The ONE and Only College Basketball...

[Damaramu 0]

Well I like Oklahoma basketball but I'm getting tired of all the damn newspaper columns and radio people whining "Well you sell out every football game but you can't sell out Lloyd Noble!? What's wrong with you people!? Footballs not the only sport OU plays you know!"

We know! But this is a football state...I'm sorry to say but it is.

I wish I could've gone to the game last night just to see Bobby Knight up close coaching but I couldn't because I have a lab class from 6:30-9:30. Sucks. For the small games like against Iowa State they let the students in for free, pretty cool.

And I'm going to say that OU beats A&M both times, beats Texas at home, loses to OSU at home, beats Baylor, i'm torn on if they'll beat Colorado or not but I'll go with a loss there. and I doubt they'll beat Kansas.

So that's got them going 4-3 for the rest of the season which is what you got Gert T. Although you probably have different wins and losses than I did.

Now if you win the Tournament is that considered a Big XII title or just a tourney victory? Do you win the title by just having the best conference record?

Because if it's by record I say OSU wins the conference. If it's a tournament.......I say OSU wins the conference.

[CanadianChris 0]

Now if you win the Tournament is that considered a Big XII title or just a tourney victory? Do you win the title by just having the best conference record?

Because if it's by record I say OSU wins the conference. If it's a tournament.......I say OSU wins the conference.

There are basically two different titles...one goes to the winner of the regular season, one goes to the winner of the tournament. Which is recognized as the actual conference champion usually depends on the conference, as well as whoever you happen to be talking to.

[Bored 0]

Here is Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

 

Since we're just about a month away from the tournament and because I'm Bored here is the seeding breadkown according to Lunardi's projections:

 

#1 seeds: Saint Joseph's, Duke, Stanford, Mississippi State

#2 seeds: Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga, Pittsburgh

#3 seeds: Connecticut, Providence, Louisville, N.C. State

#4 seeds: LSU, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas

#5 seeds: North Carolina, Memphis, Wake Forest, Cincinnati

#6 seeds: Kansas, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Arizona

#7 seeds: Charlotte, Florida, Southern Illinois, Illinois

#8 seeds: Seton Hall, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Dayton

#9 seeds: Oklahoma, Kent State, Air Force, Utah

#10 seeds: Michigan State, Utah State, Hawaii, DePaul

#11 seeds: Florida State, UAB, Boston College, Vanderbilt

#12 seeds: Nevada, Purdue, Alabama, Western Michigan

#13 seeds: Virginia Commonwelth, Manhattan, Troy State, Wisconson-Milwaukee

#14 seeds: Boston University, East Tennessee State, Lafayette, Louisiana-Lafayette

#15 seeds: Princeton, East Washington, Monmouth, Austin Peay

#16 seeds: Valpariso, Mississippi Valley State, SE Louisana, Liberty/Coppin State

 

Here is the latest Top 25 teams in the RPI ratings from collegerpi.com

 

1. Saint Joseph's 22-0

2. Duke 21-2

3. Kentucky 17-4

4. Mississippi State 21-1

5. Stanford 21-0

6. N.C. State 16-5

7. Connecticut 19-5

8. Louisville 17-4

9. Gonzaga 21-2

10. Providence 17-5

11. Oklahoma State 18-2

12. Florida 14-7

13. Pittsburgh 22-2

14. LSU 17-4

15. Texas 17-4

16. North Carolina 15-7

17. Wisconsin 17-4

18. Seton Hall 15-6

19. Kansas 14-6

20. Texas Tech 18-6

21. Georgia Tech 18-6

22. Wake Forest 15-6

23. Southern Illinois 20-2

24. Alabama 12-9

25. Syracuse 16-5

[Damaramu 0]

Here we go! Big game tonight on ESPN! Bedlam Monday! OU vs. OSU! *gets set*

[Guest Redhawk]

I went to my first D-I college basketball game over the weekend; Oregon at Washington State (my girl goes to WSU). I've been to plenty of games at my school (Seattle U), but we're a D-II program. Anyway, it just further solidifed that I want to cover college ball when I graduate (journalism degree this spring). WSU's not even close to a basketball school, since the team -- while decent this year -- has sucked for ages. But the game was still a blast. It was nearly a full house, and everyone in the WSU student section stood up the entire time except during timeouts and stuff. WSU was getting destroyed in the fist half, then came back to force overtime, where Oregon pulled away. But everything from the crowd to the atmosphere was great. Unlike a pro game, the crowd always feels like they can affect the outcome. I'm going back the first week of March, when WSU plays Cal and Stanford that weekend.

 

By the way, as I write this I'm watching Oklahoma vs. OSU, and one thing I noticed were the many empty seats and lack of crowd rowdiness. I'm not coming down on the fans or anything; I just figured a rivalry game like that would be a little more...festive. Another thing I noticed is that Oklahoma really misses Hollis Price.

[Damaramu 0]

Oklahoma fans are really not into basketball at all.......they get rowdy for football.

Although I've noticed around school I never hear anyone talk about sports....football or basketball and if you do you get some strange looks from everyone else. I never understood that.

[Guest Jimbo]

This dropped to the second page!? It mustn't happen again!

 

Anyway, what a week, huh? duke's dropped two games, Ga TEch got a big win over the Herpies, andthat's just the ACC!

 

And in some extremely sad and disturbing news, the Marlyand/Duke rivalry of the 80's is now officially dead as G'town and St. John's have been degraded to absolute SHIT. St. John's has no coach, no team, no fan support, and no backing of the university. G'Town has no talent, no coach with any brains, no support of the university, but seemingly all the support of the athletic department behind the caoch with no brains. Yeesh.....

[Damaramu 0]

Big game for OU tomorrow. If they beat Texas...they're probably in the tournament. If they lose they'll have to beat either/or both Colorado and Kansas on their home floors and then win the first game of the Big XII tournament.

[Guest Redhawk]

And in some extremely sad and disturbing news, the Marlyand/Duke rivalry of the 80's is now officially dead as G'town and St. John's have been degraded to absolute SHIT. St. John's has no coach, no team, no fan support, and no backing of the university. G'Town has no talent, no coach with any brains, no support of the university, but seemingly all the support of the athletic department behind the caoch with no brains. Yeesh.....

Yeah, and with all of like 4 scholarship players, the Johnnies STILL beat the Hoyas at MSG.

 

For more on G'Town's fall from grace, read this: http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20040219-120031-9861r.htm

[Guest Jimbo]

already saw that article and many others...

 

we've lost to virginia tech, temple, and freaking st. john's...good god....

 

We're playing Syracuse today, so heopefully that'll give them a lift at home against their rivals...if this game had been against any other team, I would be bringing my "FIRE ESHERICK" signs and boo's...hopefully those signs in the middle of the alumni section will show 'em something....

[Guest Jimbo]

Fuck.

 

What a horribley frustrating, yet amazingly good game.

 

If you haven't heard alreayd, Syrcuse defeated G'Town after a 3 pointer at the buzzer by Gerry McNamara. to win 57-54.

 

Fuck, Fuck, FUCK!

 

The Hoyas kept it close against their archnemiss, the Orangemen of Syracuse the whole game and were winning at the end. It wasa great game, despite Syracuse fans outnumbering the hometown G'Town fans at the MCI center, but you had to figure that would happen, those orange folks are die hards and 30,000 regularly turn out for normal home games for them. Btw, one of my goals is to head to the carrier dome fo ra G/Town/'Cuse game...that would rule, even though I'd be outnumbered by about 1 to 900.

 

Late in the second half, Georgetown was up by 5, despite shooting only 28% from the field (yeah Craig, GREAT shooting team we've got here...). This absurdidty is only offset by the fact that Syracuse somehow had DOUBLE the amount of turnovers as Georgetown and shot barely 30% from the FT line!

[King Kamala 0]

Unlike a pro game, the crowd always feels like they can affect the outcome.

You've obviously never been to Boston (I went to a Mavs-Celtics game earlier this year, the crowd was insane. Best Celtics game I've ever been to)

[Guest Redhawk]

Yeah, after I typed that I realized that I forgot about Boston and Sacramento. It's just that I've been living in Seattle so long, I forgot what good fans are like.

 

And about the Hoyas game: I was actually just glad that they stayed in it. When they were up at halftime (and as you know, they're NEVER up at halftime), I was thinking they were going to pull it out, or at least force overtime, which is pretty damn impressive considering how they've played all year. But of course McNamara -- who was cold all game -- would hit the game-winner.

[Guest Jimbo]

yeah, but up 28-22 at halftime isn't really something to be proud of, lol.

 

I just thought about next year...you think they are bad now, imagine next year...3-24 ba-bay!

 

On Tuesday night they play Pitt...I wouldn't be suprised if they don't break 40 points for the game.

[Damaramu 0]

Damn OU fucking sucks. They blow every lead they have and can't seem to maintain a long one. They should've beaten Texas.

Now they'll probably have to beat Colorado and Kansas at home to get into the tournament.

[CanadianChris 0]

Damn OU fucking sucks. They blow every lead they have and can't seem to maintain a long one. They should've beaten Texas.

Now they'll probably have to beat Colorado and Kansas at home to get into the tournament.

I hate to break this to you, but those games are ROAD games.

[Damaramu 0]

Damn OU fucking sucks. They blow every lead they have and can't seem to maintain a long one. They should've beaten Texas.

Now they'll probably have to beat Colorado and Kansas at home to get into the tournament.

I hate to break this to you, but those games are ROAD games.

That's what I meant. I worded it wrong. At home as in at Kansas and Colorado's homes. OU's not very good at home but they suck on the road. Damn losing those 3 starters last season killed them this season, then Bookout's injury? Ouch.

[Guest Jimbo]

Wow, Maryland just got the piss knocked out of them by Duke.

 

Duke vs. Stanford-- who'd win in your opinion?

 

Me: Duke

 

When you compare them both, Duke, like tanford, is very good in each and every area. BUT, who has the big game experience? Duke does, and you can't argue that. Duke plays a "big game" almost everynightt in the ACC, Stanford palys chumps like Washington St. Sure, the Pac-10 does pose a threat, but no where nearly as big a one as the ACC does.

 

your thoughts?

[Gert T 0]

I gotta think Duke would win too. I also would like to see Duke and St. Joe's play because the guard play would be awesome. I don't think teams can stop both Nelson and West in the same game.

 

But Williams would probably go for like 25-20 against St. Joe's.

[Guest Redhawk]

Who do y'all think should win Freshman of the Year? The top candidates I can think of are Leon Powe (Cal), Drew Lavender (Oklahoma), Charlie Villaneuva (UConn), Luol Deng (Duke), Mustafa Shakur (Arizona) and Kris Humphries (Minnesota).

[Bored 0]

Here is Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology and seed breakdown.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

 

#1 seeds: Saint Joseph's, Duke, Stanford, Pittsburgh

#2 seeds: Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga, Connecticut

#3 seeds: Providence, N.C. State, Mississippi State, Texas

#4 seeds: Memphis, Illinois, Wake Forest, North Carolina

#5 seeds: Georgia Tech, Kansas, South Carolina, Charlotte

#6 seeds: Louisville, Cincinnati, Southern Illinois, Wisconsin

#7 seeds: Florida, Arizona, Texas Tech, LSU

#8 seeds: Syracuse, Kent State, Boston College, Utah State

#9 seeds: Georgia, UAB, Dayton, Vanderbilt

#10 seeds: Michigan State, Florida State, Purdue, Seton Hall

#11 seeds: Oklahoma, Western Michigan, Air Force, Utah

#12 seeds: Alabama, Michigan, Manhattan, Xavier

#13 seeds: Virginia Commonwelth, Troy State, UTEP, East Tennessee State

#14 seeds: Boston University, Louisiana-Lafayette, Austin Peay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee

#15 seeds: Princeton, East Washington, Monmouth, Mississippi Valley State

#16 seeds: Valpariso, SE Louisana, Liberty, Lehigh/Coppin State

 

And as usual here is the Top 25 teams in the RPI rankings from collegerpi.com thru Sunday's games. In case you were wondering Duke was ahead of St. Joe's by one ten thousandth of a point.

 

1. Duke 22-3

2. St. Joseph's 24-0

3. Kentucky 19-4

4. Stanford 23-0

5. Mississippi State 21-2

6. Oklahoma State 20-2

7. Gonzaga 23-2

8. Pittsburgh 23-2

9. Connecticut 21-5

10. Wake Forest 17-6

11. Providence 18-5

12. Texas 19-4

13. North Carolina 16-7

14. N.C. State 17-6

15. Georgia Tech 19-7

16. Kansas 16-6

17. Florida 15-8

18. Southern Illinois 22-2

19. Louisville 17-6

20. Seton Hall 16-7

21. Memphis 19-4

22. Boston College 18-8

23. Alabama 13-10

24. Vanderbilt 17-6

25. LSU 17-6

[Guest Choken One]

UC won over Louisville saturday and yet they drop a seed?

 

I haven't paid much attention this season but which Conf will bring in the most schools and how many...I believe They should have a cap of 8 teams per conference.

 

How many for CUSA? 5 (Memphis, UC, UL and UAB and Charlotte)...Wow, amazing since it appears Big Ten might be stuck with 4-5.

 

I predicted it earlier this season that a MID-MAJOR would win and I strongly believe my prediction (be it St. Joes or a Memphis or 'Zaga or whoever) will come true.

[Guest]

I agree it'll probably be the Zags or even St. Joes. It's Gonzaga's time.

[LooseCannon25 0]

Let me tell you something. I'm a Georgetown fan...Always have been since the days of Mourning and Mutombo......and Craig Escherick has completely detroyed this program. The funny thing is that the athletic dept loves the guy, so he;s not going anywhere anytime soon. The guy is a horrible recruiter, horrible in game coach, and horrible scheduler. Even if the Hoyas were good this year, playing cupcakes like Morgan State and all these scrubs. It's the same shit every year, they start 9-0 or 8-1 and end up going 4-12 or 5-11 in the big east and finishing with a record around 15-12......same story, different year. Craig needs to go or this team will NEVER get out of this rut.

[CanadianChris 0]

I believe They should have a cap of 8 teams per conference.

Given that no conference has ever sent more than 7 teams to the tournament, I'don't think that's really needed.

 

How many for CUSA? 5 (Memphis, UC, UL and UAB and Charlotte)...Wow, amazing since it appears Big Ten might be stuck with 4-5.

C-USA should get 5. I doubt the Big 10 will get even 4, let alone 5. And with the Pac 10 only getting 2, at least one of the lower-tier major conferences (or maybe a mid-major conference) is going to benefit.

 

I predicted it earlier this season that a MID-MAJOR would win and I strongly believe my prediction (be it St. Joes or a Memphis or 'Zaga or whoever) will come true.

Gonzaga is the only one of those schools who could be considered a mid-major, and at this point, they're a mid-major in the same sense that UNLV was a mid-major 15 years ago. C-USA and the A-10 are not mid-major conferences in any sense.

[Damaramu 0]

Oh my god I just watched one of the best basketball games I've seen all season with Missouri holding on in double OT to defeat Oklahoma State 93-92. Amazing game.

[Guest Redhawk]

Oh my god I just watched one of the best basketball games I've seen all season with Missouri holding on in double OT to defeat Oklahoma State 93-92. Amazing game.

I was at work and I missed the last few seconds. How did it play out?

[Damaramu 0]

Oh my god I just watched one of the best basketball games I've seen all season with Missouri holding on in double OT to defeat Oklahoma State 93-92. Amazing game.

I was at work and I missed the last few seconds. How did it play out?

Missouri took the lead and Oklahoma State was going to take it down court and Eddie Sutton called a time out. OSU took the ball in but John Lucas held onto it for to long winding the clock down to much because he decided to go for a last second 3 to wrap up the game which he missed and OSU had no time to rebound and get a shot in.

[Guest Redhawk]

Let me tell you something. I'm a Georgetown fan...Always have been since the days of Mourning and Mutombo......and Craig Escherick has completely detroyed this program. The funny thing is that the athletic dept loves the guy, so he;s not going anywhere anytime soon. The guy is a horrible recruiter, horrible in game coach, and horrible scheduler. Even if the Hoyas were good this year, playing cupcakes like Morgan State and all these scrubs. It's the same shit every year, they start 9-0 or 8-1 and end up going 4-12 or 5-11 in the big east and finishing with a record around 15-12......same story, different year. Craig needs to go or this team will NEVER get out of this rut.

Rut? What rut? Just because Southern Illinois, Vanderbilt, UAB, Charlotte, Dayton, Utah State, Rutgers, Richmond, Nevada, Western Michigan, Kent State, UTEP, Manhattan, Rice, Hawaii, Air Force, Witchita State, Creighton, Troy State, Pacific, Boston U, Murray State, UW-Milwaukee, Virginia Commonwealth, Belmont, East Tennessee State, Central Florida, Drexel, Boise State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion, Southern Mississippi, Fairfield, Northwestern, Austin Peay, Toledo, San Diego State, George Mason, Lafayette, St. Mary's, St. Peter's, Penn, Niagra, SW Missouri State, San Francisco, Charleston, Georgia Southern, Wyoming, Illinois-Chicago, IUIPI and Monmouth all have higher RPI rankinfgs does NOT mean G'Town (No. 126) is in a rut.

[cabbageboy 0]

Let's hope that OSU loss tones down the hype for them a bit. Their fans are getting obnoxious with all this Eddie Sutton love crap. The man still ran UK into the ground, regardless of what he has done since.

 

I also gotta comment on the mid major thing. Teams like Memphis and St. Joes aren't mid majors. CUSA is a pretty big time conference. When you talk about getting 5 or 6 teams into the dance, that's a major conf. (don't forget DePaul might get in). The A 10 is a decent league most of the time, it's just that all of that league's perennial contenders (UMass, Temple, Xavier) are all having crappy years.

 

I define mid major by this: Can a team from that conference possibly get a top seed? St. Joes will be a 1 this year, but I don't think Gonzaga will be as high as some think. Recall that they were about 28-3 two years ago and got a 6 despite being ranked #6.