19 Nov25 - Appetizers

Volume XXIV, No. 4 - 19 Nov25 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Appetizers

(As anyone might have predicted), unheralded giant-killer Evansville turned from Cinderell back into a pumpkin almost immediately - - dropping 3-out-of-4 games on the week. First, the Purple Aces tripped at home against SMU (@57-59). Then, they had a disastrous run in the ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS SHOWCASE in Nassau: tanking against East Carolina (68-85 as cJayden Gardner[28p10r] dominated); losing to George Washington (70-78); and only escaping with a triple-overtime win against lowly Morgan State (115-112[3OT] as K.J. Riley[36p] dueled 30p10r from xTroy Baxter Jr.).
     More of a surprise, USC fell at home to Temple (@61-70) in the warm-up phase of the ORLANDO INVITATIONAL

This past week was only an Appetizer for what is to come. For the most part, the top teams stayed away from each other in tournaments. Baylor got itself back in the conversation winning the 8-bracket MYRTLE BEACH INVITATIONAL, beating Villanova in the final (87-78 despite 27p6a from pCollin Gillespie). Likewise, Florida regrouped from its dismal start to claim the 8-bracket CHARLESTON CLASSIC, including beating state-rival Miami(Florida) (78-58 on xKerry Blackshear Jr.[20p11r5a]'s star turn) as well as Xavier (70-65) in the final.
     Notre Dame came through to claim the more-than-a-home-showcase 4-round robin MABC INVITATIONAL, including beating Toledo (@64-62[OT] on pRex Pflueger's game-winner). Utah State won the 2x4 JAMAICA CLASSIC, including beating LSU (80-78 despite 30p from Skylar Mays). In the new 3-round robin SACRAMENTO CLASSIC, Winthrop, St. Mary's and Fresno State all split 1-1 among themselves (with StMary beating Fresno [@68-@58] in the feature match at the GOLDEN 1 CENTER). Duke won the 2x4 2K EMPIRE CLASSIC (past Texas), beating Georgetown in the final (81-73) at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. Liberty continued its Splashworthy preseason, winning the 8-bracket ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS SHOWCASE (past Evansville).
     In Mid-Major-level events, Duquesne won the 3-round robin JUNKANOO JAM in Bimimi,BAHAMAS (past the likes of Air Force); Virginia won the 2x4 HALL OF FAME-CT TIP-OFF, edging Arizona State (48-45) in the final at the MOHEGAN SUN in Uncasville. Louisville won the 4-round robin G.S. SHOOTOUT, including beating Akron (@82-76).
     Albany and Sacred Heart both went 2-1 to share the Unwelcome Guest BOBCAT INVITATIONAL crown (past host Quinnipiac).
     Cleveland State, Florida International and UNC-Wilmington all split 1-1 among themselves to share the 3-round robin BATTLE OF THE CAPITAL-THANKSGIVING crown in Washington,DC. Rutgers won its own 4-round robin GARDEN STATE SHOWCASE including edging Drexel (@62-57).
     East Tennessee State won the MAUI INVITATIONAL Consolation 4-bracket beating Southern Utah (@70-58) at home. Bethune-Cookman claimed what may be the first-ever tournament crown for the MEAC, winning the 3-round round IW-CARDINAL INVITATIONAL (as an Unwelcome Guest [routing host Incarnate Word, 83-@58] to boot!). Georgia State was also Unwelcome winning the 2K EMPIRE Consolation 4-bracket, beating host {California Baptist} (69-@60).

Utah Valley won at North Dakota State (68-@62 as tT.J. Washington[26p9r] starred) to tie the multi-day SUMMIT/WAC CHALLENGE at 1-1.
     In the new two-day twin double-header ATLANTIC SUN/METRO ATLANTIC CHALLENGE in Lake Buena Vista,FL, the MAAC won 3-1 as Iona went 2-0 while Kennesaw State was 0-2 (with Stetson also beating Monmouth).

Belmont was up and down: beating arch-/city-rival Lipscomb on the road (73-@67) in the first leg of this year's BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD; but tripping at St. Louis (55-@60 as cHasahn French[21p24r] dominated) inside the GOTHAM CLASSIC. Bowling Green edged Western Kentucky (77-75 on bJustin Turner[27p6r]'s game-winner) and edged Cincinnati in overtime (91-84[OT] on tDylan Frye[28p6a9r]'s star turn) to make the final of the 8-bracket PARADISE JAM in St. Thomas,USVI. UC-Irvine dropped three games, all inside the LAS VEGAS-MAIN EVENT: tanking at Colorado (53-@69), tripping at TCU (58-@59 on gR.J. Nembhard's game-winning-three), and falling to Detroit (74-86) at Clark HS in Las Vegas. Missouri State lost twice inside the CHARLESTON CLASSIC: tripping against Miami(Florida) (70-74), and tripping against Buffalo (74-75 as pDavonta Jordan[25p6a] starred).
     Vermont dropped two as well: falling at Virginia (55-@61 despite 30p6to from gAnthony Lamb), and tripping against Rider (67-72) - - both inside HOF-CT.

- - - - - -

The BIG 12 (28-4), ACC (38-6) and SEC (34-7) continued their strong starts while the BIG 10 (33-9) surged. The MOUNTAIN WEST (21-9), MID-AMERICAN (21-11) and SUMMIT (14-9) all hung tough as well. The BIG EAST (21-12) and AMERICAN (23-13) both have been a bit disappointing.

- - - - - -

St. Mary's will have its hands full with visiting Utah State (Friday). LSU should have no trouble with visiting Missouri State (Friday).

The WAC has all three home games this week in its on-going head-to-head CHALLENGE with the SUMMIT (thru Tue 17 Dec) with New Mexico State best poised to win a road game to boot for a 5-3 overall victory.
     Look for the SUMMIT to beat the BIG SKY 5-3 overall in their head-to-head CHALLENGE (thru Sat 21 Dec) with North Dakota State and South Dakota State both able to claim road wins.

It's time for the Main Course on this season's menu of preseason tournaments with lots of high-profile clashes in the offing:
     A very deep preseason field belongs to the EMERALD COAST CLASSIC in Niceville,FL as Tennessee, VCU, "host" Florida State and Purdue all have a shot (Friday thru Saturday). Deepest of all is the field of the BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS in Paradise Island as Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina and Gonzaga all could come home with the crown. Kansas and Michigan State should meet in the MAUI INVITATIONAL final (past Georgia) in Lahaina,HI (Monday thru Wednesday). Maryland and Temple meet right away but still must get past USC, Marquette and Davidson to claim the ORLANDO INVITATIONAL (Thursday thru Sunday).
     Wisconsin will have its hands full winning the LEGENDS CLASSIC (past Auburn) at the BARCLAYS CENTER in Brooklyn,NY (Monday thru Tuesday). It's all still to be played for among Belmont, Boston College and surprising St. Louis to decide the GOTHAM CLASSIC (Tuesday thru Wednesday). Arizona should take the WOODEN LEGACY/ANAHEIM CLASSIC (past Providence) (Thursday thru Sunday).
     It's up for grabs in the NIT SEASON TIP-OFF among Oklahoma State, Syracuse, Mississippi and Penn State at the BARCLAYS CENTER in Brooklyn,NY. Same goes for the FT. MYERS TIP-OFF among Kansas State, Pittsburgh and Northwestern (Monday thru Wednesday). Likewise for the CBE CLASSIC among Oklahoma, Stanford, Missouri and Butler in Kansas City,MO (Monday thru Tuesday). And also for the CANCUN CLASSIC among West Virginia, South Carolina and Wichita State (Tuesday thru Wednesday). Colorado looks to complete the job and win the LAS VEGAS-MAIN EVENT final at T-MOBILE ARENA against Clemson (Tuesday). Memphis looks to complete the job and win the BROOKLYN-THANKSGIVING CLASSIC at the BARCLAYS CENTER against N.C. State (Thursday). South Florida hopes to turn around its disappointing preseason by taking the CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC in George Town past the likes of Nebraska, Washington State and Colorado State (Monday thru Wednesday) Texas Tech hopes to certify its ranking this season by winning the LAS VEGAS-THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL at ORLEANS ARENA past the likes of Iowa, San Diego State and Creighton (Thursday thru Friday). Ohio State should cruise home with its own BUCKEYE CLASSIC crown past Kent State (Monday thru Saturday). Bowling Green looks to complete the job and win the PARADISE JAM final in Nassau,BAHAMAS against Nevada (Monday). Host Vanderbilt should cruise home with its own COMMODORE INVITATIONAL crown past Tulsa (Monday thru Saturday). It's still all to be decided between host Illinois and San Francisco in the OAHU CLASSIC (Tuesday thru Friday). Oregon State must get past San Jose State to claim the LAS VEGAS-CHRISTMASNOV CLASSIC at ORLEANS ARENA (Tuesday thru Friday). Host Minnesota still needs to get past DePaul in order to claim its own GOLDEN GOPHER INVITATIONAL (Tuesday thru Friday). SMU has already done the hard part (edging at UNLV) and should cruise home to claim the new SOUTHWESTERN SHOWDOWN (Monday thru Saturday).
     It's still all to be decided between Northern Illinois and Pacific in the new COLLEGIATE HOOPS-B ROADSHOW (Tuesday thru Friday). San Diego should battle St. Bonaventure for supremacy in the new BOCA RATON BEACH CLASSIC (Sunday thru Monday week). Miami(Ohio) should battle La Salle and Drake for supremacy in the GULF COAST SHOWCASE in Estero,FL (Monday thru Wednesday). Host Santa Clara must get past Denver in its own CABLE CAR CLASSIC (Wednesday thru Saturday).
     Host Indiana should cruise home to its own HOOSIER CHALLENGE crown (Monday thru Saturday). The EAGLE CLASSIC in Ft. Myers.FL is up for grabs among North Dakota, Georgia Southern and host Florida Gulf Coast (Friday thru Sunday).
     Kentucky should cruise home with its own BBN SHOWCASE crown (Friday). Host Arkansas should cruise home with the new COLLEGIATE HOOPS-A ROADSHOW crown (Monday thru Saturday).

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

-- Ron

P.S. Check soon for this year's Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's free College Football Bowl Season Pool).

Key games this week:

Monday:

(new)SACRAMENTO CLASSIC RndRob3 on-campus; Feature @ SacramentoCA/GOLDEN_1/
-(@StMarys, FresnoSt, Lehigh, Winthrop),
PARADISE JAM 8Bracket Qtrs @ StThomasUSVI; WarmUp1 on-campus
-(BowlingGreen-Nevada;
   3rd: Cincinnati-Valparaiso;
   5th: Fordham-WeKentucky;
   7th: IllinoisSt-GrandCanyon),
[TXAMCC]ISLANDER INVITATIONAL RndRob3 @ CorpusChristiTX/TexasA&MCC/; WarmUp1/CoolDown1 on-campus
-(NDState, StonyBrook, @TexasA&MCC, TXRGValley),

(Monday-Tuesday):

LAS VEGAS-C MAIN EVENT 2x4 Semis @ LasVegasNV/T-MOBILE/; Cons RndRob2 @ LasVegasNV/ClarkHS/; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(Tue: Colorado-Clemson;
   Tue [3rd]: Wyoming-TCU;
   Cons: UCIrvine, Louisiana, Detroit),
BROOKLYN-D LEGENDS CLASSIC 2x4 3rd/Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/; Cons 3rd/Semis @ GreenBayWI/GreenBay/; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(A: Wisconsin, Richmond; @GreenBay, Colgate;
   B: Auburn, NewMexico; McNeese, CalStNorthridge),
CBE CLASSIC 2x4 Semis @ KansasCityMO/SPRINT/; WarmUp2 on-campus; Cons RndRob4 on-campus
-(A: Oklahoma, Stanford;
   B: Missouri, Butler;
   Cons: William&Mary, Wofford, MoreheadSt, EaShore),

(Monday-Wednesday):

HAWAII-A MAUI INVITATIONAL 8Bracket Qtrs @ LahainaHI/{Chaminade}/; Cons Semis @ JohnsonCityTN/ETennesseeSt/
-(Kansas-@{Chaminade}, UCLA-BYU; MichiganSt-VirginiaTech, Georgia-Dayton;
   Cons: @ETennesseeSt-DelawareSt, SoUtah-CharlestonSo),
CAYMAN ISLANDS CLASSIC 8Bracket Qtrs @ GeorgeTownCAYMAN_ISLANDS; Cons Semis @ OmahaNE/Omaha/
-(SFlorida-LoyolaIL, ColoradoSt-NewMexicoSt; WashingtonSt-Nebraska, GeoMason-OldDominion;
   Cons: @Omaha-Southern, IUPUI-LoyolaMD),
FT. MYERS-A TIP-OFF 2x4 Semis @ FtMyersFL; Cons RndRob2 @ WestLongBrachNJ/Monmouth/; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(A: KansasSt, Pittsburgh;
   B: Northwestern, Bradley;
   Cons: @Monmouth, Radford, ARPineBluff, NorfolkSt),
GULF COAST SHOWCASE 8Bracket Qtrs @ EsteroFL
-(MiamiOH-Drake, SAlabama-Northeastern; LaSalle-MurraySt, WrightSt-Weber),

(Monday-Friday):

BROOKLYN-C/ORLANDO-B NIT SEASON TIP-OFF 2x4 Semis @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/; Cons Semis @ OrlandoFL; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(A: OklahomaSt, Syracuse; WeMichigan, Yale;
   B: Mississippi, PennSt; Bucknell, Seattle),

Monday-(Thursday-Friday):

LAS VEGAS-B THANKSGIVING INVITATIONAL 2x4 Semis @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(A: TexasTech, Iowa; NFlorida, LongIsland;
   B: SanDiegoSt, Creighton; TennesseeSt, CalPolySLO),

Monday-Saturday:

[OS]BUCKEYE CLASSIC RndRob3 WarmUp1 on-campus
-(@OhioSt, KentSt, PurdueFW, Stetson),
[V]COMMODORE INVITATIONAL RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Vanderbilt, Tulsa, AustinPeay, SELouisiana, SCState),
(new)COLLEGIATE HOOPS-A ROADSHOW RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Arkansas, NoKentucky, Montana, TexasSo, CoppinSt; [SDakota]),
[I]HOOSIER CHALLENGE RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Indiana, SDState, Troy, LouisianaTech, Samford, {NAlabama}, MSValleySt),
(new)SOUTHWESTERN SHOWDOWN RndRob4 on-campus
-(@UNLV, SMU, TexasSt, Hartford, AbileneChristian, JacksonSt),

Monday-(Friday-Saturday):

EMERALD COAST CLASSIC 2x4 Semis @ NicevilleFL; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(A: Tennessee, @FloridaSt; Chattanooga, AlabamaSt;
   B: VCU, Purdue; JacksonvilleSt, ChicagoSt),

Tuesday:

@Houston-HoustonBaptist(HoustonTX), @American-Howard(WashingtonDC),
DC-B BATTLE FOR THE CAPITAL-THANKSGIVING RndRob3 on-campus;@ WashingtonDC; WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus
-(UNCWilmington, FLInternational, ClevelandSt, EaKentucky),

Tuesday-Wednesday:

GOTHAM CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus
-(Belmont, @BostonCol, StLouis, EaWashington, HighPt),
CANCUN CHALLENGE 2x4 Semis @ CancunMEXICO
-(A: WVirginia, NoIowa; NoColorado, BostonU;
   B: SCarolina, WichitaSt; TNMartin, GardnerWebb),

Tuesday-(Thursday):

BROOKLYN-A-THANKSGIVING CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus; Feature @ BrooklynNY/BARCLAYS/
-(Thu: Memphis-NCState; LittleRock, ILChicago, StFrancisNY, AlcornSt),

Tuesday-Friday:

[K/WILDCAT] BBN SHOWCASE RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Kentucky, UAB, Lamar, UTValley, MtStMarys),
LAS VEGAS-B-CHRISTMAS/NOV CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus; Feature @ LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/; Cons RndRob2 @ SantaBarbaraCA/UCSantaBarbara/
-(OregonSt-SanJoseSt; [PortlandSt, @UCSantaBarbara, GramblingSt]),
(new)COLLEGIATE HOOPS-B ROADSHOW RndRob4 on-campus
-(NoIllinois, @Pacific, SIUEdwardsville, Longwood, UCRiverside),

(Tuesday-Friday)-Sunday:

[I/ILLINI] OAHU CLASSIC RndRob4 on-campus
-(@Illinois, SanFrancisco, TheCitadel, SamHoustonSt, CalStBakersfield, Hampton, Hawaii),

(Tuesday-Friday)-Sunday week:

[M]GOLDEN GOPHER INVITATIONAL RndRob2 on-campus
-(@Minnesota, CMichigan, DePaul; [Buffalo, NDakota, Cornell]),

Tuesday-(Wednesday-Friday):

BAHAMAS-A BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS 8Bracket Qtrs @ ParadiseIslandBAHAMAS; Cons RndRob2 @ ElonNC/Elon/; WarmUp1 on-campus
-(Oregon-SetonHall, Gonzaga-SoMississippi; Michigan-IowaSt, NCarolina-Alabama;
   Cons: TXArlington, @Elon, Furman; [SoMississippi]),

Tuesday-(Friday-Sunday)-Friday week:

FT. MYERS-B [FGC]EAGLE CLASSIC RndRob3 @ Ft.MyersFL/FLGulfCoast/; WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus
-(NDakota, GeorgiaSo, @FLGulfCoast, Campbell),

Tuesday-(Sunday-Monday week)-Saturday week:

(new)BOCA RATON BEACH CLASSIC 2x4 Semis @ BocaRatonBeachFL; WarmUp2 on-campus
-(A: SanDiego, StBonaventure; Hofstra, HolyCross;
   B: FLAtlantic, ILChicago; Mercer, Canisius),

Tuesday-Sat 21 Dec:

SUMMIT[0-0;1]/BIG SKY[0-0;1] CHALLENGE on-campus
[Denver, Oral Roberts, Purdue-Ft. Wayne, South Dakota and Western Illinois all do not play;
Idaho State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Weber State all do not play.]
-(Tue: @Idaho-NDState;
   Thu week: @MontanaSt-SDState;
   Fri week: @Montana-NDakota;
   Sun week: @EaWashington-NDakota;
   Mon 16 Dec: @NDState-MontanaSt;
   Tue 17 Dec: @EaWashington-Omaha;
   Sat 21 Dec: @SDState-Idaho @Omaha-Montana),

Wednesday:

(None),

Wednesday-Tue 17 Dec:

SUMMIT[0-1]/WAC[1-0] CHALLENGE on-campus; tied 1-1
[Seattle does not play;
North Dakota does not play.]
-(@CalStBakersfield-SDState;
   @NDState-UTValley;
   Wed: @{CalBaptist}-SDakota;
   Sat: @GrandCanyon-PurdueFW; @KansasCity-WeIllinois;
   Tue 10 Dec: @Denver-NewMexicoSt;
   Sun 15 Dec: @Omaha-TXRGValley;
   Tue 17 Dec: @ChicagoSt-OralRoberts),

Wednesday-Saturday:

CABLE CAR CLASSIC RndRob3 @ SantaClaraCA/SantaClara/
-(@SantaClara, Denver, SEMissouri, CalStFullerton),

Thursday:

[AS]RED WOLF CLASSIC RndRob3 @ JonesboroAR/ArkansasSt/; WarmUp/CoolDown1 on-campus
-(@ArkansasSt, VMI, Idaho, UCDavis),

Thursday-Sunday:

WOODEN LEGACY/ANAHEIM CLASSIC 8Bracket Qtrs @ AnaheimCA/HONDA/; WarmUp1 on-campus
-(Arizona-@Pepperdine, UCF-Penn; Providence-@LongBeachSt, WakeForest-ColofCharleston),
ORLANDO-A INVITATIONAL 8Bracket Qtrs @ OrlandoFL; WarmUp1 on-campus
-(Maryland-Temple, TexasA&M-Harvard; USC-Fairfield, Marquette-Davidson),

Friday:

UtahSt-@StMarys, @Louisville-@WeKentucky(KY)(@NashvilleTN), @LSU-MissouriSt,

Saturday:

SOUTH TEXAS SHOWDOWN HomeAway on-campus
-(@TexasA&MCC-TXRGValley[TX];
   @TXRGValley-TexasA&MCC[TX]),

Saturday-Sunday:

[Q]BOBCAT INVITATIONAL RndRob3 @ HamdenCT/Qunnipiac/
-(Albany, @Quinnipiac, Seattle, Presbyterian),

Sunday:

@Villanova-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA)(BIG5),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

ACC[12-5;3]/BIG 10[5-12;3] CHALLENGE on-campus
[Virginia Tech does not play.]
-(Mon week: @Illinois-MiamiFL, @Minnesota-Clemson;
   Tue week: Duke-@MichiganSt, Michigan-@Louisville, FloridaSt-@Indiana, @BostonCol-Northwestern, @Pittsburgh-Rutgers, @Syracuse-Iowa;
   Wed week: OhioSt-@NCarolina, Virginia-@Purdue, Wisconsin-@NCState, @Maryland-NotreDame, @PennSt-WakeForest, @GeorgiaTech-Nebraska).

---

Top 25 - 19 Nov25 - [] Column

1. Duke (6-0) (@@CHAMPS) [2v2:2K.E]
   
2. Tennessee (4-0) (:HOF-B-CAN)
   
3. Oregon (5-0) (vP.KNIGHT)
   
4. Utah State (7-0) [v2:JAMAICA]
   
5. VCU (5-0)
   
6. Ohio State (5-0) (vOH) (vBIG.E)
   
7. Virginia (6-0) [2v2:HALL.FAME]
   
8. Colorado (4-0) (@@P12.CHINA)
   
9. Kansas (3-1)
   
10. Kentucky (5-1) (@@CHAMPS)
    
11. Washington (5-1) (:ARMED.F)
    
12. Baylor (5-1) [3:MYRTLE.BCH]
    
13. Wisconsin (4-1) (vWI)
    
14. Michigan State (3-1) (@BIG.E)
    
15. Michigan (4-0) (vBIG.E)
    
16. Arizona (6-0)
    
17. North Carolina (4-0)
    
18. Maryland (5-0)
    
19. Gonzaga (6-0)
    
20. Louisville (6-0) [4rrvG.S]
    
21. Memphis (5-1)
    
22. Texas Tech (5-0)
    
23. Temple (4-0)
    
24. Florida State (4-1) (@FL)
    
25. Florida (5-2) [v3:CHARLESTON]
    

Honorable Mention:

SMU (5-0)/East Carolina (2-5)/George Washington (3-4),

Liberty (8-0) [@3:BAHAMAS],

Notre Dame (5-1) [4rrvMABC],
Winthrop (2-3)/St Mary's (5-1)/Fresno State (1-3) [3rr:SACMTO],

Duquesne (6-0) [3rr:JUNKANOO],

Albany (3-3)/Sacred Heart (3-4) [3rr@Q/BOBCAT],

Cleveland State (2-4)/Florida International (2-3)/UNC-Wilmington (3-3) [3rr:CAPITAL-THANX],
Rutgers (4-1) [4rrvGARDEN],

East Tennessee State (4-1) [2vMAUIcons],
Bethune-Cookman (2-2) [3rr@IW/CARDINAL],
Georgia State (1-3) [2@2K.Econs].