15 Nov23 - Spartan Heart

Volume XX, No. 3 - 15 Nov23 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Spartan Heart

The CHAMPIONS CLASSIC (this year in Chicago) is usually the official Coming Out Party for many of the new season's GC stars at the four participating juggernaut programs, but they all mostly took a back seat this year. Instead, it was Michigan State senior xDenzel Valentine who stole the show, turning in the first Player Of The Year-calibre performance, with a spectacular 29p12a12r;10/23fg outburst as the Spartans rallied to beat Kansas @79-@73. (Only Magic Johnson '79, Charlie Bell '01 and Draymond Green '12 have also had triple-doubles in MSU history.) The Jayhawks came in with the most returning veteran talent; but other than 21p6r from fPerry Ellis, they didn't demonstrate much firepower (and nothing much from their new players).
     For Kentucky and Duke, it was a tale of two sophomores moreso than any kind of GC stardom. It was 5-9 pTyler Ulis(18p6a) who led the way for the Wildcats in their @74-@63 win while the Blue Devils' gGrayson Allen was no factor(6p1a3r) and looked overmatched up against elite talent. UK's bJamal Murray(16p5r) had the strongest showing among all the GCs on display in both games while DU's veteran cAmile Jefferson(16p15r) was surprisingly effective in the paint.

In the inauguaral GAVITT TIP-OFF GAMES challenge between the BIG 10 and BIG EAST, Maryland edged arch-rival Georgetown (@75-71) in the marquee matchup. Overall, it was a 4-4 tie thanks to a couple of squeak home wins by Providence and St. John's (over Illinois and Michigan) while Iowa and Xavier exchanged road blowouts (over Marquette and Michigan).
     New Mexico routed Loyola(Illinois), @75-51, to put the MOUNTAIN WEST up 2-1 in its challenge against the MISSOURI VALLEY.

The Mega-ACC has already started to make a mark on the young season taking 3 preseason tournament crowns: Virginia routed its way past everyone to win the CHARLESTON CLASSIC; DUKE took the 2KS CLASSIC at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN with an 86-84 win over Georgetown in the final (as gGrayson Allen bounced back, averaging 31p4a in two games). But most impressive was Miami(Florida), which plowed through a solid field to win the PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF (including a 90-66 rout over a strong Utah team (behind 27p from gSheldon McClellan) and an 85-75 win over high-scoring Butler in the final. Elsewhere, BIG 10/Purdue cruised all the way through the HALL OF FAME-B TIP-OFF in Uncasville, CT. The ACC is off to a strong 29-6 start in key interconference matchups so far to lead all conferences; the ATLANTIC 10 has started well (18-5) while the BIG EAST (16-11), WEST COAST (5-5) and MISSOURI VALLEY (7-11) have been the most disappointing.
     Oral Roberts was an Unwelcome Guest at the MABC CLASSIC (including a 74-@64 win over host James Madison), helping the SUMMIT get off to a strong 7-3 start. Likewise, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo won the MAUI Consolation bracket (ahead of host Northern Colorado) as the BIG WEST has started 7-5 against outsiders.

Tulsa made 10 three-pointers in knocking off Wichita State (@77-69, despite 18p9r from GT fAnton Grady). George Washington edged Virginia (@73-68, despite 28p4a8r from tMalcolm Brogdon). Surprising Northern Iowa (perhaps channeling some Year After magic with cSeth Tuttle no longer around) kept Stephen F. Austin in its early season funk (@70-60, despite 30p3a8r from tThomas Walkup) and then shocked veteran North Carolina (@71-67, despite 25p from tJustin Jackson). Oregon had a big week, beating Baylor (@74-67) in the feature matchup of the GS-A SHOOTOUT and handling tough Valparaiso similarly (@73-67 behind 26p13r from cDillon Brooks). San Diego State had it rough, falling at Utah (76-@81) and then got surprised at home against unheralded Little Rock (@43-49).

Only LSU's cBen Simmons has really shown brightly among the GCs so far as he averaged 23p13r3a in two games.

- -

Tulsa has a big week: closing out the PARADISE JAM in the final against South Carolina (Monday) and then hosting surprising Little Rock (Saturday).
     In tournaments, it's Michigan State that's now the favorite ahead of Arizona, Evansville, Boise State and UC-Irvine in the WOODEN LEGACY[ANAHEIM CLASSIC] (Thursday through Sunday). Indiana should rule over already blemished Kansas and UCLA in the MAUI INVITATIONAL (Monday thru Wednesday). Gonzaga is the favorite among a strong field including Connecticut and Texas A&M at the BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS (Wednesday-Friday). Wichita State looks to regain its cred against the likes of Dayton at the A/ORLANDO CLASSIC (Thursday-Sunday). George Washington won't have it easy on neutral ground getting past the likes of soaring Cincinnati in the BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING-A CLASSIC (Friday-Saturday). Maryland should have no trouble against the likes of downgraded Rhode Island in the CANCUN CHALLENGE (Tuesday-Wednesday). California won't get as much of a bump now for knocking off downgraded San Diego State in the semis (Thursday) of the LAS VEGAS-THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL. Iowa State won't get much either from winning the EMERALD COAST CLASSIC (ahead of UAB, through Saturday). Central Michigan has a good shot to take the no-name GULF COAST SHOWCASE crown (Monday thru Wednesday). Loyola(Illinois) likewise has no name obstacles in between it and the GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT crown (Wednesday-Saturday). Stephen F. Austin looks for a restart against the no-names of the CHALLENGE IN MUSIC CITY (Thursday-Sunday).

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

-- Ron

Key games this week:

Monday:

PARADISE JAM Finals @ StThomasUSVI
-(Tulsa-SCarolina; 3rd:IndianaSt-Hofstra; 5th:FloridaSt-OhioU, 7th:DePaul-NorfolkSt),

Monday-Tuesday:

LEGENDS CLASSIC 2x4 Cons 3rd/Semis @ KennesawGA/KennesawSt/; 3rd/Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Semis: LSU-Marquette, NCState-ArizonaSt;
   Cons Semis: SAlabama-Belmont, @KennesawSt-IUPUI),

Monday,Wednesday:

LAS VEGAS-MAIN EVENT 2x4 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/MGM/
-(Main: Clemson-Massachusetts, Rutgers-Creighton;
   Cons: TXSanAntonio-CArkansas, TexasSo-Howarrd),

Monday-Wednesday:

MAUI INVITATIONAL 8Bracket 2nd/Qtrs @ LahainaHI/{Chaminade}/
-(Main: Indiana-WakeForest, Vanderbilt-StJohns, Kansas-@{Chaminade}, UCLA-UNLV),
GULF COAST SHOWCASE 8Bracket 1st/Qtrs @ EsteroFL
-(CMichigan-WeberSt, WeKentucky-Drake, Duquesne-Pepperdine, Milwaukee-MurraySt),
MEAN GREEN SHOWCASE RndRob2 @ DentonTX/NTexas/
-(Samford, Troy, @NTexas, Idaho).

Monday-Friday:

HALL OF FAME-A SHOOTOUT RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Kentucky, SFlorida, BostonU, Albany, NJIT),
GS-A SHOOTOUT RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Oregon, Baylor, ArkansasSt, JacksonSt, SavannahSt),
CBE CLASSIC 2x4 Cons RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ KansasCityMO
-(Semis: NCarolina-Northwestern, @KansasSt-Missouri;
   Cons: Wofford, Columbia, Fairfield, MDEaShore),
LAS VEGAS-THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-(Semis: California-SanDiegoSt, WVirginia-Richmond;
   Cons: Little Rock, ECarolina, Stetson, SamHoustonSt, BethuneCookman),

Monday-Saturday:

EMERALD COAST CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ NicevilleFL
-(A: IowaSt, VirginiaTech, ChicagoSt, JacksonvilleSt;
   B: UAB, Illinois, Chattanooga, AlabamaSt),

Monday-Tuesday week:

HALL OF FAME-C INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus; Feature @ MiamiFL
-(OhioSt-Memphis, LouisianaTech, GramblingSt, TXArlington),

Monday-Wed 9 Dec:

WOODEN LEGACY/ANAHEIM CLASSIC 8Bracket WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus; 2nd/Qtrs @ FullertonSt/CalStFullerton, AnaheimCA
-(MichiganSt-BostonCol, BoiseSt-@UCIrvine, Arizona-@SantaClara, Evansville-Providence),

Tuesday:

@Canisius-StBonaventure(NY)(BIG4),
(new)BEAVER HARDWOOD SHOWCASE RndRob3 on-campus
-(@OregonSt-Valparaiso),

Tuesday-Wednesday:

MABC CLASSIC CoolDown1 on-campus
-(Tue: @JamesMadison-{EaMennonite};
   Wed: @OralRoberts-{Tabor}),

Tuesday,Thursday-Friday:

NIT SEASON TIP-OFF 2x4 RndRob4 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Semis: Villanova-Stanford, GeorgiaTech-Arkansas;
   Cons: ETennesseeSt, Akron, Green Bay, CharslestonSo),

Tuesday-Saturday:

BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING-A CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; Cons RndRob2 @ WestPointNY/Army-WP/; 3rd/Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Semis: GeoWashington-Tennessee, Cincinnati-Nebraska;
   Cons: @ArmyWP, GardnerWebb, ARPineBluff, SELouisiana),
CORPUS CHRISTI COASTAL CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ CorpusChristiTX
-(A: ColoradoSt, Portland, Oakland, AlcornSt;
   B: UTEP, SoIllinois, {AbileneChristian}, FloridaA&M),

Tuesday-Sunday:

CANCUN CHALLENGE 2x4 WarmUp/CoolDown2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ CancunMEXICO
-(Semis: Maryland-IllinoisSt, RhodeIsland-TCU;
   Cons Semis: SDState-HoustonBaptist, ClevelandSt-Rider),
BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING-B INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus; Cons RndRob2 @ WestHartfordCT/Hartford/; Feature @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Louisville-StLouis, @Hartford, StFrancisNY, NFlorida),
ROUNDBALL SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(FresnoSt, UCRiverside, SanFrancisco, Rice, Lamar, DelawareSt),
(new)AIR FORCE CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus; Cons RndRob @ CookevilleTN/TennesseeTech/
-(@AirForce, NewMexicoSt, @TennesseeTech, RobertMorris, MSValleySt),

Tuesday-Sun 20 Dec:

MWC[2-1;1]/MVC[1-2;1] CHALLENGE on-campus -- MWC leads 2-1
[San Jose State does not play.]
-(Tue: @NoIowa-ColoradoSt;
   Wed week: @MissouriSt-UtahSt;
   Wed 9 Dec: @WichitaSt-UNLV;
   Sat 12 Dec: @Nevada-Drake;
   Wed 16 Dec: @IndianaSt-Wyoming;
   Sun 20 Dec: @BoiseSt-Bradley, @FresnoSt-Evansville),

Wednesday:

@LaSalle-@Penn(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5)(/PALESTRA/), @CoppinSt-Towson(BaltimoreMD),
HALL OF FAME-B TIP-OFF 2x4 CoolDown on-campus
-(@Florida-Vermont),

Wednesday-Thursday:

2KS CLASSIC 2x4 CoolDown1 on-campus
-(Wed: @Wisconsin-PrairieViewA&M;
   Thu: @Georgetown-Bryant),

Wednesday-Friday:

BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS 8Bracket 2nd/Qtrs @ ParadiseIslandBAHAMAS
-(Gonzaga-Washington[WA], TexasA&M-Texas[TX], Connecticut-Michigan, Syracuse-Charlotte),

Wednesday-Saturday:

GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT 8Bracket 1st/Qtrs @ AnchorageAK/{AKAnchorage}/
-(LoyolaIL-SanDiego, SanJoseSt-Toledo, MidTennessee-@{AKAnchorage}, Drexel-UNCAsheville),

Wednesday-Monday week:

(new)PALMETTO STATE SHOOTOUT RndRob3 @ SpartanburgSC/SCUpstate/
-(TheCitadel, GeorgiaSo, @SCUpstate, {BobJones}),

Thursday-Friday,Sunday:

A/ORLANDO CLASSIC 8Bracket 2nd/Qtrs @ OrlandoFL
-(WichitaSt-USC, Alabama-Xavier, Dayton-Iowa, NotreDame-Monmouth),
CHALLENGE IN MUSIC CITY RndRob3 @ NashvilleTN
-(StephenFAustin, Tulane, WeMichigan, AppalachianSt),

Friday,Tuesday week:

CHARLESTON CLASSIC CoolDown1 on-campus
-(Fri: @OklahomaSt-LongBeachSt;
   Tue week: @Towson-GeoMason),

Friday-Sunday:

SPARTAN SHOWCASE RndRob3 @ GreensboroNC/UNCGreensboro/
-(IPFW, @UNCGreensboro, Navy, Jacksonville),

Saturday:

@Tulsa-LittleRock, @BYU-Belmont, @Buffalo-Canisius(BuffaloNY)(BIG4),

- - - - - -

Monday week-Wednesday week:

ACC[10-4;2]/BIG 10[4-10;2] CHALLENGE on-campus
[Georgia Tech does not play.]
-(Mon week: @Minnesota-Clemson, @Rutgers-WakeForest;
   Tue week: @NCarolina-Maryland, @Nebraska-MiamiFL, @OhioSt-Virginia, @Pittsburgh-Purdue, @NCState-Michigan, @VirginiaTech-Northwestern;
   Wed week: @MichiganSt-Louisville, @Duke-Indiana, @Syracuse-Wisconsin, @Illinois-NotreDame, @Iowa-FloridaSt, @BostonCol-PennSt).

---

Top 25 - 15 Nov23 - [] Column

1. Kentucky (4-0) (@@CHAMPS)
   
2. Michigan State (3-0) (@@CHAMPS)
   
3. Gonzaga (2-0)
   
4. Indiana (3-0) (vBIGE)
   
5. Maryland (3-0) (vBIGE)
   
6. Oklahoma (2-0)
   
7. Iowa State (2-0)
   
8. Miami(Florida) (5-0) [3:P.RICO]
   
9. Oregon (4-0)
   
10. Tulsa (4-0)
    
11. George Washington (4-0)
    
12. Northern Iowa (2-1)
    
13. Arizona (4-0)
    
14. North Carolina (3-1)
    
15. Virginia (4-1) [3:CHARLESTON]
    
16. Wichita State (1-1)
    
17. Duke (4-1) [2v2:2KS]
    
18. Kansas (1-1)
    
19. Connecticut (3-0)
    
20. California (3-0)
    
21. LSU (3-0)
    
22. SMU (3-0)
    
23. Villanova (4-0) (vBIG10)
    
24. Dayton (3-0)
    
25. Little Rock (1-0)
    

Honorable Mention:

Purdue (4-0) [2v2:HALL.FAME-B], Oral Roberts (4-1) [3@MABC], Cal Poly-SLO (2-2) [2@MAUIcons].