12 Dec 3 - Major Loss

Volume XVII, No. 5 - 12 Dec 3 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Major Loss

Rick Majerus, who had to step away from St. Louis in the off-season due to his declining health, passed away over the weekend. Originally an assistant to Al McGuire at Marquette, his great run came at Utah in the 1990s (7 WAC/MOUNTAIN WEST titles in 10 years; 2 Sweet 16s, an Elite 8 and a Runner-Up in 1998; with star players Josh Grant, Keith Van Horn, Michael Doleac and Andre Miller over the years). He returned St. Louis to the NCAAs last year for the first time in 12 years. During the seasons he had previously left the coaching ranks, his personality came through as a TV commentator. A tremendously popular figure in the college basketball world -- he'll be greatly missed.

In a surprise, the ACC was able to match the BIG 10 win for win and earn a 6-6 tie in their head-to-head conference CHALLENGE (including three road wins each). Ohio State led Duke in Cameron until about midway through the second half, but the Blue Devils turned it on late and came away with a @73-68 win (behind 21p17r from cMason Plumlee as freshman 6-4 gRasheed Sulaimon chipped in 17p). Michigan handled N.C. State, @79-72 (getting 20p1a from freshman 6-6 tNik Stauskas and 18p11a0to from pTrey Burke). Indiana pounded young North Carolina, @83-59, (behind 20p8r from fCody Zeller). Illinois handled Georgia Tech, @75-62, shooting 14-for-28 on three-pointers.

    
Minnesota showed impressive depth and athleticism, going on the road to handle Florida State, 77-@68. In a mild surprise, Miami(Florida) won at home against Michigan State, @67-59. A big shock was that Virginia (which couldn't win at home against Delaware) went on the road and stymied Wisconsin, 60-@54.

With Louisville, Pittsburgh and Connecticut sitting out on the one hand and newcomers Missouri and Texas A&M sitting out on the other, the BIG EAST dominated the SEC, 9-3, in their CHALLENGE. Cincinnati edged Alabama, @58-56, on gCashmere Wright's buzzer-beater. Notre Dame didn't do anything spectacular to defeat Kentucky, @64-50; the Irish controlled the tempo and held their own atheltically against the young Wildcats (who were playing in their first true road game). Florida drubbed Marquette, @82-49. gJames Southerland is lights out as Syracuse's Super Sixth Man -- he shot 9-for-13 on three-pointers and finished with 35p6r in the Orange's 91-@82 win at Arkansas. South Florida handled Georgia, @64-53. Georgetown and Tennessee struggled their way through a defensive mess -- no one reached double-figures in points on either side -- as the Hoyas ended the misery, holding on for a @37-36 win.

The MOUNTAIN WEST held on to a 4-3 lead over the MISSOURI VALLEY with two games still left to play. Boise State shocked Creighton at home, 83-@70, as gDerrick Marks had 35p (on 13-for-19 shooting). New Mexico pulled out a 77-@68(OT) win on the road at Indiana State. Wichita State tightened things up with a tough 72-@69 road win of its own at Air Force.

Some of the surprise winners of preseason tournaments fell back to Earth. Florida State followed up its disappointing performance against Minnesota with an even worse one, losing at home to 2-4 Mercer, @56-61. Oklahoma State fell 71-@81 at Virginia Tech (behind 28p from gErick Green); the Hokies had a good week, winning their CHALLENGE game with Iowa, @95-79. Colorado lost at Wyoming, 69-@76. California was routed on the road at Wisconsin, 56-@81 (despite 25p7r from bAllen Crabbe). Ohio University fell at 4-4 Robert Morris, 76-@84 (behind 28p from gKarvel Anderson).

Baylor added to Kentucky's struggles, winning 64-@55 in Rupp Arena, snapping the Wildcats' 55-game home win streak and handing coach John Calipari the first home loss in his 3+ years at UK. San Diego State kept UCLA reeling with a 78-@69 win (behind 28p7r from bJamaal Franklin) in Anaheim at the JOHN WOODEN CLASSIC.

    
Of the high-profile programs relying heavily on new players, Arizona is off the best start (but the Wildcats have yet to be tested by any major competition). Kentucky's three losses have been to quality opponents, but there's a lot of work to be done before its team identity comes together. North Carolina has looked like a deer in the headlights twice now, against Butler and at Indiana. UCLA's chemistry is still a mess -- there's more going wrong with that program than a simple infusion of talent has been able to cure.

7-0 cJeff Withey's triple-double (16p12r12b) in Kansas' @70-57 win over San Jose State deserves a mention.

(Need a clue why football drives the bus? Kentucky basketball has the biggest travelling fan base of any program in the country and yet UK football, no factor in the nation's best conference, still makes 2 1/2 times more revenue than UK basketball. Imagine the ratio at other places! No wonder the basketball coaches weren't even consulted about conference moves at many of these schools.)

Suddenly, it's N.C. State who could use a resume-builder (and can't afford to lose to Connecticut [JIMMY V; Tuesday]). Expect more Bad Basketball with Leonard Pince Garnell when Georgetown meets Texas (JIMMY V; Tuesday). The threes will fall like raindrops when Gonzaga hosts Illinois (Saturday). Colorado's last chance to keep its ranking comes Saturday on the road at Kansas. The PAC-12's improved preseason profile could take a hit if California can't beat UNLV at home (Sunday). Otherwise, lots of local rivalry games abound (including Georgia at Georgia Tech, Tuesday).

-- Ron

P.S. Look for the Official Invitation for the 6th Annual Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's College Football Bowl Season Pool) shortly.

Key games this week:

Monday:

@SanDiegoSt-TexasSo,

Tuesday:

@Minnesota-SDState, @GeorgiaTech-Georgia(GA),

JIMMY V CLASSIC DblHdr @ NewYorkNY /MSG/

-(Connecticut-NCState, Georgetown-Texas),

Tuesday, Wed 19 Dec:

MWC/MVC CHALLENGE on-campus -- (MWC leads 4-3)

[/ Bradley doesn't play.]

-(Tue: Wyoming-@IllinoisSt;

  Wed 19 Dec: @UNLV-NoIowa),

Wednesday:

Florida-@FloridaSt(FL), @Colorado-ColoradoSt(CO), @Pittsburgh-@Duquesne(PittsburghPA)(CITY_GAME), @Memphis-OhioU,
@WVirginia-@Marshall(@CharlestonWVA)(WV), @Villanova-Temple(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG_5), @BYU-UtahSt(UT), @LoyolaMD-Niagara, @Denver-Mercer, @WeberSt-UTValley(UT),

DTV/ANAHEIM CLASSIC CoolDown1/1 on-campus

-(@Drake-StMarys),

Thursday:

@Syracuse-LongBeachSt, Creighton-@Nebraska(NE), @Providence-RhodeIsland(RI),

Friday:

@Iowa-IowaSt(IA)(BIG_4)(CY-HAWK_SERIES), @Marist-Manhattan(NY),

Saturday:

@OhioSt-LongBeachSt, @NewMexico-Valparaiso, @Gonzaga-Illinois, Colorado-@Kansas, @Marquette-Wisconsin(WI), @Texas-UCLA(/RELIANT/), @Penn-@Villanova(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG_5)(/PALESTRA/), @Princeton-Drexel, @BYU-Utah(UT), @Delaware-DelawareSt(DE),

?CQAP CLASSIC? DblHdr @ EastRutherfordNJ /IZOD/

-(Duke-Temple, @StPeters-LoyolaMD),

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL DblHdr @ NewYorkNY /MSG/

-(@StJohns-@Fordham[NewYorkNY], @Iona-Rutgers),

Sunday:

@Creighton-Akron, @California-UNLV, @Manhattan-Siena(NY), @SDState-CalStBakersfield,

Monday week-Wed 19 Dec; Sat-Sun 22-23 Dec;

LAS VEGAS-CHRISTMAS CLASSIC on-campus, @ LasVegasNV /ORLEANS/

-(A: VirginiaTech, Bradley, GeorgiaSo, MSValleySt;

  B: ColoradoSt, Portland, NFlorida, CalStBakersfield).

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Top 25 - 12 Dec 3 - [] Column

1. Duke (8-0) (CHAMPS) [3:ATLANTIS] (vBIG10)
   
2. Michigan (6-0) [2v2:NIT.T-O] (vACC)
   
3. Indiana (8-0) [2v2:LEGENDS] (vACC)
   
4. Florida (6-0) (vBIG E)
   
5. Syracuse (5-0) (@SEC)
   
6. Ohio State (4-1) [2v2:HALL.FAME]
   
7. Louisville (6-1)
   
8. Boise State (6-1) (@MVC)
   
9. Creighton (7-1) [2v2:LVI-THANX]
   
10. Cincinnati (7-0) [2v2:GS-A] (vSEC)
    
11. New Mexico (8-0) [3:PARADISE] (@MVC)
    
12. Minnesota (8-1) (@ACC)
    
13. Gonzaga (7-0) [3:OS/ORLANDO]
    
14. Illinois (7-0) [3:MAUI] (vACC)
    
15. Arizona (5-0)
    
16. Wyoming (7-0)
    
17. Colorado (6-1) [3:CHARLESTON]
    
18. Baylor (5-2)
    
19. Virginia Tech (7-0) (vBIG 10)
    
20. Oklahoma State (5-1) [3:P.RICO]
    
21. Notre Dame (7-1) (vSEC)
    
22. Missouri (6-1)
    
23. Alabama (6-1) [2v2:2KS]
    
24. Wichita State (8-0) [2v2:CANCUN] (@MWC)
    
25. Kansas (6-1) [2v2vCBE]
    

Honorable Mention:

Robert Morris (4-4), Mercer (2-4), Wisconsin (5-3), Miami(Florida) (5-1) (vBIG 10), Virginia (6-2) (@BIG 10),
San Diego State (4-1).