21 Jan11 - The Churn

Volume XXV, No. 8 - 21 Jan11 - [] Top 25 Ballot

The Churn

As the BIG 10 Wars rage on, the churn of relentless competition spit out some of last week's darlings.
     Minnesota tanked twice: first, getting dumped by still unbeaten Michigan (57-@83 on freshman 7-1 fHunter Dicksinson[28p8r]'s star turn); then, getting thumped by Iowa (71-@86 as fLuka Garza[33p5r] and pJordan Bohannon[19p14a7r] both starred). Rutgers dropped two as well: first, tanking at Michigan State (45-@68 as the MS-Spartans dominated the boards 45-25); then, getting handled at home against rising Ohio State (@68-79). Illinois only managed to split on the week, starting with an impressive road rout at Northwestern (81-@56); but losing focus at home, tripping against mediocre Maryland (@63-66). Similarly, Michigan State couldn't follow up its big win, tripping at home against Purdue (@54-55 as tTrevion Williams[26p9r] starred).
     The PAC-12 is quietly having a strong season. Oregon fell at Colorado (72-@79 as xMcKinley Wright IV[21p10r5a] dueled 27p5r from bChris Duarte). (Remember, the Buffaloes were the only team to claim two crowns in the pared-down preseason, sharing both the LITTLE APPLE CLASSIC crown [with still undefeated Drake] and the FAR WEST CLASSIC [with giant-killer San Francisco]).
     In the BIG EAST, Creighton dumped Seton Hall (@83-59 shooting 60 percent from the floor). Meanwhile, Connecticut handled tumbling host Marquette (65-@54).
     In the disappointing ACC, Louisville edged Virginia Tech (@73-71).
     Former darling Missouri had rough week: first, tanking at Mississippi State (63-@78); then, getting handled at home by LSU (@61-75). Meanwhile, pretender Georgia's week went from bad to worse: the UG-Bulldogs lost a heart-breaker in overtime at LSU (92-@94[OT] despite 25p6r from bJustin Kier and 21p10a from 5-10 pSahvir Wheeler) and had nothing left for the next road game, getting thumped at Arkansas (66-@99 on pDavonta Davis[20p6a7r]'s star turn).
     In the BIG 12, upstart Oklahoma had a tough week on the road: tanking at Baylor (61-@76) and tripping at Kansas (59-@63). Texas edged host West Virginia on the road (72-@70 on Andrew Jones' game-winning three).

San Diego State salvaged a home split with a win over Colorado State second time out (@78-65 on tJordan Shakel[28p9r]'s star turn) to stay in contact early in the MOUNTAIN WEST race.
     Loyola(Illinois) fell off the pace in the MISSOURI VALLEY (behind Drake) when it tripped at home against lowly Indiana State (71-@76 as xTyreke Key[31p10r] dominated).
     What passed as Gonzaga's "biggest test" so far in WCC play was yet another rout as the GU-Bulldogs thrashed BYU (@86-69).
     Western Kentucky could only manage a home split with Louisiana Tech (@66-64 as cCharles Bassey[24p17r] dominated ; @58-63) to fall off the pace early on in CONFERENCE USA.
     Little Rock managed to split on the road at Louisiana (64-@66 ; 78-@76[OT]) to get an early leg up in the SUN BELT West.

- - - - - -

Most of the PATRIOT LEAGUE teams (all except Army-West Point and Navy, that is) didn't play any preseason games. (In fact, their combined 3-1 record in high-profile interconference games gave the league an inflated rating [based on the tiniest sample of all].)
     Boston University is requiring its own players to wear masks on the court during play [and requiring its opponents to do so as well in its home games].

- - - - - -

PAT/Colgate pulled off a road sweep of BosU (86-@79 as pJordan Burns[26p6a7r] starred ; 89-@45) to take full command of the North Division. COLON/Drexel got off to a bad start, getting swept in two squeakers at College of Charleston (60-@61 on Zep Jasper's game-winning free throws ; 68-@73 on gBrendon Tucker[35p]'s star turn).
     HORIZ/Wright State only managed a home split with Youngstown State (@72-74 as fNaz Bohannon[28p8r] starred ; @93-55 as xTanner Holden[24p10r4a] led six double-figure scorers) to fall off the pace (behind Cleveland State). MEAC/Morgan State earned a split on the road at Norfolk State (78-@74 ; 85-@89 despite 30p10r from xDe'Torrion Ware).

- - - - - -

Baylor hosts West Virginia (Tuesday) and visits Texas Tech (Saturday). Iowa hosts Michigan State (Thursday) and visits Northwestern (Sunday). Wisconsin goes on the road twice: first, in a showdown with still undeeated Michigan (Tuesday); then at reeling Rutgers (Friday). Michigan must also visit Minnesota (Saturday). Villanova is on the road twice as well: first, at Xavier (Wednesday); then, at Connecticut (Friday). Texas hosts Texas Tech (Wednesday). Ohio State has two tough road games: at Northwestern (Wednesday) and at Illinois (Saturday). Seton Hall hosts Xavier (Saturday). Virginia Tech hosts Duke (Tuesday). San Diego State has a tough road series on tap at Utah State (Thursday, Saturday).
     Drake's undefeated season gets tested with a big road series at Missouri State (Sunday, Monday week). Western Kentucky has a big home/away series on tap: vs Marshall (Friday), at Marshall (Sunday). Florida State hosts North Carolina (Saturday). Buffalo needs a home sweep to stay in contact with Bowling Green (Friday, Saturday).
     SOCON/Furman has a big week: visiting still undefeated Citadel (Wednesday) and hosting East Tennessee State (Saturday).
     In the SUN BELT, Little Rock (vs Texas State) and Georgia State (vs Coastal Carolina) can set themselves up well in the West and East Divisions if they can each pull off home series sweeps (Friday, Saturday).
     HORIZ/Wright State risks losing contact in the regular season race unless it can pull off the home series sweep of Cleveland State (Friday, Saturday). There's more on the line than just the usual crosstown rivalry when MEAC/Morgan State hosts Coppin State (Saturday, Sunday).

- - Ron

Key games this week:

Monday (CFP CHAMPIONSHIP):

@Drake-LoyolaIL-postponed(COVID-19[d]),

Tuesday:

@Baylor-WVirginia, Wisconsin-@Michigan, @VirginiaTech-Duke, @Kentucky-Alabama,

Wednesday:

Villanova-@Xavier, @Texas-TexasTech(TX), OhioSt-@Northwestern, @TheCitadel-Furman(SC), @WichitaSt-Tulsa,

Thursday:

@Iowa-MichiganSt, SanDiegoSt-@UtahSt, @StMarys-BYU, @EaWashington-SoUtah, @SacredHeart-CConnecticutSt(CT)(CT6),

Friday:

Wisconsin-@Rutgers, Villanova-@Connecticut, @WeKentucky-Marshall, @Buffalo-BowlingGreen, @LittleRock-TexasSt, @GeorgiaSt-CoCarolina, @WrightSt-ClevelandSt(OH), @Jacksonville-NFlorida(JacksonvilleFL),

Saturday:

Gonzaga-@StMarys, Baylor-@TexasTech(TX), Michigan-@Minnesota, OhioSt-@Illinois, @SetonHall-Xavier, Virginia-@Clemson, SanDiegoSt-@UtahSt, @FloridaSt-NCarolina, @Buffalo-BowlingGreen, @LittleRock-TexasSt, @Navy-American(MD/DC), @Furman-ETennesseeSt, @VMI-TheCitadel(MIL), @GeorgiaSt-CoCarolina, @EaWashington-SoUtah, @WrightSt-ClevelandSt(OH), @Jacksonville-NFlorida(JacksonvilleFL), @PrairieViewA&M-JacksonSt, @MorganSt-CoppinSt(BaltimoreMD), @NCA&T-FloridaA&M,
CAPITAL CITY/BLACK & BLUE CLASSIC HomeAway on-campus
-(Sat: @Richmond-VCU[RichmondVA];
   Fri 12 Feb: @VCU-Richmond[RichmondVA]),

Sunday:

Iowa-@Northwestern, @MissouriSt-Drake, @Marshall-WeKentucky, @MorganSt-CoppinSt(BaltimoreMD), @NCA&T-FloridaA&M,

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@Baylor-Kansas, @MissouriSt-Drake, @Louisville-FloridaSt, @LaSalle-StJosephs(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5), @TexasSo-JacksonSt.

---

Top 25 - 21 Jan11 - [] Column

1. Gonzaga (11-0)
2. Baylor (11-0)
3. Iowa (11-2)
4. Wisconsin (10-2)
5. Michigan (10-0)
6. Villanova (8-1)
7. Texas (10-1)
8. Kansas (9-2)
9. Creighton (10-2)
10. Houston (10-1)
11. Louisville (8-1)
12. Ohio State (9-3)
13. Minnesota (10-4)
14. Illinois (9-4)
15. Alabama (9-3)
16. Tennessee (9-1)
17. Oregon (9-2)
18. Seton Hall (9-5)
19. Virginia Tech (9-2)
20. Boise State (9-1)
21. LSU (8-2)
22. Connecticut (6-1)
23. Virginia (7-2)
24. San Diego State (8-2)
25. Colorado (8-3)

Honorable Mention:

Maryland (7-6), Michigan State (8-4), Mississippi State (8-4),

Connecticut (6-1),

Colgate (3-1), Siena (4-0).

21 Jan 4 - Where It's At

Volume XXV, No. 7 - 21 Jan 4 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Where It's At

In the BIG 12, Texas dumped host Kansas (84-@59 as the Jayhawks shot a woeful 3-for-23 on three-pointers). West Virginia tripped at Oklahoma (71-@75 on bUmoja Gibson[29p5r]'s star turn). Texas Tech, tripped in overtime at home to Oklahoma State (@77-82[OT]).
     Meanwhile, no doubt the BIG 10 Wars are Where It's At this season. With three teams in this week's Top 5 (and 5 in the Top 10), the postseason promises to be a special one; but the battle for the regular season title will be massively entertaining. Minnesota did well going 2-1 in a big week: first, the Golden Gophers routed Michigan State (@81-56); then, they were handled by host Wisconsin (59-@71); finally, UM thumped Ohio State (@77-60 as cLiam Robbins[27p14r] starred). Iowa went 2-0 itself: thumping Northwestern (@87-72 on pJordan Bohannon[25p5a5r] star turn); and edging host Rutgers (77-@75). Wisconsin could only manage a split on the week, falling at home to Maryland (@64-70). Northwestern made it 0-2 after tanking at Michigan (66-@85).
     In the SEC, Tennessee earned its first quality win on the season, dumping Missouri on the road (73-@53 only allowing one double-figure scorer); but then, the Volunteers fell at home to Alabama (@63-71). Elsewhere, LSU tripped at Florida (79-@83); and surprising Georgia fell at home to Mississippi State (@73-83).
     Inside the AMERICAN, Houston lost its first game, tripping at Tulsa (64-@65 on fBrandon Rachal's game-winning free throws).
     In the MOUNTAIN WEST, San Diego State tripped at home against Colorado State (@67-70 on John Tonje's game-winning three). Meanwhile, it's Boise State that's off to a 4-0 start.
     In the BIG EAST, Xavier laid an egg, tanking at home against Seton Hall (@68-85).

In the PACIFIC-12, USC fell at home to Colorado (@62-72). Meanwhile, Oregon dumped Stanford (@73-56) to go 3-0.
     In the downgraded ATLANTIC COAST, Florida State fell at Clemson (67-@77). Surprising Georgia Tech edged North Carolina (@72-67 on pJose Alvarado[20p7a7r]'s star turn).
     In the ATLANTIC 10, Richmond tripped at home to St. Bonaventure (@66-69).
     Western Kentucky started out its CONFERENCE USA campaign splitting on the road at Charlotte (67-@63 ; 71-@75[OT] as pJahmir Young[24p7a7r] starred).

Preseason giant-killer San Francisco (edged Virginia) had nothing to bother mighty Gonzaga in conference: the G-Bulldogs cruised at home (@85-62).
     In the OHIO VALLEY Wars, Eastern Kentucky edged disappointing Austin Peay [2-2] (80-@75 on bWendell Green Jr.[30p5r] star turn).

PAT/Colgate played its first games of the entire season, splitting at home against Army-West Point (@101-75 on 65 percent shooting ; @73-75 on Aaron Duhart's game-winning free throws). AMER.E/Vermont struggled for the second-straight week: first, tripping at home in double-overtime against New Jersey Tech (@80-81[2OT] on San Antonio Brinson's game-winner); then, splitting at home against Albany (@62-63 despite 21p11r from xRyan Davis ; @74-66). SUN.B/Georgia State split at Coastal Carolina (69-@81 as xDeVante' Jones[24p6a14r] starred ; 70-@62).
     HORIZ/Wright State split at Oakland (90-@51 on xTim Finke[16p5a11r]'s star turn ; 71-@81 as pJalen Moore[24p12a] starred).
     BIG.W/UC-Santa Barbara tripped at UC-Irvine (69-@73) to get swept right away in the Series Of The Year. A-SUN/Lipscomb started regular season play with a home split against Liberty (@77-70 ; @50-66).

- - - - - -

Out of conference, Wichita State edged host Mississippi State (83-@79) to clinch what was left of the AMERICAN/SEC ALLIANCE 2-0.

Good news: Florida's fKeontae Johnson (who collapsed on court in December in a game against Florida State) is out of the hospital and back with the Gators (as a "coach" only; it's doubtful that he will return to play this season).
     Meanwhile, West Virginia fOscar Tshiebwe has left the WV-Mountaineer program (for personal reasons) and is not expected to return.

Bad news: Arizona has followed the path of Auburn in self-imposing a postseason ban for this year (in anticipation of severe NCAA punishment to come [connected to the 2017 Shoe Scandal]) ... Ugh.

- - - - - -

Minnesota has another tough week with two road games: at Michigan (Wednesday) and at Iowa (Sunday). Creighton hosts Seton Hall (Wednesday). Louisville hosts Virginia Tech (Wednesday). Northwestern hosts Illinois (Thursday). Missouri hosts LSU (Saturday). Upstart Oklahoma has a rough week: visiting Baylor (Wednesday) and Kansas (Saturday).
     West Virginia hosts Texas (Saturday). San Diego State needs a win to salvage a home split against Colorado State (Monday). Michigan State hosts Rutgers (Tuesday). Struggling Marquette needs a big week to stay in the BIG EAST race: hosting Connecticut (Tuesday) and visiting Villanova (Friday).
     Upstart Drake hosts MVC-favorite Loyola(Illinois) twice (Sunday, Monday week). . Colgate visits Boston University (Saturday, Sunday) the first time around in Part I of the PATRIOT Series Of The Year. .

- - Ron

Key games this week:

Monday:

@SanDiegoSt-ColoradoSt, @Bradley-LoyolaIL(IL),

Tuesday:

Rutgers-@MichiganSt, @Marquette-Connecticut,

Wednesday:

@Baylor-Oklahoma, Minnesota-@Michigan, @Creighton-SetonHall, @Houston-WichitaSt, VirginiaTech-@Louisville, @WeCarolina-Furman,

Thursday:

@Gonzaga-BYU, Illinois-@Northwestern, Oregon-@Colorado,

Friday:

@Villanova-Marquette,

Saturday:

Texas-@WVirginia, @Kansas-Oklahoma, @Rutgers-OhioSt, @Missouri-LSU, @GeoMason-Richmond, @Pittsburgh-FloridaSt, @Buffalo-BallSt, @BostonU-Colgate, @NewHampshire-MDBaltimoreCo, @PrairieViewA&M-TexasSo(HoustonTX), @FloridaA&M-NCCentral, @NorfolkSt-MorganSt,

Sunday:

@Iowa-Minnesota, @Drake-LoyolaIL, @BostonU-Colgate, @NewHampshire-MDBaltimoreCol, @FloridaA&M-NCCentral, @NorfolkSt-MorganSt,

- - - - - -

Monday week (CFP CHAMPIONSHIP):

@Drake-LoyolaIL.

---

Top 25 - 21 Jan 4 - [] Column

1. Gonzaga (9-0)
2. Baylor (9-0)
3. Iowa (9-2)
4. Wisconsin (9-2)
5. Minnesota (10-2)
6. Villanova (8-1)
7. Texas (8-1)
8. Illinois (8-3)
9. Michigan (9-0)
10. Kansas (7-2)
11. Oregon (8-1)
12. Creighton (8-2)
13. Seton Hall (8-4)
14. Houston (8-1)
15. Alabama (7-3)
16. Virginia Tech (8-1)
17. Louisville (7-1)
18. Northwestern (5-3)
19. Rutgers (7-2)
20. Tennessee (7-1)
21. Ohio State (8-3)
22. Missouri (7-1)
23. Xavier (8-2)
24. Oklahoma (6-2)
25. Boise State (7-1)

Honorable Mention:

Tulsa (5-3), Maryland (6-4), Colorado State (5-1), Oklahoma State (7-2),

- - - - - -
Eastern Kentucky (8-2),

Furman (5-3),

Army-West Point (5-2), Winthrop (7-0),
- - - - - -
UC-Irvine (5-4).

20 Dec28 - Void Warriors (PRECONFERENCE)

Volume XXV, No. 6 - 20 Dec28: PRECONFERENCE - [] Top 25 Ballot

Void Warriors

We've already seen in the preseason how those teams with special home-court advantages (Duke and its "Cameron Crazies") and "home-away-from-home"-court advantages (Kentucky and its travelling "Big Blue Nation") have struggled to perform in more neutral settings. For conference play, that should apply to everyone. Traditionally, regular season conference champions are those teams with enough inner strength to play well on the road in the face of hostile crowds. "Defense travels" and "Role players blossom at home but shrink on the road" are truisms that usually are key to which teams claim the league titles. Still without many fans to speak of, those factors may not matter as much this season. Conference play should be more of an even playing field with younger teams finding it easier to step up and claim the big upset. More than any other season, players must find a way to generate their own energy and motivation to come through. This year, there won't be the home crowd to help pull off a shocking upset or to help bring a choking team back from a big deficit for a stunning comeback win. For conference play (and also likely for the all-Indianapolis-and-environs NCAA tournament), they must all learn to be "Void Warriors".

There are still some remaining out-of-conference results of note.
     Richmond's run in the national rankings ended when it tripped at home against Hofstra (@71-76 as the Pride shot 60 percent from the floor).
     As expected, Virginia proved to be no match for mighty Gonzaga: the G-Bulldogs thumped the Cavaliers (98-75 as both gCorey Kispert[32p] and tDrew Timme[29p8r] set career highs) at DICKIE'S ARENA in Ft. Worth,TX. In one of the lower profile editions of their State Title grudge match, Louisville kept Kentucky "Bluer Than Blue" as the L-Cardinals edged the K-Wildcats (@62-59). Disappointing Little Rock fell at Missouri State (77-@85 on tIsaiah Mosley[26p6a8r]'s star turn).

The FAR WEST CLASSIC at T-MOBILE ARENA in Las Vegas,NV (barely) got in enough games to declare Colorado and San Francisco "co-champions". Both teams beat "host" Grand Canyon and the Buffaloes beat conferencemate Washington in a non-league contest.

Winless Chicago State [0-9] cancelled the rest of the season over COVID-19. (Remember, they didn't play their final few regular season games last year [even before the entire NCAA season shut down].)

- - - - - -

Elsewhere, early conference play left marks that set up the shape of some league races.
     In the BIG 12, even though Baylor's form looks head-and-shoulders above the rest, Kansas hosting West Virginia was still a Top-5 clash. The Jayhawks handled the WV-Mountaineers (@79-65 sinking 16-for-37 threes).
     Meanwhile, the 20-game BIG 10 Wars promise to be the best league campaign we've seen anywhere in years with 8 teams in the Top 25. Ohio State handled Rutgers on the road (80-@68 dominating the boards 45-25). In an all-offensive shootout, Minnesota edged Iowa in overtime (@102-95[OT] as both pMarcus Carr[30p8a] and tBrandon Johnson[26p9r] dueled 32p17r from POTY xLuka Garza). Wisconsin also impressed with a road win at Michigan State (85-@76 despite 27p7r from fJoey Hauser). Northwestern escaped at home against Ohio State (@71-70).
     In the BIG EAST, Villanova already looks like the form horse, thumping host Marquette (85-@68), but second place is less certain. Creighton went a long way to securing that right away with a (squeak) home win over Xavier (@66-61).
     North Carolina hasn't looked great in the preseason and the Tar Heels started ACC play much the same way, tripping on the road at N.C. State (76-@79).
     The OHIO VALLEY had a strong preseason (no thanks to Austin Peay), but this year's OVC Wars won't be decided on one result. The Governors paid back from last week's road (blowout) loss at Murray State with this week's home (squeak) win over the Racers (@74-70 as xTerry Taylor[30p3a11r] starred).

Vermont skipped the entire preseason and earned a split in its opening AMERICA EAST (road) series at Massachusetts-Lowell: first, falling (65-@73 on xRon Mitchell[24p10r]'s star turn); then, bouncing back to win (62-@53).
     Memphis once again appears to be less than the sum of its parts, falling at home to Tulsa (@49-56) right away in the AMERICAN.
     The preseason hype over Northern Iowa proved to be a bust out of conference and MISSOURI VALLEY league play hasn't started any differently with a dreadful home rout loss to Missouri State (@59-79 as bIsaiah Mobley[26p4a5r]'s starred again).

The BIG WEST Series Of The Year comes right away, and UC-Santa Barbara tanked Game One at UC-Irvine (56-@75).

- - - - - -

There's no debate over this year's top team so far. Gonzaga has three elite wins in the preseason (Iowa, Kansas, West Virginia) (and Missouri is the only other team that even has two [Illinois, Oregon]). Baylor (beat Illinois) has been even more dominant against a lesser schedule. Villanova (beat Texas) stumbled against mediocre San Francisco, but looks to be the class of the BIG EAST once again. As impressive as the BIG 10 is as a whole, it's not at all clear which/how many juggernaut(s) will emerge by season's end.
     With its recent flagship programs (Virginia, North Carolina, Duke) all off to non-juggernaut starts, it's unclear whether the ACC teams will build each other up or tear each other down. Same goes for the PACIFIC-12, where USC/Oregon/UCLA could go either way.
     Houston (beat Texas Tech) has no real competition inside the AMERICAN. St. Louis (beat LSU) is the best team in a strong ATLANTIC 10. San Diego State/Boise State should battle for control on the MOUNTAIN WEST.

(With the pared-down preseason this year [probably only 40 percent of what's typical], tournament wins were hard to come by, and being "undefeated through the preseason" isn't as special as you'd like it to be. - - Ron)
     Technically, the WEST COAST had the top overall rating (25-8 in top match-ups [including 4 elite wins], 1.5 tournament crowns, 4-of-10 teams with elite [at least 4-to-1] won-loss records [including undefeated Gonzaga]). The BIG 12 was the best top-to-bottom (21-9 [2 elite wins], 3 crowns, 8-of-10 elite teams[Baylor and Oklahoma State undefeated]). The BIG 10 (27-14 [3 elite wins], no crowns, 8-of-14 elite teams[5 undefeated]) and BIG EAST (23-10 [3 elite wins], 1 crown, 6-of-10 elite teams[3 undefeated]) also rated as elite B-Majors.
     The ATLANTIC COAST (31-19 [2 elite wins], 1 crown, 9-of-15 elite teams[2 undefeated]) and PACIFIC-12 (16-10 [no elite wins], 1 crown, 5 elite teams[2 undefeated]) both were borderline B-Majors.
     Grading out as Mid-Majors was a disappointing preseason for the SOUTHEASTERN (18-16 [2 elite wins], no crowns, 7-of-14 elite teams[4 undefeated]), ATLANTIC 10 (17-17 [1 elite win], 2 crowns, only 3-of-14 elite teams[1 undefeated], [1 winless team]), MOUNTAIN WEST (10-9 [no elite wins], no crowns, 5-of-11 elite teams[2 undefeated]) and AMERICAN (10-10 [1 elite win], 1 crown, 5-of-11 elite teams[all 5 undefeated]).
     Traditional Mid-Majors CONFERENCE USA (9-6, 1 crown, 2 elites) and OHIO VALLEY (12-6, 2.5 crowns, 2 elites, [1 winless]) rated highly (on a small sample).
     Without much fanfare, the SOUTHERN (11-10, .5 crowns, 3 elites[2 undef]), COLONIAL (10-8, .5 crowns, no elites), SUN BELT (9-8, 3 elites), MISSOURI VALLEY (7-11, .5 crowns, 3 elites/undef) and MID-AMERICAN (6-8, , no elites) all had Mid-Major-rated preseasons of little note.
     This year's 1BC Red Swirl is based on limited results. Only the BIG SOUTH (, 1 crown, 1 elite/undef[Winthrop]) did anything notable. The PATRIOT (, , 1 elite), AMERICAN EAST (, , 1 elite, [3 winless]), METRO ATLANTIC (, , 1 elite/undef), BIG WEST (, , 4 elite[3 undef]) and HORIZON (, , 3 elite/undef) all were nondescript.
     Even on a small sample, these leagues established themselves as full-on 1BC Flops. The SOUTHLAND (, 1 crown, no elites), SUMMIT (, 1 crown, no elites) and WAC (, 1 crown, 2 elite[1 undef], [1 winless]) all at least showed a blip. The BIG SKY (, , 2 elite[1 undef], [1 winless]), SWAC (, , 1 elite/undef, [4 winless]) and NORTHEAST (, , 1 elite, [4 winless]) barely did anything notable. The ATLANTIC SUN (, , no elites) and MEAC (, , no elites, [2 winless]) were bottom of the bottom.

Player Of The Year is a runaway for stat-monger cLuka Garza(Iowa); but bAyo Dosunmu(Illinois) has been special as well. Golden Child Of The Year is bJalen Suggs(Gonzaga) so far without much competition. Graduate Tranfer Of The Year falls to pCarlik Jones(Radford->Louisville). (Regular) Transfer Of The Year tips towards fJoey Hauser(Marquette->Michigan State). Pat Kelsey(Winthrop) is the early frontrunner for Coach Of The Year.

- - - - - -

Here's a detailed look at the conferences after the preseason:

B-MAJOR
1. BIG 12 - Baylor (elite win) and Oklahoma State (made noise) both were undefeated; Kansas (elite win), West Virginia [3:nXOVER] (good win), Texas [3:MAUI] (made noise), TCU [2:CBE], Texas Tech and Oklahoma all were excellent. Iowa State and Kansas State both skirted .500.
2. BIG 10 - Minnesota (elite win), Ohio State (good win), as well as Michigan State and Rutgers (both made noise) plus Michigan all were undefeated; Wisconsin (elite win), Iowa (made noise) and Maryland all were excellent; Penn State (elite win), Illinois (made noise), Purdue, Indiana and Northwestern all starred. Nebraska skirted .500.
3. WEST COAST - Gonzaga [rr2:FT.MYERS] (elite wins) was undefeated; BYU (elite win), St. Mary's (made noise) and Santa Clara all were excellent; Portland and Pacific both starred. San Francisco .5[rr2:FAR.WEST] (good win), Loyola Marymount (made noise) and Pepperdine all skirted .500. (San Diego was a flop.)
4. ATLANTIC COAST - Clemson [2:nSPACE] and Wake Forest both were undefeated; Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh (both elite wins) as well as Louisville and Syracuse (both made noise) plus Florida State, North Carolina State and Miami(Florida) all were excellent; North Carolina and Georgia Tech (both made noise) and Virginia all starred. Notre Dame (made noise) skirted .500. (Boston College was a flop.)
5. BIG EAST - Connecticut (elite win), Xavier and DePaul all were undefeated; Villanova [2:2K.E] (elite win), Creighton and St. John's all were excellent; Marquette (elite win) and Providence (made noise) both starred. Seton Hall and Georgetown both skirted .500. (Butler was a flop.)
6. PACIFIC-12 - Washington State and Arizona (both made noise) both were undefeated; Oregon and USC (both made noise) as well as Colorado .5[rr2@KS-W/L.APPLE] .5[rr2:FAR.WEST] all were excellent; UCLA (made noise), Utah, California, Stanford and Oregon all starred. Arizona State skirted .500. (Washington was a flop.)
7. SOUTHEASTERN - Missouri (elite wins) as well as Georgia and Arkansas (both made noise) plus Tennessee all were undefeated; LSU, Texas A&M and Mississippi all were excellent; Auburn (made noise), Florida and Vanderbilt all starred. Alabama (good win) and Mississippi State both skirted .500. (South Carolina and Kentucky both were flops.)
8. ATLANTIC 10 - St. Bonaventure was undefeated; St. Louis [rr2vSL/BILLKEN] (elite win) and Dayton both were excellent; Richmond [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS] (good win), VCU (made noise) and George Mason all starred. [Fordham hasn't played yet.] La Salle (made noise), Davidson, Duquesne and Rhode Island all skirted .500. (St. Joseph's was winless.)
9. AMERICAN - Houston [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (elite win), Tulane (made noise), East Carolina, SMU and Temple all were undefeated; UCF (good win) and South Florida both starred. Tulsa, Memphis, Wichita State and Cincinnati (good win) all skirted .500.
   MID-MAJOR
10. CONFERENCE USA - Marshall (good win) and UAB both were excellent; Western Kentucky (made noise), Rice [rr2@IW/CARDINAL], UTEP et al. starred. North Texas, Texas-San Antonio et al. skirted .500. (Middle Tennessee was a flop.)
11. OHIO VALLEY - Belmont [rr2@PARADISE] (made noise) and Eastern Kentucky .5[rr2:NCS/WOLFPACK] both were excellent; Jacksonville State [rr3@SA/JAGUAR] and Austin Peay both starred. Murray State et al. skirted .500. (Southeast Missouri [made noise] et al. were flops; Tennessee Tech was winless.)
12. MOUNTAIN WEST - New Mexico and Fresno State both were undefeated; San Diego State and Boise State (both good wins) as well as Wyoming all were excellent; Nevada [rr2@N-C/GOLD.WNDO] and Colorado State both starred. Utah State (made noise) and Air Force both skirted .500. (San Jose State and UNLV both were flops.)
13. SOUTHERN - Chattanooga and The Citadel both were undefeated; Mercer (made noise) was excellent; Western Carolina .5[rr3@NCA/BULLDOG] and Furman both starred; Everybody else (including UNC-Greensboro [made noise]) skirted .500.
    1BC
    (SPLASH) - - - - -
14. MISSOURI VALLEY - Missouri State (made noise), Drake .5[rr2@KS-W/L.APPLE] and Southern Illinois all were undefeated; Bradley and Loyola(Illinois) both starred. (Northern Iowa was a flop.)
15. SUN BELT - In the East, Georgia State and Coastal Carolina both were excellent; Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and South Alabama all starred. Troy skirted .500.
         In the West, Louisiana was excellent; Texas State starred. Little Rock et al. skirted .500. (Lousiana-Monroe [made noise] was a flop.)
16. COLONIAL - Drexel (made noise), UNC-Wilmington .5[rr3@NCA/BULLDOG] and Elon all starred. Hofstra (good win), Delaware et al. skirted .500.
    (SWIRL) - - - - - -
17. PATRIOT - Army-West Point (made noise) was excellent; Navy starred. [Most of the league {including Colgate} played no preseason games.]
18. BIG SOUTH - Winthrop (good win) was undefeated. Campbell [rr3@J/DOLPHIN], Presbyterian and High Point all skirted .500. (Everyone else [including UNC-Asheville] was a flop; South Carolina Upstate was winless.)
19. BIG WEST - Nobody even so much as made noise. Hawaii, newcomer {UC-San Diego} and Cal State-Fullerton all were undefeated; UC-Santa Barbara was excellent; UC-Riverside starred. UC-Irvine et al. skirted .500.
20. AMERICA EAST - Nobody even so much as made noise. Maryland-Baltimore County was excellent. [Vermont hasn't played yet.] Hartford and New Jersey Tech both skirted .500. (Everyone else [including New Hampshire] was a flop; Albany, Maine and SUNY-B[Binghamton] all were winless.)
21. METRO ATLANTIC - Marist was undefeated. [Siena, Canisius and Manhattan all haven't played yet.] Quinnipiac (made noise), St. Peter's et al. skirted .500. (Monmouth, Rider and Fairfield all were winless.)
22. HORIZON - Youngstown State, IUPUI and Purdue-Ft. Wayne all were undefeated. Wright State starred. Illinois(Chicago), Milwaukee and Northern Kentucky all skirted .500. (Everyone else was a flop; Cleveland State, Green Bay and Oakland all were winless.)
23. MID-AMERICAN - Nobody even so much as made noise. Kent State, Bowling Green, Ohio University, Akron and Eastern Michigan all starred. Buffalo et al. skirted .500. (Northern Illinois and Western Michigan both were flops.)
    (FLOP) - - - - - -
24. WESTERN ATHLETIC - Nobody even so much as made noise. New Mexico State was undefeated; newcomer {Dixie State} was excellent. Seattle [rr3@P/PILOT], Texas-Rio Grande, Grand Canyon et al. skirted .500. (Utah Valley was a loser; Chicago State was winless [and cancelled the rest of the 2020-21 season].)
25. SOUTHLAND - Abilene Christian [rr3:GULF.CST] (made noise) and McNeese both starred. Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin both skirted .500. (Everyone else was a flop.)
26. ATLANTIC SUN - Florida Gulf Coast (made noise), Liberty and {North Alabama} all starred. Jacksonville, Lipscomb and Kennesaw State all skirted .500. (Everyone else [including newcomer {Bellarmine}] was a flop.)
27. SUMMIT - Nobody even so much as made noise. South Dakota State .5[rr3:vDAKOTA], newcomer Kansas City and Oral Roberts all skirted .500. (Everyone else [including North Dakota State .5{rr3:@DAKOTA}] was a flop.)
28. BIG SKY - Sacramento State was undefeated; Southern Utah was excellent. Northern Colorado, Montana, Weber State, Idaho State and Montana State all skirted .500. (Everyone else [including Eastern Washington] was a flop; Idaho was winless.)
29. NORTHEAST - Bryant was excellent. [Long Island and {Merrimack} both haven't played yet.] (Everyone else [including Mount St. Mary's {made noise} and Fairleigh Dickinson] was a flop. Sacred Heart, St. Francis[New York], Wagner and Central Connecticut State all were winless.)
30. MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC - In the Northern, only Morgan State and Norfolk State even skirted .500. (Delaware State was winless.)
         In the Southern, (everyone [including Florida A&M {made noise}] was a flop. South Carolina State was winless.)
31. SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC - Alabama State was undefeated. [Alabama A&M hasn't played yet.] (Everyone else [including Texas Southern] was a flop. Alcorn State, Jackson State, Southern and Mississippi Valley State all were winless.)

- - - - - -

The AMERICAN can clinch its abbreviated CHALLENGE with the SEC if Wichita State can beat Mississippi State at home (Saturday).

Kansas hosts Texas (Saturday). In the BIG 10 Wars, Minnesota has a huge week: hosting Michigan State (Monday), visiting Wisconsin (Thursday) and hosting Ohio State (Sunday); meanwhile, Iowa hosts Northwestern (Tuesday) and visits Rutgers (Saturday). Missouri can prove its stellar preseason was no fluke with a home win over Tennessee (Wednesday).
     Virginia hosts Virginia Tech (Saturday). Florida State hosts Duke (Saturday).
     In the OVC Wars, Belmont hosts Murray State (Wednesday) while Austin Peay hosts Eastern Kentucky (Saturday). MWC/UNLV hosts San Diego State (Thursday, Saturday) in its biggest series of the season.
     .
     The BIG WEST race may be over before it gets going if UC-Santa Barbara can't win at UC-Irvine (Monday) in Game Two of the Series Of The Year.

- - Ron

P.S. Happy New Year, everybody!

Key games this week:

Monday:

@Minnesota-MichiganSt, @Wisconsin-Maryland, @UCIrvine-UCSantaBarbara(CA),

Tuesday:

Northwestern-@Iowa, @WVirginia-Buffalo, @Duke-Pittsburgh,

Wednesday:

@Missouri-Tennessee, @Belmont-Murray St, @Towson-MorganSt(BaltimoreMD)-rescheduled,
[P]PILOT INVITATIONAL CoolDown2 @ PortlandOR/Portland/ -(@Seattle-Portland; Idaho, {WilliamJessup}),

Thursday:

Minnesota-@Wisconsin, SanDiegoSt-@UNLV,

Friday (NEW YEAR'S):

@Akron-KentSt(OH)(NEO)-rescheduled,

Saturday:

@Kansas-Texas, @Rutgers-Iowa, VirginiaTech-@Virginia(VA), SanDiegoSt-@UNLV, @FloridaSt-Duke, @AustinPeay-EaKentucky, SEC[?0-0?]/AMERICAN[?0-0?] ALLIANCE on-campus - - AMERICAN leads 1-0
-(Houston-@SCarolina;
   @SMU-Vanderbilt;
   Sat: @WichitaSt-MississippiSt),

Sunday:

@Minnesota-OhioSt,

- - - - - -

Monday week:

(None).

---

Top 25 - 20 Dec28: PRECONFERENCE - [] Column

1. Gonzaga (7-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS] (:JIMMY.V) (:SANFORD)
2. Baylor (6-0) (:JIMMY.V)
3. Kansas (7-1) (:CHAMPS) (vBIG12)
4. Minnesota (8-1) (vACC)
5. Missouri (6-0) (vBRAGGIN')
6. Rutgers (6-1) [rr2vNJ.HOOPS] (vACC)
7. Villanova (8-1) [2:2K.E] (@BIG.E) (vHOLY)
8. Northwestern (5-1)
9. Houston (7-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (vSEC)
10. Wisconsin (8-1) (vACC)
11. Ohio State (7-2) (@ACC) (vCB/SPORTS)
12. Virginia Tech (7-1)
13. West Virginia (7-2) [3:nXOVER] (@BIG.E)
14. Iowa (7-2) (vACC) (vIA/CY-HAWK)
15. St. Louis (7-1) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
16. Texas (7-1) [3@MAUI]
17. Michigan State (6-2) (@CHAMPS)
18. San Diego State (5-1)
19. Illinois (7-3) (@ACC)
20. Creighton (7-2) (vNE)
21. Louisville (6-1) (vKY)
22. Xavier (8-1) [rr3vX/MUSKETEER] (@XTOWN) (vBIG12)
23. UCLA (5-2)
24. Tennessee (6-0)
25. Texas Tech (7-2)

Honorable Mention:

Hofstra (4-3).

Richmond (6-2) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS],

Clemson (6-1) [2:nSPACE],
TCU (7-2) [2:CBE],
Drake (10-0)/Colorado (6-1) [rr2@KS-W/L.APPLE],
Nevada (6-3) [rr2@N-C/GOLD.WNDO],

Seattle (5-5) [rr3@P/PILOT],
Colorado (6-1)/San Francisco (6-4) [rr2:FAR.WEST],
Belmont (8-1) [rr2@PARADISE] (@BOB),

Jacksonville State (6-2) [rr3@SA/JAGUAR],

Abilene Christian (7-2) [rr3:GULF.CST],
Western Carolina (7-2)/UNC-Wilmington (6-3) [rr3@NCA/BULLDOG],

Campbell (4-3) [rr3@J/DOLPHIN],
Eastern Kentucky (7-1) .5[rr2:NCS/WOLFPACK],
Rice (6-2) [rr2@IW/CARDINAL],
North Dakota State (2-6)/South Dakota State (5-3) [rr3:@vDAKOTA].

20 Dec21 - 'Zags Keep It Running

Volume XXV, No. 5 - 20 Dec21 - [] Top 25 Ballot

'Zags Keep It Running

In a specialty SANFORD CHALLENGE at the PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD, Gonzaga outran Iowa (99-88 on 25 assists as GC bJalen Suggs[27p7r] dueled 30p10r from POTY cLuka Garza). Unless the G-Bulldogs reschedule Baylor (JIMMY V) or Tennessee (BUBBLEVILLE-INDY), there's only Virginia next week in Ft. Worth,TX to stand in their way of running the table inside the WEST COAST until we get to the NCAA tournament. (That's how impressive [and stoppable] they've been so far!)

Wisconsin played its rescheduled CHALLENGE matchup hosting Louisville and thorougly dumped the L-Cardinals (@85-48 sinking 16-for-25 threes) to make it BIG 10(7)/ACC(5) - - the Badgers haven't exhibited this level of outside shooting, so it's unclear whether this was a fluke or a trend.
     In the CB/SPORTS CLASSIC at Cleveland,OH, UCLA fell to "host" Ohio State (70-@77) in what turned out to be the Feature match while North Carolina handled Kentucky (75-63) in what proved to be the "Undercard".

St. Louis fell back to earth, losing at Minnesota (82-@90 as pMarcus Carr[32p7a] dueled 21p7a10r from xJordan Goodwin). San Diego State fell at home against BYU (@62-72 despite 35p from gMatt Mitchell). Florida State lost it's second-tier State Title matchup at home to UCF (@74-86 on fBrandon Mahan[32p6r]'s star turn).
     Loyola(Illinois)' nonconference slate took a dive with two losses: first, getting handled at Wisconsin (63-@77); then, tripping at home against Richmond (@73-75). BIGS/Winthrop may be the best of a weak bunch of 1BC teams after thumping Furman (@87-71). Arizona State's poor start got worse, falling at home against Border War-rival UTEP (@63-76 as the TEP-Aggies dominated the boards 46-26). Disappointing Buffalo tripped in overtime in its annual grudge match at "Big Brother" Syracuse (96-@107[OT] as multiple players starred for both teams)
     In the lone Philadelphia BIG 5 matchup that has been played, Villanova dumped St. Joseph's (@88-68 as pJeremiah Robinson-Earl[25p6a7r] starred) in the rescheduled HOLY WAR.

- - - - - -

Some meaningful conference games have already taken place.
     In the BIG 10, Michigan State fell at Northwestern (65-@79 on gBoo Buie[30p4a]'s star turn); Illinois tripped at Rutgers (88-@91 as tRon Harper Jr.[28p9r] dueled 22p6a11r from xAyo Dosunmu). In the BIG EAST, Marquette was up-and-down: first, edging host Creighton on the road (89-@84 despite 26p6r from bMitch Ballock); but then falling at home to Seton Hall (@63-70); and also tripping at host Xavier (88-@91 on Adam Kunkel's game-winning three as pPaul Scruggs[29p6a] starred).
     In the BIG 12, Kansas edged host Texas Tech (58-@57 on Ochai Ogbaji's game-winner).

- - - - - -

Virginia (Saturday at Ft. Worth,TX) is the last "Paper Tiger" currently on the schedule standing between Gonzaga and its expected easy romp through the WEST COAST conference and an undefeated regular season.
     This year marks one of the lowest profile grudge matches when Louisville hosts Kentucky (Saturday).
     BYU can run the table at 4-0 and declare itself this year's Utah State Title champ with a win over Weber State in the BEEHIVE CLASSIC in Salt Lake City (Wednesday). The FAR WEST CLASSIC (Monday-Tuesday) won't get in enough matchups to even declare a winner. . .

Kansas hosts West Virginia (Tuesday) in a Top-5 showdown. Minnesota hosts Iowa Friday. Michigan State hosts Wisconsin (Friday). Ohio State has a tough week, hosting Rutgers (Wednesday) and visiting Northwestern (Saturday). Oregon hosts UCLA (Wednesday).
     Marquette hosts Villanova (Wednesday). Creighton hosts Xavier (Wednesday).
     Austin Peay is already in trouble in the OVC Wars and can't afford to lose at home to Murray State (Monday).
     . The BIG WEST Series Of The Year happens right away when UC-Santa Barbara visits UC-Irvine (Sunday, Monday week).

-- Ron

P.S. Don't forget: the deadlines for this year's Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's free College Football Bowl Season Pool) are:

{Soft}: 2.30Pet {n/MYRTLE BEACH})
{HARD}: 3.30Pet {NEW MEXICO}

Key games this week:

Monday:

@BYU-TexasSo, @AustinPeay-MurraySt,
(PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE {Soft}: 2.30Pet {n/MYRTLE BEACH})

Monday-Tuesday:

FAR WEST CLASSIC RndRob2 @ LasVegasNV/T-MOBILE/ -(SanFrancisco, Colorado, Washington, CalStFullterton, @GrandCanyon),

Tuesday:

@Kansas-W Virginia, @SanDiegoSt-StMarys(CA)(@SanLuisObispoCA), @StBonaventure-Buffalo(NY)(BIG4), @Drexel-Siena,

Wednesday:

Rutgers-@OhioSt, Villanova-@Marquette, Illinois-@PennSt, Xavier-@Creighton, @Oregon-UCLA-postponed(COVID-19[?]), @USC-TexasSo, @NCA&T-UNCGreensboro(GreensboroNC), BEEHIVE CLASSIC 1Off @ SaltLakeCityUT/Utah/ -(@BYU-@WeberSt[UT]),

Thursday:

(PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE {HARD}: 3.30Pet {NEW MEXICO})

Friday (CHRISTMAS):

Iowa-@Minnesota, @MichiganSt-Wisconsin,

Saturday:

Gonzaga-Virginia(@Ft.WorthTX/DICKIES/),@Northwestern-OhioSt, @Louisville-Kentucky(KY)(BIG4), @ClevelandSt-YoungstownSt(OH)(NEO),

Sunday:

@ClevelandSt-YoungstownSt(OH)(NEO), @UCIrvine-UCSantaBarbara(CA),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@Wisconsin-Maryland, @Minnesota-MichiganSt, @UCIrvine-UCSantaBarbara(CA).

---

Top 25 - 20 Dec21 - [] Column

1. Gonzaga (4-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS] (:JIMMY.V) (:SANFORD)
2. Baylor (5-0) (:JIMMY.V)
3. Kansas (6-1) (:CHAMPS) (vBIG12)
4. Missouri (5-0) (vBRAGGIN')
5. West Virginia (7-1) [3:nXOVER] (@BIG.E)
6. Rutgers (6-0) [rr2vNJ.HOOPS] (vACC)
7. Villanova (7-1) [2:2K.E] (@BIG.E) (vHOLY)
8. Northwestern (3-1)
9. Houston (5-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (vSEC)
10. Iowa (6-1) (vACC) (vIA/CY-HAWK)
11. Minnesota (7-1) (vACC)
12. Michigan State (6-1) (@CHAMPS)
13. St. Louis (6-1) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
14. Texas (7-1) [3@MAUI]
15. Richmond (6-1) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS]
16. Wisconsin (6-1) (vACC)
17. Virginia Tech (6-1)
18. San Diego State (4-1)
19. Illinois (5-3) (@ACC)
20. Ohio State (6-1) (@ACC) (vCB/SPORTS)
21. Xavier (8-0) [rr3vX/MUSKETEER] (@XTOWN) (vBIG12)
22. Tennessee (4-0)
23. Texas Tech (6-2)
24. Oregon (6-1)
25. LSU (4-1)

Honorable Mention:

BYU (6-2), UCF (2-1) (@FL), Marquette (5-4) (vWI), Seton Hall (5-4)

= = = = = =

{West Virginia Tech} (4-4).

20 Dec14 - Hawkeyes Inside-Out

Volume XXV, No. 4 - 20 Dec14 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Hawkeyes Inside-Out

Here's a "surprise": Neither the BIG 10/ACC CHALLENGE nor the BIG 12/BIG EAST ALLIANCE was able to get in all their matchups. Both stand in limbo with neither having completed a decisive total pending the postponed games.

The BIG 10 dominated the ACC on Day One (6-1). Illinois thumped host Duke (minus "The Cameron Crazies", 83-@68 posting six double-figure scorers led by xAyo Dosunmu[18p5a12r]'s star turn). Penn State did them one better as giant-killer Virginia Tech tanked at home (@55-75). Iowa outran North Carolina (@93-80 with Hawkeyes' shooting 17-for-40 on threes) as the All-America center matchup of cLuka Garza(16p14p;6/20fg) versus fGarrison Brooks(17p8r) disappointed. Ohio State provided the third road win, beating host Notre Dame (90-@85 despite 26p6a6r from pPrentiss Hubb). Also, host Rutgers handled Syracuse (@79-69 as bRon Harper Jr.[26p7r] starred).
     The ACC turned the tables on Day Two (4-0). Florida State edged Indiana in overtime (@69-67[OT] on GC pScottie Barnes' game-winner despite 25p17r from cTrayce Jackson-Davis). Meanwhile, both Georgia Tech (over host Nebraska, 75-@64) and Pittsburgh (over host Northwestern, 71-@70 dominating the boards 54-34 on xJustin Cahmpagnie[20p20r;GWFG]'s star turn) won on the road.
     But this year's final tally is on hold at 6-5 with three games postponed due to COVID-19 (Michigan State at Virginia, Louisville at Wisconsin, and Michigan hosting North Carolina State) and uncertainty whether any or all of them will be made-up at a later date.

The BIG 12 entered the week up 2-1 over the BIG EAST (all road wins) with three games already postponted (Baylor at Seton Hall, Texas Tech hosting St. John's, and Iowa State hosting DePaul). Host Kansas edged Creighton (@73-72 on tJalen Wilson[23p10r]'s game-winning three); host Xavier outran Oklahoma (@99-77 sinking 19-for-32 threes on 28 assists as bZach Freemantle[28p5r] and bNate Johnson[25p6r] both got off); and Providece beat host TCU (79-@70 as pDavid Duke[28p7a] dueled 28p7a7r from pR.J. Nembhard).
     That leaves things tied 3-3 with a FOURTH GAME POSTPONED (Butler hosting Kansas State).

- - - - - -

In their annual BRAGGIN' RIGHTS Border War clash, it was host Missouri edging Illinois (@81-78 despite 36p5r from bAyo Dosunmu).
     Kentucky's woes continued as Bluegrass-rival Notre Dame earned its first-ever win at Rupp Arena (64-@63 [after leading 48-@26 at halftime]).
     In this year's edition of the State Title CY-HAWK SERIES, Iowa routed Iowa State (@105-77 as runaway Player Of The Year gLuka Garza[34p;6/7 3s] starred) - - the Hawkeyes can kill you with threes, or cGarza can kill you point-blank; there's no stopping them on offense, it's up to their defense as to this season's having a Sweet Sixteen finish or Final Four. Creighton routed Nebraska in their State Title showdown (@98-74 despite 26p9r from tTeddy Allen).
     There's no official BIG 5 schedule this year for Philadelphia's schools; it's just "catch as catch can". Drexel managed to get in a "Philly 6/City Series" game, but fell at home to La Salle (@48-58).
     Normally a two-game home-and-home series, this year's BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD is a one-game affair between Nashville crosstown rivals - - Lipscomb fell at home to Belmont (@71-82 despite 29p11r3a from xAhsan Asadullah).

- - - - - -

A scary moment in the annual Florida State/Florida State Title match - - (the Seminoles won @83-71): Gator fKeontae Johnson collapsed on the court and was rushed the hospital in critical condition.

- - - - - -

In Part II of the double-weekend HOLIDAY HOOPSGIVING event at STATE FARM ARENA in Atlanta,GA, disappointing Memphis tripped against Auburn (71-74 on freshman tJustin Powell[26p8r]'s star turn).

Two minor tournaments were able to complete. BIGS/Campbell was an Unwelcome Guest winning the round-robin DOLPHIN CLASSIC (including edging host Jacksonville[80-@78 as bCedric Henderson Jr.{26p5r} starred]). South Dakota State and North Dakota State both went 2-1 to share the crown at the SUMMIT "Inner Circle"/DAKOTA SHOWCASE at SANFORD PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD.

Elsewhere, West Virginia had no trouble thumping Richmond (@87-71). San Diego State was impressive handling host Arizona State (80-@68 as bJordan Schakel[25p6r] dueled 25p4a5r from bAlonzo Verge Jr.). Earlier, Richmond was able to handle disappointing Northern Iowa (@78-68). UCLA beat Marquette (@69-60).
     SOCON/Furman tripped at Cincinnati (73-@78 as fKeith Williams[27p5r] starred). HORIZ/Wright State thumped host MAC/Bowling Green (85-@67).

- - - - - -

In early conference play, Austin Peay tanked at Murray State (57-@87 as the Racers shot 60 percent from the floor) in but the first battle of the OHIO VALLEY Wars.
     In the BIG SOUTH, things couldn't have started better for Winthrop, which opened with a pair of road blowouts in its series at South Carolina Upstate (95-@77 and 107-@79). In the NORTHEAST, Fairleigh Dickinson split its home series with Central Connecticut State (first, falling @87-94 despite 24p4a9r from tElyjah Williams; then, winning @79-71 posting six double-figure scorers).

- - - - - -

Coming off of two-straight home losses, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski openly wondered, "Is it worth it to keep playing?" He further declared that the Blue Devils will cancel outright and not reschedule their currently postponed non-conference games. He claimed it was for the benefit of his players' mental health in order to let its "kids" go home for the holidays. In response, Alabama coach Nate Oats openly wondered if the Duke coach would be saying this without those losses. (Remember, Coach K was one of the staunchest proponents at the start of the season that things go forward.) Yes, this moment is stressful for absolutely everyone; but letting his players scatter to the four corners of the U.S. and then reconvene is incredibly dangerous to them, their families and to everyone else when they come back. None of these twenty-somethings should be anywhere near priority of receiving vaccines (unless they jump the line because of privilege). People should be "sheltering in place" during these worst weeks of the Pandemic, not scattering, mingling and then regrouping. (So, I'm agreeing with Oats that this is "sour grapes" from Coach K.)

- - - - - -

Top-5 unbeatens clash when Gonzaga meets Iowa in the SANFORD CHALLENGE at the PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD (Saturday). Wisconsin hosts Louisville (Saturday) in their rescheduled BIG 10/ACC CHALLENGE matchup. UCLA meets "host" Ohio State at the CB/SPORTS CLASSIC in Cleveland (Saturday).
     Loyola(Illinois) has a big week: visiting Wisconsin (Tuesday) and hosting Richmond (Friday). Disappointing underachivers clash when North Carolina meets Kentucky at the CB/SPORTS CLASSIC in Cleveland (Saturday).
     It's one of the lowest profile editions of the CROSSROADS CLASSIC in Indianapolis (Saturday) when Butler "hosts" Indiana and Purdue meets Notre Dame.
     Soaring Winthrop hosts Furman (Saturday).

Conference play is getting under way for more leagues.
     Texas Tech hosts Kansas (Thursday). Creighton hosts Marquette (Monday).

- - Ron

P.S. Don't forget, the deadline for this year's (14TH ANNUAL) Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's College Football Bowl Season Pool) is NEXT MONDAY, 21-DECEMBER [2:30Pet].)

Key games this week:

Monday:

@Creighton-Marquette,

Tuesday:

@Wisconsin-LoyolaIL, @AustinPeay-FloridaA&M, @Utah-UTValley(UT), StBonaventure-@Akron(@ClevelandOH), @UtahSt-{DixieSt}(UT),

Wednesday:

@Wisconsin-NoIowa-cancelled(COVID-19[ni]), @Drexel-StJosephs(PhiladelphiaPA), @GeorgiaSt-Mercer(GA),

Thursday:

Kansas-@TexasTech, @SoUtah-{DixieSt}(UT),

Friday:

Richmond-@LoyolaIL,

Saturday:

Villanova-Virginia(@NewYorkNY/MSG/)- cancelled(COVID-19[uva], Houston-@Alabama-cancelled(COVID-19[h]), @SCarolina-Clemson(SC), @Georgia-Cincinnati, @KentSt-Akron(OH)(NEO), @Winthrop-Furman(SC), @Towson-MorganSt(BaltimoreMD)-postponed(COVID-19[t]), @FairleighDickinson-Drexel,
SD-A SANFORD CHALLENGE 1Off @ SiouxFallSD/PENTAGON/
-(Gonzaga-Iowa),
ACC?[12-5;3]?/BIG 10?[5-12;3]? CHALLENGE on-campus - - BIG 10 leads 6-5
[Wake Forest does not play. ; ]
-(MichiganSt-@Virginia,
   @Iowa-NCarolina,
   Illinois-@Duke,
   @FloridaSt-Indiana,
   @VirginiaTech-PennSt,
   @Michigan-NCState,
   @NotreDame-OhioSt(BG),
   @Minnesota-BostonCol,
   @Rutgers-Syracuse,
   @MiamiFL-Purdue,
   @Nebraska-GeorgiaTech,
   @Clemson-Maryland,
   @Northwestern-Pittsburgh;
   Sat: Louisville-@Wisconsin- rescheduled),
THE HOLY WAR 1Off on-campus
-(@Villanova-StJosephs[PhiladelphiaPA][BIG5]-rescheduled),
CB/SPORTS CLASSIC DblHdr @ ClevelandOH
-(UCLA-@OhioSt, NCarolina-Kentucky),
[P]PILOT INVITATIONAL RndRob2/CoolDown on-campus
-(@Seattle-Portland; Idaho, {WilliamJessup}),
INDY-C CROSSROADS CLASSIC DblHdr @ IndianapolisIN/BANKERS/
-(@Butler-@Indiana[IN], @Purdue-@NotreDame[IN]),

Sunday:

(None),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@AustinPeay-MurraySt, (PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE [2.30Pet]).

---

Top 25 - 20 Dec14 - [] Column [P.S. Don't forget: the PIGSKIN deadline is NEXT MON 21-DEC (2:30Pet)!]

1. Gonzaga (3-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS] (:JIMMY.V)
2. Baylor (4-0) (:JIMMY.V)
3. Michigan State (6-0) (@CHAMPS)
4. Iowa (6-0) (vACC) (vIA/CY-HAWK)
5. Kansas (5-1) (:CHAMPS) (vBIG12)
6. Missouri (5-0) (vBRAGGIN')
7. West Virginia (6-1) [3:nXOVER] (@BIG.E)
8. Villanova (5-1) [2:2K.E] (@BIG.E)
9. Illinois (4-2) (@ACC)
10. Richmond (4-1) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS]
11. Houston (4-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (vSEC)
12. Texas (5-1) [3@MAUI]
13. St. Louis (4-0) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
14. San Diego State (4-0)
15. Louisville (4-0)
16. Florida State (3-0) (vBIG10) (vFL)
17. Creighton (4-1) (vNE)
18. Duke (1-2)
19. Wisconsin (4-1)
20. UCLA (5-1)
21. LSU (3-1)
22. Texas Tech (6-1)
23. Marquette (4-2) (vWI)
24. Tennessee (2-0)
25. Virginia (3-1)

Honorable Mention:

Penn State (3-2) (vACC) Campbell (4-0) [rr3@J/DOLPHIN], North Dakota State (2-5)/South Dakota State (5-3) [rr3@vDAKOTA].

20 Dec 7 - Minus Six

Volume XXV, No. 3 - 20 Dec 7 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Minus Six

Without their usual Sixth Man support for their home crowds (the "Cameron Crazies" in Durham,NC; home state support in Asheville,NC; or "home-away-from-home" support from the travelling Big Blue Nation), the three "young-but-GC-talented" teams (Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky) all showed their youth more than their GC-talent in losses this past week.
     The CHAMPIONS CLASSIC was originally slated to take place at the UNITED CENTER in Chicago,IL. That got changed to Indianapolis,IN. Then, it was decided it was best to split the double-header into two separate locations. So Duke hosted Michigan State at Cameron Indoor Stadium; but without no crowd, the MS-Spartans earned coach Tom Izzo's first-ever road win against the D-Blue Devils (75-@69). Meanwhile, Kansas showed poise to edge Kentucky (65-62 as the K-Wildcats only shot 3-for-21 on threes). Young North Carolina was the paper-favorite to win the MAUI INVITATIONAL (relocated from Lahaina,HI to Asheville,NC). Instead, the Tar Heels tripped in the final against Texas (@67-69 on Matt Coleman III's game-winner).

This year, the JIMMY V CLASSIC (also in Indianapolis,IN) had a better lineup than CHAMPIONS. Baylor was impressive in handling a strong Illinois team (82-69). Gonzaga got its strongest challenge so far in the young season, but outlasted a very good West Virginia team (87-82).
     The State Title showdown between Wisconsin and Marquette came down to a last-second free throw attempt, which was missed but put back at the buzzer by fJustin Lewis to give the M-Golden Eagles the @67-65 win over the Badgers. Kentucky lost its second game of the week in a disatrous "road" rout to lowly Georgia Tech (62-@79) as part of the HOLIDAY HOOPSGIVING event at STATE FARM ARENA in Atlanta,GA. Oregon played a couple of games in Omaha,NE (parlaying coach Dana Altman's connection from his previous stint at Creighton). Although they did beat Seton Hall (83-70), they fell to unheralded Missouri (75-83 despite 31p11r from xEugene Omoruyi).

Despite high hopes for this season, some Splaahworthy teams failed some early tests.
     Western Kentucky has started well, but it was the same-old same-old against "Big Brother" Louisville in this year's matchup as the L-Cardinals routed the Hilltoppers (@75-54). USC tripped against Connecticut (58-@61) inside the LEGENDS CLASSIC at the MOHEGAN SUN ARENA in Uncasville,CT. SUNB/Little Rock tripped against BIGS/Winthrop (75-80 despite 25p10a from 5-7 pMarkquis Nowell) inside the Louisville,KY "BUBBLE".

The BIG EAST/BIG 12 BATTLE got three matchups in - - all three were road "upsets". West Virginia won at Georgetown (80-@71); Villanova edged Texas (68-@64); and Oklahoma State upended Marquette (70-@62).
     In the one SEC/AMERICAN ALLIANCE matchup that was actually played, Houston handled South Carolina (@77-67).

"Baby Brother" Mercer followed up its Week One road win over "Big Brother" Georgia Tech (83-@78) with a Week Two (home) rout win over "Little Brother" Georgia State (@86-69). ("Elder Brother" Georgia wants no part of the M-Bears this year.)
     Little Rock edged rival Central Arkansas (@86-84 as pNowell[19p13a5r] starred) to retain the GOVERNOR'S I-40 CUP.

For the most part, the few round-robin tournaments that got in enough games to feel complete all ended with the host team winning a showcase. Only OVC/Jacksonville State pulled off the Unwelcome Guest win at the [SUNB/South Alabama]JAGUAR CLASSIC. In early conference play, Bowling Green took the lead in the MID-AMERICAN with a home win over Buffalo (@86-76 as gJustin Turner[33p3a] starred).

- - - - - -

The BIG EAST might yet salvage a 4-3 win over the BIG 12 despite Kansas' handling Creighton (Tuesday) if Xavier(over Oklahoma; Wednesday) and Butler(over Kansas State; Friday) both take care of business at home and Providence can come through with a road win at TCU (Wednesday).
     It could be 9-5 (or worse) for the BIG 10 over the ACC in this year's CHALLENGE (Tuesday-Wednesday) with expected road wins for Illinois over Duke and Michigan State over Virginia as well as Ohio State over Bluegrass-rival Notre Dame, and Maryland over Clemson with only Georgia Tech over Nebraska and Boston College over Minnesota to counter. Florida State hosting Indiana is no gimme. For pure entertainment, don't miss Iowa(cLuka Garza) hosting North Carolina(cGarrison Brooks) on Tuesday.
     (Now's not the year, but will we ever see a top-to-bottom MEAC/SWAC CHALLENGE? Somebody, please make this happen!)

I love to see local schools codifying regional rivalries. We need more associations like the Philadelphia Big Five. I know this year's, tough. We are still getting the CROSSROADS CLASSIC (Indiana/Purdue, Notre Dame, Butler) in two weeks; but the [IOWA] BIG FOUR CLASSIC double-header (Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa/Drake), the BEEHIVE CLASSIC double-header (four among BYU, Utah, Weber State/Southern Utah, Utah Valley/and now {Dixie State}), the NEO[NorthEast Ohio] CLASSIC double-header (Akron/Kent, Cleveland State/Youngstown State), and the CONNECTICUT SIX triple-header (Yale, Hartford, Fairfield/Quinnipiac, Central Connecticut State/Sacred Heart) all should be never-cancelled annual events.
     Bring back the [BLUEGRASS] BIG FOUR CLASSIC double-header (Indiana, Louisville/Notre Dame, Kentucky) or, better yet, make sure all four teams play each other every year. Bring back the ALL-MILITARY CLASSIC double-header (among Army-West Point/Navy, Air Force, VMI/The Citadel). How about a [WESTERN] NEW YORK BIG FOUR CLASSIC (Buffalo, St. Bonaventure, Canisius/Niagara).
     (Oh, how I wish they'd establish a "Baltimore Five" City Series [with Loyola{Maryland}, Maryland-Baltimore County, Towson, and Coppin State/Morgan State].)
     Good news is we are getting a brand new DAKOTA SHOWCASE round-robin event (Thursday-Saturday; among BIG SKY conferencemates, no less) with South Dakota State, South Dakota, North Dakota and North Dakota State all getting together at the SANFORD PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD. (Remember in the 1960s when Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest all would get together for their own BIG FOUR CLASSIC tournament before ACC play started for the year?)
     More, please!

Arizona State will have its hands full at home against still-impressive San Diego State (Thursday).
     Richmond is off to a hot start, but a tough week could cool it down: hosting Northern Iowa (Wednesday) and visiting West Virginia (Sunday).
     Iowa should have it all over arch-rival Iowa in this year's edition of the CY-HAWK series (Friday). Creighton should handle Nebraska at home in this year's State Title showdown (Friday). UCLA needs to regroup, but won't have it easy even at home against surprising Marquette (Friday).
     Kentucky could use a win against anybody at this point, but Bluegrass rival Notre Dame might not cooperate (Saturday). Illinois won't find host Missouri so inviting in this year's BRAGGIN' RIGHTS clash (Saturday). Expect Florida State to handle arch-rival Florida (Saturday). Tennessee's season finally gets going against Cincinnati (Saturday; although this doesn't officially count as part of the SEC/AMERICAN ALLIANCE).
     . . Even at home, the MAYOR'S CUP showdown with city-rival Tulsa won't be easy for host Oral Roberts (Saturday).

Some big conference matchups are in December this year.
     Baylor hosts tough Texas (Sunday).
     The OVC Wars get under way with Murray State hosts Austin Peay (Tuesday).

-- Ron

P.S. Look for the Official Invitation for the 14TH ANNUAL Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's College Football Bowl Season Pool) shortly. (DEADLINE: SATURDAY, 19-DECEMBER [7Pet].)

Key games this week:

Monday:

@Oregon-EaWashington,
BATTLE OF THE BAY 1Off on-campus
-(@NorfolkSt-Hampton[VA]),

Tuesday:

@MurraySt-AustinPeay, @Colorado-ColoradoSt(CO),

Tuesday-Wednesday:

ACC?[12-5;3]?/BIG 10?[5-12;3]? CHALLENGE on-campus)
[Wake Forest does not play. ; ]
-(Tue: @Iowa-NCarolina, Illinois-@Duke, @VirginiaTech-PennSt, @NotreDame-OhioSt(BG), @Minnesota-BostonCol, @MiamiFL-Purdue, @Rutgers-Syracuse;
   Wed: MichiganSt-@Virginia, Louisville-@Wisconsin, @FloridaSt-Indiana, @Michigan-NCState, @Nebraska-GeorgiaTech, @Northwestern-Pittsburgh, @Clemson-Maryland),

Tuesday-Thursday:

[J]DOLPHIN CLASSIC RndRob3 @ JacksonvilleFL/Jacksonville/
-(NewOrleans, @Jacksonville, Campbell, @{FLNational}),

Tuesday-Friday:

BIG 12[?-?]/BIG EAST[?-?] BATTLE on-campus - - BIG 12 leads 2-1
[; Connecticut does not play.]
-(@SetonHall-Baylor, @TexasTech-StJohns, @IowaSt-DePaul;
Villanova-@Texas, WVirginia-@Georgetown, @Marquette-OklahomaSt;
   Tue: @Kansas-Creighton;
   Wed: @Xavier-Oklahoma, @TCU-Providence;
   Fri: @Butler-KansasSt),

Tuesday-Saturday:

[D]BLUE DEVIL CLASSIC RndRob2 on-campus
-(@Duke, Elon, CharlestonSo, Howard, {Bellarmine}),

Tuesday-Sat 2 Jan:

(SEC[?0-0?]/AMERICAN[?0-0?] ALLIANCE on-campus - - AMERICAN leads 1-0
-(Houston-@SCarolina;
   Tue: @SMU-Vanderbilt;
   Tue 2 Jan: @WichitaSt-MississippiSt),

Wednesday:

@Richmond-NoIowa, @Washington-Seattle(SeattleWA), @UTValley-SoUtah(UT),

Thursday:

@ArizonaSt-SanDiegoSt,

Thursday-Saturday:

(new)SD-C DAKOTA SHOWCASE RndRob3 @ SiouxFallsSD/PENTAGON/
-(@SDState, @SDakota, NDakota, NDState),

Friday:

@Creighton-Nebraska(NE), @UCLA-Marquette, @Siena-StPeters, @SacredHeart-Hartford(CT)(CT6),
CY-HAWK SERIES 1Off on-campus
-(@Iowa-IowaSt[IA][BIG4]),

Saturday:

@Houston-Rice(HoustonTX), @Tennessee-Cincinnati, @FloridaSt-Florida(FL), @Kentucky-NotreDame(BG)(BIG4), @BYU-Utah(UT), @WeberSt-UtahSt(UT), @StJosephs-Temple(PhiladelphiaPA)(?BIG5?), @Drexel-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA), @SCUpstate-Winthrop(SC),
BRAGGIN' RIGHTS 1Off on-campus
-(Illinois-@Missouri),
(new)HOLIDAY HOOPSGIVING TrplHdr @ AtlantaGA/STATE_FARM/
-(LSU-SFlorida;
   Memphis-Auburn, MississippiSt-Dayton, Wofford-SFlorida),
BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD 1Off on-campus
-(@Lipscomb-Belmont[NashvilleTN]),
[IC]FLAMES INVITAITONAL CoolDown1/1 RndRob2 on-campus
-(@CMichigan-Valparaiso; @ILChicago),
MAYOR'S CUP 1Off on-campus
-(@OralRoberts-Tulsa[TulsaOK]),

Sunday:

@Baylor-Texas(TX), Richmond-@WVirginia, @ILChicago-LoyolaIL(ChicagoIL), @BowlingGreen-WrightSt(OH), @CoppinSt-MDBaltimoreCo(BaltimoreMD), @SCUpstate-Winthrop(SC),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@Creighton-Marquette.

---

Top 25 - 20 Dec 7 - [] Column

[P.S. Don't forget: the PIGSKIN deadline is SAT 19-DEC (7Pet)!]

1. Gonzaga (3-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS] (:JIMMY.V)
2. Baylor (3-0) (:JIMMY.V)
3. Michigan State (5-0) (@CHAMPS)
4. Iowa (3-0)
5. Kansas (3-1) (:CHAMPS)
6. Villanova (4-1) [2:2K.E] (@BIG.E)
7. Illinois (3-1)
8. Duke (1-1)
9. Virginia (3-1)
10. Creighton (3-0)
11. Richmond (2-0) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS]
12. Virginia Tech (4-0)
13. St. Louis (3-0) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
14. West Virginia (4-1) [3:nXOVER] (@BIG.E)
15. Houston (4-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (vSEC)
16. Texas (4-1) [3@MAUI]
17. Louisville (4-0)
18. North Carolina (3-1)
19. Wisconsin (3-1)
20. Tennessee
21. Florida State (1-0)
22. Arizona State (3-1)
23. LSU (3-1)
24. Texas Tech (4-1)
25. San Diego State (3-0)

Honorable Mention:

Marquette (3-1) (vWI), Georgia Tech (1-2) (vHOOPSGVNG), Missouri (3-0),

Bowling Green (3-1),

Jacksonville State (3-2) [rr3@SA/JAGUAR].

20 Nov30 - "Scheduled To Appear"

Volume XXV, No. 2 - 20 Nov30 - [] Top 25 Ballot "Scheduled To Appear"

We may as well get used to schools pausing their activities, postponing/cancelling games, and opponents being swapped in to replace them. It happened right away in Week One and likely will continue throughout the entire season. The GULF COAST SHOWCASE (already moved from Estero,FL to Ft. Myers,FL to form the "BEACH BUBBLE" along with the FT. MYERS TIP-OFF) had several teams cancel over COVID-19 issues and switched on the fly from an 8-team bracket to a 5-team round-robin event.

Villanova looked fine (if not dominant) in winning the 2K EMPIRE CLASSIC inside "BUBBLEVILLE" at the MOHEGAN SUN in Uncasville,CT (including beating Arizona State in the final [83-74 as fJeremiah Robinson-Earl{28p8r} starred]). The V-Wildcats' next opponent was supposed to be Philadelphia/City Series-rival Temple; but the T-Owls had to pause. (The BIG 5 is already down to four with IVY/Penn opting out of the season entirely; schools will be lucky to get in two games each against the "City 6" [including Drexel] and now this.) So 'Nova hastily arranged a matchup with Virginia Tech (which also lost a game with Temp). The Hokies took advantage of the opportunity, pulling off the upset in overtime (81-73[OT] despite 25p4a from gCollin Gillespie).
     Meanwhile, Gonzaga was scary-good in running past Kansas in the feature matchup of the FT. MYERS TIP-OFF (102-90 shooting 65 percent as fDrew Timme[25p6r] starred). The G-Bulldogs already featured perhaps the best frontcourt duo in the land (fTimme and fCorey Kispert) and now have added GC gJalen Suggs (dare I say, a LeBron-esque power/point player) out top (not to mention Florida hardship-transfer pAndrew Nembhard). The ease with which they handled the Jayhawks and their demonstrated depth puts them on a path already to be one of the great teams (with real potential for an undefeated season with so little opposition within the WEST COAST).
     Virginia tripped against WCC/San Francisco (60-61) in what was called the HOMELIGHT CLASSIC inside "BUBBLEVILLE"-CT. Veteran Richmond took advantage of a "no-crowd" Rupp Arena to upset young Kentucky (76-@64 as the K-Wildcats were 0-for-10 on three-pointers) to claim the Unwelcome Guest crown at the K-W/BLUEGRASS SHOWCASE. Fellow ATLANTIC 10 conferencemate St. Louis edged LSU at home (@85-81 as pJavonte Perkins[32p5a] starred) to win their own SL/BILLIKEN CLASSIC. Houston handled Texas Tech (@64-@53) in the feature matchup of the SOUTHWEST SHOWCASE in Ft. Worth,TX.      The best field of the first weekend belonged to the CROSSOVER CLASSIC at the SANFORD PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD. Most disappointing was young Memphis, which dropped two: losing to Western Kentucky (69-75 despite 25p4a from pLanders Nolley II) and also VCU (59-70). "Not ready for Prime Time" were both Mid-Major Northern Iowa (0-3; losing to WeKy, tanking against St. Mary's, losing to Utah State) and 1BC South Dakota State (1-2; losing to WVa and StMary, routing UtahSt). In the final, favorite West Virginia held off impressive Western Kentucky (70-64).

In B-Major events, Clemson won the new SPACE COAST CHALLENGE in Melbourne,FL (past Mississippi State and Purdue). ASUN/Liberty routed South Carolina (78-62) to make the final of the CBE CLASSIC at T-MOBILE ARENA in Kansas City,MO; but it was TCU that took the crown (56-52). OVC/Belmont won the PARADISE JAM (relocated to Washington,DC; past the likes of A10/George Mason). SLAND/Abilene Christian claimed first place in the GULF COAST CLASSIC (relocated to the Ft. Myers.FL "BEACH BUBBLE"; past the likes of CUSA/Middle Tennessee).
     With no real home crowds to speak of, being an Unwelcome Guest winner of a hosted tournament doesn't carry the same weight this year. Still, both Colorado and MVC/Drake beat host Kansas State to share first place in the KS-W/LITTLE APPLE CLASSIC. MWC/Nevada edged host Nebraska to win the N-C/GOLDEN WINDOW CLASSIC. WAC/Seattle beat host Portland in the P/PILOT INVITATIONAL. Both SOCON/Western Carolina and COLON/UNC-Wilmington beat host BIGS/UNC-Asheville to share first place in the NCA/BULLDOG CLASSIC. CUSA/Rice routed host SLAND/Incarnate Word to win the IW/CARDINAL CLASSIC.

Elsewhere, San Diego State dumped UCLA (@73-58) in their game for West Coast bragging rights (um, well behind Gonzaga, that is).
     In a spectacular edition of their crosstown grudge match, Georgia State outdueled host Georgia Tech (123-@120[3OT] as tJustin Roberts[26p6a9r] dueled 31p20r from cMoses Wright and 29p10r from xJose Alvarado).

fLuka Garza may have salted away Player Of The Year in Week One: he dropped 41p9r (on 14-for-15 shooting) in Iowa's @103-76 romp over Southern. (Who else is going to put numbers like that?)

- - - - - -

The CHAMPIONS CLASSIC (originally slated for the UNITED CENTER in Chicago) has been split across two locations this year (Kansas and Kentucky will play in Indianapolis,IN while Duke will host Michigan State in Durham,NC).

After already handling Kansas, Gonzaga can fairly claim it's the rightful BIG 12 champ if it sweeps West Virginia (Wednesday at the JIMMY V CLASSIC) and Baylor (Saturday) both in the Indy "BUBBLE". Cameron without "The Crazies" won't intimidate Michigan State against host Duke and the same goes for Kansas against young Kentucky without the "Big Blue Nation" in the split-venue CHAMPIONS CLASSIC (Tuesday).
     Louisville will have its hands full more than usual this year against "Little Brother" Western Kentucky (Tuesday).
     Reloaded North Carolina can put last year's nightmare behind it with a win at the MAUI INVITATIONAL (Monday thru Wednesday; relocated to Asheville,NC), which is theirs for the taking. New-look USC won't have it easy against veteran Connecticut should those two meet in the final of LEGENDS (Thursday; relocated to the CT "BUBBLE").

-- Ron

Key games this week:

Monday:

@Mercer-GeorgiaSt(GA), "BUBBLEVILLE"-A-NV" Various @ LasVegasNV/T-MOBILE/ -(Baylor, AirForce, Louisiana, CalStNorthridge, Seattle), (new)NEW JERSEY HOOP GROUP CLASSIC RndRob2 on-campus -(Rider, @Rutgers, Hofstra, FairleighDickinson), [SA]JAGUAR INVITATIONAL RndRob3 @MobileAL/S_Alabama/ -(JacksonvilleSt, FLInternational, @SAlabama, @{UMobile}),

Monday-Wednesday:

MAUI INVITATIONAL Qtrs @ LahainaHI/{Chaminade}/ @ AshevilleNC -(@NCarolina-UNLV, Stanford-Alabama; Indiana-Providence, Texas-Davidson).

Monday-Friday:

"BUBBLEVILLE"-D-KY Various @LouisvilleKY/Louisville/ -(@Louisville, @WeKentucky, LittleRock, SetonHall, Duquesne, UNCGreensboro, PrairieViewA&M, Winthrop),

Monday-Saturday:

"BUBBLEVILLE"-C-CT Various @ UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN_SUN/ -(Virginia, Buffalo, ArmyWP, SanFrancisco, @Connecticut, StJohns, BostonCol, NCState, MALowell, Towson, @CConnecticutSt),

Tuesday:

@Creighton-Omaha(OmahaNE), INDY-B CHAMPIONS CLASSIC DblHdr @ChicagoIL/UNITED/ @IndianapolisIN, @DurhamNC) -(MichiganSt-@Duke, Kansas-Kentucky),

Tuesday, Thursday:

CT-C LEGENDS CLASSIC Semis @BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/ @UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN_SUN/ -(USC-BYU, Connecticut-Vanderbilt),

Tuesday-Friday week:

BIG 12[?-?]/BIG EAST[?-?] BATTLE on-campus [; Connecticut does not play.] (@SetonHall-Baylor;    Tue: @Marquette-OklahomaSt;    Thu: @TexasTech-StJohns;    Sun: @Texas-Villanova, @Georgetown-WVirginia, @IowaSt-DePaul;    Tue week: @Kansas-Creighton;    Wed week: @Xavier-Oklahoma, @TCU-Providence;    Fri week: @Butler-KansasSt),

Wednesday:

@NorfolkSt-OldDominion(NorfolkVA), @Fairfield-Hartford(CT)(CT6), INDY-A JIMMY V CLASSIC DblHdr @IndianapolisIN -(Gonzaga-WVirginia, Baylor-Illinois),

Wednesday, Friday:

(new)[L/CARDINAL]WADE HOUSTON CLASSIC Various @ LouisvilleKY/Louisville/ -(@Louisville, LittleRock, SetonHall, Duquesne, Evansville, UNCGreensboro, PrairieViewA&M, Winthrop),

Wednesday-Friday:

CT-A2 HALL OF FAME TIP-OFF Various @ UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN_SUN/ -(Villanova, @Quinnipiac, SanFrancisco, VirginiaTech, Temple, Albany, Drexel, Bryant),

Thursday:

@Towson-CoppinSt(BaltimoreMD),

Friday:

Wisconsin-@Marquette(WI),

Saturday:

@Richmond-Furman, @Houston-SCarolina, @UtahSt-BYU(UT), @Portland-PortlandSt(PortlandOR), @MDBaltimoreCo-Towson(BaltimoreMD), "BUBBLEVILLE"-A-INDY Various @ IndianapolisIN -(Gonzaga-Baylor),

Sunday:

@BowlingGreen-Buffalo, @Temple-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5), GOVERNOR'S I-40 SHOWDOWN 1Off on-campus -(@LittleRock-CArkansas[AR]), CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT 1Off on-campus -(@Cincinnati-Xavier(CincinnatiOH]),

Sunday, Saturday week:

(new)HOLIDAY HOOPSGIVING DblHdr2 @AtlantaGA/STATE_FARM/ -(Sun: Kentucky-@GeorgiaTech;    Sat week: LSU-SFlorida, Memphis-Auburn, MississippiSt-Dayton),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

BATTLE OF THE BAY 1Off on-campus -(@NorfolkSt-Hampton[VA]).

---

Top 25 - 20 Nov30 - [] Column

1. Gonzaga (2-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS]
2. Baylor (2-0)
3. Michigan State (2-0)
4. Iowa (2-0)
5. Duke (1-0)
6. Illinois (3-0)
7. Kansas (1-1)
8. Villanova (2-1) [2:2K.E]
9. Virginia (1-1)
10. North Carolina (1-0)
11. Wisconsin (2-0)
12. Creighton (1-0)
13. Richmond (2-0) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS]
14. Virginia Tech (3-0)
15. St. Louis (2-0) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
16. West Virginia (3-0) [3:nXOVER]
17. Houston (3-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST]
18. Kentucky (1-1)
19. Tennessee
20. Louisville (3-0)
21. Oregon
22. Florida State
23. Arizona State (2-1)
24. LSU (1-1)
25. Texas Tech (2-1)

Honorable Mention:

San Francisco (2-2), Western Kentucky (2-1), VCU (2-1), St. Mary's (2-1)/Utah State (1-2), San Diego State (2-0), Georgia State (1-0), Clemson (2-0) [2:nSPACE], TCU (3-0) [2:CBE], Drake (2-0)/Colorado (2-0) [rr2@KS-W/L.APPLE], Nevada (2-0) [rr2@N-C/GOLD.WNDO], Seattle (3-0) [rr2@P/PILOT], Belmont (3-0) [rr2@PARADISE], Abilene Christian (3-0) [rr3:GULF.CST], Western Carolina (2-1)/UNC-Wilmington (2-1) [rr3@NCA/BULLDOG], Rice (2-0) [rr2@IW/CARDINAL].