Most of my weekend was spent getting a Christmas tree, buying Christmas ornaments, buying Christmas lights and watching the Bears get swept by the Packers. I did manage to squeeze in some hoops viewing, but it was more about pleasing the lady, you know? Gotta put in the hours now so I can have some credit January-March. If you think you missed anything, it’s likely covered below.
Ah, the irony. (Cincinnati Enquirer photo)
We must start with the game of the weekend: Xavier’s double-OT win over Cincinnati last night. Why exactly was this game on ESPNU? That cable channel is slowly becoming more accessible, but I still couldn’t find this one last night until five minutes were left in the second half. If you missed it, you missed what will probably be one of the 10 best games of the college basketball season. I think the win will improve with age for Xavier, which will find many a tough night ahead in the A10.
Butler got an absolute must-win at home over Ohio State Saturday, even though Matt Howard fouled out … again. Bulldogs almost blew it, and Ohio State looked strong in its first game without Evan Turner. Made this observation over the weekend: Doesn’t Hinkle’s floor look like its coated with ice? What an incredible wax job the folks do out there.
A few miles up north, the Badgers held serve at home (what else is new) with a nine-point win over still-gotta-figure-them-out Marquette.
And would you look at that: “The Student Section Supports” comes through with a good game as New Mexico took out A&M at home to earn the first 10-0 status of any team this season.
Washington's loss to Georgetown pretty much assures the Pac-10 will not have a team in the polls later today.
The team Butler just lost to, Georgetown, went on the road and played Washington. The Hoyas are undefeated. Did you know that? I’ll eat a bit of crow and admit I didn’t think this team was capable of an 8-0 start. JT3 has things working in the District once again.
And it gets uglier for the Pac-10, as Oregon and Oregon State are a combined 8-8 after their losses. UCLA is now 2-6 after it got smacked around by Mississippi State. Like I said: This team will not win 15 games. Arizona fell to 4-5 with a loss at San Diego State. The beat goes on.
Temple took out Villanova in the biggest-yet-not-most-surprising upset of the weekend. Juan Fernandez is about to become the new hotness in college hoops blogs circles; I just know it. The Owls are quickly establishing themselves as the chic upset pick come March, just you watch. Hard to believe this was just the second game in the past 23 Big Five matchups the Wildcats lost, but that further emphasizes how strong Jay Wright’s team has been the past half-decade.
Time to start paying attention to Rhode Island again. The Rams are 8-1 after winning at Boston College. Rhodey has started out hot the past four seasons but later stumbled in conference play.
Indiana hung with UK for a half, then got done blowed out. John Wall didn’t have a turnover, and this will go down as the most underrated John Wall highlight of the season.
VMI played its usual run-like-you’re-on-fire style and Seton Hall obliged, scoring a school-record 134 points in a 134-107 win. Jamel Jackson had 40 points and hit 12 3′s in the win for the Pirates!
Vegas fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with a loss at the hands of Kansas State. Unlike that program to fall by 15 points at home.
Illinois State quietly dropped from the list of unbeatens as well.
Roy Williams and his childish antics get their own post a little later on.
