Missouri treated it's newly ranked status like a hot potato, getting throttled by border rival Illinois in their first game as a ranked team. Meanwhile Minnesota seems to like their recent acclaim, running their win streak to an impressive 12-0.With conference play around the corner, it is starting to become clear that some leagues are loaded (Big East, Big Ten), and some have very little to cheer about (SEC, Pac-10). However, it is the two remaining "BSC" conferences (ACC & Big 12) whose inner league seperation will speak volumes as to the March destiny of some A-10, Mountain West and WCC hopefuls.
That said, let's digg into Week 6 of Bracketeering!
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FINAL FOUR:
1. UNC - The beat keeps on. Expect their number one ranking to be fully intact heading into their Jan 11th trip to Wake Forest.
2. UConn- I like the next two teams listed next, but it is honestly difficult seeing anyone other than UCONN giving the Heels a run for their money. AJ Price was brilliant in last weeks OT thriller over Gonzaga, however it is the play of Adrien and Thabeet that will determine their fate in the big-man loaded Big East.
3. Oklahoma - Basically a week off for Christmas. They have several games beforehand, but it is tough not to look ahead to a January 11th tussle with Texas.
4. Duke - They enjoyed week off for the holidays since their drubbing of Xavier. Butler took a little shine off that win by dusting the Muskies at their place last week, but still no reason not to think Duke has the horses to finish a solid second in the ACC, and compete for a Final Four spot.
ELITE EIGHT:
5. Pitt - They get a real test next Saturday against Georgetown. Win that one, and we might have to finally give in and slot the Panthers up a notch.
6. Purdue - Two tread-water wins over instate foes IPFW and Valpo this week are nothing to get to jazzed about. Their Tuesday tussle with Illinois (12-1 with a 2-pt loss to Clemson on a neutral floor) is a really good game. I would be surprised if it isn't between two ranked foes after the polls come out tomorrow.
7. Notre Dame - Aren't we so so fickle? Everyone (me included) LOVED the Irish going into the season. I am pretty sure I pegged their early season tilt with UNC as the best non-conference game of the season. We know how that one went. Then the loss to Ohio State while Harangody had pneumonia...and we forgot all about them. Time to wake up. The Irish are still Final Four-talented, and get a few more tune-ups (DePaul, St. John's) before the Big East gauntlet begins in earnest.
We're still hanging around...
8. Wake Forest - Ok, ECU isn't going to the tourney, but the Deacons 41 point win over them got our attention. Jeff Teague is a legit All-American candidate, and is probably the best major school player people have never heard of. He gets his chance to announce his presence in two weeks when the Tarheels come to Winston Salem.
Sweet and lurking: The next tier (in order)
9. Syracuse - I still like this club, especially now that the Devendorf saga has been put to rest. Next big question? How does their front line stack up when they start tussling with Pitt, UConn, Notre Dame and Georgetown??
10. Georgetown - Said it once, but worth repeating, things are going great so far for the Hoyas, but their stretch from Dec 29th - Jan 6th is BRUTAL (UConn, Notre Dame and Pitt). Survive that unblemished? #2 is realistic. After that things let up with Duke and Syracuse.
11. UCLA - Put them in the Notre Dame category; we forgot about the Bruins a little too soon. Keep in mind, this team is experienced and returns a lot from their Final Four team (third consecutive appearance, by the way), including star PG Darren Collison. Factor in a down Pac-10, and there is no reason they shouldn't be positioned with a 1 or 2 seed to mount a run for their fourth consecutive Final Four in March.
12. Michigan St. - Another team with a virtual week off, but that Texas win leaves a nice impression. However, given the total body of work, it was tough to keep them ahead of -
13. Texas - Yes, they lost a virtual home game to Michigan State, but that is the beauty of college hoops. That loss won't derail their chances. They won a nail biter against an always tough Wisconsin squad. They still appear to be on track for a great season. If only Colt McCoy were so fortunate...
14. UCLA - Time to stop punishing them for two close losses. The Michigan loss seems more reasonable after their handling of Duke, and losing @ Texas is no embarrassment. As J'Rue Holliday gets more comfortable, the Bruins are looking more comfortable winning a down Pac-10.
15. Louisville - Pitino shook up the lineup for their game against UAB, opting to get the ball out of erratic PG Edgar Sosa'a hands. The result? A 20-point thrashing. No one questions Louisville's talent. The question is, can they keep it together for a brutal Big East schedule?
16. Michigan - For yet another week, the Wolverines STAY at #16. I am looking forward to Wednesday's game hosting Wisconsin (who gave Texas a handful) and Saturday when the Illini come to town. Either way, the Wolverines will be moving somewhere next week.
I fought long and hard keeping them ahead of Baylor and Illinois
Slippin': The Maniac drops the hammer
Xavier - Um, uh oh. The Duke loss was a warning sign. The Butler loss was a road flare. This team needs to find consistent offensive production and start canning some free throws or else that #7 ranking might be a disappointing memory when they are sweating on Selection Sunday.
Gonzaga - The UConn loss was demoralizing. However the hangover loss to Portland St. damages their resume come seeding time. January 7th and Feb 7th games against Tennessee and Memphis might be the last chance for the Zags to erase those losses in the committee's eyes.
Portland State might have pulled down more than a rebound...
Tennessee- I know they should be moving up our rankings after the win over Marquette.We were ready to... then they go and play a 79-77 squeaker against Belmont. If it is any consolation, Coach K sends his congratulations for beating a tough, gutty ball club.
Closing In...
Baylor, Illinois, St. Mary's, Texas A&M, Villanova, Butler, Tennessee, UNLV, Butler, West Virginia, Stanford
Half Court Heaves: Long shots worth keeping an eye on
Evansville, Dayton, VMI, Illinois-Chicago, Boston College, Illinois St, Charleston, IUPUI, Niagara, LSU, BYU, George Mason
FINAL FOUR:
1. UNC - The beat keeps on. Expect their number one ranking to be fully intact heading into their Jan 11th trip to Wake Forest.
2. UConn- I like the next two teams listed next, but it is honestly difficult seeing anyone other than UCONN giving the Heels a run for their money. AJ Price was brilliant in last weeks OT thriller over Gonzaga, however it is the play of Adrien and Thabeet that will determine their fate in the big-man loaded Big East.
3. Oklahoma - Basically a week off for Christmas. They have several games beforehand, but it is tough not to look ahead to a January 11th tussle with Texas.
4. Duke - They enjoyed week off for the holidays since their drubbing of Xavier. Butler took a little shine off that win by dusting the Muskies at their place last week, but still no reason not to think Duke has the horses to finish a solid second in the ACC, and compete for a Final Four spot.
ELITE EIGHT:
5. Pitt - They get a real test next Saturday against Georgetown. Win that one, and we might have to finally give in and slot the Panthers up a notch.
6. Purdue - Two tread-water wins over instate foes IPFW and Valpo this week are nothing to get to jazzed about. Their Tuesday tussle with Illinois (12-1 with a 2-pt loss to Clemson on a neutral floor) is a really good game. I would be surprised if it isn't between two ranked foes after the polls come out tomorrow.
7. Notre Dame - Aren't we so so fickle? Everyone (me included) LOVED the Irish going into the season. I am pretty sure I pegged their early season tilt with UNC as the best non-conference game of the season. We know how that one went. Then the loss to Ohio State while Harangody had pneumonia...and we forgot all about them. Time to wake up. The Irish are still Final Four-talented, and get a few more tune-ups (DePaul, St. John's) before the Big East gauntlet begins in earnest.
We're still hanging around...Sweet and lurking: The next tier (in order)
9. Syracuse - I still like this club, especially now that the Devendorf saga has been put to rest. Next big question? How does their front line stack up when they start tussling with Pitt, UConn, Notre Dame and Georgetown??
10. Georgetown - Said it once, but worth repeating, things are going great so far for the Hoyas, but their stretch from Dec 29th - Jan 6th is BRUTAL (UConn, Notre Dame and Pitt). Survive that unblemished? #2 is realistic. After that things let up with Duke and Syracuse.
11. UCLA - Put them in the Notre Dame category; we forgot about the Bruins a little too soon. Keep in mind, this team is experienced and returns a lot from their Final Four team (third consecutive appearance, by the way), including star PG Darren Collison. Factor in a down Pac-10, and there is no reason they shouldn't be positioned with a 1 or 2 seed to mount a run for their fourth consecutive Final Four in March.
12. Michigan St. - Another team with a virtual week off, but that Texas win leaves a nice impression. However, given the total body of work, it was tough to keep them ahead of -
13. Texas - Yes, they lost a virtual home game to Michigan State, but that is the beauty of college hoops. That loss won't derail their chances. They won a nail biter against an always tough Wisconsin squad. They still appear to be on track for a great season. If only Colt McCoy were so fortunate...
14. UCLA - Time to stop punishing them for two close losses. The Michigan loss seems more reasonable after their handling of Duke, and losing @ Texas is no embarrassment. As J'Rue Holliday gets more comfortable, the Bruins are looking more comfortable winning a down Pac-10.
15. Louisville - Pitino shook up the lineup for their game against UAB, opting to get the ball out of erratic PG Edgar Sosa'a hands. The result? A 20-point thrashing. No one questions Louisville's talent. The question is, can they keep it together for a brutal Big East schedule?
16. Michigan - For yet another week, the Wolverines STAY at #16. I am looking forward to Wednesday's game hosting Wisconsin (who gave Texas a handful) and Saturday when the Illini come to town. Either way, the Wolverines will be moving somewhere next week.
I fought long and hard keeping them ahead of Baylor and Illinois
Slippin': The Maniac drops the hammer
Xavier - Um, uh oh. The Duke loss was a warning sign. The Butler loss was a road flare. This team needs to find consistent offensive production and start canning some free throws or else that #7 ranking might be a disappointing memory when they are sweating on Selection Sunday.
Gonzaga - The UConn loss was demoralizing. However the hangover loss to Portland St. damages their resume come seeding time. January 7th and Feb 7th games against Tennessee and Memphis might be the last chance for the Zags to erase those losses in the committee's eyes.
Portland State might have pulled down more than a rebound... Tennessee- I know they should be moving up our rankings after the win over Marquette.We were ready to... then they go and play a 79-77 squeaker against Belmont. If it is any consolation, Coach K sends his congratulations for beating a tough, gutty ball club.
Closing In...
Baylor, Illinois, St. Mary's, Texas A&M, Villanova, Butler, Tennessee, UNLV, Butler, West Virginia, Stanford
Half Court Heaves: Long shots worth keeping an eye on
Evansville, Dayton, VMI, Illinois-Chicago, Boston College, Illinois St, Charleston, IUPUI, Niagara, LSU, BYU, George Mason
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