Playing a dizzying array of bodies, coach Darrin Horn's Hilltoppers put the cement shoes on the Tennessee State Tigers in the second half of Sunday's game. TSU played the Tops tough for 20 mins, but an intensified defense and the contribution of fifteen players were too much for the wearied visitors. Thirteen Toppers scored and nine players played double-digit minutes (two others played nine mins) as WKU used a monster 25-3 run early in the 2nd half to put away the Tigers.
II. ACC foes may have a case of chelonaphobia (fear of turtles) this season. Maryland is your 2k Classic champion. After a couple of years of hiding in their comfy shell, the Terps have now taken care of Vermont, St. John's, and Michigan State in the early going. They welcome a very tough Winthrop team coming off a win at Mississippi State into College Park tonight.
III. Speaking of Winthrop, I had this to say on Friday (see post below):
--Winthrop at Mississippi State. Everyone now knows how capable Winthrop is of winning this game.And they pulled it off. They have now played UNC-Chapel Hill to the end (lost by seven) and defeated Mississippi State in Starkville. Winthrop has had near misses in the NCAA Tourney in each of the last two seasons (Gonzaga in 2005, Tennessee in 2006). This may be their best team to date.
IV. Tonight's GOI. It's fortified with nine essential vitamins and minerals.
--Winthrop at Maryland. Is this the best team Maryland has played so far?
CBE Classic
--Air Force vs Duke. AFA has been razor-sharp early on and this is in Kansas City, not Durham or New Jersey. Big opportunity for the Falcons.
--Marquette vs Texas Tech. Good barometer for both teams.
Maui Invitational
--DePaul vs Kentucky. DePaul looked horrid in their opening two games. Then, they routed Eastern Illinois by 30. UK has not been overly impressive, either.
--Oklahoma vs Memphis. Both have creamed lesser teams in their opening games.
--Georgia Tech vs Purdue. Two teams that expect to be much improved over last season.
Paradise Jam
--Xavier vs Alabama. A couple of clubs that are likely to be solid NCAA teams.
--Villanova vs Iowa. Two teams in revamping mode after major personnel losses from last season.
Belt
--Arkansas State at Tennessee-Martin. ASU has struggled mightily early on. They did beat Bowling Green last week.
