I. WKU tops D-II Kentucky State, 87-71.
It was lackluster. It was a sleepwalk by the Tops. It was a coast to the finish line. But, coach Darrin Horn ignited a firestorm of controversy when he publicly berated Saint Anthony Winchester both on the bench and during the post-game radio show. If you have read this blog over the course of the last few months, you know how high the expectations were for this Topper team. They are currently 7-4, which is not terrible, but many feel this team should be 9-2 or even 10-1 at this point. The talent is there, and it looks like Horn is trying to find a way to shake these guys up. They have yet to put it all together for forty minutes in a game. They have had long stretches of brilliant basketball at Arizona, at UAB, and at Eastern Kentucky, but those have been more than offset by interminable stretches of uninspired, turnover-laced lolly-gagging. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Virginia comes to Diddle on Monday night. Tune in then for As the Hill Turns.
II. Memphis and UCLA Are Good. Really good.
The Tigers (10-1) have all of the pieces of a Final Four team. Solid PG: check. Athletic wings that can defend and score: check. Big players who can bang, rebound, and defend: check. Solid coach: check (though a more tentative tally mark). The Tigers always have a lull during the season, though. Last year it was a horrible start that kept them out of the dance. In 2004, they were 20-4 before losing four of their last five games. However, this team has "that" look.
UCLA (11-1) hammered hapless Stanford last night and have non-conference wins against Temple, Michigan (the Wolverines only loss) and Nevada on their resume. It looks like the Bruins will battle Washington and maybe Arizona for supremacy in the Pac-10. This is certainly the best UCLA club in several seasons. They also have a dynamite PG (Farmar), capable wings, and bigs who can defend. Ben Howland is a fine coach as well.
III. We still do not know if #10 Louisville is any good.
They have played ONE game against a team that could be considered anywhere near the top 75 in the land. That game at Kentucky was also their only road game to date and they were manhandled by the Cats. By the end of next week, we will have a much clearer picture of who the Cards are. They play at Miami-FL tomorrow, host Villanova on Thursday, and travel to Providence next Saturday. Oh, and speaking Kentucky, they play Ohio tonight in Cincinnati. That could be an interesting matchup. The Bobcats are 5-1 and looking for a signature non-conference win.
This Weekend's GOI
Tonight
--Ohio vs Kentucky. This aforementioned contest is a big one for Ohio. They had two "name" opponents on the docket this season and Cincinnati thoroughly embarrassed them earlier. They need this one to stay in the at-large picture.
--Indiana State at Missouri State. Both are coming off road losses at Wichita State and Creighton repsectively. This is one of many important MVC games for conference and postseason positioning.
--Bradley at Wichita State. See last sentence above. The Braves are sort of the unknown among the MVC players, but they may also be the most talented overall.
--George Washington at NC State. Lo, and behold! These two clubs do play games against comparable competition!
Saturday
--Indiana at Ball State. IU continues their Winter Road Tour of In-State Universities.
--Saint Joseph's at Gonzaga. This would be a huge win for the Hawks' resume. Martelli's Bald Dome vs Morrison Mop. Nice.
--Louisville vs Miami-FL. Both teams have a LOT to prove. The Cards seek to validate their lofty ranking while the Canes look to fulfill their preseason (over)hype.
--LSU at Ohio State. The Tigers badly need a big win. Their resume is sorely lacking at this point.
--Alabama at Oklahoma. A frontcourt-lovers dream; both clubs have not lived up to billing.
--Wisconsin at Pittsburgh. May be the game of the weekend.
--Villanova at Temple. Big Five tilts are always tasty. Temple must dictate tempo to have a shot.
--California at UCLA. Can Cal be included in the convo with the Big Three?
--Arizona at Washington. Winner gets an early leg up in the standings. Great, great matchup.
Happy New Year! The official non-conference bracket will be up on Monday.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
I'll Be Home for Christmas...maybe?
1. The University of Detroit is playing at Louisville at noon ET today. Do these teams know that it's Christmas Eve?!?! Well, at least Detroit is a short flight and early reports this morning show no airport delays.
2. Indiana took out Butler in Hinkle Fieldhouse 73-55 last night. Again, kudos for IU's willingness to go on the road against in-state teams.
3. Kentucky managed to slip by Iona 73-67 last night, but it certainly was not easy. It was a three-point game with a minute remaining. Watch the Gaels in the Metro-Atlantic conference this season. The conference is as good as it's been in a long, long time.
4. Southern Cal won their eighth straight game last night, smoking North Carolina A&T last night, 68-38. The Trojans have won eight in a row since dropping their first two games, including that big win over North Carolina.
5. Perhaps folks (including this writer) were a little hasty in talking about Iowa State as a disappointment. The Cyclones have three games to Iona, Fresno State, and Ohio State. Those teams' combined record is an eye-popping 21-4. Iowa State is 8-3 with wins over Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Colorado State. There is nothing wrong with their NCAA profile at this point.
TBB will return on Tuesday or Wednesday. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
2. Indiana took out Butler in Hinkle Fieldhouse 73-55 last night. Again, kudos for IU's willingness to go on the road against in-state teams.
3. Kentucky managed to slip by Iona 73-67 last night, but it certainly was not easy. It was a three-point game with a minute remaining. Watch the Gaels in the Metro-Atlantic conference this season. The conference is as good as it's been in a long, long time.
4. Southern Cal won their eighth straight game last night, smoking North Carolina A&T last night, 68-38. The Trojans have won eight in a row since dropping their first two games, including that big win over North Carolina.
5. Perhaps folks (including this writer) were a little hasty in talking about Iowa State as a disappointment. The Cyclones have three games to Iona, Fresno State, and Ohio State. Those teams' combined record is an eye-popping 21-4. Iowa State is 8-3 with wins over Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Colorado State. There is nothing wrong with their NCAA profile at this point.
TBB will return on Tuesday or Wednesday. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Some Quick Hitters
1. NC State defeated Alabama 68-64 last night in Tuscaloosa. This 'Bama team is looking more and more like a Bubble team...at best. The SEC West is ripe for Arkansas' taking this season.
2. Has anoyone noticed that Florida State is 8-1? It may be fool's gold, but the Noles have only lost at rampaging Florida by 8, and have numerous 30+ point wins. They at least bear watching in the ACC, as does 10-0 Clemson. Those two square off on Jan 4.
3. Tennessee finally lost last night. Oklahoma State took care of the Vols rather handily. Still, Tennessee has not had a team to be this excited about since the Jerry Green years of highly talented, albeit terribly underachieving, squads.
4. Indiana at Butler tonight. I have a soft place in my heart for Big Six powers that are willing to go on the road against in-state non-Big Sixers. Indiana does it as often as anyone.
5. Iona vs Kentucky. This will not be played in Lexington. This game constitututes UK's annual "home" game in Louisville. Iona is a perfect 7-0 and they could give UK fits. They have had two weeks to prepare and UK is coming off an emotional win over Louisville.
6. Colorado State plays Iowa State in the Rainbow Classic tonight. With wins over Colorado, Auburn, and Hawaii in tow, a win over the Cyclones would put the Rams in great position for at-large consideration provided that they win their fair share of Mountain West games.
7. My latest article on SCS.com is up. Enjoy the Twelve Games of Christmas.
2. Has anoyone noticed that Florida State is 8-1? It may be fool's gold, but the Noles have only lost at rampaging Florida by 8, and have numerous 30+ point wins. They at least bear watching in the ACC, as does 10-0 Clemson. Those two square off on Jan 4.
3. Tennessee finally lost last night. Oklahoma State took care of the Vols rather handily. Still, Tennessee has not had a team to be this excited about since the Jerry Green years of highly talented, albeit terribly underachieving, squads.
4. Indiana at Butler tonight. I have a soft place in my heart for Big Six powers that are willing to go on the road against in-state non-Big Sixers. Indiana does it as often as anyone.
5. Iona vs Kentucky. This will not be played in Lexington. This game constitututes UK's annual "home" game in Louisville. Iona is a perfect 7-0 and they could give UK fits. They have had two weeks to prepare and UK is coming off an emotional win over Louisville.
6. Colorado State plays Iowa State in the Rainbow Classic tonight. With wins over Colorado, Auburn, and Hawaii in tow, a win over the Cyclones would put the Rams in great position for at-large consideration provided that they win their fair share of Mountain West games.
7. My latest article on SCS.com is up. Enjoy the Twelve Games of Christmas.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tops Lose in OT to Zona
I. Arizona 86, WKU 81 (OT)
The Toppers led by as many as ten, but Hassan Adams and Chris Rodgers made key shots to get Zona back in it midway through the second half and the Cats built a 10-point lead of their own. A furious last game rally fueled by Courtney Lee and Anthony Winchester sent the game into overtime, but it was not to be as Arizona benefited from the advantages that come with hosting your own tourney. If you did not see the game, I am not going to chronicle the calls at the end, because it will only sound like sour grapes. In any event, the Toppers' twenty-five turnovers were too much to overcome, and they fell in overtime.
However, for the first time all season WKU put together two high-intensity halves of basketball. If they can sustain that momentum through January and February, this group can still get to where they want to go. The Tops must find an answer at point guard, as Ty Rogers and Orlando Mendez-Valdez both had stretches of solid play, but the two WKU point guards combined for 10 turnovers (5 each). This team is starting to figure it out, though. I have said all season that we cannot judge this team before mid-January. It's still time to stay patient.
II. Last Night's GOI
--at Bucknell 63, Saint Joseph's 51. Bucknell is good. Not good "for a Patriot League team" or "for a mid-major," just plain ol' good.
--DePaul 68, at California 65. Is there a more Jekyll-and-Hyde team in America than DePaul? They beat UAB at home, and have won at Wake and now at Cal. They have also lost by FORTY-FOUR to Old Dominion and were routed at home by Bradley. Bradley and ODU are good teams, but this guys are all over the map.
--at Duke 70, Saint John's 57. Ho-hum.
--at Nevada 68, Georgia 62. The Dawgs did compete against a tough Nevada squad, and I still say that the SEC East is going to be very competitive. It is Florida and everyone else at this point, and that includes you, Kentucky.
--Arkansas 78, Texas Tech 65. The Hogs are officially a contender in the SEC West. The Red Raiders are officially not in the NCAA picture right now.
III. Christmas Break
I will be traveling for several days. I may try to post periodically between now and Tuesday, but it's not a given. I will get back up and running full speed after the New Year, including a new bracket on Jan. 2.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The Toppers led by as many as ten, but Hassan Adams and Chris Rodgers made key shots to get Zona back in it midway through the second half and the Cats built a 10-point lead of their own. A furious last game rally fueled by Courtney Lee and Anthony Winchester sent the game into overtime, but it was not to be as Arizona benefited from the advantages that come with hosting your own tourney. If you did not see the game, I am not going to chronicle the calls at the end, because it will only sound like sour grapes. In any event, the Toppers' twenty-five turnovers were too much to overcome, and they fell in overtime.
However, for the first time all season WKU put together two high-intensity halves of basketball. If they can sustain that momentum through January and February, this group can still get to where they want to go. The Tops must find an answer at point guard, as Ty Rogers and Orlando Mendez-Valdez both had stretches of solid play, but the two WKU point guards combined for 10 turnovers (5 each). This team is starting to figure it out, though. I have said all season that we cannot judge this team before mid-January. It's still time to stay patient.
II. Last Night's GOI
--at Bucknell 63, Saint Joseph's 51. Bucknell is good. Not good "for a Patriot League team" or "for a mid-major," just plain ol' good.
--DePaul 68, at California 65. Is there a more Jekyll-and-Hyde team in America than DePaul? They beat UAB at home, and have won at Wake and now at Cal. They have also lost by FORTY-FOUR to Old Dominion and were routed at home by Bradley. Bradley and ODU are good teams, but this guys are all over the map.
--at Duke 70, Saint John's 57. Ho-hum.
--at Nevada 68, Georgia 62. The Dawgs did compete against a tough Nevada squad, and I still say that the SEC East is going to be very competitive. It is Florida and everyone else at this point, and that includes you, Kentucky.
--Arkansas 78, Texas Tech 65. The Hogs are officially a contender in the SEC West. The Red Raiders are officially not in the NCAA picture right now.
III. Christmas Break
I will be traveling for several days. I may try to post periodically between now and Tuesday, but it's not a given. I will get back up and running full speed after the New Year, including a new bracket on Jan. 2.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tops to Face Arizona
I. Tops Lance UCF, Will Face Arizona
WKU came from thirteen points down to get past the Central Florida Golden Knights by a score of 73-68 on Monday night. Courtney Lee led the Tops with 22 points, 9 rebs, 5 assists and 5 steals. WKU also got a big lift from SO F Boris Siakam who chipped in 9 points, 7 rebs, and zero turnovers in 27 mins. This opening round win sets up a matchup with the Arizona Wilcats at approx. 7:30 pm tonight. This will be the championship game of the Fiesta Bowl Classic. The Tops will then take a nice, long break until their Dec 29th home game against Kentucky State.
More on the Zona tilt tomorrow.
II. Last Night's GOI
--at LaSalle 70, FIU 61 (OT). The Explorers ran away in overtime to remain a perfect 7-0.
--at Wichita State 55, Miami-OH 46. The Shockers are 8-2 and their only losses are to Michigan State and Illinois (by ONE). The MVC is shaping up to be quite a dogfight this season.
III. Tonights GOI
--Saint Joseph's at Bucknell. The Bison welcome another fairly high-profile team to Sojka Pavilion tonight. Both of these teams need this win if they harbor at-large hopes come March.
--DePaul vs California. Two potential bubble teams.
--Saint John's at Duke. SJU just lost at home to Marist. I don't like their chances in Cameron.
--Georgia at Nevada. The Dawgs are coming off a loss to Oregon State. This will be a nice test to see if their young squad can bounce back and compete against a high-calibre opponent.
--Arkansas vs Texas Tech. Bob Knight's crew needs quality wins...ANY wins, actually. The Ark has won all the games that they are supposed to win. This is another one of those games.
WKU came from thirteen points down to get past the Central Florida Golden Knights by a score of 73-68 on Monday night. Courtney Lee led the Tops with 22 points, 9 rebs, 5 assists and 5 steals. WKU also got a big lift from SO F Boris Siakam who chipped in 9 points, 7 rebs, and zero turnovers in 27 mins. This opening round win sets up a matchup with the Arizona Wilcats at approx. 7:30 pm tonight. This will be the championship game of the Fiesta Bowl Classic. The Tops will then take a nice, long break until their Dec 29th home game against Kentucky State.
More on the Zona tilt tomorrow.
II. Last Night's GOI
--at LaSalle 70, FIU 61 (OT). The Explorers ran away in overtime to remain a perfect 7-0.
--at Wichita State 55, Miami-OH 46. The Shockers are 8-2 and their only losses are to Michigan State and Illinois (by ONE). The MVC is shaping up to be quite a dogfight this season.
III. Tonights GOI
--Saint Joseph's at Bucknell. The Bison welcome another fairly high-profile team to Sojka Pavilion tonight. Both of these teams need this win if they harbor at-large hopes come March.
--DePaul vs California. Two potential bubble teams.
--Saint John's at Duke. SJU just lost at home to Marist. I don't like their chances in Cameron.
--Georgia at Nevada. The Dawgs are coming off a loss to Oregon State. This will be a nice test to see if their young squad can bounce back and compete against a high-calibre opponent.
--Arkansas vs Texas Tech. Bob Knight's crew needs quality wins...ANY wins, actually. The Ark has won all the games that they are supposed to win. This is another one of those games.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Bracket Update
I. My latest column is up on SCS.com. Read about the heated UK vs. UL match up this weekend.
II. Bracket Update time! It is still way too early for this to mean much, but this is as good a time as any to set the ground rules and explain what will happen here on a (mostly) weekly basis from now until March.
Usually, I will make bracket updates on Monday mornings. Tuesdays will be reserved for Bracket Buster Saturday discussion. We will track possible match ups and see who is going to be on national TV on February 18th. It will be a challenge tracking 100 teams, but I will find a creative way to do it. Wednesdays is Bubble Boy day. The title is an ode to Seinfeld, but it's basically a breakdown of the NCAA tournament bubble teams. Thursdays are a wild card day. Fridays will usually consist of weeding through all of the weekend games and determining the can't-miss TV match ups and games with Bubble implications. Of course, there will still be a good dose of Topper talk here, but less than has been present thus far.
Why should you listen to me about the bracket? Well, I've been doing this awhile and I've done pretty well at it. Last year, I got 63/65 correct, including 59/65 within one seed of actual. I also seeded 33 teams exactly right and I did not miss a single team by more than two seed lines. I also chaired the South Central Kentucky Selection Simulation Project (SCKYSSiP, pronounced "SKISS-ip). Our six member committee replicated the NCAA selection process as closely as we could. We got 64/65 teams correct and 59/65 within one seed. We seeded 34 teams exactly and missed just two teams by more than two seed lines. I got 64/65 in both 2003 and 2004, although my overall numbers were not quite as good. The 2006 SCKYSSiP is already being formulated. So without further ado, let's have a look at the pre-Christmas bracket. The next bracket will likely be on Monday, Jan 2. From that point on, it will be a weekly event.
ATLANTA REGION.........................................MINNEAPOLIS REGION
Greensboro, NC......................................................Dayton, OH
1. Duke (ACC) .........................................................1. Villanova (B East)
16. Fairleigh Dickinson (Northeast)....................16. NW'n State (Southland)
8. Kentucky..............................................................8. Iowa
9. UNC-Wilmington (Colonial)...............................9. Indiana State
Dayton, OH..............................................................San Diego, CA
5. Ohio State.............................................................5. Wake Forest
12. California.............................................................12. LSU
4. Louisville...............................................................4. UCLA
13. Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)..........................13. Northern Illinois (MAC)
Auburn Hills, MI......................................................Greensboro, NC
6. NC State ...............................................................6. Indiana
11. Notre Dame........................................................11. Temple
3. Michigan State..................................................... 3. Oklahoma
14. Pennsylvania (Ivy).......................................14. Winthrop (Big South)
Dallas, TX .................................................................Dallas, TX
7. Bucknell (Patriot).................................................7. Arkansas
10. Missouri State....................................................10. West Virginia
2. Texas (Big 12).......................................................2. Memphis (CUSA)
15. Murray State (OVC).........................................15. Valparaiso (Mid-Con)
OAKLAND REGION...................................WASHINGTON, DC, REGION
Jacksonville, FL........................................................Philadelphia, PA
1. Florida (SEC).........................................................1. UConn
16. Montana (Big Sky)............................................16. Play-in Winner
8. Michigan................................................................8. Arizona
9. Cincinnati .............................................................9. Iona (Met-Atl)
San Diego, CA (News team, ASSEMBLE!)...................Jacksonville, FL
5. North Carolina.....................................................5. Maryland
12. Xavier.................................................................12. Vanderbilt
4. Nevada (WAC).....................................................4. Boston College
13. Colorado State (Mtn. West)............................13. Loyola-Chi (Hrzn)
Salt Lake City, UT...................................................Philadelphia, PA
6. Wisconsin..............................................................6. Pittsburgh
11. Syracuse ............................................................11. Houston
3. Gonzaga (West Coast).........................................3. GWU (A-10)
14. Pacific (Big West)..............................................14. Davidson (Sthrn)
Salt Lake City, UT..................................................Auburn Hills, MI
7. Northern Iowa (MVC)........................................7. Iowa State
10. Kansas State.....................................................10. Alabama
2. Washington (Pac-10)..........................................2. Illinois (Big Ten)
15. Boston U (America East).................................15. Gard-Webb (Big South)
Play-in Game: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC) vs. Alabama State (SWAC)
Last Four In: Vanderbilt, Temple, Syracuse, Xavier
First Four Out: Clemson, Georgetown, Old Dominion, Georgia
Closely Watching... LaSalle, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, Texas A&M, Colorado, Texas Tech, Kansas, DePaul, Minnesota, Old Dominion, UAB, Butler, Buffalo, Ohio, Wichita State, Bradley, Creighton, Air Force, Utah, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia
II. Bracket Update time! It is still way too early for this to mean much, but this is as good a time as any to set the ground rules and explain what will happen here on a (mostly) weekly basis from now until March.
Usually, I will make bracket updates on Monday mornings. Tuesdays will be reserved for Bracket Buster Saturday discussion. We will track possible match ups and see who is going to be on national TV on February 18th. It will be a challenge tracking 100 teams, but I will find a creative way to do it. Wednesdays is Bubble Boy day. The title is an ode to Seinfeld, but it's basically a breakdown of the NCAA tournament bubble teams. Thursdays are a wild card day. Fridays will usually consist of weeding through all of the weekend games and determining the can't-miss TV match ups and games with Bubble implications. Of course, there will still be a good dose of Topper talk here, but less than has been present thus far.
Why should you listen to me about the bracket? Well, I've been doing this awhile and I've done pretty well at it. Last year, I got 63/65 correct, including 59/65 within one seed of actual. I also seeded 33 teams exactly right and I did not miss a single team by more than two seed lines. I also chaired the South Central Kentucky Selection Simulation Project (SCKYSSiP, pronounced "SKISS-ip). Our six member committee replicated the NCAA selection process as closely as we could. We got 64/65 teams correct and 59/65 within one seed. We seeded 34 teams exactly and missed just two teams by more than two seed lines. I got 64/65 in both 2003 and 2004, although my overall numbers were not quite as good. The 2006 SCKYSSiP is already being formulated. So without further ado, let's have a look at the pre-Christmas bracket. The next bracket will likely be on Monday, Jan 2. From that point on, it will be a weekly event.
ATLANTA REGION.........................................MINNEAPOLIS REGION
Greensboro, NC......................................................Dayton, OH
1. Duke (ACC) .........................................................1. Villanova (B East)
16. Fairleigh Dickinson (Northeast)....................16. NW'n State (Southland)
8. Kentucky..............................................................8. Iowa
9. UNC-Wilmington (Colonial)...............................9. Indiana State
Dayton, OH..............................................................San Diego, CA
5. Ohio State.............................................................5. Wake Forest
12. California.............................................................12. LSU
4. Louisville...............................................................4. UCLA
13. Western Kentucky (Sun Belt)..........................13. Northern Illinois (MAC)
Auburn Hills, MI......................................................Greensboro, NC
6. NC State ...............................................................6. Indiana
11. Notre Dame........................................................11. Temple
3. Michigan State..................................................... 3. Oklahoma
14. Pennsylvania (Ivy).......................................14. Winthrop (Big South)
Dallas, TX .................................................................Dallas, TX
7. Bucknell (Patriot).................................................7. Arkansas
10. Missouri State....................................................10. West Virginia
2. Texas (Big 12).......................................................2. Memphis (CUSA)
15. Murray State (OVC).........................................15. Valparaiso (Mid-Con)
OAKLAND REGION...................................WASHINGTON, DC, REGION
Jacksonville, FL........................................................Philadelphia, PA
1. Florida (SEC).........................................................1. UConn
16. Montana (Big Sky)............................................16. Play-in Winner
8. Michigan................................................................8. Arizona
9. Cincinnati .............................................................9. Iona (Met-Atl)
San Diego, CA (News team, ASSEMBLE!)...................Jacksonville, FL
5. North Carolina.....................................................5. Maryland
12. Xavier.................................................................12. Vanderbilt
4. Nevada (WAC).....................................................4. Boston College
13. Colorado State (Mtn. West)............................13. Loyola-Chi (Hrzn)
Salt Lake City, UT...................................................Philadelphia, PA
6. Wisconsin..............................................................6. Pittsburgh
11. Syracuse ............................................................11. Houston
3. Gonzaga (West Coast).........................................3. GWU (A-10)
14. Pacific (Big West)..............................................14. Davidson (Sthrn)
Salt Lake City, UT..................................................Auburn Hills, MI
7. Northern Iowa (MVC)........................................7. Iowa State
10. Kansas State.....................................................10. Alabama
2. Washington (Pac-10)..........................................2. Illinois (Big Ten)
15. Boston U (America East).................................15. Gard-Webb (Big South)
Play-in Game: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC) vs. Alabama State (SWAC)
Last Four In: Vanderbilt, Temple, Syracuse, Xavier
First Four Out: Clemson, Georgetown, Old Dominion, Georgia
Closely Watching... LaSalle, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, Texas A&M, Colorado, Texas Tech, Kansas, DePaul, Minnesota, Old Dominion, UAB, Butler, Buffalo, Ohio, Wichita State, Bradley, Creighton, Air Force, Utah, Washington State, Oregon, Stanford, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Tops fall at Bradley
I. TOPS FALL AT BRADLEY, 78-76
For the third game in a row, WKU dug a massive hole from whence it could not emerge. Actually, the Toppers did emerge briefly when they executed a monster 22-6 run from the 15-minute mark to the 7-minute mark in the second half. That spurt erased a deficit that had been as large as 15 and gave WKU a 62-60 lead. The Braves answered with an 11-0 run of their own to put the Tops away late, 78-76.
The Braves' Zach Andrews was the difference maker, as the forward went for 19 points and 15 rebounds, eleven of them on the offensive end. That's right...eleven offensive rebounds. Bradley (4-2) grabbed 32 O-rebs as a team. I bet I know what the Tops (5-3) are working on in practice before their match up with Central Florida on Monday. Read more here.
II. Last Night's GOI
--at South Carolina 68, Winthrop 54. The Gamecocks took care of the Eagles in Columbia. The SEC East is shaping up to be VERY interesting. Florida looks tough, and they you can throw a blanket over everyone else. Kentucky is down, Vandy looks solid, and SC, UGA, and Tennessee all look to be better than last season.
--at Cincinnati 86, Ohio 58. Oy. The Bobcats were throttled by a Bearcat team that is finding their footing after Huggie-gate.
III. Tonight's GOI
--Missouri State at Arkansas. Two teams looking to secure at-large bids this season will face off in Fayetteville tonight. The Bears have looked strong to this point. The Hogs have won the games they are supposed to and this would be a nice resume-builder for them as well.
--UW-Milwaukee at Wisconsin. In-state match up alert! Last year's darling Panthers are learning to live without Ed McCants. The Badgers have been solid once again under Bo Ryan.
Ah, what the heck. Let's do a bracket tomorrow. It's still too early, but it will be fun to see Bucknell and Missouri State with such high seeds (especially if the Bears win tonight).
For the third game in a row, WKU dug a massive hole from whence it could not emerge. Actually, the Toppers did emerge briefly when they executed a monster 22-6 run from the 15-minute mark to the 7-minute mark in the second half. That spurt erased a deficit that had been as large as 15 and gave WKU a 62-60 lead. The Braves answered with an 11-0 run of their own to put the Tops away late, 78-76.
The Braves' Zach Andrews was the difference maker, as the forward went for 19 points and 15 rebounds, eleven of them on the offensive end. That's right...eleven offensive rebounds. Bradley (4-2) grabbed 32 O-rebs as a team. I bet I know what the Tops (5-3) are working on in practice before their match up with Central Florida on Monday. Read more here.
II. Last Night's GOI
--at South Carolina 68, Winthrop 54. The Gamecocks took care of the Eagles in Columbia. The SEC East is shaping up to be VERY interesting. Florida looks tough, and they you can throw a blanket over everyone else. Kentucky is down, Vandy looks solid, and SC, UGA, and Tennessee all look to be better than last season.
--at Cincinnati 86, Ohio 58. Oy. The Bobcats were throttled by a Bearcat team that is finding their footing after Huggie-gate.
III. Tonight's GOI
--Missouri State at Arkansas. Two teams looking to secure at-large bids this season will face off in Fayetteville tonight. The Bears have looked strong to this point. The Hogs have won the games they are supposed to and this would be a nice resume-builder for them as well.
--UW-Milwaukee at Wisconsin. In-state match up alert! Last year's darling Panthers are learning to live without Ed McCants. The Badgers have been solid once again under Bo Ryan.
Ah, what the heck. Let's do a bracket tomorrow. It's still too early, but it will be fun to see Bucknell and Missouri State with such high seeds (especially if the Bears win tonight).
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Quick Stop
I. This is finals weeks at WKU, so I am awash in a sea of grading. Today's entry will be short, but I will have a lot more time on my hands in the coming weeks--including a stab at the current NCAA seeds tomorrow or Friday. Stay tuned.
II. WKU at Bradley tonight. Huge road game for the Tops against a tough MVC opponent. I will have more on the game tomorrow. You can watch the game live online at WKUsports.tv.
Tonight's GOI
--Ohio at Cincinnati. Somewhere, Nick Lachey is nervous.
--UAB at Minnesota. Potential bubble teams in a big non-conference game for both.
--Winthrop at South Carolina. In-state game...we know what those are like. Winthrop beat Marquette and South Carolina lost to them. This one should be a treat.
II. WKU at Bradley tonight. Huge road game for the Tops against a tough MVC opponent. I will have more on the game tomorrow. You can watch the game live online at WKUsports.tv.
Tonight's GOI
--Ohio at Cincinnati. Somewhere, Nick Lachey is nervous.
--UAB at Minnesota. Potential bubble teams in a big non-conference game for both.
--Winthrop at South Carolina. In-state game...we know what those are like. Winthrop beat Marquette and South Carolina lost to them. This one should be a treat.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Maraker-thon: Pacific 91, WKU 75
I. Topper fans were feeling good. WKU was 5-1 with just one loss on Danny Rumph memorial night to a Georgia team that is kicking butt and taking names. The Tops had played poor halves on the road at Eastern Kentucky and at home against Evansville, but had managed to get wins. Now, a solid opponent was coming to town, and the Tops were ready to put two halves of good basketball together. So, when the Pacific Tigers (6-3) jumped out to a 10-0 lead, the situation did not seem all that dire. This Tiger team is no EKU or E-ville, however. Bob Thomason's club kept their cool when the Tops made a mid-first half run and kept Darrin Horn's crew at bay for the duration of the second half. And they did it in convincing fashion.
Senior F Christian Maraker went for 34 points and 12 boards and F Anthony Esparza made critical slashes and cuts to the goal for easy buckets all night long. I know Pacific lost Guillaume Yango, David Doubley, and others from last year's group, but Pacific sure looked like a tournament team to me. They were fundamentally solid on both ends, and they made a conscious effort to get the ball to Maraker and force someone to stop him. WKU never found a player or a scheme that could do that. PU has big guys that hustle and position themselves well, and quick perimeter players who make good decisions. Star WKU G Anthony Winchester never really got it going (1-6 from Three), which is another credit to the Tiger defense. The combination of these factors resulted in a 16-point loss that dropped the Tops to 5-2.
II. I successfully completed my first marathon on Saturday at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL. I was hoping to keep my time under 3:30, so I was elated with my 3:19.42 finish. Aside from a sore knee and a deep purple second toe on my left foot (both of which are healing nicely), I seem to be no worse for the wear. I was in good enough shape to ride in a car for 3 hours, then go to the Pacific/WKU game that evening. Click here to view my results (I'm #111).
Tonight's GOI (it's a light night in Hooptown)
Boston U at UMass. Another in-state throwdown.
UNC-Wilmington at Wisconsin. Both teams are 7-1.
Senior F Christian Maraker went for 34 points and 12 boards and F Anthony Esparza made critical slashes and cuts to the goal for easy buckets all night long. I know Pacific lost Guillaume Yango, David Doubley, and others from last year's group, but Pacific sure looked like a tournament team to me. They were fundamentally solid on both ends, and they made a conscious effort to get the ball to Maraker and force someone to stop him. WKU never found a player or a scheme that could do that. PU has big guys that hustle and position themselves well, and quick perimeter players who make good decisions. Star WKU G Anthony Winchester never really got it going (1-6 from Three), which is another credit to the Tiger defense. The combination of these factors resulted in a 16-point loss that dropped the Tops to 5-2.
II. I successfully completed my first marathon on Saturday at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL. I was hoping to keep my time under 3:30, so I was elated with my 3:19.42 finish. Aside from a sore knee and a deep purple second toe on my left foot (both of which are healing nicely), I seem to be no worse for the wear. I was in good enough shape to ride in a car for 3 hours, then go to the Pacific/WKU game that evening. Click here to view my results (I'm #111).
Tonight's GOI (it's a light night in Hooptown)
Boston U at UMass. Another in-state throwdown.
UNC-Wilmington at Wisconsin. Both teams are 7-1.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Tops Win Ugly vs Evansville
Normally, I write a game log covering the highlights of Topper games. Last night was not a "game log" kind of night. Add to that fact that I truly do not have time for a proper game log, and I am going to rely on WKUSports.com to give you the game summary. I will share this to indicate what type of night it was for the Tops: they shot 15-31 from the free throw line in the 2nd half in a close game...and won. It was ugly. The good news is that WKU shot horribly and managed to win the game, 84-77.
Time is going to be short for the next few days, but I will return full-strength on Monday. I am traveling to Huntsville, AL, for the Rocket City Marathon on Saturday morning. This is my first marathon, so I'm excited to see what happens. I will squeeze in a post tomorrow and/or Friday, if time permits.
Last Night's GOI
--Michigan State 77, at Boston College 70. The Spartans have re-established themselves as a major contender. Lost by 22 at Hawaii? Hmmm. The Warriors topped UNLV 78-72 last night to move to 3-1 last night.
--Villanova 79, at Bucknell 60. You gotta respect Nova for going into Sojka Pavilion and coming away with a win. Even without Curtis Sumpter, this group is very dangerous.
--at Northern Iowa 67, Iowa 63 (OT). It is tough to win on the road against good teams. Whether it's the Big Ten, Big West, Pac-10, A-10, SEC, or Sun Belt, beating a good team in their gym is tough. UNI is a good team.
--Indiana State 72, Indiana 67. It is tough to win on the road against good teams. Whether it's the Big Ten, Big West, Pac-10, A-10, SEC, or Sun Belt, beating a good team in their gym is tough. Indiana State is 4-0.
--Saint Joseph's 70, Kansas 67. The Jayhawks are now 1-4 against D-I competition. Saint Joseph's looks to be a player in the A-10. GWU is the clear favorite, but with Charlotte struggling, the Hawks could be in the mix for 2nd or 3rd.
The Sun Belt Slate
--at Texas A&M 72, North Texas 70. ANOTHER near-miss for the Sun Belt. *Sigh.*
Tonights GOI
--Utah at Colorado. Both are potential bubble teams.
--Notre Dame at Alabama. ND needs to start piling up wins before the Big East season rolls around. It will not be easy in Tuscaloosa.
--Penn at Duke. The Ivy League fave goes into Cameron on ESPN at 6 pm CT.
--Georgia Tech at Georgia. In case you haven't noticed, TBB almost always highlights the in-state games. Very few have disappointed so far, and I would expect that this one is no exception.
--Rider at Iona. The undefeated Gaels face another MAAC favorite.
--Colorado State at Kansas State. Two overachievers looking to sustain their suprising starts.
--George Mason at Old Dominion. For my money, GMU is the only team in the Colonial with a chance to stop ODU from winning the league crown.
--UW-Green Bay at Wisconsin. Satellite versus Research I.
--Idaho State at Idaho. Yet another in-state throwdown.
--Portland State at Portland. Battle for the City of Roses.
Time is going to be short for the next few days, but I will return full-strength on Monday. I am traveling to Huntsville, AL, for the Rocket City Marathon on Saturday morning. This is my first marathon, so I'm excited to see what happens. I will squeeze in a post tomorrow and/or Friday, if time permits.
Last Night's GOI
--Michigan State 77, at Boston College 70. The Spartans have re-established themselves as a major contender. Lost by 22 at Hawaii? Hmmm. The Warriors topped UNLV 78-72 last night to move to 3-1 last night.
--Villanova 79, at Bucknell 60. You gotta respect Nova for going into Sojka Pavilion and coming away with a win. Even without Curtis Sumpter, this group is very dangerous.
--at Northern Iowa 67, Iowa 63 (OT). It is tough to win on the road against good teams. Whether it's the Big Ten, Big West, Pac-10, A-10, SEC, or Sun Belt, beating a good team in their gym is tough. UNI is a good team.
--Indiana State 72, Indiana 67. It is tough to win on the road against good teams. Whether it's the Big Ten, Big West, Pac-10, A-10, SEC, or Sun Belt, beating a good team in their gym is tough. Indiana State is 4-0.
--Saint Joseph's 70, Kansas 67. The Jayhawks are now 1-4 against D-I competition. Saint Joseph's looks to be a player in the A-10. GWU is the clear favorite, but with Charlotte struggling, the Hawks could be in the mix for 2nd or 3rd.
The Sun Belt Slate
--at Texas A&M 72, North Texas 70. ANOTHER near-miss for the Sun Belt. *Sigh.*
Tonights GOI
--Utah at Colorado. Both are potential bubble teams.
--Notre Dame at Alabama. ND needs to start piling up wins before the Big East season rolls around. It will not be easy in Tuscaloosa.
--Penn at Duke. The Ivy League fave goes into Cameron on ESPN at 6 pm CT.
--Georgia Tech at Georgia. In case you haven't noticed, TBB almost always highlights the in-state games. Very few have disappointed so far, and I would expect that this one is no exception.
--Rider at Iona. The undefeated Gaels face another MAAC favorite.
--Colorado State at Kansas State. Two overachievers looking to sustain their suprising starts.
--George Mason at Old Dominion. For my money, GMU is the only team in the Colonial with a chance to stop ODU from winning the league crown.
--UW-Green Bay at Wisconsin. Satellite versus Research I.
--Idaho State at Idaho. Yet another in-state throwdown.
--Portland State at Portland. Battle for the City of Roses.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Pre-Bracket Update!
While, I'm not ready to unveil a bracket just yet, I think it is time to evaluate the where teams are at this point.
Virtual Locks
These teams look like sure-fire NCAA teams. It would take a season of monumental underachievement to miss out.
Boston College, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, George Washington, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa, Memphis, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Villanova, Washington, Wake Forest
Overachievers
Not all of these teams will make the Dance, but some will and these clubs bear close watching after their better-than-expected starts.
Buffalo, Colorado State, Iona, Kansas State, Loyola-Chicago, Loyola-Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Rutgers, Texas A&M, UNC-Wilmington, Vanderbilt
Underachievers
These clubs have high expectations, but have looked vulnerable early.
Arizona, Charlotte, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami-FL, Michigan State, Stanford, Southern Illinois, Texas Tech, West Virginia
On Track
With continued success, these teams could move into Virtual Lock status.
Alabama, Bucknell, Indiana, NC State, Wisconsin
Bubble Boys
At this early date, these teams look like the ones that will scrap for the 8-12 seeds.
Air Force, Arkansas, California, Clemson, Colorado, Creighton, Georgetown, Hawaii, Houston, Maryland, Marquette, Michigan, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, North Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma State, Ohio, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Syracuse, Utah, Wichita State
I'm sure I missed a few teams. Please email and tell me how I stupidly ignored the obvious. Thanks.
Tonights GOI
--Michigan State at Boston College. The Spartans need a statement win over a top opponent. The Eagles certainly qualify. I like BC, though.
--Villanova at Bucknell. That's right. AT BUCKNELL. The Cats go on the road against giant-killer U. The Bison have a great chance to pad their resume with a gargantuan win.
--Indiana at Indiana State. In-state games mean so much to the "smaller" school. The 3-0 Sycamores welcome the resurgent Hoosiers for some Indiana basketball. Cue the Gene Hackman speech.
--Iowa at Northern Iowa. See above, except that the Panthers have a much better chance to upend the Hawkeyes than the Sycamores do against IU. This should be a great in-state matchup.
--Saint Joseph's at Kansas. This Jimmy V Classic game is a big one for the young Jayhawks. Phil Martelli's Hawks are 3-1 and looking to return to the NCAA tourney after a one-year hiatus. They are looking to build on last year's NIT Runner-Up run.
The Sun Belt Slate
--Evansville (2-2) at Western Kentucky (4-1). The Purple Aces are coming in on a high after defeating in-state foe Purdue over the weekend, but the Hilltoppers are playing great basketball...in spurts. The Tops made a school record 16 three-pointers in their road win over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
--North Texas (1-2) at Texas A&M (4-0). The Mean Green have a tall task ahead. Going into College Station and pulling out a win over the undefeated Aggies will not be easy. The Sun Belt is in dire need of some big non-conference wins.
Virtual Locks
These teams look like sure-fire NCAA teams. It would take a season of monumental underachievement to miss out.
Boston College, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, George Washington, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa, Memphis, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Villanova, Washington, Wake Forest
Overachievers
Not all of these teams will make the Dance, but some will and these clubs bear close watching after their better-than-expected starts.
Buffalo, Colorado State, Iona, Kansas State, Loyola-Chicago, Loyola-Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Rutgers, Texas A&M, UNC-Wilmington, Vanderbilt
Underachievers
These clubs have high expectations, but have looked vulnerable early.
Arizona, Charlotte, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami-FL, Michigan State, Stanford, Southern Illinois, Texas Tech, West Virginia
On Track
With continued success, these teams could move into Virtual Lock status.
Alabama, Bucknell, Indiana, NC State, Wisconsin
Bubble Boys
At this early date, these teams look like the ones that will scrap for the 8-12 seeds.
Air Force, Arkansas, California, Clemson, Colorado, Creighton, Georgetown, Hawaii, Houston, Maryland, Marquette, Michigan, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, North Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma State, Ohio, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Syracuse, Utah, Wichita State
I'm sure I missed a few teams. Please email and tell me how I stupidly ignored the obvious. Thanks.
Tonights GOI
--Michigan State at Boston College. The Spartans need a statement win over a top opponent. The Eagles certainly qualify. I like BC, though.
--Villanova at Bucknell. That's right. AT BUCKNELL. The Cats go on the road against giant-killer U. The Bison have a great chance to pad their resume with a gargantuan win.
--Indiana at Indiana State. In-state games mean so much to the "smaller" school. The 3-0 Sycamores welcome the resurgent Hoosiers for some Indiana basketball. Cue the Gene Hackman speech.
--Iowa at Northern Iowa. See above, except that the Panthers have a much better chance to upend the Hawkeyes than the Sycamores do against IU. This should be a great in-state matchup.
--Saint Joseph's at Kansas. This Jimmy V Classic game is a big one for the young Jayhawks. Phil Martelli's Hawks are 3-1 and looking to return to the NCAA tourney after a one-year hiatus. They are looking to build on last year's NIT Runner-Up run.
The Sun Belt Slate
--Evansville (2-2) at Western Kentucky (4-1). The Purple Aces are coming in on a high after defeating in-state foe Purdue over the weekend, but the Hilltoppers are playing great basketball...in spurts. The Tops made a school record 16 three-pointers in their road win over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
--North Texas (1-2) at Texas A&M (4-0). The Mean Green have a tall task ahead. Going into College Station and pulling out a win over the undefeated Aggies will not be easy. The Sun Belt is in dire need of some big non-conference wins.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
The Real Battle of the Bluegrass
Across most of the nation, the phrase “Kentucky rivalry” usually conjures images of former Kentucky and current Louisville coach Rick Pitino, the “Dream Game,” Tubby Smith’s defensive philosophy, or the Cardinals annual pasting of UK in their annual football game. For forty minutes in
“The sun shines bright on my old
14.51: Both teams have come out ready to play. EKU senior PG Matt Witt scares the living crap out of me. He will pull up from anywhere and in a rivalry game with a throng of students and fans at his disposal that man is going to be hard to stop. He just juked and launched a fade away three from Pikeville that ripped the net. It is 13-10, WKU.
7.04: Topper young ‘un (FR) Daniel Emerson just made a nice spin to the goal for a hoop plus the free throw. The Toppers superior athleticism is starting to make an impact. That bucket capped an 8-0 run that forces an EKU timeout. 28-20, Tops.
It is 51-32 Toppers and EKU is on the verge of being royally embarrassed on their home court. This is a rivalry game though, and I do not expect them to go quietly. And they didn’t. Not by a long shot.
“By and by hard times come a-knockin’ at the door.”
13.05: EKU storms out of the second half gate behind a barrage of threes from Witt and G Mike Rose (who hit five on the night). They have shaved a 19-point halftime lead to just six in seven minutes. The crowd finally gets to be a factor and is getting amped.
3.03: The last ten minutes have consisted of both teams making a ridiculous amount of three-point shots. The WKU lead has fluctuated from six to ten for this stretch, but a Darnell Dials dunk and then two Witt free throws trim the once robust Topper lead of 22 point to just ONE. 83-82, WKU.
1:36: Back to back threes by Benson Callier removes the sinister specter of a monumental EKU comeback win. A three from the corner took guts, but with a six point lead, WKU only had to run clock and make free throws. Instead, they hoisted two rushed bricks, with the last ending up in Callier’s hands. He promptly lofted another ill-advised three that tickled the twine and buried the Colonels. Not a good shot, but a good result as that Three made it 91-82.
0.03: Courtney Lee leaks out for a monster two-handed slam to emphatically end the scoring. 97-89, WKU wins.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Early Season Brackets
Since this is "The Bracket Board" and all, you might expect to see all kinds of early season brackets popping up on here. If need be, you can go to Bracketography.com or Bracketexpress.com and get your fix. Those guys do a nice job. But romancing the bracket is about MUCH more than simply slapping 64 teams into four regionals. There has to be some basis for placing teams into the bracket. Four or five games is not enough, in this (somewhat) humble writer's opinion. Three weeks ago, few teams had played a game! It's never too early for a bracket, but it is too early for a meaningful bracket.
So, until the New Year, here is what will happen at The Bracket Board. I will post lists of bracket-related items. Lists like "Remaining Undefeated Teams," "The Danger Zone" (Preseason/perennial powers who are on the ropes), "Stockpilers" (teams that have nice early season wins that will help come Selection Sunday), "Keep an Eye On..." and other lists like this. I will publish a non-conference season bracket at the end of the month to serve as a reference point for the weekly brackets that will start sometime in January.
For kicks, let's start today with a Danger Zone list. All records are against D-I teams.
1. Kansas (1-3). KU has Saint Joseph's, Cal (both in the Jimmy V Classic), and Kentucky (in Lawrence) left on the non-conference slate. In addition, they have Western Illinois, Pepperdine, Northern Colorado, New Orleans, and Yale left to play at home as well. That's right. Kansas plays ZERO true road games in the non-conference. NONE. They played neutral court games in Maui and will play two more in the Jimmy V Classic. If they head into Big 12 play with a losing record, the Jayhawks could be in major trouble.
2. Miami-FL (4-3). The 'Canes were a sexy pick to make serious noise this season, but already have sustained losses to Temple, Michigan, and Air Force. Those are not horrible losses, but Miami-FL's wins are Morgan State, TX-Arlington, and North Carlolina A&T. In a couple of weeks, the Canes will play NC State, Florida and Louisville. They will need to win a couple of those games to get back on track.
3. UW-Milwaukee (0-2). Last year's NCAA darlings have been utterly routed by Memphis and also lost to Tennessee Tech. It's only two games and they are transitioning under a new coach, so it's too early to panic, but UWM needs to start piling up some wins.
4. Southern Illinois (2-2). The unbelievable event regarding SIU was their loss to D-II Alaska-Anchorage (not reflected in the record displayed here). They also lost to Monmouth and Saint Louis. The perennial MVC power will have to step it up to hang with Northern Iowa and Creighton this season.
Last Night's GOI
--at Denver 78, Northern Arizona 63. The Pioneers (4-1) look like the team to beat in the Sun Belt West. They won the Top of the World Classic, then lost to undefeated Colorado State (5-0) before cruising past the Lumberjacks last night. C Yemi Nicholson went for 20 points and 18 boards. Ho hum.
--at Tennessee-Martin 80, Arkansas State 77 (OT). Oy. The Indians lose again. The Skyhawks roared back from a 30-19 halftime deficity to topple ASU in overtime.
--Nevada 72, at Kansas 70. What a big win for Nevada. They are a better team than Kansas and they went into Lawrence and proved it.
Tonight's GOI
--Missouri at Arkansas. Two coaches who need BIG seasons to cool their respective seats.
So, until the New Year, here is what will happen at The Bracket Board. I will post lists of bracket-related items. Lists like "Remaining Undefeated Teams," "The Danger Zone" (Preseason/perennial powers who are on the ropes), "Stockpilers" (teams that have nice early season wins that will help come Selection Sunday), "Keep an Eye On..." and other lists like this. I will publish a non-conference season bracket at the end of the month to serve as a reference point for the weekly brackets that will start sometime in January.
For kicks, let's start today with a Danger Zone list. All records are against D-I teams.
1. Kansas (1-3). KU has Saint Joseph's, Cal (both in the Jimmy V Classic), and Kentucky (in Lawrence) left on the non-conference slate. In addition, they have Western Illinois, Pepperdine, Northern Colorado, New Orleans, and Yale left to play at home as well. That's right. Kansas plays ZERO true road games in the non-conference. NONE. They played neutral court games in Maui and will play two more in the Jimmy V Classic. If they head into Big 12 play with a losing record, the Jayhawks could be in major trouble.
2. Miami-FL (4-3). The 'Canes were a sexy pick to make serious noise this season, but already have sustained losses to Temple, Michigan, and Air Force. Those are not horrible losses, but Miami-FL's wins are Morgan State, TX-Arlington, and North Carlolina A&T. In a couple of weeks, the Canes will play NC State, Florida and Louisville. They will need to win a couple of those games to get back on track.
3. UW-Milwaukee (0-2). Last year's NCAA darlings have been utterly routed by Memphis and also lost to Tennessee Tech. It's only two games and they are transitioning under a new coach, so it's too early to panic, but UWM needs to start piling up some wins.
4. Southern Illinois (2-2). The unbelievable event regarding SIU was their loss to D-II Alaska-Anchorage (not reflected in the record displayed here). They also lost to Monmouth and Saint Louis. The perennial MVC power will have to step it up to hang with Northern Iowa and Creighton this season.
Last Night's GOI
--at Denver 78, Northern Arizona 63. The Pioneers (4-1) look like the team to beat in the Sun Belt West. They won the Top of the World Classic, then lost to undefeated Colorado State (5-0) before cruising past the Lumberjacks last night. C Yemi Nicholson went for 20 points and 18 boards. Ho hum.
--at Tennessee-Martin 80, Arkansas State 77 (OT). Oy. The Indians lose again. The Skyhawks roared back from a 30-19 halftime deficity to topple ASU in overtime.
--Nevada 72, at Kansas 70. What a big win for Nevada. They are a better team than Kansas and they went into Lawrence and proved it.
Tonight's GOI
--Missouri at Arkansas. Two coaches who need BIG seasons to cool their respective seats.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Dukies and Bison and Gaels. Oh My.
1. My latest SCS.com piece is up.
2. Kentucky's Randolph Morris is ineligible--for now.
3. Indiana's Marco Killingsworth went berserk last night in a tough loss to Duke.
4. I hate to say I told you so, but Bucknell is on fire. I said it then and I'll say it now. That win over Kansas was not THAT big of an upset.
5. Iona is on fire. Yes, I said Iona.
Tonight's GOI
--Northern Arizona at Denver (3-1). The Pioneers look to get back on track after a loss to undefeated Colorado State.
--Arkansas State (1-2) at Tennessee-Martin. ASU has not beaten a D-I team this season. They SHOULD get off the schnide tonight.
--Nevada at Kansas. Very important game for both teams. Nevada is looking to validate itself as a legit Top 25 team and Kansas needs quality wins, because they could take some lumps in conference this year.
Last Night's GOI
--Duke 75, at Indiana 67. Both teams made some bad decisions down the stretch. Both teams are going to be very good by the end of the season.
--at Iowa 45, NC State 42. I picked the Hawkeyes yesterday, but man, was this game ugly. Take a look at these ghastly shooting percentages.
--at Michigan State 88, Georgia Tech 86. I'm sorry, but Michigan State is not that good right now. They are just NOT.
--at Utah 67, Utah State 66. Told ya this was a huge in-state game.
--at Arizona State 83, North Texas 67. I must admit the Sun Belt is down this year overall.
--at Mississippi State 67, New Orleans 59 . I must admit the Sun Belt is down this year overall. Again. ASU and Miss State are not good teams this year and North Texas (0-2 vs D-I teams) and UNO (0-3 vs D-I teams) were supposed to have breakout seasons.
2. Kentucky's Randolph Morris is ineligible--for now.
3. Indiana's Marco Killingsworth went berserk last night in a tough loss to Duke.
4. I hate to say I told you so, but Bucknell is on fire. I said it then and I'll say it now. That win over Kansas was not THAT big of an upset.
5. Iona is on fire. Yes, I said Iona.
Tonight's GOI
--Northern Arizona at Denver (3-1). The Pioneers look to get back on track after a loss to undefeated Colorado State.
--Arkansas State (1-2) at Tennessee-Martin. ASU has not beaten a D-I team this season. They SHOULD get off the schnide tonight.
--Nevada at Kansas. Very important game for both teams. Nevada is looking to validate itself as a legit Top 25 team and Kansas needs quality wins, because they could take some lumps in conference this year.
Last Night's GOI
--Duke 75, at Indiana 67. Both teams made some bad decisions down the stretch. Both teams are going to be very good by the end of the season.
--at Iowa 45, NC State 42. I picked the Hawkeyes yesterday, but man, was this game ugly. Take a look at these ghastly shooting percentages.
--at Michigan State 88, Georgia Tech 86. I'm sorry, but Michigan State is not that good right now. They are just NOT.
--at Utah 67, Utah State 66. Told ya this was a huge in-state game.
--at Arizona State 83, North Texas 67. I must admit the Sun Belt is down this year overall.
--at Mississippi State 67, New Orleans 59 . I must admit the Sun Belt is down this year overall. Again. ASU and Miss State are not good teams this year and North Texas (0-2 vs D-I teams) and UNO (0-3 vs D-I teams) were supposed to have breakout seasons.
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