17 Nov13 - What A Relief

Volume XXII, No. 2 - 17 Nov13 - [] Top 25 Ballot

What A Relief

This year's exhibition season was different than any other because of the summer of devastation from Hurricanes Harvey(Houston), Irma(Florida) and Maria(Puerto Rico). Besides the usual slate of uber-blowouts of non-Division I schools, many (if not most) of the big-name schools scheduled they-should-play-this-every-year grudge matches against natural rivals as charity exhibition games for Hurricane Relief. Ordinarily, exhibition results are meaningless (even losses), but because of the grudge factor, these results were more real than normal. (I haven't counted the results in the won/loss records/ratings of individual teams, but I did count them towards the won/loss records/ratings of the conferences.)
     Most notable among the results: "Little Brother" Georgia State upset crosstown "Big Brother" host Georgia Tech in the A-TOWN SHOWDOWN (although it's GaSt that has more students); other BigBro's all won: host St. Mary's over Fresno State, host Villanova routed non-BIG 5 Drexel, host Creighton dumped crosstown Omaha, host Kentucky thumped Morehead State, host Marquette thumped crosstown Milwaukee, host Purdue dumped Indiana State, visiting Florida dumped host Jacksonville. Border war clashes included Kansas past Missouri (in Kansas City), BYU won at New Mexico, host Mount St. Mary's escaped in overtime past Delaware, host Oregon dumped Idaho, host Kansas State dumped Missouri State, host Nevada handled Grand Canyon. Old foes rekindled their rivalries as host Rutgers beat St. Johns, Providence won at Connecticut, host Vermont bested Boston University. Host Rhode Island needed overtime to escape against Buffalo. Other results include Michigan State over Georgia, and Seton Hall handled La Salle.

- - - - - -

Three UCLA freshmen (fCody Riley as well as bLiAngelo Ball and fJalen Hill) were caught shoplifting while in Shanghai (and sat out the PAC-12 CHINA GAME against Georgia Tech) -- President Trump even intervened on their behalf to reduce their sentence and jail time -- UGH! (The depleted Bruins edged the undermanned Yellow Jackets, @63-60.) In the ARMED FORCES CLASSIC at Ramstein Air Force Base in GERMANY, Texas A&M dominated West Virginia (88-65). At the VETERANS CLASSIC double-header at Annapolis, Alabama held off Memphis (82-70) while host Navy surprised Pittsburgh (@71-62).
     Mike Krzyzewski became "Coach K" once again after his 1000th win at Duke in the Blue Devils' @99-69 romp over Utah Valley. (He was already over 1000 in total wins, counting his 73-59 record in 5 years at Army.)
     The best quality wins over the weekend were probably Notre Dame on the road over DePaul (72-@58, led by xBonzie Colson[18p13r5a]) and Georgia Southern edging at Wake Forest (85-@83). Young Kentucky struggled in two games, never putting away Utah Valley (@73-63) and letting splashworthy Vermont hang around until an endplay, @73-69 -- you couldn't expect five freshmen starters to be instantly cohesive (but a bigger worry is that this roster doesn't appear to have much three-point prowess). Northwestern unexpectedly failed to put away Loyola(Maryland), escaping @79-75 (behind 26p from Scottie Lindsey).

The BIG 10(14-0, including key Hurricane Relief Exhibition results), BIG EAST(13-2) and SEC(11-2) all got off to flying starts the first weekend -- (granted, most all of these were home warm-up games in preseason tournaments). The ACC was a mediocre 3-3 thanks to Pittsburgh's and Georgia Tech's official losses (and counting GT's @58-65 home loss to crosstown-rival Georgia State in their first-ever A-TOWN SHOWDOWN Hurricane Relief Exhibition).
     Only the MID-AMERICAN earned any notice among 1BCs with a 4-1 record thanks to sweeping the HORIZON 2-0 in their annual CVC-NEO NorthEast Ohio) showdown (as host Akron downed Cleveland State @67-57 and Kent State thumped Youngstown State @111-@78); but Miami(Ohio) also won on the road at Fordham (55-@54) in a JAMAICA CLASSIC warm-up (and Buffalo took Rhode Island into overtime before losing 72-@80[OT] in their Hurricane Relief Exhibition). The BIG SKY(4-3), METRO ATLANTIC(4-4) and AMERICA EAST(3-5) at least held their own the first weekend. (Nine leagues failed to post a "real" win: BIG SOUTH, SOUTHERN, ATLANTIC SUN, IVY, SOUTHLAND, WAC[0-4], MEAC[0-7] and SWAC[0-7] -- 0-33 combined.)
     Individually, cJordan Murphy(Minnesota) posted 35p15r against South Carolina Upstate; Allonzo Trier(Arizona) averaged 31p in two games; xChris Cokley(UAB) had 26p13r5a against Jacksonville; cLuke Maye(North Carolina) had 26p10r against Northern Iowa; bTrevon Bluiett(Xavier) had 25p5r against Morehead State; xKerry Blackshear Jr.(Virginia Tech) had 22p15r8a in a 132-93 track meet with The Citadel; xBruce Brown(Miami[Florida]) had a triple-double(10p10a11r) against Gardner-Webb.
     Among the GCs, cMarvin Bagley III(Duke) (who graduated early and joined the Blue Devils a year ahead of schedule) averaged 25p10r in two games.
     No GTs had breakout performances.

- - - - - -

How much are Shoes a factor in College Basketball? In the new PHIL KNIGHT-80 INVITATIONAL (dual 8-bracket draws) in Portland, honoring the founder of Nike, it appears the "invitation-only" event only includes "Nike schools" -- UGH!
     Due to the damage done by Hurricane Maria, two preseason tournaments had to be relocated: The PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF has been moved from San Juan to Myrtle Beach, SC (hosted by Coastal Carolina) -- (it's the second-straight year they've had to move; last year, it was because of the Zika virus!) The PARADISE JAM had to be moved from St. Thomas, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS to Lynchburg, VA (hosted by Liberty).

Among the full tournaments in the preconference period, the strongest draws are the BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS (Arizona, Villanova, Purdue) and the new PHIL KNIGHT-80-A (Duke, Florida, Gonzaga) and PHIL KNIGHT-80-B (Michigan State, at Oregon, North Carolina) dual brackets. Just below those are some solid events: DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC (USC, Miami[Florida]), NIT SEASON TIP-OFF (Seton Hall, Rhode Island), 2K CLASSIC (Providence, Virginia Tech), MAUI INVITATIONAL (Wichita State, Notre Dame), the new CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC (Cincinnati, UAB, South Dakota State) and WOODEN LEGACY (St. Mary's, San Diego State).
     These events appear to have one clear favorite: EMERALD COAST CLASSIC (TCU), BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING CLASSIC (Minnesota), HALL OF FAME TIP-OFF (Northwestern), LAS VEGAS-THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL (Xavier), CBE CLASSIC (UCLA)
     There are also some great chances for 1BCs to claim a major crown: the new ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS SHOWCASE (Vermont, Northern Kentucky), GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT (College of Charleston, Idaho), PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF (Western Michigan) and GULF COAST SHOWCASE (Georgia Southern, Missouri State).
     Still others are completely up for grabs, lacking no team with a preseason pedigree: A/ORLANDO INVITATIONAL, LEGENDS CLASSIC, LAS VEGAS-MAIN EVENT, CHARLESTON[SC] CLASSIC, PARADISE JAM, the new JAMAICA CLASSIC, LAS VEGAS-CHRISTMAS CLASSIC, CANCUN CHALLENGE and SAVANNAH INVITATIONAL.

Here's a comprehensive list:

• ARMED FORCES CLASSIC 1Off Nov10 @ RamsteinAFB_GERMANY: (TexasA&M-WVirginia)
  
• VETERANS DAY CLASSIC DblHdr Nov10 @ Annapolis MD: (Alabama-Memphis, @Navy-Pittsburgh)
  
• HAWAII-C RAINBOW CLASSIC RndRob3 Nov10-13 @ Honolulu HI: (NDakota, @Hawaii, Troy, ARPineBluff)
  
• GS INVITATIONAL RndRob4 Nov10-24 on-campus: (@Illinois, TNMartin, Marshall, NCCentral, Southern)
  
• CVC-NEO MAC/HORIZON CHALLENGE DblHdr Nov11 @ AkronOH: (@Akron-@ClevelandSt[OH][NEO], @KentSt-@YoungstownSt[OH][NEO])
  
• (new)SHOWCASE ON THE BANKS RndRob4 Nov12-24 on-campus: (Rutgers, ECarolina, CConnecticutSt, ClevelandSt, CoppinSt)
  
• MABC-B SHOWCASE RndRob4 Nov12-25 @ on-campus/@StocktonCA: (AirForce, Canisius, @Pacific, TexasSt, ARPineBluff)
  
• [I]HOOSIER CLASSIC RndRob4 Nov12-26 on-campus: (@Indiana, EaMichigan, SFlorida, ArkansasSt, Howard)
  
• MAYOR'S CUP 1Off Nov13 on-campus: (@Tulsa-OralRoberts[TulsaOK])
  
• GAVITT TIP-OFF GAMES - BIG 10/BIG EAST Nov13-17 on-campus: (@SetonHall-Indiana, @Providence-Minnesota, @Northwestern-Creighton, Xavier-@Wisconsin, Purdue-@Marquette, @StJohns-Nebraska, @Maryland-Butler, @Illinois-DePaul[IL]) ( Iowa, Michigan, MichiganSt, OhioSt, PennSt, Rutgers do not play. / Georgetown, Villanova do not play. )
  
• GRAND CANYON[ANTELOPE] CLASSIC RndRob4 Nov13-26 on-campus/@LittleRockAR: (SanDiego, @LittleRock, RobertMorris, @GrandCanyon, NorfolkSt)
  
• MABC-A HOOPS IN THE HEARTLAND RndRob4 Nov13-Dec1 on-campus: (@MississippiSt, NDState, GreenBay, Stetson, FloridaA&M, StephenFAustin)
  
• [GT]RAMBLIN' WRECK SHOWCASE RndRob4 Nov13-Dec1 on-campus: (@GeorgiaTech, NTexas, TXRGValley, BethuneCookman, GramblingSt)
  
• CHICAGO-A CHAMPIONS CLASSIC DblHdr Nov14 @ ChicagoIL/UNITED/: (@Duke-@MichiganSt, @Kentucky-@Kansas)
  
• [NCG]SPARTAN CLASSIC RndRob3 Nov15-28 on-campus: (Delaware, Longwood, @UNCGreensboro, {NCWesleyan})
  
• [K/WILDCAT]ADOLPH RUPP CLASSIC RndRob4 Nov15-29 on-campus: (@Kentucky, FtWayne, Troy, ILChicago, ETennesseeSt, DelawareSt)
  
• SOUTH TEXAS SHOWDOWN HomeAway Nov15,Dec6: (@TexasA&MCC-TXRGValley[TX]; @TXRGValley-TexasA&MCC[TX])
  
• 2K CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Nov16-17 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (Providence-Washington, VirginiaTech-StLouis)
  
• CHARLESTON[SC] CLASSIC Qtrs Nov16-19 @ Charleston SC: (Auburn-IndianaSt, Temple-OldDominion; OhioU-@Clemson, Dayton-Hofstra)
  
• PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF Qtrs Nov16-19 (relocated)@ MyrtleBeachSC/CoCarolina/: (@SCarolina-IllinoisSt, BoiseSt-UTEP; IowaSt-AppalachianSt, WeMichigan-Tulsa)
  
• (new)ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS SHOWCASE Qtrs Nov17-19 @ NassauBAHAMAS: (Vermont-Bradley, CoCarolina-TXSanAntonio; JamesMadison-NoKentucky, WeberSt-Iona)
  
• PARADISE JAM Qtrs Nov17-19 (relocated)@ LynchburgVA/Liberty/: (Houston-Drexel; @Liberty-Mercer; Colorado-Quinnipiac, WakeForest-Drake)
  
• (new)JAMAICA CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Nov17,19 @ MontegoBayJAMAICA: (Tulane-ColoradoSt, FloridaSt-Fordham)
  
• [M]PANTHER/BLACK & GOLD SHOOTOUT RndRob3 Nov17-19 @ MilwaukeeWI: (Elon, FLInternational, @Milwaukee, {ConcordiaStPaul})
  
• BILL FRACK TOURNAMENT 1Off Nov18: (@BowlingGreen-FLGulfCoast)
  
• HALL OF FAME-C TIP-OFF 2x4; Semis Nov18-19 @ UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN/: (Northwestern-LaSalle, TexasTech-BostonCol)
  
• HALL OF FAME-D-MIAMI INVITATIONAL RndRob4 Nov18-Dec2 on-campus/@MiamiFL: (Kansas-Syracuse, Toledo, Oakland, TexasSo; @Miami-Princeton)
  
• CBE CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Nov20-21 @ KansasCityMO: (UCLA-Creighton, Wisconsin-Baylor; Yale, AlcornSt)
  
• LEGENDS CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Nov20-21 @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/: (PennSt-Pittsburgh, TexasA&M-OklahomaSt)
  
• LAS VEGAS-B MAIN EVENT 2x4; Semis Nov20,22 @ LasVegasNV/T-MOBILE/: (Mississippi-Utah, @UNLV-Rice; GeorgiaSt)
  
• HAWAII-B MAUI INVITATIONAL Qtrs Nov20-22 @ LahainaHI: (WichitaSt-California, Marquette-VCU; NotreDame, LSU-Michigan)
  
• (new)CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC Qtrs Nov20-22 @ GeorgeTownCAYMAN_ISLANDS: (Cincinnati-Buffalo, UAB-Richmond; Iowa-Louisiana, Wyoming-SDState)
  
• GULF COAST SHOWCASE Qtrs Nov20-22 @ EsteroFL: (NoIllinois-Penn, Towson-FLAtlantic; Manhattan-MOKansasCity, GeorgiaSo-MissouriSt)
  
• [WS]RAIDER CLASSIC RndRob3 Nov20-26 @ DaytonOH: (Fairfield, Jacksonville, @WrightSt, GardnerWebb)
  
• CANCUN CHALLENGE 2x4; Semis Nov21-22 @ CancunMEXICO: (FresnoSt-Evansville, GeoMason-LouisianaTech)
  
• BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS-B Qtrs Nov22-24 @ ParadiseIslandBAHAMAS: (Arizona-NCState, SMU-NoIowa; Villanova-WeKentucky, Purdue, Tennessee)
  
• GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT Qtrs Nov22-25 @ AnchorageAK: (ColofCharleston-CalPolySLO, CMichigan-SamHoustonSt, Idaho-SantaClara, CalStBakersfield)
  
• NIT SEASON TIP-OFF 2x4; Semis Nov23-24 @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/: (SetonHall-RhodeIsland, Vanderbilt-Virginia; UNCAsheville)
  
• LAS VEGAS-A THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL 2x4; Semis Nov23-24 @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/: (Xavier-GeoWashington, ArizonaSt-KansasSt; UCIrvine)
  
• (new)PK-80-A INVITATIONAL Qtrs Nov23-26 @ PortlandOR: (Duke-@PortlandSt, Butler-Texas; Florida-Stanford, Gonzaga-OhioSt)
  
• (new)PK-80-B INVITATIONAL Qtrs Nov23-26 @ PortlandOR: (MichiganSt-DePaul, @Oregon-Connecticut, NCarolina-@Portland, Arkansas-Oklahoma)
  
• WOODEN LEGACY/ANAHEIM CLASSIC Qtrs Nov23-26 @ FullteronCA: (StMarys-Harvard, WashingtonSt-StJosephs, SanDiegoSt-SacramentoSt, Georgia-@CalStFullerton)
  
• A/ORLANDO INVITATIONAL Qtrs Nov23-26 @ OrlandoFL: (Nebraska-@UCF, WVirginia-Marist, Missouri-LongBeachSt, StJohns-OregonSt)
  
• EMERALD COAST CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Nov24-25 @ NicevilleFL: (TCU-NewMexico, Maryland-StBonaventure)
  
• BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Nov24-25 @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/: (Minnesota-Massachusetts, Alabama-BYU)
  
• SAVANNAH INVITATIONAL 2x4; Semis Nov24-25 @ SavannahGA: (KentSt-Valparaiso, UNCWilmington-LoyolaIL)
  
• SANFORD-B CHALLENGE RndRob3 Nov24-26 @ SiouxFallsSD/PENTAGON/: (NoColorado, @SDakota, SoMississippi, YoungstownSt)
  
• [FGC]EAGLE SHOOTAROUND RndRob3 Nov24-26 @ FtMyersFL: (Denver, Navy, StFrancisNY, @FLGulfCoast)
  
• (new)CREEK CLASSIC RndRob3 Nov24-Dec2 @ BuiesCreekNC: (BowlingGreen, @Campbell, SCUpstate, AbileneChristian)
  
• BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD HomeAway Nov27,Dec4 on-campus: (@Belmont-Lipscomb[NashvilleTN]; @Lipscomb-Belmont[NashvilleTN])
  
• ACC/BIG 10 CHALLENGE Nov27-30 on-campus: (Duke-@Indiana, @MichiganSt-NotreDame, @Minnesota-MiamiFL, Northwestern-@GeorgiaTech, Louisville-@Purdue, @NCarolina-Michigan, @VirginiaTech-Iowa, @Virginia-Wisconsin, @Rutgers-FloridaSt, @NCState-PennSt, @WakeForest-Illinois, @OhioSt-Clemson, @Nebraska-BostonCol, @Syracuse-Maryland) ( Pittsburgh does not play. / )
  
• MWC/MVC CHALLENGE Nov28-Dec3 on-campus: (@SanDiegoSt-Bradley, @MissouriSt-ColoradoSt, @NoIowa-UNLV, @BoiseSt-LoyolaIL, @Nevada-IllinoisSt, @SoIllinois-SanJoseSt, @Wyoming-Drake, @Valparaiso-UtahSt, @IndianaSt-FresnoSt, @NewMexico-Evansville) ( Fresno State does not play. / )
  
• NEW YORK-C UA REUNION DblHdr Nov30 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (@SetonHall-TexasTech, SCarolina-Temple)
  
• (new)JESUIT BASKETBALL CLASSIC 1Off Dec1 on-campus: (@Gonzaga-Creighton)
  
• THE CITY GAME 1Off Dec1 @ PittsburghPA: (@Pittsburgh-@Duquesne[PittsburghPA])
  
• (new)HALL OF FAME-E-BELFAST CLASSIC Semis Dec1-2 @ BelfastNORTHERN_IRELAND: (LaSalle-Towson, Manhattan-HolyCross)
  
• [C]BULLDOG BASH Semis Dec1-2 @ CharlestonSC: (Marist-@TheCitadel, MDBaltimoreCo-ArmyWP)
  
• THE HOLY WAR 1Off Dec2 on-campus: (@StJosephs-Villanova[PhiladelphiaPA][BIG5])
  
• CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT 1Off Dec2 on-campus: (@Xavier-Cincinnati[CincinnatiOH])
  
• BB&T CLASSIC DblHdr Dec3 @ Washington DC: (@Georgetown-CoppinSt, @GeoWashington-Temple)
  
• (new)VALLEY OF THE SUN SHOOTOUT DblHdr Dec5 @ PhoenixAZ: (Arizona-TexasA&M, @GrandCanyon-StJohns)
  
• JIMMY V CLASSIC DblHdr Dec5 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (Villanova-Gonzaga, Connecticut-@Syracuse)
  
• GOTHAM CLASSIC RndRob4 Dec6-20 on-campus/@ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (Louisville-Memphis, Siena, Albany, Bryant)
  
• CY-HAWK SERIES 1Off Dec7 on-campus: (@IowaSt-Iowa)
  
• HALL OF FAME-A-LA CLASSIC TrplHdr Dec8 @ LosAngelesCA/STAPLES/: (USC-Oklahoma, TCU-NewMexico, @ArizonaSt-StJohns)
  
• NEW YORK-B C/HOOPS CLASSIC 1Off Dec9 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (@Kentucky-Monmouth)
  
• NEVER FORGET TRIBUTE CLASSIC DblHdr Dec9 @ NewarkNJ: (@SetonHall-VCU, Cincinnati-Florida)
  
• COUNTDOWN CLASSIC 1Off Dec9 on-campus: (@Louisville-Indiana[BG])
  
• (new)BEEHIVE CLASSIC DblHdr Dec9 @ SaltLakeCityUT (@Utah-@UtahSt[UT], @WeberSt-@BYU)
  
• BACKYARD BRAWL 1Off Dec9 on-campus: (@Pittsburgh-WVirginia)
  
• GARDEN STATE CLASSIC 1Off Dec16 on-campus: (SetonHall-@Rutgers[NJ])
  
• (new)DISTRICT DETROIT SHOWCASE DblHdr Dec16 @ DetroitMI: (@MichiganSt-@Oakland[MI], @Detroit-@Michigan[MI])
  
• CHICAGO-B LOU HENSON CLASSIC DblHdr Dec16 @ ChicagoIL/UNITED/: (@Northwestern-@DePaul[ChicagoIL], @Illinois-NewMexicoSt)
  
• ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC DblHdr Dec16 @ SunriseFL: (@Florida-Clemson, @FloridaSt-OklahomaSt)
  
• CROSSROADS CLASSIC DblHdr Dec16 @ IndianapolisIN: (@NotreDame-@Indiana[IN], @Purdue-@Butler[IN])
  
• BIRMINGHAM SHOWCASE DblHdr Dec16 @ BirminghamAL: (@UAB-AlabamaA&M[AL], @Auburn-MidTennessee)
  
• (new)ROC CITY HOOPS CLASSIC 1Off @ RochesterNY: (@StBonaventure-Vermont)
  
• [IOWA]BIG FOUR HV CLASSIC DblHdr Dec16 @ DesMoinesIA: (@Iowa-@Drake[IA][BIG4], @IowaSt-@NoIowa[IA][BIG4])
  
• NEW YORK-D HOLIDAY FESTIVAL DblHdr Dec17 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (@StJohns-Iona, AirForce-@ArmyWP)
  
• (new)ASHEVILLE MOUNTAIN BIG SOUTH/SOUTHERN CLASSIC DblHdr @ AshevilleNC: (@UNCAsheville-@WeCarolina, @HighPt-Wofford)
  
• HALL OF FAME-B-CT HOLIDAY SHOWCASE DblHdr Dec20 @ UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN/: (Providence-Houston, StJohns-StJosephs)
  
• (new)GARDEN CITY SHOWCASE 1Off Dec20 @ GardenCityNY: (@Hofstra-@Manhattan[NewYorkNY])
  
• CABLE CAR CLASSIC 1Off Dec21: (@SantaClara-SanJoseSt[CA])
  
• DON HASKINS/SUN BOWL CLASSIC Semis Dec21-22 @ ElPasoTX: (UNCWilmington-NDState, @UTEP-Howard)
  
• (new)NEW ORLEANS-B CLASSIC Semis Dec21-22 @ NewOrleansLA: (FtWayne-Liberty, @LouisianaTech-AlabamaSt)
  
• SANFORD-A SHOWCASE 1Off Dec22 @ SiouxFallsSD/PENTAGON/: (Iowa-Colorado)
  
• LAS VEGAS-C CHRISTMAS CLASSIC 2x4; Semis Dec22-23 @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/: (SFlorida-Duquesne, @Nevada-SoIllinois)
  
• HAWAII-A DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC Qtrs Dec22-25 @ HonoluluHI: (USC-Akron, MidTennessee-Princeton; MiamiFL-@Hawaii, Davidson-NewMexicoSt)
  
• NEW ORLEANS-A C/SPORTS CLASSIC DblHdr Dec23 @ NewOrleansLA: (@Kentucky-@UCLA, @NCarolina-@OhioSt)
  
• BRAGGIN' RIGHTS 1Off Dec23 @ St Louis MO: (@Illinois-@Missouri)
  
• JACKSON SHOWCASE 1Off Dec23 @ JacksonMS: (@MississippiSt-@SoMississippi[MS])
  
• LAS VEGAS-D SHOWCASE 1Off Dec27 @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/: (GrandCanyon-MorganSt)
  
• THE STAR GAME HomeAway Jan14,Feb10 on-campus: (@Navy-ArmyWP[MIL]; @ArmyWP-Navy[MIL])
  
• CAPITAL CITY/BLACK AND BLUE CLASSIC HomeAway Jan17,Feb7: (@VCU-Richmond[RichmondVA]; @Richmond-VCU[RichmondVA])
  
• BIG 10 SUPER SATURDAY 1Off Jan20 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (@Minnesota-@OhioSt)
  
• BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE Jan27 on-campus: (Kentucky-@WVirginia, TCU-@Vanderbilt, @Kansas-TexasA&M, @Florida-Baylor, @Alabama-Oklahoma, @KansasSt-Georgia, @Texas-Mississippi, @Arkansas-OklahomaSt, @IowaSt-Tennessee, @SCarolina-TexasTech) ( / Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri do not play. )
  
• (new)MAAC CLASSIC TrplHdr Jan27 @ UniondaleNY: (Fairfield-Quinnipiac[CT][CT6], @Iona-@Manhattan, Monmouth-@Marist)
  
• (new)NEW YORK-A HG CLASSIC 1Off Feb3 @ NewYorkNY/MSG/: (Duke-@StJohns)
  

In the CHAMPIONS CLASSIC (this year in Chicago), it's Duke versus Michigan State and Kentucky versus Kansas -- (elsewhere the first game is being billed as "No.1 vs. No.2", but not here) -- Duke should hold off MichSt but Kans could spank UK. In the GAVITT TIP-OFF GAMES (Monday through Friday) both leagues have started strong -- look for the BIG EAST to steal it 5-3 with road wins from Xavier, Butler countering one by Purdue while Providence and Northwestern counter each other with quality home wins. The 2K CLASSIC Final (Friday) could bring us Providence-Virginia Tech; Northwestern should cruise to the HALL OF FAME-C TIP-OFF crown (Saturday-Sunday); Vermont has a great chance to take the new ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS CLASSIC (Friday-Sunday); anyone among Colorado/Houston/Wake Forest could take the PARADISE JAM (Friday-Sunday); Iowa State should best host South Carolina at the PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF (Thursday-Sunday); it's all up for grabs among Auburn/Temple/host Clemson/Dayton at the CHARLESTON CLASSIC (Thursday-Sunday); Florida State should best Tulane/Colorado State at the new JAMAICA CLASSIC (Saturday-Sunday). Wichita State hosts College of Charleston (Monday) with Splashworthy CofC getting its chance to make the noise that Vermont couldn't against Kentucky. No more 24-hour TIP-OFF MARATHON from ESPN! (Too bad, it was a great way to get wound up for the season.) -- Ron

Key games this week:

Monday:

@WichitaSt-ColofCharleston, @Vanderbilt-Belmont(NashvilleTN), @Penn-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5)(/PALESTRA/),
MAYOR'S CUP-(@Tulsa-OralRoberts[TulsaOK]),
HAWAII-C RAINBOW CLASSIC RndRob3/3 @ HonluluHI/Hawaii/
-(NDakota-ARPineBluff, @Hawaii-Troy),

Monday-Friday:

GAVITT TIP-OFF GAMES - BIG 10[1-0;1]/BIG EAST[0-1;1] on-campus
[Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers all do not play;
  Georgetown and Villanova both do not play.]
-(Mon week: @Providence-Minnesota;
   Tue week: Purdue-@Marquette;
   Wed week: @SetonHall-Indiana, @Northwestern-Creighton, @Maryland-Butler;
   Thu week: Xavier-@Wisconsin, @StJohns-Nebraska;
   Fri week: @Illinois-DePaul[IL]),

Monday-Sunday:

PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF WarmUp1 8Bracket @ SanJuanPUERTORICOMyrtleBeachSC/CoCarolina/
-(@SCarolina-IllinoisSt, BoiseSt-UTEP; WeMichigan-Tulsa, IowaSt-AppalachianSt),
PARADISE JAM WarmUp1 8Bracket @ StThomasUSVILynchburgVA/Liberty/
-(Colorado-Quinnipiac, WakeForest-Drake; Houston-Drexler, @Liberty-Mercer),

Monday-Wednesday week:

HAWAII-B MAUI INVITATIONAL WarmUp1 8Bracket @ LahainaHI/{Chaminade}/; Cons RndRob2 @ SpartanburgSC/Wofford/
-(Main: WichitaSt-California, Marquette-VCU, NotreDame-@{Chaminade}, LSU-Michigan;
   Cons: NFlorida, @Wofford, MtStMarys),
(new)CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC WarmUp1 8Bracket @ GeorgeTownCAYMANISLANDS; Cons 3rd/Semis @ ChattanoogaTN/Chattanooga/
-(Main: Cincinnati-Buffalo, UAB-Richmond, Iowa-Louisiana, Wyoming-SDState;
   Cons: JacksonvilleSt-SavannahSt, @Chattanooga-AlabamaSt),

Monday-Friday week:

BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS WarmUp1 8Bracket @ ParadiseIslandBAHAMAS; Cons 3rd/Semis @ CatonsvilleMD/MDBaltimoreCo/
-(Main: Arizona-NCState, SMU-NoIowa; Villanova-WeKentucky, Purdue-Tennessee;
   Cons: @MDBaltimoreCo-ChicagoSt, Presbyterian-Nicholls),
NIT SEASON TIP-OFF WarmUp2 2x4 Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/; Cons RndRob4 on-campus
-(A: SetonHall, RhodeIsland; Monmouth, FairleighDickinson;
   B: Vanderbilt, Virginia; AustinPeay, UNCAsheville),
HALL OF FAME-C TIP-OFF RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN/
-(A: Northwestern, LaSalle; StPeters, SacredHeart;
   B: TexasTech, BostonCol; Maine, SAlabama),
LAS VEGAS-A THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-(A: Xavier, GeoWashington; NoArizona, Hampton;
   B: ArizonaSt, KansasSt; UCIrvine, Rider),
LEGENDS CLASSIC WarmUp2 2x4 Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/; Cons Semis @ MalibuCA/Pepperdine/
-(A: PennSt, Pittsburgh; Montana, OralRoberts;
   B: TexasA&M, OklahomaSt; UCSantaBarbara, @Pepperdine),
GS INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Illinois, TNMartin, Marshall, NCCentral, Southern),
LAS VEGAS-B MAIN EVENT RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ LasVegasNV/T-MOBILE/
-(A: Mississippi, Utah; EaWashington, GeorgiaSt;
   B: @UNLV, Rice; EaKentucky, PrairieViewA&M),
GULF COAST SHOWCASE WarmUp1 8Bracket @ EsteroFL
-(NoIllinois-Penn, FLAtlantic-Towson; Manhattan-MOKansasCity, GeorgiaSo-MissouriSt),
(new)JAMAICA CLASSIC RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ MontegoBayJAMAICA
-(A: Tulane, ColoradoSt; LongIsland, NorthwesternSt; Winthrop;
   B: FloridaSt, Fordham; MiamiOH, Hartford; TheCitadel),

Monday-Saturday week:

EMERALD COAST CLASSIC RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ NicevilleFL
-(A: TCU, NewMexico; Omaha, TennesseeTech;
   B: Maryland, StBonaventure; EaShore, JacksonSt),

Monday-Sunday week:

CANCUN CHALLENGE WarmUp/CoolDown2 2x4 Semis @ CancunMEXICO
-(A: FresnoSt, Evansville; MontanaSt, SUNYB;
   B: GeoMason, LouisianaTech; CalStNorthridge, SEMissouri),
(new)GRAND CANYON [ANTELOPE] CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus; Cons RndRob3 @ LittleRockAR/LittleRock/
-(SanDiego, @LittleRock, RobertMorris, @GrandCanyon, NorfolkSt),

Monday week-Fri 1 Dec:

MABC-A HOOPS IN THE HEARTLAND RndRob4 on-campus
-(MississippiSt, NDState, GreenBay, Stetson, FloridaA&M, StephenFAustin),
[GT]RAMBLIN' WRECK SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(@GeorgiaTech, NTexas, TXRGValley, BethuneCoookman, GramblingSt),

Tuesday:

CHICAGO-A CHAMPIONS CLASSIC DblHdr @ ChicagoIL/UNITED/
-(@Duke-@MichiganSt, @Kentucky-@Kansas),

Tuesday-Wednesday week:

CBE CLASSIC RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ KansasCityMO; Cons RndRob4 on-campus
-(A: UCLA, Creighton; CArkansas, AlcornSt;
   B: Wisconsin, Baylor; Yale, SCState),
(new)ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS SHOWCASE WarmUp1 8Bracket @ NassauBAHAMAS
-(Vermont-Bradley, CoCarolina-TXSanAntonio; JamesMadison-NoKentucky, WeberSt-Iona),

Tuesday-Friday week:

(new)SHOWCASE ON THE BANKS RndRob4 on-campus
-(Rutgers, ECarolina, CConnecticutSt, ClevelandSt, CoppinSt),

Tuesday-Sunday week:

(new)PK-80-A INVITATIONAL WarmUp1 8Bracket @ PortlandOR; Cons RndRob2 @ NashvilleTN
-(Main: Duke-@PortlandSt, Butler-Texas; Florida-Stanford, Gonzaga-OhioSt;
   Cons: UtahSt, Northeastern, NewHampshire, Furman),
(new)PK-80-B INVITATIONAL WarmUp1 8Bracket @ PortlandOR; Cons RndRob2 @ StonyBrookNY/StonyBrook/
-(Main: MichiganSt-DePaul, @Oregon-Connecticut; NCarolina-@Portland, Arkansas-Oklahoma;
   Cons: BallSt, @StonyBrook, Bucknell),
MABC-B SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(AirForce, Canisius, @Pacific, TexasSt, ARPineBluff),

Wednesday-Saturday week:

BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING CLASSIC RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ Brooklyn NY /BARCLAYS/; Con Semis @ NiagaraNY/Niagara/
-(A: Minnesota, Massachusetts; TXArlington, WeCarolina;
   B: Alabama, BYU; @Niagara, AlabamaA&M),

Wednesday-Tue 28 Nov:

[NGC]SPARTAN CLASSIC RndRob3 on-campus, @ GreensboroNC/UNCGreensboro/
-(Delaware, Longwood, @UNCGreensboro, {NCWesleyan}),

Wednesday-Wed 29 Nov:

[K/WILDCAT]ADOLPH RUPP CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Kentucky, FtWayne, Troy, ILChicago, ETennesseeSt, DelawareSt),

Wednesday, Wed 6 Dec:

SOUTH TEXAS SHOWDOWN HomeAway2 on-campus
-(Wed: @TexasA&MCC-TXRGValley[TX];
   Wed 6 Dec: @TXRGValley-TexasA&MCC[TX]),

Thursday-Friday week:

2K CLASSIC WarmUp2 2x4 Semis @ NewYorkNY/MSG/; Cons Semis @ NashvilleTN/Belmont/
-(A: Providence, Washington; @Belmont, HoustonBaptist;
   B: VirginiaTech, StLouis; Detroit, Seattle),

Thursday-Sunday week:

[I]HOOSIER TIP-OFF CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Indiana, EaMichigan, SFlorida, ArkansasSt, Howard),

Thursday-Wed 29 Nov:

CHARLESTON[SC] CLASSIC CoolDown1 8Bracket @ CharlestonSC
-(Auburn-IndianaSt, Temple-OldDominion; OhioU-@Clemson, Dayton-Hofstra),

Thursday-Thu 30 Nov:

A/ORLANDO INVITATIONAL WarmUp1 8Bracket @ OrlandoFL/UCF/
-(Nebraska-@UCF, WVirginia-Marist; Missouri-LongBeachSt, StJohns-OregonSt),

Friday:

@Villanova-@Lafayette(PA)(@AllentownPA), @Kansas-SDState, @NewMexicoSt-NewMexico(NM), @LoyolaMD-Towson(BaltimoreMD), @MissouriSt-NDState,

Friday-Sunday:

[M]PANTHER/BLACK & GOLD SHOOTOUT WarmUp1 RndRob3 @ MilwaukeeWI/Milwaukee/
-(Elon, FLInternational, @Milwaukee, {ConcordiaStPaul}),

Saturday:

@Purdue-Fairfield,
BILL FRACK CHALLENGE-(@BowlingGreen-FLGulfCoast),

Saturday, Wednesay week-Saturday week:

GREAT ALASKA SHOOTOUT WarmUp1 8Bracket @ AnchorageAK/{AKAnchorage}/
-(ColofCharleston-CalPolySLO, CMichigan-SamHoustonSt; Idaho-SantaClara, CalStBakersfield-@{AKAnchorage}),

Saturday-Sat 2 Dec:

HALL OF FAME-D-MIAMI INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus; Feature DblHdr @ MiamiFL/MiamiFL/
-(Main: Kansas-Syracuse, Toledo, Oakland, TexasSo;
   Feature Sat 2 Dec: @MiamiFL-Princeton),

Sunday-Sunday week:

SAVANNAH INVITATIONAL RndRob2 2x4 Semis @ SavannahGA; Cons RndRob2 @ BirminghamAL/Samford/
-(A: KentSt, Valparaiso; @Samford, MSValleySt;
   B: UNCWilmington, LoyolaIL; SELouisiana),

- - - - - -

Monday week-Sunday week:

(new)CREEK CLASSIC WarmUp1 RndRob3 @ BuiesCreekNC/Campbell/
-(BowlingGreen, @Campbell, SCUpstate, AbileneChristian),
SANFORD-B CHALLENGE WarmUp1 RndRob3 @ SiouxFallsSD/PENTAGON/
-(NoColorado, @SDakota, SoMississippi, YoungstownSt),
[WS]RAIDER CLASSIC WarmUp1 RndRob3 @ DaytonOH/WrightSt/
-(Jacksonville, Fairfield, @WrightSt, GardnerWebb).

---

Top 25 - 17 Nov13 - [] Column

1. Arizona (2-0)
   
2. Duke (2-0)
   
3. Kentucky (2-0)
   
4. USC (1-0)
   
5. Seton Hall (2-0)
   
6. Providence (1-0)
   
7. TCU (1-0)
   
8. Michigan State (1-0)
   
9. Wichita State (1-0)
   
10. Minnesota (1-0)
    
11. Northwestern (1-0)
    
12. Villanova (1-0)
    
13. Xavier (2-0)
    
14. Kansas (1-0)
    
15. Louisville (1-0)
    
16. Miami(Florida) (2-0)
    
17. Cincinnati (1-0)
    
18. UCLA (1-0) (:P12.CHINA)
    
19. Florida
    
20. Oregon (1-0)
    
21. North Carolina (1-0)
    
22. Notre Dame (1-0)
    
23. St. Mary's (1-0)
    
24. Purdue (2-0)
    
25. Rhode Island (1-0)
    

Honorable Mention:

Texas A&M (1-0) (:ARMED.F), Georgia Southern (1-0), Navy (1-1)/Alabama (1-0) (:VETERANS).