The nation's longest home winning streak lived on, but barely. Kansas has gone more than three seasons, 67 games, without dropping a contest at the Phogg, but for the second time this season found themselves needing some late theatrics to overcome a Pac-10 foe.
This time it was the celebrated and much publicized freshman, Josh Selby, playing in his first ever collegiate game who bailed them out. Trailing by two with twenty seconds to go, Selby knocked down a long three point shot from the right elbow extended. USC failed to even get a quality look at the basket on successive attempts before a half court heave at the buzzer came tantalizingly close to a miracle.
For Kansas, they'll take the win, but some questions linger after being pushed to the brink by a team with next to no hope of playing in the NCAA Tournament (editor note: yes I got your emails. I know, they are serving a self-imposed post season ban this season).
Several weeks ago it was UCLA threatening to derail the Jayhawks incredible streak. There could be some small causes for concern, but for tonight, the Jayhawks are still undefeated and just scratching the surface of how good they can become with Selby in the fold.
Showing posts with label USC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USC. Show all posts
Three Reasons to Stay Up Late
Lest we be accused of an East Coast bias, I wanted to chime in with a quick update on a few games that have significant impact on the tourney landscape taking place out on the left coast. If you need a reason to stay up until two o'clock tonight, I might be able to help you out.
The Pac-10 is a mess. We've all heard that story. It's not an unreasonable one, but it is getting a tad played out, and perhaps even a little overplayed. Two games tonight can either contribute to the mess or forge two "contenders" for at-large selections (albeit one a bit of a reach)
Cal travels to USC tonight in a game that looked a lot better four weeks ago. Since USC placed themselves on probation, low and behold, they kids just don't seem to be playing with the same intensity. I wonder why? Just because their once promising season has been crushed, along with their dreams of playing in the tourney murdered all because of what their old coach did regarding a player two years removed from the program? That's no reason not to give the Old U your best effort...
(Picture total non-sequiter - just my running homage' to USC's AD "OJ'ing" the basketball season...)
Sarcasm aside, and my obvious slanted viewpoint, tonight is a big game for Cal. A road win tonight in LA gets them to 7-3 in the Pac-10. Despite the perception hit they took early, their overall profile is still in line to ercieve an at large bid if they can avoid another two or three losses.
The other game pits a bit of a role-reversal from how the season was supposed to unfold. Washington came in to the season as the co-favorite, along with Cal. It's been a dissapointing season to say the least. Tonight they get a visit from suddenly-solid Arizona, who is tied atop the league with Cal. Arizona's record is pretty brutal, but if they could string together four or five wins (just like last year), they would likely find the nation's longest NCAA tourney appearance streak granted another narrow reprieve.
In the WCC, Portland heads to Gonzaga. Remember Portland? We loved them. We didn't love them We completely forgot they existed. Well, while we were sleeping the Pilots seemed to find their course. They are 5-2 in league play, with their only losses coming to the Zags (by 3) and at St. Mary's (by 5). If they can get a win tonight at the Kennel, admittedly easier said than done, they'd pull even with the Zags and both would trail St. Mary's by just a game in WCC play. The Pilots chance to dance as an at-large flew away long ago, but a win tonight keeps them in the thick of things for the WCC crown.
The Pac-10 is a mess. We've all heard that story. It's not an unreasonable one, but it is getting a tad played out, and perhaps even a little overplayed. Two games tonight can either contribute to the mess or forge two "contenders" for at-large selections (albeit one a bit of a reach)
(Picture total non-sequiter - just my running homage' to USC's AD "OJ'ing" the basketball season...)
Sarcasm aside, and my obvious slanted viewpoint, tonight is a big game for Cal. A road win tonight in LA gets them to 7-3 in the Pac-10. Despite the perception hit they took early, their overall profile is still in line to ercieve an at large bid if they can avoid another two or three losses.
The other game pits a bit of a role-reversal from how the season was supposed to unfold. Washington came in to the season as the co-favorite, along with Cal. It's been a dissapointing season to say the least. Tonight they get a visit from suddenly-solid Arizona, who is tied atop the league with Cal. Arizona's record is pretty brutal, but if they could string together four or five wins (just like last year), they would likely find the nation's longest NCAA tourney appearance streak granted another narrow reprieve.
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Good Day for the Pac-10
The PAC-10 showed itself well yesterday (UCLA excluded) after a dismal opening month.
USC recorded the conference's first victory over a Top 25 team this year. Read that last sentance again to grasp the rotteness of the conference's opening month. The Trojans hammered Tennessee in what can be considered the first real "surprise" or "upset" of the season, despite about 20 headlines for games that didn't merit it. (Examples: Wisconsin's home win over Duke, Portland beating a terrible UCLA team, Kansas State over UNLV (the most ridiculous of the list, K. State is better for crying out loud).
Then Washington absolutly eviscerated the Portland Pilots. The game was on long after most east coasters drifted to bed, but if you stayed up for the first eight minutes, you saw all you needed. The Huskies led by 20 in the first half, 30 early in the second half and cruised to a 36 point win that was never competitive.
It's a small step, but a much needed one as the Pac-10 tries to earn some validity before they begin playing one another for the remainder of the season.
A big day for the Trojans and the Pac-10
USC recorded the conference's first victory over a Top 25 team this year. Read that last sentance again to grasp the rotteness of the conference's opening month. The Trojans hammered Tennessee in what can be considered the first real "surprise" or "upset" of the season, despite about 20 headlines for games that didn't merit it. (Examples: Wisconsin's home win over Duke, Portland beating a terrible UCLA team, Kansas State over UNLV (the most ridiculous of the list, K. State is better for crying out loud).
Then Washington absolutly eviscerated the Portland Pilots. The game was on long after most east coasters drifted to bed, but if you stayed up for the first eight minutes, you saw all you needed. The Huskies led by 20 in the first half, 30 early in the second half and cruised to a 36 point win that was never competitive.
It's a small step, but a much needed one as the Pac-10 tries to earn some validity before they begin playing one another for the remainder of the season.
A big day for the Trojans and the Pac-10Want More? Have something to Say?
Read, Rant, Agree, Disagree...Curse at Us (nicely please)
Do it all @ MarchManiacs.com
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Nuts About Blake!
Wow - I am sure this will be all over SportsCenter and YouTube soon - I will add a link to this post. But how about the Christmas "Nutcracker" delivered on Blake Griffin!!
In the fine tradition of Tony Shinn (George Mason, '06 -pictured on right) and Chris Paul ('05) - the punch to the nuts lives on and remains one of the most dickless chickenshit moves in sports...
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