Well, let's see if I can update some weekend action without losing both my post and my cool. And, as usual, I'm only noting those scores I found interesting, leaving out the expected blowouts and the "who the hell cares anyway?" ones, yet as always, please add your own
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On Saturday:
BYU 74 - St. Mary's 73 = Yeah, I know I picked the Gaels to knock off BYU. Had the Cougars' star Fredette not hit a three with 10 seconds left, they would have too.
Evansville 71 - Butler 68 (OT) = I've been saying from the get-go that Butler ain't the Butler of last year. But even I didn't expect this one.
Weber State 82 - Drake 81 = OK, I know I said I'd leave out the "WTFC?" games, but give these guys some credit for a razor-tight contest with a reasonable high score. This must have been fun to watch.
Syracuse 80 - Georgia Tech 76 = A nice win for the Orange, and a nice showing by the underrated Jackets. If 'Cuse had been as cold with their shooting as they've been in previous games, they would have lost, big. Tech's Brian Oliver had a field-day shooting over that zone, scoring 32 points. Hey, I've been trying to tell Boeheim this for years . . . the zone's not all that effective against a disciplined team with shooters and penetrators.
Kansas 87 - Arizona 79 = Just an OK win for the Jayhawks here, and a damn decent showing by the desert Wildcats. Maybe KU will improve, and perhaps a lot, once Josh Selby finally starts playing in a few weeks, but for now they are not as good as last year's squad by quite a bit.
Nebraska 60 - USC 58 = Neither team may make much noise on the national level this year, but neither one's a total dog either. It was at least a pretty decent game.
N.C. State 77 - Fairleigh Dickinson 67 = Alright, maybe you think I'm not one to talk, but good gracious! The Wolfpack was supposed to jump up several notches this season, what with some top recruits, but this is not a positive sign. OK, it's a W, but for them to beat Fairly Ridiculous by only ten . . . jeez.
Richmond 65 - Purdue 54 = This one does not surprise me nearly as much as it might some. The Spiders have a good program, and the Boilermakers have not played well since Hummel went down last winter, then again this fall. But on the positive side, the 14 points Purdue scored in the first half was 9 better than California did a day earlier.
Texas 62 - Rice 59 = And, if you've been paying attention, you'll recall that I don't have a lot of faith in the Longhorns either. If you need some evidence of why, check that score again. A one-possession victory, over Rice? Please.
South Carolina 87 - Western Kentucky 85 (2 OT) = I love a game that goes extra innings, especially when it involves two decent programs. My only gripe with this is that it's a pretty low score for two OTs.
Xavier 94 - Wofford 90 (3 OT) = Though it's not as low as this for three OTs. And what the hell is wrong with the X-men? Coming into this game they were 4-1, with their only loss being @ ODU, which happens to a lot of teams. And Wofford was 2-4, with their only "quality" win being over George Mason. How could this go 3 OTs? Sheesh.
On Sunday:
Stanford 81 - DePaul 74 (OT) = After losses to Murray State and Tulsa, this is a good win for the Cardinal . . . even if it took them 5 more minutes. Yet that 14-7 run during that time makes a statement, though perhaps one they should have made in regulation.
Florida 55 - Florida State 51 = Judging by the tally, and by the box score, this must have been one ugly game. Neither team shot well, and neither made the big play when needed. Even the Gator who iced it for them, Erik Murphy, said that "Honestly, it was luck. I just turned around and looked and the ball was falling into my hand. I just went up with it." Right place, right time . . . and one more indication that Florida has a ways to go before they earn their high regard. You only win so many that way.
Georgia 61 - Manhattan 58 = And speaking of the SEC . . . what the hell?!!? A one-possession victory by what is supposed to be a quality SEC darkhorse, against a Manhattan team that's not in Kansas? Lord.
North Carolina 74 - Charleston 69 = Laugh if you wish, but I consider this a quality win. Charleston's not an easy out, as they proved, while the Heels did not do what they've done too many times going back to last year, when the game was tight late. Here they manned up, and made plays on both sides of the court for the W. They will need a lot . . . A LOT . . . more of that in the next few weeks, starting tomorrow when they visit Illinois.
Princeton 86 - Siena 77 (OT) = This was one of those games I touted as being important for both these schools. I figured it would be a war, and it was. We'll see if it has turned either one around.
Texas A&M 54 - Temple 51 = And I flat-out TOLD you A&M could take this one, if the Owls kept playing as they've done. See? I'm not nearly as dumb as I look. Hell, I couldn't hardly be that dumb.
There are a handful of games tonight, but most of them are either of the "so what?" variety, or just silly match-ups. Kansas State vs. Emporia State? Baylor vs. Prairie View A&M? C'mon. So I only spot two to keep one's eyes on:
Minnesota vs. Virginia = The Gophers have a better team, but the Cavs have some quality players too. If they can keep the margin under 10, then make a few shots and get a few bounces their way, they have a puncher's chance.
USC vs. TCU = OMG! LOL! WTF? But thing is, noboby's exactly sure who either of these squads will be, so it has the po' to be a nice little game.
There will be a fair number of better games tomorrow, but we'll get to that . . . tomorrow, hopefully. Until then, enjoy.