College Hoops Thread '10-'11

[jcruse64]

THE GAME...coming up!

While there have been some blowouts, this is almost always a great game. I'll usually always watch, even though I despise the ACC, as ALL good Wildcat fans should......

Even when one team is really having a down season, they show up big for this game. I WILL be watching, not listening, Baybeee...

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by SD Beerman

"San Diego State 85 - Utah 53 = Now that's more like it, Aztecs. I guess Steve Fisher saw the same thing I did, and lit a fire under your butts."



What he said!!!!

And what I said likely had far fewer censored comments than what Fisher said.

Originally Posted by jcruse64

THE GAME...coming up!

While there have been some blowouts, this is almost always a great game. I'll usually always watch, even though I despise the ACC, as ALL good Wildcat fans should......

Even when one team is really having a down season, they show up big for this game. I WILL be watching, not listening, Baybeee...

Another great game, and although I may have hoped for a slightly different outcome, no one can complain about the show they gave us. And if you can't stand Dicky V's banter, you can always try to find a feed online from Woody Durham out of Chapel Hill. There may be radio announcers as good, and as fair, as him, but there are none better.

Update to follow.

[The Poet]

So let's start this update by finishing up on THE GAME:


Duke 79 - UNC 73 = The Heels had this one most of the way, but the greater experience of the Blue Devils allowed them to edge it out late. The final is deceptive, as the game was much closer than that 2-possession margin. A very good win for Duke, and not a bad loss for the Heels, since they were expected to lose, and since I feared they may take a step backwards. Though they did not take one forward, they did show they could play with anyone, and if they keep this up and continue to improve, UNC is one team you won't want to see in your bracket come March.


Though this game was no surprise, and was exactly what I thought it might be, there were some shocks last night, the biggest being:


Rutgers 77 - Villanova 76 = I would say this is a huge win for the Scarlet Knights, and give them much credit, but from what I understand they did not win as much as 'Nova lost. The Wildcats blew a comfortable lead in the last few minutes, then fouled the shooter on a game-tying trey with 8/10th left, putting him on the line for the W. Jeez.

Wisconsin 64 - Iowa 59 (OT) = And this was nearly a big a shock, with the Badgers needing the extra 5 to take care of business.

Idaho 64 - Utah State 56 = And this was no surprise to me at all, at least in one regard. Hey, I flat-out told you yesterday the Aggies were over-rated. But dropping one to the Spuds . . . uh, I mean Vandals, who pretty much reek? Don't tell me it was in Moscow, as I don't care if it was played in Red Square! Their winning streak of 17 would have ended long ago, had they the guts to schedule some better competition.

VCU 84 - Delaware 74 (2OT) = This one's also a surprise to me, since I figured the Rams would have less trouble plucking the Blue Hens. Give Delaware some props for hanging tough, and VCU for hanging just a bit tougher to remain tied atop the CAC.

Marquette 59 - South Florida 58 = Much like the 'Nova loss, the Bulls gave this away. Much UNLIKE it however, is the fact that Marquette should not have had this much trouble in the first damn place.

Memphis 63 - UCF 62 = And the Knights came that close to breaking their long losing streak, against a CUSA-contending team that should have chased them out of the gym. You just can't figure college hoops.

Georgetown 64 - Syracuse 56 = And not to beat a dead horse here, but I still can't figure how the supposed # 12 Orange can be 7th in the Big Mouth at the same time. One or the other has to give. This is a good win for the Hoyas in the Dome. As for the 'Cuse . . . I've said their problem is their zone, but I'm beginning to believe a bigger one is their inability to shoot the ball.

Notre Dame 89 - Louisville 79 (OT) = Another nice win for the Irish, and another heart-attack night for Rick Pitino. Maybe he should consider going back to the NBA, where the money is better, and the stress is less.

Baylor 74 - Nebraska 70 = I figured on a good game here, and that's just what they gave us.

Bowling Green 65 - Ball State 64 = And did I not tell you this one would be tight?

Texas A&M 73 - Colorado 70 (OT) = Here again, did I not call for a high-altitude dogfight? Sometimes I scare myself, I'm so damn good.

Miami 74 - Wake Forest 73 = Well, give the Deacs some credit for giving it the old college try, and just barely missing their 2nd conference win last night. It took 2 'Cane FTs with 4 ticks left to get the lead, and a rimmed-out 3 at the buzzer to save it. Well, Wake still gets to host NCSU and Ga. Tech, so it ain't their final chance.


There are some pretty decent games tonight, though mostly small potatoes compared to last evening's:

U. Conn vs. St. John's = Both teams have shown that they can beat the best, and both have shown they can spit the bit. I really don't think the Red Storm can steal another stunner in the Garden, so expect the Huskies to take it fairly easily.

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama = Vandy is ranked nationally, and are 4-4 in the SEC East. The Tide is unranked, and 7-1 in the SEC West. 'Bama looks for its first win in Nashville in 20 years. Can they get one? Judging by the conference history so far this year . . . I have no clue.

Illinois vs. Minnesota = Both of these teams have been ranked at some point this season. Both are at best .500 in the Big Ten so far. Both need the win. Both can't get it. Flip a coin.

Florida State vs. Georgia Tech = The Semiholes got chased out of Chapel Hill Sunday, yet with a win tonight can get within a 1/2-game of the Heels for 2nd place in the ACC, with plenty of games left . . . including a home rematch with UNC. The Jackets have played some good games in Atlanta, but may have trouble scoring against FSU's D. I figure the 'Noles by 3 possessions, unless they pull another stinker like they did on the road at Clemson.

Penn State vs. Michigan State = Tom Izzo seems to believe his Spartans can still earn a bid to the NCAAs, despite their present 13-10 record. Well, I've looked at their schedule. With 7 games left, and with Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, and Purdue amongst them, they had better start their push tonight. The Nittany Lions have shocked better teams already this year, so don't expect them to just roll over. This one could be a lot of fun, and much too "questionable" to call.

Oregon vs. UCLA = Believe it or not, the Bruins are 2nd in the Pac-10, behind the 'Zona Wildcats. They feel at least as dissed as those desert 'Cats, and with even more historical justification. They think they deserve to Dance. Me, I do too. But they had best press the Ducks tonight, or face my wrath tomorrow.

Washington vs. California = And believe it or not, the Huskies have gotten almost all the Pac-10 props so far, yet their 7-4 conference records is a scarce improvement over Cal's 6-5 mark. It is in The Emerald City, where they very rarely lose . . . as opposed to the yellow-brick road, where they've now lost 3 in a row. Must be all the caffeine. I figure they won't make that 4 tonight, but who knows?

Wright State vs. Butler = And now to the mid-majors, with a vital game for both teams in the Horizon race . . . which is also the case for . . .

Detroit vs. Valparaiso = So here four of the top six Horizon clubs face off against each other. You don't think there will be some scoreboard watching this evening? Speaking of important mid-major matchups . . .

Murray State vs. Tennessee Tech = Joe's Racers hold the slimmest of leads for first in the OVC with their 10-3 record. How slim? Well, the TT Golden Eagles at 9-5 are tied for 3rd with Austin Peay, with Morehead State just ahead at 9-4 (and who play bottom-feeder Eastern Illinois tonight, so figure they'll hit 10-4). You don't think this is one big game in one small conference?


That will do it for me tonight. As always, enjoy. And as recently, Screw Drew.

[The Poet]

There were a number of important scores from last night, but only one was a shocker:


St. John's 89 - U. Conn 72 = Yeah, I know the Johnnies have played some good games on occasion, and that they laid the wood to Dook not long ago. But I never thought they'd grab another huge win against a "Top Ten" team. I put that distinction in quotes not for the Blue Devils, who likely deserve it, but rather for the Huskies. Once again, I must protest. U. Conn is # 10 in the nation, yet in a 5-way tie for 7th in the Big East? Man, I'd like to take those voters and just !!!

Florida State 72 - Georgia Tech 63 = This one I place in this prime position not for the expected victory for FSU but rather for its potential significance down the road. This keeps the Seminoles alone at 3rd in the ACC race, just 1/2-game below the Heels. Looking at their remaining schedule, I see only 2 more games which should not be automatic wins for them . . . at Maryland, and hosting UNC. This race could go down to the wire.

UCLA 64 - Oregon 54 = Much the same can be said here for the Pac-10. The Bruins remain in 2nd place behind the Arizona Wildcats, and have a fairly managable row to hoe . . . at least until they end the season with those 'Cats and the two Washington teams. It is still a horserace on the Left Coast.

Illinois 71 - Minnesota 62 = And although it seems that the Buckeyes have the Big Ten all to their lonesome, these "also-ran" games are vital, if only for possible seedings come March. The Gophers are go-for-ing the basement fast, with this their 4th loss in a row, and their 5-7 conference mark is now, believe it or not, worse than . . .

Michigan State 75 - Penn. State 57 = The Spartans, who move to .500 in league play at 6-6, and "improve" to . . . gulp, 14-10 overall. Izzo still has a lot of work to do to keep his NCAA streak alive, but this is a small positive sign. Now, let's see him beat the Buckeyes next Tuesday.

Vanderbilt 81 - Alabama 77 = This one was a tight fight from start to finish, with 11 ties and 10 lead changes, but in the end it was the same old story for the Crimson Tide in Nashville . . . wait 'til next decade to win one at the Comms. Vandy hangs on by the whiskers on the Robber Baron's chin, and keep the SEC East in a 4-way tie for 2nd behind the Gators. Yet 'Bama does stay 2 games up in the SEC West . . . for what that seems to be worth.

Valparaiso 82 - Detroit 74 = And this one keeps Valpo at the zenith of the Horizon, although their Crusade is not yet over, thanks to . . .

Butler 71 - Wright State 63 = It won't be easy for either of these, at 9-5 and 10-5 respectively, to catch both Valpo (10-3) and Cleveland State (10-4). One or the other, maybe, but both? Still, there are games left, and so there's time to do it . . . if they can do it.

Murray State 55 - Tennessee Tech 44 = And this keeps Joe's Racers atop the OVC, a full game better than Morehead State (who beat Eastern Illinois themselves last night). Yet winning this game, nor winning the regular season in that conference, won't get them to the Dance. Regardless, they did what they needed to do, ugly though it was (99 total points scored combined? Crap.), and a win is a win is a win. Right, Gertrude?


As we have come to expect, Friday night's mostly a heaping pile of who gives a fark. I spot only two games tonight which, barring something like "upsets" in the Ivy League, seem to have any real significance:

Yale vs. Harvard = Since I don't think the league-leading Princeton Tigers will get much of a fight from the Columbia Lions this evening, this is the key Ivy game to watch, as the Crimson and the Elis (don't feed me none of that "Bulldog" bull . . . there's too many dogs in the NCAA as it is) battle to remain 2nd and/or 3rd in the race for that one lone lonely bid the Ivy shall receive.


That will be it for now. If I have time, I'll come back with some quickies on the early tips on Saturday. Either way, enjoy. Screw Drew.

[The Poet]

OK, I'm back with the Saturday games scheduled to tip by 1:00 PM EST:


Notre Dame vs. South Florida = If the Irish don't just hammer the Bulls, I'll be surprised . . . though to be fair, 7 of the Bulls 8 wins came on their home court. But so did 6 of their 17 losses, so there's that too.

Syracuse vs. Louisville = And speaking of losses, both of these are coming off of one. Also, both of these teams are in that 8-way Big Mouth cluster with records between 7-4 and 6-5 in conference play. Put those facts together, and you can figure on a war out in the Crum Bucket.

Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt = By comparison, the SEC East is a cakewalk, as their are only 4 2nd place teams with 5-4 marks. Kentucky has more talent, and less depth. Vandy has home-court, and a short turnaround time. And that's ignoring the fact that the SEC has had the consistency of a bride's first gravy this year . . . lots of lumps and bumps. Pick 'em.

North Carolina vs. Clemson = The Tar Heels are 3/4ths the way through their single toughest stretch of the ACC season (@ BC, FSU, @ Dook), and so far 2-1 is about as good as one could expect. They need to visit the Tigers and take care of business to remain above the Semiholes in 2nd place. It won't be easy, but I'd give them a slight edge.

Maryland vs. Boston College = And this one might even be more important in the ACC, and I'll tell you why. At 5-4 and 5-5 resp't, neither one will make it to the top of the regular season standings. Yet, barring a possible run in the ACC Tourney, this one may determine whether or not one or the other (and likely not both) will receive a bid to the NCAAs. Can the Terps travel up to Chestnut Hill and take one from a struggling Eagle squad? It should be a lot of fun to watch.

Temple vs. Dayton = The Owls may be ranked, and may even deserve to be, but they are in 3rd place in the A-10. Just barely, mind you, at 8-2 as opposed to the Dukes and X-Men at 8-1, but still. Also, and still still, they are tied for third with . . .

Richmond vs. St. Louis = Though the Owls above may have problems with the Flyers, I can't see the Spiders having all that much with the Billikens. So pencil in Richmond with the W, which means the Owls HAVE to beat Dayton, or fall to 4th in the A-10 race. Hey, I figure all four may get bids anyway, but it's best not to gamble on such stuff.


Tomorrow I'll give you more weekend action, plus some early scores.

[jcruse64]

If I were a betting man, I'd say UK will flame out down at Vandy.

The St John's win was great! They ain't too shabby.


Go Racers!!!!! Will be there tomorrow to see if the streak continues.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

If I were a betting man, I'd say UK will flame out down at Vandy.

The St John's win was great! They ain't too shabby.


Go Racers!!!!! Will be there tomorrow to see if the streak continues.

A. Well, it certainly would not be the first time the 'Cats got their tails stuck under a rocker.

B. The Johnnies made a bit of a move last year, and Steve Lavin seems to have them on a positive track. Let's see if they can continue to climb back to where they were once, without landing on the NCAA's $#!+list. Hey, it wouldn't be Lavin's first time there.

C. As by this time you're already in the stands, I won't tell you to enjoy. Still, I hope you do . . . and if they win, you likely shall.


Back soon with an update.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by The Poet

C. As by this time you're already in the stands, I won't tell you to enjoy. Still, I hope you do . . . and if they win, you likely shall.

My bad. That game's tonight, so only the janitors are in the stands now.


Last night Harvard edged Yale 78-75 to stay in touch with Princeton in the Ivy, while East Tennessee State just spanked Jacksonville 80-64 to grab 2nd in the Atlantic Sun behind Belmont. Today there is far too much going on for me to do proper justice to it all, so by throwing out the mismatches and the bottom-feeders I'm left with:


Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech = Well, actually one of these is a bottom-feeder, but as the Aggies are ranked I have to mention their game, even if I don't think it will be much of one.

LSU vs. Arkansas = And the only way I see the Tigers giving the 'Hogs much of one resides in the fact that the SEC has been all over the map, so there's that.

Missouri vs. Oklahoma = And with Missou being ranked at 18-6, with the Sooners just above .500 at 12-11, this seems a mismatch too. But they are both 4-5 in the Big 12, so you can never tell. It could actually be close, at least for a while.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin = Can the Buckeyes travel up to Madison and stay undefeated? Sure they can. Can the Badgers plod them into frustration, and steal one at home? Sure they can. If somebody scores more than 70, go with OSU. Under that, it could be anybody's game.

ODU vs. VCU = This one should be tons of fun. VCU is tied for 1st in the CAC, with ODU 'waaaay down in 3rd place. Break out the sharp knives.

Virginia vs. Florida State = On the one hand, the Cavs seem to be safely a few steps out of the ACC basement. On the other, the 'Noles want to stay in touch with UNC for 2nd in league play, as well as hope that Duke stumbles somewhere. I can't see UVA winning, yet I do expect they'll show up and give 'em game.

Mississippi vs. Alabama = The Tide want to bounce back from that squeaker at Vandy, and further strengthen their hold atop the SEC West. The Rebels don't want to drop any lower than 3rd, and would love to get back to .500 there. As this is the SEC, and the West to boot, flip a coin.

Indiana vs. Michigan = Two young teams with more pride and tradition than ability, though both have shown flashes. The Logans hold home court, so give them a 3-possession edge over the Hoosiers. Then, wait 'til next year, when both may open some eyes.

UCLA vs. Oregon State = The Bruins may be the surprise of the Pac-10, and may be the only one who can steal the conference from Arizona. As this one's at Pauley, and as the Beavers are as flat as their tails, go UCLA here.

Texas vs. Baylor = The Longhorns don't have a lot of competition left on their schedule, with the Bears being one of the few with half-a-shot. Unless the 'Horns assume they're winning and slack off, they should take it by 10 or better. But Baylor can play a bit, so UT best not fall asleep.

West Virginia vs. DePaul = Although the Blue Demons have come close a time or two of actually winning a conference game, they have as yet not managed to do so. I do not expect they shall today either, despite the fact that the Mountaineers have also fallen off the ridge a time or three themselves.

Kansas vs. Iowa State = And if the Jayhawks drop this one in Lawrence, Bill Self should shoot the mascot.

Georgia vs. South Carolina = Neither team seems likely at this point to make much noise nationally, but both have demonstrated they can play on occasion. Even were this NOT in the SEC, it would be a pick 'em.

George Mason vs. James Madison = Gentlemen, choose your weapons. This duel in the CAC impacts that ODU/VCU game above, as GM is the one tied with VCU. I'm not sure the Dukes can give the Rams any help on the Patriot's court, but JM can play a little themselves, so who knows? If you have any mid-major interest at all, keep an eye on this one, as well as the one above.

Florida vs. Tennessee = Can the Gators grab a stranglehold on the SEC East down in Gainesville today. No doubt. Can the Vols actually show up for a change and throw a wrench in the works? Well, maybe. They have enough skill available, but problems on and off the court have kept them off-balance all season. Yet if they want to make a late push, today would be a good time to start. If it's close at the half, it could be close at the end also.

Southern Mississippi vs. Memphis = And if you think the picture in YOUR conference is muddy, take a look at the CUSA! Amongst the top 6 teams there, one has a 6-2 record, two are at 7-3, and three at 6-3! Hell, you could throw a rock and hit all six! These two are amongst that clusterfark, so you know damn well they will be focused.

BYU vs. Utah = The first time these 2 met, the Utes only lost by 25 points. I don't expect much better a showing today.

California vs. Washington State = They may not be the class of the Pac-10, but at 6-6 each they both want this victory. This might be a nail-biter.

San Diego State vs. UNLV = The Aztecs only have a few more shots at p!$$ing away their tie with BYU atop the Mountain West, and a good piece of their national rep to boot. Tonight in Sin City is one of those. I vowed I'd not pick against them until they fell on their obsidian knives, so I shan't. Still, stay tuned with this one.

Detroit vs. Butler = Neither one of these will win the Horizon without a lot of help from others, yet they are decent teams and will most likely give us one heck of a contest.

Wright State vs. Valparaiso = But here, here we have a truly vital Horizon game. With Valpo leading at 10-3, Cleveland State on their necks at 10-4, and the WS Raiders all the way back at 10-5 . . . well, you get the picture.

Murray State vs. Jacksonville State = If Joe's Racers do not beat the 'Cocks into bloody stumps, he has no reason to complain. On paper, it's no contest.

Stanford vs. Washington = The Huskies stopped their 3-game losing streak by beating one NoCal team, and hope to keep the wins coming against the other tonight. They likely will, as the Cardinal is pretty much a .500 team at best. Still, the fact remains that the Huskies are not nearly as good as they were supposed to be, so who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Pitt vs. Villanova = Only one of these has been consistently good all year, but again the fact remains that 'Nova can beat almost anybody on a given night. This may not be that given night, however, and I won't pick a Big East team to knock off the Panthers until they give me some evidence to the contrary. It should be close for a while, yet the Wildcats have had problems sealing the deal. Pitt by 3 possessions.

Kansas State vs. Colorado = Along with the MSU Spartans, K-State's Wildcats have had the most disappointing collapse this season. But the Buffaloes have been no better of late, dropping 6 of their last 7. Hey, maybe they both suck! Pick 'em, if you dare.

Utah State vs. Fresno State = The Aggies dropped their first game in two months on Wednesday. I don't think they'll drop one to the aptly-named 'Dogs today.

SMU vs. UTEP = Remember above, when I talked about the moshpit CUSA race? Well, here's two more in the thick of it. I'd give the Miners a slim edge over the Mustangs, but it could go either way.

Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa = And here, in the Missouri Valley, is another key game. The Shockers are tied on top with Missouri State at 11-3, with the Panthers in 3rd place at 9-5. Both want it bad. I think the Shockers are a little better, but the game's in Cedar Falls, which might be worth a few points. Regardless, it should be a good one.

St. Mary's vs. San Francisco = It should not shock people who follow college hoops that the Gaels have a good team, and are on top of the WCC race. But unless your beard and memory are both loooong, you'd not expect the Dons to be in 2nd place, ahead of Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Pepperdine, Portland, Loyola Marymount - all names from more recent times. Hey, I know at least one other person who'll have an eye on this one, besides me, and that's Bill Russell.


It's getting to crunch time in my game, so I'll be back later with early scores and Sunday games. Later.

[jcruse64]

The Cards hung in for the win over 'Cuse.

UK...tight game in Nashville with 5 left to play.

[The Poet]

Games of note come Sunday include:


St. John's vs. Cincinnati = Can the Red Storm keep on stormin', and shave the Bearcats on the road? At this point, I'd hate to pick against them . . . but I will. Cincy in a close one.

N.C. State vs. Wake Forest = The Wolfpack is not the worst team in the ACC. Let's see if they can prove that against the Deacs in Greensboro.

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech = And the Yellow Jackets are also not the ACC's worst. But they are not as good as the Hokies. Sure, they can win. But I don't think they will.

Georgetown vs. Marquette = Although the Hoyas will probably have problems putting the Golden Eagles away, they ought to manage that down in DC.

Purdue vs. Illinois = Both of these have shown they can win, and they can just as easily lose too. Flip a coin.

Xavier vs. Duquesne = A huge game in the A-10, with the two teams tied atop going head-to-head. I'm looking for blood in the lane before this one's done.

Duke vs. Miami = The last time the Blue Devils went down to the Sunshine State, they came back with a loss. But that was against the Seminoles, and not the Hurricanes, so as much as I would like it, as it would help my Heels, I can't see a repeat of that happening. Duke, big.

U. Conn vs. Providence = And as much as I like seeing Jim Calhoun lose, I can't see the Friars winning in Storrs. It could happen, but that would be at least a minor shock to me.

Arizona vs. Arizona State = There is little doubt that the desert 'Cats have a better squad than does the Sun Devils. That being said, when it comes to in-state conference rivals, on ASU's court, you have to give Sendek's boys at least an outside shot at it. I'll believe it when I see it, but you never know.


I'm bushed, so that's it until Monday. 'Til then then, enjoy. Screw Drew.

[jcruse64]

Awright, first, ya gotta quit calling it the Crum Bucket, for the love of Rick!!!! The new digs goes by the official name "Pitino's Palace", or "The House That Rick Built". Show some respect! Good win for them, by the way, but they sure tried to let it slip at the end.

It IS easy to feel good about Vandy and Stallings program. A top notch school, with great academic programs and a med school and facilities that are among the nations best, and still manage to put a good team on the floor nearly every year. I had a feeling this was going to happen. UK had the game, and took their foot off the gas right after bagging the lead. No bench and no consistent focus = no Final Four for this squad this year. Kills me to say that.

Racers win!!!!! By the skin of their teeth, at 1 point at the buzzer. Ugly game for the Racers, who couldn't hold a lead until 7 minutes left in the game, and shooting a typical (for them) 50% from the line. Pitiful, and no excuse for it.

Missed the game while in Murray; looks like Pitt had a close game.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

Awright, first, ya gotta quit calling it the Crum Bucket, for the love of Rick!!!! The new digs goes by the official name "Pitino's Palace", or "The House That Rick Built". Show some respect! Good win for them, by the way, but they sure tried to let it slip at the end.

Hey, I thought I was showing some respect! Let's get real: It wasn't Pitino who built the Louisville program, but Denny Crum. What with so many other former coaches honored with their names on courts. . . Phog Allen, Adolph Rupp, John Wooden, Dean Smith, Lou Carnesecca, etc. . . I thought that this appellation was apt. Besides, I'M not the one who called it the KFC Yumi in the first place, so don't blame ME for the "Bucket" part!

Update to follow.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by jcruse64

It IS easy to feel good about Vandy and Stallings program. A top notch school, with great academic programs and a med school and facilities that are among the nations best, and still manage to put a good team on the floor nearly every year. I had a feeling this was going to happen. UK had the game, and took their foot off the gas right after bagging the lead. No bench and no consistent focus = no Final Four for this squad this year. Kills me to say that.

Racers win!!!!! By the skin of their teeth, at 1 point at the buzzer. Ugly game for the Racers, who couldn't hold a lead until 7 minutes left in the game, and shooting a typical (for them) 50% from the line. Pitiful, and no excuse for it.

Missed the game while in Murray; looks like Pitt had a close game.

Joe, I'm totally with you on Vandy. No offense intended, but that is the only SEC school I hold in unreserved respect. As for UK blowing the lead, with "no bench and no consistent focus", I put that all on Cal. He recruits the best "one-and-dones" in the country, then pretends his "dribble-drive" streetball approach is actual coaching, as opposed to just throwing out the orange and letting his guys hoop, in the hope they can outplay all others. Again, no offense, but it does NOT kill me to say THAT.

As for your other 2 points:

Pitt 57 - Villanova 54 = I'm not surprised the Panthers won, and not surprised they had a tough one in Philly. Aside from the relatively poor shooting, this one's about right, all the way around.

Murray State 60 - Jacksonville State 59 = How true, a win is a win. But how true that your Racers should never have had this much trouble with a 5-22 team. Yeah, everybody has a cold shooting night now and then, but that's when the better teams dig deep and hustle to make something work, somehow. You were there, and maybe they did that, but still . I'm pulling for your Racers, but games like this don't make that easy. And the squeaker was even more important for them, due to . . .

Morehead State 64 - SE Missouri State 52 = One way or the other, "MSU" was going to be atop the OVC. That one-point win keeps Murray State there by a full game, instead of being tied with the Eagles for the conference.

Alabama 74 - Mississippi 64 = But it does seem as if the Tide has taken complete control over the SEC West, so barring their total collapse it is theirs.

Colorado 58 - Kansas State 56 = These two haven't any chance at all to take the Big 12, yet I'm a bit surprised on two fronts. One, I did not expect the Buffaloes to get some of the "quality" wins they've managed to so far. Two, although I never thought K-State was as good as their pre-season hype, I never thought they would just crumble like they have either.

Columbia 75 - Penn 62 = OK, so Penn's not as good as they have been in some past seasons. But to let the West Harlem Lions beat them like this? Please.

Florida 61 - Tennessee 60 = I felt this could be close, so maybe I'm not totally stupid after all. The Gators did just enough to do what they needed to grab the SEC East by the throat. Meanwhile, the Vols have not responded to the return of Bruce Pearl, and if they can't beat the 'Cocks on Wednesday they will join them in the basement.

Florida State 63 - Virginia 56 = For a little while I thought the Cavs would help my Heels by knocking off the 'Noles down south. But FSU hung on for a win that keeps them right on my Heels for 2nd place in the ACC.

Memphis 67 - Southern Mississippi 61 = A good win at home for the Tigers, but it still does little to resolve the CUSA race. With 1/2 the teams still in contention, this could go down to the final week, or even the final game.

Texas 69 - Baylor 60 = I predicted that the Longhorns should take it by 10 or better. They let me down, and only won by 9. So, I'm an idiot, OK? Feel better now?

San Diego State 63 - UNLV 57 = I can't say this is much of a shock, since the Aztecs have been fairly consistent all season. However, even giving the Casino Runs a few possessions for home-court advantage, I'd have to say it's not very impressive for a "Top Ten" team against one that hasn't sniffed a ranking so far this year. Yet again, a win's a win, so there is that.

Valparaiso 58 - Wright State 56 = Here's a huge win in the Horizon for the Crusaders to give them the slimmest lead there, but much like the CUSA this one's far from over. Hey, four more teams could spit and hit them, easy.

ODU 70 - VCU 59 = By comparison, the CAC's a cakewalk to call, what with only 4 teams bunched at the top. I'm a little surprised the Monarchs won by double-digits, but I knew it could go either way. So here's another mid-major race to keep in mind>


Now on Sunday here's the big ones:


St. John's 59 - Cincinnati 57 = I wondered if the Johnnies could shave the Bearcats, and they managed by a whisker. With six games left on their schedule, three tough and three not-so-much, it's beginning to look like they might actually earn themselves an at-large this year.

Xavier 71 - Duquesne 63 = Aside from the relatively "huge" margin of victory, no surprise here. The X-Men grab the slimmest of leads in the A-10 . . . in another race that won't be over 'til it's over.

Duke 81 - Miami 71 = Some Blue Devil fans may have thought that, what with Ohio State losing, and Pitt and Texas not showing dominance in their games either, they might actually move up a bit in the polls. Well, not when you beat a "meh" team like the 'Canes so weakly. OK, so Miami has lost a handful of conference heartbreakers. Granted, but on the other hand their conference wins have been heartbreakers also, just sneakers on the other foot. This was NOT a very powerful statement, Dook.

Purdue 81 - Illinois 70 = The Illini had their chances at home, but they could not make the plays in the final minutes. Regardless, a good win for the Boilermakers, which gives them an outside shot at taking the Big Ten . . . if they take care of their own business, and get a little more help against the Buckeyes.


Tonight I only spot two games that interest me at all:


Syracuse vs. West Virginia = The Mountaineers have shown they are, on any given night, capable of beating almost anyone. The Orange have lately shown they are equally capable of losing to almost anybody, as they've done 6 of their last 8 games. This one's in the Dome, but even that hasn't been much help to the 'Cuse so far. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, and make this a pick 'em.

Kansas vs. Kansas State = Speaking of doubt, you have no doubt read my posts about how hard it is to predict in-state conference rival games. Well, I predict that if K-State finally finds it feet again and manages to knock off the newest # 1 team in the polls then I shall report it tomorrow. I may report it anyway, unless it is the complete Jayhawk spanking I expect. KU over KSU, double-digits.


See you tomorrow, I presume. Until then, enjoy. Screw Drew.

[SD Beerman]

San Diego State 63 - UNLV 57 = I can't say this is much of a shock, since the Aztecs have been fairly consistent all season. However, even giving the Casino Runs a few possessions for home-court advantage, I'd have to say it's not very impressive for a "Top Ten" team against one that hasn't sniffed a ranking so far this year. Yet again, a win's a win, so there is that.

They could have easily blown them out they pretty much led most of the game. They have been missing their starting #2 guard and their sixth man for the last 3 games. Bright spot was that their supposed weakness is the foul line and they hit 8 in a row at the end of the game. Everyone is getting ready for the 26th against BYU. thanks for keeping up.

[jcruse64]

St. John's play has me rooting for them to get an at-large. I like Lavin, and was disappointed he did not get more time at UCLA. That was also where Pitino lost me as a fan (like he needs me). I thought he was pretty classless in the way he expressed interest in Glavin's job while Glavin was still working it.

'Cuse is trying to put WV away with 6 minutes left.

Got no argument with you on Vandy either, Poet! And Vandy is a TOUGH road game.

[The Poet]

Well, of the two games I selected from last night's meagre action, we had one shocker and one mocker:


Kansas State 84 - Kansas 68 = OK, so THAT # 1 ranking didn't last too long now, did it! This is one I still cannot believe. Although I have said once or twice that I've not been all that impressed with the play of the Jayhawks, I have been more "impressed" by what seemed the total and complete collapse of the prairie 'Cats. Hey, had they even managed to eek out a home win against KU on a buzzer-beater, I would have been surprised. Keep in mind, in the last 27 times the Jayhawks had visited Manhattan, they had won 26 times. But thanks in large part to a monster game by Jacob Pullen, K-State wasn't pullin' this one out their butts late, and owned it from start to finish. A huge win for a team that's had one of the most disappointing seasons in the nation. And I don't wanna hear no whinin' about KU missing some players to injuries either. Almost everybody has to play through missing pieces during the course of the season, and that's what the bench is for. Besides, we had enough whinin' last night from upstate NY . . .

Syracuse 63 - West Virginia 52 = The Orange needed a quality conference win badly, and got one against a good WVA team. The Orange did NOT need Jim Boeheim jumping into the $#!+ of the local media after the win, blasting them for criticism of SU's recent 2-6 skid. How DARE they disrespect him by finding fault with stuff like losing by 22 points to Seton Hall, in the Dome! Shut up, Jimbo. You don't like bad press? Then win all your stinkin' games. Just my , worth every penny, and now I'll do what Boeheim didn't . . . button it.


There are 4 times more important games tonight than last night, and despite the size of the conference none bigger than:


George Mason vs. VCU = It's starting to get late early around the Colonial Athletic, and with these two vying for the lead, at 13-2 and 12-3 respectively, they both want a win tonight. Figure on a fight to the finish.

Kentucky vs. Mississippi State = Although they've been spotty at times, UK has the better team and the home court. They should rebound from their loss to Vandy, and move back over .500 in the SEC East.

Missouri vs. Texas Tech = I see this as pretty much the same story in the Big 12 here, though the Red Raiders did give Texas A&M all they could handle in their previous game, losing by only three. The Tigers may not like a similar outcome tonight, but they'll take it.

Villanova vs. Seton Hall = It is in Newark, and 'Nova has dropped 5 of their last 8. So has the Hall, and they have several big wins so far this year. Still, you gotta go with the Wildcats to best the Pirates, even if only by 2 or 3 possessions.

Maryland vs. Virginia Tech = The Terps are starting to slip off the bubble for a bid come March, and if you think Jim Boeheim can whine, wait until Gary Williams misses another at-large! They need some wins, and quick. The Hokies seem fairly safe at this point, and yet will not wish to co-operate with the plans of the Turtles, especially in Blacksburg. UM can certainly win, but I'd go with VT myself.

North Carolina vs. Wake Forest = There is no reason in the world why the Tar Heels should lose this game. They have superior players, more experienced coaching, and home court. But that does not mean it cannot happen, nor that it will not happen. Still, you have to favor UNC, and personally, if they do not chase the Deacons back down I-40/85, I shall be disappointed. Not as much as if the Heels do manage to blow it, but still.

Ohio State vs. Michigan State = The Buckeyes just lost their first game all year. The Spartans just won their first game all month, after not winning all that many in January either. No matter how badly Tom Izzo wants this one, and no matter how badly MSU needs a quality victory to help them towards an at-large in March, I cannot see that happening. Buckeyes, by a dozen.

St. John's vs. Marquette = This is one of those 3 tough games I mentioned on the Johnnies remaining schedule, and in Milwaukee to boot. At this point, it's hard to pick against them . . . but I will. I still think the Red Storm will earn a bid, but I don't think they will get closer to it tonight. The Golden Eagles, in a tight one.


That's it for now. Enjoy, and Screw Drew.

[rebelknight]

With Kansas losing last night do you think Ohio State reclaims number 1 (assuming a win tonight and Sunday at Purdue)? Or is it more likely Texas or Pitt will take over?

I'm a little biased being a student at Ohio State but I say Ohio States one loss is still better than Pitt's 2 or Texas' 3. Quality wins against MSU and Purdue should be enough to get the top spot back in my opinion.

[The Poet]

Originally Posted by rebelknight

With Kansas losing last night do you think Ohio State reclaims number 1 (assuming a win tonight and Sunday at Purdue)? Or is it more likely Texas or Pitt will take over?

I'm a little biased being a student at Ohio State but I say Ohio States one loss is still better than Pitt's 2 or Texas' 3. Quality wins against MSU and Purdue should be enough to get the top spot back in my opinion.

That's a tough call, even if you assume your Buckeyes can beat Purdue on the road this Sunday . . . which is far from a guarantee. It's not only tough because one could see five teams splitting first-place votes, if you toss Duke into that mix, but also because the voters seem to latch onto certain teams, and certain leagues, and are lothe to abandon their favorites at times. And you must admit, OSU didn't help themselves much last night, what with their relatively close victory over the 14-11 Spartans, in Columbus too. More on that to follow.

But all in all, who really cares? It's just bragging rights, and as long as they stay within reach of a 1 or 2-seed in the tourney, that's all that truly matters.


Update soon.

[The Poet]

OK, since we've already mentioned it, let's start with that OSU/MSU game:


Ohio State 71 - Michigan State 61 = To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what to make of this. Is it a good bounce-back win for the Buckeyes after their first loss of the year, or is it a good loss for a Spartan team that hasn't shown us much for a while? Are all those close wins OSU got earlier an indication they are NOT as good as people think, or has Izzo managed to turn his boys around? One thing for sure, this game was not so much settled on the court, but at the stripe . . . and maybe even BY the stripes, if you can believe Izzo over Matta. The Buckeyes went 23-29 from the line. The Spartans? 5 of 6. Do you really expect me to believe that, in a Big Ten game, only a few shooting fouls occurred? Please.

St. John's 80 - Marquette 68 = Yeah, I know, I picked Marquette to win this one. Maybe you think I should have noticed how the Red Storm has gotten hot. Maybe you think I haven't given Lavin enough credit for showing his veteran players that they need not lose once they fall behind. But can you blame me? They broke a streak of 11 straight losses to this team last night, and if I recall correctly haven't beaten them since 1966! So, call me dumb, but don't call me clueless.

Kentucky 85 - Mississippi State 79 = This is probably closer than it should have been, but considering the struggles UK's had at times, I believe they'll take it. Speaking of taking it . . .

North Carolina 78 - Wake Forest 64 = Yeah, I'll take it, but I am not happy. The Heels played without focus and intensity, and just sort of puttered to a fairly easy win . . over a team they should have beaten like a rented mule. If the coach says his team played poorly, you might take it with a grain of salt. If the players say as much about themselves, you know it's a fact. This ain't gonna cut it, what with BC, Terps, and some other local team visiting the Dean Dome soon. Roy, I have one word for you . . . "Suicides!!"

Villanova 60 - Seton Hall 57 = Well, at least the Philly 'Cats have the excuse that they were on the road. That ain't much of one, and if anybody except me was paying attention, the Big Mouth Conference would NOT have 7 of the Top Twenty ranked teams in the nation.

Missouri 92 - Texas Tech 84 = And here's another one that's hard to understand. OK, I don't think Missouri is that great a team, but TT has been PP all year. Well, maybe all these are just due to late-season doldrums. Again, speaking of which . . .

Virginia Tech 91 - Maryland 83 = I figured the Hokies would win, so no surprise they did just that. But the Terps need two or three more quality Ws to have any shot at a NCAA bid, and they are running short of chances. OK, they can beat remaining teams NCSU, Miami, UVA . . . CAN, if they but DO . . . but if they don't, what chance do they have against FSU and UNC?

George Mason 71 - VCU 51 = I'm a little surprised here that GM won so easily. But what with VCU helping them out so much by only scoring 19 in the first half, I guess it's to be expected.

Wichita State 80 -Evansville 74 // Missouri State 60 - Drake 51 = I luimp these two together because they are most definitely lumped together. With both teams winning, they are tied at 13-3 each atop the Missouri Valley. Both have one "winnable" conference game left on the schedule, before they end the season in a face-off for the marbles. Talk about your fun!


Tonight there are too many games, so let me briefly hit the highlights:


Wisconsin vs. Purdue = Though without some major help neither will catch OSU for the Big Ten, they both still have an outside shot. Can the Badgers build on their huge win? Can the 'Makers make it to their Buckeye game without another loss? I figure this will be close, start to finish.

Vanderbilt vs. Georgia = Vandy's been more consistent than the 'Dawgs, but that hasn't meant much in the SEC this year. It's in Athens, but the home court hasn't meant much more either. Flip a coin.

Rider vs. Loyola MD = Who cares, you ask? Well, MAAC-leading Fairfield faces garbage Marist tonight, so figure they will win. Meanwhile, these two are tied for 2nd in conference play. So there's your answer . . . they care.

Xavier vs. St. Joseph's = As much as it pains me to say so, St. Joe's reeks this year. The X-Men had some early struggles, yet lead the A-10 over Temple . . . by a whole 1/2-game. They cannot afford to lose focus, and let the Hawks swoop down on them.

Duke vs. Virginia = In Charlottesville, if that matters. Although the Cavs have some guards who can hit from deep, I don't expect they'll give Dook much of a challenge. Still, the Blue Devils are not an overpowering physical team, and if UVA gets hot from outside, you never know.

South Carolina vs. Tennessee = On the one hand, the 'Cocks have lost three in a row. On the other, the Vols . . . have lost three in a row. I expect one of those streaks to end in Knoxville tonight.

UAB vs. Memphis = The CUSA race looks like a NASCAR sprint restart at the moment, and it's anybody's game. So's this game.

Pitt vs. South Florida = The Panthers, big, and that's no Bull.

Louisville vs. Cincinnati = But this Big East one could go either way. The Cardinals have a better conference record, but you may recall all those they pulled out of their @$$ in the final seconds. Despite some stumbles by the Bearcats, they can play some ball when they try. I think it will be close, so pick 'em.

Georgetown vs. U. Conn = Lately it's been all about the Hoyas, and not so much about the Huskies. Me, I'm not so sure either one of them is nearly as good as their ranking might indicate . . . though don't ask me who I'd put in their place, as I have no clue there either. Since I have more respect for G'town than for Calhoun's pre-prison majors, I'll go with them, by two possessions.

Murray State vs. SE Missouri State = Joe's Racers have the OVC lead, and now all they have to do is hold onto it. If they don't do that against a crappy SEMS tonight, they have no one but themselves to blame.

Texas A&M vs. Iowa State = And here's another mis-match in a different conference. The Aggies won't win the Big 12, but if they lose to the cellar-dweller Cyclones . . . well, I'll be blown away. And not in a good way, mind.

Michigan vs. Illinois = And neither of these will win the Big Ten. But will both of them earn a bid come March? It's not etched in stone yet, what with their 16-10 and 16-9 records, and may well depend on what they do in these last few weeks. Tonight would be a good time for them to start. Pick 'em.

Texas vs. Oklahoma State = I think there's a pretty good chance the Longhorns will get a bid, and would even be willing to bet you on that. And though the Cowboys have a few good wins on their resume (Stanford, K-State, Missouri), I don't give them much of a shot in Austin tonight. But if they bulldog the 'Horns, it would go a loooong way of getting them off any potential bubble. Don't expect a miracle, but keep half-an-eye on this.

Utah State vs. . . . Montana-Western???? = Are you freakin' kidding me? Montana-Western?? And on the Aggies home court to boot, for cryin' out loud? This team is supposed to be good, based on the fact that they have beaten people some high-school teams could take? They can take their # 25 AP ranking, couple it with their RPI Strength Of Schedule rating of 144, and kiss my hairy white @$$. Sheesh, stuff like this just p!$$es me off, no end.

San Diego State vs. New Mexico = The Lobos have a few good wins, such as Colorado and BYU, so if the Aztecs don't stay focused and walk into their own building with the intention to win, they could easily lose, and lose their lead in the Mountain West. Much like that UT/Oak State game above, keep an eye on the scoreboard here.


That's it for tonight. Enjoy. Screw Drew.

[rebelknight]

Ok. I agree that the votes for #1 will be split up to 5 ways but I was at the game last night and as a team Ohio State didn't play bad. ESPN would like people to believe otherwise because they keep posting his stats but the only player who stuck out to me as playing truly worse than usual was Sullinger. He looked soft. Every time he got touched he was calling for a foul and he was not moving up and down the court efficiently enough to be a defensive threat. That combined with his complaining about being spit on has taken him down a page in my book. I still like the kid and think hes the best thing we have on the team but the truth is without Buford, Wisconsin would have beat us by a lot more than 4 and MSU probably would have stole one on the road. Buford has now played 2 back to back great games. My only other complaint was Jon Diebler who didn't contribute anything on either side of the ball in the first half. However in the second half he really came out ready to play. Either way I'm glad we still have a few more weeks to correct things before the games really start to matter. And as always go BUCKS.

On an other note, I'm from Rochester, NY and my girlfriend goes to Syracuse so I really hope they get things going over there. Long time Boheim fan and it sucks seeing one of his teams struggle this much.