU.

San Diego State 68 - New Mexico 62 = Hey, I told you the Lobos would give the Aztecs game! A bucket here, a steal there, and this would have gone the other way.

Southern Mississippi 64 - UTEP 51 // Memphis 62 - UAB 58 = Like those that follow, I lump these for good reason. There are 6 teams still looking for the CUSA crown, including all 4 of these. And neither game did much to resolve the issue either. And the same goes for . . .

Wisconsin Milwaukee 79 - Valparaiso 76 // Cleveland State 74 - Wright State 72 = In the Horizon, there are 4 teams with conference records between 12-4 and 11-5. You think the next two weeks will just be playing out the string? Well then, consider . . .

Morehead State 76 - Eastern Kentucky 68 (OT) // SE Missouri State 64 - Murray State 57 = Joe's Racers did not do what they needed, and the Eagles did, albeit it took them extra innings. This ties the two MSUs atop the OVC at 12-4, with two others still on their necks with 11 league wins. It truly ain't over 'til it's over, brothers.


In tonight's action we have:


Minnesota vs. Penn State = We haven't heard much from either of these two lately, as both come in with 6-7 Big Ten records. Neither is totally safe with an at-large yet, though the Gophers might be close, so tonight would be a great time for somebody to step up and make a statement.

Clemson vs. N. C. State = The Tigers have likely secured an at-large, but the Wolfpack would need to win the ACC Tourney to steal one. That won't happen. Still, a big win in Raleigh would give the fans something to cheer for. But will it save Sidney Lowe's job? Ehhhhhh, I dunno.

Temple vs Richmond = The Owls have a good team. The Spiders have a good team. Both are at 9-2, a game back of Xavier, in the A-10. Me, I'd give both an at-large anyway, regardless, but they can't afford to think that way. Here we have us a war.

Belmont vs. East Tennessee State = You can just about give Belmont the Atlantic Sun now. If they beat their nearest competition in the Buccaneers tonight, you can damn well give it to them. As they would have earned it, completely, good for them.

Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga = Yeah, OK, I guess there's a shot that one of these might be able to steal the WCC from St. Mary's, though they're gonna need some help along the way. Still, if one of them has hopes of snaring a bid, the'd best show up for this one.

And tonight might be "Moving Day" in the Pac-10, since we have these:


Arizona vs. Washington State // Washington vs. Arizona State // UCLA vs. Stanford = With the possible exception of the Huskies/Sun Devils game, these could go either way . . . and I'm not so sure that Herb Sendek can't pull some magic mushrooms out of his desert demons down in Tempe either. With those Huskies at 9-4 in conference play, the UCLA Bruins at 9-3, and 'Zona all the way up at 10-2 . . . well, I think you see my point.


That's it for me tonight. Enjoy, and Screw Drew.

Re: College Hoops Thread '10-'11
 

Well, I'd have no problem if the Buckeyes get that #1 back, for what it's worth, but remember this: In last week's voting, Kansas took the top spot with 22 1st-place votes, OSU took 2nd with 14, and Texas took 3rd . . . with 23 1st place votes!! (Pitt was the pits, with 6, and Dook got dookie).

So somebody out there somewhere REALLY hates the Longhorns, and there's little evidence that they're kissing K's keister.