Jan. 23-29, 2023
28 games on tap this week, with 1 of those games being a feature game, so let's go to the Pac 12 for our lone feature game this week.
1/26/23-
Stanford (Benito Sanchez) @
Colorado (Rob Nielsen) -- 2 of the teams that were in a tie for 1st place to start the week met up this week in Boulder, and it was not the type of game you'd expect from co-conference leaders. The teams combined for 28 turnovers, and Stanford shot just 31.5%. The only thing that kept this from being a total blowout was that Stanford hit 10 three pointers, while Colorado hit just 1. Otherwise, it was all Buffaloes.
Final Score: Colorado- 63, Stanford- 50
Now for the rest of the weekly recap:
Hartford (David Ginsberg) -- 10-13, 4-6 America East.
1/27/23 vs. Vermont (L 61-51).
1/29/23 vs. Stony Brook (L 85-77).
It's 1 step forward, 2 steps back for the Hawks this season, as they lose 2 more games this week and are back under .500 in conference play. Probably not the worst losses, as Stony Brook is solid this season, and Vermont ran the conference for several years, but still, gotta get those wins.
UConn (Randolph Childress) -- 7-14, 4-5 American.
1/25/23 vs. #12 Virginia (L 69-68).
1/28/23 at SMU (L 74-71).
2 agonizing losses for the Huskies this week, and they now have a 4 game losing streak, but all 4 games could have easily gone the other way. That doesn't matter to the fans though, as they are starting to call for Coach Childress's head.
Tulsa (Will Brown) -- 9-12, 5-3 American.
1/23/23 vs. Air Force (L 64-54).
1/28/23 vs. South Florida (W 87-82, OT).
A split for the Golden Hurricane, as they lost a non-conference game, but get an important conference victory, fighting off a game South Florida team in OT.
Duke (Dean Hoo) -- 13-7, 5-3 ACC.
1/25/23 vs. Boston College (W 60-50).
1/28/23 vs. #6 North Carolina (W 68-59).
2 wins for the Blue Devils this week, including a sweet revenge victory over a top 10 UNC team that beat them by 35 points just 2 weeks ago. My how things can change when you're at home.
TCU (Bee Mighty) -- 12-8, 4-5 Big 12.
1/23/23 at Texas Tech (W 80-76).
1/28/23 at Kansas (L 82-74).
A split this week for the Horned Frogs, and they really needed to win both to get over .500 in conference play, as the Oklahoma State/Baylor tandem comes to town next week in critical games.
Michigan State (Al Mighty) -- 13-7, 4-4 Big Ten.
1/25/23 vs. Iowa (L 80-66).
1/28/23 at Nebraska (W 79-69).
Another conference week, another conference split for the Spartans. Mediocrity at its best, as they just can't put a string of wins together since their 6 game winning streak earlier this season.
Northwestern (Ess Vee) -- 12-7, 3-5 Big Ten.
1/25/23 at Minnesota (L 73-64).
1/28/23 vs. Illinois (L 80-57).
A setback for the Wildcats this week as they drop 2 games, 1 of them that wasn't competitive. It won't get easier, as that might have been their best chance to snag a victory for a couple weeks at least.
Hawaii (B.B. Gunn) -- 13-7, 3-4 Big West.
1/26/23 vs. Cal State Fullerton (W 83-57).
Just 1 game this week for the Warriors, but they took care of business in a big way, hammering Fullerton. Hopefully that will get them the momentum they need to go on a run and get back in the Big West race. Even with this win, the hits on firecoachgunn.com have not subsided.
#16 FIU (Brett Hawkins) -- 15-4, 6-2 Conference USA.
1/26/23 at #17 Old Dominion (W 85-76).
1/28/23 at Marshall (L 73-71).
A split this week for the Golden Panthers, who got a big win against Old Dominion, but then a heartbreaking loss to Marshall to break a 5 game winning streak.
Rice (Charlie Shocker) -- 9-10, 4-4 Conference USA.
1/26/23 at Western Kentucky (W 66-65).
1/28/23 at UAB (L 87-81).
A split this week for the Owls, who played both teams tough on the road, but couldn't quite pull off the upset at UAB. Next week they have 2 more tough road games awaiting.
Colorado (Rob Nielsen) -- 14-6, 6-2 Pac 12.
1/26/23 vs. Stanford- feature game, highlighted above.
1/28/23 at California (L 87-65).
Well, 1 of 2 ain't bad for the Buffaloes I guess. But that 22 point loss at California is unacceptable. They have a chance to avenge it next week though.
Stanford (Benito Sanchez) -- 14-6, 6-2 Pac 12.
1/26/23 at Colorado- feature game, highlighted above.
1/28/23 vs. Gonzaga (W 80-69).
The Cardinal stay in a 4 way tie for 1st in the Pac 12 by splitting, getting a key win against Gonzaga. Next week they get another shot at Arizona.
UCLA (Tim Shepard) -- 10-10, 3-5 Pac 12.
1/26/23 at Oregon State (L 80-60).
1/28/23 vs. Oregon (W 67-58).
A split for the Bruins, as they win the home game but lose the road game. Still no consistency from the once proud Bruins, who are having their worst season in years.
Washington State (DeShawn St. John) -- 10-9, 3-5 Pac 12.
1/26/23 at California (L 76-59).
1/28/23 at #8 Arizona (L 88-81).
Not an easy week for the Cougars who had to go up against 2 of the conference leaders, but a gallant effort at Arizona, and a much easier week coming next week.
#15 Alabama (Roy Rogers) -- 14-6, 5-3 SEC.
1/25/23 at Vanderbilt (W 70-54).
1/28/23 vs. Auburn (L 82-79).
A split this week for the Crimson Tide as it's never fun losing to your in-state rival, and next week a couple more tough games await.
Here's a look at the national top 25 heading into the week of Jan. 30-Feb. 5:
Code:
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference test test test test
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1. Syracuse (72) 21-1 1800 1 Atlantic Coast Conference
2. Wisconsin 17-3 1728 3 Big Ten Conference
3. Notre Dame 18-2 1652 2 Atlantic Coast Conference
4. North Carolina 16-5 1544 6 Atlantic Coast Conference
5. Arkansas 17-3 1534 5 Southeastern Conference
6. Georgetown 16-5 1418 7 Big East Conference
7. Florida State 17-3 1397 4 Atlantic Coast Conference
8. Arizona 16-4 1267 8 Pacific-12 Conference
9. LSU 17-4 1232 10 Southeastern Conference
10. Louisville 15-5 1168 13 Atlantic Coast Conference
11. Ohio State 14-6 1023 9 Big Ten Conference
12. Virginia 15-5 1002 12 Atlantic Coast Conference
13. Villanova 17-5 766 14 Big East Conference
14. Davidson 16-4 749 21 Atlantic 10 Conference
15. Alabama 14-6 730 15 Southeastern Conference
16. Baylor 16-5 689 NR Big 12 Conference
17. North Texas 16-3 598 18 Conference USA
18. UC Riverside 17-3 477 11 Big West Conference
19. St. John's 16-5 475 NR Big East Conference
20. Yale 18-4 406 22 Ivy League
21. Richmond 16-4 385 25 Atlantic 10 Conference
22. Iowa State 14-7 242 NR Big 12 Conference
23. Mississippi 15-5 222 NR Southeastern Conference
24. Oklahoma 14-6 214 23 Big 12 Conference
25. UAB 16-4 155 NR Conference USA
Others Receiving Votes:
California 14-5 114 Pacific-12 Conference
Old Dominion 15-4 100 Conference USA
UC Irvine 16-6 65 Big West Conference
Kent State 16-5 46 Mid-American Conference
Colorado 14-6 41 Pacific-12 Conference
FIU 15-4 40 Conference USA
Saint Joseph's 15-5 35 Atlantic 10 Conference
Western Michigan 16-5 26 Mid-American Conference
Duke 13-7 22 Atlantic Coast Conference
Stanford 14-6 12 Pacific-12 Conference
Gonzaga 13-7 11 Pacific-12 Conference
BYU 16-7 5 West Coast Conference
Bradley 15-6 4 Missouri Valley Conference
Mercer 18-5 4 Southern Conference
Tulane 16-5 2 American Athletic Conference
Alabama stays put at #15 even with their split, and FIU got shafted huge this week, as they fall all the way out of the top 25 after a 2 point loss. Ridiculous! They are still receiving votes though, as are Stanford and Colorado. Duke, by virtue of their win over what is now a top 5 North Carolina team (what? I guess I really don't understand rankings, at least not on FBCB) is also now receiving votes.
Now for the mid-major top 25 going into the week of Jan. 30-Feb. 5:
Code:
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference test test test test
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1. Davidson (37) 16-4 1710 7 Atlantic 10 Conference
2. Yale (13) 18-4 1596 6 Ivy League
3. Western Michigan (9) 16-5 1509 4 Mid-American Conference
4. UAB 16-4 1506 10 Conference USA
5. Richmond (2) 16-4 1429 12 Atlantic 10 Conference
6. FIU 15-4 1352 3 Conference USA
7. UC Riverside (10) 17-3 1342 1 Big West Conference
8. Kent State 16-5 1269 15 Mid-American Conference
9. Wichita State 15-6 1258 2 Missouri Valley Conference
10. Saint Joseph's 15-5 1204 5 Atlantic 10 Conference
11. North Texas 16-3 1110 11 Conference USA
12. UC Irvine 16-6 1068 19 Big West Conference
13. Tulane 16-5 965 9 American Athletic Conference
14. Bradley (1) 15-6 841 20 Missouri Valley Conference
15. Old Dominion 15-4 839 8 Conference USA
16. Indiana State 15-7 820 14 Missouri Valley Conference
17. BYU 16-7 711 13 West Coast Conference
18. Mercer 18-5 577 18 Southern Conference
19. San Diego State 14-7 470 16 Mountain West Conference
20. Oakland 14-6 464 17 Horizon League
21. Illinois State 15-9 379 NR Missouri Valley Conference
22. Green Bay 15-8 280 NR Horizon League
23. Portland 14-7 180 21 West Coast Conference
24. Massachusetts 14-6 151 NR Atlantic 10 Conference
25. Loyola Chicago 14-7 77 24 Missouri Valley Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
Cincinnati 14-7 75 American Athletic Conference
Saint Mary's 14-8 50 West Coast Conference
St. Bonaventure 12-8 46 Atlantic 10 Conference
VMI 15-6 32 Southern Conference
Holy Cross 15-7 27 Patriot League
Long Beach State 13-8 20 Big West Conference
Drexel 15-7 19 Colonial Athletic Association
Stony Brook 16-6 7 America East Conference
Boise State 12-9 5 Mountain West Conference
Southern Illinois 13-9 5 Missouri Valley Conference
Northern Iowa 13-8 3 Missouri Valley Conference
Hawaii 13-7 2 Big West Conference
Akron 13-7 1 Mid-American Conference
Pepperdine 12-8 1 West Coast Conference
FIU drops 3 spots in the mid-major poll and loses their FPVs. At least the mid-major polls weren't nearly as harsh. And Coach Gunn is at it again, as Hawaii got 2 votes. I can guess where 1 of them came from, but who did he convince for the other vote??