19 Feb 4 - Upper Crust (MIDCONFERENCE/Major)
Volume XXIII, No. 14 - 19 Feb 4: MIDCONFERENCE/Major - [] Top 25 Ballot
Upper Crust
Not many surprises this past week among the elite squads (but here and there some true upsets did sneak in).
In the BIG 10, forgotten Indiana edged Michigan State in overtime (79-@75[OT] despite 26p7a8r from tCassius Winston). Iowa came up big, dumping Michigan (@74-59) after Mich had already dumped Ohio State (@65-49). Wisconsin logged two big wins: first, handling Nebraska on the road (62-@51); then, taking out Maryland (@69-61 as xEthan Happ[18p11r6a] starred); Neb fell again at Illinois (64-@71). Purdue beat Minnesota (@73-63).
In BIG 12, Kansas thumped Texas Tech (@79-63 as cDedric Lawson[25p10r] starred); but then fell at Texas (63-@73). Oklahoma dropped two: first, tanking at home against Baylor (@47-77 only shooting 27 percent); then, falling at forgotten West Virginia (71-@79 as the WV-Mountaineers controlled the boards 46-30). Likewise, TCU lost twice: first, tanking at TxTech (65-@84); then, tanking at forgotten Baylor (64-@90 as the B-Bears sank 15-for-28 on three-pointers on gMakai Mason[40p4a]'s star turn). Iowa State edged Tx (@65-60).
In the SEC, forgotten Arkansas edged LSU on the road (90-@89). Forgotten Alabama edged Mississippi State (@83-79); but then MissSt bounced back to beat arch-rival Mississippi on the road (81-@75 as tQuinndary Weatherspoon[27p8r] starred); Ole Miss earlier tripped in overtime at forgotten Florida (86-@90[OT] despite 26p5a12r from xTerence Davis).
In the MID-AMERICAN, Buffalo tripped in a showdown for first place at surprising Bowling Green (88-@92 as gDylan Frye[25p] dueled 28p7r from fDontay Caruthers).
In the ACC, North Carolina paid back Louisville with a solid road win (79-@69 controlling the boards 47-32). North Carolina State lost twice: first, tripping in overtime at home against Virginia (@65-66[OT] on bKyle Guy's game-winning three); then, falling in a complete "no-post" performance at home against Virginia Tech (@24-47 managing no double-figure scorers on 17 percent shooting).
In the COLONIAL, Hofstra stumbled at Northeastern (61-@75 led by bDonnell Gresham[18p2a5r]), snapping the Pride's 16-game win streak.
In the OVC Wars, Jacksonville State dumped Murray State (@88-68 as cJason Burnell[20p15r] dueled 22p11a6r from pJa Morant).
In the MVC, Illinois State had a big week, taking out Drake on the road (69-@55) and then beating Loyola(Illinois) (@65-57).
In the AMERICAN, Houston beat Temple (@73-66 despite 26p4a from gQuinton Rose).
In the BIG EAST, Seton Hall tripped at Butler (68-@70).
In the ATLANTIC 10, St. Louis fell off the pace with an 0-2 week; first, tripping at home against Richmond (@81-84); then, falling at Rhode Island (54-@65).
In the PAC-12, Oregon tanked at Colorado (51-@73 as cTyler Bey[27p10r] starred). Meanwhile, Arizona State escaped in overtime against arch-rival Arizona (@95-88[OT] on pRemy Martin[31p8a]'s star turn).
In CONFERENCE USA, Old Dominion handled North Texas (@72-61 despite 19p7a5r from pRyan Woolridge). Meanwhile, Marshall tripped in overtime at home against Texas-San Antonio (@106-116[OT] in an all-star shootout).
In the IVY LEAGUE, Penn continued to struggle, falling at Cornell (71-@80).
Inside The Red Swirl, SUN B/Texas State fell at home against Texas-Arlington (@77-84 as fBrian Warren[30p5r] starred). HORIZ/Northern Kentucky dropped two on the road: first, falling at IUPUI (77-@83 as bCamron Justice[26p4a6r] starred); then, tripping at Illinois-Chicago (67-@69 on Jamie Ahale's game-winning three). BIG W/UC-Irvine edged UC-Santa Barbara in overtime on the road (66-@62[OT]).
In Flopland, A-SUN/Lipscomb took control, road-routing Liberty (79-@59). BIG S/Radford tripped at home against Campbell (@67-68 on bChris Clemons[39p6r;GW3]' star turn). NEC/Robert Morris lost twice: first, tripping at home against forgotten St. Francis(Pennsylvania) (@73-76); then, tripping in overtime at Fairleigh Dickinson (94-@97[2OT] as bDarnell Edge[28p7r] dueled 34p from gJon Williams). MAAC/Rider tripped at Monmouth (71-@75). AMER E/Stony Brook fell at Maryland-Baltimore County (49-@57). MEAC/North Carolina Central fell at Bethune-Cookman (64-@74). SWAC/Prairie View A&M thumped Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the road (79-@63 led by xGary Blackston[29p11r]).
In the final inter-conference matchup, Duke dumped St. John's (@91-61 as fZion Williamson[29p6r5s] starred).
- - - - - -
It's now the halfway point (or close enough) for all of the rest of the conferences (except for one more week still to go for the IVY LEAGUE). The Upper Crust of every league is solidifying nearly everywhere. More than half of all conferences have a gap between the leaders and the rest of the pack.
In the ACC, Virginia, Duke and North Carolina all came through tied for first place; Virginia Tech, Louisville and Syracuse all tied for fourth. Two games back, Florida State hung in, for seventh; (North Carolina State and Clemson couldn't hang; Pittsburgh and Boston College et. al all were a flop.)
In the SEC, Tennessee came through unbeaten; Kentucky and Louisiana State both tied for second. Two games back, South Carolina was fourth; Auburn, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas all hung in, tied for fifth; (Mississippi State and Florida couldn't hang. (Vanderbilt was winless.)
In the BIG 12, Kansas State came through in first place; Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor all tied for second; Texas Tech hung in, for fifth; (TCU and Texas both couldn't hang; Oklahoma was a flop.)
In the BIG EAST, Villanova came through unbeaten; Marquette was second with a three-game gap. (St. John's, Seton Hall, Creighton et al. all couldn't hang.)
In the MID-AMERICAN, Bowling Green came through in first place (in the East and overall); Buffalo was second; Toledo led the West (and tied Kent State for third overall); Central Michigan, Akron and Northern Illinois all hung in, tied for fifth. (Western Michigan was winless.)
In the WEST COAST, Gonzaga came through unbeaten with a three-game gap. St. Mary's and BYU both tied for second; San Diego and USF both hung in, tied for fourth; (Loyola Marymount couldn't hang. Portland was winless.)
In the AMERICAN, Houston and Cincinnati both came through tied for first. Two games back, UCF and Temple both tied for third; South Florida and Memphis both hung in, tied for fifth. (Tulane was winless.)
In the PACIFIC-12, Washington came through unbeaten with a three-game gap. Arizona State and Oregon State both tied for second; Arizona, UCLA and Utah all hung in, tied for fourth; (Oregon couldn't hang. California was winless.)
In the WAC, New Mexico State and Grand Canyon both came thourgh tied for first; Cal State-Bakersfield was third; Utah Valley was fourth; Texas-Rio Grande Valley was fifth. (Seattle was a flop; Chicago State was winless.)
In the ATLANTIC-10, Davidson came through in first place; VCU, Dayton and George Mason all tied for second; Duquesne was fifth; St. Louis, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure and La Salle all hung in, tied for sixth. (St. Joseph's, Richmond, Fordham, Massachusetts et al. all were a flop.)
In the MOUNTAIN WEST, Nevada came through in first place; Utah State and Fresno State both tied for second. Two games back, San Diego State, UNLV and Boise State all hung in, tied for fourth. (San Jose State was winless.)
In the BIG WEST, UC-Irvine came through in first place; UC-Santa Barbara was second; Hawaii and Cal State-Fullerton both tied for third; Cal State-Northridge and UC-Davis both hung in at .500, tied for fifth.
In the SOUTHLAND, Sam Houston State came through unbeaten with a two-game gap. Abilene Christian was second; New Orleans was third; Stephen F. Austin, Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana all hung in, tied for fourth; (Lamar couldn't hang; Nicholls was a flop.)
In the BIG SOUTH, Radford came through in first place; Winthrop and Campbell both tied for second; Presbyterian, High Point and newcomer Hampton all tied for fourth; Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern both hung in at .500, tied for seventh; (Longwood couldn't hang.)
In the AMERICA EAST, Vermont came through in first place; Stony Brook and Maryland-Baltimore County both were tied for second. Two games back, Massachusetts-Lowell and Hartford both hung in at .500, tied for fourth.
In the METRO ATLANTIC, Rider came through in first place; Canisius was second; Quinnipiac, Siena, Iona and Monmouth all hung in, tied for third; (Niagara couldn't hang; Marist was a flop.)
In the BIG SKY, Montana and Northern Colorado both came through tied for first place; Weber State was second; Eastern Washington was third; Montana State and Northern Arizona both hung in at .500, tied for fifth.
In the MEAC, Norfolk State came through unbeaten with a two-game gap. North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M both were tied for second; North Carolina Central was fourth; Howard, Bethune-Cookman, Savannah State and Coppin State all hung in at .500, tied for fifth. (Delaware State was winless.)
In the SWAC, Prairie View A&M came through unbeaten with a three-game gap. Texas Southern, Jackson State and Alabama State all tied for second; Grambling State hung in for fifth; (Arkansas-Pine Bluff couldn't hang; everyone else [including Mississippi Valley State] was a flop).
- - - - - -
Virginia looks for payback when it hosts Duke (Saturday). Michigan hosts Wisconsin (Saturday). Marquette needs to win at home against Villanova in the BIG EAST Game of the Year-Part I (Satuday) just to stay in the race. Kansas State hosts Kansas (Monday) in one of the more high-profile editions of the SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWN and then follows that up with a road trip to Baylor (Saturday). It's the Game of the Year-Part I in the AMERICAN when Houston hosts Cincinnati (Sunday).
Virginia Tech hosts Louisville (Monday). Grand Canyon looks for payback at home against New Mexico State in the WAC Game of the Year-Part II with first place on the line (Saturday). MAC-leader Bowling Green needs a home win over Toledo (Saturday) to prove it's no fluke.
HORIZ/Northern Kentucky hopes to stop the bleeding with a home win over Oakland (Saturday).
Rider hosts Canisius (Friday) with first place on the line in the MAAC.
-- Ron
Top 25 - 19 Feb 4: MIDCONFERENCE/Major - [] Column
Upper Crust
Not many surprises this past week among the elite squads (but here and there some true upsets did sneak in).
In the BIG 10, forgotten Indiana edged Michigan State in overtime (79-@75[OT] despite 26p7a8r from tCassius Winston). Iowa came up big, dumping Michigan (@74-59) after Mich had already dumped Ohio State (@65-49). Wisconsin logged two big wins: first, handling Nebraska on the road (62-@51); then, taking out Maryland (@69-61 as xEthan Happ[18p11r6a] starred); Neb fell again at Illinois (64-@71). Purdue beat Minnesota (@73-63).
In BIG 12, Kansas thumped Texas Tech (@79-63 as cDedric Lawson[25p10r] starred); but then fell at Texas (63-@73). Oklahoma dropped two: first, tanking at home against Baylor (@47-77 only shooting 27 percent); then, falling at forgotten West Virginia (71-@79 as the WV-Mountaineers controlled the boards 46-30). Likewise, TCU lost twice: first, tanking at TxTech (65-@84); then, tanking at forgotten Baylor (64-@90 as the B-Bears sank 15-for-28 on three-pointers on gMakai Mason[40p4a]'s star turn). Iowa State edged Tx (@65-60).
In the SEC, forgotten Arkansas edged LSU on the road (90-@89). Forgotten Alabama edged Mississippi State (@83-79); but then MissSt bounced back to beat arch-rival Mississippi on the road (81-@75 as tQuinndary Weatherspoon[27p8r] starred); Ole Miss earlier tripped in overtime at forgotten Florida (86-@90[OT] despite 26p5a12r from xTerence Davis).
In the MID-AMERICAN, Buffalo tripped in a showdown for first place at surprising Bowling Green (88-@92 as gDylan Frye[25p] dueled 28p7r from fDontay Caruthers).
In the ACC, North Carolina paid back Louisville with a solid road win (79-@69 controlling the boards 47-32). North Carolina State lost twice: first, tripping in overtime at home against Virginia (@65-66[OT] on bKyle Guy's game-winning three); then, falling in a complete "no-post" performance at home against Virginia Tech (@24-47 managing no double-figure scorers on 17 percent shooting).
In the COLONIAL, Hofstra stumbled at Northeastern (61-@75 led by bDonnell Gresham[18p2a5r]), snapping the Pride's 16-game win streak.
In the OVC Wars, Jacksonville State dumped Murray State (@88-68 as cJason Burnell[20p15r] dueled 22p11a6r from pJa Morant).
In the MVC, Illinois State had a big week, taking out Drake on the road (69-@55) and then beating Loyola(Illinois) (@65-57).
In the AMERICAN, Houston beat Temple (@73-66 despite 26p4a from gQuinton Rose).
In the BIG EAST, Seton Hall tripped at Butler (68-@70).
In the ATLANTIC 10, St. Louis fell off the pace with an 0-2 week; first, tripping at home against Richmond (@81-84); then, falling at Rhode Island (54-@65).
In the PAC-12, Oregon tanked at Colorado (51-@73 as cTyler Bey[27p10r] starred). Meanwhile, Arizona State escaped in overtime against arch-rival Arizona (@95-88[OT] on pRemy Martin[31p8a]'s star turn).
In CONFERENCE USA, Old Dominion handled North Texas (@72-61 despite 19p7a5r from pRyan Woolridge). Meanwhile, Marshall tripped in overtime at home against Texas-San Antonio (@106-116[OT] in an all-star shootout).
In the IVY LEAGUE, Penn continued to struggle, falling at Cornell (71-@80).
Inside The Red Swirl, SUN B/Texas State fell at home against Texas-Arlington (@77-84 as fBrian Warren[30p5r] starred). HORIZ/Northern Kentucky dropped two on the road: first, falling at IUPUI (77-@83 as bCamron Justice[26p4a6r] starred); then, tripping at Illinois-Chicago (67-@69 on Jamie Ahale's game-winning three). BIG W/UC-Irvine edged UC-Santa Barbara in overtime on the road (66-@62[OT]).
In Flopland, A-SUN/Lipscomb took control, road-routing Liberty (79-@59). BIG S/Radford tripped at home against Campbell (@67-68 on bChris Clemons[39p6r;GW3]' star turn). NEC/Robert Morris lost twice: first, tripping at home against forgotten St. Francis(Pennsylvania) (@73-76); then, tripping in overtime at Fairleigh Dickinson (94-@97[2OT] as bDarnell Edge[28p7r] dueled 34p from gJon Williams). MAAC/Rider tripped at Monmouth (71-@75). AMER E/Stony Brook fell at Maryland-Baltimore County (49-@57). MEAC/North Carolina Central fell at Bethune-Cookman (64-@74). SWAC/Prairie View A&M thumped Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the road (79-@63 led by xGary Blackston[29p11r]).
In the final inter-conference matchup, Duke dumped St. John's (@91-61 as fZion Williamson[29p6r5s] starred).
- - - - - -
It's now the halfway point (or close enough) for all of the rest of the conferences (except for one more week still to go for the IVY LEAGUE). The Upper Crust of every league is solidifying nearly everywhere. More than half of all conferences have a gap between the leaders and the rest of the pack.
In the ACC, Virginia, Duke and North Carolina all came through tied for first place; Virginia Tech, Louisville and Syracuse all tied for fourth. Two games back, Florida State hung in, for seventh; (North Carolina State and Clemson couldn't hang; Pittsburgh and Boston College et. al all were a flop.)
In the SEC, Tennessee came through unbeaten; Kentucky and Louisiana State both tied for second. Two games back, South Carolina was fourth; Auburn, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas all hung in, tied for fifth; (Mississippi State and Florida couldn't hang. (Vanderbilt was winless.)
In the BIG 12, Kansas State came through in first place; Iowa State, Kansas and Baylor all tied for second; Texas Tech hung in, for fifth; (TCU and Texas both couldn't hang; Oklahoma was a flop.)
In the BIG EAST, Villanova came through unbeaten; Marquette was second with a three-game gap. (St. John's, Seton Hall, Creighton et al. all couldn't hang.)
In the MID-AMERICAN, Bowling Green came through in first place (in the East and overall); Buffalo was second; Toledo led the West (and tied Kent State for third overall); Central Michigan, Akron and Northern Illinois all hung in, tied for fifth. (Western Michigan was winless.)
In the WEST COAST, Gonzaga came through unbeaten with a three-game gap. St. Mary's and BYU both tied for second; San Diego and USF both hung in, tied for fourth; (Loyola Marymount couldn't hang. Portland was winless.)
In the AMERICAN, Houston and Cincinnati both came through tied for first. Two games back, UCF and Temple both tied for third; South Florida and Memphis both hung in, tied for fifth. (Tulane was winless.)
In the PACIFIC-12, Washington came through unbeaten with a three-game gap. Arizona State and Oregon State both tied for second; Arizona, UCLA and Utah all hung in, tied for fourth; (Oregon couldn't hang. California was winless.)
In the WAC, New Mexico State and Grand Canyon both came thourgh tied for first; Cal State-Bakersfield was third; Utah Valley was fourth; Texas-Rio Grande Valley was fifth. (Seattle was a flop; Chicago State was winless.)
In the ATLANTIC-10, Davidson came through in first place; VCU, Dayton and George Mason all tied for second; Duquesne was fifth; St. Louis, Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure and La Salle all hung in, tied for sixth. (St. Joseph's, Richmond, Fordham, Massachusetts et al. all were a flop.)
In the MOUNTAIN WEST, Nevada came through in first place; Utah State and Fresno State both tied for second. Two games back, San Diego State, UNLV and Boise State all hung in, tied for fourth. (San Jose State was winless.)
In the BIG WEST, UC-Irvine came through in first place; UC-Santa Barbara was second; Hawaii and Cal State-Fullerton both tied for third; Cal State-Northridge and UC-Davis both hung in at .500, tied for fifth.
In the SOUTHLAND, Sam Houston State came through unbeaten with a two-game gap. Abilene Christian was second; New Orleans was third; Stephen F. Austin, Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana all hung in, tied for fourth; (Lamar couldn't hang; Nicholls was a flop.)
In the BIG SOUTH, Radford came through in first place; Winthrop and Campbell both tied for second; Presbyterian, High Point and newcomer Hampton all tied for fourth; Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern both hung in at .500, tied for seventh; (Longwood couldn't hang.)
In the AMERICA EAST, Vermont came through in first place; Stony Brook and Maryland-Baltimore County both were tied for second. Two games back, Massachusetts-Lowell and Hartford both hung in at .500, tied for fourth.
In the METRO ATLANTIC, Rider came through in first place; Canisius was second; Quinnipiac, Siena, Iona and Monmouth all hung in, tied for third; (Niagara couldn't hang; Marist was a flop.)
In the BIG SKY, Montana and Northern Colorado both came through tied for first place; Weber State was second; Eastern Washington was third; Montana State and Northern Arizona both hung in at .500, tied for fifth.
In the MEAC, Norfolk State came through unbeaten with a two-game gap. North Carolina A&T and Florida A&M both were tied for second; North Carolina Central was fourth; Howard, Bethune-Cookman, Savannah State and Coppin State all hung in at .500, tied for fifth. (Delaware State was winless.)
In the SWAC, Prairie View A&M came through unbeaten with a three-game gap. Texas Southern, Jackson State and Alabama State all tied for second; Grambling State hung in for fifth; (Arkansas-Pine Bluff couldn't hang; everyone else [including Mississippi Valley State] was a flop).
- - - - - -
Virginia looks for payback when it hosts Duke (Saturday). Michigan hosts Wisconsin (Saturday). Marquette needs to win at home against Villanova in the BIG EAST Game of the Year-Part I (Satuday) just to stay in the race. Kansas State hosts Kansas (Monday) in one of the more high-profile editions of the SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWN and then follows that up with a road trip to Baylor (Saturday). It's the Game of the Year-Part I in the AMERICAN when Houston hosts Cincinnati (Sunday).
Virginia Tech hosts Louisville (Monday). Grand Canyon looks for payback at home against New Mexico State in the WAC Game of the Year-Part II with first place on the line (Saturday). MAC-leader Bowling Green needs a home win over Toledo (Saturday) to prove it's no fluke.
HORIZ/Northern Kentucky hopes to stop the bleeding with a home win over Oakland (Saturday).
Rider hosts Canisius (Friday) with first place on the line in the MAAC.
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- IowaSt-@Oklahoma, @VirginiaTech-Louisville, @
Lehigh-Colgate, @Prairie View A&M-AlabamaSt,
- Tuesday:
- @NCarolina-NCState(NC), @Marquette-StJohns, @KansasSt-Kansas(KS), @Auburn-Florida, @LoyolaIL-Drake, @LaSalle-StJosephs(PhiladelphiaPA)
(BIG5), @FresnoSt-UtahSt,
- Wednesday:
- LSU-@MississippiSt, Wisconsin-@Minnesota, @Nebraska-Maryland, @Texas-Baylor(TX), @Louisiana-
GeorgiaSo,
- Thursday:
- Houston-@UCF, Wofford-@ETennesseeSt, @CalStBakersfield-NewMexicoSt, @
NTexas-Marshall, @SoUtah-WeberSt(UT),
- Friday:
- @
Yale-Princeton, @Louisiana-GeorgiaSt, @Rider-Canisius,
- Saturday:
- Duke-@Virginia, @Tennessee-Florida, @Gonzaga-StMarys, @MichiganSt-Minnesota, @Purdue-Nebraska, Kentucky-@MississippiSt, @Michigan-Wisconsin, @IowaSt-TCU, @Marquette-Villanova, KansasSt-@Baylor, TexasTech-@Oklahoma, Washington-@ArizonaSt, @LSU-Auburn, Louisville-@FloridaSt, @
GrandCanyon-NewMexicoSt, @BowlingGreen-Toledo(OH), @Drake-NoIowa(IA)(BIG4), @Akron-KentSt(OH)(NEO), @NoKentucky-Oakland,UCIrvine-Hawaii, @Abilene Christian-SamHoustonSt(TX), @StFrancisNY-FairleighDickinson, @TexasSo-PrairieViewA&M(HoustonTX),
(NCAA PRE-SIXTEEN BRACKET SELECTION)
- Sunday:
- @Houston-Cincinnati,
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @NCarolina-Virginia, @TCU-Kansas, @Baylor-Oklahoma, @Bucknell-
Lehigh(PA), @FloridaA&M-Norfolk St.
Top 25 - 19 Feb 4: MIDCONFERENCE/Major - [] Column
- Duke (19-2)
- Tennessee (19-1)
- Gonzaga (20-2)
- Virginia (20-1)
- Michigan State (18-4)
- Purdue (16-6)
- Kentucky (18-3)
- Michigan (20-2)
- North Carolina (17-4)
- Iowa State (17-5)
- Marquette (19-3)
- Kansas State (16-5)
- Kansas (17-5)
- Virginia Tech (18-3)
- Houston (21-1)
- Villanova (18-4)
- Cincinnati (19-3)
- Texas Tech (17-5)
- Nevada (20-1)
- Washington (18-4)
- Louisiana State (17-4)
- Wisconsin (16-6)
- Iowa (17-5)
- Louisville (16-6)
- Wofford (16-4)
- Honorable Mention:
Indiana(13-9), Texas (12-10),Arkansas(13-9), Bowling Green (13-6),Northeastern(13-9),
New Mexico State (17-4)/Grand Canyon (14-7),
Davidson (15-5),
- - - - - -
UC-Irvine(17-5),
- - - - - -
Sam Houston State(11-8),
Radford(13-7),
Vermont(16-5),
Rider(12-9),
Montana(13-6)/Northern Colorado (14-7),
Norfolk State(10-10),
Prairie View A&M(9-11).
posted by Ron @ Saturday, November 30, 2019
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