No. 20 UNLV 94, UC-Santa Barbara 88 2OT: This game had about as wild of a finish as you'll see in a basketball game. After Mike Moser hit his sixth and final three of the game, UNLV took a ten point lead with just two minutes left in the game. But thanks to a series of turnovers and missed free throws from UNLV and a little bit of luck for the Gauchos down the stretch, UCSB was able to force overtime. Down three with just two seconds left on the clock, Orlando Johnson -- who finished with 36 points -- was fouled by UNLV. He made the first and missed the second, but 7'3" Greg Somogyi got the loose ball and scored on the putback (see the 30 second mark).
There was a bit of controversy that the game even got to that point. Joe Nunnally was called for a charge on a dunk that would have given the Gauchos a one point lead with a free throw coming. In the first overtime, UCSB hit back-to-back threes to take a three point lead. After Bellfield tied the game with 40 seconds on the clock with a three of his own, Nunnally was fouled shooting a three with 13 seconds left. At the other end of the floor, however, Chace Stanback hit a fadeaway three-pointer -- that was described by Moser as "a beauty. I almost cried watching that ball go in" -- that sent the game into a second overtime, where UNLV pulled away down the stretch to win it.
Mike Moser was unbelievable. He finished with 34 points (25 of which came after halftime), 10 boards and three assists, carrying the Rebels in the second half. It was Moser's sixth double-double of the season and easily his most impressive scoring output. But the most important part of Moser's game tonight was the six threes he hit. He came into the game shooting just 2-17 from beyond the arc, which was the only weakness in his game.
Also of note: both of the up-three, late-game strategies failed here. UNLV fouled, and UCSB got an offensive rebound. UCSB opted to play straight up, and UNLV hit a tough three.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Day 2: After going 6-0 on Day 1 and winning the first two games of the night, I missed on three of the last four games. 9-3 ain't bad, though.
No. 5 North Carolina 60, No. 7 Wisconsin 57: See here.
Indiana 86, North Carolina State 75: This was an important win for the Hoosiers. They went on the road and knocked off a good-if-not-great Wolfpack team in front of a national audience, and did so while getting impressive performances out of Jordy Hulls, Cody Zeller and Christian Watford. But if you are a Hoosier fan, don't take this win to mean that Indiana is going to compete for the Big Ten title. They can score, that's for sure. And Indiana has a shot to make the NCAA Tournament. But right now they aren't good enough defensively or physical enough in the paint to be anything more than in the same hodge-podge that Michigan State, Purdue and Illinois currently find themselves in.
Michigan State 65, Florida State 49: Tom Izzo finally got some scoring from their perimeter, as Keith Appling went for 24 points and Brandon Wood added 16, 10 boards and five assists. That's a good sign. For Florida State, there aren't many good signs. This team still cannot score.
Minnesota 58, Virginia Tech 55: Ugly loss for Virginia Tech, who lost to a Minnesota team that was missing Ralph Sampson and Trevor Mbakwe. If the Hokies have any hopes of making the NCAA Tournament, losing games like this aren't going to help. The game was lost when, down one with 8.5 seconds left, Virginia Tech threw an inbounds pass that bounced off of Robert Brown's hands and into the back court for a turnover.
Wake Forest 55, Nebraska 53: The Demon Deacons picked up a road win against Nebraska, and while Nebraska is still Nebraska, a road win for Wake Forest is not easy to come by these days. CJ Harris won it with a wide-open layup that came off some atrocious pick-and-roll defense.
Penn State 62, Boston College 54: Tim Frazier had 22 points and five assists. He was on my FanDuel fantasy team. That's all I got from this mess.
The rest of the top 25:
No. 14 Kansas 77, Florida Atlantic 54: This is the same Kansas team, just on the mainland now. Thomas Robinson had 19 points, 17 boards and four blocks, but shot 4-13 from the floor. Tyshawn Taylor had 18 points and four assists, but Elijah Johnson? He went scoreless and had seven of the Jayhawk's 17 turnovers.
No. 17 Pitt 80, Duquesne 69: Dante Taylor returned to the Panther lineup to score 15 points and 11 boards as Pitt pulled away from Duquesne in the second half.
No. 18 Gonzaga 73, Notre Dame 53: It is going to be a long, long season in South Bend without Tim Abromaitis. The Irish simply don't have anyone that can score. David Stockton had 15 points and three assists off the bench while Elias Harris went for 11 points, 15 boards and four assists.
No. 22 Creighton 85, San Diego State 83: See here.
George Mason 61, Bucknell 57: The Patriots, believe it or not, actually out-executed the Bison down the stretch. Ryan Pearson led the way with 16 points as George Mason picked up a much needed win against Patriot favorite Bucknell.
Denver 67, Utah State 54: Can we call the Pioneers for real yet? I know that the Aggies were without Brady Jardine, but behind 15 points each from Chris Udofia and Rob Lewis, Denver became the first team since Feb. 21st, 2009, to win at the Spectrum in Logan.
Elizabeth City State 69, Norfolk State 57: Yes, that's the same Norfolk State that almost beat Marquette.
St. Joe's 62, Drexel 49: The Hawks knocked off Drexel, dropping the Dragons to 2-3 on the season. More impressive? They did it with Carl Jones and Langston Galloway both having off nights. CJ Aiken, however, went for 13 points and nine blocks.
Brown 65, URI 56: Jim Baron benched his starters trying to light a spark under this team, but nothing. Rhody dropped to 1-6 on the year as they lost to an Ivy also-ran.
Northern Iowa 69, Iowa State 62: Anthony James had 17 points and five boards to lead the Panthers to an impressive win over the Cyclones in Ames. UNI also has a win over Old Dominion on the road.
Other notable games:
- Ohio 70, Marshall 68
- Colorado State 65, Colorado 64
- Oral Roberts 68, Missouri State 63
- South Alabama 55, UAB 47
- Washington State 69, Grambling 37
- Boise State 108, Drake 64
- New Mexico 65, Idaho State 41
- BYU 87, Northern Arizona 52
- USC 56, UC Riverside 35
Top performers:
Keith Appling, Michigan State: Appling had 24 points and seven boards, providing a perimeter punch for the Spartans as they knocked off Florida State.
Orlando Johnson, UC-Santa Barbara: As impressive as Mike Moser's 34 points and 10 boards were, Orlando Johnson may have been better, finishing with 36 points and 10 boards as the Gauchos forced UNLV to double-overtime.
Alfonzo McKinnie, Eastern Illinois: McKinnie had 24 points and 14 boards as EIU knocked off Maine in overtime.
Doug McDermott, Creighton: McDermott played like an all-american, going for 25 points and 12 boards as the Bluejays came from behind twice to knock off San Diego State.
LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State: The talented freshman had 21 points after playing just 11 minutes the day after Thanksgiving, leading the Cowboys to a win over a talented-but-underperforming Tulsa team.
Continue reading...
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday's Shootaround: UNLV, Creighton highlight a great night in hoops |
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
A Watcher's Guide to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge |
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge kicks off their 13th installment this evening, but for the first time in its history, every team from both conferences will be participating.
The Big Ten added their 12th member in Nebraska during the summer, which means that instead of having one of the ACC teams forced to watch from the sideline, we will have a full round-robin. It also means that, for the first time in Challenge history, there is the chance that it could end up in a tie.
That would be bad news for the Big Ten. They've won the last two challenges, although they may find it difficult to win a third.
Seeing as you aren't a full-fledged hoops junkie like yours truly, I figured that I would give you a full-fledged breakdown of which games to tune in for, and which games to avoid.
You are welcome.
Only miss these games to see the birth of your FIRST child:
No. 1: Tue, 9:30 pm: No. 4 Duke @ No. 2 Ohio State: Its easy to write off Duke as overrated. Its easy to say that this team is no different than any other Duke team -- a group of soft jumpshooters and overrated big men. And while that very well be true, keep in mind that Duke has performed very well against one of the tougher schedules in the country. Only two teams on their schedule don't look like tournament teams: Tennessee, who is better than they are actually being given credit for, and Presbyterian, who went into Cincinnati and knocked off the Bearcats.
Ohio State has been impressive as well, as they have proven to be deeper than in the past. The Buckeyes are going 10 or 11 deep right now, and while that rotation will likely get cut down by the time conference play comes around, its a good sign early in the season that Thad Matta feels that comfortable with that many different players. Will Buford has blossomed into one of the best scorers in the country, while Aaron Craft has proven to be an even better defender and playmaker.
The key to this game is going to be whether or not Duke's big men -- the Plumlees, Ryan Kelly -- are able to prevent Sullinger from establishing position. While they did a good job defensively on Thomas Robinson -- he had just 16 points on 6-15 shooting -- they allowed him to get 15 boards. Sullinger is a bit of a different post player in that he's much better at establishing position that Robinson is. Keep Sully off the glass and limit his post touches, and Duke has a good chance at winning this.
No. 2: Wed 9:30 pm: No. 7 Wisconsin @ No. 5 North Carolina: UNC is coming into the game off of their first loss of the season. The Tar Heels went into Orleans Arena out in Vegas and lost to UNLV. The Rebels played well, but UNC not only shot themselves in the foot on a number of different occasions, they also had their weaknesses exposed for the entire country to see.
The Tar Heels struggle defensively -- particularly their point guard, Kendell Marshall -- allow too many open looks from the perimeter as the result of penetration. That's precisely what Wisconsin does. When they are playing their best, the ball is in Jordan Taylor's hands and he is making decisions. They also put him in a lot of pick-and-roll situations. Wisconsin has quite a few shooters in their lineup -- headlined by leading scorer Ben Brust and big man Jared Berggren -- which means that Marshall's ability to keep Taylor out of the paint (until Roy Williams makes the inevitable decision to put Dexter Strickland on Taylor) will be the difference in this game.
The other problem for the Heels is that Wisconsin loves to control the tempo. The Badgers play at a slowed down pace and execute very well offensively. By taking the air out of the ball, they force UNC to play in the half court. We all saw on Saturday night just how much the Heels struggle when they aren't able to get out and run the floor. If the Badgers can execute offensively and score, negating the fast break, Wisconsin has a chance to win.
You can miss these for a hot date, but they have to be at least a nine and NOT already your significant other:
No. 3: Wed 7:30 pm: Florida State @ Michigan State: This is going to be a tough matchup for Michigan State. They are struggling to execute offensively, meaning that their strength right now is the ability to over power opponents in the paint. Florida State is the best defensive team in the country and has the biggest front line in the country. That's tough. The good news? Florida State struggles to score even more than the Spartans.
No. 4: Tue 9:00 pm: Virginia @ No. 15 Michigan: The Cavs were predicted by many to be a sleeper in the ACC, but they made that prediction look a bit silly when they lost to TCU earlier this year. Mike Scott is back to his double-double ways, but unless UVA solves some of their three-point shooting and play-making issues, they are going to have some issues against the zone that Michigan plays.
You can play bridge with your Grandmother, just make sure you have the game on in the back ground:
No. 5: Wed 7:15 pm: Indiana @ NC State: This looks like it may be the best Indiana team that we've seen since Kelvin Sampson, but with their only real competition of the year coming against a young and rebuilding Butler team, its difficult to know exactly what the Hoosiers are dealing with. NC State is rebuilding as well, but this team has some talent. CJ Leslie and Lorenzo Brown both have shown flashes of the star potential that had people picking the Wolfpack as high as fourth in the ACC heading into last season.
No. 6: Wed 9:15 pm: Virginia Tech @ Minnesota: This game held much more intrigue on Sunday afternoon, prior to Trevor Mbakwe tearing the acl in his right knee. But the Gophers still have some talent on that team, with a young back court to play alongside Rodney Williams and Ralph Sampson. Virginia Tech, however, looks like they are a much better team than expected coming into the season. Jarell Eddie, Dorenzo Hudson and Erick Green provide a solid perimeter punch while Victor Davila has become a tough, physical presence in the paint over the course of his career.
No. 7: Tue 9:00 pm: Miami (FL) @ Purdue: Purdue has had a solid start to the season but there are still question marks on their roster. Miami, on the other hand, was thought to be a contender in the ACC before Reggie Johnson hurt his knee. Without their big fella, the Hurricanes lost to Ole Miss in overtime over the weekend. The Boilermakers struggled against the back court of Iona, what are they going to do against Miami's Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant?
No. 8: Tue 7:30 pm: Illinois @ Maryland: How good are the Illini? Are they the team that's 7-0, or the one that nearly blew an 18 point halftime lead against Richmond before barely hanging on to knock off Illinois State. The good news, thus far, is that Meyers Leonard and DJ Richardson both have been playing like stars. Maryland, on the other hand, is playing without Pe'Shon Howard and Alex Len, and while Terrell Stoglin has looked like an all-american at times, he's still inconsistent.
At least follow along on gamecast:
No. 9: Tue 7:15 pm: Georgia Tech @ Northwestern: Can Northwestern finally make the push into the NCAA Tournament? It was last season's impressive victory over the Yellow Jackets that got people talking about the Wildcat's chances.
No. 10: Wed 9:15 pm: Wake Forest @ Nebraska: Wake Forest and Nebraska look like they are headed for better-than-expected seasons. The Demon Deacons have a legitimate star in Travis McKie and have been playing much better since the defections. Nebraska, however, plays tough defense and finally has a big-time scorer in Bo Spencer.
You know what? Go ahead. Get some sleep. I won't even be mad:
No. 11: Tue 9:15 pm: Clemson @ Iowa: Clemson lost to Coastal Carolina and College of Charleston. Iowa lost to Campbell by 16.
No. 12: Wed 7:15 pm: Boston College @ Penn State: Yuck.
Continue reading...
Monday, September 26, 2011
The addition of Pitt to the ACC could help spark old rivalry |
Conference realignment kills rivalries.
Syracuse and Georgetown? Goodbye. Texas and Texas A&M? Thank you for your time. Pitt and West Virginia? You cannot use our backyard anymore. Sure, the prevailing though is that "fans will get over it" and that "new rivalries will be born". But do you think Jim Boeheim will want to waste one of his valuble non-conference games by traveling to Georgetown every other year?
Now, it is likely that "The Backyard Brawl" does continue in some fashion. Even if West Virginia stays put, this rivalry is too passionate to dissolve. The profiles of the two schools are too similar to just discontinue competition between each other.
But the addition of the Panthers to the ACC could help spark another non-conference rivalry that has been dormant for some time.
The last time Pittsburgh and Penn State played on the hardwood was 2005. From 2000 to 2005 they played five times, with the Panthers winning four of five. Despite this, The Nittany Lions still hold the edge 78-68 in a series that dates back to 1905. In fact, the two schools played each other every year from 1935 to 1982. But since '82, in which Penn State won in double-overtime 52-46, the schools have faced just seven times, including the 1992 N.I.T game .
Pittsburgh and Penn State are the two largest universities in the state of Pennsylvania, separated by just 140 miles. While Pitt's success comes on the court and Penn State the gridiron, a rebirth of this rivalry in both sports would be a good thing for the state, the universities and the conferences.
Why?
What better way to welcome Pittsburgh to the ACC/Big-10 Challenge than with a tilt against their in-state rivals. Of all the cross-conference challenges that exists, the ACC/Big-Ten Challenge is the only one that is held in high regards by the basketball community. Yes, it's true, the Big East/SEC Invitational is trying to get revitalized, but while Pitt/Tennessee might be a great game, it's nothing more than that. Pitt/Penn State would be a story, an atmosphere, a rivalry.
A meeting between the two schools in the Panther's first ACC/Big-Ten Challenge could revitalize a rivalry that existed for nearly half a century but hasn't been relevant for quite a while.
Continue reading...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ACC/Big Ten Challenge schedule is not quite awe-inspiring |
On Tuesday afternoon, the final schedule for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge was released.
And, frankly, there isn't much to be that excited about:
Duke heads to Ohio State is what should end up being a top five matchup, although I'm sure I'm not alone in being disappointed that it was Duke that ended up with the Buckeyes and not preseason No. 1 North Carolina. The Tar Heels landed a home date with the Wisconsin Badgers, who may end up being the second best team in the Big Ten, in what may be the most intriguing contrast of styles that we see all season long.
Beyond that?
Meh.
Florida State and Michigan State should be a physical game between two teams with the potential to be top 25 this season. Michigan and Virginia are both sleepers this season. Miami and Purdue has the potential to be an exciting game. But more than anything, what looking at this schedule of games should tell you is that both the ACC and the Big Ten are top heavy. There isn't much depth to either of these leagues.
So who's excited for Wake Forest vs. Nebraska?
Continue reading...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursday's Shootaround: The Big Ten wins their second straight challenge |
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge Scoreboard:
- ACC: 5
- Big Ten: 6
No. 18 Purdue 58, Virginia Tech 55 OT: See here.
Boston College 88, Indiana 76: Reggie Jackson scored 27 point as the Eagles were able to jump out to a big first half lead and maintain it the rest of the game. Steve Donahue looks like he finally has these guys on his page.
Wisconsin 87, NC State 48: The Badgers absolutely beatdown the Wolfpack. Jon Leuer led the way with 22 points and 11 boards.
Maryland 62, Penn State 39: What an ugly game. PSU was 14-68 from the floor, which is just a touch better than 20%. They were 3/27 from three, and according to a shot chart, shot 0-10 from two outside the paint. Yuck.
UCF 57, No. 16 Florida 54: The Golden Knights got 18 points from Marcus Jordan as they landed arguably the biggest win in program history. Could it be possible that we see UCF turn into a second potential at-large bid from C-USA? It looks like it could be. For Florida, this loss is quite disheartening. This was supposed to be a team that was going to compete for the SEC title. Doesn't look that way now.
No. 19 San Diego State 69, St. Mary's 55: The Aztecs avenged their worst loss from last season by jumping to a 14-2 lead and never looking back. Mickey McConnell was held to just two points while SDSU got a balanced attack, led by guard Chase Tapley. I think its clear that the Aztecs are, right now, the best team on the west coast.
No. 15 Memphis 78, Arkansas State 71 OT: After jumping out to a 23-5 lead early on in this one, the Tigers had to rally in overtime to remain undefeated. It isn't a question of talent with this team, its a question of effort and maturity. Josh Pastner, who has already kicked one player off of the team, benched a couple of his starters last night. Reading through quotes from his press conference, it is safe to say he was pretty upset with his team's performance.
BYU 77, Creighton 65: The Cougars used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to open a double digit lead on the Cardinals and put this game away. Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery were kept under wraps, but it was 24 points from Brandon Davies -- including 16 in the last 10 minutes -- that cost Creighton this game. BYU's bigs continue to impress.
USF 60, VCU 59 OT: The Bulls did everything they could to give this game to the Rams, wo came back from 18 down in the first half to force overtime. But late turnovers cost VCU, who has a Bradford Burgess runner rim out as time expired.
UMass 66, Quinnipiac 64: A late goal-tending call allowed the Minutemen to remain undefeated.
Other Notable Games
- No. 3 Pitt 80, Duquesne 66
- No. 20 Texas 76, Lamar 55
- No. 23 UNLV 82, Illinois State 51
- Louisville 92, Florida International 55
- Miami OH 75, Xavier 64
- West Virginia 71, American 50
- Old Dominion 77, Richmond 70
- Temple 65, Central Michigan 53
- East Tennessee State 73, Dayton 68
- Cincinnati 77, Wright State 69
- St. John's 69, Wagner 61
- Arizona 84, Rice 57
- Butler 65, Loyola IL 63
- Northern Iowa 60, Iowa State 54
- New Mexico 74, Southern Illinois 59
- Vanderbilt 82, Western Kentucky 62
- Utah State 61, Denver 53
- Cal 74, UC Davis 62
Continue reading...
Sunday, November 28, 2010
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Preview |
This post can also be found at Beyond the Arc and features my blogging brethren Mike Miller.
I've always loved the concept of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Two of the best conferences in the country teeing off against one another for bragging rights over a two day span. When it comes to college hoops in December, it doesn't get much better than that.
I've said this before, and I will say it again, but the ACC and the Big Ten have gotten this thing down to perfection. The games are played over the course of three days, with ten of those games taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Big XII and the PAC-10 tried a similar arrangement, but their "challenge" took place over the span of a month and couldn't be found on TV anywhere. Essentially, it was a bunch of relatively meaningless non-conference games.
The SEC and the Big East tried their hand at a conference competition. But they only hold four games, and usually half of the teams involved come from the bottom of their respective leagues.
If there is one thing you are going to take out of the 2010 its that there really are not all that many great matchups. A couple of the games will be downright unwatchable.
That said, we do get to see some good measuring stick games, if you will. Duke goes up against another top five opponent, Purdue gets a shot at bouncing back from a weekend loss, while UNC, NC State, and Florida State all get a chance to prove themselves, and the ACC, a worthy conference on a national stage.
Courtesy of your favorite college basketball blogsquad, here is a completely, unnecessarily in depth preview of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge:
Monday, Nov. 29th
7:00 pm: Virginia (3-3) @ No. 17 Minnesota (6-0) (ESPN 2): UVa started the season out with a couple of promising victories in a row, but then proceeded to get drubbed by Stanford and Washington before losing to Wichita State in the 5th place game of the Maui Invitational. Minnesota, on the other hand, is playing as well as anyone in the country after rolling through the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament. If the Cavs are going to have a chance, it will be because the Gophers may be without two starters on Monday. Al Nolen is battling a foot injury and there is no word yet on whether Devoe Joseph, who was suspended for the Puerto Rico trip, will be playing.
Rob's Prediction: Minnesota has a front line that is as big and talented as any in the Big Ten, if not the country. Mike Scott is a good player, but he doesn't have a shot when against the likes of Trevor Mbakwe, Ralph Sampson, and Colton Iverson. Minnesota 75, Virginia 49.
Mike's Prediction: Few teams are off to better starts than the Gophers, who’ve beaten UNC, West Virginia and mid-majors powers Wofford and Siena. There’s no reason to think Tubby Smith’s team stumbles at home against a re-building Cavalier squad, who can’t match the Gophers’ frontline of Trevor Mbakwe, Ralph Sampson III and Colton Iverson. Minnesota, 73, Virginia 57.
Tuesday, Nov. 30th
7:00 pm: Georgia Tech @ Northwestern (ESPN 2): The Yellowjackets come into this game looking like they've righted the ship after an embarrassing road loss to Kennesaw State. They knocked off UTEP in the Legends Classic before playing Syracuse, who is ranked tenth in the country but has been struggling a bit themselves, to an 80-76 loss. Brian Oliver and Iman Shumpert form a talented, athletic back court for Paul Hewitt. Having said that, the Jackets aren't exactly the best defensive team in the country, and patient defense is what is going to beat Northwestern. The Wildcats, led by John Shurna, Drew Crawford, and Michael Thompson, play an efficient, Princeton-style offense. While NU is undefeated coming in, their only credible win is against Creighton.
Rob's Prediction: I am envisioning endless back door cuts and down screens for threes. Tech is talented, but they aren't disciplined. Northwestern 71, Georgia Tech 65.
Mike's Prediction: The Wildcats feature one of the nation’s most efficient scoring offenses, while Tech has a fairly solid defense. The key words being “fairly solid.” Northwestern hasn’t lost in this event since 2008, and isn’t about to start. Northwestern 66, Georgia Tech 58.
7:00 pm: Iowa @ Wake Forest (ESPN U): Yuck, yuck, and more yuck. Wake Forest has been abysmal early in the season, losing to Stetson, Winthrop, and VCU by 21. And they are now playing without Melvin Tabb or Tony Chennault. Iowa hasn't been much better, as they have lost to South Dakota State, Xavier, and Long Beach State. You may be glad you don't have ESPNU for this one.
Rob's Prediction: That I won't be watching a second of this game. I have a feeling this will come to fruition. Iowa 75, Wake Forest 71.
Mike's Prediction: The winner? Eh. I know who’ll lose – anyone who watches. It’s fitting that that ACC’s worst team plays host to the Big Ten’s cellar dweller from the last few years. Now we’ll learn just who really stinks. Guess I’ll take the Hawkeyes. Wake’s already lost to Stetson, VCU and Winthrop at home. Iowa’s about that good. One redeeming factor? Both teams like to run when possible, so we’ll avoid a slugfest. Iowa 70, Wake Forest 67.
7:30 pm: No. 3 Ohio State (5-0) @ Florida State (5-1) (ESPN): The Seminoles have arguably the best defensive player in the country on their roster in Chris Singleton. The problem? Singleton can't score, and neither can the rest of the Seminoles roster. The Florida team that Ohio State put 93 points on in an 18 point win? The Seminoles managed 51 points and 14 turnovers. The Buckeyes look like one of the few teams that will be dominant throughout the season. Jared Sullinger is a load on the block, and he may not even be their best front court scorer. Fellow freshman DeShaun Thomas has really been playing well early in the season. With the perimeter talent that the Buckeyes boast, and if Aaron Craft is really as good at the point as he has seemed early in the season, this will be a tough matchup for the 'Noles to win.
Rob's Prediction: Ohio State is too good this year. They have too much inside, they have too much talent on their perimeter, and they actually seem to have a point guard this year. Florida State is really good defensively, but if Singleton is the guy that shot 2-12 against Florida and not the guy that was averaging 17.4 ppg before that, the Noles will be in trouble. Ohio State 70, Florida State 58.
Mike's Prediction: Few teams feature a more intimidating defense than FSU, which has the athletes to pressure Ohio State’s deep, balanced roster and make life miserable for freshman center Jared Sullinger. But scoring’s an issue, as shown during Sunday’s 55-51 loss to Florida. Then there’s this nugget: The Buckeyes drilled Florida on Nov. 16. Ohio State 69, Florida State 61
9:00 pm: Michigan (3-2) @ Clemson (5-1) (ESPN 2): We all predicted that it would be a long season in Ann Arbor, and after Michigan's 0-2 performance at the Legends Classic, it looks like that prediction may come to fruition. The Wolverines have not developed the way most John Beilein teams do and while they have a talented scorer in Darius Morris, its about time that Morris began passing the ball; he's had a bad habit of dribbling the air out of it. Clemson, on the other hand, is a team that looks like it has some promise. They have an underrated back court in Demontez Stitt, Andre Young, Tanner Smith, and Noel Johnson to go with the expected big, athletic front court players. This Tigers beat Wofford and Seton Hall, but their most impressive performance of the season may actually be their one point loss to Old Dominion.
Rob's Prediction: While its difficult to put a ton of faith into a team with a first year head coach like Clemson and Brad Brownell, its even more difficult to bet on this Michigan team. Clemson 75, Michigan 63.
Mike's Prediction: The Tigers’ lone loss is to Old Dominion, a far tougher foe than the in-transition Wolverines, who are coming off back-to-back losses. Make it three in a row. Clemson 70, Michigan 64.
9:30 pm: No. 25 UNC (4-2) @ No. 19 Illinois (6-1) (ESPN): Illinois has flown a bit under the radar this season. They did lose to Pitt in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, but they also beat a better-than-advertised Maryland team. Their issue isn't on the perimeter, where Demetri McCamey heads up a talented group. Its in the front court, as Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis don't exactly provide a ton of muscle. Good thing for the Illini that UNC doesn't have much beef up front either. For the Heels, this is going to be another chance to prove their mettle. UNC once again started the season off poorly, with losses to Vanderbilt and Minnesota in Puerto Rico. Is Harrison Barnes as good as he was supposed to be? Can Larry Drew or Kendall Marshall step up and be a point guard?
Rob's Prediction: As much as I want to see this UNC team succeed, I just don't think they have it in them -- yet. Larry Drew's line against the College of Charleston on Sunday was 1 point, 1 assists, 1 turnover, and 27 minutes. Illinois 79, UNC 70.
Mike's Prediction: The Tar Heels avoided a .500 record thanks to a late run against College of Charleston Sunday night. They won’t have any such wiggle room against the Illini, who’ll be able to out-run and out-gun UNC. Two things to watch: Illinois should make UNC’s guard uneasy (the Orange Krush should be a big help) because the Heels have turnover issues; and see if Carolina can force Illinois into settling for taking jump shots. The Illini’s frontcourt is soft and if the shots aren’t falling, it could stay close. Illinois 79, North Carolina 68.
Wednesday, Dec. 1st
7:15 pm: Indiana (6-0) @ Boston College (4-2) (ESPN U): Indiana hasn't played anyone this season, but the Hoosiers are 6-0, which is a good sign considering the kind of issues this program has had recently. Christian Watford has looked impressive on the block early on and while Mo Creek still isn't quite 100% coming off of a knee injury last season, Verdell Jones has upped his scoring (as well as his turnovers) in Creek's absence. BC has been all over the map early in the season. They lost to Yale, then bounced back to beat both Texas A&M and Cal -- who both beat Temple -- in the Old Spice Classic. Reggie Jackson is one of the best guards in the ACC, and when he has production around him, the Eagles look like they can be pretty good.
Rob's Prediction: This is one of the tougher games to pick. I actually kind of like both teams, as weird as that sounds. I think Indiana wins this, however. Christian Watford is a load on the block, and unlike Reggie Jackson, he has a supporting cast. Indiana 71, Boston College 68.
Mike's Predicition: The Hoosiers’ perfect start came against cupcakes. That’s not B.C., which is taking care of the ball and making a ton of its twos. Still, the Eagles are perplexing. They’ve beaten Texas A&M and Cal, but lost to Yale. At home. Indiana would be smart to feed Christian Watford, stretch the defense and hope for a fairly fast game. Indiana 78, Boston College, 76.
7:15 pm: NC State (4-1) @ Wisconsin (4-2) (ESPN 2): The obvious question mark in this game is going to be Tracy Smith, who injured his knee in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. If Smith is ready to go, the Wolfpack might have a shot in this game. He provides a legitimate low post scoring threat, and is one of the only guys on Sidney Lowe's roster that can create a shot for himself. If not, its tough to see NC State having the patience and the discipline to score on a very good defensive team like Wisconsin. For the Badgers, we all know about Jon Leuer, but make sure you keep an eye on their back court of Jordan Taylor and John Gasser.
Rob's Prediction: NC State might actually have a shot of knocking off Wisconsin in the Kohl Center if they had Tracy Smith. The Badgers have been beatable this year, but the Wolfpack, coming in with a bunch of freshmen and unproven upperclassmen, don't have a shot without their best player. Wisconsin 59, NC State 49.
Mike's Prediction: There’s only one thing to know about this game: The Badgers are at home, where they win more than 90 percent of their games under coach Bo Ryan, including a victory against Duke last season. Bo don’t lose at home. (Also, it helps to have Jon Leuer ‘cause he’s pretty good.) Wisconsin 65, N.C. State 60.
7:30 pm: No. 8 Purdue (5-1) @ Virginia Tech (4-1): This game had a lot more intrigue when the schedule for the Challenge was announced. Now, with Robbie Hummel out for the season, Virginia Tech looking very average, and the Boilermakers coming off of a loss to a Richmond team that was beaten by Iona, this looks like a potential 8-9 matchup instead of a potential Sweet 16 matchup. This game will be won by the team that can stop their opponent's star. Kevin Anderson lit Purdue up for 28 points in the Spider's win, and Virginia Tech has a better lead guard in Malcolm Delaney. Similarly, Tech lacks muscle inside, and Purdue has one of the best big men in the country in JaJuan Johnson.
Rob's Prediction: The Boilermakers may not have a third scoring option right now, but that doesn't change what they can do defensively. Virginia Tech has looked far from impressive on the offensive end of the floor this season. I can't see them figuring out the Boilermakers. Purdue 57, Virginia Tech 53.
Mike's Prediction: Here’s one for you defense fans. Two of the nation’s most efficient – and physical – defenses meet in Blacksburg. The Boilermakers are coming off their first loss (a 65-54 setback to Richmond), while the Hokies struggled against UNLV on Sunday. I don’t expect this to be pretty. First one to 62 wins. Virginia Tech 62, Purdue 61.
9:15 pm: Maryland @ Penn State (ESPN 2): The Terps may be coming off of an 0-2 trip to NYC for the Coaches vs. Cancer, but they looked much better than that against Pitt and Illinois. Jordan Williams is a hoss on the block, Cliff Tucker is emerging as a star on the perimeter, and the law of averages says that one of Terrell Stoglin, Pe'Shon Howard, and Adrian Bowie will play well. For Penn State, it is a one man show with Talor Battle. If his teammates step up around him -- Jeff Brooks, David Jackson, and company -- the Nittany Lions have a shot at this thing. The key for PSU will be handling Maryland's pressure, which has been effective against some good competition this season.
Rob's Prediction: Mike will tell you that Penn State has the best player in this game, and I will call his bluff and reraise all-in with Jordan Williams. The Maryland big man is a beast in the paint, rebounding the ball with the best of them and showing a solid repertoire of post moves. Maryland 81, Penn State 68.
Mike's Prediction: The Nittany Lions have the matchup’s best player (Talor Battle) and the home court edge. But I like the Terps, who’ve already hung with Pitt and Illinois. Plus, Maryland's usually good for a win in this event. Not that it matters for the ACC, who;ll lose the overall "title" for the second straight year. Maryland 75, Penn State 71.
9:30 pm: No. 2 Michigan State @ No. 1 Duke: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Main Event. (Read that line as if it was said by Michael Buffer.) Duke, as well all know by now, is loaded. They have talent up and down their lineup, enough that their second five could probably win a handful of games in the ACC. The Spartans were considered by many to be the second best team in the country during the preseason, but after the typical Michigan State slow start -- struggling against South Carolina and Chaminade before losing to UConn -- many have questioned whether or not the Spartans were overrated coming into the season. In my opinion? No, they were not. Michigan State made uncharacteristic mistakes down the stretch in their loss to UConn and Chaminade beat Oklahoma. Kalin Lucas looked terrific against Washington, Draymond Green is Draymond Green, and Durrell Summers was impressive in shaking off a bad night to knock down two huge threes late in a win over Washington. Regardless, this game should be expected to live up to its billing.
Rob's Prediction: Until further notice, I'm picking Duke to win every game they play. Simple as that. Duke 84, Michigan State 79.
Mike's Prediction: I fawned over the Devils’ performance against K-State last week (yes, I was one of those guys), and with good reason. They shot well, forced a ton of turnovers, got to the boards and Kyrie Irving was unguardable. That last part’s key, given how UConn’s Kemba Walker sliced and diced the Spartans at the Maui Invitational. Michigan State will likely fare better against the freshman Irving, but the Devils are in midseason form and MSU isn’t. Duke 78, Michigan State 68.
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Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Who will win the ACC-Big Ten Challenge |
The full schedule for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge has been released:
Mon., Nov. 29:
- Virginia at Minnesota
- North Carolina at Illinois
- Ohio State at Florida State
- Michigan at Clemson
- Georgia Tech at Northwestern
- Iowa at Wake Forest
- Michigan State at Duke
- Purdue at Virginia Tech
- N.C. State at Wisconsin
- Indiana at Boston College
- Maryland at Penn State
Big Ten fans shouldn't expect a repeat of last season, when they won the challenge for the first time in its 11 year history. While the Big Ten is loaded at the top of the league, their three best teams -- Michigan State, Purdue, and Ohio State -- all must hit the road this year. And they won't be playing nobodys, either.
Michigan State's trip to Cameron Indoor will be one of the most anticipated games of the season, and while the Spartans may get a couple votes as the preseason No. 1 team, its difficult to predict a Spartan victory considering Izzo's club always seems to get out of the gates slowly.
Ohio State is going to be in the top ten of most preseason polls, but this will be a team that relies very heavily on freshman, will be learning to play without Evan Turner, and could very well be playing their first true road game. And don't forget that this is a Florida State team that returns quite a bit of talent.
Purdue may have the easiest road, as they will be somewhere in the top three when the first preseason polls are released. That's what happens when you bring back your three stars. But Virginia Tech will be a top 25 team with Malcolm Delaney pulling out of the NBA Draft, and road games in November against top 25 teams are never cake walks.
The Big Ten will likely need to win two of those three games if they want to have a shot at winning a second straight challenge.
Of the home games that the Big Ten will have, Minnesota, who plays a Virginia team that lost Sylvan Landesberg, is the only overwhelming favorite. Illinois will have their hands full with a young and talented North Carolina team. Wisconsin, who is always great in the Kohl Center but who lost their starting back court, will draw an NC State team that will be much improved and should compete for a spot in the NCAA's. Penn State, who drew Maryland, and Northwestern, who will host Georgia Tech, are not exactly known for their basketball pedigree.
Wake Forest shouldn't have a problem with Iowa, and Clemson, despite losing Trevor Booker and Oliver Purnell, should take care of business against a Michigan team that lost their two best players.
The challenge could come down to the winner of Indiana and Boston College. Indiana has struggled since Tom Crean took over, but with their roster beginning to mature and the offseason turmoil at BC -- transfers leaving, a coaching change -- the Hoosiers will have a real shot at winning this game on the road.
My prediction: the ACC wins again, six to five.
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Here are the marquee games from the ACC-Big Ten Challenge |
Jeff Goodman, aka the King of Scoop, found out five of the matchups of the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. And while the Big Ten might be in some trouble this year -- their top three teams all play away from home -- we do have some excellent matchups.
Michigan State @ Duke: This may end up being one of, if not the, best game of the year. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn't have Duke as the No. 1 team in the country right now. But the Spartans are not that far behind. In fact, it is very possible that this could turn into a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2. Now wouldn't that be fun in early December.
Purdue @ Virginia Tech: This game got a whole lot more interesting on Saturday, as Malcolm Delaney, JaJuan Johnson, and E'Twaun Moore
all pulled their names out of NBA Draft consideration. With Johnson and Moore back, Purdue joins Michigan State and Duke as the three best teams in the country. But Virginia Tech returns everyone as well, and should compete for second place in the ACC.
Ohio State @ Florida State: The Buckeyes lost Evan Turner, but they bring back basically everyone else while adding one of the best freshman classes in the country, including Jared Sullinger, a consensus top five recruit. Florida State is going to be pretty good next year as well, as the Noles bring back Chris Singleton and Michael Snaer, among other. FSU will be in and around the top 25 all year, with OSU will likely slide into the top 10.
NC State @ Wisconsin: Wisconsin loses quite a bit of talent from their roster, but this is Bo Ryan and Wisconsin. Regardless of talent level, you would be a fool to underestimate this team. NC State under Sidney Lowe has usually been the exact opposite, but the Wolfpack should be pretty good this year. Tracy Smith leads a solid group of returners, while CJ Leslie headlines a very good recruiting class.
UNC @ Illinois: If you like to watch entertaining perimeter play, this is the game for you. There may not be a true low post force on either roster, while both back courts will be deep and talented. UNC is once again going to be young, but with a roster full of McDonald's all-americans -- including all-world freshman Harrison Barnes -- there is plenty of talent to go around. Illinois has also had two impressive recruiting hauls the last two seasons, and got great news with Demetri McCamey and Mike Davis both returned to school.
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Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday's Shootaround: The Big Ten wins their first ACC/Big Ten Challenge in a great night of college hoops |
College basketball is finally here. Throughout the night, there were multiple games with exciting finishes happening all across the country and all over your cable package. If you are like me, and don't get the West Coast games (yet ... I hate cable companies), then you missed some fantastic basketball.
ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Gonzaga 74, Washington State 69: The Cougars jumped out to a 13 point lead early in the second half, but they had no answer for Matt Bouldin and Elias Harris. Bouldin finished with 28 points while Elias Harris had 24 (21 in the second half) and 12 boards as the Zags held Wazzu without a field goal for 10 minutes in the second half during a 26-6 run that turned a 58-46 deficit into a 72-64 lead.
The biggest issue for the Blue Devils was the play of their front line. After thoroughly dominating UConn in the paint, Duke struggled inside against the equally-big Badgers. It was defensively that Duke was exposed. Duke's big men, outside of Kyle Singler, are long, they can jump, and they are as physical as any post the Devils have had since Shelden Williams graduated. But where they struggle is with lateral quickness. When Duke faces teams where to four and five men can step out on the perimeter, knocking down jumpers and putting the ball on the floor, the Dukies are going to be in trouble.
UNLV 74, Arizona 72 2OT: The Runnin' Rebels picked up their first road win as they knocked off the young Wildcats. Both teams had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation and the first OT, but missed. In the second OT, Derrick Jasper drilled a three to tie the game at 70 with under two minutes left. After Kyle Fogg missed a lay-up, Trevon Willis hit two free throws to give UNLV the lead. After another free throw, UNLV fouled Nic Wise, who finished with 19 points, 7 boards, and 6 assists, to avoid a three to tie it. After UNLV again went 1-2 from the line, Wise had a last second shot blocked. Derrick Williams scored 28 for Zona, but 25 from Trevon Willis and a solid all around game from Jasper (12 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals) was too much.
Pitt 67, Duquesne 58 2 OT: The last time that this rivalry was played in Mellon Arena was a dandy. Ashton Gibbs shook off a horrid shooting night to score six straight points in the second OT as the Panthers came back from a 40-24 second half deficit to bet the depleted Dukes. Pitt's defense really took control in this one, as Duquesne scored just five points in the overtimes, and two points in the final seven minutes of regulation. Pitt never led until Brad Wanamaker scored to open the first OT.
Other notable games:
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wednesday's Shootaround: Quick thoughts |
Sorry we didn't get the Shootaround up today as we were experiencing some internet issues this morning at BIAH headquarters. There were quite a few interesting developments from last night's games, so here are just a few thoughts from the games last night:
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Wednesday's Pregame Beat |
Good slate of games today, headlined by the conclusion of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which is now tied 3-3. For the previews of the games, check out our original ACC/Big Ten Challenge post here.
- 7:15 pm: Illinois @ Clemson
- 7:30 pm: Boston College @ Michigan
- 7:30 pm: Minnesota @ Miami FL
- 9:15 pm: Duke @ Wisconsin
- 9:30 pm: Florida State @ Ohio State
7:00 pm: Siena @ Georgia Tech: The Saints were expected to contend for an at-large berth this season, but six games in they are just 4-2 with losses to St. John's and Temple. Georgia Tech was predicted by some pundits to be a sleeper in the ACC, in large part because of their front line of Gani Lawal, Zach Peacock, and all-world freshman Derrick Favors. Ryan Rossiter has been playing well, but the Saints are going to be at a distinct disadvantage in the paint. If they can compete down low, don't be surprised if Tech gets hit with an upset.
7:00 pm: George Mason @ George Washington: It may not matter to the majority of you, but these two schools are trying to build this into a real rivalry; they are calling it the battle of the orange line (the orange line of the DC subway system connects the two schools). I work at a bar right by the GW campus, and all the employees were required to wear GW shirts in support of the team today. Go Colonials?
7:00 pm: Dayton @ Miami OH: The Redhawks proved that they can compete on an elite level with their performance against Kentucky, but have struggled in the rest of their games. If Dayton, who is much tougher defensively than the Wildcats, can prevent Miami for getting open threes all night long, the Flyers should be able to steal one on the road.
7:00 pm: Old Dominion @ Richmond: The Spiders are coming off of back to back wins against Mississippi State and Missouri and should compete for an A-10 title. Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalez are as good of a back court as you are going to find at this level. But Old Dominion is one of the better teams in the CAA. Should be a great game to watch.
7:00 pm: Pitt @ Duquesne: Duquesne is another team that can might be able to compete in the A-10, and this is the last time that these two teams will hold this rivalry in storied Mellon Arena.
7:00 pm: Western Kentucky @ South Carolina: Seeing AJ Slaughter and Devan Downey go head to head will be a treat for fans in Columbia.
8:00 pm: Northern Iowa @ Iowa State: Northern Iowa was thought to be the best team in the MVC, but after they lost to DePaul and Creighton finished last in the Old Spice Classic, a lot of people are questioning how good the MVC is. The book is still out on how good Iowa State ends up being. You know about Craig Brackins, but Marquis Gilstrap and Lucca Staiger are both turning into reliable scorers.
8:00 pm: Arkansas @ Oklahoma: Both of these teams really need a win. Arkansas has been ravaged by suspensions in the early going, but once those guys come back and join Rotnei Clarke, Marshon Powell, and Michael Washington, the Razorbacks could be a team to look out for in the SEC. The Sooners should be glad that UCLA has struggled so much, because otherwise they would be talked about as the most disappointing team in the country. Willie Warren is going to need to wake up and lead this team.
8:00 pm: Oklahoma State @ Tulsa: Maybe the most intriguing game of the night. Oklahoma State is a run and gun team loaded on the perimeter that is expected to shoot their way, literally, to near the top of the Big XII. But with Jerome Jordan and Ben Uzoh leading an experienced group, many believed Tulsa to be the best team in C-USA this season. OK State has posted a couple nice wins over Utah, Bradley, and Seattle, but this will be their toughest test this season.
9:00 pm: UNLV @ Arizona: The young Wildcats have visions of continuing Arizona's 25 year tournament streak, and with how weak the Pac-10 has been this season, Zona will need a home win like this to make that happen. UNLV is coming off of a home win against Louisville. Good test for the baby Cats.
9:00 pm: Washington State @ Gonzaga: The Cougars are 7-0 on the season and Klay Thompson is playing like an all-american. The Zags are for real this season, and a road win at the Kennel would be very impressive.
9:30 pm: Missouri @ Vanderbilt: Both the Tigers and the Commodores are looking to play their way into an at-large bid. With both teams near the bubble come Selection Sunday, this could be game that breaks a tie. Memorial Gymnasium is a tough place to play, and I'm not sure Mizzou has an answer for AJ Ogilvy.
Other notable games:
- 7:00 pm: Drexel @ Villanova
- 7:00 pm: Stetson @ Louisville
- 7:00 pm: Butler @ Ball State
- 7:00 pm: East Tennessee State @ Tennessee
- 7:00 pm: BU @ UConn
- 7:00 pm: Hampton @ South Florida
- 7:00 pm: Stony Brook @ St. John's
- 7:30 pm: Rhode Island @ VCU
- 8:00 pm: Alcorn State @ Kansas
- 8:05 pm: Ole Miss @ Arkansas State
- 9:00 pm: Cal @ New Mexico
- 9:00 pm: Prairie View A&M @ Texas A&M
- 9:00 pm: Utah @ Weber State
- 9:05 pm: BYU @ Utah State
- 10:00 pm: San Diego State @ San Diego
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Delvon Roe vs. Roy Williams |
We mentioned this somewhere along the line, but in Roy Williams' new book, he calls out Delvon Roe, who chose MSU over UNC as a high school senior.
Seth Davis explains:
Did you catch the sharp elbow Roy Williams threw at Michigan State sophomore Delvon Roe in his new autobiography? Williams doesn't call out Roe by name, but he does tell a story about how he celebrated when a recruit told him he was coming to North Carolina, only to have that same recruit tell him six weeks later he was going to Michigan State. Williams wrote that the player -- who is obviously Roe -- "lied" to him. That should make for a nice little subplot when those teams have their national championship game reunion on December 1.Keeping in mind that the Spartans and the Heels play each other tonight in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, a writer for the Lansing State Journal caught with Roe's father, Delvon Blanton, to get the player's side of the story (make sure you hit the link, a lot of good stuff over there):
Blanton said he and Roe visited North Carolina together once, then Roe went by himself on a visit for the UNC-Duke game. Blanton said Williams wanted Roe to commit before the game to get the team hyped. Roe called Blanton. Blanton strictly forbid him from committing. ...Adds an intriguing story line to the whole rematch-of-the-national-title-game play, doesn't it?
"Delvon still loved Michigan State and a few weeks later, when he was home and he could think about the decision without someone in his face, he realized that's where he wanted to go."
Roe had a hard time summoning the courage to tell Williams, Blanton said. Blanton told him he had to make the call. He did, and Blanton said Williams started yelling on the other end.
"I don't know exactly the words he was saying, but he was upset," Blanton said of Williams. "He started going off on Delvon. I mean, Delvon's an 11th-grader, he's shook up. So I grabbed the phone and said, 'Let me tell you something, you never disrespect my son like that.'"
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Tuesday's Pregame Beat |
ACC/Big Ten Challenge: For previews of these games, see our post on the challenge.
- 7:00 pm: Wake Forest @ Purdue
- 7:00 pm: Northwestern @ NC State
- 7:30 pm: Maryland @ Indiana
- 9:00 pm: Michigan State @ UNC
- 9:30 pm: Virginia Tech @ Iowa
- 7:00 pm: Florida A&M @ Florida
- 7:00 pm: Providence @ Northeastern
- 7:00 pm: Temple @ Western Michigan
- 7:30 pm: Louisiana-Lafayette @ LSU
- 7:30 pm: Texas Southern @ Cincinnati
- 7:35 pm: Idaho State @ Notre Dame
- 8:00 pm: Fort Hays State @ Kansas State
- 9:00 pm: UTEP @ New Mexico State
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Tuesday's Shootaround: Penn State gives Big Ten 1-0 lead |
Penn State 69, Virginia 66: Believe it or not, Penn State becomes the first Big Ten* team to win three straight games in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge as they got 32 from Talor Battle to hold on against the Cavs. The Nittany Lions were up 55-43 with about four minutes left in the game, but Virginia made a furious rally, capped by two three pointers in the final minutes to cut the lead to one. Talor Battle, who had 28 second half points, hit two free throws and Sammy Zeglinski missed a three to end the game. Big road win for the Big Ten as they try to win their first challenge.
Kentucky 94, UNC-Asheville 57: Kentucky finally looked dominant against an inferior opponents as they utilized a full court press to open up a 80-36 lead midway through the second half. DeMarcus Cousins (24 points and 10 boards) and John Wall (12 points, 14 assists, 6 steals, and just 1 turnovers) played tremendous. But John Calipari happt for two reasons: youthful exuberance and lazy play. He said that the eight turnovers the Wildcats had was not enough because it meant they weren't aggressive enough offensively.
Other notable scores:
Tuesday's Best:
*My bad, thought I wrote Big Ten team. In other news, BIAH needs a copy editor. Apply now!
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Monday, November 30, 2009
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge starts tonight: is it the Big Ten's time to shine? |
Tonight kicks off the 11th installment of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
And for those of you who don't follow the ACC or the Big Ten too closely, this event has been dominated by the ACC.
When I say dominated, I mean dominated: the Big Ten has never won the challenge. In the ten years it has been in existence, the ACC has an overall record of 62-35, and only five times has the Big Ten lost the challenge by one game.
Dominated.
But with a favorable schedule this season, 2009 may be the year that the Big Ten finally gets off the schneid.
MONDAY:
7:00 pm: Penn State (4-2) @ Virginia (4-2): The Cavs are 0-2 against BCS opponents, having lost at South Florida and to Stanford in Cancun. Having said that, Penn State has two losses to mid-major opponents and has struggled to beat powerhouses like Davidson and Sacred Heart. Virginia is 3-0 at home, including blow outs of Rider and Oran Roberts, and own a victory over Cleveland State on a neutral court.
BIAH's pick: Virginia
TUESDAY:
7:00 pm: Wake Forest @ Purdue: Wake Forest will have the best player on the floor on Tuesday as Al-Farouq Aminu has been playing great basketball early in the season. Ishmael Smith, who had a promising freshman season before playing second fiddle to Jeff Teague in the back court the past two years, also finally looks like the Ish Smith we remember. But Purdue is good this year. Really good. They have already proven they can beat a team that wants to play uptempo (a 73-72 win over a good Tennessee team) and can be very tough in Mackey Arena. Purdue is excellent at controlling tempo, which makes one question whether the Demon Deacons are disciplined enough to pull off the upset.
BIAH's pick: Purdue
7:00 pm: Northwestern @ NC State: Princeton offense versus princeton offense. Don't expect either school to be fooled or unprepared on the defensive end. This game is going to come down to talent and execution, and Northwestern, who is coming off of wins against Notre Dame and Iowa State, looks to have advantage. If John Shurna can outplay both Luke Harangody and Craig Brackins, he should have a field day against Tracy Smith.
BIAH's pick: Northwestern
7:30 pm: Maryland @ Indiana: Greivis Vasquez has let to play up to his potential, and as a result, Maryland has struggled quite a bit early this season. But Indiana is still a few years away from being Indiana. Even though they are improved this season, the Hoosiers have lost three games this season, two of them coming against BU and George Mason.
BIAH's pick: Maryland
9:00 pm: Michigan State @ UNC: Both Michigan State and UNC have fallen aways from where they were last season - atop the polls and in the title game. The Spartans are not going to be as big inside as the Heels, but Drayond Green, Delvon Roe, and company should be able to with compete the muscle of the Heels. The issue is going to be in the back court. Will Larry Drew be effective against a very good Spartan back court? Can Durrell Summers and Chris Allen be scoring threats against Will Graves and Marcus Ginyard?
BIAH's pick: Michigan State
9:30 pm: Virginia Tech @ Iowa: Iowa has already lost home games to Duquesne and Texas-San Antonio, and neither of those teams were as good as the Hokies. And neither team has a Malcolm Delaney.
BIAH's pick: Virginia Tech
WEDNESDAY:
7:15 pm: Illinois @ Clemson: The Illini had a terrible trip to Vegas, as they lost games to Utah (after blowing a 16 point halftime lead) and Bradley. Now they have to head to Littlejohn Coliseum to take on a Clemson team that is going to pressure the Illini back court for 40 minutes. Will the two freshman and Demetri McCamey (who was ripped by Bruce Weber in the press after the loss) be able to handle the pressure? Can the Illini handle Trevor Booker inside?
BIAH's pick: Clemson
7:15 pm: Minnesota @ Miami FL: The Hurricanes have been playing some great basketball so far this season, including a run to the title in the Charleston Classic. But the Canes best win is over a South Carolina team that lost Dominique Archie just seven minutes into the game. While the Gophers had a less than stellar performance out in Anaheim, this is a team that is big, athletic, and very good defensively. It is going to be quite a test for Miami.
BIAH's pick: Minnesota
7:30 pm: Boston College @ Michigan: Manny Harris is fast becoming a kid you have to consider for Big Ten Player of the Year. But the Wolverines have struggled as a team, as they are shooting just 30% from three. Boston College as not been playing great basketball either, losing two out of their last four games. Rakim Sanders has played just four minutes this season as he was suspended for two games and has been hobbled by a sprained ankle. Forward Joe Trapani has been playing well, as has point guard Reggie Jackson. The Eagles are going to need those two to show up if they want to beat the Wolverines zone defense.
BIAH's pick: Michigan
9:15 pm: Duke @ Wisconsin: Duke is built like your typical Wisconsin team. Big inside, good guard play, a couple of shooters, and tough defense. They just happen to be more talented and athletic than the Badgers. The question is how will the Blue Devils play in an always tough Kohl Center.
BIAH's pick: Duke
9:30 pm: Florida State @ Ohio State: A true point guard may not see the floor throughout this entire game. Florida State has a distinct size advantage over the Buckeyes, but the Seminoles bigs don't always play up to their height. Chris Singleton did an excellent job slowing down Lazar Hayward against Marquette in the Old Spice finals, but will he be able to do the same against a more talented Evan Turner? The Noles are shooting very well from deep early on this season, but will they be able to hit them if OSU packs in their defense?
BIAH's pick: Ohio State
If the games play out the way we foresee, then the Big Ten wins this thing 6-5.
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Monday's Pregame Beat |
7:00 pm: UNC-Asheville @ Kentucky: The Wildcats have not been as good as advertised this season. They don't give consistent effort on the defensive end, and offensively they are either too selfish or don't quite understand the dribble-drive motion offense. Eric Bledsoe has been a turnover machine, and DeMarcus Cousins does not seem like he grasps the notion of team play. That said, isn't this what everyone expected? This is a team who's best players are mostly freshman. Give them some time and more experience against teams like Asheville. The Wildcats will get there.
7:00 pm: Penn State @ Virginia: The ACC/Big Ten Challenge kicks off in Charlottesville tonight.
9:00 pm: Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Arizona State: ASU has visions of the NCAA Tournament. With how weak the Pac-10 is, these are games they need to win and need to win big.
Other notable games:
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Jimmy V Week: Let's Get It Right |
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Pac 10-Big XII Series. And now we have the SEC-Big East Invitational. I love them. I think these competitions are great for basketball. Think about it. If these didn't exist, would we see as many great games during December, college basketball's down time, as we currently do? 
This year we get Duke-Purdue, UNC-Michigan State, Texas-UCLA, USC-Oklahoma, even games with so-so teams like Wisconsin-Virginia Tech or Penn State-Georgia Tech end up turning into classics on national TV during primetime.
Maybe I am a just too much of a junkie, but anytime you can get games on ESPN, it is a good thing for the sport. Fans get excited that for the games. Players get amped up for them. The families and friends of players at a school like Penn State or Virginia, who rarely make it on ESPN these days, get a chance to see their loved ones on national television in a game called by one of the people they hear talking about the sport every night. The same goes for the pre-season tournaments like the Maui and the Old Spice. It is a great thing for the sport.
So my question is, how come ESPN hasn't capitalized on this yet? I doubt that it is more than a few years away already, but how come the Pac 10-Big XII and SEC-Big East competitions haven't grown to the size of the ACC-Big 10 Challenge? Again, it may just be because I am a college hoops fanatic, but think about how great this could be.
What sports are on during the week right now? NBA games, but no one cares about the NBA until the last month of the season and the playoffs. NHL games, but no one cares about the NHL ever. You have the mid-major college football games, but most of those are done by the week after Thanksgiving. NFL plays games on Monday and Thursday nights, but the Thursday night games are on the NFL Network and the Monday night games have been mediocre at best this year.
ESPN is promoting this as Jimmy V week, and it runs from Dec. 3rd-9th, culminating in the Jimmy V Classic on the 9th. Why half-ass it? Here is my proposition (and all you ESPN folks, remember where you heard it first). Starting the Monday after Feast Week
(i.e. the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend), start Jimmy V Week. Instead of just having a few games for the Pac 10-Big XII and the SEC-Big East, turn those into league wide competitions a la the ACC-Big 10 Challenge. Stagger them so that there are two marquee games on every night of the week, Monday-Friday, on ESPN and two more games a night on both ESPN2 and ESPN U. Six games a night over five nights is 30 games. As there will still be a few left over (by my calculations, with the size of each league there are 33 total games - 11 in the ACC-Big 10, 12 in the SEC-Big East, 10 in the Pac 10-Big XII), play them on Saturday afternoon (ESPN has basketball games on this Saturday as it is - Duke-Michigan and Miami FL-Kentucky).
Think about how exciting that would be. Think about the number of great games. Think about how much ESPN could promote that. Take this year as an example. Friday night, ESPN is airing Portland against Boston and ESPN 2 has the MAC football championship (Ball State against Buffalo). Again, it could be just me, but wouldn't you rather watch a game like UConn-Tennesee or Arizona State-Baylor?
Then, on the following Monday and/or Tuesday, hold the Jimmy V Classic. I know that ESPN would make money over hand and foot if this were to be implemented, but also think about how much money the V Foundation would make.
You could even take it a step further. The leagues with the two best records in their respective challenges will go head-to-head the next year. Third will play fourth, and fifth will play sixth. The way that two conferences are compared these days are you set up hypothetical match-ups between the best, the second best, etc. teams in each of the conferences, and see who ends up with a better record. So by having the two best conferences from the previous year square off, isn't that an easy way to settle the "who is the best conference debate"?
Yea, there are some logistical issues with that. For one, if the two best conferences play, then they are both likely to end up with a mediocre record that year, lowering their rank for the next season's competition. Also, if league's on opposite coasts (i.e. the Big East and the Pac 10) were to end up playing each other, travel could be come a big problem. Do you really want to fly a team from New York to California for one game during the week? Not only would it wreak havoc on the kids internal clocks, but it would be a big hinderance in class and study schedules with finals coming.
So it is not perfect yet, but tell me that this wouldn't be exciting for everyone associated with the sport.
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Wednesday Lay-up Lines |
The ACC-Big Ten Challenge concludes tonight. It's knotted up 3-3 after last night's games, but the ACC has a real chance to sweep tonight. Enough about the ACC-Big Ten Challenge (wrote about it this morning) so let's get into tonight's games.
loss is going to hurt the Spartans much more than losing Hansbrough will hurt the Heels. I know what you're thinking. "Wait a second. Isn't Tyler Hansbrough the reigning national player of the year? How could losing anyone be more important than that?" Its simple, actually. Deon Thompson and Ed Davis are more than capable of picking up the slack. They've been doing a tremendous job of it all year. Combined they are averaging 26 and 17. And even if you forget about them, look at the rest of the Heels roster. Ty Lawson and Danny Green are playing the best basketball of their lives, Wayne Ellington is probably going to end up being a first rounder, Thompson and Davis are both headed to the NBA one day, Larry Drew has been a more than capable back-up to Lawson (you get the point). As good as Michigan State is, they are going to have trouble replacing Suton's production. Where to they get that size and toughness from? Idong Ibok? Great name, that's about it. To be fair, I've always like Marquise Gray, but he has never been more than a role player. He is a good defender, provides some great athleticism and aggressiveness, but do you see him giving MSU the offensive spark they will need to compete with Carolina?
The second reason I like Carolina winning big is that they have started to play defense. They get out and pressure you, forcing turnovers that usually lead to lay-ups and dunks. I am a big fan of both of Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton (they are both good decision makers and don't turn the ball over), but they are both on the smaller side and could have trouble dealing with UNC's length and athleticism.
For Michigan State to win, they are going to need to slow down Carolina (which is all the more difficult because the Spartans wants to play fast this year as well). To do that you need to stop Ty Lawson early and to avoid letting him get a full head of steam. I'm assuming that job will fall into the hands of Kalin Lucas, who is going to want to locate Lawson in the back court and make him change direction with his dribble. But Lawson is so good at getting rid of the ball quickly to his teammates running the floor ahead of him. So not only will the Spartans have to worry about slowing down Lawson, they will have to worry about getting back on defense and locating a man. It is most important for the big men, because Carolina's bigs are the best in the country at running the floor. Beyond that, rebound the ball and hope your shots drop and Carolina's don't.
The Nittany Lions have a nice record, but it is all fluff. Their best win right now is probably against Penn, which isn't saying all that much. They do have a very good point guard in Talor Battle, a 5'11" sophomore that leads the team in scoring (19.4 ppg) and assists (5.3 apg). Georgia Tech is 4-0, and while they haven't beaten any big names, wins over Mercer (who has beaten just about everyone else) and Jacksonville (who is 0-5, but has yet to lose by double digits against a very tough schedule) are better than they may appear. The guy to watch on the Yellow Jackets in Gani Lawal. Lawal showed flashes last year playing limited minutes, but has been terrific this year, averaging 19 and 12 through the first four. - 7:00 PM: Lamar (5-0) @ Kentucky (4-2)
- 7:00 PM: Rhode Island (5-2) @ Northeastern (3-3), 7:30 PM: Miami OH (2-3) @ Temple (3-2): These are the kind of games that really pique our interest here. Two good teams from mid-major conferences playing each other. We like Northeastern at home and Miami OH on the road.
- 7:00 PM: Cornell (4-3) @ Syracuse (7-0): Ryan Wittman has been playing great in the absence of Louis Dale and Adam Gore. He is averaging 21, 4, and 3.
- 7:00 PM: Duquense (4-1) @ Pitt (7-0)
- 7:00 PM: UNC-Asheville (3-3) @ Tennessee (5-1)
- 8:00 PM: Alabama State (1-3) @ Nebraska (5-0): Quietly, Nebraska is one of two undefeated teams left in the Big XII. They have wins over TCU, St. Louis, and Creighton.
- 8:00 PM: New Mexico State (2-2) @ Kansas (5-1)
- 8:00 PM: Wichita State (3-3) @ Texas Tech (6-1)
- 8:00 PM: Auburn (3-3) @ Xavier (6-0)
- 9:00 PM: South Florida (3-1) @ UAB (4-2): South Florida's Dominique Jones and UAB's Robert Vaden are two of the most potent scorers in the country.
- 9:00 PM: West Virginia (4-1) @ Mississippi (5-1): Both teams really need this win to boost their NCAA tournament resumes. David Huertas has been great for the Rebels so far this year, averaging 22.7 ppg.
- 9:00 PM: Oregon (3-3) @ Utah (4-1): Utah, after losing to a D2 school in their opener, has now won four straight games.
- 10:30 PM: DePaul (4-0) @ Cal (5-1): Dar Tucker of DePaul is averaging 21 ppg. But so is Jerome Randle from Cal. Neither team has an impressive win yet, but this game is probably more important for DePaul, who will need all the W's they can get playing in the Big East if they want to make a run at the NCAA's.
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