Sunday, January 13, 2008

NCAA Hoops Round Up

While the glamour of white guys chucking a football was clearly the story for Saturday, we should not, will not, overlook some big College Basketball games, as there were upsets a plenty.


Kentucky got a big win from themselves, and possibly saving Billy Gillispie from being gunned down in the streets of Lexington, by beating Vanderbilt in double overtime. Kentucky has been downright awful this year, but beating a ranked team should help both their confidence and their pedigree for the rest of the SEC season. Vanderbilt was ranked #13 and unbeated going into the game--which is a weird thing to write about Vanderbilt. Regardless, Kentucky got a win they desperately needed to feel like this season wasn't completely lost.

Missouri beat #12 Texas 97-84. Texas bad-ass A.J. Abrams was super-cold from behind the line (under 30% on 11 attempts), and Missouri shot ridiculously well (70% in the second half). This feels more like a "What the Hell?" game than an actual statement game. Time will tell, but I'd imagine Missouri to still be just an OK team going forward.

Is it an upset when #5 beats #4? Probably not, especially when #5 is clearly more talented. UCLA beat Washington State 81-74, even with Washington State jacking (and hitting) 3's like crazy in the second half. Wash State is coached by the son of Wisconsin legend Dick Bennett, which basically means they aren't going to win games when the other team scores more than 80.
Finally, what makes the Big 10 fun in print, but not on TV is evidenced here, with stupid, shitty Iowa beating #6 Michigan State, 43-36. Let's say that again: 43-36! People paid money to watch that game. They should get a refund.

1 comment:

Jess said...

You could have written about the Gophers' thrilling, last-seconds win over Penn State (on the road! after being down by 16 at one point!) if Comcast and BTN weren't assholes.

You know, if you cared about them and if your beloved Hoyas hadn't been playing at the same time.