20 Dec14 - Hawkeyes Inside-Out

Volume XXV, No. 4 - 20 Dec14 - [] Top 25 Ballot

Hawkeyes Inside-Out

Here's a "surprise": Neither the BIG 10/ACC CHALLENGE nor the BIG 12/BIG EAST ALLIANCE was able to get in all their matchups. Both stand in limbo with neither having completed a decisive total pending the postponed games.

The BIG 10 dominated the ACC on Day One (6-1). Illinois thumped host Duke (minus "The Cameron Crazies", 83-@68 posting six double-figure scorers led by xAyo Dosunmu[18p5a12r]'s star turn). Penn State did them one better as giant-killer Virginia Tech tanked at home (@55-75). Iowa outran North Carolina (@93-80 with Hawkeyes' shooting 17-for-40 on threes) as the All-America center matchup of cLuka Garza(16p14p;6/20fg) versus fGarrison Brooks(17p8r) disappointed. Ohio State provided the third road win, beating host Notre Dame (90-@85 despite 26p6a6r from pPrentiss Hubb). Also, host Rutgers handled Syracuse (@79-69 as bRon Harper Jr.[26p7r] starred).
     The ACC turned the tables on Day Two (4-0). Florida State edged Indiana in overtime (@69-67[OT] on GC pScottie Barnes' game-winner despite 25p17r from cTrayce Jackson-Davis). Meanwhile, both Georgia Tech (over host Nebraska, 75-@64) and Pittsburgh (over host Northwestern, 71-@70 dominating the boards 54-34 on xJustin Cahmpagnie[20p20r;GWFG]'s star turn) won on the road.
     But this year's final tally is on hold at 6-5 with three games postponed due to COVID-19 (Michigan State at Virginia, Louisville at Wisconsin, and Michigan hosting North Carolina State) and uncertainty whether any or all of them will be made-up at a later date.

The BIG 12 entered the week up 2-1 over the BIG EAST (all road wins) with three games already postponted (Baylor at Seton Hall, Texas Tech hosting St. John's, and Iowa State hosting DePaul). Host Kansas edged Creighton (@73-72 on tJalen Wilson[23p10r]'s game-winning three); host Xavier outran Oklahoma (@99-77 sinking 19-for-32 threes on 28 assists as bZach Freemantle[28p5r] and bNate Johnson[25p6r] both got off); and Providece beat host TCU (79-@70 as pDavid Duke[28p7a] dueled 28p7a7r from pR.J. Nembhard).
     That leaves things tied 3-3 with a FOURTH GAME POSTPONED (Butler hosting Kansas State).

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In their annual BRAGGIN' RIGHTS Border War clash, it was host Missouri edging Illinois (@81-78 despite 36p5r from bAyo Dosunmu).
     Kentucky's woes continued as Bluegrass-rival Notre Dame earned its first-ever win at Rupp Arena (64-@63 [after leading 48-@26 at halftime]).
     In this year's edition of the State Title CY-HAWK SERIES, Iowa routed Iowa State (@105-77 as runaway Player Of The Year gLuka Garza[34p;6/7 3s] starred) - - the Hawkeyes can kill you with threes, or cGarza can kill you point-blank; there's no stopping them on offense, it's up to their defense as to this season's having a Sweet Sixteen finish or Final Four. Creighton routed Nebraska in their State Title showdown (@98-74 despite 26p9r from tTeddy Allen).
     There's no official BIG 5 schedule this year for Philadelphia's schools; it's just "catch as catch can". Drexel managed to get in a "Philly 6/City Series" game, but fell at home to La Salle (@48-58).
     Normally a two-game home-and-home series, this year's BATTLE OF THE BOULEVARD is a one-game affair between Nashville crosstown rivals - - Lipscomb fell at home to Belmont (@71-82 despite 29p11r3a from xAhsan Asadullah).

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A scary moment in the annual Florida State/Florida State Title match - - (the Seminoles won @83-71): Gator fKeontae Johnson collapsed on the court and was rushed the hospital in critical condition.

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In Part II of the double-weekend HOLIDAY HOOPSGIVING event at STATE FARM ARENA in Atlanta,GA, disappointing Memphis tripped against Auburn (71-74 on freshman tJustin Powell[26p8r]'s star turn).

Two minor tournaments were able to complete. BIGS/Campbell was an Unwelcome Guest winning the round-robin DOLPHIN CLASSIC (including edging host Jacksonville[80-@78 as bCedric Henderson Jr.{26p5r} starred]). South Dakota State and North Dakota State both went 2-1 to share the crown at the SUMMIT "Inner Circle"/DAKOTA SHOWCASE at SANFORD PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD.

Elsewhere, West Virginia had no trouble thumping Richmond (@87-71). San Diego State was impressive handling host Arizona State (80-@68 as bJordan Schakel[25p6r] dueled 25p4a5r from bAlonzo Verge Jr.). Earlier, Richmond was able to handle disappointing Northern Iowa (@78-68). UCLA beat Marquette (@69-60).
     SOCON/Furman tripped at Cincinnati (73-@78 as fKeith Williams[27p5r] starred). HORIZ/Wright State thumped host MAC/Bowling Green (85-@67).

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In early conference play, Austin Peay tanked at Murray State (57-@87 as the Racers shot 60 percent from the floor) in but the first battle of the OHIO VALLEY Wars.
     In the BIG SOUTH, things couldn't have started better for Winthrop, which opened with a pair of road blowouts in its series at South Carolina Upstate (95-@77 and 107-@79). In the NORTHEAST, Fairleigh Dickinson split its home series with Central Connecticut State (first, falling @87-94 despite 24p4a9r from tElyjah Williams; then, winning @79-71 posting six double-figure scorers).

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Coming off of two-straight home losses, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski openly wondered, "Is it worth it to keep playing?" He further declared that the Blue Devils will cancel outright and not reschedule their currently postponed non-conference games. He claimed it was for the benefit of his players' mental health in order to let its "kids" go home for the holidays. In response, Alabama coach Nate Oats openly wondered if the Duke coach would be saying this without those losses. (Remember, Coach K was one of the staunchest proponents at the start of the season that things go forward.) Yes, this moment is stressful for absolutely everyone; but letting his players scatter to the four corners of the U.S. and then reconvene is incredibly dangerous to them, their families and to everyone else when they come back. None of these twenty-somethings should be anywhere near priority of receiving vaccines (unless they jump the line because of privilege). People should be "sheltering in place" during these worst weeks of the Pandemic, not scattering, mingling and then regrouping. (So, I'm agreeing with Oats that this is "sour grapes" from Coach K.)

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Top-5 unbeatens clash when Gonzaga meets Iowa in the SANFORD CHALLENGE at the PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD (Saturday). Wisconsin hosts Louisville (Saturday) in their rescheduled BIG 10/ACC CHALLENGE matchup. UCLA meets "host" Ohio State at the CB/SPORTS CLASSIC in Cleveland (Saturday).
     Loyola(Illinois) has a big week: visiting Wisconsin (Tuesday) and hosting Richmond (Friday). Disappointing underachivers clash when North Carolina meets Kentucky at the CB/SPORTS CLASSIC in Cleveland (Saturday).
     It's one of the lowest profile editions of the CROSSROADS CLASSIC in Indianapolis (Saturday) when Butler "hosts" Indiana and Purdue meets Notre Dame.
     Soaring Winthrop hosts Furman (Saturday).

Conference play is getting under way for more leagues.
     Texas Tech hosts Kansas (Thursday). Creighton hosts Marquette (Monday).

- - Ron

P.S. Don't forget, the deadline for this year's (14TH ANNUAL) Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's College Football Bowl Season Pool) is NEXT MONDAY, 21-DECEMBER [2:30Pet].)

Key games this week:

Monday:

@Creighton-Marquette,

Tuesday:

@Wisconsin-LoyolaIL, @AustinPeay-FloridaA&M, @Utah-UTValley(UT), StBonaventure-@Akron(@ClevelandOH), @UtahSt-{DixieSt}(UT),

Wednesday:

@Wisconsin-NoIowa-cancelled(COVID-19[ni]), @Drexel-StJosephs(PhiladelphiaPA), @GeorgiaSt-Mercer(GA),

Thursday:

Kansas-@TexasTech, @SoUtah-{DixieSt}(UT),

Friday:

Richmond-@LoyolaIL,

Saturday:

Villanova-Virginia(@NewYorkNY/MSG/)- cancelled(COVID-19[uva], Houston-@Alabama-cancelled(COVID-19[h]), @SCarolina-Clemson(SC), @Georgia-Cincinnati, @KentSt-Akron(OH)(NEO), @Winthrop-Furman(SC), @Towson-MorganSt(BaltimoreMD)-postponed(COVID-19[t]), @FairleighDickinson-Drexel,
SD-A SANFORD CHALLENGE 1Off @ SiouxFallSD/PENTAGON/
-(Gonzaga-Iowa),
ACC?[12-5;3]?/BIG 10?[5-12;3]? CHALLENGE on-campus - - BIG 10 leads 6-5
[Wake Forest does not play. ; ]
-(MichiganSt-@Virginia,
   @Iowa-NCarolina,
   Illinois-@Duke,
   @FloridaSt-Indiana,
   @VirginiaTech-PennSt,
   @Michigan-NCState,
   @NotreDame-OhioSt(BG),
   @Minnesota-BostonCol,
   @Rutgers-Syracuse,
   @MiamiFL-Purdue,
   @Nebraska-GeorgiaTech,
   @Clemson-Maryland,
   @Northwestern-Pittsburgh;
   Sat: Louisville-@Wisconsin- rescheduled),
THE HOLY WAR 1Off on-campus
-(@Villanova-StJosephs[PhiladelphiaPA][BIG5]-rescheduled),
CB/SPORTS CLASSIC DblHdr @ ClevelandOH
-(UCLA-@OhioSt, NCarolina-Kentucky),
[P]PILOT INVITATIONAL RndRob2/CoolDown on-campus
-(@Seattle-Portland; Idaho, {WilliamJessup}),
INDY-C CROSSROADS CLASSIC DblHdr @ IndianapolisIN/BANKERS/
-(@Butler-@Indiana[IN], @Purdue-@NotreDame[IN]),

Sunday:

(None),

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Monday week:

@AustinPeay-MurraySt, (PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE [2.30Pet]).

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Top 25 - 20 Dec14 - [] Column [P.S. Don't forget: the PIGSKIN deadline is NEXT MON 21-DEC (2:30Pet)!]

1. Gonzaga (3-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS] (:JIMMY.V)
2. Baylor (4-0) (:JIMMY.V)
3. Michigan State (6-0) (@CHAMPS)
4. Iowa (6-0) (vACC) (vIA/CY-HAWK)
5. Kansas (5-1) (:CHAMPS) (vBIG12)
6. Missouri (5-0) (vBRAGGIN')
7. West Virginia (6-1) [3:nXOVER] (@BIG.E)
8. Villanova (5-1) [2:2K.E] (@BIG.E)
9. Illinois (4-2) (@ACC)
10. Richmond (4-1) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS]
11. Houston (4-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (vSEC)
12. Texas (5-1) [3@MAUI]
13. St. Louis (4-0) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
14. San Diego State (4-0)
15. Louisville (4-0)
16. Florida State (3-0) (vBIG10) (vFL)
17. Creighton (4-1) (vNE)
18. Duke (1-2)
19. Wisconsin (4-1)
20. UCLA (5-1)
21. LSU (3-1)
22. Texas Tech (6-1)
23. Marquette (4-2) (vWI)
24. Tennessee (2-0)
25. Virginia (3-1)

Honorable Mention:

Penn State (3-2) (vACC) Campbell (4-0) [rr3@J/DOLPHIN], North Dakota State (2-5)/South Dakota State (5-3) [rr3@vDAKOTA].