EXAMINER TOP 25
Going with Pittsburgh at No. 1
Who’s No. 1? Your guess is as good as anyone’s after eight of last week’s top 11 lost. The only teams that escaped unscathed were Duke, BYU and San Diego State. A reasonable case can be made for any one of seven teams to be ranked first. Duke is worthy, but we’ll go with Pittsburgh. While Pitt has five wins over teams currently ranked in the top 25, Duke has just one. In addition, Pitt took St. John’s to the wire in its loss at Madison Square Garden, while Duke was a blowout loser to the same team in the same building.
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| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Pittsburgh (24-3) » No. 1 is in doubt, so go with best team in best conference » 4 2. Duke (25-2) » Interesting test Wednesday against surging No. 21 Temple » 5 3. Ohio State (25-2) » Purdue’s Moore made like Wisconsin’s Taylor vs. Ohio State » 1 4. San Diego St. (27-1) » Fredette all that stands between Aztecs and top seed » 6 5. Texas (23-4) » Hamilton’s cold shooting was costly at Nebraska » 2 6. Kansas (25-2*) » Winning Big 12 looks possible thanks to Texas loss » 3 7. BYU (25-2) » Tough week: Colorado St. (Wed.), at San Diego St. (Sat.) » 7 8. Purdue (22-5) » What a week at Mackey — wins over Wisconsin, Ohio St. » 14 9. Notre Dame (21-5) » Saturday in Morgantown, Irish hit by a Truck (Bryant) » 8 10. Georgetown (21-6) » Schedule quirk — Hoyas play Cincinnati two of next three » 9 11. Wisconsin (20-6) » Nation’s best in turnovers (7.8 pg), FT shooting (82.5 pct.) » 10 12. Arizona (23-4) » Williams swatted away Washington’s bid to win in Tucson » 15 13. Syracuse (23-6) » Monday’s win was third straight after losing six of eight » 12 14. Connecticut (20-6) » Emergence of Coombs-McDaniel bodes well for Huskies » 13 15. Florida (21-5) » Gators need Parsons (thigh) back for tough final stretch » 16 16. Villanova (21-7) » Stokes returns and scores 24 in loss to Cuse on Monday » 17 17. Louisville (20-7) » In two wins vs. UConn, held Walker to 10 of 33 shooting » 11 18. Missouri (21-6) » Were 0-5 on road in Big 12 before Saturday’s win at ISU » 18 19. N. Carolina (20-6) » Tar Heels were awful against BC and still got a 48-46 win » 19 20. Texas A&M (21-5) » After losing three straight in Big 12, have won four in row » 20 21. Temple (21-5) » Allen became Owls all-time leading rebounder last week » 21 22. Vanderbilt (20-6) » Final stretch: Tennessee, at LSU, at Kentucky, Florida » 22 23. G. Mason (23-5) » Mighty Mouse junior Cornelius has been difference-maker » 23 24. Kentucky (19-7) » Average margin in SEC home games is plus-19.5 ppg » 24 25. St. John’s (17-9) » G Hardy stepped on a crack and broke Pitt’s back » 25 * Results as of Monday at 11 p.m. |
HEATING UP
Purdue; Also » Xavier, St. John’s
COOLING DOWN
Ohio State; Also » Notre Dame, Texas
GAME OF THE WEEK
Gonzaga at St. Mary’s, Thursday, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)
Gonzaga (19-9, 9-3) is making its usual push for the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs have won four straight behind guard Marquise Carter and need a win at slumping St. Mary’s (22-6, 10-2) to continue their pursuit of the regular-season title in the West Coast Conference. The Gaels won the first meeting as Mickey McConnell scored 27 points and hit the winning jump shot to lift St. Mary’s to its first win in Spokane since 1995.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, F
The nation’s leading rebounder (14.2 pg) surpassed Tim Duncan last week to become the player with the most career rebounds since freshmen became eligible in 1973. On Thursday, the 6-foot-8 Faried and Morehead State (21-8, 12-4) play at Murray State (21-7, 12-4) for the regular-season title in the Ohio Valley Conference. Morehead won the first game 75-65 on Dec. 4 as Faried had 21 points and 10 rebounds. (Thurs., 9 p.m., ESPNU)
STORYLINES
1. Roadhouse Blues » Call it what you will — parity, mediocrity. Whatever it is, it was on display last week as nine of the top 13 teams lost, including No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Kansas and No. 4 Pittsburgh. All nine of the top 13 who fell did it in the same fashion — on the road, against conference foes. Before decrying the state of college basketball, consider that five of the losing teams came from the loaded Big East, which includes eight ranked teams and two others that have been ranked at some point this season.
2. BracketBusters » The CAA and the MAAC were the big winners on ESPN BracketBuster weekend. CAA teams George Mason, Old Dominion and VCU enhanced their NCAA tournament credentials with victories as the conference went 4-1 in national TV games. Meanwhile, the success of the one-bid MAAC, which went 9-1, was the most curious development. The biggest loser was the Missouri Valley Conference as its top six teams lost. Another big winner was Utah State, which prevailed at St. Mary’s.
3. Big East-ACC disparity » Look at the coaches. The Big East has four legitimate national coach of the year candidates in Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Jim Calhoun (UConn), Steve Lavin (St. John’s) and Rick Pitino (Louisville). All have pushed their teams beyond what was expected this season. Meanwhile in the ACC, what coach has lifted his team in similar fashion? With the possible exception of Boston College first-year coach Steve Donahue, none have distinguished themselves.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
Terrell Stoglin — who scored 50 points, handed out 15 assists and hit 19 of 20 free throws against Virginia Tech and N.C. State — was named ACC rookie of the week. The Terps (17-10, 6-6) have big games this week against Florida State (19-7, 9-3) and at North Carolina (20-6, 10-2) as they attempt to make a late run.
Next » Florida St., Wed., 9 p.m. (My 20)
GEORGETOWN
Coach John Thompson had the quote of the week when asked if Chris Wright has moments when he feels the need to take over games. “When he gets out of bed,” deadpanned Thompson, who had no complaints after Wright scored 26 points to rescue the Hoyas in a 61-55 victory at South Florida on Saturday.
Next » Cincinnati, Wed., 9 p.m. (MASN)
GEORGE MASON
For the third time this year, junior Ryan Pearson was named co-player of the week in the CAA after George Mason (23-5, 14-2) won at VCU and at Northern Iowa. The Patriots, riding the nation’s longest winning streak (13 games), can wrap up the top seed in the CAA with a victory over Northeastern (10-18, 5-11).
Next » Northeastern, Thurs., 7 p.m. (CSN)
GEORGE WASHINGTON
After winning games at UMass and La Salle, GW (14-12, 7-5) returns home to play struggling Charlotte (10-16, 2-10), led inside by former DeMatha player Chris Braswell (10.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg). In the La Salle victory, Tony Taylor had 17 points, 11 assists and hit two key free throws with 16 seconds left.
Next » Charlotte, Wed., 7 p.m.
AMERICAN
With a victory Wednesday over Navy, AU (19-8, 9-3) will clinch its third 20-win season in four years. The Eagles have clinched the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League tournament, assuring them of home games in the first two rounds, provided they advance. Navy (10-18, 5-7) is in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference.
Next » Navy, Wed., 7:30 p.m.
