College basketball

[O Really]

Dook is thumping the 'Heels in the Dean Dome. It would be nice if it wasn't a thrashing, but I don't mind Coach K getting that win on his way out.

[O Really]

Oh well, a thrashing it was. It was a good ride, Coach K - best to ya'!

[billy.pilgrim]

Man, that was close.

To 8-11 Missouri?

Weird. Now we've been down by a point or two against the 2 last place teams in the sec with under 2 minutes left.

Auburn 74 to uga 72

We may be about to hit a little tougher place in our schedule. I read a score projection for our remaining 6 or 7 games - 3 were by 1 point and 1 was a tie in regulation.

Arkansas is tomorrow. They're just outside the top 25, but are on an 8 or 10 game winning streak.

With the inconsistent play we showed in the Missouri and uga games, I don't see how we get by the the next 2 weeks playing @Arkansas, @Florida @Tennessee and I don't remember which of the Mississippi teams they had us playing close, but we have State in "starkvegas" and Ole Miss in Auburn.

I'll be screaming and yelling for them.

Cool - Game Day will be in Auburn Saturday against Texas A&M. The kid was given a couple of tickets.

WDE

[billy.pilgrim]

Oh well, it couldn't last forever.

Still haven't lost in regulation. WDE

[Vrede too]

Oh well, it couldn't last forever.

Still haven't lost in regulation. WDE

Ouch, the streak ends at 19. 80-74, 1OT. Unranked Arkansas, Auburn has really been challenged by mediocre teams.

... Arkansas coach Eric Musselman even started celebrating shirtless on the court with Razorbacks students.

“It was awesome, what a game,” Musselman said on ESPN. “You know they danced on our logo before the game. We watched that. What a great win for this program, it’s so awesome.” ...

Maybe not a good idea.

Looks like #2 Gonzaga will move back into #1 on the strength of 12 straight wins.

[billy.pilgrim]

Oh well, it couldn't last forever.

Still haven't lost in regulation. WDE

Ouch, the streak ends at 19. 80-74, 1OT. Unranked Arkansas, Auburn has really been challenged by mediocre teams.

... Arkansas coach Eric Musselman even started celebrating shirtless on the court with Razorbacks students.

“It was awesome, what a game,” Musselman said on ESPN. “You know they danced on our logo before the game. We watched that. What a great win for this program, it’s so awesome.” ...

Maybe not a good idea.

Looks like #2 Gonzaga will move back into #1 on the strength of 12 straight wins.

They had a slow start, but now have about 10 straight wins - I think, but yeah, we have been playing the better teams better and the dead last Georgia types close.

[billy.pilgrim]

Always classy Clemson

https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-david- ... 57718.html

[Vrede too]

Always classy Clemson

https://sports.yahoo.com/clemson-david- ... 57718.html

Ugh.



#7 19-3 Duke 82-64.

Speaking of class:

ESPN Analyst Dick Vitale Calls North Carolina Coach K Chants ’Classless’

ESPN analyst Dick Vitale voiced his displeasure with the reception Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski received during the Blue Devils' 87–67 win over North Carolina on Saturday night.

In what was his final game in Chapel Hill, Tar Heels fans booed Krzyzewski throughout, with the student section even voicing a profanity-laced chant when he first appeared. Krzyzewski also was not honored by the UNC program like he had been at other schools such as Notre Dame, Florida State and Louisville....



Krzyzewski said after the win that, “I got what I expected,” adding, per the Charlotte Observer, “I’m always ready for it.” With the win, he now holds a 50–46 record over the Tar Heels and moved to 16–20 since the Dean E. Smith Center opened in 1986....

[O Really]

The fact that Coach K might have "expected" it doesn't keep it from being classless.

[Vrede too]

The fact that Coach K might have "expected" it doesn't keep it from being classless.

I took that as a subtle slap at UNC fans - Oh, they've always been classless.

[billy.pilgrim]

UNC up 18 to 0 over the semi-holes. Not a bad start.

We held A&M to 18 1st half points
former UNC player Kessler got another triple double

[Vrede too]

UNC up 18 to 0 over the semi-holes. Not a bad start.

73-37, 15:17 2nd.

We held A&M to 18 1st half points
former UNC player Kessler got another triple double

Congrats.

[billy.pilgrim]

Is there bias?
Auburn has 2 losses, both losses were in OT
Gonzaga has 2 losses, both in regulation, 1 against an unranked team that Auburn beat

Gonzaga got 56 1st place votes
Auburn got 4

Auburn's schedule is much tougher - especially our 3 upcoming road games. We may very well have more losses than Gonzaga at the end, but for now, I can't figure how the vote goes 56 to 4

I'm not familiar with most of the teams they play, but I don't see that they've played more than 3 reasonably tough games all season and they lost 2 of those. They have no quality games left on their schedule.

Oh well, there are good playoffs in basketball.

[Vrede too]

Is there bias?
Auburn has 2 losses, both losses were in OT
Gonzaga has 2 losses, both in regulation, 1 against an unranked team that Auburn beat

Gonzaga got 56 1st place votes
Auburn got 4

Auburn's schedule is much tougher - especially our 3 upcoming road games. We may very well have more losses than Gonzaga at the end, but for now, I can't figure how the vote goes 56 to 4

I'm not familiar with most of the teams they play, but I don't see that they've played more than 3 reasonably tough games all season and they lost 2 of those. They have no quality games left on their schedule.

Oh well, there are good playoffs in basketball.

Which rankings are you looking at? Per the AP rankings AL is #25.

Gonzaga lost to #9 Duke and #25 AL, no unranked teams.
Auburn lost to #24 UConn and #23 Arkansas.
Advantage Gonzaga.

Gonzaga has won 14 games since its last loss, including beating #11 Texas Tech.
Auburn lost 2 games ago.
Advantage Gonzaga.

Gonzaga also beat #13 UCLA and #20 Texas earlier in the season.
Auburn has beaten #4 Kentucky, #21 Murray State, and #25 AL twice.
Advantage Auburn, but not overwhelming IMO.

I don't have an opinion, but the AP's choice is not outrageous. I did not have the energy to take into account things like victory margins and the relative strengths of unranked teams.

Gonzaga does not play any more ranked teams.
Auburn plays #16 Tennessee.
Potential advantage Auburn.

Auburn could get back to #1 in the regular season.

Gonzaga is unlikely to play any ranked teams in the West Coast championship.
Auburn is most likely to play #4 Kentucky, #16 Tennessee and/or #23 Arkansas in the SEC championship.
Potential advantage Auburn.

Auburn could get back to #1 before MM.

[billy.pilgrim]

Is there bias?
Auburn has 2 losses, both losses were in OT
Gonzaga has 2 losses, both in regulation, 1 against an unranked team that Auburn beat

Gonzaga got 56 1st place votes
Auburn got 4

Auburn's schedule is much tougher - especially our 3 upcoming road games. We may very well have more losses than Gonzaga at the end, but for now, I can't figure how the vote goes 56 to 4

I'm not familiar with most of the teams they play, but I don't see that they've played more than 3 reasonably tough games all season and they lost 2 of those. They have no quality games left on their schedule.

Oh well, there are good playoffs in basketball.

Which rankings are you looking at? Per the AP rankings AL is #25.

Gonzaga lost to #9 Duke and #25 AL, no unranked teams.
Auburn lost to #24 UConn and #23 Arkansas.
Advantage Gonzaga.

Gonzaga has won 14 games since its last loss, including beating #11 Texas Tech.
Auburn lost 2 games ago.
Advantage Gonzaga.

Gonzaga also beat #13 UCLA and #20 Texas earlier in the season.
Auburn has beaten #4 Kentucky, #21 Murray State, and #25 AL twice.
Advantage Auburn, but not overwhelming IMO.

I don't have an opinion, but the AP's choice is not outrageous. I did not have the energy to take into account things like victory margins and the relative strengths of unranked teams.

Gonzaga does not play any more ranked teams.
Auburn plays #16 Tennessee.
Potential advantage Auburn.

Auburn could get back to #1 in the regular season.

Gonzaga is unlikely to play any ranked teams in the West Coast championship.
Auburn is most likely to play #4 Kentucky, #16 Tennessee and/or #23 Arkansas in the SEC championship.
Potential advantage Auburn.

Auburn could get back to #1 before MM.

I know that they could. My comment was more about their schedule and the vote. Alabama was unranked when they played Gonzaga, but you're right, they are a ranked team.
Gonzaga hasn't beaten a ranked team since November.
Is there an easier conference than theirs?

My point isn't about the rankings. So what #1 or #2. My point is the 56 to 4 vote. That's outside of reasonable.

Name recognition seems to play a much bigger role than actual performance. You might not have noticed, being a fan of one of the most recognized basketball schools.
There's no way the voters can watch all the games, so a lot of votes are based on history.

A few years back you looked down on sec basketball and Auburn's schedule - rightfully.
Seems hard not to see a bias. Whether, against the sec or in favor of Gonzaga, I don't know, but it's real.

Go Pepperdine

[Vrede too]

... Auburn could get back to #1 in the regular season.

... Auburn could get back to #1 before MM.

I know that they could. My comment was more about their schedule and the vote. Alabama was unranked when they played Gonzaga, but you're right, they are a ranked team.
Gonzaga hasn't beaten a ranked team since November.
Is there an easier conference than theirs?

My point isn't about the rankings. So what #1 or #2. My point is the 56 to 4 vote. That's outside of reasonable.

Name recognition seems to play a much bigger role than actual performance. You might not have noticed, being a fan of one of the most recognized basketball schools.
There's no way the voters can watch all the games, so a lot of votes are based on history.

A few years back you looked down on sec basketball and Auburn's schedule - rightfully.
Seems hard not to see a bias. Whether, against the sec or in favor of Gonzaga, I don't know, but it's real.

Go Pepperdine

Gonzaga stomped #11 Texas Tech on 12/18, 69-55.
Auburn beat #21 Murray State the same week, and #4 Kentucky and #25 AL twice since then.
Advantage Auburn.

Gonzaga last lost on 12/4.
Auburn last lost on 2/8.
Advantage Gonzaga.

Seems the writers put more weight on the latter. They may have discounted the relative strengths of unranked opponents and emphasized history, and I don't have an opinion about their choice. They've all watched more games than my zero. 56-4 may include some who are biased, but it tells me that the unbiased are also in pretty solid agreement.

SEC basketball has been shaky other than KY, TN, FL, and sometimes Arkansas I think. I was probably teasing you about Auburn's schedule because of your sneering at UCF's football schedule more than actually caring one way or the other.

Gonzaga used to be semi-local for me and I only ever like Auburn because of you. Bias admitted, but I honestly don't care which are #1 and #2. Unless one collapses they may both get #1 MM seeds and meet in the semis or final. We'll see.

Gonzaga beat Pepperdine 117-83 in their first game. Good luck with that.

Duke is #9 but has no ranked opponents left because the ACC uncharacteristically sucks this year. You're rank is safe from it.
Neither UNC nor MD got any votes at all.
Montana Grizzlies are 17-9 and on the bubble for the Big Sky tournament.

Aside:
Cheapest Auburn away game tix are all less than $135. #16 TN is "only" $114 and MS St is $22.
Cheapest Auburn home game tix are "from $434 (vs SC)" or less.
Cheapest Duke away game tix are all less than $100.
FSU @Duke tix are "from $1251".
UNC @Duke tix are "from $4406".

[billy.pilgrim]

Scary - Vandy opened the game 14 to 3. We caught up just before the half. The 2nd was all ours.

The Juniors
Scotty Pippen Jr. is pretty damn good. He and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored about 30 points.

Pippen scored 29 - 14 were foul shots. Very tough to defend.

Smith scored 31. He was 7 of 10 on 3s.

[billy.pilgrim]

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local ... the-world/

7'5" at 15 - plus, he's athletiches the tallest teenager in the world

Seriously, are people feeding their kids some kind of growth hormones?

[Vrede too]

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local ... the-world/

7'5" at 15 - plus, he's athletiches the tallest teenager in the world

Seriously, are people feeding their kids some kind of growth hormones?

He might go ACC, but I wouldn't lay any bets on Auburn in 2026 if I were you.

[billy.pilgrim]

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local ... the-world/

7'5" at 15 - plus, he's athletiches the tallest teenager in the world

Seriously, are people feeding their kids some kind of growth hormones?

He might go ACC, but I wouldn't lay any bets on Auburn in 2026 if I were you.

Reckon he'll make 8 ft?