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Basketball

What to watch: 2/9/10

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Tennessee at Vanderbilt (7 p.m./ESPN)

Rivalry week.

Georgetown at Providence (7 p.m./ESPN2)

Rivalry week?

VCU at George Mason (7 p.m./ESPNU)

Mason's lost two straight for the first time since December, but they've also won 17 straight CAA home games.

Illinois at Wisconsin (7 p.m./Big Ten Network)

Wisconsin has only lost five Big Ten home games during the Bo Ryan era. Seriously, that's ridiculous. 

Texas Tech at Oklahoma (8 p.m./MASN)

Tech won the first meeting between the two by ten. 

Purdue at Michigan State (9 p.m./ESPN)

Regardless of what anyone says, this game loses a lot of its luster if Kalin Lucas doesn't play. 

Alabama at Kentucky (9 p.m./ESPNU)

I will not be rooting for the home team.

Colorado State at Air Force (10 p.m./The Mountain)

I have no idea whether or not this game is even semi-meaningful. 

11 comments  |  0 recs |

March Madness Format Poll

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via hellinthehall.files.wordpress.com


Poll
What format would you prefer for the current NCAA Men's Basketball [Postseason] Tournament?

  340 votes | Results

28 comments  |  0 recs

What to watch: 2/8/10

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Villanova at West Virginia (7 p.m./ESPN)

Two top five Big East teams playing each other in a game of basketball. I will be watching. 

UMES at North Carolina A&T (7 p.m./ESPNU)

Two bottom half MEAC teams playing each other in a game of basketball. Their moms will be watching.

The Citadel at Charleston (7 p.m./CSS)

My Losing Season is a good book. 

Fairfield at Siena (7 p.m./MSG/ESPN FulCourt)

The Saints roll to 14-0 in the MAAc and continue their quest to get a single-digit NCAA seed but avoid the 8/9 death game. 

Robert Morris at Pittsburgh (7 p.m./MASN/Big East Network)

I knew the league was desperate to add a ninth team for football, but...Jesus.

Kansas at Texas (9 p.m./ESPN)

You hate to put this much stock in a game against the No. 1 team in the country, but if Texas doesn't pull the upset then this could end up being a Florida '03-esque fall from grace. 

Alcorn State at Grambling (9 p.m./ESPNU)

Eddie Robinson...that is my response to this game. 

Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State (9 p.m./CST/ESPN Plus)

A big game in terms of both the race for the WAC title and La. Tech's outside shot at an at-large bid. 

28 comments  |  0 recs |

Stat post: How Louisville stacks up in the Big East

I am in no mood to think, so let's analyze where U of L currently sits statistically in relation to its Big East brethren. I don't even know if that sentence made sense. Not re-reading it. 

Scoring Offense

5th - 79.7 ppg

Leader - Villanova, 85.2 ppg

Scoring Defense

11th - 69.3 ppg

Leader - Pittsburgh, 60.6 ppg

Scoring Margin

5th - +10.4

Leader - Syracuse, +17.9

Free-Throw Percentage

4th - 70.5%

Leader - Villanova, 75.3%

Field Goal Percentage

7th - 45.1%

Leader - Syracuse, 53.1%

Field Goal Percentage Defense

8th - 42.2%

Leader - Connecticut, 38.2%

Three-Point Percentage

10th - 32.9%

Leader - Marquette - 42.4%

Three-Point Percentage Defense

14th - 35.2%

Leader - Pittsburgh, 29.9%

Rebounding Offense

6th - 39.0 rpg

Leader - Providence, 41.4 rpg

Rebounding Defense

9th - 34.3 rpg

Leader - West Virginia, 30.3 rpg

Rebounding Margin

5th - +4.7

Leader - West Virginia, +7.9

Blocked Shots

9th - 4.1 bpg

Leader- Connecticut, 8.6 bpg

Assists

5th - 15.7 apg

Leader - Syracuse, 19.9 apg

Steals

3rd - 8.1 spg

Leader - Syracuse, 10.9 spg

Turnover Margin

4th - +2.48

Leader - Marquette, +4.39

Assist/Turnover Ratio

8th - 1.1

Leader - Notre Dame, 1.8

Offensive Rebounds

2nd - 15.9 rpg

Leader - Providence, 17.2 rpg

Defensive Rebounds 

13th - 23.1 rpg

Leader - Connecticut, 26.8 rpg

Defensive Rebound Percentage

11th - 64.4%

Leader - Cincinnati, 72%

Offensive Rebound Percentage

2nd - 42.4%

Leader - West Virginia, 43.3% 

3-Point Field Goals Made

3rd - 8.0 pg

Leader - Marquette, 8.2 pg

So we don't lead the league in anything, but we're also not last in the league in anything. Party? Ten Pin?

14 comments  |  0 recs |

Louisville looks to take care of business against surging Rutgers

It's already been a season of bad breaks for Louisville, and while having to play Rutgers this weekend isn't on par with the calls at the end of the West Virginia game, it certainly falls under the category of misfortune.

Nine days ago the Scarlet Knights were winless in the Big East and had lost their eight conference games by an average of more than 19 points. The folks in Jersey still paying attention were anointing the rest of the year as the Fred Hill farewell tour and praying that no other players would take the Corey Chandler/Greg Ecehnique route and flee the program.

Fast forward today where RU is riding a two-game winning streak after stunning Notre Dame by a point and rolling over St. John's by 12.

“We were going through a very tough stretch, but two of the things I’m most proud is that (the players) never stopped believing and they never stopped working,” said RU head coach Fred Hill. “I think that the last two games they have been rewarded for that.”

Perhaps no one has been more rewarded than star guard Mike Rosario.

The former McDonald's All-American torched the Irish for 24 points and then turned around and buried 13-of-22 shots on his way to dropping 33 on St. John's. After a somewhat cold shooting stretch, Rosario has connected seven of his last 13 three-point attempts.

Rosario expects Louisville to focus in on him this afternoon, a challenge he welcomes.

"I'm used to it," Rosario said of the extra attention. "It shows how much respect I have in the league. That motivates me even more. I just try to adapt to it and see how I can get off my shot or do things in order to get loose."

On the other end of the floor the Cards will have to pay just as much attention to Rutgers center Hamady N'Diaye, who ranks third in the nation in blocked shots with 108, more than twice as many as any other player in the Big East. He's also averaging career highs in points (9.5 ppg) and rebounds (6.5 rpg).

“I remember four years ago, everyone called H a project," Hill said. "To see where he has come from – a kid that played basketball starting at 16, came over here from Dakar, Senegal, played in prep school. I love the kid. He brings unbelievable passion to our team.”

Despite all the "questionable" calls that have gone against them and all the talk of missing the NCAA Tournament, a win by Louisville this afternoon would put them in a tie for fourth place, the spot where they were picked to finish before the season began.

Still, Rick Pitino can't help but wonder what if.

"Think about where we'd be right now beating West Virginia and Pitt on the road,” coach Rick Pitino said. “We'd be in the top 20. So if we're in the top 20, we're a pretty good team. … Not only do I think we're an (NCAA Tournament) team, but I think we're a darn good basketball team.”

Stats

Courtesy of Protect R Turf.

Rutgers

Stat

Louisville

68.0

Points Per Game

79.9

71.5

Points Against/Game

69.7

42.9%

FG%

44.8%

66.9%

FT%

70.1%

32.4%

3 Point %

32.8%

-2.4

Rebounding Margin

+4.5

0-6 (Road)

Home/Away

12-3 (Home)

Notes

--Louisville leads the all-time series with Rutgers 7-1 and is 3-0 against the Scarlet Knights at home.

--N'Diaye has accumulated more blocks so far this season than 10 teams in the conference.

--Rosario and N'Diaye both struggled mightily against the Cards a season ago. The guard led the Scarlet Knights in scoring with 21 points, but missed 11 shots and turned the ball over five times. The big man managed just one blocked shot and fouled out of the game with five minutes left.

--Reggie Delk is shooting 68.2 percent for the Cards over the past three games.

--Pat Forde will make his national debut as a tv analyst during today's game.

0 comments  |  0 recs |

Justin Coleman commits to Louisville

Hunting Prep (WV) swingman Justin Coleman has committed to Louisville.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound five-star prospect is rated as the fourth-best small forward in the class of 2010 by Scout. He's billed as an excellent three-point shooter and finisher.

Worth a drink in my book.

UPDATE: More from Demling.

"They showed me the most interest and have been recruiting me for a while," Coleman told The Courier-Journal. "Coach (Rick) Pitino gets players to the league and they have some spots open at my position next year, so I can come in and play."

The 6-foot-4 Coleman said he also had offers from South Florida, Kentucky, Providence and Arkansas have all offered. He's originally from Richmond, Va., and is considered a top-25 prospect.

Coleman is still not academically eligible but said he was "really close."

Celebration! Ten Pin?

38 comments  |  0 recs |

Midseason Big East Awards

Believe it or not (PICK ONE!!), the Big East regular season is at least halfway over for every team in the league. And there are only two things to do when something is halfway over: 1) Organize a bowling night. 2) Hand out awards.

CC Bowling Night at Ten Pin next Wednesday.

Player of the Mid-Year: Wesley Johnson, Syracuse

He doesn't have the numbers that some of the other competitors for this title do, but he's the most versatile player in the conference and the biggest reason the Orange are the surprise team of the season both in the Big East and nationally. We knew from the preseason reports that he was good, but I don't think anybody knew he was this good.

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Defensive Player of the Mid-Year: Hamady N'Diaye, Rutgers

N'Diaye has more than twice as many blocked shots (108) as any other player in the Big East.

All-Big East First Team

We're shelving the Big East's absurd "POY doesn't get a spot on the first team" rule here, which means that one of the top scorers in the country isn't even a first teamer in his own league.

All five of these guys are in the discussion for national player of the year.

Wesley Johnson, Syracuse
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia
Dominique Jones, South Florida

All-Big East Second Team

Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
Jerome Dyson, Connecticut
Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Jamine Peterson, Providence
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

All-Big East Third Team

Devin Ebanks, West Virginia
Samardo Samuels, Louisville
Lazar Hayward, Marquette
Mike Rosario, Rutgers
Stanley Robinson, Connecticut

Freshman of the Mid-Year: Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati

If this were "most valuable freshman," then the honor would likely go to Maalik Wayns, who's been a key contributor to the only undefeated team in the league and has afforded Scottie Reynolds more rest than he's had in four years.

All-Big East Freshman Team

Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati
Maalik Wayns, Villanova
Bilal Dixon, Providence
Alex Oriakhi, Connecticut
Dominic Cheek, Villanova

Coach of the Mid-Year: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse

Syracuse went 11-7 and finished sixth in the Big East last year. After the season, the top three scorers from that team opted to leave school early. Currently, the Orange are ranked third in the country and off to the best start (22-1) in the history of the program.

I'd say the man's deserving.

Top Five Games of the Mid-Year

1. Syracuse 72, West Virginia 71 (1/16)

Here's hoping 'Cuse/'Nova can somehow better this.

2. West Virginia 90, Seton Hall 84 (OT) (12/26)

The first Big East game of the year showcased one of the biggest trends of the conference season thus far as the Mountaineers blew a ten-point lead with less than a minute to play but regrouped and won in overtime.

3. Villanova 74, Marquette 72 (1/2)

Pretty much every Marquette game has a legit beef about not being on this list.

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4. South Florida 76, Seton Hall 74 (OT) (1/28)

Dominique Jones and Jeremy Hazell go bucket-for-bucket as USF snags the first of what will end up being four straight wins (and counting).

5. Cincinnati 60, Notre Dame 58 (1/16)

Eleven lead changes and some serious football-related feelings of ill-will.

Top Five Storylines of the Mid-Year

1. Syracuse or Villanova?

The success of the Orange is an enormous story itself, but the fact that on Feb. 4  these teams have a pair of losses between them - in a year where parity was supposed to reign supreme - is the talk of the league at the halfway point.

Few expected any team in the league to match Louisville's winning league mark of 16-2 from a year ago, but here the Wildcats are sitting at 9-0. Syracuse has run off nine straight wins since falling to Pitt on Jan. 2, and the Orange boast the league's best scoring margin at +18.

Both teams have their harder half of the season sitting in front of them. They'll face off inside the Carrier Dome on Feb. 27.

2. Enormous blown leads and comebacks

If you turn on a Big East game and are disappointed to see that one of the teams is up by between 12-20 points, do yourself a favor and go ahead and keep watching.

3. South Florida's .500 record

Before its current four-game winning streak, the best thing to happen to South Florida basketball since it made the move to the Big East was Depaul's 0-18 season of a year ago.

Over the last two weeks, the Bulls have claimed victories over traditional league powers Providence, Seton Hall, Georgetown and Pittsburgh, and suddenly find themselves at 5-5 and in the top half of the conference standings. During that span, star Dominique Jones has scored 140 points and thrust himself into the national player of the year discussion and his team into the NCAA Tournament discussion.

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4. West Virginia's fan behavior

The language of the Mountaineer faithful was so vulgar against Ohio State that the school had to issue a written apology and head coach Bob Huggins had to plead with the students to clean up their act. In West Virginia's very next game, the student section repeatedly chanted "Ka-ren Sy-pher" at Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, despite Huggins' repeated calls for them to quiet down. In the game after that, the fans threw trash out onto the floor and hit a Pittsburgh assistant coach in the face with a coin.

At this rate, an on-court stabbing is due to occur when Cincinnati comes to Morgantown on Feb. 27.

5. The Player of the Year Race

We talked about it earlier, but there are six extremely deserving candidates at the moment, and those six guys can be split into two groups of three. First, you have the three best players on the league's three best teams (Wes Johnson, Scottie Reynolds, Da'Sean Butler). And then you've got the three guys who consistently post ridiculous stat lines (Luke Harangody, Dominique Jones, Jeremy Hazell).

It's certainly the most competitive race we've seen during Louisville's stint in the Big East.

Projected Final Standings

Syracuse beats 'Nova in their only head-to-head meeting, but the Wildcats still take the regular season title outright by a game.

1. Villanova
2. Syracuse
3. West Virginia
4. Georgetown
5. Pittsburgh
6. Louisville
7. Cincinnati
8. Marquette
9. Seton Hall
10. Connecticut
11. Notre Dame
12. South Florida
13. Providence
14. St. John's
15. Rutgers
16. Depaul

22 comments  |  0 recs |

Louisville/Connecticut highlights

I've seen Avatar. Avatar is no Louisville vs. Connecticut 2-1-10.


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