I Dislike Your Favorite Team

Most important to those of us struggling in our ridiculous Minnesota winter is that the Golden Gophers defeated overly ranked Louisville at a neutral site.  Of course, Arizona in December is only technically neutral--Minnesotans flock there to escape the weather.  Twenty inches of snow in Decmeber?  Ridiculous!  But to get back on point--Tubby Smith's crew outplayed Pitino's collection of guaranteed can't fail Top 10 prospects.  And that does taste sweet, even for me, who doesn't normally think much of the Gophers.  If they can be respectable in the Big 10, and (just as important) Louisville can maintain respectability in the Big East, this is a win that could have huge implications.  Watch out for Al Nolen.  He's the best player you haven't heard of.

In the record books, UConn beat Gonzaga at a neutral site as well.  The record books are full of shit--this thing was played in Gonzaga's backyard, and even though UConn was down by double-digits in the second half, they found a way to win.  Even when their Bad-Ass Center Hasheem Thabeet picked up his 5th foul on a Total Bullshit Technical for taunting in Overtime, they found a way to win.  In some polls, Gonzaga is #8--they've suffered two losses in 10 days, to Arizona and UConn.  Maybe they will drop enough to become a Cinderella again?  This is a win that UConn supporters should draw strength from, even if they suffer a bit in the Big East regular season.  The Big East is tough, tough, tough.  UConn has some serious talent, though, and will only get better.  Price, Adrien, Thabeet--get familiar with those names, because I think you'll be seeing them getting interview during Final Four weekend.

Don't sleep on Michigan State or Texas.  Michigan State is full of guys that you might have thought had graduated--like Goran Suton or Raymar Morgan; Texas has lost close, close games to a couple of real quality teams now, and given how tough the Big 12 might be, they could be one of those teams that people are high on.  But if Connor Atcheley gets his mojo back, watch out.  Both of these teams play in traditional power conferences that are getting somewhat overlooked because of the Big East and ACC.  They are both pretty kick-ass.  And Rick Barnes and Tom Izzo know how to coach in March.

In less fun news, the Evil Cerulean Satans totally pissed on Xavier.  I thought that game would be a hard-fought game, with bruising front courts going at each other.  Xavier decided to shit the bed, and just huck out turnovers time and time again.  I think this game was not indicative of how bad Xavier is, and especially how good Duke is.  To cross sports, it brings to mind when the Vikings were up 21-0 on Arizona in the first quarter last week in Pro Football.  One team made a bunch of mistakes, and the other team capitalized.  Replay that game 10 times, and it probably comes close to .500.  Xavier won't play that bad again any time soon.  But people will be talking about Duke blew them out.  Let them talk, and figure on Duke being a high ranked early exit in March.

In teams named after Alexander the Great era cities, Syracuse beat Memphis, playing a strategy Georgetown did last week, and every C-USA team will too (because, you see, it works)  of making Memphis hit jump shots.  They are athletic, they are tough in the front court, but they can't shoot.  Douglas-Roberts used to make teams fear the Memphis jump shot.  He's moved on.  Syracuse proved they can overcome the adversity of having Devendorf being a dick. Flynn is the straw that stirs that drink.  Syracuse is good, potentially really good, but awfully young.  And I bet there will be a time this year when they really really really wish they still had Donte Green, who stupidly left after just one year.  But as I have said before--I think this Syracuse team is better than some Big East teams in front of them--Villanova and Notre Dame jump to mind.  We'll see when the regular season starts.  Memphis now could still go undefeated in the C-USA (which they won't) and they will still not get better than a 3 seed.  They've lost to middle-of-the-road Big East teams.  

Oh, and Purdue has provided the blueprint for defeating Davidson--jump out to a 20 point lead, make Stephon Curry go 0-8 and generally get guys who aren't Curry to huck up 3's from 27 feet out.  Purdue reminds me of those classic Temple teams--little talent, hard work, and a hardcore belief in the coach's defense can make a team go far.  Matty Painter has this team firing on all cylinders.  I think it will be next year when the Big 10 will be Officially Back; but it began last year, and grows this year.