Wednesday's Shootaround: So much for guaranteed games...

Both Tennessee and Louisville cost themselves their undefeated seasons losing to Oakland and Drexel, respectively, in guarantee games. What is a guarantee game? Well, the bigger schools pay as much as six figures to these smaller schools to come play them and, well, lose.

Oh, well.

Oakland 89, Tennessee 82: I wrote about this game here for Beyond the Arc, but I wanted to add something. I gave Scotty Hopson all the credit in the world for the Vol's wins over Villanova and Pitt. That's why I feel comfortable putting this loss on his shoulders as well. He's supposed to be the leader of this team -- he's said in numerous time -- and he disappeared last night. I've said it a million times, but Hopson is at his best when he is aggressively attacking the rim, finishing, and drawing fouls. He settled for too many jumpshots last night, and that was when he actually decided to shoot. Hopson finished the game with just seven points on 1-7 shooting.

That was the most disappointing part for me. I like Hopson. Met him in New York. He's a great kid, and much, much better than what he showed us last night.

Drexel 52, Louisville 46: Wrote about it earlier this morning right here.

No. 25 Texas 70, North Florida 48: The Longhorns got 18 points from Cory Joseph and 17 points and 12 boards out of Gary Johnson as they rolled over the Ospreys.

Northern Illinois 80, Illinois-Chicago 78: Here's a name you may not have heard before -- Xaiver Silas. Northern Illinois' star guard went for 40 points last night in the Huskie's win over UIC. He's averaging 28.3 ppg on the season. He matched that in the second half last night, which also happened to be the fourth time (in seven games) this season Silas has scored at least 34 points.

Rutgers 79, Fairleigh Dickinson 65: Mike Rice blew up at his team after their win last night. I love it. He demands the best from his players, and he realizes that the defensive lapses that happen against FDU will cost them wins in the Big East.

Other Notable Scores:

• Cincinnati 99, Georgia Southern 54
• Michigan 64, NCCU 44
• Mississippi State 67, Alabama State 46 -- Of note, Ravern Johnson sat this game out.
  
• St. Mary's 75, UC Riverside 56
• DePaul 61, Milwaukee 47