College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[The Poet]

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.

# 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.

# 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.