15 Feb 9 - Blue Heaven
Volume XIX, No. 14 - 15 Feb 9 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Blue Heaven
Kansas took a huge step towards locking up its eleventh-straight BIG 12 title, running past Iowa State, @89-76. The Jayhawks had opened a gap lead in the standings, but a slip-up on the road at Oklahoma State (62-@67) cut their lead over IowaSt back to just one game. (Give Kans credit for sinking 20-for-41 three-pointers in two games -- [not typically their strength]). OKSt had started its strong week with a road win at reeling Texas, 65-@63(OT). Meanwhile, West Virginia absolutely tanked on the week, falling 52-@71 at Oklahoma and getting dumped at home, @69-87, by visiting Baylor -- at this point, all WVa's pressure defense is doing is allowing its opponents easy baskets at the end of the break: OK shot 61 percent; Bayl shot 55 percent.
Kentucky passed its test of two decent SEC opponents in one week, handling Georgia at home (@69-58) and then going to Gainesville and beating a game Florida team (68-@61) as the gHarrison twins traded 23-point efforts. Mississippi beat Texas A&M, @69-59, to forge a three-way tie (along with Arkansas) for second place in the SEC. They're all three games back of UK, but the second-seed in the conference tournament should guarantee an NCAA at-large bid.
Even while playing without injured pTraevon Jackson (due to return by season's end), Wisconsin has managed to increase its lead in the BIG 10 to a whopping three games ahead of six teams in a virtual tie for second place. The Badgers, ho hum, knocked off Indiana (@92-78 -- 60 percent shooting, 28-for-31 on free throws; despite 13-for-24 on threes by the Hoosiers). Iowa got back in the conversation, spanking Maryland (@71-55 on 64 percent shooting). Purdue surprised Ohio State, winning on the road, 60-@58.
Villanova paid back its earlier blowout loss, thumping Georgetown at home (@69-53 thanks to its perimeter offense [12-for-24 on threes] and defense [1-for-17 on threes for the Hoyas]). Gtown's tough week began with a home loss to Providence, @71-74. BIG EAST second-place Butler flashed some perimeter D of its own, pounding St. John's (@85-62 holding the Red Storm to 3-for-18 on threes). Xavier kept Providence in Splitsville, winning @78-69. (Meanwhile, even with freshman pIsaiah Whitehead back, Seton Hall dropped two: 62-@75 at DePaul, @54-57 at home vs Marquette.)
Arizona tooks its eye off the ball, tripping at Arizona State (78-@81 as 25p4a from gT.J. McConnell wasn't enough), falling back into a tie for first place in the PAC-12 with Utah. Stanford tripped at home vs UCLA, @67-69, creating a three-way tie for third place (two games back, mind you) with unheralded teams Oregon and Oregon State.
Wyoming beat Colorado State, @59-48, in a MOUNTAIN WEST showdown, but then gave back the juice with a 50-@73 flop of a performance on the road at Air Force. Then, surging Boise State dumped San Diego State, @61-46, creating a virtual three-way tie for first place.
In the ATLANTIC 10, George Washington edged Dayton, @65-64(OT), forging a three-way tie for third (along with unheralded Massachusetts). St. Bonaventure had a big week: 62-@61 at Davidson and @73-71 over VCU, knocking the Rams back into a first-place tie with The Little Team That Could, surprising Rhode Island.
SMU split on the week, falling at home to Cincinnati (@54-62), but rebounding on the road to hand pretender Tulsa its first AMERICAN loss (68-@57).
In CONFERENCE USA, unheralded UAB dumped Louisiana Tech, @80-60, creating a three-way tie for the top spot (along with unheralded Western Kentucky). Newcomer Georgia Southern edged Georgia State at home, @58-54, in a SUN BELT showdown; but then Louisiana-Monroe came to town and tied things up at the top of the standings with a 71-@68(OT) road win. In the BIG WEST, UC-Davis pounded host UC-Irvine, 75-@56, to take sole possession of first place. In the IVY LEAGUE Game of the Year (Part I), Harvard kept its NCAA hopes alive with a must-win on the road at YALE, 52-@50, to tie up the standings at the top. (Now, the pressure swings mightily onto the Bulldogs to come up with a road win of their own at season's end or else it's "No bid for you!")
In the mess that is the BIG SOUTH, Coastal Carolina won two big games (@68-56 vs UNC-Asheville, @65-60 vs High Point) making HiPt 0-2 on the week, having lost vs Radford (@64-67). The league is now in a virtual six-way tie for first place among teams all with four losses (with seventh-place Gardner-Webb just a game back) -- Yikes.
Northern Iowa completed the sweep of Drake (@69-53), giving it a share of the unofficial Iowa BIG 4 title for this year (along with Iowa State, the only one they didn't play).
- -
Kentucky only has one quality road game remaining after visiting LSU (Tuesday). Villanova has a tricky road game at Providence (Wednesday) before what's become the BIG EAST Game of the Year (Part II) at Butler (Saturday). Iowa State has no margin for error (Monday at Oklahoma, Saturday vs West Virginia) trying to catch Kansas (Saturday vs Baylor). In the PAC-12, Utah has a big one (Thursday vs Stanford); Arizona has a little one (Friday at reeling Washington); and UCLA tries to spoil (Wednesday vs Oregon State, Saturday vs Oregon). Mississippi could be solidly No. 2 in the SEC with a big week (Thursday at Florida, Saturday vs Arkansas); meanwhile, Texas A&M gets to prove whether it's real with two big games (Wednesday vs Georgia, Saturday vs Florida). George Washington tries to hang in the ATLANTIC 10 race (Saturday vs VCU). San Diego State is on the clock in the MOUNTAIN WEST with two big home games (Wednesday vs Wyoming, Saturday vs Colorado State). Connecticut can play spoiler in the AMERICAN with a big week (Thursday vs Tulsa, Saturday at SMU).
Valparaiso hosts Green Bay in a big HORIZON clash (Friday). South Dakota State hopes to tie things up in the SUMMIT with a win vs first-place North Dakota State (Saturday). Eastern Washington looks for payback in the BIG SKY Game of the Year (Part II) (Thursday vs Sacramento State).
-- Ron
Top 25 - 15 Feb 9 - [] Column
Blue Heaven
Terrible news that Hall of Fame North Carolina coach Dean Smith died on Sunday. I've chronicled my feelings on his career previously (when he announced his retirement prior to the 1997-98 season -- see HLS II,1 (97 Nov) DEANO.) In this column, I try to focus on on-court things and to avoid liking/disliking anyone for off-court reasons. There were plenty of off-court reasons to like Dean Smith. I try not to fall into the trap of hero worship; but certainly here was a man who was a fine example of many virtues and the kind of integrity you'd like to emulate. The world is a lesser place without him in it.Virginia passed its test of two Elite ACC opponents in one week, going to Chapel Hill and handling North Carolina on the road (75-@64) and then surviving at home against Louisville (@52-47 while committing ONLY TWO TURNOVERS). Meanwhile, Duke paid back its lone Elite loss with interest, THROTTLING Notre Dame (@90-60 -- it was @43-13 with 4 minutes to go in the first half! -- the Blue Devils shot 61 percent from the floor and held gJerian Grant to 7p4a).
Kansas took a huge step towards locking up its eleventh-straight BIG 12 title, running past Iowa State, @89-76. The Jayhawks had opened a gap lead in the standings, but a slip-up on the road at Oklahoma State (62-@67) cut their lead over IowaSt back to just one game. (Give Kans credit for sinking 20-for-41 three-pointers in two games -- [not typically their strength]). OKSt had started its strong week with a road win at reeling Texas, 65-@63(OT). Meanwhile, West Virginia absolutely tanked on the week, falling 52-@71 at Oklahoma and getting dumped at home, @69-87, by visiting Baylor -- at this point, all WVa's pressure defense is doing is allowing its opponents easy baskets at the end of the break: OK shot 61 percent; Bayl shot 55 percent.
Kentucky passed its test of two decent SEC opponents in one week, handling Georgia at home (@69-58) and then going to Gainesville and beating a game Florida team (68-@61) as the gHarrison twins traded 23-point efforts. Mississippi beat Texas A&M, @69-59, to forge a three-way tie (along with Arkansas) for second place in the SEC. They're all three games back of UK, but the second-seed in the conference tournament should guarantee an NCAA at-large bid.
Even while playing without injured pTraevon Jackson (due to return by season's end), Wisconsin has managed to increase its lead in the BIG 10 to a whopping three games ahead of six teams in a virtual tie for second place. The Badgers, ho hum, knocked off Indiana (@92-78 -- 60 percent shooting, 28-for-31 on free throws; despite 13-for-24 on threes by the Hoosiers). Iowa got back in the conversation, spanking Maryland (@71-55 on 64 percent shooting). Purdue surprised Ohio State, winning on the road, 60-@58.
Villanova paid back its earlier blowout loss, thumping Georgetown at home (@69-53 thanks to its perimeter offense [12-for-24 on threes] and defense [1-for-17 on threes for the Hoyas]). Gtown's tough week began with a home loss to Providence, @71-74. BIG EAST second-place Butler flashed some perimeter D of its own, pounding St. John's (@85-62 holding the Red Storm to 3-for-18 on threes). Xavier kept Providence in Splitsville, winning @78-69. (Meanwhile, even with freshman pIsaiah Whitehead back, Seton Hall dropped two: 62-@75 at DePaul, @54-57 at home vs Marquette.)
Arizona tooks its eye off the ball, tripping at Arizona State (78-@81 as 25p4a from gT.J. McConnell wasn't enough), falling back into a tie for first place in the PAC-12 with Utah. Stanford tripped at home vs UCLA, @67-69, creating a three-way tie for third place (two games back, mind you) with unheralded teams Oregon and Oregon State.
Wyoming beat Colorado State, @59-48, in a MOUNTAIN WEST showdown, but then gave back the juice with a 50-@73 flop of a performance on the road at Air Force. Then, surging Boise State dumped San Diego State, @61-46, creating a virtual three-way tie for first place.
In the ATLANTIC 10, George Washington edged Dayton, @65-64(OT), forging a three-way tie for third (along with unheralded Massachusetts). St. Bonaventure had a big week: 62-@61 at Davidson and @73-71 over VCU, knocking the Rams back into a first-place tie with The Little Team That Could, surprising Rhode Island.
SMU split on the week, falling at home to Cincinnati (@54-62), but rebounding on the road to hand pretender Tulsa its first AMERICAN loss (68-@57).
In CONFERENCE USA, unheralded UAB dumped Louisiana Tech, @80-60, creating a three-way tie for the top spot (along with unheralded Western Kentucky). Newcomer Georgia Southern edged Georgia State at home, @58-54, in a SUN BELT showdown; but then Louisiana-Monroe came to town and tied things up at the top of the standings with a 71-@68(OT) road win. In the BIG WEST, UC-Davis pounded host UC-Irvine, 75-@56, to take sole possession of first place. In the IVY LEAGUE Game of the Year (Part I), Harvard kept its NCAA hopes alive with a must-win on the road at YALE, 52-@50, to tie up the standings at the top. (Now, the pressure swings mightily onto the Bulldogs to come up with a road win of their own at season's end or else it's "No bid for you!")
In the mess that is the BIG SOUTH, Coastal Carolina won two big games (@68-56 vs UNC-Asheville, @65-60 vs High Point) making HiPt 0-2 on the week, having lost vs Radford (@64-67). The league is now in a virtual six-way tie for first place among teams all with four losses (with seventh-place Gardner-Webb just a game back) -- Yikes.
Northern Iowa completed the sweep of Drake (@69-53), giving it a share of the unofficial Iowa BIG 4 title for this year (along with Iowa State, the only one they didn't play).
- -
Kentucky only has one quality road game remaining after visiting LSU (Tuesday). Villanova has a tricky road game at Providence (Wednesday) before what's become the BIG EAST Game of the Year (Part II) at Butler (Saturday). Iowa State has no margin for error (Monday at Oklahoma, Saturday vs West Virginia) trying to catch Kansas (Saturday vs Baylor). In the PAC-12, Utah has a big one (Thursday vs Stanford); Arizona has a little one (Friday at reeling Washington); and UCLA tries to spoil (Wednesday vs Oregon State, Saturday vs Oregon). Mississippi could be solidly No. 2 in the SEC with a big week (Thursday at Florida, Saturday vs Arkansas); meanwhile, Texas A&M gets to prove whether it's real with two big games (Wednesday vs Georgia, Saturday vs Florida). George Washington tries to hang in the ATLANTIC 10 race (Saturday vs VCU). San Diego State is on the clock in the MOUNTAIN WEST with two big home games (Wednesday vs Wyoming, Saturday vs Colorado State). Connecticut can play spoiler in the AMERICAN with a big week (Thursday vs Tulsa, Saturday at SMU).
Valparaiso hosts Green Bay in a big HORIZON clash (Friday). South Dakota State hopes to tie things up in the SUMMIT with a win vs first-place North Dakota State (Saturday). Eastern Washington looks for payback in the BIG SKY Game of the Year (Part II) (Thursday vs Sacramento State).
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- @Oklahoma-IowaSt, @Baylor-OklahomaSt,
- Tuesday:
- Kentucky-@LSU, @ColoradoSt-NewMexico, @Temple-Cincinnati, @SetonHall-Georgetown, @Akron-KentSt(OH),
- Wednesday:
- Villanova-@Providence, @Maryland-Indiana, @SanDiegoSt-Wyoming, @TexasA&M-Georgia, @
UCLA-OregonSt, @HighPt-Winthrop, @CharlestonSo-CoCarolina,
- Thursday:
- @Utah-Stanford, Mississippi-@Florida, @BYU-StMarys, @Connecticut-Tulsa, @
Wofford-Chattanooga, @SCUpstate-NFlorida, @EaWashington-SacramentoSt, @WeberSt-SoUtah(UT),
- Friday:
- @Valparaiso-
GreenBay, @NJIT-Albany, @Fairfield-Quinnipiac(CT)(CT6),
- Saturday:
- Duke-@Syracuse, Villanova-@Butler, @Kansas-Baylor, @IowaSt-WVirginia, OhioSt-@MichiganSt, VCU-@GeoWashington(VA/DC), @SMU-Connecticut, @Mississippi-Arkansas, @SanDiegoSt-ColoradoSt, @Xavier-StJohns, @UTEP-OldDominion, @Providence-SetonHall, @TexasA&M-Florida, @
UCLA-Oregon, @Toledo-KentSt(OH), @UNCWilmington-Northeastern, @SDState-NDState,
- Sunday:
- @Wisconsin-Illinois, @TheCitadel-VMI(MIL),
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @Villanova-SetonHall, @WVirginia-Kansas, @Radford-
CoCarolina,
Top 25 - 15 Feb 9 - [] Column
- Kentucky (22-0)
- Duke (20-3)
- Virginia (21-1)
- Wisconsin (20-2)
- Arizona (20-3)
- Villanova [BIG 5u] (21-2)
- Kansas (19-4)
- Gonzaga (23-1)
- Louisville (19-4)
- Utah (17-4)
- Oklahoma (16-7)
- Baylor (17-5)
- Iowa State (17-5) [.5BIG 4]
- North Carolina (18-6)
- Notre Dame (21-4)
- Ohio State (17-6)
- Northern Iowa (22-2) [.5BIG 4]
- Wichita State (20-3)
- Butler (18-6)
- Iowa (15-8)
- Maryland (19-5)
- Oklahoma State (15-7)
- VCU (18-5)
- SMU (18-5)
- Mississippi (16-7)
- Honorable Mention:
Arizona State (12-11), Purdue (15-9), UCLA (14-10), St. Bonaventure (13-8), Boise State (17-6), Cincinnati (17-6),
Wyoming (16-5), UAB (12-11),UC-Davis(16-4), Louisiana-Monroe (11-8),Harvard(12-5), Coastal Carolina (13-7).
posted by Ron @ Sunday, February 15, 2015
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