16 Nov21 - Where Have All The Big Men Gone? (Gone To Three-land, Every One)

Volume XXI, No. 3 - 16 Nov21 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Where Have All The Big Men Gone?
(Gone To Three-land, Every One)

At the CHAMPIONS CLASSIC (this year at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in New York City), Kansas edged undermanned Duke (@77-@75 on pFrank Mason III[21p5a]'s game-winner matching 22p5a5r from pLuke Kennard). GC tJosh Jackson managed 15p1a for the Jayhawks (but it was hardly a star turn); meanwhile, the Blue Devils were without their GCs fHarry Giles and fJayson Tatum and, once again, gGrayson Allen(12p3a;4/15fg) managed to disappear in a high-profile game. In the other matchup, Kentucky trounced 0-2 Michigan State (@69-@48 as GC bMalik Monk[23p6r;7/11 3s] put on a shooting display from deep -- no Spartan even managed to crack double-figures).
     In the GAVITT TIP-OFF GAMES [BIG EAST/BIG 10 CHALLENGE], Creighton surprised highly touted Wisconsin (@79-67 led by pMaurice Watson Jr.[17p10a5to] as the Badgers couldn't guard the perimeter and only managed 4-for-5 on free throws). Guard-oriented Villanova edged post-heavy Purdue on the road (79-@76 as the smaller Wildcats held their own on the boards, 28-27). Seton Hall won at Iowa (91-@83 as freshman Myles Powell(25) tried to match 28p9r from tPeter Jok). Maryland edged arch-rival Georgetown on the road (76-@75 on Melo Trimble[22p]'s game-winning free throws). Ohio State edged Providence while Butler edged Northwestern, both at home. Officially, it was a 4-4 tie for the second-straight year. Unofficially, neither Michigan nor Marquette participated this year, yet they faced off against each other in the 2K CLASSIC during the same week. (I'm calling it 5-4 for the BIG 10 thanks to the Wolverines' 79-61 win over the Golden Eagles in the semifinal at MSG.)
     Playing without injured fDillon Brooks(foot) doesn't explain the tank loss by Oregon at revamped Baylor (49-@66 as [ex-Miami{Florida}] transfer pManu Lecomte[18p7a] led the way). The Ducks didn't put in much effort defensively (a hangover from what cost them in the postseason last year). St. Mary's nearly blew a 20-point lead (54-@34) but hung on to edge host Dayton (61-@57). Duke regrouped to win the HALL OF FAME-A TIP-OFF at the MOHEGAN SUN in Uncasville, CT with wins over Penn State (78-68) and tough Rhode Island (75-65). Villanova cruised through the CHARLESTON[SC] CLASSIC draw (including a 67-57 win over UCF in the final, despite 20p13r from 7-6 cTacko Fall). Xavier had a little more trouble at the PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF(relocated)TP/ORLANDO INVITATIONAL, needing overtime to edge Missouri (83-82[OT]) and holding off Clemson (83-77) and Northern Iowa (67-59) for the crown.
     Splashworthy 1BCs, Texas-Arlington and Monmouth couldn't make preseason statements and will likely now disappear from the national spotlight until the postseason. TXArl lost thrice: 67-@84 at Minnesota and 67-@71 at Arkansas (both part of the GOLDEN GOPHER SHOWCASE) and also 72-@85 at feisty Florida Gulf Coast (72-@85). Monmth threw a scare into host South Carolina before falling 69-@70(OT) but tanked at the Carrier Dome (50-@71) against host Syracuse (both part of the BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING-A INVITATIONAL round-robin).

Michigan went on to win the 2K CLASSIC (beating SMU in the final, 75-64) while Marquette tripped against Pittsburgh in the third-place game (75-78 as Michael Young starred). Rhode Island edged Cincinnati (76-71 despite 25p6r from bJacob Evans) in the HOF-A semis (before falling to Duke in the final). Gonzaga dumped San Diego State (@69-48, holding the Aztecs to 29 percent shooting). Oregon regrouped to dump Valparaiso (@76-54 as tChris Boucher[25p9r] starred).
     Princeton fell at BYU (73-@82 as the Cougars converted 30-for-41 free throws led by cEric Mike[26p18r;12/13ft]) and then fell at Lehigh as well (67-@76). Meanwhile, UAB fell at home to Furman (@74-84 as pDaniel Fowler[23p8a7r] led the way). And Connecticut tripped at home, for the second time already (@61-64 vs Northeastern) -- Ay! GC pMarkelle Fultz[35p6a] dazzled in Washington's @104-88 win over Cal State-Fullerton (as part of the GS-A CLASSIC).

Ohio University surprised host Georgia Tech (67-@61) to take control of the GS-B SHOOTOUT round-robin. New Hampshire had a strange week: first, pulling off the road upset at Temple (57-@52) as part of the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF; but then, losing at home to non-Division I {Abilene Christian} (@57-65) -- Huh? After falling at Baylor (72-@81), Florida Gulf Coast put a scare into reeling Michigan State before falling (77-@78 as the home scorekeeper played fast and loose with the game clock in the final seconds). (FLGC has started the season without injured fMarc-Eddy Norelia[hand], so don't sleep on this tourney-tested team come March.)
     The OHIO VALLEY claimed a piece of two more Unwelcome Guest crowns as both OVC/Austin Peay and HORIZ/Northern Kentucky shared the new T/SPORTS-B CLASSIC (past host MAC/Miami[Ohio]) while OVC/SIU-Edwardsville shared a three-way tie at the RAINBOW CLASSIC with SUNB/Texas State and host BIGW/Hawaii. Meanwhile, SUMMIT/North Dakota State claimed the [HP]PANTHER CLASSIC (past host BIGS/High Point) and Arkansas State gave the SUN BELT a full crown, winning the MAUI Consolation bracket (past host Army-West Point).

We haven't seen much strong post play so far. Most of the high-profile big men these days are stepping out the perimeter to shoot threes as much as punishing you in the paint. Oregon's xChris Boucher does as much damage outside as inside; even Indiana's fThomas Bryant is showing off his range early on. Maybe only Duke's cAmile Jefferson has shown some quality inside moves on a consistent basis. None of the few GCs who've even made an impression so far have done so from the paint. (Again, it's Duke's fHarry Giles who figures to be the best low-post newcomer, once he actually plays a game.)

The BIG 10 had a strong week (14-2 overall including the 2K crown). The Mega-ACC (24-7; HALL OF FAME-A) and BIG EAST (19-7; PUERTO RICOTP/ORLANDO-A, CHARLESTON[SC]) have been solid as well. Last year's disappointments: the WEST COAST (10-4) and MOUNTAIN WEST (11-5) have started well while the MISSOURI VALLEY (7-4) and AMERICAN (13-9) have only been so-so so far among the "Usual Suspect" Mid-Majors.

- - - - - -

The MAUI INVITATIONAL field has lost some lustre but is still solid with North Carolina, Wisconsin, Oregon and Connecticut (Monday through Wednesday). UAB has it rough: first, trying to get past Kansas (in Kansas City) at the CBE CLASSIC (Monday-Tuesday) and then, facing St. Mary's in its WCC TUNEUP in Las Vegas (Sunday). It's the A/ORLANDO-B INVITATIONAL field that's the strongest overall as Gonzaga, Seton Hall, Iowa State and Florida all fight it out
(Thursday-Sunday). Suddenly, it's Baylor and VCU who look to be the favorites and 2-2 Michigan State with much to prove in the BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS (Wednesday through Friday). Texas Tech looks to surprise Purdue in the CANCUN CHALLENGE (Tuesday-Friday). "Home court" advantage should see UCLA past the likes of Dayton in the WOODEN LEGACY/ANAHEIM CLASSIC (Thursday through Sunday). Notre Dame won't have an easy time getting past Texas at the LEGENDS CLASSIC (Monday-Tuesday).
     BYU and Valparaiso might have a bid-worthy meeting in the LAS VEGAS-MAIN EVENT final (Wednesday). Nevada's goal of a bid-worthy resume rests on winning the GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT (Wednesday through Saturday).

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

-- Ron

Key games this week:

Monday:

PARADISE JAM Finals @ StThomasUSVI
-(Creighton-Mississippi;
   3rd: NCState-StJosephs;
   5th: WashingtonSt-LoyolaIL;
   7th: OralRoberts-Montana),
(new)SACRAMENTO-NOV SHOWCASE DblHdr @ SacramentoCA/GOLDEN1/
-(SanDiegoSt-@California[CA], @SacramentoSt-@UCDavis[CA)]),
(new)STEVE WRIGHT CLASSIC RndRob3/3 @ BostonMA/BostonU/
-(@Northeastern, @BostonU; LongIsland-Maine),

Monday,Wednesday:

LAS VEGAS-MAIN EVENT 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/MGM/
-(Semis: BYU-StLouis, Valparaiso-Alabama;
   Cons Semis: CoCarolina-SoUtah, BallSt-CoppinSt),

Monday-Wednesday:

MAUI INVITATIONAL 8Bracket WarmUp1 on-campus; Cons 3rd/Semis @ WestPointNY/ArmyWP/; 2nd/Qtrs @ LahainaHI/{Chaminade}/
-(Main: NCarolina-@{Chaminade}, Connecticut-OklahomaSt, Wisconsin-Tennessee, Oregon-Georgetown;
   Cons: CArkansas-Chattanooga, ArkansasSt-@ArmyWP),
(new)LONE STAR-B SHOWCASE RndRob3 @ CedarParkTX
-(Pepperdine, StBonaventure, LittleRock, CMichigan),

Monday-Friday:

CBE CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2,4 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ KansasCityMO
-(A: @Kansas, UAB, Furman, ARPineBluff;
   B: Georgia, GeoWashington, Siena, UNCAsheville),
LAS VEGAS-THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-(A: Arizona, SantaClara, SacredHeart, NoColorado;
   B: Vanderbilt, Butler, Bucknell, NorfolkSt),
LEGENDS CLASSIC 2x4 WarmUp2 on-campus; Cons 3rd/Semis @ CheneyWA/EaWashington/; 3rd/Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Semis: NotreDame-Colorado, Texas-Northwestern;
   Cons Semis: Seattle-LAMonroe, Bryant-@EaWashington),
GULF COAST SHOWCASE 8Bracket WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus; 2nd/Qtrs @ EsteroFL
-(Main: Bradley-Hofstra, Wofford-Vermont, GeoMason-Houston, SDakota-KentSt),

Monday-Saturday:

EMERALD COAST CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ DestinFL
-(A: Virginia, Iowa, TXRGValley, GramblingSt;
   B: Providence, Memphis, StFrancisNY, SavannahSt),
GS-C INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus
-(@OhioSt, Marshall, WeCarolina, JacksonSt, NCCentral),
(new)SAVANNAH INVITATIONAL 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; Semis @ SavannahGA
-(A: AirForce, Akron, GeorgiaSo, FloridaA&M;
   B: @Mercer, ECarolina, Radford, Stetson),

Monday-Sunday:

(new)BLUEGRASS SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Kentucky, Duquesne, TNMartin, ClevelandSt, Canisius),
INDIANA[HOOSIER] CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus; Cons RndRob2 @ LynchburgVA/Liberty/
-(Indiana, @FtWayne, @Liberty, {MALowell}, MSValleySt),
A/ORLANDO-B INVITATIONAL WarmUp1 8Bracket @ Orlando FL
-(Gonzaga-Quinnipiac, SetonHall-@Florida, IowaSt-IndianaSt, @MiamiFL-Stanford),
HARDWOOD SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(JamesMadison, Louisiana, Rice, TexasSo, MontanaSt, DelawareSt),

Monday-Monday week:

(new)GOLDEN GOPHER SHOWCASE WarmUp1 RndRob4 on-campus
-(TXArlington, Arkansas, @Minnesota, SoIllinois, MtStMarys; {MissouriSoSt}, {StFrancisIL}),
NIT SEASON TIP-OFF 2x4 RndRob2,4 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(A: WVirginia, Illinois; Manhattan, NewHampshire;
   B: FloridaSt, Temple; Detroit, Winthrop),

Monday-Tuesday week:

(new)BILL FRACK TOURNAMENT RndRob3 @ BowlingGreenOH/BowlingGreen/
-(MOKansasCity, @BowlingGreen, MurraySt, GreenBay),

Monday-Wednesday week:

(new)MENvC CLASSIC RndRob3 @ DaytonOH/WrightSt/
-(@WrightSt, NFlorida, CalStBakersfield, NDakota),

Tuesday:

2K CLASSIC CoolDown on-campus
-(A: Michigan; Marquette-IUPUI; Howard;
   B: Pittsburgh, SMU; EaMichigan, GardnerWebb),
RD/ROUNDBALL CLASSIC CoolDown1 on-campus
-(@YoungstownSt-{Westminster};
   @SAlabama, FLInternational, Jacksonville),

Tuesday,Friday:

(new)[HP]PANTHERS CLASSIC CoolDown1 on-campus
-(Tue: @[1stA:]NDState-{Waldorf};
   Fri: @UNCGreensboro-{BelmontAbbey};
   Navy, [1stB:]@HighPt),

Tuesday-Friday:

GS-B SHOOTOUT RndRob4 on-campus
-(@GeorgiaTech, SamHoustonSt, OhioU, TennesseeTech, Southern),
ORANGE EXPRESS[BEAVER] SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(@OregonSt, FresnoSt, Lamar, TXSanAntonio, PrairieViewA&M),

Tuesday-Saturday:

CANCUN CHALLENGE 2x4 WarmUp/CoolDown2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ CancunMEXICO
-(A: TexasTech, Auburn, EaKentucky, IdahoSt;
   B: Purdue, UtahSt, GeorgiaSt, NJIT),
BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING-B CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; Con 3rd/Semis @ Towson MD; 3rd/Semis @ Brooklyn NY /BARCLAYS/
-(A: KansasSt, BostonCol; @Towson, StonyBrook;
   B: Maryland, Richmond; RobertMorris, Hampton),
GS-A CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/UNLV/
-(A: Washington, WeKentucky, JacksonvilleSt, CalStFullerton;
   B: @UNLV, TCU, NoArizona, AlabamaSt),

Tuesday-Sunday:

BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING-A INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus; Cons RndRob2 @ WorcesterMA/HolyCross/; Feature @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Saturday/Feature: @Syracuse-SCarolina;
   Cons: Monmouth, @HolyCross, SCState),
(new)SAN DIEGO CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus; @ BirminghamAL/Sanford/
-(@SanDiego, NewMexicoSt; Nicholls, @Samford, BethuneCookman),

Tuesday-Saturday week:

(new)[C]BEARS CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus
-(@California, ColoradoSt, SELouisiana, LouisianaTech, AlcornSt, EaShore; {BlueMtn}, {CPenn}, {FtLewis}),
CHALLENGE IN MUSIC CITY WarmUp1 on-campus; RndRob3 @ NashvilleTN
-(Evansville, UNCWilmington, Toledo, @MidTennessee),

Wednesday:

CHARLESTON[SC] CLASSIC CoolDown1 on-campus
-(@Villanova-ColofCharleston, UCF, [3rd:]WakeForest, [5th:]MississippiSt, UTEP, [7th:]BoiseSt, WeMichigan),

Wednesday-Friday:

BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS-B 8Bracket WarmUp1 on-campus; Cons RndRob2 @ FtMyersFL/FLGulfCoast/; 2nd/Qtrs @ ParadiseIslandBAHAMAS
-(Main: Baylor-VCU, MichiganSt-StJohns, Louisville-OldDominion, LSU-WichitaSt;
   Cons: @FLGulfCoast, LongBeachSt, SUNYB),

Wednesday-Saturday:

GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT WarmUp1 8Bracket @ AnchorageAK/{AKAnchorage}/
-(Nevada-Oakland, Buffalo-@{AKAnchorage}, Drake-Iona, UCDavis-WeberSt),

Wednesday-Sunday:

(new)SCARLET KNIGHT SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Rutgers, Drexel, NTexas, Niagara, Hartford),
[NI]HUSKIE SHOWCASE RndRob3 @ DekalbIL/NoIllinois/
-(Elon, @NoIllinois, ILChicago, CalPolySLO),

Thursday (THANKSGIVING):

Thursday-Sunday:

WOODEN LEGACY/ANAHEIM CLASSIC 8Bracket WarmUp1 on-campus; 2nd/Qtrs @ FullertonCA/CalStFullerton/, AnaheimCA/HONDA/
-(Main: @UCLA-Portland, Dayton-Nebraska, VirginiaTech-NewMexico, TexasA&M-@CalStFullerton;
   Warm: CalStNorthridge),

Friday:

@RhodeIsland-Belmont,

Friday-Sunday, Thu 1 Dec:

(new)SANFORD-B SHOWCASE WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus; RndRob3 @ SiouxFallsSD/PENTAGON/
-(@SDState, Milwaukee, ETennesseeSt, UCIrvine),

Saturday:

@BYU-UTValley(UT), @Massachusetts-Harvard(MA),
PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF(relocated)TP/ORLANDO-A INVITATIONAL CoolDown1 on-campus
-(@Xavier-NoIowa; [3rd:]Oklahoma, Clemson, [5th:]Davidson, ArizonaSt, [7th:]Missouri, Tulane),

Saturday-Sunday:

[EW]EAGLE CLASSIC RndRob2 @ CheneyWA/EaWashington/
-(SanFrancisco, Denver, @EaWashington, SacramentoSt),

Sunday:

@Georgetown-Howard(WashingtonDC), @Drexel-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA), @Albany-Siena(AlbanyNY),
LAS VEGAS-WCC TUNEUP 1Off @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-(@StMarys-UAB),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@Brown-Bryant(RI),
(new)ATLANTIS-A SHOWCASE 1Off @ ParadiseIslandBAHAMAS
-(@Kentucky-ArizonaSt),
MAYOR'S CUP 1Off @ TulsaOK
-(@OralRoberts-Tulsa[TulsaOK]),

Monday week-Wednesday week:

ACC[10-5;2]/BIG 10[5-10;2] CHALLENGE on-campus
[Boston College does not play;.]
(Mon week: @Northwestern-WakeForest, @FloridaSt-Minnesota;
  Tue week: @Duke-MichiganSt, @Wisconsin-Syracuse, @NotreDame-Iowa, @Maryland-Pittsburgh, @PennSt-GeorgiaTech, @Illinois-NCState;
  Wed week: @Indiana-NCarolina, @Michigan-VirginiaTech, @Louisville-Purdue[BG], @Virginia-OhioSt, @MiamiFL-Rutgers, @Clemson-Nebraska),

Monday week-Sat 10 Dec:

(new)HOLY CITY CLASSIC WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus; RndRob3 @ CharlestonSC/TheCitadel/
-(@TheCitadel, Colgate, Campbell, @SCUpstate).

---

Top 25 - 16 Nov21 - [] Column

1. North Carolina (4-0)
   
2. Villanova (@BIG10) [3:CHARLESTON{SC}]
   
3. Kentucky (@@CHAMPS)
   
4. Xavier [3:P.RICOrTP/ORLANDO-A]
   
5. Indiana (2-0) (:A.FORCES)
   
6. Kansas (2-1) (@@CHAMPS)
   
7. St. Mary's (3-0)
   
8. Duke (4-1) [2v2:HOF-A]
   
9. Arizona (3-0) (:A.FORCES)
   
10. Gonzaga (3-0)
    
11. Creighton (3-0) (vBIG10)
    
12. Baylor (3-0)
    
13. Wisconsin (2-1)
    
14. Oregon (2-1)
    
15. Seton Hall (3-0) (@BIG10)
    
16. Michigan (4-0) [2v2:2K]
    
17. Syracuse (3-0)
    
18. Texas Tech (3-0)
    
19. UCLA (4-0)
    
20. Notre Dame (3-0)
    
21. Purdue (2-1)
    
22. Iowa State (3-0)
    
23. Virginia (3-0)
    
24. VCU (3-0)
    
25. Florida (3-0)
    

Honorable Mention:

Minnesota (4-0) (vBIGE), Florida Gulf Coast (1-3), Arkansas (3-0), South Carolina (4-0).

Austin Peay (2-2)/Northern Kentucky (2-2) [3@nT/SPORTS-B]),
North Dakota State (3-1) .5[3@HP/PANTHER],
Arkansas State (3-1) [2@MAUIcons],
Texas State (2-1)/SIU-Edwardsville (2-2) .3[3@RAINBOW].