Dec. 7-13, 2015
No feature games this week, so let's get started with the weekly recap:
Hartford (David Ginsberg) -- 0-8, 0-0 America East.
12/7/15 vs. Fordham (L 66-61).
12/10/15 at Boston University (L 69-56).
12/12/15 at High Point (L 77-47).
So the Hawks continue to look for their first win of the season. Almost got it against Fordham, but a 16 point halftime deficit could not be overcome.
ECU (Al Hutt) -- 2-4, 0-0 American.
12/9/15 vs. Western Carolina (L 58-50).
12/13/15 at #14 Ohio State (L 67-65).
This is a tough Pirate team to figure out. They lose to Western Carolina at home, but give ranked Ohio State all they can handle at their place. Definitely not the same team that upset Florida State.
Davidson (Randolph Childress) -- 4-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10.
12/8/15 at Xavier (L 69-50).
12/13/15 vs. UAB (W 80-61).
The Wildcats split this week, and were never really in the game at Xavier. .500 ball every week won't cut it.
TCU (Bee Mighty) -- 3-6, 0-0 Big 12.
12/10/15 at Green Bay (L 79-54).
12/13/15 at South Dakota State (L 68-58).
2 embarrassing losses this week for the Horned Frogs. The only saving grace, I guess, is that they were both on the road. But still, beating Creighton and BYU in a tournament, and losing to these 2 teams this week? Consistency fellas, consistency.
Michigan (Cillian Tribble) -- 4-3, 0-0 Big 10.
12/7/15 at Central Connecticu (W 98-60).
12/10/15 at Xavier (W 82-78).
Good week for the Wolverines, who go over .500 with 2 solid road victories.
#2 Michigan State (Al Mighty) -- 8-1, 0-0 Big 10.
12/9/15 vs. Boise State (L 84-82).
Heartbreak in Lansing as the undefeated season is over. This is an ESPN instant classic, even if the teams did combine for 33 turnovers.
Hawaii (B.B. Gunn) -- 4-5, 0-0 Big West.
12/8/15 at Akron (W 78-71).
12/11/15 vs. Evansville (W 80-72).
12/13/15 vs. Mercer (L 67-52).
Almost a perfect week for the Warriors, but tired legs and tired bodies cost them against Mercer.
Charlotte (Timmy Tribble) -- 4-3, 0-0 Conference USA.
12/7/15 vs. Presbyterian (W 57-40).
12/9/15 vs. Southeastern Louisiana (W 56-45).
12/13/15 vs. Furman (W 68-36).
Not exactly the strongest competition here, and all games at home, but 3 feel good wins for the 49ers before they go on a brutal 4 game road stretch to end the year 2015: N.C. State, North Carolina, Duke, and Illinois await.
Rice (Charlie Shocker) -- 4-1, 0-0 Conference USA.
12/6/15 at Sam Houston State (W 57-53).
12/11/15 vs. Texas Southern (W 62-58).
A couple nice 4 point wins for the Owls before they get ready for their season tournament starting next week.
Monmouth (Thomas Carrano) -- 3-5, 2-1 MAAC.
12/11/15 vs. Iona (W 70-62).
12/13/15 vs. Manhattan (W 71-67).
The Hawks get a couple good home wins in conference play, but I'm still befuddled why they started MAAC play so early. Oh well, whatever.
Norfolk State (Payten Carrano) -- 1-6, 0-0 MEAC.
12/7/15 at St. Joseph's (L 67-56).
12/10/15 vs. Duquesne (L 62-28).
Nothing is going right for the Spartans, who have 4 players out and just can't find a rhythm right now.
Colorado (Rob Nielsen) -- 4-2, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/7/15 at #7 Gonzaga (L 71-63).
12/12/15 vs. Providence (W 55-54).
The Buffaloes had a solid week, going to Spokane and giving Gonzaga all they wanted, then scraping out a win over Providence.
Stanford (Benito Sanchez) -- 4-2, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/9/15 vs. Loyola Marymount (W 81-61).
12/11/15 vs. Northern Arizona (W 80-39).
A pair of easy home wins for the Cardinal, as they too, begin their season tournament next week.
#6 UCLA (Tim Shepard) -- 6-0, 0-0 Pac 12.
No games this week for Tim and the Bruins.
Washington State (DeShawn St. John) -- 2-3, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/7/15 vs. Montana State (W 57-51).
12/6/15 at USC Upstate (L 52-47).
Not the best of weeks for the Cougars, who struggled with a winless Montana State team at home, then lost to USC Upstate.
Alabama (Roy Rogers) -- 2-3, 0-0 SEC.
12/12/15 at #20 Wisconsin (L 83-82, OT).
So close, yet so far for the Crimson Tide, who played another ranked team tough, but fell just short. They've got to be due for a marquee road non-conference win at some point.
#22 Florida (Noah Oppenheimer) -- 6-1, 0-0 SEC.
12/8/15 at South Alabama (W 96-65).
12/11/15 vs. James Madison (W 88-40).
The good news.. 2 more wins for the Gators. The bad news, they came at the hands of teams that currently have a 334 and 351 RPI, respectively. These wins won't do much for them come March.
#10 Kentucky (Patrick Hutt) -- 7-1, 0-0.
No games this week for Patrick and the Wildcats.
Troy (Brett Hawkins) -- 1-6, 0-0 Sun Belt.
12/9/15 at Valparaiso (L 58-28).
12/12/15 at Clemson (L 68-61).
You might be surprised to find that Valparaiso, of the 2 opponents this week, actually has the much better record, but still, scoring 7 points in a half and 28 for a game is just brutal. At least they found the net at Clemson, but what makes that game frustrating is they led by 9 at halftime. Again, so close, yet so far.
Here's a look at the polls for the week:
Code:
Top 25
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference test test test test
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1. Villanova (70) 9-0 1797 1 Big East Conference
2. Iowa (1) 7-0 1688 3 Big Ten Conference
3. Kansas 7-0 1659 5 Big 12 Conference
4. Louisville 7-0 1591 4 Atlantic Coast Conference
5. Gonzaga (1) 10-0 1526 7 West Coast Conference
6. UCLA 6-0 1436 6 Pacific-12 Conference
7. North Carolina 9-0 1366 8 Atlantic Coast Conference
8. Iowa State 9-0 1272 11 Big 12 Conference
9. Baylor 5-0 1218 9 Big 12 Conference
10. Kentucky 7-1 1154 10 Southeastern Conference
11. Michigan State 8-1 1108 2 Big Ten Conference
12. Ohio State 8-1 981 14 Big Ten Conference
13. Arizona 5-1 928 15 Pacific-12 Conference
14. VCU 7-1 880 13 Atlantic 10 Conference
15. Syracuse 6-1 791 12 Atlantic Coast Conference
16. Notre Dame 5-1 708 17 Atlantic Coast Conference
17. Duke 6-1 672 16 Atlantic Coast Conference
18. Virginia 6-1 562 19 Atlantic Coast Conference
19. Wisconsin 6-1 504 20 Big Ten Conference
20. Oklahoma 6-1 416 21 Big 12 Conference
21. Florida 6-1 331 22 Southeastern Conference
22. Cincinnati 7-1 203 24 American Athletic Conference
23. Marquette 7-1 192 23 Big East Conference
24. Vanderbilt 6-1 97 NR Southeastern Conference
25. Tulsa 7-0 86 NR American Athletic Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Murray State 9-0 78 Ohio Valley Conference
Miami 7-1 59 Atlantic Coast Conference
Nebraska 7-1 33 Big Ten Conference
San Diego State 6-2 27 Mountain West Conference
Vermont 6-0 21 America East Conference
Washington 6-1 7 Pacific-12 Conference
Winthrop 7-0 4 Big South Conference
North Florida 6-0 3 Atlantic Sun Conference
UNLV 6-1 2 Mountain West Conference
UCLA and Kentucky stay put as neither one played this week. Florida moves up a spot, and the media is at it again. One stinkin loss and Michigan State drops 9 spots. Ridiculous!
Code:
Mid Major Top 25
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference test test test test
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1. Gonzaga (72) 10-0 1800 1 West Coast Conference
2. VCU 7-1 1728 2 Atlantic 10 Conference
3. Cincinnati 7-1 1621 3 American Athletic Conference
4. Tulsa 7-0 1492 4 American Athletic Conference
5. Murray State 9-0 1423 9 Ohio Valley Conference
6. San Diego State 6-2 1329 10 Mountain West Conference
7. South Dakota State 4-1 1261 11 Summit League
8. Vermont 6-0 1231 15 America East Conference
9. North Florida 6-0 1162 12 Atlantic Sun Conference
10. Winthrop 7-0 1061 17 Big South Conference
11. St. Bonaventure 4-1 1020 18 Atlantic 10 Conference
12. New Mexico 5-1 1003 19 Mountain West Conference
13. UNLV 6-1 944 22 Mountain West Conference
14. Richmond 6-1 908 20 Atlantic 10 Conference
15. Connecticut 7-2 878 23 American Athletic Conference
16. Illinois State 8-1 803 21 Missouri Valley Conference
17. Harvard 5-2 570 NR Ivy League
18. Valparaiso 8-1 549 25 Horizon League
19. Stephen F. Austin 7-2 454 7 Southland Conference
20. Colorado State 7-1 428 NR Mountain West Conference
21. Stony Brook 8-1 410 6 America East Conference
22. La Salle 6-2 307 5 Atlantic 10 Conference
23. Eastern Kentucky 6-1 296 NR Ohio Valley Conference
24. Old Dominion 6-1 270 8 Conference USA
25. Tennessee Martin 6-1 101 16 Ohio Valley Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Utah State 6-1 99 Mountain West Conference
Lafayette 6-1 82 Patriot League
Rice 4-1 64 Conference USA
Fordham 7-1 53 Atlantic 10 Conference
Incarnate Word 4-1 30 Southland Conference
UMKC 4-1 11 Western Athletic Conference
UC Riverside 5-1 7 Big West Conference
Boise State 7-2 5 Mountain West Conference
We have some representation in the mid-major polls again, as Rice is receiving votes, and has no excuse not to receive more votes next week as none of the 3 opponents in their season tournament look too tough. I hope I didn't just jinx it. Apologies in advance if I did Coach Shocker!