Miami FL

Gonzaga vs. #16 Saint Mary's: Thursday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:42:05 -0500

Could there be a changing of the guard in the West Coast Conference? While that may be a tough question to ask given the sustained run of success that Gonzaga (18-4, 8-2) has enjoyed over the years, winning the last eleven WCC regular season titles, Saint Mary's (22-2, 11-0) would establish a three-game lead with four conference games remaining with a win in Spokane. Led by seniors Matthew Dellavedova (15.5 ppg, 6.4 apg) and Rob Jones (14.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg), the Gaels have already swept BYU and handed Gonzaga an 83-62 loss back on January 12th. While Jones accounted for 11 rebounds and eight assists in that game he only scored two points, and the Gaels benefitted from other players stepping up their play.

One of those was redshirt freshman Brad Waldow (8.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who scored 17 points and grabbed ten rebounds in the first meeting. Waldow's reached double figures in points in each of the last four games, with a 14-point, 16-rebound performance at Santa Clara to begin the streak. Mitchell Young was also instrumental in the win over Gonzaga as he scored 12 points off the bench, and that production proved to be too much for the Bulldogs to overcome due in part to the quiet night that Robert Sacre (1-for-7, four points) had. Both Sacre (11.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Elias Harris (13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) need to be productive if Gonzaga is to control the flow of the contest tonight.

Another issue for Gonzaga in the first meeting was the overall play of the backcourt, as Kevin Pangos was their most productive guard with 12 points and four assists. But the other members of the rotation, from David Stockton to Marquise Carter to Gary Bell Jr., were all relatively quiet as Dellavedova took over the game with 26 points and six assists. Stephen Holt was also a factor for the Gaels as he scored 17 points, and while Jorden Page and Clint Steindl were quiet on that night they both have the ability to step up as well. Steindl scored 16 points in 21 minutes off the bench in Saint Mary's win at BYU, knocking down four of six from beyond the arc.

While equal in three-point percentage (36.6%), Saint Mary's has been the better offensive team this season as they boast a higher efficiency (117.4 to 109.4) and a better assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4 to 1.04 for Gonzaga) on the season. Gonzaga is essentially breaking even on assists and turnovers to date, and they can't afford to do so if they're to beat Saint Mary's. If a guard other than Pangos can play well that will be just as much of a boost for the Zags as the raucous crowd. To become the champion sometimes it takes going into the house of the reigning champ and winning to take full possession of the throne, and that's the mission in front of Randy Bennett's team.

Illinois visits Indiana on the heels of a disappointing home loss to Norhtwestern, and it's a key game for both teams with regards to possible NCAA seeding down the line. The Hoosiers are coming off of a much-needed win at Purdue, and with the likes of Victor Oladipo and Jordan Hulls there isn't much reason to question the effort of Tom Crean's team. But for whatever reason that hasn't always been the case with the Fighting Illini, who really need to figure out their "identity" and how to get the most out of their talent. Meyers Leonard and Brandon Paul lead the way for Bruce Weber, but consistent play from the likes of Joseph Bertrand and D.J. Richardson is a must down the stretch.

There are a pair of important contests in the Pac-12 as Arizona hosts Colorado and Washington visits Oregon, with the Huskies currently alone in first place. The Wildcats, fresh off of their sweep of the Bay Area road trip, likely have the second-best at-large profile in the conference (Cal having the best) but falling too far out of first place could get them in trouble. Tad Boyle's Buffaloes have been a pleasant surprise within the league, and in Andre Roberson they've got the league's best rebounder. His battle with Solomon Hill will be worth the price of admission by itself, and the young talent on the floor for both teams should be a good sign for the future.

In Eugene Tony Wroten and Terrence Ross lead the way for a Washington team that allowed some important non-conference opportunities to slip away, making it even more important that they find a way to win the regular season crown. Oregon's perimeter trio of Devoe Joseph, Garrett Sim and E.J. Singler are skilled enough to be a handful themselves, and this game is usually one that gets the fans into Matthew Knight Arena.

Ole Miss could really use a win at Mississippi State to help their fleeting at-large hopes and the same goes for Minnesota, who hosts Wisconsin. NC State (at Georgia Tech) and Miami (hosting Virginia Tech) are both playing games they can't afford to lose for the sake of their respective resumes, and undefeated Murray State is also in action. Lastly the Horizon League features an important contest as Valparaiso visits Cleveland State with the Vikings (10-2) up a game in the loss column.

Top 25 Games
8:00 PM Tennessee State at (7) Murray State (ESPN3)
11:00 PM (13) Saint Mary's at Gonzaga (ESPN2)
7:00 PM Ole Miss at (18) Mississippi State (ESPN2)
7:00 PM (22) Wisconsin at Minnesota (ESPN)
8:00 PM Illinois at (23) Indiana (BTN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Lehigh at American (CBS SN)
7:00 PM NC State at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Maine at Boston University
7:00 PM Albany at New Hampshire (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Appalachian State at Furman
7:00 PM Elon at Chattanooga (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Wofford at Georgia Southern
7:00 PM Siena at Niagara
7:00 PM High Point at Coastal Carolina
7:00 PM Valparaiso at Cleveland State
7:00 PM Winthrop at Campbell
7:00 PM Rider at Canisius
7:00 PM Denver at Florida Atlantic
7:00 PM North Texas at Florida International (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Radford at Gardner-Webb
7:00 PM VMI at Presbyterian
7:00 PM UMBC at Stony Brook
7:00 PM Davidson at Citadel
7:00 PM Butler at Youngstown State (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Utah Valley at N.J.I.T.
7:30 PM Liberty at Charleston Southern
7:30 PM Manhattan at Fairfield
8:00 PM Arkansas State at South Alabama
8:00 PM North Dakota State at UMKC
8:00 PM Western Carolina at Charleston (ESPN3)
8:00 PM South Dakota State at South Dakota
8:00 PM Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee (FCS)
8:00 PM UNC Greensboro at Samford
8:00 PM Tennessee-Martin at Southeast Missouri State
8:00 PM Eastern Illinois at Tennessee Tech
8:05 PM IUPUI at Oral Roberts (FCS)
8:05 PM Arkansas-Little Rock at Louisiana-Lafayette
8:05 PM North Dakota at Chicago State
8:30 PM Utah at Arizona State
8:30 PM Marist at St. Peter's (ESPN3)
8:35 PM Weber State at Northern Arizona (FCS)
9:00 PM Colorado at Arizona (ESPN)
9:00 PM Iowa at Northwestern (ESPNU)
9:00 PM Western Illinois at Southern Utah
9:00 PM Virginia Tech at Miami (FL) (ESPN2)
9:05 PM Louisiana Tech at Utah State (ESPN3)
9:05 PM Montana at Northern Colorado
10:00 PM UC Riverside at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Fresno State at San Jose State (ESPN3)
10:00 PM Washington State at Oregon State
10:00 PM San Diego at Pepperdine
10:05 PM Montana State at Sacramento State
10:05 PM Portland State at Idaho State
10:05 PM UC Irvine at Cal State Fullerton
10:30 PM California at USC
10:30 PM Long Beach State at Pacific
11:00 PM Stanford at UCLA
11:00 PM New Mexico State at Idaho
11:00 PM Cal State Northridge at UC Davis
11:00 PM Washington at Oregon (FSN)
11:00 PM Loyola Marymount at Portland
11:00 PM Santa Clara at San Francisco (ESPNU)
12:00 AM Nevada at Hawaii

Bracketology Poll: How Many ACC Teams Will Make the Tourney?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:36:16 -0500

Bubble Watch: Miami, Arizona Back From the Dead

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:06:55 -0500

Based on CollegeHoops.net's most recent Bracketology projection, here is how the NCAA Tournament Bubble currently stands. CHN will publish Bubble Watch on Tuesday's following the Bracketology update.

As always, the field below is a prediction of what the committee would do as things stand today, not what they should do. Teams are listed in order of likelihood of making the tournament. (Records listed only against D1 teams.)

This week's notes: Mississippi and Colorado State enter the field this week in place of Seton Hall and Dayton. Home losses to URI and Duquesne have crushed Dayton's hopes, while Seton Hall has been a free-fall in the Big East.

None of the computer rankings love Ole Miss, but the computer rankings don't care that the Rebels are in the SEC (unlike the biased human voters.) Colorado St is an interesting case because of their great RPI. The Rams don't have a single "bad" loss, but the problem is that they have few "good" wins.

Miami and Arizona are both back from the dead after mid-year slides. The problem for Arizona is that with Washington leading the Pac-12 and California in the field, there's really no room for a 3rd Pac-12 team. Miami has a much better chance of making the field due to ACC respect.

Middle Tennessee remains in the field as the Sun Belt champion, but were they to lose the conference title, their at-large hopes took a hit with a loss to Denver. MTSU has the record and computer respect of an at-large team, but realistically a Sun Belt team needs to go above and beyond to gain the committee's respect.

Change	Seed	Team	Conf.	Record	RPI	Sagarin	KenPom	AP
	10	California	P12	18-6	49	26	21
	11	Notre Dame	BE	15-8	56	52	47	26
	11	New Mexico	MWC	19-4	46	17	11	33
	11	Minnesota	BE	17-7	50	45	45
	11	NC State	ACC	17-7	53	55	61
	12	BYU	WCC	20-6	43	31	34	38
	12	Cincinnati	BE	16-7	98	51	50
	12	Xavier	A10	15-8	54	59	57
	12	Ole Miss	SE	14-8	51	95	104
	12	Colorado St	MWC	15-7	26	92	103
Bubble
		Texas	B12	15-9	57	28	23
		Seton Hall	BE	15-8	32	58	69
		Wyoming	MWC	18-5	69	60	54
		Arizona	P12	16-8	63	40	36
		Arkansas	SEC	16-7	60	75	75
		Miami	ACC	14-7	58	54	52	38
		UCF	CUSA	17-6	67	94	97
		Marshall	CUSA	14-9	61	77	76
		Northwestern	B10	14-8	37	67	71

Dropped Out of Bubble Watch: Dayton, Stanford

Projected Conference Champs that would be on the Bubble if they lost title:

Change	Seed	Team	Conf.	Record	RPI	Sagarin	KenPom	AP
	11	Washington	P12	16-7	76	64	64
Bubble
	13	Middle Tennessee	SB	21-4	44	42	42
	13	Oral Roberts	SUM	21-5	47	63	73
	13	Long Beach St	BW	17-6	36	43	46	32
	13	Davidson	SOU	18-5	66	60	62
	14	Iona	MAAC	19-5	58	45	49	35t
	14	Nevada	WAC	19-4	72	102	107

Projected Conference Leaders Out of Bubble Watch: none

We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section or on twitter @collegehoopsnet :

Monday Recap: Huskies Observe Second Half Dunk Contest in Loss

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:58:12 -0500

Quite a bit was made of the team meeting called by UConn forward Alex Oriakhi on Friday, and how it may have sparked a revival of the reigning national champions. But maybe that should have been another red flag, given the first couple of paragraphs in the Hartford Courant recapping the Huskies' 69-46 win over Seton Hall. Oriakhi mentioned that he'd been advised by people to call a team meeting, and while the junior is getting used to a new role within the team as its elder statesman the fact that such a push would need to be made is far more concerning than anyone seemed to realize.

The Huskies hit the road on Monday without head coach Jim Calhoun for the first time, and after hanging around for most of the first half things went downhill in a big way as Louisville rolled 80-59. Louisville hit UConn in the mouth, going on a 14-2 run halfway through the second half to push their lead out to 58-34, and instead of fighting back the Huskies seemed to play dead in hopes that the Cardinals would let up. What happened instead was a parade of Louisville players to the basket for emphatic dunks with some backbreaking three-pointers mixed in.

"I sure hope they do," remarked interim head coach George Blaney when asked if the players were embarrassed by their showing. "That was a pretty good beating in the second half. Fifty-one points and 50 percent shooting, seven or eight threes I think."

Gorgui Dieng, who was a gametime decision due to a sprained ankle suffered in Saturday's win over Rutgers, outplayed the UConn front court and finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six steals and guard Chris Smith scored a team-high 16 points. Ryan Boatright led the Huskies with 18 points and five assists, but it was troubling to see that as a team the Huskies finished with seven assists to 15 turnovers. Those mistakes were converted into 20 points by the Cardinals, with 12 of those points coming in the second half. It also didn't help matters that Louisville did such a good job on Jeremy Lamb, limiting the All America candidate to seven points and three turnovers.

"[Dick McGuire] said inferior guards play on the sidelines and great guards play in the middle," said Louisville head coach Rick Pitino of his late friend. "What we try to do with guys like that is to keep them on the sideline as much as possible. We try to take their talents away, and we did a great job of that today."

Louisville looks to be in good shape, but the same cannot be said for UConn with two of their next three games being Syracuse (on the road) and Marquette, a team that will fight for every inch of real estate on the court. Lamb, Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier have not stepped up to a championship level from a leadership standpoint, and the other guys are either too inconsistent (Andre Drummond was practically non-existent on Monday night) or in the case of Boatright really haven't played enough to cement themselves as the team leader. Who steps up? That remains to be seen, but if they all don't show up in the Carrier Dome looking for a fight this season's going to get even worse.

Other Notable Happenings (with some Sunday notes mixed in)

1. Reggie Johnson shines on Super Bowl Sunday as Miami wins for the first time at Duke.
Few people (if any) outside of the Miami basketball family gave the Hurricanes any chance of picking up their first-ever win at Cameron Indoor Stadium, seeing it as one final bit of hoops entertainment before watching the Super Bowl. But the Hurricanes believed, and thanks in large part to an outstanding afternoon from their big man Miami not only beat Duke 78-74 in overtime but may have also revived their NCAA tournament hopes. Reggie Johnson outplayed the Duke front court, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead the way and Kenny Kadji added 15 and eight boards.

Seth Curry (22 points) and Austin Rivers (20) led the way offensively for the Blue Devils but the poor performances of their front court didn't allow Duke to take advantage of Miami's starting guards (Malcolm Grant, Shane Larkin and Durand Scott) shooting a combined 6-for-29. Duke has some things to figure out ahead of their battle with North Carolina on Wednesday night, most importantly getting consistent production from the Plumlee brothers and Ryan Kelly.

2. Draymond Green shakes off his knee injury to lead Michigan State past Michigan.
The health of the senior forward was one of the keys to the matchup between the Spartans and Wolverines, but there was no doubt that Green would be on the Breslin Center floor. And he was highly effective as well, leading Michigan State to the 64-54 win with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Michigan State, who shot 52.2% from the field, was so dominant on the glass that Green's rebounding total matched that of Michigan's entire team (40-16 MSU edge) and the Spartans rebounded 48% of their missed shots.

That made up for Michigan State's 15 turnovers as they still finished with an efficiency of 108.5 to Michigan's 91.5. Michigan shot just 39.6% from the floor and the shooting of Tim Hardaway Jr. was one reason why the Wolverines struggled offensively as he made just one of ten shots from the field (four points). With the win the Spartans remain a game behind Ohio State in the Big Ten standings, and with two games against the Buckeyes still to be played Tom Izzo's team will contend throughout the remainder of the season.

3. Texas picks up a key win on the road as they beat Texas A&M.
Rick Barnes' Longhorns entered Monday's game in College Station with a record of 1-5 in true road games, and a return trip to the NCAA tournament will likely hinge on what they can do down the stretch away from Austin. The Longhorns shot 58.3% from the field in the second half and turned the ball over just eight times, winning 70-66 to move to 5-6 in Big 12 play. J'Covan Brown led the way with 20 points and seven assists and Sheldon McClellan added 15 for Texas, who put together their most efficent offensive showing in Big 12 play this season.

It didn't hurt to go up against a Texas A&M team without Dash Harris and Khris Middleton (Kourtney Roberson's also been out for quite some time with a fractured ankle), but regardless of who was on the floor Texas really needed a win to improve their profile. With road games against the likes of Oklahoma and Kansas remaining on the slate, this could be the confidence boost that Barnes' young team needed for a stretch run.

Quick Hitters

1. One of the things to watch on Monday was how Missouri would move on from their emotional win over Kansas on Saturday night. Oklahoma gave the Tigers all they wanted and then some, but Steven Pledger's game-tying three was off the mark and Missouri left with a 71-68 victory. Marcus Denmon scored 25 points as the Tigers won despite being out-rebounded 36-22 (Ricardo Ratliffe grabbed ten of those 22 boards). Mizzou now gets some much-needed rest before hosting Baylor on Saturday.

2. One of the tougher things to do in recent years is figure out which Illinois team will show up on any given day, and that was once again the case on Sunday as they lost 74-70 to Northwestern in Champaign. The Wildcats shot 60.4% from the field and 75.0% from two in the win, with John Shurna (24 points) and Reggie Hearn (20 points) leading the way. If Illinois is to be a factor come March they need to get more from D.J. Richardson, who scored nine points (3-9 FG) on Sunday and has reached double figures just twice since opening Big Ten play with three straight double figure scoring efforts.

3. Jamie Dixon's Pittsburgh Panthers won their fourth straight game on Sunday as they beat Villanova 79-70, and with their upcoming schedule Pitt could sprint right into an NCAA tournament bid. Tray Woodall, whose return to full strength sparked this run, scored 19 points and dished out five assists while Ashton Gibbs added 25 and they combined to go 19-for-19 from the foul line. There aren't many teams in the Big East volunteering to play the Panthers right now.

4. With a 54-46 win over East Tennessee State, Bob Hoffman's Mercer Bears moved into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Sun. Mercer, who is tied with Belmont in the loss column but has one more win, had three players score 11 points to lead the way and Jake Gollon made up for his cold shooting by grabbing 11 boards. Not only does Mercer get Belmont at home in the regular season finale but they also host the conference tournament, which will add more suspense than last season when Belmont rolled to the crown.

5. Davidson clinched at least a share of the South Division crown in the SoCon with their 76-54 win over Wofford, limiting the Terriers to 26.9% shooting and 15 points in the first half (Wofford had as many turnovers (seven) as field goals in the half). J.P. Kuhlman and De'Mon Brooks led four players in double figures with 14 and 13 points respectively, and Bob McKillop's team turned the ball over just six times on the night.

6. A pair of Dominique Sutton free throws with three seconds remaining sealed North Carolina Central's 81-79 win over Bethune-Cookman, adding even more intrigue to the MEAC race. With the Eagles' victory six teams are separated by two games in the loss column atop the MEAC with 9-2 Norfolk State leading the way. Levelle Moton's got some talented players with Sutton leading the way, and while they'll need some outside help keep an eye on NCCU down the stretch.

7. There was some important recruiting news as 2012 forward Ricardo Gathers (former St. John's verbal) committed to Baylor. The Louisiana native has a build ready for professional football much less college basketball, and to add him alongside the slender Isaiah Austin is quite the coup for Scott Drew and his staff.

Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List Released

Six Notable Performances (Sunday and Monday)

1. C Reggie Johnson (Miami)
27 points and 12 rebounds in the Hurricanes' 78-74 overtime win at Duke.

2. G Truck Bryant (West Virginia) and G Gerard Coleman (Providence)
Bryant scored 32 points and knocked down the game-winning three-pointer in the Mountaineers' 87-84 overtime win at Providence, while Coleman paced the Friars with a career-high 30.

3. F Draymond Green (Michigan State)
14 points and 16 rebounds in the Spartans' 64-54 win over #22 Michigan.

4. G Marcus Denmon (Missouri)
25 points and two steals in the Tigers' 71-68 win at Oklahoma.

5. G Tray Woodall and G Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh)
Woodall accounted for 29 points, six rebounds and five assists while Gibbs finished with 25 points in the Panthers' 79-70 win over Villanova.

6. G Kendrick Perry (Youngstown State)
28 points (11-14 FG), seven steals and six assists in the Penguins' 80-63 win over Loyola (IL).

CHN Weekly Awards: Dixon, Murphy, Indiana, Miami

Greg Mengelt — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:32:15 -0500

A review of the week that was in college basketball focusing on the best (and worst) performances. Check in every Monday morning for CollegeHoops.net's weekly awards.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Michael Dixon, Missouri: Dixon – arguably the nation’s best sixth man – made crucial plays in the Tigers’ wins over Texas and Kansas last week.

In Monday’s 67-66 win over Texas, Dixon scored 21 points and had four assists and made the game-winning basket with 31 seconds left.

In the final minute of Missouri’s come-from-behind 74-71 win over the Jayhawks on Saturday, Dixon took a charge from Tyshawn Taylor then knocked down a pair of free throws with 9.8 seconds left to help the Tigers tie Kansas and Baylor atop the Big 12 standings at 8-2.

Dixon finished Saturday’s game with 15 points, hitting 4-of-5 shots, 5-of-7 free throw and two of his three 3-point shots. He also led MU with five assists in both of the week’s games.

Dixon is averaging 12.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals on the season.

MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech Senior Guard: Murphy scored 106 points, including a 50-point effort in Monday’s 98-80 victory over SIU-Edwardsville.

Murphy added 33 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the Golden Eagles’ 94-88 win over Austin Peay on Thursday, then scored 23 points, grabbed seven boards and handed out three assists as Tech knocked off Jacksonville State, 76-68 on Saturday.

For the week, Murphy made 35 of his 57 field goal attempts, 24 of his 28 free throws and was 12 for 22 from the 3-point line. For the season, the senior guard is averaging 21.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for the 16-9 Eagles.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Miami (Fla.): The Hurricanes earned a pair of overtime wins last week, putting themselves back into the NCAA Tournament discussion.

First, Miami beat Maryland 90-86 in double-overtime behind a 24-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist performance from junior guard Durant Scott on Wednesday.

Then on Sunday, the Hurricanes knocked off No. 5 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Junior center Reggie Johnson scored five of his career-high 27 points in overtime of Miami’s biggest victory of the season.

After playing most of the non-conference season without Johnson, who is averaging 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds, and starting the season just 10-7, Miami has won four straight to improve to 5-3 in the ACC.

“To come in here and play with the kind of poise we did, play the kind of defense we did, was something that we can be very, very proud of,” said first-year Miami coach Jim Larranaga.

SINGLE-GAME PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Kwame Vaughn, Cal State-Fullerton: Vaughn hit 11-of-15 shots from the field, including five of his seven 3-point attempts, and all 10 of his free throws of the Titans upset UC-Santa Barbara, 99-86 on Saturday.

Vaughn added six rebounds, six assists and a steal as Fullerton nailed a school-record 17 3-pointers and overcame a 47-43 halftime deficit to improve to 15-7 overall and into a second-place tie in the Big West with Santa Barbara at 7-3.

WIN OF THE WEEK

Indiana 78, Purdue 61: It was Indiana’s first road win over any other team than Penn State in Big Ten play in the last four years. The victory vaulted the Hoosiers into fifth play in the conference, and virtually gives them a lock on their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007.

But, more importantly for Indiana fans, it was the Hoosiers’ first win over rival Purdue in four years.

“Our guys did an excellent job of understanding that if you’re going to beat a really good team on the road, you’ve got to have great resolve,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said.

“They deserved to win the game,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “They were tougher than us. They were quicker to the basketball.”

Indiana, which out-rebounded the Boilermaker 53-35, was led by sophomore Victor Oladipoo’s 23 points.

“This win is huge,” Oladipo said. “We learned tonight to make better decisions and be poised when the game is on the line.”

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Idaho 72, Nevada 68: Nevada entered Saturday’s game with 11-11 Idaho on a 16-game winning streak, but left with a shocking 72-68 loss to the Vandals.

Kyle Barone converted a 3-point play with 40 seconds left and Stephen Madison scored 18 points to help Idaho give Nevada its first Western Athletic Conference loss.

The Wolf Pack are now 19-4 overall and have a game-and-a-half lead over New Mexico State in the WAC standings.

LOSS OF THE WEEK

Rhode Island 81, UMass 78: After beating Richmond and Saint Louis a week ago to ascend to the top of the Atlantic 10 standings, Massachusetts was stunned by then-4-18 Rhode Island in overtime Wednesday.

Orion Outerbridge had a career-high 29 points, including 18 in the first half, and he grabbed 11 boards as the Rams ended a 3-game losing streak in the series. After a win at George Washington on Saturday, the Minutemen are a game behind league-leading Temple in the A-10 standings.

PLAY OF THE WEEK

White gives Cyclone huge Big 12 victory: Royce White hit the game-winning jumper with 1.8 seconds left as Iowa State came from 14 points down to beat Kansas State 72-70 on Tuesday.

White finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals as the Cyclones improved to 6-3 in the Big East. Later in the week, Iowa State won at Oklahoma, 77-70, to stay within a game of league leaders Missouri, Baylor and Kansas.

Saturday Preview: #20 Marquette at #1 Syracuse

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:09:03 -0500

Just two games on the schedule for Saturday match ranked teams, one of which being #1 Syracuse (16-0, 3-0) hosting #20 Marquette (12-3, 1-1) with the visitors looking to rebound from a disappointing loss at Georgetown earlier this week. The Golden Eagles led by as many as 17 points in the second half but they went away from the "paint touches" that are so valued in Buzz Williams' program, which led to the Hoya comeback. Those paint touches will be even more important at the Carrier Dome, as Syracuse does a good job with their 2-3 zone at limiting those opportunities.

Jim Boeheim's team is always well-versed in who should be allowed to shoot perimeter shots and who should be defended tightly as well, meaning that Marquette will need to be judicious in their shot selection. As a team Marquette shoots 34.7% from three, scoring 22.3% of their points from distance on the season. The most reliable shooters are also their leading scorers: Darius Johnson-Odom (17.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg) and Jae Crowder (16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) both start while freshman Todd Mayo (10.2 ppg) come off the bench.

The Golden Eagles can match the Syracuse depth on the perimeter, with those three along with Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Derrick Wilson, but the Orange have been flat-out explosive this season. Scoop Jardine (8.7 ppg, 4.3 apg) and Brandon Triche (10.3 ppg, 3.1 apg) are the starters and have played well for much of the season, but in sixth man Dion Waiters (12.6 ppg, 2.8 apg) the Orange have one of the best reserves in the country. It can even be argued that Waiters is Syracuse's best option when considering postseason awards, which is a testament to his growth as well as Syracuse's depth.

Freshman Michael Carter-Williams also sees some time at guard, and on the wing the Orange are deep as well. Senior Kris Joseph (13.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads the team in scoring and when allowed to get out and fill a lane on the break is a dangerous player to contend with. But there's also sophomore C.J. Fair (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), who is second on the team in minutes, and junior James Southerland (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) shoots 42.6% from beyond the arc. Marquette will be smaller than Syracuse on the wing, but they can manage the difference due to their speed. The real concern comes in the paint, where the Golden Eagles are without a key contributor.

Chris Otule is still out with a knee injury and there's been no announcement on his prospects for the remainder of the season, meaning that Davante Gardner (8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) had to step into the starting role. Gardner came off the bench in Marquette's win over Villanova after a subpar performance in the loss to Vanderbilt, but he responded with 13 points and ten rebounds and followed that up with 11 against Georgetown. Facing the much-improved Fab Melo (7.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.1 bpg), Gardner's going to need a similar performance if Marquette is to win. Turnovers will also be a major factor with Marquette forcing nearly 18 per game and Syracuse almost 19.

Also in the Big East, #9 Georgetown hits the road to take on West Virginia, and Bob Huggins' team could definitely use a win like this for their resume. Kevin Jones has been one of the best players in the Big East for the Mountaineers, who will need young guards Gary Browne and Jabarie Hinds to mature as the season wears on in order to be a team that can win games in the NCAA Tournament. And Seton Hall will look to build on the momentum gained in their win over Connecticut with a win at Providence, but with the Friars desperate for their first league win that's going to be a tough task for Kevin Willard's squad.

League play tips off in the ACC and SEC this weekend, with the former looking to sort itself out after the generally accepted top three of North Carolina, Duke and Virginia. While the Tar Heels shouldn't have much of a problem with Boston College, Duke should be on upset alert at Georgia Tech while Virginia hosts a Miami team that could be a factor in the ACC as Reggie Johnson approaches full strength. In the SEC Mississippi State visits Arkansas, and the Bulldogs had better make sure that freshman B.J. Young isn't allowed to heat up.

The Big 12's got a pair of dangerous games for ranked teams on the schedule as well, with Baylor visiting Texas Tech and Missouri taking on Kansas State in Manhattan. The Bears should beat the Red Raiders but that trip to Lubbock could be a tricky one if you're not focused. As for the Tigers, their interior depth will be tested by the Wildcats, led by Jamar Samuels, Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez. If either Ricardo Ratliffe or Steve Moore get into early foul trouble, Missouri could end up in trouble as well.

Other games of note include Georgia State, who is currently in first place in the CAA, visiting George Mason just days after winning at VCU. Ron Hunter's done a masterful job with the GSU program in his first season in charge, and Devonta White and Jihad Ali have done a good job of leading the way offensively. Mike Morrison and Ryan Pearson can be a handful up front for the Colonials, and there's a strong possibility that this game isn't decided until late. Temple hosts Dayton in the Owls' Atlantic 10 opener, and after they beat Saint Louis in overtime this could be a big week for Dayton's resume if they can win at Liacouras Center as well.

Top 25 Games
4:00 PM (20) Marquette at (1) Syracuse (ESPN3)
4:00 PM South Carolina at (2) Kentucky (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (3) Duke at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
2:30 PM Boston College at (4) North Carolina (ESPN3)
1:45 PM (5) Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN3)
1:30 PM (6) Missouri at (22) Kansas State (ESPN3)
3:00 PM (7) Ohio State at Iowa (BTN)
8:00 PM (8) Connecticut at Rutgers (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (9) Georgetown at West Virginia (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Notre Dame at (10) Louisville (ESPNU)
11:00 AM (14) Florida at Tennessee (ESPN2)
2:00 PM (15) Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPNU)
9:00 PM (16) Mississippi State at Arkansas (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (18) Murray State at Austin Peay (ESPNU)
2:00 PM Dartmouth at (21) Harvard
6:00 PM Miami (FL) at (23) Virginia (ESPNU)
8:00 PM (24) Creighton at Bradley (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Virginia Tech at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
12:00 PM Xavier at Fordham
12:00 PM Canisius at Loyola (MD)
12:00 PM Wagner at Monmouth
1:00 PM Nebraska at Illinois (BTN)
1:05 PM Missouri State at Indiana State (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Ole Miss at LSU (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Auburn at Vanderbilt (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Colgate at American
2:00 PM Mount St. Mary's at Fairleigh Dickinson
2:00 PM Albright at Cornell
2:00 PM Washington at Utah (FSN)
2:00 PM Northeastern at James Madison
2:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Cleveland State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Western Michigan at Ball State
2:00 PM St. John's at Cincinnati (ESPN3)
2:00 PM NJIT at Longwood
2:00 PM LIU-Brooklyn at Quinnipiac
2:00 PM Charlotte at Saint Joseph's
2:00 PM Kennesaw State at USC Upstate
2:05 PM Evansville at Illinois State
2:30 PM Charleston at Furman (ESPN3)
2:30 PM UMBC at Maine
2:30 PM Western Illinois at IPFW
3:00 PM Georgia Southern at Davidson
3:00 PM Texas State at Northwestern State
3:05 PM Wichita State at Southern Illinois
3:15 PM Jacksonville at Stetson
3:30 PM Lehigh at Holy Cross
3:30 PM North Dakota at New Mexico
3:30 PM Robert Morris at Central Connecticut State
3:30 PM St. Francis (NY) at Sacred Heart
4:00 PM Washington State at Colorado (FSN)
4:00 PM Dayton at Temple
4:00 PM Florida State at Clemson (ESPN2)
4:00 PM Iowa State at Texas A&M (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Bucknell at Army
4:00 PM St. Bonaventure at Duquesne
4:00 PM Mercer at East Tennessee State
4:00 PM Florida A&M at North Carolina Central
4:00 PM Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina A&T
4:00 PM Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois
4:00 PM Coppin State at Savannah State
4:00 PM Morgan State at South Carolina State
4:00 PM Southern Miss at Tulane
4:00 PM Delaware at William & Mary
4:00 PM VMI at Winthrop
4:00 PM St. Francis (PA) at Bryant
4:30 PM Denver at South Alabama (ESPN3)
4:30 PM Central Arkansas at Lamar
4:30 PM Liberty at UNC Asheville
4:30 PM Wofford at Western Carolina
5:00 PM Troy at Western Kentucky (FCS)
5:00 PM UCF at East Carolina
5:00 PM Jackson State at Alcorn State
5:00 PM Grambling State at Southern University
5:15 PM North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast
5:30 PM Tennessee State at Jacksonville State
5:30 PM Coastal Carolina at Charleston Southern
6:00 PM Ohio at Bowling Green (ESPN3)
6:00 PM San Francisco at BYU (BYU TV)
6:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M
6:00 PM Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State
6:00 PM Howard at Hampton
6:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at Norfolk State
6:00 PM IUPUI at Oakland
6:00 PM Seton Hall at Providence (ESPN3)
6:05 PM Fresno State at Idaho (ESPN3)
6:30 PM Louisiana-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee
7:00 PM Alabama at Georgia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Akron at Miami (OH)
7:00 PM Richmond at Rhode Island
7:00 PM Appalachian State at Chattanooga
7:00 PM Oklahoma State at Texas (LHN)
7:00 PM Towson at Old Dominion
7:00 PM Hofstra at UNC Wilmington
7:00 PM Kent State at Buffalo
7:00 PM Toledo at Central Michigan
7:00 PM Southeast Missouri State at Eastern Kentucky
7:00 PM High Point at Gardner-Webb
7:00 PM Georgia State at George Mason
7:00 PM Lafayette at Navy
7:00 PM Southeastern Louisiana at Stephen F. Austin
7:00 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee-Martin
7:00 PM Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern
7:05 PM Samford at Citadel
7:05 PM Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State
7:30 PM Louisiana-Monroe at FIU
7:30 PM Campbell at Presbyterian
8:00 PM George Washington at Saint Louis
8:00 PM South Dakota State at Oral Roberts
8:00 PM SMU at Tulsa
8:00 PM Marshall at Rice
8:00 PM Nicholls State at Texas-Arlington
8:00 PM Green Bay at Milwaukee (ESPN3)
8:00 PM McNeese State at Texas A&M-CC
8:00 PM Florida Atlantic at Arkansas-Little Rock
8:00 PM Santa Clara at Gonzaga
8:00 PM New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech
8:00 PM Pepperdine at Portland
8:05 PM South Dakota at UMKC
8:05 PM North Texas at Arkansas State
8:05 PM Northern Iowa at Drake
8:05 PM Eastern Illinois at Houston Baptist
8:30 PM Morehead State at Tennessee Tech
9:00 PM Memphis at UAB
9:00 PM Nebraska Omaha at Colorado State
9:00 PM Loyola Marymount at San Diego
9:00 PM Houston at UTEP
9:05 PM Montana at Idaho State
9:05 PM Nevada at Utah State (ESPN3)
9:05 PM Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington
9:05 PM Seattle at Utah Valley
9:30 PM North Dakota State at Southern Utah
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Stanford at Oregon State
10:00 PM UC Riverside at Pacific
10:00 PM UC Irvine at UC Davis
10:00 PM Weber State at Portland State
10:00 PM Texas-Pan American at Cal State Bakersfield
10:05 PM Northern Colorado at Sacramento State
10:05 PM Long Beach State at Cal State Northridge
10:30 PM Arizona State at UCLA
12:05 AM San Jose State at Hawaii

Tuesday Preview: Washington vs. #11 Marquette (Jimmy V Classic)

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:56:05 -0500

Tuesday night features one of the most important events in college basketball: the Jimmy V Classic from Madison Square Garden. While the doubleheader constantly provided high-quality non-conference match ups, the night held in honor of the late Jim Valvano is also big in regards to fundraising for cancer research. The second game of this year's slate matches two teams with recent NCAA Tournament (2010) history in Washington (4-2) and #11 Marquette (7-0), with the Huskies winning that contest in the final seconds.

The two teams this year enter the contest in different situations: Buzz Williams may have his best team at Marquette since his arrival while Lorenzo Romar's Huskies really need a marquee non-conference victory for the resumes of both themselves and the much-maligned Pac-12. Both teams have outstanding perimeter players but the one that stands out at first glance is Marquette senior Darius Johnson-Odom (19.4 ppg, 3.3 apg, 3.1 rpg), an electric athlete who can definitely be described as a "power guard".

"DJO" is shooting 54% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc, and his physical tools combined with a good basketball IQ make him one of the country's best and most efficient guards. Joining Johnson-Odom in the backcourt are sophomore Vander Blue (10.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and freshman Todd Mayo (9.6 ppg), who provides quite the spark off the bench. It remains to be seen if junior point guard Junior Cadougan plays after being suspended for Saturday's win at Wisconsin, but either way the Golden Eagles should be fine.

Washington will counter with a pair of very good sophomore wings: C.J. Wilcox (15.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Terrence Ross (16.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg), with Wilcox being the superior shooter (51.4% 3PT) while Ross is more likely to attack the basket. Abdul Gaddy (9.7 ppg, 5.3 apg) runs the show from the point while freshman Tony Wroten (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is normally the first player off the bench. The key for Wroten, to remain in control, is a simple on in theory but still a concept that he struggled with at times. Against a team that gets after it defensively like Marquette, issues in that area could cause serious issues for the Huskies.

While the perimeter play will be on the marquee so to speak, the interior play of both teams may end up being the determining factor in who wins. Marquette features forward Jae Crowder (16.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg), a versatile forward who is more of a hybrid as opposed to fitting into either the "3" or "4". On the season Crowder's shooting 57.4% from the field and 42.4% from beyond the arc, and his ability to attack the basket on the wings could prove to be problematic for Washington should they decide to match a bigger man on him.

At center it's better to think of starter Chris Otule and reserve Devante Gardner as one person in a sense; combined they average 13 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Crowder is Marquette's leading rebounder, and this is a task that the Golden Eagles handle more as a committee than anything. For Washington senior big man Aziz N'Diaye leads the Huskies in rebounding with an average of 8.7 boards per game, but they're similar to Marquette in that they call on all hands in this department as well.

Washington has a better rebounding margin than Marquette, boasting a plus-6.2 while Marquette has a margin of plus-3.9. The key for Marquette is to keep the Huskies off the offensive glass; the Huskies grab 14 offensive rebounds per game, which is good for a percentage of 38.2. Marquette's opponents have averaged a similar number on the season, but the Golden Eagles also force a turnovers on 25% of their defensive possessions. Outside of the rebounding Marquette has been the better defensive team of the two, and if the Husky guards don't value the basketball they'll find themselves in trouble.

In the first game of the Jimmy V, #10 Missouri takes on Villanova in a game that could get ugly quick if the Wildcats aren't careful. Frank Haith may not employ the full-court pressure preferred by the now-departed Mike Anderson but players such as Marcus Denmon, Michael Dixon Jr. and the Pressey brothers (Matt and Phil) are still extremely difficult to deal with as defenders. If anything this Missouri group is similar to the 2005-06 Villanova team that reached the Elite 8 essentially playing four guards, with senior Kim English being in a role similar to that of Randy Foye (albeit not as explosive offensively). Maalik Wayns will need to lead the young Villanova guards, and it won't hurt to have junior wing Dominic Cheek play one of his better games as well.

Memphis visits a Miami team that won't have Reggie Johnson to throw the ball inside to until next month but Florida transfer Kenny Kadji has been solid in his stead. The key for Memphis: Tarik Black needs to stay on the floor. Black is immensely talented but prone to committing silly fouls, and such a start could get Josh Pastner's team in trouble if this happens Tuesday night. Long Beach State and Marshall are on the road looking for another BCS AQ scalp to add to their resume while George Mason visits Virginia in a game that likely will go down to the wire, and in the midwest games such as Texas Tech/TCU and Iowa/Northern Iowa should command attention as well.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM Marshall at (3) Syracuse (SNY)
7:00 PM Evansville at (6) North Carolina (ESPNU)
7:00 PM (10) Missouri vs. Villanova* (ESPN)
9:00 PM Washington vs. (11) Marquette* (ESPN)
9:00 PM Long Beach State at (13) Kansas (ESPNU)
7:00 PM VMI at (14) Pittsburgh
9:00 PM (20) Memphis at Miami (FL) (ESPN2)

NCAA Division I Games
6:15 PM Philander Smith at Arkansas-Little Rock
7:00 PM Quinnipiac at Hartford
7:00 PM Massachusetts at East Carolina
7:00 PM Holy Cross at Columbia
7:00 PM Virginia-Wise at Furman
7:00 PM Kent State at James Madison
7:00 PM George Mason at Virginia ESPN 3
7:00 PM Houston at Texas State
7:00 PM Bucknell at Binghamton
7:00 PM Robert Morris at Duquesne
7:00 PM Alice Lloyd College at Gardner-Webb
7:00 PM UNC Wilmington at Liberty
7:00 PM Monmouth at Navy
7:00 PM Charlotte at Radford
7:00 PM N.J.I.T. at Seton Hall
7:00 PM Texas Tech at TCU (CBSSN)
7:00 PM Hofstra at Wagner
7:00 PM Tulane at Wofford
7:05 PM Coastal Carolina at Citadel
7:30 PM Delaware State at Howard
7:30 PM Tennessee-Martin at Lipscomb
7:45 PM Fredonia State at Youngstown State
8:00 PM Prairie View A&M at Iowa State
8:00 PM Northeastern at Bradley
8:00 PM Appalachian State at Minnesota (BTN)
8:00 PM UT Arlington at Texas Longhorn Network
8:00 PM Tennessee State at Belmont
8:00 PM North Carolina Central at Eastern Kentucky
8:00 PM Nebraska-Omaha at Benedictine
8:00 PM Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech
8:00 PM Iowa at Northern Iowa (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Southwest St (MN) at South Dakota State
8:30 PM Ball State at SIU-Edwardsville
9:05 PM Utah Valley at Utah State (ESPN3)
10:00 PM Hawaii at Pacific (ESPN3)

Who Will Win the 2011-12 ACC Title?

Shawn Siegel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:50:23 -0500

ACC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:02:02 -0500

Here's how the ACC teams stack up over the last five years according to conference wins. Unlike many leagues, the ACC has a relatively strict caste system, with Duke and UNC firmly at the top. Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers are one of the few teams with a chance to jump up a level, while Wake Forest is clearly going in the wrong direction.

First Tier

1 - Duke - 58 - Steady as she goes for Coach K. Expect the same this year.
2 - UNC - 57 - Could surpass Duke if they runaway with the ACC title

Second Tier

3t - Florida St - 45 - Should once again finish 3rd or 4th in the league
3t - Maryland - 45 - Gary Williams' tenure ended in steady if not spectacular fashion
3t - Virginia Tech - 45 - And yet they haven't made the NCAA's since 2007
6 - Clemson - 44 - Could potentially go 9-7 for 4th year in a row

Wannabees

7- Boston College - 38 wins - Steve Donahue would love a 7th place finish this year
8 - Wake Forest - 37 - Just one conference win last year doesn't help the cause

Also-Rans

9 - Virginia - 32 - Have a chance to move up a tier with a big season
10 - Georgia Tech - 29 - Remember when Georgia Tech was a relevant program?
11 - Miami - 29 - Amazing Missouri went after Frank Haith
12 - NC State - 25 - Herb Sendek quietly laughing out in Arizona

Check back for the Big 12 ranking over the weekend.

All 5-Year Rankings.

Is Frank Martin's Style a Turn-Off for Miami?

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:57:22 -0400

Is Frank Martin's Style a Turn-Off for Miami?
By Curtis Kitchen

No matter the circumstance, you're always supposed to be able to go home. But, what happens when you aren't wanted? That's the situation in which current Kansas State Head Coach Frank Martin finds himself these days.

Whether Martin has campaigned for the job privately or not (based on recent quotes from Martin to the Associated Press there is question) the University of Miami has officially made it clear that it has no interest in bringing home one of its own. What isn't clear, or wasn't for a long time, was why. Why wouldn't Miami - a basketball program in need of a local spark, local recruiting ties, and a take-us-to-the-next-step proven coach - even pick up the phone and call a guy who appears to have all of that wrapped up in one package?

Well, what if that interview had already happened?

Last December, K-State played Florida in the 2010 Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in Miami. The game turned out to be the worst of the season for the Wildcats, who scored their lowest point total of the season in a 57-44 loss.

During the game, sources say, several important people associated with Miami took in the contest a few rows behind the K-State bench, sitting within earshot of Martin, who has demonstrated, at times, the vocal ability to make an entire naval battalion blush.

Martin did his normal thing that night, and it left a lasting impression with those in attendance - enough that when coupled with Martin's gray high school coaching past in Miami, they feel now he isn't worth pursuing despite the larger fanbase's desire for them to do so.

The school's decision to run from Martin has fans and media in Miami scratching their heads. Columns are written begging Miami to pick up the phone. Fans have called sports talk shows pleading for the Hurricanes to make the move. Some supporters have promised to buy season tickets if it does.

Locals in Miami don't believe it is about money. New Missouri head coach Frank Haith was owed nearly $3M over the next two seasons by the Hurricanes. It isn't the facilities - not when the program can boast the $48M BankUnited Center and a two-year old practice facility. The fans just need a reason, a real reason unlike last year's free pizza for students promotion, to find a seat.

So, could it just be about Martin's bench demeanor? It's hard to come up with another reason when hearing the Hurricanes are pursuing the likes of Tommy Amaker. No offense, to the Harvard head coach, but comparing the pair's coaching successes is a waste of time.

It sounds as if Martin is too mean for the Orange and Green, which would seem to be a gross over-sensitivity borne out of wanting to clean up the old Miami athletics-gone-amuck identity. K-State fans winced at first but have grown to accept and embrace Martin for the most part, and to his credit, he made the process easier by being the same in-game brusque coach and affable individual off the court since day one. That said, Martin's coaching style is a favorite with most of the locals but as an acquired taste...sort of like West Virginia ‘shine.

Ah yes, which reminds me...Bob Huggins...

Martin is also the same guy who watched his friend and mentor in Huggins, leave K-State a couple of years ago, why? To go home to West Virginia, where friends, family and destiny opened the door wide and ushered him back into the Mountaineer family.

K-State fans, of course, witnessed all of this. So, when the Miami talk started, they expected it to happen again. One could make a strong case that Martin at least expected the opportunity to mirror his mentor's path. I would even argue rightfully so, but sometimes, without a good explanation, even the most seemingly obvious good fits don't materialize.

Finally, moving forward, Miami's shrewd abstinence from Martin raises another interesting point to consider: what does that do to a man who I know places huge importance in loyalty.

If you're Martin, do you feel betrayed by the high level of non-interest?

Would that play a factor in the future if the same people who locked the front door to you the first time switched their stance and opened it wide in another three or four seasons? After you made another two or three NCAA tournaments?

It appears that's a stock market risk Miami is willing to take this time around. It could be a decent gamble because "The U" stands to lose little between now and then. It might cost them a couple more lukewarm seasons between now and then, but so what?

The job will still be there...and so will Martin.

You can follow Big 12 and national basketball updates at twitter.com/curtiskitchen.

About the author
Armed with a sharp wit and big-picture perspective, Curtis Kitchen has followed the Big 12, Kansas State and national college basketball beat including K-State's run to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 in 2010. In the past, he also covered the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting KC) for Major League Soccer's mlsnet.com site as well as the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals for Sports Radio 810 WHB. His freelance portfolio ranges media outlets and publications, from the Miami Herald to the San Jose Mercury News.