Today is Groundhog Day. I'm not sure if the groundhog saw its shadow or not prior to me typing up this report (as of 2:09 PM CDT). The shadows of March are looming in the distance here on Super Bowl weekend. So while the NFL's big game is tomorrow, we have some Satuday college basketball. Oh, by the way... it just came to me... six more weeks of Winter. You all can deal, right? So let's get this deal started!
Saturday Scores
--- Wildcat Pack (men's scores only) ---
Countless schools have similar nicknames for their sports teams. So here is my Wildcat Pack devoted to all teams who have "Wildcat" as the nickname for their schools. I am only doing men's scores. I actually challenged myself to find ALL the Wildcat programs in Division 1. See if I covered all the Division 1 Wildcats by checking out these scores. We begin in the Peachtree State.
You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down... Unless You're Kentucky
* Kentucky {Wildcats} at Georgia {Bulldogs}
FoolKiller thinks Kentucky can get it done at Georgia. Let's see if he's right. We meet Georgia first. Georgia loves to play at home because they've been unbeaten. The Bulldogs are all about winning. Georgia's better known as a football school, but they'll show everyone else who's top dog. If that's true, then some cats are ready to show that cats are ALWAYS better than dogs. That would be Kentucky. The University of Kentucky plays in the very tough SEC. They haven't won a road game yet. That may change, especially if the Wildcats have their way with Georgia.
Joe Crawford put up 26 points and 5 for 6 outside the arc to lead Kentucky to victory. First road win for Kentucky. (63-58; Kentucky)
Arizona Ready for a Vicious Fight Against Some Ravenous Bruins
* Arizona {Wildcats} at UCLA {Bruins}
We go from a seven-time National Champion to an 11-time National Champion. We got UCLA matching up against Arizona.
At the 6:20 mark in the First Half, Arizona did something that would denote a team having a bad night- they had only one timeout left! This isn't football. I can't believe I'm saying that in reference to Arizona, who is usually pathetic in football. I thought that teams get six timeouts in basketball rather than five. Unless they changed regulations or something...
Arizona would go on to lose in an 82-60 blowout. (82-60; #5 CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES)
Former National Champions Collide in the Philadelphia Area
* Syracuse {Orange} at Villanova {Wildcats}
I've been drinking a lot of orange juice and tea while being sick for the weekend. Syracuse Orange is good for you... as long as you're wearing Syracuse colors. Syracuse has been National Champions last in 2003(?). I remembered watching some classic footage of the game between Georgetown and Villanova for the 1984-1985 National Championship. At Rupp Arena, Villanova won the championship in a thrilling match.
The Wildcats of Villanova didn't have enough gusto to squeeze the Syracuse Orange. (87-73; Syracuse)
Fresh Off of Stunning Kansas, Kansas State Aims to Teach Missouri Some Respect
* #22 Kansas State {Wildcats} at Missouri
The University of Missouri has an amazing arena. In fact, three of my favorite basketball arenas as in the Big XII. The others include Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas U.) and Gallagher Arena (Oklahoma State). Can you believe the Kansas State Wildcats knocking off Kansas in their last match? Kansas State couldn't beat Kansas in football (what a magical season in football for a usual doormat in Kansas), so the Wildcats tried to cook some birds in basketball. Beasley's the big man on campus for the Manhattan, KS (also known as the Little Apple) school. They'll be heading to Columbia, Missouri to meet the University of Missouri. I think Missouri is a good team both in men's basketball and football. However, they usually are a middle-of-the-road program in both sports. The Tigers want to show they are the better cats no matter what Kansas State thinks.
And Missouri was right. They shattered the momentum of Kansas State. (77-74; MISSOURI) *** upset! and big win ***
Black College Basketball Welcomes Two Nice Programs
* Bethune-Cookman {Wildcats} at South Carolina State {Bulldogs}
Wait a minute... didn't we already have a match between Wildcats playing at Bulldogs? Well, this isn't Kentucky at Georgia. We have another Cats vs. Dogs match. This time, in a rival SEC state- South Carolina. The South Carolina State Bulldogs proudly represent the MEAC conference. It is one of about two or three (if you count the Ohio Valley Conference with schools like Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Samford, and schools thereof). Now welcome Bethune-Cookman University. Bethune-Cookman University is a Florida school. Want to know where it is? Here is a hint: the 50th Anniversary of a special race there happens at this track in this city. That's right! The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats call Daytona Beach, FL home. Unlike the Kentucky/Georgia game,
the Bulldogs won this one. It was a close contest. (51-48; SOUTH CAROLINA STATE)
New Hampsire is Great in Football, Good in Hockey, Almost Abysmal in Basketball...
* Boston University {Terriers} at New Hampshire {Wildcats}
In fact, we have a matchup between two pretty powerful hockey schools. Boston University is every bit as terrifying on the ice as they are in hoops... or at least that's what they want you to believe. Today's Boston University is a non-football school. Boston University and Boston College are NOT the same school. The Terriers do have some beef with the B.C. Eagles in every sport the two are available in (except football unless Boston University reinstates football). Now for New Hampshire. The University of New Hampshire is amazing in football and just as amazing in hockey. Just too bad none of the success filters to their basketball program. It's probably because the Wildcats just aren't very good in basketball. So let's see who won this one.
Boston University took care of business on the road. (67-52; Boston University)
Don't Underestimate Davidson College
* Davidson {Wildcats} at Chattanooga {Mocs}
This is a battle in the Southern Conference. Davidson College shown their strength early in the season with some nice wins. Whether or not the Davidson Wildcats could imprve to 15-6 will depend on if Chattanooga has their way. To my knowledge, the University of Chatanooga is usually home of the FCS National Championship game in football. Chattanooga's Mocs are ready to defend home turf in hoops. Yet,
Chattanooga failed to shut down Davidson. (78-71; Davidson)
The Big Sky is Full of Shining Stars, Inlcuding This Cat Fight
* Weber State {Wildcats} at Idaho State {Bengals}
It's the Idaho State Bengals hosting Weber State.
The Weber State Wildcats from Utah had a very unhappy road trip to Idaho and leave with a four-point loss. (63-59; IDAHO STATE)
Mission accomplished! I found all the Wildcat schools that played today! Now on to more scores.
-end "Wildcat Pack"
Memphis Meets a Former National Champion
* Memphis {Tigers} at UTEP {Miners}/UTEP {Miners} at Memphis {Tigers}
Today's UTEP is not exactly Texas Western College, and the University of Memphis isn't the 1966 Kentucky Wildcats. Memphis wants their first championship, but the Tigers need to take care of some Miners if they want to keep their unbeaten streak going.
Memphis managed to win in a tight fit. (70-64; #1 MEMPHIS)
SIDE NOTE:
Memphis still has to take on Tennessee and host Houston in Houston's rematch against Memphis. Speaking of Houston...
Coogs Hit the Road to Orlando
* Houston {Cougars} at Central Florida {Golden Knights}
So the University of Houston didn't take care of Memphis. They can still control their destiny in C-USA even if Memphis is having their way. The Cougars can't wait for their rematch against Memphis, but they can't really overlook the UCF Golden Knights.
Houston was the only thing golden in Orlando on this night. (84-81; Houston)
The Commonwealth of Virginia Sees an In-State Battle
* Virginia {Cavaliers} at Virginia Tech {Hokies} --- RIVALRY GAME ---
Virginia is in last place in ACC play. Can the Cavaliers make a difference in Blacksburg, VA?
The game went into overtime, but the Virginia Tech Hokies were just too much better than their counterparts. (72-68, OT; VIRGINIA TECH)
Louisville Keeps on Keeping On
* Rutgers {Scarlet Knights} at Louisville {Cardinals}
Rutgers is the State University of New Jersey, not to mention the birthplace of college football. These are Scarlet Knights about ready to eliminate some birdies from Louisville. The University of Louisville is the sworn enemy of the University of Kentucky, so I'm sure the Cardinals saw Kentucky when
they simply hammered the Scarlet Knights into oblivion. (87-50; LOUISVILLE)
Play Basketball Like a Champion Today... and Every Day
* DePaul {Blue Demons} at Notre Dame {Fighting Irish}
I value the comments of
BlackBeadyEyes. So what I've decided to do is talk Notre Dame basketball. Let's meet DePaul first. DePaul University is a religious university in which Chicago is the classroom. The Blue Demons have been singing the blues for a long time since DePaul basketball hasn't been very good. A trip to Notre Dame is not going to make matters better. I learned that the University of Notre Dame is a Catholic institution. So much like I didn't know that Baylor is a Baptist school, I didn't know Notre Dame is Catholic. Notre Dame is the only school other than Boston College to be a religious-type school that can perform in both basketball and football. There's only one Notre Dame. Unless you account for Division 2's non-football school Notre Dame de Namur (in California), and non-football Notre Dame College (in Ohio) in Division 3. The Fighting Irish are absolutely genuine in any sport. In this battle between two religious programs,
Notre Dame won by nine over the lowly DePaul Blue Demons.
OFF-TOPIC
To learn more about the two Notre Dame schools I mentioned, follow these links:
Notre Dame de Namur (home of the Argos) -
http://www.ndnu.edu and
http://www.ndnu.edu/athletics
Notre Dame College (home of the Blue Falcons) -
http://www.notredamecollege.edu and
http://www.notredamecollege.edu/athletics/index.htm
Golden Grizzlies Try to Stay Golden by Hosting South Dakota State
* South Dakota State {Jackrabbits} at Oakland {Golden Grizzlies}
It's
Joey D time as we go to Rochester, MI and check in on his program. South Dakota State's Jackrabbits wear blue and gold. SoDaSU may wear blue and gold, but not Oakland gold. You see, it takes a special group of student athletes to wear Oakland gold. Oakland is not very far away from metropolitan Detroit. MoTown has gold in designing cars as well as producing great vocal talent. Oakland's Golden Grizzlies are a special breed of ferocious beasts. So will Oakland endure the rigors of taking on South Dakota State? Or will they be in trouble like recently-recalled Ford vehicles that have a cruise control switch problem?
Oakland's Golden Grizzlies feasted on some unlucky Jackrabbits. Animal Planet brought to life. (78-68; OAKLAND)
OFF-TOPIC
You can read more about the recall issued by Ford by checking out this
Wall Street Journal article: <
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120198048556138399.html?mod=googlenews_wsj >. It has to do with cars recalled since 1999 that have a cruise control switch problem. Giving more reason for Ford haters to label Ford as "F:censored: on Race Day," or any other negative acronym related to Ford.
LSU Tries Alabama on For Size
* LSU {Tigers} at Alabama {Crimson Tide}
What the hell happened to LSU? Maybe Les Miles needs to coach the men's basketball team. LSU did manage to get their first SEC win by taking out Auburn.
The Crimson Tide washed away the LSU Tigers in this one. The surf from the Crimson Tide was incredibly high for LSU to evade. (81-72; ALABAMA)
SIDE NOTE:
LSU is now 8-12 overall and 1-6 in conference play. Both Alabama and LSU have the same conference record, but LSU is dead last in the SEC West since Alabama has a 12-9 record overall.
EXTRA: SEC Men's Standings After Feb. 2, 2008:
SEC East
Let's see how the best college sports conference in America shapes up in hoops. #7 Tennessee leads the men's standings with a 5-1 record in conference and 18-2 overall. Sharing a 5-1 record is their rivals from the Sunshine State- the University of Florida with an 18-3 record overall. After a rough start of the season, Kentucky is now at a 3-2 record in conference play and an even 9-9 record overall. Kentucky beat Georgia as they are now 2-3 in the SEC and 11-7 overall. Bringing up the rear are two 2-4 conference teams: #19 Vanderbilt (17-4 overall) and South Carolina (10-10 overall).
SEC West
#24 Mississippi State leads the SEC west with a 5-1 conference record and a 14-6 record overall. Arkansas turned the corner to be 2nd in the SEC West with a 4-2 record and a 15-5 record overall. Mississippi is usually pathetic in basketball (other than Auburn), but the #24 Rebels are 3-3 in conference and 15-5 overall. Auburn is 2-4 in conference, but their 12-7 record is not bad. Alabama has a 12-9 record overall, but a 1-5 record overall. LSU brings up the rear with a 1-5 conference record and an 8-12 record. Maybe LSU can't wait for football season to roll back around.
Upsets!
These are other upsets by ranking. It is a quick rundown of lower-ranked teams beating higher-ranked teams. Home teams are underlined. Ranking numbers with an "M" or a "W" denote rankings for men (hence the "M") and women (hence the "W").
* Connecticut upsets #18M Pittsburgh 60-53
* #9M Washington State failed to knock off #14 Stanford in a 67-65 Overtime loss
* #20M Florida couldn't handle a 80-61 blowout at Arkansas
* If Pennsylvania State is so sorry, explain how #8M Michigan State lost 85-76 in Happy Valley.
I unfortunately have only men's scores. See more scores including wins by Duke and Western Kentucky by following these links:
* http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/scoreboard?d=2008-02-02&c=all&refresh=0 (Men's scores)
* http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/scoreboard?d=2008-02-02&c=all&refresh=0 (Women's Scores)
It's going to be six more weeks of Winter according to the good old groundhog. Enjoy, players! I don't think I'll provide Sunday scores because I'll be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. Hope you all enjoy the game if you'll be watching it.
