The first few weeks of college basketball are like light appetizers for the meal to come. This year is no different. A scattering of games before us before things begin to pick up for real on Friday Nov. 14. The CEO, as he predicted, took the lead on the first day with a Duke thumping of Presbyterian as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer event, that will later see Southern Illinois (Gunz), Miami Ohio (Gunz), Northeastern (Jaybird) and UCLA (Notaturtle) in play for this four point tourney. Congratulations, CEO, you are winning 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.
But coming up this first week we have some head to head match ups that may set the tone for the contest, especially for Akaoni who has 3 head to head games already and Boaris, Babblemur, HippieD, and ProgressMedia, who have 2 each. Of the seven head to head games this week, each are early first tests for a number of mid-major picks with Oklahoma the only major conference team to face some stiff competition from mid-major favorite American. The best two games on the board (in my opinion) are Jutdog's San Diego, the ugly step-sister of the WCC, facing off with the touted UNLV of HippieD; Also New Mexico (Akaoni) vs. Creighton (Babblemur) is a great showcase that could set the tone between these two player nemeses.
11/14 - American U. (ProgressMedia) v. Oklahoma (Boaris)
11/15 - George Mason (HippieD) v. Vermont (Phunmunki)
11/15 - San Diego (Jutdog) v. UNLV (HippieD)
11/15 - Illinois State (ProgressMedia) v. Wright State (Akaoni)
11/15 - Butler (Boaris) v. Drake (Akaoni)
11/16 - New Mexico (Akaoni) v. Creighton (Babblemur)
11/16 - Old Dominion (Gunz) v. Charlotte (Babblemur)
However every player has games this week, and each game is worth one point per win, as long as it is against a Division I opponent. Many of these early games are against Div. II patsies, which give no points for winning but count for minus 2 for losing. Careful, Southern Illinois! Watch out, Ohio State!
There is one tournament that isn't worth any bonus points, partially because it is a new 'in-season' tournament, and partially because Jutgod doesn't seem to appreciate these early season showdowns as much as I do. If he did he would have advocated more points for the winners, and recognized showdowns like the Charleston Classic taking place this weekend in the city I just visited, Charleston, SC. This puppy will feature Western Michigan (HippieD), Temple (Jutdog), and Clemson (Musashisan) in an 8 team tourney starting Friday.
But I like to focus on the "positive", so given this weeks games, this is what each player could potentially take in as points:
Akaoni: 16 (3 head to head games)
Babblemur: 11 (2 h2h)
Boaris: 12 (2 h2h)
Gunz: 14 (1 h2h with a possible Miami-ohio vs. UCLA showdown on the 13th)
HippieD: 16 (2 h2h with potentially more with Western Michigan in the Charleston Classic)
Jaybird: 8 (slow start for the pre-season favorite)
Jutdog: 11 (depends on how Temple does in the Charleston Classic)
Musashisan: 12 (depends on how Clemson does in the Charleston Classic)
Notaturtle: 7 (keepin' a low profile for the first week, but we get a sneak peak at UCLA)
Phunmunki: 9 (Vermont's big first test against George Mason)
ProgressMedia: 8 (2 h2h, American and Illinois State put to early tests on this mid-major heavy squad)
The CEO: 9 (Duke put to an early test)
So while The CEO is leading on day one by one point, don't be surprised to see Akaoni or HippieD out in front by next Monday morning!
Keep up with the game status here:
http://www.geocities.com/babblemurbball/
Our Official Spreadsheet of Basketball Love here
Scoreboard (ESPN) here:
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/scoreboard?confId=50
25 comments:
Sorry buddy but I'm not the one that chose to use the HUD of web sites.
UCLA looked VERY good tonight. Collison was sharp. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's UCLA vs. Miami (OH) game, our first head to head match up!
I see that Northeastern, owned by preseason "favorite" Jaybird, lost to Michigan by 20 points. Michigan isn't very good.
Also, could someone explain to me WTF is up with the CBE Classic? They play regionals before subregionals? And the teams that play for the "championship" are decided before a single game is played?
Yeah, CBE sucks for that. I say next year no points for them.
That's like saying you will have fair elections but only Dems and Reps can win.
The Miami-Ohio vs. UCLA game is the only game on tonight, everyone starts playing starting Friday.
If UCLA wins, Turtle will be getting 3 points, Gunz nothin. If Miami-Ohio wins, because UCLA is a Top 10 team, Gunz gets 5 points, Turtle nothin.
Take note while it lasts - Jutdog below #4. That's as funny as seeing Babs in the top half!!!!
Yeah and Jut has two teams playing against Div. II opponents on Friday:
Stephen F. Austin v. Howard Payne
and
Cornell v. South Dakota
Neither are worth anything if he wins, but minus 2 points each for a loss...
Thoughts on the Vegas odds for NCAA Champ?
UNC 9:4
Duke 10:1
UCLA 12:1
UCONN 20:1
Louisville 20:1
Michigan State 20:1
Pittsburgh 25:1
Memphis 25:1
Georgetown 25:1
This would say Duke sliding to me at 6, as much as I hate them was a steal
I fell asleep and missed the UCLA v. Miami (OH) game but it looks like it was a great one! Damn! Miami (OH) will turn out to be a great pick for Gunz.
Western Michigan (HippieD) just dropped one to TCU in the Charleston Classic. I guess that's the risk with the mid-majors...
Kentucky just dropped one to VMI - I guess that's the risk with majors.
I look forward to next years showdown between Gardner Webb and VMI
Friday's losers:
Boaris' Kentucky, but despite this he is in first place.
HippieD's Western Mich, who gets a chance to prove themselves against Hofstra today;
ProgressMedia's American losing to Oklahoma but no surprise there;
The CEO's Boston Univ. losing to George Washington;
Some observations on a Saturday night:
Northeastern (Jaybird) bounced back from the thumpin at Michigan to defeat a good Providence team. Don't count them out yet.
Vermont-George Mason went into overtime, not a bad loss for Phunmunki.
San Diego (Jut) lost to UNLV with half their starters on probation for violating "team rules" What are these guys doing, smokin' dope? Jut's secret weapon is looking like a missing WMD right now.
Western Michigan (HippieD) is tanking in the Charleston Classic, and now has to hope they can defeat Div. II SIU-podunk on Sunday or lose 2 points...
Temple (Jut) and Clemson (Musa) though look like they'll be facing off Sunday in Charleston with one of them 3 and 0.
Akaoni lost two head to head match ups - Drake fell to Butler, Wright State fell to Illinois State. His New Mexico plays Babs Creighton Sunday though...
And will Boaris and HippieD be sitting in the #1 and #2 positions on Sunday morning? If so, can they hold them for long?
Not too many surprises in the first week. Kentucky falling to VMI, Northeastern taking Providence, maybe Sourthern Illinois topping UMass, and maybe Western Michigan's 0-2 start.
Ironically, the players predicted for last are all in the top 4. I suspect we'll stay pretty even through the preseason.
I guess I'm trusting you two "commissioners" to accurately declare which of my wins are against "Division II" teams, although I'd say that Paul Quinn should count as Division I.
Also, I don't think I was predicted for last.
Here's the secret to Div II vs. Div I:
On the ESPN Scoreboard, if the team isn't in bold, they are Div. II. It hasn't been proven wrong yet.
You, turtle, are the exception to every rule.
Western Michigan lost again, do a Div. II SIU-somewhere! HippieD is getting burned with those jokers.
Rhode Island - best team no one took
Rhode Island played well, but when you have a guy hit 8 of 9 three pt attempts you're going to be in a game (NICE D Dukies!!) Although I will say, I like seeing them get pushed, trail a whole game, and pull it out in the end. Hopefully, it builds the character needed to pull out the Coach's for Cancer Tourney. Although I'll admit, watching it on-line was painful!!!
However, best team no one picked, not Rhode Island
I thought Rhode Island looked pretty damn good. They kept their cool with a lead almost the entire game against a very intense Duke team. The 3s by Baron were critical, but they had huge play by at least 3 others if not more.
To Duke's credit, they rallied, they won, they hit the big shots they needed to hit. They'll be good, but how good I don't know.
I should be in last - only 3 pts after opening week.
jut
The CEO (Duke) will have to face Rhode Island again next Saturday, but this time it will be Virginia Commonwealth taking them on. After that we'll know if Rhode Island is the best team no one took.
How about Alabama going down to Mercer
Alabama going down to Mercer doesn't matter. What does matter is that Ronald Steele poured in 25 pts, meaning he is back and ready to play. Baba is a good pick that will produce well and make the tourney.
I didn't notice the Alabama loss to Mercer! Nice pick, Jaybird! Good luck with Florida A&W this week.
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