16 Jan11 - Old And Worn ... And Battle-Tested
Volume XX, No. 10 - 16 Jan11 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Old And Worn ... And Battle-Tested
In the Game Of The Year, Kansas and Oklahoma went into triple-overtime in Lawrence before the host Jayhawks survived with a @109-106(3OT) victory; cPerry Ellis(27p13r) led four KU players in double-figures, but it was OU's tBuddy Hield(46p7a8r5to) who stole the show while pJordan Woodard(27p7a) also starred in a losing effort. While not the flashiest roster around and not having gotten significant contributions from freshman so far, this Kansas team feels like Old News; but its only loss was to a Michigan State roster that isn't currently intact and it certainly seems fully capable of continuing its streak of BIG 12 regular season titles. For his part, tHield is on his way to matching (or even surpassing) MSU's xDenzel Valentine in the race for Player Of The Year.
Marquette surprised host Providence (65-@64 despite star turns from fBen Bentil[28p9r] and pKris Dunn[20p7a5r5s7to]). Baylor stunned host Iowa State (94-@89 behind 27p12r;13/15fg from cJohnathan Motley); the losing Cyclones appear to have much the same makeup as last year: plenty of offensive talent but no defensive prowess whatsoever. LSU put it all together in an impressive (@85-67) rout of Kentucky with xTim Quarterman(21p7a10r) leading the way; the losing Wildcats once again had no inside game (and not much of anything, frankly, beyond pTyler Ulis[23p6a] and Jamal Murray[21p1a]); the winning Tigers reverted to their old ways, however, losing next time out at Florida (62-@68 despite 28p17r4a8to from GC cBen Simmons). Surging Villanova kept slumping Butler in its regular season funk with a 60-@55 road win as xJosh Hart(22p11r;10/15fg) led the way.
Virginia stumbled twice on the road, losing at Virginia Tech (68-@70) and at Georgia Tech (64-@68); with the depth at the top of the ACC this year, the Cavaliers will be hard-pressed now to three-peat as regular season title champs. Purdue fell at 9-8 Illinois (70-@84 as tMalcolm Hill[30p3a8r] starred). Louisville was edged on the road against Clemson (62-@66) in Greenville.
In the PAC-12, neither Arizona school could handle the Los Angeles road trip as UofA tripped twice (84-@87 at UCLA as pBryce Alford[25p6a] starred, and in quadruple-overtime 101-@103[4OT] at USC) while AzSt fell harder (65-@75 at USC, and 74-@81 at UCLA). Similarly, California couldn't handle the Oregon swing, tripping at UofO (65-@68 while shooting 0-for-12 on three-pointers) and falling at OreSt (71-@77 as xGary Payton II[20p8a11r] starred).
Unbeaten SMU stayed on track in its pursuit of its only eligible prize, the AMERICAN regular season title, edging Cincinnati (@59-57). Wichita State may have kept its postseason hopes alive with a big week, beating Evansville (@67-64) in a defensive struggle and pounding upstart Southern Illinois on the road (83-@58, limiting the Salukis to two assists for the game); the Wheatshockers might even still have a chance at an at-large bid by pushing the MISSOURI VALLEY into Anti-Spoiler status if they can sweep the return games in the second half and dominate the league. Unbeaten South Carolina carried the magic into conference play, edging slumping Vanderbilt (@69-65).
Streaking St. Mary's stumbled at Pepperdine (64-@67). Conference play brought Texas Tech back down to earth with two losses (69-@76 at Iowa State, and at home to Kansas (@59-69 as xFrank Mason[17p5a10r] had his way). Connecticut split at home (tripping against Temple, but edging Memphis [@81-78]). Rhode Island was also up and down, handling Richmond (@77-65 despite 28p5r from fT.J. Cline [Hall-Of-Famer Nancy Lieberman's son]), but stumbling at 12-3 St. Joseph's (67-@72 as pDeAndre Bembry[22p5a7r] led the way). Elsewhere, George Washington tripped at St. Louis; Dayton tripped at La Salle; UNLV tripped at Colorado State; and slumping Northern Iowa tripped at Missouri State. Syracuse continued to tumble without its coach with two home losses (vs Clemson, and @73-84 vs North Carolina).
Boise State went 3-0 in the MOUNTAIN WEST, routing host Utah State (76-@61) and handling guest Fresno State (@81-70 despite 26p4a7r from bMarvelle Harris). SOUTHERN/Chattanooga handled Mercer (@74-62) but tanked at Furman. 11-5 COLONIAL/Elon won at James Madison (78-@73 despite 23p7a9r from tRon Curry). Valparaiso took early control of the HORIZON with a road-rout of Oakland (84-@67). CONFERENCE USA/Old Dominion edged host Louisiana Tech (56-@53). In Part I of the WAC Game Of The Year, {Grand Canyon} edged New Mexico State (@79-75) to get out front in the race for its only eligible prize, the regular season title. BIG SOUTH favorite Coastal Carolina dropped two games, tripping at home against Liberty and tanking on the road at Longwood. NORTHEAST/Wagner edged host Robert Morris (72-@69).
- - - - - -
It doesn't get any tougher than West Virginia's week (Tuesday vs Kansas, Saturday at Oklahoma). Marquette has it almost as bad, visiting Villanova (Wednesday) and hosting Xavier (Saturday). Iowa must prove its home win wasn't a fluke when it travels to Michigan State (Thursday). The last three ATLANTIC COAST regular season title holders square off when Miami(Florida) '13 visits Virginia '14,'15 (Tuesday). Gonzaga's WEST COAST title defense gets under way for real against guest BYU (Thursday).
Pittsburgh faces its toughest test when it goes to Louisville (Thursday). Houston gets to prove how real it is when it visits Cincinnati (Wednesday) and hosts Connecticut (Saturday). Baylor needs a road win to stay with the BIG 12 Big Boys when it visits smarting Texas Tech (Saturday). Providence visits Creighton (Tuesday). Oregon hopes to get a valuable road win at Utah (Thursday). George Washington hopes to bring some order to the ATLANTIC 10 race with a road win at Dayton (Friday). Part I of the MOUNTAIN WEST Game Of The Year comes early when Boise State hosts San Diego State (Saturday). Only one Los Angeles school can continue its streaking ways when UCLA hosts USC (Wednesday).
Valparaiso can lock down the HORIZON with a home win over Milwuakee (Thursday).
-- Ron
Top 25 - 16 Jan11 - [] Column
Old And Worn ... And Battle-Tested
In the Game Of The Year, Kansas and Oklahoma went into triple-overtime in Lawrence before the host Jayhawks survived with a @109-106(3OT) victory; cPerry Ellis(27p13r) led four KU players in double-figures, but it was OU's tBuddy Hield(46p7a8r5to) who stole the show while pJordan Woodard(27p7a) also starred in a losing effort. While not the flashiest roster around and not having gotten significant contributions from freshman so far, this Kansas team feels like Old News; but its only loss was to a Michigan State roster that isn't currently intact and it certainly seems fully capable of continuing its streak of BIG 12 regular season titles. For his part, tHield is on his way to matching (or even surpassing) MSU's xDenzel Valentine in the race for Player Of The Year.
Marquette surprised host Providence (65-@64 despite star turns from fBen Bentil[28p9r] and pKris Dunn[20p7a5r5s7to]). Baylor stunned host Iowa State (94-@89 behind 27p12r;13/15fg from cJohnathan Motley); the losing Cyclones appear to have much the same makeup as last year: plenty of offensive talent but no defensive prowess whatsoever. LSU put it all together in an impressive (@85-67) rout of Kentucky with xTim Quarterman(21p7a10r) leading the way; the losing Wildcats once again had no inside game (and not much of anything, frankly, beyond pTyler Ulis[23p6a] and Jamal Murray[21p1a]); the winning Tigers reverted to their old ways, however, losing next time out at Florida (62-@68 despite 28p17r4a8to from GC cBen Simmons). Surging Villanova kept slumping Butler in its regular season funk with a 60-@55 road win as xJosh Hart(22p11r;10/15fg) led the way.
Virginia stumbled twice on the road, losing at Virginia Tech (68-@70) and at Georgia Tech (64-@68); with the depth at the top of the ACC this year, the Cavaliers will be hard-pressed now to three-peat as regular season title champs. Purdue fell at 9-8 Illinois (70-@84 as tMalcolm Hill[30p3a8r] starred). Louisville was edged on the road against Clemson (62-@66) in Greenville.
In the PAC-12, neither Arizona school could handle the Los Angeles road trip as UofA tripped twice (84-@87 at UCLA as pBryce Alford[25p6a] starred, and in quadruple-overtime 101-@103[4OT] at USC) while AzSt fell harder (65-@75 at USC, and 74-@81 at UCLA). Similarly, California couldn't handle the Oregon swing, tripping at UofO (65-@68 while shooting 0-for-12 on three-pointers) and falling at OreSt (71-@77 as xGary Payton II[20p8a11r] starred).
Unbeaten SMU stayed on track in its pursuit of its only eligible prize, the AMERICAN regular season title, edging Cincinnati (@59-57). Wichita State may have kept its postseason hopes alive with a big week, beating Evansville (@67-64) in a defensive struggle and pounding upstart Southern Illinois on the road (83-@58, limiting the Salukis to two assists for the game); the Wheatshockers might even still have a chance at an at-large bid by pushing the MISSOURI VALLEY into Anti-Spoiler status if they can sweep the return games in the second half and dominate the league. Unbeaten South Carolina carried the magic into conference play, edging slumping Vanderbilt (@69-65).
Streaking St. Mary's stumbled at Pepperdine (64-@67). Conference play brought Texas Tech back down to earth with two losses (69-@76 at Iowa State, and at home to Kansas (@59-69 as xFrank Mason[17p5a10r] had his way). Connecticut split at home (tripping against Temple, but edging Memphis [@81-78]). Rhode Island was also up and down, handling Richmond (@77-65 despite 28p5r from fT.J. Cline [Hall-Of-Famer Nancy Lieberman's son]), but stumbling at 12-3 St. Joseph's (67-@72 as pDeAndre Bembry[22p5a7r] led the way). Elsewhere, George Washington tripped at St. Louis; Dayton tripped at La Salle; UNLV tripped at Colorado State; and slumping Northern Iowa tripped at Missouri State. Syracuse continued to tumble without its coach with two home losses (vs Clemson, and @73-84 vs North Carolina).
Boise State went 3-0 in the MOUNTAIN WEST, routing host Utah State (76-@61) and handling guest Fresno State (@81-70 despite 26p4a7r from bMarvelle Harris). SOUTHERN/Chattanooga handled Mercer (@74-62) but tanked at Furman. 11-5 COLONIAL/Elon won at James Madison (78-@73 despite 23p7a9r from tRon Curry). Valparaiso took early control of the HORIZON with a road-rout of Oakland (84-@67). CONFERENCE USA/Old Dominion edged host Louisiana Tech (56-@53). In Part I of the WAC Game Of The Year, {Grand Canyon} edged New Mexico State (@79-75) to get out front in the race for its only eligible prize, the regular season title. BIG SOUTH favorite Coastal Carolina dropped two games, tripping at home against Liberty and tanking on the road at Longwood. NORTHEAST/Wagner edged host Robert Morris (72-@69).
- - - - - -
It doesn't get any tougher than West Virginia's week (Tuesday vs Kansas, Saturday at Oklahoma). Marquette has it almost as bad, visiting Villanova (Wednesday) and hosting Xavier (Saturday). Iowa must prove its home win wasn't a fluke when it travels to Michigan State (Thursday). The last three ATLANTIC COAST regular season title holders square off when Miami(Florida) '13 visits Virginia '14,'15 (Tuesday). Gonzaga's WEST COAST title defense gets under way for real against guest BYU (Thursday).
Pittsburgh faces its toughest test when it goes to Louisville (Thursday). Houston gets to prove how real it is when it visits Cincinnati (Wednesday) and hosts Connecticut (Saturday). Baylor needs a road win to stay with the BIG 12 Big Boys when it visits smarting Texas Tech (Saturday). Providence visits Creighton (Tuesday). Oregon hopes to get a valuable road win at Utah (Thursday). George Washington hopes to bring some order to the ATLANTIC 10 race with a road win at Dayton (Friday). Part I of the MOUNTAIN WEST Game Of The Year comes early when Boise State hosts San Diego State (Saturday). Only one Los Angeles school can continue its streaking ways when UCLA hosts USC (Wednesday).
Valparaiso can lock down the HORIZON with a home win over Milwuakee (Thursday).
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday (CFP CHAMPIONSHIP):
- @Lamar-TexasA&MCC(TX),
- Tuesday:
- Kansas-@WVirginia, Providence-@Creighton, MiamiFL-@Virginia, @Dayton-
Davidson, @Albany-NewHampshire,
- Wednesday:
- @Villanova-Marquette, USC-@UCLA(LosAngelesCA), Houston-@Cincinnati,
- Thursday:
- Iowa-@MichiganSt, @Gonzaga-BYU, Pittsburgh-@Louisville, @Utah-Oregon, @Valparaiso-Milwaukee, @
Tulsa-Connecticut, @OldDominion-UAB, @SDState-IPFW, @UCRiverside-Hawaii, @Northeastern-JamesMadison, @ColofCharleston-William&Mary, @Belmont-MurraySt, @NewMexicoSt-MOKansasCity, @NFlorida-Lipscomb, @RobertMorris-MtStMarys, @CConnecticutSt-SacredHeart(CT)(CT6),
- Friday:
- @Dayton-GeoWashington, @
Iona-Monmouth,
- Saturday:
- @Oklahoma-WVirginia, Xavier-@Marquette, @NCarolina-NCState(NC), @Duke-NotreDame, Baylor-@TexasTech(TX), @SAlabama-TXArlington, @BoiseSt-SanDiegoSt, @WakeForest-Syracuse, @NDState-
SDState, @WeIllinois-OralRoberts, @Hofstra-JamesMadison, @OldDominion-MidTennessee, @SacramentoSt-WeberSt, @NewHampshire-StonyBrook, @HighPt-CoCarolina, @AlabamaSt-AlabamaA&M(AL),
BLACK AND BLUE/CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC on-campus
-(@Richmond-VCU[RichmondVA]),
- Sunday:
- @Houston-Connecticut, @Utah-OregonSt,
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @IowaSt-Oklahoma, @Duke-Syracuse.
Top 25 - 16 Jan11 - [] Column
- Kansas (13-1)
- Oklahoma (12-1)
- Villanova (14-2)
- Xavier (13-1)
- Providence (14-2)
- North Carolina (15-2)
- Miami(Florida) (13-1)
- Duke (14-2)
- Iowa (12-3)
- SMU (15-0)
- Texas A&M (13-2)
- South Carolina (14-0)
- Michigan State (16-1)
- Kentucky (12-3)
- Arizona (13-3)
- Iowa State (12-3)
- Virginia (12-3)
- Maryland (15-1)
- West Virginia (13-1)
- Gonzaga (12-3)
- Wichita State (9-5)
- Baylor (11-3)
- USC (14-3)
- Pittsburgh (13-1)
- Houston (13-2)
- Honorable Mention:
- Marquette (12-4), Virginia Tech (10-5), Georgia Tech (11-5), UCLA (11-6), LSU (9-6), Illinois (9-8), Oregon State (11-3), Oregon (12-3), Clemson (10-6).
posted by Ron @ Tuesday, February 09, 2016
<< Home