Dec. 24-30, 2018
2 feature games to tell you about this week, so let's get to it.
12/24/18-
Washington State (DeShawn St. John) @
Hawaii (B.B. Gunn) -- A thrilling game that saw both teams shoot lights out. The different came at the line though, as Washington State shot and made 11 more free throws to steal a win in Hawaii.
Final Score: Washington State- 80, Hawaii- 74
12/29/18-
Clemson (Charles Johnson) @
Kentucky (Patrick Hutt) -- It was definitely a tale of 2 halves, as Kentucky came out flat and trailed by 3 at halftime. They took control in the second half though, outscoring the Tigers 55-34 and held Clemson to just 38% shooting for the game as they rolled to victory.
Final Score: Kentucky- 86, Clemson- 68
Now to the rest of the weekly recap:
Hartford (David Ginsberg) -- 2-11, 1-0 America East.
12/26/18 at Princeton (W 78-65).
12/30/18 vs. Binghamton (W 65-56).
Don't look now, but the Hawks have started a winning streak! Not only did they beat a usually strong Princeton team, they also won their America East opener.
ECU (Al Hutt) -- 3-10, 0-1 American.
12/26/18 vs. South Florida (L 78-58).
Getting back home and into conference play didn't make a difference, as the Pirates still got blasted in their only game of the week.
Tulsa (Will Brown) -- 3-8, 0-0 American.
12/25/18 at Creighton (L 81-55).
12/29/18 at Oregon State (L 62-59).
Well it's back to losses for the Golden Hurricane, but both were pretty good losses really, as both Creighton and Oregon State are pretty solid this season.
Davidson (Randolph Childress) -- 4-6, 0-0 Atlantic 10.
12/26/18 vs. Marquette (W 80-73).
1 game this week for the Wildcats, who get a much needed win, but have a very tough schedule coming up. Their next 3 opponents are a combined 23-7.
Clemson (Charles Johnson) -- 3-9, 0-0 ACC.
12/24/18 vs. Tennessee (W 84-80).
12/29/18 at Kentucky- feature game, highlighted above.
At this point, the Tigers need wins. Getting a win over a solid Tennessee team is good, but they've still gotta go through the brutal grind of the ACC.
#19 Duke (Dean Hoo) -- 9-2, 0-0 ACC.
12/24/18- Las Vegas Classic Semifinal vs. (4) Kansas State (W 82-74).
12/25/18- Las Vegas Classic Championship vs. (3) #8 Texas A&M (L 64-59).
A much better finish than last seasons 16 team tournament for the Blue Devils, but they'll be kicking themselves for that loss to A&M. Now they have another tough non-conference match next week.
Kansas (Dave Johnson) -- 8-3, 0-0 Big 12.
12/24/18 at Miami (W 72-64).
12/29/18 vs. #14 Vanderbilt (W 87-70).
The Jayhawks are rolling after a couple early season setbacks, winners of 6 in a row.
TCU (Bee Mighty) -- 6-5, 0-0 Big 12.
12/25/18 at Nebraska (L 93-90, OT).
Give the Horned Frogs credit for taking Nebraska to OT, but they are struggling right now, losers of 3 in a row and having to open up Big 12 play with a 2 loss team and an undefeated team.
Michigan (Cillian Tribble) -- 6-5, 0-0 Big Ten.
12/25/18 vs. #24 St. Bonaventure (W 75-74).
12/30/18 vs. N.C. State (L 84-79).
A split for the Wolverines who are really playing gutwrenching ball right now. Their last 7 games have been decided by an average of about 3 points.
Michigan State (Al Mighty) -- 7-2, 0-0 Big Ten.
12/25/18 at North Carolina A&T (W 63-48).
12/27/18 vs. Boston College (W 62-51).
The Spartans are on a nice 5 game winning streak, but they have a tough non-conference battle coming up to end the year 2018.
Northwestern (Ess Vee) -- 2-9, 0-0 Big Ten.
12/24/18- Diamond Head Classic First Round vs. (3) #23 Georgetown (L 88-87, OT).
12/25/18- Diamond Head Classic Consolation vs. (7) Western Michigan (L 70-57).
12/27/18- Diamond Head Classic 7th Place Game vs. (5) Richmond (L 75-50).
The Wildcats had Georgetown on the ropes which could have turned their season around. They lost in overtime, failed to show up in the last 2 games of their season tournament, and now have a 7 game winning streak. It's ugly.
Hawaii (B.B. Gunn) -- 5-5, 0-0 Big West.
12/24/18 vs. Washington State- feature game, highlighted above.
12/26/18 vs. South Dakota State (W 74-72).
12/30/18 vs. North Dakota (W 63-53).
Great recovery for the Warriors, who end the year 2018 by winning 5 of their last 6 after losing their first 4 to start the season. They are back at .500, but they are about to embark on a 4 game road trip that won't be easy.
Charlotte (Timmy Tribble) -- 3-5, 0-0 Conference USA.
12/27/18 at #14 Vanderbilt (L 77-67).
12/29/18 at Memphis (W 61-51).
The 49ers split this week, getting a mild upset at Memphis that they are hoping leads to a nice win streak.
Rice (Charlie Shocker) -- 6-4, 0-0 Conference USA.
No games this week for Coach Shocker and the Owls.
Monmouth (Thomas Carrano) -- 9-4, 3-3 MAAC.
12/28/18 at Fairfield (L 65-59).
12/30/18 at Iona (W 69-52).
A split for the Hawks, who end the month winning 4 of their last 5, still trying to break through in a wide open conference.
Norfolk State (Payten Carrano) -- 4-6, 0-0 MEAC.
12/29/18 at Wake Forest (L 89-57).
Just 1 game for the Spartans this week, as even a not so good Wake Forest team is much more than they can handle. They start conference play next week.
Colorado (Rob Nielsen) -- 6-6, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/28/18 at Villanova (L 77-63).
The Buffaloes start conference play next week and stand at .500 after non-conference play. About 3 bad losses in the non-conference season could hurt them big come March.
Stanford (Benito Sanchez) -- 9-2, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/24/18 at New Mexico State (W 55-39).
12/27/18 vs. Mercer (W 69-52).
12/30/18 at Georgia (W 72-56).
Good week for the Cardinal, who win all 3 games in convincing fashion. 1 more big non-conference test next week.
#5 UCLA (Tim Shepard) -- 12-0, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/24/18 at Long Beach State (W 94-49).
12/29/18 vs. Kent State (W 105-65).
2 easy wins against overmatched competition this week for the Bruins, who are clearly the favorite heading into Pac 12 play.
Washington State (DeShawn St. John) -- 7-3, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/24/18 at Hawaii- feature game, highlighted above.
12/26/18 vs. Montana State (W 78-51).
A couple much needed wins for the Cougars who end the month on a 3 game winning streak and have another feel good non-conference game next week before they start conference play.
Alabama (Roy Rogers) -- 9-2, 0-0 SEC.
No games this week for Coach Rogers and the Crimson Tide.
Florida (Noah Oppenheimer) -- 7-3, 0-0 SEC.
12/29/18 at #1 Virginia (L 100-87).
Good effort for the Gators in their only game of the week, unfortunately Virginia was hot, hot, hot.
Kentucky (Patrick Hutt) -- 8-3, 0-0 SEC.
12/26/18 at Florida A&M (W 83-59).
12/29/18 vs. Clemson- feature game, highlighted above.
2 more wins for the Wildcats who have a nice non-conference test next week before SEC play starts.
Troy (Brett Hawkins) -- 3-7, 0-4 Sun Belt.
12/27/18 vs. Texas State (L 63-59).
12/29/18 at Georgia Southern (L 73-61).
Close, but no cigar in 2 games for the Trojans this season, who have lost 5 in a row since it looked like they might be turning the corner.
Here's a look at the nation top 25 going into next week:
Code:
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference
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1. Virginia (70) 11-0 1797 1 Atlantic Coast Conference
2. Gonzaga (2) 13-0 1723 4 West Coast Conference
3. UCLA 12-0 1643 5 Pacific-12 Conference
4. Syracuse 10-0 1564 6 Atlantic Coast Conference
5. North Carolina 10-1 1405 3 Atlantic Coast Conference
6. Texas A&M 11-0 1403 8 Southeastern Conference
7. Baylor 12-0 1348 7 Big 12 Conference
8. Ohio State 7-1 1291 10 Big Ten Conference
9. Pittsburgh 11-1 1280 9 Atlantic Coast Conference
10. Illinois State 11-1 1157 15 Missouri Valley Conference
11. Iowa State 10-2 1110 2 Big 12 Conference
12. Northern Iowa 12-1 1043 12 Missouri Valley Conference
13. Iowa 8-2 1011 13 Big Ten Conference
14. Wisconsin 8-2 860 16 Big Ten Conference
15. Louisville 8-2 700 25 Atlantic Coast Conference
16. Cincinnati 9-2 659 NR American Athletic Conference
17. Rutgers 9-1 636 21 Big Ten Conference
18. UC Santa Barbara 9-1 479 NR Big West Conference
19. Providence 9-2 450 NR Big East Conference
20. Vanderbilt 8-2 436 14 Southeastern Conference
21. Villanova 9-2 300 NR Big East Conference
22. Mount St. Mary's 10-1 257 NR Northeast Conference
23. Notre Dame 8-3 221 17 Atlantic Coast Conference
24. Duke 9-2 159 19 Atlantic Coast Conference
25. Oklahoma State 8-2 153 NR Big 12 Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Georgetown 7-3 106 Big East Conference
Minnesota 9-2 56 Big Ten Conference
LSU 9-2 50 Southeastern Conference
Stanford 9-2 30 Pacific-12 Conference
Alabama 9-2 23 Southeastern Conference
Oakland 11-2 9 Horizon League
St. Bonaventure 8-2 9 Atlantic 10 Conference
San Diego State 8-3 8 Mountain West Conference
UTEP 9-2 8 Conference USA
Maryland 7-3 6 Big Ten Conference
Auburn 8-2 5 Southeastern Conference
Michigan State 7-2 3 Big Ten Conference
Arkansas 9-2 1 Southeastern Conference
Manhattan 8-2 1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
UCLA keeps moving up the ladder, but still a lot of undefeated teams to deal with. Duke gets punished by dropping 5 spots after a 5 point loss. Stanford, Alabama, and Michigan State are in the mix, receiving votes.
Now for the mid-major top 25:
Code:
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference
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1. Gonzaga (72) 13-0 1800 1 West Coast Conference
2. Illinois State 11-1 1721 3 Missouri Valley Conference
3. Northern Iowa 12-1 1663 2 Missouri Valley Conference
4. Cincinnati 9-2 1571 7 American Athletic Conference
5. UC Santa Barbara 9-1 1508 10 Big West Conference
6. Mount St. Mary's 10-1 1410 12 Northeast Conference
7. Oakland 11-2 1300 6 Horizon League
8. San Diego State 8-3 1285 4 Mountain West Conference
9. UTEP 9-2 1234 16 Conference USA
10. St. Bonaventure 8-2 1154 5 Atlantic 10 Conference
11. Toledo 8-2 1025 8 Mid-American Conference
12. Dayton 9-2 1004 18 Atlantic 10 Conference
13. Manhattan 8-2 941 9 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
14. Massachusetts 9-2 841 11 Atlantic 10 Conference
15. North Dakota State 11-2 831 21 Summit League
16. Robert Morris 9-2 742 19 Northeast Conference
17. Florida Atlantic 7-2 680 13 Conference USA
18. Wichita State 8-3 576 14 Missouri Valley Conference
19. Saint Louis 7-2 487 NR Atlantic 10 Conference
20. Stony Brook 10-3 428 NR America East Conference
21. Belmont 9-3 390 15 Ohio Valley Conference
22. Green Bay 10-3 275 NR Horizon League
23. South Florida 8-3 182 NR American Athletic Conference
24. Denver 9-3 137 NR Summit League
25. Quinnipiac 7-3 63 NR Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Eastern Kentucky 8-3 38 Ohio Valley Conference
Drake 8-3 33 Missouri Valley Conference
Sacramento State 6-3 23 Big Sky Conference
Youngstown State 7-3 20 Horizon League
Portland 7-3 19 West Coast Conference
Howard 8-3 14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Air Force 7-3 4 Mountain West Conference
Harvard 7-4 1 Ivy League
Again, none of our FOFC teams represented