Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

I'd put a few bucks on State. Long shot but the ACC has not been the ACC this year.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

My oldest daughter Theresa has worked on U of Washington football & basketball stats crew since 1999. She and the UW crew also do stats for the Rose Bowl game - and they worked the BCS championship game in January at the Rose Bowl.
Here is Theresa at UW-UCLA basketball game Saturday evening with the ESPN GameDay crew in the background.
Mrs Ripper and I were there, too. Huskies are schizo squad - they can beat anyone in the country and can lose to a high school jayvee team.

http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/UW-UCLA1.jpg

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Like it or not, guys, but without the Heels in it, it simply cannot be. :D

Thanks for the photo of your daughter, Ripper. Best of luck to her, and the team too . . . they need it. And don't feel lonely about that schizo squad of yours: This year, you are far from alone there, as teams from Alabama-Birmingham to the 'Zags have been the same.

Weekend update to follow shortly.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

First off, to finish something from Saturday, yes indeed, Cliff Tucker hit a trey for Maryland at the buzzer to steal a W from the 'reck. We have seen this stuff before, but rarely from a backup guard who never takes the shot. Good for him . . . he now has at least one thing to tell his grandchildren.

Alright already, let's get to the balance of the meaningful action this weekend. For the rest of Saturday we saw:

Kansas 94 - Colorado 74 = Sorry, I said "meaningful" didn't I, and this has damn little. It's a good enough win for the Jayhawks, I reckon, but totally expected, and unlikely to affect their NCAA seeding one dang bit, one way or the other.

Mississippi State 60 - LSU 59 = Speaking of schizo teams, Ripper, what about these Bulldogs? They are tied atop the SEC West with the Razorbacks, yet eek out this game against the Tigers . . . who remain perfect in conference play, at 0-12.

Memphis 76 - SMU 63 = The meaningful thing here is that these Tigers are still in the hunt for the CUSA, just one back of UTEP. The meaningless thing here was Coach Doherty going postal on the Memphis fans behind the visitor's bench. My take? STFU, Matt.

Penn State 55 - Michigan 51 = Now here's a real shock to me. For a while there I thought the Logans were getting their act together, but I was obviously wrong. Or maybe the Nuttin'ly Lions are finally getting theirs instead. Hey, after losing 12 inna row, this gives them a two-game winning streak, against Northwestern and now UM . . . both on the road. ON THE ROAD!!

New Mexico 59 - Air Force 56 = Well, at least this ranked team edged out a win against this lousy Falcons team. How lousy? Well, they are now 1-11 in the Mountain West, and 9-16 overall. Yet somehow the AP voters seemed to think this squeeker warranted moving the Lobos UP in the rankings. Hey, not if I had a vote, you betcha!

California 64 - Oregon 49 = Coupled with that Battle of the Desert, coming up below, this keeps a few people interested in the Pac-10 anyway.

Brown 57 - Princeton 54 = And had the Tigers mauled the Bears, as I expected, this would have done much the same for the Ivy . . . i.e., kept the race interesting for another conference that won't do squat come March. But now Cornell has their fate totally in their own hands.

Kentucky 58 - Vanderbilt 56 = I put this last since, as usual, the Wildcats completely outclassed and dominated their hapless opponent from the tip-off to the final horn, and the issue was never in doubt. Why, it's men against boys, each and every time they take the court.


On Sunday, we had the following:

Arizona State 73 - Arizona 69 = A tight and well-fought battle, with the Sun Devils keeping that one lone one-half step behind Cal for the Pac-10, and one step ahead of the Trojans. If nothing else, the next few games will be meaningful, if not notable.

Marquette 79 - Cincinnati 76 - Another tight one, between two more of those bi-polar programs.

Duke 67 - Virginia Tech 55 = I thought this one might be a bit closer, and had the game not been held in that ramshackled stinky old tobacco barn in Durham, it may have been so. But it's awfully hard for a visiting team to concentrate with all those fruitbats and poultry flying about. :tf

Ohio State 74 - Michigan State 67 = And another tough fight between a pair of teams with Final Four aspirations.

Pittsburgh 70 - Villanova 65 = Pretty much the same as above, save that I'd have thought 'Nova could best the Panthers . . . and likely would, 3 outta 5.

Wisconsin 70 - Northwestern 63 = Hey, am I correct in thinking Northwestern was actually in the rankings earlier this year? Or was I dreaming that? Nah . . . I must have been dreaming, or drunk.

Tonight has very little going on at all, but there are two games for you to watch:

West Virginia vs. U. Conn = The Mountaineers are not as good as they want you to believe, and the Huskies are not as bad as they have played too often this season. Could be fairly close.

Kansas vs. Oklahoma = This one's in the House of Phog, so I wouldn't expect an upset. Truth be told, I wouldn't expect any sort of contest at all.

Though that's some mighty slim pickin's, I urge you, as always, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

upcoming 'Nova-'Cuse game shaping up to be molto importante

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Hey, ya think? :r For those of you not paying attention, the Orange (12-2) and the Wildcats (11-3) are fighting for the Big East regular season crown, and will bang heads Saturday night in the Dome. With both teams suffering some bad losses of late, I'm not certain either will receive a #1 NCAA seed, and with so many other teams in the hunt for the two spots remaining (assuming Kentucky and Kansas don't falter too badly), I'm not certain either one will deserve it. But it's overrated anyway, and boots you nothing but bragging rights past that first weekend. And speaking of the race for the Big East crown:

U. Conn 73 - West Virginia 62 = The Huskies don't have a shot at it, and the Mountaineers may have shot themselves out of it also with this loss. They both will need a good finish, plus a good run in MSG come tourney time, to have any hope of better than a 3 or 4-seed.

Kansas 81 - Oklahoma 68 = Just another day at the office for the Jayhawks, and that's about all you can say about it.


Tonight there are several games of some note, for various reasons:

Georgetown vs. Louisville = And speaking even more Big Mouth Conference, what about this one? The Hoyas are ranked, and have been all season, but did you realize the up-and-down Cardinals are actually ahead of them in conference play, 9-5 to 8-6? Plus, the game's in Freedom Hall. If Pitino wins, I won't consider it an upset, no matter what the "experts" say.

Virginia vs. Miami = It seems impossible now for the Cavaliars to claim their righful spot in the ACC basement, but the Hurricanes still have a good chance - if UNC and NCSU give them an opening.

Illinois vs. Michigan = After beating two ranked teams above them in the Big Ten standings, the Illini have now lost to the other two. I expect them to turn their slide around against the Logans, and solidify an at-large shortly.

Seton Hall vs. Rutgers = The Battle of New Jersey at The Rock tonight won't do the Scarlet Knights much practical good, but the Pirates could get a bid if they can add a few more wins to their 15-10 record.

Syracuse vs. Providence = Although the Friars, on a given night, are capable of beating the Orange, I wouldn't bet on it. Since they beat U. Conn back on Jan. 27th, they have lost 6 inna row. Make that 7, after tonight.

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech = The money will likely be on K-State, but take Tech and the points. :D Not only is the game in Lubbock, but in my eyes there's only one team for real in Kansas, and those guys ain't it.

Tennessee vs. Florida = And here's another matchup between one team with all the press and one just as capable, on a given night. Tennessee has stayed within the ranked all year, but both the Vols and the Gators are 8-4 in the SEC East, just one back of Vandy for second place. None of them are going to catch Kentucky, but it does add a bit of juice.

Enjoy, my brothers.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

A story popped up briefly last week, one that was baffling and confused, and which seemed both contradictory and incomplete. I considered reporting it then, but decided to wait a few days to see if any additional clarification would come forth - which to date has not. So in the interest of full disclosure, I will give you what little "they" gave me:

For a few hours last Thursday it looked like Ed Davis, a sophomore forward for UNC-CH, had signed with PTA Sports Management, a Chicago-based sports agency. Davis' photo and stats appeared on their website. However, Vincent Porter, the agency's head, quickly made it understood that this was not the case, and that his company had had absolutely no contact with Ed Davis, and that he was not even certain that Davis would be declaring for the draft, given both his underclass status and his recent hand injury which has cost him and the Tar Heels the balance of his season. Porter stated that he believes some outside party hacked into his website, since the information was not only false but because said information looked to have been a cut-and-paste job from a UNC media guide. Porter did admit that, though he hadn't had contact with Davis, he had talked to his family, principally his father Terry Davis, a former college player (Virginia Union) and NBA journeyman who played in 480 pro games between 1989 and 2001 (for Miami, Dallas, and Washington). According to the NCAA, there is no rule against an agent contacting the family of a college prospect, as long as no tangible benefits accrue to that family (travel, hotel, other compensations, whatever), and Porter and Terry Davis both stated that they violated no such regulations, just as both assured Ed Davis himself had not had contact, and certainly had made no signing agreement with this agency, either oral or written.

LIke I said, the story is puzzling, and may be a whole lotta nuttin'. If that is the case, then it is understandable that there seems to be no further word on it, and it should rightly go away. However, if there is even the slightest bit of validity to the briefly-alleged signing, then the University has only one option: Ed Davis must immediately be dismissed from the team, and his scholarship should be revoked. Shoot, the Heels have enough problems this season . . . they don't need this crap to boot, and will not tolerate it.

If anyone knows any more on this story, please enlighten us. Thank you.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Here's the scores that caught my eye last night:

Florida 75 - Tennessee 62 = Like I said above, on any given night the Gators can beat most anyone. And come to think on it, the Volunteers have not been much of anything of late. Since they upset Kansas and edged an over-ranked Ole Miss team 'way back in January, they really haven't beaten anyone of note, and lost to several who are.

Illinois 51 - Michigan 44 = This win was expected. The score was not. Hey, maybe if it's a Wisconsin/Minnesota game, I'd buy it . . . but for these two Big Ten programs to score 95 points between them? Sheesh. Compare that to:

Syracuse 99 - Providence 85 = And like I said above, again, the Friars are capable of winning, but don't. Hell, they held a 55-47 lead early in the 2nd frame. Then the Orange went on a 26-2 run, and it was lights out in the Carrier Dome.

Seton Hall 76 - Rutgers 70 = No, it is NOT because these are two NJ teams that I take note of this score. Crap, I don't give a fark about either of these schools. But the win does get the Pirates one step closer to a possible at-large bid, and they haven't danced in a while.

Kansas State 83 - Texas Tech 64 = OK, so maybe K-State can cover the points. And maybe they are a little more for real than I give them credit. Yet sorry . . . I'm still not buying that there's any team in the B-12 but the Jayhawks.

Evansville 55 - Northern Iowa 54 = What possible reason could I have for tossing this turkey into the stew? Well, you may recall that, back on 2/13 when these Panthers lost to a .500 Bradley squad, I marginally rejoiced that this would finally get this so-so team out of the national rankings. Seems I was wrong . . . again . . . since they did manage to hold onto it by the skin of their fangs. However, now that they have lost again, and this time to a completely crappy team, I hold out hope once more that I'll not have to hear any hype about them until they lose out in the first weekend of March Madness. And as for Evansville, the win improves their record to 8-20, and that's Aces with me.


There are a fair number of meaningful games tonight, such as:

Ohio State vs. Penn State = OK, so maybe this ain't one of them, as it should not be a contest after the first 5 minutes. If the 2-game winning streak of the Nuttin'ly Lions does not end tonight, then the Buckeyes' bus had a flat on the way to State College.

Temple vs. Dayton = Remember all those games above, with one school getting all the hype, while the other is easily capable of beating them? Well, here we go again.

Florida State vs. UNC = This game is important for the Seminoles because they want to end the ACC season with a record better than .500, to assure an at-large bid. As for the Tar Heels, they just want to end the ACC season.

Virginia Tech vs. Boston College = Ibid.

Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame = At this point the Panthers are likely a 3 or 4 seed come March, with dreams of making a push for a 2. As for the Irish, they hope for a push just to get in. Could be a real war.

Marquette vs. St. John's = The Golden Eagles have likely already secured an at-large, especially considering their wins over Xavier, Michigan, Georgetown, U. Conn, and Cincinnati, but it's better safe than sorry. As for the Johnnies, with their 15-11 overall and 5-9 conference standing, they need all the help they can get, so they'd better show up tonight.

Xavier vs. Saint Louis = What is this, a Catholic Athletic League game? No, it's just one more of those "hyped/not hyped" contests that could go either way. Should be a real crusade.

Purdue vs. Minnesota = The Boilermakers seem to think they already have a # 1 seed in the bag for the NCAAs, but they need to get past this one, then Michigan State, before they skate by the Hosers and the Nuttin'lys to end their regular season.

Villanova vs. South Florida = And the Wildcats have dreams of sneaking into that # 1 slot themselves, but they'd better not be looking ahead to that Orange matchup this weekend. The Bulls ain't great, but they ain't pushovers either, and that's no bull.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State = To tell you the God's honest truth, I don't have a clue about this game. Both teams have played like world-beaters, and both have played like garbage. This could be a war, and could be a blowout . . . for either team. Guess we'll see.

Texas A&M vs. Baylor = See above . . . not only re the 'Horns and Cowboys, but re that comment about there being only one truly real team in this conference.

Clemson vs. Maryland = And here's much the same story, in the ACC this time. Either team could take this one, though it's not easy to beat the Terps in College Park.

BYU vs. San Diego State = I'm gonna go out on a limb and pick the Aztecs in this one, even though the game's in Provo. They are not going to catch New Mexico in the Mountain West, but they can overtake the Cougars . . . if they start tonight.

But regardless who win . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Some pretty interesting games, and scores, from last night:

Baylor 70 - Texas A&M 66 = This isn't one of them, as it's about what you'd expect from this "flip a coin" matchup.

Ohio State 75 - Penn State 67 = And this isn't much more interesting, and that only because the Buckeyes really should have won by double-digits.

Temple 49 - Dayton 41 = And neither is this one, save for the fact that neither team could spit into the ocean without getting their chins wet. Combined they shot a woeful 32 of 110 from the field, for a abysmal 29%.

BYU 82 - San Diego State 68 = And this one's only of note because I picked the Aztecs. However, just like their namesakes, they were not around.

Boston College 80 - Virginia Tech 60 = OK, now we're talking! The Hokies have been a fairly decent and consistent team in the ACC, while BC has been . . . well, a team in the ACC. For the Eagles to win this, even in Chestnut Hill, is notable. For them to win by 20 is a shock.

Houston 92 - Memphis 75 = And here's another one for you. Memphis was still in the hunt for the CUSA, whereas Houston . . . well, this ain't your daddy's Cougars, Guy Lewis is long gone from the game, and Phi Slamma Jamma is no longer in de house. This double-digit loss stings the Tigers, bad, and Houston beats them for the first time in a dozen straight tries.

LSU 65 - Arkansas 54 = And these Tigers' strive for perfection ends. LSU stops their 12-game losing streak and are now on the move, improving to 1-12 in conference play. Hey, better late than never. As for the Razorbacks, who are fighting Miss. State for the SEC West, this one's a briar in their snouts for sure.

Notre Dame 68 - Pittsburgh 53 = The Irish have been OK at times this year, but Pitt had supposedly gotten over its early struggles and finally found itself. Well, hell . . . look what they found last night!

Purdue 59 - Minnesota 58 = OK, I know the Gophers are not a bad team. I know the game was in the Twin Cities. I know the Boilermakers lost a key figure, Hummel (get it?), to a knee injury in the first stanza. And I know a win's a win. But hell, this is a team that thinks it rates an # 1 seed in the NCAAs! So, where were they? As for the Gophers, this is their 3rd 1-point loss this season. That's gotta hurt.

Maryland 88 - Clemson 79 = The Terps have been playing decent ball all season, and so far Gary Williams hasn't exploded. And shoot, they even have a shot of stealing the ACC regular season from Dook! Here's one of those teams nobody's paying much attention to who can make some noise come March . . . if Gary doesn't wig out, again.

Xavier 73 - Saint Louis 71 = This one was precisely the Holy War I expected it to be. See, even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then . . . but which am I, the ham or the nut?

UTEP 59 - Southern Mississippi 56 = The Miners pretty much have the CUSA sewn up already, while the Golden Eagles are merely "meh". So how does one explain this scare for UTEP? Hey, $#!+ happens.

Marquette 63 - St. John's 61 (OT) = Well, the Johnnies did show up for this key game, and missed it by thaaaaat much. Now they'll need one heck of a run in the Big East tourney to get themselves a bid.

Texas 69 - Oklahoma State 59 = I guess this is a good-enough win for the Longhorns, and may indicate that they are putting their mid-season swoon behind them. I still don't see them doing much come March, past that first weekend anyway, and Oak State may not even make it that far. But hey, you never know . . . that's why they play 'em.

Villanova 76 - South Florida 49 = OK, this win by itself has no significance, but it does keep 'Nova in the hunt for the Big East crown. What with them one game back of the Orange, that contest in the Carrier Dome Saturday is not big . . . it's HUGE!

VCU 76 - James Madison 62 = And what's so big about this one? Well, every March you hear about these mid-major bubble teams who do not get a bid. Consider if you will these Rams. VCU is 4th in the Colonial Athletic Conference, which ain't exactly one of the marquee leagues, with their 11-6 record, yet they are 20-7 overall. Furthermore, they have wins this season over Oklahoma, Nevada, Rhode Island, Richmond, and Akron, and there's some decent teams in that group. But today there RPI is listed at 63rd. That's tough.


There are a good number of key games tonight, but they are key only in races for the smaller conferences. For instances, we have Wofford/Charleston, Campbell/Jacksonville, and LA Lafayette/North Texas: all may have significance when it comes to who dances and who sits come March. But for the Big Boys, we have these this evening:

Duke vs. Tulsa = The Blue Devils take a break from ACC action, but if they want to steal a # 1 seed they had better not take a total break. Tulsa has a pretty good team. Yet this one's in Durham, and Dook's 15-0 in Cameron this season. Don't chalk it down, but pencil it in.

Vanderbilt vs. Georgia = Vandy's had a few bad losses, and the Bulldogs have had a few good wins. I'd expect the Commodores to win, but ya never know with these two.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina = The Gamecocks gave the Wildcats their first loss of the season, and their last one . . . so far. Do not expect it to happen again tonight in Lexington.

Wisconsin vs. Indiana = You may have noticed a bunch of games lately with scores more seemly of football than hoops. This may be another, since Wisconsin is glacial in more ways than one, and the Posers are . . . well, crap.

California vs. Arizona = The Bears host this .500 team from the desert while holding a slim 1/2-game lead for the Pac-10 over the other one, who visit sub.-500 Stanford not too far away from Berkeley. If these northern bruins (as opposed to those Southland ones in LA) and the Sun Devils both win . . . or lose, come to think of it . . . their head-to-head Saturday could be for all the marbles.

So there you go. As always, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Go Campbell. I hope they make it. See not just a Duke fan. ;)

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Ah, hump the Camels. :ss

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

They could hang with UNC. :D

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

or State :td

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

And your point being? :r

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Well, ummmmmm, I got nothing. Not really a good point.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Is that you, Bryan? Or is that Larry Drew posting?

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

So what happened last night, you ask? Well, here's a few examples:

California 95 - Arizona 71 // Arizona State 68 - Stanford 60 = If you've been paying attention, you know not only why these two scores are together but also why they are first on this list. With the Golden Bears just 1/2-game ahead of the Sun Devils in the Pac-10, and with them meeting head-to-head tomorrow, and with the fact that most "experts" seem to feel only one team from the Left Coast will make it into the Big Dance . . . well, add that all up and you know why this was huge, for both schools.

Gonzaga 88 - Santa Clara 51 = And while we're on the Left Coast, what about this? OK, the game itself didn't mean jack, but it does mean the 'Zags clinch at least a tie for their 10th consecutive WCC title. All props to Mark Few and his program, but let's be honest here for a second . . . it takes two to tango, and nobody else in that conference ever seems to want to dance with the 'Zags.

Duke 70 - Tulsa 52 = This one comes 3rd on my list due to the Blue Devils' . . . slim? . . . hopes of stealing a # 1 seed a few weeks from now. It could happen, but they will probably need some help from other schools, in other conferences, for that to happen.

Vanderbilt 96 - Georgia 94 (OT) = Like I said in my preview of this game, you can never tell which of these two teams will show up . . . the good one or the stinker. I'd guess the good Bulldogs showed up in Nashville, and the Commodores were partying down in Printers Alley instead. But a win's a win, just as a stripper is a stripper.

Kentucky 82 - South Carolina 61 = Did you really think the Gamecocks would skin the 'Cats twice? Not in their house, no way.

Wisconsin 78 - Indiana 46 = Nothing to see here . . . move along. But you loyal Hoosier fans can take some consolation in the fact that your team is moving in the right direction anyway. They scored 22 points in the first half. In the second, they scored 24.

Jacksonville 65 - Campbell 52 = Like I said, "Hump the Camels". :D


It's Friday night tonight, in case you didn't know. That means there's pretty much just a little bit of nothing on tap. Well, the Butler/Valpo game means something to Butler, since with a win they can finish a perfect season in the Horizon. And the Iona/Fairfield matchup is a battle for second in the MAAC, but as Siena already has it in hand, do you really care yourselves? Didn't think so. And even that Princeton/Cornell game has a bit of juice, since it is still mathematically possible for the Tigers to take the Ivy, being only 1 1/2 back with games to play. However, had they not dropped that stinker to Brown last week, the game would be much juicier. So let me jump ahead to the bigger games with an early tip-off time on Saturday:

Pittsburgh vs. St. John's = Big game for the Panthers, as they try to improve their seeding in the NCAAs. Bigger game for the Redmen, as they try to swipe a bid for themselves late. I'd expect both teams to be focused, at the least.

Georgetown vs. Notre Dame = Same conference as above, same story as above.

Ohio State vs. Michigan = Different conference, halfway a different story. I can't even see the Wolverines getting a NIT ticket . . . unless it's just in hopes of a big gate with a game or two in Ann Arbor.

Georgia Tech vs. Boston College = Another different conference, yet another similar story. Some think the Wreck won't even get a bid (I do, but what do I know?), and most know that BC won't either, since they cannot run the table in the ACC Tourney.

Kentucky vs. Tennessee = We all pretty much know what UK is by now. We all are still pretty clueless as to what the Vols are . . . and so are they. This might be the Wildcats last real regular season test, and it is in Knoxville. But I'd not advise you to put any money on it.

We'll know more about it tomorrow. Until then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

In some weird scheduling twist, there seems to be only one game tomorrow.......................................... ...........-(P-(P:r

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

You are absolutely right, there's only one game . . . in the Carrier Dome.


Enjoy it while you can, since you KNOW they're gonna choke come Tourney time. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Action's already begun in the games mentioned above, but before I update them let's get this other crap outta the way. I saw only two scores to note in last night's:

Cornell 50 - Princeton 47 = OK, it is still mathematically possible for the Tigers to steal the Ivy from Big Red, but it ain't gonna happen. Cornell closes out its season with several cupcakes, and the won't give Princeton that big an opening, so pencil them into you bracket today.

Butler 74 - Valpariaso 47 = The game itself meant nothing, but for this supposedly Top 25 team to beat a .500 squad by only a coupla buckets . . . well, it does not bode well for their chances in the Dance.

As is normal, there's tons of games this Saturday. And as is also normal this late in the season, most of them don't mean squat, as both teams are merely playing out the string. Further, a number of them are only meaningful for one of the two teams involved, since the outcome will effect either their seeding or their shot at even receiving a bid at all. So a lot of the contests below are of this nature, such as:

Baylor vs Oklahoma = The Bears are in, but where? The Sooners are out.

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas = Same story for the Comms and Hogs.

Texas vs. Texas A&M = Now we're talking, and more than bragging rights. Both are in, but this one will go a loooong way towards determining where.

Mississippi vs. Alabama = 'Bama's out for sure, but Ole Miss is solidly on the bubble. They need this one bad.

Wake Forest vs. UNC = It's "Wait 'til LAST year" for the Heels, and the Deacs SHOULD be in . . . but hey, you never know. As much as I'd like my Heels to win, Wake needs it more.

West Virginia vs. Cincinnati = If the Mountaineers want a 2-seed, they need this. If Cincy wants to dance, they need this. Could be fun.

Arizona State vs. California = And here's another conference up for grabs, aside from Vic's game coming up below. It's in Berkeley, but that's the only edge I'd give the Bears. As for the Sun Devils . . . I've said it before, and will repeat it here: Herb Sendek is the most underrated coach in America, no doubt about it. Is it because he's such a quiet little nebbish? Is it because he runs a system instead of depending upon superior athletics to win? Beats me, just as he beats more people than he probably should. Know this: He'll have his team ready to play.

Kansas vs. Oklahoma State = Oak State may be on the bubble, being a hair above .500 in the Big 12. KU's on nobody's bubble, but need to finish the way they started to secure their 1-seed.

New Mexico vs. BYU = And here's your Mountain West regular season right here.

Minnesota vs. Illinois = The Illini should not be on the bubble, particularly since they've played better lately. But again, who knows? The Gophers need to go for every W they can to get off the bubble. Should also be fun.

Maryland vs. Virginia Tech = I wouldn't have either of these guys on my bubble, but the ACC's not gotten much respect this season, so again . . . who knows. That especially goes for the Terps, who are likely the most underrated TEAM in the nation at this time. More to follow on that, below.

VCU vs. ODU = Old Dominion is in, or should be. But the Rams are tied for 4th in the Colonial Athletic, and will that mid-major get 4 bids? Big game for them, for sure.

Florida vs. Georgia = The Gators should not be on anybody's bubble list, but they need to finish strong before it's a layup. And Georgia has shown it is capable of beating anybody, given the shot. The Bulldogs aren't dancing next month, but they could spoil someone else's fun.

Mississippi State vs. South Carolina = And it's pretty much the same story here, and in the same conference to boot. The 'Cocks will be holding their own alone next month, but they can put a kink in THESE Bulldogs' chain.

Kansas State vs. Missouri = Both teams are in, and K-State likely a 2-seed . . . unless they blow it late. Here's a good chance for them to do so.

Northern Iowa vs. Illinois State = I don't know how many bids the Missouri Valley will get . . . two? Three maybe? They don't deserve four, IMHO. These two, along with Wichita State, have the best shots. But quiz me this one: How does Northern Iowa, at 14-3 in the MVC, deserve a Top 25 ranking, whereas the Maryland Terrepins, 10-3 in the ACC, get no stinkin' love at all? And no, I am most decidedly NOT a Maryland fan, and actually have hated them ever since the old Lefthander stole Tom McMillen from Dean 'way back in 1970! But hey, what's right is right . . . right, Mr. Congressman?

Oh yeah, I also understand they will be playing some game or other up in the Carrier Dome tonight too. :D Right, Vic?

Sunday's games have a few more of the same old slop too:

Marquette vs. Seton Hall = The Pirates are stuck on a reef, but Marquette can grab a slot with a few more Ws. Here's one chance.

Richmond vs. Xavier = The Spiders are good. The Musketeers are hit-and-miss. I would have no problem with both getting a decent seeding . . . 5 thru 7, let's say . . . but they don't count my vote.

Louisville vs. U. Conn = Both these squads will finish above .500 in the Big East, so I guess you can't put them on the bubble. But neither one is all that great, so don't expect them to get more than one check out of it.

Michigan State vs. Purdue = The Boilermakers have their visors set on a 1-seed. The Spartans would like to convince people they deserve nothing worse that a 3. Should be interesting.

Florida State vs. Clemson = The Seminoles are not on my bubble, but again, I don't get a vote. The Tigers are decidely on the backside of one, and will need some help to climb over it. Here's a place where they could help themselves.

Duke vs. Virginia = And here's the 5th or 6th team looking for a 1-seed. They cannot earn one with a win here, but they can most certainly lose one. Yet I don't expect that to happen . . . here.


I'll check on the scores and come back with some results. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Two noteworthy notes: Late in the second, Notre Dame has a working lead over Georgetown . . . and Tennessee leads Kentucky by 3 or 4 possessions.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Final: Ohio State 66 - Michigan 55 = An OK win, and keeps the Buckeyes on track for a 3-seed.

Looks like the Irish are gonna beat the Hoyas, good. And Vols need to hold off UK another 3 1/2 minutes to give them their 2nd loss.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Notre Dame 78 - Georgetown 64 = A shock to me, and in DC to boot!

Vols still up 2 possessions, but time enough left to blow it.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Georgia Tech 73 - Boston College 68 = Will this get Tech off the bubble? Maybe not by itself.

Vols up a bucket with just over a minute left.

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Vols up 5 with 38 ticks.

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Up 7 with 24 ticks.

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Up 9 with 13 ticks. Oh, my!

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

3 ticks.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Tennessee 74 - Kentucky 65 = Well, John Calipari said before the game that the SEC championship meant nothing, so I guess his boys were listening. Does this cost them the 1-seed? Not in itself, but it does open the door a crack.

Vandy all over Arkansas early, and Oklahoma giving Baylor all they can handle, so far.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Pittsburgh 71 - St. John's 64 = OK, so what if it was in MSG? It's still not a very impressive win for the Panthers.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

I checked the box score on that Kentucky loss: They shot .350 from the field, and only .09 from outside the arc, hitting but 2 of 22. There's your game.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Texas down 8 at the break to A&M, and Cincy up 6 over WVA.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Vandy all over the Hogs. A&M 10 better than Horns, and getting a little late. Sooners still giving Bears all they want, and Bearcats giving WVA a bit more than that. Oh, and my Heels hanging with Deacs . . . so far.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Wichita State 76 - Southern Illinois 55 = This helps their at-large chance some.

Alabama is giving Ole Miss a tussle, which won't help the Rebels chance at all. And speaking of such, Heels now up 10 over Wake.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Baylor 70 - Oklahoma 63 = It was a struggle, but they do what they need to do, sort of. Not very impressive, however.

Vanderbilt 89 - Arkansas 72 = Like the Commodores did here.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

West Virginia gets up by one over Cincy, but still about 8 left. Ariz. St./Cal a tight one at the half. Heels still haven't blown it, but there's 5 left, so there's time for that too.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Longhorns down 10 with 6 left. 'Bama up 2 with 2 1/2 to go. Heels up 9, 4 minutes.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

UAB 76 - Tulane 55 = Here's one of your "at-large" . . . but not because of this one.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Mississippi 76 - Alabama 73 = Yes, it was in Tuscaloosa, but it should not have been this hard.

Heels STILL haven't blown it, and they only have 1 1/2 left to do so.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

even bigger with the Kentucky loss Thomas:banger

Kentucky may be out of the running for a #1 seed depending on what happens at the Dome. If the 'Cuse win they should be a lock for a #1,

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Texas A&M 74 - Texas 58 = That's quite a spanking. Now maybe you're starting to understand why I had little faith in the Longhorns earlier in this thread.

West Virginia 74 - Cincinnati 68 = Pretty much the fight I expected, and puts a hole in Cincy's hopes for a bid. Speaking of that:

UNC 77 - Wake Forest 68 = What was that? What did you say? Though the Heels tried to give it away, missing too many dang free throws in an ugly finish, the Deacs could not capitalize. This hurts them, and only helps UNC by keeping them with a winning record . . . for now.

I'm worn out. I'll talk to you Monday. Until then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

As I said above, my brother, I don't think the loss takes a #1 from UK . . . yet. It does open the door a bit for someone else, but it has to be one of the right someones, and the Wildcats may need another L too.

Besides, worry about beating YOUR Wildcats, not what happened to these ones. If you don't, it's all moot anyway. :ss

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

LETS GO SYRACUSE! Big game tonight from The Dome on ESPN

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Well...that was just a good old fashioned ass whooping.....

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Yeah, pretty much so. More to follow ASAP.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

I think Cuse will be my NCAA Tourney pick. They look awesome. :sad

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Well, my friends, if nothing else, it was an interesting weekend. Aside from all the upsets already mentioned (Irish over Hoyas, Vols over 'Cats, Heels over Deacs) there were others, big and small, as well as some other notable items - such as:

Syracuse 95 - Villanova = I'll put this first for several reasons. Imprimis, it's already been brought up prevoiusly, by Vic and the 'Freak. Secundus, if I don't, they'll both be p!$$ed at me, and I have p!$$ed off enough others in this thread already. And tertius, the win, coupled with some losses, has put the Orange #1 in the polls for the first time in 20 years, and may have just won them a #1-seed come Selection Sunday . . . if they don't blow it before then. As for 'Nova, their dreams of stealing a #1 quickly became a hope not to drop to a #3.

Oklahoma State 85 - Kansas 77 = And here's 1/2 the reason for that, with the Tennnessee win being the other 1/2. For those of you who did not believe before that this year's tourney might be up for grabs, well, you have some more evidence for that possibility now.

Kansas State 63 - Missouri 53 = A good win for K-State, and one some people think will get them a #1-seed. It won't, unless Duke gives it to them first, for at this point the field is set . . . UK, KU, 'Cuse, Dook, not necessarily in that order.

New Mexico 83 - BYU 81 = One dang good game, which might get the Lobos a 3-seed. Of course, as in all cases, that is dependent upon them not spitting the bit first.

Minnesota 62 - Illinois = Did this get the Gophers a bid. Not necessarily. Did it cost the Illini one? Again, not necessarily. But it does complicate things for the Committee, I'd imagine.

Nebraska 83 - Texas Tech 79 (OT) = And does this get the Huskers in? No way in hell. However, it may keep Tech out, since their decline from the ranked to the rank hit bottom with this loss to a team that totally sucks.

Marshall 121 - UCF 115 (3OT) = Wow. Talk about your good team struggling with one that sucks! The Herd may be in, seeing as how they are a solid 4th in the fairly solid CUSA, but they didn't need this to improve their shot, even though they did get the W . . . finally.

Cornell 68 - Pennsylvania 48 = I told you this was coming. OK, the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but Big Red has a 2-game lead in the IVY with 2 to play . . . at both Brown and Yale, both of whom have identical 5-7 and 11-18 records. Cornell will be the first team in the nation officially in the Dance.

California 62 - Arizona State 46 = The Bears now have the Pac-10 within grasp, as they have clinched at least a tie for the regular season for the first time since Pete Newell led them there 50 years ago. As for the Sun Devils . . . well, I said above that Sendek would have them ready for the game, and he did, for the first half. But they stayed in the lockerroom after the break, and only scored 16 points in the 2nd. Sheesh.

Maryland 104 - Virginia Tech 100 (2OT) = The Hokies did not make it easy on the Terps, and I expected no less of them. But, wow. Terps finally beat them back, and guess what? They get ranked for it too! They are #22 in the AP. In the RPI, they are #25, with only about ten teams above them who are worse.

N.C. State 71 - Miami 66 = Here are two who are worse, but they are NOT above Maryland in the RPI. What they are after this game is 4-10 in the ACC, and in a 3-way tie with my Tar Heels for the cellar. But hey, I'm sure Jeff enjoyed it.

And all this was just on Saturday! The fun did not stop come Sunday:

Michigan State 53 - Purdue 44 = Did this win the Spartans a 3-seed? Maybe, if they don't stumble too badly. Did it cost the Boilermakers a 1-seed? Likely, unless Duke and K-State give it back. One thing for certain . . . that was one of the ugliest, most poorly-played games I have ever seen. If that game was any true judge, NEITHER team deserves ANY bid, AT ALL!

Duke 67 - Virginia 49 = The score was about what one might expect. What one could not expect was all the other crap that went down prior to this game, which made it so big when it comes to the Devils' possible seeding.

Louisville 78 - U. Conn 76 = Does this take the Cardinals off the bubble? Could be. Does it put the Huskies on it? Should be.

Clemson 53 - Florida State 50 = Another ugly game, and an ugly dilemma for the Selection Committee. Lessee . . . Dook and the Terps are gimmes, but there are 4 ACC teams tied with 8-6 conference records now. Who's a bubble squad, and who's not? Guess we'll find out.

Marquette 84 - Seton Hall 83 (OT) = You noticing a trend here? There was a lot of extra innings played, as there were a lot of teams on one side or the other of that dastardly bubble, and nobody wanted to throw in the towel. I think the Eagles are flying. I think the Pirates are sunk.

Xavier 78 - Richmond 76 (2OT) = See what I mean? Now, in a just world, both these are at-large locks. Yet who ever said the world was just?

Penn State 79 - Northwestern 60 = Penn State sucks, and has sucked all year. Northwestern was ranked for a time, believe it or not. I didn't then, and nobody does now. PSU would have to win the Big Ten tourney to make it to the Dance, and that ain't gonna happen. Northwestern will now also, since their present 7-10 conference record won't cut it . . . or shouldn't, anyway.


There are only a couple of games to note this evening:

Oklahoma vs. Texas = In the past six weeks, ever since they got that meaningless coveted #1 ranking, the 'Horns have lost 7 games and have fallen out of the ranked altogether. They will be dancing, but not in the front rows, so the balance of their games only changes their first partners. As for the Sooners . . . well, the sooner the season ends, the better.

Georgetown vs. West Virginia = The Hoyas lost some ground, and a lot of luster, with their recent losses to South Florida, Rutgers, and Notre Dame. They can go a long way to gaining some back, and improving their seeding to a solid #4, by taking the Mountaineers in Morgantown tonight.

AR Pine Bluff vs. Jackson State = OK, I can hear you now . . . "WTF?" Well, I agree, but the NCAA Selection Committee does not. See, they seem to think not only that the wanna-bes deserve at least one bid, but that the never-weres and never-will-bes do too. Jackson State leads the Southwestern Athletic Conference (sounds impressive, doesn't it?) with a 14-1 league mark . . . and a 16-11 overall record. AR Pine Bluff is chasing them for the coveted crown with their 13-2 conference record . . . and their 13-14 overall. So between them, they have won a total of 2 games out of conference. Yeah, they deserve to be invited to the Dance.


With that in mind, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Don't sound so excited Thomas, but trust me I wouldn't get pissed. :r

Hey,number 1 is nice and all, but it's all about tourney time. What I liked a lot better is watching the talking heads on ESPN mention what I mentioned WEEKS ago in this very thread, what makes the 'Cuse tough is the balance on the team. They've got 7 essentially interchangable starters, who all post almost identical numbers. Concentrate on one, they just shift to another. Not to mention the 2-3 zone that's so hard to prepare for cause nobody ever sees it.

In contrast you've got Purdue who loses ONE freakin player and manages to score 16 points in an entire half......are you freaking kidding me? SIXTEEN POINTS????

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Buck Up!!:banger:banger

Re: College Hoops Thread '09-'10
 

Well Vic (and Bryan, for that matter), I was gonna wait on this until the pairings came out, but lemme give you a preview now:

The Orange has sufficient talent and experience to make a good run in The Dance. Plus, Boeheim certainly has plenty of tourney experience himself - albeit too much of it negative to suit most 'Cuse fans - and has also become a better coach since he's gotten older, gotten the monkey off his back, and calmed down considerably. Syracuse will not be easy to knock out, but their biggest strength is also their biggest area of concern - that vaunted 2-3 Zone. True, many teams do not see that very often, at least not for more than a few possessions at a time, but a good coach will have his players ready for it because he will know exactly what to expect. And here's also where the potential pairings come into play too. A team that has good outside shooters (Duke, Vandy, Vols, New Mexico mebbe), or has a guard who can penetrate the seams and create havoc in the lane (Spartans, 'Nova, Kentucky, Terps) can quite quickly turn that "advantage" into a distinct liability. There's where problems can start for The Orange, for if the zone is NOT working, and they fall behind, they are not nearly as comfortable playing D any other way. If they fall 'way behind, or are down several possessions with the clock running out, they may not have the ability to force the action fullcourt to force necessary turnovers, or just merely to speed their opponent out of their preferred gameplan.

Hey, I've seen it before, and if you've been around as long as I have . . . well, pity on you, but more to the point, so have you. :D

Regular update to follow.