Most people saw Duke's dominant win over UConn, however there were a handful of lesser-seen big wins on a Thanksgiving-hangover Friday.
1. Florida - What a huge statement win over the #2 (in AP, we had them way lower...) Michigan State Spartans. It's wins like that they were lacking and what landed Billy D in the NIT the past few seasons.
2. Portland - They hammered UCLA, then handled a tough, well-coached Minnesota squad. Those are two great nuetral court wins for this up and coming WCC contender. A roadtrip to Washington later this month gives them a chance to break into the mid-teens in the polls.
3. Staying in the WCC, an under the radar nice win for San Diego against an improved Houston team. Add that to their win over Oklahoma and the Torreros (and the WCC) are building quite a profile.
4. St. Johns - The Johnnies got a nice win over quality mid-major darling Siena. The Red Storm are improved this year, but in the brutal Big East anything much better than 8-10, maybe 9-9 is asking a bit much. Wins like yesterday will help get them in the bubble discussion, if not over the hump.
5. Marquette - Similar to St. John's in that every non-conference feather in your cap is huge before the BEast guantlet, however after watching them handled X and Michigan it feels more like they'll be jostling for a seed rather than a dance card.
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UConn Deficiencies Exposed
UConn's glaring weakness was front and center last night at MSG and you can bet other Big East teams took notice. Defensively it is business as usual for the Huskies. They smother you with quick guards and block shots away with ease. They can score lightning quick in transition and switch sides of the court as quick as anyone.
The problem lies in when they don't turn the other team over.
Introducing John Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils. Despite the lack of a "true" point guard, Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler handled the Husky pressure with a steady calm and forced UConn to defend them in the half court... Which they did well, bottling up Singler and forcing Duke into a FG% in the mid thirties.
The problem arose when they had to find a way to score themselves. Therein lies the flaw that prevents connecticut from being a serious Final Four threat. Gone is Jeff Adrian and AJ Price. They have no Ray Allen. No Rip Hamilton. No Ben Gordon. They have no one who is a dangerous threat to score from the perimeter and create shots. The eligibility of Mater Ajok in three weeks will give them even more formidibity inside; but the outside remains thin.
That leaves the Huskies on the outside looking in the April in Indianapolis.
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The problem lies in when they don't turn the other team over.
Introducing John Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils. Despite the lack of a "true" point guard, Scheyer, Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler handled the Husky pressure with a steady calm and forced UConn to defend them in the half court... Which they did well, bottling up Singler and forcing Duke into a FG% in the mid thirties.
The problem arose when they had to find a way to score themselves. Therein lies the flaw that prevents connecticut from being a serious Final Four threat. Gone is Jeff Adrian and AJ Price. They have no Ray Allen. No Rip Hamilton. No Ben Gordon. They have no one who is a dangerous threat to score from the perimeter and create shots. The eligibility of Mater Ajok in three weeks will give them even more formidibity inside; but the outside remains thin.
That leaves the Huskies on the outside looking in the April in Indianapolis.
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Port of Call
Gonzaga may not be alone in the WCC. As great as the Zags looked in Maui and against Michigan State, there are several other clubs who can play out West.
Portland looked incredible handing UCLA their worst defeat in six years. You could chock that one up to UCLA being quite possibly awful. Like might miss the NIT bad. Tonight the Pilots stayed on course and held off a good Minnesota squad they led from early on. The Pilots have size, solid ball handling and deadly long range shooters. They are build a lot like the classic gonzaga clubs they will be chasing this season. (including a Raivio at point)
On Monday expect the WCC to have as many top 25 teams as the Pac10. And it isn't an abberation. The WCC is in lock step with the A10 for seventh best conference in the country (and the PAC 10 can hear their footsteps)
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Portland looked incredible handing UCLA their worst defeat in six years. You could chock that one up to UCLA being quite possibly awful. Like might miss the NIT bad. Tonight the Pilots stayed on course and held off a good Minnesota squad they led from early on. The Pilots have size, solid ball handling and deadly long range shooters. They are build a lot like the classic gonzaga clubs they will be chasing this season. (including a Raivio at point)
On Monday expect the WCC to have as many top 25 teams as the Pac10. And it isn't an abberation. The WCC is in lock step with the A10 for seventh best conference in the country (and the PAC 10 can hear their footsteps)
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Two worth TiVo'ing
Someone really needs to invent an action-verb form of a modern equivalent of the expression "taping it."
In the meantime the Maniac has two games on the DVR queue tonight.
First, a fantastic early season match up of perennial powers takes place at 5pm in the Garden when UConn meets Duke. It will be their first nuetral court meeting since "Chris Duhon's shot heard round the gambling world" in the 2004 Final Four. For those who don't recall this seminal moment in gambling history, Duhon banked in a buzzer beating three from center court to make Duke a one, as opposed to four, point loser. The line was 2.5. Tens of millions of dollars (literally) changed hands.
Tonight's game should be everybit as exciting. What style prevails? Duke's fundamental offense and precision shooting or UConn's in-your-face athleticism and relentless D?
Vegas has the Devils laying 3.5. The Maniac will take UConn straight up, but finds the added cushion impossible to ignore.
We get an interesting test of the #2 Spartans when they take on Billy Donovan's Baby Gators redux tonight at 8pm.
The SEC could use a marquee win to offset another year of early season slip ups. Even a close contest bodes well for the Gators. They dismantled an FSU squad considered an NCAA tourney team last week. There is no doubt the Spartans are a tourney team It will be a great gauge of how far back UF really is.
Worst case scenario - Tim Tebow (and Jesus) dismantle Bobby Bowden tomorrow and all is forgiven Dag' gum it...
Maniac's Pick: Mich St -4
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In the meantime the Maniac has two games on the DVR queue tonight.
First, a fantastic early season match up of perennial powers takes place at 5pm in the Garden when UConn meets Duke. It will be their first nuetral court meeting since "Chris Duhon's shot heard round the gambling world" in the 2004 Final Four. For those who don't recall this seminal moment in gambling history, Duhon banked in a buzzer beating three from center court to make Duke a one, as opposed to four, point loser. The line was 2.5. Tens of millions of dollars (literally) changed hands.
Tonight's game should be everybit as exciting. What style prevails? Duke's fundamental offense and precision shooting or UConn's in-your-face athleticism and relentless D?
Vegas has the Devils laying 3.5. The Maniac will take UConn straight up, but finds the added cushion impossible to ignore.
We get an interesting test of the #2 Spartans when they take on Billy Donovan's Baby Gators redux tonight at 8pm.
The SEC could use a marquee win to offset another year of early season slip ups. Even a close contest bodes well for the Gators. They dismantled an FSU squad considered an NCAA tourney team last week. There is no doubt the Spartans are a tourney team It will be a great gauge of how far back UF really is.
Worst case scenario - Tim Tebow (and Jesus) dismantle Bobby Bowden tomorrow and all is forgiven Dag' gum it...
Maniac's Pick: Mich St -4
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Off the Marq
The Maniac's firt thing to be thankful for? That he wasn't actually IN Vegas this holiday weekend. If you are scoring at home, yesterday's 0-fer brings the season record to a respectable, yet dissappointing 13-10-1.
While I may have been off the mark, the Marquette Warriors certainly were not. Yesterday they closed out Xavier down the stretch and today they handled Michigan and Manny Harris easily from opening to closing buzzer. Marquette is athletic and quick and a little bigger than they were last year. Their outstanding trio of guards are gone, but this team appears to be built a little more tourney ready than lay years highly touted squad.
With the early play of them, Cincinnati, Villanova and Syracuse it is becoming harder and harder to argue the Big East is not again the nation's premier conference.
While I may have been off the mark, the Marquette Warriors certainly were not. Yesterday they closed out Xavier down the stretch and today they handled Michigan and Manny Harris easily from opening to closing buzzer. Marquette is athletic and quick and a little bigger than they were last year. Their outstanding trio of guards are gone, but this team appears to be built a little more tourney ready than lay years highly touted squad.
With the early play of them, Cincinnati, Villanova and Syracuse it is becoming harder and harder to argue the Big East is not again the nation's premier conference.
Calling All Cats
OK, the Maniac's first lock of the season fell short by ONE point last night of covering.
But don't believe the line. The Kentucky Wildcats stunk. A few late buckets in OT made the result look more impressive. Don't be fooled. The Stanford Cardinal outplayed Kentucky in the make shift gym/ball room in Cancun.
A few honest observations:
1. This team takes terrible shots. It is the curse of too much talent. Every player on the floor (with the exception of Pat Patterson) feels they can get a shot off whenever they choose. So they do. It is the most contested shots I have seen a clearly better team attempt in any NCA game this season.
2. A sequence with 3:30 to go in regulation in a tied game. Kentucky brings the ball up court. DeMarcus Cousins gets the ball at the top of the key, about 4 feet deep. After holding the ball awkwardly looking to swing it, he instead launches up a brick of a line drive three. NOT the shot you want your 6'11'' bricklayer launching in a tie game. Perhaps he aspires to be the next Wayne Chism. Suffice it to say, the Wildcat Faithful would like a liitle bit more.
On the defensive transition, Stanford rotates the ball from the baseline corner to corner, then pass out to the foul line extended. Bledsoe is on the ball; apparently realizes HIS man is on the other side of the key and promptly leaves the man with the ball to shoot an open three. My team ran laps for that one in high school. Um, you don't leave an open ballhandler to get your man. That's junior high stuff.
3. John Wall is icicles. I mean cool as hell. Clutch city. It wasn't the two tying free throws he made with 2.3 seconds remaining that impressed me. It was the fact he didn't blink, smile, sweat, flinch; nothing. Just stepped to the line, calmly swished two and sent the game to OT. This kid has a real knack for the big moment and is slowly becoming the absolute leader of this team. As much as a I love Patterson, the more the game goes through Wall's hands, the better the Cats will be.
A win is a win is a win is a win. I get that. But I imagine it will be a long film session for Calipari and his Cats. Here's hoping the player are not too big of stars to listen.
Early analysis: Final Four Talent, First-Round upset ball management and movement.
But don't believe the line. The Kentucky Wildcats stunk. A few late buckets in OT made the result look more impressive. Don't be fooled. The Stanford Cardinal outplayed Kentucky in the make shift gym/ball room in Cancun.
A few honest observations:
1. This team takes terrible shots. It is the curse of too much talent. Every player on the floor (with the exception of Pat Patterson) feels they can get a shot off whenever they choose. So they do. It is the most contested shots I have seen a clearly better team attempt in any NCA game this season.
2. A sequence with 3:30 to go in regulation in a tied game. Kentucky brings the ball up court. DeMarcus Cousins gets the ball at the top of the key, about 4 feet deep. After holding the ball awkwardly looking to swing it, he instead launches up a brick of a line drive three. NOT the shot you want your 6'11'' bricklayer launching in a tie game. Perhaps he aspires to be the next Wayne Chism. Suffice it to say, the Wildcat Faithful would like a liitle bit more.
On the defensive transition, Stanford rotates the ball from the baseline corner to corner, then pass out to the foul line extended. Bledsoe is on the ball; apparently realizes HIS man is on the other side of the key and promptly leaves the man with the ball to shoot an open three. My team ran laps for that one in high school. Um, you don't leave an open ballhandler to get your man. That's junior high stuff.
3. John Wall is icicles. I mean cool as hell. Clutch city. It wasn't the two tying free throws he made with 2.3 seconds remaining that impressed me. It was the fact he didn't blink, smile, sweat, flinch; nothing. Just stepped to the line, calmly swished two and sent the game to OT. This kid has a real knack for the big moment and is slowly becoming the absolute leader of this team. As much as a I love Patterson, the more the game goes through Wall's hands, the better the Cats will be.
A win is a win is a win is a win. I get that. But I imagine it will be a long film session for Calipari and his Cats. Here's hoping the player are not too big of stars to listen.
Early analysis: Final Four Talent, First-Round upset ball management and movement.
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Ohhh-klahoma
Hmmm. I think the post-Blake Griffin Era has gotten off to a little slower start than SOoner fans had hoped. Despite the big loss (his brother Taylor was an integral part as well), optimism remained high behind Pre-Season First Team All-American Willie Warren.
The results leave a little to be desired. Last night at around 4am EST (you're excused if you missed it) they walked off the floor, 76-64 losers to San Diego. About a week ago they were bounced by VCU to the tune of 82-69.
With upcoming games against Houston, Arkansas, Arizona, Utah and Gonzaga; and even UTEP and Northern Colorado ample opportunities remain in the non-conference schedule for this thing to get way too far away from them to recover.
A few tough early losses can be a great thing for a team come March (see: Memphis, Gonzaga and Tennessee are losing by 2 or less to Kansas, Michigan State and Purdue). Oklahoma is a few more "learning experiences" from their final exam being the NIT...or worse.
The results leave a little to be desired. Last night at around 4am EST (you're excused if you missed it) they walked off the floor, 76-64 losers to San Diego. About a week ago they were bounced by VCU to the tune of 82-69.
With upcoming games against Houston, Arkansas, Arizona, Utah and Gonzaga; and even UTEP and Northern Colorado ample opportunities remain in the non-conference schedule for this thing to get way too far away from them to recover.
A few tough early losses can be a great thing for a team come March (see: Memphis, Gonzaga and Tennessee are losing by 2 or less to Kansas, Michigan State and Purdue). Oklahoma is a few more "learning experiences" from their final exam being the NIT...or worse.
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Thankgiving Picks
Xavier -5 over Marquette
Butler -1 over Minnesota
Ucla -4 over Portland
Record Overall: 13-7-1
Butler -1 over Minnesota
Ucla -4 over Portland
Record Overall: 13-7-1
A Little Thanksgiving Spice
The Old Spice Classic kicks off tomorrow at noon in Orlando, Florida in what has become one of the premier "pre-season" tourneys. This year's field may not have the top flight headliner, but it does have a field full of teams with March aspirations.
The top of the class is probably Michigan which returns do-everything star Manny Harris and three starters to John Beilein's squad. Harris and Ohio State's Evan Turner will be one of the best head to head match-ups come March, and isn't nearly as one-sided as some might make it out to be. Harris is that good. Behind him, Michigan has to be the favorite.
Manny Harris is a close second-best player in the Big Ten
But the road won't be easy, starting in the Noon tip-off against always pesky Creighton. The Jays opened with a loss to fellow mid-major darling Dayton but have aspirations of begining a new NCAA Tourney streak this year. An "upset" win over Michigan would be a nice feather in their cap.
The second game features the undervalued Xavier Musketeers against the rebuilding Marquette Warriors. Gone is the backcourt trio that led Marquette for a Top Ten ranking before Dominc James' injury. Lazarus Haywood returns to try and steady the ship. X has been good in the early going, with Jordan Crawford fitting in nicely to an experienced Musketeers squad that will look to him to carry much of the scoring load from the perimeter. They will get their first true test in the 2PM tip.
The evening features a matchup of two squads trying to rebound from dissapointment in 2008-2009 when Alabama meets Baylor. Both figure to be in the lower half of their respective leagues. This game might give a nice glimpse into the relative depths of the SEC and Big 12 respectively. Neither have played a top-tier team yet in 09 (though that didn't stop the Tide from dropping a game to Cornell...)
The nightcap features a Florida State squad fresh off a humiliating shellacking by in-state rival Florida, against the Iona Gaels. A week ago, Florida State figured to be the favorite (or co-favorite along with Michigan). Now? The 'Noles might be grateful for a relatively soft draw.
Maniac's Picks: Michigan, Xavier, Florida State and Baylor. Give me the Noles and the Muskies in what should have been a rematch of last year's NCAA Rd 2 (except for Bo Ryan's Badgers! Intentionally forced reference for the benefit of my Nole-fan readers!)
Yes. I honestly like the Musketeers cutting down the nets in Orlando, but admit Michigan has the most overall talent in the field.
The top of the class is probably Michigan which returns do-everything star Manny Harris and three starters to John Beilein's squad. Harris and Ohio State's Evan Turner will be one of the best head to head match-ups come March, and isn't nearly as one-sided as some might make it out to be. Harris is that good. Behind him, Michigan has to be the favorite.
Manny Harris is a close second-best player in the Big TenBut the road won't be easy, starting in the Noon tip-off against always pesky Creighton. The Jays opened with a loss to fellow mid-major darling Dayton but have aspirations of begining a new NCAA Tourney streak this year. An "upset" win over Michigan would be a nice feather in their cap.
The second game features the undervalued Xavier Musketeers against the rebuilding Marquette Warriors. Gone is the backcourt trio that led Marquette for a Top Ten ranking before Dominc James' injury. Lazarus Haywood returns to try and steady the ship. X has been good in the early going, with Jordan Crawford fitting in nicely to an experienced Musketeers squad that will look to him to carry much of the scoring load from the perimeter. They will get their first true test in the 2PM tip.
The evening features a matchup of two squads trying to rebound from dissapointment in 2008-2009 when Alabama meets Baylor. Both figure to be in the lower half of their respective leagues. This game might give a nice glimpse into the relative depths of the SEC and Big 12 respectively. Neither have played a top-tier team yet in 09 (though that didn't stop the Tide from dropping a game to Cornell...)
The nightcap features a Florida State squad fresh off a humiliating shellacking by in-state rival Florida, against the Iona Gaels. A week ago, Florida State figured to be the favorite (or co-favorite along with Michigan). Now? The 'Noles might be grateful for a relatively soft draw.
Maniac's Picks: Michigan, Xavier, Florida State and Baylor. Give me the Noles and the Muskies in what should have been a rematch of last year's NCAA Rd 2 (except for Bo Ryan's Badgers! Intentionally forced reference for the benefit of my Nole-fan readers!)
Yes. I honestly like the Musketeers cutting down the nets in Orlando, but admit Michigan has the most overall talent in the field.
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Fly Me to Vegas for the Cats!
Ok, I'm finally ready to step out on the ledge for a lock; Kentucky seems to be clicking after a few game feeling out process. Tonight they are laying only 9.5 against Stanford. The Cats are easily 20-25 points better than the Cardinal, and I think they name on the front of the jersey might be enough to finally jolt the Cats into ratcheting up the defensive intensity.
Maniac's FIRST LOCK of the YEAR: Kentucky -9.5
Maniac's FIRST LOCK of the YEAR: Kentucky -9.5
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Transfer Math
I heard a few broadcasters on ESPN sell tonight's Duke v Arizona State game packaging it as "Eric Botang's return to face his former team." For those of you who are not college basketball diehards; Botang originally enrolled at Duke. You are forgiven if you don't remember the Eric Botang Era.
Transfer math is a pretty simply equation; a player leaves a big name school to head somewhere less attractive - he was likely over recruited and not a big impact player. When a player does the converse (see: Wesley Johnson) he was under recruited and much better than people realized.
Let's do a few easy Duke examples. Seth Curry is heading from Liberty to Duke. He's really good. Dahantay Jones to Duke = NBA talent. Eric Botang leaving? Not really the stuff that makes bulletin boards sizzle. Suffice it to say no extra motivation will be gleamed tonight for the Devils.
This isn't to say Botang isn't a quality basketball player. Not being able to crack Coach K's famously slim rotation is not an indictment; just simply an indication he is not elite. That might be good enough to help Arizona State hang around a down Pac-10.
It's probably not enough tonight against the Blue Devils.
Maniac's Pick: Duke -9
Transfer math is a pretty simply equation; a player leaves a big name school to head somewhere less attractive - he was likely over recruited and not a big impact player. When a player does the converse (see: Wesley Johnson) he was under recruited and much better than people realized.
Let's do a few easy Duke examples. Seth Curry is heading from Liberty to Duke. He's really good. Dahantay Jones to Duke = NBA talent. Eric Botang leaving? Not really the stuff that makes bulletin boards sizzle. Suffice it to say no extra motivation will be gleamed tonight for the Devils.
This isn't to say Botang isn't a quality basketball player. Not being able to crack Coach K's famously slim rotation is not an indictment; just simply an indication he is not elite. That might be good enough to help Arizona State hang around a down Pac-10.
It's probably not enough tonight against the Blue Devils.
Maniac's Pick: Duke -9
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A Fantastic BCS Game...
These two will likely not get the chance to hook up on the football field, but you can bet both will have something to say on the hardwood come March.
Cincinnati has looked fantastic in Maui, dropping Top-25 foes Vandy and Maryland by double digits on consecutive nights. Cincinnati has size inside with Yancy Gates, good senior floor leadership with Deonta Vaughn and an infusion of young talent, highlighted by freshman Lance Stevenson.
Stevenson still has a lot of maturing to do; if you need a good example check out the ridiculous flop he took right in front of the officials with about a minute to go. The ref was actually chuckling at him as he complained. Vlade Divac thought it was disgraceful. Manu Ginobli told him to man up... then he bit the head off a live bat. Still, Stevenson is a key piece to the Cats puzzle and possesses jaw-dropping natural offensive skills.
The Cats have the talent and the size and athleticism to compete in the upper tier of the BEast thos year, and I would be very surprised if they aren't dancing in March.
Further South the Florida Gators got a jump on the Thanksgiving beatdown of the Noles on the gridiron by laying an equally impressive one tonight on the hardwood. The Gators are very young, but appear to finally be on track after two disappointment seasons. The Maniac has been critical of Billy Donovan and honestly believes that without the two year title run he would be seen as a tremendously underachieving coach. Think Steve Lavin at UCLA. Flashy, always a good interview, slick, but just never quite getting it done. It is an unbelievably fair parallel.
These young Gators have a chance to get Billy back to March Madness, and a chance to compete in the ridiculously tough SEC East. Five of the six teams expect to dance in March, with only Georgia having less lofty aspirations (though I am sure they havent officially declared a non-interest...). Florida was widely considered the fifth of those five. After the first week of play, the Maniac would place them a solid #3, behind UK and Tennessee.
Can Billy bring the Magic back to G-Ville?
In football? The game never happens, if for no other reason than UC was not rated high enough before the season even started. In hoops? Sky is the limit for both these young squads. Anything less than an end to the NCAA drought would be considered a disappointment.
Cincinnati has looked fantastic in Maui, dropping Top-25 foes Vandy and Maryland by double digits on consecutive nights. Cincinnati has size inside with Yancy Gates, good senior floor leadership with Deonta Vaughn and an infusion of young talent, highlighted by freshman Lance Stevenson.Stevenson still has a lot of maturing to do; if you need a good example check out the ridiculous flop he took right in front of the officials with about a minute to go. The ref was actually chuckling at him as he complained. Vlade Divac thought it was disgraceful. Manu Ginobli told him to man up... then he bit the head off a live bat. Still, Stevenson is a key piece to the Cats puzzle and possesses jaw-dropping natural offensive skills.
The Cats have the talent and the size and athleticism to compete in the upper tier of the BEast thos year, and I would be very surprised if they aren't dancing in March.
Further South the Florida Gators got a jump on the Thanksgiving beatdown of the Noles on the gridiron by laying an equally impressive one tonight on the hardwood. The Gators are very young, but appear to finally be on track after two disappointment seasons. The Maniac has been critical of Billy Donovan and honestly believes that without the two year title run he would be seen as a tremendously underachieving coach. Think Steve Lavin at UCLA. Flashy, always a good interview, slick, but just never quite getting it done. It is an unbelievably fair parallel.
These young Gators have a chance to get Billy back to March Madness, and a chance to compete in the ridiculously tough SEC East. Five of the six teams expect to dance in March, with only Georgia having less lofty aspirations (though I am sure they havent officially declared a non-interest...). Florida was widely considered the fifth of those five. After the first week of play, the Maniac would place them a solid #3, behind UK and Tennessee.Can Billy bring the Magic back to G-Ville?
In football? The game never happens, if for no other reason than UC was not rated high enough before the season even started. In hoops? Sky is the limit for both these young squads. Anything less than an end to the NCAA drought would be considered a disappointment.
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Texas Two Step...Backwards
Regardless of the final score the Maniac would like to retract placing Texas atop the initial Bracketeering.
Tied 38-38 at halftime with a really lousy Iowa team is a terrible first impression. I think I just chickened out on having the Cuse #1.
Side note - Even the Maniac's wife giggled when the announcer exclaimed "Chism is flying all over the court tonight."
Better call in the mopper...
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Tied 38-38 at halftime with a really lousy Iowa team is a terrible first impression. I think I just chickened out on having the Cuse #1.
Side note - Even the Maniac's wife giggled when the announcer exclaimed "Chism is flying all over the court tonight."
Better call in the mopper...
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Boiler Up
Wayne Chism's three was wide right at the buzzer and Purdue escapes the Virgin Islands with the win and the championship.
Three things stood out from tonight's game:
One - Both teams can contend for a spot in Indy, but both are going to need some breaks to get there. Neither team has the depth or overwhelming talent of Kentucky, Texas or Kansas. They are going to have to win with balance and defense and careful ballhandling.
This calls into sharp focus the inexperienced bench of Purdue and lack of a true PG for Tennessee. I think if the situation tonight was reversed there is no way Hummel, Kramer and Moore let their team mishandled the clock and settle for their five taking a twenty two footer.
Two - Purdue feels like they have played together forever. Mostly because this starting lineup is in their third season together. Very few NBA teams have this kind of continuity. That said, Moore and Hummel need to control the ball in the final minutes so there isn't a true freshman clanking two free throws that could (probably should have) cost then the gme.
Three - How fun is Bruce Pearl?? You could hear every word out of his mouth tonight and dude is hilArious! I can't wait for him and calipari to go head to head. I have a sneaky feeling pearl could go John Cheaney on his ass is properly provoked...
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Three things stood out from tonight's game:
One - Both teams can contend for a spot in Indy, but both are going to need some breaks to get there. Neither team has the depth or overwhelming talent of Kentucky, Texas or Kansas. They are going to have to win with balance and defense and careful ballhandling.
This calls into sharp focus the inexperienced bench of Purdue and lack of a true PG for Tennessee. I think if the situation tonight was reversed there is no way Hummel, Kramer and Moore let their team mishandled the clock and settle for their five taking a twenty two footer.
Two - Purdue feels like they have played together forever. Mostly because this starting lineup is in their third season together. Very few NBA teams have this kind of continuity. That said, Moore and Hummel need to control the ball in the final minutes so there isn't a true freshman clanking two free throws that could (probably should have) cost then the gme.
Three - How fun is Bruce Pearl?? You could hear every word out of his mouth tonight and dude is hilArious! I can't wait for him and calipari to go head to head. I have a sneaky feeling pearl could go John Cheaney on his ass is properly provoked...
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Quick Viewing Guide to Maui Classic
A good tourney tips off today at 3PM with Gonzaga playing Colorado. Cincinnati/Vandy at 5:30, and the lat night games with host Chaminade playing Maryland at 9:30 and Arizona and Wisconsin at midnight-ish. All games will be live on ESPN2 except Maryland, which is on ESPNU and ESPNM 360.
For more info on the tourney, check out their official site here:
Maniac's Quick Take on an All-Tourney Team:
Matt Boldin (Gonzaga), Lance Stevenson (Cincy), Grevies Vasquez (Maryland), AJ Ogilvy (Vandy) and Nic Wise (Arizona)
For more info on the tourney, check out their official site here:
Maniac's Quick Take on an All-Tourney Team:
Matt Boldin (Gonzaga), Lance Stevenson (Cincy), Grevies Vasquez (Maryland), AJ Ogilvy (Vandy) and Nic Wise (Arizona)
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Bracketeering - November 22nd, 2009 WEEK ONE
Let's Get Rolling towards Indy...
Ah...there is nothing like the erratic madness of early season tournaments to make for a complex first edition of Bracketeering. There are a ton of questions left to be answered; but very few teams appear to be waiting until conference play to ask them (ahem, Notre Dame - even the Hoyas are playing a reasonable pre-conference slate...how the BEast has grown) . One reason early season college hoops remains wonderful is the bevy of teams willing to challenge themselves early and often.
Not that it always works to their immediate advantage. Cal would certainly have been among the first sixteen squads had Bracketeering run a pre-tip edition. After getting handled easily by both Syracuse and Ohio State is hard to rank them even among the Top 25. Suffice it to say this doesn't bode well for the remainder of the Pac-10. Likewise for the Atlantic 10's banner carrier, Dayton. After a solid win over Georgia Tech in the AM in Puerto Rico, the Flyers looked like they needed to catch up on sleep getting subsequently beaten by Villanova and Kansas State (both by double digits). Neither one is a "bad" loss per se; but both are games the Flyers will wish they had in the other column when they are thrown up on the Big Board in March. An early season pair of losses in no way eliminates a team; in hoops the NCAA gets it right and lets teams actually PLAY for a title. But those losses are the difference between a 4-5 and a 7-8 come March...
A few good wins early can also buoy a conference to dizzying seed heights. Take Syracuse for example. Picked sixth in the conference in a coaches' preseason poll, the Orange dismantled both Cal and vaunted UNC in the Garden on National TV. If there are five better teams in the country than the Orange, the Maniac hasn't seen them play yet. Add in a Villanova title in Puerto Rico, despite not playing their best ball, and it is hard to argue that the Big East has slipped a bit. In fact (blasphemy alert!) from top to bottom, this year's sixteen might actually be better than the year before...
That said, lets get to the season's inaugural edition of Bracketeering.
Feel free to agree, disagree or swear at us anytime. We are only an email or comment away...Share on Facebook
FINAL FOUR:
1. Texas - This one is as much on what they can be as what they are. The Horns get a tune-up tonight with a dreadful Iowa squad, then likely get Pitt tomorrow night. They are still several weeks away from the real brutal test of North Carolina and Michigan State back to back. That's probably a good thing for the Horns who are still working in an infusion of freshman talent. Their backcourt is so so so deep that Florida transfer Jai Lucas may not be able to find any minutes when he becomes eligible. Folks, that's a pretty good problem to have. I'll bet you Billy D would welcome him home with open arms...
2. Syracuse- Knee jerk reaction? Quite possibly, but we like to
mix performance and potential here at MarchManiacs.com, and is hard to argue with either on the Orange. Transfer Wesley Johnson immediately put himself in the short National POY list with his scintillating show in MSG against Carolina. They are big and bruising inside, have veteran floor leadership and deadly outside shooting with Routins, and their zone is still as baffling for opponents as it ever was. Honestly, this team doesn't appear to have a definitive weakness. Um, other than playing man-to-man (says Lemoine...).
3. Kansas- The reason they are #1 in the country is because last April we decided they were #1 in the country. I reluctantly placed them at #3. Collins and Alderige are both great college players and the addition of Xavier Henry seems to make them the favorite. I am still not convinced Collins is enough of a distributor to make benefit of the additional offensive firepower. The good news is they have three weeks of de facto scrimmages to figure it out before tussling with Michigan, Cal, and Tennessee before embarking on Big 12 play.
4. Kentucky - An awkward start, admittedly, has scared off few. Rather than the closer-than-expected wins over Miami (OH) and Sam Houston St, look at yesterday's dismantling of Rider. It is only a matter of time until this team learns to play together. Once they do, it will be hard to not to see them as the best team in the country. When they play UNC on December 5th there will be no fewer than 10 NBA players in uniform. Hell, the Nets v. Knicks game Saturday wished they could boast the same!
ELITE EIGHT:
5. North Carolina - You can view the lopsided loss to the 'Cuse one of two ways; a sign of trouble, or a beacon of optimism. The polls will surely knock them out of the Top 10, but despite the loss, the Maniac went away wowed by the potential of the Heels. Their frontcourt is simply spectacular. Their potential ability to defend is as high as any team that has played in Chapel Hill. They do not have a firm grasp on where the ball needs to go on offense, which is understandable. They lost 4 starters of last year's national championship winning edition. You'd expect them to miss a beat or two. Consider the 'Cuse loss the small blip. Now, onto the business of winning the ACC,
6. Duke - but of course, the Dukies have something to say about that as well. It is hard to envision this year's bigger Devils having anything resembling the fleetness of foot to stay with the Heels. At the same time, it is hard to imagine the Heels guards being able to solve Duke's fierce man-to-man trapping defense. Watching Duke play inferior competition, it was hard to get a true confidence they are the best team in the ACC. Seeing Carolina lose big was oddly more impressive than seeing Duke win big.
I'm hoping for a UConn matchup in the Pre-Season NIT to get a nice gauge of this team's athleticism and ability to trap and pressure the ball. Other than that, a game versus Gonzaga (unranked, but not sure WHY) and Wisconsin are the few tests for the Devils in an unusually light pre-ACC lineup.
7. Butler - Why not the Bulldogs? Pollsters are enamored with teams that did adequately the year before and return the entire lineup (see: Purdue). The Bulldogs are bigger and more athletic than most folks realize. This ranking might be a tad too high, but we will get to find out for sure after Butler takes in Minnesota (and possibly Clemson and West Virginia), Georgetown, Ohio State and Xavier. No team in the country schedules more aggressively with more to gain and lose than the Bulldogs (Bulldogs, as in both Butler and Gonzaga...). The early season results can swing them from a #2 seed all the way to a #9-10 in March. Yeah, these games mean that much.
8. Michigan St.- Maybe a little low, but we will know more clearly next Tuesday when they lock horns with UNC. Izzo's Spartans are hoping it is a little more entertaining than last year's two matchups.
Sweet and lurking: The next tier (in order)
9. - Villanova - Winning three games over likely tourney teams (yes, George Mason is a likely tourney team, haven't seen ODU or VCU, but the Patriots looked legit to me) should be more of a positive. I just wasn't that impressed with the Cats, but those three wins will certainly help the resume come March.
10. Purdue - Not ready to overlook last year's mediocre performance with essentially the same squad, BUT there are two reasons for Final Four optimism in Lafeyette. One, Robbie Hummel appears to be healthy. When he is, the Boilers are usually victorious. Secondly, JuJuan Johnson improved as much as any big in the country last year. If he does likewise in his junior season, he is a darkhorse Big Ten POY candidate, and the Boilers are a Top 5 team.
The injury to PG Lewis Jackson is real cause for concern though, and will make tonight's test against Tennessee a stern one.
11. Tennessee - Speaking of the Vols, one of the finest guard tandems in the country with Hopson and Smith will be on display tonight as the Vols try to use their superior athleticism to get past Purdue. Tennessee has been electric so far in 2009; let's see if it holds against an elite caliber team.
12. Gonzaga - Yes, I know they are unranked. Yes, I know they lost to Michigan State. The Maniac values good early season losses more than useless early season wins, and I haven't seen a better played loss than the one the Zags suffered to the Spartans. Matt Boldin might be the most cerebral floor leader in the nation, and the young bigs are loaded with athleticism to make up for the losses of Heyvelt and Daye. The writers claiming Portland will be a stiff test in the WCC are just looking for something to write...
13. Ohio State - Evan Turner. Forget the turnover fest against the Heels. Did the see the way he eviscerated Cal's "All American" caliber backcourt? There is no better player in the country. They could use a little more help inside, but unfortunately it won't get here until 2010. Until it does, simply enjoy the most versatile swing man in the country.
14. West Virginia - Hard to tell so far, but the Maniac gives the Big East coaches the nod here. If everyone thinks they are clearly better than Syracuse and Louisville and Georgetown, we will acquiesce for now and have them slotted.
15. UConn - Same logic as above. Really hoping for a Duke game in the Pre-NIT.
16. Xavier - Homer pick? Fine. Every year, same story; Muskies start unranked, rack up early wins over quality foes, finish year near the Top Ten. I can't fathom how SI has them picked for an NIT bid... Big games in the next four weeks include: Marquette (and possibly Florida State and Michigan) Cincinnati, Kansas State, Butler, LSU and Wake Forest. No one ever accuses the nation's most overlooked program of ducking.
Closing In...
Washington (punished for Cal - sorry guys), Miami (FL), Michigan, Clemson, Creighton, Kansas St, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Louisville, Georgetown, Memphis, Minnesota, Tulsa, Illinois,
Half Court Heaves: Long shots worth keeping an eye on
Northern Colorado (wins over Hawaii, Air Force are eye catching), Siena, George Mason, Ole Miss, UCF, Cornell, Florida, Notre Dame, Utah St, Pitt, Temple, Old Dominion, New Mexico, Murray State, Missouri State
Ah...there is nothing like the erratic madness of early season tournaments to make for a complex first edition of Bracketeering. There are a ton of questions left to be answered; but very few teams appear to be waiting until conference play to ask them (ahem, Notre Dame - even the Hoyas are playing a reasonable pre-conference slate...how the BEast has grown) . One reason early season college hoops remains wonderful is the bevy of teams willing to challenge themselves early and often.
Not that it always works to their immediate advantage. Cal would certainly have been among the first sixteen squads had Bracketeering run a pre-tip edition. After getting handled easily by both Syracuse and Ohio State is hard to rank them even among the Top 25. Suffice it to say this doesn't bode well for the remainder of the Pac-10. Likewise for the Atlantic 10's banner carrier, Dayton. After a solid win over Georgia Tech in the AM in Puerto Rico, the Flyers looked like they needed to catch up on sleep getting subsequently beaten by Villanova and Kansas State (both by double digits). Neither one is a "bad" loss per se; but both are games the Flyers will wish they had in the other column when they are thrown up on the Big Board in March. An early season pair of losses in no way eliminates a team; in hoops the NCAA gets it right and lets teams actually PLAY for a title. But those losses are the difference between a 4-5 and a 7-8 come March...
A few good wins early can also buoy a conference to dizzying seed heights. Take Syracuse for example. Picked sixth in the conference in a coaches' preseason poll, the Orange dismantled both Cal and vaunted UNC in the Garden on National TV. If there are five better teams in the country than the Orange, the Maniac hasn't seen them play yet. Add in a Villanova title in Puerto Rico, despite not playing their best ball, and it is hard to argue that the Big East has slipped a bit. In fact (blasphemy alert!) from top to bottom, this year's sixteen might actually be better than the year before...
That said, lets get to the season's inaugural edition of Bracketeering.
Feel free to agree, disagree or swear at us anytime. We are only an email or comment away...Share on Facebook
FINAL FOUR:
1. Texas - This one is as much on what they can be as what they are. The Horns get a tune-up tonight with a dreadful Iowa squad, then likely get Pitt tomorrow night. They are still several weeks away from the real brutal test of North Carolina and Michigan State back to back. That's probably a good thing for the Horns who are still working in an infusion of freshman talent. Their backcourt is so so so deep that Florida transfer Jai Lucas may not be able to find any minutes when he becomes eligible. Folks, that's a pretty good problem to have. I'll bet you Billy D would welcome him home with open arms...
2. Syracuse- Knee jerk reaction? Quite possibly, but we like to
mix performance and potential here at MarchManiacs.com, and is hard to argue with either on the Orange. Transfer Wesley Johnson immediately put himself in the short National POY list with his scintillating show in MSG against Carolina. They are big and bruising inside, have veteran floor leadership and deadly outside shooting with Routins, and their zone is still as baffling for opponents as it ever was. Honestly, this team doesn't appear to have a definitive weakness. Um, other than playing man-to-man (says Lemoine...).Think Iowa State would like this guy back???
3. Kansas- The reason they are #1 in the country is because last April we decided they were #1 in the country. I reluctantly placed them at #3. Collins and Alderige are both great college players and the addition of Xavier Henry seems to make them the favorite. I am still not convinced Collins is enough of a distributor to make benefit of the additional offensive firepower. The good news is they have three weeks of de facto scrimmages to figure it out before tussling with Michigan, Cal, and Tennessee before embarking on Big 12 play.
4. Kentucky - An awkward start, admittedly, has scared off few. Rather than the closer-than-expected wins over Miami (OH) and Sam Houston St, look at yesterday's dismantling of Rider. It is only a matter of time until this team learns to play together. Once they do, it will be hard to not to see them as the best team in the country. When they play UNC on December 5th there will be no fewer than 10 NBA players in uniform. Hell, the Nets v. Knicks game Saturday wished they could boast the same!
ELITE EIGHT:
5. North Carolina - You can view the lopsided loss to the 'Cuse one of two ways; a sign of trouble, or a beacon of optimism. The polls will surely knock them out of the Top 10, but despite the loss, the Maniac went away wowed by the potential of the Heels. Their frontcourt is simply spectacular. Their potential ability to defend is as high as any team that has played in Chapel Hill. They do not have a firm grasp on where the ball needs to go on offense, which is understandable. They lost 4 starters of last year's national championship winning edition. You'd expect them to miss a beat or two. Consider the 'Cuse loss the small blip. Now, onto the business of winning the ACC,
6. Duke - but of course, the Dukies have something to say about that as well. It is hard to envision this year's bigger Devils having anything resembling the fleetness of foot to stay with the Heels. At the same time, it is hard to imagine the Heels guards being able to solve Duke's fierce man-to-man trapping defense. Watching Duke play inferior competition, it was hard to get a true confidence they are the best team in the ACC. Seeing Carolina lose big was oddly more impressive than seeing Duke win big.
I'm hoping for a UConn matchup in the Pre-Season NIT to get a nice gauge of this team's athleticism and ability to trap and pressure the ball. Other than that, a game versus Gonzaga (unranked, but not sure WHY) and Wisconsin are the few tests for the Devils in an unusually light pre-ACC lineup.
7. Butler - Why not the Bulldogs? Pollsters are enamored with teams that did adequately the year before and return the entire lineup (see: Purdue). The Bulldogs are bigger and more athletic than most folks realize. This ranking might be a tad too high, but we will get to find out for sure after Butler takes in Minnesota (and possibly Clemson and West Virginia), Georgetown, Ohio State and Xavier. No team in the country schedules more aggressively with more to gain and lose than the Bulldogs (Bulldogs, as in both Butler and Gonzaga...). The early season results can swing them from a #2 seed all the way to a #9-10 in March. Yeah, these games mean that much.
8. Michigan St.- Maybe a little low, but we will know more clearly next Tuesday when they lock horns with UNC. Izzo's Spartans are hoping it is a little more entertaining than last year's two matchups.
Sweet and lurking: The next tier (in order)
9. - Villanova - Winning three games over likely tourney teams (yes, George Mason is a likely tourney team, haven't seen ODU or VCU, but the Patriots looked legit to me) should be more of a positive. I just wasn't that impressed with the Cats, but those three wins will certainly help the resume come March.
10. Purdue - Not ready to overlook last year's mediocre performance with essentially the same squad, BUT there are two reasons for Final Four optimism in Lafeyette. One, Robbie Hummel appears to be healthy. When he is, the Boilers are usually victorious. Secondly, JuJuan Johnson improved as much as any big in the country last year. If he does likewise in his junior season, he is a darkhorse Big Ten POY candidate, and the Boilers are a Top 5 team.
The injury to PG Lewis Jackson is real cause for concern though, and will make tonight's test against Tennessee a stern one.
11. Tennessee - Speaking of the Vols, one of the finest guard tandems in the country with Hopson and Smith will be on display tonight as the Vols try to use their superior athleticism to get past Purdue. Tennessee has been electric so far in 2009; let's see if it holds against an elite caliber team.
12. Gonzaga - Yes, I know they are unranked. Yes, I know they lost to Michigan State. The Maniac values good early season losses more than useless early season wins, and I haven't seen a better played loss than the one the Zags suffered to the Spartans. Matt Boldin might be the most cerebral floor leader in the nation, and the young bigs are loaded with athleticism to make up for the losses of Heyvelt and Daye. The writers claiming Portland will be a stiff test in the WCC are just looking for something to write...
13. Ohio State - Evan Turner. Forget the turnover fest against the Heels. Did the see the way he eviscerated Cal's "All American" caliber backcourt? There is no better player in the country. They could use a little more help inside, but unfortunately it won't get here until 2010. Until it does, simply enjoy the most versatile swing man in the country.
14. West Virginia - Hard to tell so far, but the Maniac gives the Big East coaches the nod here. If everyone thinks they are clearly better than Syracuse and Louisville and Georgetown, we will acquiesce for now and have them slotted.
15. UConn - Same logic as above. Really hoping for a Duke game in the Pre-NIT.
16. Xavier - Homer pick? Fine. Every year, same story; Muskies start unranked, rack up early wins over quality foes, finish year near the Top Ten. I can't fathom how SI has them picked for an NIT bid... Big games in the next four weeks include: Marquette (and possibly Florida State and Michigan) Cincinnati, Kansas State, Butler, LSU and Wake Forest. No one ever accuses the nation's most overlooked program of ducking.
Closing In...
Washington (punished for Cal - sorry guys), Miami (FL), Michigan, Clemson, Creighton, Kansas St, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Louisville, Georgetown, Memphis, Minnesota, Tulsa, Illinois,
Half Court Heaves: Long shots worth keeping an eye on
Northern Colorado (wins over Hawaii, Air Force are eye catching), Siena, George Mason, Ole Miss, UCF, Cornell, Florida, Notre Dame, Utah St, Pitt, Temple, Old Dominion, New Mexico, Murray State, Missouri State
Want More? Have something to Say?
Read, Rant, Agree, Disagree...Curse at Us (nicely please)
Do it all @ MarchManiacs.com
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Do it all @ MarchManiacs.com
Quick picks
The NFL is king on Sundays, but that won't stop the Maniac from helping you spot a few mismatched lines in hoops.
Record to date: 11-3-1
Some of the preseason Tourney undercards should provide some nice diversions during this weeks largely unwatchable slate of NFL games (Detroit v cleveland anyone??)
In the third place game in Puerto Rico, give me Dayton -1 over Kansas State. Dayton is a solid veteran club that will hover between #15-30 most of the year. K St could make the field come March, but Frank Martin's club is still a work in progress.
In the earliest game Ga Tech gets Boston U. Not sure what impresses folks in Vegas about the Terriers but they are only getting 10 against Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors and Co. Gimme the Ramblin' Wreck laying the ten.
In other action, it is hard to ignore the volume of points Tennessee is putting up. DePaul is really bad. Lay the 17 and roll with the Vols.
In the best game of the day, Villanova takes on Ole Miss is the Final from Puerto Rico. It is a matchup of strengths as two fine backcourts collide. The Maniac is leaning toward the Rebs as his early season "I told you so" and sees no reason to back off Terrico White and Chris Warren now. Tale the Rebs and the 4.5 against Nova.
Coming today:
Bracketeering Week One
The Duck of the Irish
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Record to date: 11-3-1
Some of the preseason Tourney undercards should provide some nice diversions during this weeks largely unwatchable slate of NFL games (Detroit v cleveland anyone??)
In the third place game in Puerto Rico, give me Dayton -1 over Kansas State. Dayton is a solid veteran club that will hover between #15-30 most of the year. K St could make the field come March, but Frank Martin's club is still a work in progress.
In the earliest game Ga Tech gets Boston U. Not sure what impresses folks in Vegas about the Terriers but they are only getting 10 against Gani Lawal, Derrick Favors and Co. Gimme the Ramblin' Wreck laying the ten.
In other action, it is hard to ignore the volume of points Tennessee is putting up. DePaul is really bad. Lay the 17 and roll with the Vols.
In the best game of the day, Villanova takes on Ole Miss is the Final from Puerto Rico. It is a matchup of strengths as two fine backcourts collide. The Maniac is leaning toward the Rebs as his early season "I told you so" and sees no reason to back off Terrico White and Chris Warren now. Tale the Rebs and the 4.5 against Nova.
Coming today:
Bracketeering Week One
The Duck of the Irish
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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