SB Nation Bracketology: UNC And UConn On A Collision Course With The NIT - SB Nation
the Atlantic 10 gets six! bids and there's a huge log jam with second-tier Big East teams.
Tonight's Picks
by Second Jumpability on Feb 8, 2010 11:48 AM EST
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West Virginia (-5) over Villanova- WVU Coliseum in Morgantown might be the toughest road game in the nation right now. Not only do visitors have to deal with the swarming defense of Bob Huggins' Mountaineers, they also hope to dodge the debris, coins, and flagrant obscenities that have become the norm at West Virginia basketball games. Led by Da'Sean Butler and his 17PPG, WVU has ripped off six wins in a row, and they'll host a Wildcat squad fresh off Saturday's beatdown at Georgetown. There will be matchup problems all over the court tonight- 'Nova has superior guard play while the strength of the Mountaineers is their super-athletic forwards Butler, Devin Ebanks, and Kevin Jones. Also, keep an eye out for Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia's new addition from Serbia. The 6'9'' Kilici has scored 14 points in the 14 minutes he has played this season.
Texas (+2.5) over Kansas- With seven players averaging over 8 PPG on a team that puts up 84 PPG, one would think the Longhorns can score at will. However, their problem of late has been finding a second go-to scorer after Damion James. Coach Rick Barnes goes with a ten player rotation, which has led to inconsistent playing time as players struggle to find a rhythm. Has the emphasis on fresh legs prevented Texas from hitting its stride with a consistent rotation? They'll have their hands full and will need all ten hitting on all cylinders to take down the nations top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas has pushed their winning streak to eight and their record to 22-1. Texas has lost four of six, and desperatly needs to right the ship. Bouyed by a packed house tonight in Austin, the Longhorns will pull off the upset.
James Madison (-1) over Towson- Due to all the hype surrounding rivalry week and that football game, you might have missed the news about Saturday's JMU/Towson game being postponed to tonight. Lucky for you, we've got it covered. The Dukes are led by Texas A&M transfer Denzel Bowles. While the 6'10'' forward has only played in 15 of the 23 games this season, he's been dominant in those appearances averaging over 20PPG and 9RPG. Towson is last in the Colonial Athletic Conference which automatically means they are one of the worst teams in the country. Bowles dominates in a JMU victory.
Overall: 64-57-1
Saturday: 4-2
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North Carolina is officially an ACC bottom-dweller
by Nick Fasulo on Feb 7, 2010 11:02 PM EST
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While you fought with the woman on the phone from your favorite local pizza delivery service, placed a few Super Bowl prop bets, and experimented with a crazy new nacho dip recipe, the North Carolina Tar Heels were getting routed by the Maryland Terrapins...to the tune of a 92-71 defeat. The Heels, now 2-6 in the ACC and losers of seven of their last nine, are well off the tournament radar (Terps undergrads were chanting "NIT!" for much of the afternoon), and have a legitimate shot at finishing last - the opposite of first - in the conference. The Heels are on pace to have their worst season since they went 4-12 in the conference and finished tied for seventh back in 2002.
What can we attribute their problems to? For starters, they allow 74 points a game, let their opponents take an average of 66 shots each game (that's good for 346th out of 347 Division I teams, folks), and frankly they don't have any players that are going to keep you up at night thinking about how to defend them
With road games in Atlanta, Boston and Durham remaining on the schedule, it's not going to get any easier; just more enjoyable for all the haters who have stomached their recent run of success.
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Things we missed during the first week of February
by Nick Fasulo on Feb 7, 2010 4:33 PM EST
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- The University of Arizona has placed it's basketball team on probation, which will mildly handcuff the program for the next two years. The school has taken away a scholarship, and reduced the number of days Wildcat coaches can spend time with recruits. The penalties are the result of former coach Lute Olson's letter of request to boosters asking for financial support for an on-campus AAU tournament back in 2008. Olsen denies ever sending a letter, although an electronic signature suggests otherwise.
- Isiah Thomas is denying reports he may be leaving Florida International after one season to coach the woeful Los Angeles Clippers. Thomas, who is 7-19 (4-9 in the Sun Belt Conference), addressed the rumors before the question was even posed to him following yesterday's loss to North Texas. "I'm very happy here at FIU," Thomas said. "We've got a great recruiting class coming in next year, one of the best recruiting classes in the school's history, and my 2011 class, I hope that's even better."
- West Virginia is internationally known. The Mountaineers' Deniz Kilicli, of Turkey, is now eligible to play and could give Bob Huggins club a huge boost in the front court. Kilicli was forced to sit out the first 20 games of the season as penalty for playing professionally across the pond, before enrolling at WVU. Said Kilicli's prep school coach Rob Fulford (as told to SI.com's Luke Winn): "One thing they're [West Virginia] kind of missing is an a--hole. And he can play like an a--hole."
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2/6 Game Links: Georgetown, Illinois, and just what is up with Texas?
by Nick Fasulo on Feb 7, 2010 12:01 PM EST
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Georgetown puts up whopping 103 points, hands Villanova first conference loss
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Illinois corrals Kalin Lucas-less Michigan St., Big Ten now very competitive
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Da'Sean Butler drops 33, leads second-half surge past St. John's
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Backcourt helps Duke get another victory
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Texas might have severe flaws, Longhorns defeated easily by Oklahoma
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UNLV gets statement win, blows out BYU
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Richmond cruises past Temple, Atlantic 10 now looking at four tournament bids
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Texas A&M caps impressive week with win over Baylor
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That game called the "Super Bowl" is tonight
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Tonight's Picks
by Second Jumpability on Feb 6, 2010 11:59 AM EST
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What a super Saturday we've got on tap! Twenty-one of the nations top 25 teams hit the hardwood and we're here to preview and pick the top six games to watch and tell you who you should put your money on and why. If you live in any of the eastern United States, delay as long as you can on the incumbent shoveling job hanging over your head, and treat yourself to a preview of this years top NCAA tournament contenders. Don't try to get anything productive done today in order to sit around all day tomorrow for the Super Bowl. Today's an opportunity to fully engage yourself in non-stop college hoops. After all, it's been a tough week. You deserve it.
#8 Georgetown (-1.5) over #2 Villanova- John Thompson III's Georgetown Hoyas were tripped up by an underrated South Florida in a matchup that was sandwiched between their big weekend tilts with Duke and Villanova. The Executive Branch won't be in attendance this Saturday, but D.C.'s Verizon Center will once again be rocking as top ten teams clash. There will be two keys to today's game for the Hoyas. First, they'll want to feed Greg Monroe all day down low where he'll be defeneded by the smaller Antonio Pena. Get Pena in foul trouble, and Monroe will go 30 and 15 like he did in the teams' first matchup in Philly. Secondly, shooting guard Jason Clark, averaging 10PPG, must assert himself today. Georgetown will need all the scoring they can get outside of Monroe, Austin Freeman, and Chris Wright. Georgetown defends the capitol and takes down Scottie Reynolds and the first place Wildcats.
#17 Temple (+1.5) over Richmond- Both teams have recorded impressive non-conference resumes. Both are vying for the top spot in the hotly-contested Atlantic Ten (sidenote- better than the Pac-10 and Conference USA). Only one will come away victorious today in Richmond, as the hometown Spiders will look to pull off the upset over the nationally ranked Owls. Home crowd energy won't be enough to spur on Richmond today however. Temple is a superior road team this year, their 8-2 record outside of Philly including victories at Seton Hall and Rhode Island. They're the only team to beat Villanova, they lost by one to Georgetown, and delivered the lone conference loss to Xavier to date. Guard combo Ryan Brooks and Juan Fernandez combine to average 27PPG, and they'll provide the offensive firepower in what otherwise will be a defensive minded game.
#21 Pittsburgh (-4) over Seton Hall- Two weeks ago, Herb Pope led Seton Hall to an upset victory over the then-11th ranked Pittsburgh Panthers. Tonight, the 6'8'' power forward returns to his hometown, where his mom will probably be waiting for him, and where the Oakland Zoo will definitely be waiting for him. Pitt has been in a free fall of late, dropping four of their last five, and they must buck the trend with a win at home tonight. They'll look to guard Ashton Gibbs to raise his game today. He's recorded points well below his average in three straight. The Panthers will score revenge and sink the Pirates.
#13 Gonzaga (+4.5) over Memphis- The Zags have lost four straight years in this blockbuster non-conference matchup. But, these aren't your John Calipari, Rodney Carney, Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, Joey Dorsey Memphis Tigers. Mark Few has reloaded his west coast mid-major powerhouse once again, headlined by dynamic freshman Elias Harris averaging 16PPG and 8RPG. However, it will be the solid play of the improved Matt Bouldin that will be the difference today. Gonzaga has had it's ups and downs this season, but they're coming off one of their most impressive victories of the season on Thursday night and could be starting to peak at the right time. If we're fortunate, we'll have a Will Foster circus freak sighting. The Bill Walton look-a-like is a 7'5'' sparingly used center who recorded a career high six points last game. Memphis has a negligible inside presence this season, and it will be Gonzaga's best chance to steal a win during a rare down year for the Tigers.
#12 BYU (+1.5) over UNLV- Winners of six of their last seven, the Runnin' Rebels host the 22-2 BYU Cougars in Vegas tonight. For BYU, they have two real tests left that could stand in the way of another MWC championship. Tonight's game is one, and a late February tilt with New Mexico. Tre'Von Willis has been sensational for the Rebels of late, recording six 20+ point performance since the New Year. He'll go against a trio of scoring guards featuring Jimmer Fredette, Jackson Emery, and Tyler Haws. They combine for 44PPG. UNLV will put up a fight, but Cougars' superior talent will win the day.
Illinois (+1.5) over #5 Michigan State- As if this game couldn't get any bigger, ESPN Gameday is in Champagne for a huge nightcap to a big day in college hoops. With point guard Kalin Lucas a gametime decision due to a sprained ankle, the Spartans will have to look elsewhere for scoring, floor leadership, and clutch shooting. Illinois has four players averaging double figures this year, none more imporant than point guard Demetri McCamey. He's a frontrunner for Big Ten POY at 15PPG and 6APG. Today's biggest upset will come in one of the last games of the day in the Big Ten and it will be the Fighting Illini stunning the Spartans.
Overall: 60-55-1
Wednesday: 1-2
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SB Nation's College Basketball Power 16: Week Five
by Nick Fasulo on Feb 5, 2010 9:57 AM EST
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Kansas retains the #1 spot, but Villanova just won't lose! The Wildcats finally garnered some first-place votes, and pass Syracuse who struggled last weekend against DePaul.
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YouTube Friday
by Nick Fasulo on Feb 5, 2010 8:51 AM EST
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I'd be interested in the selection process for this weird video featuring four dudes from the Washington Huskies. The talent seen here ranks 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th in minutes played, respectively, with no Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton, or Quincy Pondexter to be found.
Have a good weekend.
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