Big Ten - ACC Challenge

The Big 10 - ACC Challenge starts tonight so let's take a look at the matchups to see if the Big Ten can run it's winning streak to 2 years.

Monday
Virginia @ Minnesota
Minnesota has already knocked off UNC so Virginia shouldn't be much of a challenge, Big Ten 1, ACC 0

Tuesday
UNC @ Illinois
UNC is overrated and Illinois is underrated until Bruce Weber blows it in March, Big Ten 2, ACC 0

Ohio State @ Florida State
A solid matchup but Sullinger is too much for the Seminoles, Big Ten 3, ACC 0

Michigan @ Clemson
Who cares, really. Let's give the ACC a win here, Big Ten 3, ACC 1

Georgia Tech @ Northwestern
The Jackets have lost to a DII team and N'Western is looking to make the Tournament for the first time, Big Ten 4, ACC 1

Wednesday
Michigan State @ Duke
The crème de la crème of the Challenge. Izzo will lead them to the Final Four but for now Chaminade was a tough win, Big Ten 4, ACC 2

Purdue @ Virginia Tech
Malcolm Delaney goes off and VaTech shows they are the #2 ACC Team, Big Ten 4, ACC 3

North Carolina State @ Wisconsin
Bo Ryan does not lose at home. EVER! Big Ten 5, ACC 3

Indiana @ Boston College
Right up there with Michigan-Clemson. Do not look directly at the TV when this game is on. Big Ten 5, ACC 5

Maryland @ Penn State
And it comes down to the last game, tied at 5 wins for each conference. This should be a Battle, a Talor Battle. He scorches Maryland for 25+ and the Big Ten wins the challenge, 6-5.

November basketball

I was looking at the scores this morning from yesterday's games and saw that Richmond beat Purdue. My initial thought was great win for Richmond (And it is) and the A-10. Then I saw that Richmond managed to lose to Iona earlier this month.

It's probably best not to make any proclamations based on what we see in November.

But Duke is going undefeated. Book it.

Question For Y'all

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee said he was against a playoff in college football because it gets too close to "professionalism".

(I'm ignoring the TCU and Boise State bashing he did as well)

Do you suppose he'll have the Athletic Department turn down an invite to the Big 11 Tournament and NCAA this year since, well, they're playoffs?

Cross Them Off Then!

Well, you can cross Kansas State off your list for potential Final Four teams and it's not because they lost to Duke last night. They are very deep and very talented but their free throw shooting is abysmal, like 2008 Memphis abysmal. We all know how that turned out as missed free throws down the stretch in the championship game led to Super Nintendo Chalmers hitting the three to tie and ultimately beat Memphis. Down the stretch K-State will pay for not practicing the ol' free throw.

Kyrie Irving = Player of the Year.

Duke-Marquette Thoughts

1. I haven't seen a Duke team this confident since Jason Williams and Carlos Boozer were on it. Quick, efficient, smart, deadly and tough. They could run the table in the ACC. I'd say they run the whole thing but they do play K-State tonight and have a trip to Oregon before playing MSU at home next Wednesday. That's a a lot of travel during the holiday week against two good teams and one with sweet uniforms at least.

2. Marquette is very good. Obviously, the most glaring need is an inside presence but I think they found a sleeper in Davante Gardner. Buzz would do well to let him get healthy for the Big East season. Beating Gonzaga and UW would be nice but let the kid get healthy, he definitely played in lots of pain last night.

3. Marquette is very athletic, as athletic as any team they've had including the Final Four team. If they play unselfish and move the ball like they did last night for stretches, they'll be hard to guard with plenty of guys that can shoot and drive.

4. For as much a goofball as he sounds at times and looks at times, Marquette has themselves a pretty good coach. Sounds and looks like the players are completely on board.

Duke - Marquette

Enjoy the game tonight; it'll be over by halftime.

And Don't Forget

Brett Favre is awesome. Thanks for the memories Brent!

Another Loss

In expected news, North Carolina lost again. This time it's to a mid-tier SEC team, Vanderbilt. Not looking so hot for Huckleberry Hound nor for pre-season All-American Harrison Barnes whose weekend shooting slump seems shocking to the ESPN news crew.

On a side note, I was looking for a picture of the Wisconsin douche who threw a bounce pass to Leuer while guarded by a 6-2 guard but I see Kurly has already taken care of it.

Mountain West Dominance

Okay, that's not fair when this guy is on the court at crunch time:



Poindexter! See, the Tri-Lambs could hold off the Alpha Betas on the court.

Big Ten Dominance

Minnesota shows North Carolina whose conference is boss by beating them last night in what was a non-contest most of the second half. Not a good sign for the ACC if their #2 can't beat what is generally thought of as the Big Ten's #6 or #7.

Bruce Pearl is a Cheater

And the SEC agrees suspending Bruce for the first 8 games of SEC play. You'll always have a home at the Cell, Cheater.

The Mustache Bar Has Been Set

The Rent is 2 Damn High!

Paul Hewitt HOT, HOT, HOT SEAT

Yikes! Kennesaw State clobbers the Yellow Jackets. That bodes well.

Enes Kanter ruled ineligible

Thanks for coming Kentucky; hope you keep your 2011 recruits eligible.

PREDICTIONS II

1. The Big 11 might be the best conference but will not win the National Championship for the 10th consecutive season.
2. Bruce Pearl will be coaching his last season in Division I (FBS, okay!) basketball.
3. Butler will not win the Horizon League this year. Detroit will and Ray McCallum will be a popular name again.
4. BCS Conference Sleepers: Georgia, Penn State, St, John's & Washington State
5. The A-10 will get 5 teams in the dance BECAUSE of the extra 3 teams.
6. The NCAA will expand to 96 teams in time for 2011-2012.
7. Missouri will win the Big 12.
8. Marquette and Wisconsin won't make the 2nd weekend and Vander Blue will be the real deal.
9. My Final Four: Duke, Michigan State, Pitt & Missouri
10. All of these picks are gold.

The Must Bookmark

http://www.bbstate.com/

For all your college basketball dorkiness.

Predictions!

1. Lipscomb beats UNC on Friday (Ok, I'm only partly serious with that one)
2. The Pac-10 will once again be the worst Major conference in the country.
3. The best conference won't be the ACC or Big East
4. The Big 10 is; and it's really not even close
5. Memphis will struggle again but not miss the tournament like last year
6. North Carolina is back...NOT! One and done even with stud, Harrison Barnes
7. The extra 3 bids make absolutely no difference what so ever
8. Marquette and Wisconsin both play well and threaten to make the second weekend of the tournament
9. Another Mid-Major makes the Final Four, Gonzaga
10 .The Atlantic 20 has 7 teams on the radar as late as mid-February (only 4 get in)
11. The Horizon league gets multiple bids between Butler, UWM, and Detroit
12. Duke wins it all, Singler, Smith, and Irving all leave and they are still the #1 preason team next year.

And They Keep Coming!

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/y50DCunJEd-YiQAcxJSkrA/quinn-cook-chooses-duke-over-ucla.htm

Your First Bracket!

Book it!

Marquette & The Future of the Big East

Fans of Marquette that haven't been paying attention to conference expansion talk probably should. Mike Decourcy lays out the belief the Big East probably regrets bringing Marquette and DePaul into the fold during the conference shuffles earlier in the decade.

As we know, football rules the sporting world and with conference expansion being a hot issue during the summer, the Big East appeared ripe for the picking as rumors swirled West Virginia, Syracuse, Rutgers and Pittsburgh were being targeted by other conferences.

The Big East formed a committee including Paul Tagliabue to explore ways to keep the Big East relevant - largely in football. As was reported yesterday, the conference is looking to expand to 10 teams in football. Schools being mentioned include TCU, Memphis, Central Florida & uprgrading Villanova to FBS level (DI).

Does Marquette, a basketball school only, have a future in a BCS conference? Keep an eye on this story as Big East expansion moves along.