[The Poet]

A few more early finals for you:


West Virginia 74 - Georgetown 62 = The Hoyas' climb in the polls takes a step backwards with this huge win for the Mountaineers.

Duke 81 - Georgia Tech 74 = This game was really closer than the final. Dook struggles on the road again, though they do escape with a W over the Wreck.

Xavier 67 - Fordham 59 = The Musketeers get only their 2nd win in their last 7 in the wake of their Bearcat brawl. Meanwhile the Rams follow their stunner over Harvard with a loss to "meh" U Mass, then this.


There's far too many great games scheduled today, so I'll just hit the big ones:


Missouri vs. Kansas State = At this point it's looking like the Manhattan 'Cats will hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. It's not over, but if it holds up it won't be Missou's last loss.

LSU vs. Mississippi = And these Tigers are trying to stomp the Rebels, holding a 20-point lead at the break.

Baylor vs. Texas Tech = The Bears have only a single point edge at the break, and are actually in more of a game than I'd have thought.

Kansas vs. Oklahoma = The Sooners are hanging tough with the Jayhawks in Norman, up by one with 4 minutes to go in the first. It's early, so I'd expect KU to prevail eventually.

North Carolina vs. Boston College = In this ACC opener for both, I'd not expect the Eagles to be able to give the Heels much of a contest, as they've not shown that ability prior to this. Yet I'd not have thought the Yellow Jackets could hang with the Blue Devils either, so there's that. In conference play, anything can happen.

Ohio State vs. Iowa = The Hawkeyes have had a couple of very good, and somewhat unexpected, wins already. If they can take this one from the Buckeyes, it would be their biggest. I don't think they shall, but you never know. OSU has NOT been al-powerful.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina = Nor have the Wildcats, but the 'Cocks have been awfully limp so far. I don't give them a shot in hell in Rupp.

Syracuse vs. Marquette = It's back in the Dome, so you'd have to give the Orange a slight nod. Still, Marquetts has played very well at times, and they might have a shot of knocking off another undefeated today.

Dayton vs. Temple = Can the Owls build upon their huge victory over Duke? This one ought to be close throughout.

Louisville vs. Notre Dame = If the right Cardinals team shows up in the Crum Bucket, I don't give the Irish much of a chance.

Virginia vs. Miami = The Cavaliers have been the surprise of the ACC so far, and the 'Canes have struggled mightily. I'll go with UVA until they show me something otherwise.

U Conn vs. Rutgers = Hey, whaddaya know? The Huskies are once again risking a trip outside the Nutmeg State, and the Scarlet Knights did beat pretty badly the Gators in Piscataway. So anything can happen, even if you claim lightning cannot strike twice.


I'll try to get back later with some more scores and some Sunday games too. Until later then, enjoy.