Yancy Gates is so smooth. (AP photo)
—UPSET—Cincinnati 67, No. 24 Vanderbilt 58. Not sure if this is much of an upset, but I must file it as one. This one was over early after ‘Nati went up 22-6 before the patrons could even fill up the building. Hey, hey, the Big East keeps playing well. Looking forward to Cincinnati-Maryland later today. I think the Bearcats win it.
No. 6 Purdue 73, No. 9 Tennessee 72. It came down to an ugly ending, and it played in Purdue’s favor. You know it’s bad when Wayne Chism is shooting a 3 to decide the game for you. Vols have no legit 1 to run the floor. It hurt them and cost them the game. But: This game was a great one. Terrific atmosphere; the lead never swelled to greater than six. Purdue survived bad free throw shooting down the stretch and got a win, primarily, because from 13:51 to 5:49 in the second half Tennessee went without a field goal.
No. 3 Texas 85, Iowa 60. Damion James was shut down in the first half, but that didn’t matter: Texas is the deepest team in the country. As bad as it sounds, for the Hawkeyes to have it tied after 20 was a moral victory for this team.
No. 11 North Carolina 93, Gardner-Webb 72. The Bulldogs received the brunt of UNC’s pain coming off the Syracuse game.
No. 16 Louisville 80, Appalachian State 53. In eight words: Role players proved their worth against a pansy.
No. 19 Clemson 102, Winthrop 66. Trevor Booker with 15 and 11. He could become a legitimate force on a national scale. ACC watchers have always known him as the big bully in the paint, but I think he could make the leap this year.
No. 21 Maryland 79, Chaminade 51. It was a 10-point game at the half. The repeat upset eludes us again.
Notable:
Gonzaga 76, Colorado 72. Bulldogs did not guard well at all in this game, but they got terrific help from Matt Bouldin, the guy who will have to bail them out a few times this year. Bouldin scored the last 17 of 19 Gonzaga points to keep the Zags from being upset by the team picked to finish last in the Big 12.
DePaul 58, St. Joseph’s 51. Three weeks ago most believed Jerry Wainwright was pacing through an accommodated swan song this season with DePaul. It’s time to rethink that, because the Blue Demons are 3-1 with a win over Northern Iowa and a scare against Tennessee.
Northern Iowa 81, Boston College 69. The Panthers beating the Eagles makes DePaul look even better. Junior Kwadzo Ahelegbe exploded for 32 points for UNI.
Wisconsin 65, Arizona 61. The late game last night, I couldn’t make it past halftime. The matchup reminded me of the 2006 8/9 game. A post on the Pac-10 later this morning.
