College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Maybe the frost's not on the Halloween pumpkin where you are, but here in Joisey it's been snowing like a SOB for a few hours, with almost an inch on the ground already. So, speaking of pumpkins, the preseason NCAA basketball polls are out, with many of the expected usual suspects cited. The minor differences between the AP (Writers') and ESPN/USA Today (Coaches') polls are simple displacements amongst the same 25 teams, and since both are totally meaningless aside from bragging rights and predicted (read "guesswork") expectations, I'll use the AP to begin my breakdown. This will likely take a few days, but with a solid week+ before they actually toss up the first orange, we have time.

So, without further ado, let's start the countdown to lift-off with:

# 1 - North Carolina = With their talent, depth, size, and experience, it's little wonder my Tar Heels are seen as an overwhelming favorite to begin the season. Some believe they will be the last team standing when Spring's sprung. Ehhh, ask me what I think in March, thank you. Some think they shall go undefeated. Yeah, right. We'll not likely ever see that happen again, what with the way the college game has changed. Some assume they'll not only win the ACC outright, but go unbeaten in a weakened league. Even if I didn't know Duke and Florida State might have different ideas, I'd know they every other conference team already has certain dates circled on their calendars, and they will be up for those games. And this is even without considering stuff like injuries or bad nights, or outstanding nights by an opponent. Bottom line, let's see how they play first before we crown them champs. Still, it's better to be thought good than to be known crappy.

# 2 - Kentucky = Unlike in his first two years in Lexington, Calipari has some experience left from his top-star recruits, which is a good thing for Wildcat fans. Like his first two, Cal has a ton of new talent coming into the program, which is a good thing and a bad one. One never knows how quickly freshmen will adapt, or how their reps will translate into production. Yet with 3 of the top 5 recruits, it is unlikely all of them will be busts, even to the point that it's more likely all 3 will excell. We will know more when they get a dozen games under their belts, but I expect them to be a tough challenge to anyone.

# 3 - Ohio State = The Buckeyes probably have the best big man in the nation, and he's not the only good player on this team. (Last year I was especially impressed with what I saw from that Craft-y guard) And I have no problem seeing them contending for a Final Four again, or even taking it all. But aside from an early test hosting Florida (11/15) and a match against Dook 11/29, their schedule won't tell us much about them until Big Ten, Thirteen, Twenty-Seven, whatever, play begins in earnest. And if Sullinger goes down for any appreciable period of time, the bottom might drop out of their season, quick.

# 4 - Connecticut = There is little doubt that the Huskies were under-rated last season. There is little doubt in my mind that they are over-rated this one. Sure, they'll have a good team, and will compete in what appears to be a disintegrating Big East. But without Kemba Walker's heroics in both the conference and national tournaments, UConn would have struggled to win the NIT last year. They will be without those heroics all this year, and have already had a few problems with injured and ineligable players, not to mention the NCAA looking at their 25% graduation rate with the stinkeye. I could be wrong, but keep your eye on them too.

# 5 - Syracuse = The Orange have a fair amount of talent, but most of their bigs are young, which can be a bit of a problem. Plus, their "star" hoopster Scoop sort of fell off the face late last year, so who knows which one will show up this season? And, typically for Boeheim's teams, we my need a while to see what they really have, since their pre-January schedule has more cupcakes than a kid's birthday party. Their zone will win them a good number of games, but I can't see it keeping them in the Top 5 unless their freshman catch fire.

# 6 - Duke = Here too I think the ranking is more a function of the program's and the coach's rep than the reality I see. True, they got the No. 1 recruit in the nation with Austin Rivers, who's supposed to be the real deal. Yet that remains to be seen. Seth Curry is quite good as an outside threat, but he's not his big brother. Andre Dawkins is pretty good too, though not a game-changer. The Plumlees have shown only flashes, and usually against donut teams, while even Coach K says they look ready to make a big step up this year. OK, maybe, but at best that's damning with faint praise. Also, don't forget they lost LAST year's super-frosh Irving, plus key veteran Nolan Smith, plus some other guy namer Singler or something like that. I do expect the Blue Devils to be a tough out (they almost always are), but I would be surprised if they were not, eventually, an out nonetheless.

That's about a quarter of the field, and enough for one day anyway. I'll probably be back Monday afternoon with the next handful of teams receiving early props, properly or not. Please post any comments, questions, complaints, boasts, or public service announcements you wish. I welcome all and sundry. :tu

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

If Roy Williams get UNC playing like they were at the end of the season right out the gate...I don't see anyone touching them.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

My first reaction is to say "From your lips to God's ear, Mac." But I'll refrain, and merely say that I don't care if they get touched a bit, as long as they don't get slapped around. :r

I'm a bit fuzzy from two days without power, but I'll try to get a few more pre-season rankings in, beginning with:


# 7 - Vanderbilt = It's good to see some other SEC team foreseen to give UK a challenge, and it's even better as far as I'm concerned that it is a "quality" program like the Commodores. But I'm not yet convinced their frontcourt talent will be enough to carry them, at least on the road. In Nashville, however, on that funky elevated court of theirs, they will be tough.

# 8 - Florida = Though the Gators are not expected to be as good as their back-to-back team was, keep in mind that THAT team was not supposed to be as good as they turned out either. We know Donovan will have them ready to play . . . even though he didn't get them ready last year, at least early in the season. I don't expect he'll make the same mistake again.

# 9 - Louisville = Despite what Calipari believes, there's more than one team in Kentucky. I'm not much better a Pitino fan than I'm Cal's, but one must admit Rick knows his hoops. He likely won't be as distracted this year by off-the-court (or more precisely, in-court) issues, so I won't be surprised if they can make a little noise in the KFC/Yumi Crum Bucket. ;)

# 10 - Pittsburgh = Every year we seem to hear about how good the Panthers are, and how far they will go. Every year they have a nice season, then fall off the face of the earth when the chips are down. If they want to make their place in Big East history, they'd better do it soon, since they'll be moving to the ACC once they get all their bags packed and tickets punched. Me, I'll believe it when I see it, because I haven't seen it yet.

# 11 - Memphis = It is remarkable what a good job young Josh Pastner has done for the Tigers. Calipari robbed the cupboard bare when he fled to UK, yet Pastner managed to get his team back into the CUSA hunt by the end of last season. This year, they should be able to do what they are used to doing in conference play, and rule the roost.

# 12 - Baylor = Much like Vandy above, the Bears are supposed to have a superior frontcourt, which leads to this relatively high regard. Again, I have to say I want to see it first. It's not easy for a team that has little history of competing at a top level to be able to actually do so on the court night after night, and this is precisely the situation I see here. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it, but they will have to prove me wrong first.


This brings us about halfway through the Top 25, yet there are still some interesting teams to notice . . . including a few big names. I'll get back to those ASAP, but for now the fuzz in my brain has bugun to leak out my ears. Later, brothers.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Good reviews!!!!!

As much as I despise :D;) the "off-color" shades of blue, I agree with the rankings, and the Heels look to be VERY tough this season. And whether or not Dook has an off year, the Tobacco Road battles are NEVER settled merely on paper.

Looking forward to a good OVS season. Murray State has a new coach; it will be interesting to see how we do. Morehead should still be a VERY tough opponent, as will the Peay.

I'm also looking forward to SEC play, and how UK will stand against the Vols, Gators, Razorbacks, and Commodores. Nice on Vandy for the high, early ranking.


Toss it up, ref!!!!!!!

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Though the Tar Heel bandwagon is sizable, I really don't want so many hopping on the tailgate that the front end loses steering. :r And you're of course right that the Blue Devils won't roll over when they see those North Carolina jerseys on the opposing bench.

As with most mid-majors, the OVC will be both interesting and unpredictable. In these leagues, the addition of one good player on one decent team can change the whole season, for everyone. Good luck to your Racers. I took a quick look at their schedule, and aside from the conference rivals you mention, I see four tough games outside the league: UAB, Dayton, Memphis, and Lipscomb. If MSU can take one or two of them, it will help their post-season odds.

The SEC should be dominated by UK, but they won't go unscathed. You can also throw The Tide into that mix. Lucky for the 'Cats, they only face them once, and that in Rupp.

More rankings to follow.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

We move into the backend of the Top 25 with a name normally seen much closer to the roof:


# 13 - Kansas = The Jayhawks have been bitten heavily of late by early withdrawals, and they've also had personal personnel problems to deal with too. Already a pair of players have been shut down for their first two exhibition games. Those are of course meaningless, but it's not a good sign. I feel confident Bill Self will do his best with what he has, and we'll see if they move up, or crash.

# 14 -Xavier = I have a lot of respect for the Musketeer program, and for the A-10 at large. They have a few good guards, and a few transfers from other schools to give them depth and experience. But to be among the top 15? With a suspension for their center Frease, and star guard Holloway sitting out their opener for a "violation"? In a league with Temple, Richmond, Duquesne, GW, RIU, St. Bonnies, UMass, La Salle, and Sts. Louis oad Joe's? Plus non-conference foes Georgia, Vandy, Purdue, Butler, Cincy, Zags, and Memphis on their plate? Hey, if they stay where they are in the polls, they with EARN it!

# 15 - Wisconsin = The Badgers will coast . . . well, plod, actually . . . through their first few weeks of cupcakes, but will get an early quiz when they visit Chapel Hill 11/30. Were I Bo Ryan, I might let PG Jordan Taylor wear sneakers for that one, but everybody else should be in Wolverines: If they try to run with the Heels, the game's already over. I can see the boys from Madison competing for the Big Seventy-Eight regular season witn OSU, the Michigan schools, and maybe Purdue, but I'll believe they'll be a national contender when it happens.

# 16 - Arizona = This sounds about right to me, with 'Zona being a Sweet Sixteen come March. If I remember correctly, the Desert 'Cats did a lot better last year than was expected, so they might even move up. This can occur with a team that's been there before, and though I don't much care for the program I am glad to see SOME Pac-47 teams get some respect. Speaking of which:

# 17 - UCLA = Remember these guys? I've been told they used to win a game or three from time to time. In a way, it's good to see them get at least partway back. In another way, I'm not so pleased. See, the joke around my alma mater is that the Blue-and-Gold is Carolina Lite, what with the Wear twins getting back on the court this year, and He-Whose-Name-Will-Not-Be-Mentioned maybe playing for the Bruins next year . . . MAYBE, if he plays well enough to get off the bench, and if he doesn't go crying home to Mommie once again. As with those other fuzzy creatures above, the Badgers, I can see UCLA competing in conference, though maybe not outside of it. And maybe not even that, when you consider that they have NO HOME GAMES this year: Pauley is closed for renovations, and not only will John Wooden not be in the stands, his name won't be on the court as well.

# 18 - Michigan = These guys started off like crap last year, and turned it around to get up as high as decent. To tell you the truth, I don't know which team will show up this season, and I'm not sure anybody will until the dust clears next spring. The Logans haven't scheduled much out-of-conference (Memphis, UVA, Bradley being the only potential non-pastry squads), so we may not know much at all until league play is well under way. For some reason, I see them going down instead of moving up, but as I said, who knows?


That's about all I can handle for one day, and I wanna go out and have a short smoke before the sun goes down. Pipe up and pipe in, brothers, and I'll be back later.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

OK, let's see if I can finish off this Top 25 list, plus maybe mention the best of the rest:


# 19 - Alabama = I'm not exactly sure where this optimism comes from. Yes, the Tide won the Western Division of the SEC last year, but half the teams in the Eastern half could have done so, and that only got them into the NIT. They haven't made the NCAAs in about 5 prior tries. They have only one senior and two juniors, and even with 2 foreign 7-footers on the squad (both sophs) they are considered small down low. Well, more power to them if they can make some noise, but they are still a football school, so don't expect them to stick around after the first month or two.

# 20 - Texas A&M = But the Aggies might be for real. They surprised a lot of people last year, and they have a lot of experience returning. Their biggest problem early may be a factor of the fact that their new coach Billy Kennedy (Joe's old buddy from Murray State) has benched himself due to illness: Parkinson's, which is no minor issue. If this does not distract the team too much, they may not only stick around, but also move up.

# 21 - Cincinnati = The Bearcats had a winning season in the tough Big East last year (11-7), which isn't an easy task. They have a nice balance of both experience and youth, and backcourt/frontcourt players. They may not compete for the top of their disintegrating conference, but they will come to play every night, and will most likely earn an at-large come March.

# 22 - Marquette = The Golden Eagles did NOT have a winning Big East season, going 9-9, but they won a few big games and shocked a few people. They might do so again this year, yet the problem I see is a lack of depth. Their official roster lists only 12 players, so a few key injuries could send them off the rails quickly. If they can avoid this, and maybe get a couple decent walk-ons (at least to practice against), they should be OK. However, I'm not sure they'll be OK enough.

# 23 - Gonzaga = Mark Few's crew had a see-saw season, and barely saved their well-earned rep before their year ended. I have enough respect for the coach and the program to give them the benefit of the doubt, at least for one more go-around, unless they prove me wrong. Still, their biggest problem has always been hubris: They always think they are much better than they actually are. Every year they whine that they don't get the respect they deserve, and brag they have the best guard, the best forward, the best whatever in the nation. And nearly every year they have a great regular season, then fall on their face in March because they DON'T. Until they can actually pull off a Butler or a George Mason or two, I'd expect the same from them.

# 24 - California = The Golden Bears had a "meh" season in the equally "meh" Pac-47 last year . . . which was a bit of a shock. According to them anyway, they have the most experience in the conference, and more depth than they did a year ago, which could put them above the "meh" mark in the league. It remains to be seen what that will mean on the national scale. As with many others, I'll believe it when I see it.

# 25 - Missouri = The Tigers make the 4th team from the Big-12 ranked in the polls, but none of them are foreseen to be a Top 10 squad. This may mean Missou has a shot as the conference champ, yet they may be more a factor of the league's slippage than this team's quality. We won't know that until conference play is nigh well over, as I see it. And we might not learn much early about this team, for all the "quality" opponents they face in the first few weeks . . . Notre Dame, Villanova, William&Mary, Illinois, and ODU . . . are not expected to be world-beaters. Aslo, I see a potential problem in their new head coach, Frank Haith. Shoot, if he couldn't get 'er done in Miami, what makes you think he can do it there?


There are a number of name-brand also-rans who got some votes too. Missouri made the cut with 139 AP points, and here's the best of the rest coming in between 131 and 21 each:

Florida State = They WILL move up.

Michigan State = They will to, of Izzo has to suit up himself.

Temple = By the time the tough A-10 gets rolling, so shall the Owls.

Washington = The last few years they got more respect than they deserved. This year, they likely got the right amount.

New Mexico = I am interested to see if this team can perform as well as they did last season. Other than that . . . ? ? ?

Butler = Hey, you really didn't think these guys could stick around forever, did you? Still, they surprised me last year, so do't give up on them yet.

Texas = What happened, did Rick Barnes not land a bunch of top one-and-dones again? Did Calipari steal them all away? :r


You may have noticed a few names you're used to seeing missing from the above. These include Villanova, Purdue, Belmont, WVA, and Illinois, all of whom have had success in the past, and all of whom got a little love from the voters. Perhaps more of a shock are several that got no points at all, most notably names like Georgetown, Maryland, and Kansas State. I'd espect a few of these handful to make a move upwards before the season ends, as I can't believe they all will suck. But I guess that's why they play the games . . . and it can't start soon enough to suit me.


Jump in anytime you wish with your comments, complaints, cheers, or whatever crap you want.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Hey, believe it or not, I actually have a score worth reporting. True, it was just an exhibition game, but under the circumstances it is interesting:


Northern State 53 - Butler 50 = The national runner-up for the past two seasons shot under 40% for the night, and this Division II team from South Dakota made them pay for it. The Bulldogs did have a 50-41 lead with 4 1/2 left, but didn't score again. Meanwhile their opponent managed 9 whole points during the vast majority of that remaining time, which is a point every 30 seconds for you math-challenged, then hit a 3 at the buzzer to cap their 12-0 run and steal the victory. Nobody knows what a team can develop into through the course of a year, but if this is any true indication it might be a loooooong one for the Butler faithful.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Don't worry, I'll be out on the road in front, digging potholes for the powder-blue bandwagon to get lost in...:r-(P:hy


Also looking forward to see what happens in the Big East, and am wondering just how Big it will be in the near future.

Saw on FoxSports.com that the NCAA has been compared to the mafia. The next story noted that it was a bad comparison, as the mafia did not mind getting their hands dirty when needed, which is quite the opposite of the NCAA. I think I can't get more disgusted with the NCAA, and then I see the story on the stipends. The kids ought to have their own "Occupy" movement, lay down the gameball, and organize their own league.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Do what you need to do, Joe, but remember we have enough tar to patch most holes you'll dig. And if you don't want to call it what it is, Carolina-blue, you could at least call it what inspired it . . . sky-blue. I'll not bore you with the legend unless you ask for it.

Though I have some sympathy for the Big East fans, I have none for the league. They formed themselves by robbing other leagues in order to grab a slice of newly-minted (read ESPN) basketball money, and signed their own DNR papers when they gave short-shrift to football, baseball, track, fencing, tennis, whatever other sports constitute a REAL conference. I think they will survive in some way or another by again robbing other leagues . . . which would bother me less if they did not whine so much about their OWN league being robbed. Live by the sword, etc.

I saw that report about some politician (from Indiana, I believe) calling the NCAA a Mafia, but as it was a politician I did what I normally do . . . I ignored it. I have no interest in what any of them think, and no faith in their ability to hold a valid opinion on any topic. I also am reluctant to get into any long discussion about the pros and cons of the NCAA, and shall limit myself to confessing I am NOT one of those who hate the organization, and admitting I prefer rules to the lawlessness of the Wild Wild Midwest. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Here are two more exhibition-game scores I found interesting:


# 18 Michigan 47 - Wayne State 39 = Yes, this is a basketball score, not a football one. The Wolverines struggled with their shots in Ann Arbor, hitting 5-24 from three-point-range, and seemed reluctant to push the ball down low against a smaller team. This is not a good sign, but they did survive a meaningless game, unlike . . .

Northern Kentucky 77 - West Virginia 74 = In Morgantown, the unranked but respected Mountaineers dropped a close one to this Division II program. Perhaps they can file another lawsuit, and get the unfavorable outcome overturned in court. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Good Grief!!! A win is a win, but WOW!

Yeah, I know you'll tar the holes....it's too early to say anything for sure, but UK will likely have its hands full with the 'Heels this time.

On the NCAA, yeah, it could be debated for pages. Not sure I prefer their rules though. There is SO much money in football and basketball now, and all on the backs of the students playing these games. I cringe to see high school games shown on The Worldwide Leader; just more money and opportunity for shenanigans.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Hopefully it will be an up year for the ACC. Of coarse the top dogs will be good but hopefully FSU and Miami will step up.
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Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

A) - Wow, indeed. The Logans need to show some claws once the season starts, or you can scratch them off.

B) - If the Wildcat freshman live up to their hype, that #1/#2 matchup will be a toss-up war.

C) - Shenanigans aside, I find too many people confused by the "big money" question in college athletics. True, some schools make money on football and basketball, but many just break even. And what "profit" schools make from the sports that generate revenue is normally spent, and then some, on other athletic programs. What school makes money on fencing, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, track and field, tennis, field hockey, or even soccer and baseball? If "profits" from hoops and the gridiron are funnelled elsewhere, the only two options schools are left with are to either cut non-generating sports or raise student fees. I don't like either of those choices.


Aside from UNC, Duke, and maybe Florida State, I can't see many other ACC teams making much noise, sad to say. I do think maybe three more earning at-large bids come March, yet I'd be surprised (pleasantly) were any of them to survive for the second weekend. Next year may be different however, as the Wolfpack has managed to scarf up several top-notch recruits. :tu


Though the action does not kick off in earnest until Friday, there are a few REAL games slated tonight:


Willaim & Mary vs. St. John's = This could be one hell of a game. Wm.&Mary has a decent mid-major program, and the Johnnies are already facing some "personnel" problems which might retard the progress they made last year.

Eastern Kentucky vs. Mississippi State = And this might be decent too. The Colonels are not total cookies, and the Bulldogs are facing some "personnel" problems of their own.

Valparaiso vs. # 16 Arizona = Valpo's day in the sun has long set, so despite my reservations about the Desert 'Cats I can't see this one lasting more than a half. But if it does, the rest of the Pac-63 may take heart. :D


That's not a lot, but it's more action than you'll see in the NBA tonight. :r So pull up a chair, pull on a beer, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I'm not feeling all that good about my first predictions, though looking deeper I guess they weren't that bad:


St. John's 74 - William & Mary 59 = The final was not the great game I thought it could be, but note that Wm&M had a 33-26 lead at the half. Maybe during the break they went out and grabbed a few Nathan's dogs, which slowed them down in the second frame.

Mississippi State 76 - Eastern Kentucky 66 = And note that I never said the Colonels would beat the 'Dogs on their own court. I just said it could be decent. A 10-point margin is within MY margin of decency.

# 16 Arizona 73 - Valparaiso 64 = But in this case, a margin under 10 is indecent. Fact is, 'Zona only had a 32-30 halftime bulge. If the Desert 'Cats are supposed to be amongst the elite on the Left Coast, this might just be another season when they are largely left out come March.


There is no action tonight, and damn little tomorrow. I'll get into that then, and maybe even get a jump on the monstrous long list come Friday.

No action tonight, and not much tomorrow either.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Tonight's there's four games on tap, which look to be easy wins for the home teams. Yet looks can be deceiving, and I'd expect one or two of these to be nail-biters with 5 minutes left. So, who's visiting who this evening? Well, it's:


Akron vs. Mississippi State = The Zips had a really good mid-majors campaign last year, and the Bulldogs are . . . the Bulldogs, and not the Butler ones. I'd expect MSU to pull it off, as they have better talent and home court, but it won't be a cakewalk.

Lehigh vs. St. John's = And the Mountain Hawks flew pretty high too last year, so I figure they can at least keep it fairly respectable in the Louie Bowl. A road win? No. A road embarrassment? Also, no.

Liberty vs. # 16 Texas A&M = Though they too were OK last year, I can't see the Flames hanging for long with the Aggies, save by the grace of a fundamentalist God on their side. ( :D ) It's my guess those young Christians will go down in flames.

Duquesne vs. # 16 Arizona = And it's about the same story here. The Dukes will need a good amount of help from the Desert 'Cats to steal a victory, though they are capable of taking advantage of this situation, were it to occur. It will probably be a 10+ final margin, but there could be some anxious moments in Tucson before it's done.


There's still no marquee match-ups here, as one might expect this early in the season. Truth be told, there are only a handful of them coming up on a loaded Veteran's Day of action Friday. But like the Third Army, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Until then then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Huge UCLA fan here...

Funny seeing your take on the UNC transfers to the Bruins. I think most fans view taking Drew II as a mixed bag...his attitude problems are well documented (as well as his overbearing mother), but so far the Wears are getting pretty good reviews. David looks to be playing a lot of time at the 3 this year since our frontcourt is so loaded, the major question is whether or not he can guard the position. And Howland absolutely LOVES the Wears.

The game plan is going to be simple this year...feed the bigs. Josh Smith looks about the same weight as last year, which isn't good since he's probably at least 50 lbs over where he should be. However, even at 365 lbs (or whatever he is) I don't think there are many players in the country that can stop him if he can stay out of foul trouble. He went for 26 pts (on 14 of 18 free throw shooting) in our first exhibition win over the weekend.

Regarding Arizona...I think they are going to miss Derrick Williams A LOT. I've seen both their exhibitions and the opener against Valpo..they really don't have a guy outside of the freshman Nick Johnson who seems like he wants the ball in his hands. I see them losing a lot of games early but getting better by the end of the season as the freshmen gain more experience. Keep in mind, they've already lost to Division 2 Seattle Pacific in their opening exhibition game.

I think Cal or Washington will be challenging UCLA for the Pac 12 title this year, not Arizona.

Good thread, I'll definitely be following.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I myself would like to see the Bruins get back to, at least, relevance, though I don't desire (nor anticipate) their long-gone dominance occurring again. As for the "Carolina Lite" observation, let me say this: I had little problem with the Wear twins leaving UNC. I thought it put last year's squad in a bind, what with them being thin down low, but if they felt Chapel Hill was not right for them, they were right. We don't want players who aren't happy to be there. And even though their departure was a surprise, they at least waited until the end of the season before they sprung the news. However, when it comes to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, to split in the middle of a campaign, in his junior year, solely because he lost his job to a better player, and felt he hadn't received the respect he hadn't earned on the court, and because he allowed his parents to tweet and chirp about how great he was . . . well, that's just wrong on many levels.

Unless both his attitude and his game changes a lot, I can't see him being more than a back-up for UCLA next year. His problems at Carolina were that he played east-west, not north-south, which killed the secondary break, and he was reluctant to make the pass to the scorers, which meant they got it too late to take advantage of position before the defense recovered. He-Who-Etc. was a game-changer . . . for the opposition.

I also think Smith will be your key post-player, and if the Wears can be "Plumlee-like" subs for 15-20 minutes a game each, you should be OK. And I also think Arizona might struggle some, and would not be shocked if they fell out of the rankings for a while.

Regular update ASAP.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Last night's games went pretty much as I anticipated, with one minor surprise:


# 16 Arizona 67 - Duquesne 59 = The Desert 'Cats had about all they wanted from the Dukes, and maybe a bit more. I'll stick with their 16th rank for now (though it may NOT stick with them :D ) because I think they will improve. Still, it gives one pause.

# 20 Texas A&M 81 - Liberty 59 = And like I thought, the Flames went down in them, lacking the size and talent to bring a cropper to the Aggies.

St. John's 78 - Lehigh 73 = It took a late run by the Red(men)Storm to edge the Mountain Hawks, even with the inspiration (or distraction) of Steve Lavin's return to courtside following his prostate-cancer surgery. I said Lehigh would not win, but would acquit themselves respectfully. They did so.

Akron 68 - Mississippi State 58 = Had I the stones, and had it been later in the season, giving me more info to go on, I may have called for the "upset" here. I hedged my bet by saying it would be no cakewalk, yet felt that the homecourt should give the Bulldogs a boost over the Zips. And maybe it did, though not enough of one. Nobody expected MSU to be amongst the class of the SEC, yet this could be a sign that the conference is very top-heavy . . . again.



There are no games this evening, but with all the action slated for Friday I might be back with some early previews, just to get a jump on it. Either way, I'll be back soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Let me start on Friday's full schedule with the "ranked" games, though most of those shall be just that . . . rank. There should be a few exceptions however, including:


# 1 North Carolina vs. Michigan State = They are calling this the Carrier Classic, even though San Diego is a long way from Syracuse. But this Veteran's Day celebration will be played on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, with most of the spectators being military personnel, from CoC POTUS to lowly seamen (insert your favorite Clinton joke here). I'd expect my Tar Heels to win, but I'd also expect the Spartans to play much better than they did in that 2009 championship blowout in Detroit. Though the Spartans may be a bit down this year, you know Tom Izzo will have them ready to play . . . as I hope Roy Williams shall the Heels. In a strange venue like this, with odd sigthlines on a temporary court, anybody can have a cold night, so for that reason alone this could be tighter than the experts predict. That won't be the case with ;

# 2 Kentucky vs. Marist = The Wildcat faithful won't be leaving Rupp early, but there will be little reason for them to stay.

# 3 Ohio State va. Wright State = I have the feeling this may be a game for a half or so, but the Buckeyes will pull away by double-double-digits before the horn.

# 4 U Conn vs. Columbia = The Huskies will win the game, but the Lions will graduate, then get their revenge when they refuse to hire drop-outs from Storrs. :r

# 6 Duke vs. Belmont = An in-state scrimmage at Cameron for the Blue Devils.

# 7 Vanderbilt vs. Oregon = Hmmm. This one could actually be OK for a while. Though I'd like to think the Commodores are good enough to compete with UK in the SEC, I need to see it first. And though I don't see the Ducks being a PAC-12 power, they aren't total cupcakes either. As it's on that funky floating court in Nashville, give another edge to the more-talented Music City Robber-Barons . . . though I don't know why they're tipping off at 10 PM. :confused:

# 8 Florida vs. Jackson State = The first half may be a bit sweaty for the Gators, but they'll be chillin' before it over.

# 9 Louisville vs. Tenn-Martin = I'm not sure Pitino's got a Top Ten team, but they won't have a problem in the KFC Yumi Crum Bucket here.

# 10 Pittsburgh vs. Albany = The Panthers don't lose games like this, and will roll.

# 12 Baylor vs. Texas Southern = Another in-state scrimmage.

# 13 Kansas vs. Towson = Please. The Jayhawks may be down, but not this far. It's over by halftime.

# 14 Xavier vs. Morgan State = I like the X-Men, but I'm not sure they are THIS good. However, they are good enough to romp here.

# 17 UCLA vs. Loyola Marymount = We will learn little here about the Bruins, as LMU can't score all game what they used to do in a half. This should be ugly.

# 18 Michigan vs. Ferris State = Though maybe not as ugly as this one. Ferris State? In Ann Arbor? I thought the exhibition season was over!

# 19 Alabama vs. North Florida = As with all but 3 or 4 SEC schools, I have reservations about the league. Still, the Tide ought to survive this one with few problems.

# 22 Marquette vs. Mount St. Mary's = Two storied programs here, yet the ending will only be happy for the Golden Eagles.

# 23 Gonzaga vs. Eastern Washington = The Zags had a slow start last year, and Mark Few has likely pounded that into this squad. This may last a half or so, but no longer.

# 24 California vs. UC Irvine = Still one more of those local scrimmages.

# 25 Missouri vs. SE Missouri State = And again. Unless you're a Tiger, don't even check the score.


I'll look tomorrow to see if I spot any other interesting games. Well, truth be told, I already have seen a few. But until then then, that's it for now.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I agree, the way Drew left UNC raises a lot of red flags. A lot of UCLA fans said that we shouldn't have taken him just because of the way he handled his departure from UNC.

I expect him to be the primary backup next year behind incoming freshman Kyle Anderson. Drew is the only pure PG on the roster, so he's bound to play a pretty large role in the backcourt. I think he will be better in Howland's half court offense than he was in Roy's fast break offense, though.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yes, He-Who-Etc. may do better in a half-court game, IF he gives up the ball to the right scorer at the right time. He was inconsistent at Carolina, however. One can give him a pass on his freshman year, as he understandably got little time playing behind Ty Lawson. In his other 1 1/2 seasons, he'd have one good game (say, 20 pts., 7 assts.), one "meh" game (8 and 5 with 4 TOs), and one stinker (4 and 3, and 7 TOs). At UNC, we don't expect the PG to score, but the rest just did not cut it. That, along with both his and his parents attitudes that his struggles was Roy's fault, not his, and that this was preventing him from becoming a superstar lottery pick, was the reason he lost his starting position to Kendall Marshall. It is likely also the main reason Harrison Barnes had such a slow start offensively at Chapel Hill. He-Who would NOT pass Barnes the ball, maybe thinking that would dim He-Who's light in contrast. Kendall had no such delusions, and accepted the team concept, so subsequently Barnes' game exploded in the second half of the season.

Update soon.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

There are already a few scores from early games today, but in contests that mean little to any but their fans. Speaking for myself, I find these "unranked" games notable, for one reason or another:


Arizona State vs. Montana State = In progress, with the Sun Devils holding a slim margin midway thru the first. I'd expect them to hold it throughout, and my interest stems from the fact that I consider Herb Sendek to be amongst the nation's most under-rated coaches.

Eastern Illinois vs. Indiana State = Without knowing who has what this year, I'd still think this could be competitive.

Northeastern vs. Boston U. = Same here.

Fairfield vs. Quinnipiac = Ditto.

N. C. Asheville vs. N. C. State = Maybe not so much this one, but Asheville is NOT a total cupcake, while the Wolfpack needs its new coach to do more with their talent than Sidney Lowe managed. I want to see how Jerry's (Col. Kurtz) boys do.

Rider vs. Robert Morris = Could be another competitive match-up.

Cornell vs. St. Bonaventure = Here too.

Villanova vs. Monmouth = By reputation alone, one would expect the Philly 'Cats to mop their homecourt with the Hawks' pinions. But 'Nova's supposed to be down some this year, and one of my boys, King Rice, begins his head-coaching career at Monmouth here (with 2 of his Tar Heel teammates on the bench with him), so I'll keep an eye on this.

Florida State vs. Jacksonville = The Semiholes are slated as the third-best team in the ACC. And if I recall rightly, the Dolphins had a few good wins last year, and have a nice balance of experience and youth on the roster. If FSU struggles tonight, this could be closer than you'd think. If it's a blow-out, the experts may be correct.

Rhode Island vs. George Mason = Here is another potential toss-up.

Wofford vs. Georgia = Much like the FSU/J'ville game, this is one the pundits might overlook. thinking that Bulldogs can easily handle Terriers. But Georgia is a middlin' SEC basketball power, while Wofford has earned NCAA bids the past 2 years. Muddying the waters more, both teams are rebuilding after numerous key losses from last year's squads. This intrigues me.

Murray State vs. Harris Stowe = This does not ( :r ), as Joe's Racers should romp, but he'd never forgive me if I did not mention this one. ;)

Oral Roberts vs. West Virginia = Normally I'd not think the Golden Eagles could give the Mountaineers much of a game, and maybe they won't. But WVU is supposed to be down this season, so I want to see what they have.

Army vs. Air Force // Citadel vs. VMI = I lump these two together because they are, along with the UNC/MSU Carrier game, part of the Veteran's Day lineup of games. Aside from that (which is reason sufficient enough in itself), the contests may be close, but nobody will much care. :D


That's it for now. If I missed your school, feel free to pipe up with your take. Until later then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Just a quick FYI or four:

Arizona St. holds a 10-point lead with under 3 to play, while both the Eastern Ill/Indy St. and Northeastern/BU games are 1 or 2 possession ones midway thru the 2nd . . . as I predicted.

Also, I took a quick look at Saturday's games, and it ain't much, so I'll wait until tomorrow afternoon to post on those.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

After blowing most of a double-digit lead, the Sun Devils hold on for a 78-72 victory. Montana State scored 21 in the 1st half, and 51 in the 2nd.

Northeastern opens up by 11 over BU with 4 1/2 left. BU has only tallied only 19 in the 2nd so far.

EI/IS still anybody's with 3 1/2 left.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Come in there, buddy!!!! Go Racers :D:r

UNC had a tight 1st half, but are opening up a can of Whoop Ass in the 2nd. Very cool venue for a game, too.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Ouch, embarrassing loss by UCLA!

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, a great win over perennial powerhouse Harris Stowe, brother! :r

UNC/MSU comment follows. :tu


Considering this was NOT the LM of Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, I must agree. More in my regular update . . . if my customers leave me alone enough to do it. :D

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

-(P:D:r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

This early in the season, too many games are blowouts against cupcakes. As these interest me little, I'll stick to those scores that do:


# 1 North Carolina 67 - Michigan State 55 = As Joe noted, one big run by UNC made the difference in this game. That, and maybe the work of Carolina's new Secretary of Defense (with apologies to Dudley Bradley) in front of his two Commanders-in-Chief. John Henson had 9 blocks, which was key considering that, as expected for such a cool yet funky venue, the outside shooting was atrocious for both teams. Kudos to an outmatched Spartan squad for hanging tough, and cutting a 21-point bulge to 10 late in the game.

Loyola Marymount 69 - # 17 UCLA 58 = Much to Justin's dismay, this was the big upset of the evening. I think the Bruins can regroup and recover before PAC-12 play begins, but Howland may have more of a job on his hands than he thought likely.

# 6 Duke 77 - Belmont 76 = This was almost the biggest upset, however. Yeah, I know Belmont has played good "giant-killer" games before, and I know I expressed grave doubts about Dook's high ranking, considering what they've lost off their team over the past two seasons. And yes, it is early. But a squeaker, in Cameron with 9000 Crazies in the stands, with The Captain chasing The Genreal's record? It gives one pause. A win is a win? Cold comfort in Durham, I imagine.

# 4 UConn 70 - Columbia 57 = And this one in Storrs, as the Huskies unveiled their championship banner. The same points mentioned above re Dook apply, but a 13-point win by a presumptive Final Four team over Columbia, at home? Not much of a statement, unless it's a negative one.

# 14 Xavier 74 - Morgan State 63 = It's pretty much the same story here too. I respect the X-Men program, but this is not acceptable.

# 18 Michigan 59 - Ferris State 33 = And isn't this the same Wolverine team that posted a "football" score against somebody (Wayne State?) in an exhibition? A Top Twenty team? Against Ferris State? Are they suddenly the Wisconsin Badgers, or are they just inept at scoring the ball?

# 23 Gonzaga 77 - Eastern Washington 69 = OK, this one I can sorta kinda live with, as the competition was more even. Still, it's not a good sign that the Zags can hang amongst the ranked for long.

Northeastern 82 - Boston U. 74 (OT) = Hey, I told you this could be a good one.

George Mason 92 - Rhode Island 90 (OT) = And I told you here too.

Florida State 79 - Jacksonville 67 = I also said the Dolphins might give the 'Holes some problems. It remains to be seen if FSU can claim a high spot in the ACC race, but this was certainly no big statement by them.

Indiana State 79 - Eastern Illinois 72 = Again, I though this was one worth watching.

Kansas State 72 - Charleston Southern 67 = I did not mention this one yesterday, because despite the fact I thought K-State's days in the sun had set, I never thought they'd drop this far. Yeah, they won. But by 2 possessions, over a nobody? Sheesh.

N. C. State 84 - N. C. Asheville 75 = This is not nearly as bad, by a good ways. Jerry's 'Pack hasn't been back for a while, and Asheville has played enough tough games over the years to feel little fear, so the field was more level. But it seems maybe NCSU will struggle to compete in the ACC again, for at least one more season.

Utah State 69 - BYU 62 = Much like Boise State in football, BYU politely whines each year about how little respect they get. I don't hate the program, or the school, or even the religion, but I do dislike the whining. Hopefully, this will stick a cork in Rodney Dangerfield's maw.

St. Joseph's 72 = Western Kentucky 61 = I have no idea what kind of team either has this year, but an old timer like me likes it when a storied program such as St. Joe's makes a step back into the spotlight. Was this one? Too soon to tell, yet one might hope.


If you wanna chime in about your team's win . . . or loss . . . or if you question my analysis or my ignoring of your boys, please do so. Meanwhile, I'm going to go see if there's anything worth watching over the next two days. Back soon, hopefully.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Today and tomorrow have far too many games to cover properly, but then again most don't need covering. Do you really care that Georgetown spanked Savannah State, or that Wisconsin is absolutely crushing Kennesaw State? I don't. But here are some others of possible note. Today:


Dayton vs. Western Illinois = I'd expect the Flyers to do just that, but this might be a decent game.

Lehigh vs. Iowa State = And this too, believe it or not.

# 5 Syracuse vs. Fordham = The only chance Fordham has is if their outside shooters can bust up Boeheim's zone. If you get the Orange out of that, an NAIA team can outscore them, as they cannot play defense any other way.

Butler vs. Evansville = Aside from having potential in itself, the game may tell us more about what Butler has become.

# 6 Duke vs. Presbyterian = Even though I was wrong thinking the Belmont game would be a gimme, I'm gonna give the Blue Devils this one now. But I do want to give props to Presbyterian, who once again show they'll play anybody, anywhere.

South Florida vs. Vermont = Truth be told, I don't know why this one jumped out at me. But it did, so I went with my gut.

Northern Iowa vs. ODU = I DO know why this one jumped. This may be a barn-burner.


On Sunday we have:


# 1 North Carolina vs. N. C. Asheville = One would expect that, if State can take them, the Heels can. And even though it's up in the Smokies, not in Chapel Hill, this should not be close by the time the horn blows.

# 7 Vanderbilt vs. Cleveland State = This could be a little closer, but maybe not by much.

# 9 Louisville vs. Lamar = Please, Rick. What point is there in passing 600 Ws against a baker's dozen from Cupcake U? The Cardinals should drop 5 spots in the polls just for that.

# 10 Pittsburgh vs. Rider = And once again, this is a bit better, but not a ton.

# 12 Baylor vs. Jackson State = Man, I can't wait until the bakery closes up for the winter.

# 16 Arizona vs. Ball State = How quickly does icing melt in the desert?

# 20 Texas A&M vs. Southern = Good Lord. :rolleyes:

# 21 Cincinnati vs. Alabama State = Are you as sick of this as me?

# 24 California vs. George Washington = First in war, first in peace, won't last a half, and thankfully last in this list.


If I get a chance, I'll look and see if there's any more that pop for me. Back later today, or early next week. Either way . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I'm getting a late start, and am pressed for time, so let me hit what I consider the highlights.

Saturday:


Evansville 80 - Butler 77 (OT) = I thought this could be a good one. It may not tell us yet what the Bulldogs will be, but it's not a good early sign.

Northern Iowa 63 - ODU 46 = In Norfolk, no less. I'm not shocked that NIU won, but for ODU to be so crappy at home . . . that is odd.

Seton Hall 75 - St. Francis (NY) 71 (OT) = Short of, of course, Penn State football, the Pirates basketball team has had perhaps the most checkered recent off-court past lately. If this showing against what should have been a cupcake is any indication, these problems have killed their program.

South Florida 61 - Vermont 59 = I still don't know why this one popped off the page at me, but at least I wasn't wrong.


On Sunday:


Cleveland State 71 - # 7 (formerly) Vanderbilt 58 = By far, the biggest surprise of the weekend. And in Nashville, to boot. OK, anybody can have a bad night. OK, even a cupcake can have some lumps in it. But this, this is just embarrassing.

# 10 Pittsburgh 86 - Rider 78 = Despite the victory, this isn't much better either.

# 16 Arizona 73 - Ball State 63 = Nor this one. And yes, in Tucson, not Dave Letterman's backyard.

Maryland 71 - N. C. Wilmington 62 = And yes, in College Park. This does not bode well for the Terps chances in the ACC.

Washington 77 - Florida Atlantic 71 = And wasn't Washington supposed to be the dark horse in the PAC-12 this year? Man, it might be getting dark early in the Great NW.

# 1 North Carolina 91 - N. C. Asheville 75 = And although I could come up with at lease a half dozen "good" excuses for this one, it also does not please me very much. The 91 scored doesn't bug me, but the 75 allowed does. Too many TOs, too may possessions p!$$ed away.

Gardner-Webb 74 - Lipscomb 71 = I'm not sure what to make of this one. Lipscomb has a good history, while Gardner-Webb is . . . well, Gardner-Webb. I'll need to keep an eye on both these teams.

San Francisco 71 - LA Lafayette 70 = SF had probably its best season last year since Bill Russell left. Hey, maybe he's left them again. :D


There are a few HUGE games in the next few day, but only a couple tonight that pique my interest:


Penn vs. Temple = Penn had a surprisingly good season last year, and the Owls are the Owls. I'm curious how both will play.

Northeastern vs. U Mass = And I get the feeling these two will match up well.

Murray State vs. Morgan State = These two, maybe not so well. But I have to keep Joe on board, so ;) .

Richmond vs. Davidson = Two storied programs, and two decent coaches. Could be fun.

USC vs. Nebraska = Both are more football than basketball schools, but that may mean they also match up well on the hardwood.

Northern Iowa vs. St. Mary's = And both of these have a chance at earning NCAA bids before the smoke clears. If you can stay up late, check it out.


Sorry about the "quick and dirty" postings, but what can I do? :sh Man, I hate it when work gets in the way of fun. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Oh, and if you guys want a giggle, go to the vaunted RPI Ratings to see what nonsense THAT is. For instance, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, and N.C. Asheville are all 0-2 while UNC is 2-0, but all are tied for # 22 in the nation.

:confused: :rolleyes: :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Go Racers!!!

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, if they can beat Morgan State, they can beat anybody! :D


Again, work has gotten in the way of this, and I'm pressed for time. Yesterday:


# 4 U Conn 78 - Wagner 66 = A dozen points better than Wagner? The Huskies defense of their national title is off to a blazing start. ;)

# 23 Gonzaga 89 - Washington State 81 = Last year the Zags were losing these type of games. Maybe Mark Few has their attention earlier this season.

Boston College 67 - New Hampshire 64 = I had that weird feeling again that this would be a good 'un.

Temple 73 - Penn 67 (OT) = This one, I felt more certain would be good.

Nebraska 64 - USC 61 (2OT) = And this one too, though I didn't predict two extra sessions.

Purdue 67 - High Point 65 = High Point? High Point?? Maybe Robbie Hummel needs to break his leg again. :r


Tonight has a ton of games, but I don't have time for them all. Here's the . . . uh, high points:


# 2 Kentucky vs. # 12 Kansas = UK and KU . . . you don't need to say much more. The 'Cats may have the better personnel, but you can be fairly sure Bill Self will have the Jayhawks ready to play.

# 3 Ohio State vs. # 7 Florida = Last year the Gators were NOT ready to play this game. I'd expect the Buckeyes to win again, but I'd hope Billy Donovan hasn't made THAT mistake a second time.

# 5 Syracuse vs. Albany = And just because Boeheim is again, as usual, home-cooking cupcakes, there's no reason to call the Orange yellow. :)

# 6 Duke vs. Michigan State = The Spartans hung tough with the Heels under difficult conditions. Meanwhile, Dook just edged Belmont at home before spanking Presbyterian. I'm not calling for the upset, but I expect a contest.

# 11 Baylor 77 - San Diego State 67 = Yeah, this one's in the books. SDSU was one of last year's darlings, and acquited themselves well here too . . . if one assumes the Bears are as good as the "experts" believe.

# 13 Xavier vs. IPFW = And I'd pee Eff-Dubya too, if the X-men lose this one.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. Bucknell = The Commodores rebound from their opening loss tonight.

# 20 Cincinnati vs. Jacksonville State = There's enough else happening, so you can ignore this garbage.

# 23 California vs. Austin Peay = Hmmmmmm. I dunno. I'm not convinced Cal's as good as people say, and I do know A-P can play pretty tough. Keep your eye on this one.

UCLA vs. Middle Tennessee State = And nobody knows what the Bruins are either, after dropping a stinker to Loyola-Marymount. Plus, they're dropping players left and right, either to injuries or to "violations of team rules". Much as I'd sort of like to see UCLA make a comeback, they need to show us that they can. I'm don't believe MTSU can give us that info . . . unless they too spank the Bruins.


That's all I have time for. Please jump in with your own :2 to fill the gaps. Thanks, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

I like the way you think!!! :r

Lots of games tonight, including the ladies field. I hate to say "go Peay!", but I do hope they win. Also hope to see the Cats over the Jayhawks.

Dook did not get an easy one tonight; be an interesting game to watch.

Pat Summit on the floor with her girls against one of her proteges from Miami.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

903 is all I'm going to say for now. I got a ticket stub from 902, hopefully I can one from 903 on fleabay.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Taking the Wears looking like a HUGE mistake. They can't play defense, take too many shots, and are surprisingly terrible rebounders considering their size.

I'm depressed. In for another long season.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

You like the way I think? You may be the only one. :r

Why don't you start a women's thread, Joe? I say this because you'll not hear much from me about the distaff side, though I am glad to see Pat Summit up and about. As for Austin-Peay, they might have made a game of it against Cal, had they not Peay'd away the first half.

Duke's game went about the same as Carolina's did against the Spartans: One big run was the whole contest.

Congratulations to Coach K for his 903rd win. Now let's see if he'll have the same grace and dignity as did John Wooden and Dean Smith, and move towards retirement to finally give Wojo a chance, or if The Captain shall have the same stubborn bull-doggedness of The General (or worse, JoePa), and risk becoming a parody and sideshow of himself. :D

Sorry, Justin. I knew the Wears did little for my Heels, but for your sake had hoped it was more a consequence of them being freshmen, and of playing behind Zeller and Henson. Don't write them off yet, however. As the old saw says, you can't coach 7 feet. But maybe that's the problem . . . you can't coach them. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Dammit, for the third day in a row I'm pressed for time. Here's MY highlights:


# 2 Kentucky 75 - # 12 Kansas 65 = A sloppy first half left this tied at 28, with more total TOs than FGs. The 'Cats were slightly less sloppy in the 2nd, and won by a respectable, if not dominant, margin. But like I thought, the Jayhawks gave them game, and might have won had they not started the second stanza so poorly.

# 3 Ohio State 81 - # 7 Florida 74 = Pretty much what I thought it would be, with a Buckeye victory over a Gator team that played better this year on the road than they did last year at home against OSU.

# 6 Duke 74 - Michigan State 69 = You likely didn't need Bryan to tell you this was Coach K's 903rd win, taking the top spot from his old mentor Bobby Knight. Again, congratulations. And again, congratulations to the Spartans, who did what they did against Carolina by falling behind big but not giving up, and making a good game of it before the buzzer.

# 23 California 77 - Austin Peay 53 = As referenced above, A-P might have been able to steal this one, had they not scored a mere 13 points in the first half. Shoot, their FOOTBALL team could have done as well against the Golden Bears.

Middle Tennessee State 86 - UCLA 66 = Remember when the Bruins were good? No, I don't mean the Wooden era, I mean before the season started and they were ranked. A loss to Loyola-Marymount was bad. A spanking by MTSU is just wrong. So, Justin, if you want to hop on the Tar Heel bandwagon, feel free. The blue's about the same shade, anyway. ;)

Charlotte 77 - Central Michigan 75 (2OT) = Aside from being a barn-burner, this interests me because the 49ers used to be pretty danged good. I'm not sure what this tells us, as I've no idea how good (or bad) Cent. Mich. is, so we'll have to wait another month or two.

Texas 100 - Rhode Island 90 = About the same situation here, though I do know the Longhorns are supposed to be a little down, while the Rams have been improving over the past few years. Again, wait and see applies.

Coastal Carolina 71 - LSU 63 // Elon 58 - South Carolina 53 = I lumped these two together to make a point about the SEC. What with earlier unexpected losses by Vandy and Mississippi State, these might foretell that the SEC is even more top-heavy than we expected.


Tonight's actions includes:


# 9 Pittsburgh vs. Long Beach State = Ehhh, I can see this lasting a half or so, but as I've said before, this is not the kind of game the Panthers lose.

# 14 Wisconsin vs. Colgate = As with the SEC, it's possible the Big Eighty-Six is top-heavy too. Yet the Badgers play a tough grind-'em-out style that's hard to beat, even if you AREN'T Colgate. If you ARE, then it's already over. I can see Wisconsin doing something it rarely can do . . . approach the century mark in scoring.

# 25 Florida State vs. Stetson = And I can't see Stetson cracking the Seminoles defense either. FSU needs to make a statement in this one, to start solidifying its claim as an ACC power.

N. C. State vs. Princeton = However, though the Wolfpack likely won't do the same, at least until next year's class of classy freshmen arrive, they do need to win some for their new coach while they can. The Tigers are not what they used to be, so this should give NCSU an opportunity to do so.

Creighton vs. UAB = And this is just another of those match-ups that pop out at me. This may have a shot at being a decent game.

Indiana vs. Evansville = This one too. Much like the Wolfpack, the Hoosiers aren't there yet, but they have been making steps back to where they were. And Evansville has already had a "signature" win over Butler, so that alone makes this interesting to me.

N. C. Asheville vs. Mars Hill = And this one is interesting to me because I'm wondering where in the hell these guys can find a place that's flat enough to play some hoops. :r


That's it for me. Keep those cards and letters coming fellas . . . and there's plenty of bandwidth for more of you to chip in also.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yo, Justin! Re your Bruins, I just saw a post from some yahoo on Yahoo stating that it's time to fire Howland and "bring back Larry Brown." I answered him by asking if he didn't have enough Tar Heels already. :r

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

There were a few notable scores from last night, but none more that:


Long Beach State 86 - # 9 (for now) Pittsburgh 74 = Wow. I have expressed my doubts clearly in the past about the Panthers, but I never expected this. Pitt normally does not lose such games, especially at home. Coupled with other doubts I've already voiced about some Big East teams, I'm wondering if this foretells a down year for them.

# 25 Florida State 79 - Stetson 66 = And I find this surprising not so much with the margin of victory as with the fact that the 'Noles are supposed to have defensive strength, so to allow Stetson to score 66 when they themselves couldn't break 80 is a bit disturbing.

Indiana 94 - Evansville 73 = This is the opposite situation here. The Hoosiers are improving, but not yet that much. Meanwhile, Evansville did handle a "down" Butler squad, and for them to have such a lousy first half to kill their chances . . . in their house, no less . . . is confusing.

N. C. State 60 - Princeton 58 = In Raleigh, to boot. OK, like Indiana, the 'Pack is a year or so away, it is only Gottleib's 3rd game as coach, the team is down a few key players for various reason AND lost their outside threat to a twisted ankle before the fans had settled in, AND even a "down" Princeton team is tough to play. But for this to come down to a jumper with 4 ticks left, and THEN white-knuckle time watching a half-court heave for the win fall short. Ehhh, I hope Jerry's happy about the W. Me, I'm not so much, and NOT because I live an hour from Princeton either.

Oklahoma State 90 - UTSA 85 (OT) = Hey, I thought the Cowboys were supposed to be building a basketball power down there. For them to let a bunch of Rick Barnes' rejects ( :D ) take them to OT . . . well, I can't see it.

San Francisco 83 - San Jose State 81 // Savannah State 73 - Jacksonville 70 (OT X 2) = Yeah, I don't think we'll be talking much about ANY of these teams come March, but give all four props for putting on a show.

N. C. Asheville 126 - Mars Hill 75 = And though Asheville could earn themselves another automatic bid in March, so we'd talk about them for a day or so, I'm not so much interested in that regard as to the fact they not only BROKE 100, they shattered the century mark. It makes me feel a little better about my Heels "holding" them to 75 a earlier this week. :r


We already have a few interesting scores from today's action, including:


Purdue 91 - Iona 90 = This might shock Boilermaker (or Big Ten) fans, but it's not that big a deal. Purdue seems more lost so far WITH Hummel than they were without him, and the Gaels were predicted to potentially be this year's mid-major giant killer. There's nothing shocking about this one.

Northwestern 88 - LSU 82 = Nor this one. The Brainiacs of the Big Ten had a great start last year, while LSU has become another one of those irrelevant SEC programs. Maybe the Tigers should ease up with the football for a while, and try to convince Shaq to come back and finish school. ;)

# 16 Alabama vs. Maryland = This one has tipped off already, and so far in the first half the Terps have lived up to their mascot's rep and gotten off to a sloooooow start. As this one's in Puerto Rico, there's no reason for them to be so cold. I'd figure the Tide could take it anyway, yet I do expect the Terps to make some sort of game of it eventually.

VCU vs. Seton Hall = I have no faith in the Pirates however, and believe VCU will take this with relative ease.

# 19 Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State = The Bulldogs have already lost a game I thought they should have won, so I can't see them upsetting the Aggies.

# 4 U Conn vs. Maine = Here's my prediction here: One of these days Calhoun's dropouts will do two things . . . play somebody who's not a cupcake, and play on the road. And don't feed me that crap about the Big Mouth's regular season being tough enough as it is without playing tough competition out-of-league. Hey, why do you think so many of these Big Mouth teams fail so quickly in the NCAA Tournament? And for the defending champs to pu$$yfoot around like this, it's unforgivable.

Wichita State vs. Colorado = As has happened before to me, this one just pops out as having potential.

Georgia Tech vs. St. Joseph's = Same here, though the reason is more clear. These two programs have good histories, but poor recent pasts. I wouldn't mind seeing them both improve, yet even if they haven't they may match up well.

# 24 Missouri vs. Niagara = Niagara falls. Sloooowly I turned . . . step by step, inch by inch. 'Nuff said?

# 7 (for now) Florida vs. North Florida = I have a feeling the Gators will rebound from their loss to the Buckeyes. ;)

Murray State vs. Tennessee Temple = And I again wish Joe's Racers good luck, as they continue their march through hell. :r

# 17 Michigan vs. Western Illinois = And here I want to see if the Wolverines can score more than a football team.

# 15 Arizona vs. St. John's = I've not been overly impressed with the Desert 'Cats so far, and the Johnnies have played better early than they were expected to, what with so many of their vaunted recruits being deemed ineligable. Plus, this is in MSG, so you know who the crowd will be behind. That said, though I can see the locals giving 'Zona some problems, I don't think they can pull off the upset. But hey, I've been wrong before, and you never know.

USC vs. San Diego State = The Trojans are likely mid-PAC12 at best, and the Aztecs are likely a bit down from last year's surprising squad . . . though they are already 3-0 at home, and looking for the 4th tonight. Keep half-an-eye on this one, if you are able to keep half an eye open that late anyway.


That's it for now. Enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Billy Kennedy's Aggies are having a tough time with Miss St tonight. They are laying it n the Aggies early and often. Not looking good.

Also saw that the Terps got nailed by Bama.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Yeah, One big surprise to me, and one mild one:

Mississippi State 69 - # 19 (for now) Texas A&M 60 = The Bulldogs lost by ten at home to Akron, and I figured they'd have a long season. They may still, and this upset over the Aggies doesn't make their year. But it helps.

# 16 Alabama 62 - Maryland 42 = The Tide win doesn't shock me, as I knew the Terps were down again this year. But I did think they'd make more of a game of it. They didn't, following their 20-point first half with a 22-point second.

Other action I noted:

# 17 MIchigan 59 - Western Illinois 55 = Another bucket or two either way and here'd have been another stunner. Once again the Logans showed an inability to score the ball. They can't keep this up for long without taking one in the snout.

Penn 78 - Rider 72 (OT) = Aside from being a war, this one's a surprise because I did not think Rider could make this much of a game of it.

Seton Hall 69 - VCU 54 = And this one's one because I did not think the Pirates had a chance in hell. Yet not only did they prevail, they won handily.

# 15 Arizona 81 - St. John's 72 = But this one seems about right to me. As I've said, I'm not totally sold on the Desert 'Cats yet, while the Johnnies can play tough in MSG or the Louie Dome. If you're a 'Zona fan, be happy with it and move on.

San Diego State 56 - USC 54 = And this one was the struggle I expected, though I could not predict they'd both struggle so much offensively. A nice win for the Aztecs, and hopefully a learning loss for the Trojans.


As with yesterday, we already have some scores today:


Purdue 85 - Temple 77 = Not the nail-biter the Boilermakers had against the Gaels, but maybe a tighter fight with the Owls than they'd hoped for, I'd imagine.

Tulsa vs. Northwestern = With under 4 to play as I type, this one's still to close to call . . . which is what you'd think.

# 19 (for now) Texas A&M vs. St. John's = And closing in on the half, the Johnnies are hanging within 2 or 3 possessions with the Aggies. Maybe yesterday we'd not thought this, but it's easier to believe today.

# 6 Duke vs. Davidson = In Cameron, so these Wildcats only have a shot if they can borrow little brother Seth Curry for the night. ;)

Seton Hall vs. St. Joseph's = Here's one of those that could be a damn nice tight contest.

TCU vs. Virginia = And this one too, if the Cav guards can hit a few open jumpers.

Maryland vs. Colorado = The Terps are likely cheesed at the way they stunk up the joint last evening, so hopefully they can give the Buffs a better showing.

# 15 Arizona vs. Mississippi State = Much like the Aggies/RedStorm one above, I wouldn't have given the 'Dogs much chance yesterday against these 'Cats. But that was yesterday, and they are playing today. Keep your eye on this one, as it could be interesting before it's all done.

# 13 Xavier vs. Miami OH = So could this one . . . save for the fact that it's all done before the tipoff. :D

Houston vs. Arkansas = Hmmmm. Again, this one popped out. I can see it being pretty damn close, wire to wire.

# 21 Marquette vs. Winthrop = And I can see this being pretty damn over by the half.

VCU vs. Georgia Tech = Two teams that need a victory now, and if they both show up this could be some fun.

Akron vs. Valparaiso = I'd give the Zips a definite edge here, but Valpo won't just roll over.

New Mexico vs. Arizona State = In Tempe. The Sun Devils may be on their way up a little, and the Lobos might be on their way down some from last season. Here's another one with potential.

# 16 Alabama vs. Wichita State = Here too, believe it or not. The Shockers may not be able to pull of the shocker, but I think they'll give the Tide some game.

# 3 Ohio State vs. Jackson State = And I think Jack State will show up for this game too . . . if their bus does not break down. ;) Aside from that, it won't matter jack $#!+.


If I get a chance, I'll look at early match-ups on Saturday. If not, I'll get to them tomorrow. Either way . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Northwestern take Tulsa 69- 65 in a good close game. In another, Ole Miss bests Drake 63-59.

With about 5 minutes gone in the second stanza, St. John's is within a bucket of the Aggies.


There's really only one early game of note tomorrow:


# 2 Kentucky vs. Penn State = And that note will be sour for the Nittany Lions, who've had enough problems of late to need this. The game's at the Mohegan Sun in CT, but don't place your bets. I've no idea what the line is, yet I doubt PSU can cover.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Texas A&M 58 - St. John's 57 = Wow. The Aggies hit a jumper with 6 seconds left to go ahead by one. Then, with 2 ticks left, they foul a Johnnie to send him to the line for a pair. He clunks them both, and A&M dodges a bullet. You want to bet Steve Lavin's a bit p!$$ed?

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Aside from those already reported, here are the scores from Friday that struck me:


Mississippi State 67 - # 16 (though not for long) Arizona 57 = Those Bulldogs seem to have found their feet all of a sudden. This one is a bit of a shock, though I've said I have limited faith in 'Zona before now. Coupled with other early-season struggles involving PAC-12 teams, this year may be just as long as the prior several have been.

# 13 Xavier 66 - Miami OH 60 = It is much the same situation here also. As much as I do respect the Musketeers for having a quality mid-major program, I felt their pre-season ranking was a tad elevated. Coupled with their win over Morgan State by only a 74-63 margin, this 2-possession victory may indicate I'm not a total fool. Hey, it's early, and the X-Men could become monsters, but I'll need to see it first.

Valparaiso 62 - Akron 59 = And this surprises me too. I felt the Zips might be one of those "noisy" mid-majors, largely based on their road win over Miss. State, so thought they'd handle Valpo with relative ease. But they went cold at the precise wrong time, allowing Valpo to score the final 8 points. Well, looks like young Bryce Drew has a few more miracles left in his bag.

New Mexico 76 - Arizona State 71 = And this surprises me none at all. I figured it would be a tight contest, and it was.

Houston 87 - Arkansas 78 = And I figured this one would be tight too, and it was closer than the final score might indicate. The Cougars and the Hogs were tied 36-all at the break.

Maryland 78 - Colorado 71 = And this is probably about what one should have expected. Neither team is lousy, and neither is great either. I'm glad for the Terps getting a needed victory, but I don't expect this is any big statement one way or the other.

# 6 Duke 82 - Davidson 69 = When you consider the fact that this was in Cameron, and the fact that the Wildcats held a 35-34 lead at the half, and the assumption that the Blue Devils are a Final Four contender, this is not a very impressive margin of victory. As with Michigan State, Dook's one big run gave them a bulge to work with. I have no problem with that per se. Yet coupled with that squeaker against Belmont, it should perhaps give the folks in Durham pause.

Georgia Tech 73 - VCU 60 = As with the Terps, the Jackets have been a "down" program of late. This is no proof they are on their way back, but it is a decent win for them.


Already today Kentucky has spanked Penn State 85-47, to nobody's surprise, while Princeton is doing a comperable number so far on Buffalo down in Jadwin Gym. There's too many games for me to note all that may be good, so I'll just go with:


ODU vs. South Florida = These two should be pretty competitive, start to finish.

# 8 Louisville vs. Butler = And though I'd give Pitino's Cardinals a definite edge here, this one may be better than he'd like it to be.

Virginia vs. Drexel = I may be weeeeellllll off here, but I just have that feeling about this one.

# 20 Cincinnati vs. Presbyterian = Give the Blue Hose credit for once more being willing to play with the Big Boys. Give the Bearcats credit for being willing to sign a check over to them. :D

# 5 Syracuse vs. Colgate = You don't need to wonder where the yellow went this time of year. As is usual, the Orange are facing another cupcake in the Carrier Dome, as this one follows wars against Fordham, Manhattan, and Albany. Did you know that the 'Cuse won't play at someone else's home until they face N.C. State on Dec. 17th? Gawd-awful, you ask me. :td

Long Beach State vs. San Diego State = Like that UVA/Drexel game, I have that itch here also.

Duquesne vs. Akron = And here I go scratching it again.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. N. C. State = I don't know if Vandy's early upset loss was an abberation or not, and I don't know if the 'Pack can continue to play as well as they have to date. So my interest in this one lies in the hope I'll get some sort of answer . . . and hopefully, a game at least close enough for Jerry to enjoy.

Charleston vs. Clemson = As I access my inner Simpsons, I avow that this just might be a match-up between the two best teams . . . in South Carolina. Could be a lotta fun too. :)

# 14 Wisconsin vs. Wofford = The Terriers just lost big to the Georgia Bulldogs, so I don't think they'll have much chance against the Big Bad Badgers. In fact, their only shot is to come out hot, grab a sizable early lead, and force the Glaciers to try and run a little. It's likely Wisconsin will own the boards, so Wofford's gonna hafta force some TOs for those extra possessions. Can that happen? Yes. Will it? I don't think so.

# 22 Gonzaga vs. Hawaii = If Mark Few can get his 'Zags off the beach, they shold have few problems arching over the Rainbows.


I'll come back later with some Sunday action. Until then, enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

With all the early-season tip-off tourneys and invitationals, many of Sunday's match-ups are yet TBD, depending on the outcome of games. For instance, Kentucky will face the winner of the ODU/South Florida contest . . . and win. There are a lot of others like that. So all I can give you are the "givens" up tomorrow:


Washington vs. Saint Louis = One might think a Husky would have no problem tearing a Billiken to shreds. Yet the PAC-12 as a whole has been as a hole so far, and SL can hoop a bit. This may be a nice game, at least midway through the 2nd half.

# 4 U Conn vs. Coppin State = Kay-riest! Did you read what I said about Syracuse above? Well, as for these Huskies, they've obviously been neutered too. This is their 4th home cupcake to open their defense of the crown, following Columbia, Wagner, and Maine, and they won't hit the road until they face South Florida on 12/28. Plus, they have NO ranked teams out-of-conference scheduled for the entire season! I think they are over-ranked at #4. I also think they shall remain over-ranked until they actually have the nerve to play somebody, come January. Sheesh.

Iona vs. Maryland = Yesterday I probably would have given the Gaels a decided edge over the Terps, who have not played all that well. But UM played better against the Buffaloes, so now I think this may be a pretty good one afterall.

# 1 North Carolina vs. Mississippi Valley State = And I don't think this one will be much good at all, save maybe for us Tar Heels. And before you object that UNC should be lumped in the same boat as I put U Conn and the 'Cuse, note not only that this is their FIRST game in the Dean Dome, after opening up on the road on that flattop and that mountaintop in Asheville, but that they will host Wisconsin and visit Kentucky in the near future. So I think they've earned a little scrimmage against the Delta Devils.

LSU vs. Georgia Tech = Two so-so teams in two basketball-rich conferences. That could mean a decent game for us to enjoy.

# 25 Florida State vs. South Alabama = Though I'm not expecting the Semiholes to have much of a problem, I want to see if their defense does a better job than they did against Jacksonville and Stetson.

Murray State vs. UAB = Aside from being of interest to Joe, this might tell us a bit about the Racers' chances of having a good season. UAB should be at least a tough out, and maybe even too tough.

Iowa vs. Creighton = And this IMHO will just be a dogfight.

Duquesne vs. Valparaiso = Here's another one, at least potentially.

Temple vs. Wichita State = And here's another.

Michigan State vs. AR Little Rock = And here's the Spartans' shot to get to .500 after opening up with losses to UNC and Dook. Give Izzo credit though. He's willing to play these two, even though he's something like 1-for-11 in his last dozen against the Tobacco Road duo.

Tulsa vs. St. Joseph's = I could see this one going down to the last few possessions.

# 16 Alabama vs. Purdue = And I could see this one doing the same damn thing.

# 21 Marquette vs. Mississippi = And this might not be quite as close, but still should not be a blow-out.

Northwestern vs. Seton Hall = The Hall's played better than I'd expected so far. I think they're gonna hafta continue to in order to compete here.

Washington State vs. Portland = Do any of you remember last year, when Portland got off hot and even got ranked for a bit? Or was that the year before? Anyway, the Pilots have a shot at making some noise in the Great NW if they can take it to the "meh" Cougars. Keep your eye on this.


That's it for now. Though I may reply to any comments, I shan't be back until Monday afternoon. So until then . . . enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

Once more, too many games, too little time. Here's my highlights from Saturday:


Presberterian 56 - Cincinnati 54 = Each year we have many surprises, and numerous shocks, but true stunners are rarer. Here's one. Don't get me wrong; I have a lot of respect for the Blue Hose, but it's not for their abilities and rather for their willingness to play anybody, anytime, anywhere. This should not have been a game at all. The Bearcats opened up a comfortable 15-point bulge with 10 minutes to play, as one would expect. Yet from that point it was not PU who stunk up the joint, but instead Cincy. And though they still held a 1-point edge with 7 ticks left, they left a Blue Hoser open for a game-winning trey . . . then could not answer to at least tie for the OT. Yeah, the Big East is the Monster of the East they always claim to be.

Cal Poly 42 - Southern Cal 36 = And this nearly qualifies as as big a stunner. It's so weird, it reminds me of an episode of Numbers, where they brought in some ringers from the Lakers. Plus, aside from losing, the Trojans were not just pitiful at scoring, they were absolutely atrocious. Shame, shame.

Duquesne 81 - Akron 76 = Now here we had a really good game, which I believe I predicted.

Charleston 72 - Clemson 69 = Here again, and not the shocker those not familiar with CoC hoops might believe.

Harvard 77 - Loyola Marymount = This one interests me because LM loses for the second time in a row, following a 7-point loss to Middle Tenn. State, and after embarrasssing then-#17 UCLA by 11 in the opener.

# 18 Vanderbilt 86 - N. C. State 79 = Maybe the Commodores are recovering from their shocking early loss too. Still, a decent showing by Jerry's Wolfpack. Besides, he should be happy enough with their victory over Clemson on the gridiron to not let this bother him. :D

Oregon State 100 - Texas 95 (OT) = I felt this would be an interesting match-up also. Seems it was.

San Diego State 77 - Long Beach State 73 (OT) = Ditto.

ODU 68 - South Florida 66 (OT) = Dit-three.


On Sunday we saw:



# 2 Kentucky 62 - ODU 52 = Ohhhh, baby! Those freshmen for the Cats are talented, but they are freshmen, so it took an upperclassman to come off the bench and save Cal's butt in this one. And don't let that 10-point final margin fool you, since it was much closer than that.

# 4 U Conn 87 - Coppin State 70 = In Hartford, no less. When you consider the fact that Coppin ain't no danged ODU, this one's just about as bad. A win's a win, but I don't think Calhoun's all that happy today.

# 16 Alabama 65 - Purdue 56 = I guess this one's about right. The Tide's been decent so far, and the Boilermakers have been iffy.

# 25 Florida State 80 - South Alabama 39 = I normally don't report on blow-outs, but I've been waiting for that vaunted Seminole defense to show up. Maybe it has started to do so. Either that, or South 'Bama didn't show up at all.

Belmont 87 - Middle Tennessee State 84 (2OT) = Now this Volunteer State marathon surprises me a bit. Yeah, Belmont pulled it out, finally, but it seems maybe I need to pay more attention to MTSU, to see if they can hoop a little more than I thought.

Saint Louis 77 - Washington 64 = I knew, and I said, that the Billikens could hoop some. Still, I hadn't the stones to call for an "upset" here. Good for them . . . and one more strike against the PAC-12.

Northwestern 80 - Seton Hall 73 = Well, the Hall did manage to compete with the Braini'cats, so I guess that's a moral victory for the Parish Pirates.

St. Joseph's 79 - Tulsa 75 = I called this one going down to the last possessions, and it certainly did so.

Temple 78 - Wichita State 74 = And I called this dogfight too.

Murray State 62 - UAB 55 = Well, I guess Joe's happy. His Racers finally played somebody that somebody else has actually heard of, and they came away with the W. Good on them! :tu ;)


Here's some selected Monday action:


Already # 15 Michigan has beaten # 8 (for 6 1/2 more days :r) Memphis 73-61. I'm not surprised the Logans won, but do take note that they actually managed to score a little bit this evening. Also, Virginia's beaten Drake 60-52, if anybody cares. ;) Otherwise:


# 6 Duke vs. Tennessee = Out in Maui. This one's already midway thru the 1st, with the Blue Devils and the Vols in a real fight. I give UT a chance here, since Dook does not travel often, or well, in the early season, but I really believe Coach K will wake them up after the break and have them pull away.

TCU vs. Mississippi = Eh, might be a pretty good game here.

N. C. State vs. Texas = And here too.

# 10 Florida vs. Wright State = The Raiders were spanked by Ohio State, and the Gators were at least slapped around by the Buckeyes themselves. Yet that won't make this one a contest. Gators gulp WS whole.

# 21 Missouri vs. Notre Dame = Baby Ben has departed South Bend, so I don't know what the Irish have. Still, I don't think the Tigers are the cat's meow either, so this could be decent.

Presbyterian vs. Davidson = The Blue Hose come off their huge win over the Bearcats, and the Wildcats hung real tough in Cameron against Dook . . . well, at least tougher than did the Presbers. This one interests me just because it does, since I want to see what each team has.

# 16 Marquette vs. Norfolk State = And this one interests me none at all.

# 3 Ohio State vs. North Florida = Nor this one.

# 18 Vanderbilt vs. Oregon State = OK now, this might be a little more like it. Might be, if Vandy struggles again, and if this OSU isn't the same crap we've come to expect from the PAC-12, like . . .

UCLA vs. Chaminade = No offense, Justin. Considering how they've played, I can't bet on your Bruins, though I wouldn't think they could possibly lose. Still, if Chaminade does pull it off, this won't be the upset it was when they beat Ralph Sampson's UVA squad.

# 20 California vs. Georgia = And while we're talking PAC-12, I can see this one being a pretty decent game too. The Bulldogs don't purely stink, and the Golden Bears haven't proven anything to me yet.

# 14 Kansas vs. Georgetown = Here again, I could see a pretty good one, for at least a half or so. The Jayhawks are a little down this season, though maybe not as much as the Hoyas. Still, I don't expect Georgetown to completely roll over and play dead. This is one to keep one's eye on, just to see what's cooking.


That's quick and dirty, and all I've time for. So go amuse yourselves for a while, and enjoy.

Re: College Hoops Thread 2011-2012
 

The Hoyas have some unproven freshmen talent, but most of their experience graduated last year. I hate to say it but I agree that Kansas will likely win this one.