It is now official. Illinois State is for real and here to stay, so get to know the Redbirds. There is a good chance you'll be writing their name once, twice...thrice in your brackets come March.
In consecutive games to open the MVC, the Redbirds validated their somewhat soft 11-0 non conference record by thrashing Evansville 80-50 and following it up with a sound 86-64 victory over conference kingpin Creighton.
Wide A-Wake: Demon Deacons Notch Impressive Win Over BYU
One of the most intriguing non-conference matchups of the season did not disspoint. Wake Forest took their unblemished record into Provo to meet up with the 12-1 Cougars.
Both teams put up points all night, but not in a "no defense" way; rather in an exciting up tempo contest highlighted by excellent offensive efficiency. The game was a one or two possession game for most of the second half before the Deacons hit some big free throws and got two big stops in the game's final minute to preserve a 94-87 victory.
Jeff Teague continued his surprising All-American campaign, notching 30 points and 5 assists to help push Wake to 14-0.
Up Next:
BYU gets a bit of a breather, facing Western Oregon, Colorado St, and TCU.
Wake Forest has one week to prepare for the daunting task of slaying the North Carolina Goliath. The good news for the Deacons? They have eight days to stoke the fires of what will undoubtedly be one of the most festive crowds Joel Coliseum has hosted in a while.
Both teams put up points all night, but not in a "no defense" way; rather in an exciting up tempo contest highlighted by excellent offensive efficiency. The game was a one or two possession game for most of the second half before the Deacons hit some big free throws and got two big stops in the game's final minute to preserve a 94-87 victory.
Jeff Teague continued his surprising All-American campaign, notching 30 points and 5 assists to help push Wake to 14-0.
Up Next:
BYU gets a bit of a breather, facing Western Oregon, Colorado St, and TCU.
Wake Forest has one week to prepare for the daunting task of slaying the North Carolina Goliath. The good news for the Deacons? They have eight days to stoke the fires of what will undoubtedly be one of the most festive crowds Joel Coliseum has hosted in a while.
Playoffs? Catch the Cats and Cards!
Playoffs? Playoffs?!? (in my best Jim Mora impression)
While the Dolphins and Ravens tangle and the Eagles and Vikings tussle, there are some great college hoops games you might want to TiVo
It doesn't get much fiercer and more intense than the annual meeting between Kentucky and Louisville for Commonwealth supremacy (4:30PM - CBS). The recent matches have seen the teams on different ends of the expectation spectrum, and on the surface this year would seem to be the same (Louisville preseason Top 5, UK unranked), but in truth, this a much more even matched contest that some Card fans would like to admit.
The Cards strength has been their frontcourt. The Cats offer up sophomore stud Patrick Patterson. The Cards have athletic wing players. How about Jodie Meeks? It would be hard to make an All-American list without including him somewhere. The Cards have been plauged by poor point guard play. Trust me, Wildcat fans can empathize.
So tomorrow's contest comes down to one simple variable. Both teams are going to "want it" and "fight for it" and every other cliche' broadcasters like to use. Each teams strengths and weaknesses are similar (with the Cards getting a slight edge for depth and coaching). The variable will be a simple one.
Who hits shots.
The Cats are going to need more than Meeks and Patterson to contribute offensvily. SO which Deandre Liggins shows up tomorrow? The 6'6'' Chicago wunderkind who gives them the athleticism and creativity the Cats so desperatly need? Or the eratic, poor decision maker that has shown up far too often in 2008? If Liggins can give the Cats a legitimate third option offensivly, don't be surprised if the Cats pull the upset.
For the Cards the question is can Edgar Sosa and their point guard platoon handle Kentucky's pressure and initiate the offense for their scorers? The Cards are so so good on paper. Unfortunatly the games have all been played on the court this season. Great interior and wing players can only flourish if their lead guard can initiate the offense and control tempo.
Maniac's Pick: It is going to be a great game. Probably the best, most even matchup in the past five years of this rivavly. I like the momentum Kentucky has been building and the emergence of Jodie Meeks as one of the collegiate game's true superstars. Lousiville looks better in warmups, but the Cats make it click after the whistle.
Kentucky 69 Louisville 64
While the Dolphins and Ravens tangle and the Eagles and Vikings tussle, there are some great college hoops games you might want to TiVo
It doesn't get much fiercer and more intense than the annual meeting between Kentucky and Louisville for Commonwealth supremacy (4:30PM - CBS). The recent matches have seen the teams on different ends of the expectation spectrum, and on the surface this year would seem to be the same (Louisville preseason Top 5, UK unranked), but in truth, this a much more even matched contest that some Card fans would like to admit.
The Cards strength has been their frontcourt. The Cats offer up sophomore stud Patrick Patterson. The Cards have athletic wing players. How about Jodie Meeks? It would be hard to make an All-American list without including him somewhere. The Cards have been plauged by poor point guard play. Trust me, Wildcat fans can empathize.
So tomorrow's contest comes down to one simple variable. Both teams are going to "want it" and "fight for it" and every other cliche' broadcasters like to use. Each teams strengths and weaknesses are similar (with the Cards getting a slight edge for depth and coaching). The variable will be a simple one.
Who hits shots.
The Cats are going to need more than Meeks and Patterson to contribute offensvily. SO which Deandre Liggins shows up tomorrow? The 6'6'' Chicago wunderkind who gives them the athleticism and creativity the Cats so desperatly need? Or the eratic, poor decision maker that has shown up far too often in 2008? If Liggins can give the Cats a legitimate third option offensivly, don't be surprised if the Cats pull the upset.
For the Cards the question is can Edgar Sosa and their point guard platoon handle Kentucky's pressure and initiate the offense for their scorers? The Cards are so so good on paper. Unfortunatly the games have all been played on the court this season. Great interior and wing players can only flourish if their lead guard can initiate the offense and control tempo.
Maniac's Pick: It is going to be a great game. Probably the best, most even matchup in the past five years of this rivavly. I like the momentum Kentucky has been building and the emergence of Jodie Meeks as one of the collegiate game's true superstars. Lousiville looks better in warmups, but the Cats make it click after the whistle.
Kentucky 69 Louisville 64
Gators Get Close Win Over NC State
Billy Donovan's "Baby Gators" took another big mature step forward holding on for a valuable, if not impressive, home win over the Wolfpack. Nick Calathes threw in 32 for the Gators, a hopeful sign of things to come for the highly touted sophomore as the Gators enter conference play this week.
UP NEXT:
The Gators (12-2) open SEC play next Saturday hosting Ole Miss, then travel to Auburn. The Gators should be havily favored in both, setting up a nice showdown with Arkansas the following weekend.
Calathes is on the short list for SEC P.O.Y.
UP NEXT:
The Gators (12-2) open SEC play next Saturday hosting Ole Miss, then travel to Auburn. The Gators should be havily favored in both, setting up a nice showdown with Arkansas the following weekend.
Calathes is on the short list for SEC P.O.Y.Coming Up Golden: Tubby's Gophers Get Big Win Over Buckeyes
Tubby knew today was a big one. In a conference as deep and good as the Big Ten you don't want to start 0-2, with two losses on your home court. Today's solid defeat of Ohio State moves the Gophers to 13-1 (1-1) and drops Ohio State to a disappointing 0-2 conference start after entering the week unblemished, including wins over Butler and Notre Dame.
Up Next:
The Gophers will be favored in their next two games, going to Iowa and hosting a better-than advertised Penn State team who gave Wisconsin as much as they could handle today.
Ohio State looks to stop their two game skid in difficult fashion with a trip looming Tuesday to East Lansing. Ouch. At least their next two are Houston Baptist (not making that up, they actually schedule that game) and hosting the overmatched Hoosiers who played one of the better games of the season fighting to a valiant five point loss at Iowa.
Up Next:
The Gophers will be favored in their next two games, going to Iowa and hosting a better-than advertised Penn State team who gave Wisconsin as much as they could handle today.
Ohio State looks to stop their two game skid in difficult fashion with a trip looming Tuesday to East Lansing. Ouch. At least their next two are Houston Baptist (not making that up, they actually schedule that game) and hosting the overmatched Hoosiers who played one of the better games of the season fighting to a valiant five point loss at Iowa.
For Real
Ok, I admit it now loudly and clearly. Pitt is good. Really really good. In a week that saw the Hoyas head into Storrs and rout the Huskies, and the Irish get dropped by lowly St. John's, the Pathers performance today resonated loudly.
Sophmore DeJuan Blair stole the show today. With dozens of scouts in the stands, ostensibly to see freshman standout Greg Monroe, Blair handily outplayed him scoring 20 points and snatching 17 boards. More importantly, the Pathers snatched the win and the early leg up in the brutal Big East.
20 points. 17 boards. And an early contender to challenge Luke Harangody for Big East POY.
Sophmore DeJuan Blair stole the show today. With dozens of scouts in the stands, ostensibly to see freshman standout Greg Monroe, Blair handily outplayed him scoring 20 points and snatching 17 boards. More importantly, the Pathers snatched the win and the early leg up in the brutal Big East.
20 points. 17 boards. And an early contender to challenge Luke Harangody for Big East POY.Saturday's Best Games - Jan 3rd.
In between bowl fever and the start of the NFL playoffs, it is easy for college hoops to get lost in the sportsfan's shuffle. However, Saturday is chock full of games worth tuning in for. Here is a rundown on Saturday's finest.
FIVE STARS:
12pm Pitt @ Georgetown - Can Georgetown take down the top two teams in the conference (and two of the top three in the nation) in the same week? They'll be on their home floor, and it is obvious Greg Monroe will not be afraid of Pitt's interior defenders, seeing how he didn't bat an eye at Hasheem Thabeet.
8pm Wake Forest @ BYU - Must be "east coast bias." I can't think of any other reason why the Lee Cummard and the Cougs aren't ranked (ditto for UNLV), but these two teams enter the game a combined 23-1. The winner puts a huge feather in their cap come Selection Sunday.
8pm Creighton @ Illinois State - I might be becoming a bit of an MVC honk, but I honestly think this is the 2nd best game of the day. Creighton (12-2) has been the big kid on the block for years while Illinois State (13-0) has been the low bird on the totem pole. We will find out tomorrow night how much (if any) things have changed.
FOUR STARS:
12pm Ohio State @ Minnesota - Ohio St skidded past Iowa coming off their first loss throttling by WVA. Minnesota came into Big Ten play unbleminshed...then got their doors blown off by Michigan State. Tubby's Gophers don't want an 0-2 start to blemish all the positives of 2008.
2pm Tennessee @ Kansas - Two good teams square off in one of the nation's toughest places to win. Kansas is not ranked, but a win a the Phog never hurts the resume.
THREE STARS:
2pm Penn State @ Wisconsin - Don't look now, but Bo Ryan's Badgers appear to be a force once again in the Big Ten after an opening dismantling of Michigan (who beat UCLA and Duke). Penn State is off to a 12-2 start, but a win in Madison might be asking a bit much.
4pm NC State @ Florida - The Gators haven't made the strides that many expected so far in 2008-09. A home loss to the Pack would be another tough obstacle to overcome heading into a balanced, if not great, SEC.
4pm Wyoming @ Utah - The Ute's a fresh off a big win over Gonzaga...but I suppose a lot of teams can boast that this year. Meanwhile Wyoming (11-3) needs as many wins as they can get to make up for a less-than-stellar non conference schedule. The MWC is really deep and good this year. It will be interesting to see if Wyoming is one of the teams that can make noise.
TWO STARS:
2pm Xavier @ Virginia - The Muskies look to stop a 2-game skid in Charlottesville. The Cavs would love a big win before entering a ACC that appears to be a cut above their 2009 talent level.
4pm East Carolina @ Clemson - I had ECU on the Maniac Radar earlier this season. Then they lost by 41 to Wake. Expect Clemson to cruise to 14-0, though the Pirates do have the talent to compete for a 2nd to 4th finish in C-USA.
4pm Indiana @ Iowa - Let the carnage begin. The Hoosiers travel to Iowa to deliver the "bye week" in person. The Hoosiers enter off a home loss to Lipscomb (google it.) and are clearly Number Eleven in the Big Ten.
UPSET ALERT:
These three teams need to be on the watch for upset-minded foes who just might be capable of shooting their way to a big upset win.
* West Virgina @ Seton Hall
* Butler @ Valparaiso
* Wake Forest @ BYU
FIVE STARS:
12pm Pitt @ Georgetown - Can Georgetown take down the top two teams in the conference (and two of the top three in the nation) in the same week? They'll be on their home floor, and it is obvious Greg Monroe will not be afraid of Pitt's interior defenders, seeing how he didn't bat an eye at Hasheem Thabeet.
8pm Wake Forest @ BYU - Must be "east coast bias." I can't think of any other reason why the Lee Cummard and the Cougs aren't ranked (ditto for UNLV), but these two teams enter the game a combined 23-1. The winner puts a huge feather in their cap come Selection Sunday.
8pm Creighton @ Illinois State - I might be becoming a bit of an MVC honk, but I honestly think this is the 2nd best game of the day. Creighton (12-2) has been the big kid on the block for years while Illinois State (13-0) has been the low bird on the totem pole. We will find out tomorrow night how much (if any) things have changed.
FOUR STARS:
12pm Ohio State @ Minnesota - Ohio St skidded past Iowa coming off their first loss throttling by WVA. Minnesota came into Big Ten play unbleminshed...then got their doors blown off by Michigan State. Tubby's Gophers don't want an 0-2 start to blemish all the positives of 2008.
2pm Tennessee @ Kansas - Two good teams square off in one of the nation's toughest places to win. Kansas is not ranked, but a win a the Phog never hurts the resume.
THREE STARS:
2pm Penn State @ Wisconsin - Don't look now, but Bo Ryan's Badgers appear to be a force once again in the Big Ten after an opening dismantling of Michigan (who beat UCLA and Duke). Penn State is off to a 12-2 start, but a win in Madison might be asking a bit much.
4pm NC State @ Florida - The Gators haven't made the strides that many expected so far in 2008-09. A home loss to the Pack would be another tough obstacle to overcome heading into a balanced, if not great, SEC.
4pm Wyoming @ Utah - The Ute's a fresh off a big win over Gonzaga...but I suppose a lot of teams can boast that this year. Meanwhile Wyoming (11-3) needs as many wins as they can get to make up for a less-than-stellar non conference schedule. The MWC is really deep and good this year. It will be interesting to see if Wyoming is one of the teams that can make noise.
TWO STARS:
2pm Xavier @ Virginia - The Muskies look to stop a 2-game skid in Charlottesville. The Cavs would love a big win before entering a ACC that appears to be a cut above their 2009 talent level.
4pm East Carolina @ Clemson - I had ECU on the Maniac Radar earlier this season. Then they lost by 41 to Wake. Expect Clemson to cruise to 14-0, though the Pirates do have the talent to compete for a 2nd to 4th finish in C-USA.
4pm Indiana @ Iowa - Let the carnage begin. The Hoosiers travel to Iowa to deliver the "bye week" in person. The Hoosiers enter off a home loss to Lipscomb (google it.) and are clearly Number Eleven in the Big Ten.
UPSET ALERT:
These three teams need to be on the watch for upset-minded foes who just might be capable of shooting their way to a big upset win.
* West Virgina @ Seton Hall
* Butler @ Valparaiso
* Wake Forest @ BYU
Getting Cocky: South Carolina Gets Big Win at Baylor
Just when you thought the SEC was down and dead, another huge non-conference win at the Big 12's expense puts them right back in the mix as a conference to be reckoned with.
South Carolina was led by All-American candidate Devan Downey's 23 points and 8 assists to lead a surprisingly balanced Gamecock attack. The win moves USC to 9-2.
UP NEXT:
South Carolina gets a break with Wofford and a beatable Auburn team before entering a brutal tell-tale three game stretch of: @LSU, @Tennessee, and home for Florida. We should know a lot about the 'Cocks by the middle of January
Baylor drops to 12-2, and has a gentle Big 12 beginning, hosting Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and traveling to Texas A&M and Kansas St. They should be able to rebound nicely before tackling the conference heavyweights.
South Carolina was led by All-American candidate Devan Downey's 23 points and 8 assists to lead a surprisingly balanced Gamecock attack. The win moves USC to 9-2.
UP NEXT:
South Carolina gets a break with Wofford and a beatable Auburn team before entering a brutal tell-tale three game stretch of: @LSU, @Tennessee, and home for Florida. We should know a lot about the 'Cocks by the middle of January
Baylor drops to 12-2, and has a gentle Big 12 beginning, hosting Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and traveling to Texas A&M and Kansas St. They should be able to rebound nicely before tackling the conference heavyweights.
Ten Sure-Fire Predictions for 2009: A look into the college hoops crystal ball
Everyone makes New Year's resolutions. How passe' and cliche' and a bunch of other French words the Maniac can't spell without the aide of spellchecker. Around here, we don't resolve to do anything differently in 2009. Just more of the same kickbutt comprehensive coverage and fearless predictions.
First, a HUGE "Thank you" to our loyal readers - it looks like an amazing 2009 season on the horizon. But...for those of you who can't wait for it to unfold, let me give you a glimpse into the hardwood future...
1. North Carolina will get a few stern tests this year... but the first one is not from Wake Forest on Jan 11th. It is going to be another twenty-plus'er, don't let the folks at ESPN get you all geeked for that game, unless you just want to see what could be the first truly transcendent team since Tark and LJ's 1990-91 UNLV team. UNC's tests will come from the likely suspects; The ACC tourney, at Duke on February 11th. If they enter that game undefeated and emerge the same way, don't expect them to even be tested until the season finale at home versus...Duke. Oh, by the way, that's Tyler Hansbrough's grand finale at Chapel Hill. Unless he has an anuerism during pregame chest bumping, I don' see Psycho T going out a loser on his home floor, do you?
The Maniac's Take? I really think they are going to run the table. I wanted to take the safe route, "someone will get them, it's too hard...blah blah blah..."
They truly are that good with NO discernible weakness. They are not jump shot dependent. Shots going astray? Pound it inside to their stable of bigs. The other team gets hot from the perimeter? UNC amps up the pressure, creates turnovers and gets easy buckets. They score more quickly and easily than any team that can also defend I have seen since, well, UNLV.
So, it's on the record. UNC runs the table. (I write while chomping on a rolled up towel...)
(But if they were going to slip up, aside from the obvious ACC Tourney, Final 4, etc. don't overlook a Jan 28th visit to Florida State. The Noles suck, but seem to always have the Heels number at home).
Seriously, those guys are freakin' good.
2. While other big-name conferences are crying over teams left out, the Missouri Valley sneaks three teams into the Big Dance. My picks? Creighton, Illinois St. and Evansville (though I like Drake as well...)
3. The A-10 gets just one. Dayton is a good ballclub, but I don't trust them just yet. St. Joes has been abysmal, ditto for UMass and Temple. Rhode Island has an outside shot but would need 12-13 wins in conference to get there. Xavier should be a lock, despite recent stumbles. Let's just say there are a lot of power conferences that will be rooting for the Muskies to win the A-10 tourney this year.
4. Somehow, someway, the SEC will earn 5 bids. It won't be pretty. But somehow four teams besides Tennessee are going to scrape their way into 7-12 seeds. I think Kentucky will surprise and emerge as the second best team in the SEC (Jodie Meeks is the best off-guard in the country, but I will listen to arguments for Hardin and AJ Abrams (who is 5'10''... so really not an "off" guard, yet I digress)
From there, you are left with Arkansas (I don't want to overvalue the Oklahoma game, but at, say, 9-7 in conference, that win tips the pendulum in their favor), LSU, Florida, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Alabama and Auburn are awful; I don't care what their records are. Ditto for Georgia and Mississippi St. I liked Ole Miss before Chris Warren got hurt, so they are out too.
When push comes to shove, gimme Arkansas, UF and LSU, with Vandy just missing.
Who's been better in 2008-2009 so far??
5. Davidson will get screwed on their seeding, despite posting a 16-0 SoCon record and going 27-3 overall, They still will not be a top 4 seed. Their three losses will all be Top 4 seeds; Oklahoma, Duke, and Purdue. Yet Davidson will end up a 5 or 6. We love Steph, but that Purdue beating left a residue with the committee. Write it down.
6. But we DO really love Steph. He will narrowly edge Tyler Hansbrough for National Player of the Year. From there, Blake Griffin, Ty Lawson and Jodie Meeks round out my ballot.
7. The Boeheim (or "bubble" for March Maniacs neophytes) will include two preseason Top 10 teams. Gonzaga and Louisville will sweat it out on Selection Sunday, but both do get in and immediately become the 7-10 seed NO ONE wants to see in the second round. Matter of fact, UConn prays Gonzaga doesn't fall into their bracket...
8. The Mountain West is the best conference no one in the country gives a care about. They have six teams who could make a legit run at the tourney. UNLV and BYU are locks. New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Air Force wouldn't be stunners to be included, and TCU and Wyoming don't suck. That leaves only Colorado State...who does suck. But so do Georgia, South Florida, St. Johns, Oregon State, Indiana, Iowa State... if you get my point.
That said? Only two end up dancing. The top two win too many games and the middle cannibalizes each other, similar to the A-10 last year (In February, people were talking five bids...by the time it was all said and done? Just two.)
9. The biggest "snubs" on selection Sunday? Here are my six or seven who make the most waves: Vanderbilt, Drake, Villanova, Miami (FL), Maryland, Michigan (I know...again), and the loser of VCU/George Mason. The one who takes the hose but no one cries? VMI, who gets edged out by Seth Curry and the Liberty Flames in a great game about a week before "Championship Week" starts...
10. Someone way dumber than you or me will kick your can in your tourney office pool. Knowledge is power! However, when it comes to sports, nothing is concrete or absolute. If it were, we wouldn't watch...and you wouldn't be reading. So relax and enjoy the ride. It is a game of bounces and emotion, of momentum and minute inches; the difference between winning and losing often just a few whistles, a box out, a free throw (sorry Memphis fans...)
It really is a beautiful thing...
Almost as beautiful as those pretty uniforms on the 13 seed the hot chick in the cubicle caddy-corner from you correctly pegged in the Sweet 16 sending you to certain defeat...
Enjoy the ride, and have a great New Year!
~ The Maniac.
First, a HUGE "Thank you" to our loyal readers - it looks like an amazing 2009 season on the horizon. But...for those of you who can't wait for it to unfold, let me give you a glimpse into the hardwood future...
1. North Carolina will get a few stern tests this year... but the first one is not from Wake Forest on Jan 11th. It is going to be another twenty-plus'er, don't let the folks at ESPN get you all geeked for that game, unless you just want to see what could be the first truly transcendent team since Tark and LJ's 1990-91 UNLV team. UNC's tests will come from the likely suspects; The ACC tourney, at Duke on February 11th. If they enter that game undefeated and emerge the same way, don't expect them to even be tested until the season finale at home versus...Duke. Oh, by the way, that's Tyler Hansbrough's grand finale at Chapel Hill. Unless he has an anuerism during pregame chest bumping, I don' see Psycho T going out a loser on his home floor, do you?
The Maniac's Take? I really think they are going to run the table. I wanted to take the safe route, "someone will get them, it's too hard...blah blah blah..."
They truly are that good with NO discernible weakness. They are not jump shot dependent. Shots going astray? Pound it inside to their stable of bigs. The other team gets hot from the perimeter? UNC amps up the pressure, creates turnovers and gets easy buckets. They score more quickly and easily than any team that can also defend I have seen since, well, UNLV.
So, it's on the record. UNC runs the table. (I write while chomping on a rolled up towel...)
(But if they were going to slip up, aside from the obvious ACC Tourney, Final 4, etc. don't overlook a Jan 28th visit to Florida State. The Noles suck, but seem to always have the Heels number at home).
Seriously, those guys are freakin' good.2. While other big-name conferences are crying over teams left out, the Missouri Valley sneaks three teams into the Big Dance. My picks? Creighton, Illinois St. and Evansville (though I like Drake as well...)
3. The A-10 gets just one. Dayton is a good ballclub, but I don't trust them just yet. St. Joes has been abysmal, ditto for UMass and Temple. Rhode Island has an outside shot but would need 12-13 wins in conference to get there. Xavier should be a lock, despite recent stumbles. Let's just say there are a lot of power conferences that will be rooting for the Muskies to win the A-10 tourney this year.
4. Somehow, someway, the SEC will earn 5 bids. It won't be pretty. But somehow four teams besides Tennessee are going to scrape their way into 7-12 seeds. I think Kentucky will surprise and emerge as the second best team in the SEC (Jodie Meeks is the best off-guard in the country, but I will listen to arguments for Hardin and AJ Abrams (who is 5'10''... so really not an "off" guard, yet I digress)
From there, you are left with Arkansas (I don't want to overvalue the Oklahoma game, but at, say, 9-7 in conference, that win tips the pendulum in their favor), LSU, Florida, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Alabama and Auburn are awful; I don't care what their records are. Ditto for Georgia and Mississippi St. I liked Ole Miss before Chris Warren got hurt, so they are out too.
When push comes to shove, gimme Arkansas, UF and LSU, with Vandy just missing.
Who's been better in 2008-2009 so far??5. Davidson will get screwed on their seeding, despite posting a 16-0 SoCon record and going 27-3 overall, They still will not be a top 4 seed. Their three losses will all be Top 4 seeds; Oklahoma, Duke, and Purdue. Yet Davidson will end up a 5 or 6. We love Steph, but that Purdue beating left a residue with the committee. Write it down.
6. But we DO really love Steph. He will narrowly edge Tyler Hansbrough for National Player of the Year. From there, Blake Griffin, Ty Lawson and Jodie Meeks round out my ballot.
7. The Boeheim (or "bubble" for March Maniacs neophytes) will include two preseason Top 10 teams. Gonzaga and Louisville will sweat it out on Selection Sunday, but both do get in and immediately become the 7-10 seed NO ONE wants to see in the second round. Matter of fact, UConn prays Gonzaga doesn't fall into their bracket...
8. The Mountain West is the best conference no one in the country gives a care about. They have six teams who could make a legit run at the tourney. UNLV and BYU are locks. New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Air Force wouldn't be stunners to be included, and TCU and Wyoming don't suck. That leaves only Colorado State...who does suck. But so do Georgia, South Florida, St. Johns, Oregon State, Indiana, Iowa State... if you get my point.
That said? Only two end up dancing. The top two win too many games and the middle cannibalizes each other, similar to the A-10 last year (In February, people were talking five bids...by the time it was all said and done? Just two.)
9. The biggest "snubs" on selection Sunday? Here are my six or seven who make the most waves: Vanderbilt, Drake, Villanova, Miami (FL), Maryland, Michigan (I know...again), and the loser of VCU/George Mason. The one who takes the hose but no one cries? VMI, who gets edged out by Seth Curry and the Liberty Flames in a great game about a week before "Championship Week" starts...
10. Someone way dumber than you or me will kick your can in your tourney office pool. Knowledge is power! However, when it comes to sports, nothing is concrete or absolute. If it were, we wouldn't watch...and you wouldn't be reading. So relax and enjoy the ride. It is a game of bounces and emotion, of momentum and minute inches; the difference between winning and losing often just a few whistles, a box out, a free throw (sorry Memphis fans...)
It really is a beautiful thing...
Almost as beautiful as those pretty uniforms on the 13 seed the hot chick in the cubicle caddy-corner from you correctly pegged in the Sweet 16 sending you to certain defeat...
Enjoy the ride, and have a great New Year!
~ The Maniac.
Recognize the Redbirds!
13-0.
A new record for victories at the start of the season for Illinois State. More importantly, their 30 point win over Evansville last night served notice their is a new force to be reckoned with in the MVC.
The past three years have seen a burgeoning popularity and acclaim for the conference, comprised of smaller, midwestern schools that don't field D1 football teams (or FBS, or FCS or DUH, whatever acronym they are using now). Creighton has become pretty recognizable with their recent half decade of success. Drake became national darlings for a few weeks last year, and could have been longer had it not been for a Western Kentucky tourney buzzer beater. Wichita St. made it acceptable for fans to talk about "the Shockers" without evoking bad images of Dane Cook during their 2006 tourney run. Heck, we even know Indiana State thanks to Larry Legend.
But Illinois State?? Never heard of them.
Well, get to know the Redbirds, because they could be the next MVC team to wreck havoc come March.
In some ways, they are your typical MVC upstart; they have balanced scoring, four players hoisting more than four 3-pt attemps a night, a total of 22 per game as a team...and no one is on NBA scouts current radar. No one in their rotation stands taller than 6'8'', their three guards are under 6'3''.
Now let me give you some facts to remember come March. They are shooting nearly 40% as a team from distance, and aren't adraid to chuck it up. Who springs upsets? Teams that get hot from the perimeter. Who else? Teams that are smart, patient with veteran, poised guards. The Redbirds start 3 seinors and two juniors. Their three leading scorers are all guards, so no true point of attack to deny with ball pressure. No one to focus on when you have to have a big stop.
In short, a solid, well-rounded ballclub with the kind of grit that makes MVC teams a tough out in March. 13-0 and counting. Next up? A terrific ballgame with Creighton Saturday night.
A new record for victories at the start of the season for Illinois State. More importantly, their 30 point win over Evansville last night served notice their is a new force to be reckoned with in the MVC.
The past three years have seen a burgeoning popularity and acclaim for the conference, comprised of smaller, midwestern schools that don't field D1 football teams (or FBS, or FCS or DUH, whatever acronym they are using now). Creighton has become pretty recognizable with their recent half decade of success. Drake became national darlings for a few weeks last year, and could have been longer had it not been for a Western Kentucky tourney buzzer beater. Wichita St. made it acceptable for fans to talk about "the Shockers" without evoking bad images of Dane Cook during their 2006 tourney run. Heck, we even know Indiana State thanks to Larry Legend.But Illinois State?? Never heard of them.
Well, get to know the Redbirds, because they could be the next MVC team to wreck havoc come March.
In some ways, they are your typical MVC upstart; they have balanced scoring, four players hoisting more than four 3-pt attemps a night, a total of 22 per game as a team...and no one is on NBA scouts current radar. No one in their rotation stands taller than 6'8'', their three guards are under 6'3''.
Now let me give you some facts to remember come March. They are shooting nearly 40% as a team from distance, and aren't adraid to chuck it up. Who springs upsets? Teams that get hot from the perimeter. Who else? Teams that are smart, patient with veteran, poised guards. The Redbirds start 3 seinors and two juniors. Their three leading scorers are all guards, so no true point of attack to deny with ball pressure. No one to focus on when you have to have a big stop.
In short, a solid, well-rounded ballclub with the kind of grit that makes MVC teams a tough out in March. 13-0 and counting. Next up? A terrific ballgame with Creighton Saturday night.
On the Mark - Marquette Captures Win in Opener Over Villanova
Dominic James returned for his seventeenth season. Just kidding, but doesn't it seem like he has been in college for a heckuva long time? The senior flirted with the NBA after his freshman and sophomore seasons, but seems to have settled into his role as a very good collegiate point guard happily in 2009. Teaming up with backcourt mate Jerel McNeil, the Warriors have one of the top backcourts in the nation.
They hope it is enough to make up for some of their other deficiencies. On the first day of the new year, it was. McNeil had 24, guard Wesley Mathews had 19 and James added 17 to pace the Warriors. Small Forward Lazar Haywood also added 15 to give the Wildcats a taste of their 2005-06 4-guard attack offense. Scottie Reynolds threw in 18 for the 'Cats on 6 of 15 shooting.
I am looking forward to seeing whose style asserts itself when Marquette takes on Notre Dame and Georgetown at the end of the month.
Looking forward:
Villanova next faces a tricky road game at Seton Hall, home games with Louisville and St. Johns, and trips to UConn and South Florida.
Marquette needs to ride this win and turn it into some positive momentum. Their next five games are: Cincinnati, @Rutgers, West Virginia, @Providence, DePaul. It is imperative the Warriors win at least 4 of 5 to ride out what will likely be some rough spots later in the Big East schedule.
They hope it is enough to make up for some of their other deficiencies. On the first day of the new year, it was. McNeil had 24, guard Wesley Mathews had 19 and James added 17 to pace the Warriors. Small Forward Lazar Haywood also added 15 to give the Wildcats a taste of their 2005-06 4-guard attack offense. Scottie Reynolds threw in 18 for the 'Cats on 6 of 15 shooting.
I am looking forward to seeing whose style asserts itself when Marquette takes on Notre Dame and Georgetown at the end of the month.
Looking forward:
Villanova next faces a tricky road game at Seton Hall, home games with Louisville and St. Johns, and trips to UConn and South Florida.
Marquette needs to ride this win and turn it into some positive momentum. Their next five games are: Cincinnati, @Rutgers, West Virginia, @Providence, DePaul. It is imperative the Warriors win at least 4 of 5 to ride out what will likely be some rough spots later in the Big East schedule.
Best Foot Forward - Impessive Conference Debuts
The new year marks the advent of conference play, and here is where some of the separation between the contenders and pretenders begins. Several teams served notice the are here to play in 2009.
Impressive Debuts:
Illinois - A win on the road at preseason conference favorite Purdue is a nice way to open Big 10 play. The Illini are two points away (@Clemson) from being undefeated. It looks like Bruce Webber has his team poised to return to the tourney.
Georgetown - With the stumbles of Louisville and Notre Dame and the win at UConn, it is hard to say Georgetown isn't the top team in the nation's best conference at this point.
Illinois St. - They entered last night's game undefeated, yet most still pegged Creighton, Drake or Evansville as the team to beat in the MVC. The Redbirds 80-50 thumping of Evansville just added a fourth name to the discussion.
Arkansas - Yes, they had to hold on for dear life, but the Hogs took it too Oklahoma and Blake Griffin Tuesday night. As much as I have ripped the SEC, it is not unreasonable to think that both they and LSU could make five teams dancing for the conference come March.
Dissapointments:
Lousiville - Another tough loss, this one at home to UNLV. The loss accentuated one of the Cards fatal flaws; with 12 seconds to go, they have no clue who is supposed to have the ball. Their lack of a point guard and offensive creativity could make for a very underwhelming year in the Commenwealth.
Gonzaga - The UConn loss was probably the best game played this season in college basketball. The Arizona loss was not great, but excusable. The Portland State loss was a classic "hangover game." So, please give me some ratioanle for last night's Utah loss? If they weren't "Gonzaga", at 8-4 in a mid-major league, would you think this team is a lock to dance? Most certainly not.
The Zags have left themselves some surprising work to do in conference play. With Portland, San Diego and St. Mary's, it may not be as automatic as most people think.
Minnesota - Don't get me wrong, the Gophers and Tubby Smith have a lot to be happy about. However, a home drubbing in the conference opener by the Spartans indicate things haven't changed quite as much as Minnesota might have hoped.
St. Joe's - The Hawks entered the season with aspirations of returning to the tourney. After consecutive losses to Siena and Drexel dropped them to 5-7, NIT aspirations seem lofty.
Impressive Debuts:
Illinois - A win on the road at preseason conference favorite Purdue is a nice way to open Big 10 play. The Illini are two points away (@Clemson) from being undefeated. It looks like Bruce Webber has his team poised to return to the tourney.
Georgetown - With the stumbles of Louisville and Notre Dame and the win at UConn, it is hard to say Georgetown isn't the top team in the nation's best conference at this point.
Illinois St. - They entered last night's game undefeated, yet most still pegged Creighton, Drake or Evansville as the team to beat in the MVC. The Redbirds 80-50 thumping of Evansville just added a fourth name to the discussion.
Arkansas - Yes, they had to hold on for dear life, but the Hogs took it too Oklahoma and Blake Griffin Tuesday night. As much as I have ripped the SEC, it is not unreasonable to think that both they and LSU could make five teams dancing for the conference come March.
Dissapointments:
Lousiville - Another tough loss, this one at home to UNLV. The loss accentuated one of the Cards fatal flaws; with 12 seconds to go, they have no clue who is supposed to have the ball. Their lack of a point guard and offensive creativity could make for a very underwhelming year in the Commenwealth.
Gonzaga - The UConn loss was probably the best game played this season in college basketball. The Arizona loss was not great, but excusable. The Portland State loss was a classic "hangover game." So, please give me some ratioanle for last night's Utah loss? If they weren't "Gonzaga", at 8-4 in a mid-major league, would you think this team is a lock to dance? Most certainly not.
The Zags have left themselves some surprising work to do in conference play. With Portland, San Diego and St. Mary's, it may not be as automatic as most people think.
Minnesota - Don't get me wrong, the Gophers and Tubby Smith have a lot to be happy about. However, a home drubbing in the conference opener by the Spartans indicate things haven't changed quite as much as Minnesota might have hoped.
St. Joe's - The Hawks entered the season with aspirations of returning to the tourney. After consecutive losses to Siena and Drexel dropped them to 5-7, NIT aspirations seem lofty.
Hog Heaven - Arkansas Knocks Off the Previously Unbeaten Sooners
Oklahoma found valiantly, rallying back from a 25 point deficit with 11 minutes remaining to cut the lead to just 4 with three minutes to play. Oklahoma battled tough, and fought through foul trouble to most of their key players, including All-American Blake Griffin, but in the end Arkansas was just a little too tough at home.
The win moved Arkansas to 10-1 and should get them some consideration in next week's polls. It is also a huge win for a conference in desperate need of a non-conference win to hang their hat on. Thanks to the Hogs, they now have one.
Big-Time Resume Win Over the Sooners
The win moved Arkansas to 10-1 and should get them some consideration in next week's polls. It is also a huge win for a conference in desperate need of a non-conference win to hang their hat on. Thanks to the Hogs, they now have one.
Big-Time Resume Win Over the SoonersTuesday Round Up - Best Games Across the Nation 12/30
There were some great statement wins last night. Georgetown announced its presence with authority in the Big East. Memphis defended their home court against the Bearcats, with tenacity and captured a much needed resume win before C-USA play, and Davidson went to Charleston and beat their stiffest conference foe - putting the SoCon on notice that they could once again run the table.
Tonight, several other teams get a chance to make some noise.
GAME OF THE NIGHT:
7 PM - Illinois @ Purdue
The Illini have been one of the season's pleasant surprises with their 11-1 start. Tonight they get a chance to validate it with an impressive showing at Purdue. The Boilers were ambushed in Mackey by Duke, but are a tough squad to beat in their building. I like the poise and defense of the Boilers tonight.
This place will be rockin' tonight
7 PM UAB @ Butler
UAB got off to a promising start, beating Arizona on the road in the Preseason NIT. Since then, they have backslid a little, losing games to Oklahoma (understandable) and Louisville by 20. Add in loses to BC and Cincinnati, and this is a game they can ill-afford to lose if they have any hope of earning at at-large bid (assuming Memphis wins the C-USA tourney for the umpteenth straight time).
Butler comes in with a lone 3-point loss, at Ohio State, and fresh off a win over Xavier at the Cintas Center. This would be one more feather in the Bulldog's cap come seeding time.
7 PM George Mason @ Dayton
George Mason is the interesting case of a small school exploding so prominently onto the national stage that they begin to become a bit overrated. This is not to say they are not a good team, but just that Dayton is still the prohibitive favorite. This is a huge opportunity for both school, particularly the Patriots, to grab a huge non-conference resume win.
They are good on '08... not THAT good though.
7 PM Clemson @ South Carolina
An in-state skirmish between tow decent ball clubs. Clemson is off to a fantastic start (stop me if you have heard that one before), but better not over look Devan Downey and the Gamecocks. The win over Illinois is a good one. The subsequent win over Miami (FL) was impressive as well. Capture this one tonight, and the Tigers are well positioned for March entering ACC play.
8:05 PM Oklahoma @ Arkansas
Oklahoma has been the most consistent team in the nation (Carolina excluded), and will get a quality test tonight in Fayetteville. Gone are the days of "40 minutes of hell" but the Hogs still get after it on defense. Still, Willie Warren and Blake Griffin might be too much for them to handle.
MANIAC'S PICKS:
UAB +6.5, Oklahoma +6 (LOCK), Dayton -8, Clemson - 2.5, Purdue -6.5
Tonight, several other teams get a chance to make some noise.
GAME OF THE NIGHT:
7 PM - Illinois @ Purdue
The Illini have been one of the season's pleasant surprises with their 11-1 start. Tonight they get a chance to validate it with an impressive showing at Purdue. The Boilers were ambushed in Mackey by Duke, but are a tough squad to beat in their building. I like the poise and defense of the Boilers tonight.
This place will be rockin' tonight7 PM UAB @ Butler
UAB got off to a promising start, beating Arizona on the road in the Preseason NIT. Since then, they have backslid a little, losing games to Oklahoma (understandable) and Louisville by 20. Add in loses to BC and Cincinnati, and this is a game they can ill-afford to lose if they have any hope of earning at at-large bid (assuming Memphis wins the C-USA tourney for the umpteenth straight time).
Butler comes in with a lone 3-point loss, at Ohio State, and fresh off a win over Xavier at the Cintas Center. This would be one more feather in the Bulldog's cap come seeding time.
7 PM George Mason @ Dayton
George Mason is the interesting case of a small school exploding so prominently onto the national stage that they begin to become a bit overrated. This is not to say they are not a good team, but just that Dayton is still the prohibitive favorite. This is a huge opportunity for both school, particularly the Patriots, to grab a huge non-conference resume win.
They are good on '08... not THAT good though.7 PM Clemson @ South Carolina
An in-state skirmish between tow decent ball clubs. Clemson is off to a fantastic start (stop me if you have heard that one before), but better not over look Devan Downey and the Gamecocks. The win over Illinois is a good one. The subsequent win over Miami (FL) was impressive as well. Capture this one tonight, and the Tigers are well positioned for March entering ACC play.
8:05 PM Oklahoma @ Arkansas
Oklahoma has been the most consistent team in the nation (Carolina excluded), and will get a quality test tonight in Fayetteville. Gone are the days of "40 minutes of hell" but the Hogs still get after it on defense. Still, Willie Warren and Blake Griffin might be too much for them to handle.
MANIAC'S PICKS:
UAB +6.5, Oklahoma +6 (LOCK), Dayton -8, Clemson - 2.5, Purdue -6.5
One Down, Two to Go - Hoyas Rout Huskies in Storrs
There was some question as to whether the game would be close. One team entered a poised, savvy, veteran group starting three seniors and two juniors. The other brought an inexperienced, but talented club, facing their first collective conference game.
You never would have known who was who by watching.
Georgetown taught the rest of the Big East a nice lesson in how to beat UConn.
1. Zone them and make them shoot. UConn looked lost against Georgetown's tough 2-3 zone most of the night, failing to move the ball crisply and create open looks. Rarely was anyone flashing the high post to create spacing, and nary a skip pass was thrown all night. I'd love to see what a team like Duke would do against Georgetown. It would be a beautful matchup. By the way, you think Boeheim was salivating watching UConn struggle against their zone??
2. Scrap. Claw. Fight. UConn doesn't seem to like to do those things as much as Georgetown did. Perhaps Georgetown, despite their youth, entered a little tougher from a tussle with Memphis in DC. This laisse-fair attitude might get it done some nights, but bring that attitude against some lesser-known brawlers like Cincinnati or West Virginia, and you have an upset in the making.
First conference game? You'd have never known it as Monroe thoroughly out played the UConn All-American Hasheem Thabeeet.
3. Go Right AT Thabeet. Yes, he blocked some shots tonight, but I continue to be largely unimpressed with the 7'3'' junior. He is a non-factor on offense, and the Hoyas were not intimidated by him defensively. The best way to attack a shot blocker is to go right at him. Georgetown did all night.
4. Move on Offense. The Hoyas disciplined back-cutting and motion baffled the Huskies all night and got them layups and good shooting angles. You are not going to clear out and go one on one and beat them. That allows them to funnel traffic to their 7'3'' fly swatter. You have to move the ball, backcut and create lanes. Georgetown did this well.
5. Don't be Afraid to Push Tempo. Second best way to thwart a shot blocker? Beat him down the court. Georgetown was able to create easy shot opportunities and free throw attempts by pushing the ball when they had numbers. If they didn't, right back out into the motion "Princeton" style offense to get a good shot.
The road doesn't get any easier for Georgetown (Pitt and ND are up next), but a win AT Connecticut is a heck of a way to start the conference season!
You never would have known who was who by watching.
Georgetown taught the rest of the Big East a nice lesson in how to beat UConn.
1. Zone them and make them shoot. UConn looked lost against Georgetown's tough 2-3 zone most of the night, failing to move the ball crisply and create open looks. Rarely was anyone flashing the high post to create spacing, and nary a skip pass was thrown all night. I'd love to see what a team like Duke would do against Georgetown. It would be a beautful matchup. By the way, you think Boeheim was salivating watching UConn struggle against their zone??
2. Scrap. Claw. Fight. UConn doesn't seem to like to do those things as much as Georgetown did. Perhaps Georgetown, despite their youth, entered a little tougher from a tussle with Memphis in DC. This laisse-fair attitude might get it done some nights, but bring that attitude against some lesser-known brawlers like Cincinnati or West Virginia, and you have an upset in the making.
First conference game? You'd have never known it as Monroe thoroughly out played the UConn All-American Hasheem Thabeeet.4. Move on Offense. The Hoyas disciplined back-cutting and motion baffled the Huskies all night and got them layups and good shooting angles. You are not going to clear out and go one on one and beat them. That allows them to funnel traffic to their 7'3'' fly swatter. You have to move the ball, backcut and create lanes. Georgetown did this well.
5. Don't be Afraid to Push Tempo. Second best way to thwart a shot blocker? Beat him down the court. Georgetown was able to create easy shot opportunities and free throw attempts by pushing the ball when they had numbers. If they didn't, right back out into the motion "Princeton" style offense to get a good shot.
The road doesn't get any easier for Georgetown (Pitt and ND are up next), but a win AT Connecticut is a heck of a way to start the conference season!
Technical Foul - Stanford Obliterates Texas Tech
The Stanford Cardinal ran their record to 9-0 under first-year coach Johnny Dawkins (1986 National POY, by the way) with a 111-66 win over Texas Tech. The Red Raiders seemed an outside tourney contender going into the season, but are looking more like a team that will struggle to find .500. Perhaps Bob Knight knew what he was doing when he fled to the comfort of ESPN's booth in the middle of last season!
Stanford gets their first high-profile game of the year Friday when they take on high-flying James Harden and the Arizona State Sun Devils in Palo Alto.
Stanford gets their first high-profile game of the year Friday when they take on high-flying James Harden and the Arizona State Sun Devils in Palo Alto.
Monday Hoops Guide
Most people love the Christmas break, but it is pure agony for us hardcore college hoops fans. Thankfully things get heated up again tonight with a bevy of good (and two great) games.
MONDAY GUIDE:
6PM Murray St. @ Niagara - Not exactly a game to TiVo, but it does provide an interesting look at two teams who could be auditioning for the Cinderella role in a few months.
7PM Georgetown @ UConn - It doesn't get much better than this; two premier programs square off in a nice conference opening measuring stick game. How will freshman Greg Monroe handle Hasheem Thabeet inside? The answer to that will go a long way to determining if Georgetown can keep this a contest.
7PM Temple @ Villanova - Temple seems to go 17-12 or worse every year, but still lurks as a giant killer prone to springing a few upsets annualy. Throw in the Big 5 Palestra magic, and you have an interesting test for Jay Wright's Wildcats heading into conference play.
8PM Portland St. @ Baylor - The Vikings have slain one Goliath this year in Gonzaga. They get another chance tonight at Baylor. I think Scott Drew will mention something about that Zag game sometime before tipoff, don't you?
9PM Davidson @ Charleston - I really love this game, one of the hidden gems of the season. Read more here.
9PM Cincinnati @ Memphis - A rivaly harkening back to days of the old Metro conference. Cincinnati can ill-aford many losses before tackling the Big East guantlet if they harbor any aspirations of returning to the big dance. Memphis has used a strong non-conference resume to boost up their mediocre C-USA schedule for the past few years. So far this year, all they have to boast are losses to Gerogetown, Syracuse and Xavier. The Tigers really need a win to stay in the mix for a Top 4 seed in March.
Maniacs Monday Picks:
UConn -7
Temple +8.5
Cincinnati + 13 (LOCK!)
Buffalo +1.5 (Colorado)
Baylor -12
.
MONDAY GUIDE:
6PM Murray St. @ Niagara - Not exactly a game to TiVo, but it does provide an interesting look at two teams who could be auditioning for the Cinderella role in a few months.7PM Georgetown @ UConn - It doesn't get much better than this; two premier programs square off in a nice conference opening measuring stick game. How will freshman Greg Monroe handle Hasheem Thabeet inside? The answer to that will go a long way to determining if Georgetown can keep this a contest.
7PM Temple @ Villanova - Temple seems to go 17-12 or worse every year, but still lurks as a giant killer prone to springing a few upsets annualy. Throw in the Big 5 Palestra magic, and you have an interesting test for Jay Wright's Wildcats heading into conference play.
8PM Portland St. @ Baylor - The Vikings have slain one Goliath this year in Gonzaga. They get another chance tonight at Baylor. I think Scott Drew will mention something about that Zag game sometime before tipoff, don't you?
9PM Davidson @ Charleston - I really love this game, one of the hidden gems of the season. Read more here.
9PM Cincinnati @ Memphis - A rivaly harkening back to days of the old Metro conference. Cincinnati can ill-aford many losses before tackling the Big East guantlet if they harbor any aspirations of returning to the big dance. Memphis has used a strong non-conference resume to boost up their mediocre C-USA schedule for the past few years. So far this year, all they have to boast are losses to Gerogetown, Syracuse and Xavier. The Tigers really need a win to stay in the mix for a Top 4 seed in March.
Maniacs Monday Picks:
UConn -7
Temple +8.5
Cincinnati + 13 (LOCK!)
Buffalo +1.5 (Colorado)
Baylor -12
.
Small Town Big Time: Davidson Visits Charleston in SoCon Shootout
While most of the hoops nation will be fastidiously devouring UConn v. Georgetown tonight, there is another HUGE conference matchup that slips under the radar. Davidson and the Steph Curry road show travel to 10-1 conference foe Charleston in a game that has huge NCAA Tourney implications.
Think I am exaggerating? Consider this: What does the committee do with Davidson should they go, say 14-2 in conference and lose the automatic bid to Charleston? Do you think there is any way the Wildcats are NOT invited? With the schedule and the wins they have piled up, plus the holdover credit from last March's captivating run (I know, it is this season that counts, but the committee is human - and Davidson is a household name now) Davidson is a lock barring a complete meltdown.
If they slip to an invite rather than automatic bid, somewhere in SEC, Big12, Big 10, ACC country, someone is going to the NIT.
Charleston on the other hand is a different story. Other than their sacrificial lamb visit to Chapel Hill on Jan 7th, Davidson home and home are their only two chances to legitimize what could be a gaudy record come March. They enter the age 10-1, with wins over South Carolina and TCU, their lone loss a 5-point defeat at Temple. A reasonable, but not bid-inviting schedule. It is not outrageous to project them at 25-5, or even as high as 27-3 at the end of the season. However without a win over Davidson, it STILL might not be enough to punch their dance ticket. The Cougars are a balanced club, with Andrew Goudelack leading the scoring at 17.4 ppg along with four others averaging double figures. This is a stark contrast to the one-headed monster that is Davidson. The Cougars don't have the length and depth that Purdue used to stifle the 'Cats, but they are a very good ball club.
Suffice it to say the Cougars will be ready for Steph and company tonight at Colombia First Arena.
Maniac's Pick: Charleston (+5)
.
Think I am exaggerating? Consider this: What does the committee do with Davidson should they go, say 14-2 in conference and lose the automatic bid to Charleston? Do you think there is any way the Wildcats are NOT invited? With the schedule and the wins they have piled up, plus the holdover credit from last March's captivating run (I know, it is this season that counts, but the committee is human - and Davidson is a household name now) Davidson is a lock barring a complete meltdown.If they slip to an invite rather than automatic bid, somewhere in SEC, Big12, Big 10, ACC country, someone is going to the NIT.
Charleston on the other hand is a different story. Other than their sacrificial lamb visit to Chapel Hill on Jan 7th, Davidson home and home are their only two chances to legitimize what could be a gaudy record come March. They enter the age 10-1, with wins over South Carolina and TCU, their lone loss a 5-point defeat at Temple. A reasonable, but not bid-inviting schedule. It is not outrageous to project them at 25-5, or even as high as 27-3 at the end of the season. However without a win over Davidson, it STILL might not be enough to punch their dance ticket. The Cougars are a balanced club, with Andrew Goudelack leading the scoring at 17.4 ppg along with four others averaging double figures. This is a stark contrast to the one-headed monster that is Davidson. The Cougars don't have the length and depth that Purdue used to stifle the 'Cats, but they are a very good ball club.
Suffice it to say the Cougars will be ready for Steph and company tonight at Colombia First Arena.
Maniac's Pick: Charleston (+5)
.
Bracketeering Dec 29th - Ranking College Basketball's Elite Teams
It was an extremely interesting and volatile, albeit light, final week of 2008 (and the conclusion of most non-conference games). Several Big East teams righted their seemingly sinking ships (Louisville, West Virginia) while a big blow was struck against mid-majors everywhere when Gonzaga and Xavier let tough big name losses spiral into subsequent not-so-big name losses.
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!
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!
Share on Facebook 
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
Best Games - Under the Radar Sunday
There are a couple really intriguing games that most people will miss today.
First, how about Drake traveling to Evansville in an early-season MVC battle. The purple Aces are the newest members to the Valley, while Drake was a shocking champion in 2008. Both teams are solid conference champion contenders. Today's game goes a long way to determining it, even though it is only December.
Next, Western Kentucky travels to Florida St. This is the kind of ballgame Florida State can NOT lose if it harbors any notions of breaking their NIT streak. They are off to a solid start at 11-2, with wins over Cincinnati and Florida, with quality losses to Pitt and one disappointment Northwestern. Western Kentucky has been a bit of an enigma, slaughtering Louisville on the road, and turning around and losing to Murray State and Evansville by 28 and 32 respectivly.
And finally Texas Tech travels to Stanford. The Cardinal boasts an 8-0 record, but has been largely untested. Texas Tech has put up 173 points in a single game...but has also lost to Lamar and UTEP in back to back games. The Red Raiders need a big win before heading into the Big 12 schedule.
Maniacs Picks: Evansville -2, FSU - 5.5, Stanford -9
First, how about Drake traveling to Evansville in an early-season MVC battle. The purple Aces are the newest members to the Valley, while Drake was a shocking champion in 2008. Both teams are solid conference champion contenders. Today's game goes a long way to determining it, even though it is only December.
Next, Western Kentucky travels to Florida St. This is the kind of ballgame Florida State can NOT lose if it harbors any notions of breaking their NIT streak. They are off to a solid start at 11-2, with wins over Cincinnati and Florida, with quality losses to Pitt and one disappointment Northwestern. Western Kentucky has been a bit of an enigma, slaughtering Louisville on the road, and turning around and losing to Murray State and Evansville by 28 and 32 respectivly.
And finally Texas Tech travels to Stanford. The Cardinal boasts an 8-0 record, but has been largely untested. Texas Tech has put up 173 points in a single game...but has also lost to Lamar and UTEP in back to back games. The Red Raiders need a big win before heading into the Big 12 schedule.
Maniacs Picks: Evansville -2, FSU - 5.5, Stanford -9
Buckeyes Routed by Mountaineers
Ohio St. came into the game boating the nation's longest win streak at 14 games.They left a humbled bunch.
West Virginia used a second half explosion and displayed Coach Huggins' legendary toughness to bully the Buckeyes all over the court. At MarchManiacs.com we talk a lot about "measuring stick" games. These are when similarly ranked teams from power confernces square off. It tells you a lot about the conference's relative strength.
The 76-48 drubbing of Ohio St speaks very well for a Big East conference that was surprisingly equalled in the early going by the Big 10. It is tougher to argue the Big East isn't the best conference in the nation after this contest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)