EXAMINER TOP 25
Out with old and in with older
Once again, there was upheaval as four of the top five teams lost, leaving former No. 1 Ohio State as the new No. 1 again. It’s not decisive. Of the two-loss teams that didn’t fall last week, OSU has seven wins over RPI top-50 teams, No. 2 Kansas has six, and No. 3 BYU has eight. The Buckeyes have the best losses, both at teams in the top 11. Kansas plays in the toughest conference. BYU has the longest winning streak (seven games). Arizona’s losses at USC and UCLA knocked them from No. 12 to out of the top 25 because of the overall weakness of the Pac 10.
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| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Ohio State (27-2) » Upsetting week for Buckeyes — at Penn St., vs. Wisconsin? » 3 2. Kansas (27-2) » F Marcus Morris (50 points) put a hurt on Oklahoma, OSU » 6 3. BYU (27-2) » Even mid-major hater Packer has BYU as a No. 1 seed now » 7 4. Pittsburgh (25-4) » Panthers have lost two of three since the return of G Gibbs » 1 5. Duke (26-3) » Stars lined up for a spectacular Saturday at UNC » 2 6. Purdue (24-5) » Johnson (20 points, 17 boards, 7 blocks) was huge at MSU » 8 7. San Diego St. (27-2) » Against teams without player named Jimmer, they’re 27-0 » 4 8. Notre Dame (24-5) » Who has done more with less this season than Mike Brey? » 9 9. Texas (24-5)* » Lost a 22-point lead, yielding 55 in second half at Colorado » 5 10. Syracuse (24-6) » On the road, the Orange Scooped Villanova, Georgetown » 13 11. Wisconsin (22-6) » Visit the best (Ohio State) and worst (Indiana) of Big 10 » 11 12. Louisville (22-7) » Disciplining cheerleaders — all in a day’s work for Pitino » 17 13. N. Carolina (22-6) » Starting to look like Heels’ championship teams of the past » 19 14. Connecticut (21-7) » Sanctions against Calhoun will surely teach him a lesson » 14 15. Florida (22-6) » Game with Alabama is a matchup of SEC division leaders » 15 16. Georgetown (21-8) » Was G Wright (broken hand) the most indispensable Hoya? » 10 17. St. John’s (19-9) » G Hardy has to be in discussion for Big East player of year » 25 18. Villanova (21-9) » Wildcats have won only five of last 13 in brutal Big East » 16 19. G. Mason (25-5) » Could CAA tournament title get the Patriots a No. 4 seed? » 23 20. Texas A&M (22-6) » Baylor ended Aggies’ five-game winning streak in Big 12 » 20 21. Temple (22-6) » Are Temple and Xavier in regardless of A-10 tournament? » 21 22. Kansas St. (20-9)* » Where was this Pullen the first three months of season? » NR 23. Missouri (22-7) » Tough week at Nebraska (Tuesday), vs. Kansas (Saturday) » 18 24. Kentucky (20-8) » Beat goes on — bad road loss (Ark.), good home win (Fla.) » 24 25. Vanderbilt (21-7) » Still be ranked after Kentucky (Tue.) and Florida (Sat.)? » 22 * As of 11 p.m. Monday |
HEATING UP
Kansas State; Also » George Mason, Louisville
COOLING DOWN
Arizona; Also » Georgetown, Illinois
GAME OF THE WEEK
Princeton at Harvard, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Could the Ivy League be on its way to a one-game playoff? It could happen if second-place Harvard (21-5, 10-2) topples league-leading Princeton (22-5, 10-1). In the event of a tie, since the Ivy does not have a tournament, a playoff game is required to determine which team advances to the NCAA. Princeton won the first meeting 65-61 behind F Ian Hummer (Gonzaga). Harvard has never won the Ivy League title. Penn won the last Ivy playoff in 2002 (Sat., 7 p.m.)
PLAYER TO WATCH
Reeves Nelson, UCLA, F
The 6-foot-8 sophomore had 27 points and 16 rebounds, outplaying Arizona standout Derrick Williams as UCLA dominated the Wildcats on Saturday. Can Nelson and the Bruins (21-8, 12-4) have the same success inside at Washington (19-9, 10-6) against senior Matthew Bryan-Amaning (16.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg)? UCLA has won 12 of its last 14 and is one of two teams to beat Brigham Young on its way to a likely NCAA berth. (Thur., 9 p.m., ESPN2)
STORYLINES
1. Start the madness » When people say “March Madness,” it usually refers to the NCAA tournament. But the one-and-done appeal of March actually begins this week with conference tournaments. In competitive leagues such as the Missouri Valley, Horizon, West Coast and Ohio Valley, bubble teams will be weeded out and stars such as Kenneth Faried (Morehead State) and Norris Cole (Cleveland State) will try to drive their teams to success. In one-bid conferences, teams will take their shot at dominant regular season champions such as Coastal Carolina (Big South) and Utah State (WAC).
2. Cougar Town » BYU and Jimmer Fredette have their doubters. But both gained converts over the weekend with their second decisive victory over San Diego State, this one on the Aztecs’ intimidating home court, 80-67. With many fans dressed as Mormon missionaries (white shirt, black tie, black pants, bike helmet) and peppering the Cougars with insults — one sign read, “Hi Mom(s)” — Fredette (25 points, nine assists) took a giant step toward player of the year honors and the Cougars did the same toward securing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
3. Not so fast, my friend » After Virginia Tech upset Duke, ESPN’s Dick Vitale and Dan Schulman proclaimed the Hokies a “lock” for the NCAA tournament. Not to rain on the parade in Blacksburg, but one has to wonder what would happen if Tech (19-8, 9-5) were to lose to ACC bubble teams Clemson (19-9, 8-6) and Boston College (17-11, 7-7), and then do its customary el foldo in the ACC tournament. Seth Greenberg is 3-6 in the tournament and has never beaten a higher seeded team. With an RPI of 53, the Hokies may need one more win.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
GEORGETOWN
With a week off, the Hoyas have time to rest and recover after consecutive home defeats. With the loss of G Chris Wright (broken hand) is Georgetown (21-8) watching its NCAA seed tumble? A loss Saturday at Cincinnati could drop the Hoyas to the second division and require a first-round game in the Big East tournament.
Next » at Cincinnati, Sat., 2 p.m. (MASN)
MARYLAND
Terrell Stoglin was named ACC rookie of the week after a weekend in which everything else broke wrong for Maryland in its pursuit of an NCAA tournament berth, including its 87-76 loss Sunday at North Carolina. What’s certain now for Maryland (18-11, 7-7) is that it will need a significant run in the ACC tournament.
Next » at Miami, Wed., 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
GEORGE MASON
The Patriots (25-5) take a 15-game winning streak into the CAA tournament, where they are the top seed. They will face the winner of Friday’s game between UNCW (13-17) and Georgia State (11-18). The Patriots swept both this year. A win would put GMU in the semifinals Sunday at noon, with VCU (21-10) the likely foe.
Next » UNCW/Ga. State, Sat., noon (CSN)
NAVY
Freshman J.J. Avila was named Navy’s first Patriot League rookie of the year. The No. 5 Mids (11-19) travel to No. 4 Lehigh (15-14) in the Patriot League quarterfinals. Navy has a history of tournament heartbreak, losing nine straight, including four in overtime. Lehigh, led by C.J. McCollum (21.8 ppg), beat Navy twice this year.
Next » at Lehigh, Wed., 7 p.m.
AMERICAN
Vlad Moldoveanu is a repeat Patriot League first-team choice. Second-seeded AU (21-8) will host Colgate (7-22) in the conference tournament quarterfinals. The Eagles have beaten the Raiders twice, by nine points each, behind Moldoveanu (46 points, 17 rebounds) and all-league second-teamer Stephen Lumpkins.
Next » Colgate, Wed., 7 p.m. (CBSCS)
