17 Dec11 - Double Trouble
Volume XXII, No. 6 - 17 Dec11 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Double Trouble
Some of the most impressive teams in the early going had a rough week with twin losses.
Florida tanked at home in its annual grudge match with rebuilding Florida State (@66-83 as the Seminoles controlled the boards 51-34 led by fTerance Mann[25p8r] and bC.J. Walker[17p4a5r]). More surprising (and disappointing) was yet another home loss, this time to Loyola(Illinois) (@59-65 as the Gators failed to post a single player in double figures). But the Gators at least salvaged something from the week beating Cincinnati (66-60 as the Bearcats only shot 4-for-15 on threes and had a total of 4 assists).
Kansas fell at home against Washington (@65-74); the Huskies keyed on shutting down pDevonte' Graham(3p5a;1/8fg) allowing pLagerald Vick(28p7a5r) to have his way. Then Arizona State came to Lawrence and outran the Jayhawks (95-@85 as pTrae Holder[29p7a] dueled 25p7r from pLagerald Vick).
Nevada dropped a couple of close games. Texas Tech edged the Lobos in overtime (@82-76[OT] as tKeenan Evans[32p3a8r6to] battled both Martin twins: 28p5r from bCaleb and 22p5r7to from fCody). At the HALL OF FAME-A CLASSIC in Los Angeles, TCU edged Nev (84-80 despite 27p11r6a from xCody Martin).
Minnesota looked like a powerhouse early on but has stumbled lately. In early BIG 10 play, Nebraska beat the Golden Gophers (@78-68 as tGlynn Watson Jr.[29p9r] starred). Then, out of conference, Minn tanked at Arkansas (79-@95).
Washington State continued its slump, tanking at 1BC Idaho (64-@91 as fBrayon Blake[26p8r] starred). Then the Cougars fell again at UTEP (69-@76).
1BC darling Vermont has stumbled lately. The Catamounts couldn't keep pace, losing at Marquette (81-@91 on bMarkus Howard[34p6r]'s star turn). Then Vmt tripped again at Northeastern (67-@70 despite 32p from Anthony Lamb).
At the VALLEY OF THE SUN SHOOTOUT in Phoenix, "host" Arizona got back on track with a @67-64 win over tough Texas A&M; St. John's beat actual host Grand Canyon (68-@60 on bShamorie Ponds[28p4a6r5s5to] star turn). At the JIMMY V CLASSIC at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, Villanova thumped Gonzaga (88-72 behind bMikal Bridges[28p6r]'s breakout performance as Johnathan Williams[5p0r] was totally shut down); also Syracuse beat Connecticut (@72-63). Besides TCU edging Nevada, the HALL OF FAME-A CLASSIC at Los Angeles featured Oklahoma edging "host" USC (85-@83 hitting 15-for-31 on threes led by GC pTrae Young[29p9a]) as well as Arizona State handling St. John's (@82-70 as pShannon Evans[18p6a6r] countered 19p7a7r from pShamorie Ponds). At the NEVER FORGET TRIBUTE CLASSIC in Newark, besides Florida beating Cincinnati, Seton Hall dumped VCU (90-67).
December is the time for traditional grudge matches.
West Virginia took care of its two biggest Border War opponents, beating Virginia (@68-61 as xJevon Carter[23p7a10r] starred) and winning on the road at Pittsburgh (69-@60) in their BACKYARD BRAWL.
UAB handled rival Troy on the road (90-@78 dominating the boards 40-20 despite 27p1a from Wesley Person) but tripped at "Big Brother" Auburn (80-@85 as Bryce Brown[27p] dueled Chris Cokley[26p]).
Creighton won its annual State Title game with Nebraska (@75-65). Louisville beat Bluegrass rival Indiana (@71-62) in the COUNTDOWN CLASSIC. Surging TCU handled Metroplex-rival SMU (@94-83 behind fKenrich Williams[27p9r]). Gonzaga turned state-rival Washington back into a pumpkin with a road smackdown (97-@70).
Lipscomb completed the sweep of this year's BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD dumping Belmont (@69-54 behind Garrison Mathews[26p0a]) but lost at "Big Brother" Tennessee (71-@81). Texas-Rio Grande Valley swept the SOUTH TEXAS SHOWDOWN with a home win over Texas A&M-CC (@82-78 despite 25p4a7r from bJoseph Kilgore). "Big Brother" Providence edged "Lil Bro'" Brown (@77-72). Towson finished 3-0 against its Baltimore city rivals, edging Morgan State in overtime (@82-78[OT] as gZane Martin[25p] dueled 25p10r from xPhillip Carr) and handling Maryland-Balitmore County (@78-65).
Alabama got in the win column against a quality opponent edging Rhode Island (@68-64) but fell at rebounding Arizona (82-@88 as 30p from GC Collin Sexton wasn't enough). Notre Dame hung around with mediocre Ball State and paid the price, tripping at home (@77-80 on Tayler Person's game-winning three).
San Diego State tripped at home against California (@62-63). UCLA had its home game against Montana cancelled because of wildfires in the area, then tripped in overtime on the road at Michigan (69-@78[OT] despite the Wolverines' going 8-for-22 on free throws and 27p7a from pAaron Holiday). Providence fell at mediocre Massachusetts (63-@72 as Luwane Pipkins[30p] starred).
Missouri State fell at Oral Roberts (66-@73) but bounced back to handle host North Dakota State in the first of their home-and-home series (71-@58 despite 16p4a9r from tPaul Miller). Wichita State outpaced South Dakota State (@95-85 despite 31p6r from bMike Daum). Furman handled UNC-Asheville (@83-72).
Stephen F. Austin edged host Louisiana Tech (85-@83 on Kevon Harris[25p0a]' game-winner).
In early conference play, Duke tripped right away at Boston College (84-@89 on xKy Bowman[30p9a10r]'s star turn despite 25p from gGary Trent Jr.).
- - - - - -
High-profile matchups are pretty sparse this week.
Tennessee's early form will be put to the test when it hosts North Carolina (Sunday). Wichita State hosts Oklahoma (Saturday). Kentucky hosts Virginia Tech (Saturday).
Rhode Island hosts disappointing College of Charleston (Saturday). UCLA hosts Cincinnati (Saturday).
Villanova looks to wrap up this year's BIG 5 title when it visits Temple (Wednesday).
-- Ron
P.S. Don't forget: the deadline for this year's Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's free College Football Bowl Season Pool) is THIS SATURDAY, 16-DECEMBER (12Net).
Top 25 - 17 Dec11 - [] Column
Double Trouble
Some of the most impressive teams in the early going had a rough week with twin losses.
Florida tanked at home in its annual grudge match with rebuilding Florida State (@66-83 as the Seminoles controlled the boards 51-34 led by fTerance Mann[25p8r] and bC.J. Walker[17p4a5r]). More surprising (and disappointing) was yet another home loss, this time to Loyola(Illinois) (@59-65 as the Gators failed to post a single player in double figures). But the Gators at least salvaged something from the week beating Cincinnati (66-60 as the Bearcats only shot 4-for-15 on threes and had a total of 4 assists).
Kansas fell at home against Washington (@65-74); the Huskies keyed on shutting down pDevonte' Graham(3p5a;1/8fg) allowing pLagerald Vick(28p7a5r) to have his way. Then Arizona State came to Lawrence and outran the Jayhawks (95-@85 as pTrae Holder[29p7a] dueled 25p7r from pLagerald Vick).
Nevada dropped a couple of close games. Texas Tech edged the Lobos in overtime (@82-76[OT] as tKeenan Evans[32p3a8r6to] battled both Martin twins: 28p5r from bCaleb and 22p5r7to from fCody). At the HALL OF FAME-A CLASSIC in Los Angeles, TCU edged Nev (84-80 despite 27p11r6a from xCody Martin).
Minnesota looked like a powerhouse early on but has stumbled lately. In early BIG 10 play, Nebraska beat the Golden Gophers (@78-68 as tGlynn Watson Jr.[29p9r] starred). Then, out of conference, Minn tanked at Arkansas (79-@95).
Washington State continued its slump, tanking at 1BC Idaho (64-@91 as fBrayon Blake[26p8r] starred). Then the Cougars fell again at UTEP (69-@76).
1BC darling Vermont has stumbled lately. The Catamounts couldn't keep pace, losing at Marquette (81-@91 on bMarkus Howard[34p6r]'s star turn). Then Vmt tripped again at Northeastern (67-@70 despite 32p from Anthony Lamb).
At the VALLEY OF THE SUN SHOOTOUT in Phoenix, "host" Arizona got back on track with a @67-64 win over tough Texas A&M; St. John's beat actual host Grand Canyon (68-@60 on bShamorie Ponds[28p4a6r5s5to] star turn). At the JIMMY V CLASSIC at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, Villanova thumped Gonzaga (88-72 behind bMikal Bridges[28p6r]'s breakout performance as Johnathan Williams[5p0r] was totally shut down); also Syracuse beat Connecticut (@72-63). Besides TCU edging Nevada, the HALL OF FAME-A CLASSIC at Los Angeles featured Oklahoma edging "host" USC (85-@83 hitting 15-for-31 on threes led by GC pTrae Young[29p9a]) as well as Arizona State handling St. John's (@82-70 as pShannon Evans[18p6a6r] countered 19p7a7r from pShamorie Ponds). At the NEVER FORGET TRIBUTE CLASSIC in Newark, besides Florida beating Cincinnati, Seton Hall dumped VCU (90-67).
December is the time for traditional grudge matches.
West Virginia took care of its two biggest Border War opponents, beating Virginia (@68-61 as xJevon Carter[23p7a10r] starred) and winning on the road at Pittsburgh (69-@60) in their BACKYARD BRAWL.
UAB handled rival Troy on the road (90-@78 dominating the boards 40-20 despite 27p1a from Wesley Person) but tripped at "Big Brother" Auburn (80-@85 as Bryce Brown[27p] dueled Chris Cokley[26p]).
Creighton won its annual State Title game with Nebraska (@75-65). Louisville beat Bluegrass rival Indiana (@71-62) in the COUNTDOWN CLASSIC. Surging TCU handled Metroplex-rival SMU (@94-83 behind fKenrich Williams[27p9r]). Gonzaga turned state-rival Washington back into a pumpkin with a road smackdown (97-@70).
Lipscomb completed the sweep of this year's BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD dumping Belmont (@69-54 behind Garrison Mathews[26p0a]) but lost at "Big Brother" Tennessee (71-@81). Texas-Rio Grande Valley swept the SOUTH TEXAS SHOWDOWN with a home win over Texas A&M-CC (@82-78 despite 25p4a7r from bJoseph Kilgore). "Big Brother" Providence edged "Lil Bro'" Brown (@77-72). Towson finished 3-0 against its Baltimore city rivals, edging Morgan State in overtime (@82-78[OT] as gZane Martin[25p] dueled 25p10r from xPhillip Carr) and handling Maryland-Balitmore County (@78-65).
Alabama got in the win column against a quality opponent edging Rhode Island (@68-64) but fell at rebounding Arizona (82-@88 as 30p from GC Collin Sexton wasn't enough). Notre Dame hung around with mediocre Ball State and paid the price, tripping at home (@77-80 on Tayler Person's game-winning three).
San Diego State tripped at home against California (@62-63). UCLA had its home game against Montana cancelled because of wildfires in the area, then tripped in overtime on the road at Michigan (69-@78[OT] despite the Wolverines' going 8-for-22 on free throws and 27p7a from pAaron Holiday). Providence fell at mediocre Massachusetts (63-@72 as Luwane Pipkins[30p] starred).
Missouri State fell at Oral Roberts (66-@73) but bounced back to handle host North Dakota State in the first of their home-and-home series (71-@58 despite 16p4a9r from tPaul Miller). Wichita State outpaced South Dakota State (@95-85 despite 31p6r from bMike Daum). Furman handled UNC-Asheville (@83-72).
Stephen F. Austin edged host Louisiana Tech (85-@83 on Kevon Harris[25p0a]' game-winner).
In early conference play, Duke tripped right away at Boston College (84-@89 on xKy Bowman[30p9a10r]'s star turn despite 25p from gGary Trent Jr.).
- - - - - -
High-profile matchups are pretty sparse this week.
Tennessee's early form will be put to the test when it hosts North Carolina (Sunday). Wichita State hosts Oklahoma (Saturday). Kentucky hosts Virginia Tech (Saturday).
Rhode Island hosts disappointing College of Charleston (Saturday). UCLA hosts Cincinnati (Saturday).
Villanova looks to wrap up this year's BIG 5 title when it visits Temple (Wednesday).
-- Ron
P.S. Don't forget: the deadline for this year's Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's free College Football Bowl Season Pool) is THIS SATURDAY, 16-DECEMBER (12Net).
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- @Northwestern-ChicagoSt(ChicagoIL), @Hartford-SacredHeart(CT)(CT6),
- Monday-Wednesday week:
- GOTHAM CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus, Feature @ NewYorkNY/MSG/
-(Feature Sat: Louisville-Memphis; Albany, Siena, Bryant),
- Tuesday:
- @CoppinSt-MDBaltimoreCo(BaltimoreMD),
- Wednesday:
- Villanova-@Temple(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5), @BoiseSt-
GrandCanyon,
- Thursday:
- (None).
- Friday:
- SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER HOLIDAY CLASSIC 1Off @ ShreveportLA
-(@{LSUShreveport}-NorthwesternSt),
- Friday-Saturday week:
- LAS VEGAS-C CHRISTMAS CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-(A: Nevada, SoIllinois; Radford, NCA&T;
B: SanFrancisco, Duquesne; Lamar, UCDavis),
- Saturday:
- @WichitaSt-Oklahoma, @Kentucky-rginiaTech, @Arkanas-Troy(@NorthLittleRockAR), @UCLA-Cincinnati, @StMarys-
UCIrvine(CA), @RhodeIsland-ColofCharleston, @Temple-Drexel(PhiladelphiaPA), @BYU-Utah(UT), @OregonSt-StLouis(@PortlandOR), @CalStBakersfield-GeorgiaSo,
(new)DISTRICT DETROIT SHOWCASE DblHdr @ DetroitMI/Detroit/
-(@MichiganSt-@Oakland[MI], @Detroit-@Michigan[MI]),
ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC DblHdr @ SunriseFL
-(@FloridaSt-OklahomaSt, @Florida-Clemson),
GARDEN STATE CLASSIC 1Off on-campus
-(SetonHall-@Rutgers[NJ]),
CROSSROADS CLASSIC DblHdr @ IndianapolisIN
-(@Butler-@Purdue[IN], @NotreDame-@Indiana[IN]),
(new)SI SHOWCASE 1Off on-campus
-(@Nebraska-Kansas),
BIRMINGHAM SHOWCASE DblHdr @ BirminghamAL/UAB/
-(@UAB-AlabamaA&M[AL], @Auburn-MidTennessee),
(new)ROC CITY HOOPS CLASSIC 1Off @ RochesterNY
-(@StBonaventure-Vermont),
CHICAGO-B LOU HENSON CLASSIC @ ChicagoIL/UNITED/
-(@Northwestern-@DePaul[ChicagoIL], @Illinois-NewMexicoSt),
IOWA-BIG FOUR HV CLASSIC DblHdr @ DesMoinesIA/Drake/
-(@IowaSt-@NoIowa[IA][BIG4], @Drake-@Iowa[IA][BIG4]),
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CLASSIC 1Off @ ShreveportLA
-(@{LSUShreveport}-NorthwesternSt[LA]),
PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE [12Net]),
- Sunday:
- @Tennessee-NCarolina, @DelawareSt-Delaware(DE), @LongIsland-
Fairfield(@BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/),
NEW YORK-D HOLIDAY FESTIVAL DblHdr @NewYorkNY/MSG/
-(@StJohns-Iona[NY], AirForce-@ArmyWP[MIL]),
(new)ASHEVILLE MOUNTAIN BIG SOUTH[0-0]/SOUTHERN[0-0] CLASSIC DblHdr @ AshevilleNC/UNCAsheville/
-(Wofford-@HighPt, @UNCAsheville-@WeCarolina[NC]),
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @
WeMichigan-Idaho.
Top 25 - 17 Dec11 - [] Column
- Arizona State (9-0) [2v2:LVA-THANX] (:HOF-A LA)
- Villanova (10-0) [v3:ATLANTIS] (:JIMMY.V)
- Michigan State (9-1) [v3:PK80-B] (vACC)
- TCU (10-0) [2v2:EMERALD] (vDFW) (:HOF-A LA)
- Miami(Florida) (8-0) (@BIG10)
- Florida State (9-0) [.52v2:JAMAICA] (@BIG10) (vHI)
- Seton Hall (8-1) (:UA/REUNION) (@MINARDI) (vBIG10) (:NVR.FGT)
- Xavier (10-1) (@BIG10) (vXTOWN)
- Texas A&M (8-1) [2v2:LEGENDS]
- Tennessee (8-1)
- West Virginia (9-1) [v3:A/ORLANDO] (@BACKYD)
- Texas Tech (7-1) [2v2:HOF-C TO]
- North Carolina (9-1) (vBIG10)
- Wichita State (8-1)
- Loyola(Illinois) (9-1) [.52v2:SAVANH]
- Virginia (8-1) [2v2:NIT.T-O] (vBIG10)
- Oklahoma (7-1) [@HOF-A LA]
- Kentucky (8-1) [rr4vRUPP] (:C/HOOPS)
- Gonzaga (8-2) (vJESUIT) (@WA)
- Baylor (6-2) [2v2:CBE]
- Nevada (8-2) (vMVC)
- Creighton (7-2) (@BIG10) (vNE)
- Duke (11-1) [v3:PK80-A] (@@CHAMPS) (@BIG10)
- Arizona (7-3) (vVAL-SUN)
- Arkansas (7-2)
- Honorable Mention:
- Boston College (7-3), Washington (7-3), Alabama (7-3) (:VETERANS), Ball State (5-4), Nebraska (7-4).
posted by Ron @ Thursday, January 11, 2018
<< Home