Dec. 5-11, 2022
22 games to cover this week, and 1 feature game, so we'll jump right to that.
12/5/22-
UConn (Randolph Childress) @
UCLA (Tim Shepard) -- A game between 2 storied franchises that have fallen on a bit of hard times needed extra time to decide. Unfortunately, it wouldn't have needed extra time, but the home cookin was definitely on display in this one. UCLA shot 41 free throws to just 19 for UConn. Without that, it's a completely different game.
Final Score: UCLA- 96, UConn- 84 (OT)
Now to the rest of the weekly recap:
Hartford (David Ginsberg) -- 5-5, 0-0 America East.
12/8/22 at #10 Yale (L 79-54).
12/10/22 vs. Rhode Island (L 81-78).
2 losses for the Hawks this week against pretty solid competition. Yale is just 1 of a number of mid-major teams that are having incredible starts. As for the Hawks, they are back to .500.
UConn (Randolph Childress) -- 3-5, 0-0 American.
12/5/22 at UCLA- feature game, highlighted above.
Just the 1 game for the Huskies this week, who got some tough officiating in the loss. 2 more on the road next week.
Tulsa (Will Brown) -- 3-3, 0-0 American.
No games this week for Coach Brown and the Golden Hurricane, who will try to put together a winning streak starting next week.
Duke (Dean Hoo) -- 4-2, 0-0 ACC.
12/7/22 vs. ECU (W 71-61).
12/9/22 vs. Cleveland State (W 75-67).
2 more wins for the Blue Devils as they go into a test next week against an always good Arizona team.
TCU (Bee Mighty) -- 5-1, 0-0 Big 12.
12/6/22 vs. Southern Illinois (W 87-74).
The Horned Frogs win their only game this week against a pretty decent Southern Illinois team. A good chance to get a couple more next week and try to build their win total before conference play starts.
Michigan State (Al Mighty) -- 5-3, 0-0 Big Ten.
No games this week for Coach Mighty and the Spartans, who got in some hard practice this week in an attempt to get the team back to their glory days.
Northwestern (Ess Vee) -- 5-1, 0-0 Big Ten.
12/7/22 vs. Western Michigan (W 87-83).
12/11/22 at Toledo (W 83-58).
The Wildcats took care of business this week against MAC teams, including a really tough one against Western Michigan, who has an RPI of 20 right now. Good week for the Cats.
Hawaii (B.B. Gunn) -- 6-1, 0-0 Big West.
12/7/22 vs. Bowling Green (W 70-51).
12/9/22 vs. Boston College (W 71-61).
2 more wins for the Warriors, who are playing their best, most consistent basketball in a long time. Not gonna jinx it, but....
#15 FIU (Brett Hawkins) -- 7-0, 0-0 Conference USA.
12/5/22 at Florida Gulf Coast (W 63-61).
12/9/22 at Miami (W 93-81).
While both games were technically on the road, the Golden Panthers stayed in Florida this week, getting 2 more wins. Can't say enough about the start Coach Hawkins is having at FIU. Next week, their season tournament.
Rice (Charlie Shocker) -- 2-3, 0-0 Conference USA.
12/9/22 at #4 LSU (L 92-80).
Not a bad effort from the Owls in their only game of the week. They fell short to undefeated LSU, but fought back valiantly from a 22 point halftime deficit.
Colorado (Rob Nielsen) -- 6-3, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/6/22 at #3 Syracuse (L 79-50).
12/9/22 vs. Texas (W 81-47).
12/11/22 vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi (W 81-66).
2 out of 3 this week for the Buffaloes, and none of the games were close. They dominated the Texas teams but got dominated by Syracuse. Just not a good showing in that one.
#18 Stanford (Benito Sanchez) -- 5-0, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/5/22 at Abilene Christian (W 76-71).
12/7/22 vs. Miami (OH) (W 76-65).
Despite not playing their best, the Cardinal get 2 more wins this week to stay undefeated. Next week a road test at St. Mary's.
UCLA (Tim Shepard) -- 3-4, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/5/22 vs. UConn- feature game, highlighted above.
12/8/22 vs. Clemson (L 76-74).
Quite honestly, the Bruins probably should have lost both games this week. If not for some favorable officiating against UConn, Coach Shepard could be staring at a 2-5 record instead of 3-4. This just isn't a very good team right now.
Washington State (DeShawn St. John) -- 3-2, 0-0 Pac 12.
12/5/22 vs. Utah Valley (W 66-64).
12/10/22 vs. William & Mary (W 84-83).
2 wins by about the slimmest of margins this week for the Cougars. They are over .500 now, but they've got a tough 3 game stretch against solid mid-majors.
#6 Alabama (Roy Rogers) -- 6-0, 0-0 SEC.
12/7/22 vs. Loyola Chicago (W 76-47).
The Crimson Tide needed a blowout victory in their only game this week, because they are about to get tested hardcore. Their next 3 games are on the road against 2 ACC teams and a Big Ten team with a combined record of 18-2 so far.
Here's a look at the national top 25 going into the week of Dec. 12-18:
Code:
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference test test test test
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1. North Carolina (72) 7-0 1800 1 Atlantic Coast Conference
2. Arkansas 8-0 1720 2 Southeastern Conference
3. Syracuse 8-1 1607 3 Atlantic Coast Conference
4. LSU 9-0 1577 4 Southeastern Conference
5. Notre Dame 7-1 1507 5 Atlantic Coast Conference
6. Alabama 6-0 1413 6 Southeastern Conference
7. Ohio State 6-1 1306 9 Big Ten Conference
8. Iowa State 6-1 1221 12 Big 12 Conference
9. Oklahoma State 8-0 1197 11 Big 12 Conference
10. Yale 9-0 1180 10 Ivy League
11. FIU 7-0 1032 15 Conference USA
12. Stanford 5-0 939 18 Pacific-12 Conference
13. Louisville 5-1 929 17 Atlantic Coast Conference
14. Pacific 7-0 918 16 West Coast Conference
15. Jacksonville State 7-0 776 19 Ohio Valley Conference
16. Florida State 7-1 724 23 Atlantic Coast Conference
17. Old Dominion 5-0 721 22 Conference USA
18. Wisconsin 6-2 658 8 Big Ten Conference
19. Villanova 8-1 569 7 Big East Conference
20. Tulane 8-1 333 NR American Athletic Conference
21. Northern Iowa 7-1 263 NR Missouri Valley Conference
22. Northwestern 5-1 149 NR Big Ten Conference
23. Georgetown 6-2 144 14 Big East Conference
24. UC Riverside 7-1 128 NR Big West Conference
25. Iowa 5-2 107 NR Big Ten Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Stony Brook 7-1 91 America East Conference
Florida 4-1 85 Southeastern Conference
Dayton 6-1 74 Atlantic 10 Conference
TCU 5-1 55 Big 12 Conference
Hawaii 6-1 44 Big West Conference
Nicholls State 7-1 31 Southland Conference
Middle Tennessee 5-1 30 Conference USA
Arizona 5-2 24 Pacific-12 Conference
Western Carolina 5-1 18 Southern Conference
Oakland 5-1 15 Horizon League
Central Arkansas 5-1 4 Southland Conference
North Texas 6-1 4 Conference USA
San Diego State 6-2 4 Mountain West Conference
St. John's 7-2 2 Big East Conference
Missouri 4-1 1 Southeastern Conference
I'm absolutely ecstatic to see so much human representation in the national top 25. Granted, things can and probably will change, but this might be the best start to a season we've had from human coaches. Alabama stays putt, but so did every team in front of them. FIU moves up 4 spots with 2 solid wins, while Stanford didn't play their best but moves up 6 spots. Northwestern jumps into the top 25, and TCU and Hawaii both receiving votes. Good stuff!
Now a look at the mid-major top 25 going into the week of Dec. 12-18:
Code:
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference test test test test
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1. Yale (53) 9-0 1773 1 Ivy League
2. FIU (10) 7-0 1726 3 Conference USA
3. Pacific (9) 7-0 1635 4 West Coast Conference
4. Old Dominion 5-0 1612 7 Conference USA
5. Jacksonville State 7-0 1525 5 Ohio Valley Conference
6. Tulane 8-1 1397 16 American Athletic Conference
7. Northern Iowa 7-1 1315 22 Missouri Valley Conference
8. Oakland 5-1 1220 19 Horizon League
9. UC Riverside 7-1 1141 18 Big West Conference
10. Dayton 6-1 1123 17 Atlantic 10 Conference
11. Hawaii 6-1 1021 NR Big West Conference
12. Stony Brook 7-1 942 20 America East Conference
13. North Texas 6-1 920 6 Conference USA
14. Middle Tennessee 5-1 863 23 Conference USA
15. Western Carolina 5-1 737 NR Southern Conference
16. Incarnate Word 5-1 710 NR Southland Conference
17. Nicholls State 7-1 689 NR Southland Conference
18. Central Arkansas 5-1 616 8 Southland Conference
19. Nebraska Omaha 4-1 527 NR Summit League
20. San Diego State 6-2 488 9 Mountain West Conference
21. UT Arlington 4-1 406 NR Sun Belt Conference
22. Boise State 5-2 326 11 Mountain West Conference
23. Davidson 6-2 172 NR Atlantic 10 Conference
24. Western Michigan 7-2 133 13 Mid-American Conference
25. Saint Mary's 6-2 64 NR West Coast Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Mercer 7-2 50 Southern Conference
Saint Joseph's 5-2 49 Atlantic 10 Conference
UAB 6-2 45 Conference USA
Wichita State 5-2 37 Missouri Valley Conference
Utah State 5-2 25 Mountain West Conference
Bowling Green 6-2 22 Mid-American Conference
VMI 7-2 19 Southern Conference
Cornell 5-2 18 Ivy League
Long Beach State 6-2 18 Big West Conference
Holy Cross 7-2 14 Patriot League
Loyola Chicago 6-2 7 Missouri Valley Conference
Portland 5-2 5 West Coast Conference
UTEP 4-2 4 Conference USA
Colgate 5-2 3 Patriot League
Western Illinois 3-2 3 Southland Conference
It's still just FIU and Hawaii for human representation in the mid-major poll, but FIU is now receiving 10 FPV. If it wasn't for Yale, then FIU would probably be at the top. Hawaii jumps into the mid-major top 25 after 2 solid wins this week.