Wednesday's Highlights

There were a couple interesting games last night, and a few resume building wins. Here's a quick sweep on a few you might have missed.

NIGHT IN REVIEW:

UAB validated it's 8-1 record with an exclamation point win over former C-USA rival Cincinnati. The Maniac took a pretty big swipe across C-USA's bow earlier this week, but readily tips his cap to the Blazers' Wednesday night effort. The 64-47 win places them solidly in at-large consideration with a second place conference finish. It is an especialy big win when considering their other "big" wins were Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Georgia. With only chances against Butler (quality), Virgina and Arkansas (not so much...) remaining before conference play this win will be enormous when the Blazers are thrown up on the big board.

For the Bearcats, it is a disappointing response following a tough double-OT loss to crosstown rival Xavier on Sunday night. For Bearcat fans, there has to be some trepidation following another tourney miss-season that began very similarly to this one. I think the Bearcats are still an NCAA Tourney team, especially as Stevenson blossoms, but things need to get on track quickly. There final two non-conference games are minor tuneups, but the BEast begins soon and appears to be nearly as tough as last year.

Louisville stopped their steep slide with a hammering win over Oral Roberts. Granted, they weren't exactly tacking UNLV 1990, but the 94-57 win is a good sign Pitino's Cards realize they can't look past anyone this season any longer...

Ole Miss continued their daring ways, erasing a ten point deficit in the final five minutes to force OT and earn a 91-81 win over UTEP. The Maniac was also critical of UTEP's early light schedule, but admits to being impressed with them in defeat. Derrick Caracter will add an inside presence that few in C-USA will be able to match.

Don't look now, but the Kevin Coble-less Northwestern Wildcats are putting themselves in fine position to earn the school's first ever NCAA Tourney invite. They are 9-1, with wins over Notre Dame, Iowa State, and NC State. Their lone loss is against a top 15 Butler team that will likely be a top-4 seed come March. If they win their final two non-conference games (Saturday's Stanford game is a tricky one) they can go 8-10 in the loaded Big Ten and get some consideration. 9-9 would make them a near lock.

How about the hammering South Carolina laid on Richmond last night? The Spiders had looked good early this season and felt like a potential sleeper in the A-10. South Carolina, led by Devin Downey in what feels like his twenty second year of eligibilty, are going to have a great opportunity to contend for an at-large bid in the loaded SEC East. The good thing about sharing the East with Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and Vandy is that all five will get eight opportunities for quality wins.

For Richmond, all is not lost. They still have quality wins over Mississippi State, Old Dominion and Missouri in their hip pocket and their three losses to William & Mary, VCU and the Gamecocks should all be Top 100, if not Top 50 RPI losses in March. It does however make this weekends trip to Gainesville an interesting litmus test of the Spiders' legitimacy.

Finally Oklahoma State rebounded from their humbling loss to Tulsa with a nice 71-70 win over Stanford. The Cardinal have now lost to Kentucky in OT, and Oklahoma State by 1. So someone explain to be the 83-81 loss to Oral Roberts? Regardless, on their good days the Cardinal appear to be strong enough to challenge for third in the Pac 10. And, yes, that is meant more as an insult to the beleaguered Pac-10.

Not too much going on in college hoops tonight. Enjoy the Colts going for 14-0, and a serious, somber RIP to Chris Henry.

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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.

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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

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Technical Foul - Stanford Obliterates Texas Tech

The Stanford Cardinal ran their record to 9-0 under first-year coach Johnny Dawkins (1986 National POY, by the way) with a 111-66 win over Texas Tech. The Red Raiders seemed an outside tourney contender going into the season, but are looking more like a team that will struggle to find .500. Perhaps Bob Knight knew what he was doing when he fled to the comfort of ESPN's booth in the middle of last season!



Stanford gets their first high-profile game of the year Friday when they take on high-flying James Harden and the Arizona State Sun Devils in Palo Alto.

Friday's Sweet Sixteen Predictions

Well, despite overestimating Wazzou's chances against mighty UNC, the Chief Maniac went 4-0 on Thursday (3-1 A.T.S.) Ok, here are my quick picks. I have to go work on the B.J. Raymond statue I am building in my front yard...




#3 Wisconsin v. #10 Davidson

Sadly, my March love-affair with Stephen Curry comes to a close tonight. Davidson is a legitimately good ball club; not just a Cinderella novelty-act. But Wisconsin is a unique good team, and a really tough matchup for any team that relies on controlling tempo to win. Davidson will find shots tough to come by, even for Curry, with a sufficating Wisconsin defense that defends the perimeter as well as any team in the country.

OUTCOME: Wisconsin 67 Davidson 56

#2 Texas v. #3 Stanford

Probably the best game of the tourney so far (especially after Lousiville left Tennessee in the dust last night). Texas boasts one of the best backcourts in the country with DJ Augustine and AJ Abrahams, while Stanford has the premier frontcourt with the Lopez Twins towering at 7' inside. It will be a true match up determined by Stanford's guards ability to contain penetration and knock down open shots when Texas doubles down low.

For Texas, Conner Autchley will be pivotal. If he can stay out of foul trouble and contain Brooke Lopez (who outside of Curry has been the MOP of the tourney thus far), Texas has a real shot.

In the end, I like Stanford's underrated backcourt and the Lopez boys inside in a tough, well played game. And, for the record, doesn't "Robin and Brooke Lopez" sound like two siliconed-out chicks hugging up on each other in a future Playboy issue?? Or is that just me?

OUTCOME: Stanford 74 Texas 73

#1 Kansas v. #12 Villanova

Villanova's pleasant run comes to a close here. Kansas is way to talented, way too big and way too deep for Scottie Reynolds and the "Cats. It is a bad day for Wildcats in general... Kansas continues to be one of three teams yet to be tested (along with UNC and the "Ville)

OUTCOME: Kansas 82 Villanova 65


#1 Memphis v. #5 Michigan St.

There is just something about Tom Izzo coached teams in March. They are always a tough out, and always bounce a few more talented teams along the way. This year has been no exception, tossing heavily touted Pitt (who went "Pitt") in the second round.

This games really hinges on one thing: Can Drew Neitzel and Michigan St handle the pressure and athleticism of the Tigers? It is well documented that Memphis struggles from the line, but in order for that to be a real factor, a team needs to stay within striking range of them (7-10 points). I am not sure Michigan State has the horses to do it.

OUTCOME: Memphis 77 Michigan St. 69

Enjoy the games - check back tomorrow for Elite 8 Breakdowns!!