What we learned this week: Its hard not to consider Michigan State damn near a lock to win the Big Ten. After a comeback from 13 points down against Minnesota, the Spartans are now 7-0 in the conference, sitting two games ahead of Wisconsin, a team they already own a win against. Perhaps most impressive is the way Tom Izzo has developed Kalin Lucas into a leader. Against Minnesota, Lucas made a number of big plays down the stretch, but none was bigger than the three he hit to give MSU a 65-62 lead.
I think we may have figured out how to slow down Evan Turner. West Virginia's comeback against Ohio State was fantastic, as they were down by 12 at the break before making a stand defensively over the last nine minutes. Da'Sean Butler, who hit a number of big jumpers down the stretch, was quite impressive, but perhaps more impressive was the job that Devin Ebanks did on Evan Turner in the second half. Turner didn't make a field goal, missed five free throws, and committed five turnovers.
Vandebilt is quietly having a great season. After a bit of a rough start to the year, where they lose to Cincinnati, Illinois, and Western Kentucky in their first nine games, the Commodores have reeled off nine straight wins and started 4-0 in the SEC. They are getting continued consistent play from AJ Ogilvy and Jermaine Beal, but Jeff Taylor is turning into a star while John Jenkins looks to be the best shooter in the SEC not named Rotnei. This past week, they came from 16 down at the break to beat Auburn at home. With non-conference wins over Missouri and at St. Mary's looking better and better, Vandy is a team you are going to want to keep your eye on for the rest of the year.
Maybe you shouldn't have counted out Northeastern. The Huskies started out the season a dreadful 2-7, but currently are on an 11 game winning streak. At 8-1 in the CAA, they are tied atop the league standings with Old Dominion and George Mason, having swept VCU and handed Mason their only league loss. Northeastern hosts Old Dominion on Saturday, and still has to go to William & Mary and George Mason. But the Huskies were one of the favorites to win the conference in the preseason, and have proved those predicitons correct. With William & Mary and VCU both fading, it looks like the CAA may be just a one-bid league this season.
Temple knocked off Xavier in Philly, and looks like they are the favorite in an A-10 race that will be one of the most exciting in the country. Preseason favorite Dayton is in the middle of the pack at 3-2 in the league, tied with Rhode Island, a team who has one of the best non-conference resumes in the league. Richmond and Charlotte, two teams that were expected to compete after impressive wins earlier in the season, are still in contention at 4-2 and 4-1, respecitively. Xavier, who was expected to be down this season, is sitting at 5-1 and is all alone in second place.
We've heard a lot about teams losing every close game, but not that many about teams winning every close game. How about UAB? More specifically, how about Aaron Johnson, who hit a jumper with six seconds left to beat Southern Miss on Wednesday, and they scored on a layup to beat Marshall on Saturday with seven seconds left. And this is on the heels on beating Arkansas on a last second dunk and coming from 24 down to beat SMU on a layup with 1:11 left in the game.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Florida 58, South Carolina 56
Florida won their third straight game in SEC play by outlasting a South Carolina team missing two starters in the front court. Devan Downey showed why he is regarded as one of the best scorers in the country, routinely going 1-on-2 or 1-on-3 to finish with 36 points, one shy of his career high. Tied at 52 with under 30 seconds left, Downey took the ball from half court, drove left, and hit a tough pull-up over three Florida defenders, setting up what is one of the best finishes I've ever seen (start at the 6:00 mark):
Two things to note about this finish. First, pretty impressive display by freshman Kenny Boynton, who knocked down three straight free throws to give the Gators the lead with 11 seconds left. Second, Parsons three saved up from quite a bit of controversy, and it is pretty clear that Devan Downey double dribbled as he spun through the trap on the sideline.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jerome Dyson, UConn
The Huskies were coming off of three straight losses, the last being to Big Ten underachiever Michigan, before learning on Tuesday that their hall of fame head coach would be taking an indefinite leave of absence. But UConn, who had fallen from a top ten ranking to the wrong side of the bubble, rallied, winning both of their games last week as they beat St. John's before knocking off then-No. 1 Texas in Gampel Pavilion. Their biggest reason why was the play of Jerome Dyson, who averaged 26.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 4.0 apg, including a career-high 32 point outburst against the Longhorns.
Jerome Dyson scored 32 points in UConn's win over Texas.
(photo credit: Boston.com)
The win was huge for the Huskie's tourney hopes. UConn has been on the short end of a number of close games against their best competition, but finally broke through and earned a marquee win against Texas.
They were good too
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Seton Hall Pirates
Seton Hall has the talent to be a tournament team, but they have struggled since an 8-0 start to the season as they lacked the defensive intensity and good decision-making ability from their best players. Coming into this week, the Hall was just 1-4 in the league and dangerously close to sliding back into the bottom quarter of the conference. But the Pirates responded this week, beating both Pitt and Louisville to give themselves a fighting chance at earning an at-large berth.
Jordan Theodore only had five points against the Panthers, but he played like a true point guard and was a pest of the defensive end of the Pirates.
(photo credit: MSNBC)
While those wins aren't quite as impressive this season as they would have been last year, it is nonetheless a big step for the Hall. And it wasn't just Jeremy Hazell showing better shot selection. It was Jordan Theodore turning into a true point guard. It was Herb Pope showing promise as a go-to scoring option in the post. It was Jeff Robinson proving that he was more than just a dunker. It was the fact that the Hall, a team not known for their defense or toughness, beating Pitt in a slugfest with their leading scorer in foul trouble for most of the game. Seton Hall has three road games coming up - against South Florida, Villanova, and Pitt. But if they can get through that stretch with a win, or better two wins, the end of their Big East schedule is pretty easy - two against Rutgers, a home date versus DePaul, a trip to Providence and St. John's, home games versus Notre Dame and Marquette, and just one game versus the class of the conference, at West Virginia.
They were good too
MATCHUPS OF THE WEEK
Monday, January 25, 2010
1/25 - College Hoops Week in Review: |
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