Akron

With the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on deck for Tuesday and Wednesday, it would be easy to think that the only matchups between ranked teams early in the week can be found on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not so thanks to the matchup between #12 Xavier (4-0) and #22 Vanderbilt (5-1)in Nashville, but while Memorial Gym is always a tough place to play the Commodores have already lost at home once this season (Cleveland State).

Just over a week ago there were many questions about the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the aftermath of their loss to defending MAC Tournament champion Akron, one that featured listless play from their big men and uneven play from their guards. But just as Rick Stansbury's team can be a bit maddening in one week they can be just as productive the next, which is what happened in New York this week.

While much of the college sports world was captivated by the goings on in State College, PA, four college basketball games were being played. And one of the four teams expected to win fell at the hands of the defending MAC Tournament champs, but in hindsight it wasn't much of an "upset". Behind 19 points from Quincy Diggs the Zips beat Mississippi State 68-58 at The Hump. Simply put, Keith Dambrot's team outworked and outplayed the Bulldogs, who weren't as effective as they were on Monday night and it cost them.

Tonight brings the second day of college basketball games that count with the four host teams in the 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer on the floor. Arizona, Mississippi State and St. John's all played games on Monday night, and tonight marks the beginning of the season for the Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies are expected by many to contend in the Big 12, but things haven't gone as smoothly as anyone connected to the program would have hoped.

Note: To make sure there is no confusion here is the link to the piece written by Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com on Thursday.

While many teams across the country look to begin the process of building towards an NCAA Tournament berth with trips outside of the country in the summer, not everyone has the same set of circumstances to deal with once the season begins.

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer spent some time with current Akron head coach Keith Dambrot. During his time at his alma mater, the former Akron baseball captain has won 162 games and led the Zips to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Coach Dambrot also coached LeBron James in high school for two years, a period in which St. Vincent/ St. Mary's won 53 of 54 games.

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Akron great Joe Jakubick, who is the school's all-time leading scorer. Jakubick, who also ranks second all-time in steals, is now the girls' basketball coach at St. Vincent's/St. Mary's High School in Akron.

Jon Teitel: Why did you choose to go to Akron? 

Next up in the short series of looking ahead to next season is the Southwest region, where things essentially went haywire the first weekend. Advancing to San Antonio was the top seed Kansas and seeds 10 through 12, and when the dust settled VCU won the region. A number of teams have some important personnel issues to address, but the Jayhawks won't be the lone team expected to contend for their league title out of this region in 2011-12.

Yesterday CHN writer Jon Teitel participated in MAC champion Akron's postseason teleconference in advance of their second round matchup with two-seed Notre Dame. Keith Dambrot's Zips were last in the NCAA Tournament in 2009, losing to Gonzaga in the first round.

Senior small forward Brett McKnight

Tulsa (March 18)
(1) Kansas vs. (16) Boston University

» Read More » Tags

• ACC
• Akron
• America East
• Atlantic 10
• Big 12
• Big East
• Big Ten
• Boston U
• Colonial
• Florida St
• Georgetown
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Louisville
• MAAC
• MAC
• Morehead St
• MWC
• Notre Dame
• OVC
• Pac-12
• Purdue
• Richmond
• SEC
• St Peter's
• Texas A&M
• UNLV
• USC
• Vanderbilt
• VCU
• NCAA Tournament