There were a fair number of interesting scores last night, and even more potential for good action this evening, so lemme get to it. Last night:
# 1 Duke 82 - Marquette 77 = In their first real test of the season, the Blue Devils were indeed tested by the Golden Eagles. Maybe Marquette is better this year than they have been in recent campaigns, maybe Dook is still trying to find its game, or maybe they ain't quite as good as they want to think they are. We may find out more later today.
#2 Michigan State 82 - Chaminade 74 = OK, it's not the 1982 upset over Ralph Sampson's # 1 Virginia team, but it is still a damn good showing . . . again . . . by the Silverswords. As for the Spartans, not so much.
# 17 Baylor 72 - Lipscomb 60 = And OK, so maybe the similiar-sized win by UNC over Lipscomb was not a fluke. No, I don't mean that the Heels are that bad, and thus by extension so are the Bears (though that could be the case), but that Lipscomb might just have a pretty decent team.
Hampton 51 - Boston U. 50 = Agreed that these are not marquee teams, and nobody much cares, but it sure was a tight one.
Clemson 64 - Seton Hall 58 (OT) = Though not as tight as this one, with two teams that are, if not "above the fold", at least are on the front page.
Dayton 61 - Savannah State 59 = Who the hell is Savannah State? And why did the Flyers have such problems with them?
U. Conn 83 - Wichita State 79 = It remains to be seen if either of these two teams are "back", but they sure gave us an entertaining matchup.
James Madison 65 - Princeton 64 = Pretty much the same story here, albeit on a slightly lower plane.
Mississippi State 82 - Detroit 76 = I seem to recall that Miss. St. had a damn decent team last year. Does anybody know why they had so much trouble with Detroit?
Niagara 65 - Mount St. Mary's 63 = Anyone with even a reasonably lengthy working knowledge of NCAA hoops history has a soft spot for Mount St. Mary's, thanks entirely to Jim Phelan's legacy. So it's nice to see them compete well, even if they lose.
Winthrop 83 - Wake Forest 74 = As has been stated already, everyone expected the Deacs to be down this year. However, I'm not sure they were expected to be dead. Winthrop? Please.
This evening there are a slew of good games, some of which are already in progress. For instance, Belmont leads the aforementioned Winthrop by 15 at the break, and Virginia's over Oklahoma by the same amount. To follow, we'll have:
# 1 Duke vs. # 4 Kansas State = This has to be the "top" matchup, not only of the night but of the season to date . . . at least, if the ranking have any basis in reality. This game may give us some indication if one or the other of these teams are for real. Or, it may not. But it should be fun regardless.
# 2 Michigan State vs. U. Conn = And one could easily, at least in past years, see this as the last game of the year, for all the marbles. Give the Spartans the decided edge in it, but don't be shocked if it gets a bit hairy at times.
# 3 Ohio State vs. Morehead State = Here too we have two teams, and they will play a game of basketball.
# 5 Pittsburgh vs. Robert Morris = Yep, here too.
# 6 Kansas vs. TAMU Corpus Christi = Body of the Islanders, offered up to Jayhawks.
# 8 Kentucky vs. # 13 Washington = Now this one is more like it. We don't really know which, if either, of these teams are for real, but at least we know they both have some talent.
# 10 Purdue vs. Austin Peay = And one of these two has some talent also.
# 11 Missouri vs. Wyoming = I know nothing, NOTHING, of the Cowboys. I don't need to know all that much to go with the Tigers here.
# 14 Memphis vs. Tenn - Martin = And I'll stick with the Tigers here.
# 16 Florida vs. Fla. Atlantic = Yeah, right.
# 19 Illinois vs. Yale = Seems the Illini won't be atop the Big Ten this year, but I think they could compete in the Ivy.
# 20 Texas vs. Sam Houston State = This should be the Alamo for the Bearkats . . . who, apparently, cannot even spell C-A-T.
# 22 Gonzaga vs. Marquette = Here's a danged interesting one. We have no idea if the Zags are as good as they have been in the past, and have some indication that Marquette may be better. This could tell us something.
# 23 BYU vs. Mississippi Valley St. = The Delta Devils visit Provo . . . if they are allowed in.
If not, the forfeit would be the same result as the game.
# 25 UNC vs. N.C. Asheville = The Heels need to right their ship, or put themselves in danger of sliding down the same slope which hurt them last year. Asheville did beat Auburn, so they are not a push-over. But Carolina's back in the Dean Dome, so let's hope the home-cooking helps. Or not, if you're one of those "ABC" fans.
LaSalle vs. Providence = As we speak, LaSalle has a double-digit lead, but the 2nd half's not half done. I'd not be surprised if it tightens up.
Butler vs. Siena = This matches up a pair of solid mid-major programs. This game may give us an early clue if either will step up this year.
Wake Forest vs. Marist = And this might give us a clue if Wake is just bad, or absolutely horrible.
UAB vs. South Alabama = Here's one of those games about which I've just got that feeling.
I might be back to post a few early finals, or I may not. In eithe case . . . enjoy.