- Duke goes down today in Madison Square Garden to Steve Lavin and St. Johns. Don't look now, but Lavin has this program at 5-5 in the Big East and 12-8 overall. And, the Red Storm had an RPI of #28 going into today's game. Lavin has a terrific recruiting class lined up for next season but has St. Johns on the cusp of an NCAA tournament invitation this season--much more quickly than anticipated.
- Allen Fieldhouse is always a special place to watch a basketball game. But, when there is an emotional overtone like last night's welcoming back of Thomas Robinson, the old barn truly becomes more of a cathedral than a basketball venue.
- Interesting stats: Missouri beats other teams when they get the opponent sped up, turning the ball over and taking bad shots. That didn't happen last night--Texas shot 52% from the field and had 15 turnovers to the Tigers' 13. The margin of 13 points would have been even worse had Texas hit free throws--they went .471 from the line. The Tigers stay on the road and face a critical test on Wednesday against Oklahoma State.
- How crazy--and good--is the Big East? Yesterday, #2 Pittsburgh had to hang on against Rutgers; #5 Connecticut lost, at home, to #23 Louisville; #8 Villanova lost to #21 Georgetown; and Marquette handed #9 Syracuse its fourth straight loss. This conference will likely get 10 teams in the tourney.
- As good as the Big East is, what's up with the ACC this year? Duke is now 19-2 but is #12 in the RPI. North Carolina is 15-5 overall and #15 in the RPI. After that, the next closest is Boston College at #34 (14-7 overall and 4-3 in the league.)
- Interesting stat: Curtis Kelly of Kansas State only played 10 minutes last night against Kansas.
- Jimmer Fredette went off for 43 points earlier this week in a nationally televised win over San Diego State. Fredette went 14-24, 5-8 from three-point land, and hit 10 of 11 free throws. Yesterday, Fredette and BYU lost to New Mexico. Fredette had 32 points but only five through the first 17 minutes of the game. He finished 12 of 26 from the field.
- Much like Fredette, Jacob Pullen struggled from the field in Kansas State's rout by Kansas. Pullen finished with 21 points but was 8 of 22 and picked up most of his points late in the game.
- Here's your RPI update for the week: Kansas, #1; BYU, #2; Ohio State, #3; Texas, #11; Texas A&M, #17; Missouri, #27; Kansas State, #42; Oklahoma State, #56; Nebraska, #79; Baylor, #86; and Colorado, #94. The Buffs are suddenly looking more and more like an NIT team.
If Missouri can find a way to split with KU (and that would be tough), there's no reason they can't go 11-5 or 12-4 in the Big 12 this year. Oklahoma State this week could be the last tough road game outside of Lawrence the Tigers have.
ReplyDeleteAnd looking at the top 25, it was not a good week to be ranked!