College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[The Poet]

Maybe I can get this in, if I'm concise. Read, "hasty". Last night:


Georgetown 83 - DePaul 75 = The Hoyas need every league win they can get to try and keep pace, or at least pace enough to get a higher-seed in the Big East tourney.

LSU 65 - Auburn 58 (OT) = I believe I said they'd both want this one badly.

Michigan 60 - Michigan State 59 = Once again, the Wolverines fail to score over 65 points. Luckily for them, the Spartans scored one fewer than did the home team.

Western Carolina 141 - Toccoa Falls 39 = Yeah, you read that right. The score at the half was 72-17 Catamounts. Well, at least it wasn't the bullet-dodging of their 2001 meeting, when WCU edged this small Christian school 133-58. I guess The Doors were right: "You CANNOT petition The Lord with prayer!"


Tonight has a lot of great mid-major action, plus a few biggies:


LaSalle vs. Temple = This ought to be fun.

St. Joseph's vs. Xavier = Here too.

Clemson vs. Miami = Here too, as they fight to stay out of the ACC cellar.

U Conn vs. Cincinnati = Ditto, if the Bearcats play the way they are capable of doing, even up in Storrs.

Kent State vs. Ohio = And the hits just keep on coming.

Murray State vs. Morehead State = In previous years this would be another war. Maybe not so much tonight, but Joe's Racers should not get complacent.

Indiana vs. Nebraska = And last year the 'Huskers may have had a better chance against the Hoosiers, but this one is most likely IU's to win . . . or lose, in lieu of beating beaten.

Marshall vs. West Virginia = No waffling here . . . this will be a war.

Memphis vs. UCF = And this one too, since both are hoping to gain enough momentum to gain at-large attention come March.

Wyoming vs. Air Froce = Nobody much cares (well, maybe some do about service academies, but only for that), yet I can see this one being damn good too.

Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa = Both have the talent and tradition to make this a contest.

Creighton vs. Missouri State = MSU hasn't the same tradition as Creighton, but they will put up a fight nonetheless.

Texas vs. Kansas State = The 'Horns have not shown us much so far this year, but the Manhattan 'Cats have had some struggles of late. A win by UT would not only help their confidence, it might give Frank Martin a stroke.

Mississippi State vs. Mississippi = OK, it ain't Duke/UNC, or UK/Louisville, or even UCLA/USC, but it is an in-state rivalry between teams that have had their moments this season.

San Diego State vs. New Mexico = The Aztecs get back into the Top 25 this week, based upon their good play. If they aren't careful, they will drop out of the Top 25 after this game. It's in Albuquerque, and the Lobos can hoop a little.

TCU vs. UNLV = And I even give those horny Texans a shot at the Rebels, even in Vegas. OK, not much of one, but it could be closer than you'd think.


Sorry for the brevity, but that's the way it goes. Hey, do you expect War and Peace every freakin' day? Jeez. So until later . . . enjoy.

[jcruse64]

MSU vs MSU ended up being a war for sure . Down by 11 twice, I think, and only got a lead back late in the 2nd. Morehead was looking to make a statement on defending home, and they gave a great shot on it. Morehead has a good coach, I think, and he likes to put the zone to good advantage. Murray has had problems wit the zone. Despite a rough game, including a horrible start, I was glad they had such a struggle. I think it will help later on.

That LSU game was a good one for sure.

Watching Texas/Kansas St now. K State was laying it on good, but Texas has come to within 1 early in H2; fun game also.

2 undefeateds left. Murray could get nailed by anyone, although getting Aska back in the next week or so will help a lot. What about 'Cuse-who do you see knocking them off???

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

2 undefeateds left. Murray could get nailed by anyone, although getting Aska back in the next week or so will help a lot. What about 'Cuse-who do you see knocking them off???

I'll deal with this one first, Joe. As with your Racers, anybody can knock Syracuse from the undefeated ranks. Against a zone, all it takes is one guy getting hot from downtown, or a bad defensive rebounding effort from the Orange, and they're down by 6 or 8 possessions . . . from which a zone-based team has difficulty recovering, especially as they have no experience pressing to force turnovers and increase possessions. But to be more specific, here's the games I'd be more leery of, were I Jim Boeheim:

1/21 @ Notre Dame = The Irish are not great, but they don't stink either. Plus, South Bend is not the Dome.

1/23 @ Cincinnati = The Bearcats have some bad losses, and some good wins too. And again, the Orange will be on the road.

2/8 Georgetown = 'Cuse is back home, but this is a dangerous Hoya squad. They themselves may not be experienced, but their coach has seen that zone many times, and knows how to attack it.

2/11 U. Conn = Pretty much the same story here, save that the Huskies do have more experience, and maybe a bit more talent too.

2/13 @ Louisville = The third tough game for Syracuse in less than a week, on the road again, and against another dangerous team. Yeah, Pitino's boys have sucked at times, but you know Rick will have them focused for this one. If they can respond . . . well, that's another question.

2/19 @ Rutgers = I don't know how they are doing it, but the Scarlet Knights have managed to surprise better teams, on their own court anyway. Even if the Orange survive all the above, and maybe more so if they do, I could see them coming into this one with a cocky attitude, and taking one in the stones.

2/25 @ U. Conn = In a mirror-image of the 'Cuse, the Huskies are tough at home and not so much on the road. Playing in the Nutmeg State perhaps adds enough spice to turn the table.

3/3 Louisville = You'd suspect, or if you are a Cardinal fan you'd hope, that by this point in the season Pitino'd have his team primed and ready for post-season. This game may not be key to Syracuse to secure them a high NCAA bid, but it might be huge for Louisville. If Rick can impart that to his kids, they should be hyped and focused.


Plus, even if the Orange can survive this minefield, they then enter the Big East tournament, where anything can happen. Remember last year, with the Huskies coming in with a 9-9 conference record, only to ride Kemba Walker all the way to the championship? And ALL of the above ignores the other possible factors: injuries, illness, suspensions, bad calls, bad weather, whatever. So there might not be your answer, but it may help some (including Orange faithful) understand why I don't see them going without a loss all year.


Back later, I hope.