College Basketball: December '08

[Bored 0]

So it's the week of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge which has not been any sort of a challenge for the ACC. In the nine year existence of this made for t.v. event the ACC has never lost the overall head-to-head meetings. When you take into account that Maryland, picked to finish 7th in the ACC, waxed Big Ten favorite Michigan State this past week in the Old Spice Classic (and the Terps proceeded to get destroyed by Gonzaga and Georgetown) there isn't whole lot of reason to think this year's challenge will be any different from the last nine. Note the Duke/Michigan game on Saturday is not part of the event.

 

In other conference dick measuring contests there is 2nd Annual Big XII/Pac-10 Hardwood Series which begins Thursday. Er, scratch that it began on Saturday when Stanford beat Colorado. You see there is no real organization to this particular made for t.v. event as after this week there are still two more games in the "series" on December 23rd (Kansas at Arizona) and December 28th (Texas Tech at Stanford). And yes teams play more than one game (Stanford and Arizona) and there are an even number of games so there can be a tie which happened in the inaugural event last year. Also for some reason they decided to have the exact same match-ups this season as last. All of that makes this "series" very, very lame.

 

Full T.V. Schedule for Week of 12/1 - 12/7

 

ESPN & FSN Schedule

 

MONDAY

Wisconsin at Virginia Tech, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPN2

 

TUESDAY

Ohio State at #21 Miami, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN

Clemson at Illinois, 7:30/4:30 PM, ESPN2

#4 Duke at #9 Purdue, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPN

Virginia at Minnesota, 9:30/6:30 PM, ESPN2

 

WEDNESDAY

Indiana at #15 Wake Forest, 7:15/4:15 PM, ESPN

Penn State at Georgia Tech, 7:30/4:30 PM, ESPN2

#1 North Carolina vs. #13 Michigan State, 9:15/6:15 PM, ESPN

Florida State at Northwestern, 9:30/6:30 PM, ESPN2

 

THURSDAY

USC at #6 Oklahoma, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN2

#12 UCLA at #8 Texas, 9:00/6:00 PM ESPN

Oklahoma State at Washington, 11:00/9:00 PM, FSN

 

SATURDAY

#4 Duke at Michigan, 3:30/12:30 PM, ESPN

#21 Miami at Kentucky, 5:30/2:30 PM, ESPN2

#24 Baylor at Washington State, 11:30/8:30 PM, FSN

 

SUNDAY

Nebraska at #19 Arizona State, 2:00 PM/11:00 AM, FSN

#23 Florida at Florida State, 6:00/3:00 PM, FSN

Kansas State at Oregon, 8:30/5:30 PM, FSN

Edited December 2, 2008 by Bored

[Psycho Penguin 0]

Maryland's game is not even on TV? Or did we not have a game? I guess there's 12 ACC teams and 11 Big 10 teams, so someone had to be left out. Gosh.

 

(Just realized there's 9 games on TV by that schedule, so who got left out?)

 

I was excited about the Georgetown game, until it actually played out. Wow, Georgetown is going to be really good again this year.

[Bored 0]

Maryland hosts Michigan on Wednesday but it's on ESPNU and the other games is Iowa/BC on Tuesday also on ESPNU. N.C. State is the only team not participating due to them finished last in the ACC this past season.

[Psycho Penguin 0]

Thank you. I'll try to find a way to watch it since I don't get the U yet.

[Jaxxson Mayhem 0]

Duke vs Purdue should be a great game.

 

Go Duke.

[Psycho Penguin 0]

I'm thinking the ACC can sweep this entire thing. Only games I give the B10 a chance in are MD/Michigan and Duke/Purdue.

 

And I forgot VT/Wisconsin. Well, 9-1 then. Looks like Wisconsin escaped at the buzzer.

[cabbageboy 0]

Anyone know why Duke plays Michigan all the time? Has no one told Coach K (or ESPN) that this isn't the early 90s and no one cares about Michigan? The Purdue game however could be very interesting.

 

UCLA vs. Texas could be an interesting game as well. I'll take the Longhorns in that one, mainly due to not knowing where UCLA's points are coming from.

[MFer 0]

Michigan 81 Duke 73.

 

 

Still a long ways to go, but it looks like they've got a great shot to end their 13-year NCAA tournament drought.

[Psycho Penguin 0]

Maryland beats Michigan, Michigan beats Duke. I have no idea what that means, but it'll help us come selection time.

[Bored 0]

CBS begins their coverage of the college basketball season on Saturday. Outside of Texas/Villanova in the Jimmy V Classic, not much going on this week.

 

Full TV Schedule for Week of 12/8 - 12/14

 

Network & Basic Cable Schedule

 

TUESDAY

#23 Davidson vs. West Virginia, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN

#6 Texas vs. #15 Villanova, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPN

 

WEDNESDAY

TCU at Indiana, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN2

 

THURSDAY

St. John's at #15 Villanova, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN2

 

SATURDAY

#8 Tennessee at Temple, Noon/9:00 AM, ESPN

#17 Memphis at #19 Georgetown, 2:00 PM/11:00 AM, CBS

Massachusetts vs. #25 Kansas, 2:00 PM/11:00 AM, ESPN

Indiana at Kentucky, 4:00/1:00 PM, CBS

Utah at #5 Oklahoma, 4:00/1:00 PM, ESPN2

Mississippi at New Mexico, 4:00/1:00 PM, Versus

Oral Roberts at #1 North Carolina, 6:00/3:00 PM, ESPN2

#10 Xavier at Cincinnati, 8:00/5:00 PM, ESPN2

 

SUNDAY

Wright State at #11 Wake Forest, 4:00/1:00 PM, FSN

#4 Gonzaga vs. Arizona, 6:00/3:00 PM, FSN

Edited December 9, 2008 by Bored

[Bored 0]

Arizona upsets Gonzaga 69-64.

 

Big regional doubleheader on CBS next Saturday. I'll post the coverage map, if I can find one.

 

Full TV Schedule for Week of 12/15 - 12/21

 

Network/Basic Cable Schedule

 

TUESDAY

South Florida at Vanderbilt, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN2

#24 Marquette vs. #16 Tennessee, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPN

 

WEDNESDAY

UNC Asheville at #6 Duke, 7:30/4:30 PM, ESPN2

Siena at #3 Pittsburgh, 9:30/6:30 PM, ESPN2

 

THURSDAY

Mississippi State at Cincinnati, 6:30/3:30 PM, ESPN2

Evansville at #1 North Carolina, 7:00/4:00 PM, ESPN

#9 Louisville vs. Mississippi, 9:00/6:00 PM, ESPN

 

SATURDAY

#6 Duke vs. #7 Xavier, 2:00 PM/11:00 AM, CBS*

#19 Michigan State vs. #5 Texas, 2:00 PM/11:00 AM, CBS*

#9 Louisville vs. Minnesota, 2:00 PM/11:00 AM, FSN

Temple at Kansas, 2:30 PM/11:30 AM, ESPN2

Arizona at UNLV, 3:00 PM/Noon, Versus

#2 Connecticut vs. #8 Gonzaga, 4:00/1:00 PM, CBS*

#23 Davidson vs. #13 Purdue, 4:00/1:00 PM, CBS*

BYU vs. #20 Arizona State, 4:30/1:30 PM, FSN

#11 Syracuse at #23 Memphis, 6:00/3:00 PM, ESPN

VCU vs. #4 Oklahoma, 10:00/7:00 PM, ESPN2

 

SUNDAY

#3 Pittsburgh at Florida State, 5:30/2:30 PM, FSN

#25 Clemson at Miami, 7:45/4:45 PM, FSN

[bob_barron 0]

Memphis v. Georgetown was great. Disappointed the Tigers lost, but taking Georgetown to OT at Georgetown is impressive.

[Mik 0]

Face it, Bob... last year was Memphis' shot and they just couldn't get it done.

[Damaramu 0]

With the way they recruit I think they can get back someday.

 

 

What is up with the cheap shots on Blake Griffin? I mean he's a great player and all, but he's not like this unbelievable superstar that you have to take out of the game. So far I've seen a player from USC punch him in the nuts and now a dude at Utah kicks him in the shin and trips him as they're running down court. Maybe he talks a lot of trash out there and pisses people off?

[Psycho Penguin 0]

Memphis will be back real soon as long as Calipari doesn't bolt. It's not like they were a terrible team for ages. They have had success before and I think they can again. UT being so good is the main problem they face recruiting wise.

[RepoMan 0]

Cleveland St beats Cuse on 75 ft last second 3 pointer

[bob_barron 0]

Face it, Bob... last year was Memphis' shot and they just couldn't get it done.

 

Are you kidding me? Have you seen their recruiting class for 2009? Xavier Henry, Darnell Dodson, and they're also in the mix for other top recruits.

 

I also think Wesley Witherspoon is going to be awesome next year, they're going to be sick next year.

 

I also never said they had championship aspirations, they obviously don't. With the way they played so far this year, they have a lot of work to do, but I think they can go Sweet 16

[bob_barron 0]

Memphis will be back real soon as long as Calipari doesn't bolt. It's not like they were a terrible team for ages. They have had success before and I think they can again. UT being so good is the main problem they face recruiting wise.

 

Calipari's not going anywhere. He's one of the highest paid coaches in basketball, and his contract is staggered so he'd be stupid to leave.

[cabbageboy 0]

I was about to post that Syracuse isn't any good without a suspended Devendorf, but then I checked the box score and he did in fact play in that game. So the Cuse just straight up lost to Cleveland State. Anyone else starting to think the Big East was wildly overrated to begin the season? Even the top tier teams like UConn have had bizarre struggles (beating Buffalo by 4?). Pitt has looked like the best team thus far.

 

Evansville beat WKU the other night by 32 points, so U of L getting waxed by Western just looks hideous right now. It will be a tough week for the Cards...first on Thurs. a game in Cincy against Ole Miss in the Big East/SEC challenge. That one shouldn't be all that tough, but there's the bizarre quick turnaround Saturday afternoon in Vegas against Tubby Smith's unbeaten Minnesota. That one could be interesting.

[Bored 0]

That one shouldn't be all that tough, but there's the bizarre quick turnaround Saturday afternoon in Vegas against Tubby Smith's unbeaten Minnesota. That one could be interesting.

The game is Glendale, AZ at the University of Phoenix Stadium as part of an Arizona State hosted event.

[RepoMan 0]

I was about to post that Syracuse isn't any good without a suspended Devendorf, but then I checked the box score and he did in fact play in that game. So the Cuse just straight up lost to Cleveland State. Anyone else starting to think the Big East was wildly overrated to begin the season? Even the top tier teams like UConn have had bizarre struggles (beating Buffalo by 4?). Pitt has looked like the best team thus far.

 

Evansville beat WKU the other night by 32 points, so U of L getting waxed by Western just looks hideous right now. It will be a tough week for the Cards...first on Thurs. a game in Cincy against Ole Miss in the Big East/SEC challenge. That one shouldn't be all that tough, but there's the bizarre quick turnaround Saturday afternoon in Vegas against Tubby Smith's unbeaten Minnesota. That one could be interesting.

 

Well, Syracuse got picked 8th in the Big East, and Cleveland State should win the Horizon League. Gary Waters of CSU has some experience vs. SU from his days at Rutgers. SU has a history of losing to good Mid-majors at home in recent years. I thought this would be a breakthorugh year for SU, they'd make the NCAAs and win a few games, but maybe not with this loss and Devo probably suspended for the rest of the year. UConn played in a very tough enviroment at Buffalo (on campus, not HSBC Arena). I still think the Big East the deepest conference this year.

[MFer 0]

Bullock still plays for Cleveland St. right? I went to school with him way back in 1st grade.

[bob_barron 0]

Memphis 1 for 15 from behind the arc. Give it up guys, it's not happening

[Psycho Penguin 0]

Duke destroyed Xavier and UConn beat Gonzaga in OT. Nice day of basketball so far.

 

TOO MUCH SPORTS

[bob_barron 0]

Memphis is now 1 for 16 and Tyreke gets his 10,000th offensive foul. Come on Tigers.

[Psycho Penguin 0]

I wonder how many Memphis fans are watching the bowl game compared to the basketball game.

[bob_barron 0]

I don't think even people know Memphis has a football team. Every year, I try to get into Tigers football, but it's just not happening

[Psycho Penguin 0]

This is going to be a bad loss for Memphis if it happens. Dick Vitale (of all people) made a good point about how Syracuse gets a chance to impress the tournament committee a lot, but Memphis only gets a few chances a year and this will be one of them.

[bob_barron 0]

Yea- they only have two more games- Tennesse (not winning that one) and Gonzaga.

 

It looks like they're going to have to run the table in C-USA, since while they're hanging in there, these losses are getting old. Next weekend will be the first time since the end of the 04-05 season they won't be in the top 25.

 

They just don't have a point guard right now, and it's hurting the rest of the offence, I wish Cal would just let Kemp run the point like he did freshman year.

[Psycho Penguin 0]

I don't think they need to run the table in C-USA. Doesn't C-USA have a tournament? They'd just need to win that. But to get an at large bid, you're right. They're now 0-3 in big time games (lost to Xavier and Georgetown also)