Oregon Cedes From the Union, First Captures Neighboring Washington

In a bizarre night in Pac-10 hoops, both Oregon and Oregon State pulled off surprising upsets.  The two teams, mired in the bottom dregs of the less-than-fantastic Pac 10 knocked off their neighbors to the North, Washington State and Washington respectively.

While road losses to lesser teams have been happening with stunning frequency over the past two weeks, the Pac-10 teams may not have the same leeway and forgiveness for bad losses that most of their BCS conference brethren enjoy.

For Washington, things are still OK, though their assumed automatic spot in the Field of 68 is becoming less and less secure with each bad conference loss.  For Washington State, the progress gained in their weekend win over their instate rivals was diminshed, if not all together erased by their humiliating 67-43 loss to Oregon.  It was the most lopsided win in five years for the 11-11 (4-6) for the struggling Ducks and likely put a final nail in any slim at-large hopes Washington State still clung too.

Washington State has a weekend trip to Oregon State and visits from Stanford and Cal to try and get back on track.  For Washington, they will attempt to snap their two-game losing streak Saturday at Oregon, then have home visits in reverse order from the two aforementioned squads.
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Washington State and Butler Look Strong in Advancing

Perhaps reports of the Bulldogs demise were a bit premature.  After looking lost early in the season without departed star Gordon Hayward, Butler appears to finally be hitting their stride.

Butler cruised to the finals in the Diamondhead Classic in Honolulu after dispatching Florida State last night 67-64.  The game wasn't as close as the score as Butler held a double digit lead for most of the second half.  Butler was led by some familiar faces as Shelvin Mack scored 17 and Matt Howard added 19.

Butler's opponent in the final might be surprising to some (but not us at MarchManiacs.com, not to toot our prognosticating horn but HONK HONK).  Washington State and Klay Thompson defeated #15 Baylor, despite 29 points by LaceDarius Dunn.

Washington State appears poised to enter the Top 25 for the first time under coach Ken Bone, regardless of Christmas Day's outcome.  Wazzou sits at 10-1, with quality wins over Baylor, Mississippi State and Gonzaga; the last two in absolutely dominating fashion.

Things were looking a little bleak in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse after an early season blowout loss at Louisville and the subsequent loss to lowly Evansville.  The 12-point loss at Duke was actually an encouraging sign, and a two-point loss to Xavier is nothing to be ashamed of, but a 4-4 record was.  Given the relative weakness of the Horizon League, Butler was facing the very real possibility of needing to win their conference tournament to even get a chance to repeat their National Final run of a year ago.

Now, at 8-4 with consecutive wins over Florida State, Utah and Stanford the future is looking a little brighter.  A win Saturday over Wazzou would be huge, as the Bulldogs won't see another ranked opponent the remainder of the season.

Diamond Head Classic Quiet Christmas Gem

Lost amidst football bowl season, NBA Christmas festvities and NFL playoff pushes is a quiet college basketball gem in Honolulu.  None of the teams in this year's Diamond Head Classic field make your eyes pop out, but with the possible exception of a very down San Diego squad, none will make you quickly avert your eyes from the screen either.

The favorites would have to be Baylor in the top half of the bracket, and Butler and Florida State in the bottom, though don't sleep on Washington State who enters the tournament at 8-1, including a 30-point thrashing of Gonzaga.

I'll take Washington State over Baylor in an upset, and Florida State over Butler in Rd 2.  In the Final, give me the 'Noles in a close game.

Tournament MVP Pick:  Klay Thompson (Washington State)

Wazzou Hammers Zags

Washington State can now claim their supremecy as the top team in Eastern Washington.

OK, so that might not be the loftiest title a team can ascribe to, but their 77-57 pounding of reeling Gonzaga might indicate as much positive for Washington State as it does put up some caution tape around Gonzaga's assumed automatic presence in the NCAA Tournament.

Washington State boasts one of the nation's best scorers you might not have heard of in sophomore sensation Klay Thompson.  Thomson, the son of former Laker Mychael Thompson is pacing the Cougars with 21.6 ppg.  With the win, Washington State moves to 6-1 on the season, their only loss coming on a five point loss to Kansas State. 

The win over Gonzaga is the first real quality win they have posted, though wins over Portland and Fresno State are decent, however their performance last night places them close to Arizona as teams who could concievably give Washington a run for the money in the still-down Pac 10.

Washington State's schedule remains soft leading up to conference play aside from a Dec 22nd tussle with Mississippi State.  However things will heat up quickly, as they dive into conference play with a pair of road games at UCLA and USC.

Worth a Second Look

We chronicled the litany of fantastic games on slate last night, and ran out of room before even tackling the late block. Here's a quick rundown on some of last night's interesting and impactful results.

There is real trouble brewing in Berkley. Cal's MSG losses to Ohio State and Syracuse were unimpressive, yet still understandable. Both of those teams are among the best in the country. ast night's 86-78 loss to New Mexico is cause for concern. New Mexico is 7-0 and a solid MWC team, but the Pac-10 has really struggled in the early going and this is yet another ding to the reputation and Cal's post-season resume. Could we be looking at this year's Notre Dame??

Gonzaga is tough. They trailed most of the way against in-state rival Washington State (6-0), but Matt Boldin and Co. fought back for the 74-69 win. First year coach Kevin Bone's Cougars almost did what his Portland State team did last year; knock off the Zags IN the Kennel.

Speaking of Portland State, what an enormous win for the Vikings last night, clipping newly ranked in-state rival Portland. Portland's coach said he wanted to see how they responded to the newly earned attention and acclaim... Um, might want to close your eyes for this one. They got dropped by the 2-4 Vikings by 18 points.

Lastly, the two best games of the night that nearly no one saw - Duquesne closed down the "Igloo" in memorable; if not gut-wrenching, fashion. The Dukes had the ball in a tie game with 9 seconds to go, and fumbled the ball out of bounds unguarded. They held on to force overtime...then a second one...but Pitt finally prevailed by nine in double OT. The Maniac wonders why they got so scared to attack the hoop once overtime arrived...it is a game they should have won.

The other, another double OT thriller with UNLV clipping Arizona 74-72. UNLV is a likely tourney team, and Arizona could have really used the win, especially with their brutal schedule continuing to churn on. The Cats are only 4-3, but anyone who has seen them play has to be impresses with the jobs Nic Wise and new coach Sean Miller are doing in Tuscon.

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Maniac Picks - Dec 10th

A slate of good games today - some under the radar (Dayton @ Creighton is a gem) and others on TV only for the strong-of-stomach (TCU @ Indiana). Here's how the Maniac sees them going down.

Oh - by the way, we are 59% A.T.S. so far on the young season...

MANIAC PICKS:

Ohio +16 @ Xavier - Muskies win, but still have some point guard issues to resolve before they run anyone out of the Cintas Center. They best figure them out before Saturday with the high-pressure UC Bearcats looming seven miles down the road.

Cal +6 @ Utah - A good game. Cal can win this straight-up. Take the security of the six points.

Butler -2 @ Bradley - They're Baaaaa-aaack. Take the tough Bulldogs on the road.

Dayton +6.5 @ Creighton - This line seems like Vegas saw the name on the jersey and the home court and ran with it. Dayton is the better club this season, and gets a chance to prove it tonight. I'll make this my LOCK of the night.

Gonzaga @ Washington St. +4.5 - Give me the rivalry factor, plus the the grind of having so many big games stacked back to back to back to...(you get the point) working against the Zags. Wazzou might not steal the win, but expect a really tough, well played game. Washington St. might be the most under appreciated program in the country over the past 2 seasons.

Under the radar? Not if they steal a win over the Zags...

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Capping the Sweet Sixteen

After one weekend, here are the most impressive/dangerous teams of the tourney:

1. North Carolina - Is there any doubt? Absolutely steamrolled Arkansas, and showed an amazing ability to control tempo. There are going to need to in order to handle the stifling defense of a very underrated Washington St. squad.

2. Louisville - What a shame they will have to meet the Tar Heels shy of the Final Four. A team with absolute national champion-talent, as evidenced by the controlling domination of a solid Oklahoma squad.

3. Kansas - Yet to be challenged in the Big tourney, rolled through the Big 12 Tourney as well. If Self can stay out of the way, it seems unlikely this team will be stopped short of San Antonio

4. Washington St. - The most anonymous, dangerous team in the tourney. Unfortunatly for them UNC sits on deck. Their scrambling, trapping defense and ability to control tempo held Notre Dame to 41 points Saturday.

5. Wisconsin - The best team in the country that no one os talking about. Handled K-St. and Beasley from the opening tip and cruised into the Sweet 16. The looming match-up with Kansas could be a classic.

6. Xavier - Two solid victories over GA and Purdue. This senior-laden team plays aggressive man to man defense and switches on perimeter ball screens better than any team in the field. They have the versatile bigs to run waves of defenders at Joe Alexander on Thursday.

7. West Virginia - Speaking of Joe Alexander, he and the Mountaineers took it TO the Dookies Saturday. Their agressive, fearless, tenacious style makes for one of the most interesting Sweet 16 matchups that is flying under the radar.

8. UCLA - I know. A&M had them on the ropes. But yet, again, UCLA found a way to pull it out. Collinson and Love are fearless in the clutch and if worse comes to worse they can make the game winner from behind the backboard.

9. Michigan St. - Perhaps a fortunate recipient of the annual Pitt gift-wrapping victory, but no question Neitzel took over that game late and didn't let go.

10. Davidson - Perhaps the run is over after Wisconsin, but has any team brought more excitement and joy to the tourney than the Davidson Wildcats?

11. Texas - The game against Miami wasn't nearly as close of the score, with the Longhorns controlling the game throughout, but the foul foul-shooting is cause for concern

12. Memphis - Speaking of FOUL. Wow. Anyone who sincerely thinks Memphis can win a national title needs only to watch the last two minutes of the Mississippi St. game. You cannot win three or four games in a row holding on for deal life. Sooner or later, it catches up with you. My guess is against Stanford Sunday night.