College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[jcruse64]

I was shocked over the KU loss, as well. Did not look for that kind of an upset.

We were on the road, and I've yet to see a replay; was WV robbed by the refs??? Coach Huggins says that last block was goal tending.

Racers win!!! Very fun to see the big crowds. We'll have a good game against SEMO Thursday.

VERY shocked by the Hoyas loss! Who knew?!?!?!?!?

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

I was shocked over the KU loss, as well. Did not look for that kind of an upset.

We were on the road, and I've yet to see a replay; was WV robbed by the refs??? Coach Huggins says that last block was goal tending.

Racers win!!! Very fun to see the big crowds. We'll have a good game against SEMO Thursday.

VERY shocked by the Hoyas loss! Who knew?!?!?!?!?

Yeah, I did not see that Jayhawks loss coming, but this was nearly one of those weekends all the way 'round.

As for 'Cuse/WVA, I did not see it either, but according to most reports it was a goaltend. Hey, $#!+ happens, and besides that the Mountaineers have nobody to blame but themselves. After the Orange took the lead, WVA had 4 shots in the last 88 seconds to tie or win, including the last one after SU turned the ball over with 6 seconds left. You may not be happy with the ref, but you can't put the fault on him when your own players fail to respond.

Racers? Who dey?

As for Georgetown . . .

Originally Posted by mase

Another wild weekend. The Hoyas have looked quite shaky of late. Not shooting well at all. Hope they turn it around.

Like he said. Besides . . .


Pittsburgh 72 - Georgetown 60 = I believe I said something about the Panthers not being nearly as bad as their record, and that they HAD to eventually play a good game or three somewhere along the line. Told ya so. That's why I'm not all that surprised. So look elsewhere for your shocks, like maybe . . .

Colorado State 77 - San Diego State 60 = Or maybe not. I foresaw the Aztecs maybe having problems here, though I admit I did not expect such a relative blow-out.

Samford 77 - Davidson 74 = Yeah, nobody cares much about the Southern Conference, but this one's a real stunner. While the Wildcats were rolling through the southern division, Samford now "improves" to 7-13 and 4-5 in the putrid northern division, which is led at 6-4 by perennial basketball powerhouse UNC . . . Greensboro. Hey, isn't that a girl's school?

Rutgers 61 - Cincinnati 54 = To be honest, I can't figure either of these two out. The Scarlet Knights beat people they're supposed to lose to, then lose to ones they ought to beat. Meanwhile, the Bearcats pulled themselves off the mats after getting beaten (in more ways than one) at that brawl with Xavier, and proceeded to win 7 in a row. Since that run, however, they've lost 4 of 7, but 2 of those wins were AT Goorgetown and AT U. Conn. If you know what's going on, please tell me.

Oklahoma 63 - Kansas State 60 = Considering this was in Manhattan, it is surely as big an upset as that KU loss, and adds up to a lost weekend for the state of Kansas. As a further example . . .

Drake 93 - Wichita State 86 (3OT) = Not merely an upset, but a heartbreaker to boot.

Virginia 61 - N. C. State 60 = A good, if low-scoring, contest by two ACC teams fighting to remain in contention . . . for 4th place in the league, at least, and for an at-large. I'm not sure how good a win it is, but it is definitely a loss that stings for Jerry's 'Pack.

Minnesota 77 - Illinois 72 (OT) = Much like the one above, a key conference win for the Gophers, and a painful loss for the Illini.

Murray State 73 - Bradley 59 = No shock here, and only mentioned to keep Joe happy.

UNLV 65 - Air Force 63 (OT) = Another of those almost-stunners we had this weekend. Yeah, the Falcons aren't total crap, and they were at home, but still.


On Sunday we saw:


Notre Dame 50 - U. Conn 48 = If you want to be shocked that the Irish beat the Huskies in Hartford, OK. If you want to be shocked that the Huskies did not break 50 points, OK too. But if you're shocked they lost, I urge you to go back to Page 1, Post 1 of this thread, where I flat-out told you not to expect much from the defending national champions this year.

Ohio State 64 - Michigan 49 = Like the Wolverines so far this year, the Buckeyes were unable to score more than 65 points in this contest. And like those Huskies above, the Logans could not manage to break 50. I guess it's a good win for OSU, but even for a Big Ten+ game it was pretty ugly.

South Florida 81 - Providence 78 = This game meant much less than the ones above, but not only was it better played, it was also about what I predicted. Send your checks to my snaily.

North Carolina 93 - Georgia Tech 81 = Did I not know that this game was not NEARLY as close as the final score, and that Roy took the foot off the pedal and played everybody but the mascot before it was done, I'd be a bit disappointed by the relatively narrow margin of victory. Fact is, the Jackets were done before they got their jackets off, and the Heels were hitting threes like it was practice.

Indiana 103 - Iowa 89 = A badly-needed win for the stumbling Hoosiers, but one thing bothers me. Yeah, I don't much like those 50-48 finals, yet I can remember when they actually played some defense in Bloomington. NBA-type scores in a Big Ten game is odd.


There are only a few games tonight, but some have significance:


Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia = The Panthers are coming off a rare conference win, and hope they are finally finding themselves. The Mountaineers are coming off a heartbreaking loss, where they feel they were robbed. This one ought to be a blast.

Princeton vs. Penn = If the Tigers want to get to the NCAAs, they need to keep pace with Harvard, Penn, Yale, and Cornell. Also, every team in the Ivy has played 4 league games already save these two, who've only had a pair apiece. The Quakers are 2-0, and Princeton 1-1. Remember, whoever wins the Ivy regular season dances, and everybody else preps for finals.

Mercer vs. Florida Gulf Coast = WTF? Why would I mention this one? Well, the Mercer Bears are tied at 8-2 with Belmont atop the Atlantic Sun, while the Eagles aren't totally dead yet at 6-4. And when you couple this game with . . .

Belmont vs. North Florida = . . . this one, with those Music City Bruins hosting the 5-5 Ospreys, you can see why this one's big, at least for those involved.

Austin-Peay vs. Tennessee State = As would this one be big also for the Governors and Tigers, who are tied at 6-4 in the OVC . . . were it not for Joe's Racers, who've spoiled all the fun with their 9-0 mark.

Missouri vs. Texas = Yes, the Longhorns have started to play a little better, even getting close to knocking off Baylor. Yes, the game is in Austin, where they've only lost twice this year. Yes, including that Baylor game Saturday they have 5 losses of 5 points or less. And yes, the Missouri Tigers are one of those teams I've said is NOT as good as their record. But does any of this mean the 'Horns can hook 'em tonight? Actually, yes. I wouldn't bet on it, but that may be due to the fact I cannot abide Rick Barnes.


So that's it for today, folks. Enjoy.

[jcruse64]

So far, Pitt is giving the Mountaineers a good game, and have it at the half. Could be a good 2 here.

Yeah, you DID call on Uconn, and I don't see anyone coming in to fill Walker's shoes this time to push them through the end. Digger's giving them down the road on The World-Wide Leader as I type.

I hear ya on the Bearcats. I bet Cronin is frustrated; just don't know for sure what team is going out on the floor, from game to game.

I just saw that Murray has drawn #18 St. Mary's for the Bracket Buster game. This will hopefully be a great test for the Racers, and one that they pass with racing colors going into the end of the season and preparing for tourney time.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

So far, Pitt is giving the Mountaineers a good game, and have it at the half. Could be a good 2 here.

Yeah, you DID call on Uconn, and I don't see anyone coming in to fill Walker's shoes this time to push them through the end. Digger's giving them down the road on The World-Wide Leader as I type.

I hear ya on the Bearcats. I bet Cronin is frustrated; just don't know for sure what team is going out on the floor, from game to game.

I just saw that Murray has drawn #18 St. Mary's for the Bracket Buster game. This will hopefully be a great test for the Racers, and one that they pass with racing colors going into the end of the season and preparing for tourney time.

It is too early to feel the Panthers and the Mountaineers are heading in opposite directions, but it is true Pitt's winning streak is preferable to WVA's losing one.

Don't give me too much credit on calling the Huskies. With all due respect for U. Conn's 2010 championship, and the amazing post-season Kemba Walker produced for them, that trophy was as huge an upset as was NCSU's 1983 run by Valvano's Cardiac Kids. The odds of that happening again, even WITH Walker, were astronomical. Without, it's cosmological.

Cronin may take some comfort in the fact that his is not the only team that's been all over the place this year.

It's news to me that your Racers drew the Gaels. Not only should that be a tremendous game, it looks to be the major stumbling block remaining for that undefeated regular season MSU is persuing. I shall look forward to the contest, but maybe you shouldn't.


Last night's most important scores:


Pittsburgh 72 - West Virgina 66 = As referenced above, it's another good win for a Pitt team that's had too few, and another hertbreaker for the Mountaineers . . . this one at home.

Penn 82 - Princeton 67 = It's no surprise the Quakers won in the venerable Palestra, but the size of that margin is a bit of one. As I've noted several times already, these regular-season conference games in the Ivy are key.

Missouri 67 - Texas 66 = Did you think I was nutz when I gave the 'Horns a shot at hooking these Tigers? Well, I am nutz, admittedly, but still UT came within that shot of doing precisely that.


There are not a lot of games this evening, yet a fair number involve big names:


Clemson vs. Virginia = The Tigers visit Charlottesville, where the Cavs have already been upset by the VT Hokies. As Clemson's about on the same level, they too could pull one off. Yet I feel UVA is not only superior but has also learned a valued lesson, and shall defend their home court.

Michigan State vs. Illinois = The Illini started off better than projected, but have struggled lately, losing 6 of their last 11 and 3 in a row. Me, I think that will extend to 4 in Champaign tonight, as Izzo tries to get his Spartans into a tie with the Buckeyes atop the big Ten+.

Tennessee vs. Kentucky = Do I think the Volunteers can beat the Wildcats in Rupp? I've already confessed to being nutz, but I'm not that crazy.

Wisconsin vs. Penn State = And even though the Nittany Lions upset a few people in State College both this year and last (and even though the distractions of the Paterno/Sandusky stories are presumably lessened), I can't reasonably expect them to take the Badgers.

Seton Hall vs. Marquette = And even though the Pirates have had a few good wins, and the Golden Eagles a few bad losses, I can't call for an upset here either.

Kansas State vs. Iowa State = So if you're looking for that possible upset, look here. The Wildcats dropped one to a "meh" Sooner squad in Manhattan, and one day after the Cyclones stormed the court in Ames following an upset of the Jayhawks. Can they make it 2 in a row there? Yes. Will they? Ehhh, maybe. It's worth keeping an eye on anyway.

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas = As is this one in Fayetteville. The Commodores have been inconsistent, both at home an on the road, and the 'Hogs have found an acorn here and there this year. This could be a good one.

North Carolina vs. Wake Forest = And this one could be an ugly one. I don't care if it's Winston-Salem or not, the Demon Deacons do not have the personnel to compete with the Tar Heels. They have lost 6 or their last 8 games, and will in all likelyhood fall to .500 for the season this evening. Again, weird things happen, but if so it will not be a case of the Deacs beating the Heels, but rather the Heels beating themselves.


So that's it for tonight. See you later, and enjoy.