I. We have the first major contender for this year's UW-Milwaukee. The Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington won the BCA Classic by toppling Northwestern, 56-48. The Seahawks drop-kicked Butler and Wyoming (in Laramie) on the way to the BCA crown. UNCW has games at Colorado (on Friday) and at Wisconsin (Dec 12) left on the non-conference slate. It will be interesting to see if they can compound the interest accrued on this early season tourney title.
II. There are some pretty nice games on tap tonight and tomorrow. Tonight, Seton Hall visits Duke in the Preseason NIT (6:30 CT, ESPN). Tomorrow night, there are a four fairly important early season games.
Coaches vs Cancer
Florida vs. Wake Forest (6 pm, ESPN)
Texas vs. Syracuse (8 pm, ESPN)
Preseason NIT
Memphis at Alabama (9 pm CT, ESPN2)
Temple at UCLA (10 pm CT, ESPNU)
These are particularly important for Florida, Wake, and Temple, as they could be fighting with other Bubble Boys at the end of the season. Actually, ANY of these teams COULD be, but those three are projected as middle-of-the-pack or Bubble teams in regard to preseason seeding projections.
III. The Randolph Morris saga lurches inexorably to its controversial conclusion. Hiring a legal gun is not a good sign for Morris or UK. However this goes, it is going to cause pain and finger-pointing.
IV. Have a peak at Bracketography.com's preseason NCAA Tourney projection. They like Kansas, Wake, and Cincy a LOT more than I do, but you have to love the inclusion of San Francisco. However, after having followed current USF coach Jesse Evans at UL-Lafayette for many years, I'm fairly sure the Dons will find a way to stay out when it's said and done.
V. It's official: Michael Southall is back on the court at aforementioned ULL. Southall rang up 25 points, 10 boards, 4 blocks, 4 assists, and 4 steals in a Cajun exhibition win.
More tomorrow, and then a short hiatus for a conference trip to Chicago over the weekend.
