SilverPhoenix

Anybody thinking this is going to be a blowout on either side is fooling themselves, seriously. Both teams are great teams, and both teams have their strenghts and weaknesses. I predict a shootout, and the first team to exploit a critical mistake is going to win this. With that said, I think USC is going to win this on the last play, off of a field goal, with the final score being. USC 40, Texas 37 in one of the best Rose Bowls' ever.

I think the Sun Belt would welcome him too.

Who will win the Depends (Delivered by Fed Ex) Gerriatric Bowl? It's down to overtime, way past the the coaches bedtimes.

Well folks, we have our first In conference upset. Marquette just spanked UConn 94 - 79. Needless to say, nobody saw this one coming.

That poster is really all kinds of retarded, in so many ways. But seriously, look at all of the variables here. Roman Empire World Wrestling Entertainment What did both have in common? A chronic disease within its adminstration, which eveuntially helped to cause the downfall of the Roman Empire. It may eventiually cause the downfall of the WWE.

ESPN News Anchor: We are going to shift to Memphis Tennessee where the Ex-Lax Toilet Bowl has just ended and the awards ceremony is taking place. After putting in one last Touchdown to cement their victory over Auburn, the UConn players take the field. The scene shifts to the award podeum where the players and the coach of the University of Connecticut are ready to accept the Golden Toilet as a symbol of their first Bowl Win in The SmartMarks Colegiate Bored Division VP of Marketing for Ex-Lax: First off I just want to say Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers for putting a noble fight, and giving us an excellent game all around. Now, to the Coach, the players, and the University of Connecticut Family, I want to congratulate you on your first bowl win, in your first year of the SmCBD, and now I present to you the Golden Toilet as the symbol of your victory in inagural Bowl. Kaiba takes the Trophy, and the crowd and players cheer as it is held up high for all to see. He then hands it off to his players who pass it around. Big Breasted ESPN Correspondent: Mr. Kaiba, congratulations of a very well played Toilet Bowl and a great victory for your program. After winning your first 3 Games you lose the next 6 of 7, then you come back to win 4 Games in a Row, including this one. You have faught controversy and adversity all year. How does it feel? Kaiba: I just got to say that this feels good, real good. We came into year with great expectations and a tough schedule. After beating USC, we hit rock bottom, with the free-fall not stopping until November, when we got it together to win 3 in a row to get into this Bowl Game, and win this one. We may not have made the Top 10, but we did end this season as winners, and that's what our team needed. BBESPNC: So do you see yourselves back here next Year. Kaiba: Honestly, as much as I am glad to win. I don't want to be back in Memphis Tennessee, ever. I want to go to New York City next year. I want to go to Giants Stadium to not only win the Big Atlantic, but the Bored Bowl. The Huskies will be National Champions Next Year.

*Comes into the thread with a big shit Grin* Yeah, the Big East is dead. Yeah, they don't deserve the BCS Big. Yeah, they're a Mid-Major Conference now. Yeah, all of their good programs are in the ACC now. Yeah, the Big East is inferior. It is all of those things, and yet West Virginia still beats the mighty SEC Champion in their own party (The Sugar Bowl.) The Big East is dead, Long Live the New Big East. (*Ignores the other 3 losses*)

Well, the Toilet Bowl has been decided. UConn finishes the Season 8-6 on a 4 Game winning streak, which is a high note. Hopefully I can get this team in the Top 10, next year.

So Texas does pull it off, I just had this feeling this would happen today. Not because Texas is that good (though they did show they aren't completely overrated), because Memphis was heading for a let-down, and it happened today. The telling tale of this game was the 3 Point Shots. Memphis took far too many, and didn't have enough of them drop in. You can't go 5 - 20something and on top of that shoot as horrbily as they did and expect to win. In the other part of the Double Header on ESPN, Duke destroyed Bucknell 84 - 50. Duke continues on undefeated going into ACC Play. Bucknell's 3 losses all come in the Top 50, RPI, so Bucknell could still get into the tournament as an At-Large if it dominates the Patriot.

They may be overrated, but they're beating Memphis 21 - 9, however Texas hasn't take advantage of their oppotunties, and Memphis is gearing for a Run.

God damnit Dama, you take College Football too seriously. Calm down dude, these games mean nothing because there is no playoff. It's meaningless exhibition game.

Good Seed, yes. That's already wrapped up if they don't fuck up 1 Seed? The fact that Texas is so overrated means that beating them will do more for that than losing. (In fact, losing would make it that much harder, because Texas isn't that good.)

Alright as promised... Spotlight Game #1 (4)Memphis Vs. (16)Texas Time & Location: 2:30 at the Fed Ex Forum Avalibility on Television: Nationally on ESPN Conference Affiliations: Memphis: Conference USA Texas: Big XII All Time Series Record (Most Recent Result): Texas Leads 3 - 1 (Texas Defeated Memphis on 1/06/2005 74 - 67) Rosters Memphis 5 Andre Allen G 5-10 190 So (1V) 12 Antonio Anderson G 6-6 190 Fr (HS) 10 Rodney Carney F 6-7 205 Sr (3V) 42 Kareem Cooper C 6-11 285 Fr (HS) 32 Joey Dorsey F 6-9 265 So (1V) 3 Chris Douglas-Roberts G 6-6 180 Fr (HS) 2 Robert Dozier F 6-10 205 Fr (HS) 5 Jeremy Hunt G 6-4 205 Sr (3V) 20 Travis Long G 5-8 135 Fr (HS) 11 Chance McGrady G 6-2 180 Fr (HS) 14 Simplice Njoya F 6-10 245 Sr (4V) 30 Jared Sandridge G 6-2 170 Jr (2V) 50 Almamy Thiero F 6-10 255 Sr (3V) 0 Clyde Wade G 6-0 185 Sr (3V) 35 Darius Washington Jr. G 6-2 195 So (1V) 4 Shawne Williams F 6-9 225 Fr (HS) 1 Waki Williams F 6-9 205 Sr (3V) Texas 5 A.J. Abrams G 5-10 155 Fr (HS) 23 LaMarcus Aldridge F 6-10 237 So (1V) 32 Connor Atchley C 6-9 225 Fr (1V) 22 Brad Buckman F 6-8 235 Sr (3V) 3 Dion Dowell F 6-6 205 So (1V) 1 Daniel Gibson G 6-2 190 So (1V) 4 J.D. Lewis G 6-1 180 So (1V) 14 Ian Mooney G 6-3 225 Jr (2V) 12 Kenton Paulino G 6-1 185 Sr (3V) 2 P.J. Tucker F 6-5 225 Jr (2V) 40 Mike Williams F 6-7 230 So (1V) 30 Craig Winder G 6-2 190 Jr (2V) ]Game Writeup In the season after the big conference realignment which left C-USA Basketball Decmiated, the spotlight has mostly fallen on Memphis to carry the Banner for that Leauge, and it has done extremely well in this siuation. With one of the toughest OOC Schedules in the nation, Memphis has only Lost once to become the Number 4 Team in the Nation. And as it heads to C-USA Play, it faces it's final major Test in Texas. Texas started this season at Number 2, and was touted as one of the teams that could knock Duke off its perch on the Top, and as Texas kept winning and winning impressively, and Duke escaping with wins, it seemed that Texas was poised to take the Number 1 Spot from Duke. That is until the 31 point Blowout, and then another blowout loss to Tennessee that sent Texas Reeling down into the Top 20. Now with all of its players back from injuries, a healthy Texas seeks redemption as it heads into Big XII play. With the conference down, this game may mean more to Texas than one would think. The question of the day are these. Can Texas go into Memphis and play the type of game that made them beat West Virginia? Is Memphis with its deep team ready to go the distance, and take down what would be a great victory to make their case for a 1 seed?

To add to the debate here. I have a few issues (mostly as to why) with your rankings Iggy. Lets go by team shall we? - Ohio State is my biggest issue at number 8. I know they're undefeated, but that record comes aganist some dubios at best competition, with their best wins aganist St. Joes (better than there record), and LSU (not a bad team, but has teetered against real competition since West Virginia). Would I rank them? Yeah at like the 20 - 24 range, but not in the Top 10. If they want to make it near there. Lets see how they come up aganist Indiana this week. - Pittsburgh's Momumental Leap into the Top 25....Okay, I didn't expect that. No, they didn't face every single scrub on the planet this year, I know that. But there competition doesn't scream a not scream Top 15 entry, IMO. - UCLA Drops that far down? I don't see that, really, they've lost to one of the best teams in the Nation so far in Memphis, and while California is not a team they should be losing to talent wise, but with a Top 75 RPI, means that you really can't punish them too much for being upset, even if it was at home. - George Washington's Drop....Right now I have nothing, since their OOC Strength of Schedule was absoultely garbage, but that just struck me as overly harsh. Maybe I will start my own Power 16 for Next Week.

I was a fool, and thought I could put all 5 Matchups on the Topic Discussion box, because it just let me. Thought see that it cuts out at a certain point. So I'm going to post the matchups here. Future Matchups will be in the opening post. (4) Memphis Vs. (16) Texas - Monday 1/2/06 - ESPN (3) Villanova Vs. (10) Louisville - Thursday - 1/5/06 - ESPN2 (9) Michigan State Vs. (6) Illinois - Thursday 1/5/06 - ESPN2 (1) Duke Vs. (16) Maryland - Wednesday 1/11/06 - ESPN (7) Washington Vs. (11) UCLA - Saturday 1/15/06 - Regional TV. Edit: I know Michigan State Vs. Indiana was up there, but I found the Illinois matchup, and for now, it may seem like a matchup with more on the line (for Illinois, escpecially) than the other one. I will do a preview for both though. Looking back now, there are other matchups I plan to preview as well, but these are your games of the Thread. Stay tuned for more on these games.

Now that November is behind us, it is now time for December. The Kinks that produce Ugly November Basketball are beginning to be Ironed out, and teams are beginning to produce their identies that will shape their season for 2005 - 2006. We also begin to see what could be in Spring as the some really KEY matchups between teams that will go along way in determing bids, seeding, and possibly the National Champion. With so many teams locking it up aganist each other this year, this month is one to pay attention to. With that said. Here's what is on for the rest of this week on ESPN and ESPN 2 Dec 1, 9:00 PM Nevada at Kansas (ESPN) Dec 3, 2:00 PM Michigan at Notre Dame (ESPN 2) Dec 3, 3:00 PM No. 9 Memphis at Cincinnati (ESPN) Dec 3, 5:00 PM No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 4 Villanova (ESPN) Dec 3, 7:00 PM No. 13 Arizona at Houston (ESPN 2) Other games may be avalible through ESPN's other networks, and Regional Outlets, check with your Cable or TV provider. With that...Let the Battles Begin.

She said she hoped that Oregon wins by 50, but close enough.

Final Fantasy IV: Giant of Babel/Bab'il After you beat the CPU, Gobilez comes out ready to kick your ass for destroying the thing.FuSoYa then jumps at him, and forces him to wake up completely, where you find out that he's been controlled by Zemus from the beginning. But, the biggest swerve of all is when you find out.... He is also one KluYa's other children, which effectively makes him Cecil's Brother.

This may be late, but UAB had a very impressive performance last night on ESPN, taking down a rebuilding (but still pretty good) Oklahoma State Team at their house masterfully. UAB may not be Memphis, but if they keep this up. They may be able to keep up with them in Memphis, and possibly beat them at their house. Too bad Mike Anderson may soon be swallowed up by a Bigger Program, cause he could help build UAB into a Monster, and in turn make C-USA Basketball worth a shit, again.

Well, it seems that TNA was rewarded for a good overall show. The Christain Promo, and Main Event Match with Harris were pretty good, and helped to get "The War" over more (though I'm hoping that the faces Prevail on New Year's though) Not to mention that Chris Daniels had a really kickass promo, which is selling me on Final Destination as we speak. Even 4LK seems to be going somewhere (down the crapper), and that's good, even if alot of us don't want to see the storyline. My only problem with the show, and is going to be a problem for as long as TNA iMPACT is going to be 1 Hour, is the focus of the show. This week was definetely a character development week, with not much wrestling. Next week is probably going to be the opposite. A 2 Hour show means that TNA could become very kickass every week in a hurry. I just hope Spike gives TNA its shot in 2006.

I think Iona and/or Bucknell are going to be this year's Pacific where they barely lose any games, get ranked in the Top 20, and have a letdown in their championship game. They'll still get into the tournament due to their low loss totals and Bulletproof RPI rankings. And one of them will win their first round game too.

And the thing is, I agree with you about Texas being a fraud, but the biggest fraud of the year, not yet (that happens if they lose to Memphis (an if, that seems likely) ) for that, dig just a little bit deeper to the Mid Majors and look at Old Dominion. This may be a personal opinion here, but on the boards for the CAA, Old Dominion was pimped out like the second Jesus, with people saying that they would be a Top 10 with a gaudy record of 31 - 1 and a Top 4 Seed to their name. (Ha. Fat Chance), but Old Dominion was definetely pimped out to be this year's Dominant "mid major" save Gonzaga, and ranked in quite a few pre season dirt rags. And so far ODU has lost to. Wisconsin (okay, not a bad loss) Drexel (This was an In-Conference Game where they scored 10 points in the First Half) Richmond (They will not finish in the Top 150 RPI wise) UAB (They got Killed!!) Teams that they needed to beat to make National Noise. They have lost all credibility, all chances at being Raked, and any chance at an At-Large. As unfair as it sounds. Texas still has a chance to save face with a win aganist Memphis, and I don't think it'll be a 20+ point victory for Memphis. Texas is going to be desperate to look for another big win this season (escpecially with the Big XII being down), and I think they may use that desperation to make a run at Memphis. Cause if they lose, it's basically over for them as far as being a legit contender goes. And even if they beat Memphis, they still need to win the Big XII to regain any good chunk of their lost hype. We'll see on Monday at 2:30, it seems.

Oh no, this wouldn't happen immediately. I give it 5 - 7 Years down the road, if it does happen. Yeah, I admit this is all theory at this point, but it could move into that direction. A 16 Leauge All Sports Giant where some of its members don't play Football hasn't work (see the WAC 1996 - 2000) at all, but at the same time, it really does depend on three things. 1) Tournament Bids 2) The new TV contract for the Conference 3) Norte Dame, and what it plans to do in the future This will either keep the Conference together, or drive it apart, IMHO. As for Basketball last night, it seems like Memphis may be the real deal. Having passed this last test at the end of the day, they have momentum of taking down yet another ranked opponent. They have one big match coming up on Janurary 2nd with Texas, and another match that could be more of a test for their opponent (Tennessee) than themselves, but it may end up being a big win in March, if the opponent continues to improve. Memphis has a real shot of going 32 - 1, 31 - 2 (Depending on Texas), and getting itself a #1 Seed despite the crappy Conference. At the worst I see them going 29 - 4 or 28 - 5 (Losing only the games with Texas, the UAB away game, and Houston or UTEP, and if some freak accident happens in the C-USA Championship Game) and still getting a good seed. As for Gonzaga, any hopes for a #1 Seed are now gone, as the WCC will soften up their Resume and themselves as well. If the Zags are to have any shot at the Final Four, they need to find someone other than Morrison to step up in Big Games.

That's the only reason why Memphis would be considered a Mid Major, is in terms of conference strength. Memphis had a lot of big boys in the past to lock horns with that kept the Mid Major tag off of them (and the rest of the CUSA Gang), but when you go from playing Cincinatti to playing Fucking Marshall in Conference Play, you're going to have a few problems with perception. As for whether Memphis should be in the Big East (which they should) there is a good reason why they may have been left out in the first round of expansion/rebuliding. - The Big East itself needed equal representation between the Division I-A, and the non I-A side of things. Too many times in the past, one side controlled everything, and made things very uncomfortable for the others. With equal voting power, the theory is that the conference will be easier to move in its adminstrative affairs. - South Florida has alot of potential, honestly. Even with a 6 - 5 record, they are going to a bowl game (which is a good sign), and have been recruiting very well off the field as well (They just landed one of the top JC Quarterbacks in the nation), and have shown they can play on the BCS level (*Insert all of your Big East Football Sucks Cracks*), even if it is the "worst" BCS conference. - The main reason I think is because the Big East is getting ready for what seems to be the final act in all of this conference Realignment that has dominated College Sports this decade. The spilt between the I-A and non I-A schools into their own leauges. In 2003, when this was done, you needed to have 6 Teams together for 5 years to retain an Auto-Bid to the Tournament, or you would not have one. Without DePaul and Marquette, you have the original Catholic 5 (St. Johns, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Providence, and Villanova), plus Norte Dame, who is not guranteed to stay with that group, and if they bolted at any time, it would dick over original Big East Members (which would be fucking retarded for the I-A members to screw) and leave them without that. DePaul and Marquette gives them the foundation to return the Big East to what it orignally was. A Major Basketball conference for those without I-A programs. Except this time it would be mostly Catholic. So in a scenario where Norte Dama leaves both future conferences for other plans (i.e. The Big 10) if they both spilt and went to 10 members, here are your new leauges. Big East Basketball. Villanova Georgetown St. Johns Marquette Providence De Paul Seton Hall Dayton Xavier And any one from this combination of Holy Cross, St. Joseph's, or possibly Manhattan (St. Joes is not a lock due to the fact that Villanova doesn't want to be in a Conference with other Big 5 Members, IIRC) Eastern Athletic Conference (Working Title) Syracuse Louisville West Virginia South Florida Cincinatti Pittsburgh Rutgers U Conn Memphis (No one should fool themselves here, Basketball will drive any Northeast Conference. And if you think otherwise, you're not seeing the whole picture.) And either Central Flordia or ECU (If they're ready) And that is the long answer as to why Memphis isn't in the Big East today. (without getting into the politics)

Tonight's game should be a great matchup, as we're seeing the two dominant "Mid-Major" Powers squaring off aganist each other in the most meaningful game this month, as it will implicate how these two teams are seen in the eyes of the Nation. For Gonzaga, this is pretty much it for them as they have a Rebuilding St. Joes and an already dissapointing Stanford in where the wins may not mean much in the grand scheme of things if these teams don't finish in the top Tier of their Conferences. And the West Cosat Conference will limit their seeding potenial should they lose a couple of games, as the WCC is nowhere near as strong as last year, even though it's number 12 in the Conference RPI. Memphis with their new 14 Game C-USA schedule has Texas left as another potential Signature Win, but that's pretty much it. However, in Memphis' case there final OOC Games are going to mean that much more as C-USA is struggling to remain in the Mid Major/Second Tier of RPI rankings at 19. They need to basically win all of their games to garner any consideration for a Top 16 Placing in the Dance. The Key to this game is going to be who can control the game better. Morrison or Memphis' Overall Depth? Whoever does, will win the game.