POSTERIZED: Elgin Bailey gets KO'd......again

You all remember Elgin Bailey, right?

It was right around this time last season when the then-Mississippi State senior forward got punched repeatedly in the face by teammate Renardo Sidney during the Diamondhead Classic in Hawaii.

Bailey was kicked off the team and left the university shortly thereafter. Unbeknownst to practically everyone not-named Jeff Goodman, Bailey wound up at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Well, Southeastern Louisiana played Texas Tech on Friday night, and once again, Bailey was on the receiving-end of a vicious KO.

A vicious dunk-KO that is, courtesy of the noticeably-smaller DeShon Minnis.



Deshon "Biggie" Minnis is a 6-foot-3, 200lb freshman guard. Elgin Bailey is a 6-foot-8, 265lb senior forward. Yet it was the freshman that sent the fifth-year senior into the third row of the student section.

But you really have to feel for the camera-man. Dude took 265-plus pounds at full speed. That can't feel good.

But was it as good as these?

Keith Gabriel, VMI vs. Old Dominion, 12/22
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. Texas-Arlington, 12/21
P.J. Hairston, North Carolina vs. Texas, 12/21
Robbie Hummel, Purdue vs. IPFW, 12/20
Robert Brown, Virginia Tech vs. North Florida, 12/19
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Kansas State, 12/17
Torye Pelham, Southern Mississippi vs. Ole Miss, 12/17
Quincy Diggs, Akron vs. Florida A&M, 12/17
Anthony Davis, Kentucky vs. Chattanooga, 12/17
Langston Galloway/C.J. Aiken/Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Villanova, 12/17
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. UC-Santa Barbara, 12/16
Jared Cunningham, Oregon State vs. Howard, 12/15
Raheem Appleby, Louisiana Tech vs. McNeese State, 12/14
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Detroit, 12/12
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. UW-Green Bay, 12/11
Ronald Roberts, St. Joseph's vs. Creighton, 12/10
Dion Waiters, Syracuse vs. George Washington, 12/10 (DotY Candidate)
Victor Oladipo, Indiana vs. Kentucky, 12/10
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, 12/10
Vander Blue, Marquette vs. Washington, 12/6
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. Marquette, 12/6
Deville Smith, Mississippi State vs. West Virginia, 12/3
Terrence Jones, Kentucky vs. North Carolina, 12/3
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Georgetown, 12/1
Anthony Marshall, UNLV vs. UNC, 11/26
Michael Kidd-Glichrist, Kentucky vs. Portland, 11/26/11 (DotY Candidate)
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/25
Rodney Williams, Minnesota vs. DePaul, 11/24
Thomas Robinson, Kansas vs. Duke, 11/23
Stan Okoye, VMI vs. Ohio State, 11/23
Kyisean Reed, Utah State vs. Southern Utah, 11/19
Ra'Shad James, Iona vs. Western Michigan, 11/18
Alandise Harris, Houston vs. Arkansas, 11/18
Sam Thompson, Ohio State vs. Jackson State, 11/18
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Wichita State, 11/18
Eric Griffin, Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T, 11/18 (DotY Candidate)
Olek Czyz, Nevada vs. Pacific, 11/17
Chris Watson, Pikeville vs. Mountain State, 11/16
Ray Willis, North Carolina Central vs. Wagner, 11/16
Mike James, Lamar vs. Ohio, 11/15 (DotY Candidate)
Quincy Acy, Baylor vs. San Diego State, 11/15
Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia vs. Kent State, 11/15
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. West Virginia, 11/15
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Oakland, 11/14
Isaiah Brown, East Tennessee State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/12
Michael Lyons, Air Force vs. Army, 11/11
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Morgan State, 11/11
Jeremy Lamb, UConn vs. Columbia, 11/11 (DotY Candidate)
Andre Drummond, UConn vs. CW Post, 11/4
Moe Harkless, St. John's vs. CW Post, 10/26






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Billy Gillispie is on the brink of blowing his last chance

Billy Gillispie is a train wreck, and I take absolutely no pleasure in saying that.

Whether it is forcing Josh Harrellson to spend halftime of a game against Vanderbilt sitting in a bathroom stall, mocking Derrick Jasper for being out with microfracture surgery to the point that Jasper feels he has to transfer, his multiple run-ins with sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards (which may have stemmed from Gillispie being rejected by Edwards in a bar), or his well-documented drinking (and driving) problem, there is nothing about this guy that makes him seem like an appealing person to be around.

But he can coach.


Billy Clyde rebuilt two programs in Texas. He turned UTEP from a 6-24 team to a 24-win NCAA Tournament team in the span of one season. That got him to Texas A&M, where he laid the groundwork for the Aggie's current success despite taking over a team that went 0-16 in the Big 12 the year before he got there.

That ability to coach -- and ability to turn around dormant programs in Texas -- is the reason the guy who epically flamed-out at Kentucky was able to land the head coaching gig at Texas Tech. From a basketball perspective, the fit doesn't get much more perfect than that. But, as I wrote back in December (*pats self on back*) when the first rumblings of Tech's interest in Gillispie came to like, "if you hire Gillispie, you're not just hiring the basketball coach. You're hiring Billy Gillispie the person as well. Do so at your own risk."

According to Sports by Brooks, the Gillispie era at Tech is off to a horrendous start. Longtime basketball secretary Leslie Hartline has quit; Gillispie's already on his third person in that position in four months. So did trainer Jon Murray, who held that position for 13 years. Most notably, however, was a situation involving assistant coach Chris Beard. Beard, who was re-hired as an assistant after losing the position when Pat Knight lost his job, quit recently after "heated altercations with the irascible and intractable Gillispie, the final of which was physically broken up by Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt."

Keep in mind, all three of those people survived Bob Knight's tenure in Lubbock.

Also keep in mind we've ignored the fact that he was bilked out of millions in two different Ponzi schemes.

When does Gillispie reach the point of no return?

What coach is going to want to work for him? What kid is going to want to play for him? How long until he makes headlines for a drinking-related offense? Is his drinking -- Brooks not-so-subtlely hints that he hasn't gotten control of it -- the cause of the tension he's created?

Hocutt had to have known something like this was coming. He knew that hiring Gillispie was a huge risk, but he hired him because there was a chance -- and still is -- it can pay huge dividends. Like I said, Gillispie can flat out coach, but he's broken as a person. Whether that means he's an alcoholic or just simply a miserable guy, I don't know.

What I do know is that he needs to make a change, and make a change quickly.

Because if he flames out at Tech, who is going to give him another chance?
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Derrick Jasper's intriguing decision to return to Billy Gillispie

One of the more intriguing stories to emerge during the holiday weekend was that Derrick Jasper, the former Kentucky and UNLV forward, was taking a position as a graduate assistant on Billy Gillispie's staff at Texas Tech.

Jasper was recruited to Lexington by the previous staff, but he played for Gillispie for at Kentucky. Players that are looking to get into the coaching world hit up their former coaches all the time. That isn't unusual.

What is unusual in the circumstances in which Jasper left UK to transfer to UNLV. After his freshman season, Jasper had undergone microfracture surgery on his knee, which is one of the most serious operations an athlete can have on their knee. It can take upwards of 18 months for the knee to correctly heal, but Gillispie pressured Jasper to get back out on the court after six months, playing 20 games his sophomore season.


Jasper transferred after his sophomore season, citing a desire to be closer to his California home, but most speculated that the move was a result of a disconnect between the coach and the player. (Ironically, Gillispie was run out of Kentucky after Jasper's transfer to make room for John Calipari.) That knee never quite got healthy, as Jasper battled nagging injuries over his two years with the Running Rebels.

Jasper, however, told the Las Vegas Sun that he doesn't hold any grudges.

"I think that was blown out of proportion a bit," Jasper said. "We had a good relationship. It wasn't bad. It was me wanting to get closer to him. I wouldn't be going back to work for him if I didn't believe he was a good guy.

"A lot of (the return from the knee injury) was just me trying to get back early enough to help my team. That's all in the past now. I'm just looking to the future."

The future does look bright. Jasper will be earning a salary at Texas Tech while also having the courses he will take towards his master's degree paid for. It also isn't a bad coaching gig, either. Prior to taking the Kentucky job, Gillispie turned both UTEP and Texas A&M from the bottom of their respective leagues into NCAA Tournament teams. In UTEP's case, it only took him one season to make a 6-24 team into a 24-8 team.

Being associated with that kind of success at Texas Tech certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for Jasper's coaching resume.
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The B.I.A.H Not-Top-10 Rankings

Every week, writers, publications, media outlets and bloggers issue their Top-25 rankings for the week. A majority of the time, everybody has virtually same opinion of all the teams.

If you want to find this week's top-25 rankings, you've come to the wrong place. Here you will find our rankings for the 10 worst team performances in the NCAA. This list isn't just home to the winless mid-major bottom-feeders. No, here you will find the biggest underachievers, slumpers and teams in a funk, the worst weekly performers, and the teams that just plain suck. Now there will be teams on this list that are better than teams not on this list. But come on people, we are trying to be creative, just work with us.

The B.I.A.H Not-Top-10 Rankings

1. Wake Forest
Record: 7-12 (0-4)
They are 0-4 in ACC play and are losing by an average of 26-points in those contests. In their last outing, a 35-point loss to Georgia Tech, the Demon Deacons managed to score only 39-points. They have also lost 9 out of their last 11 games. Their next contest is against Duke. Can you say "seal-clubbing"?


I really can't emphasize just how bad this team is. I'd bet my lunch money that the Deacs don't win a single ACC game this season. That's saying a lot, because after all, the ACC is pretty bad.


2. DePaul
Record: 6-12 (0-6)

I hope Oliver Purnell doesn't mind losing, because, well DePaul figures to do allot of that in the Big East conference. in fact, all they do in conference play is lose. They have yet to win a Big East game, and other than a 2-point scare they game West Virginia, they haven't been close to getting a W. Their last game against Marquette ended in a 35-point shellacking. The lone bright spot for the Blue Demons is freshman Cleveland Melvin. He is leading the team with 14-ppg, and is likely a lock for the Big East all-freshman team. Other than that, DePaul is DePaulful.


3. Texas Tech
Record: 8-11 (0-4)

Texas Tech is losing to Big-12 competition by an average of 21.5-ppg. In fact, in back-to-back games, against Texas and Kansas State, they lost by a combined 65-points, which is more than the Red Raiders scored in either of those contests. Plus, their most recent loss came to Oklahoma, the other Big-12 team battling for BCS-Conference suckitude.


It's kind of a shame they are this bad, because Mike Singletary and John Roberson are tremendous players, but it just so happens the rest of their team blows.


4. UNLV
Record: 14-5 (2-3)

Hey, remember that time UNLV was 9-0 and surging up the rankings on their way to legitimacy? Yeah, seems like eons ago, doesn't it? Since the beginning of the new calender year, The Runnin' Rebels are 2-3, lost to Colorado State at home by 15, and don't have back-to-back wins since before Christmas. UNLV was once considered a contender to win the MWC, but with the way BYU and SDSU are playing right now, UNLV looks more like pretenders.


5. Kansas State
Record: 13-6 (1-3)

I think it's safe to say that K-State is the biggest disappointment of the season thus far. They've got issues everywhere, on and off the court. Jacob Pullen went from budding superstar at the beginning of the season to full-fledged stubborn prima donna. The Wildcats haven't won back-to-back games since the beginning on January, when they beat North Florida and Savannah State. In fact, K-State has losses to UNLV (another Not-Top-10-Team), Florida (who beat Auburn by FIVE), Oklahoma State by 14, Colorado by 8 and Missouri by 16. Frank Martin must be losing his mind.


6. Central Florida
Record: 14-3 (1-3)


No team in the country has had a bigger reality check than the Knights of UCF. They completed their non-con schedule without a blemish, and reached as high as No. 21 in the national rankings. But since C-USA play started, they are just 1-3 and have dropped their last three games. In the 14 games UCF has won, Marcus Jordan is averaging 17-ppg, and in the three games they have lost, he is only averaging 13-ppg. Conference-USA is better than people expected, so UCF cannot afford to slip up any more than they already have.


7. Bradley
Record: 6-13 (0-8)

The Braves have only two wins since Thanksgiving. They are yet to defeat a conference opponent are ranked 270th or higher in the four major statistical categories. They will get a chance to finally get a conference win, when they host Illinois State, the MVC's other winless team, on January 26th. Remember, when your thinking about how bad your day is, there is somebody out there covering this basketball team for a living



8. Drexel
Record: 11-6 (3-4)

Ok, listen, Drexel isn't a bad team. They aren't particularly great, but they certainly aren't bad. Bruiser Flint is a good coach and they have some quality wins (Rider, at Louisville, Old Dominion). But it seems like every season, the Dragons get tossed-n-turned in CAA play. The Dragons are 2-3 since the start of 2011, and, although two of the losses were to the top two teams in the league (Hofstra, VCU), they also have a 24-point loss to evenly-matched George Mason and a unforgivable 14-point loss at William & Mary. Hopefully the Dragons can get back to their winning ways with upcoming games against Northeastern and Georgia State .


9. Quinnipiac
Record: 12-6 (4-3)

The Bobcats make the list because of one thing: An injured Justin Rutty. The forward is a two-time NEC first-teamer and was last season's conference PoY. Since Rutty went out with an injured elbow on January 10th, the Bobcats have gone 1-3 and all of the losses have come against sub-.500 teams. The Bobcats are ranked 2nd in the country in rebounding, but that was due in large part to Rutty's 9.6-rpg. Just like Drexel, I'm not saying Quinnipiac is bad. But I am certainly saying that they are struggling, bad.


10. Christian Standhardinger

I imagine you've heard about this guy by now. The 6'8 German import was going to transfer from Nebraska because of a lack of playing time, and was planning on transferring to LaSalle. The only problem is that Christian tried to "shack-up" with a coed in a local park and was busted for public indecency. LaSalle found out and now he won't be transferring. OK, listen: You're not in Germany anymore. I know Germany (and all of Europe for that matter) is a pretty liberal place when it comes to sex, but unfortunately, you're in Nebraska, which is practically the polar-opposite of Germany. Listen, I went to Central Europe for a month back in school. But I made sure I knew my surroundings. I did my best to not look, act, or do anything remotely American.


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Could Billy Gillispie replace Pat Knight at Texas Tech?

Billy Gillispie built his reputation by rebuilding two Texas programs.

In '02-'03, his first season as a head coach with UTEP, the Miners went just 6-24. But Gillispie brought in a stellar recruiting class, and went 24-8 in his second season, leading UTEP to the NCAA tournament. That improvement caught the eye of Texas A&M athletic director Bryan Byrne, who hired Gillispie to fill the void left when Melvin Watkins was forced to resign following a 7-21 season (he went 0-16 in the Big XII).

In '04-'05, his first season in College Station, Gillispie led the Aggies to a 21-10 record and an 8-8 finish in the Big XII, the second consecutive season he orchestrated college basketball's biggest turn around. Despite losing Antoine Wright to the draft, the Aggies were better the next season, going 21-8, 10-6, while earning their first ranking in 25 years and their first trip to the dance since 1987. They ended up knocking off fifth seeded Syracuse in the first round, before losing to LSU on a late three.


Things only got better in '06-'07, Gillispie's third season at A&M. The Aggies went 13-3 in the conference and finished second behind Kansas. They were ranked in the top 10 much of the year, getting as high as sixth in the polls. In the tournament that year, A&M reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Memphis by one. Gillispie received his second Big XII coach of the year award in three seasons.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald speculated on Wednesday that Billy Clyde could be a guy that Texas Tech would look to hire if they decided to get rid of Pat Knight.

From a basketball perspective, the hire seems to be a perfect fit. Gillispie has the track record to prove he is capable of turning a program around quickly. The flame out at Kentucky? Pin that on Gillispie's inability to handle the bright lights of Lexington.

It makes sense. Its a fit.

But I still wouldn't do it.

Because Gillispie seems like a such a miserable person.

Whether it is forcing Josh Harrellson to spend halftime of a game against Vanderbilt sitting in a bathroom stall, mocking Derrick Jasper for being out with microfracture surgery to the point that Jasper feels he has to transfer, his multiple run-ins with sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards (which may have stemmed from Gillispie being rejected by Edwards in a bar), or his well-documented drinking (and driving) problem, Gillispie is not the kind of coach that I would allow my 18 year old son to play for.

Let's say that Pat Knight does get fired this offseason. Gillispie has to be one of the first guys that they look at, if for nothing else than his track record in building programs in the state of Texas.

But keep in mind, if you hire Gillispie, you're not just hiring the basketball coach.

You're hiring Billy Gillispie the person as well.

Do so at your own risk.
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Wednesday Where Are They Now?: Darvin Ham, Texas Tech

Ever wonder what happened to those college stars that couldn't catch on in the NBA? The guys that put up the great numbers or the guys that left early, and were never heard from again? Every Wednesday, we at BIAH will take a look at a former college star that never made it in the NBA, and we will update you on where he is playing or what he is doing. We're guessing the results will surprise you. To request a player, hit us up on twitter @ballinisahabit or via email at contactbiah@gmail.com.

Darvin Ham, Texas Tech

I'm not going to lie, Darvin Ham was one of my favorite basketball players when I was growing up. It was a weird combination, I will admit. Ham is from Saginaw, MI, while I hail from North Haven, CT. Ham went to Texas Tech, and as most of you know I grew up a UConn fan. Ham played eight seasons in the NBA as nothing more than a role player, having his best season with the Bucks and winning a title with Detroit. I don't even watch the NBA. No, I became a fan of the "Ham Slam-wich" when he shattered the back board on a tip-dunk in Texas Tech's upset win over North Carolina in the 1996 NCAA Tournament, making the cover of SI in the process.



It wasn't always that easy for Ham, however. As a 14 year old, Ham was nearly killed after being struck in the jaw by a stray bullet in his neighborhood. He didn't even play basketball until his senior year in high school, after his father forced him to quit football because of his grades. Ham wound up at Otero Junior College, where Texas Tech coaches discovered him at a JuCo showcase.

Ham made an immediate impact with the Red Raiders, averaging 8.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg in his first season in 1993-1994. As a junior in 1994-1995, Ham's number went down a bit, but Tech won a share of the Southwest Conference's regular season title and advanced to the 1995 NIT. But his senior season is the one that everyone will remember. Ham averaged 9.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg for a Red Raider team that went 30-2, won both the Southwest Conference regular season and tournament titles, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, which included the aforementioned upset of North Carolina.

When Ham left Tech, he was the furthest thing from an NBA prospect. 6'7" combo-forwards with out a post-move or a jump shot don't generally go in the lottery. But after going undrafted in the 1996 NBA Draft, Ham impressed the Denver Nuggets enough to offer him a contract. He spent most of the year playing sparingly for the Nuggets, seeing action in just 23 games, before being traded to Indiana in February of 1997.

The Pacers would eventually let Ham go, and he signed with Washington for the 1997-1998 season. Ham would finally get some consistent minutes with Washington, playing in 71 games and earning three starts. His numbers were unimpressive -- 2.0 ppg and 1.8 rpg -- which played a part in Ham's departure from the NBA.


He wasn't gone for long -- spending one season playing for Spain's CB Grenada -- before returning and joining the Milwaukee Bucks, where he would have his most productive seasons. In the 1999-2000 season, Ham averaged 5.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg while getting 21 starts. The following season, he started 13 games and in 2001-2002, Ham played in 70 games, averaging 4.3 ppg, but for the first time in his Bucks career, Ham missed the playoffs.

Ham would spend the next season with Atlanta before moving on to Detroit. Ham spent two seasons in Detroit, winning a ring in 2003-2004, his first season with the Pistons. Ham was the perfect piece for a Larry Brown team, as the legendary head coach was once quoted as saying "every team needs a Darvin Ham."

In 2005, Ham's NBA career ended, and he began a journey through professional basketball. In 2006, he spent time playing with Talk N' Text Phone Pals of the Phillipine Basketball Association, but after a disappointing finish and even more disappointing treatment while there, Ham decided to return to the States.

He had gigs as an analyst on Fox Sports Southwest as well as NBA TV, but in 2007 he returned to playing, becoming the third pick in the 2007 NBDL Draft to the Albequerque T-Birds. He played most of one season with the T-Birds, eventually getting traded to the Austin Toros. After getting a couple of opportunities with NBA teams during summer leagues and preseasons, Ham called it a career, becoming an assistant coach with the T-Birds in 2008.

Over the summer, Ham was named head coach of the T-Birds, which helped to bring about this fantastic t-shirt promotion. Ham's son, Darvin Jr., will play next season at D-II Northwood University.

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Pat Knight continues to follow in his father's footsteps

Bobby Knight is, has been, and always will be one of the best when it comes to giving good quote.

Don't believe me? Watch this.

His son Pat, now the coach at Texas Tech, may be trying to emulate his father. Take a look at this press conference at the Red Raiders loss to New Mexico. The good stuff starts about a minute in:



Like they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

(h/t WWL's Hoops blog)
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Who will be the last remaining unbeaten team in the country?

There are currently 11 teams in the country that have yet to lose - four in the Big East, three in the Big XII, and one each in the Big Ten, SEC, MVC, and MWC.

Of those 11 teams, who will be the first to lose? The last? Can any of them run the table?

Read along to find out:

SETON HALL: 8-0

• RPI (all RPI numbers via RealTimeRPI): 52
  
• KenPom: 49
  
• Early season schedule: Seton Hall has played a very easy schedule thus far (ranked 255th) in the season. They do have a nice road win at Cornell, but that's about it. The Pirates have a talent laden roster and look good on paper, but until we see results, we will be skeptical of their record.
  
• Next five games: Temple, Navy, West Virginia, UConn, @ Virginia Tech
• First loss: I don't see them beating West Virginia on the 26th, but the Pirates better not over look a Temple team that lost to Georgetown by one and beat Villanova. In fact, SHU could easily have four losses by the end of this stretch.
  

GEORGETOWN: 8-0

• RPI: 11
  
• KenPom: 19
  
• Early season schedule: There three wins over Temple, Butler, and Washington are all quality wins, but after that Georgetown has played a whole lot of nothin'. Their schedule strength is 86th.
  
• Next five games: Old Dominion, Harvard, St. John's, @ DePaul, @ Marquette
  
• First loss: Games against St. John's, at Marquette, and against UConn will be tough, but if they get through unscathed, I don't see the Hoyas beating Villanova on the road.
  

WEST VIRGINIA: 7-0

• RPI: 3
  
• KenPom: 4
  
• Early season schedule: The Mountaineers have breezed through the 25th rated schedule so far this season, including wins over Texas A&M and Portland in the 76 Classic and a dismantling of Duquesne. They are still not playing at full strength as Devin Ebanks has yet to come to life.
  
• Next five games: @ Cleveland State, Ole Miss, @ Seton Hall, Marquette, @ Purdue
  
• First loss: The game against Cleveland State game could be a trap game on the road as the Mountaineers have a tough slate coming up. Ole Miss is good as well, but I see WVU losing their first game to Purdue on New Years Day.
  

SYRACUSE: 10-0

• RPI: 7
  
• KenPom: 5
  
• Early season schedule: Tough to believe the Orange have the 61st toughest schedule, as they can claim victories over UNC, Cal, Florida, and Cornell.
  
• Next five games: St. Bonaventure, Oakland, @ Seton Hall, Pitt, Memphis
  
• First loss: Seton Hall could be a tough game as the Pirates have the shooters to force Syracuse to extend their zone, but I think the Orange will be undefeated when they head to Morgantown on January 17th.
  

KANSAS: 9-0

• RPI: 15
  
• KenPom: 2
  
• Early season schedule: Kansas really hasn't beaten anyone this season (101st rated schedule). The Memphis win was solid, but the Tigers are not the same Tigers this season. The win at UCLA isn't what a win at UCLA usually is, either.
  
• Next five games: Michigan, Cal, Belmont, @ Temple, Cornell
  
• First loss: Winning at Tennessee on the 10th is going to be difficult, as will their date at Kansas State on January 30th. But wouldn't it be cool if both Kansas and Texas were undefeated come their matchup in Austin on February 8th?
  

TEXAS: 9-0

• RPI: 13
  
• KenPom: 1
  
• Early season schedule: The Longhorns have beaten Iowa, Pitt, and USC this season, but am I the only one that thinks their win over Western Carolina, who just beat Louisville, is their most impressive thus far? Their schedule ranks 91st.
  
• Next five games: vs. UNC, Michigan State, Gardner-Webb, Texas A&M-CC, @ Arkansas
  
• First loss: We will know a lot more about the Longhorns if they can make it past both the Heels and the Spartans. If they do, I don't think they can make it through a four game stretch when they play Texas A&M, @ Kansas State, @ UConn, and Texas Tech in an 11 day stretch.
  

TEXAS TECH: 9-0

• RPI: 30
  
• KenPom: 50
  
• Early season schedule: Beating Washingotn in OT lent some credibility to their undefeated record, but Tech is still largely unproved as their schedule (176th) has been far from impressive.
  
• Next five games: @ Wichita State, Stanford, @ New Mexico, McNeese State, UTEP
  
• First loss: I don't think the Red Raiders will be able to go into the Pit and beat an undefeated New Mexico team.
  

KENTUCKY: 10-0

• RPI: 24
  
• KenPom: 45
  
• Early season schedule: Kentucky has wins over UNC, UConn, and an improved Indiana squad, but they have still played a schedule ranked 148th. Combine that with some unimpressive performances against teams like Stanford and Miami OH, and their computer numbers have suffered a bit too.
  
• Next five games: Austin Peay, Drexel, Long Beach State, Hartford, Louisville
  
• First loss: Louisville isn't quite on Kentucky's level this year, but we've learned the hard way records don't matter in rivalry games. Going into the Swamp on the 12th will be a tall task as well, especially as they play a road game against good competition for the first time.
  

PURDUE: 9-0

• RPI: 6
  
• KenPom: 6
  
• Early season schedule: Purdue has played the 54th toughest schedule this season, and wins against Wake Forest, Tennessee, and at Alabama back that up.
  
• Next five games: Ball State, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, @ Iowa, West Virginia, Minnesota
  
• First loss: WVU and Minnesota will both be tough, especially playing without Lewis Jackson to handle the point against physical defense, but I think Purdue loses their first game when they have to head to the Kohl Center and play Wisconsin.
  

NEW MEXICO: 11-0

• RPI: 16
  
• KenPom: 20
  
• Early season schedule: New Mexico hasn't played a great schedule (104th), but wins over Cal and Texas A&M are quite impressive. But we know they are good at home, can they win on the road?
  
• Next five games: Creighton, @ Oral Roberts, Texas Tech, Dayton, @ San Diego State
  
• First loss: That's a pretty tough five game stretch. Remember, Oral Roberts beat Missouri at home. If UNM gets through this stretch (and that's a big if), I don't think they beat UNLV.
  

MISSOURI STATE: 9-0

• RPI: 21
  
• KenPom: 47
  
• Early season schedule: Missouri State has a win over an SEC team (Auburn) and an NCAA Tournament team (Tulsa) at home, but hasn't played much else beyond that (134th rated schedule).
  
• Next five games: @ St. Louis, @ Arkansas, @ Evansville, Illinois State, @ Northern Iowa
  
• First loss: If the Bears can make it through that three game road stretch, I don't see them getting past UNI on the road.
  

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12/7 - College Hoops Week in Review

What we learned this week: Duke is good, some might even go as far as saying they are really good. We learned that when they beat down UConn in the Garden the day after Thanksgiving. But after watching the Blue Devils lose to a well-coached Wisconsin team, the Blue Devils are still a ways from being great. The biggest issue, believe it or not, seems to be their front line. The last two games, Duke has struggled against good, mobile big men. Jon Leuer had 17 points and 7 boards for Wisconsin, while Sean Evans went for 17 and 6 in the win over St. John's. At the Villanova-Maryland game yesterday, I was talking about Duke and an interesting point was brought up. At the end of games, Coach K is still going with his small line-up - the three guards, Singler, and Thomas. I understand that he may have needed shooters against Wisconsin and ball-handlers against St. John's, but it seems that this group is the five he is most comfortable with.

When John Wall and Patrick Patterson are playing like they did in the first half against UNC, the Wildcats are going to be very, very hard to beat. Remember, this is a UNC team that ran over Michigan State on Tuesday, and the Heels looked utterly and completely outclassed in the first half. John Wall is just about impossible to stop when he has a head of steam in transition. And if you do manage to slow him down, he is a good enough, and more importantly willing enough, passer to find an open shooter. Even with the excellent play of Daniel Orton in the early going, UK won't be at full strength until DeMarcus Cousins finds the maturity necessary to play at this level (he had a melt down on the bench after picking up his fourth foul on Saturday) and Eric Bledsoe gets better at protecting the ball, but it may not matter.

Notre Dame has a real shot at making the tournament this season, and a big reason for that is the play of forward Tim Abromaitis. The 6'8" forward, who had been coming off the bench, started again Central Florida on Saturday and went for 31 points. He is shooting an absurd 49% from three while taking almost 5 per game. Their may not be a more potent scoring duo in the front court that Abro and Luke Harangody.

Washington was supposed to be the flag bearer for the Pac-10 this season, but they have been struggling mightily of late. They struggled through early season wins agaist Wright State, Belmont, Montana, and Cal St. Northridge, and lost on the road to Texas Tech. A big reason has been the sub-par play of Abdul Gaddy. It is almost unfair to judge a freshman critically, but a huge reason that Washington had such high expectations in the pre-season was that Gaddy was expected to be play an integral role in the Huskies uptempo offense. The Pac-10 seems destined to get at most three, and more likely just two, teams into the tournament simply because the league's RPI will be so low as a result of the overall struggles early in the season.

It seems to be a pretty safe bet that the Big Ten, Big XII, and Big East will compete all season long for the right to call themselves the nation's best conference.

CO-GAMES OF THE WEEK: Texas Tech 99, Washington 92 OT

Texas Tech jumped all over Washington in the first half, taking advantage of lackadaisical defense from the Huskies for open jumpers and easy run outs. But in the second half, Washington tightened up, using a 10-2 run to tie the game at 60 with 13 minutes left. The two teams went back and forth until Isaiah Thomas hit a three to give Washington an 80-78 lead with 1:36 left. On the ensuing possession, Tech's Mike Singletary hit a jumper to tie the game. After both teams missed a shot, Thomas threw a difficult pass to Quincy Pondexter that was deflected. It ended up in Elston Turner's hands, who threw a pump fake to get Brad Reese in the air and draw a foul with 4.8 seconds left. Turner would end up missing both free throws, and Mike Singletary would take the rebound, dribble the length of the court, and throw up an 18 foot runner from the wing. He would hit the shot and the Tech students would storm the floor, but after replay review by the refs, the shot was called off.

Mike Singletary's runner at the buzzer was waived off.
(photo credit: Bleacher Report)

The overtime was just as exciting. The two teams would trade the lead a couple times before a Nick Okorie lay-up with just over a minute left gave the Red Raiders a 91-89 lead. On the ensuing possession, John Roberson would make a steal and go in for an uncontested lay-up for a four point lead. After Isaiah Thomas air-balled a three the next time down the floor for U-Dub, the game was all but over.


Illinois 76, Clemson 74:

With 8:09 left in the first half, Demetri McCamey picked up his third foul pinning him on the bench for the rest of the half. Clemson would take advantage of freshmen DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul, using their press to make a 23-6 run to end the half. The Tigers would go up as much as 23 points early in the second half before Illinois started making their comeback. The Illini trimmed the lead to 61-46 before scoring 17 straight points, taking a 63-61 lead with 8:55 left in the half. Clemson would get the lead back with three minutes left on lay-up from Brian Narcisse.

Mike Tisdale scored on a lay-up to take the lead back before a three pointer from Tanner Smith put Clemson up 74-72. After a DJ Richardson free throw cut the lead to one, Tisdale scored on a short jumper with 41 seconds left to give Illinois the lead for good. Tisdale would pick up a block on the defensive end, and after Brandon Paul hit one of two free throws, Demontez Stitt would miss a tough, but makeable, lay-up as time expired, giving Illinois the win.



Also good this week:

• UNLV 74, Arizona 72 2OT: The only reason this game didn't make it to game of the week is because I couldn't watch it and it is now part of my protest against cable companies. Regulation ended as both teams missed threes in the final 30 seconds. Jamelle Horne hit a short bank shot to force the second OT. Derrick Jasper hit a three to give the Rebels a 70-68 lead, and UNLV would hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Nic Wise had a three blocked at the buzzer.
• Ole Miss 81, Southern Miss 79: Ole Miss went on a 10-2 run in the final minute for the win. Chris Warren hit back-to-back threes that tied the game, and Eniel Polynice won the game with a leak out dunk with two seconds left.
• High Point 63, Presbyterian 61: Travis Smith hit a three for Presbyterian that tied the game at 61 with five seconds left. But Tehran Cox found himself open for a lay-up as the buzzer sounded to give the Panthers the win.
• UMKC 84, Centenary 83: UMKC overcame a 12 point deficit in the final 4:39 as Bakari Lewis scored seven points in the last minute, capped by a short jumper with 4 seconds left to give UMKC their only lead of the second half.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Corey Raji, Boston College

Corey Raji was BC's best player in the Eagles 2-0 week. In their win at Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday night, Raji scored 17 first half points to help BC build a lead that the Wolverines were never able to overcome. On the night, Raji finished with 24 points and 9 boards. Raji was just as important as the Eagles handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the season in the ACC opener for both teams. Raji finished with 17 points a 9 boards, with 7 of those rebounds coming on the offensive end. Remember, both of these wins, both of which will prove to be valuable come Selection Sunday if the Eagles are are on the bubble, came without the Eagles best player Rakim Sanders, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Corey Raji led the Eagles to wins over Michigan and Miami.
(photo credit: Bleacher Report)

For the week, Raji averaged 20.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg (with 11 of those 18 boards coming on the offensive end) while shooting 18 for 27 (66.7%) from the floor.

Also good this week:

• Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: In two games this week, including a big win over Maryland at the Verizon Center, Reynolds averaged 19.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 7.0 apg.
• Jerome Dyson, UConn: Dyson came an assist away from a triple double in Sunday's nail biter against Harvard, posting 24 points, 14 boards, and 9 assists. For the week, Dyson averaged 23.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.5 apg, 2.0 spg and 2.0 bpg.
• Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin: Hughes scored 26 points, hitting countless big shots, as he led Wisconsin to a win over Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. In a 2-0 week, Hughes averaged 23.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 3.0 apg.
  
• Jon Diebler, Ohio State: The Buckeyes went 2-0 this week in large part because of the shooting of Diebler. In the two games, Diebler averaged 21.5 ppg while going 12-20 from three. In the win against Florida State, it was Diebler's five first half threes that carried OSU to a big lead. His contributions will be all the more important in the next two months as Ohio State will be without Evan Turner.
• Josh Slater, Lipscomb: In a 1-1 week for the Bison, Slater was phenomenal, averaging 26.5 ppg and 8.5 apg while shooting 19-28 from the floor.
• Kyle Gibson, Louisiana Tech: Gibson was sensational for the 7-1 Bulldogs, as he went for 27.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 4.0 apg while shooting 11-16 from three in a 2-0 week.
• James Florence, Mercer: Florence may be the best player in the country you've never heard of, as he is averaging 24.9 ppg on the year. This week was one of his best, as he averaged 28.5 ppg and 7.0 apg. Too bad he's playing on a struggling, 3-5 Mercer team.
• Charles Jenkins, Hofstra: Jenkins led the Pride to a 2-0 week. He had 38 points on just 17 shots in a tough, four point win over Fairfield. For the week, Jenkins averaged 29.5 ppg while going 19-30 from the field.
  

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers went 2-0 on the week, but their big win was their upset win over Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The final was 73-69, but Wisconsin never trailed in the game. Up by as much as 11 in the second half, Wisconsin was able to respond every time Duke made a run. Duke cut the lead to 40-38 early in the second half, and Wisconsin responded with a 9-2 run to open up a 49-40 lead. After two Kyle Singler free throws made it 53-52 with 10:47 left in the game, Wisconsin's defense ratcheted up, holding Duke to just two points over the next six minutes as they opened up a 65-54 lead with just over four minutes left. Then when Andre Dawkins hit three straight threes down the stretch, Wisconsin hit their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Trevon Hughes celebrates during the Badger's win over Duke.
(photo credit: Scout.com)

This win was more significant than just upsetting Duke. For the first time, the Blue Devils lost in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The win also sealed the first time the Big Ten would win the challenge.

Also good this week:

• Oklahoma Sooners: After losing three straight games, Oklahoma bounced back this week with big wins over USC and Arizona.
• Boston College Eagles: BC won two important games this week in their quest to make the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles won on the road at Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge before handing Miami their first loss of the season in their ACC opener. The best part? They did it without Rakim Sanders.
• Cornell Big Red: Cornell is back on track after losing two games to Big East schools early in the season. They hung on to beat Bucknell on the road in overtime before knocking off St. Joe's in Ithaca.
  

MATCH-UPS OF THE WEEK:

• 12/8 - 7:00 pm: Butler vs. Georgetown in the Jimmy V Classic
• 12/8 - 8:30 pm: Vanderbilt @ Illinois
• 12/8 - 9:00 pm: Xavier @ Kansas State
• 12/8 - 10:00 pm: Arizona State @ BYU
• 12/9 - 9:00 pm: Michigan @ Utah
  
• 12/9 - 9:00 pm: Villanova @ St. Joe's
• 12/9 - 9:30 pm: UConn vs. Kentucky
• 12/10 - 6:30 pm: DePaul vs. Mississippi State
• 12/10 - 9:00 pm: Florida vs. Syracuse
• 12/11 - 9:30 pm: Western Kentucky @ Vanderbilt
• 12/12 - 12:00 pm: Ohio State @ Butler
• 12/12 - 2:00 pm: Georgetown @ Washington
• 12/12 - 4:00 pm: Oklahoma @ Utah
• 12/12 - 5:00 pm: Marquette @ Wisconsin
• 12/13 - 7:00 pm: Cincinnati @ Xavier
  
• 12/12 - 7:00 pm: Kansas State @ UNLV

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Friday's Shootaround: Texas Tech upsets Washington

Texas Tech 99, Washington 92 OT: Maybe the most exciting game of the year thus far in the season. Washington and Texas Tech were tied with 4.8 seconds left after Elston Turner missed two free throws. Mike Singletary grabbed the rebound, dribbled the length of the court, and hit a 20 foot runner at the buzzer for what looked like a last second win. The fans stormed the court, but after further review, Singletary didn't get the shot off in time.

Texas Tech fans stormed the court twice last night.
(photo credit: Examiner)

In the first half, Texas Tech opened up a nine point lead as Washington looked bad defensively. They struggled rotating, they were getting beat off the dribble, and they were allowing open jumpers. The second half was a different story, as the Huskies locked down a little more on the defensive end. After a 10-2 run tied the game at 60, the two teams basically traded baskets until there was under a minute left in the overtime period. After Venoy Overton fell asleep defensively, allowing Nick Okorie to cut back door for a lob, Tech went up 91-89. On the ensuing possession, John Roberson (who finished the game with 25 points) stole the ball and went the distance for a lay-up to take a 93-89 lead with 45 seconds left. After Thomas airballed a three, this one was all but over.

While this looks like a disastrous loss for Washington and the Pac-10, keep in mind that this Texas Tech team is still undefeated, and they have the look of a team that can at least make a run at an at-large bid. Roberson is solid at the point, and last night was no different as he went for 25 points and 7 assists. He made a number of big plays down the stretch, including hitting all 13 of his free throws. He severely outplayed U-Dub's duo of Isaiah Thomas and Abdul Gaddy. Mike Singletary is a scorer. He's not really a post player, not really a wing, but he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim or finish in the mid range. But Singletary, who finished with 16 points and 12 boards, also showed the ability to mix it up under the rim. Combine those two with a couple big bodies, a couple of athletic wings, and a shooter off the bench in Brad Reese, and you have yourself a team.

Quincy Pondexter had 31 points to lead the Huskies.

Baylor 64, Arizona State 61: Tweety Carter took over late for the Bears. He scored 12 in a 13-0 Baylor run that gave the Bears a 52-47 lead with just under six minutes left. Rihard Kuksiks responded by scoring 11 straight ASU points to tie the game at 58. But Epke Udoh found Quincy Acy for a dunk with 49 seconds left, and 35 seconds later Carter hit two free for a 62-58 lead. Ty Abbott hit a three to cut it to one, but Udoh found LaceDarius Dunn for a lay-up for the final score. Carter finished with 27 points for the second straight game, hitting 7-9 from deep.

Texas 69, USC 50: Texas is still looking to put it together offensively, but the Longhorns still can play defense. They held USC into a 30% shooting night as they beat the Trojans in underwhelming fashion. Texas missed a number of easy looks (the one that comes to mind is seeing Dexter Pittman get "sprited" on dunk attempt where he didn't get an inch on the ground) and went 19-34 from the free throw line. Damion James had 19 points and 9 boards, while Dexter Pittman had 7 blocks for the Longhorns.

So in case you didn't notice, the Pac-10 went 0-3 tonight in the Big XII/Pac-10 Series, making them 0-4 on the season (which doesn't include Texas Tech's win over Oregon State earlier in the year). Everywhere you go on the blogs today, you are going to read about the Pac-10's struggles, and as we have already written about it, I'm not going to go into too much depth. But the one thing that intrigues me the most was brought up by Mike DeCourcy: how many first round picks are in that league? Klay Thompson will probably end up being a first round pick, but he needs to improve his strength and his all-around game to be a lottery pick. Malcolm Lee has really disappointed. Abdul Gaddy hasn't played up to his potential yet. Nic Wise, Jerome Randle, and Isaiah Thomas are all diminutive point guards. Maybe Quincy Pondexter or Derrick Williams? Coaching will only get you so far in college hoops. Talent is the great difference maker. Until Pac 10 coaches start recruiting better and bring more NBA level talent into the league, this could only be the start of the fall for the Pac-10.

One other notable score:

• Seton Hall 89, Hartford 56
  

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Thursday's Pregame Beat

Quiet day on the hoops front. There is only one really intriguing game on.

7:00 pm: Washington @ Texas Tech: The Huskies can play, and if you read this blog, than you should already be fully aware of their weapons. Isaiah Thomas, Abdul Gaddy, Quincy Pondexter. But Texas Tech is a bit of an unknown commodity right now. They are 7-0, albeit against a relatively weak schedule. There three best wins are against Oregon State, Texas A&M-CC, and at Stephen F Austin. Not terrible, but it isn't exactly beating Kansas in the Phog. To be honest, I don't know all that much about the Red Raiders. They are balanced, they have a couple talented kids (their best player is named Mike Singletary, and no, he is not related to the 49ers coach), and they are coached by Pat Knight. But is the 7-0 record just a result of their schedule? I'll be watching tonight to find out.

9:00 pm: USC @ Texas: This could end up getting ugly. I know there was a reason for Alex Stephenson transferring from UNC back to USC, but do you think he is regretting that decision right now? He and Nikola Vucevic are going to have their hands full inside tonight.

10:30 pm: Baylor @ Arizona State: Damn you RCN for not carrying the Fox Sports channels. This should be a very interesting game to watch. Arizona State looks like a team that could end up third in the Pac-10 and make their way into the tournament. Derek Glasser might be the most underrated point guard in the country (say it everytime, love that kids game), Eric Boateng is a serviceable, albeit inconsistent, big man, and Herb Sendek has a number of options on the wings. But Baylor is a team with a lot of size and athleticism up front, and two good guards in LaceDarius Dunn and Tweety Carter. Baylor will need to hit their perimeter shots against the ASU zone, but this game is going to be decided on the glass; can the Sun Devils keep the big guys from Baylor from getting second chance points?

Other notable games:

• 7:00 pm: Lafayette @ La Salle
• 7:00 pm: Hartford @ Seton Hall

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Thursday Madness

Seeing as championship week has officially started, we are going to be doing a new daily madness segment. Here, you can find the daily scores and schedules for every conference tournament game that day as Trizzle will once again be taking over BIAH. For a full schedule of the conference tournaments and a listing of the automatic bids, click here.

GAME OF THE DAY: Portland State 79, Montana State 77

Montana State came into this game with a losing record at 14-16 after finishing in sixth place in the Big Sky. But after upsetting #1 Weber State on the road on Tuesday, the Bobcats locked up their first trip to the Big Sky finals since 1998. While the Vikings were the heavy favorites coming in, the Bobcats were right in it for most of the first half. The Vikings used a 11-1 run to open up a double digit lead midway through the second half, but Montana State would keep chipping away, setting up this exciting finish:



Jeremiah Dominguez led PSU with 22 points and 5 assists, while Divaldo Mbungo led MSU with 20 points nad 10 boards.

PLAYER OF THE DAY: Mike Singletary, Texas Tech

This isn't even close. Just by looking at the number's he posted, you can tell Singletary had a helluva game. He finished with 43 points as the Red Raiders were able to come back from 21 down to knock off the #6 seed Texas A&M Aggies. 43 points. Nothing special, that has been done before. Well, what about scoring 29 straight points? Because that is precisely what he did. With 9:35 left in the game, the score was 60-50 A&M, but Singletary would outscore the Aggies 29-18, ending with a lay-up with 39 seconds left that game the Raiders the lead for good.

Mike Singletary scored 29 straight points to lead Tech to the upset.
(photo credit - Getty Images)

They were good too: Kevin Rogers, Baylor - 10 pts, 20 rbs; Dexter Pittman, Texas - 26 pts, 10 rbs; Melquan Bolding, Duquense - 23 pts, 13 rbs; Craig Brackins, Iowa State - 23 pts, 12 rbs; Aubrey Coleman, Houston - 20 pts, 14 rbs.

TEAM OF THE DAY: Robert Morris

The Colonials earned their first trip to the dance since 1992 with a 48-46 win over Mt. St. Mary's in the finals of the NEC tournament. With the clock running down, Jeremy Chappell lost control of the ball. It ended up in the hands of Dallas Green, who hit a short jumper with 2.5 seconds left on the clock. It was his only field goal of the game.

Wednesday's Results

CHAMPIONSHIPS

Big Sky Final (Ogden, UT)
- #2 Portland St. 79, #6 Montana St. 77

Northeast Final (Campus Site)
- #1 Robert Morris 48, #2 Mt. St. Marys 46,

Atlantic 10 First Round (Atlantic City, NJ)
- #9 St. Louis 62, #8 LaSalle 60 OT
- #5 St. Joseph's 72, #12 Charlotte 62
- #7 Duquesne 91, #10 Massachusetts 81
- #6 Richmond 65, #8 St. Bonaventure 49

Big East Second Round (New York City, NY)
- #8 Providence 83, #16 DePaul 74
- #5 Marquette 74, #12 St. Johns 45
- #7 West Virginia 74, #10 Notre Dame 62
- #6 Syracuse 89, #11 Seton Hall 74

Big 12 First Round (Oklahoma City, OK)
- #9 Baylor 65, #8 Nebraska 49
- #5 Texas 67, #12 Colorado 56
- #7 Oklahoma St. 82, #12 Iowa St. 67
- #11 Texas Tech 88, #6 Texas A&M 83

Big West First Round (Anahiem, CA)
- #8 UC-Davis 69,#5 UC-Irvine 68
- #7 Cal State Fullerton 59, #6 UC-Riverside 46

Conference USA First Round (Memphis, TN)
- #10 Rice 60, #7 Marshall 59
- #11 Southern Mississippi 77, #6 UCF 53
- #8 Tulane 69, #9 East Carolina 59
- #5 Houston 85, #12 SMU 76

MEAC Quarterfinals (Winston-Salem, NC)
- #6 Bethune Cookman 52, #11 MD-Eastern Shore 47
- #1 Morgan St. 71, #8 Florida A&M 41
- #2 South Carolina St. 57, #7 Hampton 56

Mountain West First Round (Las Vegas, NV)
- #9 Air Force 71, #8 Colorado St. 67

Pac-10 First Round (Los Angeles, CA)
- #9 Stanford 62, #8 Oregon St. 54
- #7 Washington St. 62, #10 Oregon 40

SWAC Quarterfinals (Birmingham, AL)
- #2 Jackson St. 72 , #7 Texas Southern 65
- #1 Alabama St. 70, #8 Alabama A&M 58


Thursday's Games

ACC First Round (Atlanta, GA)
- NOON: #8 Virginia Tech vs. #9 Miami
- 2:30PM: #5 Clemson vs. #12 Georgia Tech
- 7:00PM: #7 Maryland vs. #10 North Carolina St.
- 9:30PM: #6 Boston College vs. #11 Virginia

Atlantic 10 First Round (Atlantic City, NJ)
- NOON: #1 Xavier vs. #9 St. Louis
- 2:30PM: #4 Temple vs. #5 St. Josephs
- 6:30PM: #2 Rhode Island vs. #7 Duquesne
- 9:00PM: #3 Dayton vs. #6 Richmond

Big East Tournament Quarterfinals (New York City, NY)
- NOON: #1 Louisville vs. #8 Providence
- 2:00PM: #4 Villanova vs. #5 Marquette
- 7:00PM: #2 Pittsburgh vs. #7 West Virginia
- 9:00PM: #3 Connecticut vs. #6 Syracuse

Big 10 First Round (Indianapolis, IN)
- NOON: #8 Minnesota vs. #9 Northwestern
- 2:30PM: #7 Michigan vs. #10 Iowa
- 5:00PM: #6 Penn St. vs. #11 Indiana

Big 12 Quarterfinals (Oklahoma City, OK)
- 12:30PM: #1 Kansas vs. #9 Baylor
- 3:00PM: #4 Kansas St. vs. #5 Texas
- 7:00PM: #2 Oklahoma vs. #7 Oklahoma St.
- 9:30PM: #3 Missouri vs. #6 Texas A&M

Big West Second Round (Anaheim, CA)
- 9:00PM: #3 Pacific vs. #8 U-Davis
- 11:30PM: #4 UC Santa Barbara vs. #8 UC-Davis

Conference USA Quarterfinals (Memphis, TN)
- 1:00PM: #2 Tulsa vs. #1o Rice
- 3:00PM: #3 UAB vs. #11 Southern Mississippi
- 7:00PM: #1 Memphis vs. #8 Tulane
- 9:30PM: #4 UTEP vs. #5 Houston

Mid American First Round (Cleveland, OH)
- NOON: #2 Ball St. vs. #7 Central Michigan
- 3:30PM: ##3 Buffalo vs. vs. #6 Kent State
- 7:00PM: 1 Bowling Green vs. #9 Ohio
- 9:30PM: #3 Miami vs. No. #5 Akron

MEAC Semifinals (Winston-Salem, NC)
- 6:00PM: #3 Norfolk State vs. #6 Bethune Cookman
- 8:30PM: #4 North Carolina A&T vs. #5 Coppin St.

Mountain West Quarterfinals (Las Vegas, NV)
- 3:00PM: #1 BYU vs. #9 Air Force
- 5:30PM: #4 San Diego St. vs. #5 UNLV
- 9:00PM: #2Utah vs. #7 TCU
- 11:30PM: #3 New Mexico vs. #6 Wyoming

PAC 10 Quarterfinals (Los Angeles, CA)
- 3:00PM: #4 Arizona St. vs. #5 Arizona
- 5:30PM: #1 Washington vs. #9 Stanford
- 9:00PM: #3 California vs. #6 USC
- 11:30PM: #2 UCLA vs. #7 Washington State

SEC First Round (Tampa, FL)
- 1:00PM: E4 Kentucky vs. W5 Ole Miss
- 3:00PM: W3 Mississippi St. vs. E6 Georgia
- 7:30PM: W4 Alabama vs. E5 Vanderbilt
- 9:45: E3 Florida vs. W6 Arkansas

Southland First Round (Katy, TX)
- 1:00PM: #2 Nicholls State vs. #7 Texas State
- 3:30PM: #3 Sam Houston St. vs. #6 UT San Antonio
- 7:00PM: #1 Stephen F. Austin vs. #8 Southeastern Louisiana
- 9:30PM: #4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. #5 UT Arlington

SWAC Quarterfinals (Birmingham, AL)
- 3:30PM: #3 Prairie View vs. #6 Mississippi Valley St.
- 9:00PM: #4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #5 Southern

Western Athletic Quarterfinals (Reno, NV)
- 3:00PM: #4 Boise State vs. #5 New Mexico State
- 5:30PM: #1 Utah State vs. #9 Fresno St.
- 9:00PM: #2 Nevada vs. #7 San Jose St.
- 11:30PM: #3 Idaho vs. #6 Louisiana Tech
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Coaches Behaving Badly

Back in December, Andy Kennedy was arrested for allegedly assaulting a cab driver. There were conflicting stories about what happened that night, but it seems like the Cincinnati police believe Kennedy was drunk and belligerent at local college hangout called The Lodge Bar. He tried to get more people in a cab than would fit, and ended up assaulting the cab driver after some sort of verbal altercation.

I didn't think this story would have any legs after it came out that his wife was suing the cabbie for, among other things, ruining their sex life. But now, the Cincinnati police has released the video from Kennedy's arrest:



My two favorite parts: when Kennedy says that his arrest will be an "international incident". Really? People outside of the US are going to care when a mediocre coach from a mediocre team in a mediocre conference gets arrested for being a drunk redneck? Right.

The other great line? At the 3:45 mark, one of the cops says something along the lines of "You think we haven't made a national arrest? We deal with the Bengals all the time!"

You can't make this stuff up.

While pops is in the news for his reported interest in the Georgia job, Pat Knight is in the news for a legendary tantrum. The video explains it exactly, but apparently what happened is a Tech player was called for a foul when he was thrown to the floor. Knight lost it, and twice chased the refs all over the court:



The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess. UPDATE: Pat Knight will not be suspended by the Big XII. How is that possible? Did you see what he did? Should I send this post to the Big XII? Continue reading...