17 Jan23 - Desert 'Cats Run L.A. (MIDCONFERENCE/Minor)
Volume XXI, No. 12 - 17 Jan23: MIDCONFERENCE/Minor - [] Top 25 Ballot
Desert 'Cats Run L.A.
The PAC-12 doesn't have a full home-and-home schedule, but it is one of the few remaining leagues that has fixed travel partners -- all 12 teams are paired up and everyone's schedule is a set of weekend matchups against two partnered teams either both at home or both away. The UCLA/USC "Los Angeles" duo is the toughest pairing in the league. Oregon already swept the pair back in Week 1 on conference play -- but that was at home. Arizona did them one better, sweeping the L.A. teams on the road. First, the Wildcats outran the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion (96-@85 posting six players in double-figures as GC pKobi Simmons[20p5a6r] countered GC pLonzo Ball[24p8a6r]). Then, they took care of the Trojans at The Galen Center (73-@66 as GC tLauri Markannen[23p8r;5/6 3s] led the way). Both 7-0 UofA and 7-0 Ore have return weekends with the L.A. schools in the second half, but they only meet each other once, in Eugene.
The press-all-game-long style of West Virginia is probably better suited to tournament play than conference play -- the Mountaineers practically fell out of the BIG 12 race with two (squeak) losses, at home in overtime against Oklahoma (@87-89[OT]) and on the road at upstart Kansas State (75-@79). Creighton was able to edge Xavier on the road (72-@67 despite being outrebounded 32-43), but the Bluejays lost pMaurice Watson Jr. (who was leading the nation in assists [9apg]) -- out for the season with a knee injury. Next game, 30p1a5to from Marcus Foster wasn't enough as visiting Marquette won (102-@94 as seven double-figure scorers shot 60 percent led by cLuke Fischer[18p8r6b]). Florida State won twice at home (in squeak fashion) against Notre Dame (@83-80 led by cJonathan Isaac[23p10r5b] despite 15-for-21 three-point shooting by the Irish) and against Louisville (@73-68). The Seminoles have emerged from the brutal stretch of their schedule in a three-way tie for first place in the ACC (along with ND and North Carolina). Florida fell off the pace in the SEC race with two losses -- first, tripping on the road at South Carolina (53-@57 in a defensive struggle that was 0-0[4 minutes in] and only 3-4[after 8 minutes] as they were a disastrous 0-for-17 on three-pointers); worse, they tripped at home against mediocre Vanderbilt (@66-68 despite 29p from KeVaughn Allen). TCU couldn't handle the limelight, dropping two as visiting Baylor beat them (62-@53) and then host Texas Tech took them out (@75-69 on 25-for-31 free throw-shooting led by fZach Smith[19p7r3a]).
Kentucky had no trouble in what passed as the one-and-only SEC showdown, outpacing South Carolina (@85-69 as gMalik Monk[27p1a] had more help than 34p6r from bSindarius Thornwell). BIG 12-leader Kansas edged on the road at Iowa State (76-@72 controlling the boards 39-21 despite 23p7a7r from pMonte Morris). BIG 10-(co)leader Wisconsin edged in overtime at Minnesota (78-@76[OT] as xEthan Happ[27p11r6a] starred) and edged Michigan as well (@68-64). Nevada fell back to the pack in the MOUNTAIN WEST, tripping at home to Fresno State (@76-81). Butler kept it going at home, beating Marquette (@88-80 committing only 4 turnovers despite 26p0a
from freshman 5-11 Markus Howard). Villanova's defensive prowess was well on display crushing Seton Hall (@76-46 allowing only one double-figure scorer and 29 percent shooting overall). Texas Tech failed to show up, tanking at home against Oklahoma State (@64-83 as fJeffrey Carroll[25p9r] starred). VCU fell off the pace in the ATLANTIC 10, tripping in overtime at lowly Fordham (67-@69[OT]). Houston couldn't break through in the AMERICAN, tripping at home in overtime against Memphis (@67-70[OT]) and tanking on the road as SMU won (@85-64 as pShake Milton[27p5a5r] dueled 25p5a from pDameon Dotson).
Oakland fell back in the HORIZON, losing at home to lowly Cleveland State (@65-76 as 25p8r from fJalen Hayes couldn't match bRob Edwards[32p7r]) and tanking at Wright State (66-@87). North Dakota State opened a gap lead in the SUMMIT after beating Fort Wayne (@89-83 as Paul Miller[31p] dueled 28p7a from pMo Evans); Fort Wayne fell all the way out of contention, losing at lowly South Dakota State. UNC-Wilmington won the first COLONIAL showdown on the road at College of Charleston (65-@59 as Jordon Talley[17p;12/16ft] countered 17p5a5r from pJoe Chealey). Akron opened a gap in the MID-AMERICAN, thumping Ohio University (@83-68 led by the versatility of both xKwan Cheatham Jr.[17p13r] and tIsaiah Johnson[15p9r4a]) and beating Eastern Michigan as well (@70-63). Chattanooga kept pace in the SOUTHERN race, edging Samford (@82-78).
Lehigh fell back in the PATRIOT, tripping at mediocre Navy. Winthrop won the first BIG SOUTH showdown with UNC-Asheville (@76-73 as xXavier Cooks[19p13r3a] dueled 27p6r from bAhmad Thomas). Tennessee State fell back in the OHIO VALLEY, tripping in overtime at home as Tennessee Tech won (80-@74[OT] led by pAleksa Jugovic[30p5a]). Vermont took the lead in the jumbled AMERICA EAST race, handling on the road at New Hampshire (71-@59).
South Carolina Upstate edged Florida Gulf Coast on the road (62-@60) to turn the ATLANTIC SUN into a real race. In the NORTHEAST, Long Island knocked Wagner off the pace, winning @76-69; but Fairleigh Dickinson grabbed a share of the lead, dumping LIU (@83-66 led by tDarian Anderson[25p5a9r]). Portland State fell off the pace in the jumbled BIG SKY race with a 1-2 week, falling at lowly Northern Arizona (76-@83
as 5-10 tMichael Green[26p9r] led the way), beating Montana (@88-79 despite 29p5a from pAhmaad Rorie), but losing at home to Montana State (@65-71 as xTyler Hall[22p2a10r] led the way).
A handful of conferences are essentially at the halfway point. The last of the unbeaten teams, Gonzaga (with one game to go), is alone in first place in the WEST COAST (having already routed second-place St. Mary's); BYU was third; Santa Clara hung in for fourth; San Francisco skirted .500, alone in fifth place.
In the COLONIAL (with one game to go), UNC-Wilmington was undefeated (having already won at second-place College of Charleston). Two games back, Northeastern was third; Elon, Towson and James Madison as well as William & Mary all skirted .500, tied for fourth. (Hofstra was a flop.)
In the MISSOURI VALLEY (with one game to go), Illinois State was undefeated; Wichita State was second (with a two-game gap). Missouri State was third; Loyola(Illinois), Southern Illinois and Drake all skirted .500, tied for fourth. (Northern Iowa couldn't hang.)
In the METRO ATLANTIC, Monmouth came through in first place; St. Peter's was second; Siena as well as Canisius, Iona, Rider and Quinnipiac all skirted .500, tied for third place. (Fairfield was a flop.)
In the OHIO VALLEY (with one game to go), Belmont was undefeated with a two-game gap (in the East and overall). Jacksonville State and Morehead State in the East and Murray State in the West all were tied for second. Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee Tech as well as Tennessee State and Austin Peay all skirted .500.
(Eastern Illinois couldn't hang. SIU-Edwardsville was winless.)
In the SUMMIT (with one game to go), North Dakota State was alone in first place with a two-game gap. Denver and South Dakota both were tied for second; Omaha, Ft. Wayne, IUPUI, Oral Roberts and Western Illinois all skirted .500; (South Dakota State was a flop.)
In the PATRIOT (with one game to go), Bucknell was alone in first place with a two-game gap. Lehigh, Boston University and Navy as well as Holy Cross were all two games back, tied for second.
In the NORTHEAST (with one game to go), Mount St. Mary's and Fairleigh Dickinson came through tied for first place; Long Island was alone in third. Wagner and St. Francis(Pennsylvania) both skirted .500.
- - - - - -
The last big interconference event comes Saturday with the fourth annual BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE. Look for the BIG 12 to make it four straight with a 6-4 win (including road wins by Baylor, Kansas State and Iowa State on the one hand and Florida and Arkansas on the other). Elsewhere, Villanova should handle visiting Virginia out of conference (Sunday). It's Cincinnati's turn to host Xavier in their annual CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT grudge match -- the host team should prevail.
Villanova's big week at home begins with hosting Marquette (Tuesday). Kansas' big travel week begins with a visit to West Virginia (Tuesday). Butler visits Seton Hall (Wednesday). Baylor hosts Texas Tech (Wednesday). UCLA visits L.A. travel partner USC (Wednesday). The BIG 10 has scheduled a shameless recruiting tool when Wisconsin meets Rutgers on neutral ground at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (Saturday) -- look for the Badgers to roll. Virginia's tough week begins when it visits Notre Dame (Tuesday). North Carolina hosts Virginia Tech (Thursday). Maryland visits Minnesota (Saturday).
Indiana visits Michigan (Thursday). Kansas State's big travel week begins with a visit to Iowa State (Tuesday). Dayton visits VCU (Friday).
-- Ron
Top 25 - 17 Jan23: MIDCONFERENCE/Minor - [] Column
Desert 'Cats Run L.A.
The PAC-12 doesn't have a full home-and-home schedule, but it is one of the few remaining leagues that has fixed travel partners -- all 12 teams are paired up and everyone's schedule is a set of weekend matchups against two partnered teams either both at home or both away. The UCLA/USC "Los Angeles" duo is the toughest pairing in the league. Oregon already swept the pair back in Week 1 on conference play -- but that was at home. Arizona did them one better, sweeping the L.A. teams on the road. First, the Wildcats outran the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion (96-@85 posting six players in double-figures as GC pKobi Simmons[20p5a6r] countered GC pLonzo Ball[24p8a6r]). Then, they took care of the Trojans at The Galen Center (73-@66 as GC tLauri Markannen[23p8r;5/6 3s] led the way). Both 7-0 UofA and 7-0 Ore have return weekends with the L.A. schools in the second half, but they only meet each other once, in Eugene.
The press-all-game-long style of West Virginia is probably better suited to tournament play than conference play -- the Mountaineers practically fell out of the BIG 12 race with two (squeak) losses, at home in overtime against Oklahoma (@87-89[OT]) and on the road at upstart Kansas State (75-@79). Creighton was able to edge Xavier on the road (72-@67 despite being outrebounded 32-43), but the Bluejays lost pMaurice Watson Jr. (who was leading the nation in assists [9apg]) -- out for the season with a knee injury. Next game, 30p1a5to from Marcus Foster wasn't enough as visiting Marquette won (102-@94 as seven double-figure scorers shot 60 percent led by cLuke Fischer[18p8r6b]). Florida State won twice at home (in squeak fashion) against Notre Dame (@83-80 led by cJonathan Isaac[23p10r5b] despite 15-for-21 three-point shooting by the Irish) and against Louisville (@73-68). The Seminoles have emerged from the brutal stretch of their schedule in a three-way tie for first place in the ACC (along with ND and North Carolina). Florida fell off the pace in the SEC race with two losses -- first, tripping on the road at South Carolina (53-@57 in a defensive struggle that was 0-0[4 minutes in] and only 3-4[after 8 minutes] as they were a disastrous 0-for-17 on three-pointers); worse, they tripped at home against mediocre Vanderbilt (@66-68 despite 29p from KeVaughn Allen). TCU couldn't handle the limelight, dropping two as visiting Baylor beat them (62-@53) and then host Texas Tech took them out (@75-69 on 25-for-31 free throw-shooting led by fZach Smith[19p7r3a]).
Kentucky had no trouble in what passed as the one-and-only SEC showdown, outpacing South Carolina (@85-69 as gMalik Monk[27p1a] had more help than 34p6r from bSindarius Thornwell). BIG 12-leader Kansas edged on the road at Iowa State (76-@72 controlling the boards 39-21 despite 23p7a7r from pMonte Morris). BIG 10-(co)leader Wisconsin edged in overtime at Minnesota (78-@76[OT] as xEthan Happ[27p11r6a] starred) and edged Michigan as well (@68-64). Nevada fell back to the pack in the MOUNTAIN WEST, tripping at home to Fresno State (@76-81). Butler kept it going at home, beating Marquette (@88-80 committing only 4 turnovers despite 26p0a
from freshman 5-11 Markus Howard). Villanova's defensive prowess was well on display crushing Seton Hall (@76-46 allowing only one double-figure scorer and 29 percent shooting overall). Texas Tech failed to show up, tanking at home against Oklahoma State (@64-83 as fJeffrey Carroll[25p9r] starred). VCU fell off the pace in the ATLANTIC 10, tripping in overtime at lowly Fordham (67-@69[OT]). Houston couldn't break through in the AMERICAN, tripping at home in overtime against Memphis (@67-70[OT]) and tanking on the road as SMU won (@85-64 as pShake Milton[27p5a5r] dueled 25p5a from pDameon Dotson).
Oakland fell back in the HORIZON, losing at home to lowly Cleveland State (@65-76 as 25p8r from fJalen Hayes couldn't match bRob Edwards[32p7r]) and tanking at Wright State (66-@87). North Dakota State opened a gap lead in the SUMMIT after beating Fort Wayne (@89-83 as Paul Miller[31p] dueled 28p7a from pMo Evans); Fort Wayne fell all the way out of contention, losing at lowly South Dakota State. UNC-Wilmington won the first COLONIAL showdown on the road at College of Charleston (65-@59 as Jordon Talley[17p;12/16ft] countered 17p5a5r from pJoe Chealey). Akron opened a gap in the MID-AMERICAN, thumping Ohio University (@83-68 led by the versatility of both xKwan Cheatham Jr.[17p13r] and tIsaiah Johnson[15p9r4a]) and beating Eastern Michigan as well (@70-63). Chattanooga kept pace in the SOUTHERN race, edging Samford (@82-78).
Lehigh fell back in the PATRIOT, tripping at mediocre Navy. Winthrop won the first BIG SOUTH showdown with UNC-Asheville (@76-73 as xXavier Cooks[19p13r3a] dueled 27p6r from bAhmad Thomas). Tennessee State fell back in the OHIO VALLEY, tripping in overtime at home as Tennessee Tech won (80-@74[OT] led by pAleksa Jugovic[30p5a]). Vermont took the lead in the jumbled AMERICA EAST race, handling on the road at New Hampshire (71-@59).
South Carolina Upstate edged Florida Gulf Coast on the road (62-@60) to turn the ATLANTIC SUN into a real race. In the NORTHEAST, Long Island knocked Wagner off the pace, winning @76-69; but Fairleigh Dickinson grabbed a share of the lead, dumping LIU (@83-66 led by tDarian Anderson[25p5a9r]). Portland State fell off the pace in the jumbled BIG SKY race with a 1-2 week, falling at lowly Northern Arizona (76-@83
as 5-10 tMichael Green[26p9r] led the way), beating Montana (@88-79 despite 29p5a from pAhmaad Rorie), but losing at home to Montana State (@65-71 as xTyler Hall[22p2a10r] led the way).
A handful of conferences are essentially at the halfway point. The last of the unbeaten teams, Gonzaga (with one game to go), is alone in first place in the WEST COAST (having already routed second-place St. Mary's); BYU was third; Santa Clara hung in for fourth; San Francisco skirted .500, alone in fifth place.
In the COLONIAL (with one game to go), UNC-Wilmington was undefeated (having already won at second-place College of Charleston). Two games back, Northeastern was third; Elon, Towson and James Madison as well as William & Mary all skirted .500, tied for fourth. (Hofstra was a flop.)
In the MISSOURI VALLEY (with one game to go), Illinois State was undefeated; Wichita State was second (with a two-game gap). Missouri State was third; Loyola(Illinois), Southern Illinois and Drake all skirted .500, tied for fourth. (Northern Iowa couldn't hang.)
In the METRO ATLANTIC, Monmouth came through in first place; St. Peter's was second; Siena as well as Canisius, Iona, Rider and Quinnipiac all skirted .500, tied for third place. (Fairfield was a flop.)
In the OHIO VALLEY (with one game to go), Belmont was undefeated with a two-game gap (in the East and overall). Jacksonville State and Morehead State in the East and Murray State in the West all were tied for second. Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee Tech as well as Tennessee State and Austin Peay all skirted .500.
(Eastern Illinois couldn't hang. SIU-Edwardsville was winless.)
In the SUMMIT (with one game to go), North Dakota State was alone in first place with a two-game gap. Denver and South Dakota both were tied for second; Omaha, Ft. Wayne, IUPUI, Oral Roberts and Western Illinois all skirted .500; (South Dakota State was a flop.)
In the PATRIOT (with one game to go), Bucknell was alone in first place with a two-game gap. Lehigh, Boston University and Navy as well as Holy Cross were all two games back, tied for second.
In the NORTHEAST (with one game to go), Mount St. Mary's and Fairleigh Dickinson came through tied for first place; Long Island was alone in third. Wagner and St. Francis(Pennsylvania) both skirted .500.
- - - - - -
The last big interconference event comes Saturday with the fourth annual BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE. Look for the BIG 12 to make it four straight with a 6-4 win (including road wins by Baylor, Kansas State and Iowa State on the one hand and Florida and Arkansas on the other). Elsewhere, Villanova should handle visiting Virginia out of conference (Sunday). It's Cincinnati's turn to host Xavier in their annual CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT grudge match -- the host team should prevail.
Villanova's big week at home begins with hosting Marquette (Tuesday). Kansas' big travel week begins with a visit to West Virginia (Tuesday). Butler visits Seton Hall (Wednesday). Baylor hosts Texas Tech (Wednesday). UCLA visits L.A. travel partner USC (Wednesday). The BIG 10 has scheduled a shameless recruiting tool when Wisconsin meets Rutgers on neutral ground at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (Saturday) -- look for the Badgers to roll. Virginia's tough week begins when it visits Notre Dame (Tuesday). North Carolina hosts Virginia Tech (Thursday). Maryland visits Minnesota (Saturday).
Indiana visits Michigan (Thursday). Kansas State's big travel week begins with a visit to Iowa State (Tuesday). Dayton visits VCU (Friday).
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- @TXArlington-Louisiana, @Niagara-Canisius(NY)(BIG4),
- Tuesday:
- Villanova-@Marquette, Kansas-@WVirginia, Purdue-@
MichiganSt, @NotreDame-Virginia, @SCarolina-Auburn, @IowaSt-KansasSt, @EaMichigan-BallSt,
- Wednesday:
- Butler-@SetonHall, @Baylor-TexasTech(TX), UCLA-@USC(LosAngelesCA), SMU-@UCF, @LaSalle-Penn(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5), @Samford-ETennesseeSt, @StonyBrook-MDBaltimoreCo, @NFlorida-
FLGulfCoast(FL),
- Thursday:
- Oregon-@Utah, @NCarolina-VirginiaTech, @StMarys-SanFrancisco(CA), @Michigan-Indiana, @
UAB-LouisianaTech, @Rice-OldDominion,
CROSSTOWN SHOOTOUT 1Off on-campus
-(@Cincinnati-Xavier[CincinnatiOH]),
- Friday:
- @VCU-Dayton, @Valparaiso-WrightSt(BG), @Oakland-GreenBay,
- Saturday:
- Maryland-@Minnesota, @RhodeIsland-StBonaventure, @Nevada-NewMexico, @MidTennessee-LouisianaTech, @ETennesseeSt-Chattanooga(TN), @TennesseeSt-Belmont(NashvilleTN), @StJosephs-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5), @Louisiana-LittleRock, @Drake-NoIowa(IA)(BIG4), @YoungstownSt-ClevelandSt(OH)(NEO), @MurraySt-TNMartin, @StonyBrook-
Vermont, @MDBaltimoreCo-NewHampshire, @UCDavis-UCIrvine(CA), @Montana-Idaho, @CoppinSt-MorganSt(BaltimoreMD),
BIG 12[3-0]/SEC[0-3] CHALLENGE Day1/1 on-campus
[South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi State and Missouri all do not play.]
Kansas-@Kentucky, Baylor-@Mississippi, @WVirginia-TexasA&M, @Oklahoma-Florida, @Tennessee-KansasSt, @Vanderbilt-IowaSt, @OklahomaSt-Arkansas, @TCU-Auburn, @TexasTech-LSU, @Georgia-Texas),
BIG 10 SUPER SATURDAY 1Off @ NewYorkNY/MSG/
-(@Wisconsin-@Rutgers),
- Sunday:
- @Villanova-Virginia, @Northwestern-Indiana, @Valparaiso-NoKentucky(BG), @
MichiganSt-Michigan(MI),
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @NotreDame-Duke, @
Lehigh-BostonU, @FLGulfCoast-NFlorida(FL), @Howard-SCState,
Top 25 - 17 Jan23: MIDCONFERENCE/Minor - [] Column
- Gonzaga (19-0)
- Arizona (18-2)
- Oregon (17-2)
- Villanova (19-1) [BIG5]
- Kansas (18-1)
- Kentucky (17-2)
- Butler (17-3)
- Baylor (17-1)
- UCLA (19-2)
- Florida State (18-2)
- Cincinnati (17-2)
- Creighton (17-2)
- West Virginia (15-4)
- Wisconsin (16-3)
- Purdue (16-4)
- Notre Dame (17-3)
- North Carolina (17-3)
- Virginia (15-3)
- Louisville (16-4)
- Duke (15-4)
- Maryland (16-2)
- SMU (17-4)
- St. Mary's (17-2)
- South Carolina (14-4)
- Marquette (13-6)
- Honorable Mention:
Oklahoma (8-10), Kansas State (15-4), Vanderbilt (9-10), Texas Tech (13-5).
UNC-Wilmington (17-2),
Illinois State (15-4),
Monmouth (16-5),
Belmont (13-4),
North Dakota State(12-6),
Bucknell(15-6),
Winthrop(13-4),
Mount St. Mary's(10-12)/Fairleigh Dickinson(8-10).
posted by Ron @ Saturday, February 04, 2017
