The Emery Board: Week 8 The Rebirth

College basketball has not seen a team go undefeated since Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 in 1975-1976. The closest we have seen since then was a Jameer Nelson-led St. Joseph's team that went 27-0 in the 2003-2004 season before losing to Xavier in the Atlantic-10 tournament. Every season a team flirts with the notion of an undefeated season, but every season that notion slowly fades as January turns to February and February turns to March. BYU's senior guard Jackson Emery, has made the bold prediction that his team, a Cougar squad that finished with a 27-4 record last season, will in fact go undefeated this season.

We have decided that, in honor of Emery's swagger, we will keep a watch on the BYU Cougar's schedule, see if they can walk-the-walk. We will also keep tabs on any other undefeated teams who try to make a run at the perfect season.

Week 8:

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, Jackson Emery had to go do something like this... and totally redeem himself!

"When I said at the beginning of the year, 'I believe we can win every game,' I meant it. Not guaranteeing anything, just saying I see the guys we have, the schedule we have, and I believe we can win every game, and we didn't. But I still believe now that we could win every game from here on out."

After BYU lost to UCLA, ending Emery's quest for an undefeated season, I scoured the internet looking for quotes, thoughts, tidbits, etc., on his failed prediction. I found nothing. I was stunned. I didn't think it was possible for somebody to say something this outlandish, have it backfire, and then go completely unnoticed.


Then out of nowhere, this gem appeared. Not only does Emery try to justify what he originally said, but he goes and makes another ballsy prediction. Maybe there is something we don't know. Maybe Mormons have the ability to see the future, I'm not sure. But what I am sure about is that Jackson Emery is a baller. He didn't eat his words nor did he back-peddle. This kid bleeds confidence. He sweats swagger. Whatever this kid is drinking, I want some. A lot of it.

It's a bold prediction. The Mountain West Conference is having one of it's best seasons ever. Right now, there are four teams that could receive at-large bids to the NCAA tournament (San Diego State, BYU, UNLV, and New Mexico). It just does not seem possible that BYU will go undefeated in MWC play. But I have no problem being wrong, and clearly, Emery doesn't either.

Next Game: 1/5 @ UNLV
Next Potential Loss: 1/5 @ UNLV

Other Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Duke: 13-0
Next Game: 1/5 @ UAB
Next Potential Loss: 1/9 vs. Maryland

Duke is missing their best offensive threat and are still the best team in the country. That's scary. The Dukies ran through a Miami team that I thought would give them some trouble, led by 28 points from senior Nolan Smith. Smith has been terrific of late, averaging 24.5 ppg in his last four. The conference is having a down-year, but I still think there are teams that can upset the Blue Devils on a given night. As we should all be well aware, road games in conference play are never an easy win. Maryland always plays Duke tough, and although the game is being played in Durham, I like the Terrapins chances. After that, the Blue Devils head to Tallahassee to take on Florida State.


No. 2 Ohio State: 14-0
Next Game: 1/4 @ Iowa
Next Potential Loss: 1/9 vs. No. 13 Minnesota

It's scary when a freshman is considered the best player in the country. It's even more scary when he's not the only threat on his team. Ohio State is hands-down the best team in the Big Ten and, as of now, looks like a true National Championship contender. It could be a long time before they lose. If they beat Minnesota, which I expect them to do, their next true test comes at the end of the month when they play Illinois on the road.


No. 3 Kansas: 13-0
Next Game: 1/5 vs. Missouri-Kansas City
Next Potential Loss: 1/17 @ No. 23 Baylor

Its interesting to think about what Bill Self has done with Marcus Morris. He benched his star forward after Marcus was ejected from a game against Cal for a couple of elbows he sent towards Harper Kamp's head. Sure, its a statement, but would that same statement be made if Kansas was playing someone just a bit better than Miami-Ohio? Probably. Anyway, Josh Selby seems to have righted the ship after struggling against Texas-Arlington, and the Jayhawks look like they will continue rolling.


No. 5 Syracuse: 15-0
Next Game: 1/8 @ Seton Hall
Next Potential Loss: 1/12 @ St. John's

This Syracuse team scares me a lot. They have seven guys who go six-foot-seven and taller, play a lock-down 2-3 zone and have guys who can get to the basket and score. Syracuse has not been tested on the road yet, and that could hurt them down the road. But as of now, they are looking like the best team in the Big East after beating a Notre Dame team that was coming off of a win against Georgetown. No team in the conference has the size they do, and I think that could carry them a long way.


No. 7 San Diego State: 15-0
Next Game: 1/5 @ TCU
Next Potential Loss: 1/12 vs. UNLV

We all knew San Diego State was going to be good this season, but I don't think any of us could have predicted this. It will be interesting to see how much longer this undefeated run lasts, as SDSU has had some trouble putting teams away of late and the league that they play in is stacked at the top. That said, this is clearly the Aztec's best team in the history of the program.


Central Florida: 13-0
Next Game: 1/5 vs. Marshall
Next Potential Loss: 1/5 vs. Marshall

Donnie Jones has to be in the running for National Coach of the Year, right? I mean, nobody could have expected them to be undefeated at this point, with wins over Florida and Miami. Marcus Jordan has become the team's leader and go-to player, and has a solid supporting cast around him.


Cincinnati: 14-0
Next Game: 1/6 vs. Xavier
Next Potential Loss: 1/6 vs. Xavier

A month ago, there were seven unbeaten teams in the Big East. Now there are just two, and Cincinnati is one of them. The Bearcats have played a weak schedule, but they also play in the Big East, which means they will be in a dogfight on a weekly basis. I wouldn't look past their tilt with Xavier, though. The intracity rivalry is one of the most underrated ones in the country, and the Musketeers will be Cincinnati's biggest test to date.

Drop-Outs
No. 4 Connecticut: 10-0
First Loss: at #6 Pittsburgh 78-63
Next Game: 1/4 @ #15 Notre Dame

We were all waiting to see what would happen when Kemba Walker had a off-night. Yes it's true that he ended with 31 points, but he shot 10-27 and was the only Husky in double-digits. Credit Pittsburgh for playing suffocating defense and limiting open shots. I think we saw the UConn team we all expected earlier in the year. They are good, but not great. They will beat some good teams, but also lose to some good teams.


The Bottom of the Barrel:

It would be rude of us to include the "have's" and but not the "have-not's". After all, planetary balance is very essential. For every team that hasn't lost a game, there has to be a team still fighting for their first win.


Alcorn State: 0-10
Next Game: 1/4 at Prairie View A&M (3-10)
First Potential Win: 1/4 vs. Prairie View A&M (3-10)

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 0-12
Next Game: 1/4 @ Missouri Valley State (1-12)
First Potential Win: 1/4 @ Missouri Valley State (1-12)

Centenary: 0-15
Next Game: 1/6 @ South Dakota State (10-4)
First Potential Win: 1/15 vs. Southern Utah (4-10)

UNC Greensboro: 0-12
Next Game: 1/6 vs. Samford (9-5)
First Potential Win: 1/10 vs. Elon (6-7)