19 Jan14 - Mark(us) Golden
Volume XXIII, No. 11 - 19 Jan14 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Mark(us) Golden
If it weren't for a once-in-a-generation talent over in Durham named Williamson, this would have been the week that the Player Of The Year race had a new frontrunner. pMarkus Howard[53p6a9to] was spectacular in Marquette's overtime road shootout over slumping Creighton (106-@104[OT] as both teams combined to shoot 33-for-51 on three-pointers). He followed that up with an "ordinary" star turn (26p6a6r5to) as the Golden Eagles edged Seton Hall (@70-66). Somehow, this year's One-Man-Show Marq team is more successful than last year's two-guard attack (with pAndrew Rowsey alongside pHoward). (It's a toss-up whether that's because this year's overall level is lower or whether pHoward's individual level has elevated the team. Check back at the end of the season for the final evaluation.)
Elsewhere in the BIG EAST, retooling Villanova is doing just fine, thank you, pushing out to 4-0 after edging St. John's (@76-71 as tEric Paschall[25p8r] starred) and winning on the road at Creigh (90-@78 as pPhil Booth[28p7a] starred) while St. John's dropped to 2-3 after falling at home to DePaul (@71-79).
In the SEC, Mississippi State tripped in overtime at mediocre South Carolina (82-@87[OT]); but it's Mississippi who surged to share the lead after thumping Auburn (@82-67 as xTerence Davis[27p12r] dominated) and then edging arch-rival MissSt on the road (81-@77).
In the ACC, North Carolina split on the week: first, outpacing North Carolina State on the road (90-@82 controlling the boards 51-33) but then tanking at home against Louisville (@62-83 shooting a woeful 3-for-22 on three-pointers). Lville couldn't make it a 2-0 week, either, tripping in overtime
at Pittsburgh (86-@89[OT] as bT McGowens[33p6r] starred). Syracuse beat slumping Clemson (@61-53 despite 16p4a6r5to from bMarcquise Reed) but somehow fell at home to unheralded Georgia Tech (@59-73 as the Yellow Jackets converted 15 steals into 60 percent shooting). Meanwhie, Virginia continued to soar, dumping host Clem (63-@43). Duke kept pace thanks to gCam Reddish's game-winning three, escaping 80-@78 at Florida State (as R.J. Barrett[32p] starred while fZion Williamson sat after being poked in the eye).
In the BIG 12, Iowa State dropped two: first, tripping at Baylor (70-@73 as GT [ex-Yale] gMakai Mason[25p3a] starred) and then, tripping at home against Kansas State (@57-58 on gBarry Brown Jr.'s game-winner). Likewise, TCU went 0-2: falling at Kansas (68-@77 as cDedric Lawson[31p14r] starred) and tripping at Oklahoma (74-@76 despite 30p from gKouai Noi[30p]). Texas Tech stayed on top with two solid wins (while Texas dropped two as well): TxTech stopped Oklahoma (@66-59 led by xJarrett Culver[23p12r)) and won on the road at Tx (68-@62) while the Longhorns also tripped at Oklahoma State (58-@61 shooting 2-for-22 on threes).
In the BIG 10, Maryland won twice to keep in contact: first, dumping Minnesota on the road (82-@67 as pAnthony Cowan Jr.[27p5a6r] starred); then, edging Indiana at home (@78-75 as cBruno Fernando[25p13r] dueled 28p3a from GC gRomeo Langford). Purdue could only manage a 1-1 split on the week: first, tanking at first-place Michigan State (59-@77 as pCassius Winson[23p5a6r] starred) but bouncing back to edge Wisconsin in overtime on the road (84-@80[OT] as gCarsen Edwards[36p] dueled 31p13r6a9to from xEthan Happ). It's Ohio State who fell back, going 0-2: tripping at mediocre Rutgers (61-@64) and falling at Iowa (62-@72) to boot.
Houston lost its first game of the season, tripping at surging Temple (69-@73 as the Owls sank 25-for-28 free throws). (But it's still way early in the AMERICAN race for any one team to have established an edge.)
What should have been the MID-AMERICAN Game Of The Year (Part I) turned out to be a laugher as Buffalo thumped Toledo (@110-80 sinking 15 three-pointers with 25 assists on pJeremy Harris[34p5a7r]'s star turn).
In what passes as "The Game Of The Year" in the WEST COAST, Gonzaga comfortably outpaced San Francisco on the road (96-@83). (The G/Bulldogs' biggest challenge will be maintaining an elite competitive level while cruising through a barely Mid-Major-calibre regular season schedule.)
The SOUTHERN CONFERENCE is having one of its strongest seasons ever with as many as four teams showing Splashworthy form. But instead of an up-for-grabs SOCON Wars campaign, upstart Wofford may well run away and hide. The W/Terriers dumped UNC-Greensboro on the road (72-@43 only allowing one double-figure scorer). UNCG regrouped to handle Furman (@89-79 as bIsaiah Miller[25p5r] dueled 22p10r5a from xMatt Rafferty).
The disappointing PACIFIC-12 only got muddier as "favorites" fell. Oregon tripped in overtime at home to regrouping UCLA (@84-87[OT] despite 22p10r from xLouis King) while Arizona State fell at unheralded Stanford (71-@85).
In the mediocre ATLANTIC 10, Davidson claimed a big early win, beating VCU (@64-57).
In the middling MISSOURI VALLEY the "favorites" all stumbled, Drake tripped at BIG 4 rival Northern Iowa (54-@57). Loyola(Illinois) tanked at mediocre Evansville (48-@67). Meanwhile, Bradley went 0-2: falling at first-place Valparaiso (50-@61) and tripping at home against Missouri State (@64-69).
Princeton got off to an early lead in the IVY LEAGUE after completing the sweep of arch-rival Penn (62-@53 dominating the boards 55-34). Meanwhile, Harvard tanked at Dartmouth (63-@81).
Georgia State stayed ahead in the SUN BELT with a solid win over Louisiana (@89-76 despite 36p11r from cJaKeenan Gant).
College of Charleston fell back in the COLONIAL after tripping at home against lowly Drexel (@78-79). (Meanwhile, 5-0 Hofstra already has a two-game gap after a couple of squeak road wins.)
Northern Kentucky stayed near the top in the HORIZON after edging Wright State (@68-64 behind xDrew McDonald[22p12r5to]).
In overstuffed CONFERENCE USA, surprising Texas-San Antonio edged North Texas (@76-74 on Jhivvan Jackson's game-winner) while Florida Atlantic beat Old Dominion (@80-73) and Marshall edged Western Kentucky (@70-69).
Lehigh could only manage a 1-1 split on the week in the PATRIOT: first, edging in overtime on the road at Holy Cross (99-@94[OT] as gLance Tejada[36p] outdueled 25p5r from Caleb Green) but then, falling at Colgate (78-@91 as pJordan Burns[23p12a] starred).
St. Francis(New York) fell back in the NORTHEAST when it tripped at home against Robert Morris (@49-52) but bounced back to edge St. Francis(Pennsylvania) (@72-68).
Montana fell off the pace in the BIG SKY after splitting on the week: first, falling at lowly Eastern Washington (71-@78) but then dumping contender Northern Colorado on the road (88-@64 led by Sayeed Pridgett[29p]).
Grambling fell back in the pack in the SWAC after tripping in overtime at no-account Alabama A&M (60-@65[OT] despite 27p5r from bIvy Smith Jr.).
- - - - - -
Unbeaten Virginia has its toughest week of the season with showdowns at home with Virginia Tech (Tuesday) and on the road at Duke (Saturday). Texas Tech must beat visiting Iowa State (Wednesday) to stay out front in the BIG 12 race. Maryland has a big week trying to stay in touch in the BIG 10: hosting Wisconsin (Monday) and visiting Ohio State (Friday).
Mississippi hosts LSU (Tuesday). Kentucky needs a road win at Auburn (Saturday) to stay in contact in the SEC race. Surprising Wofford should handle visiting rival Furman (Saturday) in the SOCON Wars.
Wisconsin's tough week concludes with hosting Michigan (Saturday).
Arizona hosts Oregon while Arizona State hosts Oregon State (both Thursday) and they swap partners (Saturday) in the PAC-12 Skirmishes.
2-1 Temple can turn this year's BIG 5 title race into a three-way with a home win over 2-0 Penn (Saturday).
Loyola(Illinois) can get back on top in the MISSOURI VALLEY with a win over Valparaiso (Tuesday).
Surprising Jacksonville State can knock Belmont out of the OHIO VALLEY race with a home win (Thursday). VCU needs a home win over Dayton (Wednesday) to stay in the A-10 race. Brown hosts Yale (Saturday) in a huge IVY clash right off the bat. Boise State must beat Nevada (Tuesday) to keep pace in the MOUNTAIN WEST.
Lipscomb must beat host New Jersey Tech (Wednesday) to stay out front in the ATLANTIC SUN race. Radford must beat visiting upstart Gardner-Webb (Thursday) to keep pace in the BIG SOUTH race.
-- Ron
Top 25 - 19 Jan14 - [] Column
Mark(us) Golden
If it weren't for a once-in-a-generation talent over in Durham named Williamson, this would have been the week that the Player Of The Year race had a new frontrunner. pMarkus Howard[53p6a9to] was spectacular in Marquette's overtime road shootout over slumping Creighton (106-@104[OT] as both teams combined to shoot 33-for-51 on three-pointers). He followed that up with an "ordinary" star turn (26p6a6r5to) as the Golden Eagles edged Seton Hall (@70-66). Somehow, this year's One-Man-Show Marq team is more successful than last year's two-guard attack (with pAndrew Rowsey alongside pHoward). (It's a toss-up whether that's because this year's overall level is lower or whether pHoward's individual level has elevated the team. Check back at the end of the season for the final evaluation.)
Elsewhere in the BIG EAST, retooling Villanova is doing just fine, thank you, pushing out to 4-0 after edging St. John's (@76-71 as tEric Paschall[25p8r] starred) and winning on the road at Creigh (90-@78 as pPhil Booth[28p7a] starred) while St. John's dropped to 2-3 after falling at home to DePaul (@71-79).
In the SEC, Mississippi State tripped in overtime at mediocre South Carolina (82-@87[OT]); but it's Mississippi who surged to share the lead after thumping Auburn (@82-67 as xTerence Davis[27p12r] dominated) and then edging arch-rival MissSt on the road (81-@77).
In the ACC, North Carolina split on the week: first, outpacing North Carolina State on the road (90-@82 controlling the boards 51-33) but then tanking at home against Louisville (@62-83 shooting a woeful 3-for-22 on three-pointers). Lville couldn't make it a 2-0 week, either, tripping in overtime
at Pittsburgh (86-@89[OT] as bT McGowens[33p6r] starred). Syracuse beat slumping Clemson (@61-53 despite 16p4a6r5to from bMarcquise Reed) but somehow fell at home to unheralded Georgia Tech (@59-73 as the Yellow Jackets converted 15 steals into 60 percent shooting). Meanwhie, Virginia continued to soar, dumping host Clem (63-@43). Duke kept pace thanks to gCam Reddish's game-winning three, escaping 80-@78 at Florida State (as R.J. Barrett[32p] starred while fZion Williamson sat after being poked in the eye).
In the BIG 12, Iowa State dropped two: first, tripping at Baylor (70-@73 as GT [ex-Yale] gMakai Mason[25p3a] starred) and then, tripping at home against Kansas State (@57-58 on gBarry Brown Jr.'s game-winner). Likewise, TCU went 0-2: falling at Kansas (68-@77 as cDedric Lawson[31p14r] starred) and tripping at Oklahoma (74-@76 despite 30p from gKouai Noi[30p]). Texas Tech stayed on top with two solid wins (while Texas dropped two as well): TxTech stopped Oklahoma (@66-59 led by xJarrett Culver[23p12r)) and won on the road at Tx (68-@62) while the Longhorns also tripped at Oklahoma State (58-@61 shooting 2-for-22 on threes).
In the BIG 10, Maryland won twice to keep in contact: first, dumping Minnesota on the road (82-@67 as pAnthony Cowan Jr.[27p5a6r] starred); then, edging Indiana at home (@78-75 as cBruno Fernando[25p13r] dueled 28p3a from GC gRomeo Langford). Purdue could only manage a 1-1 split on the week: first, tanking at first-place Michigan State (59-@77 as pCassius Winson[23p5a6r] starred) but bouncing back to edge Wisconsin in overtime on the road (84-@80[OT] as gCarsen Edwards[36p] dueled 31p13r6a9to from xEthan Happ). It's Ohio State who fell back, going 0-2: tripping at mediocre Rutgers (61-@64) and falling at Iowa (62-@72) to boot.
Houston lost its first game of the season, tripping at surging Temple (69-@73 as the Owls sank 25-for-28 free throws). (But it's still way early in the AMERICAN race for any one team to have established an edge.)
What should have been the MID-AMERICAN Game Of The Year (Part I) turned out to be a laugher as Buffalo thumped Toledo (@110-80 sinking 15 three-pointers with 25 assists on pJeremy Harris[34p5a7r]'s star turn).
In what passes as "The Game Of The Year" in the WEST COAST, Gonzaga comfortably outpaced San Francisco on the road (96-@83). (The G/Bulldogs' biggest challenge will be maintaining an elite competitive level while cruising through a barely Mid-Major-calibre regular season schedule.)
The SOUTHERN CONFERENCE is having one of its strongest seasons ever with as many as four teams showing Splashworthy form. But instead of an up-for-grabs SOCON Wars campaign, upstart Wofford may well run away and hide. The W/Terriers dumped UNC-Greensboro on the road (72-@43 only allowing one double-figure scorer). UNCG regrouped to handle Furman (@89-79 as bIsaiah Miller[25p5r] dueled 22p10r5a from xMatt Rafferty).
The disappointing PACIFIC-12 only got muddier as "favorites" fell. Oregon tripped in overtime at home to regrouping UCLA (@84-87[OT] despite 22p10r from xLouis King) while Arizona State fell at unheralded Stanford (71-@85).
In the mediocre ATLANTIC 10, Davidson claimed a big early win, beating VCU (@64-57).
In the middling MISSOURI VALLEY the "favorites" all stumbled, Drake tripped at BIG 4 rival Northern Iowa (54-@57). Loyola(Illinois) tanked at mediocre Evansville (48-@67). Meanwhile, Bradley went 0-2: falling at first-place Valparaiso (50-@61) and tripping at home against Missouri State (@64-69).
Princeton got off to an early lead in the IVY LEAGUE after completing the sweep of arch-rival Penn (62-@53 dominating the boards 55-34). Meanwhile, Harvard tanked at Dartmouth (63-@81).
Georgia State stayed ahead in the SUN BELT with a solid win over Louisiana (@89-76 despite 36p11r from cJaKeenan Gant).
College of Charleston fell back in the COLONIAL after tripping at home against lowly Drexel (@78-79). (Meanwhile, 5-0 Hofstra already has a two-game gap after a couple of squeak road wins.)
Northern Kentucky stayed near the top in the HORIZON after edging Wright State (@68-64 behind xDrew McDonald[22p12r5to]).
In overstuffed CONFERENCE USA, surprising Texas-San Antonio edged North Texas (@76-74 on Jhivvan Jackson's game-winner) while Florida Atlantic beat Old Dominion (@80-73) and Marshall edged Western Kentucky (@70-69).
Lehigh could only manage a 1-1 split on the week in the PATRIOT: first, edging in overtime on the road at Holy Cross (99-@94[OT] as gLance Tejada[36p] outdueled 25p5r from Caleb Green) but then, falling at Colgate (78-@91 as pJordan Burns[23p12a] starred).
St. Francis(New York) fell back in the NORTHEAST when it tripped at home against Robert Morris (@49-52) but bounced back to edge St. Francis(Pennsylvania) (@72-68).
Montana fell off the pace in the BIG SKY after splitting on the week: first, falling at lowly Eastern Washington (71-@78) but then dumping contender Northern Colorado on the road (88-@64 led by Sayeed Pridgett[29p]).
Grambling fell back in the pack in the SWAC after tripping in overtime at no-account Alabama A&M (60-@65[OT] despite 27p5r from bIvy Smith Jr.).
- - - - - -
Unbeaten Virginia has its toughest week of the season with showdowns at home with Virginia Tech (Tuesday) and on the road at Duke (Saturday). Texas Tech must beat visiting Iowa State (Wednesday) to stay out front in the BIG 12 race. Maryland has a big week trying to stay in touch in the BIG 10: hosting Wisconsin (Monday) and visiting Ohio State (Friday).
Mississippi hosts LSU (Tuesday). Kentucky needs a road win at Auburn (Saturday) to stay in contact in the SEC race. Surprising Wofford should handle visiting rival Furman (Saturday) in the SOCON Wars.
Wisconsin's tough week concludes with hosting Michigan (Saturday).
Arizona hosts Oregon while Arizona State hosts Oregon State (both Thursday) and they swap partners (Saturday) in the PAC-12 Skirmishes.
2-1 Temple can turn this year's BIG 5 title race into a three-way with a home win over 2-0 Penn (Saturday).
Loyola(Illinois) can get back on top in the MISSOURI VALLEY with a win over Valparaiso (Tuesday).
Surprising Jacksonville State can knock Belmont out of the OHIO VALLEY race with a home win (Thursday). VCU needs a home win over Dayton (Wednesday) to stay in the A-10 race. Brown hosts Yale (Saturday) in a huge IVY clash right off the bat. Boise State must beat Nevada (Tuesday) to keep pace in the MOUNTAIN WEST.
Lipscomb must beat host New Jersey Tech (Wednesday) to stay out front in the ATLANTIC SUN race. Radford must beat visiting upstart Gardner-Webb (Thursday) to keep pace in the BIG SOUTH race.
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- @Duke-Syracuse, @Kansas-Texas, @Maryland-Wisconsin, @Indiana-Nebraska,
- Tuesday:
- @Virginia-VirginiaTech(VA), @Mississippi-LSU, Nevada-@BoiseSt, @LoyolaIL-Valparaiso,
- Wednesday:
- @TexasTech-IowaSt, KansasSt-@Oklahoma, Lipscomb-@NJIT, @VCU-Dayton,
@Bradley-Drake,
- Thursday:
- MichiganSt-@Nebraska, @Arizona-Oregon, @ArizonaSt-OregonSt, @JacksonvilleSt-
Belmont,
@Northeastern-ColofCharleston, @Old Dominion-LouisianaTech,
@Radford-GardnerWebb,
- Friday:
- Maryland-@OhioSt,
- Saturday:
- @Duke-Virginia, Michigan-@Wisconsin, Kentucky-@Auburn, Indiana-@Purdue(IN),
@KansasSt-TCU, @Wofford-Furman(SC), @Texas-Oklahoma,
@Temple-Penn(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5), @ArizonaSt-Oregon, @Brown-Yale,
@Hofstra-ColofCharleston, @TexasSo-GramblingSt,
STAR GAME HomeAway oncampus
-(@ArmyWP-Navy[MIL];
Sat 2 Feb: @Navy-ArmyWP[MIL]),
- Sunday:
- (None),
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- @MichiganSt-Maryland, @NCarolina-VirginiaTech, @Kansas-IowaSt,
@WeKentucky-Marshall, @PrairieViewA&M-GramblingSt,
Top 25 - 19 Jan14 - [] Column
- Duke (14-1)
- Tennessee (13-1)
- Gonzaga (15-2)
- Virginia (15-0)
- Michigan State (15-2)
- Michigan (17-0)
- Texas Tech (15-1)
- Kansas (14-2)
- Marquette (14-3)
- Maryland (14-3)
- Mississippi (13-2)
- Iowa State (12-4)
- Iowa (14-3)
- Buffalo (14-1)
- Louisiana State (12-3)
- Kentucky (12-3)
- Houston (16-1)
- Villanova (13-4)
- Virginia Tech (14-1)
- Indiana (12-4)
- Cincinnati (14-3)
- Nevada (15-1)
- Kansas State (12-4)
- UCF (13-2)
- Wofford (11-4)
- Honorable Mention:
- South Carolina (8-7), North Carolina (12-4), Baylor (9-6), Rutgers (8-7), Temple (13-3), Louisville (11-5),
DePaul (10-5),
Princeton(8-5), Texas-San Antonio (10-7), Prairie View A&M (5-11).
posted by Ron @ Wednesday, August 21, 2019
