CHJ thinks WVU is a prime candidate for a first-weekend upset. (AP)
No. 4 Villanova 82, No. 5 West Virginia 75. It’s the first win for ‘Nova in Morgantown in 11 years. At this point, I just block out the Scottie Reynolds haters. Nineteen of his final 21 came in the last 13 minutes of this game. West Virginia, as it’s prone to do, didn’t play up to equal talent. Hell, you could argue WVU has more talent than Villanova. But on its home floor, the Mountaineers got pushed around and took for granted the opponent they were playing. This is happened before. They also didn’t have the guard play to keep up. Huggins’ teams rarely can survive — in the grand scope — against clubs with competent guard play. No one will convince me Villanova will win the national title, but I’m even less prone to believe West Virginia can reach the Final Four. And is anyone as overrated as Da’Sean Butler? Quality player, but he’s not going to live up to his draft hype. I’m all riled up this morning!
No. 1 Kansas 80, No. 14 Texas 68. Remember how this was considered one of the biggest regular-season games back in October? Kansas got its first win in Austin since, wow, 2002. Marcus Morris (18 points, eight rebounds) deserves himself a feature or two. If you stuck around to the end of the game you heard a rock-chalk-Jayhawk chant in the Erwin Events Center. I guess Kansas alums live in the greater Austin area. You’ve probably seen or heard about that KU run in the first half, too.
The worst thing about this for Texas is that Kansas didn’t even play all that well. Texas just has no identity, and J’Covan Brown’s 28 points isn’t something that’s going to be available at the buffet all that often. How is Texas only getting 32 points in the first 28 minutes? Despicable. Rick Barnes is screwing this up. Dexter Pittman can’t even manage a double-double anymore, and 25 minutes per game seems as likely as him sinking a fadeaway jumper. There is too much talent on this team for this to be happening. Texas has probably knocked itself out of a top-four seed now and turned its back on being an elite team. Would’ve never thought that to be possible, even after the UConn loss.
No. 18 Butler 62, Loyola-Chicago 47. This win means Butler will have at least a share of the Horizon title. It’ll be the fourth straight season that’s the case. Matt Howard may be able to get back into a groove after going for a team-high 20 last night.
No. 25 Pittsburgh 77, Robert Morris 53. I have no idea why Pitt continues this “rivalry” every year. It’s 28-0, damages the SOS and does nothing for the RPI. I’m too tired to research the reason why this game, which is always played in the middle of the Big East schedule, is continually scheduled.
Notable:
Siena 69, Fairfield 67. The Saints still own the nation’s longest winning streak, which has grown to 15 straight. That’s why they make the cut on my bubble. Derek Needham of Fairfield had 26 points, but the point guard only got two assists. He tried to win it for his team last night, and he almost succeeded. Two close calls for Fran McCaffrey’s team against the Stags.
