18 Jan 8 - 'Hoos Defense Is It
Volume XXII, No. 10 - 18 Jan 8 - [] Top 25 Ballot
'Hoos Defense Is It
The BIG 12 gave us the top-ranked (#1 vs #2) showdown between West Virginia and Oklahoma in which the Mountaineers "shut down" GC pTrae Young: he still had 29p5a but it was on 8-for-22 shooting and he committed 8 turnovers; that was enough for pJevon Carter[17p10a7r]'s all-around game to lead WVa to a @89-76 (home) win. Maybe even more impressive was Texas Tech's road win at Kansas (85-@73 controlling the boards 44-29 and sinking 21-for-25 free throws despite 27p6a from pDevonte' Graham) which snapped an 0-17 losing streak for the Red Raiders in Lawrence. TCU split endplay results, edging in overtime at Baylor (81-@78[OT] despite 28p11r from cJo Lual-Acuil Jr.) but tripping at home against Kansas (@84-88 as pDevonte' Graham[28p6a] led KU). Oklahoma had no trouble with state-rival Oklahoma State (@109-89 on 15-for-27 on threes led by gBrady Manek[28p] and pTYoung[27p10a6to] despite 15p10r5to from xJeffrey Carroll).
In the BIG EAST, Providence knocked off Xavier (@81-72) but the big loser on the week was Butler which fell at Xavier (79-@86 despite the best efforts of 28p5r from bKamar Baldwin and 25p5r from bKelan Martin) and also tripped at home against Seton Hall (@87-90 as pKhadeen Carrington[29p6a] and xAngel Delgado[28p15r6a] countered 27p from KMartin).
Miami(Florida) fell at finally-full-strength Georgia Tech (54-@64 as tJosh Okogie[30p9r] starred). North Carolina got the worst of the tough-double week in the ACC: tripping at Florida State (80-@81 as 28p1a from gJoel Berry II wasn't enough against tTerance Mann[17p9r5a]) and then falling at Virginia (49-@61 as the Cavaliers shut down fLuke Maye[6p9r;2/10fg]). Duke fell on the road again, this time at N.C. State (85-@96 despite 31p10r from GC cMarvin Bagley III). Miami(Florida) and Florida State split on the week when MiaFl beat FlaSt (@80-74 despite 16p4a5r5s from bBraian Angola). Virginia's defensive effort against UNC was impressive at home, but earlier in the week the Wahoos clamped down on high-flying Virginia Tech on the road (78-@52) ... West Virginia might be the toughest all-court pressing defensive team but it's UVa who's the best halfcourt defense team anywhere. Surprising Clemson continued its streaking ways with an overtime win at home against Louisville (@74-69[OT] thanks to 15 steals). Terrible news: Notre Dame's cBonzie Colson fractured his foot in practice and will be out 8 weeks to recover from surgery ... it'll be tough for ND to remain relevant that long without him.
Arkansas couldn't handle road life in the SEC, falling twice: first tripping at unnoticed Mississippi State (75-@78) and then falling at Auburn (77-@88); for its part, streaking Auburn also won on the road at Tennessee (94-@84 despite 25p from Lamonte Turner); Tennessee salvaged a split on the week with a solid @76-65 win over young Kentucky. Undermanned Texas A&M (dealing with multiple injuries) couldn't hang with visiting Florida, tanking at home (@66-83 as the Gators shot 17-for-28 on threes for 25 assists) and the Aggies couldn't even get past visiting LSU, tripping at home as well (@68-69 on 5-11 Tremont Waters' game-winning three).
Unheralded Ohio State sent shockwaves through the BIG 10 (and nationally) with its (home) rout of Michigan State (@80-64 on fKeita Bates-Diop[32p7r]'s star turn). Minnesota tripped at home against Indiana (@71-75 as pRobert Johnson[28p7a] led IU). Northwestern's disappointing preseason hasn't gotten any better in conference play, dropping two no-account losses: tanking at home against Nebraska (@55-70 despite 17p15r from cDererk Pardon) and then tanking on the road at Penn State (63-@78 as Lamar Stevens[30p] led PSU).
The AMERICAN has already become a two-team race. SMU tripped at Tulane (70-@73) to fall from contender to pretender. But both Cincinnati, who dumped SMU (@76-56), and Wichita State, who dumped Houston (@81-63), have established themselves as head-and-shoulders above the rest of the pack.
In the PAC-12, none of the top contenders escaped the week without a loss. Colorado swept two squeakers over the desert teams: edging Arizona State in overtime (@90-81[OT]) and edging Arizona (@80-77 led by pMcKinley Wright IV[16p10a] despite 26p from DeAndre Ayton). Meanwhile, Stanford swept two squeakers of its own past the L.A. teams, edging UCLA in overtime (@107-99[OT] as xDorian Pickens[26p10r] and pDaejon Davis[22p7a5r] countered 31p3a from gAaron Holiday) and edging USC (@77-76 led by cReid Travis[29p10r] on DDavis' 50-foot buzzer-beater). Oregon couldn't get paststate-rival Oregon State on the road, falling (64-@76).
In the MOUNTAIN WEST, Wyoming edged Boise State in overtime (@79-78[OT] as cHayden Dalton[29p12r] dueled 27p from Chandler Hutchinson). Utah State won on the road at young UNLV (85-@78 led by tSam Merrill(20p5a8r). Nevada was able to handled Wyoming at home (@92-83).
In the WEST COAST, St. Mary's handled another "trap game" opponent, beating San Diego (@70-63) to match Gonzaga at 4-0.
In the MISSOURI VALLEY, both Missouri State and Loyola(Illinois) got past spoiler Northern Iowa: MoSt won at home (@62-55 as cAlize Johnson[24p20r] dueled 18p4a10r from Tywhon Pickford) while LoyIL won on the road (56-@50); but both teams split on the week as Illinois State knocked off MoSt (@72-68) while LoyIL trippped at home against Indiana State (@57-61 as tBrenton Scott[16p3a9r] led ISU).
Inside the Red Swirl, PAT/Bucknell tripped at home against Boston University (@79-84 despite 25p13r from cZach Thomas). MAC/Central Michigan could only split on the week: dumping Ohio University (@75-50) but tanking on the road at Kent State (69-@85 as KSU's Jaylin Walker[26p] countered 15p7r4a from bLuke Meyer). SUMMIT/South Dakota State won on the road at North Dakota State (87-@80 as xMike Daum[37p15r] dueled 36p2a from gPaul Miller). AMERE/Vermont dumped Maryland-Baltimore County to take early control of the regular season race. SKY/IDAHO tripped at home against Portland State (@72-73 as PSU's Deontae North[30p] dueled 28p from Victor Sanders). COLON/Towson returned the favor against College of Charleston with an identical @73-62 home win; but both teams also lost elsewhere (Tows tripping at Elon [72-@75 despite 27p5a from pZane Martin] and CofC tripping in overtime at Drexel [82-@87{OT}]) to lose joint control of the race. BIGW/UC-Santa Barbara tripped at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (79-@80 on CpSLO's Luke Meikle's game-winning free throws).
MAAC/Fairfield fell off the pace in the regular season with two rout (road) losses: at Rider (77-@96 led by the Broncs' fFrederick Scott[25p8r]) and at Iona (65-@84 on the Gaels' pDeyshonee Much[32p7a]'s star turn). HORIZ/Northern Kentucky edged on the road at Oakland (87-@83). BIGS/UNC-Asheville fell twice: first at High Point (74-@84 led by the Panthers' Andre Fox[27p]) and then tanking at Radford (70-@90 on the Highlanders' fEd Polite Jr.[29p8r]'s star turn). MEAC/Morgan State edged Eastern Shore (@85-82 led by Tiwian Kendley[28p]). SWAC/Alcorn State lost three times (and, in fact, doesn't have a Division-I win on the season): falling at Prairie View A&M (64-@74 led by the Panthers' pDennis Jones[15p10a]), tanking at Texas Southern (70-@85 led by the Tigers' Derrick Bruce[25p]) and tripping at home against Jackson State (@55-60).
- - - - - -
(New No.1) Texas Tech has it rough: visiting Oklahoma (Tuesday) and hosting West Virginia (Saturday, in the BIG 12's second-straight #1-vs-#2 matchup); WVa gets to host Baylor (Tuesday) as a warm-up and Oklahoma hosts TCU (Saturday) as a cool-down. Undermanned Notre Dame hosts tumbling North Carolina (Saturday). Rhode Island hosts St. Bonaventure (Saturday) with a chance to take early control in the disappointing ATLANTIC 10. Boise State hosts San Diego State (Saturday) in the MOUNTAIN WEST Wars.
Xavier needs a big week to stay in contact in the BIG EAST: visiting Villanova (Wednesday) and hosting Creighton (Saturday). Reeling Texas A&M can't catch a break with another tough week: visiting Kentucky (Tuesday) and visiting Tennessee (Saturday). Slumping Minnesota hosts Purdue (Saturday). Louisville may already be only a spoiler in the ACC Wars with another tough week: visiting Florida State (Wednesday) and hosting Virginia Tech (Saturday).
New Mexico State is one of the only teams (along with A10/Rhode Island) with a chance to earn Anti-Spoiler status if it can dominate inside league play ... the Aggies can take a big step if they can win on the road at Grand Canyon (Thursday).
-- Ron
Top 25 - 18 Jan 8 - [] Column
'Hoos Defense Is It
The BIG 12 gave us the top-ranked (#1 vs #2) showdown between West Virginia and Oklahoma in which the Mountaineers "shut down" GC pTrae Young: he still had 29p5a but it was on 8-for-22 shooting and he committed 8 turnovers; that was enough for pJevon Carter[17p10a7r]'s all-around game to lead WVa to a @89-76 (home) win. Maybe even more impressive was Texas Tech's road win at Kansas (85-@73 controlling the boards 44-29 and sinking 21-for-25 free throws despite 27p6a from pDevonte' Graham) which snapped an 0-17 losing streak for the Red Raiders in Lawrence. TCU split endplay results, edging in overtime at Baylor (81-@78[OT] despite 28p11r from cJo Lual-Acuil Jr.) but tripping at home against Kansas (@84-88 as pDevonte' Graham[28p6a] led KU). Oklahoma had no trouble with state-rival Oklahoma State (@109-89 on 15-for-27 on threes led by gBrady Manek[28p] and pTYoung[27p10a6to] despite 15p10r5to from xJeffrey Carroll).
In the BIG EAST, Providence knocked off Xavier (@81-72) but the big loser on the week was Butler which fell at Xavier (79-@86 despite the best efforts of 28p5r from bKamar Baldwin and 25p5r from bKelan Martin) and also tripped at home against Seton Hall (@87-90 as pKhadeen Carrington[29p6a] and xAngel Delgado[28p15r6a] countered 27p from KMartin).
Miami(Florida) fell at finally-full-strength Georgia Tech (54-@64 as tJosh Okogie[30p9r] starred). North Carolina got the worst of the tough-double week in the ACC: tripping at Florida State (80-@81 as 28p1a from gJoel Berry II wasn't enough against tTerance Mann[17p9r5a]) and then falling at Virginia (49-@61 as the Cavaliers shut down fLuke Maye[6p9r;2/10fg]). Duke fell on the road again, this time at N.C. State (85-@96 despite 31p10r from GC cMarvin Bagley III). Miami(Florida) and Florida State split on the week when MiaFl beat FlaSt (@80-74 despite 16p4a5r5s from bBraian Angola). Virginia's defensive effort against UNC was impressive at home, but earlier in the week the Wahoos clamped down on high-flying Virginia Tech on the road (78-@52) ... West Virginia might be the toughest all-court pressing defensive team but it's UVa who's the best halfcourt defense team anywhere. Surprising Clemson continued its streaking ways with an overtime win at home against Louisville (@74-69[OT] thanks to 15 steals). Terrible news: Notre Dame's cBonzie Colson fractured his foot in practice and will be out 8 weeks to recover from surgery ... it'll be tough for ND to remain relevant that long without him.
Arkansas couldn't handle road life in the SEC, falling twice: first tripping at unnoticed Mississippi State (75-@78) and then falling at Auburn (77-@88); for its part, streaking Auburn also won on the road at Tennessee (94-@84 despite 25p from Lamonte Turner); Tennessee salvaged a split on the week with a solid @76-65 win over young Kentucky. Undermanned Texas A&M (dealing with multiple injuries) couldn't hang with visiting Florida, tanking at home (@66-83 as the Gators shot 17-for-28 on threes for 25 assists) and the Aggies couldn't even get past visiting LSU, tripping at home as well (@68-69 on 5-11 Tremont Waters' game-winning three).
Unheralded Ohio State sent shockwaves through the BIG 10 (and nationally) with its (home) rout of Michigan State (@80-64 on fKeita Bates-Diop[32p7r]'s star turn). Minnesota tripped at home against Indiana (@71-75 as pRobert Johnson[28p7a] led IU). Northwestern's disappointing preseason hasn't gotten any better in conference play, dropping two no-account losses: tanking at home against Nebraska (@55-70 despite 17p15r from cDererk Pardon) and then tanking on the road at Penn State (63-@78 as Lamar Stevens[30p] led PSU).
The AMERICAN has already become a two-team race. SMU tripped at Tulane (70-@73) to fall from contender to pretender. But both Cincinnati, who dumped SMU (@76-56), and Wichita State, who dumped Houston (@81-63), have established themselves as head-and-shoulders above the rest of the pack.
In the PAC-12, none of the top contenders escaped the week without a loss. Colorado swept two squeakers over the desert teams: edging Arizona State in overtime (@90-81[OT]) and edging Arizona (@80-77 led by pMcKinley Wright IV[16p10a] despite 26p from DeAndre Ayton). Meanwhile, Stanford swept two squeakers of its own past the L.A. teams, edging UCLA in overtime (@107-99[OT] as xDorian Pickens[26p10r] and pDaejon Davis[22p7a5r] countered 31p3a from gAaron Holiday) and edging USC (@77-76 led by cReid Travis[29p10r] on DDavis' 50-foot buzzer-beater). Oregon couldn't get paststate-rival Oregon State on the road, falling (64-@76).
In the MOUNTAIN WEST, Wyoming edged Boise State in overtime (@79-78[OT] as cHayden Dalton[29p12r] dueled 27p from Chandler Hutchinson). Utah State won on the road at young UNLV (85-@78 led by tSam Merrill(20p5a8r). Nevada was able to handled Wyoming at home (@92-83).
In the WEST COAST, St. Mary's handled another "trap game" opponent, beating San Diego (@70-63) to match Gonzaga at 4-0.
In the MISSOURI VALLEY, both Missouri State and Loyola(Illinois) got past spoiler Northern Iowa: MoSt won at home (@62-55 as cAlize Johnson[24p20r] dueled 18p4a10r from Tywhon Pickford) while LoyIL won on the road (56-@50); but both teams split on the week as Illinois State knocked off MoSt (@72-68) while LoyIL trippped at home against Indiana State (@57-61 as tBrenton Scott[16p3a9r] led ISU).
Inside the Red Swirl, PAT/Bucknell tripped at home against Boston University (@79-84 despite 25p13r from cZach Thomas). MAC/Central Michigan could only split on the week: dumping Ohio University (@75-50) but tanking on the road at Kent State (69-@85 as KSU's Jaylin Walker[26p] countered 15p7r4a from bLuke Meyer). SUMMIT/South Dakota State won on the road at North Dakota State (87-@80 as xMike Daum[37p15r] dueled 36p2a from gPaul Miller). AMERE/Vermont dumped Maryland-Baltimore County to take early control of the regular season race. SKY/IDAHO tripped at home against Portland State (@72-73 as PSU's Deontae North[30p] dueled 28p from Victor Sanders). COLON/Towson returned the favor against College of Charleston with an identical @73-62 home win; but both teams also lost elsewhere (Tows tripping at Elon [72-@75 despite 27p5a from pZane Martin] and CofC tripping in overtime at Drexel [82-@87{OT}]) to lose joint control of the race. BIGW/UC-Santa Barbara tripped at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (79-@80 on CpSLO's Luke Meikle's game-winning free throws).
MAAC/Fairfield fell off the pace in the regular season with two rout (road) losses: at Rider (77-@96 led by the Broncs' fFrederick Scott[25p8r]) and at Iona (65-@84 on the Gaels' pDeyshonee Much[32p7a]'s star turn). HORIZ/Northern Kentucky edged on the road at Oakland (87-@83). BIGS/UNC-Asheville fell twice: first at High Point (74-@84 led by the Panthers' Andre Fox[27p]) and then tanking at Radford (70-@90 on the Highlanders' fEd Polite Jr.[29p8r]'s star turn). MEAC/Morgan State edged Eastern Shore (@85-82 led by Tiwian Kendley[28p]). SWAC/Alcorn State lost three times (and, in fact, doesn't have a Division-I win on the season): falling at Prairie View A&M (64-@74 led by the Panthers' pDennis Jones[15p10a]), tanking at Texas Southern (70-@85 led by the Tigers' Derrick Bruce[25p]) and tripping at home against Jackson State (@55-60).
- - - - - -
(New No.1) Texas Tech has it rough: visiting Oklahoma (Tuesday) and hosting West Virginia (Saturday, in the BIG 12's second-straight #1-vs-#2 matchup); WVa gets to host Baylor (Tuesday) as a warm-up and Oklahoma hosts TCU (Saturday) as a cool-down. Undermanned Notre Dame hosts tumbling North Carolina (Saturday). Rhode Island hosts St. Bonaventure (Saturday) with a chance to take early control in the disappointing ATLANTIC 10. Boise State hosts San Diego State (Saturday) in the MOUNTAIN WEST Wars.
Xavier needs a big week to stay in contact in the BIG EAST: visiting Villanova (Wednesday) and hosting Creighton (Saturday). Reeling Texas A&M can't catch a break with another tough week: visiting Kentucky (Tuesday) and visiting Tennessee (Saturday). Slumping Minnesota hosts Purdue (Saturday). Louisville may already be only a spoiler in the ACC Wars with another tough week: visiting Florida State (Wednesday) and hosting Virginia Tech (Saturday).
New Mexico State is one of the only teams (along with A10/Rhode Island) with a chance to earn Anti-Spoiler status if it can dominate inside league play ... the Aggies can take a big step if they can win on the road at Grand Canyon (Thursday).
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday (CFP CHAMPIONSHIP)
- @Southern-
JacksonSt,
- Tuesday:
- TexasTech-@Oklahoma, @WVirginia-Baylor, @Kentucky-TexasA&M, @OhioU-BallSt(BG),
- Wednesday:
- @Villanova-Xavier, @FloridaSt-Louisville,
- Thursday:
- @
GrandCanyon-NewMexicoSt, @JacksonvilleSt-MurraySt, @ETennesseeSt-UNCGreensboro, @OldDominion-WeKentucky, @MtStMarys-SacredHeart,
- Friday:
- (None).
- Saturday:
- @TexasTech-WVirginia, @Oklahoma-TCU, @Clemson-MiamiFL, Purdue-@Minnesota, @NotreDame-NCarolina, @RhodeIsland-StBonaventure, @BoiseSt-SanDiegoSt, Creighton-@Xavier, @Tennessee-TexasA&M, @Louisville-VirginiaTech, @Wofford-
Furman(SC), @UAB-LouisianaTech, @Elon-ColofCharleston, @CalStFullerton-UCDavis(CA), @StFrancisPA-MtStMarys, @NCA&T-MorganSt,
- Sunday:
- @Navy-ArmyWP(MIL),
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @WVirginia-Kansas, @MiamiFL-Duke, @Baylor-OklahomaSt, @ILChicago-Oakland, @
JacksonSt-PrairieViewA&M.
Top 25 - 18 Jan 8 - [] Column
- Texas Tech (14-1)
- West Virginia (14-1)
- Auburn (14-1)
- Virginia (14-1)
- Ohio State (13-4)
- Florida (11-4)
- Oklahoma (12-2)
- Seton Hall (14-2)
- Cincinnati (14-2)
- Wichita State (13-2)
- Clemson (14-1)
- Purdue (15-2)
- Gonzaga (14-3)
- Nevada (15-3)
- Notre Dame (12-3)
- St. Mary's (15-2)
- Rhode Island (11-3)
- Arizona (12-4)
- Miami(Florida) (13-2)
- Kansas (12-3)
- Boise State (12-3)
- Michigan State (15-2)
- Creighton (13-3)
- Kentucky (12-3)
- Villanova (14-1) 5-PEATBIG5u
- Honorable Mention:
- Colorado (10-6), Mississippi State (13-2), Providence (11-6),
Georgia Tech(8-7), Florida State (12-3), North Carolina State (11-5), Wyoming (11-5), TCU (13-2), LSU (10-4).
Vermont(10-5),Northern Kentucky(9-5), Radford (10-6).
posted by Ron @ Sunday, February 04, 2018
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