ACC-B1G (tee hee B1G) challenge, part deux

No disagreement on Brian's choices. It is interesting the decline of the ACC the last few years. Decline is too strong a word I suppose when they still have more National Champs in the last decade than all the other BCS conferences combined but you know what I mean.

What happened? The blue bloods are still National Title contenders (Duke & UNC) but the next tier has dropped precipitously. Maryland & Georgia Tech are in regime changes and Wake has been wondering the wilderness since the untimely passing of Skip Prosser.

N.C.State and unrealistic expectations jettisoned their best coach since Jimmy V (Granted, Herb Sendek has largely failed at ASU) and Virginia has probably underperformed for going on 15 years. Clemson probably falls into that category, too of underachievers.

Virginia Tech and FSU are likely the next best teams after the blue bloods and capable of a few wins in March but not threats like Wake, Tech & Garyland used to be.

Both Miami & BC are capable programs but aren't likely to be nothing more than middle of the pack teams. Until the "others" return to winning ways, the B1G will probably keep winning this thing.

And it doesn't hurt the top programs and even the middling schools have had the same coaches for a fair amount of time. Hear that, ACC athletic directors?

Big Ten - ACC Challenge

Here's my picks for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge starting tomorrow night through Wednesday.

Tue, Nov 29
Miami at Purdue - Big Ten 1, ACC 0
Northwestern at Georgia Tech - Big Ten 2, ACC 0
Illinois at Maryland - Big Ten 3, ACC 0
Michigan at Virginia - Big Ten 4, ACC 0
Clemson at Iowa - Big Ten 4, ACC 1
Duke at Ohio State - Big Ten 4, ACC 2

Wed, Nov 30
Indiana at North Carolina State - Big Ten 4, ACC 3
Penn State at Boston College - Big Ten 5, ACC 3
Florida State at Michigan State - Big Ten 6, ACC 3
Virginia Tech at Minnesota - Big Ten 7, ACC 3
Wake Forest at Nebraska - Big Ten 8, ACC 3
Wisconsin at North Carolina - Big Ten 8, ACC 4

And the Big Ten takes a second Challenge!

PS...I ain't that confident Duke wins at Ohio State either

Amending my Final Four pick

With what is about to hit the fan at Syracuse, I can't see them staying focused so I'll put Wisconsin in ahead of them.

UNLV should be interesting to watch as we move ahead, too. Dave Rice is an old Tark player who wants to push tempo like back in the glory days. Don't know if they're ready to build off the UNC win but keep an eye on them through the course of the season.

the Ohio State LOSES

Arrogance personified, responsibility dodging, football factory, cheating scum. Wear it and good luck with the quitter who doesn't mind winning with criminals.

Atlantis?

Yep, Harvard vs Central Florida in the championship, although Harvard there isn't too much of a surprise.

And did I see Norfolk State in the Paradise Jam championship?

I hope this this a harbringer of things to come....

I see your Turkey Day scores and raise you

UCF 68 UConn 63

The "Battle 4 Atlantis" final will be UCF vs. Harvard or Florida State

Saint Louis whippy whipping 'Nova right now, too.

What LSU-Arkansas game? Honey Badger!

Thanksgiving Scores

For all the talk about the Big Conferences eating up the bids this year there were some strange scores from yesterday's games.

Indiana State 60, Texas Tech 49
St. Louis 62, Boston College 51
Dayton 80, Wake Forest 76
Harvard 75, Utah 47
Fairfield 55, Arizona State 44

Now, I know these are the lower tier teams in the BCS conferences but c'mon! Fairfield and St. Louis by 11 over BC and ASU? Utah getting shelacked by Harvard? What's more likely? The bottom teams in the BCS are that bad or the Mid-Majors are even better than they've been the last couple years? It's not even December and I'm already picturing a lot of double digit seed upsets!

Maui overreaction

1. UCLA, good luck
2. Memphis was disapointing but I think they can still be real good by March
3. Georgetown may have finished 5th but that'll be a nice win as they look like a possible bubble team.
4. Michigan is a good team. Can play disciplined offense and still have players that can beat you off the dribble.
5. Eff you Maymon. JK, he looked good on Tuesday.

Early Season Notes

Two weeks into the season we’ve seen a couple surprises on the positive and on the negative side.

Positive

Missouri – my preseason pick as a 7 seed not only have they been winning games (5-0) but they are destroying teams beating Notre Dame and California by an average of more than 30 points. Frank Haith has these Tigers playing at a higher level than Mike Anderson had them.

Negative

UCLA – Yikes. Did I really have them as a 3 seed making a Final Four run? Revees Nelson can’t make the team flight, Josh Smith can’t miss a team meal or 20, and the team can’t beat Loyola Marymount or Middle Tennessee. I’d put a fork in them already but Josh Smith would just eat it.

Reeves Nelson, not good

After getting reinstated at UCLA, he misses the team flight to Hawaii.

Awesome

Player to know: Casper Ware

Long Beach State's PG helps spark an upset over the Pitt Panthers.

LBSU coach is Dan Monson, the guy who started the whole Gonzaga run a decade ago and then mistakenly took the Gooher job after the Clem Haskins fiasco.

L.A. Blues

Wonder how long until Ben Howland finds himself on the hot seat in Tinseltown?

Opening the season with double digit losses to LMU & Middle Tennessee? Yikes!

Seems like a silly notion to consider his record at UCLA but expectations are always absurdly high. Howland did reinstate Reeves Nelson quickly after suspending him for "attitude issues". A sure sign of a steady hand at the wheel.

903

That will be all.

24 Hour Marathon

Don't forget to catch all of the 24 hour marathon ESPN is running starting tonight at midnight with Washington State taking on Gonzaga.
Truth be told there are some exciting games out there in addition to Duke-Michigan State and Ohio State- Florida.

Kent State at West Virginia at 9am CST looks solid. Kent State is my MAC favorite and West Virginia is always tough

Belmont at Memphis at 11am. Was Friday's 1 point loss at Duke a fluke or is Belmont for real?

San Diego State at Baylor at 1pm. Two teams going in different directions. It's time for Baylor to step it up.

Oh, also Kentucky plays Kansas at 8pm if you're into that sort of thing.

Twitter

@kurly99

Duke Won

That is all. Nothing else to see here. Move along.



Drosselmeyer

Random Stuff, like normal

1. Basketball aint supposed to be played on a boat. In open air. I kept waiting for the Professor to throw an alley-oop to Sik wit It, laying it off the backboard to Escalade for the dunk. And-1, yo!

2. At least Obama was there. to watch. the game. and be presidential. I wish he would fill out a pre-season bracket. upon second thought, no, I dont.

3. Appears to have been a struggling game for Duke. Probably could have used more Plumlee. or more cowbell. I again re-iterate, my favorite Plumlee is Cooper. (its a joke...like the Mannings....awww, forget it....)

3. Marquette enjoyed a delicious cupcake tonite as they build that preseason RPI. mmmmm...tasty!!

4. The big loser in the Mitch McGary sweepstakes? Wisconsin. Ummm....6-10...white dude...hello? Bo Ryan's wheelhouse, baby!!

I got no more. i just wanted in on the blog. later.

Maui Invitational

Live from North Carolina? I'm so confused.

Oh, what the hell

Here Brian-

A stab in the dark, aka, Final Four picks....

Baylor
Arizona
Syracuse
North Carolina

Carolina to win it all

Remember?

When B1G fans were always so sanctimonious about cheering for schools that run "clean" programs?

How naive

The Season Begins

Tonight the 2011-2012 College Basketball season tips off. I've finalized my bracket (posted). My Preseason Final Four are the following

Duke Blue Devils
Syracuse Orange
UCLA Bruins
Kentucky Wildcats

I, of course, picked Duke to win it all but I can see a scenerio where the Orange or Kentucky get the job done.

Let the games begin!

Penn State

Legend or Leader?

Conference Preview - Big East

Conference: Big East

NCAA Tournament Auto-Bid: Syracuse Orange

Projection: #1 overall seed - My pick to win it all and send Boeheim off to retirement

Duke eats it

Mitch McGary to MEEECHIGAN. Beilein steals one from Coach K. Who knew? They have Glenn Robinson III in next year's class, too.

Conference Preview - B1G

Conference: Big 10 (currently with 12)

NCAA Tournament Auto-Bid: Ohio State Cheating Sweater Vests

Projection: 1 seed - Elite Eight

Conference Preview - ACC

Conference: ACC

NCAA Tournament Auto-Bid: North Carolina Douche Bags

Projection: 1 seed - Potential National Champion (Dear God, please no!)

Conference Preview - SEC

Conference: SEC

NCAA Tournament Auto-Bid: Kentucky Wildcats

Projection: 1 seed - Potential Champion (more likely Elite Eight upset)

Conference Preview - Big 12

Conference: Big 12

NCAA Tournament Auto-Bid: Baylor Bears

Projection: 3 seed - Possible Final Four Team