College Hoops Thread 2011-2012

[The Poet]

Many of last night's game were about what you'd expect, so I'm limiting my notes to:


Indiana 71 - Northwestern 66 = The 'Cats hung tough in Bloomington, but the Hoosiers and little brother Zeller did enough to get the win. Maybe their mid-season slump is over, and they've gotten a second wind.

Murray State 75 - SE Missouri State 66 = Unless I'm mistaked, Joe, this should clinch the regular season league championship for your Racers. I'm not sure what that gets you, however, since the NCAA may still insist you win the tournament to get a ticket to the Dance. I'm also not sure how I feel about that either, as it's both unfair if it happens, and unfair to a bubble-team that's played a tougher schedule who gets left out in the cold if the OVC gets an at-large.

North Carolina 73 - Miami 64 = Most of the Heels' wins have come off of outscoring and outrebounding opponents. Last night UNC again struggle from the field, and the 'Canes kept the battle of the boards close too. Thus the Heels had to win on the defensive end, making key stops and scoring off forced turnovers. I guess in a way that's a good thing, but I'd REALLY like to see them put it all together at least ONCE this year! Still, a W's a W, and at 9-2 it puts UNC 1/2-game up in the ACC.

Tennessee 77 - Arkansas 58 = And what's up with the Vols all of a sudden? They have won 5 of their last 6, with their only loss in that stretch being AT Kentucky, and improve to 14-12 and 6-5. They may need to run the table to earn an at-large at this point, or make that run in the SEC Tourney, but at least the folks in Knoxville have something to cheer about . . . for now.

Purdue 67 - Illinois 62 = On the other side of that coin, the Illini are in freefall, and Bruce Weber's on the hotseat for it. Since they got that huge win over Ohio State, Illinois has lost 7 of 8, and that one win was by a single point over MSU, an ugly 42-41 "triumph". Meanwhile the Boilermakers continue their late push for an at-large, improving to 17-9 and 7-6. I can see at least 2 more Ws in their future, hosting Nebraska and Penn State. They have no signature wins so far, yet they do have 3 more shots at that too, hosting MSU and at Michigan and Indiana. Should be interesting.

New Mexico 77 - San Diego State 67 = Did I not tell you the Aztecs could lose their 2nd in a row? The Lobos grab the Mountain West lead, and in San Diego to boot.

Loyola-Marymount 75 - St. Mary's 60 = And did I not also tell you LM could hoop enough to give the Gaels problems on THEIR homecourt. Yet even I did not expect such a lop-sided victory as this one was.


Tonight has some very important games, including:


Wisconsin vs. Michigan State = The Badgers are 4th in the Big Ten+ race at 8-4, with the Spartans in 2nd at 9-3, with the Buckeyes a whole 1/2-game on top at 10-3. Need I say any more about the vitalness of this for both teams? Yeah, both likely have bids already, but still.

Virginia Tech vs. Florida State = And the Seminoles need this one to regain a tie with the Tar Heels atop the ACC. I can't give the Hokies much of a shot for the upset down in Tallahassee, but I can always hope for the best.

West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh = At this point of the season I'm just curious about both these squads. Neither may Dance in March, or at least not for long if they do, but as both have good traditions and "meh" performance . . . well, as I said, I'm curious. Ain't you?

N. C. State vs. Duke = Like FSU above, the Blue Devils need the win to get back into that tie with UNC. But the Wolfpack may need this even more. They do have records of 18-7 and 7-3, which puts them alone in 4th place behind those Big Boys, and which one might think would assure them an at-large already. But their RPI is fairly low (around 50 the last I looked), and their win over Indiana 'way back on Nov. 30 can't be counted as a signature win, as the Hoosiers hadn't found their footing at that point. It would be great for Jerry's 'Pack to get one, and if they don't get it tonight in Durham they can try again in their next two chances in Raleigh . . . against FSU and UNC. If you look at the Big Picture for all 4 teams, you see how huge this could be.

Arizona vs. Washington State = And this could be as huge in the equally-logjammed Pac12. The Desert 'Cats are in a 3-way tie for 3rd in the league at 9-4, a full game behind Cal and Washington at 10-3. Couple this with . . .

Oregon vs. California = In Berkeley, where the Golden Bears have only lost twice all year (which is maybe twice too many, but whatever), and with the Ducks being another of those 3rd-place 9-4 squads, and with . . .

Arizona State vs. Washington = The Huskies almost assured of a victory at home against the putrid Sun Devils, and you can see what a big night it will be on the Left Coast this evening.

Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi = I threw this in for much the same reason I did the WVU/Pitt one . . . because I'm curious. Yeah, maybe Vandy's been a bit better than those 2 Big Mouth Conference teams, yet they've been no more consistent. By this time of the year one normally knows if a team's for real or not, but the Comms still have me baffled . . . though I'm leaning towards NOT.

Gonzaga vs. Santa Clara = The stumble by St. Mary's last night has opened the door for the Bulldogs to steal the WCC from them late. A win over Santa Clara tonight would put the 'Zags just a game behind the Gaels, and even-up on the loss-side. I don't expect the Broncos can defend their home court tonight, as they pretty much suck this year.


That's gonna be all for me for now. Enjoy.

[Col. Kurtz]

Originally Posted by The Poet

...

N. C. State vs. Duke = Like FSU above, the Blue Devils need the win to get back into that tie with UNC. But the Wolfpack may need this even more. They do have records of 18-7 and 7-3, which puts them alone in 4th place behind those Big Boys, and which one might think would assure them an at-large already. But their RPI is fairly low (around 50 the last I looked), and their win over Indiana 'way back on Nov. 30 can't be counted as a signature win, as the Hoosiers hadn't found their footing at that point. It would be great for Jerry's 'Pack to get one, and if they don't get it tonight in Durham they can try again in their next two chances in Raleigh . . . against FSU and UNC. If you look at the Big Picture for all 4 teams, you see how huge this could be.....

Amazing season so far. Much better that expected in Gottfried's debut. (even if he is a 'bama boy). The schedule is one thing he vowed to fix in his first interview here. He seems to be real competitor. He said he'd rather lose close games to the best in the country than win against Belmont Abbey.... He won me over right there.

Of course we've been getting spanked by some of the best in the country just down 70 and 54 for many years now.

However, I suspect Bryan will be crying tonight....



or I'll be saying "Just wait till football season!"

[jcruse64]

Col,

we liked Gottfried just fine, when he was here at Murray State. I hope he does well for ya'll too.

Murray wins a road game, but rival SEMO did not fold on them. Good match for the Racers to get ready for the weekend's BracketBuster.
Also, that DID clench the regular season title, but will likely mean nuthin if the OVC tourney title is lost, even with a win this weekend. I would hate it, but can also understand it, unless the selection they lose goes to a 17-win program...

This FSU/VT game is ending.....

Holy Cow!!!! What a finish!!! VT can't hit 2 freebies w/ 10s left, and FSU goes down and hits a 3 t win. VT pops the rim at the buzzer to lose. Wow!!! And VT had FSU down BADLY in H2. Wow! Gotta hit your freebies.

Okay, now to watch Pitt/WV and Vandy/Ole Miss.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by Col. Kurtz

Amazing season so far. Much better that expected in Gottfried's debut. (even if he is a 'bama boy). The schedule is one thing he vowed to fix in his first interview here. He seems to be real competitor. He said he'd rather lose close games to the best in the country than win against Belmont Abbey.... He won me over right there.

Of course we've been getting spanked by some of the best in the country just down 70 and 54 for many years now.

However, I suspect Bryan will be crying tonight....



or I'll be saying "Just wait till football season!"

Just wait for till football season, Jerry . . . even though "Duke football" is sort of an oxymoron.

Well, your 'Pack had its shot, but the Blue Devils made another late comeback to steal it from you. Hey, I know how you feel there, brother. But had you held on, and had the Hokies done the same, it would have been a GREAT night for both of us.

I agree about State's surprising season so far, and with the job Gottfried's done. Plus, if that stellar recruiting class he's got coming in next year lives up to expectations it will only get better at Moo U.

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Col,

we liked Gottfried just fine, when he was here at Murray State. I hope he does well for ya'll too.

Murray wins a road game, but rival SEMO did not fold on them. Good match for the Racers to get ready for the weekend's BracketBuster.
Also, that DID clench the regular season title, but will likely mean nuthin if the OVC tourney title is lost, even with a win this weekend. I would hate it, but can also understand it, unless the selection they lose goes to a 17-win program...

This FSU/VT game is ending.....

Holy Cow!!!! What a finish!!! VT can't hit 2 freebies w/ 10s left, and FSU goes down and hits a 3 t win. VT pops the rim at the buzzer to lose. Wow!!! And VT had FSU down BADLY in H2. Wow! Gotta hit your freebies.

Okay, now to watch Pitt/WV and Vandy/Ole Miss.

Yeah, like Jerry's 'Pack (and my Heels also) the Hokies just could not catch a break last night. And though I felt NCSU could give Dook a game, I never thought VT could hang so tough on the road at FSU. Once more, shows what I know.

As for your Racers maybe getting dissed by the Selection Committee if they don't take the OVC tourney, I will feel you pain, or even anger. Yet you do seem to have a good handle on reality, and thus won't let it completely ruin a magical season . . . or your sleep and digestion.

Back with details in update shortly.