I mentioned above the streak that interested me, so lemme do that first:
North Carolina 74 - Clemson 52 = In and of itself, the outcome was perhaps expected, and its significance is that it keeps the Tar Heels in the ACC race with Duke and FSU. But here's the story that's been buried in many outlets. UNC played its first baketball game in 1910, and in 1926 Clemson rode their mules up to Chapel Hill to play against Carolina in this relatively young sport. UNC won that contest (I didn't bother to look it up, but I figure a score of 22-14 seems likely
). Since that time the Tigers have visited for a rematch 55 more times, and their present record at UNC-CH is 0-56. (FYI, overall their record is MUCH better, at 126-20
) This is an NCAA record for one school against another in the same site, though of course not in the same venue. NOW, you might object that "Of course Carolina beats Clemson", but you need remember that not only have the Tigers had some very good teams over the years, but also that UNC's had some pretty bad ones. Hey, Roy's 2009-10 team went 17-17 in regular-season play. Matt Doherty's 2001-02 team mercifully ended the year with a 8-20 tally. And even in Dean Smith's early days, he was hung in effigy by the student body following losses . . . TWICE! So this zero-for-forever streak is really quite amazing. Oh, and it was also Roy's 666th victory-of-the-beast, putting him 23rd overall and just 2 Ws behind the retired Gary Williams.
Now for a select few games from the weekend, as I cannot possibly do them all. In the balance of Saturday action:
New Mexico 65 - UNLV 45 = I thought this would be a war, but it was an old-fashioned whippin'. I'm not surprised the Lobos won, but it is a bit of a shock the Runnin' Rebels could only score 18 points in the 2nd half, which turned a close one into a laffer.
UTEP 60 - Memphis 58 = But there's no doubt this one's a shock. The Miners beat one of the best teams in the CUSA, one with decided NCAA aspirations, to improve to a .500 season. Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.
Air Force 58 - San Diego State 56 = Like this time. Yeah, OK, it was at altitude, and the Aztecs are not a deep team and may be tired, but this? C'mon.
Kansas State 57 - Baylor 56 = So far this year no Baylor fans have popped up on this thread to cuss me out for calling the Bears teddies-in-waiting, ripe for a big fall. Considering what's become of them lately, I don't expect they'll show up now.
Washington 79 - Arizona 70 = A huge win for the Huskies to keep them in a tie for 1st with Cal at 12-3 Pac-12, and a huge loss for the 'Cats to drop them into tie for 4th at 10-5.
Nebraska 80 - Illinois 57 = Just when I thought it could not get any worse for the Illini, we get this debacle. OK, they are in turmoil, and their season's gone to hell in a handbasket over the last few weeks, but to get spanked by the putrid Cornhuskers? Oh wow. Hang it up, forfeit the balance of the year, and issue refunds.
Murray State 65 - St. Mary's 51 = A very good win for Joe's Racers in what I had hoped would be a tighter contest, even if just for the fun of it. This is absolutely the closest MSU has to a signature win this year, and if anything CAN get them into consideration for an at-large NCAA bid (if needed, of course), this will be it as much as their single-loss season.
Xavier 86 - Dayton 83 (OT) = Now THIS is the kind of game I'd hoped that Racers/Gaels one would be. It's college hoops at its best.
San Franciscon 66 - Gonzaga 65 = I checked to make sure, and yes, I did say I thought the Dons could win this game. And as I've also said before, I respect the 'Zags and Mark Few, but I love to see them lose, if only for the fact that, one of these days, it might just convince them the SHUT THE HELL UP!!!
Harvard 66 - Yale 51 = This win does not quite sew up the Ivy for the Crimson, but as it gives them a 2-game edge over Penn and 2 1/2 over Yale, it does put them in control of their own fate.
Notre Dame 74 - Villanova 70 (OT) = Actually, when you consider how these two have played this year, I'd not be too disappointed as a 'Nova fan with this effort. And on the other side, the Irish should be glad they faced a tough challenge and managed to escape with the W. Again, this is what I love about college basketball.
Michigan 56 - Ohio State 51 = Well, maybe my crystal ball cleared a tiny bit on this one too. Once more, the Logans fail to score as much as their football team regularly tallies. And once again, the Buckeyes manage to shoot even worse than a poor-shooting team from the state of Michigan. Plus remember, this is a team with pre-season Naismith candidate Sullinger down low. You want my opinion as to what's going on with OSU. Well, it's
.
I only saw one score of real interest os Sunday, as the Spartan and Orange road wins were pretty much what you'd have expected. Perhaps we also should have expected:
Iowa 78 - Indiana 66 = Yeah, I double-checked again, and I did give the Hawkeyes a good shot at "upsetting" the Hoosiers. I noted Iowa's not a bad team, and the Hoosiers have had some problems outside Bloomington. So here's more proof that I'm not a total idiot.
Tonight has very limited action, and I could find only two games worth watching:
U Conn vs. Villanova = Well, maybe that's "only ONE game worth watching", since the Philly 'Cats have been pretty disappointing all year, while the Huskies are in as bad a freefall as is Illinois. So this one may actually suck.
Baylor vs. Texas = And come to think of it, so might this one. The Longhorns have made something of a late push for relevance, yet they took a step backwards Saturday with a bad loss to Oak State. And we all know how many steps backwards from their undeserved heights the Bears have taken lately. Still, this one in Austin might just be a tight competitive game, and would even now be a big victory for the 'Horns towards their hopes for an at-large.
That's gonna be all for me today. See you later, and until then . . . enjoy.