Ben Hansbrough is the Big East POY - and Two Picks for Tuesday

The college hoops world was abuzz this weekend debating the merits of BYU as a #1 seed.  After the Cougars impressive road win at 27-1 San Diego State, all anyone wanted to know was 'did they deserve to be in the conversation with Duke, Kansas, Ohio State, Pitt and Texas?'

We might want to add another name to that list.  The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame boasts a senior laden club that shares the ball well, defends with solid team defense, and absolutely shoots the eyes out of the basketball.  Villanova caught the full brunt of all three last night; surrendering a staggering twenty 3-point field goals in a 93-72 defeat that wasn’t even as close as the lopsided score.  At one point in the middle of the second half, Notre Dame led 60-34 before a little lax defensively late in garbage time.

Is there a tougher guard in the country?

One thing I know for sure - Ben Hansbrough deserves to be the Big East Player of the Year. Forget the gaudy stats of Kemba Walker.  Take away some of the enormous point games Kemba put up prior to conference play, and you’ll see Hansbrough’s numbers are very similar – with a ton less turnovers and a TON less forced shots.   

Tonight’s 30 point, 10 assist performance against a Top 15 team was as impressive and individual performance as the Big East has seen this season – and yes, I’m aware Marshon Brooks hung 52 on these same Irish two weeks ago.

The Irish are still a bit on the outside looking in as far as the #1 discussion goes.  However , a few more performances like the one they put on tonight and it won’t be just the Irish eyes smiling – it’ll also be the Selection Committee’s.

Today’s Free College Basketball Picks: (excepted from the Maniac's Column for The Sports Geek)

Baylor Bears +2 @ Oklahoma State Cowboys

Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears entered the season with high aspirations coming off of last season’s Elite Eight run.  Ekpe Udoh and Tweety Carter were gone, but with a stud freshman class coming in and LaceDarius Dunn returning things looked bright. 

Fast forward a few months, and things haven’t quite gone according to plan.  At 18-10 (7-7), Baylor is definitely one the bubble.  A loss at Oklahoma State would likely pop it; especially with Colorado’s upset win over Texas this weekend.

Baylor has been a complete wreck of late, dropping four of their last seven, including crippling losses to Oklahoma and Texas Tech.  In fact, in Big Twelve play Baylor is just 2-5 on the road.  In addition to the above losses, they also managed to slip in a loss at Ames to Iowa State.  Losses to those three teams don’t really help your case with the Selection Committee.

Oklahoma State on the other hand has no illusions of postseason grandeur.  Their role from here on out is simply to play spoiler, a role they played well at home against Missouri and Kansas State.  However, much like Baylor, it’s been a rocky few weeks for the ‘Pokes.  They’ve lost 4 of 5, though their losses have been a little more respectable than Baylor’s, having lost to Nebraska, Texas, Kansas and Texas A&M.

In Big Twelve play Oklahoma State has gone a solid 5-2 at home, while Baylor has gone a lackluster 2-5 on the road.  You do the math.  It equates to a pretty easy selection for Oklahoma State laying the two.

PICK:  Oklahoma State -2

Alabama Crimson +6 @ Florida Gators

If you would have told me that this game would have enormous NCAA Tournament implications, and for Alabama nonetheless, I would have thought you were insane.  After Alabama’s eight place finish in their holiday tournament that included losses to Seton Hall, Iowa, and St. Peter’s, it looked like it was going to be a LONG year for Anthony Grant and the Tide.

The Tide’s turnaround was nothing short of amazing, and they enter tomorrow night’s contest in Gainesville at 19-9, 11-3 in SEC play; easily clinching the SEC West, and tied with the Gators for the best record in the entire league.  The winner of tonight’s contest will be the presumptive #1 overall seed in next week’s SEC Tournament.

The Tide have won 4 of 5, 9 of their last 11, and more impressively 14 of their last 17 contests.  Simply put, the Tide are for real, and might just be the best team in the SEC.  Regardless of this game’s outcome, they have earned their spot in the Field of 68 far more than Georgia (and maybe even Tennessee).  Florida has also played very well after some early season disappointments.  The Gators have won 6 of 7, and an identical 14 of 17 overall.

Alabama’s three conference losses all came on the road; Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Mississippi.  Florida’s three losses were a mixed bag, with two on the road (Mississippi State and this weekend’s Kentucky loss at Rupp), and their ‘mulligan’; an early season loss hosting South Carolina.

Both teams have a ton to play for.  Despite the Gator’s home court advantage, I’m not quite willing to lay a full six points.  Of the Tide’s three losses, none were by more than five points.  Of the Gators eleven wins, only three were by double-digits.

This game has all the makings of a true ‘Battle for First Place’ classic.  I think Florida squeaks out a win, but love the Tide taking ‘em on a ride first.

PICK:  Alabama Crimson Tide +6