EXAMINER TOP 25
Buckeyes bully Badgers
With an overwhelming win over Wisconsin, Ohio State solidified its claim to the top spot. Meanwhile, Big East teams continue to beat up on each other. Villanova, with five wins in its last 14 games, finally dropped out of the top 25. But joining the rankings are Big East teams West Virginia and Cincinnati, making it nine teams from the conference in the top 25. Xavier gets into the rankings after winning 16 of its last 17. Kentucky is back in the rankings following big wins over, arguably, the three other best teams in the SEC.
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| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Ohio State (29-2) » Buckeyes were deadeyes vs. Badgers (14 of 15 from 3) » 1 2. Kansas (29-2) » Junior Marcus Morris a deserving Big 12 player of the year » 2 3. Pittsburgh (27-4) » Shouldn’t a Big East regular-season title mean No. 1 seed? » 4 4. Notre Dame (25-5) » Hansbrough only unanimous choice on Big East first team » 8 5. N. Carolina (24-6) » Marshall’s play almost as impressive as Ol’ Roy’s suntan » 13 6. Duke (27-4) » Can they win their 10th ACC tourney in the last 13 years? » 5 7. BYU (28-3) » Honor code violation potential at MWC tourney in Vegas » 3 8. San Diego St. (29-2) » In MWC tourney, a chance to play BYU without Davies » 7 9. Syracuse (25-6) » Employed 17 players, shot 71 percent in win over DePaul » 10 10. Florida (24-6) » Jacksonville loss might be biggest head-scratcher of year » 15 11. Wisconsin (23-7) » Bo a lock to make it 10 NCAA tournaments in 10 years » 11 12. Louisville (23-8) » Pitino wants cheerleaders to jump through hoops of fire » 12 13. Purdue (25-6) » Just when they looked ready for No. 1 seed, Iowa happens » 6 14. Texas (25-6) » A 6-foot-1 guy from Turkey (Balbay) is top defender in Big 12 » 9 15. Texas A&M (23-7) » After 16-1 start, defensive-minded A&M 7-6 since Jan. 19 » 20 16. Kansas State (22-9) » The Wildcats are hotter (six straight) than Martin’s collar » 22 17. Temple (24-6) » The Owls have won 11 straight in the middling Atlantic 10 » 21 18. Kentucky (22-8) » Impressive finish — wins over Florida, Vandy, Tennessee » NR 19. St. John’s (20-10) » Will it be a Garden party this weekend for the Red Storm? » 17 20. Connecticut (21-9) » After losing four of five, must play Tuesday in Big East tourney » 14 21. Cincinnati (24-7) » Held Georgetown to 93 points in pair of double-digit wins » NR 22. Georgetown (21-9) » It’s been a month since Hoyas have beaten a ranked squad » 16 23. Xavier (24-6) » In January, the Musketeers lost to Cincinnati by 20. Just sayin’ » NR 24. West Virginia (20-10) » Nice week — wins in Morgantown over UConn, Louisville » NR 25. George Mason (26-6) » G Cornelius should have been on CAA all-defensive team » 19 |
HEATING UP
Cincinnati; Also » Kentucky, West Virginia
COOLING DOWN
UConn; Also » Georgetown, Texas
GAME TO WATCHK
Butler at Milwaukee, Tuesday, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
In the Horizon League final, Milwaukee (19-12) tries to continue an improbable run to the NCAA tournament after opening 9-11 overall and 4-5 in the conference. The Panthers have done it by avenging each of their league losses and sweeping Butler (22-9). The Bulldogs’ last visit to U.S. Cellular Arena was a 76-52 loss. It was Butler’s most decisive defeat in six seasons and ended its 22-game Horizon League winning streak.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Jeff Allen, Virginia Tech, F
Will the legacy of Allen and Malcolm Delaney be four NIT appearances? After getting his 15th double-double in the Hokies’ upset of No. 1 Duke, Allen has been MIA. The senior had more turnovers (eight) than rebounds (five) in a loss at Clemson. As Virginia Tech (19-10) opens against Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament, it will be up to Allen to get the Hokies off the NCAA bubble. (Thur., 9:30 p.m., My 20)
STORYLINES
1. Championship week » This week brings a schedule full of conference tournament games, starting Tuesday with the finals of the Horizon, Summit and Sun Belt conferences, along with the opening round of the Big East marathon. Wednesday brings title games in the Big Sky and Northeast conferences. Thursday is loaded with early-round matchups in larger conferences. Bucknell and Lafayette play for the Patriot League title on Friday. It all culminates this weekend with a rush toward Selection Sunday.
2. Honorable BYU » In suspending sophomore Brandon Davies for having sex with his girlfriend, BYU remained true to its honor code, a rare principled decision considering the NCAA tournament money at stake. How much will Davies be missed? If Tuesday’s 82-64 loss to visiting New Mexico is an accurate barometer, BYU could be ripe for an early upset in the tournament. A better indicator, however, might be this week’s Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas, where BYU will have had time to recover and re-work its lineup.
3. No. 1 seeds » The scramble is on for the important No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. If you think there’s too much hoo-ha over seeding, consider the following: In the last 24 years, No. 1 seeds have won the tournament 16 times; No. 2 seeds have won three. Ohio State and Kansas are in the best position to grab No. 1 seeds. Pittsburgh should be able to get one as long as it survives a round in the Big East tournament. Notre Dame, North Carolina and Duke are in position to receive strong consideration.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
GEORGETOWN
Austin Freeman was named to the guard-heavy Big East first-team, joining Ben Hansbrough (Notre Dame), Dwight Hardy (St. John’s), Kemba Walker (UConn), Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh) and Marshon Brooks (Providence). The No. 8 Hoyas play Wednesday in the Big East tournament against No. 9 UConn or No. 16 DePaul.
Next » UConn/DePaul, Wed., noon (ESPN2)
MARYLAND
To get to the NCAA tournament, the No. 7 Terps will have to take down No. 2 Duke early in the ACC tournament. But that only happens if Maryland (18-13) can get past N.C. State (15-15) in the opening round. At 16-11, the Terps faced a similar task in 2004, but beat three ranked teams en route to their last ACC tournament title.
Next » N.C. State, Thur., 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
GEORGE MASON
The Patriots (26-6) face a nerve-racking week, hoping their 79-63 loss to VCU in the CAA semifinals didn’t knock them out of the NCAA tournament. It was George Mason’s 10th straight loss in the tournament to a team from Richmond. The Patriots have won 10 straight in the tourney against the rest of the CAA.
Next » TBD
GEORGE WASHINGTON
The No. 5 Colonials (17-13) host No. 12 St. Joseph’s (9-21) in the opening round of the A-10 tournament with the winner heading to Atlantic City for the quarterfinals Friday vs. Duquesne (18-11). In January, GW won at St. Joe’s 78-71, dominating the boards 43-28 behind 6-foot-11 Joseph Katuka (10 points, 11 rebounds).
Next » St. Joseph’s, Tues., 7 p.m. (CBSCS)
HOWARD
The No. 11 Bison (6-23) will face No. 6 Norfolk State (10-19) in the opening round of the MEAC tournament Wednesday in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the winner bound for the quarterfinals Thursday against No. 3 Coppin State (16-13). Howard seeks its first win in the tournament since advancing to the quarterfinals in 2006.
Next » vs. Norfolk State, Wed., 3 p.m.
