Tonight's slate features a great assortment of games, top teams facing off, upstart teams with good records but little substance with a chance to prove they belong, and a few teams already facing some desperate its-getting-late-too early- kind of games in which a loss is really damaging.
Here's a quick preview:
Nebraska @ Missouri - Mizzou should roll, but if the Huskers can go to Colombia and win, their 14-2 record starts to look better and better.
Syracuse @ St. John's - Ok Orange, you want to get included in the discussion with Duke, Kansas and Ohio State? These are the types of games you need to win, and win convincingly. For Lavin's Red Storm, knocking off 16-0 Syracuse could see them sneak into the Top 25 for the first time in a really long time.
Two more Big East gems; seriously, some nights when Rutgers, USF, DePaul and Providence go play quietly in the corner, you are treated to an absolute feast of amazing hoops. Louisville @ Villanova and Pitt @ Georgetown both feature some interesting subplots. For Lousiville, its a chance to nab a quality win they sorely need (and will fall out of the rankings with out) while for Georgetown, a huge home win over Pitt stops a free-fall that feels eerily reminiscent of last season's collapse.
St Bonaventure @ Temple - Another game where the ranked home team should win with ease, but the plucky upstart road challengers can legitimize the mild early success with a loud exclamation point. The Bonnies are 9-5 but have played valiantly in the losses; including Virginia Tech and Marshall and stole a win over St. John's.
Showing posts with label Games of the Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Games of the Week. Show all posts
Another #1 in the Crosshairs
The top perch has been a precarious one thus far in 2009. For the first seven weeks of the season, things were relatively calm as we were all content to write "Carolina and everyone else" articles.
Then the unthinkable happened. UNC got dropped by Boston College in their own gym. The Heels, of course, took a tumble from the top spot and no one has been able to get comfy there since. Pitt enjoyed a brief two week stay, their first in school history before getting dropped by Louisville. Wake Forest took their turn next. Until VA Tech came calling only a few days later. Next! Duke's stay lasted equally briefly, as they lost their first game as the big kid on the block in a thriller to...Wake. Wake might have jumped to number one today, but their loss to 0-6 Georgia Tech sealed their fate. Not technically a number one losing...but pretty much a number one losing.
Now it is the Huskies turn. For a team whose biggest Achillies heel over the years has been their focus against lesser opponents, the top spot might not be the ideal perch. After all, starting tonight all opponents are technically lesser.
It is hard to imagine they will take Lousiville lightly though. Perhaps no team in America has atoned for their early sins in the eyes of pollsters more than Pitino's Cards. Losses to Western Kentucky and UNLV seem light years away as Lousiville has begun to fulfill preseason promise, racing to an 8-0 Big East record, and jumping to #5 in today most recent AP Poll.
Is it too early to say tonight's game gives the winners a leg up on a #1 seed? It is hard to fathom the Big East doesn't get at least one #1 seed in the tourney. The winner of the nation's best conference (percieved anyhow) is a mortal lock for a top slot. Assuming the Cards get the win tonight, (QUICK ASIDE - If anyone calls it an "upset" they are a effin' moron. I am so sick of "upsets" that are not upsets. Louisville is the freakin' Vegas favorite.) they would be a full two games ahead of both Pitt and UConn with a head-to-head win to boot. So essentially a three game cushion.
Yes, Marquette is also undefeated. Yes, their backcourt is spectacular; the best in the country. But again, a friendly Maniac reminder to check out their final five games before shining their lollipop too much. Their wins over 'Nova and WVU are impressive; their losses to Dayton and Tennessee are not so much... I'm just not convinced they are a legit threat to win the Big East.
So, a big big game tonight for the Cards and Huskies. Both teams are Final Four talented, both coaches have won it all before (Calhoun twice, Pitino once - Tubby got the other one for him.) and both expect to be there again this year. Tonight's game is a nice glimpse into who might have an easier road to travel five weeks from now.
MANIAC'S PICK: L'Ville 68 UCONN 64
Is Samardo and company ready for Thabeet and the Huskies?
Great game tonight - 7pm EST (ESPN)
Then the unthinkable happened. UNC got dropped by Boston College in their own gym. The Heels, of course, took a tumble from the top spot and no one has been able to get comfy there since. Pitt enjoyed a brief two week stay, their first in school history before getting dropped by Louisville. Wake Forest took their turn next. Until VA Tech came calling only a few days later. Next! Duke's stay lasted equally briefly, as they lost their first game as the big kid on the block in a thriller to...Wake. Wake might have jumped to number one today, but their loss to 0-6 Georgia Tech sealed their fate. Not technically a number one losing...but pretty much a number one losing.
Now it is the Huskies turn. For a team whose biggest Achillies heel over the years has been their focus against lesser opponents, the top spot might not be the ideal perch. After all, starting tonight all opponents are technically lesser.
It is hard to imagine they will take Lousiville lightly though. Perhaps no team in America has atoned for their early sins in the eyes of pollsters more than Pitino's Cards. Losses to Western Kentucky and UNLV seem light years away as Lousiville has begun to fulfill preseason promise, racing to an 8-0 Big East record, and jumping to #5 in today most recent AP Poll.
Is it too early to say tonight's game gives the winners a leg up on a #1 seed? It is hard to fathom the Big East doesn't get at least one #1 seed in the tourney. The winner of the nation's best conference (percieved anyhow) is a mortal lock for a top slot. Assuming the Cards get the win tonight, (QUICK ASIDE - If anyone calls it an "upset" they are a effin' moron. I am so sick of "upsets" that are not upsets. Louisville is the freakin' Vegas favorite.) they would be a full two games ahead of both Pitt and UConn with a head-to-head win to boot. So essentially a three game cushion.
Yes, Marquette is also undefeated. Yes, their backcourt is spectacular; the best in the country. But again, a friendly Maniac reminder to check out their final five games before shining their lollipop too much. Their wins over 'Nova and WVU are impressive; their losses to Dayton and Tennessee are not so much... I'm just not convinced they are a legit threat to win the Big East.
So, a big big game tonight for the Cards and Huskies. Both teams are Final Four talented, both coaches have won it all before (Calhoun twice, Pitino once - Tubby got the other one for him.) and both expect to be there again this year. Tonight's game is a nice glimpse into who might have an easier road to travel five weeks from now.
MANIAC'S PICK: L'Ville 68 UCONN 64
Is Samardo and company ready for Thabeet and the Huskies? Great game tonight - 7pm EST (ESPN)
Games to Watch This Week
Last week was an exciting week, as we have a new #1 team for the third straight week after Wake stumbled and Duke soared. Those two will get to settle things the old fashioned way - on the court - Wednesday night in one of the week's highlight games.
By no means are they the only show in town however as a full slate of fantastic games are on tap for this week. Here is your guide to some of the finest:
Monday:
Marquette takes their unbeaten conference record and #8 ranking into South Bend this evening facing a Notre Dame squad that has taken a tough tumble from grace. They entered the season touted as a Final Four contender. They are a few losses away from once unfathomable "bubble" territory. Marquette's string of Big East wins doesn't include any of the true big boys. Sadly for Marquette fans (and Irish fans), a win tonight might not quite validate them yet still.
Oklahoma has been great all year, save for a one night stumble to the nation's most perplexing team, Arkansas. Oklahoma State has put themselves squarely in position to Dance, and a win tonight would go a long long way. I don't think they get it.
Tuesday:
BYU @ Utah - The battle of Utah takes on extra significance as both school are in decent but compfortable tourney position. Utah is only 12-7 but their strength of schedule buoyes their RPI. BYU looked respectable in their loss to Wake but compunded it with a blowout loss to New Mexico. The winner takes a huge step forward in an underrated Mountain West conference.
Kentucky takes their unblemished conference record to Ole Miss. Someone has to win that damn SEC West, the Rebels think it could be them. The Maniac thinks the Patterson-Meeks Roadshow continues to impress with a big win in Oxford.
Wednesday:
Wake heads in Duke fresh off their first defeat of the year. Look for the Devils to smother Jeff Teague all night with one of the best man-to-man defenses in the nation. Wake has vastly exceeded all expectations of them to this point, so it is ironic how disspointed many fans will be when they lose AT Duke...
Ohio State v. Michigan has a little more luster on the gridiron, but it is a good rivaly on the hardwood as well. Both started the year fantastic and have backslid a little into "bubble" territory. The loser of tonight's game shrinks their remaining margin for error significantly.
Syracuse finds themselves a half-game behind the Friars as they head into Wednesday nights game against Providence. Don't let records fool you; schedule is everything. Syracuse's loses are to Louisville, UConn and Georgetown. Look for them to snap that losing streak empatically.
Pitt travels to Villanova to take on the nation's least-deserving ranked team. Pitt will brutalize them inside all night. Villanova will soon take their annual seat on the bubble (but wind up sliding in as the Big East's 9th). I think most people decided before the season the Big East deserves 9 bids. It is going to take a lot to change their minds...
By no means are they the only show in town however as a full slate of fantastic games are on tap for this week. Here is your guide to some of the finest:
Monday:
Marquette takes their unbeaten conference record and #8 ranking into South Bend this evening facing a Notre Dame squad that has taken a tough tumble from grace. They entered the season touted as a Final Four contender. They are a few losses away from once unfathomable "bubble" territory. Marquette's string of Big East wins doesn't include any of the true big boys. Sadly for Marquette fans (and Irish fans), a win tonight might not quite validate them yet still.
Oklahoma has been great all year, save for a one night stumble to the nation's most perplexing team, Arkansas. Oklahoma State has put themselves squarely in position to Dance, and a win tonight would go a long long way. I don't think they get it.
Tuesday:
BYU @ Utah - The battle of Utah takes on extra significance as both school are in decent but compfortable tourney position. Utah is only 12-7 but their strength of schedule buoyes their RPI. BYU looked respectable in their loss to Wake but compunded it with a blowout loss to New Mexico. The winner takes a huge step forward in an underrated Mountain West conference.
Kentucky takes their unblemished conference record to Ole Miss. Someone has to win that damn SEC West, the Rebels think it could be them. The Maniac thinks the Patterson-Meeks Roadshow continues to impress with a big win in Oxford.
Wednesday:
Wake heads in Duke fresh off their first defeat of the year. Look for the Devils to smother Jeff Teague all night with one of the best man-to-man defenses in the nation. Wake has vastly exceeded all expectations of them to this point, so it is ironic how disspointed many fans will be when they lose AT Duke...
Ohio State v. Michigan has a little more luster on the gridiron, but it is a good rivaly on the hardwood as well. Both started the year fantastic and have backslid a little into "bubble" territory. The loser of tonight's game shrinks their remaining margin for error significantly.
Syracuse finds themselves a half-game behind the Friars as they head into Wednesday nights game against Providence. Don't let records fool you; schedule is everything. Syracuse's loses are to Louisville, UConn and Georgetown. Look for them to snap that losing streak empatically.
Pitt travels to Villanova to take on the nation's least-deserving ranked team. Pitt will brutalize them inside all night. Villanova will soon take their annual seat on the bubble (but wind up sliding in as the Big East's 9th). I think most people decided before the season the Big East deserves 9 bids. It is going to take a lot to change their minds...
Wake Up Calls: Making Sense of a Wacky Wednesday
The headlines will all be clamoring about the "huge upset" of #1 Wake Forest. Don't let that fool you. Yes, Wake has been playing great ball, but by no means was this the construct of a team built to run the table. When Carolina fell at BC, Indiana's 32-year stranglehold on perfection remained safe.
If nothing else, last night's Virginia Tech victory told us two things; One, the ACC is good. Expect 6 or 7 teams to dance. Virginia Tech is in that mix, and last night's win helped advance that cause. Their record isn't stellar, but look at some of their losses (an OT loss to Xavier in Puerto Rico on a 50-foot buzzer beater). Two, parity is king this season. Last year all four #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four for the first time. Don't expect a repeat this season.
Relax Dino, It's Gonna be that kinda year...
Case in point; Arkansas defeated two Top Ten Big 12 frontrunners. The Hogs are now 0-3 in a "down" SEC. Boston College slayed UNC in shocking fashion. They then turned around and lost to Harvard. BC is at best a long shot to make the field of 65.
It is going to be a roller coaster ride to the finish, but as Dickie V so incessantly reminds us. "at least we find out the champion on the court."
Amen Dickie.
Wednesday Recap:
Clemson's pasting in Chapel Hill told the nation what Tiger fans were hoping to suppress; "here we go again." The Tigers were ranked as high as ninth, deservedly so, but after their past two less-than-impressive performances against the conference big boys their reputation takes a huge ding. Not only that, but if they suffer a few losses to the likes of Va Tech, NC State, Miami and FSU, "bubble" talk might be appropriate in Clemson.
How in the hell did Florida lose that game?? If you haven't seen it yet, check out the youtube clip. For South Carolina, it keeps their tourney hopes buoyant, as the SEC West looks dreadful, it is not impossible to sneak in four from the east...
The Mountain West is the best of the non-BCS conferences, however their balanced parity is going to cost them bids in March. UNLV pulled off a road win at BYU last night. Both of them appear to be in decent shape to dance, despite being unranked, but New Mexico, Utah and TCU will all provide tough competition to the end. The beatings they are giving each other could drive them all down to around 9-10 conference wins. That would necessitate winning the confernce tournament to enjoy a stress-free Selction Sunday. For the rest, that is an NIT equation.
Arizona is screwed. Last night's come-from-ahead loss to instate rival Arizona State dropped the Cats to 2-5 in Pac 1o play and a long way from the bubble. The rebuilding has officially begun, only it doesn't really seem as if "rebuilding" is the proper term. "Chaos" seems more apropos. I bet Brandon Jennings is ecstatic he (couldn't get admitted) chose to play overseas... I feel badly for Chase Buddinger. He is playing really well in what appears to be a historically poor season in Tuscon when he easily could have left for the NBA last season.
The A-10 might be Xavier and the dozen dwarfs, but the games are crazy exciting. Two more went to overtime last night, with Duquesne dropping a nail-biter to St. Joes 99-98, and Charlotte nipping UMass in OT. Add in Rhode Island losing by three at Richmond and you have one heck of a balanced league. And of course, just one NCAA bid.
The SEC West is winnable at 9-7. LSU pasted 3-0 Mississippi State last night. Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss are all over the place, and who knows what to make of Arkansas. In a year of parity, their is no better example of the grab-bag between #20 and #50 in the country than in the SEC West.
The MVC has a lot of good teams. However they appear to lack a great one. I wonder if the balance in the Big 10, ACC and depth in the Big East will leave two or three sitting on the sidelines in March. Illinois State, Creighton and Evansville appeared to be the strongest early on (with some consideration for Drake as well), however Northern Iowa has stormed out to a 7-1 conference record and a two-game lead on the field. The problem? They had five losses before entering conference play. Only Marquette was ranked (the others, Iowa,Iowa St, Illinois-Chicago and Wyoming). Not exactly the way to get multiple bids for a non BCS league. The MVC's conference tournament will not only be great basketball, but very meaningful hoops as well.
And how about the Northwestern Wildcats? They rewarded the Maniac's proclamation that the Minnesota loss to Northwestern was not a "bad loss" but rather a "good win" for a good Northwestern team with a road victory over conference-unbeaten Michigan State. With their next two contests against Michigan and Indiana, it is not ridiculous to think Northwestern could put themselves squarely in NCAA Tourney conversation. If you are scoring at home the Wildcats now have wins over Florida State, Minnesota and Michigan State, three teams likely dancing in March.
And as much as we have had some bumps and bruises since it first appeared likely... the dream of the February 11th #1 vs. #2 Duke - Carolina shootout still seems possible.
So much for parity...
If nothing else, last night's Virginia Tech victory told us two things; One, the ACC is good. Expect 6 or 7 teams to dance. Virginia Tech is in that mix, and last night's win helped advance that cause. Their record isn't stellar, but look at some of their losses (an OT loss to Xavier in Puerto Rico on a 50-foot buzzer beater). Two, parity is king this season. Last year all four #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four for the first time. Don't expect a repeat this season.
Relax Dino, It's Gonna be that kinda year...Case in point; Arkansas defeated two Top Ten Big 12 frontrunners. The Hogs are now 0-3 in a "down" SEC. Boston College slayed UNC in shocking fashion. They then turned around and lost to Harvard. BC is at best a long shot to make the field of 65.
It is going to be a roller coaster ride to the finish, but as Dickie V so incessantly reminds us. "at least we find out the champion on the court."
Amen Dickie.
Wednesday Recap:
Clemson's pasting in Chapel Hill told the nation what Tiger fans were hoping to suppress; "here we go again." The Tigers were ranked as high as ninth, deservedly so, but after their past two less-than-impressive performances against the conference big boys their reputation takes a huge ding. Not only that, but if they suffer a few losses to the likes of Va Tech, NC State, Miami and FSU, "bubble" talk might be appropriate in Clemson.
How in the hell did Florida lose that game?? If you haven't seen it yet, check out the youtube clip. For South Carolina, it keeps their tourney hopes buoyant, as the SEC West looks dreadful, it is not impossible to sneak in four from the east...
The Mountain West is the best of the non-BCS conferences, however their balanced parity is going to cost them bids in March. UNLV pulled off a road win at BYU last night. Both of them appear to be in decent shape to dance, despite being unranked, but New Mexico, Utah and TCU will all provide tough competition to the end. The beatings they are giving each other could drive them all down to around 9-10 conference wins. That would necessitate winning the confernce tournament to enjoy a stress-free Selction Sunday. For the rest, that is an NIT equation.
Arizona is screwed. Last night's come-from-ahead loss to instate rival Arizona State dropped the Cats to 2-5 in Pac 1o play and a long way from the bubble. The rebuilding has officially begun, only it doesn't really seem as if "rebuilding" is the proper term. "Chaos" seems more apropos. I bet Brandon Jennings is ecstatic he (couldn't get admitted) chose to play overseas... I feel badly for Chase Buddinger. He is playing really well in what appears to be a historically poor season in Tuscon when he easily could have left for the NBA last season.
The A-10 might be Xavier and the dozen dwarfs, but the games are crazy exciting. Two more went to overtime last night, with Duquesne dropping a nail-biter to St. Joes 99-98, and Charlotte nipping UMass in OT. Add in Rhode Island losing by three at Richmond and you have one heck of a balanced league. And of course, just one NCAA bid.
The SEC West is winnable at 9-7. LSU pasted 3-0 Mississippi State last night. Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss are all over the place, and who knows what to make of Arkansas. In a year of parity, their is no better example of the grab-bag between #20 and #50 in the country than in the SEC West.
The MVC has a lot of good teams. However they appear to lack a great one. I wonder if the balance in the Big 10, ACC and depth in the Big East will leave two or three sitting on the sidelines in March. Illinois State, Creighton and Evansville appeared to be the strongest early on (with some consideration for Drake as well), however Northern Iowa has stormed out to a 7-1 conference record and a two-game lead on the field. The problem? They had five losses before entering conference play. Only Marquette was ranked (the others, Iowa,Iowa St, Illinois-Chicago and Wyoming). Not exactly the way to get multiple bids for a non BCS league. The MVC's conference tournament will not only be great basketball, but very meaningful hoops as well.
And how about the Northwestern Wildcats? They rewarded the Maniac's proclamation that the Minnesota loss to Northwestern was not a "bad loss" but rather a "good win" for a good Northwestern team with a road victory over conference-unbeaten Michigan State. With their next two contests against Michigan and Indiana, it is not ridiculous to think Northwestern could put themselves squarely in NCAA Tourney conversation. If you are scoring at home the Wildcats now have wins over Florida State, Minnesota and Michigan State, three teams likely dancing in March.
And as much as we have had some bumps and bruises since it first appeared likely... the dream of the February 11th #1 vs. #2 Duke - Carolina shootout still seems possible.
So much for parity...
Show-Me Games of the Week
These games will give us some separation at the top and upper-echelon of some tough conferences.
Tuesday:
Ohio St @ Illinois - Both teams enter in the 20-30 range in most polls and 3-2 in Big Ten play. I think both teams will Dance, but this game could loom large when their resumes go side-by-side.
Wednesday:
Villanova @ UConn - Nova is 2-2 in conference with a trip to UConn looming. Villanova sits on the precarious spot of being the "ninth" team in the nation's deepest and biggest conference. No conference has ever gotten nine bids in March. I wouldn't want to be the one hoping that UNLV or Crieghton or George Mason haven't captured the committee's wandering Cinderella eyes...
Clemson @ UNC -Fifty three times... wow. I am sure you have heard/read the stat many times by now. Clemson brings one of their better teams into Chapel Hill... and still leaves with number fifty four.
Arizona St. @ Arizona - Mayday! Mayday! The Cats are in real trouble. At 2-4 in Pac-10 play and 11-7 overall, it is going to take somelike a win over in-state rival ASU to revitalize a moribund season and keep the nation's longest active NCAA Tourney appearance streak alive.
Thursday:
Minnesota @ Purdue - The conference's best surprise meets the conference's biggest dissapointment. Funny, both have 2 conference losses. The winner take a big step forward in the race to chase Michigan State for the conference crown.
Saturday:
Memphis @ Tennessee - This year lacks the zip of last year's #1 vs #2 Holy War, but still packs some importance. Memphis has one last chance to pick up a resume builder before fattening up on C-USA fluff. Tennessee gets a chance to pick up a much needed non-conference win for the much-maligned, but perhaps just late blooming, SEC.
UCLA @ Washington - The Huskies might be the biggest sleeper in the country, with NBA-quality big man John Brockton and a 4-1 conference record. The winner moves into first place in the Pac-10.
Xavier @ LSU - same drill as the above Memphis v. Tennessee analysis. LSU needs the win a little more desperatly, as their resume is blank and their early SEC play hasn't been good. Xavier can ill-afford another slip-up if they have aspirations of holding a Top 4 seed in March.
Tuesday:
Ohio St @ Illinois - Both teams enter in the 20-30 range in most polls and 3-2 in Big Ten play. I think both teams will Dance, but this game could loom large when their resumes go side-by-side.
Wednesday:
Villanova @ UConn - Nova is 2-2 in conference with a trip to UConn looming. Villanova sits on the precarious spot of being the "ninth" team in the nation's deepest and biggest conference. No conference has ever gotten nine bids in March. I wouldn't want to be the one hoping that UNLV or Crieghton or George Mason haven't captured the committee's wandering Cinderella eyes...
Clemson @ UNC -Fifty three times... wow. I am sure you have heard/read the stat many times by now. Clemson brings one of their better teams into Chapel Hill... and still leaves with number fifty four.
Arizona St. @ Arizona - Mayday! Mayday! The Cats are in real trouble. At 2-4 in Pac-10 play and 11-7 overall, it is going to take somelike a win over in-state rival ASU to revitalize a moribund season and keep the nation's longest active NCAA Tourney appearance streak alive.
Thursday:
Minnesota @ Purdue - The conference's best surprise meets the conference's biggest dissapointment. Funny, both have 2 conference losses. The winner take a big step forward in the race to chase Michigan State for the conference crown.
Saturday:
Memphis @ Tennessee - This year lacks the zip of last year's #1 vs #2 Holy War, but still packs some importance. Memphis has one last chance to pick up a resume builder before fattening up on C-USA fluff. Tennessee gets a chance to pick up a much needed non-conference win for the much-maligned, but perhaps just late blooming, SEC.
UCLA @ Washington - The Huskies might be the biggest sleeper in the country, with NBA-quality big man John Brockton and a 4-1 conference record. The winner moves into first place in the Pac-10.
Xavier @ LSU - same drill as the above Memphis v. Tennessee analysis. LSU needs the win a little more desperatly, as their resume is blank and their early SEC play hasn't been good. Xavier can ill-afford another slip-up if they have aspirations of holding a Top 4 seed in March.
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
Best Games You Might Not Be Able to See...
A look at some of the top tilts that may not be broadcast in your neck of the woods. Don't worry - the Maniac has you covered.
Tuesday:
Miami (OH) @ Ohio St - Yes, the Redhawks are 2-3, but their losses are UCLA, Pitt & Xavier. Only the Pitt game wasn;t competitive. Don't be surprised if the 'Hawks get a big-name win Tuesday night.
Georgia @ Western KY - Felton returns home to find a team fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance and a dismantling of #3 Louisville.
Wednesday:
Winthrop @ VMI - VMI has already beaten Kentucky. Winthrop has become kind of "Butler-lite" over the past three years, but is off to a 1-5 start. They need to right the ship quickly to keep their NCAA tourney appearance streak running.
DePaul @ Cal - DePaul is one of the Big East's forgotten sons, lost in the "nine-bid" hype (I heard one ESPN pundit claim 10 is possible. Of course, he is a dipshit...) but the Demons can not afford any missteps pre-conference and keep slim tourney hopes a flutter. Cal is 5-1 and gearing up for a very up-for-grabs middle of the Pac-10 pack.
Tuesday:
Miami (OH) @ Ohio St - Yes, the Redhawks are 2-3, but their losses are UCLA, Pitt & Xavier. Only the Pitt game wasn;t competitive. Don't be surprised if the 'Hawks get a big-name win Tuesday night.
Georgia @ Western KY - Felton returns home to find a team fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance and a dismantling of #3 Louisville.
Wednesday:
Winthrop @ VMI - VMI has already beaten Kentucky. Winthrop has become kind of "Butler-lite" over the past three years, but is off to a 1-5 start. They need to right the ship quickly to keep their NCAA tourney appearance streak running.
DePaul @ Cal - DePaul is one of the Big East's forgotten sons, lost in the "nine-bid" hype (I heard one ESPN pundit claim 10 is possible. Of course, he is a dipshit...) but the Demons can not afford any missteps pre-conference and keep slim tourney hopes a flutter. Cal is 5-1 and gearing up for a very up-for-grabs middle of the Pac-10 pack.
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