Daily rants and opinions...because we're THAT bored.
by Spaen - Monday, January 30
Since you're all new to this, the Monday Mash-up is where I go along through the weekend and give my thoughts on the games and also give some highlights. So let's have some fun, kids!
Chris Quinn continues to be the most underrated guard in America. Dazzling at 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, he single handidly got the Irish back in this game against Nova after a horrible start. Then again, this whole team is fueled by what Quinn does. They're about one guy short to really be one of the heavyweights in the massive Big East. The losses are adding very quickly, and soon this team will become a look at only the NIT if their not already. Give props to Villanova for winning a huge one on the road, as the big momentum shift at the end of the first half would of made most teams fall completely off. Villanova came back storming in the second half, but ND kept in there, and almost stage an impressive comeback. With how this season has gone, it almost surprises me that the Irish couldn't pull the upset. A heartbreaking loss for them in what was another thrilling game in the Big East.
What the fuck was this? Where the hell is this Cincinnati team...really? A very impressive start in Big East play turns dead cold fast. You really have witnessed a team that will have it's NCAA tourney streak come to a dead halt if they play many more games like they showed at G-town.
Other Notable Games:
(11)Michigan State 69, Penn State 60
Is MSU this bad, or has Penn State finally crossed that line into being good. You could say their break out was against Iowa, as they rode the Hawkeye defense to the very end. They just can't come up with the wins yet. They're showing signs though, and any of the remaining teams on their schedule will need to have a gameplan to beat the Nitanny Lions now.
(12)Pittsburgh 77, Marquette 71
Marquette seems to be back on track, and Pittsburgh really does seem vulnerable. A late charge helped the Panthers steal at win at home, but they really have to pick up those boards. You can't have one person get 20 rebounds alone on your ass.
VA Commonwealth 79, Georgia State 68 (OT)
Embarrasing. First GSU has an amazing start against one of the top teams in the CAA, and absolutely blow it. I'm not talkin about one of those pretty good starts when you're up by 18 either, I mean this team almost had a 30 point difference within the first 10 minutes. How in the world does all that confidence fade away. Apparently they thought the game was over at regulation too, getting outscored 18-7. Georgia State's only won 5 games for a reason.
(3)Memphis 94, Central Florida 61
This is how the polls should be: 1)Duke, 2)Memphis, 3)UConn. Everybody is dogging the C-USA, and you very well should, but Memphis is the equivalence to Texas in the Big XII football-wise. And we all know what happened in the championship. If they can pull out wins against UAB and UTEP, they deserve a number 1 seed in the tourney, no questions asked.
Temple 91, (18)Maryland 85
Another reason why ACC teams are overrated in the polls. This game will be more known for the infamous "double-foul call" in the future. Both a charge and a blocking foul called on the same play. Are you shittin' me?
Texas Tech 82, Oklahoma State 80 (OT)
Texas A&M 72, Baylor 70
Another crazy day in the Big XII...what more do I have to say.
Creighton 57, Wichita State 55
Northern Iowa 51, Drake 49
Bradley 79, Evansville 76 (OT)
The defense showed up very well in The Valley this weekend, and it also has its mix of offense. Creighton and WSU had run against run to end up with a thrilling final four minutes. UNI also escapes with a victory to show that they can win the close game. In my honest opinion, you could rank any team except Drake in the Top 25, and they deserve a trip to the big dance. What a conference.
(17)UCLA 63, Oregon State 54
The Bruins were in a dogfight for the first 27 minutes, then Oregon State finally stopped playing on offense. For a conference that's known for its offense, it is unbeliveable how many teams haven't reached 60 points in their games this season.
Best Major Conference: Big East
Worst Major Conference: Pac-10
Best Mid-Major: Missouri Valley
Worst Mid-Major: Mountain West
Best Low-End: SoCon
Worst Low-End: America East
Underrated Major: ACC
Underrated Mid-Major: Atlantic 10
Underrated Low-End: WAC
Best Team: Duke
Worst Team: Baylor
This Week
Best Mid-Major Game: Hofstra 76, Drexel 75 (OT)
Worst Mid-Major Game: Utah 80, TCU 45
Who Should Be in the Top 25 (AP):
Colorado, UAB, Kansas, Xavier, North Carolina, Creighton
Who Should Not Be in the Top 25 (AP):
LSU, Iowa, Indiana
Who Shouldn't be Ranked That High in the Top 25 (AP):
UConn, Illinois, Michigan State, Boston College
The Mountain West should be the first conference that no team is allowed in the NCAA Tourney...Florida needed that blowout against Vandy to stay legit...Texas gets knocked 3 spots in the AP for losing at ranked Oklahoma, while both Michigan and Iowa get bumped up big time into the rankings coming off of home upsets? Someone's biased toward the Big 10...Can anyone explain to me how LSU got in the Top 25?...The WCC isn't really a bad conference, most of the games I have seen have been thoroughly enjoyable. Has the Mountain West actually had a watchable game yet?...Mike Davis still has a long way to go before clinching a big dance berth to save his job, a loss against a team that didn't when a game in the Big 10 hurts no matter where it's played, but more so on how the Hoosiers lost it...Tennessee needs to move to the ACC for some competition...The A-10 is a pretty good conference, and George Washington is dominating it. If they run the table, and the A-10 stays up there, it will be hard to not have them as a consideration for a number 1 seed in the big dance...West Virginia could possibly have reached their climax, and now the falling action begins...Gonzaga has struggled on the road all season against WCC opponents, if they don't straighten things up they will be a second-round loser again...When will JJ Redick not score over 40 points in a game?...JJ Redick has my MVP vote. Why? Better team in a better conference...Bucknell will NOT repeat a big upset like last year, but have a good chance to go into the big dance again...If the C-USA doesn't get dogged by the committee, consider UTEP as an upset pick in the first round...Might wanna put that ban on no teams in the tourney for the Pac-10 as well.