Longtime blog readers know that this is indeed a Hangover type of weekend. Let's talk teams that might need an aspirin and the blinds closed.
Notre Dame 67, #1 Syracuse 58:
When I found out Fab Melo would miss at least two games for "academic reasons" (political speak for
Fab Melo is academically ineligible until the Syracuse Athletic Director threatens the teachers who failed him so that Melo can be awarded a passing grade), I immediately said that I thought this would be the moment where Syracuse would lose.
I just thought that moment would take place at 5-1 Cincinatti, not 3-3 Notre Dame.
Regardless, the Cuse had a bad shooting night at a place that's only seen one road team win in the last calendar year. And the last of the power conference unbeatens falls. How far will Syracuse fall in the rankings? It's hard to say, but I'd say not too far in a weekend where third ranked Baylor fall at home, second ranked Kentucky barely beat Alabama in Rupp, and Duke lost at Cameron.
What Syracuse should really be worried about is the midseason slide that has plagued them in recent years. Take last year, for example. Let me know if you think this sounds familiar: Syracuse was ranked in the top 3 in the country in late January, and went on the road in Big East play to a difficult location to play at (in last year's case, the Oakland Zoo). They suffered their first loss of the season at Pitt, and proceded to lose their next three games at Villanova, at home to Seton Hall, and at Marquette. They would end up dropping six of eight, and tailspin their way right out of the top 25 rankings. Boeheim eventually righted the ship, but they still made an early exit in both postseason tournaments. I don't think the same thing can happen this year- the team is too deep- but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Syracuse doesn't meet the expectations that have been laid at their feet.
Syracuse plays against without Melo on Monday night as Cincinatti, then goes home to play WVU. If they dropped all three games, I wouldn't be 100% shocked. (Though with West Virginia's inability to handle a press, I would probably have to admit to being about 75% shocked.)
Florida State 76, #4 Duke 73:
I'd love to know the statistic on how many teams have absolutely thrashed North Carolina and then followed that up with a win in Cameron Indoor? I'm guessing it's a pretty small number, somewhere around 1.
Similarly, I'd love to know the stat on how many ACC teams have lost to two Ivy League teams in the same season. Or maybe how many teams have scored ten points in a first half. Again, I'm guessing the number of teams that have accomplished those daring feats are... 1.
But at least I understand Duke. They're athletically gifted, have above average perimeter shooters lining their team, and are extremely well coached. It's not a vintage team, and ever since Coach K won the national championship in 2010, I've struggled to understand just what exactly is wrong with this team, why they probably couldn't beat a middle school gym class team if they were playing on the road. But at least I get that, if the little @ symbol is to the right of the word "Duke" on the schedule instead of the left, the Devils in blue are probably going to lose.
Compare that to my understanding of FSU and it's night and day. How can you beat the two heavyweights of the ACC, who are clearly better than everyone else in the conference (I think?), yet be as offensively challenged as the Seminoles are? Lose to Princeton? Get blown out by Clemson?
I think FSU still has some work to do before they are a lock for March. In order to prevent a headache, I think I'll hold my judgement until then.
#5 Missouri 89, #3 Baylor 88:
Baylor is good. Missouri is good. This game was a coin flip on paper. In reality, it was decided by one point in the last seconds if the game.
Both teams are still good. Top 10 good. Let's all relax.
Baylor was probably a #1 seed before this game. Missouri was probably a #2. Those two probably swap now.
Other Scores that Caught my Attention:
#10 Murray State 82, Southern Illinois Edwardsville 65
Beating SIUE isn't exactly a marquee win, but expect Murrary State to jump at least one team in Monday's poll. That's what being 20-0 and the last undefeated team in Division 1 will do for you.
A quick straw poll of my roommates and friends has the Racers leaving the NCAA tournament, on average, in the second round. Clearly, beating Southern Mississippi and Dayton does not impress the casual fan, and I'm inclined to agree. When you rank 263'rd in the country in rebounding, any team with a half decent frontcourt is likely to embarass you.
(Programming note: Hey, ESPN, I don't care if they're 19-0. I do not, nor will I ever in the future, want to watch Southern Illinois play basketball. Don't air them on ESPN. Ever. I'd rather watch poker.)
Tennessee 60, #11 Connecticut 57
The Huskies are a top 15 team, but I definitely won't be picking them again in March. Jury is still out on the Vols, but a late season push might squeeze them into the Dance.
#12 Georgetown 52, Rutgers 50
Some people say there is no such thing as a moral victory in college basketball. Mike Rice would probably disagree with them.
#15 Mississippi State 78, Vanderbilt 77
Stop me if you've heard this before- Vanderbilt was a preseason top ten team, and vastly overrated.
Arkansas 66, #19 Michigan 64
This loss isn't as bad as it looks. Arkansas is quietly 14-5 with two top 20 wins. Four of their five losses were on the road, and two of them were at Connecticut and Kentucky. Still Michigan seems to be exactly what we thought they were- a good but not great team.
#20 UNLV 80, New Mexico 63
Winning in the Pit is hard. Beating the crap out of New Mexico in the Pit is usually a Herculean task. UNLV is a sleeper type of final four team.
#21 Louisville 73, Pittsburgh 62
Jamie Dixon has never lost more than nine games in one season. Pitt is now 11-9, and 0-7 in Big East play. If you don't think the Panthers are basketball's biggest disappointment this year, you're not watching basketball.
West Virginia 77, Cincinatti 74
By this time next week, there is a very strong possibility that one of these teams will be in first place in the Big East.
Dayton 87, Xavier 72
Evidently, locker room gangsta's were never taught how to stop the bleeding. Perhaps they should have joined the Boy Scouts... but I suppose they wouldn't be gangstas then. It's all very circular.
Long Beach State 71, UC Santa Barbara 48
LBSU is 7-0 in conference play with wins over Xavier and Pitt. Smart money has them winning a game in March. My money has them winning two.
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