College Basketball: Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and my Introduction

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, it's time to begin college basketball season with the first games of the year. Now, if you know how I do my college football scores, my basketball scores shouldn't be too complicated. Since college basketball features playoffs and tournaments while Division 1-A football doesn't, expect some subtle changes to how I do my scores. I won't have every score, because Division 1 has over 320 schools ranging from North Carolina to Savannah State. Then too, some may do maybe two games in one week. Of course, I will talk about things like this. So follow the Legend:

---LEGEND---
When a team wins a game like in my college football scoring reports, I normally put the winner's name in CAPTIAL letters if they are the home team. In college basketball, if the home team is playing in a tournament (where there isn't really supposed to be home-field advantage), their names will not only be in CAPTIAL letters, but also in Italics. If the Away team wins the game, their name will be in regular letters. And schools with acronyms will be spelled out. Here are some sample scores to show you what I'm talking about:

"title, if any" (Away Team) at (Home Team)
(story) (Winner Score-Loser Score; WINNER/Winner)

HOME TEAM WINS (REGULAR): (82-76; TEXAS-EL PASO)
HOME TEAM WINS (TOURNEY): (66-63; CHAMINADE -> Advances to xxxx)
AWAY TEAM WINS (REGULAR): (85-73: Maryland)
AWAY TEAM WINS (TOURNEY): (78-72: Maryland-Baltimore County -> Advances to xxxx)
---end---

Having said this, let's go!

2005 COACHES VS. CANCER TOURNAMENT: CARRIER DOME; SYRACUSE, NY

"Red-emption" Cornell vs St. Francis ---2005 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic; Syracuse, NY---
Welcome to the Ivy Leage, if you favor the Ithaca, NY brand of Cornell. The Cornell Big Red is looking to do big things in this tournament. Normally, they are a pretty good Ivy Leauge footbal team. They finished 13-14 overall, and 8-6 in the Ivy Leauge. GTPlanet, there are two St. Francis teams in Division 1 basketball, but only one in football. That St. Francis in football and basketball is St. Francis in Pennsylvania. The Red Flash have a pretty good three-point basketballer, so it will be interesting to see him being utilized against the pack. This is the same tournament, so let's see who did better. The Red Flash are 3-2 lifetime against Cornell, so a win here is likely as Cornell tries to even the series. The Big Red told the Red Flash to shove it, and shove it they did. Buckets seemed to rain from everywhere as a blowout was preserved. In ways, it does seem like an all-offense football game. Thing is, these Ivy Leaugers shown how to get it done. (75-54; Cornell => Advances to Regional Finals)

"Ex-'cuse Me!" Bethune-Cookman vs #16 Syracuse ---2005 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic; Syracuse, NY---
GTPlanet, this is my debut showing off college basketball scores, but I do it the same as college football. So let's start this thing off. Well, what can I say about Syracuse's football team? They stink. I believe they haven't had a title since the 1950s or 1960s. So, they don't REALLY stink. Thing is, they don't stink when the Carrier Dome is converted to a basketball arena. Formerly the Syracuse Orangemen, the Orange are primed and ready to make a run at the Final Four and with hope, the National Title. They lost to Vermont in the first round of the NCAA last season 60-57. Division 1 athletics mean that if there are football teams, this is where you'll see Division 1-A teams meet Division 1-AA teams all in one division, so let's meet Bethune-Cookman College. The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats are out of Daytona Beach, FL as part of the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Bethune-Cookman is no Syracuse, but it still isn't a bad idea to see who can pull it out. Remember. ANYTHING can happen in a basketball game, because it isn't all about ball control like in football. Play baby, play ball. The zebra tossed it up and the Orange came out shooting two. Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara scored at least one three for 50 straight games, make that 51 in this one. The score was 35-16 in favor of the Orange at the half. Now for the other 20 minutes of fame. From there, it was a mega blowout, even worse than Cornell/St. Francis. (68-37; SYRACUSE -> Advances to Regional Finals)

 

[JohnBM01]

Let's continue with Wednesday action, players!

LAST TIME...
* Cornell blew out the Red Flash of St. Francis. The Red Flash were 3-2 against the Big Red, but Cornell evened the series at 3-3, with a spread of almost 20. * You just can't keep a good team down. That is what Bethune-Cookman College found out the hard way as the Wildcats simply took a field trip on how to PLAY basketball. Heck, Syracuse could blow out Bethune-Cookman in football as well. Keyword- COULD. Meaning, it may happen, may not.

But now, we have four games on tap.

"Empire State Encounter" Cornell vs. Syracuse ---2005 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic: Finals---
These two teams proven their worth beating their respective teams. Now, though, the winners will clash. No matter who wins this game, the state of New York will win. It's Ithaca, NY meeting Syracuse, NY. The Cornell Big Red took down St. Francis hard, and the Syracuse Orange smothered the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in orange. Now, these two New Yorkers are looking to beat each other on the boards, on the baseline, inside the paint, and certainly outside the paint. It's time to find out who's all ball and all game. In the second half upon me coming home from school, it was about 15 minutes in the 2nd Half as Cornell was trying to best the Orange. And at a point, Cornell tied things up 44-44. Then, Cornell took the lead for sure. The Big Red smelled blood (no pun intended). At 6:15 in the 2nd Half, Syracuse was shooting 1-17 from outside the paint. Un-Syracuse like, players. This is a sport Syracuse is better at than football, and they stink against these Ivy Leaguers... of course, even the best of teams don't have their best days. McNamara had a 53-game streak of making at least one 3-pointer and now is 0-10 outside the paint. Now the Orange have life on the hardwood and in the stands. Now, after an exciting final five minutes, Syracuse was just too much for the Big Red. Why Red when you can go Orange? Host team wins it all. They will head to Madison Square Garden later this year by this win. (67-62; Syracuse => Regional Champions)

"Crossing Lake Erie" Oakland vs. Albany
Now before we begin, let me remind you. There is no such thing as Oakland, CA in NCAA Division 1 hoops. People, we are talking about Rochester, Michigan's Oakland University. It is the university in which GTPlanet's own, "BlazinXtreme" is a student of. The Golden Grizzlies look to get a great start on the year. This Mid-Continent team had a wonderful surprise last season, finishing 13-19, but still making the NCAA Tournament. I believe the Golden Grizzlies lost to the SWAC's Alabama A&M on the opening round. Can they make the field of 65 again this season? Well first, they need to take on Albany. The Great Danes of Albany are part of the America East conference. You may see me talk about Albany in football if you read my Division 1-AA and lower reports. Albany is the captial of New York, and the University of Albany are the capital of the America East conference, as they finished 13-15 last season. As these two square off, it's time to see who got the better of the deal. Obviously, the Mid-Continent isn't the Big East or the ACC. So Oakland got the short end of the stick as they try to get a little experience en route to another postseason appearance. Hopefully, an NCAA tourney bid. But for this game, sorry Golden Grizzlies fans. (90-73; Albany)

"Cooked Well Done" St. Francis vs. Bethune Cookman ---Consolation Game---
Both teams got blown out. There are two St. Francis schools, St. Francis of Pennsylvania, and St. Francis College of New York. St. Francis of Pennsylvania lost to Cornell, so the Red Flash are about to play for consolation. Bethune-Cookman College of Daytona Beach, FL are a pretty good football team (as is St. Francis). The Wildcats of the MEAC were ready to meow, then tear apart the Red Flash on the boards. These two didn't want to lose, so we have extras. In overtime, Bethune-Cookman College will head back to Daytona Beach with 3rd Place. (63-52, OT; Bethune-Cookman -> Third Place)

"Shake Your Tailfeathers" St. Peter's vs. Florida
Let's talk about St. Peter's College and Florida, alright? St. Peter's College is home to the Peacocks. These Peacocks call Jersey City, NJ home. A peacock is a fowl with colorful tailfeathers, but they meet a bunch of animals that don't take any mess. You already know the Florida Gators rule "The Swamp." These long lizards were ready to have some lunch with these birds. The SEC East is predicted to go in the order of Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia according to Athlon Sports' college basketball preview. So let's see if Florida can stay sharp and prove predictions correct. So far so good, not bad, Gator Nation. Gators don't just rule the swamp. Real-life gators may not have wings or jump really high, but their basketball team surely can fly. (80-51; Florida)

 

[JohnBM01]

Coaches vs. Cancer Classic continues. I apologize for not a lot of scores to show this was a bit rushed.

"WF Smackdown!" Mississippi Valley State vs. #18 Wake Forest
Let's meet a team from Itta Bena, MS. Mississippi Valley State may not be from a football powerhouse conference in Division 1-AA, but they are a good team on the gridiron. Look at their basketball program, and you have a team which finished 13-15 overall, and 11-7 in the SWAC. The Delta Devils may not be the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, but they certainly aren't pushovers. Athlon Sports predicts that the Demon Deacons will not advance to the Sweet 16 this forthcoming season. A win here will silence doubters, at least until ACC conference play begins. In the end, this 5-on-5 ended in a 78-64 whack job. (78-64; Wake Forest)

* Oakland vs. St. Peter's
The Oakland University Golden Grizzlies made Southeast Michigan proud by beating Jersey City, NJ's St. Peter's Peacocks. St. Peter's College falls here. (??-??; Oakland)

* Georgia Southern vs. Portland
Georgia Southern is the home of the GSU Eagles. They aren't a bad football team, but these SOCON (Southern Conference) boys in the Southern Division finished 18-13 last season. In the SOCON South, the best two are predicted to be Davidson and Furman. I had some issues trying to remember if Portland has a football team. There is a Portland football team, but it is Portland State. In football, there are no such thing as the Portland Pilots. There is in the West Coast Conference, though. Portland may not be a real favorite, but they want to knock off their boys from the other side of the nation. While Gonzaga may be the top team of the WCC, Portland wants to pilot their Pilots to beating the Eagles. Man overboard. Georgia Southern wins this game. (??-??; Georgia Southern)

* Albany vs. Florida
After the Florida Gators cleaned up their opposition's mess, they were ready to meet Albany. The Great Danes are looking great, hoping to stay great. But it didn't happen as the Gators notch up another one. (??-??; Florida)

* San Jose State vs. Texas Tech
San Jose State really sucks, don't they? Their football program hasn't been to a Bowl Game since 1990. Their basketball program finished 6-23 last season, and winning only three games in conference that season. Work needed in the two major sports, for SURE with SJSU. Only other big sports not many know about in college are College Baseball and College Soccer. Now, let's meet the much more talented team out of Lubbock, TX... Texas Tech. The Texas Tech Red Raiders rule the gridiron and hardwood. On the hardwood, they are led by the controversial Bobby Knight. They made it to the Sweet 16 last season, only to lose to West Virginia 65-60. A win here in the Lubbock Region would mean they'd play in Madison Square Garden against maybe... Syracuse. (88-54; Texas Tech)

* UC Irvine vs. George Mason<
This is one of the first games I covered in which both teams do not have a football program. So, why don't I introduce you to both schools? It's obvious you can find this University of California in the city of Irvine, CA. Irvine, California is home to the UC Irvine Anteaters. They are part of a non-football conference- the Big West. The Anteaters are predicted to place #5 in conference by Athlon Sports' college basketball preview. The top three in their conference are California State-Fullerton, University of the Pacific, and California State-Northridge. In fact, I think the Big West is basically California's Division 1 basketball portal as all 9 teams are based in California. It's all California since Idaho joined the WAC. Now, let's look to the CAA and George Mason. Not Perry Mason, George Mason. No relation. Except one- these are the George Mason Patriots. (79-56; George Mason)

* Bowling Green vs. Western Carolina
Heard of Bowling Green in football? Sure. They have their star Omar Jacobs. Heard of Bowling Green in basketball? Sure. They have their star... uh... um... yeah. The Falcons aren't too known in basketball. You may not know about Western Carolina's Catamounts either. Then again, all you need to know is that the little kittes from Western Carolina beat the Bowling Green boys. And oh yeah, this is Bowling Green, Ohio, not the Kentucky one (though that's what I initially thought the Bowling Green in question was when I first learned my colleges. Anyhow, meow for the Catamounts as they whipped the Falcons. (??-??; Western Carolina)

 

[JohnBM01]

* Georgia Southern vs. Texas Tech
The Georgia Southern Eagles had a chance to upset Bobby Knight's Texas Tech Red Raiders. Sadly, the Georgia Southern boys aren't returning home happy. (71-64; TEXAS TECH => Advances to Madison Square Garden Next Week)