Preseason NCAA Basketball Poll is released

[SoRight24]

If I remember right we played UNC in a bowl game a couple of years ago....

The Peach Bowl in 01.

We actually won. :lol

That was when we had Julius Peppers.

[JamesM]

The Peach Bowl in 01.

We actually won. :lol

That was when we had Julius Peppers. Sad, sad day to be an Auburn Tiger

[SoRight24]

Sad, sad day to be an Auburn Tiger

Well, to be fair, we had a good team back then.

We haven't had a good one since that year. I hope now that we have Butch Davis, the program will get back on track.

[GavMan33]

What do you guys think about a Top 25? Bryan's not around, but I'll cover it this week. PM them to me by tomorrow morning, 9am.

[UNC41]

What do you guys think about a Top 25? Bryan's not around, but I'll cover it this week. PM them to me by tomorrow morning, 9am.

I'm back, so people can PM me by noon Central. I've got an Excel spreadsheet setup so it's easy. Thanks though. :)

[willthethrill]

What do you guys think about a Top 25? Bryan's not around, but I'll cover it this week. PM them to me by tomorrow morning, 9am.

I'm back, so people can PM me by noon Central. I've got an Excel spreadsheet setup so it's easy. Thanks though. :)

poll pwn.

[MPizzle06]

Buddy whoa, relax kid. IU played a legit squad, for sure....

Oh i know they did. They didn't lose to some 1-AA team or something, I know, but its just such a joy seeing Cellvin Samscum go down and all hell break loose in Looservile :D

[justinandimcool]

I've never seen a USC basketball team play so well. I love how OJ comes off the screen so well, and he's so unselfish. If he plays like this in the NBA I'll be proud. But I'm loving Gibson and Jefferson being huge factors like they're supposed to, especailly against a legit team.

[UNC41]

Just got my new 42 inch LCD hooked up. The second half of this USC/SIU game will be a nice way to pop its cherry.

[GavMan33]

I'm back, so people can PM me by noon Central. I've got an Excel spreadsheet setup so it's easy. Thanks though. :)

poll pwn.

:lol :lol

Good to have you accounted for Bryan....

[RJ2kWJ]

Duke: 6-0

Loving the fact that they were overlooked this offseason. I know that they are deeper and more talented than last year. I know that they werent a "talked about" team this offseason...

But ya better fear them this season.

Cant wait to play the Tar Heels... Yet another unreal team. :bounce

[justinandimcool]

Anyone who doesn't fear Duke is crazy. 10x what they were last year.

[41ravens]

i have to say i was less than thrilled with the officiating in overtime of the zona/kansas game last night, but what can you do? they hung with them, at kansas. if budinger can stay out of foul trouble, i think they can be a damn good team.

[GavMan33]

i have to say i was less than thrilled with the officiating in overtime of the zona/kansas game last night, but what can you do? they hung with them, at kansas. if budinger can stay out of foul trouble, i think they can be a damn good team.

Not an Arizona fan really, but I sure do agree with you :thumbsup

[seekupig]

I agree, and even though I hate KU, that would have been awesome if it had went in.

:eek


:twenty4

[UNC41]

I'm headed to Subway for lunch and am going to put the poll together when I get back. So if you want to be included PM me ASAP.

[GavMan33]

Xavier in at #25 on the ESPN/Coaches Poll. Still nothing from the AP I see yet....

[chiznaz]

A&M at #9.... I'm liking this:)

[clayj41]

I'm headed to Subway for lunch and am going to put the poll together when I get back. So if you want to be included PM me ASAP.

PM sent Bryan!:)

[dmbigeyedphish]

LOL @ fouling Gavin with .04 left.

[kydmb99]

LOL @ fouling Gavin with .04 left.

The refs handed NC State that game, I didn't see anything.

[dmbigeyedphish]

The refs handed NC State that game, I didn't see anything.

Actually, Villanova handed us the game. If they can't win after we turn the ball over 22 times, they don't deserve it.

[unccrombie]

The refs handed NC State that game, I didn't see anything.
don't reach in. end of story. legit call

[UNC41]

2007-08 Week 3 NCAA Basketball Poll

1. North Carolina (4) 100
2. UCLA 94
3. Kansas 92
4. Memphis 90
5. Georgetown 83
6. (tie) Washington St. 76
Duke 76
8. Texas 74
9. Texas A&M 68
10. Marquette 60
11. Louisville 57
12. Tennessee 55
13. Pittsburgh 53
14. Michigan St. 50
15. Indiana 45
16. Butler 39
17. Oregon 32
18. Clemson 26
19. (tie) Villanova 21
Southern Illinois 21
21. Wisconsin 20
22. Gonzaga 19
23. Xavier 13
24. USC 11
25. Virginia 7

Also Receiving Votes: BYU 6, Arizona 4, NC State 3, Syracuse 3, Missouri 1

Participating Voters: UNC41, GavMan33, seekupig, clayj41

[waywayNCSU]

Actually, Villanova handed us the game. If they can't win after we turn the ball over 22 times, they don't deserve it.

What is up with our defense, rebounding, and free throws? It's a miracle we arent 0-4 the way we are playing.

[dmbigeyedphish]

What is up with our defense, rebounding, and free throws? It's a miracle we arent 0-4 the way we are playing.

Rebounding has always been an issue and it pisses me off because of the big guys we have down low. Also, our PG's free throw percentage so far this season is 44%. That's gonna come back to haunt us when teams need to foul to get back in the game. All they have to do is press us and foul our ball-handler. Sucks.

[waywayNCSU]

Rebounding has always been an issue and it pisses me off because of the big guys we have down low. Also, our PG's free throw percentage so far this season is 44%. That's gonna come back to haunt us when teams need to foul to get back in the game. All they have to do is press us and foul our ball-handler. Sucks.

I'm happy, but I'm also reserved about the team. Like you said, 22 turnovers but we win is pretty good...but we don't look like a good team at all. I'm worried about Mich St.

[dmbigeyedphish]

I'm happy, but I'm also reserved about the team. Like you said, 22 turnovers but we win is pretty good...but we don't look like a good team at all. I'm worried about Mich St.

Michigan St., Davidson, the ENTIRE ACC schedule..:eek It's gonna be one hell of a year. I'm excited either way.

[dreamingtreeIU]

im just glad we don't have to play butler, they'd definitely beat us

[GavMan33]

im just glad we don't have to play butler, they'd definitely beat us

:rolleyes Um, am I missing something?

[dreamingtreeIU]

theyre better than us, but ranked one below

[GavMan33]

Xavier in at #23 in the AP Poll :thumbsup

[willthethrill]

Xavier in at #23 in the AP Poll :thumbsup
May this be your only victory this week. :evil

[dreamingtreeIU]

how do we check our progress in the week (fantasy) ..... like in fantasy football a tally or whatever

[kydmb99]

FUCK.

Jodie Meeks may be out for season. That means our starting PG and starting SG (and maybe best player) could be gone the whole season.

:shrug

[willthethrill]

how do we check our progress in the week (fantasy) ..... like in fantasy football a tally or whatever
You probably just have to calculate stats on your own until Bryan does it at the end of the week. I don't think he's going to do it running through the week. I'll post the final scores on the site when they're done by Bryan.

[willthethrill]

FUCK.

Jodie Meeks may be out for season. That means our starting PG and starting SG (and maybe best player) could be gone the whole season.

:shrug

That really sucks, I had hoped this Saturday would be a good game. :D

[kydmb99]

That really sucks, I had hoped this Saturday would be a good game. :D

Yeah, I certainly don't expect UK to win, but you never know. I personally don't think UNC is as good as they're made out to be. I think losing Brandon Wright hurt them more than people think.

[willthethrill]

Yeah, I certainly don't expect UK to win, but you never know. I personally don't think UNC is as good as they're made out to be. I think losing Brandon Wright hurt them more than people think.

Not so much as losing him as losing him, Terry and Wes Miller. Probably the top 3 defenders off last year's team. Still, we've played good D and Ty has played one game where he didn't suck. So the potential has far and away yet to be reached.

I wouldn't mind a bump in rankings if anything but to light a fire under some of our players.

[kydmb99]

Not so much as losing him as losing him, Terry and Wes Miller. Probably the top 3 defenders off last year's team. Still, we've played good D and Ty has played one game where he didn't suck. So the potential has far and away yet to be reached.

I wouldn't mind a bump in rankings if anything but to light a fire under some of our players.

Yeah, UNC is a good team but I certainly don't think they're a dominant one. Like I said, with two of our best players out, and the fact that we just don't have as much talent, I don't expect UK to win, but I'll never count out a Gillispie coached team... They've looked TOTALLY different since the Gardner-Webb game, like night and day. Hopefully it will continue.

[UNC41]

Yeah, I certainly don't expect UK to win, but you never know. I personally don't think UNC is as good as they're made out to be. I think losing Brandon Wright hurt them more than people think.

Say what you will, but I don't know that you can find another team in the nation with players at PG, SG and in the post who are among the 10 best in college basketball at their respective position along with one of the five best, if not the best, sixth man in the nation.

[GavMan33]

Say what you will, but I don't know that you can find another team in the nation with players at PG, SG and in the post who are among the 10 best in college basketball at their respective position along with one of the five best, if not the best, sixth man in the nation.

You, Bryan, along with everybody else here, struggle so much. If you're looking for the best PG in the country, just look at the small D-1 school in Cincinnati. Best Shooting Guard? It's Xavier! Small Forward? It's the Musketeers baby! Oh I'll go all day. Power Forward? Look for the Power of X. Center? Well, like my fantasy team, we don't have a legit center. But if we did, you know he'd be playing for dem Muskies! Sixth man? Yeah you get the point.

Sorry for that, I've had a bit to drink tonight. I'm going to bed. Is it weird that one of the last things I do before I go to bed is check this board? :rolleyes

[willthethrill]

You, Bryan, along with everybody else here, struggle so much. If you're looking for the best PG in the country, just look at the small D-1 school in Cincinnati. Best Shooting Guard? It's Xavier! Small Forward? It's the Musketeers baby! Oh I'll go all day. Power Forward? Look for the Power of X. Center? Well, like my fantasy team, we don't have a legit center. But if we did, you know he'd be playing for dem Muskies! Sixth man? Yeah you get the point.

Sorry for that, I've had a bit to drink tonight. I'm going to bed. Is it weird that one of the last things I do before I go to bed is check this board? :rolleyes

Doesn't everybody? :ugh

[unccrombie]

wisconsin's JV team looked good tonight

[UNC41]

wisconsin's JV team looked good tonight

I only watched the first half, but Duke looked as good as Wisconsin did bad. I am, however, interested to see them play when not hitting everything from beyond the arc and against a team with some legitimate big men.

[GavMan33]

I only watched the first half, but Duke looked as good as Wisconsin did bad. I am, however, interested to see them play when not hitting everything from beyond the arc and against a team with some legitimate big men.

Big Ten basketball. I don't particularly like it, especially watching Wisconsin, but the conference in general. Last year's Ohio St. team was an exception to the general concept of Big Ten basketball, as was Illinois in 05, but generally speaking, I can't watch it....

[seekupig]

Big Ten basketball. I don't particularly like it, especially watching Wisconsin, but the conference in general. Last year's Ohio St. team was an exception to the general concept of Big Ten basketball, as was Illinois in 05, but generally speaking, I can't watch it....

i feel that way about Big Ten football most of the time as well. one of my friends is a Wisconsin fan and i always joke with him that i DVR Big Ten football and basketball games to watch on nights when i have trouble falling asleep....

[UNC41]

The only way Big 10 teams like Wisconsin can beat more athletic, faster paced ACC teams like Duke is to control the glass. The Badgers only outrebounded Duke by 1 despite Duke's only two big men playing 20 minutes combined.

What do we have to do for an ACC/Pac 10 Challenge? Could you imagine UNC vs. UCLA tonight?

[seekupig]

The only way Big 10 teams like Wisconsin can beat more athletic, faster paced ACC teams like Duke is to control the glass. The Badgers only outrebounded Duke by 1 despite Duke's only two big men playing 20 minutes combined.


:thumbsup

the invention of the shot clock was the worst thing to ever happen to Big Ten basketball....

[seekupig]

What do we have to do for an ACC/Pac 10 Challenge? Could you imagine UNC vs. UCLA tonight?

they're doing a Big XII/Pac 10 Challenge now....

KU vs. Arizona was the first game the other night... i was suprised they didn't schedule KU vs. UCLA, a rematch of the elite 8 game between two top five teams would have been nice this early in the year....

[UNC41]

:thumbsup

the invention of the shot clock was the worst thing to ever happen to Big Ten basketball....

Agreed. And when you look at it Big 10 teams struggle on the national level because of this. Michigan St. is the only Big 10 team that has consistently had success in the NCAA Tournament over the past decade becuause Izzo recruits athletic guys who can adapt to the style of play everyone else does. Matta does this too, and last year's Final Four shows that it is paying off. Indiana was the exception in '02, but I was fine with that because they upset a pretty good Duke team. :D

My bad about the Big 12/Pac 10 Challenge. For some reason I thought it was the Big East instead of the Big 12. Either way, let's get the Big 10 out of it.

[thestand]

they're doing a Big XII/Pac 10 Challenge now....

KU vs. Arizona was the first game the other night... i was suprised they didn't schedule KU vs. UCLA, a rematch of the elite 8 game between two top five teams would have been nice this early in the year....Oregon/Kansas State tomorrow night. Oregon has only played one game in a hostile environment this year, and the crowd got to us. So I'm really not confident at all (nor should I be, anyway :lol).

EDIT: I should point out that Bryce Taylor, a true leader of the team, didn't play at the St. Mary's game, so that definitely didn't help.

[GavMan33]

Agreed. And when you look at it Big 10 teams struggle on the national level because of this. Michigan St. is the only Big 10 team that has consistently had success in the NCAA Tournament over the past decade becuause Izzo recruits athletic guys who can adapt to the style of play everyone else does. Matta does this too, and last year's Final Four shows that it is paying off. Indiana was the exception in '02, but I was fine with that because they upset a pretty good Duke team. :D

My bad about the Big 12/Pac 10 Challenge. For some reason I thought it was the Big East instead of the Big 12. Either way, let's get the Big 10 out of it.

I believe it was in 2000 when PG Jason Williams was a frosh at Duke, and they were upset in the Sweet 16 by Florida. Coincidentally, that was the year that #8-seed Carolina AND #8-seed and the team we were just bashing Wisconsin were in the Final Four, along with the other Big 10 team mentioned, Mateen Cleaves led-MSU won the title.

That Duke team is my #1 argument that teams led by frosh cannot succeed in the NCAA Tournament. The detriments to my argument are 97 Arizona, 03 Syracuse, and 07 Ohio State (although they didn't win the title). Jason Williams gets a year under his belt, comes back as a soph, and wins a national championship. I tend to shy away from freshmen, especially freshmen point guards, going deep in the NCAAs. And actually, besides the fact that I believed in the upset and believed in Xavier, that factored into my decision to go against Ohio St. in the 2nd round last season....

[dreamingtreeIU]

umm xavier beat ohio state last year according to everyone outside of columbus ohio

[codyk09]

Well im an ole miss fan but since tyler hansbrough went to my high school and lived in my neighborhood, im gonna have to go with unc goin all the way

[dreamingtreeIU]

on a side note to that, the game where tyler played against oden in hs on espn 2 i think.......wow that was a domination

[codyk09]

we played pretty good, you have to understand where were coming from, a town of 17,000 , we dont have a big talent pool, and our guys were nervous im sure playin on national tv, we had like 2 fans there and thats a big deal in basketball

[GavMan33]

Great college hoop tonight. Of course, I think there are 5 ACC/Big Ten games on tonight between the ESPN Networks. ESPN Classic has UMass @ Syracuse, which I'm very interested in, being an A-10 boy. Also up here, Fordham @ Manhattan is on, and a game I'm also interested since my father is an alum of St. Bonaventure, St. Bonaventure @ Niagara is also on. So that game will be primetime viewing at my house tonight, and I will also be checking in on the UMass game (UMass may win), and the Carolina game also. Great Wednesday night programming :D :thumbsup

[dreamingtreeIU]

we played pretty good, you have to understand where were coming from, a town of 17,000 , we dont have a big talent pool, and our guys were nervous im sure playin on national tv, we had like 2 fans there and thats a big deal in basketball


im just saying the talent difference at the time was staggering

[codyk09]

im just saying the talent difference at the time was staggering

from what ive seen from oden then and now is lazyiness, he walks up and down the court, tyler plays really hard, but there both good players

[kydmb99]

Jimmy V's 1993 ESPY Speech = Greatness.

[dreamingtreeIU]

i understand the cause, but why does dicky v talk about jimmy v every single game??

[kydmb99]

i understand the cause, but why does dicky v talk about jimmy v every single game??

Well, they were really, really close friends, and I think he's more trying to keep his cause alive. I mean yeah, it does get a bit redundant but it's a great cause and in the memory of a great man who Vitale obviously respected deeply so... whatever.

[chiznaz]

A&M-Alabama tonight. Should be a good one:)

[seekupig]

i understand the cause, but why does dicky v talk about jimmy v every single game??

because he runs out of things to say about his boyfriend, Coach K.

[UNC41]

on a side note to that, the game where tyler played against oden in hs on espn 2 i think.......wow that was a domination

Hansbrough outplayed Oden, right?

[UNC41]

"With the incoming freshmen we have coming in here and what we have coming back, I don't see us losing any more than four games this year. Honestly. If we stay healthy, I think we have the talent to be a Final Four team and contend for a national championship," NC State forward Gavin Grant.

[GavMan33]

"With the incoming freshmen we have coming in here and what we have coming back, I don't see us losing any more than four games this year. Honestly. If we stay healthy, I think we have the talent to be a Final Four team and contend for a national championship," NC State forward Gavin Grant.

What an idiot. All athletes at Xavier actually take a 1-credit class about how to handle yourself as a D-1 athlete, and as you can imagine, one of the things they cover is how to talk to the media. Now I'm not saying you have to take class on it, but just have some common sense :shrug :thumbsdow

[UNC41]

What an idiot. All athletes at Xavier actually take a 1-credit class about how to handle yourself as a D-1 athlete, and as you can imagine, one of the things they cover is how to talk to the media. Now I'm not saying you have to take class on it, but just have some common sense :shrug :thumbsdow

It's one thing to be confident, but that was just stupidity. They better cut to UNC in a minute. I've seen enough of this massacre.

[codyk09]

the Mizzou-Arkansas game is good, on FSN im guessin its regional

[waywayNCSU]

"With the incoming freshmen we have coming in here and what we have coming back, I don't see us losing any more than four games this year. Honestly. If we stay healthy, I think we have the talent to be a Final Four team and contend for a national championship," NC State forward Gavin Grant.

:lorraine :lorraine

[GavMan33]

the Mizzou-Arkansas game is good, on FSN im guessin its regional

Yeah I'm not getting it. But I saw Mizzou play a bit last week, I liked them. Definitely a team on my radar this year; I had them at #25 in my Ants Top 25 poll this week....

[GavMan33]

Big night for the Atlantic 10. UMass wins @ Syracuse. That's a huge one for them, and also for the conference. Dayton wins by 1 point @ Miami (OH), which has proven themselves to be a good squad this season. Miami is definitely another team to watch. And of course everybody's favorite mid-major, Xavier, knocks up Oakland by 25. That's a good night....

[GavMan33]

TRIPLE POST ALERT!

One other Atlantic 10 note. George Washington, coming off a 10-point loss to Maryland-Baltimore County :rolleyes , is at @ UCLA tonight. How wonderful would that be to get that one for the conference? Here's to hoping. Cheers....

They really need to get one of those beer icons, so we can have an icon to say "cheers" with....

[Trippin4136]

umm xavier beat ohio state last year according to everyone outside of columbus ohio

good grief...:rolleyes

I have no expectations of this OSU team this year, but even hanging with UNC tonight this long is pretty impressive.

As for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge - that is a challenge the Big Ten will never win.

[clayj41]

Good to see UNC close out strong...they had me worried there for a minute.

[GavMan33]

good grief...:rolleyes

I have no expectations of this OSU team this year, but even hanging with UNC tonight this long is pretty impressive.

As for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge - that is a challenge the Big Ten will never win.

:lol

I hadn't seen that post until you just pointed it out Jon. Don't worry buddy; we blew a 9-point lead with 2:54 to go. And Mike Conley was the best PG (and in my opinion MVP of the entire tournament) in the NCAA Tournament. All we had to do is finish out that last 4-minute war, and unfortunately, it just didn't work out for us.

But as I've said before, it worked out alright, albeit with a loss. Lots of free press due to the intentional foul that didn't get called. Then the week after, we got our coach Sean Miller signed to a new contract. In the two weeks after that, we got 4 commits from the Class of 08. And all 4 of them signed the Letters of Intent two weeks ago. So even though the bad taste of that loss is still very much present, it wasn't the end of the world.

I'd love to get a series with Ohio State, I think it'd be fun. Unfortunately, we just don't have enough to offer the Buckeyes to make that game worthwhile for them. It is nice though to start to get some big-names to start scheduling home-and-homes with us. Virginia and Auburn to name two. We will probably never get to a caliber to get after a team like a Ohio State or a Michigan State or an Indiana or a Pittsburgh or even a Notre Dame. But that doesn't mean we don't have lofty goals....

[UNC41]

Ugly game, but it was nice to see Carolina win an ugly game. I don't know they would have won it last year. Ohio St. is a good team and they were missing an All-ACC player and had an All-American play like shit. My favorite moment of the game, by far, was when there were at least 5 players on the floor diving for the ball with about two minutes left. Moments like that are precisely what I love about college basketball.

As for the game. Ellington has taken the leap. I think he's one of the five best shooting guards in the nation. The Deon we have all been waiting to see finally showed up. Alex was a beast defensively. The best thing of this game was North Carolina's defense. It's been a while since I've seen a Tar Heels team play defense that well.

[GavMan33]

TRIPLE POST ALERT!

One other Atlantic 10 note. George Washington, coming off a 10-point loss to Maryland-Baltimore County :rolleyes , is at @ UCLA tonight. How wonderful would that be to get that one for the conference? Here's to hoping. Cheers....

They really need to get one of those beer icons, so we can have an icon to say "cheers" with....

Been watching this game for the last 5 or 6 minutes and GW just looks awful. 64-41 with 10 minutes left vs. UCLA. Darren Collison is back playing a little bit, got 14 points so far. Still looks like he's hobbled a bit, but it's nice that he's gonna get some extra time in the nonconference season before the brutal PAC-10 season starts.

This is ugly, bedtime....

[willthethrill]

Ugly game, but it was nice to see Carolina win an ugly game. I don't know they would have won it last year. Ohio St. is a good team and they were missing an All-ACC player and had an All-American play like shit. My favorite moment of the game, by far, was when there were at least 5 players on the floor diving for the ball with about two minutes left. Moments like that are precisely what I love about college basketball.

As for the game. Ellington has taken the leap. I think he's one of the five best shooting guards in the nation. The Deon we have all been waiting to see finally showed up. Alex was a beast defensively. The best thing of this game was North Carolina's defense. It's been a while since I've seen a Tar Heels team play defense that well.

Amen. Although I was yelling for Deon's neck for about 25 minutes before he actually made a basket. I feel like Alex might be a better starting option. He has become such a beast on the boards, and defensively as well. Plus, Deon might react positively to coming off the bench. Hell, he did last year.

How about Bobby Frasor? He stunk on offense, but man he played great defense. That made me proud to see him hustling like it was 2005.

It's official. The man-crush on Wayne Ellington has begun.

[BreakFree27]

Big night for the Atlantic 10. UMass wins @ Syracuse. That's a huge one for them, and also for the conference. Dayton wins by 1 point @ Miami (OH), which has proven themselves to be a good squad this season. Miami is definitely another team to watch. And of course everybody's favorite mid-major, Xavier, knocks up Oakland by 25. That's a good night....

great, great night for Umass sports tonight. Our men's soccer team upset #1 BC tonight in the NCAA tourney and advances to the sweet 16. As for the bball game: Forbes and Haris carried the team and Miligan played extremely well off the bench. Coach Ford has found a way to make up for the lack of size with the run and gun, 3 pt. shooting style that paid off tonight against the zone of 'cuse.

GavMan, i'm getting very excited about the two meetings we have with each other this year.

[GavMan33]

great, great night for Umass sports tonight. Our men's soccer team upset #1 BC tonight in the NCAA tourney and advances to the sweet 16. As for the bball game: Forbes and Haris carried the team and Miligan played extremely well off the bench. Coach Ford has found a way to make up for the lack of size with the run and gun, 3 pt. shooting style that paid off tonight against the zone of 'cuse.

GavMan, i'm getting very excited about the two meetings we have with each other this year.

You're more than welcome around here my friend, we like A-10 fellas in here :thumbsup

However, there's only one meeting between Xavier and UMass this year, in Amherst. Not sure who UMass has twice; Xavier has Dayton, GW, and St. Joe's twice. That Gary Forbes has been quite a blessing for you guys; you had a couple years of regression when Lappas was there, but Coach Ford has got you guys in the right direction. If you could've taken care of any kind of business in the A-10 Tourney last year I think you could have been in as an at-large, and I'm thinking the same thing for your squad this season. Way to go :thumbsup

[unccrombie]

Ugly game, but it was nice to see Carolina win an ugly game. I don't know they would have won it last year. Ohio St. is a good team and they were missing an All-ACC player and had an All-American play like shit. My favorite moment of the game, by far, was when there were at least 5 players on the floor diving for the ball with about two minutes left. Moments like that are precisely what I love about college basketball.

As for the game. Ellington has taken the leap. I think he's one of the five best shooting guards in the nation. The Deon we have all been waiting to see finally showed up. Alex was a beast defensively. The best thing of this game was North Carolina's defense. It's been a while since I've seen a Tar Heels team play defense that well.
really? i think UNC destroys ohio state either way. not having lawson is a big downside

[willthethrill]

I'm loving the new avatar Bryan.

[seekupig]

could the organizers of the Big XII/PAC10 challenge done a worse job in creating matchups?

why not run it top to bottom instead of mixing it up so much?

[GavMan33]

could the organizers of the Big XII/PAC10 challenge done a worse job in creating matchups?

why not run it top to bottom instead of mixing it up so much?

Dustin I don't know much about the matchups; I know the KSU/Oregon game was awesome last night, as was the KU/Arizona game from last weekend. And I have really high hopes for this Big XII/PAC 10 thing, I think it's a great idea

[HolyCow]

Watching OU play basketball right now is just plain frustrating. Close the lead to four and look great doing it. Then we allow a tip-in and there goes the game. And having Blake Griffin sit the majority of the second half and him scoring six points is unacceptable.

[seekupig]

Dustin I don't know much about the matchups; I know the KSU/Oregon game was awesome last night, as was the KU/Arizona game from last weekend. And I have really high hopes for this Big XII/PAC 10 thing, I think it's a great idea

yeah, but who wouldn't love to see UCLA vs. Kansas this early in the year? there was no question that those were the two best teams in their conference when their schedules were made. the KU @ USC game this weekend isn't part of the challenge and won't count in the final score. then you have bottom feeder Baylor facing off against the #9 team in the country in Washington St.

i think it's a good idea and will be fun to watch, but it could have been a lot better if a little more thought had gone into the matchups....

[GavMan33]

yeah, but who wouldn't love to see UCLA vs. Kansas this early in the year? there was no question that those were the two best teams in their conference when their schedules were made. the KU @ USC game this weekend isn't part of the challenge and won't count in the final score. then you have bottom feeder Baylor facing off against the #9 team in the country in Washington St.

i think it's a good idea and will be fun to watch, but it could have been a lot better if a little more thought had gone into the matchups....

Not discounting your point, but I thought something and had to check, and what I thought was true. Baylor is 5-0. They have wins @ Notre Dame and @ Wichita State. And a home win vs. Winthrop. Now of course 5-0 can be misleading, and I don't know the team at all except for the fact that they never have any success in the Big 12. And I don't know what ND and Wichita St. have this year, and I'm relatively sure Winthrop's good players from last year graduated (ironically, Winthrop beat ND in last year's tourney). But still, to go on the road and win those games is good stuff. That said, probably not much of a chance vs. a #9.

And you're right on with UCLA vs. Kansas, that'd be a lot of fun :thumbsup

[UNC41]

The ACC and Big 10 did the same thing this year. UNC and Duke should have matched up with Michigan St. and Indiana.

I can't wait to watch UCLA and Texas. I really want to see how improved Augustine is from last year.

[SoRight24]

Even without Lawson tomorrow, I still say we beat UK by 10 +.

[willthethrill]

Even without Lawson tomorrow, I still say we beat UK by 10 +.

One would hope. Regardless, we should be one win closer to the all-time wins lead after 4 tomorrow.

[GavMan33]

Another tough one tomorrow night for the Musketeers, vs. Belmont. Obviously not close to a household name (then again, I don't really know if you could call Xavier a household name either), but they're 5-2, a solid ballclub. Another good test for us....

[thestand]

It's weird to see a PAC10 school with a half empty arena for a major game. :shrug The bottom team of the PAC10 v. the 2nd to last (I believe?) team in the Big XII, preseason. :lol Should be entertaining.

[seekupig]

It's weird to see a PAC10 school with a half empty arena for a major game. :shrug The bottom team of the PAC10 v. the 2nd to last (I believe?) team in the Big XII, preseason. :lol Should be entertaining.

it's not very often i can't watch a college basketball game... but this is rough on the eyes.... :lol

[GavMan33]

it's not very often i can't watch a college basketball game... but this is rough on the eyes.... :lol

You should've seen the Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Marquette game. Bad basketball by UW-M, no willpower at all....

[colorgreen what]

Let's go Butler! :) That's all

[kydmb99]

Even without Lawson tomorrow, I still say we beat UK by 10 +.

I say 77-61.

[dreamingtreeIU]

sadly, I can't go to the butler osu game tomorrow bc i have to do a paper..... i was gunna do it tonite, but it was my friends 21st.... go butler

[skatcat]

I say 77-61.

That's very generous. We're going to get our ass handed to us.

[GavMan33]

So I just want to bring something up in here, so that if something crazy happens next week, I can say I saw it coming first ;) :lol

Duquesne University basketball. Of course you all know about the shootings on campus there last year that really screwed up their year. This is coach Ron Everhart's 2nd year on the job there, following up a fine job done at Northeastern. He got two big transfers to come to Duquesne with him; Shawn James, who followed him from Northeastern, and Kojo Mensah, a guard formerly of Siena College. With this group, Everhart is playing a very fast-paced style, wreaking havoc. He plays 10 guys between 15 and 23 minutes per game, that's it. Mensah is leading the team in scoring at 17ppg in only 23mpg. They have two very talented bigs; the aforementioned James, as well as Kieron Achara.

At this point they're sitting at 6-0, the only unbeaten left in the Atlantic 10. However it's a very weak schedule, the best wins (to me) @ Oakland and @ Rice. It's totally acceptable the schedule they're playing, as they haven't been relevant in the A-10 ever. That's right; ever. But Ron Everhart may change that this year. Duquesne is at Drake today, and if they lose, I will sure be pissed.

Assuming they win today, they will move to 7-0, pretty bigtime. But like I've said, their schedule is very weak. This coming week will be a very good gauge of exactly where they are as a team. Winning @ Drake, from the now-familiar MVC, won't be easy. Then on Wednesday they get the annual game against crosstown foe and 11th-ranked Pittsburgh. And three days later they will travel to Morgantown to face WVU.

Next Saturday night, we will know just how legit this start is. And let me remind you, as there was a discussion about this last night between Dustin and I. Perennial dweller Baylor came up 3 points shy vs. #6 Wazzou last night. You can only deny a team its due for so long, albeit still early in the season. But I'm keeping an eye on Baylor and Duquesne at this point, to see exactly what they're made of....

[unccrombie]

That's very generous. We're going to get our ass handed to us.
perhaps, but without Ty, i don't feel safe in anyone else's gym

[unccrombie]

So I just want to bring something up in here, so that if something crazy happens next week, I can say I saw it coming first ;) :lol

Duquesne University basketball. Of course you all know about the shootings on campus there last year that really screwed up their year. This is coach Ron Everhart's 2nd year on the job there, following up a fine job done at Northeastern. He got two big transfers to come to Duquesne with him; Shawn James, who followed him from Northeastern, and Kojo Mensah, a guard formerly of Siena College. With this group, Everhart is playing a very fast-paced style, wreaking havoc. He plays 10 guys between 15 and 23 minutes per game, that's it. Mensah is leading the team in scoring at 17ppg in only 23mpg. They have two very talented bigs; the aforementioned James, as well as Kieron Achara.

At this point they're sitting at 6-0, the only unbeaten left in the Atlantic 10. However it's a very weak schedule, the best wins (to me) @ Oakland and @ Rice. It's totally acceptable the schedule they're playing, as they haven't been relevant in the A-10 ever. That's right; ever. But Ron Everhart may change that this year. Duquesne is at Drake today, and if they lose, I will sure be pissed.

Assuming they win today, they will move to 7-0, pretty bigtime. But like I've said, their schedule is very weak. This coming week will be a very good gauge of exactly where they are as a team. Winning @ Drake, from the now-familiar MVC, won't be easy. Then on Wednesday they get the annual game against crosstown foe and 11th-ranked Pittsburgh. And three days later they will travel to Morgantown to face WVU.

Next Saturday night, we will know just how legit this start is. And let me remind you, as there was a discussion about this last night between Dustin and I. Perennial dweller Baylor came up 3 points shy vs. #6 Wazzou last night. You can only deny a team its due for so long, albeit still early in the season. But I'm keeping an eye on Baylor and Duquesne at this point, to see exactly what they're made of....
ND got denied all season like 2 years ago, poor guys

[GavMan33]

They just flashed up the 1995 Regional Final, Pitino vs. Dean Smith. So I went back and looked. Arkansas, the 94 Champs and 95 runners-up, beat Carolina in the Final Four. I don't recall that game, I only recall UCLA and O'Bannon brothers, and Tyus Edney. Well, Arkansas was lucky to get out of the first round vs. #15 Texas-Southern, surviving a 1-point game. The next game was a 4-point OT win over Syracuse, and the a 5-point OT win over Memphis, before beating #4 Virginia to go to the Final Four. Now my thought is that maybe Penny Hardaway was on that 95 Memphis team? Or was he already with Shaq in Orlando by then? Anybody know?

EDIT: He must not have been. CWebb's last game was the game "Michigan blew by calling that timeout." We all know Carolina doesn't win that game if Webb doesn't call that TO haha. But then he was drafted that summer by Orlando, and then traded for Penny Hardaway. So no, Hardaway was in the league before the 95 Memphis team made their run....

[GavMan33]

Xavier bangs on Belmont tonight, 90-49. It's nice to get on a nice roll heading into the killer portion of our schedule. Only one game this coming week, Wednesday night vs. Creighton. Creighton has beaten us 3 years in a row, and we haven't beaten them since the epic battle in 2002-2003 when David West-led #19 Xavier beat Kyle Korver-led #15 Creighton by 2 points. So you can be sure our arena will be as loud as ever on Wednesday night. Expect a sellout crowd......

[thestand]

Good game on the U right now.

[thehoss]

big one for us at the U tomorrow afternoon. St John's is beating the teams they should beat, and they did it without anthony mason jr. look's like he will be playing, but probably won't be too effective tomorrow. larry wright has been stepping up bigtime.

[GavMan33]

big one for us at the U tomorrow afternoon. St John's is beating the teams they should beat, and they did it without anthony mason jr. look's like he will be playing, but probably won't be too effective tomorrow. larry wright has been stepping up bigtime.

:lol Like, of the Knicks Anthony Mason? Is he good?

Great game finished up on the U, Butler over Ohio St. 65-46. OSU was up 10 at halftime, collapsed after that.

The Curse of Appalachian State strikes again tonight. Harvard 72, Michigan 61. I'm tellin you, this curse is for real....

[UNC41]

It's always great to win at Rupp and so nice to have Ty back. The Heels are simply a different team with him. Danny Green was fantastic today. I love what he brings off the bench, and although he is easily one of UNC's top five talented players, I hope he continues to be the 6th man because of the punch he brings off the bench.

[GavMan33]

University of Dayton and University of Massachusetts are on Bobby G's serious shit list right now. With no offense whatsoever to Holy Cross, UD can't do any bullshit whatsoever against those guys. I don't care that they won, the offense was just awful. And UMass loses at IUPUI. Coming off a great win @ Syracuse. And you're talking NCAA Tournament? And you lose @ IUPUI? Goddamn. I tell you what. And now Duquesne is losing @ Drake.

On a less pissed off note, Indiana vs. the Salukis is a goodie. Rooting for IU for the sole purpose that it will help the RPI, thus helping Xavier's RPI. Yes, I am an RPI-bitch. Deal with it :violent

[thehoss]

:lol Like, of the Knicks Anthony Mason? Is he good?

Great game finished up on the U, Butler over Ohio St. 65-46. OSU was up 10 at halftime, collapsed after that.

The Curse of Appalachian State strikes again tonight. Harvard 72, Michigan 61. I'm tellin you, this curse is for real....

VERY good. its too bad hes on a weak st johns team. but we should make some noise this year. he's a big physical lengthy guard. he'll no doubt about it be a potential in the nba, but he's only a junior this year.

[JamesM]

'Nova vs. LSU should be a good one on December 4th.

Go Villanova!

[willthethrill]

It's always great to win at Rupp and so nice to have Ty back. The Heels are simply a different team with him. Danny Green was fantastic today. I love what he brings off the bench, and although he is easily one of UNC's top five talented players, I hope he continues to be the 6th man because of the punch he brings off the bench.

I just wish we continued to play the entire game like we did in the first part of the second half. I wanted to win by 30. I hate that we took our foot off the gas like that.

START ALEX STEPHENSON!!!!!! Deon is so on my shit list right now.

[GavMan33]

VERY good. its too bad hes on a weak st johns team. but we should make some noise this year. he's a big physical lengthy guard. he'll no doubt about it be a potential in the nba, but he's only a junior this year.

Unbelievable, Anthony Mason's got a kid who can play. Big Mason definitely fit in to the kind of team the Knicks embodied back in the 90s. And I loved it. It's a travesty that that team didn't get more shots at a title :shrug

Tough night last night. My fantasy team sucked. Duquesne lost at Drake. I'm still withholding judgement on them until after their game against West Virginia next weekend. Then I'll make a statement on that team. Xavier lost a close one @ Miami, doesn't mean they're not good. Obviously the Iron Dukes (I hope) are not as good as Xavier, but that doesn't mean they can't be good....

UMass lost @ IUPUI. The A-10 won a lot of games on Saturday, but those two are surely a disappointment.

And although Xavier beat Belmont by 41, I believe that it was not your typical buy game. Belmont's a good squad, should win a lot of games this year. I'd also like to share a quote with you from Xavier G/F B.J. Raymond, who is the only Musketeer to score in double-figures in each of Xavier's 8 games this year.

"We try to be a freight train. We don’t try to hit you once and let you come back and get us. We try to push you, get you on the ground and step on your neck. If you try to get back up, we try to fall on you. We don’t let you get up and make it a game anymore."

Xavier hasn't embodied this kind of an attitude since the 2003-2004 team that went to the Elite Eight, and when David West was still around the year before. It's fantastic. The last couple of years, we've been a good squad, but it's like they didn't believe it. Two years ago, if Xavier was up 16 at the half like they were yesterday, Belmont would have started the 2nd half with a run. We would have won the game, maybe by 20, but they would have made a couple of runs at it. Didn't happen last night. This team knows it's good, and they're acting like it. It's great to see.

[GavMan33]

I just wish we continued to play the entire game like we did in the first part of the second half. I wanted to win by 30. I hate that we took our foot off the gas like that.

START ALEX STEPHENSON!!!!!! Deon is so on my shit list right now.

:lol Wilson's got a shit list too!

Any time you can go into Rupp Arena and get a win vs. Kentucky is special. Doesn't matter if UK is good, bad, or decent. A few years ago X had a kid on the team, Brian Thornton, who played two years at Vanderbilt, before transferring. He said his best moment of playing at Vandy is when they won a game at Rupp vs. Kentucky. Very special....

[thehoss]

bob, i bet 20 bucks that BYU makes the elite 8 this year to 2 buddies of mine. my boy jimmer is getting some pt, they got a serious ball club out there

[SoRight24]

bob, i bet 20 bucks that BYU makes the elite 8 this year to 2 buddies of mine. my boy jimmer is getting some pt, they got a serious ball club out there

Fuck that Plaisted guy.

He was annoying when we played them. :lol

In all seriousness though, they are good. :thumbsup

[GavMan33]

bob, i bet 20 bucks that BYU makes the elite 8 this year to 2 buddies of mine. my boy jimmer is getting some pt, they got a serious ball club out there

So BYU has a ranked basketball team and a ranked football team. How in the world does that happen? Wow.

Yeah Jimmer's not doing too bad, especially for a freshman. I wonder when he goes on his mission trip. Probably not till after his sophomore year I assume. Last season we scrimmaged Glens Falls in a preseason scrimmage. Talked to Jimmer a bit after the game. I knew he was tall, but damn, the kid is thick. He has got to have some killer upper body strength, and that's as a high school senior! Imagine how it must be once he gets with a strenth and conditioning coach in college.

It got overlooked quite a bit because of the big hype around Xavier vs. Ohio State in the 2nd round, but our win against BYU in the first round was really a great victory for the school. BYU I believe was ranked, and a VERY solid ballclub, not at all an easy game. That Keena Young was good, as is Plaistaid as Travis now knows. Danny Ainge's kid was very good too, along with some others. They sure know how to get some good ball players in there.

Jon, let's see if we can't get together for a St. John's game or a Xavier game this season. I'd like to meet you, talk some hoop and whatnot. Don't ask me about the New York football Giants, I don't like that crew one bit :lol

[Mustang1]

Some great games on tap today in the Big 12/Pac 10 series:

KU-USC
A&M-Zona
Tex-UCLA

[justinandimcool]

Dustin! Where are you! I haven't talked shit yet!

[UNC41]

I saw a sign in the USC/Kansas game that read ... "Kansas eats farts."

:lol :lol :lol

[justinandimcool]

:lol I saw that too.

[justinandimcool]

Good to see the refs are on our side. :lol

[justinandimcool]

Well ain't that a bitch. Let them get away big time. Clutch shooting though by KU, and horrid mistakes from USC rooks.

[UNC41]

Very few teams have four guys as good as Mayo, Hackett, Jefferson and Gibson. I think they'll be a tough out come March.

[unccrombie]

aw shucks i missed ku/usc :devil good thing i remembered texas/ucla

[justinandimcool]

Arizona is getting killed by A&M.

I'm shocked.

[SoRight24]

Jerryd Bayless is fucking sick.

He has single handedly gotten UofA back in the game.

[chiznaz]

Arizona is getting killed by A&M.

I'm shocked.

I'm sure liking this. I have some friends that made the trip to Arizona for the game:bounce

[GavMan33]

I'm sure liking this. I have some friends that made the trip to Arizona for the game:bounce

Wow. How long a trip is that from College Station? Aren't you on the eastern part of Texas?

[SmoothG]

Arizona making a comeback! Go Cats!

[chiznaz]

Wow. How long a trip is that from College Station? Aren't you on the eastern part of Texas?

Yeah college station is about 1.5 hours northwest of houston.

It's a good days drive just to make it to El Paso.

[chiznaz]

And what the hell happened to our friggin defense. Can't defend the perimeter worth a damn.

[chiznaz]

This is one of the worst officiated halves of basketball i have seen.

[SmoothG]

This is one of the worst officiated halves of basketball i have seen.

I'm sure the 27 point swing had nothing to do with the players.

[chiznaz]

I'm sure the 27 point swing had nothing to do with the players.

When did I ever say that?

[SmoothG]

When did I ever say that?

Blaming the refs is a weak. Every team gets bad calls. It wasn't that terrible. I suppose you didn't say those words. Oh, well, either way it was a good victory for the Cats.

[willthethrill]

I saw a sign in the USC/Kansas game that read ... "Kansas eats farts."

:lol :lol :lol

USC fans have the greatest signs. Their gameday signs are always hilarious.

[JamesM]

I saw a


"Lou Holtz sucths penith" sign at Auburn/Florida gameday last year

[unccrombie]

my room mates are playing rock band and im missing texas/ucla. what. the. fuck

[SoRight24]

:lol :lol

And the Bruins go down at home.

I love it.

Back to #1 baby!

[justinandimcool]

yues;aoidjf;asdojfdas;lkjfd;lk

YES!!!! WHAT AN ENDING!!!!
I'm wearing my Texas shirt to school tomorrow. That was fucking great.

FUCK UCLA
FUCK BIASED ANNOUNCERS
FUCK ANNOYING BRUINS FANS
FUCK KEVIN LOVE, JOSH SHIPP, AND DARREN COLLISON.
FUCK KANSAS WHILE WE'RE AT IT.

YES! What a game.

[SoRight24]

Mata-Real can take his hyphenated name and shove it up his ass.

[unccrombie]

yues;aoidjf;asdojfdas;lkjfd;lk

YES!!!! WHAT AN ENDING!!!!
I'm wearing my Texas shirt to school tomorrow. That was fucking great.

FUCK UCLA
FUCK BIASED ANNOUNCERS
FUCK ANNOYING BRUINS FANS
FUCK KEVIN LOVE, JOSH SHIPP, AND DARREN COLLISON.
FUCK KANSAS WHILE WE'RE AT IT.

YES! What a game.
FUCK

[justinandimcool]

Mata-Real can take his hyphenated name and shove it up his ass.

:lol

Fuck these biased FSN announcers. They sound all depressed and sad that UCLA lost. "This UCLA team should have won this game, but Augustin made a freak play". STFU.


This is great. Good cherry to top off a great birthday weekend.

[willthethrill]

I'm sad I missed it. Damn my education!!!

[Lee3691]

Just went to my second college basketball game every this year, the UCLA/Texas game. What a game, my colleague who took me, who has been dozens of times, told me it was the loudest the arena went. Texas played a hell of a game, that James kid was unstopable. UCLA is going to be fine - they just need to get healthy, especially Collison's knee. If they stay healthy, and lose more then 2-3 more x this year, I will be surprised.

[bubba40]

yues;aoidjf;asdojfdas;lkjfd;lk

YES!!!! WHAT AN ENDING!!!!
I'm wearing my Texas shirt to school tomorrow. That was fucking great.

FUCK UCLA
FUCK BIASED ANNOUNCERS
FUCK ANNOYING BRUINS FANS
FUCK KEVIN LOVE, JOSH SHIPP, AND DARREN COLLISON.
FUCK KANSAS WHILE WE'RE AT IT.

YES! What a game.

FUCK

FUCK

[UNC41]

Polls in by noon Central ...

[unccrombie]

Polls in by noon Central ...
you know your sig's FUCKED up, right?

[seekupig]

Dustin! Where are you! I haven't talked shit yet!

sorry, i was at the bar yesterday.....

i'm here now if there's something you'd like to say though.... :lol ;)

[UNC41]

you know your sig's FUCKED up, right?

:lol

I noticed this a couple months ago and was waiting for someone to say something before I changed it. Damn it, now I need to think of something new.

[unccrombie]

:lol

I noticed this a couple months ago and was waiting for someone to say something before I changed it. Damn it, now I need to think of something new.
do you really work for the MLA? if so tell your organization to fuck off :lol

[UNC41]

do you really work for the MLA? if so tell your organization to fuck off :lol

No, it was a thing from Ants a long time ago. If I did I'd tell myself to fuck off on a regular basis. And I caught the laziness bit before the edit. :)

And I'm going to counter your laziness accusation by calling everyone else on this bored lazy who couldn't even type out a response or PM to tell me my sig was all whacked up.

[willthethrill]

I thought you were just trying to be different.

[UNC41]

2007-08 Week 4 NCAA Basketball Poll

1. North Carolina (3) 75
2. Memphis 70
3. Kansas 69
4. Texas 65
5. UCLA 64
6. Georgetown 61
7. Duke 58
8. (tie) Washington St. 51
Tennessee 51
10. (tie) Texas A&M 45
Louisville 45
12. Michigan St. 40
13. ( tie) Marquette 39
Butler 39
15. Indiana 34
16. Pitt 31
17. Gonzaga 28
18. Clemson 24
19. Oregon 23
20. BYU 15
21. Xavier 14
22. USC 13
23. Arizona 10
24. Wisconsin 4
25. Villanova 3

Also Receiving Votes: Virginia 2, Southern Illinois 2

Participating Voters: UNC41, GavMan33, willthethrill

[kydmb99]

Alex Legion transferring from Kentucky.

Can't say that if I saw a scrub play 4 times as many minutes as me against UNC I wouldn't think about transferring either. Nice work Billy. :shrug

[unccrombie]

No, it was a thing from Ants a long time ago. If I did I'd tell myself to fuck off on a regular basis. And I caught the laziness bit before the edit. :)

And I'm going to counter your laziness accusation by calling everyone else on this bored lazy who couldn't even type out a response or PM to tell me my sig was all whacked up.
:lol i found it to be a tad harsh, i guess that was from the carry over of the sig feud a while back?

[willthethrill]

Alex Legion transferring from Kentucky.

Can't say that if I saw a scrub play 4 times as many minutes as me against UNC I wouldn't think about transferring either. Nice work Billy. :shrug

Wow. What kind of player was he?

[kydmb99]

Wow. What kind of player was he?

Very talented freshman, 4 star recruit. However, he has had a history of doing this repeatedly not only in high school, but decommiting from Michigan THREE times.. After letting it sink in, if he comes back, great... if not, great. If you don't want to be there, leave and let another scholarship open. If I remember correctly, Acie Law almost transferred at A&M and decided to come back... Worked out pretty well, hopefully Legion makes the same decision.

[41ravens]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that arizona has the toughest schedule this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teamsched?teamId=12

any takers?

[willthethrill]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that arizona has the toughest schedule this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teamsched?teamId=12

any takers?

Wow. I think you're right. Too bad their series with UNC ended this year.

[twosteppn36]

hola ballers

[seekupig]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that arizona has the toughest schedule this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teamsched?teamId=12

any takers?

looks like it. if you go only non-conference schedules, i'd give the nod to Davidson...

#1 UNC
#7 Duke
@ #8 UCLA

not bad for a mid-major....

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/teamsched?teamId=2166

[SmoothD41]

Rose VS Mayo tonight, should be fun.

[GavMan33]

Durant last year MUCH better than Beasley this year. Though I will hold off on passing judgement until early on 2008. But I was not impressed that every time he catches in the post, he turns into the triple team and tries to put the ball on the floor :rolleyes

[UNC41]

That speech gets me every time. Every single time.

[SoRight24]

That speech gets me every time. Every single time.

:thumbsup :thumbsup

I have an interesting story, my grandmother had cancer back in 92-93 and was put in the room right next to Jimmy V's in Durham about 2 weeks before he passed away.

I will never forget going to visit her and hearing that man moan and moan all night long, it was horrible.

[UNC41]

:thumbsup :thumbsup

I have an interesting story, my grandmother had cancer back in 92-93 and was put in the room right next to Jimmy V's in Durham about 2 weeks before he passed away.

I will never forget going to visit her and hearing that man moan and moan all night long, it was horrible.

Wow. Heck of a story. If I were ever to get cancer I could only hope be as positive as Jimmy V was.

[kydmb99]

Alex Legion considering returning to Kentucky per SI...

Make up your fucking mind.

[justinandimcool]

Heart. Attack.

[UNC41]

I fear USC's lack of depth may kill them here. Sorry Justin, I hope I'm wrong.

[justinandimcool]

This is the worst overtime period ever. We really need some better decision making on offense. Everytime someone receives the ball, regardless of which side or post, the guy doesn't know what to do with it.

Memphis is bailing us out. We just need one lucky shot to fall in because we're obviously not gonna execute.

And yeah, the depth isn't that significant at the moment, but it might come to haunt us later on in the season, or tonight, especially if it hits 2OT.

[UNC41]

I think it hit them at about the 5:00 minute mark. It was the same in the Kansas game. I was surprised to see USC come back tonight. USC had no legs left in overtime. Their jumpers were off and Memphis got to the basket easier than they had all game.

[justinandimcool]

This is so geigh.

We lost to Memphis and Kansas by a total of 8 points (4 in regulation, Coach Miles).

I'd be proud, but we broke down offensively and defensively down the stretch, can't be proud of that. And it ain't Tim Floyd, it's the inexperience. Maybe in March (if we even get there) these close games will resonate into victories, but these guys have to make better decisions.

20+ turnovers. Fuck.

I'd be worried if I were Memphis too. Did not look like a final 4 team.

[willthethrill]

Wow. Heck of a story. If I were ever to get cancer I could only hope be as positive as Jimmy V was.

That of Vitale by himself during the coverage of that game almost brought tears to my eyes. I've never enjoyed him, but you can't deny his passion for a cause. That was incredible.

[GavMan33]

This is so geigh.

We lost to Memphis and Kansas by a total of 8 points (4 in regulation, Coach Miles).

I'd be proud, but we broke down offensively and defensively down the stretch, can't be proud of that. And it ain't Tim Floyd, it's the inexperience. Maybe in March (if we even get there) these close games will resonate into victories, but these guys have to make better decisions.

20+ turnovers. Fuck.

I'd be worried if I were Memphis too. Did not look like a final 4 team.

First, of course there's a March for USC. Not ready to say as successful as last year's surprise Sweet 16 team, but of course there's an NCAA trip for you.

You're a major, I know. But you've still got to win those games. At Xavier, we lost by 3 to Duke 4 years ago in the Elite Eight leading with 8 min to go. We lost to Gonzaga by 4 in the 06 Tournament leading with 3 minutes to go. We lost to Ohio State by 7 in OT last season after leading with 3 minutes left in regulation. You have GOT to be able to finish games. If Xavier had finished these games starting with that Duke game, we would be a much bigger program than we are now. We're starting to play fearless basketball and finishing everything. We always could play with the big boys, but we could never get that finishing punch in.

That's what needs to happen with USC. You're proving you can play with the Top 5 teams in the country. Now you need to finish the deal, finish the game. When you start winning close games against the top teams in the country, that's when you know you've arrived....

[41ravens]

all this talk about mayo/rose/gordon and then there's bayless quietly averaging about 20 pts and 5 asts a game. not too shabby.

[GavMan33]

A college basketball fan's dream tonight. Just knocked out a project so I can sit on my ass and watch hoop all night. ALL NIGHT HOOP!

ESPN
Georgetown @ Alabama, 7pm

ESPN2
Syracuse @ Virginia, 7:30
West Virginia @ Auburn, 9:30

The U
Pittsburgh @ Duquesne, 7:00
Georgia Tech @ Georgia State, 9:00 :shrug
Washington State @ Gonzaga, 11:00

And of course Xavier's playing at 8:00, at home vs. Creighton. I will have the radio feed on my computer, and watching one of these fantastic games on mute. It's gonna be a fantastic night of hoop :D

[unccrombie]

hola ballers
rough start to the season, eh? big one tonight

[TwoStepJeff]

This is so geigh.

We lost to Memphis and Kansas by a total of 8 points (4 in regulation, Coach Miles).

I'd be proud, but we broke down offensively and defensively down the stretch, can't be proud of that. And it ain't Tim Floyd, it's the inexperience. Maybe in March (if we even get there) these close games will resonate into victories, but these guys have to make better decisions.

20+ turnovers. Fuck.

I'd be worried if I were Memphis too. Did not look like a final 4 team.

was one hell of a game.

is tim floyd going to restrict mayo ever you think? dude went what 6 of 19 from the floor against memphis

[TwoStepJeff]

It will be interesting to see how the Cougs handle Gonzaga tonight. McArthur Court is bat shit crazy, and i fear if we start out slow like we have been, they will get rolled up

[JamesM]

As an Auburn/Villanova fan..... ESPN sucks right now.

[GavMan33]

As an Auburn/Villanova fan..... ESPN sucks right now.

Auburn's playin at 9 or 9:30 brotherman......:thumbsup

[JamesM]

Auburn's playin at 9 or 9:30 brotherman......:thumbsup Oh, I know.... I'm just saying that it's Auburn's biggest rivals with one of Villanova's biggest rivals.

[GavMan33]

Oh, I know.... I'm just saying that it's Auburn's biggest rivals with one of Villanova's biggest rivals.

Ahhh I see you.

Well shit. I'm sure I was the only one watching, but Duquesne gave a great effort vs. Pitt, and those dumbass announcers didn't give Duquesne any credit. "I think this is a great win for Pitt. To come in here to a soldout arena, playing on the road. And Duquesne got to within 1 point 4 times, and they never relinquishe the lead." That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard....

[willthethrill]

UVa did not look good, especially on offense. Singletary was sick, I guess, because he kept acting like it. They rely so much on the 3 though.

[SmoothG]

Anyone else looking forward to Arizona/Illinois on Saturday? Hopefully Arizona smokes them!

[JamesM]

Lets go Auburn!

[41ravens]

Anyone else looking forward to Arizona/Illinois on Saturday? Hopefully Arizona smokes them!

i think we're too quick for illinois. plus, they've been having a lot of troubles offensively while our defense is starting to come together. i think zona wins by double digits.

[darbini]

Nick Calathes, a freshman for the Gators, will be someone to keep your eye on this year. Averaging 15.6 points, 6 assist, 2 steals, and 4 rebounds for the first 10 games while shooting 41% from 3pt land. He was Mr Basketball in Florida for two years in a row, the kid can pay. This young team is going to be alot of fun to watch grow thoughout the year. I can see some bumps popping up here in a few weeks when they start SEC play, but they share the ball and play Donovan basketball. They have 5 starters averging 10+ points a game. Size may be an issue, but they'll learn. Shooting 53.5% as a team, 42% on 3ptrs, and 84pts/game and damn fun to watch.

[UNC41]

The SEC is horrid this year, so a down year for Florida could still have them wind up as one of the three or four best teams in the conference.

[darbini]

SEC is down, but Florida will be up there, and I still believe a Sweet 16 appearance will happen this year.

[UNC41]

I have never understood how people can predict how far teams will go in the NCAA Tournament without seeing the draw. I wouldn't even consider them to be close to one of the top 16 teams in the country right now though.

[seekupig]

I have never understood how people can predict how far teams will go in the NCAA Tournament without seeing the draw. I wouldn't even consider them to be close to one of the top 16 teams in the country right now though.

:thumbsup

matchups are everything in the NCAA tourney. a running team that goes against a 2-3 zone in the second round can kill you. where you're playing, what time you're playing, etc.... none of those things are known until the brackets are released. the only sure bet right now is that either UNC or Duke won't have to leave the state of North Carolina until they go to the Final Four.... (1st & 2nd Round in Raleigh, Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in Charlotte).

[GavMan33]

Nick Calathes, a freshman for the Gators, will be someone to keep your eye on this year. Averaging 15.6 points, 6 assist, 2 steals, and 4 rebounds for the first 10 games while shooting 41% from 3pt land. He was Mr Basketball in Florida for two years in a row, the kid can pay. This young team is going to be alot of fun to watch grow thoughout the year. I can see some bumps popping up here in a few weeks when they start SEC play, but they share the ball and play Donovan basketball. They have 5 starters averging 10+ points a game. Size may be an issue, but they'll learn. Shooting 53.5% as a team, 42% on 3ptrs, and 84pts/game and damn fun to watch.

:thumbsup

matchups are everything in the NCAA tourney. a running team that goes against a 2-3 zone in the second round can kill you. where you're playing, what time you're playing, etc.... none of those things are known until the brackets are released. the only sure bet right now is that either UNC or Duke won't have to leave the state of North Carolina until they go to the Final Four.... (1st & 2nd Round in Raleigh, Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in Charlotte).

Believe me bro, Nick Calethes is no secret. His older brother is a very good ballplayer up at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, and Nick was headed there as well. Then he started winning Mr. Basketball's, and that was the end of that :lol

Ehh, I'll agree to a point. Because it's close to your heart, I'll mention last year's UCLA/Kansas game in Oakland. On a "real" neutral court, it may have been different. But when you get to that point in the tournament, everybody's good. There are flukes when upsets happen in the 1st round, and maybe in the 2nd round (UT-Chattanooga from several years back), but for the most part, once you get to that Sweet 16, ALL the teams are good. Otherwise they wouldn't be there.

Time of games better not matter. I would never want to hear that excuse. I've used this analogy before, but I'm using it again. The year Xavier went to the Elite Eight in 2004, they played an early-season game at Ball State. So Xavier head coach Thad Matta worried about going there, worried, worried, worried, that he was gonna get beat, and it showed. So what happened? They go to Ball State and they never had a chance. Got shelled, at Ball State. Point is, you can't do things like that. Because you have a noon game, you better go and win that game.

[seekupig]

ESPN's latest Power 16...

Texas jumps to #2 after beating UCLA...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/powerranking?week=5&season=2008&pollId=1

[UNC41]

ESPN's latest Power 16...

Texas jumps to #2 after beating UCLA...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/powerranking?week=5&season=2008&pollId=1

:thumbsup

I've been higher than most on Texas in the Ants poll. I had them at #5 before the UCLA win and bumped them to #2 after it.

[JamesM]

Lets Go 'Nova! Beat LSU

[JamesM]

Jeeze we are playing awful

[GavMan33]

Jeeze we are playing awful

Yes not a great night for the Wildcats so far "at home."

Didn't see it originally, I don't really pay attention to this stuff, though Andy Katz does love us. #15 in the Power Rankings. Lavender had 28 points and 10 assists vs. Creighton last night in front of a sellout crowd, in a HUGE win. Now it's the Shootout vs. Cincinnati next week. I'll come out with a "By the Numbers" for you guys as it gets closer, but I will tell you no matter how bad Cincinnati is (and let's face it, they're BAD), you have to throw records out in the Crosstown Shootout. It's a huge game in the city. ESPN2 I believe next Wednesday.....

[GavMan33]

What a GREAT dive from behind from whoever it was on Nova to knock that ball away. What a great comeback. I hope they take it to LSU. I hate the SEC....

[GavMan33]

Yes not a great night for the Wildcats so far "at home."

Didn't see it originally, I don't really pay attention to this stuff, though Andy Katz does love us. #15 in the Power Rankings. Lavender had 28 points and 10 assists vs. Creighton last night in front of a sellout crowd, in a HUGE win. Now it's the Shootout vs. Cincinnati next week. I'll come out with a "By the Numbers" for you guys as it gets closer, but I will tell you no matter how bad Cincinnati is (and let's face it, they're BAD), you have to throw records out in the Crosstown Shootout. It's a huge game in the city. ESPN2 I believe next Wednesday.....

:bounce :bounce :bounce

GREAT game. Congrats James, way to screw the SEC again :thumbsup

[JamesM]

What a GREAT dive from behind from whoever it was on Nova to knock that ball away. What a great comeback. I hope they take it to LSU. I hate the SEC.... Scottie Reynolds! yes! yes! yes! I'm so proud of them! My 'Nova hating friends will hate me tomorrow! yes! :multi:multi:multi

[41ravens]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7496890?MSNHPHMA

lute will not be returning this season. hopefully everything is ok, and whatever this thing is gets sorted out. he will be sorely missed on the sideline.

[GavMan33]

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7496890?MSNHPHMA

lute will not be returning this season. hopefully everything is ok, and whatever this thing is gets sorted out. he will be sorely missed on the sideline.

Agreed, hope everything is OK. One of the country's finest coaches for sure :thumbsup

Rough night for college hoop on TV tonight. I checked all of my possible stations including The U, CSTV, Fox Sports Atlantic/Central/Pacific, I got absolutely nothing. Except St. John's @ Hartford women's hoop. Ouch.

Bob was born, December 7, 1985. Feel free to wish him a happy birthday, here, on facebook, whatever. And if not, well, may your favorite college hoop team be cursed for the 2007-2008 season :lol

[41ravens]

Agreed, hope everything is OK. One of the country's finest coaches for sure :thumbsup

Rough night for college hoop on TV tonight. I checked all of my possible stations including The U, CSTV, Fox Sports Atlantic/Central/Pacific, I got absolutely nothing. Except St. John's @ Hartford women's hoop. Ouch.

Bob was born, December 7, 1985. Feel free to wish him a happy birthday, here, on facebook, whatever. And if not, well, may your favorite college hoop team be cursed for the 2007-2008 season :lol

:lol

well happy birthday, bob.

[UNC41]

Agreed, hope everything is OK. One of the country's finest coaches for sure :thumbsup

Rough night for college hoop on TV tonight. I checked all of my possible stations including The U, CSTV, Fox Sports Atlantic/Central/Pacific, I got absolutely nothing. Except St. John's @ Hartford women's hoop. Ouch.

Bob was born, December 7, 1985. Feel free to wish him a happy birthday, here, on facebook, whatever. And if not, well, may your favorite college hoop team be cursed for the 2007-2008 season :lol

Happy birthday, big guy. If you are lucky I'll manipulate your fantasy scores to give you a win this weekend for a gift. :D

And I hope everything turns out okay for Lute. He's always been one of my favorites. North Dakotans have to stick together as there is so few of us.

[seekupig]

Jayhawks Rush arrested for unpaid parking tickets..... :lol

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3145026

Rush, who was not scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, apparently went to resolve the unpaid tickets. He was ordered by a judge to be taken to Douglas County Jail when the warrants were discovered. He posted bond and was released and will now await the assignment of a future court date.

[chiznaz]

Jayhawks Rush arrested for unpaid parking tickets..... :lol

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3145026

Rush, who was not scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, apparently went to resolve the unpaid tickets. He was ordered by a judge to be taken to Douglas County Jail when the warrants were discovered. He posted bond and was released and will now await the assignment of a future court date.

:lol

Goes along the line when College Station Police issued a warrant for a football player years ago. The charge........


.....not having his dog's vaccinations up to date:twak

[seekupig]

:lol

Goes along the line when College Station Police issued a warrant for a football player years ago. The charge........


.....not having his dog's vaccinations up to date:twak

:lol

not nearly as serious as this story out of College Station yesterday....

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3143782

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M indefinitely suspended two football players Thursday after their arrests a day earlier on felony robbery and drug counts.

[chiznaz]

:lol

not nearly as serious as this story out of College Station yesterday....

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3143782

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M indefinitely suspended two football players Thursday after their arrests a day earlier on felony robbery and drug counts.

A&M sent out an email when that happened (they were trying to find out any info on it....no suspects at the time). Anyways it's one block away from where my gf lives. I was worried because I thought some of the crack heads were stating to venture out of their neighborhood and over to student living areas.

I should of know it was some football players tyring to get some free weed via armed robbery. :lol







On a serious note.... one of the players is from a very good family in this area. His father teaches at A&M and the junior college here. Both of his older siblings have been successful. It's a shame he turned out like this.

[GavMan33]

Ahhh, what life would be like at a big state school :confused

The worst we get at X is a basketball player stole his ex-girlfriend's dog once, and a basketball player was falsely accused of assault at a close campus bar called "Soupie's." Both very funny stories actually. How the hell do you mistaken a 6'10" guy in a bar? :rolleyes

[willthethrill]

Jayhawks Rush arrested for unpaid parking tickets..... :lol

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3145026

Rush, who was not scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, apparently went to resolve the unpaid tickets. He was ordered by a judge to be taken to Douglas County Jail when the warrants were discovered. He posted bond and was released and will now await the assignment of a future court date.

Kansas Thughawks.

[seekupig]

Kansas Thughawks.

traffic tickets are so gangsta'.....


this is the best one ever.... :lol :lol

Thursday, November 18, 1999 -- Jayhawks player suspended over chalupa
Associated Press
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- A 270-pound University of Kansas football player got stuck in the drive-thru window of a Taco Bell when he tried to charge employees who left the chalupa out of his order, authorities said.
Dion Rayford, a 6-foot-3 senior defensive end, was suspended for the game Saturday against Iowa State, the last game of his college career. He was released on his own recognizance after appearing in court Wednesday on charges of disorderly conduct, having an open container of alcohol and misdemeanor damage to property.

[willthethrill]

traffic tickets are so gangsta'.....


this is the best one ever.... :lol :lol

Thursday, November 18, 1999 -- Jayhawks player suspended over chalupa
Associated Press
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- A 270-pound University of Kansas football player got stuck in the drive-thru window of a Taco Bell when he tried to charge employees who left the chalupa out of his order, authorities said.
Dion Rayford, a 6-foot-3 senior defensive end, was suspended for the game Saturday against Iowa State, the last game of his college career. He was released on his own recognizance after appearing in court Wednesday on charges of disorderly conduct, having an open container of alcohol and misdemeanor damage to property.
Gimme my food bitch! :lol

[Brain of Sam]

The WVU men's basketball team will win a championship before the football team does.

FACT.

[GavMan33]

The WVU men's basketball team will win a championship before the football team does.

FACT.

:rolleyes OK, good enough. Tough game against Louisville in the Elite Eight a few years back. I was rootin for the Cardinals to get Pittsnogled

Two notables: Stephen F. Austin 66, Oklahoma 62 = The Curse of Appalachian State.

Dayton 70, Louisville 65 - Great win for Dayton, and great win for the Atlantic 10....

[willthethrill]

:rolleyes OK, good enough. Tough game against Louisville in the Elite Eight a few years back. I was rootin for the Cardinals to get Pittsnogled

Two notables: Stephen F. Austin 66, Oklahoma 62 = The Curse of Appalachian State.

Dayton 70, Louisville 65 - Great win for Dayton, and great win for the Atlantic 10....

Haha, you can't write off every upset of a BCS school as the curse. Oklahoma is hardly good.

Should be interesting to see how UCLA bounces back against Davidson after their first loss.

[kydmb99]

I think a really good high school team could beat UK. :BANG

[thestand]

75-64 win today. Our lowest scoring game of the year. Taylor was insane.

[SmoothD41]

I think a really good high school team could beat UK. :BANG

might be the worst UK team I've ever seen.

I am thrilled as hell with the win today, but clearly Kentucky is wayyyyyyyyyyy, way down this year. IU was missing their best player, and two of their three leading scorers and still blew them out of the gym.

[thestand]

I didn't get to watch the game, but the mental picture of this sentence is amazing.

Porter (5'6") had a left-handed layup over Luke Nevill(7'1"), to push Oregon's lead to 49-40 with 15:44 left.:lol :lol :lol

[kydmb99]

might be the worst UK team I've ever seen.

I am thrilled as hell with the win today, but clearly Kentucky is wayyyyyyyyyyy, way down this year. IU was missing their best player, and two of their three leading scorers and still blew them out of the gym.

Patrick Patterson is the only kid on the team that should even be wearing a Kentucky uniform. Unfortunately, the ineptness of the Tubby Smith regime isn't truly showing until after he's gone so people will blame it on Gillispie. How in the hell can anyone take a program that won 2 titles in 3 years and was on absolute cruise control and run it into the ground like that? Fuck Tubby Smith. :mad

[JRod1229]

^ I don't know how anyone can blame this on Gilli