POSTERIZED: The FranklinSlam

This past weekend was very busy, very hectic. Over 150 games were played on Saturday, and well, yesterday was SuperBowl Sunday. With all the games to watch, games to cover, and activities to participate in, there were going to be some things that slipped through the cracks.

This ridiculous reverse-put-back slam by San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin is one of those things that slipped through. Continue reading...

Creighton's win is a bigger statement than the box score suggests

This was more than just a resume win for Creighton.

Sure, the NCAA Tournament selection committee is going to look fondly an 85-83 victory on the road against San Diego State, a contender for the Mountain West title. That's certainly not a bad thing.

But for Creighton, this was so much more.

This was a statement win.

And unless you're lucky enough to have a cable operator than actually carries The MTN -- the network for the MWC -- or you're crazy enough to try and watch a late-november game between two schools where the casual fan wouldn't be able to name a single player via a choppy, grainy internet stream, you probably will have no idea what happened.


The Bluejays are a top 25 team right now, but heading into their date with the Aztecs at Viejas Arena, they were an unproven top 25 team. That 5-0 record looked pretty -- as did the impressive offensive numbers they put up -- but their only wins of significance were getting less and less significant which each loss that UAB and Iowa piled up.

Creighton needed to be tested. They needed to prove their merit, that they deserved their lofty ranking. Fair or not, when you are a team in the Missouri Valley that's ranked early in the season, that's the way that life goes. Mid-majors don't get the benefit of the doubt until they prove they deserve.

And the Bluejays certainly proved they deserve it on Wednesday night.

Playing in front of a frenzied crowd of 12,000 people -- complete with one of the "livest student sections ever" -- Creighton dug themselves a 17 point hole, trailing 31-14 with just over 13 minutes into the game. But Ethan Wragge sparked, and Doug McDermott finished off, a 21-8 run to close the half and get the Aztec lead down to just four. Creighton eventually tied the game for the first time at 46 on a three from Jahenns Manigat with 16:51 left, but San Diego State immediately countered with a 10-2 run, pushing the lead right back to eight points and getting their frothing at the mouth once again.

Wragge once again was the sparkplug, hitting a three that sparked a 15-4 run. It was capped off by back-to-back jumpers from Antoine Young, the latter of which was a three that gave Creighton their first lead of the game. The two sides traded baskets until Wragge once again came through with a big shot, hitting a three that put Creighton up for good at 72-69. The excitement was far from over -- after Creighton pushed their lead to six, SDSU hit three straight threes to get within a single point, but Manigat found (guess who?) Wragge for a layup to push the lead to three. It was Manigat diving on a loose ball after a missed free throw with 2.3 seconds left that clinched the two point win.

Frankly, wins don't get much more impressive than that.

The Bluejays were able to come from behind twice -- one time from down 17 -- to win on the road in a hostile environment in the middle of the week after traveling across the country against a team that has proven to be better than just about anyone predicted.

McDermott was, once again, terrific, finishing with 25 points and 12 boards while seemingly never having the ball in his hands. Wragge, a sophomore forward, had 19 points hit too many big shots to count. Young had his best game of the season, finishing with 18 points, four assists and no turnovers.

As a team, Creighton shot 47% from the floor and hit nine threes. The handed out 18 assists -- on 31 FG's -- while turning the ball over just seven times.

As impressive as those numbers are, looking at the box score will never tell you just how important this win was for the Bluejays.


Highlights!:


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NBA Draft Profiles: Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State

Bjorn Zetterberg of SwishScout.com will be helping us out with all of our NBA Draft Profiles this year. You can follow him on twitter @swishscout.

To browse through the latest prospect profiles, click here. To see a complete list of the players we have profiled, click here.

Stats: 15.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, 2.5 apg

Age: 19, sophomore

Size:

• Listed: 6'7", 225 lb
• Official: 6'6" (no shoes), 6'7" (with shoes), 7'3" (wingspan), 8'10" (reach), 227 lb

Strengths: The first thing that anyone talks about when bringing up Leonard is the length of his arms. His wingspan is 7'3", which is exactly the same length as Tyson Chandler's wingspan. That length allows Leonard to have a significant impact on the game without having the ball in his hands. For starters, he's a terrific rebounder, averaging a double-double and over three offensive boards per game. Leonard is also a terrific on-ball defender. He's got quick feet, he's athletic, he has the desire to shut down his man one-on-one, and he has the arms to disrupt the offense. Most importantly, Leonard is a hand-working, blue-collar player. He flies in for rebounds, he dives on the floor for loose balls, and he gives up his body defensively. Offensively, however, his skill set is developing. What Leonard does do well for his size is handle the ball and pass the ball, showing the potential to be a versatile playmaker down the road.

Weaknesses: Leonard is fairly raw offensively. His jump shot is the aspect of his game that needs the most improvement. He's already been working hard on that aspect of his game, however, proving to be a better than expected shooter in his workouts. That is a good sign for his potential in the long term. Beyond that, the rest of his offensive repertoire is more-or-less a work in progress. He doesn't have the handle of a point guard, but it has improved significantly since his freshman season to the point that he would grab a defensive rebound and lead the break as a sophomore. His post game is solid as well, as he has god footwork and is quick on the block. Perhaps the most shocking part about Leonard's game is that he did not test out as a great athlete, something that surprised quite a few people. He had just a 32" max vert and was a step slower than expected. There is an explanation for that. For starters, Leonard has always been considered more of a smooth athlete than an explosive athlete. He also sat out of the drills session during the combine, having to go and do his athletic testing after sitting for 45 minutes in a cold gym.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Shawn Marion and Gerald Wallace are the two guys that Leonard gets compared to the most. Since Leonard is so young and so raw offensively, its tough to predict whether he will end up mre perimeter oriented like Marion or more of a blue-collar scrapper like Wallace. Whatever the case, Leonard should be able to be a guy that can change the rhythm of a game without have to score a point.


• Worst Case Scenario: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Mbah a Moute gets solid minutes in the NBA, but its as nothing more than a role player. He does some defending, he rebounds the ball, and he'll dive on the floor. But beyond that, he doesn't have much impact on the offensive end of the floor. If Leonard's offensive game doesn't advance, that is the kind of player he is going to end up being.

Outlook: Leonard has the potential to be a starter and major contributor to an NBA team. Scouts love a guy with intangibles, and Leonard has intangibles for days. He plays hard and he plays smart, he can defend anywhere from the two to the four, he is an exceptional rebounder for someone that projects as a perimeter player, and he has an offensive arsenal that is slowly but surely becoming very well-rounded. Another positive Leonard has going for him is that the NBA plays a much more open style than San Diego State. Steve Fisher's club was one of the slowest in the nation last season, preferring to execute in the half court. Leonard's game is probably better suited for an uptempo style where he can make plays in transition. By the time Leonard reaches his prime -- remember, he is only 19 years old, which makes him the age of many freshman -- he could end up being a guy that averages 15 points, 10 boards, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.

Draft Range: Mid to Late Lottery

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Last year we had Leonard listed as a sleeper. Now that he plays on the No. 6 team in the country, that sort of talk has died down. But now the expectations may be almost too high for him. He's still developing his game offensively, but when you watch him, it's hard not to see what makes him special. NBA scouts love guys with intangibles, and Leonard appears to have them."


• Draft Express: "The ideal setting for Leonard as a rookie would likely be one next to a slew of shooters who can push tempo and score one-on-one. Though he may not have the tools to be an high-level option from day one on the NBA-level, his ability to get up the floor, crash the glass, and do a little bit of everything would fit well on a team with a defined offensive hierarchy in their backcourt. He has the tools to excel in a fast break oriented system that would allow him to get out and run, something he didn't get a chance to do all that regularly in the NCAA on a San Diego State team that ranked 301 of 345 in terms of the tempo they played at."


• Swish Scout: "Leonard is a very intelligent player who is an excellent rebounder, passer, and playmaker who propels his team with high energy. The biggest gift and curse to his game is his enormous hands, which greatly contribute to his rebounding prowess, but will always inhibit his shooting abilities."

Highlights:




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Can Steve Fisher sustain the success he had at San Diego State this season?

One of the great plot lines from the 2010-2011 college basketball season was that the Mountain West Conference, in the final season in its current form, was able to produce two of the top ten teams in the country in BYU and SDSU.

BYU, led by America's Sweetheart Jimmer Fredette, more or less stole the attention and dominated the MWC-related headlines throughout the season.

But the better story was San Diego State. Led by Steve Fisher, the former Michigan head coach that took the blame for the scandal involving the Fab Five, the Aztecs had, for the first time in school history, become relevant as a basketball program. Prior to this season, San Diego State had sold out just eight games. Ever. As in all-time, in the history of the program. Eight games.

This season?


The student section that has dubbed themselves "The Show" would be waiting in line before dawn on game days to ensure a ticket to the game. That is a major shift in fan attitude, and it was all the result of the powerhouse that the Aztecs put on the floor last season.

But can it last? Can the Aztecs become a powerhouse west coast program, or will SDSU end up being just another one year flash-in-the-pan?

Graduation doesn't do the Aztecs any favors. DJ Gay, Malcolm Thomas, and Billy White have all used up their eligibility. Unless Brian Carlwell applies for and receives a medicla hardship waiver, he will also be gone. And on Friday, word came out that Kawhi Leonard would be entering the NBA Draft and foregoing his final two years of eligibility.

"We talked about where we thought I would be selected in the draft," Leonard said in a statement. "Coach Fisher gave me great advice and helped me with my decision that I should move forward with the process. This is very exciting. I have been preparing my whole life to play in the NBA and now I will have that chance."

Its the correct decision. The athletic, versatile Leonard will likely slide into the back end of the lottery with the amount of talent that decided to withdraw their name from the draft pool. His stock won't get much higher after he lead the Aztecs in scoring, rebounding, and to a Sweet 16. If he did opt to return and he didn't show a major jump in skill level, his standing on NBA Draft boards would have dropped with the amount of talent at the top of the 2012 draft.

Leonard may not even be the most devastating loss for the SDSU program. Justin Hutson, SDSU's lead recruiter and the guy that brought Leonard -- the California state player of the year -- to the MWC, has left to take an assistant's position with new UNLV head coach Dave Rice. If the Aztecs wanted to sustain their success on the court, they needed to capitalize on that success off the court by maximizing their newfound notoriety. They needed to use this Sweet 16 trip to land a couple of a high-level recruits, and that won't be easy when your recruiting coordinator leaves to take a new job.

Steve Fisher is left with a fairly empty cupboard as he tries to carry-on the momentum from back-to-back tournament berths.

Juniors Chase Tapley and James Rahon return in the back court. Freshman Jamaal Franklin showed some promise on the wing last season, while fellow freshman LaBradford Franklin looks to be the guy that will take over the point guard role. Throw is Washington State-transfer Xavier Thames, and Fisher has some pieces in his back court.

The bigger question mark will be in the front court. If Brian Carlwell doesn't return, it means that the Aztecs will have to rely on JuCo transfer DeShawn Stephens, Loyola Marymount transfer Kevin Young, seldom-used junior-to-be Alec Williams, and injury-prone Tim Shelton. Fisher missed on one of the best big men in the class of 2011 when 6'11" Kevin Johnson signed with Seton Hall last week.

It will be tough for any program -- let alone one with the (lack of) basketball tradition that SDSU has -- to sustain the kind of success the Aztec's had last season. They were a talented, experienced team that got their spark from a lottery pick that slipped through the recruiting cracks.

No one is expecting Fisher to produce another top ten team in 2011-2012.

But he's already turned a program that hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game in their history into a No. 2 seed. He may be able to do it again, but it will take some time.
Continue reading...

SDSU advances to face UConn

Here's an interesting stat for you -- San Diego State is headed to the Sweet 16, as a two seed nonetheless, despite having played just one team from the BCS conferences.

That's right.

The Aztecs went to Berkeley and beat Cal by 20 points back in December.* After outlasting Temple 71-64 in double overtime, SDSU is guaranteed to face their second BCS conference school as they will take on UConn next weekend.

(*That's not to say they didn't play some good teams -- Gonzaga, BYU and UNLV thrice each -- I just thought it odd.)


There are no surprises with the Aztecs.

The front court three some of Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas, and Billy White combined for 45 points, 31 boards (10 offensive), seven assists, five steals, and five blocks. Chase Tapley knocked down four threes. DJ Gay ran the team, finishing with five assists and just one turnover, although he shot 3-13.

But that doesn't mean there aren't concerns for this team.

The Aztecs did not execute well down the stretch of this game. At least three times down the stretch, SDSU threw away an outlet pass after corralling a rebound, and on two other occasions Temple came within inches of making a steal. San Diego State also had the ball at the end of regulation and the end of the first overtime, and on both occasions failed to score.

At the end of regulation, Tapley missed a tough leaner. When Leonard grabbed the rebound, he came down with the ball and never got another shot off when he could have tried to tip the ball in for a game winner. At the end of the overtime, Steve Fisher isolated Thomas in the post, who was forced into a tough, 12 foot fadeaway.

Another worrisome sign for the Aztecs?

UConn is a very similar team to the BYU team that had Brandon Davies. Their style of play is a bit different -- UConn does not push the ball as much and is much better defensively. But Kemba Walker, like Jimmer Fredette, is a dynamic scorer at the point. Alex Oriakhi, like Davies, is a rebounder and post defender that can score around the rim. Guys like Shabazz Napier, Jeremy Lamb, and Roscoe Smith play the role of Jackson Emery and Charles Abouo.

SDSU lost to that BYU by 13 and 15 points.
Continue reading...

Previewing the Madness: The Mountain West (Sponsored Post)

The Mountain West probably won't be getting the four bids we all expected them to get coming into the season, but that doesn't mean that this wasn't one of the toughest leagues in the country.

The MWC boasts two of the top ten teams in the country. BYU and SDSU shared the regular season crown, but that was mostly a result of Brandon Davies getting suspended by the school due to Honor Code violations. The Cougars, led by The Jimmer, knocked off the Aztecs twice this season.

While those two are the face of the league, they are far from the only talent. UNLV is a tournament team once again, paced by an excellent defensive back court. Colorado State probably has the most dynamic front court in the conference with Andy Ogide and Travis Franklin. And then there is New Mexico, who has struggled this season with all of their new additions and a banged up Dairese Gary, but with the way Drew Gordon has been playing of late, this Lobo team is absolutely a threat to make a run in Vegas.

Where: Las Vegas

When: March 9th-12th

Final: March 12, 7:00 pm, Versus


Favorite: San Diego State

I know that they lost to BYU twice. I know that. But I am also a huge fan of the San Diego State front court. Kawhi Leonard is the perfect small forward for this roster -- a slasher and terrific rebounder that has added some perimeter skills this season -- anchoring a talented front line that also features Malcolm Thomas and Billy White. On the perimeter, DJ Gay has turned into very good possession point guard that doesn't turn the ball over and can really shoot it from the perimeter. With James Rahon and Chase Tapley providing some scoring balance, its no wonder this team has climbed into the top ten.

• Other Contenders: BYU has to be considered a contender as long as they have Jimmer Fredette on their roster. The Jimmer has struggled a bit with his shot and turnovers down the stretch, but he is still the most potent scoring machine in the country. With Davies out, Jackson Emery and Charles Abouo are going to need to absorb some of the scoring load while guys like Noah Hartsock and Stephen Rogers are going to need to up their physicality inside.
  

Sleeper: UNLV

Its tough to call the Runnin' Rebels a sleeper, but they have to be as they are no where near the level of BYU or SDSU. The issue with this team is on the offensive end of the floor. As many talented players as Lon Kruger has amassed, this team lacks a certain creativity with the ball. UNLV can defend and force turnovers with the best of them, but they get far too many tough looks on that end. Tre'Von Willis is the name you will know, but Anthony Marshall is the glue to this team in the way that David Lighty is Ohio States glue. Also keep in mind, this tournament will be played at the Thomas and Mack Center, UNLV's home floor.

• Deeper Sleepers: Colorado State is talented and has two big time scorers in their front court. There are some red flags on this team, but if both Ogide and Franklin both find a rhythm this week, the Rams will be a tough out. As will New Mexico, who has underachieved this season. But that doesn't change the fact that these Lobos have all-conference caliber talents in Gary and Gordon.
  

Players to Watch:

• Anthony Marshall, UNLV: Marshall can do everything. He's the teams best on the ball defender, he can create with the bounce, and he is a tremendous athlete.
  
• Will Clybrun, Utah: This one of tough, but Clyburn is a heck of a player. He is the second-leading scorer in the conference and the third-leading rebounder.
  

Continue reading...

The Case for No. 1

The top four teams in the country all lost this week. All four of them received votes for No. 1 in last week's polls. The three teams behind them all have an argument to move up. There could very well be seven teams that draw first place votes in this week's poll. Here's how I would rank them, and why they have an argument to be No. 1.


1. Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio State was the consensus No. 1 team in the country before last Saturday's loss to Jordan Taylor and Wisconsin. It wasn't just because they were the last undefeated team in the country, its because they were, in fact, the best team in the country. Just because they lost at Wisconsin and at Purdue doesn't change that fact. The Badgers and the Boilermakers are a combined 30-0 at home this season. No one wins at Mackey Arena or the Kohl Center, not even the best team in the country.


2. Kansas Jayhawks: There may not be a more talented team in the country that the Jayhawks. They are deep, they are balanced, and they have one of the most efficient star tandems in the country in The Morrii. Like OSU, Kansas has just two losses on the season -- to Texas on the day after the death of Thomas Robinson's mother, and at Kansas State on Monday in a game that the Wildcats just dominated the Jayhawks. The problem? This team keeps showing flashes of maturity issues (technical fouls, intentional elbows) and they have actually only beaten three teams that are NCAA Tournament locks -- Missouri, Arizona, and UCLA.

3. Pitt Panthers: I don't think people give the Panthers enough credit for what they proved without Ashton Gibbs two weeks ago, beating both West Virginia and Villanova on the road. How important is Gibbs? He had 26 of their 59 points in the loss at St. John's. Don't confuse that with a bad loss, either. The Johnnies have now dispensed of five top 15 teams at home, and three of the other four (Notre Dame, UConn, and Duke) were blowouts. Pitt lost on a ridiculous reverse layup by Dwight Hardy.

4. Texas Longhorns: Defensively, the Longhorns are scary. They've completely shut down some very good opponents for ridiculously long stretches this season. The issue I have with Texas is on the offensive end of the floor. Rick Barnes has always had the reputation of being a guy who rolled the ball out and let his kids play. That works when you have Kevin Durant and DJ Augustin. But, like against Nebraska, what happens when Texas runs into an opponent that makes it difficult for them to score?

5. Duke Blue Devils: I know the theory is supposed to be win and you drop, but I'm still not ready to say that Duke is a better team than Texas. Why? Because of the body of work. Duke has, for better or worse, one quality win this season -- unless you consider disappointments like Butler, Michigan State, and Kansas State quality wins -- in UNC. Texas can also claim a victory over UNC, and has many more impressive wins, including one at Kansas. Duke may go farther in the NCAA Tournament, but they cannot be ranked ahead of the 'Horns right now.

6. San Diego State Aztecs: The Aztecs have just one loss on the season which came to BYU at the Marriott Center when The Jimmer went for 43 points. Just like Ohio State losses at Purdue and Wisconsin, no one was beating BYU on that night. The problem is that the Aztecs just don't have enough depth on their resume. They've beaten all the good teams out west -- Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Long Beach State, Wichita State, Cal -- but none of those teams are a lock to go to the NCAA Tournament. That's what makes this Saturday's matchup with BYU so important.

7. BYU Cougars: BYU actually has a fairly solid resume. They beat teams like Arizona, Utah State, St. Mary's, and, of course, SDSU. The issue with BYU? Those pesky road losses to New Mexico and UCLA and the thought that this team is too reliant on Jimmer.
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DJ Gay's game-winner lifts San Diego State

DJ Gay wasn't having a great night shooting the ball.

He was 2-8 from the floor, 0-3 from beyond the arc, and he never did make a trip to the foul line.

But Gay, a senior point guard for San Diego State who has developed something of a reputation for hitting big shots, stepped up when the Aztecs needed it most. Playing in a tough road environment against a scrappy Colorado State team that desperately needed this win, Gay didn't panic when the Rams tied the game with just 10 seconds left on the clock. He calmly brought the ball up the floor when Steve Fisher didn't call a time out and, well, why don't you just watch the video:



"I knew one thing, that when D.J. had the ball at the end of the game, we weren't going to do something foolish," SDSU head coach Steve Fisher explained after the game. "We were either going to make a basket or we were going to go to overtime. I was 100 percent positive of that. And I knew he would make a good decision with the ball."

This was a quality win for the Aztecs. Not only did they keep pace with BYU atop the Mountain West standings, but they did it on the road against quality competition when they played far from their best game.

Known for their dominant front line, SDSU's big men were actually outplayed by CSU seniors Andy Ogide and Travis Franklin. The Aztecs survived due to their defense, a team-high 15 points off the bench from sharp shooter James Rahon, and, well, Gay.

"I knew it was my time to make a play," said Gay.

Continue reading...

unPOSTERIZED: For shame Jamaal Franklin, for shame

Guys are going to miss dunks. it's just a fact of life. We've seen Jamar Samuels and Kourtney Roberson have dunks go in-and-out in the same week, we've seen Jordan Hamilton and Scotty Hopson slam dunks off the back of the rim.

But what SDSU's Jamaal Franklin did is on a whole different level.

Yes, the Aztecs were up 37, and yes he was on a fast-break, but if you are going to try a between-the-legs dunk during a game, you had better be damn sure you don't miss.



I think it's safe to say that Franklin wasn't that sure.

Man, If I was Steve Fisher, I can't even begin to fathom what I would make Franklin do after the next practice.

But was it as good as one of these?

Are you serious?
Of course it wasn't.

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The Emery Board: Week 12

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:
You know, it's kinda funny. We've been so enamored with the recent explosion of JimmerJam2011 that we lost sight of what the Emery Board was all out: playfully ripping Jackson Emery. If you recall, after BYU's first loss of the season, a head-scratcher to UCLA in Anaheim, Emery clarified that although they had lost, he still thought they could go the rest of the season without losing another game.

Well, I guess Mr. Emery forgot to remind his teams of his statements following their emotional home victory against SDSU on Wednesday. Because going into The Pit for a conference match-up against a team desperate for a signature win is not an easy thing to do. The Cougars played well, but new Mexico played better. BYU got only 9 points from their bench, all from Charles Abouo, and while Jimmer did drop 32, he did so on 12-26 shooting.

As for Mr. Emery, he had a somewhat-cold week. In the last two games, he has shot a combined 3-for-15, including 2-for-12 from behind the arc, and recorded only a mere five assists.

Things don't get much easier for the Cougars from here on out. They travel to Wyoming on Wednesday then host UNLV on Saturday night. Yes Wyoming is only 1-6 in the conference but that one win came at home against the same New Mexico squad that just beat BYU.

Next Game: 2/2 at Wyoming
Next Possible Loss: 2/26 at San Diego State


Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Ohio State: 22-0 (9-0)
Last Win: 58-57 at Northwestern
Next Game: 2/3 vs. Michigan
Next Potential Loss: 2/6 at No.18 Minnesota

"There can be only ONE!". Well no not really, but there's only one undefeated team left in the country, and it's tOSU. The Buckeyes' other sensational freshman, Aaron Craft had a big week, scoring a combined 24-points on 9-for-17 shooting and dished out nine assists in Ohio State's two wins. This team is loaded with talent from top to bottom, has experience, size, great coaching, and well, pretty much everything a team needs to win six consecutive games in March. The Buckeyes have shown they can win close games on the road, and can win games in which the opponents force them to play a different style of basketball. And to think I just wrote an entire paragraph about tOSU and didn't even mention Jared Sullinger. That's how good the Buckeyes are.


Drop-Outs

No. 6 San Diego State: 21-1 (6-1)
First Loss: 59-71 at No.9 BYU

"They have been weighed, they have been measured, and they have been found wanting." Or you could just say they lost a hard-fought game on the road in one of the toughest arenas to play at in the entire country. But on the plus side, Kawhi Leonard was battling flu-like symptoms prior to the game and still had a large night. Circle Saturday the 26th on your calenders, because that's when the SDSU fans get to return the favor to BYU.


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: 0-23 (0-3)
Next Game: 2/3 vs. North Dakota State (10-11, 5-6)
First Potential Win: 2/10 at Southern Utah (6-15, 3-6)

Another week, and another couple of losses for the Gentlemen. They capped-off a four-game road trip by getting smacked by Summit League leaders Oakland 100-70, and finally get a chance to play in front of their home crowd, if they have one. With only seven games left, it's looking less and less likely that they will get that elusive-W.





Continue reading...

The Emery Board: Week 11

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:
Jimmer Fredette continued on his path of swag-destruction, this time dropping 42-large on Colorado State. Jimmer continues to keep his name in the discussion for National Player of the Year. How can you not vote for him when he hits shots like these:



The Cougars got past the trap game and now face SDSU in the Mountain West game of the year on Thursday. Will Jimmer be able to drop 30? I'm not sure, but I bet a lot of people will tune in to find out.

Next Game: 1/26 vs. No.5 SDSU
Next Potential Loss: 1/26 vs. No.5 SDSU


Other Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Ohio State: 20-0 (7-0)
Last Win: 73-68 at No.22 Illinois
Next Game: 1/25 vs. No.13 Purdue
Next Potential Loss: 1/25 vs. No.13 Purdue

Can anybody stop Jared Sullinger and the Buckeyes? I'm not sure anybody in the Big-10 can. The Buckeyes' next game is against Purdue, and the match-up between Sullinger and Ja'Juan Johnson is going to be the key to victory for both teams. If tOSU can win, it's likey that they stay undefeated until mid-February, when they hit their toughest stretch of the season (at No.19 Minnesota, at No.17 Wisconsin, vs. No.18 Michigan State, vs. No.22 Illinois).


No. 6 San Diego State: 20-0 (5-0)
Last Win: 68-55 vs. Air Force
Next Game: 1/26 at No.9 BYU
Next Potential Loss: 1/26 at No.9 BYU

I think it's safe to say that nobody, not even die-hard Aztec fans thought they would be undefeated at this point in the season. But the 20 wins they have amassed doesn't matter anymore because they have their biggest game of the season on thursday, when they travel to the Marriott Center to take on BYU, in that marquee game-of-the-week. The question on everybody's minds is: how can they shut down Jimmer Fredette? I'm not sure you can shut him down. Your best bet is to try and contain him, and the Aztecs have a couple of different guys they can put on Fredette. This game is of must-watch status.


Drop-Outs

No. 2 Kansas: 17-0
first loss: 63-74 vs. No.11 Texas

Kansas lost their first home game in 69 tries against a hot Texas team. The Jayhawks got out to a quick lead, but were couldn't keep up with the Longhorns in the second half. I still think Kansas is a top-5 team, but they have shown the inability to put teams away.


No. 5 Syracuse: 18-2
First loss: 66-74 at No.4 Pitt, 72-83 vs. No.7 Villanova

Inconsistency is Syracuse's biggest problem, and was made evident in the 19-0 run, then 17-0 run that occurred in the game against Pitt. Well the same thing happened against 'Nova. Syracuse needs to find consistency in order to be considered a Final Four team. They are still a Big East contender, but that list changes virtually every week.


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: 0-21 (0-9)
Next Game: 1/27 at IPFW (1-7, 6-3)
First Potential Win: 2/10 at Southern Utah (6-13, 3-6)

Centenary continues to lose games and it doesn't look like it s going to change any time soon. Their bet chance will come on February 10th when they face a Southern Utah team that already beat them 88-75. Don't be surprised if Centenary doesn't win a single game this season.

Continue reading...

The Emery Board: Week 10

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 10:
BYU had a relatively light week, with just one game since last Monday. However, in that game, a 104-79 throttling of rivals Utah, Jimmer Fredette went bananas. And when i mean bananas, I mean, like b-a-n-a-n-a-s, bananas. The dude dropped 32 points in the first half, including a half-court buzzer-beater.



At the half, Utah's entire team had scored just ten more points than Fredette. He scored 15 points in the second half for a grand total of 47-points. The Cougars have two games this week, home against TCU tonight, then a road game on Saturday at Colorado State. But almost everybody in the country has circled January 26th. That's the date when the undefeated, No. 5 Aztecs of SDSU travel to the Marriott Center to face the No. 9 Cougars in arguably the biggest game of the season west of the Mississippi River.

Next Game: 1/18 vs. TCU
Next Potential Loss: 1/26 vs. No. 6 SDSU

Other Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Ohio State: 18-0
Last Win: 69-66 vs. Penn State
Next Game: 1/19 vs. Iowa
Next Potential Loss: 1/22 at Illinois

The Buckeyes claim the top spot in the rankings due to Duke's loss at Florida State. Ohio State had a tough week, squeaking past two inferior opponents. They went on the road and beat Michigan by just four and followed it up with a three-point-win at home against Penn State. Jared Sullinger provided the game-winning basket against Penn State after scoring just 12-points in the Michigan game. They get Iowa at home before playing back-to-back games against ranked opponents (at #22 Illinois, vs. #13 Purdue).


No. 2 Kansas: 17-0
Last Win: 63-60 vs. Nebraska
Next Game: 1/17 at Baylor
Next Potential Loss: 1/17 at Baylor

Just like tOSU, Kansas had a difficult week in conference play but ultimately won both the games, a five-point win at Iowa State and a three-point win against a scrappy Nebraska squad. But the next two weeks may be the toughest stretch of games for the Jayhawks all season. They play at Baylor tonight, then host No. 11 Texas five days later, followed up by a trip to Colorado to face the current Big-12 leaders. They cap off January with "The Sunflower State Showdown" against No. 24 Kansas State. I'd be very shocked if Kansas is still undefeated when we enter February.


No. 5 Syracuse: 18-0
Last Win: 67-52 vs. Cincinnati
Next Game: 1/17 at Pittsburgh
Next Potential Loss: 1/17 at Pittsburgh

Jim Boeheim's bunch put together solid week of play, blowing out two teams (St. John's and Cincinnati) that were on hot-streaks. The Orange play their biggest game of the year tonight when they travel to Pittsburgh in the marquee game of the Big East season thus far. Rick Jackson and Scoop Jardine have been playing great, but the Orange have back-to-back games against elite Big East teams in Pitt and Villanova. I don't think Syracuse will be undefeated for much longer.

No. 7 San Diego State: 18-0
Last Win: 87-77 at New Mexico
Next Game: 1/19 vs. Air Force
Next Potential Loss: 1/26 at BYU

It was a big week for the Aztecs, as they knocked off two solid MWC opponents in UNLV and New Mexico. The win against new Mexcico was especially impressive considering it was on the road at The Pit. SDSU has two tough games coming up as they face a better-than-advertised Air Force team, then the MWC showdown of the year against No. 9 BYU. I think the Aztecs could end up being the last remaining unbeaten team.

Drop-Outs

No. 1 Duke: 16-1
First Loss:66-61 at Florida State

I had a hunch that Florida State's stout defense might give Duke fits, and that's exactly what happened. They Blue Devils got little-to-no productive from their frontcourt and had trouble hitting their shots. But don;t write off the Dukies just yet. When they play well, I think they are the best team in the country.

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: 0-19
Next Game: 1/19 at Louisiana-Lafayette (3-14)
First Potential Win: 1/19 at Louisiana-Lafayette (3-14)

Poor poor Centenary. Last week there were four winless teams, and now, just one. It's very possible that the Gentlemen don;t win a single game this season, something that hasn't been done since N.J.I.T did it back in 2008.

Continue reading...

Friday's Pregame Beat: Previewing your college hoops weekend

UPSET ALERT

Sat. 6:00 pm: No. 6 SDSU @ New Mexico: With Duke's loss to Florida State on Wednesday night, there are now just four undefeated teams left in the country -- Ohio State, Kansas, Syracuse, and SDSU. And while, on paper, SDSU seems to be the outlier in this group, don't be fooled by their non-BCS conference affiliation. This team is legit.


They have arguably the best, and most versatile, front line in the country with Kawhi Leonard, Malcolm Thomas, Billy White, and Brian Carlwell. DJ Gay is an underrated point guard, and the addition of a shooter in James Rahon on the perimeter has given the Aztecs another dimension. But do not sleep on this Lobo team, especially at the Pit. They have a high-major front line with Drew Gordon and Emmanuel Negedu complementing Alex Kirk and AJ Hardemann. Dairese Gary, Kendall Williams, and Philip McDonald one of the best back courts out west.

Steve Alford's crew has struggled early in the season, but this is a group that is still coming together with the addition of Gordon that will be playing in front of a raucous home crowd. This is a better game than the records indicate, and New Mexico has a real chance to beat the Aztecs and get a win they really need on their resume.


UPSET SPECIAL

Sat. 11:00 am: Marquette @ No. 17 Louisville: These two teams matchup really well with each other. Both are heavy on talented guards, both shoot a lot of threes, and neither is afraid to play an uptempo game. As Notre Dame found out on Monday, this Marquette club -- as they seemingly are every season -- is much better than their record indicates. The key for Marquette? Defend the three -- which the haven't done all that well this season -- and get the ball to Jae Crowder and Jimmy Butler.

Sat. 1:00 pm: Northwestern @ No. 24 Michigan State: Northwestern has to get a win against a few of the big boys in the Big Ten if they are serious about making a run at their first NCAA Tournament bid. I think this is a pretty good matchup for the Wildcats. They spread the floor, they execute a difficult offensive to defend, and they are going against a team that has not defended the three point line all that well through two months. Shurna had 24 points in a win over Iowa on Tuesday. Is he finally healthy?

Sat. 5:00 pm: No. 22 UCF @ Southern Miss: UCF has played as well as anyone in Conference USA this season, but with Memphis slowly fading out of the picture, USM may actually be the most talented team in the league. The Golden Eagles have a couple of good perimeters to throw at Marcus Jordan, but the most intriguing matchup in this one is between Gary Flowers and Keith Clanton.

Sat. 6:00 pm: Baylor @ Iowa State: This would seem silly at first glance, but hear me out. Baylor is not as good as we all expected them to be this season. In the same way Kansas State has struggled, Baylor has as well. They have an all-american guard and a loaded front court. But do the Bears have anyone that can get LaceDarius Dunn or one of Baylor's big men an open look? ISU hasn't been terrible this season. They gave Kansas a bit of a scare on Wednesday night. Diante Garrett and Scott Christopherson deserve some national pub, as well.


Sat. 8:00 pm: Loyola Marymount @ Gonzaga: In terms of raw talent, there might not be a team in the WCC better than the Lions not named the Zags. With guys like Vernon Teel and Drew Viney, this LMU group was picked second in the preseason. They've lost a few games here early, but that talent is still on the roster. Teel-Viney going against Stephen Gray and Elias Harris? That's worth it back ground noise as you pregame for your Saturday night.

Sun. 12:00 pm: No. 11 Notre Dame @ St. John's: Notre Dame is 14-3 on the season. Their three losses? To Kentucky at Freedom Hall in Louisville, to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, and to Marquette at the Bradley Center. They are 14-0 in home and neutral site games. Just like the Irish need to get a win on the road, the Johnnies need to get a win, period. They are in the midst of a tough eight game stretch, and coming off of a 15 point shellacking at the hands of the Irish in South Bend last Saturday. Now's the time to turn around this losing streak.

Sun. 1:30 pm: No. 8 Purdue @ West Virginia: I made the decision to slot this game into the Upset Special category before I saw the Boilermakers nearly knock off Minnesota on the road despite getting poor performances out of, well, everyone except JaJuan Johnson. Johnson, on the other hand, torched a big Gopher front line for 29 points and 11 boards. That said, Bob Huggins has started to quiz his team on their scouting reports, and the difference is noticeable, as the 'Eers are finally playing like they are capable of. They just beat Georgetown in Georgetown on Monday and on Thursday they mollywhopped Providence by 30 points. Morgantown is usually a great environment when West Virginia is good. Let's hope that trend continues.


BEST MATCHUPS

Sat. 12:00 pm: Cincinnati @ No. 4 Syracuse: Actually, if I'm being truthful, I think that the Bearcats are going to get smoked against the Orange. Just like St. John's got smoked on Wednesday night. This year's version of the Syracuse zone just keeps getting scarier and scarier. Cincy is a bigger team that lacks a bit in the playmaking and shooting departments. Based on Syracuse's size this season, and with Kris Joseph turning into the elite slasher we expected him to be and James Southerland providing just that much more versatility, Bearcat fans should be nervous.


Sat. 12:00 pm: Vanderbilt @ Tennessee: Two games in, and the Tony Jones experiment has gotten off to a pretty poor start. Vanderbilt looks like they could end up being the second best team in the SEC East with Tennessee's recent struggles, but remember, this is a Tennessee team that has beaten both Villanova and Pitt this year. The matchup of Jeff Taylor and Scotty Hopson could be the best individual matchup of the weekend.

Sat. No. 12 Missouri @ No. 13 Texas A&M: You cannot get two more differing styles than the Tigers and the Aggies. Mizzou likes to pressure for 40 minutes, push the tempo, force turnovers, and shoot threes. Texas A&M wins with ball control, half court defense, and rebounding. Kansas seems to be the best team in the conference with these two, and Texas, fighting for that second spot. Mizzou lost their first conference road game to Colorado, but the Aggies are relatively unproved. This should be a good gauge for both teams.

Sat. 1:00 pm: Maryland @ No. 7 Villanova: This Terrapins team has a bit of Marquette in them. What I mean is that they are now 11-5 on the season, but they aren't your typical 11-5 team. All five losses have come to likely tournament teams, none by more than nine points. This is a tough, scrappy team that is still learning how to win. That said, Nova is a tough team to learn against. The Terp's back court will have their work cut out for them against the likes of Maalik Wayns and My Two Corey's. The key to this one? Jordan Williams staying out of foul trouble.

Sat. 3:00 pm: No. 16 Illinios @ No. 21 Wisconsin: I can't imagine two teams with as similar a roster composition playing such different styles. Two talented points guard in Demetri McCamey. Nary a physical big man in sight, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a better front court matchup than Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil going against Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis. Quality role players all over the place. The Kohl Center is a tough place to win, but this should be a dandy.


Sat. 7:00 pm: Seton Hall @ No. 5 Pitt: I don't necessarily believe that the Pirates can win this game. The Peterson Events Center is not a place where road warriors win battles. But the storyline in this game deserves elaboration. Just a few days before Thanksgiving, Jeremy Hazel broke his wrist. He had surgery on Dec. 2nd to repair the wrist. On Christmas day, he was shot in an attempted robbery. On Wednesday night, he played against DePaul and had 23 points on 10-17 shooting. Tough kid.


BEST STORYLINES

Friday

• 7:00 pm: Valpo @ Wright State; 9:00 pm: Butler @ Detroit: All four of these teams are tied atop the Horizon League standings at 4-1.
  

Saturday

• 12:00 pm: No. 23 Temple @ Duquesne: Duquesne is a good team, but Temple looks to be the hands down favorite to win the A-10 this season.
  
• 12:00 pm: No. 19 Georgetown @ Rutgers: No one in the country needs a win as badly as Georgetown does. But remember, they lost at the RAC last season.
• 12:00 pm: Marshall @ Memphis: Can the Tigers snap out of their funk without Wesley Witherspoon?
• 1:30 pm: Oklahoma State @ Colorado: The battle of the "we just upset Kansas State" teams.
  
• 1:30 pm: Texas Tech @ No. 20 Kansas State: Well, maybe Kansas State needs a win as badly as Georgetown.
• 1:30 pm: South Carolina @ Florida: If it seems like the SEC East is giving us a good game daily, its because they are.
  
• 2:00 pm: Virginia @ No. 1 Duke: Virginia will be playing their first game without Mike Scott, while Duke will be taking the floor for the first time since their loss to FSU.
• 2:00 pm: Nebraska @ No. 3 Kansas: With Wednesday's performance by the twins, I must ask -- are they the Morri, the Morrii, or the Morii? I've always gone Morrii.
• 2:00 pm: No. 9 DePaul @ UConn: Cleveland Melvin originally committed to UConn. He parted ways, ended up at DePaul, and is averaging 13.5 ppg as a freshman.
• 2:30 pm: Arizona State @ Arizona: Derrick Williams against a front line of ... Kyle Cain? Pick him up for your fantasy team.
• 4:00 pm: Oklahoma @ No. 14 Texas: The Red River rivalry doesn't have much sizzle on the hardwood this year.
  
• 4:00 pm: LSU @ No. 15 Kentucky: LSU has a better record in the SEC than Kentucky does. Enjoy it while it lasts.
• 4:00 pm: NC State @ Florida State: The Seminoles can beat anyone when they are shooting well. They can lose to anyone when they aren't. The Wolfpack really need this win.
• 4:00 pm: Old Dominion @ Hofstra: This might be the best mid-major matchup of the day.
  
• 4:00 pm: Austin Peay @ Tennessee State: The Governors have a chance to extend their lead on one of the teams chasing them in the OVC.
• 5:00 pm: Georgia @ Ole Miss: Renardo Sidney has his best game of the season against Ole Miss on Thursday. Trey Thompkins is what Sidney would be if he actually cared.
  
• 5:30 pm: Penn State @ No. 2 Ohio State: Note to the Buckeyes -- all Penn State does is upset ranked teams. You've been warned.
• 6:00 pm: UNLV @ Air Force: UNLV cannot afford to lose a game like this if they want to compete in the MWC, but Air Force has been a bit of a surprise this year.
• 6:00 pm: Boston College @ Miami FL: You probably won't find a better back court matchup than Reggie Jackson going against Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant.
• 6:00 pm: UCLA @ Oregon: Have fun watching a game on Matt Court.
• 7:00 pm: Oakland @ IUPUI: A matchup of the Summit favorites.
• 8:00 pm: Washington State @ Stanford: After knocking off Washington, Stanford all of a sudden is in second place in the conference.
• 8:00 pm: Wake Forest @ Virginia Tech: If Virginia Tech loses to Wake, the Hokies might as well pack in their season.
• 8:00 pm: Dayton @ Xavier: This game looked much better before the season started.
• 11:00 pm: Utah State @ Fresno State: The Aggies are already head and shoulders above the rest of the WAC, but this is a chance to further distance themselves from the pack.
  

Sunday

• 1:00 pm: Valpo @ Detroit; 7:00 pm: Butler @ Wright State: Those Horizon League games from Friday? Butler goes from Detroit to Wright State while Valpo heads the other way.
• 6:00 pm: Iowa @ No. 25 Minnesota: The Gophers must take care of business coming off of a big win against Purdue.
• 7:45 pm: North Carolina @ Georgia Tech: The Tar Heels and the Yellow Jackets are probably doing the least with the talent on their respective rosters.
  
• 10:00 pm: Washington @ Cal: Cal seems to be handling the loss of Gary Franklin better than U-Dub is the loss of Abdul Gaddy. The Huskies struggle on the road, and they cannot afford to get swept in their northern California trip.
  

Continue reading...

The Emery Board: Week 9

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 9:

The Cougars are 3-0 since the beginning of 2011 and for now, Jackson Emery's reconfirmation that his team won't lose another game is upheld. BYU's week began with a trip to UNLV, where they are winless in their last five trips. In what one of the most entertaining games of the week, the Cougars fought back from an early nine-point deficit and were able to stretch the lead to 21. but the Rebels fought back and cut the lead to ten with just two minutes left. ultimately BYU prevailed, in large part to Jimmer Fredette's 39 points which included a ballsy three-pointer from deep left-field.



The win over UNLV was big, as it will likely be there toughest competition before they face No. 6 San Diego State on January 26th, which will likely be the best west coast game of the season.

Over the weekend, the Cougars defeated Air Force by ten even though Fredette scored only 22-points, his fifth lowest output of the season. BYU's next game is a Tuesday night battle on the road against their rivals Utah. The Cougars are a much better team that the Utes, but in a rivalry game of this magnitude, anything is possible.

Next Game: 1/11 at Utah
Next Potential Loss: 1/26 vs. No. 6 SDSU

Other Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Duke: 15-0
Last Win:71-64 vs. Maryland
Next Game: 1/12 at Florida State
Next Potential Loss: 1/19 at North Carolina State

The Blue Devils earned their 15th consecutive win of the season with a victory over Maryland on Sunday night. The Terps were the last team to beat Duke, when they knocked off the Blue Devils in College Park last March. The Dukies have won 25 straight since that game. On Sunday, Kyle Singler recorded his first double-double of the season with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Think about that for a second. Duke is 15-0, hands-down the best player in the country, and their best player doesn't log a double-double until January. That's scary.


Duke got good production from guards Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton and Seth Curry. Thornton was particularly impressive, providing a spark off the bench which helped the Blue Devils put together it's game-breaking run late in the second half. Duke's conference schedule is set up for them to be undefeated for a long time. They face FSU on the road in their next game, and follow it up with a home game against Virginia. A game at North Carolina State on January 19th looks like their toughest to date, which isn't saying a lot. Look for this team to stay undefeated for a long time.


No. 2 Ohio State: 14-0
Last Win: 67-64 vs. No. 21 Minnesota
Next Game: 1/12 at Michigan
Next Potential Loss: 1/22 at No. 22 Illinois

The Buckeyes opened up Big-Ten play with three solid performances. The crushed Indiana on the road and gutted-out a come-from-behind victory at Iowa. Being able to overcome adversity early in league-play is very important for a team with National Championship aspirations. They finished-off their week with a close, maybe even too close, win over Minnesota when Austin Hollin's three-pointer came up short and tOSU was able to escape with their undefeated record intact.


No. 3 Kansas: 15-0
Last Win: 67-60 at Michigan
Next Game: 1/12 at Iowa State
Next Potential Loss: 1/17 at Baylor

Kansas had another scare, this time courtesy of a young Michigan squad and a rowdy Ann Arbor crowd. Kansas led by as many as 15, but the Wolverines fought back thanks to some timely three-pointers and a zone defense that gave the Jayhawks fits. But in overtime, the Jayhawks pulled away and remain unbeaten.


Kansas has been in way too many close games against inferior competition. Methinks that is isn't long before they get upset. Their next game is at Iowa State in their Big-12 opener. I would not be surprised if Kansas gets stunned. But then again, I also wouldn't be surprised if the beat the Cyclones by 15+.


No. 5 Syracuse: 16-0
Last Win: 61-58 at Seton Hall
Next Game: 1/12 at St. John's
Next Potential Loss: 1/12 at St. John's

Syracuse was able to survive against Seton Hall over the weekend, despite having it's worst offensive performance of the season. Rick Jackson had only nine points, but grabbed 14 boards. Brandon Triche and Chris Joseph combined for 32 points, but the Orange scored only 20 first half points, the lowest single-half output of the season. Things don;t gett easier for 'Cuse from here. They face St. John's on Wednesday, then have to play Cincinnati, at Pitt, and against Villanova. If 'Cuse is still undefeated by January 23rd, I'd be pretty surprised.


No. 7 San Diego State: 17-0
Last Win: 71-62 at Utah
Next Game: 1/12 vs. UNLV
Next Potential Loss: 1/12 vs. UNLV

The Aztecs remain unbeaten thanks to a strong road performance against Utah. SDSU struggled in the first half, as the lead changed hands 11 times. But the Aztecs held the Utes to just 4 points in the game's final eight minutes to remain unbeaten.


But SDSU now has their toughest stretch of the season in the next 20 days. They have to battle UNLV, travel to the Pit to face New Mexico, come back and play a decent Air Force team, then head to Utah of the biggest game of the season west of the Mississippi River, against No. 14 BYU. Like Syracuse, if the Aztecs make it to the end of January with no losses, I will be very surprised.


Drop-Outs

Central Florida: 13-0
First Loss: 76-71 at Houston

I did not think UCF would stay unbeaten much longer, but I did not see them losing to a Huston team that has loses to LSU, Texas-San Antonio and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Golden Knights had just beaten Marshall in an emotional game following coach Donnie Jones' return to the school he left last year. UCF has a week off before their next game, against fellow-Conference-USA surprise Southern Miss, and I can imagine that the Golden Knights would have loved to go into the week-off with a 2-0 conference record. Instead, they are 1-1 and have their first loss of the season.

Cincinnati: 14-0
First Loss: 72-61 at Villanova

We all knew the Bearcats wouldn't be unbeaten much longer. Their past two games were the toughest of the season, defeating Xavier in the cross-town rivalry game, then going to Philadelphia to take on one of the Big East elites. This wasn't a bad loss for the Bearcats, and although they now have a tally in the loss-column, they still have potential for Big-East success this season.

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: 0-13
Next Game: 1/10 at Grambling State (3-12)
First Potential Win: 1/10 at Grambling State (3-12)

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 0-14
Next Game: 1/10 vs. Alabama A&M (5-7)
First Potential Win: 1/15 at Southern (2-13)

Centenary: 0-17
Next Game: 1/13 vs. Missouri-Kansas City (9-7)
First Potential Win: 1/15 vs. Southern Utah (4-11)

UNC Greensboro: 0-15
Next Game: 1/10 vs. Elon (7-8)
First Potential Win: 1/20 vs. Georgia Southern (4-13)


Continue reading...

The Emery Board: Week 7

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 7:

BYU may not be competing for an undefeated year anymore, but they still have a full season of basketball to play.

The Cougars moved to 12-1 on the season with a couple of solid wins this week. They opened it up with a 72-66 win over Weber State on Tuesday. The close score is unimpressive, especially considering that the Wildcats are without their star guard Damian Lillard, who broke a bone in his foot.

BYU was up by double figures for much of the game, led by 28 points from Jimmer Fredette. But Weber State's aggressive defense eventually wore down the Cougars. They shot just 37.3% from the floor and 26.9% from three, numbers that drop to 32.6% and 15.4%, respectively, once Fredette's numbers are factored out. The Wildcats made a comeback, but never got within one possession.


On Thursday, it seemed as if BYU was going to get a tougher test, but the UTEP Miners learned the hard way the dangers of ... The Emery Board. Jackson had 23 points and hit six threes, despite the fact that he has been coming off the bench as he deals with a shin injury, as BYU cruised to an 89-68 win despite falling behind 9-0 early on.

Next Game: 12/30 @ Buffalo

Next Potential Loss: 1/5 @ UNLV


BYU might have ruined my plans for an epic "Ankiel Watch" level of prediction, but there are still nine teams left that have a shot at the undefeated season. So we might as well use this space to document their chances.


Other Undefeated Teams

No. 1 Duke: 11-0
Next Game: 12/29 @ UNC-Greensboro
Next Potential Loss: 1/2 vs. Miami

Duke won't go undefeated this year. Sorry it just won't happen. That was a sexy statement to make following the Michigan State game, but without Kyrie Irving, you can forget about 32-0. But I give Duke the best chance to be the last team in the country to get a tally in the loss column. The ACC isn't great, but teams come ready to play every night when they have Duke sitting in the visiting locker room. Circle the Dukie's first conference road game (1/12 @ Florida State) as a possible end-date for that unblemished record. If they can get past that game, it could be February before Duke loses a game. This week, they head to winless UNC-Greensboro before hosting Miami.


No. 2 Ohio State: 12-0
Next Game: 12/27 vs. UT-Martin
Next Potential Loss: 1/9 vs. Minnesota

The Buckeyes very well be the best team in America. Jared Sullinger isn't only playing like the best freshman in the country, he's playing like the best big man in the country and a potential national player of the year candidate. Their perimeter players are all capable of going off for 25 points on a given night. They have a solid freshman point guard and a big shot blocker in the paint. The thing that is so impressive about this Ohio State team is that everyone understands their role on the team and completely buys into it. It might be until February, when the Buckeyes take trips to Wisconsin and Purdue in the span of a week, before they actually lose a game.


No. 3 Kansas: 9-0
Next Game: 12/29 vs. UT-Arlington
Next Potential Loss: 1/22 vs. Texas

Kansas looks better and better as the season goes on, and with the Big XII looking weaker, especially at the top (Baylor and Kansas State have both struggled, and they were picked to be top three in the league), the Jayhawks's chances of running the table get better. Will it happen? Well, not likely, but with only one game each against Baylor, Texas, and Texas A&M, Kansas has the schedule to make it a possibility.


No. 4 Connecticut: 10-0
Next Game: 12/27 at Pittsburgh
Next Potential Loss: 12/27 at Pittsburgh

Well, we find out who the Huskies are tonight. They head to the Peterson Events Center to take on the Panthers, who many believe to be the best team in the Big East despite what rankings and records may say. To get an idea how overrated UConn appears to be, Pitt started the day as 7.5 point favorites in Vegas. I'm going to hold off comment on the Huskies until after tonight's game.


No. 5 Syracuse: 10-0
Next Game: 12/28 vs. Providence
Next Potential Loss: 12/28 vs. Providence

Like UConn, Syracuse is kicking off Big East play this week. It starts with the Friars, and continues with a New Year's Day matchup with Notre Dame. I'm not sure this team has the chops -- or the perimeter shooting -- to make it past Pitt and Villanova later in the month, but with Kris Joseph starting to round into form and Fab Melo looking healthier, the Orange defense and interior play may be good enough that perimeter shooting is rendered mute.


No. 7 San Diego State: 14-0
Next Game: 12/31 vs. Occidental
Next Potential Loss: 1/12 vs. UNLV

I love this San Diego State team, but if I'm being totally honest, I'm shocked they are still undefeated at this point in the season. Its not because I don't think they are good enough -- this is the best team on the West Coast without question -- its because they continually play down to their opponents. A six point win over Cal Poly. A six point win against San Francisco. A two point win over IUPUI. Granted, there were extenuating circumstances -- the flu has swept through the team, while the latter two games were played in a rodeo arena under less than ideal circumstances. Regardless, SDSU needs to start playing up to their potential, or eventually they are going to slip up.


Central Florida: 11-0
Next Game: 12/29 vs. Furman
Next Potential Loss: 1/15 @ Southern Miss

UCF just keeps getting better and better. This week, it was a five point win at UMass, which doesn't appear all that impressive on the surface. But consider this -- they played the first 25 minutes without Marcus Jordan, who had two bad ankles, but who convinced the coaching staff to allow him to play the last 15 minutes of the game. Impressive stuff. UCF will battle with Memphis and Southern Miss for the C-USA title this season.


Cincinnati: 8-0
Next Game: 12/28 vs. DePaul
Next Potential Loss: 1/6 vs. Xavier

Still waiting for Cincinnati to come up with an impressive win. The 68-34 shellacking of Dayton needs to be taken in context -- the Flyers were in the midst of a terrible string of basketball -- and my team in college might have beaten this year's Oklahoma team. That said, there is much to like about this team. Dion Dixon, Cashmere Wright, and Sean Kilpatrick are all playing above expectations, while Yancy Gates anchors a big, athletic front line. I'm still going to withhold judgement on this team until they actually play someone, but consider me in the process of being swayed.


Drop-Outs

Northwestern: 5-0
First Loss: 85-69 @ St. John's

Northwestern ran into a buzz saw in Madison Square Garden last week. The Johnnies shot 80% in the second half and ran away with the win. The loss was very costly for Northwestern's tournament hopes, as the Wildcats are now hanging their non-conference schedule on a win over Georgia Tech in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. To make matters worse, they start of the Big Ten season at Purdue, at home for Michigan State, and at Illinois. We could find out really soon whether or not this Northwestern team is for real.


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: 0-9
Next Game: 12/28 at Ole Miss (9-3)
First Potential Win: 1/4 vs. Prairie View A&M (2-10)

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 0-11
Next Game: 12/29 at Akron (7-5)
First Potential Win: 12/29 at Akron (7-5)

Centenary: 0-13
Next Game: 12/28 vs. Oakland (7-8)
First Potential Win: 1/15 vs. Southern Utah (3-8)

Colgate: 0-10
Next Game: 12/29 at Stony Brook (4-6)
First Potential Win: 1/2 at Longwood (4-11)

Maryland-Baltimore County: 0-12
Next Game: 12/30 vs. Niagara (3-9)
First Potential Win: 12/30 vs. Niagara (3-9)

UNC Greensboro: 0-11
Next Game: 12/29 vs. Duke (11-0)
First Potential Win: 1/10 vs. Elon (5-7)

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