Showing posts with label Xavier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Xavier. Show all posts
Here We Go Again - Crosstown Shootout Marred by Late-Game Brawl
First things first; North Carolina @ Kentucky last week was "intense" and "passionately fought." The Xavier/UC nonsense today was just immaturity and sloppiness. There is a huge difference - please don't let any of the similarly sloppy media coverage convince you sucker punching and brawling equals "intensity." It's just not accurate.
I'm not going to go all Joe Buck/Bob Costas sanctimonious on you here, but it is getting a little ridiculous how impossible it is becoming to talk about basketball after each annual installment of Cincinnati's fabled Crosstown Shootout. Which is a shame too, because it is otherwise fantastic attention for one of the nation's finest college basketball regions in the country.
Here's a few good stories recapping today's nonsense, as well as a few links to previous Maniac Crosstown columns...
A little classic Crosstown Shootout Audio - Good call Andy Mac!
"First in the Nation - Second in their own city!" LOVE IT!
I'm not going to go all Joe Buck/Bob Costas sanctimonious on you here, but it is getting a little ridiculous how impossible it is becoming to talk about basketball after each annual installment of Cincinnati's fabled Crosstown Shootout. Which is a shame too, because it is otherwise fantastic attention for one of the nation's finest college basketball regions in the country.
Here's a few good stories recapping today's nonsense, as well as a few links to previous Maniac Crosstown columns...
A little classic Crosstown Shootout Audio - Good call Andy Mac!
"First in the Nation - Second in their own city!" LOVE IT!
Bracketeering - November Pre-Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot
There is something exhilarating about the Thanksgiving edition of Bracketeering each season. The season is young enough that imense room for speculation still prevails, however there have been just enough small slivers of hoops action against semi-reasonable competition that complete disdain for the pollsters is already allowable.
The real difference maker, and where I give them the slight edge over North Carolina is the addition of freshman Anthony Davis. Watching his fourteen point, seven block domination over Kansas, I couldn't help but make the extrapolation that he is going to give Zeller and Henson absolute fits. Terrance Jones should be a decent defensive match on Barnes, and from 1 to 8, Kentucky actually has a slight athleticism advantage of the uber-athletic Heels.
#2 North Carolina - They are everyone's #1 for a reason. They are absolutely loaded. Barnes returned after a slow-starting, but quietly spectacular freshman season and should vie with Jared Sullinger for national player of the year honors in 2012. The inside duo of Henson and Zeller are as talented as any frontcourt in the nation (though I am not sold on their interior defensive presence; yes Henson is a good shot blocker, but is he really going to body a Jared Sullinger out of the lane??), and Marshall Strickland is a fantastic distributor who looks up the floor better than any collegiate guard in the country.
When looking at a team than is going to struggle to find minutes for McDonald's All-American freshman James McAdoo because of the dearth of talent, identifying flaws is obviously a nit-picking venture. However, nitpick I shall... this is not a perfect team in the mold of the two national championship teams in the Roy Williams era. Zeller has developed some pretty moves, but is nowhere near the reliable 'dump it in the post every time down the floor' scoring option that Tyler Hansbrough was. I'd grade him significantly behind Sean May in that regard as well. This team is also devoid of a defensive wing stopper in the mold of a Danny Green or Raymond Felton. And the outside shooting of the 2011-2012 Heels?? Let's just say they'd be wise to keep it up tempo and run run run.
However, as stated above, until next weekend I'm cautiously parking the Heels just behind Coach Cal's Big Blue.
And perimeter shooting? Not an issue for the Dukies. Although Austin Rivers's shot selection still leaves a bit to be desired (more on that later), shooting from behind the arc is something this team will do as well as any team in the nation. Curry and Andre' Dawkins can flat-out knock it down. Rivers is potentially deadly albeit streaky, and no 6'11' player in the country shoots as well from distance as Duke's Brian Kelly.
In fact, Kelly is the primary reason I elevated the Blue Devils to #3. Through three weeks, no player in the country has shown more improvement from last season than Kelly. His ability to put the ball on the floor as well as spot up from three-point range makes him an incredibly versatile and difficult to defend weapon. His shooting ability prevents teams from shading help to the corners to help on perimeter shooters, and balances the relatively limited ability of the Plumlee boys from anywhere beyond three feet of the rim (especially the foul line... bletch!). This also allows for Mason and Miles to do what they do best; rebound. Having a 6'11'' guy pulling a big away from the rim creates fantastic put-back jam opportunities, which they have each capitalized on several times this season in big moments.
The danger for Duke lies in the early tendency of freshman Austin Rivers to take about four or five ridiculous shots per game. So far, Coach K has seemed surprisingly patient with the frosh's shot selection, and his teammates have been typically plucky Duke supporters, clapping and cheering their teammate on. But at some point, in a big moment or as a tight tough game starts to slip away, you have to wonder if some of the frustration and tension might surface. So far, so good... but when it does become a story in a month or two, remember you read it at MarchManiacs.com back before Thanksgiving...
#4 Ohio State - I'll be the first to caution giddy Buckeye fans not to overlook the impact of the loss of defensive wizard David Lighty and his tremendous contribution in the "little things" department. However when likely Top 3 NBA Draft pick (if not #1 overall) Jared Sullinger surprises everyone and decides to return for his sophomore season, a little exuberance is to be tolerated.
And even though the school's alltime leader in 3-pointers made, Jon Diebler and sixth man tough-guy Dallas Lauderdale have also graduated, don't weep to openly for Coach Matta. The cupboard is far from bare in Columbus. Look for senior William Buford to fill in some of the scoring gaps (he was the team's unheralded second-leading scorer in 2011) and for Aaron Craft to continue to blossom in his sophomore season, evolving nicely into a gritty floor leader in the Chris Kramer+Jordan Taylor mold (to blend two Big Ten guards into a nice visual package for you).
6'7'' swingman Deshaun Thomas is a burgeoning star waiting to explode on to the scene for the Buckeyes, and while he won't make anyone forget David Lighty, he will certainly make the loss much less painful.
I have the Buckeyes in my Final Four, but a clear peg behind North Carolina and Kentucky. However, come March, I'm not sure they won't be that team that everyone takes a liking to as the #1 seed to pick for people shying away from the wire-to-wire darlings in Chapel Hill and Lexington.
Elite Eight:
We will dig in to each of these ballclubs in further detail in the not-so-distant future, but for brevity sake (I think this column is pushing 2000 words...) let's list 'em out quickly...
#5 - UConn - This year's team might actually be better than last year's surprising national champs. Jeremy Lamb is a legitimate National POY candidate.
#6 - Missouri - Their breakneck tempo and outstanding backcourt of Denmon and English could be the class of the Big 12.
#7 - Wisconsin - Granted, they haven't been sternly tested yet, but holding teams to under 38 ppg is an impressive defensive effort, even for a Bo Ryan coached squad. Add in the best point guard (when factoring in both ends of the court) in the country in Jordan Taylor, and you have a pretty good recipe for success.
Sweet and Lurking:
#9 - Louisville - Can Kyle Couric lead this team to the top of the Big East? The Card fan favorite has been excellent in the early season, but Pitino and crew will need some solid play from their big guys if they want to hang with UConn and Syracuse in the Big East.
#10 - Baylor - The most talented team in the Big 12, but I don't recall seeing them in the NCAA tourney last year, do you??
#11 - Alabama - Maybe Purdue is just worse than I thought, but watching Anthony Grant's team get after the Boilermakers defensively was impressive. I'd be stunned if this team is left out of the Big Dance again in 2012.
#12 - Florida - It's hard to hold a loss to Ohio State against them too badly. I am still not in love with their smallish backcourt, but the emergence of freshman Brad Beal will infuse a much-needed big time scorer jolt into that lineup.
#13 - Xavier - Tu Holloway is a true big time lead guard, cut from the mold of a Kemba Walker. Coach Mack hopes he can generate a similar result. Xavier plays a spectacular out-of-conference schedule that includes Gonzaga, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Memphis and Cincinnati (not to mention Long Beach State, who could prove a dangerous trap game), so we will get to find out pretty quickly just how legit the beast of the A-10 is as a Final Four contender in 2012.
#14 - Gonzaga - Elias Harris and Robert Sacre give the Zags one of the better veteran tandems in the country. Is 6'1'' freshman Kevin Pangos going to be able to continue to light it up from the outside to the tune of 18+ a night?
#15 - Vanderbilt - Yes, I know. They lost at home to Cleveland State. It was a bad loss. However, this is still one of the better teams in the country, especially once they get Festus Azili back from his six-game NCAA-imposed suspension. John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor combine for one of the best backcourt running mates in the country. The Commodores early season play doesn't earn them a Top 16 slot; even that 2-point win last night over Oregon State was sketchy... but I am still going to stick with Vandy and hope to be rewarded come February and March...
#16 - St. Louis - I always like to take a flyer on someone at the sixteenth slot, so let's really go for it to kick off the season. The Billikens beat the nonsense out of both Southern Illinois and Washington already this season, and have a legit chance to win their Thanksgiving tournament that tips off tomorrow against Boston College. Xavier is the class of the A10, and Temple has the bigger name, but don't be surprised is Saint Louis is ranked by season's end and a lock for an NCAA Tourney appearance.
It is with that smug spirit of contrarianism that we shall embark on the season innagural edition of Bracketeering! As always, comments, feedback and profanity-laced anatomically-challenging emails and posts are thoroughly enjoyed and welcomed...
FINAL FOUR:
#1 Kentucky - I'll spare you the email; YES, I was the guy who joked "time to start writing the 'Final Four Banners taken DOWN from the Rafters' story" within minutes of Coach Cal's hiring. Well, so far he has proven me half correct; there is a Final Four banner in the rafters. And in my opinion, it's likely another will be joining it this season. As far as the "taking it down" part, there is no evidence to suggest Calipari has made even the slightest errant step in Lexington. However, for those of you who were history majors in college...you know what they say about its repetition...
Anyhow - This is easily my favorite Kentucky team since Tubby Smith was in the Bluegrass. The Gilespie Era was an abject trainwreck. The John Wall/DeMarcus Cousins team was too erratic and immature (and frankly, just not a likeable mesh of players), and last year's Final Four team was nearly as ugly, and not nearly a Final Four caliber team most of the season aside from the final two weekends. This team is different than the past two editions of isolation and dribble drive, force up shots and buy time until the NBA Draft rolls around Kentucky basketball. Marquis Teague is a similarly top-ranked prep point guard, but he is more in the distributor mode than either John Wall or Brandin Knight. Terrance Jones is a year more seasoned and provides a legitimate first-team All-American swing/power forward with some ferocity, and Doron Lamb is the team's most reliable shooter and scorer from the perimter.
The nice thing is, this will get settled on the court in less than ten days. Until then, give me the Cats in the top slot.
#2 North Carolina - They are everyone's #1 for a reason. They are absolutely loaded. Barnes returned after a slow-starting, but quietly spectacular freshman season and should vie with Jared Sullinger for national player of the year honors in 2012. The inside duo of Henson and Zeller are as talented as any frontcourt in the nation (though I am not sold on their interior defensive presence; yes Henson is a good shot blocker, but is he really going to body a Jared Sullinger out of the lane??), and Marshall Strickland is a fantastic distributor who looks up the floor better than any collegiate guard in the country.
When looking at a team than is going to struggle to find minutes for McDonald's All-American freshman James McAdoo because of the dearth of talent, identifying flaws is obviously a nit-picking venture. However, nitpick I shall... this is not a perfect team in the mold of the two national championship teams in the Roy Williams era. Zeller has developed some pretty moves, but is nowhere near the reliable 'dump it in the post every time down the floor' scoring option that Tyler Hansbrough was. I'd grade him significantly behind Sean May in that regard as well. This team is also devoid of a defensive wing stopper in the mold of a Danny Green or Raymond Felton. And the outside shooting of the 2011-2012 Heels?? Let's just say they'd be wise to keep it up tempo and run run run.
This sounds like we're down on the Heels. Not true. In fact, to have this team anywhere outside of the Top Three is being contrarian for the sake of being obnoxious. And at MarchManiacs, we are obnoxious for completely independent reasons. UNC is fantastically talented, and I'm not sure either national championship team had a player with the beautiful slashing and mid-range game of Harrison Barnes. He has the ability to elevate this team from "fantastic" to "transcendent."
#3 Duke - Every flaw you could find about North Carolina? Flip them when discussing the Blue Devils. Duke has plenty of size and toughness inside. But no one even close to the feathery touch and deft post moves of Tyler Zeller. North Carolina has the consummate distributor and playmaker at point guard. Duke, in very un-Duke like fashion, has a makeshift point guard committee, with the primary ballhandling responsibilities falling to sharp shooter Seth Curry.
And perimeter shooting? Not an issue for the Dukies. Although Austin Rivers's shot selection still leaves a bit to be desired (more on that later), shooting from behind the arc is something this team will do as well as any team in the nation. Curry and Andre' Dawkins can flat-out knock it down. Rivers is potentially deadly albeit streaky, and no 6'11' player in the country shoots as well from distance as Duke's Brian Kelly.
The danger for Duke lies in the early tendency of freshman Austin Rivers to take about four or five ridiculous shots per game. So far, Coach K has seemed surprisingly patient with the frosh's shot selection, and his teammates have been typically plucky Duke supporters, clapping and cheering their teammate on. But at some point, in a big moment or as a tight tough game starts to slip away, you have to wonder if some of the frustration and tension might surface. So far, so good... but when it does become a story in a month or two, remember you read it at MarchManiacs.com back before Thanksgiving...
#4 Ohio State - I'll be the first to caution giddy Buckeye fans not to overlook the impact of the loss of defensive wizard David Lighty and his tremendous contribution in the "little things" department. However when likely Top 3 NBA Draft pick (if not #1 overall) Jared Sullinger surprises everyone and decides to return for his sophomore season, a little exuberance is to be tolerated.
And even though the school's alltime leader in 3-pointers made, Jon Diebler and sixth man tough-guy Dallas Lauderdale have also graduated, don't weep to openly for Coach Matta. The cupboard is far from bare in Columbus. Look for senior William Buford to fill in some of the scoring gaps (he was the team's unheralded second-leading scorer in 2011) and for Aaron Craft to continue to blossom in his sophomore season, evolving nicely into a gritty floor leader in the Chris Kramer+Jordan Taylor mold (to blend two Big Ten guards into a nice visual package for you).
6'7'' swingman Deshaun Thomas is a burgeoning star waiting to explode on to the scene for the Buckeyes, and while he won't make anyone forget David Lighty, he will certainly make the loss much less painful.
I have the Buckeyes in my Final Four, but a clear peg behind North Carolina and Kentucky. However, come March, I'm not sure they won't be that team that everyone takes a liking to as the #1 seed to pick for people shying away from the wire-to-wire darlings in Chapel Hill and Lexington.
Elite Eight:
We will dig in to each of these ballclubs in further detail in the not-so-distant future, but for brevity sake (I think this column is pushing 2000 words...) let's list 'em out quickly...
#5 - UConn - This year's team might actually be better than last year's surprising national champs. Jeremy Lamb is a legitimate National POY candidate.
#6 - Missouri - Their breakneck tempo and outstanding backcourt of Denmon and English could be the class of the Big 12.
#8 - Syracuse - Some questions remain on the perimeter, but Boeheim has yet another talented squad in Syracuse. Hopefully the allegations swirling around their longtime assistant coach prove meritless... for the sake of not just the alleged victims but college basketball fans everywhere.
Sweet and Lurking:
#9 - Louisville - Can Kyle Couric lead this team to the top of the Big East? The Card fan favorite has been excellent in the early season, but Pitino and crew will need some solid play from their big guys if they want to hang with UConn and Syracuse in the Big East.
#10 - Baylor - The most talented team in the Big 12, but I don't recall seeing them in the NCAA tourney last year, do you??
#11 - Alabama - Maybe Purdue is just worse than I thought, but watching Anthony Grant's team get after the Boilermakers defensively was impressive. I'd be stunned if this team is left out of the Big Dance again in 2012.
#12 - Florida - It's hard to hold a loss to Ohio State against them too badly. I am still not in love with their smallish backcourt, but the emergence of freshman Brad Beal will infuse a much-needed big time scorer jolt into that lineup.
#13 - Xavier - Tu Holloway is a true big time lead guard, cut from the mold of a Kemba Walker. Coach Mack hopes he can generate a similar result. Xavier plays a spectacular out-of-conference schedule that includes Gonzaga, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Memphis and Cincinnati (not to mention Long Beach State, who could prove a dangerous trap game), so we will get to find out pretty quickly just how legit the beast of the A-10 is as a Final Four contender in 2012.#14 - Gonzaga - Elias Harris and Robert Sacre give the Zags one of the better veteran tandems in the country. Is 6'1'' freshman Kevin Pangos going to be able to continue to light it up from the outside to the tune of 18+ a night?
#15 - Vanderbilt - Yes, I know. They lost at home to Cleveland State. It was a bad loss. However, this is still one of the better teams in the country, especially once they get Festus Azili back from his six-game NCAA-imposed suspension. John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor combine for one of the best backcourt running mates in the country. The Commodores early season play doesn't earn them a Top 16 slot; even that 2-point win last night over Oregon State was sketchy... but I am still going to stick with Vandy and hope to be rewarded come February and March...
#16 - St. Louis - I always like to take a flyer on someone at the sixteenth slot, so let's really go for it to kick off the season. The Billikens beat the nonsense out of both Southern Illinois and Washington already this season, and have a legit chance to win their Thanksgiving tournament that tips off tomorrow against Boston College. Xavier is the class of the A10, and Temple has the bigger name, but don't be surprised is Saint Louis is ranked by season's end and a lock for an NCAA Tourney appearance.
Previewing the East Region
East Region
So much for being the #1 overall seed. Ohio State’s reward for the honor? Try the bracket most littered with landmines as they attempt to tackle the toughest region in this year’s tournament.
North Carolina, Syracuse, and Kentucky all enter the tournament playing their best basketball of the season, all boast rosters with NBA talent, and all have the size, quickness, scoring and athleticism needed to make a Final Four run. Compare those three to the Southeast: Florida (who got hammered by Kentucky in the SEC Final), BYU (whose second best player is suspended and just got hammered by San Diego State in the MWC Final), and Wisconsin who scored THIRTY THREE points in their last game.
Not sure what the committee was thinking with those two brackets. It certainly leaves a lot of room for conjecture and debate.
What can’t be debated is the depth of talent in the East. West Virginia is an interesting #5 seed. They were not spectacular most of the season, and their roster certainly doesn’t leap off the page, but they do own wins over Vanderbilt, Purdue, Georgetown, Louisville, UConn and Notre Dame.
George Mason could very well be “this year’s George Mason.” The Patriots are much better overall than the team that made the miracle run back in 2006. Throw in Xavier, Princeton, Marquette and Washington and you are looking at one ridiculous bracket.
Ten Best Players in the East Region:
Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Isaiah Thomas (Washington), Harrison Barnes (UNC), Kris Joseph (Syracuse), Tu Holloway (Xavier), Terrance Jones (Kentucky), David Lighty (Ohio State), Tyler Zeller (UNC), William Buford (Ohio State)
First Round Matchups:
#1 Ohio State vs. #16 UT San Antonio/Alabama St.
Next.
#8 George Mason v. #9 Villanova
Villanova is in an absolute free-fall, losers of 11 of their final 16, including a first-round Big East Tourney loss to lowly South Florida. George Mason would be my tournament darling if not for an unfortunate draw opposite Ohio State. I love the Patriots getting the win over ‘Nova.
#5 West Virginia v. #12 UAB/Clemson
I’m honestly stunned UAB is in the field. Alabama, Virginia Tech, St. Mary’s and Colorado would all have been more worthy selections. Clemson apparently got just enough late, making it to the Final Four in the ACC Tourney, losing in OT to North Carolina. I think they used up the remaining gas in their tank – I like UAB advancing, only to get sent home by the Mountaineers.
#4 Kentucky v. #13 Princeton
This will be another popular upset pick – don’t fall for it. Remember what happened when the smart, scrappy, underrated Ivy League team (Cornell) met the Wildcats last year? Yeah, it wasn’t pretty. Neither will this one. Wildcats big.
#6 Xavier v #11 Marquette
Xavier always out-performs their seed in the NCAA Tourney. Marquette is a tough opening draw, but I think Tu Holloway can pace the X-Men to yet another NCAA Tournament win.
#3 Syracuse v. #14 Indiana State
The Sycamores did a great job knocking off Wichita State and Missouri State en route to the surprising Missouri Valley championship. However, both of those teams would have given Syracuse a much more entertaining game. Indiana State has no clue about the length and quickness of the match-up zone that is about to be unleashed on them. Besides, Larry Bird is out of eligibility.
#7 Washington v. #10 Georgia
The rumblings over Georgia’s inclusion and overly-high seed will get louder after Washington and Isaiah Thomas run them right off the floor. It’s honestly hard to justify how the 8-8 Bulldogs got in over the 12-4 Alabama Crimson Tide, who beat Georgia twice, including a blowout win in the SEC Quarters… Gimme Washington 80-something to Georgia’s low 70’s output.
#2 North Carolina v. #15 Long Island
Long Island is a nice story, but the fairy tale ends quickly against the tremendous size and athleticism of the Tar Heels
Moving Through the Region:
Ohio State will cruise to the Sweet Sixteen, though George Mason will make them earn it. I like Kentucky avenging last year’s Elite Eight loss to West Virginia, setting up a nice Kentucky-Ohio State rivalry game in the Sweet Sixteen. In the bottom half, give me Xavier upsetting Syracuse, and North Carolina narrowly dodging Washington in one of the Tourney’s most exhilarating games.
In the Elite 8, Ohio State v. Kentucky will be another classic, but I like Ohio State’s poise and superior perimeter shooting ousting the Wildcats. Xavier’s run ends at the hands of the ultra-talented Tar Heels, setting up a brilliant regional final.
Ohio State is the best team in the country, in my opinion, and is a tough matchup for the Heels. Both teams feature outstanding freshman point guards, and it will be a blast to watch Craft and Marshall square off. Sullinger against the UNC bigs will be spectacular as well. In the end, I think the defensive brilliance of David Lighty will fluster UNC frosh sensation Harrison Barnes, and that the Heels will lose track of Diebler in transition a few too many times to advance. SOUTHEAST CHAMP: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
UPSET PICKS:
Xavier, with Washington being a dangerous sleeper
Duquesne Playing for Tourney Return
The Maniac has made no attempt to conceal his affinity for this year's Duquesne Dukes squad. Aside from the fact that Papa Maniac once proudly roamed the campus, it's truly one heck of a story. Not only have they not made the Tournament in over 30 years, but considering the off-court trauma they suffered several years ago with the shootings, et. all... it's really one of the best stories no one (aside from MarchManiacs!) has been covering
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| If the Dukes wanna dance, they'll need a repeat of last year's win over X |
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Today they host conference giant Xavier in a battle for first place in the A-10. Duquesnes used their mulligan last week losing to St. Bonnaventure. Because of their complete lack of a quality non-conference win, they probably don't get another one. Not that a loss to Xavier would be a "bad loss" by any stretch, but the only clear path for the Dukes to make their long awaited return to the promised land of post-season relevance is to win the A-10 regular season crown.
That only happens if they defend their home floor this afternoon.
MANIAC'S PICK: Xavier +5
Xavier "Tu" Much for Richmond
Very quietly Xavier is erasing their slow start and easing into "tourney lock" status. Today's 85-62 win at Richmond gives the Muskies a two game cushion over the Spiders and Temple Owls, plus they have already earned head-to-head wins over both.
Junior Tu Holloway, the nation's sixth leading scorer, continued his A10 Player of the Year campaign by scoring a career high 33 points, including a sure-fire highlight when he inbounded the ball off the unsuspecting backside of a Richmond player and picked up the carom and laid the ball in the basket for a thrilling halftime buzzer beater. His continued excellent play doesn't get a ton of national attention, but he is certainly in the mix for second or third team All-American status.
More importantly Holloway and backcourt-mate Mark Lyons showed the poise and steady ballhandling that made it not only impossible, but foolilsh to try to press the Muskies. They were able to break the pressure with ease all afternoon. Then on the defensive end, both helped spearhead the 1-2-2 zone that stymied Richmond for the second consecutive year.
With the win Xavier moved to 15-5 (7-0), and remains in a first place tie with the surprising Duquesne Dukes. For Richmond, their bubble-status gets even dicier with the loss and puts some real pressure on the Spiders to avoid many more missteps if they hope to earn a repeat trip to the Big Dance. Their next four games are all should-wins that have now become must-wins for Richmond.
Junior Tu Holloway, the nation's sixth leading scorer, continued his A10 Player of the Year campaign by scoring a career high 33 points, including a sure-fire highlight when he inbounded the ball off the unsuspecting backside of a Richmond player and picked up the carom and laid the ball in the basket for a thrilling halftime buzzer beater. His continued excellent play doesn't get a ton of national attention, but he is certainly in the mix for second or third team All-American status.
More importantly Holloway and backcourt-mate Mark Lyons showed the poise and steady ballhandling that made it not only impossible, but foolilsh to try to press the Muskies. They were able to break the pressure with ease all afternoon. Then on the defensive end, both helped spearhead the 1-2-2 zone that stymied Richmond for the second consecutive year.
With the win Xavier moved to 15-5 (7-0), and remains in a first place tie with the surprising Duquesne Dukes. For Richmond, their bubble-status gets even dicier with the loss and puts some real pressure on the Spiders to avoid many more missteps if they hope to earn a repeat trip to the Big Dance. Their next four games are all should-wins that have now become must-wins for Richmond.
UP NEXT:
XAVIER: @Charlotte, St. Louis, @Georgia
RICHMOND: St. Joeseph's, @Fordham, @George Washington
Something Old and Something New - Xavier, Duquesne Remain Perfect in A-10 Play
For Xavier, it's business as usual. Despite some early season non-conference struggles the Muskies are off to a perfect 6-0 start in Atlantic Ten play and look to be on pretty safe footing for earning their tenth trip to the NCAA Tournament in eleven seasons.
Junior point guard Tu Holloway has been the steadying influence all season, meriting All-American consideration averaging 20.4 ppg and 5.4 assists. Tonight he got a little help from his teammates, namely Mark Lyons who, like Holloway, scored 22 points in the Muskies 81-74 home win over George Washington.
The win pulls Xavier to 14-5, and a perfect 6-0 in Atlantic Ten play - good for a first place tie atop the standings.
Their fellow leader? It's not Richmond or Temple, both of whom expect to make a repeat appearance to the tournament this season. It isn't Dayton who returns their three top players from last year's NIT Championship team either. Rather it is the Duquesne Dukes taking the A-10 by surprise, making a true push to earn their first Tournament appearance in thirty five years. To go back to the last time the Dukes actually won an NCAA Tournament game you'd have to search all the way back to the 1968-1969 season.
They won only one game in the 1969 tourney, yet made it to the yet-to-be-named "Sweet Sixteen." How is this possible you ask?? Because back then they were 25 teams invited to the tourney, all seeded and bracketed strictly by their geography. There was no shuffling of locations to make sure teams were seeded fairly by ability and record. If you were in the West and the second best team in the country, suck for you, because you're gonna see UCLA in the opening weekend!
So, yeah, it's been a little while for Duquesne...
After tonight's 91-72 win over Fordham Duquesne extended their winning streak to nine games, the school's longest in more than three decades. It is also their best start in conference play since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1976. Their unlikely run at the conference crown is a storyline even the most jaded fan can't help but pull for. Beyond just the rather pedestrian history of Duquesne basketball, it is really the first time Duquesne has garned basketball headlines rather than the sordid and tragic headline revolving around the shooting incident in 2006. (If you are not familiar, google it if you choose - I'm going to keep it on-the-court related for today).
More impressive than the Dukes 14-5 (6-0) record and their winning streak is the manner in which they are carving up one of the country's best non-BCS conferences. Their narrowest margin came in their first conference game, a 75-63 win at St. Joe's. Since then, they have won by an average of 17.2 points per contest - including the eye-opening 78-66 win last weekend over Temple.
Duquesne has yet to travel to any of the conference's elite teams and have a fortunate scheduling break in not having to play Xavier or Temple on the road. However, they will have several formidable tests before the season is over. Sunday's visit from Dayton will be an excellent test - pass that on and the Xavier game on February 13th becomes absolutely enormous.
The Dukes still have a lot of work to do before getting into the Tourney, but it is a team and a feel-good story worth watching over the next month and a half.
UP NEXT:
Xavier - @Richmond, @Charlotte, St. Louis
Duquesne - Dayton, George Washington, @St. Bonaventure
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The win pulls Xavier to 14-5, and a perfect 6-0 in Atlantic Ten play - good for a first place tie atop the standings.
Their fellow leader? It's not Richmond or Temple, both of whom expect to make a repeat appearance to the tournament this season. It isn't Dayton who returns their three top players from last year's NIT Championship team either. Rather it is the Duquesne Dukes taking the A-10 by surprise, making a true push to earn their first Tournament appearance in thirty five years. To go back to the last time the Dukes actually won an NCAA Tournament game you'd have to search all the way back to the 1968-1969 season.
They won only one game in the 1969 tourney, yet made it to the yet-to-be-named "Sweet Sixteen." How is this possible you ask?? Because back then they were 25 teams invited to the tourney, all seeded and bracketed strictly by their geography. There was no shuffling of locations to make sure teams were seeded fairly by ability and record. If you were in the West and the second best team in the country, suck for you, because you're gonna see UCLA in the opening weekend!
After tonight's 91-72 win over Fordham Duquesne extended their winning streak to nine games, the school's longest in more than three decades. It is also their best start in conference play since joining the Atlantic 10 in 1976. Their unlikely run at the conference crown is a storyline even the most jaded fan can't help but pull for. Beyond just the rather pedestrian history of Duquesne basketball, it is really the first time Duquesne has garned basketball headlines rather than the sordid and tragic headline revolving around the shooting incident in 2006. (If you are not familiar, google it if you choose - I'm going to keep it on-the-court related for today).
More impressive than the Dukes 14-5 (6-0) record and their winning streak is the manner in which they are carving up one of the country's best non-BCS conferences. Their narrowest margin came in their first conference game, a 75-63 win at St. Joe's. Since then, they have won by an average of 17.2 points per contest - including the eye-opening 78-66 win last weekend over Temple.
Duquesne has yet to travel to any of the conference's elite teams and have a fortunate scheduling break in not having to play Xavier or Temple on the road. However, they will have several formidable tests before the season is over. Sunday's visit from Dayton will be an excellent test - pass that on and the Xavier game on February 13th becomes absolutely enormous.
The Dukes still have a lot of work to do before getting into the Tourney, but it is a team and a feel-good story worth watching over the next month and a half.
UP NEXT:
Xavier - @Richmond, @Charlotte, St. Louis
Duquesne - Dayton, George Washington, @St. Bonaventure
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A Little Less "Cross" and not much of a "Shootout" - Bearcats Snap 3-Game Skid in Crosstown Shootout
No, tonight the only thing on a stretcher was the Xavier offense. Full disclosure, I am a die-hard Xavier fan. As a matter of fact until this season when my alma matter UCF suddenly and bizarrely became relevant, I rooted for the Muskies above all other and literally ached when the season ended after an inevitably heartbreaking NCAA Tourney loss. (Greg Oden - I still hate you almost enough to chuckle at your injury-riddled NBA career...) But let's be honest...
This Xavier team is the worst they've fielded in a decade. They made the 14-0 UC Bearcats LOOK like a legitimate 14-0 team rather than the creampuff eating NCAA bubble team they are.
It's not sour grapes, it's honest analysis. Xavier is not an NCAA Tournament team this year, yet it is easily one of Cincinnati's two best wins this season (the other is Dayton, also at home). Tonight Xavier turned in as poor of an offensive performance as you will see this season, shooting 39% from the floor and turning the ball over a pathetic 17 times. In reality, they shot even worse than the numbers indicate as many of their buckets came on scrappy put backs and scramble buckets by Jamel McLean and Kenny Frease. Eliminate the stickbacks and their shooting percentage dips down near 25%.
For the Bearcats, as sloppy as the win might have been, it was still a dominating performance. They simply out-toughed and out-worked the Musketeers all over the floor. It was the kind of gritty, scrapping effort not seen in the Shoemaker Center since the ouster of Bobby Huggins. This is first team that has a shot at going to the Tourney since the aforementioned ouster as well.
Notice I said, "a shot." At 14-0, one would think they are on pretty safe footing, but their real schedule begins Saturday. Don't be surprised if the Bearcats lose five of their next eight as they have trips to Villanova, Syracuse, Notre Dame, St. John's, and Pitt coming up over the next three weeks. That's brutal for any team, not just one with a slightly inflated record and glaring offensive deficiencies in the shooting and point guard play departments.
The Big East is a gauntlet, but it is one that both chews up and nurtures the weak. While the top seven or eight teams are as good as any league in the country, the bottom provides fodder for middling teams to fatten on; DePaul, Providence, Rutgers, USF. Here's an interesting statistic; the Bearcats could get to 20-10 (assuming a second round loss in the BEast Tourney), playing in one of the premier conferences in the country, and STILL not have beaten a single team that will be in the NCAA field.
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| I agree Mick, why schedule tougher? |
The best litmus test of how far the once-dominant Cincinnati program has slid came in a derisive chant from the student section as UC was roaring out to a big lead midway through the second half; "OVER-RATED! OVER-RATED!!"
Really? Overrated? The Muskies came into the game 8-4, and have received nary a vote in the polls the past three weeks. Overrated? Cincinnati was a nine-point favorite for crying out loud. Sounds like someone has developed an inferiority complex...
Ten years ago, it was the Xavier fans who would employ such a cheer as their plucky mid-major Muskies played over their heads for one magical evening to jump up biting at big brother's heel before occasionally felling the Giant. Today? It's the Big East's Bearcat fans bringing their slingshots to the Shootout, hoping to knock off Mighty X in an injury-ridden down year, fresh off losing their Coach and two early entrants to the NBA draft over the past two seasons.
Overrated? Not the Muskies, but by the time the season ends Mick Cronin's mirror might be reflecting the same message as the shine of a perfect 14-0 fades to Big East attrition.
Look, winning the Shootout is always going to be special, and it should be. It's what great rivalries are bred of, and this game takes a backseat to very few college basketball rivalries. For tonight, the Bearcats are once again Kings of the Queen City, and nothing about that is over-rated. I just remember a time no so long ago when this one game wasn't what crowned them.
Quick Picks - Wednesday Dec 22nd
After nearly two weeks devoid of quality college hoops, today finally offers a bevy of quality games to get one last look at a lot of teams before the enter conference play. If you are a night-owl, you are doubly in luck, with quality games airing at 11pm and 1AM EST tonight.
Harvard @ UConn -13: The Huskies are a surprise at #4 in the country and undefeated. It is possible they sleepwalk through this game, it has certainly been the Huskies mantra over past seasons to play to the level of their competition. However, I think the men will be focused on not wanting to cede all the holiday attention to their record-breaking lady counterparts. Plus, Jeremy Lin is gone and this Harvard team just isn't very good. Gimme the Huskies big.
UCF -3.5 @ UMass: If anyone is ripe for a let-down game it is the Knights. After winning two of the biggest games in school history, defeating instate rivals Florida and Miami en route to their first ever appearance in the national rankings (#24 AP) the Knights look to keep their perfection alive visiting a reeling UMass squad. UMass started the year 7-0 before dropping their last three contests to Boston College, Maine and a 25-point blowout to struggling Seton Hall.
This line reflects a lot of the residual name recognition from the Marcus Camby-era Minutemen as well as the relative anonymity of the Knights basketball. I can understand the potential for a letdown, but objectivly the Knights are 10-12 points better on a neutral floor. I think they bring their A-game, win easily tonight, and enter C-USA play as one of the nation's only undefeated teams.
Texas @ Michigan State -6.5: Texas is one of my sleeper teams to watch in March. They are long and athletic and have dynamite freshman talent in Corey Joseph. Michigan State just seems to be a little off in the early part of the season. Knowing Tom Izzo, all those ills will be long forgotten by March, but here in December six and a half feels like way to many to lay in a game they could very well lose straight up. Gimme the Longhorns and the points.
Dayton @ Seton Hall -7.5: Is this line a typo?? I looked at four different sites to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong. It's one of those games that made me wish I wagered for real instead of simply prognosticating for pride and column width... Gimme the Flyers straight up, but the 7.5 makes it even cushier. This is my first lock of the year.
Drexel @ Syracuse -13.5: Don't sleep on the Dragons. They've already knocked off Louisville in their beatiful and cavernous new YUM Center. They won't be intimidated by the Carrier Dome. Drexel is a legit tourney team and will compete with VCU, Old Dominion and George Mason in the better-than-advertised Colonial League. I think the 'Cuse win at home, but I'll take the 13.5 going Drexel's way.
For the final selections, we'll tackle the wonderful trio of games tipping off at 11PM EST. For those of us who start their Christmas Break tomorrow, it's a good night to wrap some presents and watch some Christmas Hoops!
Butler -8 @ Utah, Kansas -10 @ Cal, Xavier +5 @ Gonzaga
Maniac's Record to Date: 12-8-1
Harvard @ UConn -13: The Huskies are a surprise at #4 in the country and undefeated. It is possible they sleepwalk through this game, it has certainly been the Huskies mantra over past seasons to play to the level of their competition. However, I think the men will be focused on not wanting to cede all the holiday attention to their record-breaking lady counterparts. Plus, Jeremy Lin is gone and this Harvard team just isn't very good. Gimme the Huskies big.
UCF -3.5 @ UMass: If anyone is ripe for a let-down game it is the Knights. After winning two of the biggest games in school history, defeating instate rivals Florida and Miami en route to their first ever appearance in the national rankings (#24 AP) the Knights look to keep their perfection alive visiting a reeling UMass squad. UMass started the year 7-0 before dropping their last three contests to Boston College, Maine and a 25-point blowout to struggling Seton Hall.
This line reflects a lot of the residual name recognition from the Marcus Camby-era Minutemen as well as the relative anonymity of the Knights basketball. I can understand the potential for a letdown, but objectivly the Knights are 10-12 points better on a neutral floor. I think they bring their A-game, win easily tonight, and enter C-USA play as one of the nation's only undefeated teams.
Texas @ Michigan State -6.5: Texas is one of my sleeper teams to watch in March. They are long and athletic and have dynamite freshman talent in Corey Joseph. Michigan State just seems to be a little off in the early part of the season. Knowing Tom Izzo, all those ills will be long forgotten by March, but here in December six and a half feels like way to many to lay in a game they could very well lose straight up. Gimme the Longhorns and the points.
Dayton @ Seton Hall -7.5: Is this line a typo?? I looked at four different sites to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong. It's one of those games that made me wish I wagered for real instead of simply prognosticating for pride and column width... Gimme the Flyers straight up, but the 7.5 makes it even cushier. This is my first lock of the year.
Drexel @ Syracuse -13.5: Don't sleep on the Dragons. They've already knocked off Louisville in their beatiful and cavernous new YUM Center. They won't be intimidated by the Carrier Dome. Drexel is a legit tourney team and will compete with VCU, Old Dominion and George Mason in the better-than-advertised Colonial League. I think the 'Cuse win at home, but I'll take the 13.5 going Drexel's way.
For the final selections, we'll tackle the wonderful trio of games tipping off at 11PM EST. For those of us who start their Christmas Break tomorrow, it's a good night to wrap some presents and watch some Christmas Hoops!
Butler -8 @ Utah, Kansas -10 @ Cal, Xavier +5 @ Gonzaga
Maniac's Record to Date: 12-8-1
Xavier Erases Sting of the 1.2 Seconds That Weren't
Last year Butler and Gordon Hayward clipped Xavier on one of the more bizarre endings you will ever see in college basketball. Gordon Hayward put the Bulldogs up one with seemingly 1.2 seconds remaining. However, after referees consulted the monitors for a seven minute delay, they determined the clock had inadvertantly stopped for roughly one and half seconds during the play.
The refs retroactively corrected the timing error, counted the Hayward basket and then determined the game was over.
Muskie fans hadn't forgotten the tough-to-swallow loss and were revved up for revenge. The Cintas center was packed in a "Whiteout" with all fans wearing white shirts for tonight's rematch, and many came equipped with signs referrencing the clock error and using words like "cheated" to describe the controversial ending.
The fans got their wish for revenge, though it certainly wasn't pretty to watch. Xavier shot just 32% from the floor and an abysmal 11% from behind the arc. And they still outshot Butler. The Bulldogs shot just 31% from the floor, and were it not for 16 of 18 from the line (the only two misses coming in the final minute) the score could have been even worse than the 51-49 final.
Butler managed only 15 made baskets from the floor during the entire game, including a nearly 15 minute drought in the first half.
It wasn't pretty, but it was a win the Muskies desperately needed to keep their at-large profile afloat.
With the loss, Butler dropped to 4-4 on the season, with no ranked opponents on tap for the remainder of the season.
The refs retroactively corrected the timing error, counted the Hayward basket and then determined the game was over.
Muskie fans hadn't forgotten the tough-to-swallow loss and were revved up for revenge. The Cintas center was packed in a "Whiteout" with all fans wearing white shirts for tonight's rematch, and many came equipped with signs referrencing the clock error and using words like "cheated" to describe the controversial ending.
The fans got their wish for revenge, though it certainly wasn't pretty to watch. Xavier shot just 32% from the floor and an abysmal 11% from behind the arc. And they still outshot Butler. The Bulldogs shot just 31% from the floor, and were it not for 16 of 18 from the line (the only two misses coming in the final minute) the score could have been even worse than the 51-49 final.
Butler managed only 15 made baskets from the floor during the entire game, including a nearly 15 minute drought in the first half.
It wasn't pretty, but it was a win the Muskies desperately needed to keep their at-large profile afloat.
With the loss, Butler dropped to 4-4 on the season, with no ranked opponents on tap for the remainder of the season.
Battle of Middling Majors
Tonight's matchup between little-guy heavyweights Butler and Xavier will take on a different tenor than last year's thrilling buzzer-beater classic. In 2009, both schools were already thinking about seeding and subsequent deep runs in the Tournament. This year? The loser finds themself as one of the first teams getting an early spot on the dreaded "bubble."
Butler enters at 4-3 with losses to Louisville, Evansville, and Duke. Their best wins are over Siena and Loyola-Chicago. Xavier enters at 5-2 with losses to Miami (OH) and Old Dominion but even their wins have been a little uneasy, needing overtime for IPFW and Wofford.
This year's game features a matchup of two of the better guards in the country, Butler's Shelvin Mack and Xavier's Tu Holloway. However this game will likely be won by the team that can control the boards and the paint.
Maniac's Pick: Give me the hometown Muskies laying the two.
Butler enters at 4-3 with losses to Louisville, Evansville, and Duke. Their best wins are over Siena and Loyola-Chicago. Xavier enters at 5-2 with losses to Miami (OH) and Old Dominion but even their wins have been a little uneasy, needing overtime for IPFW and Wofford.
This year's game features a matchup of two of the better guards in the country, Butler's Shelvin Mack and Xavier's Tu Holloway. However this game will likely be won by the team that can control the boards and the paint. Maniac's Pick: Give me the hometown Muskies laying the two.
XAVIER - 2
Atlantic 10 Misses 2009... Badly
Ten months ago reasonable people were speculating the Atlantic-10 would receive as many as six bids to the NCAA Tournament. With seven teams playing in the postseason (3 NCAA, 3 NIT, 1 NCIT) 2009-2010 was widely considered a fantastic one for the conference.
This year? Yikes...
Conference standard bearer Xavier is seriously in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years, and only the second in the past eight seasons. Tonight's loss to Miami-Ohio was only the Muskies second (Old Dominion), but needing overtime, at home, to beat both Wofford and IPFW portend some tough days ahead.
Their saving grace might be that the rest of the league stinks as well. Charlotte fell to 3-5 after losing to East Carolina. Dayton lost at home to East Tennessee State. This weekend they got doubled up 68-34 by a less-than-stellar Cincinnati team. Richmond, the conference's lone bright spot lost tonight to fellow mid-major darling Old Dominion (they'd be in first in the A-10 if you're scoring at home...).
George Washington got trounced by George Mason. St Joe's dropped by Drexel. UMass squeaked a 2-point win over Quinnipeac College, Rhode Island lost to Illinois-Chicago. While the A-10 was hoping to fatten up on some preconference wins, they have instead turned into the buffet.
There is still time to right the ship, but as of today, I only have Richmond and Temple in, with Xavier hovering and no one else in clear sight. Unless some clear top-heaviness emerges inside conference play, it is looking less and less likely the A-10 can repeat the magic of last season.
This year? Yikes...
Conference standard bearer Xavier is seriously in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years, and only the second in the past eight seasons. Tonight's loss to Miami-Ohio was only the Muskies second (Old Dominion), but needing overtime, at home, to beat both Wofford and IPFW portend some tough days ahead.
Their saving grace might be that the rest of the league stinks as well. Charlotte fell to 3-5 after losing to East Carolina. Dayton lost at home to East Tennessee State. This weekend they got doubled up 68-34 by a less-than-stellar Cincinnati team. Richmond, the conference's lone bright spot lost tonight to fellow mid-major darling Old Dominion (they'd be in first in the A-10 if you're scoring at home...).
George Washington got trounced by George Mason. St Joe's dropped by Drexel. UMass squeaked a 2-point win over Quinnipeac College, Rhode Island lost to Illinois-Chicago. While the A-10 was hoping to fatten up on some preconference wins, they have instead turned into the buffet.
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| It's been a rocky start, both for Xavier and the A-10 |
Middling Majors
It hurts me greatly to write it, and it saddens me to think it, but it must be said.
The "year of the mid-major" is dead. It has been a long time since the college hoops landscape was as devoid of legitimate Final Four contenders outside the BCS leagues as it appears this season. Even the "don't call us MID" major crowd has taken seismic steps backwards.
The Butler Bulldogs played Hickory Huskers for the nation Hoosier's dreams to within a soft bounce of a national championship last April. Six scant months later the Bulldogs are closer to needing to win the Horizon league to make the tourney than they are to playing in any Final Fours. They opened the season getting pummeled by a less-than-great Louisville squad. Pitino might coach them up satisfactorily in this season of insane parity, but my earliest instincts tell me the Cards are headed for the NIT. Today, Butler lost at home. To MVC bottom tier Evansville. Prior to heading to Hinkle, the Purple Aces suffered consecutive double-digit losses to Indiana and Middle Tennessee State. Ouch.
The road doesn't get easier for Butler anytime soon. Before seeking refuge in Horizon league play, Brad Stevens' Bulldogs still have to travel to Duke and Xavier. At this point, even home games with Stanford and Utah seem less than automatic.
Speaking of Xavier, the Muskies entered the season joining Michigan State as the only schools in the country who have made the past three Sweet Sixteens. Early indications are the Muskies won't be making it four. The season began with a dramatic comeback win over Western Michigan and an overtime tussle with the Mastadons of IPFW. Xavier finished the Cancun Classic with two wins (over Iowa and Seton Hall, two bottom tier BCS'ers) before getting handled with relative ease by Old Dominion.
Granted ODU has the talent to return the the tourney for the second straight year, but the lopsided loss was just another example of how much early entries (Derrick Brown and Jordan Crawford) have finally caught up with their program. With the possible exception of Gonzaga, no other mid-major is faced with the common legitimate possibility of losing players early to the professional ranks. For Xavier, the defection of Crawford left a gaping offensive void they have yet to figure out how to replenish. Junior point guard Tu Holloway has played as well as any lead guard in the country other than Kemba Walker, but someone else is going to have to help shoulder the load if the Muskies have any chance of being a solid tourney team.
If Butler's schedule is daunting, then Xavier's is murderous. In addition to hosting Butler, the Muskies play Wofford, Wake Forest, Gonzaga, Florida and Cincinnati before taking on a solid A-10 schedule featuring Temple, Dayton, Richmond and Rhode Island.
If 2006 was the mid-major high water mark, with at large bids flooding in from the Missouri Valley, C-USA, Colonial and others, 2010 might the drought. Despite a clearly level landscape outside of 8-10 teams this year, very few of the mid-majors have been able to stack those early season chips that are so vital come selection Sunday.
Here's a quick breakdown of some of the hopefuls and their early season returns through Thanksgiving.
Memphis - Perhaps the only lock on the list. Right now the Tigers are 5-0 with wins over Miami and LSU. They still get cracks at Tennessee, Georgetown and Kansas this year to notch another "good win" to add to their profile. After last year's rare anomaly the Tigers are once again clearly the class of the league.
Tourney Outlook: Near Lock
Southern Miss - The Golden Eagles are as good as they have been in a long time, starting 3-0 with wins over South Florida and South Alabama. The problem might be their strength of schedule. With only games at Mississippi and Cal to boost their profile they better get at least one of two versus Memphis in addition to avoiding more than one or two bad losses
Tourney Outlook: Possible
UCF - Don't look now, but the Knights are off to a 5-0 start after beating instate foe South Florida last week. With games against Florida, Miami, and UMass the Knights get several shots at some good wins. Same as above with Southern Miss, only even more important, the Knights really need to get one against Memphis to get a second galnce.
At-large Outlook: Highly Unlikely
Others to Watch: UAB, Houston, UTEP, Tulsa
Siena - The Saints have been March darlings the past few seasons. To recapture the magic they will likely need to win their league tourney this year. At 2-3, with losses to Vermont (ouch), Butler and Minnesota, the Saints already fanned on their best chances at capturing a profile win.
At-large Outlook: Highly Unlikely
Others to Watch: None
Colonial:
VCU - Shaka Smart's team is in decent position to earn an at-large bid if they can handle their business inside league play. At 4-1 with wins over Wake Forest and UCLA and a competitive loss to Tennessee their early profile is solid. They have interesting separation games with Wofford and UAB on their schedule before entering league play. This is a good ball club who should win 21-23 games, and earn a bid.
At-Large Outlook: Good
Old Dominion - The Monarchs won their tournament over in Cancun, albeit over a field that sounded better than it is. The wins over Clemson and Xavier should prove valuable chips, and the narrow home-loss to Georgetown might actually help more than it hurts. They get three more good chances; Richmond, Dayton and Missouri will add some strength to the Monarchs' schedule. Grab two of those three and it's hard not to see ODU going back to the Dance.
At-Large Outlook: Good
Others to Watch: George Mason, James Madison,
MAC: Long gone are the conferences glory days, Miami (OH) and Kent State crashing the Sweet 16 and the MAC meriting the occassional at-large bid. Their aren't many challengers this year either, though Kent State at 6-1 with games upcoming Florida, USF, James Madison and UAB they could play their way into the discussion if they can take all four (especially the Florida game).
At-Large Outlook: Doubtful
Others to Watch: None
Missouri Valley: Remember in 2006 when the MVC sent four teams to the dance? Yeah, so does the Valley. They remember it with a wistful smile and a distant gaze... those days seem pretty far away. Granted Northern Iowa captured the nation's fancy after their stunning upset over Kansas, but with perennial dancer Creighton slumping and Wichita State being left on the the chopping block it was yet another one-bid year for the MVC.
Prospects look a little brighter this year, but no one is a clear lock.
Creighton: We'll find out soon. The three-point loss to Iowa State might up being worse than they thought and their four wins are pretty pedestrian. They need to sweep their upcoming contests with Northwestern, Nebraska, BYU and St. Joseph's to merit any consideration.
At-Large Outlook: Murky
Wichita State: Their 3-point loss to UConn might wind up being more valuable than some of their wins when the selection committee starts weighing resumes. They get shots at Tulsa, LSU and a tough trip to San Diego State to prove their mettle. Their schedule won't do them a ton of favors, but winning those aforementioned games will at least get them in the discussion paired with a good conference record.
At-Large Outlook: Decent
Others to Watch: Northern Iowa, Missouri State
Mountain West: This is easily the best non-BCS conference in the country. One could make a pretty compelling argument that the MWC is stronger than the Pac-10 this season. San Diego State is a near lock for the tourney, and I'd be very surprised if UNLV and BYU don't dance as well. New Mexico's eyebrow-raising 25 point loss to Cal (who subsequently lost to Notre Dame in a game they scored FIVE points in a half) drops them from the "likely" pile and into "others to watch"
At-Large Outlooks: SDSU - near lock; UNLV - very solid; BYU - very good
Others to Watch: Utah, New Mexico
Atlantic-10: The mid-major darling de jour might take a small step back this year. Xavier shows real signs of offensive struggles. Combined with a daunting schedule and the Muskies might be sweating Selection Sunday for the first time in five years. Dayton and Temple have the talent to make it out of the first week of the tourney, but haven't put it on full display quite yet. Richmond and Rhode Island look to build on last season's progress while St. Joes and UMass look to restore former glory.
All in all, this is a good, competitive league that should get at least 3 bids in March, however who those three bids go to will be quite a scramble. We'll do a complete A-10 Breakdown in a separate article.
This is shaping up early as a year in which a TON of bids will be up for the taking. Doing a quick rundown of the Big 6 conferences, I count only thirteen LOCKS, with most of leagues being a complete mess from second or third all the way down to ninth or tenth. That means there are some bids for the grabbing.
It remains to be seen if the little guys hands will be quicker than the giants.
The "year of the mid-major" is dead. It has been a long time since the college hoops landscape was as devoid of legitimate Final Four contenders outside the BCS leagues as it appears this season. Even the "don't call us MID" major crowd has taken seismic steps backwards.
The Butler Bulldogs played Hickory Huskers for the nation Hoosier's dreams to within a soft bounce of a national championship last April. Six scant months later the Bulldogs are closer to needing to win the Horizon league to make the tourney than they are to playing in any Final Fours. They opened the season getting pummeled by a less-than-great Louisville squad. Pitino might coach them up satisfactorily in this season of insane parity, but my earliest instincts tell me the Cards are headed for the NIT. Today, Butler lost at home. To MVC bottom tier Evansville. Prior to heading to Hinkle, the Purple Aces suffered consecutive double-digit losses to Indiana and Middle Tennessee State. Ouch.
The road doesn't get easier for Butler anytime soon. Before seeking refuge in Horizon league play, Brad Stevens' Bulldogs still have to travel to Duke and Xavier. At this point, even home games with Stanford and Utah seem less than automatic.
Speaking of Xavier, the Muskies entered the season joining Michigan State as the only schools in the country who have made the past three Sweet Sixteens. Early indications are the Muskies won't be making it four. The season began with a dramatic comeback win over Western Michigan and an overtime tussle with the Mastadons of IPFW. Xavier finished the Cancun Classic with two wins (over Iowa and Seton Hall, two bottom tier BCS'ers) before getting handled with relative ease by Old Dominion.
Granted ODU has the talent to return the the tourney for the second straight year, but the lopsided loss was just another example of how much early entries (Derrick Brown and Jordan Crawford) have finally caught up with their program. With the possible exception of Gonzaga, no other mid-major is faced with the common legitimate possibility of losing players early to the professional ranks. For Xavier, the defection of Crawford left a gaping offensive void they have yet to figure out how to replenish. Junior point guard Tu Holloway has played as well as any lead guard in the country other than Kemba Walker, but someone else is going to have to help shoulder the load if the Muskies have any chance of being a solid tourney team.
If Butler's schedule is daunting, then Xavier's is murderous. In addition to hosting Butler, the Muskies play Wofford, Wake Forest, Gonzaga, Florida and Cincinnati before taking on a solid A-10 schedule featuring Temple, Dayton, Richmond and Rhode Island.
If 2006 was the mid-major high water mark, with at large bids flooding in from the Missouri Valley, C-USA, Colonial and others, 2010 might the drought. Despite a clearly level landscape outside of 8-10 teams this year, very few of the mid-majors have been able to stack those early season chips that are so vital come selection Sunday.
Here's a quick breakdown of some of the hopefuls and their early season returns through Thanksgiving.
Conference USA
Memphis - Perhaps the only lock on the list. Right now the Tigers are 5-0 with wins over Miami and LSU. They still get cracks at Tennessee, Georgetown and Kansas this year to notch another "good win" to add to their profile. After last year's rare anomaly the Tigers are once again clearly the class of the league.
Tourney Outlook: Near Lock
Southern Miss - The Golden Eagles are as good as they have been in a long time, starting 3-0 with wins over South Florida and South Alabama. The problem might be their strength of schedule. With only games at Mississippi and Cal to boost their profile they better get at least one of two versus Memphis in addition to avoiding more than one or two bad losses
Tourney Outlook: Possible
UCF - Don't look now, but the Knights are off to a 5-0 start after beating instate foe South Florida last week. With games against Florida, Miami, and UMass the Knights get several shots at some good wins. Same as above with Southern Miss, only even more important, the Knights really need to get one against Memphis to get a second galnce.
At-large Outlook: Highly Unlikely
Others to Watch: UAB, Houston, UTEP, Tulsa
Metro Atlantic:
Siena - The Saints have been March darlings the past few seasons. To recapture the magic they will likely need to win their league tourney this year. At 2-3, with losses to Vermont (ouch), Butler and Minnesota, the Saints already fanned on their best chances at capturing a profile win.
At-large Outlook: Highly Unlikely
Others to Watch: None
Colonial:
VCU - Shaka Smart's team is in decent position to earn an at-large bid if they can handle their business inside league play. At 4-1 with wins over Wake Forest and UCLA and a competitive loss to Tennessee their early profile is solid. They have interesting separation games with Wofford and UAB on their schedule before entering league play. This is a good ball club who should win 21-23 games, and earn a bid.
At-Large Outlook: Good
Old Dominion - The Monarchs won their tournament over in Cancun, albeit over a field that sounded better than it is. The wins over Clemson and Xavier should prove valuable chips, and the narrow home-loss to Georgetown might actually help more than it hurts. They get three more good chances; Richmond, Dayton and Missouri will add some strength to the Monarchs' schedule. Grab two of those three and it's hard not to see ODU going back to the Dance.
At-Large Outlook: Good
Others to Watch: George Mason, James Madison,
MAC: Long gone are the conferences glory days, Miami (OH) and Kent State crashing the Sweet 16 and the MAC meriting the occassional at-large bid. Their aren't many challengers this year either, though Kent State at 6-1 with games upcoming Florida, USF, James Madison and UAB they could play their way into the discussion if they can take all four (especially the Florida game).
At-Large Outlook: Doubtful
Others to Watch: None
Missouri Valley: Remember in 2006 when the MVC sent four teams to the dance? Yeah, so does the Valley. They remember it with a wistful smile and a distant gaze... those days seem pretty far away. Granted Northern Iowa captured the nation's fancy after their stunning upset over Kansas, but with perennial dancer Creighton slumping and Wichita State being left on the the chopping block it was yet another one-bid year for the MVC.
Prospects look a little brighter this year, but no one is a clear lock.
Creighton: We'll find out soon. The three-point loss to Iowa State might up being worse than they thought and their four wins are pretty pedestrian. They need to sweep their upcoming contests with Northwestern, Nebraska, BYU and St. Joseph's to merit any consideration.
At-Large Outlook: Murky
Wichita State: Their 3-point loss to UConn might wind up being more valuable than some of their wins when the selection committee starts weighing resumes. They get shots at Tulsa, LSU and a tough trip to San Diego State to prove their mettle. Their schedule won't do them a ton of favors, but winning those aforementioned games will at least get them in the discussion paired with a good conference record.
At-Large Outlook: Decent
Others to Watch: Northern Iowa, Missouri State
Mountain West: This is easily the best non-BCS conference in the country. One could make a pretty compelling argument that the MWC is stronger than the Pac-10 this season. San Diego State is a near lock for the tourney, and I'd be very surprised if UNLV and BYU don't dance as well. New Mexico's eyebrow-raising 25 point loss to Cal (who subsequently lost to Notre Dame in a game they scored FIVE points in a half) drops them from the "likely" pile and into "others to watch"
At-Large Outlooks: SDSU - near lock; UNLV - very solid; BYU - very good
Others to Watch: Utah, New Mexico
Atlantic-10: The mid-major darling de jour might take a small step back this year. Xavier shows real signs of offensive struggles. Combined with a daunting schedule and the Muskies might be sweating Selection Sunday for the first time in five years. Dayton and Temple have the talent to make it out of the first week of the tourney, but haven't put it on full display quite yet. Richmond and Rhode Island look to build on last season's progress while St. Joes and UMass look to restore former glory.
All in all, this is a good, competitive league that should get at least 3 bids in March, however who those three bids go to will be quite a scramble. We'll do a complete A-10 Breakdown in a separate article.
This is shaping up early as a year in which a TON of bids will be up for the taking. Doing a quick rundown of the Big 6 conferences, I count only thirteen LOCKS, with most of leagues being a complete mess from second or third all the way down to ninth or tenth. That means there are some bids for the grabbing.
It remains to be seen if the little guys hands will be quicker than the giants.
Xavier to Face Old Dominion in Paradise Jam Final
It hasn't always been pretty, but the Muskies have made it to 4-0, heading into the Paradise Jam final against fellow don't call us "mid" major, Old Dominion.
Both teams have NCAA aspirations that don't hinge simply on winning their league tournaments in March, and picking up the win tomorrow would be a nice chip in each team's pile. The Monarchs advanced after narrowly edging Clemson, 61-60, while Xavier survived an unbalanced offensive night and held off the Seton Hall Pirates 57-52.
Xavier got just 25 points from players NOT named Tu (formerly, Terrell) Holloway. The same group combined for 10 of 28 shooting. Holloway has shown early on this season that he should have been included on the 50-man Naismith Watch List, averaging 27 points, 6 board and more than 5 assists. While Holloway's play has been unquestionably superb, if Xavier can't find someone else to help carry the offensive load this season, it's hard to see them winning games when their schedule begins to escalate, which it will VERY quickly.
The obvious candidates is sophomore Mark Lyons, though he is hampered somewhat by the similaraities in his and Tu's game, as well as some poor shot selection. Junior seven footer Kenny Frease's game has improved each season, but is still far from a reliable consistent post scoring option. Dante Jackson is more of a defensive player and occassional spot up shooter and Jamel McLean is a freakish athlete, but limited on what he can do with the ball. If one of the above doesn't begin making more significant offensive contributions, Chris Mack might have to experiment deeper on the bench to find some offensive balance.
For Old Dominion, the Paradise Jam Final represents another important chance to stack an automatic bid-worthy chip in their favor. Their first opportunity narrowly slipped away as they lost their opener to Georgetown (who won their tournament, beating Vandy and Minnesota).
The game tips tomorrow night around 8:30 tomorrow and can be found on MOST Fox Sports affiliates.
Both teams have NCAA aspirations that don't hinge simply on winning their league tournaments in March, and picking up the win tomorrow would be a nice chip in each team's pile. The Monarchs advanced after narrowly edging Clemson, 61-60, while Xavier survived an unbalanced offensive night and held off the Seton Hall Pirates 57-52.
Xavier got just 25 points from players NOT named Tu (formerly, Terrell) Holloway. The same group combined for 10 of 28 shooting. Holloway has shown early on this season that he should have been included on the 50-man Naismith Watch List, averaging 27 points, 6 board and more than 5 assists. While Holloway's play has been unquestionably superb, if Xavier can't find someone else to help carry the offensive load this season, it's hard to see them winning games when their schedule begins to escalate, which it will VERY quickly.
 |
| Call me "Tu" but give me three. |
For Old Dominion, the Paradise Jam Final represents another important chance to stack an automatic bid-worthy chip in their favor. Their first opportunity narrowly slipped away as they lost their opener to Georgetown (who won their tournament, beating Vandy and Minnesota).
The game tips tomorrow night around 8:30 tomorrow and can be found on MOST Fox Sports affiliates.
Early Highs & Lows
As the saying goes, You can't win 'em all. Especially when you are the big boy on the block with a big target on your back for most of your non-conference games as smaller schools ramp up for one of the precious few chances to get some national attention. Every year several mid or low majors jump up and pick off one of the big boys, and just a short week into the season, this year is proving no exception.
Here's a quick rundown of what you might have missed in the opening week; five teams that have underwhelmed and a few more that have impressed. With about a half-dozen preseason tournaments going on this weekend, this list is sure to grow rapidly. The Maniac will provide another solid recap on Monday, as well as issuing some "Upset Alerts" for this weekend, so be sure to check back tonight and tomorrow
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Five Underwhelmers:
2. LSU - It seems like the Tigers seem to find their way into the Maniac's doghouse every Winter. Usually it's for their dreadful non-conference schedule. This year, it's for their dreadful schedule AND getting blasted at home by Nichols State. This Sunday's date with Memphis will be a good indication as to whether it was just a rough night or the start of a rough season.
3. Wake Forest - Perhaps no team in the country has been hit harder by early NBA entrants than the Deacons. Kentucky may have lost more players, but at least there it is sort of expected. It's also far easier to reload in the Bluegrass than it is in the pale shadow of Duke and UNC. It's an excuse for the Deacons to be down this season. It's not an excuse for opening with a home loss to Atlantic Sun also-ran Stetson . Following it up with a 90-69 drubbing, again at home, to Virginia Commonwealth has it looking like Wake could be near the bottom of a down ACC.
With one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules (Wofford, Iowa, Butler, Gonzaga, Georgia, LSU, Cincinnati and Wake Forest - plus possible meetings with either Old Dominion/Clemson or Seton Hall/Alabama) the Muskies better see some improvement quickly or it could be more than their Sweet 16 streak in jeopardy, it could be their tourney appearance streak as well...
5. South Florida - Last year the Bulls became media darlings of sorts as they made a daring run towards the NCAA Tournament despite being projected 14th or 15th in preseason BEast coaches polls. The Bulls came up just short, but entered this season with high expectations, despite Dominique James leaving early for the NBA. With losses to Southern Miss and UCF, the Bulls are not only digging a nearly-impossible to climb out of ditch, they would also be in last place in Conference USA.
And a Few Pleasant Surprises...
* Gardner Webb - Yes, they got boat raced down in Tallahassee, but the opening win over Charlotte was impressive. With upcoming dates with Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona State and Louisville the Bulldogs will get a few more chances to add another profile win. Don't laugh, one of those wins could be the difference between a #13 and a virtually unwinnable #15 or #16 seed in March.
* Georgia - Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee enter the season ranked and Vanderbilt is considered a fringe tournament team by most. However, don't sleep on Georgia in the slightly overrated SEC East. Their win over Colorado is a better win that it appears at first blush, and the 'Dawgs handled them with relative ease. A Thanksgiving date with Notre Dame and early December hookups with Georgia Tech and UAB will give the 'Dawgs a chance to build a solid profile before conference play.
* St Mary's - They've played two non D-1 throwaways, but the 76-71 win over an improved St John's squad could be a nice chip to pile in March. Omar Samham is gone, but don't make the mistake of overlooking the Gaels. They'll get their chance on December 1st to do something conference rival Gonzaga could not; beat San Diego State.
* San Diego State - Speaking of which, the Aztecs might be the best mid-major in the country this season. Their road win in the Kennel is as impressive a win as a team has notched so far in this young season. If "best" seems like hyperbole, it isn't. They have to be considered no worse than co-favorite with BYU to win the Mountain West, and appear to be ahead of Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier, Butler and the other usual suspects.
And the recap wouldn't be complete without a tip of the beanie to the Yale Bulldogs, despite losses to Quinnipiac and Providence, they were still able to go into Chestnut Hill and pull off the stunner.
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Big Night in the A-10
Tonight is a huge night of hoops for the nation's sixth best conference. No, we're not talking about the Pac-10, or even the Mountain West, but none other than the Atlantic-10. Depending on whom you believe, if the season ended today the A-10 would have four or even five teams in the Field of 65. Tonight's games gives us a good glimpse at some of the best, and also some of the middle of the pack slugging it out for position.
The marquee matchup takes place in Phily, where the 4-0 Xavier Musketeers visit the similarly unbeaten Temple Owls. Both teams seem likely tourney teams though Temple is much more of a lock than X at this point. Xavier has taken some losses, but none of them "bad" losses; double-OT at Wake Forest, at Kansas State (who just beat Texas), Baylor and Marquette on a neutral floor, Butler on the road on a controversial ending. Their overall profile, RPI (16th) and momentum (and pedigree, though it isn't supposed to matter) scream tourney team.
Tonight's game is huge for Temple, who can take control of the conference and legitimately start thinking Top 4 seed with a win tonight. The game is equally big for the Muskies, who have had a lot of close calls, but aside from the double-OT win over Cincinnati, lack a real marquee win. A quality road win against a ranked opponent does wonders for the RPI and national profile, as does taking control of the league.
Temple will look to wrestle control of the A-10 tonight hosting Xavier
Dayton also looks like as solid tourney team to me, but faces a tricky visit from GW tonight. The Flyers should win and keep pace in the A-10, but a game like tonight, against the 7th or 8th best team in the league, shows how good and deep the A-10 is in 2010.
It is a similar situation for Rhode Island when they host dissapointing Duquesne tonight. The Dukes were just a few minutes away from earning the league's NCAA bid last year, before falling to Temple in the closing minutes. With a lot of key cogs back, expectations were high in Pittsburgh. Suffice it to say they haven't been met. Since gagging up a win in double-OT against Pitt, the Dukes have gone 4-6, 0-3 in conference. Still, they have some talent and are much more of a threat than most league's cellar dwellers. It will be interesting to see how routinely the Rams handle their business.
Xavier v. Temple is the best game. The most intriguing game is Charlotte at Richmond. If a fifth team does sneak in from the A-10, it is likely one of these two. Richmond has the conference's best out of league glamour win collection, with wins over Florida, Old Dominion, Missouri and Mississippi State. However they have already lost to St. Louis in conference and had tougher-than-expected tussles with UMass and Lasalle.
Charlotte opened some eyes with the beatdown they laid on Louisville in Freedom Hall, but also boasts a 42-point loss to Duke to go with 33'er to Old Dominion and a 18-spot to Tennessee. If the committee looks at margin, this screams of a team that might embarass you if you select them. However, a win tonight brings them to 4-1 in the A-10, and probably slots them slightly ahead of the Spiders on the Big Board pecking order.
A great night of hoops for fans of the Atlanic-10 - enjoy!
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