The Emery Board: Week 13

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 11:
I must be the only one who actually took Jackson Emery seriously, because he's said only two things to the press this season, and has been wrong about both of them. I am still waiting to hear him reshuffle his predicition and proclaim that BYU will win the Mountain West Conference Tournament. But that actually is something they could accomplish, unlike his other two statements.

After suffering their second loss of the season, The Cougars bounced back with two victories, a seven point road win at Wyoming and a 14-point win against UNLV at home. Against Wyoming, Jimmer Fredette had an off night yet still managed to score 26 points, including a perfect 16-16 from the charity stripe. Against UNLV Fredette overcame more smacktalk from Tre'von Willis and finished with 29 points which made him the all-time leading scorer in Mountain West Conference history. The previous record was held by San Diego State's Brandon Heath with 2,189. For his efforts last week, Fredette received his 14th career MWC Player of the Week award, which is also a conference record. Of his 14 PoW awards, seven have come this season.

But this post isn't just about Fredette. This team continues to play well together and looks like a legitimate threat to make it to at least the Sweet-16 this season. Jackson Emery continues to be under-appreciated. he is a steady 3-point shooter and is the team leader in steals and assists. I've been really impressed lately with the play of big-man Brandon Davies. He only had four points against UNLV but was plagued with foul trouble much of the game. He has shown a nice ouch around the basket and provides the Cougars with a solid interior presence.

The Cougars take on Air Force on the road and cap off rivalry week against Utah. Neither of these games should be a real test for BYU, but they certainly don't want to overlook either team.

Next Game: 2/9 at Air Force
Next Possible Loss: 2/26 at San Diego State


Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Ohio State: 24-0 (11-0)
Last Win: 82-69 at No. 20 Minnesota
Next Game: 2/12 at No. 14 Wisconsin
Next Potential Loss: 2/12 at No. 14 Wisconsin

The Buckeyes are firing on all cylinders at the right moment because they begin their toughest stretch of conference play this week. They have to travel to the Kohl Center to take of Wisconsin, then play a collapsing Michigan State squad, then travel to Purdue, followed up with a home game against Illinois. It's entirely possible that tOSU beats all four of these teams, but it is in this stretch of games that they are most likely to suffer their first defeat.


Undefeated Conference Teams
Since only one team in the entire country has yet to lose a game, why not take a look at the small group of teams that have yet to lose a game against their conference foes? Plus it gives me something to track for the next couple of weeks.

Coastal Carolina: 22-2 (13-0 in Big South)
Next Game: 2/10 at Presbyterian (10-15,4-9)
Next Potential Loss: None

The Chanticleers have not lost since the Charleston Classic, when they were defeated by Georgetown 810-61. That was 20 games ago. It doesn't look like any team in the Big South will come close to Coastal Carolina. They already defeated the second best team, Liberty, twice, and went on the road for four straight games and won them all. Barring a shocking upset in the conference tournament, this team will be dancing.


Princeton: 16-4 (4-0 in Ivy League)
Next Game: 2/8 vs. Penn (9-9, 3-1)
Next Potential Loss: 2/8 vs. Penn (9-9, 3-1)

The Tigers we the pre-season favorites in the Ivy league, but up until this past week, it was Harvard that was looking like the Ivy league team most likely to make the NCAA tournament. Princeton defeated Harvard 65-61 on Friday to claim the top spot in the league. They followed that up with a 15-point win over Dartmouth. But Princeton now has to face Penn, who just lost their first conference game, to Harvard, in a 2OT thriller. If Princeton can defeat Penn, they will set themselves up well to pick up the automatic bid.


No. 21 Utah State: 22-2 (11-0 in Western Athletic Conference)
Next Game: 2/9 at Idaho (13-10, 6-5)
Next Potential Loss: 2/19 at No. 23 St. Mary's (BracketBusters)

Like Coastal Carolina, the Aggies have not lost since they played Georgetown some 17 games ago. They have rolled thru conference play and are 4.5 games in front of the second-place team. Utah State is home to the best home court advantages in the country and will not lose a conference game this season. They will travel to Moraga, CA to face St. Mary's in the marquee BracketBusters game.


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.



Centenary: 0-25 (0-13)
Next Game: 2/10 at Southern Utah (7-16, 3-9)
First Potential Win: 2/10 at Southern Utah (7-16, 3-9)

The Gentleman only have five more chances to claim their first victory of the year. Unfortunately they only stand a chance of doing so in one of these games. I just don't think they will get a win this season.