17 Jan 9 - Home Cooking

Volume XXI, No. 10 - 17 Jan 9 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Home Cooking

With only one exception, there were no road wins against the Top 25. Wisconsin won on the road at Indiana (75-@68 despite being outrebounded 25-32). Beyond that, all the big wins were home "upsets", which are to be expected in conference play, anyway.
     Butler closed strong in a tight game to hand Villanova its first loss (@66-58). Texas Tech edged West Virginia in overtime (@77-76[OT] despite being outrebounded 26-31). Virginia Tech's great start to ACC play went bust with two tank losses, to N.C. State (78-@104 as xDennis Smith Jr.[26p11a11r5s] had a triple-double) and to streaking Florida State (78-@93). Pittsburgh edged Virginia in overtime (@88-76[OT]). Notre Dame beat Louisville (@77-70 on 22-for-25 free throw-shooting despite 20p5a5s from pDonovan Mitchell). Purdue handed Wisconsin a 1-1 split on the week (@66-55 despite 17p5r4a6s from fEthan Happ).
     West Virginia handled TCU (@82-70). Baylor edged Iowa State (@65-63 controlling the boards 47-28). Kansas dumped Texas Tech (@85-68 as bFrank Mason III[26p4a5r] starred). Kentucky dumped Arkansas (@97-71 as GC pD'Aaron Fox[27p6a6r] starred). Oklahoma State tripped twice: at Texas (79-@82 as 24p2a3r from gJeffrey Carroll couldn't match Tevin Mack[26p]) and at Baylor (57-@61). California surprised USC on the road (74-@73). Dayton edged Rhode Island (@67-64 led by pScoochie Smith[21p6a6r]) to take the early lead in the ATLANTIC 10. Cincinnati scored a key road win at Houston (67-@58). Villanova got back on the horse and split on the week, outrunning Marquette (@93-81 on 65 percent shooting). Maryland earned a road win at Michigan (77-@70). St. Mary's established itself as the main contender in the WEST COAST with a solid @81-68 win over BYU (as tJock Landale[26p9r6a] dueled cEric Mika[28p10r]). Upstart Auburn had a tough week, tanking at Vanderbilt and tripping at home against Mississippi.
     Texas-Arlington fell at Texas State. UNC-Greensboro edged Chattanooga (@73-68 behind Francis Alonso[26p]). In the HORIZON, visiting Oakland took early control of the league with a huge road win at Valparaiso (78-@66 as Martez Walker[25p] countered 20p11r4a from cAlec Peters). Monmouth fell at St. Peter's. Struggling San Diego State has already fallen out of contention in the MOUNTAIN WEST, tripping at Nevada (69-@72 despite 30p5a from pJeremy Hemsley) and falling at Boise State (66-@78).

Duke showed a glimpse of just how good it can be at full strength, crushing giant-killer Georgia Tech (@110-57 sinking 16-for-31 three-pointers and controlling the boards 47-29 as seven players posted double-figures [including pGrayson Allen, whose suspension only lasted one game]). South Carolina won at Georgia (67-@61 behind pP.J. Dozier[24p5a7r] and xSindarius Thornwell[19p11r6s]). Gonzaga outran host San Francisco (95-@80 led by xNigel Williams-Goss[35p6a11r]'s star turn).
     In the MOUNTAIN WEST, Fresno State routed Wyoming (@85-70 behind Paul Watson[25p]) while Nevada outlasted host New Mexico in overtime (105-@104[OT] on cJordan Caroline[45p13r]'s star turn). Louisiana road-dumped Little Rock (69-@52). Monmouth outran Iona (@92-74 led by Micah Seaborn[25p]).
     In the MISSOURI VALLEY, Illinois State solidified its spot as Top Contender, edging Missouri State in overtime (@74-71[OT]). Middle Tennessee edged host Rice (80-@77 despite 31p14r from xEgor Koulechov). Tennessee-Martin fell out of the OHIO VALLEY race, tanking at Belmont (67-@83) and falling at Tennessee State. Lehigh fell twice, (61-@75) at Boston University and (@83-84) at home to Loyola(Maryland). Winthrop won at High Point (80-@74). New Hampshire tripped at home against Stony Brook.
     Fairleigh Dickinson edged host Wagner (70-@69 despite 21p22r from cMichael Carey). Hawaii fell behind in the BIG WEST with a couple of losses, falling at Cal State-Fullerton (64-@67) and tanking at UC-Irvine (56-@84). Texas Southern won on the road at Southern (82-@74).

- - - - - -

Baylor has a tough ask visiting West Virginia (Tuesday). Gonzaga gets to assert its dominance in the WCC race against visiting St. Mary's (Saturday). Florida State can make everyone a believer with a big week, hosting Duke (Tuesday) and visiting North Carolina (Saturday). Kansas should have no trouble with visiting Oklahoma State (Saturday). Same with Kentucky hosting young Auburn (Saturday). Butler can really make a statement with a big week, visiting Creighton (Wednesday) and hosting Xavier (Saturday). Xavier's second tough road game of the week comes Tuesday at Villanova. Notre Dame visits Virginia Tech (Saturday). Cincinnati looks to keep rolling against visiting SMU (Thursday). Duke's second big game of the week comes Saturday against visiting Louisville. Iowa State needs a home sweep to stay in the BIG 12 race, hosting Oklahoma State (Wednesday) and TCU (Saturday).
     Seton Hall visits Marquette (Wednesday). Maryland hosts Indiana (Tuesday).
     Wichita State can take control of the MVC race when it visits Illinois State (Saturday). New Mexico State can take control of the WAC race, hosting {Grand Canyon} (Thursday) and Cal State-Bakersfield (Saturday).

-- Ron

Key games this week:

Monday (CFP CHAMPIONSHIP):

@JacksonSt-Southern,

Tuesday:

Baylor-@WVirginia, @FloridaSt-Duke, @Villanova-Xavier, @Maryland-Indiana,

Wednesday:

Butler-@Creighton, IowaSt-@OklahomaSt, @Marquette-SetonHall, @Bucknell-Lehigh(PA),

Thursday:

@Cincinnati-SMU, @NewMexicoSt-{GrandCanyon}, @MidTennessee-Marshall, @EaIllinois-MurraySt, @NJIT-Jacksonville, @WeberSt-Idaho,

Friday:

@Vermont-MDBaltimoreCo,

Saturday:

@Gonzaga-StMarys, FloridaSt-@NCarolina, @Kansas-OklahomaSt, @Kentucky-Auburn, @Butler-Xavier(BG), NotreDame-@VirginiaTech, Duke-@Louisville, Dayton-@Duquesne, IowaSt-@TCU, @IllinoisSt-WichitaSt, @UNCWilmington-Hofstra, @Wyoming-Nevada, @NewMexicoSt-CalStBakersfield, @Georgetown-Connecticut, @OhioU-EaMichigan, @NorthwesternSt-SamHoustonSt, @Lehigh-HolyCross, @OldDominion-LouisianaTech, @UAB-Marshall, @NJIT-NFlorida, @Hawaii-LongBeachSt, @Montana-NDakota, @IdahoSt-Idaho(ID), @TexasSo-GramblingSt, @SCState-BethuneCookman,
(new)LIGHTOWER CONFERENCE CLASSIC @ RochesterNY
-(@StBonaventure-@Fordham[NY]),

Sunday:

@NoIowa-Drake(IA)(BIG4),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@Villanova-SetonHall, @Xavier-Creighton, @IowaSt-Kansas, @Butler-Marquette, @Valparaiso-GreenBay, @NewHampshire-Vermont, @TexasSo-JacksonSt.

---

Top 25 - 17 Jan 9 - [] Column

1. Baylor (14-0)
   
2. Gonzaga (15-0)
   
3. Oregon (14-2)
   
4. Florida State (15-1)
   
5. Kansas (14-1)
   
6. Kentucky (13-2)
   
7. UCLA (16-1)
   
8. Butler (14-2)
   
9. Villanova (15-1) [BIG5]
   
10. Purdue (14-3)
    
11. West Virginia (13-2)
    
12. Notre Dame (14-2)
    
13. Cincinnati (13-2)
    
14. St. Mary's (14-1)
    
15. Arizona (15-2)
    
16. Wisconsin (13-3)
    
17. Minnesota (15-2)
    
18. Creighton (15-1)
    
19. Duke (14-2)
    
20. Florida (12-3)
    
21. North Carolina (13-3)
    
22. Dayton (11-3)
    
23. Virginia (12-3)
    
24. Louisville (13-3)
    
25. Iowa State (10-4)
    

Honorable Mention:

Texas Tech (11-3), North Carolina State (12-4), Pittsburgh (12-4).

17 Jan 2 - Game Ducks

Volume XXI, No. 9 - 17 Jan 2 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Game Ducks

With four starters returning from last year's Elite Eight squad, Oregon entered the preseason as the top-rated team. A rout road loss at Baylor in November was shocking then, but doesn't look as bad now; but an ordinary effort at the MAUI INVITATIONAL was a disappointment. Not to worry. The Ducks took full advantage of the reset of conference play with their biggest home stand coming right out of the blocks. Handing the first loss of the season to, not one, but two teams; Ore ran with UCLA (but still needed two big three pointers late, including the game-winner from tDillon Brooks[23p9r]) to win @89-87 and then fully outran USC (@84-61 as tBrooks had 28p) to take the early lead in the PAC-12 race.
     In a battle of unbeaten teams, it was visiting Villanova who stopped host Creighton's perfect run (80-@70 led by pJalen Brunson[27p5a]). The Wildcats have the nation's best three-man back court with pBrunson, xJosh Hart and Final Four-hero bKris Jenkins and in this game they were also able to control the boards 34-19. Many of the top teams this year are also guard-heavy and whichever one can hold its own in the paint the best may well be the national champion come March.
     Indiana had a tough week, tripping at home in-conference against mediocre Nebraska (@83-87) and then getting thoroughly shut down by Bluegrass-rival Louisville (@62-77 as Donovan Mitchell[25p] led the way) at the COUNTDOWN CLASSIC in Indianapolis. But it was only a 1-1 week for Lville as Virginia quieted the Cardinals on the road (61-@53 as no UofL player reached double-figures). And yet the Cavaliers also only split on the week after upstart Florida State surprised them in Charlottesville with a 60-@58 in-conference road win of its own. Before its loss to Villanova ended the week 1-1, Creighton had started the week with a solid (home) win over Seton Hall (@89-75 as pMaurice Watson[21p10a5r] dueled 27p3a from gKhadeen Carrington). Virginia Tech handled undermanned Duke (@89-75 as six players posted double-figures to counter 34p7r from bLuke Kennard, who did his best to make up for the absence of suspended gGrayson Allen) -- as talented as the Blue Devis are, they aren't the most athletic individually on the defensive end. West Virginia showed itself to be well built for the 30-second clock era with its depth and conditioning that allows it to press all game long as the Mountaineers road-routed host Oklahoma State (92-@75). Upstart Minnesota split overtime results on the week, falling at home (@74-75[OT]) to Michigan State but bouncing back on the road at Purdue (91-@82[OT] led by pNate Mason[26p9a6r]'s star turn). Butler tripped at home against 7-7 St. John's. North Carolina fell at Georgia Tech (63-@75 as the Yellow Jackets were led by freshman bJosh Okogie[26p5r]). South Carolina tanked out-of-conference at Memphis (54-@70 as Markel Crawford[28p] led the way).

Iowa State beat Texas Tech (@63-56 despite being badly outrebounded 25-41). Florida won on the road at upstart Arkansas (81-@72). Visiting Georgia outran host Auburn (96-@84 led by the inside-outside duo of fYante Maten[31p8r] and pJ.J. Frazier[27p5a5s]). Iowa edged Michigan in overtime (@86-83[OT] as Peter Jok[25p] had more help than 28p14r6a from xD.J. Wilson). Seton Hall salvaged a split on the week with a (squeak) home win over guard-rich Marquette (@69-66).
     Several splashworthy conference favorites got off to bad starts in league play. MAAC/Monmouth tripped at home in overtime against Rider (@90-93[OT] despite 28p7a from pJustin Robinson). In the MOUNTAIN WEST, Nevada tripped on the road at Fresno State (76-@77) while San Diego State's postseason prospects are nearly over before they started thanks to a home loss to New Mexico (@62-68) -- (if the disappointing Aztecs can't pull off the road win at Nevada this week, say goodbye to their NCAA hopes). SUMMIT/Fort Wayne tripped at home to 4-8 Western Illinois.
     Several teams knocking on the door of relevance couldn't pull off the upset wins that would have been cause to take notice. TCU couldn't knock off Kansas, even at home, falling @80-86 (depsite 28p9r from fVladimir Brodziansky). Maryland was the second victim of the week of mediocre Nebraska, tripping at home (@65-67). Providence couldn't hang on the road in two big games, falling to Xavier (56-@82 yielding 64 percent shooting) and to Butler (61-@78 allowing 62 percent from the floor). Temple fell at home to Cincinnai (@50-56 only shooting 27 percent on field goals) and tanked at UCF (53-@77).
     SLAND/Sam Houston State fell at home to contender Houston Baptist (@65-79) and then tripped as well at lowly Central Arkansas. BIG.S/Winthrop tripped at home to Radford. NEC/Wagner tripped at Mount St. Mary's. SKY/Portland State was a flop, tanking at North Dakota and falling at home to Northern Colorado.

In remaining out-of-conference results, Clemson handled UNC-Wilmington (@87-73). North Carolina throttled darling Monmouth (@102-74 on 33-for-46 free throws, dominating the boards 57-36 and led by pJustin Jackson[28p5a5r;6/9 3s]'s fantastic all-around performance). New Mexico State completed the sweep of border-rival UTEP with a @79-70 home win. Dartmouth edged New Hampshire (@63-62) in their annual State Title game.

- - - - - -

Not satisfied with showcasing its teams in league markets (as with the CHICAGO-DECEMBER LEGENDS double-header at the UNITED CENTER hosted by Northwestern and Illinois); the BIG 10 has scheduled two league games to take place at neutral sites in non-league cities. First up is Michigan State-Penn State at the PALESTRA in Philadelphia (Saturday). Then, in three weeks time, it will be Wisconsin-Rutgers at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in New York City
(Sat 28 Jan).
     Villanova won't have it easy on the road at Butler (Wednesday), but should handle Marquette at home (Saturday). Baylor should be too tough inside for visitors Iowa State (Wednesday) and Oklahoma State (Saturday). West Virginia should keep it rolling at Texas Tech (Tuesday) and at home against TCU (Saturday). Kansas should handle visiting Texas Tech (Saturday). Kentucky won't have any problem with upstart Arkansas (Saturday). Host Florida State and visitor Virginia Tech get to sort out which one is a real ACC contender (Saturday). Louisville will have its hands full on the road at Bluegrass-rival Notre Dame (Wednesday). Wisconsin has a tough week on the road at slumping Indiana (Tuesday) and stumbling Purdue (Sunday). Cincinnati has a tough road game at Houston (Saturday).
     Neither host St. Mary's nor visitor BYU can afford to lose (Thursday) if they want to stay in contact with mighty Gonzaga inside the WCC. Rhode Island has a tough ask visiting Dayton (Friday). Neither host Nevada nor visitor San Diego State can afford a second MWC conference loss this early (Wednesday). MVC/Illinois State won't have it easy when upstart Missouri State visits (Wednesday). HORIZ/Valparaiso has a must win at home against Oakland (Friday). MAAC/Monmouth gets the first showdown with Iona at home (Friday).

-- Ron

Key games this week:

Monday:

@UNCGreensboro-Chattanooga, @BostonU-Lehigh,

Tuesday:

WVirginia-@TexasTech, Wisconsin-@Indiana,

Wednesday:

Villanova-@Butler, @Baylor-IowaSt, Louisville-@NotreDame(BG), @Duke-GeorgiaTech, @Nevada-SanDiegoSt, @IllinoisSt-MissouriSt, @Omaha-FtWayne, @FresnoSt-Wyoming, @HighPt-Winthrop, @Southern-TexasSo, @AlabamaSt-JacksonSt, @CoppinSt-SCState,

Thursday:

@StMarys-BYU, @Rice-MidTennessee, @TheCitadel-VMI(MIL), @Marshall-OldDominion, @Belmont-TNMartin, @Idaho-Montana,

Friday:

@Dayton-RhodeIsland, @Valparaiso-Oakland, @Monmouth-Iona,

Saturday:

@Villanova-Marquette, @Baylor-OklahomaSt, @WVirginia-TCU, @Kansas-TexasTech, @Kentucky-Arkansas, @FloridaSt-VirginiaTech, Louisville-@GeorgiaTech, Cincinnati-@Houston, @IowaSt-Texas, @Michigan-Maryland, @SDState-Omaha, @Rice-UAB, @TennesseeSt-TNMartin(TN), @UNCAsheville-HighPt(NC), @Princeton-Penn, @Jacksonville-NFlorida(JacksonvilleFL),
(new)BIG 10 PALESTRA SHOWCASE @ PhiladelphiaPA/PALESTRA/
-(@MichiganSt-@PennSt),

Sunday:

Wisconsin-@Purdue, @HolyCross-Bucknell,

- - - - - -

Monday week (CFP CHAMPIONSHIP):

@JacksonSt-Southern.

---

Top 25 - 17 Jan 2 - [] Column

1. Villanova (14-0) [BIG5]
   
2. Baylor (12-0)
   
3. Gonzaga (14-0)
   
4. West Virginia (12-1)
   
5. Oregon (12-2)
   
6. Kansas (12-1)
   
7. Kentucky (12-2)
   
8. UCLA (14-1)
   
9. Florida State (14-1)
   
10. Virginia Tech (12-1)
    
11. Virginia (11-2)
    
12. Louisville (11-1) (@@COUNTDWN)
    
13. Creighton (13-1)
    
14. Wisconsin (12-2)
    
15. Arizona (13-2)
    
16. Cincinnati (12-2)
    
17. St. Mary's (12-1)
    
18. Duke (12-2)
    
19. Minnesota (13-2)
    
20. Purdue (12-3)
    
21. Butler (12-2)
    
22. Indiana (9-4)
    
23. North Carolina (11-3)
    
24. Florida (10-3)
    
25. Notre Dame (12-2)
    

Honorable Mention:

St. John's (8-7), Nebraska (8-6), Georgia Tech (9-4), Memphis (10-4).