Super Bowl Sunday has finally arrived. The underdog Giants take on the seemingly invincible Patriots as they try to complete an undefeated season. The Boston/New York rivalry has crossed over sports into football, and I am right in the middle of it at Quinnipiac University. I can’t think of a better time to discuss…college basketball.
The big story of the week was the game that took place in Manhattan, KS where freshman star Michael Beasley led Kansas State to a victory over #2 Kansas. It had been over twenty-four years since K-St. last beat Kansas at home, and they did so over a 20-0 team, one of only two undefeated teams left along with Memphis. It had finally seemed like K-St. was coming along and developing into a formidable team after an early season loss to George Mason and then back-to-back losses to Oregon and Notre Dame. The victory enabled the Wildcats to leap to the top of the Big 12 standings. Then came Saturday.
Kansas St. lost at Missouri by 3, and questions about who exactly the Wildcats were began to arise. Were they a team that was developing into a title contending threat with a freshman leader, the way Durant carried Texas into a dangerous tourney team last year? It seemed so after blowing out Texas A&M and then beating KU at home, but the loss to Missouri keeps their status uncertain. It could be just a letdown, but either way it is hard to get a read on where this team is going to be at the end of the season. Having a freshman in Beasley who averages 25 points and 12 boards a game doesn’t hurt; his only competition for freshman of the year will be O.J. Mayo. Only time will tell whether Huggins left his imprint on this team.
KU’s loss leaves only a single undefeated team in the nation, the #1 ranked Memphis Tigers. The fact that they’ve entered conference play in the powerhouse Conference USA (joke) means Memphis is one step away from finishing the season undefeated, with that lone step being a battle with Tennessee. Despite the weak conference schedule, Memphis depth of talent is undeniable and they played a nonconference schedule that is getting stronger by the day; wins over Oklahoma, Arizona, USC, Georgetown, and Gonzaga. I think the home court advantage will get them by a Tennessee team that is one of the few who can come close to matching the Tigers talent level. Both teams have been solid defensively, but with that much talent on the court the game is certain to be a barn-burner.
I’ll end my blogs by giving for 4 number one seeds for the tourney according to me that week. This week:
1-Memphis
2-Kansas
3-Duke
4-UCLA
Send in your comments and questions.
UUUGGGHHH
16 years ago
2 comments:
Some very good points and thoughts in this post. I think that Kevin Love should definitely be considered as another contender for freshmen of the year hailing form the Bruin of UCLA. I even think that UCLA could get the nod over Duke for a number one seed in the tourney. Robert I would like to know your thoughts about BC, do you feel that could slip in the tourney this year or is this just a rebuilding year for Al skinner and the Eagles of Chestnut hill???
I completely forgot about Love, but he is most definitely in the conversation. He's certainly been an invaluable member of the Bruins this season, and a main reason they have achieved success thus far. Regardless, I don't think he or Mayo will come close to Beasley, who is fourth in the nation in scoring as well as the nation's leading rebounder.
This is undoubtedly a rebuilding year for BC and coach Al Skinner. At 12-9 (3-4 ACC) and only one good nonconference victory against Rhode Island, BC is playing for the NIT unless they go on a miracle run, and maybe not even then.
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