After fully flexing my flexitarianism over the long holiday weekend (I indulged in four turkey dinners), my food pendulum will undoubtedly swing to the meat-free side for quite some time. While indulging in the turkeyfest and subsequent turkey hangover, the formless mass of college hoops took a bit of shape.
1. Butler is full of P-NITy goodness. They rolled up a pile of good wins that will make their resume hard to ignore if they hold form during the Horizon season.
2. Florida is outstanding (see game vs Western Kentucky), but not unbeatable (see Kansas).
3. Arkansas deserves a second look as a contender for the SEC West title.
4. The ACC looks deep and balanced at this point, while the Big East looks to be down overall from last season.
Congrats to these winners of early season events:
--2k Classic (Coaches vs Cancer): Maryland
--CBE Classic: Marquette
--Preseason NIT: Butler
--Great Alaska Shootout: California
--Las Vegas Invitational: Kansas (4-0 record)
--Old Spice Classic: Arkansas
--Paradise Jam: Alabama
--Top of the World Classic: Utah State
--South Padre Island Classic: Oklahoma State
Tonight's GOI
--Holy Cross at Syracuse. If Bucknell falters, the HC is right there to pick up the Patriot League.
--Tennessee at UL-Lafayette. Dangerous game for the Vols in the Cajundome.
--Marquette at Valparaiso. Big Six teams do not make road trips like this one too often.
ACC Big Ten Challenge
--Michigan at NC State. Both are undefeated going in, so someone will suffer their first blemish.
Belt
--Troy at Alabama State. The Trojans are coming off a good showing in the South Padre Island classic (2-1 with wins over Drake and Rhode Island) and Saturday's win over Southeast Louisiana.
--FIU at George Mason. The Golden Panthers are 3-1 in their last four after an 0-2 start.
--Belmont at Middle Tennessee. Blue Pegasi are 0-4 and still seeking that first W.
--Arkansas State at South Dakota State. Indians have won four in a row after an 0-3 start.
--Denver at Southern Utah. Pioneers are licking their wounds after a recent 41-point pasting at Stanford.
--UALR at Texas A&M. Trojans have another Texas-sized task on the road.
