17 Dec18 - Boomer Cowboys
Volume XXII, No. 7 - 17 Dec18 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Boomer Cowboys
Things are slowing down as we get closer to the Christmas holiday.
Two of the biggest wins on the week came from the two major schools from the Sooner State. At the ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC, Oklahoma State got its biggest win of the season, handing "host" Florida State its first loss (71-@70 on Mitchell Solomon's game-winner). Meanwhile, Oklahoma won on the road at Wichita State (91-@83 as GC pTrae Young[29p10a] far outplayed 17p5a5r5to from pLandry Shamet). That makes seven out of ten teams in the mighty BIG 12 who have recorded Top-25 wins this preseason (as the league is now 57-14 in high-profile interconference matchups).
North Carolina rallied to beat tough Tennessee on the road (78-@73). Last week's darling, Loyola(Illinois), turned back into a pumpkin, totally tanking at mediocre Milwaukee (56-@73).
pJalen Brunson[31p5a6r] was spectacular and tOmari Spellman[27p8r] had a breakout performance of his own as Villanova thumped host Temple (87-@67 despite 27p from gQuinton Rose) to wrap up the Philadelphia BIG 5 again this year with a perfect 4-0 record. It's the FIFTH-STRAIGHT UNDEFEATED RUN for the Wildcats ... that's the most dominant stretch by any team in the 62-year history of the City Series (with no sign of any let-up in sight) -- LEGENDARY!!!
A couple of gruge match twin-bills doubled as mini-conference CHALLENGES. At the new DISTRICT DETROIT SHOWCASE, it was 2-0 for the BIG 10 over the HORIZON as Michigan State beat Oakland (@86-@73 despite 32p7a from pKendrick Nunn) while Michigan buried "host" Detroit (@90-@58). At the new ASHEVILLE MOUNTAIN CLASSIC, it was 2-0 for the SOUTHERN over the BIG SOUTH as Wofford handled High Point (70-@57 behind Fletcher Magee[27p])
while Western Carolina edged "host" UNC-Asheville (76-@72).
Rutgers stunned its arch, Seton Hall, (@71-65) in their annual GARDEN STATE CLASSIC clash.
At the CROSSROADS double-header in Indianapolis, Notre Dame tripped up in overtime against Indiana (@77-@80[OT] as cJuwan Morgan[34p11r] dueled 29p11r from cBonzie Colson) while Purdue dumped "host" Butler (@82-@67).
Northwestern couldn't shake city-rival DePaul at the [CHICAGO-B] LOU HENSON CLASSIC at the UNITED CENTER in Chicago, edging (62-@60 behind tScottie Lindsey[25p8r]).
At the HV/IOWA BIG FOUR CLASSIC at Des Moines, the "Big Brothers" beat up on the "Lil Bros" as Iowa State handled Northern Iowa (@76-@65) while Iowa dumped "host" Drake (@90-@64).
Delaware needed overtime to win on the road at Delaware State (68-@59[OT]) in their annual State Title showdown.
In other specialty events, Clemson surprised "host" Florida (71-@69) in the ORANGE BOWL undercard.
At the new ROC CITY HOOPS CLASSIC in Rochester NY, "host" St. Bonaventre edged splashworthy Vermont (@81-79 on Matt Mobley's game-winning three despite 27p8r from fAnthony Lamb) ... the Catamounts dropped to 6-5 officially, but their "moral" won-loss record is 10-1 (as only Marquette has been able to put them away without the game going down to an endplay finish).
Kansas had more trouble than expected escaping on the road at Nebraska (73-@72 led by cUdoka Azubuike[26p10r]'s breakout performance on Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk's game-winning three) in what was dubbed the SI SHOWCASE. New Mexico State upset "host" Illinois (74-@69) in the LOU HENSON undercard.
Louisville beat Memphis in the feature matchup of the GOTHAM CLASSIC at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (81-72 despite 26p3a9r from tJeremiah Martin). At the [NEW YORK-D] HOLIDAY FESTIVAL at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, Army-West Point dumped military-rival Air Force (@79-54) while "host" St. John's handled Iona (@69-59).
At the BIRMINGHAM SHOWCASE double-header, it was Auburn beating Middle Tennessee (@76-70) while "host" UAB dumped Alabama A&M (@90-58 depsite 15p5a6r from 5-10 pJulian Walters).
Northwestern State was stunned by non-Division I {LSU-Shreveport}, losing (84-@85) in the SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER HOLIDAY CLASSIC.
Elsewhere, Kentucky earned its best win of the preseason, outrunning Virginia Tech (@93-86 holding its own from three-point range: 11-for-22 despite 19p9a5r from pJustin Robinson). Cincinnati denied UCLA a quality win, winning on the road (77-@63 thanks to an 18-0 run in the 1st half). Rhode Island kept College of Charleston in its season-long funk with a @68-62 win.
Georgia Southern could only manage a split in its home-and-home series with Cal State-Bakersfield, tripping (53-@55) on the road (after an earlier [home] rout win).
Boise State needed double-overtime before edging Grand Canyon (@85-80[2OT] as xChandler Hutchinson[27p11r] starred). St. Mary's beat disappointing UC-Irvine (@73-66 behind cJock Landale[25p10r]).
- - - - - -
The last two major preseason tournaments conclude this week. It's now Miami(Florida), and not USC, who looks to be the favorite to claim the [HAWAII-A] DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC (Friday through Monday week). Meanwhile, Nevada shouldn't have any trouble cruising past Mid-Major opponents in the LAS VEGAS-C CHRISTMAS CLASSIC at ORLEANS ARENA (Friday-Saturday).
Fresh-faced Oklahoma should keep it rolling when it hosts disappointing Northwestern (Friday). Kentucky should have no trouble keeping UCLA down in the [NEW ORLEANS-A] C/SPORTS CLASSIC (Saturday).
Preseason favorite San Diego State hasn't been able to keep pace with the top MOUNTAIN WEST teams so far this preseason, but gets one more chance to make some noise when it hosts Gonzaga (Thursday).
- - - - - -
The MISSOURI VALLEY has been the most surprising traditional 1BC league so far. At 34-21 in high-profile matchups, it's been more successful than the likes of the MOUNTAIN WEST, PACIFIC-12, WEST COAST, ATLANTIC-10 and SUN BELT. The Game Of The Year (Part I) in the league comes right away as giant-killer Loyola(Illinois) visits pre-favorite Missouri State (Friday) with a chance to turn itself into an Anti-Spoiler on the line.
-- Ron
P.S. Happy Holidays, everybody!
Top 25 - 17 Dec18 - [] Column
Boomer Cowboys
Things are slowing down as we get closer to the Christmas holiday.
Two of the biggest wins on the week came from the two major schools from the Sooner State. At the ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC, Oklahoma State got its biggest win of the season, handing "host" Florida State its first loss (71-@70 on Mitchell Solomon's game-winner). Meanwhile, Oklahoma won on the road at Wichita State (91-@83 as GC pTrae Young[29p10a] far outplayed 17p5a5r5to from pLandry Shamet). That makes seven out of ten teams in the mighty BIG 12 who have recorded Top-25 wins this preseason (as the league is now 57-14 in high-profile interconference matchups).
North Carolina rallied to beat tough Tennessee on the road (78-@73). Last week's darling, Loyola(Illinois), turned back into a pumpkin, totally tanking at mediocre Milwaukee (56-@73).
pJalen Brunson[31p5a6r] was spectacular and tOmari Spellman[27p8r] had a breakout performance of his own as Villanova thumped host Temple (87-@67 despite 27p from gQuinton Rose) to wrap up the Philadelphia BIG 5 again this year with a perfect 4-0 record. It's the FIFTH-STRAIGHT UNDEFEATED RUN for the Wildcats ... that's the most dominant stretch by any team in the 62-year history of the City Series (with no sign of any let-up in sight) -- LEGENDARY!!!
A couple of gruge match twin-bills doubled as mini-conference CHALLENGES. At the new DISTRICT DETROIT SHOWCASE, it was 2-0 for the BIG 10 over the HORIZON as Michigan State beat Oakland (@86-@73 despite 32p7a from pKendrick Nunn) while Michigan buried "host" Detroit (@90-@58). At the new ASHEVILLE MOUNTAIN CLASSIC, it was 2-0 for the SOUTHERN over the BIG SOUTH as Wofford handled High Point (70-@57 behind Fletcher Magee[27p])
while Western Carolina edged "host" UNC-Asheville (76-@72).
Rutgers stunned its arch, Seton Hall, (@71-65) in their annual GARDEN STATE CLASSIC clash.
At the CROSSROADS double-header in Indianapolis, Notre Dame tripped up in overtime against Indiana (@77-@80[OT] as cJuwan Morgan[34p11r] dueled 29p11r from cBonzie Colson) while Purdue dumped "host" Butler (@82-@67).
Northwestern couldn't shake city-rival DePaul at the [CHICAGO-B] LOU HENSON CLASSIC at the UNITED CENTER in Chicago, edging (62-@60 behind tScottie Lindsey[25p8r]).
At the HV/IOWA BIG FOUR CLASSIC at Des Moines, the "Big Brothers" beat up on the "Lil Bros" as Iowa State handled Northern Iowa (@76-@65) while Iowa dumped "host" Drake (@90-@64).
Delaware needed overtime to win on the road at Delaware State (68-@59[OT]) in their annual State Title showdown.
In other specialty events, Clemson surprised "host" Florida (71-@69) in the ORANGE BOWL undercard.
At the new ROC CITY HOOPS CLASSIC in Rochester NY, "host" St. Bonaventre edged splashworthy Vermont (@81-79 on Matt Mobley's game-winning three despite 27p8r from fAnthony Lamb) ... the Catamounts dropped to 6-5 officially, but their "moral" won-loss record is 10-1 (as only Marquette has been able to put them away without the game going down to an endplay finish).
Kansas had more trouble than expected escaping on the road at Nebraska (73-@72 led by cUdoka Azubuike[26p10r]'s breakout performance on Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk's game-winning three) in what was dubbed the SI SHOWCASE. New Mexico State upset "host" Illinois (74-@69) in the LOU HENSON undercard.
Louisville beat Memphis in the feature matchup of the GOTHAM CLASSIC at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (81-72 despite 26p3a9r from tJeremiah Martin). At the [NEW YORK-D] HOLIDAY FESTIVAL at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, Army-West Point dumped military-rival Air Force (@79-54) while "host" St. John's handled Iona (@69-59).
At the BIRMINGHAM SHOWCASE double-header, it was Auburn beating Middle Tennessee (@76-70) while "host" UAB dumped Alabama A&M (@90-58 depsite 15p5a6r from 5-10 pJulian Walters).
Northwestern State was stunned by non-Division I {LSU-Shreveport}, losing (84-@85) in the SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER HOLIDAY CLASSIC.
Elsewhere, Kentucky earned its best win of the preseason, outrunning Virginia Tech (@93-86 holding its own from three-point range: 11-for-22 despite 19p9a5r from pJustin Robinson). Cincinnati denied UCLA a quality win, winning on the road (77-@63 thanks to an 18-0 run in the 1st half). Rhode Island kept College of Charleston in its season-long funk with a @68-62 win.
Georgia Southern could only manage a split in its home-and-home series with Cal State-Bakersfield, tripping (53-@55) on the road (after an earlier [home] rout win).
Boise State needed double-overtime before edging Grand Canyon (@85-80[2OT] as xChandler Hutchinson[27p11r] starred). St. Mary's beat disappointing UC-Irvine (@73-66 behind cJock Landale[25p10r]).
- - - - - -
The last two major preseason tournaments conclude this week. It's now Miami(Florida), and not USC, who looks to be the favorite to claim the [HAWAII-A] DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC (Friday through Monday week). Meanwhile, Nevada shouldn't have any trouble cruising past Mid-Major opponents in the LAS VEGAS-C CHRISTMAS CLASSIC at ORLEANS ARENA (Friday-Saturday).
Fresh-faced Oklahoma should keep it rolling when it hosts disappointing Northwestern (Friday). Kentucky should have no trouble keeping UCLA down in the [NEW ORLEANS-A] C/SPORTS CLASSIC (Saturday).
Preseason favorite San Diego State hasn't been able to keep pace with the top MOUNTAIN WEST teams so far this preseason, but gets one more chance to make some noise when it hosts Gonzaga (Thursday).
- - - - - -
The MISSOURI VALLEY has been the most surprising traditional 1BC league so far. At 34-21 in high-profile matchups, it's been more successful than the likes of the MOUNTAIN WEST, PACIFIC-12, WEST COAST, ATLANTIC-10 and SUN BELT. The Game Of The Year (Part I) in the league comes right away as giant-killer Loyola(Illinois) visits pre-favorite Missouri State (Friday) with a chance to turn itself into an Anti-Spoiler on the line.
-- Ron
P.S. Happy Holidays, everybody!
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- Monday:
- @
WeMichigan-Idaho,
- Tuesday:
- @TexasA&M-
NoKentucky, @Alabama-Mercer(@HuntsvilleAL), @Georgia-GeorgiaTech(GA),
- Tuesday, Friday-Monday week:
- HAWAII-A DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC WarmUp1 on-campus; 2nd/Qtrs @ LahainaHI/Hawaii/
-(MiamiFL-@Hawaii, Davidson-NewMexicoSt; USC-Akron, MidTennessee-Princeton),
- Tuesday, Friday-Saturday:
- LAS VEGAS-C CHRISTMAS CLASSIC 2x4 RndRob2 on-campus; 3rd/Semis @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-(A: Nevada, SoIllinois; Radford, NCA&T;
B: SanFrancisco, Duquesne; Lamar, UCDavis),
- Wednesday:
- @Tennessee-
Furman, @WashingtonSt-KansasSt(@SpokaneWA),
GOTHAM CLASSIC RndRob4/4 on-campus
-(Louisville, Memphis, Albany, Siena, Bryant),
HALL OF FAME-B CT HOLIDAY SHOWCASE DblHdr @ UncasvilleCT/MOHEGAN/
-(Providence-Houston, StJohns-StJosephs),
(new)GARDEN CITY SHOWCASE @ GardenCityNY
-(@Hofstra-@Manhattan[NewYorkNY]),
- Thursday:
- Gonzaga-@SanDiegoSt, @
Idaho-UCIrvine(@BoiseID),
CABLE CAR CLASSIC 1Off @ SantaClaraCA/SantaClara/
-(@SantaClara-SanJoseSt[CA]),
- Thursday-Friday:
- DON HASKINS/SUN BOWL INVITATIONAL Semis @ ElPasoTX/UTEP/
-(UNCWilmington-NDState, @UTEP-Howard),
(new)NEW ORLEANS-B CLASSIC Semis @ NewOrleansLA
-(@LouisianaTech-AlabamaSt, FtWayne-Liberty),
- Friday:
- Villanova-@Hofstra(@UniondaleNY), @Oklahoma-Northwestern, @StMarys-
UNCAsheville, @MissouriSt-LoyolaIL, @Alabama-Texas(@BirminghamAL), @NorfolkSt-OldDominion(NorfolkVA),
SANFORD-A SHOWCASE 1Off @ SiouxFallsSD/PENTAGON/
-(Iowa-Colorado),
- Saturday:
- @Louisville-
GrandCanyon,
NEW ORLEANS-A C/SPORTS CLASSIC DblHdr @ NewOrleansLA
-(@NCarolina-@OhioSt, @Kentucky-@UCLA),
BRAGGIN' RIGHTS 1Off @ StLouisMO
-(@Missouri-@Illinois),
JACKSON SHOWCASE 1Off @ JacksonMS
-(@MississippiSt-@SoMississippi[MS]),
- Sunday:
- (None).
- - - - - - -
- Monday week (CHRISTMAS):
- Monday week (CHRISTMAS):
- (None).
Top 25 - 17 Dec18 - [] Column
- Arizona State (10-0) [2v2:LVA-THANX] (:HOF-A LA)
- Villanova (11-0) [v3:ATLANTIS] [BIG5u] (:JIMMY.V)
- Michigan State (10-1) [v3:PK80-B] (vACC) (@@DETROIT)
- TCU (10-0) [2v2:EMERALD] (vDFW) (:HOF-A LA)
- Miami(Florida) (9-0) (@BIG10)
- Xavier (11-1) (@BIG10) (vXTOWN)
- Texas A&M (9-1) [2v2:LEGENDS]
- North Carolina (10-1) (vBIG10)
- West Virginia (9-1) [v3:A/ORLANDO] (@BACKYD)
- Arkansas (8-2)
- Oklahoma (8-1) (@HOF-A LA)
- Kentucky (9-1) [rr4vRUPP] (:C/HOOPS)
- Virginia (9-1) [2v2:NIT.T-O] (vBIG10)
- Oklahoma State (8-2) (@ORANGE)
- Tennessee (8-2)
- Baylor (8-2) [2v2:CBE]
- Gonzaga (9-2) (vJESUIT) (@WA)
- Florida State (9-1) [.52v2:JAMAICA] (@BIG10) (vHI)
- Creighton (8-2) (@BIG10) (vNE)
- Wichita State (8-2)
- Kansas (8-2) [3v:HOF-D MIAMI] (@@CHAMPS) (@SI)
- Purdue (11-2) (@BIG.E) (vACC) (@@XROADS)
- Seton Hall (9-2) (:UA/REUNION) (@MINARDI) (vBIG10) (:NVR.FGT)
- Texas Tech (9-1) [2v2:HOF-C TO]
- Arizona (8-3) (vVAL-SUN)
- Honorable Mention:
- Rutgers (9-3) [rr4vBANKS] (vGARDEN),
Milwaukee (6-5) [.5rr3vBLACK&GOLD].
posted by Ron @ Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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