Top 25 12/17

CO-PLAYERs OF THE WEEK: Robert Vaden, UAB
In the past week, Vaden averaged a stellar 25 ppg, shooting 46% from deep (12-26), in a 1-1 week for the Blazers. But it was his performance in the second half of Saturday's game against Kentucky ("neutral" court game, but at Freedom Hall in Louisville with 14,000 Wildcats fans in attendance) that earned him POY honors. Vaden scored 33 overall, with 28 points coming in the second half (his previous career high was 26). At 6'5", Kentucky had noone one quick enough to stay with Vaden, a transfer from Indiana, and big enough to prevent him from shooting over them. Vaden carried UAB in the second, helping them scrap back from double digit deficits multiple times, the last being 14 down with about 8:00 left.

DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Pitt faced their first real competition in going undefeated against Duquense, Washington, and Oklahoma State, and Blair was a huge part of that. He was one rebound shy (vs. Duquense) of recording three straight double-doubles, and averaged 16ppg, 11rpg, 3bpg, and shot 59% from the floor. Blair has been good all year, averaging 12ppg (2nd on team) and 9rpg (leads team) despite playing just 22 minutes per contest.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Arizona State
Only played one fame this week, but got a much needed signature win in blowing out a very good Xavier team 77-55. Led by freshmen Ty Abbott (19 pts, 6 boards) and James Hardin (16 pts), Arizona State really needed this one for their tournament resume after going 1-2 against their major conference opponents (W vs. LSU, L's vs. Nebraska, Illinois). I've had a chance to see the Sun Devils play three times this year, and I think that they can make some noise in a loaded Pac-10, especially with a favorable early schedule (5 of first 7 Pac-10 games at home).

Top 25 (no team comments this week, no real big matchups until this weekend):
t1. Memphis: (8-0)
t1. North Carolina: (9-0)
3. Kansas: (10-0)
4. Texas: (10-0)
5. UCLA: (8-1)
6. Georgetown: (8-0)
7. Washington State: (9-0)
8. Duke: (8-0)
9. Michigan State: (9-1)
10. Pittsburgh: (10-0)
11. Texas A&M: (9-1)
12. Marquette: (7-1)
13. Indiana: (9-1)
14. Tennessee: (9-1)
15. Clemson: (8-0)
16. Gonzaga: (8-2)
17. Vanderbilt: (10-0)
18. Butler: (9-1)
19. Villanova: (8-1)
20. Xavier: (8-2)
21. Miami: (9-0)
22. Oregon: (8-2)
23. Rhode Island: (10-1)
24. BYU: (9-2)
25. West Virginia: (8-1)


A couple of thoughts:

The Atlantic 10 has returned to prominence. Rhode Island (10-1), Dayton (8-1), Xavier (8-2), and UMass (8-2) all will garner top 25 and at-large bid consideration this season. Combined the four teams are 8-2 against the major conferences, including 7-0 against the Bigeast, with wins over Indiana, two over Syracuse at the Carrier Dome and Louisville. More on this conference in a column in a few days.

The injury bug has struck a few teams in the past week:
-Tennessee has lost forward Duke Crews indefinently after it was discovered he has a heart condition. Crews, Tennessee's starting power forward, was averaging 7ppg and 5rpg. Big hit to Tennessee's interior defense, as they weren't terribly deep there to begin with.
-Syracuse's Eric Devendorf blew out the acl in his left knee, ending his junior season. Devendorf was one of the leaders of a young and talented 'Cuse team, but the Devendorf and fellow junior Andy Rautins' knee injuries leave the Orange with minimal depth in the backcourt.
-Tyler Hanborough got a concussion against Rutgers taking a charge.

And some teams are getting players back:
-Stanford's Brook Lopez has been cleared to play after being academically ineligible for the first semester.
-Kentucky's Jodie Meeks could return from a stress fracture in his foot as early as this week.

Games to see this week:
12/19 - Bradley @ Butler: Good Bradley team really needs a signature win, whereas, after losing to Wright State, Butler is trying to prove they belong with the big boys.
12/20 - Duke @ Pitt: Pitt gets a big test for the first time against a very good Duke team. Interesting matchup as both teams are playing different styles than past seasons.
12/22 - San Diego State @ Arizona - Similar to the Butler game - SDSU needs a big win, and 'Zona is trying to shed the image of chronic underachievers.
12/22 - Tennessee @ Xavier - Overrated Tennessee squad heads to Cincinnati to take on the underrated Musketeers in a true road game.
12/22 - Texas @ Michigan State - Both teams are in the running for a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tourney, and a win in this game would go a long way towards that goal.
12/22 - Mississippi @ Clemson - Two undefeated teams looking to establish some credibility to that record.
Game of the Week: 12/22 - Georgetown @ Memphis - Two top five teams meet for the first time this season. Great clash in styles with Georgetown's slow paced, Princeton offense matching up against the full-court, fast break game that Memphis plays.