Sunday Musings and Such

Duke and North Carolina delivered once again. It’s incredible how this rivalry produces such incredible games, even when one of the teams is having a bad season. Carolina had a brilliant game plan but in the end, Duke willed their way to an unlikely win. In other ACC action, Louisville snapped a 9-game losing streak to Virginia with a win at home. Louisville was in control for a good chunk of the game when all of a sudden, Virginia couldn’t miss, namely Tomas Woldetensae. Louisville got lost on defense too often against a poor shooting team. Virginia is typically a pain to guard but not this year. On the other side of the ball, Louisville picked Virginia apart on offense. It was quite impressive. Virginia has about a 4 minute period of fantastic defense but Louisville quickly righted the ship and re-established control. The defensive lapses are concerning but they are the real deal offensively.

Out west, Gonzaga went into St. Mary’s and stole their souls in a 30 point rout. They looked like a team going through the motions a week ago. Last night, they sent a statement. The PAC-12 sent a statement, too, and that statement is the poop emoji. UCLA went into Arizona and beat the Wildcats. Oregon State beat Oregon at home.  Colorado now stands atop the league.

 Bobby Knight returned home to Indiana to watch the Hoosiers get beat up by Purdue who all of a sudden looks like a threat. There is some poetic justice there. Speaking of poetic justice, Michigan State lost their 3rd straight as they continue to look rudderless. On Friday night, Maryland won at Illinois and that could go a long way to winning a regular season title but who knows in this league.

Finally, Seton Hall took a stranglehold on the Big East with a win at Villanova. It was their first win at Villanova since 1994 and gives them a 3-game lead in the league. In other Big East news, DePaul lost at Georgetown who was basically playing 6 players and missing Mac McClung. I only note this because DePaul is now projected to finish 3-15 in league which would mean last place. Despite having their most talented team in over a decade, the season is spiraling out of control.