20 Dec21 - 'Zags Keep It Running

Volume XXV, No. 5 - 20 Dec21 - [] Top 25 Ballot

'Zags Keep It Running

In a specialty SANFORD CHALLENGE at the PENTAGON in Sioux Falls,SD, Gonzaga outran Iowa (99-88 on 25 assists as GC bJalen Suggs[27p7r] dueled 30p10r from POTY cLuka Garza). Unless the G-Bulldogs reschedule Baylor (JIMMY V) or Tennessee (BUBBLEVILLE-INDY), there's only Virginia next week in Ft. Worth,TX to stand in their way of running the table inside the WEST COAST until we get to the NCAA tournament. (That's how impressive [and stoppable] they've been so far!)

Wisconsin played its rescheduled CHALLENGE matchup hosting Louisville and thorougly dumped the L-Cardinals (@85-48 sinking 16-for-25 threes) to make it BIG 10(7)/ACC(5) - - the Badgers haven't exhibited this level of outside shooting, so it's unclear whether this was a fluke or a trend.
     In the CB/SPORTS CLASSIC at Cleveland,OH, UCLA fell to "host" Ohio State (70-@77) in what turned out to be the Feature match while North Carolina handled Kentucky (75-63) in what proved to be the "Undercard".

St. Louis fell back to earth, losing at Minnesota (82-@90 as pMarcus Carr[32p7a] dueled 21p7a10r from xJordan Goodwin). San Diego State fell at home against BYU (@62-72 despite 35p from gMatt Mitchell). Florida State lost it's second-tier State Title matchup at home to UCF (@74-86 on fBrandon Mahan[32p6r]'s star turn).
     Loyola(Illinois)' nonconference slate took a dive with two losses: first, getting handled at Wisconsin (63-@77); then, tripping at home against Richmond (@73-75). BIGS/Winthrop may be the best of a weak bunch of 1BC teams after thumping Furman (@87-71). Arizona State's poor start got worse, falling at home against Border War-rival UTEP (@63-76 as the TEP-Aggies dominated the boards 46-26). Disappointing Buffalo tripped in overtime in its annual grudge match at "Big Brother" Syracuse (96-@107[OT] as multiple players starred for both teams)
     In the lone Philadelphia BIG 5 matchup that has been played, Villanova dumped St. Joseph's (@88-68 as pJeremiah Robinson-Earl[25p6a7r] starred) in the rescheduled HOLY WAR.

- - - - - -

Some meaningful conference games have already taken place.
     In the BIG 10, Michigan State fell at Northwestern (65-@79 on gBoo Buie[30p4a]'s star turn); Illinois tripped at Rutgers (88-@91 as tRon Harper Jr.[28p9r] dueled 22p6a11r from xAyo Dosunmu). In the BIG EAST, Marquette was up-and-down: first, edging host Creighton on the road (89-@84 despite 26p6r from bMitch Ballock); but then falling at home to Seton Hall (@63-70); and also tripping at host Xavier (88-@91 on Adam Kunkel's game-winning three as pPaul Scruggs[29p6a] starred).
     In the BIG 12, Kansas edged host Texas Tech (58-@57 on Ochai Ogbaji's game-winner).

- - - - - -

Virginia (Saturday at Ft. Worth,TX) is the last "Paper Tiger" currently on the schedule standing between Gonzaga and its expected easy romp through the WEST COAST conference and an undefeated regular season.
     This year marks one of the lowest profile grudge matches when Louisville hosts Kentucky (Saturday).
     BYU can run the table at 4-0 and declare itself this year's Utah State Title champ with a win over Weber State in the BEEHIVE CLASSIC in Salt Lake City (Wednesday). The FAR WEST CLASSIC (Monday-Tuesday) won't get in enough matchups to even declare a winner. . .

Kansas hosts West Virginia (Tuesday) in a Top-5 showdown. Minnesota hosts Iowa Friday. Michigan State hosts Wisconsin (Friday). Ohio State has a tough week, hosting Rutgers (Wednesday) and visiting Northwestern (Saturday). Oregon hosts UCLA (Wednesday).
     Marquette hosts Villanova (Wednesday). Creighton hosts Xavier (Wednesday).
     Austin Peay is already in trouble in the OVC Wars and can't afford to lose at home to Murray State (Monday).
     . The BIG WEST Series Of The Year happens right away when UC-Santa Barbara visits UC-Irvine (Sunday, Monday week).

-- Ron

P.S. Don't forget: the deadlines for this year's Pigskin Pool Party (Ron's free College Football Bowl Season Pool) are:

{Soft}: 2.30Pet {n/MYRTLE BEACH})
{HARD}: 3.30Pet {NEW MEXICO}

Key games this week:

Monday:

@BYU-TexasSo, @AustinPeay-MurraySt,
(PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE {Soft}: 2.30Pet {n/MYRTLE BEACH})

Monday-Tuesday:

FAR WEST CLASSIC RndRob2 @ LasVegasNV/T-MOBILE/ -(SanFrancisco, Colorado, Washington, CalStFullterton, @GrandCanyon),

Tuesday:

@Kansas-W Virginia, @SanDiegoSt-StMarys(CA)(@SanLuisObispoCA), @StBonaventure-Buffalo(NY)(BIG4), @Drexel-Siena,

Wednesday:

Rutgers-@OhioSt, Villanova-@Marquette, Illinois-@PennSt, Xavier-@Creighton, @Oregon-UCLA-postponed(COVID-19[?]), @USC-TexasSo, @NCA&T-UNCGreensboro(GreensboroNC), BEEHIVE CLASSIC 1Off @ SaltLakeCityUT/Utah/ -(@BYU-@WeberSt[UT]),

Thursday:

(PIGSKIN POOL PARTY ENTRY DEADLINE {HARD}: 3.30Pet {NEW MEXICO})

Friday (CHRISTMAS):

Iowa-@Minnesota, @MichiganSt-Wisconsin,

Saturday:

Gonzaga-Virginia(@Ft.WorthTX/DICKIES/),@Northwestern-OhioSt, @Louisville-Kentucky(KY)(BIG4), @ClevelandSt-YoungstownSt(OH)(NEO),

Sunday:

@ClevelandSt-YoungstownSt(OH)(NEO), @UCIrvine-UCSantaBarbara(CA),

- - - - - -

Monday week:

@Wisconsin-Maryland, @Minnesota-MichiganSt, @UCIrvine-UCSantaBarbara(CA).

---

Top 25 - 20 Dec21 - [] Column

1. Gonzaga (4-0) [rr2:FT.MYERS] (:JIMMY.V) (:SANFORD)
2. Baylor (5-0) (:JIMMY.V)
3. Kansas (6-1) (:CHAMPS) (vBIG12)
4. Missouri (5-0) (vBRAGGIN')
5. West Virginia (7-1) [3:nXOVER] (@BIG.E)
6. Rutgers (6-0) [rr2vNJ.HOOPS] (vACC)
7. Villanova (7-1) [2:2K.E] (@BIG.E) (vHOLY)
8. Northwestern (3-1)
9. Houston (5-0) [rr2:SOUTHWEST] (vSEC)
10. Iowa (6-1) (vACC) (vIA/CY-HAWK)
11. Minnesota (7-1) (vACC)
12. Michigan State (6-1) (@CHAMPS)
13. St. Louis (6-1) [rr2vSL/BILLKEN]
14. Texas (7-1) [3@MAUI]
15. Richmond (6-1) [rr2@K-W/BLUEGRASS]
16. Wisconsin (6-1) (vACC)
17. Virginia Tech (6-1)
18. San Diego State (4-1)
19. Illinois (5-3) (@ACC)
20. Ohio State (6-1) (@ACC) (vCB/SPORTS)
21. Xavier (8-0) [rr3vX/MUSKETEER] (@XTOWN) (vBIG12)
22. Tennessee (4-0)
23. Texas Tech (6-2)
24. Oregon (6-1)
25. LSU (4-1)

Honorable Mention:

BYU (6-2), UCF (2-1) (@FL), Marquette (5-4) (vWI), Seton Hall (5-4)

= = = = = =

{West Virginia Tech} (4-4).