15 Feb23 - Hard Eight
Volume XIX, No. 16 - 15 Feb23 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Hard Eight
In classy moves to honor legendary coaches, both Duke and UNC kneeled and joined hands at center court in Durham in a prayer honoring Dean Smith's legacy before their opening tip-off; in UNC's home game vs Georgia Tech, Roy Williams had the Tar Heels open the game in Smith's famed "Four Corners" offense; meanwhile, the Las Vegas Strip dimmed its lights in honor of UNLV's Jerry Tarkanian.
The current top 8 teams (in many ways interchangeable underneath undisputed No. 1 Kentucky) have been Top 10 basically all season long. Kentucky has been every bit as good as expected from the start of the season (thanks especially to superfreshmen cKarl-Anthony Towns and gDevin Booker). Duke's superfrosh (especially cJahlil Okafor and bTyus Jones) have been even better than expected as lead players. Virginia hasn't skipped a beat from last year's TiTo run (and appears quite capable of duplicating that feat this year as well). Wisconsin has been as good as advertized (outside of the surprise preseason home loss vs Duke). The competitive mettle of Villanova has been a surprise (especially in the wake of how strong a preseason the BIG EAST had as a whole). Arizona figured to be this good (but the big question remains whether having a one-guard starting five will cost it at some point). Gonzaga figured to be good (especially playing inside the relatively weak WEST COAST); but the Bulldogs' being the only team, Kentucky notwithstanding, that is still morally undefeated (with only an overtime road loss at Arizona to blemish its record [whereas UK's overtime home win vs Mississippi counts as a moral loss]) has been a mild surprise. For Kansas, the uber-drubbing it took from Kentucky so early on set back the team's perception (both external and internal) and the slower-than-expected development of its freshmen (particularly bKelly Oubre Jr.) has taken its time to get it to this level.
Louisville has been there as well up to this point, but the Cardinals suffered a huge blow on the court when bChris Jones was dismissed from the team (after being charged with rape). It's been an in-season revelation how strong Utah turned out to be (despite its 58-@69 loss at Oregon).
Texas was expected to be Top 10 at season's start, but it hasn't been able to get the right mix of being a frontcourt-oriented team early on and a backcourt-oriented team more recently (witness its 69-@71 loss at Oklahoma and @77-85 loss vs Iowa State [despite 29p5r;6/9 3s from bKendal Yancey]). For Florida, the question was how well the supporting players who were still around could step up into lead roles -- not very, as it turned out. For North Carolina, the question was whether the talented freshmen could become shooters on the end of assists from pMarcus Paige -- not so much, as it has turned out.
West Virginia pulled Kansas back to the pack in the BIG 12 with a @62-61 win (on gJuwan Staten's game-winner). Meanwhile, Iowa State hung one game back including edging Oklahoma State 70-@65 (controlling the boards 44-28). WVa doubled-up and OkSt doubled-down when the Mountaineers beat the Cowboys 73-@63 (controlling the boards 37-20).
Duke and North Carolina's first clash lived up to the (overhyped) reputation of their famous rivalry as the Blue Devils rallied to win @92-90(OT). Without bJones, Louisville fell at Syracuse 59-@69 (as fRakeem Christmas[29p8r} starred); in its last game with bJones, the Cardinals escaped @55-53 vs Miami(Florida).
Ohio State can't quite seem to elevate to truly elite status as the Buckeyes dropped a disappointing road loss at Michigan, 57-@64 (whereas Michigan State was able to pass the same test, winning 80-@67 in Ann Arbor, and shutting down host Illinois to boot, 60-@53 [holding the Illini to 29 percent shooting, including 2-for-16 on three-pointers]). Rising Purdue surprised host Indiana, 67-@63 (thanks to a 38-21 rebounding edge).
Butler's short roster has taken a big blow without fAndrew Chrabascz (out 3 weeks with a broken hand) in the paint on both ends of the floor as the Bulldogs tanked at Xavier, 56-@73. Earlier, the rising Musketeers won their clash with city-rival Cincinnnati, 59-@57, in the CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT (back on campus after two years at a neutral site). Meanwhile, rising Georgetown put six players in double-figures in its @79-57 rout of St. John's. (Elsewhere, reeling Seton Hall lost gSterling Gibbs for two games after he was suspended for striking pRyan Arcidiacono while scrambling for a loose ball in the Pirates' 54-@80 loss at Villanova.)
Temple couldn't break through in a tough week, dropping two road games against the ATLANTIC 10 co-leaders: 58-@67 at SMU and 39-@55 at Tulsa only managing to place one player in double-figures [gWill Cummings] in each game while struggling from the perimeter (7-for-35 in two games). Meanwhile, Memphis is making a late move, tying for third place, after edging Connecticut, @75-72 (despite freshman xDaniel Hamilton's best game [23p7a13r]).
Elsewhere, Texas A&M is making a case for itself after beathing LSU, @68-62. Davidson kept George Washington reeling with a 65-@63 road win in D.C. St. Mary's seemed to be on its way to a badly needed signature win with a 17-point lead over Gonzaga in the first half, but the 'Zags turned it on on the road in the second half, winning going away, 70-@60.
In 1BC-land, Old Dominion drubbed Louisiana Tech, @72-53 (thanks to 27p7r3a from bTony Freeman), keeping the CONFERENCE USA picture cloudy (as five teams are within one game of the lead). Northeastern's @75-64 win over William & Mary helped create a four-way tie (along with James Madison and UNC-Wilmington) atop the COLONIAL standings. Both Georgia Southern (@62-65 vs Troy as xMusa Abdul-Aleem had 25p12r) and Louisiana-Monroe (68-@70 at Arkansas State) tripped, allowing Georgia State to tie up the SUN BELT standings three ways. Yale stumbled, @50-56, at home to Columbia, giving Harvard a one-game lead (and full control of its own destiny) in the IVY LEAGUE race. Things have gotten slightly clearer as the BIG SOUTH "Wars" rage on: Coastal Carolina won at Radford, 65-@59; but High Point and Charleston Southern still lead five teams within one game of first place. Northern Arizona's @73-69 win over Eastern Washington created a virtual three-way tie (along with Sacramento State) for the BIG SKY lead.
Some dominant teams have already clinched their regular season titles. Gonzaga (and coach Mark Few) made it FOURTEEN OUT OF THE LAST FIFTEEN WEST COAST titles (UNDEFEATED WITH A FOUR-GAME GAP).
Valparaiso clinched the HORIZON with a two-game gap, its THIRD TITLE IN FOUR YEARS (but will very much need the home-court advantage it earned for the conference tournament against Green Bay, Cleveland State and Oakland). Bucknell clinched the PATRIOT title by two games, its FOURTH IN FIVE YEARS (but still has something to prove head-to-head against Colgate in the tourney). Albany clinched the AMERICA EAST title with a gap (and looks good for the TiTo crown as well). Murray State thoroughly dominated the OHIO VALLEY, UNDEFEATED WITH A FIVE-GAME GAP, claiming its FOURTH TITLE IN SIX YEARS to boot. St. Francis(New York) was in a three-way tie for first place midway through the NORTHEAST schedule, but closed unbeaten to clinch the title BY FOUR GAMES as the opposition couldn't keep pace. Iona clinched the METRO ATLANTIC title by three games, its THIRD IN FOUR YEARS. Unbeaten North Carolina Central clinched its second-straight MEAC title with three-game gap to boot. New Mexico State road-routed second-place {Grand Canyon}, 72-@55, on its way to clinching the WAC title by three games.
Here's hoping all of these teams make it through to the NCAA tournament without allowing any Jack Dawson impostors to represent their leagues instead.
- -
The last big obstacle in Kentucky's undefeated run comes Saturday (vs Arkansas). Utah's big chance to tie up the PAC-12 race comes Saturday (vs Arizona). Kansas hosts Texas (Saturday) while Iowa State hosts Baylor (Wednesday), but it's Kansas State who could play spoiler in the BIG 12 with a big week (Monday vs KU, Saturday vs ISU).
MISSOURI VALLEY co-leaders Northern Iowa and Wichita State haven't blinked since the Panthers' home rout the first time around, but it's the Wheatshockers' turn to host the title-showdown rematch (Saturday). SMU has a tricky road game at Connecticut (Sunday), but it's Memphis who could spoil things for everyone, hosting the AMERICAN co-leaders (Thursday vs SMU, Saturday vs Tulsa). There's no margin for error as the ATLANTIC 10 race goes down to the wire for co-leaders VCU (Saturday vs Dayton) and Rhode Island (Wednesday vs Davidson). San Diego State hopes to keep its slim margin in the MOUNTAIN WEST when it hosts second-place Boise State (Saturday).
The COLONIAL race may not sort itself out even in the final week as James Madison has it toughest (Wednesday at UNC-Wilmington, Saturday vs Hofstra). The CONFERENCE USA race is going down to the wire as co-leaders Louisiana Tech and UTEP clash (Thursday in Ruston). Sam Houston State tries to keep pace in the SOUTHLAND race with a tough road game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Saturday).
A win at newcomer Mercer (Thursday) would clinch the SOUTHERN title for Wofford. Florida Gulf Coast could wrap up the ATLANTIC SUN title with a showdown win vs second-place North Florida (Wednesday). In the last round of the BIG SOUTH "Wars", High Point visits UNC-Asheville (Thursday) before its first-place showdown at co-leader Charleston Southern (Saturday).
The BIG SKY race should clear up a little when tri-leaders Eastern Washington and Montana clash (Saturday in Cheney [WA]). Alabama State's big week (Monday at Southern, Saturday vs Texas Southern) could settle the SWAC race.
-- Ron
Top 25 - 15 Feb23 - [] Column
Hard Eight
In classy moves to honor legendary coaches, both Duke and UNC kneeled and joined hands at center court in Durham in a prayer honoring Dean Smith's legacy before their opening tip-off; in UNC's home game vs Georgia Tech, Roy Williams had the Tar Heels open the game in Smith's famed "Four Corners" offense; meanwhile, the Las Vegas Strip dimmed its lights in honor of UNLV's Jerry Tarkanian.
The current top 8 teams (in many ways interchangeable underneath undisputed No. 1 Kentucky) have been Top 10 basically all season long. Kentucky has been every bit as good as expected from the start of the season (thanks especially to superfreshmen cKarl-Anthony Towns and gDevin Booker). Duke's superfrosh (especially cJahlil Okafor and bTyus Jones) have been even better than expected as lead players. Virginia hasn't skipped a beat from last year's TiTo run (and appears quite capable of duplicating that feat this year as well). Wisconsin has been as good as advertized (outside of the surprise preseason home loss vs Duke). The competitive mettle of Villanova has been a surprise (especially in the wake of how strong a preseason the BIG EAST had as a whole). Arizona figured to be this good (but the big question remains whether having a one-guard starting five will cost it at some point). Gonzaga figured to be good (especially playing inside the relatively weak WEST COAST); but the Bulldogs' being the only team, Kentucky notwithstanding, that is still morally undefeated (with only an overtime road loss at Arizona to blemish its record [whereas UK's overtime home win vs Mississippi counts as a moral loss]) has been a mild surprise. For Kansas, the uber-drubbing it took from Kentucky so early on set back the team's perception (both external and internal) and the slower-than-expected development of its freshmen (particularly bKelly Oubre Jr.) has taken its time to get it to this level.
Louisville has been there as well up to this point, but the Cardinals suffered a huge blow on the court when bChris Jones was dismissed from the team (after being charged with rape). It's been an in-season revelation how strong Utah turned out to be (despite its 58-@69 loss at Oregon).
Texas was expected to be Top 10 at season's start, but it hasn't been able to get the right mix of being a frontcourt-oriented team early on and a backcourt-oriented team more recently (witness its 69-@71 loss at Oklahoma and @77-85 loss vs Iowa State [despite 29p5r;6/9 3s from bKendal Yancey]). For Florida, the question was how well the supporting players who were still around could step up into lead roles -- not very, as it turned out. For North Carolina, the question was whether the talented freshmen could become shooters on the end of assists from pMarcus Paige -- not so much, as it has turned out.
West Virginia pulled Kansas back to the pack in the BIG 12 with a @62-61 win (on gJuwan Staten's game-winner). Meanwhile, Iowa State hung one game back including edging Oklahoma State 70-@65 (controlling the boards 44-28). WVa doubled-up and OkSt doubled-down when the Mountaineers beat the Cowboys 73-@63 (controlling the boards 37-20).
Duke and North Carolina's first clash lived up to the (overhyped) reputation of their famous rivalry as the Blue Devils rallied to win @92-90(OT). Without bJones, Louisville fell at Syracuse 59-@69 (as fRakeem Christmas[29p8r} starred); in its last game with bJones, the Cardinals escaped @55-53 vs Miami(Florida).
Ohio State can't quite seem to elevate to truly elite status as the Buckeyes dropped a disappointing road loss at Michigan, 57-@64 (whereas Michigan State was able to pass the same test, winning 80-@67 in Ann Arbor, and shutting down host Illinois to boot, 60-@53 [holding the Illini to 29 percent shooting, including 2-for-16 on three-pointers]). Rising Purdue surprised host Indiana, 67-@63 (thanks to a 38-21 rebounding edge).
Butler's short roster has taken a big blow without fAndrew Chrabascz (out 3 weeks with a broken hand) in the paint on both ends of the floor as the Bulldogs tanked at Xavier, 56-@73. Earlier, the rising Musketeers won their clash with city-rival Cincinnnati, 59-@57, in the CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT (back on campus after two years at a neutral site). Meanwhile, rising Georgetown put six players in double-figures in its @79-57 rout of St. John's. (Elsewhere, reeling Seton Hall lost gSterling Gibbs for two games after he was suspended for striking pRyan Arcidiacono while scrambling for a loose ball in the Pirates' 54-@80 loss at Villanova.)
Temple couldn't break through in a tough week, dropping two road games against the ATLANTIC 10 co-leaders: 58-@67 at SMU and 39-@55 at Tulsa only managing to place one player in double-figures [gWill Cummings] in each game while struggling from the perimeter (7-for-35 in two games). Meanwhile, Memphis is making a late move, tying for third place, after edging Connecticut, @75-72 (despite freshman xDaniel Hamilton's best game [23p7a13r]).
Elsewhere, Texas A&M is making a case for itself after beathing LSU, @68-62. Davidson kept George Washington reeling with a 65-@63 road win in D.C. St. Mary's seemed to be on its way to a badly needed signature win with a 17-point lead over Gonzaga in the first half, but the 'Zags turned it on on the road in the second half, winning going away, 70-@60.
In 1BC-land, Old Dominion drubbed Louisiana Tech, @72-53 (thanks to 27p7r3a from bTony Freeman), keeping the CONFERENCE USA picture cloudy (as five teams are within one game of the lead). Northeastern's @75-64 win over William & Mary helped create a four-way tie (along with James Madison and UNC-Wilmington) atop the COLONIAL standings. Both Georgia Southern (@62-65 vs Troy as xMusa Abdul-Aleem had 25p12r) and Louisiana-Monroe (68-@70 at Arkansas State) tripped, allowing Georgia State to tie up the SUN BELT standings three ways. Yale stumbled, @50-56, at home to Columbia, giving Harvard a one-game lead (and full control of its own destiny) in the IVY LEAGUE race. Things have gotten slightly clearer as the BIG SOUTH "Wars" rage on: Coastal Carolina won at Radford, 65-@59; but High Point and Charleston Southern still lead five teams within one game of first place. Northern Arizona's @73-69 win over Eastern Washington created a virtual three-way tie (along with Sacramento State) for the BIG SKY lead.
Some dominant teams have already clinched their regular season titles. Gonzaga (and coach Mark Few) made it FOURTEEN OUT OF THE LAST FIFTEEN WEST COAST titles (UNDEFEATED WITH A FOUR-GAME GAP).
Valparaiso clinched the HORIZON with a two-game gap, its THIRD TITLE IN FOUR YEARS (but will very much need the home-court advantage it earned for the conference tournament against Green Bay, Cleveland State and Oakland). Bucknell clinched the PATRIOT title by two games, its FOURTH IN FIVE YEARS (but still has something to prove head-to-head against Colgate in the tourney). Albany clinched the AMERICA EAST title with a gap (and looks good for the TiTo crown as well). Murray State thoroughly dominated the OHIO VALLEY, UNDEFEATED WITH A FIVE-GAME GAP, claiming its FOURTH TITLE IN SIX YEARS to boot. St. Francis(New York) was in a three-way tie for first place midway through the NORTHEAST schedule, but closed unbeaten to clinch the title BY FOUR GAMES as the opposition couldn't keep pace. Iona clinched the METRO ATLANTIC title by three games, its THIRD IN FOUR YEARS. Unbeaten North Carolina Central clinched its second-straight MEAC title with three-game gap to boot. New Mexico State road-routed second-place {Grand Canyon}, 72-@55, on its way to clinching the WAC title by three games.
Here's hoping all of these teams make it through to the NCAA tournament without allowing any Jack Dawson impostors to represent their leagues instead.
- -
The last big obstacle in Kentucky's undefeated run comes Saturday (vs Arkansas). Utah's big chance to tie up the PAC-12 race comes Saturday (vs Arizona). Kansas hosts Texas (Saturday) while Iowa State hosts Baylor (Wednesday), but it's Kansas State who could play spoiler in the BIG 12 with a big week (Monday vs KU, Saturday vs ISU).
MISSOURI VALLEY co-leaders Northern Iowa and Wichita State haven't blinked since the Panthers' home rout the first time around, but it's the Wheatshockers' turn to host the title-showdown rematch (Saturday). SMU has a tricky road game at Connecticut (Sunday), but it's Memphis who could spoil things for everyone, hosting the AMERICAN co-leaders (Thursday vs SMU, Saturday vs Tulsa). There's no margin for error as the ATLANTIC 10 race goes down to the wire for co-leaders VCU (Saturday vs Dayton) and Rhode Island (Wednesday vs Davidson). San Diego State hopes to keep its slim margin in the MOUNTAIN WEST when it hosts second-place Boise State (Saturday).
The COLONIAL race may not sort itself out even in the final week as James Madison has it toughest (Wednesday at UNC-Wilmington, Saturday vs Hofstra). The CONFERENCE USA race is going down to the wire as co-leaders Louisiana Tech and UTEP clash (Thursday in Ruston). Sam Houston State tries to keep pace in the SOUTHLAND race with a tough road game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Saturday).
A win at newcomer Mercer (Thursday) would clinch the SOUTHERN title for Wofford. Florida Gulf Coast could wrap up the ATLANTIC SUN title with a showdown win vs second-place North Florida (Wednesday). In the last round of the BIG SOUTH "Wars", High Point visits UNC-Asheville (Thursday) before its first-place showdown at co-leader Charleston Southern (Saturday).
The BIG SKY race should clear up a little when tri-leaders Eastern Washington and Montana clash (Saturday in Cheney [WA]). Alabama State's big week (Monday at Southern, Saturday vs Texas Southern) could settle the SWAC race.
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- @StJohns-Xavier, @Southern-
AlabamaSt,
- Tuesday:
- Wisconsin-@Maryland, @Villanova-Providence, @NotreDame-Syracuse, @NCarolina-NCState(NC), @WVirginia-Texas, @Arkansas-TexasA&M, @Canisius-Niagara(NY)(BIG4),
- Wednesday:
- @IowaSt-Baylor, @RhodeIsland-Davidson, @Iowa-Illinois, @Mississippi-Georgia, @UNC-Wilmington-JamesMadison, @
FLGulfCoast-NFlorida(FL),
BLACK & BLUE CLASSIC - PART II
-(VCU-@Richmond[RichmondVA]),
- Thursday:
- SMU-@
Memphis, @Louisiana Tech-UTEP, @Mercer-Wofford, @UNCAsheville-HighPt,
- Friday:
- @
Yale-Princeton,
- Saturday:
- @Kentucky-Arkansas, @Duke-Syracuse, Villanova-@Xavier, Arizona-@Utah, @Gonzaga-BYU, @Kansas-Texas, NCarolina-@MiamiFL, WVirginia-@Baylor, NoIowa-@WichitaSt, @SanDiegoSt-BoiseSt, @VCU-Dayton, Georgetown-@StJohns, @Davidson-GeoWashington, @LSU-Mississippi, @
Memphis-Tulsa, @JamesMadison-Hofstra, @TexasA&MCC-SamHoustonSt(TX), @CharlestonSo-HighPt, @MorganSt-CoppinSt(BaltimoreMD), @EaWashington-Montana, @AlabamaSt-TexasSo,
- Sunday:
- @Wisconsin-MichiganSt, SMU-@Connecticut, @OhioSt-Purdue(BG), @Stanford-Oregon,
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @Syracuse-Virginia, @IowaSt-Oklahoma, @Texas-Baylor(TX).
Top 25 - 15 Feb23 - [] Column
- Kentucky (26-0)
- Duke (24-3)
- Virginia (25-1)
- Wisconsin (24-2)
- Villanova (25-2) BIG 5u
- Arizona (24-3)
- Gonzaga (27-1) WCCu+4
- Kansas (22-5)
- Iowa State (20-6) [.5BIG 4]
- Oklahoma (19-8)
- Notre Dame (24-4)
- North Carolina (19-8)
- West Virginia (20-6)
- Utah (20-5)
- Northern Iowa (26-2) [.5BIG 4]
- Wichita State (24-3)
- Michigan State (19-7)
- Louisville (21-6)
- Maryland (22-5)
- SMU (21-5)
- San Diego State (21-6)
- VCU (21-6)
- Arkansas (22-5)
- Baylor (19-7)
- Georgetown (18-8)
- Honorable Mention:
- Oregon (19-8), Syracuse (17-10), Michigan (14-13), Xavier (18-10) (@XTOWN),
Valparaiso (22-4) HORIZ+2,
Bucknell (16-12) PAT+2,
Albany (16-8) AMER.E+2,
Murray State (22-4) OVCu+5,
St. Francis(New York) (19-9) NEC+4,
Iona (23-6) MAAC+3,
North Carolina Central (18-6) MEACu+3,
New Mexico State (16-10) WAC+3.
posted by Ron @ Sunday, March 01, 2015
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