Georgia Tech

Thursday First Round Predictions: ACC, Big Ten, SEC

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:02:51 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking (just about) every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's three key championship games. Games listed in order with later rounds on top and earlier rounds at the bottom. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

ACC FIRST ROUND: AT ATLANTA

(8) Maryland (16-14, 6-10) vs. (9) Wake Forest (13-17, 4-12)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Maryland 70-64. RPI: Maryland 111, Wake Forest 169. Analysis: The ACC Tourney starts with an upset. Line: Maryland -3½. Pick: Wake Forest 60, Maryland 55.

(5) North Carolina State (20-11, 9-7) vs. (12) Boston College (9-21, 4-12)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – N.C. State 76-62; Feb. 1 – N.C. State 56-51. RPI: N.C. State 52, BC 236. Analysis: The Wolfpack will pull away early for an easy win. Line: N.C. State -12. Pick: North Carolina State 73, Boston College 52.

(7) Clemson (16-14, 8-8) vs. (10) Virginia Tech (15-16, 4-12)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 4 – Virginia Tech 67-65; March 1 – Clemson 58-56. RPI: Clemson 138, Virginia Tech 119. Analysis: Remember when being .500 in the ACC meant a lock for the NCAA Tourney? Line: Clemson -2½. Pick: Clemson 64, Virginia Tech 62.

(6) Miami (18-11, 9-7) vs. (11) Georgia Tech (11-19, 4-12)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 24 – Miami 64-49*. RPI: Miami 50, Georgia Tech 183. Analysis: Strange line. Makes me think Vegas knows something the rest of us don’t. Oh, well. The Hurricanes are significantly better. Line: Miami -4. Pick: Miami 67, Georgia Tech 57.

BIG TEN FIRST ROUND: AT INDIANAPOLIS

(8) Iowa (16-15, 8-10) vs. (9) Illinois (17-14, 6-12)

Tipoff: 11:30 a.m. TV: Big Ten Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 26 – Illinois 65-54. RPI: Iowa 131, Illinois 77. Analysis: Not sure the Illinois players are interested in playing another game. Line: Illinois -2½. Pick: Iowa 60, Illinois 55.

(5) Indiana (24-7, 11-7) vs. (12) Penn State (12-19, 4-14)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Big Ten Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Indiana 88-82*; Jan. 22 – Indiana 73-54. RPI: Indiana 11, Penn State 156. Analysis: The Hoosiers are playing as well as anyone in the Big Ten – if not the nation. Line: Indiana -11½. Pick: Indiana 81, Penn State 67.

(7) Northwestern (18-12, 8-10) vs. (10) Minnesota (18-13, 6-12)

Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 22 – Minnesota 75-52; Feb. 18 – Northwestern 64-53. RPI: Northwestern 41, Minnesota 89. Analysis: John Shurna and Drew Crawford will not let the Wildcats lose this game. Line: Northwestern -2½. Pick: Northwestern 68, Minnesota 62.

(6) Purdue (20-11, 10-8) vs. (11) Nebraska (12-17, 4-14)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 22 – Purdue 83-65. RPI: Purdue 41, Nebraska 140. Analysis: Purdue has won 3-of-4 and even in the loss at Indiana, the Boilermakers played pretty well for most of the game. Line: Purdue -8. Pick: Purdue 79, Nebraska 64.

SEC FIRST ROUND: AT NEW ORLEANS

(8) LSU (17-13, 7-9) vs. (9) Arkansas (18-13, 6-10)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Arkansas 69-60; Feb. 4 – LSU 71-65. RPI: LSU 84, Arkansas 92. Analysis: A strange season comes to an Arkansas. Things should start to improve next season under Mike Anderson. Line: LSU -1. Pick: LSU 73, Arkansas 68.

(5) Alabama (20-10, 9-7) vs. (12) South Carolina (10-20, 2-14)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 25 – South Carolina 56-54. RPI: Alabama 32, USC 185. Analysis: This game could just go a lot of different ways, depending on how interested the Tide are, but eight points is too big of a line for what should be a low-scoring game. Line: Alabama -8. Pick: Alabama 58, South Carolina 52.

(7) Mississippi (18-12, 8-8) vs. (10) Auburn (15-15, 5-11)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Auburn 69-68 (2OT); Feb. 11 – Ole Miss 61-54. RPI: Ole Miss 51, Auburn 136. Analysis: The Rebels are back on the bubble after three straight wins, but Auburn will end the dream. Line: Ole Miss -2½. Pick: Auburn 66, Mississippi 63.

(6) Mississippi State (21-10, 8-8) vs. (11) Georgia (14-16, 5-11)

Tipoff: 10 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 11 – Georgia 70-68 (OT)*. RPI: MSU 64, Georgia 107. Analysis: Both teams are so unpredictable that it’s hard to tell how this one’s going to go. The Bulldogs are physically superior, though. Line: MSU -5. Pick: Mississippi State 71, Georgia 65.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 143-108-3

Saturday Preview: #20 Marquette at #1 Syracuse

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:09:27 -0800

Just two games on the schedule for Saturday match ranked teams, one of which being #1 Syracuse (16-0, 3-0) hosting #20 Marquette (12-3, 1-1) with the visitors looking to rebound from a disappointing loss at Georgetown earlier this week. The Golden Eagles led by as many as 17 points in the second half but they went away from the "paint touches" that are so valued in Buzz Williams' program, which led to the Hoya comeback. Those paint touches will be even more important at the Carrier Dome, as Syracuse does a good job with their 2-3 zone at limiting those opportunities.

Jim Boeheim's team is always well-versed in who should be allowed to shoot perimeter shots and who should be defended tightly as well, meaning that Marquette will need to be judicious in their shot selection. As a team Marquette shoots 34.7% from three, scoring 22.3% of their points from distance on the season. The most reliable shooters are also their leading scorers: Darius Johnson-Odom (17.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg) and Jae Crowder (16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) both start while freshman Todd Mayo (10.2 ppg) come off the bench.

The Golden Eagles can match the Syracuse depth on the perimeter, with those three along with Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Derrick Wilson, but the Orange have been flat-out explosive this season. Scoop Jardine (8.7 ppg, 4.3 apg) and Brandon Triche (10.3 ppg, 3.1 apg) are the starters and have played well for much of the season, but in sixth man Dion Waiters (12.6 ppg, 2.8 apg) the Orange have one of the best reserves in the country. It can even be argued that Waiters is Syracuse's best option when considering postseason awards, which is a testament to his growth as well as Syracuse's depth.

Freshman Michael Carter-Williams also sees some time at guard, and on the wing the Orange are deep as well. Senior Kris Joseph (13.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads the team in scoring and when allowed to get out and fill a lane on the break is a dangerous player to contend with. But there's also sophomore C.J. Fair (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), who is second on the team in minutes, and junior James Southerland (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) shoots 42.6% from beyond the arc. Marquette will be smaller than Syracuse on the wing, but they can manage the difference due to their speed. The real concern comes in the paint, where the Golden Eagles are without a key contributor.

Chris Otule is still out with a knee injury and there's been no announcement on his prospects for the remainder of the season, meaning that Davante Gardner (8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) had to step into the starting role. Gardner came off the bench in Marquette's win over Villanova after a subpar performance in the loss to Vanderbilt, but he responded with 13 points and ten rebounds and followed that up with 11 against Georgetown. Facing the much-improved Fab Melo (7.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.1 bpg), Gardner's going to need a similar performance if Marquette is to win. Turnovers will also be a major factor with Marquette forcing nearly 18 per game and Syracuse almost 19.

Also in the Big East, #9 Georgetown hits the road to take on West Virginia, and Bob Huggins' team could definitely use a win like this for their resume. Kevin Jones has been one of the best players in the Big East for the Mountaineers, who will need young guards Gary Browne and Jabarie Hinds to mature as the season wears on in order to be a team that can win games in the NCAA Tournament. And Seton Hall will look to build on the momentum gained in their win over Connecticut with a win at Providence, but with the Friars desperate for their first league win that's going to be a tough task for Kevin Willard's squad.

League play tips off in the ACC and SEC this weekend, with the former looking to sort itself out after the generally accepted top three of North Carolina, Duke and Virginia. While the Tar Heels shouldn't have much of a problem with Boston College, Duke should be on upset alert at Georgia Tech while Virginia hosts a Miami team that could be a factor in the ACC as Reggie Johnson approaches full strength. In the SEC Mississippi State visits Arkansas, and the Bulldogs had better make sure that freshman B.J. Young isn't allowed to heat up.

The Big 12's got a pair of dangerous games for ranked teams on the schedule as well, with Baylor visiting Texas Tech and Missouri taking on Kansas State in Manhattan. The Bears should beat the Red Raiders but that trip to Lubbock could be a tricky one if you're not focused. As for the Tigers, their interior depth will be tested by the Wildcats, led by Jamar Samuels, Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez. If either Ricardo Ratliffe or Steve Moore get into early foul trouble, Missouri could end up in trouble as well.

Other games of note include Georgia State, who is currently in first place in the CAA, visiting George Mason just days after winning at VCU. Ron Hunter's done a masterful job with the GSU program in his first season in charge, and Devonta White and Jihad Ali have done a good job of leading the way offensively. Mike Morrison and Ryan Pearson can be a handful up front for the Colonials, and there's a strong possibility that this game isn't decided until late. Temple hosts Dayton in the Owls' Atlantic 10 opener, and after they beat Saint Louis in overtime this could be a big week for Dayton's resume if they can win at Liacouras Center as well.

Top 25 Games
4:00 PM (20) Marquette at (1) Syracuse (ESPN3)
4:00 PM South Carolina at (2) Kentucky (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (3) Duke at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
2:30 PM Boston College at (4) North Carolina (ESPN3)
1:45 PM (5) Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN3)
1:30 PM (6) Missouri at (22) Kansas State (ESPN3)
3:00 PM (7) Ohio State at Iowa (BTN)
8:00 PM (8) Connecticut at Rutgers (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (9) Georgetown at West Virginia (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Notre Dame at (10) Louisville (ESPNU)
11:00 AM (14) Florida at Tennessee (ESPN2)
2:00 PM (15) Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPNU)
9:00 PM (16) Mississippi State at Arkansas (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (18) Murray State at Austin Peay (ESPNU)
2:00 PM Dartmouth at (21) Harvard
6:00 PM Miami (FL) at (23) Virginia (ESPNU)
8:00 PM (24) Creighton at Bradley (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Virginia Tech at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
12:00 PM Xavier at Fordham
12:00 PM Canisius at Loyola (MD)
12:00 PM Wagner at Monmouth
1:00 PM Nebraska at Illinois (BTN)
1:05 PM Missouri State at Indiana State (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Ole Miss at LSU (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Auburn at Vanderbilt (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Colgate at American
2:00 PM Mount St. Mary's at Fairleigh Dickinson
2:00 PM Albright at Cornell
2:00 PM Washington at Utah (FSN)
2:00 PM Northeastern at James Madison
2:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Cleveland State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Western Michigan at Ball State
2:00 PM St. John's at Cincinnati (ESPN3)
2:00 PM NJIT at Longwood
2:00 PM LIU-Brooklyn at Quinnipiac
2:00 PM Charlotte at Saint Joseph's
2:00 PM Kennesaw State at USC Upstate
2:05 PM Evansville at Illinois State
2:30 PM Charleston at Furman (ESPN3)
2:30 PM UMBC at Maine
2:30 PM Western Illinois at IPFW
3:00 PM Georgia Southern at Davidson
3:00 PM Texas State at Northwestern State
3:05 PM Wichita State at Southern Illinois
3:15 PM Jacksonville at Stetson
3:30 PM Lehigh at Holy Cross
3:30 PM North Dakota at New Mexico
3:30 PM Robert Morris at Central Connecticut State
3:30 PM St. Francis (NY) at Sacred Heart
4:00 PM Washington State at Colorado (FSN)
4:00 PM Dayton at Temple
4:00 PM Florida State at Clemson (ESPN2)
4:00 PM Iowa State at Texas A&M (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Bucknell at Army
4:00 PM St. Bonaventure at Duquesne
4:00 PM Mercer at East Tennessee State
4:00 PM Florida A&M at North Carolina Central
4:00 PM Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina A&T
4:00 PM Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois
4:00 PM Coppin State at Savannah State
4:00 PM Morgan State at South Carolina State
4:00 PM Southern Miss at Tulane
4:00 PM Delaware at William & Mary
4:00 PM VMI at Winthrop
4:00 PM St. Francis (PA) at Bryant
4:30 PM Denver at South Alabama (ESPN3)
4:30 PM Central Arkansas at Lamar
4:30 PM Liberty at UNC Asheville
4:30 PM Wofford at Western Carolina
5:00 PM Troy at Western Kentucky (FCS)
5:00 PM UCF at East Carolina
5:00 PM Jackson State at Alcorn State
5:00 PM Grambling State at Southern University
5:15 PM North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast
5:30 PM Tennessee State at Jacksonville State
5:30 PM Coastal Carolina at Charleston Southern
6:00 PM Ohio at Bowling Green (ESPN3)
6:00 PM San Francisco at BYU (BYU TV)
6:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M
6:00 PM Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State
6:00 PM Howard at Hampton
6:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at Norfolk State
6:00 PM IUPUI at Oakland
6:00 PM Seton Hall at Providence (ESPN3)
6:05 PM Fresno State at Idaho (ESPN3)
6:30 PM Louisiana-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee
7:00 PM Alabama at Georgia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Akron at Miami (OH)
7:00 PM Richmond at Rhode Island
7:00 PM Appalachian State at Chattanooga
7:00 PM Oklahoma State at Texas (LHN)
7:00 PM Towson at Old Dominion
7:00 PM Hofstra at UNC Wilmington
7:00 PM Kent State at Buffalo
7:00 PM Toledo at Central Michigan
7:00 PM Southeast Missouri State at Eastern Kentucky
7:00 PM High Point at Gardner-Webb
7:00 PM Georgia State at George Mason
7:00 PM Lafayette at Navy
7:00 PM Southeastern Louisiana at Stephen F. Austin
7:00 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee-Martin
7:00 PM Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern
7:05 PM Samford at Citadel
7:05 PM Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State
7:30 PM Louisiana-Monroe at FIU
7:30 PM Campbell at Presbyterian
8:00 PM George Washington at Saint Louis
8:00 PM South Dakota State at Oral Roberts
8:00 PM SMU at Tulsa
8:00 PM Marshall at Rice
8:00 PM Nicholls State at Texas-Arlington
8:00 PM Green Bay at Milwaukee (ESPN3)
8:00 PM McNeese State at Texas A&M-CC
8:00 PM Florida Atlantic at Arkansas-Little Rock
8:00 PM Santa Clara at Gonzaga
8:00 PM New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech
8:00 PM Pepperdine at Portland
8:05 PM South Dakota at UMKC
8:05 PM North Texas at Arkansas State
8:05 PM Northern Iowa at Drake
8:05 PM Eastern Illinois at Houston Baptist
8:30 PM Morehead State at Tennessee Tech
9:00 PM Memphis at UAB
9:00 PM Nebraska Omaha at Colorado State
9:00 PM Loyola Marymount at San Diego
9:00 PM Houston at UTEP
9:05 PM Montana at Idaho State
9:05 PM Nevada at Utah State (ESPN3)
9:05 PM Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington
9:05 PM Seattle at Utah Valley
9:30 PM North Dakota State at Southern Utah
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Stanford at Oregon State
10:00 PM UC Riverside at Pacific
10:00 PM UC Irvine at UC Davis
10:00 PM Weber State at Portland State
10:00 PM Texas-Pan American at Cal State Bakersfield
10:05 PM Northern Colorado at Sacramento State
10:05 PM Long Beach State at Cal State Northridge
10:30 PM Arizona State at UCLA
12:05 AM San Jose State at Hawaii

Thursday Recap: Rutgers Beats #10 Florida

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:50:46 -0800

The matchup between #10 Florida and Rutgers on Thursday night was hyped up due to the return of Mike Rosario, who transferred from the New Jersey school following two seasons in New Brunswick. But his return was a subplot in what turned out to be one of the best games of the calendar year, with the focus by the end being Mike Rice's young guards. Eli Carter led the way with 31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Myles Mack knocked down some big shots late in regulation and during the overtime periods to lead Rutgers to the 85-83 double overtime victory.

Jerome Seagears added 13 points and junior forward Dane Miller was his usual versatile self with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Kenny Boynton led four Florida players in double figures with 26 points, but the Gators seemed to bog down offensively down the stretch, once again not getting the ball inside enough to Patric Young. Young finished with 11 points but took just eight shots in 41 minutes of play, and there was even a possession where Florida failed to get him the ball despite being guarded by the 6'3" Carter. Florida's guards had the experience advantage, but it was Rutgers that made that one extra big play to win the game.

"Would I have liked them to get into our sets a little quicker? Sure," said Rice after the game. "But there was such a poise, such a confidence. They responded at the end. I always take it back because they practice like that ...hopefully this is [what's] to come."

For all their youth Rutgers turned the ball over just 11 times compared to 18 Florida turnovers, and their assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.64 was nearly double their season average (0.86). Also critical for the Scarlet Knights was their play on the boards, as they were out-rebounded by just one (37-36) on the night with Derrick Randall supplying eight rebounds in 17 minutes of play. The Rutgers reserves, led by Mack (14 points), outscored Florida's bench 22-8 with Rosario scoring five points for the Gators. The Scarlet Knights are young and there will be bumps in the road in Big East play, but as Coach Rice said after the game the future is bright.

"This is what happens when you don't think impossible is impossible," said Rice. "This is what happens when young men are determined to follow the formula and play for one another."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Vanderbilt jumps Marquette from the start and picks up a much-needed resume builder.
Much of the country didn't get to see the beginning of Vanderbilt/Marquette due to the length of Rutgers' win over Florida, and by the time ESPN2 switched over the game was essentially finished. Kevin Stallings' Commodores jumped out to a 19-4 lead and didn't look back, leading by as many as 25 points in the first half (31-6) on their way to a 74-57 victory. Marquette couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in the first half as they shot 21.2% from the field and finished the game making 32.2% of their shots.

Jeffery Taylor led four Commodores in double figures with 19 points while Lance Goulbourne added 13 to go along with 16 rebounds, and Marquette's inability to make shots allowed the visitors to get away with 17 turnovers. Jae Crowder (16 points) and Darius Johnson-Odom (12 points) reached double figures but with fellow starters Junior Cadougan and Vander Blue combining to make two of ten shots from the field the Golden Eagles weren't able to get back into the game. Vanderbilt needed a win like this to re-establish some national credibility after an 8-4 start, and this will help as they go into SEC play.

2. Saint Mary's welcomes BYU to the WCC with 98 points in Moraga.
BYU and Saint Mary's went into Thursday's game familiar with each other since they met last season, even with some of the key figures in that meeting no longer in school. But confernce play can be an entirely different animal, as the Cougars found out in the second half of the Gaels' 98-82 victory. Randy Bennett's team made 55.4% of their shots and assisted on 23 of 31 made baskets, and individually both Matthew Dellavedova and Rob Jones posted double-doubles. Dellavedova ran the show for Saint Mary's, finishing with 18 points and 12 assists, while Jones was a matchup nightmare for BYU with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Brandon Davies was outstanding for BYU in scoring 28 points and grabbing seven rebounds, but there wasn't enough offensive help for Davies when considering the fact that four SMC starters finished in double figures. Stephen Holt made eight of his ten shots in scoring 21 points and Jorden Page added 13 and five assists. On a night filled with offense, BYU simply could not get stops when they needed them the most. Of the three contenders for the WCC title (Gonzaga) the Gaels have the weakest non-conference resume, so that regular season crown may be most important for them when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. Thursday night was a good first step in that direction.

3. Cashmere Wright takes matters into his own hands late to lead Cincinnati past Oklahoma.
One question regarding Cincinnati's smaller lineup in light of the suspensions of Yancy Gates and Cheikh Mbodj was how the Bearcats would deal with bigger teams, something that wasn't an issue in wins over lesser competition. Oklahoma provided that challenge, and while it wasn't pretty Cincinnati found a way to win 56-55. That way: give Cashmere Wright the chance to make plays late. The junior point guard scored just eight points on the night (3-14 FG), but he made two huge baskets in the final minute including the game-winner with 8.8 seconds to go. Cincinnati turned the ball over just eight times on the night compared to 17 for the Sooners (UC: 16 points off turnovers), and while they were a minus-9 in rebounding margin the Bearcats grabbed 13 offensive boards and scored ten second-chance points (OU finished with 11). Cincinnati's taken full advantage of what could have been a crippling turn of events, becoming a better basketball team as a result.

Quick Hitters

1. It was a bad night for ACC bottom-feeders on Thursday, with Boston College losing to #24 Harvard for the fourth consecutive time (67-46) and Georgia Tech losing at Fordham (72-66). To say the least these results don't do much to maintain the league's computer numbers, and it could be a long conference season for both the Eagles and Yellow Jackets. And it should also be noted that Wake Forest nearly lost to Yale after leading by 19, ultimately hanging on to beat the Bulldogs 72-71.

2. Freshman guard Jamal Branch has left the Texas A&M program and will transfer according to multiple media outlets. Branch averaged just 4.2 points and 2.5 assists per game, but his departure leaves the Aggies one option short on a perimeter that hasn't played at a championship level this season.

3. Two teams that took hits to their chances of an at-large bid on Thursday are Marshall and Iona, with both falling on the road. Iona couldn't recover from 19 first half turnovers in an 83-75 loss at Hofstra while the Thundering Herd lost 79-74 to a Belmont team they beat just ten days ago. The Herd may have a better shot at earning an at-large given their conference affiliation (Conference USA), but the climb for both teams became a lot tougher.

4. Shaka Smart's VCU Rams won their seventh straight game on Thursday, winning 76-75 in overtime at Akron. Bradford Burgess led four Rams in double figures with 19 points (and seven rebounds) and VCU forced 20 Akron turnovers on the night.

5. Getting to conference play wasn't the catalyst for Austin Peay that some thought it would be as the Governors lost 67-65 at Eastern Kentucky. Dave Loos' team dropped to 3-11 on the season (0-1 OVC) while the Colonels are now 2-0 in league play.

6. In the "inexplicable loss" category are the defeats suffered by American and James Madison, who in losing to Mount St. Mary's and Rhode Island respectively lost to teams that entered Thursday with a combined 2-21 record.

7. Even though they were the home team it's likely that few people expected Illinois State to beat Northern Illinois in the MVC opener for both teams. But that's exactly what happened as the Redbirds, led by Jackie Carmichael (19 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks), beat the Panthers 65-61.

8. The opening night of Pac-12 play didn't lack excitement either, with Stanford hanging on to beat UCLA 60-59. UCLA took 13 shots in the second half that would have given them the lead if converted...and missed them all. And in Seattle, Tony Wroten led Washington to a 95-80 win over Oregon State with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists. If the freshman continues to learn how to use his talents to make his teammates better, look out.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Eli Carter (Rutgers)
31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the Scarlet Knights' 85-83 double overtime win over #10 Florida.

2. F Will Barton (Memphis)
27 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in the Tigers' 64-47 win over Robert Morris.

3. F Chris Gaston (Fordham)
23 points and 17 rebounds in the Rams' 72-66 win over Georgia Tech.

Who Will Win the 2011-12 ACC Title?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:50:47 -0800

ACC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:02:26 -0800

Here's how the ACC teams stack up over the last five years according to conference wins. Unlike many leagues, the ACC has a relatively strict caste system, with Duke and UNC firmly at the top. Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers are one of the few teams with a chance to jump up a level, while Wake Forest is clearly going in the wrong direction.

First Tier

1 - Duke - 58 - Steady as she goes for Coach K. Expect the same this year.
2 - UNC - 57 - Could surpass Duke if they runaway with the ACC title

Second Tier

3t - Florida St - 45 - Should once again finish 3rd or 4th in the league
3t - Maryland - 45 - Gary Williams' tenure ended in steady if not spectacular fashion
3t - Virginia Tech - 45 - And yet they haven't made the NCAA's since 2007
6 - Clemson - 44 - Could potentially go 9-7 for 4th year in a row

Wannabees

7- Boston College - 38 wins - Steve Donahue would love a 7th place finish this year
8 - Wake Forest - 37 - Just one conference win last year doesn't help the cause

Also-Rans

9 - Virginia - 32 - Have a chance to move up a tier with a big season
10 - Georgia Tech - 29 - Remember when Georgia Tech was a relevant program?
11 - Miami - 29 - Amazing Missouri went after Frank Haith
12 - NC State - 25 - Herb Sendek quietly laughing out in Arizona

Check back for the Big 12 ranking over the weekend.

All 5-Year Rankings.

Poll: Who Will Win the National Title?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:24:47 -0800

College Hoops Thursday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:02:50 -0800

With more games come more opportunities to see who actually wants to go to the NCAA Tournament. Now that the Big 12 (for the most part) has sorted itself out it's time for conferences such as the ACC, Big Ten, Mountain West, Pac-10 and SEC to begin their tournaments in earnest (the Mountain West and Pac-10 had games yesterday but none had an impact on the field of 68).

One game to keep an eye on tips off late in Greensboro with banged-up Virginia Tech taking on Georgia Tech in the final game of the day. The two teams split the regular season series with the home team winning both by large margins. The Hokies won the more recent meeting by 25 (102-77) in what was most likely Georgia Tech's worst showing of the year. No one will argue that the Yellow Jackets are anywhere near the bubble, but Seth Greenberg's team cannot afford to lose this game. And with the many injuries they've had to deal with it won't be easy.

Jeff Allen sprained his ankle in Saturday's loss at Clemson, and before yesterday's session he hadn't practiced. Add in the issues surrounding freshman Jarell Eddie (February 15th charge for marijuana possession) and that's one more player Hokie fans have to be unsure about with regards to whether or not they'll play. Eddie did make the trip to Greensboro and while gimpy it's tough to see Allen not playing. All these issues (on top of losing four players due to injury throughout the course of the season) adds more to the workload of guards Malcolm Delaney and Erick Green.

Delaney was at his best from an efficiency standpoint in that whipping of Georgia Tech, scoring 33 points on 9-14 FG and 12-14 from the foul line. Green chipped in with 15 points and six assists as all five starters reached double figures. Iman Shumpert led the Yellow Jackets with 27 points and he's been one of the best guards in the ACC, only to be overlooked by some due to the performance of his team (almost a "rose grew from concrete" kind of situation) this season. The other four starters for Paul Hewitt combined to score 21 points.

To say the least the Yellow Jackets will need all hands on deck (the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported yesterday that Brian Oliver will play) if they're to win, and Virginia Tech needs to come out on fire from the opening tip. Their NCAA Tournament lives may (or may not) be on the line, and Coach Greenberg will need his guys to both understand the situation and find a way to play free. The last thing you want is to tighten up due to the stakes.

In the Pac-10 the third meeting between Washington State and Washington has added importance thanks to Washington's recent play (and the suspension of guard Venoy Overton) and the fact that the Cougars swept the regular season series. Klay Thompson, who missed Saturday's game due to his off-court issues (marijuana possession), will play and his return gives Wazzu a nice boost going into this weekend. The Huskies will now need even more from Isaiah Thomas as well as Justin Holiday and C.J. Wilcox, and the hope in Seattle is that Wilcox can build off of his performance against UCLA last Thursday this week (he was relatively quiet in the loss to USC on Saturday).

Colorado gets one more shot at Kansas State and having won both regular season games, Tad Boyle's team should be brimming with confidence this afternoon. But the same goes for the Wildcats, who have played their best basketball of the season over the last month. Michigan State and Penn State play first round games in the Big Ten Tournament that they can ill-afford to lose if they're to either lock up a bid (Michigan State) or make a late run at a bid (Penn State). Georgia has a game they can't lose down in Atlanta as the SEC Tournament (Auburn) while Tennessee is likely safe given their profile but a win over Arkansas would help (at least) stabilize their seeding for next week. And in the Mountain West, New Mexico and Colorado State meet in a game both desperately need with one more shot at BYU more than likely being the reward.

The "big guns" in the Big East take the stage at Madison Square Garden in four quarterfinals that lack intrigue if you're looking for contests that will affect the bubble. But the day should be an exciting one, beginning with UConn taking on Pittsburgh. Their one meeting happened way back on December 28th, and the Husky freshmen have grown by leaps and bounds since then. Add in Marquette looking to erase the sting of blowing an 18-point lead in the final six minutes in their loss at Louisville in January and the bonanza that should be St. John's/Syracuse and it should be another wild day at MSG. Just hope there are no significant officiating errors.

10:10 PM Portland State vs. Seattle

ACC First Round (Greensboro, NC)
Noon Miami (FL) vs. Virginia (ESPN3)
2:30 PM Wake Forest vs. Boston College (ESPN3)
7:00 PM NC State vs. Maryland (ESPN2)
9:30 PM Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech (ESPN3)

Big 12 Quarterfinals (Kansas City)
12:30 PM Oklahoma State vs. Kansas (ESPN2)
3:00 PM Colorado vs. Kansas State (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Oklahoma vs. Texas (ESPN3)
9:30 PM Missouri vs. Texas A&M

Big East Quarterfinals (New York City)
12:00 PM Connecticut vs. Pittsburgh (ESPN)
2:00 PM St. John's vs. Syracuse (ESPN)
7:00 PM Cincinnati vs. Notre Dame (ESPN)
9:00 PM Marquette vs. Louisville (ESPN)

Big Ten First Round (Indianapolis)
2:30 PM Minnesota vs. Northwestern (ESPN2)
4:30 PM Iowa vs. Michigan State (ESPN2)
7:30 PM Indiana vs. Penn State (BTN)

Big West Quarterfinals (Anaheim, CA)
3:00 PM Long Beach State vs. UC Irvine
5:30 PM Pacific vs. UC Santa Barbara
9:00 PM Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside
11:30 PM Cal State Northridge vs. Cal State Fullerton

Conference USA Quarterfinals (El Paso, TX)
1:00 PM East Carolina vs. UAB (CBS College)
3:30 PM Southern Miss vs. Memphis (CBS College)
7:30 PM Marshall vs. UTEP (CBS College)
10:00 PM Rice vs. Tulsa (CBS College)

Great West Quarterfinals (Orem, UT)
4:30 PM NJIT vs. Houston Baptist
7:00 PM North Dakota vs. Texas-Pan American
9:30 PM South Dakota vs. Chicago State

MAC Quarterfinals (Cleveland)
12:00 PM Bowling Green vs. Western Michigan (ESPN3)
2:30 PM Akron vs. Miami (OH) (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Buffalo vs. Kent State (ESPN3)
9:30 PM Ohio vs. Ball State (ESPN3)

MEAC Quarterfinals (Winston-Salem, NC)
6:00 PM Norfolk State vs. Coppin State
8:00 PM Morgan State vs. North Carolina A&T

Mountain West Quarterfinals (Las Vegas)
3:00 PM TCU vs. BYU (The Mtn.)
5:30 PM New Mexico vs. Colorado State
9:00 PM Utah vs. San Diego State
11:30 PM Air Force vs. UNLV

Pac-10 Quarterfinals (Los Angeles)
3:00 PM California vs. USC (FSN)
5:30 PM Oregon State vs. Arizona (FSN)
9:00 PM Oregon vs. UCLA (FSN)
11:30 PM Washington State vs. Washington (FSN)

SEC First Round (Atlanta)
1:00 PM Auburn vs. Georgia (ESPN3)
3:30 PM South Carolina vs. Mississippi (ESPN3)
7:30 PM Tennessee vs. Arkansas (ESPN3)
10:00 PM LSU vs. Vanderbilt

Southland Semifinals (Katy, TX)
7:00 PM Texas-San Antonio vs. Sam Houston State
9:30 PM Texas State vs. McNeese State

SWAC Quarterfinals (Garland, TX)
1:30 PM Mississippi Valley State vs. Grambling State
9:00 PM Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M

WAC Quarterfinals (Las Vegas)
3:00 PM Idaho vs. San Jose State (ESPNU)
5:30 PM New Mexico State vs. Nevada (ESPNU)

HOOPS TALK LIVE THURSDAY 6-7PM EST

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: College of Charleston's Bobby Cremins

Jon Teitel — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:47:55 -0800

Before the season began CHN writer spent some time with current College of Charleston head coach Bobby Cremins to talk about his time at Georgia Tech along with a couple other coaching stops. Cremins took over a program that went 4-23 in the season before his arrival and within four years led the Yellow Jackets to an ACC Tournament title. His 1990 squad made it all the way to the Final Four in Denver, where they were knocked out by eventual national champion UNLV. Cremins' current team leads the Southern Conference and boasts one of the best guard in America in senior Andrew Goudelock.

Jon Teitel: Your nickname is "Cakes". Who gave it to you, and how do you like it?

Bobby Cremins: I got the nickname in college because when I would talk down south with my New York accent, everyone thought that I sounded like I had cake in my mouth. I loved the nickname!

JT: You were part of Hall of Fame coach Frank McGuire's "underground railroad" of players who traveled from New York to play at South Carolina (along with players like John Roche and Tom Owens). What made McGuire such a great coach, and how was he able to get so many great players from the Big Apple?

BC: He won an NCAA title at North Carolina in 1957 and also coached at St. John's and in the NBA. He had an impeccable reputation as a person, as well as great charisma. He was like the Godfather. We had so much respect for all of his accomplishments.

JT: In 1970 you were the starting PG and captain for a South Carolina team that went 14-0 in the ACC, but Ed Leftwich stole the ball from you at midcourt and made the go-ahead layup to clinch a three-point double overtime win by NC State in the ACC Tournament final and cost your team a spot in the NCAA Tournament. How big a deal was it to go undefeated in conference play, and where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career?

BC: The regional that year was in Columbia, SC and if we had won that then we would have been in the Final Four. Roche got injured in the semifinals and probably should not have played in the final. We were the best team in the ACC, but NC State coach Norm Sloan did a great job of playing the clock. It is the most devastating loss of my career, as it took away everything that we had worked for...but I am almost over it!

JT: In 1975 you became one of the youngest Division I head coaches in the nation at Appalachian State and proceeded to win three SoCon titles during your six years there. Did you feel like you were ready to become a head coach at age 27, and how were you able to come in and have so much success so quickly?

BC: I probably was not ready, but having been a point guard and worked for McGuire helped a lot. I was a good recruiter so I just learned how to coach while on the job. I studied coaches, read books, watched games, and attended clinics.

JT: In 1981 you were hired as coach for a Georgia Tech team that went 4-23 the previous year. Why did you take the job, and were you worried that it would take a long time to rebuild?

BC: The main reason I took the job was due to the ACC Tournament loss a decade before. I just wanted another opportunity to get the ACC title that I was denied as a player. I did not know a whole lot about the city of Atlanta or the school itself. All I cared about was that they were in the ACC.

JT: What are your memories of the 1985 ACC Tournament final (tournament MVP Mark Price scored 16 points and played all 40 minutes in a three-point win over North Carolina for the first ACC Tournament title in school history)?

BC: That healed my wound a lot, as Price was sensational. Dean Smith is a great coach, so that was really special to beat him and win it in Atlanta. One of my heroes is Al McGuire, who did the game on TV.

1985 NCAA Tournament

JT: Price scored 18 points in a win over Syracuse and 20 in an eight-point win over Illinois. As a former point guard yourself, what made Price such a great point guard?

BC: He had great bloodlines from his father, and was the total package. He put us on the map. He was a godsend to me, and a lot quicker than people thought. He had incredible heart and determination. We knew that we were getting a good one, but did not know that we were getting a great one.

JT: John Salley scored 15 points in a six-point loss to eventual national runner-up Georgetown. How close did you come to winning that game, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

BC: John was skinny and could not shoot in high school so he was not highly recruited, but he was probably the smartest player that I ever coached. Everything was happening very quickly that month, and the next thing I know we are playing against Patrick Ewing and Coach John Thompson in Providence. We had a great chance to win the game, but just could not get it done.

1986 NCAA Tournament

JT: Salley scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a five-point win over Villanova. Was it extra-special to knock off the defending champs?

BC: Rollie Massimino was a great coach so it was great to beat them, and then we got to go back to Atlanta.

JT: Don Redden scored 27 points in a six-point LSU win in the Omni. Did the crowd give you a home-court advantage, and how impressed were you by LSU having only five turnovers all night?

BC: I thought we had it won, but they made a big three-point shot late, so it was a tough loss.

1986 FIBA World Championships

JT: As an assistant coach to Lute Olson, you had a six-point loss to Argentina in the semifinal round but ended up beating the USSR to win it all. How shocking was the loss to Argentina, and what did it mean to you to win the gold medal?

BC: We got our butts kicked by Argentina but the loss got us refocused really quickly. Lute is one of the best coaches ever. Our big star was Muggsy Bogues. He almost did not make the team but thank God we took him.

JT: The legendary all-tournament team featured future NBA Hall of Famers Drazen Petrovic and David Robinson, FIBA Hall of Famers Arvydas Sabonis and Oscar Schmidt, and two-time Olympian Valeri Tikhonenko. Which of those five players impressed you the most, and could you foresee the future explosion of the sport around the globe?

BC: It was big-time basketball for the college kids to play against the pros from foreign countries. I did not foresee the rise of the game around the world, but they were all NBA-caliber players who were ahead of their time, and they sowed the seeds for the future. Oscar was one of the best ever...but I hated him because he was so good and so cocky. He pushed us around, but I had great respect for him as a player. They proved to the entire world that they were great enough to play.

JT: You are a three-time ACC Coach of the Year and in 1990 you were named Naismith College Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?

BC: I had really good players. My one regret is that we did not get to the Final Four more. I think we should have won at least one national title. I recently watched Coach K pass Dean Smith for #2 on the all-time wins list, and it brought back so many memories for me coaching against each of them. I never thought anyone would pass Dean.

1990 NCAA Tournament

JT: Dennis Scott scored 36 points in a win over East Tennessee State, then scored 30 and grabbed 11 rebounds in a three-point win over LSU. Where does Scott rank among the best scorers you have ever seen?

BC: Dennis was one of the greatest: he had tremendous range and great touch. He was a Magic Johnson or Kevin Durant-type player, but he was a little overweight. He could rebound, post up, etc. Price was probably the most talented player I had, but Dennis was probably the best all-around player I had.

JT: Kenny Anderson scored 31 points, including a shot at the end of regulation to send it into overtime en route to a one-point win over Michigan State. Where does Anderson's shot rank among the most clutch you have ever seen, and how was he able to play with such poise as a freshman?

BC: Kenny was sensational; the best pure point guard I ever coached. The things he could do with the ball were incredible. There were all kinds of controversy. The refs counted the basket, but called it a two instead of a three. Tom Izzo and Jud Heathcote were on the opposing bench. What a wild game.

JT: Scott scored 40 points and played all 40 minutes in a two-point win over Minnesota, then scored 29 in a nine-point loss to eventual champion UNLV. Where does that UNLV team rank among the best you have ever seen, and what was it like to coach against Jerry Tarkanian in the tournament?

BC: Dennis was the most versatile player I ever coached; there was nothing he could not do. We were drained after the Michigan State game, but we had UNLV on the ropes. Jerry respected us so much that he played a zone defense in the first half even though he is a great man-to-man coach, and he switched to a man-to-man defense in the second half. I took Kenny out after he picked up a charge for his 4th foul early in the second half. He is still mad at me to this day, so maybe I should have left him in after all.

JT: What are your memories of the 1992 NCAA Tournament (Jon Barry scored 17 points in a five-point win over Houston, 20 in a one-point win over USC, and 29 in a four-point loss to Memphis after you offered him a scholarship without ever having seen him play)?

BC: We had a great chance to go back to the Final Four but we missed some key shots down the stretch. Penny Hardaway hit a big three-point shot and Memphis won it in OT. I could not get Jon out of the locker room after the game because he was crying his eyes out.

1996 NCAA Tournament

JT: Stephon Marbury scored 29 points and had nine assists in a win over Boston College. Following in the freshman footsteps of Anderson, what is the key to trusting a freshman point guard to lead you in March?

BC: We were playing great basketball, and Stephon was a great talent.

JT: Danny Fortson scored 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a Cincinnati victory. Was your team just unable to keep Fortson off the boards?

BC: We did not play well against the Bearcats in Lexington. We were young and could not stop Fortson.

JT: In 1996 you were an assistant to Coach Lenny Wilkens with Dream Team 2 in Olympics as they won a gold medal. Was it extra-special to win a gold medal in Atlanta, and do you feel that the US should be represented by college players instead of NBA players in the Olympics?

BC: Back then I preferred college guys, but now that the atmosphere has changed I think we should send NBA players. I just thought it was a mismatch back then with the NBA guys, but the Olympics helped foreign players get comfortable playing against the best in the world. It was a great honor for me. I just tried to stay out of the way and watch. Lenny is as classy as they come.

JT: You retired from coaching in 2000 but returned to become coach at the College of Charleston in 2006. How have you enjoyed it so far, and how long do you plan on sticking around?

BC: I was struggling by 2000 because we had lost our edge/swagger, and I knew it was time for me to leave. Paul Hewitt has brought the swagger back at Georgia Tech. I thought that I would get back into coaching after one or two years away from it, but I just got very comfortable in Hilton Head Island. I did some TV work and helped out with some charities (Coaches for Cancer, Jimmy V Classic, etc.). In 2006 I realized that I had something left in the tank, and the opportunity opened up at the right time. It has been challenging, but so much fun.

Coach Cremins is also on Jon's list of best coaches in ACC history.

Boston College: Al Skinner (1997-2010) 232-149, 7 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Clemson: Cliff Ellis (1984-1994) 177-128, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Duke: Mike Krzyzewski (1980-present) 891-281, 26 NCAA tourneys, 12 conference titles, 4 NCAA titles, 5-time conference COY, 6-time national COY
Florida State: Hugh Durham (1966-1978) 230-95, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title
Georgia Tech: Bobby Cremins (1981-2000) 354-237, 10 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY
Maryland: Gary Williams (1989-present) 459-248, 14 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 2-time conference COY
Miami (FL): Bruce Hale (1954-1967) 220-112, 1 NCAA tourney
North Carolina: Dean Smith (1961-1997) 879-254, 27 NCAA tourneys, 17 conference titles, 2 NCAA titles, 1 NIT title, 8-time conference COY, 3-time national COY
N.C. State: Everett Case (1946-1965) 377-134, 6 NCAA tourneys, 9 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
Virginia: Terry Holland (1974-1990) 326-173, 9 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NIT title, 2-time conference COY
Virginia Tech: Charles Moir (1976-1987) 213-119, 4 NCAA tourneys
Wake Forest: Dave Odom (1989-2001) 240-132, 8 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1 NIT title, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY

Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats Series: Former Virginia Tech head coach Charles Moir

Jon Teitel — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:53:11 -0800

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Virginia Tech head coach Charles Moir, who won 213 games and led the Hokies to four NCAA Tournament appearances during his time in Blacksburg. An alum of Roanoke College, Moir's son Page is currently the head coach there.

Jon Teitel: You played basketball and baseball at Appalachian State, and later played minor league baseball for a few years. Which sport did you like more, and which one were you better at?

Charles Moir: I was probably a better baseball player, but I had to stop playing due to rheumatic fever. After signing to play pro baseball as a sophomore, I was ineligible from playing college baseball.

JT: After retiring from baseball you became a high school basketball coach and won four state titles in 11 years. Was it frustrating to not be able to go out on your own terms, and how were you able to be so successful at the high school level?

CM: I hated to give up baseball but figured that I would not make it to the majors and had a family to support. My brother was also a high school basketball coach. I enjoyed coaching and had some mighty good players.

JT: In 1967 you became head coach at Roanoke College, where your first recruit was Frankie Allen (the first African-American basketball player in school history who later succeeded you as head coach at Virginia Tech). How big a deal was it to recruit Frankie at the time, and what was the reaction like on campus?

CM: Frankie was a great guy and an outstanding basketball player. He was well accepted and had a great career. He still has a lot of state records in Virginia, but more than that he was a class guy. We still talk a lot on the phone.

JT: In 1972 your team went 28-4 and won the Division II national title, while you were named National College Division Coach of the Year. What did it mean to you to win the title, and what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

CM: I had some outstanding players who I have to credit for our success. We were not expected to win it all: it was definitely the highlight of my career.

JT: After becoming head coach at Virginia Tech you won the 1979 Metro Conference title thanks to tournament MVP Dale Solomon. How was Solomon able to play so well despite being a freshman, and where does he rank among the best players you ever coached?

CM: Dale was an outstanding player and athlete. I have never seen anyone shoot the ball better in traffic. He later had a good career overseas. Chuck Daly tried to sign him from Italy to play for the Pistons, but he decided to stay abroad.

JT: What are your memories of the 1979 NCAA Tournament (Solomon scored 24 points in a win over Jacksonville, but Larry Bird scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds in a win by eventual national runner-up Indiana State)?

CM: Indiana State coach Bill Hodges lives here in Roanoke and coaches a high school team. I still see him around town every so often. I felt like we had an opportunity to beat the Sycamores, but Bird was a lot better than I thought he would be. Bird was just unstoppable, and he had some good players around him.

JT: What are your memories of the 1980 NCAA Tournament (Solomon scored 22 points and had 11 rebounds in a four-point overtime win over Western Kentucky, but Isiah Thomas scored 17 points and had seven assists in a nine-point Indiana victory)?

CM: We were down 19 points in the Western Kentucky game but Dale had a great second half to lead our comeback. We had a chance to beat Indiana and it was a good ball game. We got called for offensive basket interference late in the game (which hurt us), but Indiana was very good and it was a tough loss.

JT: What are your memories of the 1984 NIT (Virginia Tech won three games by a combined nine points before a three-points loss to eventual champion Michigan in the semifinals)?

CM: We missed some free throws down the stretch against Michigan, but should have won that game. Michigan had a great team, and I later became good friends with Coach Bill Frieder.

JT: In 1987 after the NCAA found 12 violations within the program, you were forced to resign despite being cleared of any wrongdoing. Why did they make you resign if you did not do anything wrong, and would you do anything differently if you had to do it over again?

CM: They asked me to come back and coach, but I realized that there would be no way I could recruit the caliber of athlete we needed. They did not "make" me resign; I just resigned on my own after they did not extend my contract. I enjoyed my career there and gave them everything I had. Frank Beamer and Seth Greenberg are still good friends of mine.

JT: Your son Page is currently the head coach at Roanoke College. Was it hard for him to follow in your large footsteps, and did you have any influence on his career choice?

CM: I advised him after college to do something else because coaching is a hard life with little money unless you can make it to the top, but he has done great at Roanoke and had some great teams. I enjoyed my time at Roanoke, and it is a good academic school. I am proud of him and he has my full support.

Coach Moir is also on Jon's list of best coaches in ACC history.

Boston College: Al Skinner (1997-2010) 232-149, 7 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Clemson: Cliff Ellis (1984-1994) 177-128, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Duke: Mike Krzyzewski (1980-present) 887-281, 26 NCAA tourneys, 12 conference titles, 4 NCAA titles, 5-time conference COY, 6-time national COY
Florida State: Hugh Durham (1966-1978) 230-95, 3 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title
Georgia Tech: Bobby Cremins (1981-2000) 354-237, 10 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY
Maryland: Gary Williams (1989-present) 456-245, 14 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 2-time conference COY
Miami (FL): Bruce Hale (1954-1967) 220-112, 1 NCAA tourney
North Carolina: Dean Smith (1961-1997) 879-254, 27 NCAA tourneys, 17 conference titles, 2 NCAA titles, 1 NIT title, 8-time conference COY, 3-time national COY
N.C. State: Everett Case (1946-1965) 377-134, 6 NCAA tourneys, 9 conference titles, 6-time conference COY
Virginia: Terry Holland (1974-1990) 326-173, 9 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1 NIT title, 2-time conference COY
Virginia Tech: Charles Moir (1976-1987) 213-119, 4 NCAA tourneys
Wake Forest: Dave Odom (1989-2001) 240-132, 8 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1 NIT title, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY

College Hoops Tuesday Recap: Buckeyes Dominate Purdue

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:36:09 -0800

If you were upset that the game between Florida and Georgia wouldn't end in time for the tip between Purdue and Ohio State that's understandable. Because by the time ESPN switched its coverage from Athens to Columbus the Buckeyes had just about ended the game, going on a 17-1 run following a Purdue basket to make the score 6-4 with 17:27 remaining. From that point forward the top-ranked Buckeyes would lead by no fewer than 13 and by as many as 31 in their 87-64 pasting of a good Purdue team, serving notice not only to the rest of the Big Ten but to America as well that they're going to be around for awhile. Jared Sullinger led six Buckeyes in double figures with 17 points, and while JaJuan Johnson led all scorers with 22 points Ohio State did a good job of limiting his teammates' scoring opportunities.

"We were all about defense at this point," said Sullinger after the game. "We knew E'Twaun (Moore) and JaJuan Johnson would get their shots. We just wanted to limit everyone else from getting good shots."

And that they did. Johnson shot a respectable 9-for-17 from the field, but Moore (4-for-13) and the rest of the Boilermakers (combined 11-for-33) struggled in both making shots and finding quality looks. Ohio State also controlled the boards, out-rebounding Purdue 42-28 with Jon Diebler's eight caroms leading the way. The Buckeyes had eight second-chance points to Purdue's zero in the first half, making it near impossible for the Boilermakers to hang around. Offensively Ohio State surpassed their efficiency percentage average of 119.3, finishing with a 126.1 thanks to 55.2% shooting from the field and 20 assists on 32 made baskets. Had Purdue not been able to score 15 points off of 12 turnovers, with 11 of those points coming in the second half, the margin of victory would have been closer to that highest-lead mark of 31. The Buckeyes were scary good at points on Tuesday night, and given the amount of experience on this team along with their unselfishness this group doesn't look like the type that will rest on their accolades.

"I think it's a big message to send, I think Jared is a great player but we have to put people around him that can make plays," remarked Aaron Craft, who finished with 11 points and six assists. "I think that's a big part of our team, that everyone can make baskets."

Where does this leave the Big Ten race? The race may be for second instead of first as the Buckeyes tightened their grip on the top spot with this victory. But Purdue should definitely be a part of the conversation for second if not the favorites to finish in that position. Minnesota lost guard Al Nolen to a foot injury and Michigan State announced Monday night that backup point guard Korie Lucious was suspended for the remainder of the season due to a violation of team rules. When a game of this magnitude results in a blowout the immediate impulse is to ask "what's wrong" with the defeated party. But while Purdue didn't show much in the way of toughness on the boards (along with their offensive issues) this one was more about what the Buckeyes did right. (quotes courtesy of Ohio State Athletics)

Other Notable Happenings

1. Syracuse may be in more trouble than many thought after last week.
Tuesday night proved to be a bad one for the Orange, who now have some issues that may have more to them instead of the fact that they were playing a pair of Top 10 teams last week. Jeremy Hazell announced his return to old form with 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting and as a team Seton Hall shot 54% from the field in an impressive 90-68 whipping of the home team at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse made a change to their starting lineup, shifting Rick Jackson into the middle of their 2-3 zone and starting James Southerland instead of freshman Fab Melo. But that didn't help much as Southerland was quiet for many of his 19 minutes, and Seton Hall continued to make perimeter shots (10-17 3PT). Surprisingly the Pirates also out-rebounded the Orange by a margin of 43-38, breaking even in points in the paint (36 apiece) and outscoring Syracuse 23-17 in fast break points. But while the Pirates deserve credit for playing as impressively as they did, the question of what's wrong with Syracuse must be asked.

Scoop Jardine, who was one of the best players during their undefeated start, has struggled in each of the last three games. And the freshman center platoon of Melo and Baye Moussa Keita hasn't become increasingly ineffective as the level of competition has elevated. Southerland hasn't produced in his expanded role of late, meaning that it may be time to give C.J. Fair a shot at more minutes. For Syracuse to never lead in a game against a team they took care of couple weeks ago is a serious red flag at this stage in the season. There's no doubt that Jim Boeheim and his staff can find the answers, but what about the players? They're the ones who need to not only find the solutions but put them to work.

2. Lipscomb adds some intrigue to the Atlantic Sun race.
After their win at East Tennessee State on Sunday night the Belmont Bruins were one win away from finishing a three-game road swing undefeated and essentially putting the first nail in the coffin in regards to the Atlantic Sun regular season race. But city rival Lipscomb, a team they'd blown out 88-52 just 13 days prior, had other ideas. Adnan Hodzic scored 26 points while Brandon Brown added 17 and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Burgason knocked down some crucial shots late in the second half to hand the Bruins their first league loss by the final score of 73-64. The problem for Belmont was that they went cold in the second half, shooting just 25.8% from the field and being outscored 42-24 by the Bisons. For the game Belmont shot just 39.7% from the field and made nine of thirty-one three pointers, and when you're not hitting shots you can't pressure the opposition or make up for 16 turnovers. What does Lipscomb's win mean to the A-Sun race? Besides giving ETSU a "second life" (the Bucs visit Belmont on February 17th) there really isn't a lot to hang onto. Belmont wasn't invincible, something that all involved knew going into the game. They'll be fine, and maybe the win could be a catalyst of sorts for a Lipscomb club that hasn't lived up to preseason favorite status thus far.

3. Virginia Tech loses the kind of game they can ill-afford to drop if they're to make the Big Dance.
As the college basketball season gets closer to its climax the focus becomes the resume, especially when discussing teams that aren't necessarily locks to make the NCAA Tournament. And while quality wins get the bulk of the attention bad losses are also part of the equation, and while Georgia Tech has played better basketball recently losing 72-57 to the Yellow Jackets would constitute a "bad loss" from a resume standpoint for Virginia Tech. Iman Shumpert posted the first triple-double in Georgia Tech history since Kenny Anderson did it in December of 1989 and Brian Oliver scored 28 points in the win. But it was their defense (or the Hokies' inability to make shots) that truly carried the night.

Virginia Tech shot 39.3% from the field and 1-for-11 from beyond the arc and with Malcolm Delaney scoring just eight points (eight turnovers as well) Seth Greenberg's club was in trouble. Jeff Allen (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Victor Davila (13 and seven) did the majority of the scoring, but the Hokies aren't winning games when Delaney and Erick Green combine to shoot 6-for-26 from the field. Losing games like this puts undue pressure on a team, especially one that's looking to grab that elusive NCAA bid. And with the ACC being what it is this season, Virginia Tech isn't going to have as many chances at standout wins as say a Marquette or St. John's in the Big East. With Miami and NC State next up the Hokies need to go 2-0 heading into their visit to Boston College on February 5th.

Top Three Games

1. (23) Florida 104, Georgia 91 (2OT)
An Erving Walker three pointer from about 30 feet out sent the game into a second overtime and Florida's offense eventually proved to be too much in Athens. The Gators scored the first nine points of the second overtime on their way to a deceptive 13-point victory. Walker and Kenny Boynton scored 24 points apiece while Vernon Macklin added 23 for the victors while Travis Leslie led the Bulldogs with 21. Trey Thompkins' follow just before the horn sent the game into overtime tied at 73.

2. Florida Gulf Coast 111, Stetson 103 (3OT)
It took fifteen extra minutes to do so but the extra work was worth it to Florida Gulf Coast, who won their second consecutive road game after winning just one of their prior eight road contests. Christophe Varidel led the victors with 29 points and Anthony Banks added 14 while Joel Naburgs and Tyshawn Patterson led the Hatters with 20 points apiece.

3. (6) Kansas 82, Colorado 78 The Jayhawks were able to hang on in Boulder despite heavy hearts, and rebounding was the key despite the absence of forward Thomas Robinson. Kansas out-rebounded Colorado 37-23 for the game, scoring 21 second-chance points to the Buffaloes' two. Josh Selby led four double-figure scorers for Kansas with 17 points while Colorado's Alec Burks led all scorers with 25.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the Yellow Jackets' 72-57 win over Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

2. G Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall) 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the Pirates' 90-68 whipping of (10) Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

3. F Troy Barnies (Maine) 20 points and 14 rebounds in the Black Bears' 64-50 win over New Hampshire. Maine is now 7-1 in America East play.

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