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Monday, February 27, 2012
Final Week
The final week of the regular season is upon us and looks to be interesting one. A lot of teams are still vying for Conference Tournament seeding and will look to solidify their March Madness resumes. In the Pac12 there are five solid teams going into the conference tourney, and all of them are competing for the top four spots to get a first round bye. The ACC will close out with Carolina vs Duke and that rivalry always brings a good show to us and we could see them for a third time in the conference tourney. The Big East has a lot of teams looking to prove themselves in the conference tourney and make a 2011 UCONN run at it. The final week is just the beginning for all College Hoops Lovers so sit back and enjoy fans!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Big Saturday!
This Saturday pits some very important games that will have very important Conference title implications and NCAA Tournament seedings.
Arizona @ Washington- This has become the marquee rivalry in the Pac 12 and in their first matchup earlier this season, didn't prove otherwise. Tomorrows game will be another thriller and with Washington tied for the conference lead and Arizona breathing down their necks in second, expect a great game. Washington has hit a funky path, where we have seen them play inconsistent and then play like a team destined to wint the conference. Arizona has gotten hot since they lost to the Huskies at home and have rattled off five straight wins. Look for another close game and for Arizona to avenge their lost and take down the Huskies on their home court.
#6 Ohio St. @ #19 Michigan- In their first game the Buckeyes blew the Wolverines out, but a lot has changed for both teams since then. If Michigan is able to attack Jared Sullinger in the paint and fluster him, they will have a great shot at beating them. The Buckeyes are still fighting to get a #1 seed but after a tough loss to Michigan St. last week the task seems a bit daunting. The Wolverines are playing to get a higher seed in the Tourney and a win tomorrow will really help the cause. We are going with the Wolverines in this one and expect it to come down to the wire.
#13 Marquette @ UCONN- The defending National Champs are in need of some quality wins and a win in this game will help their resume a lot. This is a bit of trap game for Marquette and could be one that will bite them if they don't come out ready. UCONN needs to play good and not like the "UCAN't" we have seen them play like this year. Look for the Huskies to defend their home court well and get this quality win.
#16 Saint Mary's @ #14 Murray St.- These are two of the more surprising teams of the season and a win for either squad will prove to the Tournament Committee. Murray St really hasn't a quality win this year and this will really help them out. Saint Mary's will continue to try to knock off Gonzaga in their conference and a win here will really help their cause. Look for Saint Mary's to knock off Murray St back down to Earth in this one.
Arizona @ Washington- This has become the marquee rivalry in the Pac 12 and in their first matchup earlier this season, didn't prove otherwise. Tomorrows game will be another thriller and with Washington tied for the conference lead and Arizona breathing down their necks in second, expect a great game. Washington has hit a funky path, where we have seen them play inconsistent and then play like a team destined to wint the conference. Arizona has gotten hot since they lost to the Huskies at home and have rattled off five straight wins. Look for another close game and for Arizona to avenge their lost and take down the Huskies on their home court.
#6 Ohio St. @ #19 Michigan- In their first game the Buckeyes blew the Wolverines out, but a lot has changed for both teams since then. If Michigan is able to attack Jared Sullinger in the paint and fluster him, they will have a great shot at beating them. The Buckeyes are still fighting to get a #1 seed but after a tough loss to Michigan St. last week the task seems a bit daunting. The Wolverines are playing to get a higher seed in the Tourney and a win tomorrow will really help the cause. We are going with the Wolverines in this one and expect it to come down to the wire.
#13 Marquette @ UCONN- The defending National Champs are in need of some quality wins and a win in this game will help their resume a lot. This is a bit of trap game for Marquette and could be one that will bite them if they don't come out ready. UCONN needs to play good and not like the "UCAN't" we have seen them play like this year. Look for the Huskies to defend their home court well and get this quality win.
#16 Saint Mary's @ #14 Murray St.- These are two of the more surprising teams of the season and a win for either squad will prove to the Tournament Committee. Murray St really hasn't a quality win this year and this will really help them out. Saint Mary's will continue to try to knock off Gonzaga in their conference and a win here will really help their cause. Look for Saint Mary's to knock off Murray St back down to Earth in this one.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Big Games Tonight
Tonight's schedule of games has some big match ups that could affect conference races as the season wraps up.
First up you have #4 Duke hosting North Carolina St, this isn't going to be a pushover game for Duke. The Wolfpack will go into Cameron Indoor and give the Dukies a run for their money but look for Duke to close them out in the final 2 minutes.
#17 Wisconsin @ #8 Michigan St.
Interesting match up between two teams trying to win the Big 10, after their first meeting this year went into OT, expect another thriller. Both teams are going to need their superstars to have big games tonight, Draymond Green for the Spartans and Jordan Taylor for the Badgers. We are going with the home town Spartans in this one but it will be going down to the last shot.
Virginia Tech @ #21 Florida St.
After a disappointing loss last week for the Seminoles, look for them to easily handle the Hokies, especially with this one being played in Tallahassee.
Oregon @ Cal
The Ducks are coming off a sweep of the Washington schools and will look to carry that momentum to Cal and knock of the Bears at home. This game has huge conference title implications, with Cal tied for first with Washington and Oregon in tie for second with Arizona. Depending on what happens this weekend as all four of the top teams will play each other, the top of the conference could get a new look come Sunday. Look for the Ducks to knock of the Bears and continue their hot streak.
West Virginia @ Pitt
Normally the Backyard Brawl has some Big East title implications, but it is easy to say it has been a down year for both teams. Both still could win their way into March with strong finishes but they will need a lot of help. Last time they played about two weeks ago, West Virginia blew a lead at home and will look to avenge that loss tonight. Look for this one to go down to the wire with the Mountaineers pulling it out.
First up you have #4 Duke hosting North Carolina St, this isn't going to be a pushover game for Duke. The Wolfpack will go into Cameron Indoor and give the Dukies a run for their money but look for Duke to close them out in the final 2 minutes.
#17 Wisconsin @ #8 Michigan St.
Interesting match up between two teams trying to win the Big 10, after their first meeting this year went into OT, expect another thriller. Both teams are going to need their superstars to have big games tonight, Draymond Green for the Spartans and Jordan Taylor for the Badgers. We are going with the home town Spartans in this one but it will be going down to the last shot.
Virginia Tech @ #21 Florida St.
After a disappointing loss last week for the Seminoles, look for them to easily handle the Hokies, especially with this one being played in Tallahassee.
Oregon @ Cal
The Ducks are coming off a sweep of the Washington schools and will look to carry that momentum to Cal and knock of the Bears at home. This game has huge conference title implications, with Cal tied for first with Washington and Oregon in tie for second with Arizona. Depending on what happens this weekend as all four of the top teams will play each other, the top of the conference could get a new look come Sunday. Look for the Ducks to knock of the Bears and continue their hot streak.
West Virginia @ Pitt
Normally the Backyard Brawl has some Big East title implications, but it is easy to say it has been a down year for both teams. Both still could win their way into March with strong finishes but they will need a lot of help. Last time they played about two weeks ago, West Virginia blew a lead at home and will look to avenge that loss tonight. Look for this one to go down to the wire with the Mountaineers pulling it out.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Best Conference in College Hoops
Out of the so the called "Power 6" Conferences we will be breaking down who we think is the best all around conference this year. This isn't going to based on who sends more guys to the NBA but more on what has been happening on the court this year.
1. Big 10- This is the most overlooked conference in college hoops and never seems to get the credit it is due. They should easily have 5 if not 6 teams in the tournament come March and with coaches like Tom Izzo and Thad Matta, the conference continues to get strong. Former "powerhouse" Michigan is back to be a relevant team in college hoops. And you can't sleep on Wisconsin either, who seem to always find a way to be in the top of the conference.
2. ACC- The first thought that comes to all our minds when you think of this conference is Duke and North Carolina. Both teams again are having great seasons under two of the brightest minds in sports. But the real story of the conference has to be the teams that no one was talking about at the beginning of the year. Florida St. has beaten both the big dogs of the conference and look to be heading to the Big Dance. Virginia and Miami both are having surprise seasons as well, both still have some work to do on their resumes though.
3. Pac-12- Even though this is considered a down year for the conference, if you take a good look at the teams in it, at least 5 have a shot to make the Tourney with strong finishes. Arizona continues to be at the top of the conference and has created a nice rivalry with Washington. The newcomer to the Pac Colorado has turned a lot of heads this year and will be dancing in March. Oregon and their funky court are having a great season in the Pacific Northwest. The conference is taking a lot of heat this year because of once powerful UCLA is in a rut, but if you really examine the conference there are some great basketball teams.
4. Big 12- Also in what seems to be a down year the conference still possesses some powers who are at the top of the rankings this year. Kansas, Missouri and Baylor all have pretty much punched their tickets to the Dance. Outside of these three only Iowa St. looks like a potential tourney team, but will really need some more big wins down the stretch to make it lock. Texas and Kansas St. both have a shot to make it also but will need strong finishes to help them out.
5. Big East- Most of the "experts" say that this is the best conference around but if you really break them down they are very weak. As it sits today they will have around 5 teams in the Tourney but with such a big conference, that has to be a disappointment. There are some other possible teams that could be dancing but will have to win a lot of games to get there, especially in the conference tournament.
6. SEC- Outside of Kentucky and Florida the conference is overall very weak and might slide out getting four teams into the Tourney. Vanderbilt and Mississippi St. both have plenty of work to do, but with Kentucky not letting their foots of the gas pedal, quality conference wins are coming few and far between.
Who do y'all think is the best conference in College Hoops?
1. Big 10- This is the most overlooked conference in college hoops and never seems to get the credit it is due. They should easily have 5 if not 6 teams in the tournament come March and with coaches like Tom Izzo and Thad Matta, the conference continues to get strong. Former "powerhouse" Michigan is back to be a relevant team in college hoops. And you can't sleep on Wisconsin either, who seem to always find a way to be in the top of the conference.
2. ACC- The first thought that comes to all our minds when you think of this conference is Duke and North Carolina. Both teams again are having great seasons under two of the brightest minds in sports. But the real story of the conference has to be the teams that no one was talking about at the beginning of the year. Florida St. has beaten both the big dogs of the conference and look to be heading to the Big Dance. Virginia and Miami both are having surprise seasons as well, both still have some work to do on their resumes though.
3. Pac-12- Even though this is considered a down year for the conference, if you take a good look at the teams in it, at least 5 have a shot to make the Tourney with strong finishes. Arizona continues to be at the top of the conference and has created a nice rivalry with Washington. The newcomer to the Pac Colorado has turned a lot of heads this year and will be dancing in March. Oregon and their funky court are having a great season in the Pacific Northwest. The conference is taking a lot of heat this year because of once powerful UCLA is in a rut, but if you really examine the conference there are some great basketball teams.
4. Big 12- Also in what seems to be a down year the conference still possesses some powers who are at the top of the rankings this year. Kansas, Missouri and Baylor all have pretty much punched their tickets to the Dance. Outside of these three only Iowa St. looks like a potential tourney team, but will really need some more big wins down the stretch to make it lock. Texas and Kansas St. both have a shot to make it also but will need strong finishes to help them out.
5. Big East- Most of the "experts" say that this is the best conference around but if you really break them down they are very weak. As it sits today they will have around 5 teams in the Tourney but with such a big conference, that has to be a disappointment. There are some other possible teams that could be dancing but will have to win a lot of games to get there, especially in the conference tournament.
6. SEC- Outside of Kentucky and Florida the conference is overall very weak and might slide out getting four teams into the Tourney. Vanderbilt and Mississippi St. both have plenty of work to do, but with Kentucky not letting their foots of the gas pedal, quality conference wins are coming few and far between.
Who do y'all think is the best conference in College Hoops?
March Madness
With the Big Dance about a month away from kicking off, let's see who everyone has as their favorite to take the title home. Right now a lot of people are really high on Kentucky and for good reason, they are very talented team but they are also very young and come Tourney time their inexperience will hinder them. The big dogs from ACC, North Carolina and Duke, both could make a deep run in the tourney but they both play very inconsistent. One game both teams will look like a lock for a #1 seed then the next game you question how deep they are capable of really going. Big 10 leader Ohio St. looks to be swinging back and forth from being a top seed to being a #2 maybe even a #3, they have one of the best big men in the country in Jared Sullinger, but every game they go up against another great big men they show a lot of weakness. Syracuse is another team that at times looks like they could easily take it all home, plays with some inconsistency but Jim Boeheim finds a way to win the close games. Every year there is always a team that surprises everyone with a deep tourney run from the middle seeds, this year it will probably be a West Coast team. The Pac 12 is having a very down year to the standards we are used to, but this is conference that year in and year out is losing guys early to the draft, but still finds a way to send a few teams to the tourney. Look for Arizona and Cal to be the teams that will be in the tourney from the conference and possibly Washington. Arizona had a deep run last year but lost Derrick Williams to the draft, but Sean Miller has the team again set for another deep run. Cal has a lot of talent but they also show a lot of inconsistency and might get past the first round and that'ts. San Diego St. and UNLV are two teams that a lot of people are over looking and both have the veterans that can lead them deep in March. Right now the only two teams that look like locks for #1 seeds are Kentucky and Syracuse, both have only one loss and look to win their conference. So who will get the other #1 seeds, Missouri, Kansas or will Duke and Carolina come in and spoil it for the Big 12? With such a wide open field and not many teams dominating opponents this will be another exciting March. This will be one of the Final Four's when not every #1 seed makes and we might see seeds as low as #4 in the Final Four in New Orleans. Right now our team that will be cutting down the nets come April 2nd will be Syracuse, but that could change any day with the way this season has gone. Who is your favorite to win it all this year?
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