Podcast #10

What Am I Wearing?
1-2-4 Scenario
Catastrophic Weeks
KU/UK
Mailbag
Xavier
Tier System
Games This Week

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Somehow, Duke Can Still Win the ACC

Am I seriously writing about Duke again? I'm seriously writing about Duke again. Whenever you think you have this team figured out they go and win by ten on the road against Notre Dame. Usually when you're 5-4 in conference, it means your title hopes are shot, but in the ACC that only means you're 2 games out of first place with 9 games to play. As crazy as this sounds, Duke still has a fighter's chance of winning the ACC. 

As of today, Duke is behind North Carolina, Virginia, Florida State and Louisville, and they have the same amount of losses as Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Miami. Let's take the Techs, Syracuse and Miami out of the running. We are now left with UNC, Virginia, Florida State, Louisville and Notre Dame. Duke still has two games against UNC and one against Virginia and Florida State. 

If (and the if is huge) Duke wins out, they are most likely the ACC champion. With everything that has gone wrong this year, I think that's a decent result. Even if they stay at the same pace as they are currently, they are still the scariest 6 seed we've seen in quite some time.

Chaotic Week Reminds Us To Stay Calm

Normally, Florida State losing to Georgia Tech and Syracuse back to back would raise concerns. Butler losing to Georgetown would be worrisome. Villanova losing to Marquette, Kentucky losing to Tennessee and North Carolina getting killed by Miami would all get your legs trembling. For some reason this year, they don't do that. College basketball is filled with a magic word called "parity." Everyone's heard it over the last two seasons, and now it has come to the forefront this week. 

We all have to remember something: all champions have blemishes. Last year, Villanova was blown out by Oklahoma in November. They then blasted the Sooners in the Final Four en route to a national championship. 2015 Duke lost back to back conference games to NC State and Miami and turned out fine. 2014 UCONN was a 7-seed. No champion is perfect, so we should stop expecting perfection out of these teams every night. It's not going to happen. 

We have to be calm. The college basketball world didn't suffer an earth-shattering earthquake because Notre Dame lost two in a row. And it won't do the same because of Villanova, or Kentucky or any other team. This past week has been crazy. Teams have lost games that they probably shouldn't have. But don't let that deter you from being confident in a certain team's chances to win the whole thing. Instead be happy that we have about 12 teams that CAN win the whole thing. 

So to channel Aaron Rodgers, relax. Your team is fine. 

Unless it's Indiana, then you're finished. 

Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 3

I thought I would go west for this week's Jersey Appreciation Friday and take a look at the snazzy blue Arizona jerseys that are currently in use. The navy blue and red combination is one of the best in sports, and it makes the Wildcats look like winners. I'm not sure why the images don't load here so here the link: Arizona Uniform

Final Four Picks 1/26/17

With an unusually good Thursday night slate, I though I would ignore all those games and give you my updated Final Four picks based on Joe Lunardi's latest bracket projection. So here they are.

EAST

2 North Carolina- I have them over Villanova because I think they have the power to stop Josh Hart in Justin Jackson. North Carolina has a great team, and they are only getting better. They were forgotten about early with the opening ACC loss to Georgia Tech, but this team is just as good as any. 

WEST

3 Louisville- This was the toughest region for me because it featured Gonzaga and Arizona as the top 2 seeds, but I ultimately went with the Cardinals because of their defense and Rick Pitino. If their offense comes around, they should be the national championship favorite. 

SOUTH

2 Kentucky- I'm honestly not thrilled with this pick. Kentucky certainly has the tools to make a Final Four, but I'm just not confident in this team making a deep run. I only have them in my Final Four because I have less confidence in Baylor, Butler and Virginia making one.

MIDWEST

1 Kansas- I'm still really high on Kansas, despite their recent loss to West Virginia. Frank Mason III is climbing the ranks of the NPOY race, and I never bet against an All-American point guard in March. Kansas could prove a lot if they can beat Kentucky on the road on Saturday. 

National Champion- Louisville

Here's the thing about Louisville: if their offense was half as good as their defense, they would be running away with this thing. Every elite team has a flaw. Kansas has no front court depth. Villanova has no front court. Kentucky doesn't have experience. Gonzaga doesn't play anybody. Duke's got a whole bunch of stuff. Louisville's flaw is the easiest to correct. All they have to do is make shots. They have experience and balance, it's just a matter of their offense coming around, and if the 106-point outing against Pitt means it's here, watch out, America.

Florida State's SDS

Florida State got blasted by Georgia Tech tonight. Again, Florida State, the 6th best team in the nation with at least 2 first round draft picks, lost. To Georgia Tech. This is coming off a 5-1 stretch against ranked opponents which saw the Seminoles pick up very good wins against Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke, Notre Dame and Louisville. The loss came at North Carolina. 

This is a classic case of something I like to call "Slayed Dragon Syndrome" (SDS). SDS comes when teams get a great win against a great opponent and lose the next game to a weaker one. Having SDS isn't fatal to a team's season if caught early, but when it first shows up in the tournament, the results are tragic. Luckily for Florida State, they've caught it early so they can mature from this embarrassing loss and won't make a similar mistake at a more crucial time. They also have some experience, and that is the best cure for SDS.

Spoke Too Soon Again. Welcome Zags

Speaking too soon is becoming a habit of mine. First I told the world that Duke was back (LOL), and now I wrote an article talking about how the top 2 teams in the country (Villanova and Kansas) lost tonight, but I failed to wait for the end of the Kentucky game. Well, Kentucky lost. That makes 3 of the top 4 teams losers tonight, as Kentucky was ranked #4 going into tonight's battle against Tennessee. 

As for Kentucky, I'm not really worried about them. The only thing I did notice was how the players all seemed to be frustrated with each other. In order for teams to succeed, they need positive body language, and I didn't see a lot of that tonight. Basketball-wise, Kentucky will be fine. It's just a matter of correcting their attitude. 

In the meantime, welcome Gonzaga to the top of the college basketball food chain!

Villanova and Kansas..Wow

With Marquette beating Villanova and West Virginia knocking off Kansas, both the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country lost. From an entertainment perspective, this was a great night as Virginia beat Notre Dame tonight as well. 

Focusing on Villanova and Kansas, I think Villanova has more to be worried about than the Jayhawks do. Villanova blew a 17 point lead and couldn't do anything offensively down the stretch. Villanova settled for perimeter jumpers toward the end, and that's what allowed Marquette to get back into the game. Marquette's 1-3-1 defense stifled Villanova, and that should worry Jay Wright. 

Kansas's loss is more excusable. I mean we are used to seeing them lose in Morgantown as they've done it the last 4 years. West Virginia is always difficult to play--especially on the road. So, I'm giving Kansas more slack than Villanova tonight. 

Podcast #9

Duke's Problems
NCAA Selection on February 11
Arizona
Florida State
ACC is NOT overrrated
My Top 16
Games This Week

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Spoke Too Soon, Duke Still Blows

Just when I say Duke is back, they go and give an uninspiring performance at home in a loss to NC State. I don't even know what to think of this team anymore. They looked great against Miami and in the first half tonight, but the second half was just pitiful. Duke had complete control of the game, then they just decided to stop trying. NC State's Dennis Smith Jr took advantage of this and dropped 32 points against them. There's no other way to put it. Duke's minds are somewhere else right now, and it's showing. Grayson Allen looks more concerned with staying out of trouble than actually playing, and Harry Giles looks afraid to injure himself. Because of this, Duke doesn't focus as a whole. I don't know what it will take for Jeff Capel to realize that Grayson Allen isn't a point guard. I think it's time for Duke to start Frank Jackson at point, with Luke Kennard, Jayson Tatum, Amile Jefferson and Harry Giles starting. They had a similar lineup to start tonight, and they won the first half. People are wondering why Allen is struggling so much and it's because he's not comfortable where he's playing. Bring him off the bench as a shooting guard and you will be pleasantly surprised. Whatever the solution is, Duke needs to figure it out quickly because this team is too talented to go down early in March. 

Duke Can Still Be Great

I'm not saying Duke is back, but there sure as hell looked like they were tonight against Miami. After a slow start in the first half that put Duke down ten, they exploded in the second, outscoring Miami 45-22. Their ferocious second half effort propelled them to a 70-58 victory. 

Tonight we saw a glimpse of what Duke could be--a lethal, world-destroying, machine. The Blue Devils, when healthy, are a top team in the country, and while their chances at winning the ACC are probably gone, you have to like the direction they are trending in. Duke has been the college basketball version of a soap opera all season, now that they are starting to get healthy and not suspended for tripping people, this Duke team can win a national championship. 

Is this a gigantic overreaction? Yes. I mean they don't even have Coach K back yet. But all I'm saying is that we were just shown how dominant Duke can be. The question is whether they will. Despite everything that has gone wrong for the Dukies, they might just end this season on top.

Injuries and Returns

Isn't it weird how three guys who we all expected to be staples of their respective teams are now gone for the season? I'm talking about Maurice Watson Jr from Creighton, Myles Davis at Xavier, and OG Anunoby at Indiana. While Myles Davis, was dealing with off-the-court issues during the year, Anunoby and Watson were both tearing it up this season. Watson was leading the NCAA in assists per game and making Creighton a national contender in the process and Anunoby was soaring up draft boards. 

Creighton just lost to Marquette at home. I hate to say it, but this Creighton team is finished. Watson did so much for them on offense that I don't think they can recover. I still think they are a tournament team, but I don't see them getting to the second weekend. 

The Anunoby loss is slightly less crucial. Indiana has plenty of firepower on offense, and Anunoby was more of a project in that area. His defense will be missed, but Indiana's defense was atrocious even with him in. 

Myles Davis isn't that big of a loss. I thought he would have more of an impact when he came back earlier this year, but he hasn't doesn't much. Xavier is used to playing without him this year, so I'm not expecting a step back from a team that is borderline top 25.  

The week wasn't all bad in terms of injuries and retirements. Arizona's Allonzo Trier is currently playing  in his first game of the year as I write this. Trier failed a drug test, but he took it unknowingly, so he wasn't punished by the NCAA and was allowed to play after it cleared his system. Well, about a day after Trier released that statement, it cleared his system. This makes Arizona a Final Four contender. The Wildcats were on the rise, and Trier's return only makes this team more dangerous.

Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 2

This week, I chose the Michigan all-yellow jerseys that were worn in 2012. There's nothing else to really say about this uniform, since it's, well, all yellow. There was a mixed reaction to the jersey, but I'm a huge fan, and that's why I'm appreciating the 2012 all yellow Michigan jersey.  

The SEC and Other News

Look no further than the Florida/South Carolina game to prove why the SEC is the worst major conference in basketball by far. These were two of the top three teams in the conference, and they collaborated to form the WORST ranked matchup of the season. Frankly, based on the way both of these teams performed, they shouldn't even be sniffing the top 25. 

South Carolina, who played less worse than Florida to get the win, shot 29.4% from the field. Every team has an off night right? And usually the free throw line is a team's best friend when it comes to that, but the Gamecocks shot a putrid 67.6% from the line. Speaking of terrible free throw percentages, Florida shot 53.6% from the line and missed countless times down the stretch, which contributed to their loss. They also shot 35.2% from the field, including 0/17 from three. 

Now it's safe to say that this was a defensive slugfest, as both teams rank inside the top 30 in terms of defensive efficiency according to KenPom, but even with good defense, this game was an eyesore. The teams combined for 55 fouls, and it seemed like every possession in the second half had someone missing a free throw. 

Let me remind you that these were two ranked teams you saw tonight. This just shows how weak the SEC has been in basketball this season. It's Kentucky and the pack. Finishing second in the SEC is going to end up like being the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA D-League Draft. 

In other news, Oklahoma somehow managed to beat West Virginia in overtime on the road, and Florida State won against Notre Dame in a great game.

Florida State really impressed me tonight. Their ability to create offense and shoot from anywhere is to be feared in the ACC. As for Notre Dame, Steve Vasturia doesn't miss, Matt Farrell, Bonzie Colson and VJ Beachem can light you up any given night. Basically, this game was the polar opposite of the Florida/South Carolina one. 

Podcast #8

What Am I Wearing?
Maurice Watson Jr. Injury
Prediction Results
Xavier's Struggles
Notre Dame is Impressive
Analyzing Sports Illustrated Final Four Picks
My Final Four Predictions
Predicting Games This Week

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Monday Outlook

How about that Big East marathon today? The plan to have all ten teams play back to back to back to back to back was just superb, despite one game being DePaul vs St. John's! Things started off with a bang when Butler was pushed to the brink due to an impressive performance from Markus Howard and Marquette, then we had the best game of the day when Creighton battled Xavier, then we had DePaul and St. John's, then Villanova trouncing Seton Hall, and we closed with Providence mauling Georgetown. We have to recognize the brilliance of the Big East and FS1 with this marathon. ESPN would never pull anything like this with one specific conference. Sure, they have the Tipoff Marathon in November, but you can never avoid the Florida Atlantic @ Hawaii matchup at 4 in the morning. With FS1's system, we have competitive basketball all day on a day where most of us don't have work. It's.. brilliant! 

In other news, I was wrong. Villanova actually did jump Kansas in the AP Poll. Props to the voters for getting it right. Even though Kansas wasn't #1, they put together a very impressive performance tonight beating Iowa State on the road. Frank Mason III is the best point guard in the nation. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. 

On another note, Xavier needs a good win, and they need it fast. They couldn't beat Baylor, they couldn't beat Villanova, and they couldn't beat Creighton today. They are resting on their achievements from last year, and I wouldn't be shocked if they aren't ranked next week. Their best win as of now is Clemson. While that would be impressive in football, in basketball it's pretty average. Point is, this Xavier team needs to step it up or they could end up on the bubble.

Saturday Reactions

Saturday was a major day in college hoops, and there were lots of things discovered over the course of those 24 hours. Here are my major takeaways:

#1 is Wide Open

Okay. Maybe not as wide open as the Big Ten, but there are three deserving teams that should all receive votes for the AP's top-ranked team. Those three are Gonzaga, Kansas and Villanova. Gonzaga is still undefeated and has quality wins over Iowa State, Arizona and Saint Mary's. Villanova's lone loss came to a top-15 Butler team on the road, and they have good wins over Creighton, Notre Dame, Purdue and Xavier. Kansas has rattled off 16 straight wins since dropping their opener to Indiana and are starting to get in their groove. Right now though, I think Villanova should be the #1 team, but I expect Kansas to nab the top spot since they were #2 this past week. 

Louisville is a Final Four Team

The win over Duke put me over the top. I'm all in on this Cardinal squad. They play great defense, and their offense is coming along. Donovan Mitchell is one of the best players in the country, with Deng Adel and Quentin Snider backing him up. Louisville has size, speed and athleticism, and that's a dangerous combination come March. 

Butler is for Real..Sort of

I've been skeptical of Butler all year. I still think the Sweet 16 is their ceiling, but they surely deserve to be in the top 15 this week. I know they were dominated by Creighton earlier, but they just beat a really good Xavier team, which gives them that win along with ones over Villanova, Indiana, Arizona and Cincinnati. There's that side of Butler, and then there's the side where they lose to Indiana State and Saint John's. So really, I still don't believe in them.

UNC is Figuring It Out

The Tar Heels had a lot of questions marks a few weeks ago after starting off really well. But after their catastrophic loss to Georgia Tech, they've responded nicely winning at Clemson, thrashing NC State, getting by Wake Forest and handling a very good Florida State team on Saturday. This was the prove-it game for the Tar Heels, as they have vaulted back into the title discussion with that win. 

The SEC Can't Hang with the Cats

Kentucky is good. We all knew that, but we didn't know how bad the rest of the SEC would be. Auburn is probably a top six team in that conference and they just lost by 20 points. Granted, it was closer than that for most of the game, but it was still a dominant performance to close it out. I think it's become obvious that Kentucky will win the SEC with ease, but we have to start discussing them going undefeated in league play. 

Jersey Appreciation Friday Vol. 1

The first jersey I chose for Jersey Appreciation Friday was the black Duke jersey that was worn from 2009-2014. Personally, I don't think that the new Duke uniforms even hold a candle to this one. The black mixed with the royal blue print and trim create an awesome look that exemplifies Duke's tradition. The thin white stripes on the sides further enhance the deadly black and blue combination. The fact that Duke retired these makes me hate their new uniforms even more because any Duke basketball product compared to this jersey looks like a hot mess. 

Hoop Dreams: Best Point Guards

Around 8 PM last night one of my friends texted me, and said "Markus Howard (Marquette's freshman point guard) is really good." While Markus Howard isn't one of them (although he will be at some point), this got me thinking about who the best point guards in the country are, and I rattled off ten names of who I thought to be the best. I'm not going to explain to you how I ranked these players because I don't even know what I did to do so. The best way to describe it is to say that I went off who I thought most contributes to the team's success, mixed in with NBA potential. 

1. Frank Mason III (Kansas, senior)- Probably the most intimidating presence in college basketball, Mason III has a knack for taking over big games when the Jayhawks need it the most. He gets to the basket with ease and can finish extremely well with contact, making him one the most unstoppable players in the country.

2. Markelle Fultz (Washington, freshman)- Fultz is the best point guard prospect since Kyrie Irving. He is projected to be the first overall pick in the draft by many sources, he doesn't have any weaknesses offensively. It's rare to see a freshman guard shoot the ball from distance as proficiently as he is doing (43.5%), while also being able to get to the rack at will.

3.  Lonzo Ball (UCLA, freshman)- Lonzo Ball is a lanky 6'6 with a great feel for the game. He is currently averaging 8 assists per game and has taken UCLA from an NIT team to a national contender in a span of two months. He has an awkward shot form, but still hits 43.2% of his triples, which is remarkable. 

4. De'Aaron Fox (Kentucky, freshman)- Fox takes over games with his absurd speed and defensive prowess. He averages 16.7 PPG despite shooting 12.5% from 3. Fox is at his best when he can get out in transition and create opportunities for his teammates.

5. Dennis Smith Jr (North Carolina State, freshman)- Smith is a great lead guard and can carry his team in scoring every night. Currently averaging 18.8 PPG, he knows when to be in attack mode, as that's usually most of the time. He has also shown that he can dish the rock too, getting 6.2 assists per game as well.

6. Joel Berry II (North Carolina, junior)- Berry's assault on college basketball began in last year's national championship game where he went off for 20 points with 4 threes. Since then, there has been no doubt about Berry's place among the elite. He is averaging 15.6 PPG, knocking down 50% of his shots.

7. Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga, junior)- Williams-Goss was a standout at Washington for two seasons, but this has been his best season in his first for the Zags. He is averaging 15.3 PPG while knocking down 42% of his threes. Along with his on-court abilities, he is also an unquestioned leader for one of the best teams in the country. 

8. Jalen Brunson (Villanova, sophomore)- Brunson is often overshadowed by NPOY candidate Josh Hart, but his contributions are certainly worthy of 8th on the list. Brunson is the floor general for the Wildcats, and he averages 14.4 PPG and 4.1 APG, but he also hits 44.6% of his triples. He was Ryan Arcidiacono's apprentice last year, and now he has come into his own.

9. Bronson Koenig (Wisconsin, senior)- Some people might object to Koenig being ranked so high, but this kid is invaluable to the Badgers. He is most known for hitting the shot that beat Xavier in last year's round of 32, but his game is so much more than that. His assist numbers are strangely low (1.9 per game), but Koenig is a guy whose value goes outside the box score.

10. Maurice Watson Jr (Creighton, senior)- There were many people who could've had this last spot, but I ultimately decided to go with Watson Jr because of his playmaking ability. He is currently averaging 13.6 PPG, but it's his passing that is most commendable. His 9 assists per game lead Division I, and he is the engine behind a Creighton offense that has been nothing short of brilliant this season. 

Honorable Mention: 

Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State, sophomore)

Matt Farrell (Notre Dame, junior)

Monté Morris (Iowa State, senior)

London Perrantes (Virginia, senior)

Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Florida State, junior)

Edmond Sumner (Xavier, sophomore)

Melo Trimble (Maryland, junior)

Tuesday Recap

Tuesday featured three top-15 matchups and several shocking results in the college basketball world. Here are the headlines. 

-(1)Baylor lost their first game of the season and their new #1 ranking as (10)West Virginia smacked them by a score of 89-68. Nathan Adrian led the game in scoring with 22 points. Baylor had 29 turnovers in a true West Virginia effort. 

-The former #1 team (3)Villanova won their game against (15)Xavier 79-54. Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins both contributed with 20 points. This was also Myles Davis's first game back from suspension, but he didn't do much in 13 minutes. 

-(9)Florida State knocked off (7)Duke at home 88-72. Junior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes led the Seminoles in scoring with 21 points. In Grayson Allen news, he appeared to shove a Florida State coach as he was going for a loose ball out of bounds, but it's questionable. 

-Indiana's struggles continued as they lost to Maryland 75-72. Indiana is now 11-6 after beating Kansas on opening night. 

-DePaul won!

-(2)Kansas came back from a 9-pt halftime deficit to beat Oklahoma 81-70. Frank Mason III had 28 points and 5 assists in the win. 

-Despite Vanderbilt fans chanting "overrated," (6)Kentucky won on the road 87-81. So basically Vanderbilt is saying that they are terrible by chanting "overrated" when they lost. But I digress. 

-Texas Tech got their second big win in three games as they knocked off (25)Kansas State 66-65 thanks to a Keenan Evans layup with 15 seconds left. 

Podcast #7

Some Other Sporting News
Recap of Last Week
My Current Top Ten
Looking Ahead to This Week
Some Pretty Big News

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The Big Ten is Anyone's Conference--Except Rutgers

I've said this before, but I feel I should reaffirm this notion since Wisconsin lost to Purdue on Sunday. The Big Ten is wide open. Like more wide open than Shaq behind the three point line. There are now no undefeated teams left in Big Ten play, and there is a logjam at the top with Minnesota, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, Maryland and Wisconsin all having one loss. What may be even more surprising is that Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa are all 1-2 in conference play. Despite this unpredictable conference, some things remain the same. Rutgers is currently 0-4 in the Big Ten play. It's nice to have that consistency. But seriously this conference is up for grabs, and no team is that good, which makes for an awesome slate. This is one of the first years where I can't see any team in the Big Ten making a Final Four run. If I had to pick two, give me Purdue because of Caleb Swanigan and Indiana because of streaky shooting, but those two are still way down my list. So the Big Ten may be a weaker conference this year, but it will still be interesting to see who comes out on top. 

My Prediction: Purdue

My Backup Prediction: Wisconsin

My Backup Backup Prediction: Michigan State

Virginia Tech

The more I look at it, the more I think Virginia Tech was a one-hit wonder. Since they demolished a Grayson Allen-less Duke, the Hokies have gone 0-2 with two uninspired performances against North Carolina State and Florida State. This team will get there. Buzz Williams has got something going on, but in this year's ACC, I don't know if I see them making the tournament.

It's Been an Awesome Year Already

Nebraska is 3-0 in the Big Ten. That pretty much sums up the entire college basketball season. Crazy, unpredictable, chaotic. There have been so many amazing games and individual performances this year, and we aren't even in February. This season is truly something to treasure, and I think it's even better than last year. But hey it's a long season, and it wouldn't surprise me if Nebraska finishes 3-15 in the Big Ten. Actually, nothing would surprise this year.

Wednesday's Headlines

Another day, another awesome college basketball slate. Seriously, this past week has been as good of a stretch that I've seen in quite some time, and today may have been the best of all. I mean, look at all these headlines.

-Duke's Grayson Allen returns from suspension after missing one game, getting 15 points and 7 assists in a 110-57 victory over Georgia Tech.

-Villanova lost their first game of the year at Butler 66-58. Jalen Brunson continued his hot streak, scoring 23 in the loss.

-Baylor survived a great effort from Iowa St and won 65-63 to remain undefeated. 

-Notre Dame picked up a huge statement win by beating Louisville 77-70. Louisville still has some questions to answer.

-North Carolina State's NBA-ready point guard Dennis Smith Jr. got a triple double with 27 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds as the Wolfpack killed Virginia Tech, who recently dominated Duke, 104-78.

-London Perrantes' heroic effort couldn't help Virginia beat Pitt on the road as they fell 88-76 in overtime. Also, Kyle Guy made his first start, but didn't play particularly well, scoring only 2 points and shooting 1/7 from the field.

-Oregon looked amazing once again by handling Washington on the road 83-61. The Ducks shot 53.8% from 3, and Tyler Dorsey hit 8 of them on his way to 28 points.

How Could I Forget About the Big 12?

Just like that, the Big 12 stakes its claim for most exciting conference in college basketball. Tonight featured two amazing games in Kansas St/Kansas and West Virginia/Texas Tech. In the first one, Kansas almost lost their 49-game home winning streak as K-State wouldn't go away. But luckily, my guy Sviatoslav Mykhailuk hit the game-winning layup even though he committed the most egregious travel this year. As for West Virginia and Texas Tech, I didn't start watching it until overtime. But Tech managed to survive West Virginia's stifling defense, and they pulled out a win with a three pointer from Anthony Livingston in the final seconds. We all know about the Big Ten, ACC and BEast, but we can't forget about the Big 12 even though its somewhat weaker than last year.

Podcast #6

Undefeateds
Oregon Back to Elite Status
#dukeprobs
ACC, Big East (BEast), Big Ten Excitement
Recap of Major Games Last Week
Looking Forward to Stellar Matchups This Week

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Big Day for Two Big Conferences

The Big Ten had an outstanding day yesterday from a watchability standpoint. Out of the five games yesterday, four of them were quite outstanding, and all were shocking. Purdue, my favorite to win the Big Ten, lost to Minnesota in overtime, Maryland lost to Nebraska, which gave the Cornhuskers a 2-0 start to conference play, Iowa barely escaped Michigan in overtime, and Illinois got by Ohio State at home. 

The Big Ten is probably the least top heavy version we've seen in quite some time. There is really no dominant team in the conference, which should make for an interesting season.

While Big Ten play certainly stole the show on Sunday, one particular Big East game also proved to be a doozy. This would be Marquette at Seton Hall. Behind Angel Delgado's 18 points and Khadeen Carrigton's 5-point possession, the Pirates managed to squeak by Marquette at home 69-66. Unlike the Big Ten, the Big East is extremely top heavy with Villanova and Creighton leading the way. But the teams in the middle (Seton Hall, Marquette, Butler) can compete with any team in the conference, which gives the Big East ("BEast" for short) a great look.

What We Learned on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve provided us with plenty of good basketball. We had Villanova defeat Creighton in a thriller in Omaha, we saw both Duke and North Carolina drop their ACC openers, Florida St defeated Virginia as Dwayne Bacon's heroics just edged out Kyle Guy's, and Louisville pretty beat down Indiana. Overall, it was a really good Saturday to top off a really good week in college basketball. Here are some takeaways.

Florida State is for real.

This team has so many weapons in Bacon, Jonathan Isaac and Xavier Rathan-Mayes. They are probably going to shoot up the rankings tomorrow, and they should have a shot at a top 3 finish in the ACC.

Indiana's got issues.

As I outlined earlier in the week, Indiana struggles so much because they can only win one way. This certainly did not change against Louisville, as they were shut down offensively and couldn't get their footing. 

Duke also has issues. 

I honestly didn't think the Grayson Allen suspension would hurt the Blue Devils that much. Even though I had Duke losing at Virginia Tech, I didn't think they would get dominated by them. Throughout the game, Duke looked uninspired, but at least hey have the talent to overcome that most of the time.

Kyle Guy should get more time.

A freshman from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, Guy was a highly decorated recruit. Despite this, he comes off the bench and only averages 18.1 minutes a game. When he does get to play, Guy is extremely efficient, shooting an insane 57.9% from 3. He also provides a much-needed spark for Virginia's usually boring offensive scheme. 

Villanova is still Villanova.

They were down ten early. It finally looked like Villanova was going to go down, but then Jalen Brunson erupted for 27 points to lead the Wildcats to an 80-70 victory. This win shows that Villanova is more ham just Josh Hart, as good as he may be. Let's also remind you that Phil Booth, a starter when healthy, is still injured. This team just doesn't get rattled, and the championship experience is certainly showing itself.