St. John's

UConn Won But Don't Be Fooled: Monday's Quick Hitters

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:59:52 -0800

We're going with a different setup for daily recaps in hopes of making the reading easier. One piece will focus on the game of the night (or day) and the top individual performances, and the other will touch on other key happenings and some quick hitters on other games.

1. Shabazz Napier's shot gives UConn a much-needed win, but calm down on the "turning point" talk.
The battle between the Huskies and Villanova was a matchup of teams trending in the wrong direction at this point in the season. Jay Wright's young Wildcats were without point guard Maalik Wayns as well as coming off of a tough overtime loss to Notre Dame on Saturday night, and UConn was looking to rebound from a 15-point loss to Marquette. Shabazz Napier called out his teammates following that loss, so it was fitting that the sophomore ended up being the difference in UConn's 73-70 win. Napier knocked down a 30-footer with two-tenths of a second remaining, and with #2 Syracuse next on the slate this was big win for the Huskies.

But to used the phrase "turning point" ignores both the fact that Villanova lacks any kind of depth and the Huskies' level of play throughout the night. There were still mental and physical errors being made, and Jeremy Lamb was UConn's lone player in double figures with 32 points. He's a likely lottery selection but to have that kind of split between Lamb and the rest of the team underlines the issues that UConn has had to deal with this season. The consistency hasn't been there, and coming out of the gates and trailing by as many as 18 points early showed a lack of urgency on their part. The talent is definitely there but the effort isn't always present, which is why UConn finds themselves in their current position. Does all of that automatically change because of one shot? No.

2. Mercer falls two games behind Belmont in the Atlantic Sun race due to a loss at North Florida.
Bob Hoffman's Bears had two games to win to remain a game behind Belmont in the standings leading into the regular season finale between the two teams on February 28th in Macon. But they were unable to accomplish that goal, falling at North Florida 75-66, and that combined with Belmont's 88-79 win over USC Upstate pushed the margin out to two games. The culprit for Mercer in losses to Jacksonville and North Florida: defense, as the Dolphins shot 50% from the field and UNF 45.7%.

The Bears had no answer for Parker Smith, who went off to the tune of 46 points (11-17 3PT) to lead the Ospreys. Langston Hall scored 17 points and dished out four assists to lead Mercer but their inablity to slow down Smith proved costly. The good news for Mercer is that they also host the A-Sun tournament and the worst they'll finish is third, but with their defensive effort not being up to par the last two games the Bears need to correct some things if they're to threaten the defending champs. This should be seen as a minor bump in the road however, as Mercer defended at a high level during their nine-game win streak before this weekend.

3. Paul Crosby's three gives Mississippi Valley State the SWAC regular season title.
Sean Woods' Delta Devils were in good shape to win the SWAC heading into Monday night's game against Texas Southern as they led the pack by four games with four to play. Mississippi Valley State clinched the outright title and moved to 15-0 in league play with a 56-53 win over the Tigers, as Paul Crosby knocked down a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to break a 53-all tie. In fact Crosby did the same in MVSU's win over Prairie View A&M on Saturday, which clinched a share of the SWAC title.

Terrence Joyner led the way for MVSU with 17 points and Crosby tallied a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds, as the Delta Devils won despite shooting 32% from the field and 9-for-31 from beyond the arc. Who has the ability to take out MVSU in the conference tournament? Texas Southern would be a clear choice with Southern ineligible for postseason play, and Prairie View A&M and Alabama State will also be heard from. But the Delta Devils are hot and have now won 15 straight, meaning that knocking them off will be an extremely difficult task for anyone in the SWAC.

Quick Hitters

1. Alabama head coach Anthony Grant made the move on Monday to keep suspended forward Tony Mitchell out of the lineup for the remainder of the season while reinstating JaMychal Green, which provides some needed closure to the situation. With Green back Alabama could lock down a tournament bid with good play down the stretch, but at the least Monday's decisions provide some closure for all involved.

2. The ACC reprimanded official Karl Hess for his actions in Saturday's game between Florida State and NC State in Raleigh. Once again the league noted that Hess' mistake was in using arena security instead of game management to remove Tom Gugliotta and Chris Corchiani from the arena and not whether or not the long-time official overreacted. Hess was in Queens officiating the DePaul/St/ John's game on Monday.

3. Keep an eye on Fairfield in the Metro Atlantic, and sure enough the Stags have a matchup with first-place Iona on Friday night. Derek Needham led three Stags in double figures with 16 points in Fairfield's 60-49 win at Marist, but the bigger story was the visitors' work on the defensive end. Marist shot 32.7% from the field and turned the ball over 16 times against Fairfield's tough defense, and the Stags have now won seven straight MAAC contests to move to within a game of Iona.

4. Tahj Tate and Marques Oliver scored 20 points apiece to lead Delaware State past Hampton in double overtime by the final score of 73-68. The win keeps the Hornets a game behind Savannah State, who whipped Bethune-Cookman 67-44, in the race for first place in the MEAC with three league games remaining.

5. The race for Big East Rookie of the Year should be fin to watch if only because there's the question of whether or not two St. John's players could cancel each other out in the voting. D'Angelo Harrison scored 23 points while also racking up five assists and five rebounds in the Red Storm's 79-72 win over DePaul, and Moe Harkless added another double-double with 14 and ten rebounds. Harkless would be the pick here, but you never know how the voting may break down.

Monday's Recap: Quincy Acy Leads Baylor Past Texas

Company/Product Review: Retro College Cuts

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:24:21 -0800

Just a few years ago the demand for throwback jerseys was impossible to ignore, with many flocking to stores in search of that item that would allow them to relive their "glory days" as a fan. But the wearing of tops has faded away somewhat, and the words of one Sean Carter in his song "What More Can I Say" may sum up why for many people.

"And I don't wear jerseys I'm 30-plus..."

So what's a college basketball fan to do if they want to travel back in time without the throwback jersey? The founders of the company Retro College Cuts have just the answer: throwback shorts. Founded in 2011 by a pair of former college basketball players, Retro College Cuts specializes in the selling of replicas of game shorts worn by some of the more famous teams in college basketball history.

According to one of the founders the NCAA merchandising market grosses anywhere from $4-$4.5 billion, but the shorts market only makes up about $50 million of that amount. But while there's certainly a market for replica game shorts, this business isn't solely about making money.

"It started with my own crazy interest and passion for college basketball," he noted in a phone conversation earlier this week when asked about the reason for beginning the company. "I'm a former college basketball player and my dad was a Division III coach."

That devotion and knowledge of college basketball is noticeable from the moment you visit the site, as a highlight montage featuring some of the top players and teams of yesteryear plays. Each of the fourteen shorts in the first "class" has a story, with a paragraph of information on that specific team accompanying the page where customers can buy the shorts of their choice. There's also a link to a YouTube video for each team, which helps bring back memories of the "glory days" that each short is made to represent.

One may ask why there are only fourteen teams represented at this point, and this was a question posed to the founder during our chat. There are three different governing bodies when it comes to applying for the rights to sell officially licensed collegiate apparel, and they need to be negotiated with separately. Retro College Cuts was able to procure those rights with two of them and are currently negotiating with the third, which will open up the possibility of additions being made to the "catalog" later this year.

Retro College Cuts isn't just about shorts either as they also sell select retro T-shirts. They also offer a "combo" deal where customers can purchase a shirt and a pair of shorts for $99, a price that includes membership in their VIP program (which gives a 10% off discount for life) and free shipping (a perk that normally isn't given unless $75 or more is spent in a transaction). And $1 of every purchase is donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which is another positive.

But what about the quality of the short? Made in the USA, the shorts are made of a fabric blend that replicates the weight and quality of an actual game short. The shorts are comfortable and with a 22" outseam there's no concern of replicating the size of those old-school shorts (which is good from a personal pride standpoint). The graphics are digitally printed and as an officially licensed product there's isn't a concern of being duped into buying something that isn't legit. From personal experience I can tell you that the shorts, which run large, fit well and look good.

Retro College Cuts also has a few promotions running that you should take advantage of in addition to checking out the gear. Twitter is utilized on both Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the "TIXonTUESDAY" promotion giving Twitter followers the chance to win a pair of college basketball tickets. The possible reward for "ThrowbackThursday" is either a retro t-shirt or a pair of replica game shorts. The "cost" of entry: just a simple follow of their Twitter account and a retweet of the message that they send out.

Lastly there's the contest that the founders are running, which closes on February 24th with a prize that the college hoops fan would definitely appreciate: an all-expenses paid trip for two (the winner and a guest of their choice) to Las Vegas for the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. The prize includes a three-day stay at The Hotel boutique and round-trip airfare, and with Vegas being what it is on that weekend the experience would be a phenomenal one.

Retro College Cuts is a new company that should meet the demand of college basketball fans hoping for a way to relive some of their favorite moments from back in the day in a fashion beyond searching the web for grainy video footage. The shorts certainly won't turn you into a Mark Jackson, Larry Johnson or Xavier McDaniel (our phone chat included the founder saying that the Wichita State design was his favorite) once you put them on, but they'll allow you to think back on their exploits and smile.

Monday's Recap: Technical Sparks UConn Rally

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:30:22 -0800

On the heels of losses at Seton Hall and Rutgers, with the leadership capabilities of the team being questioned both within and outside of the locker room, Connecticut needed a win over West Virginia in a big way. But the Huskies didn't play with that sense of urgency out of the gates, as the Mountaineers grabbed eight offensive rebounds to UConn's zero on their way to a 33-28 lead. If the rebounding wasn't bad enough the turnovers were, as the Huskies turned the ball over nine times leading to 15 Mountaineer points.

Things weren't much better for Jim Calhoun's team at the start of the second half either, eventually trailing 46-36 with just under 12 minutes to go following a technical foul on Calhoun (Truck Bryant made one of two free throws) followed by a Deniz Kilicli jumper. But that technical provided the spark that UConn needed as they went on a 17-3 run to take control of the game. The end result: a 64-57 win with Jeremy Lamb scoring 25 points and Andre Drummond adding 20 to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocks.

After [the free throws] we got a stop, [and then] we got a score," said Lamb, who bounced back from a quiet eight point performance against Rutgers. "It got real loud and just pushed us through that time."

West Virginia attempted 18 more shots but couldn't take advantage, shooting just 32.3% from the field on the night. Drummond was just as important in defending Kevin Jones as the early favorite for Big East Player of the Year accounted for 22 points but grabbed just five rebounds, well below his conference-leading average of 11.5 caroms per game. Truck Bryant's offensive struggles didn't help the visitors either, as he scored eight points by made just two of thirteen field goal attempts.

The problem for West Virginia was their lack of patience in finding quality looks. While Jones and (when on) Bryant are both capable scorers, they have to rely on each other in order to be successful offensively. That got them in trouble during UConn's run, and it's something that will need to improve as the Mountaineers get deeper into Big East play.

As for UConn, while there's still plenty to be improved upon Monday's win was a step in the right direction. Alex Oriakhi played better while Shabazz Napier made up for missing all six shots by dishing out eight assists. UConn was punched in the mouth and thanks to their coach they responded, something that didn't happen in New Jersey.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Cincinnati picks up a much-needed victory for their resume at Georgetown.
Somewhat lost in the midst of Cincinnati's seven-game win streak, which was ended by St. John's on Saturday, was the fact that the opposition for Mick Cronin's team didn't do a whole lot for their resume. Cincinnati entered Monday night's game at Georgetown with a strength of schedule of 258 according to realtimerpi.com, and they still hadn't picked up a win that would qualify as a suitable counter for the home loss to Presbyterian. But Sean Kilpatrick scored a career-high 27 points and Dion Dixon added 22 as the Bearcats beat the 11th-ranked Hoyas 68-64 at the Verizon Center. With Cashmere Wright struggling, scoring just two points and missing all six shots from the field, the Bearcats needed Kilpatrick and Dixon to step up and they did.

Late in the game Cincinnati spread out the Hoyas, using their two leading scorers to take advantage of defensive mismatches to attack the rim. As for Georgetown, as strange as it may seem to say their relatively equal shot selection may have done them in. Hollis Thompson made all five of his shots in the first half, only to attempt one (which he missed) in the second. Four starters scored in double figures with a high of 14 points (Thompson and Jason Clark), but neither got the number of shots they could have commanded. Cincinnati played the hot hands, and the end result was a much-needed road win.

2. Oklahoma fails to bounce back from Saturday's loss, falling in Stillwater to the rival Cowboys.
Few expected Lon Kruger's team to beat Kansas at home on Saturday, so there wasn't much made of their defeat. But despite the fact that Monday's matchup with Oklahoma State was a rivalry game, it was one the Sooners had to have. But OU couldn't hit anything from the field until it was too late, making 32.4% of their shots in the 72-65 loss to the Cowboys. Travis Ford's team didn't shoot much better from the floor, making just 38.6% of their field goals, but they made up for it by getting to the foul line.

Oklahoma State finished 23-for-30 from the charity stripe while the Sooners made 13 of 20, and the ten-point edge gave OSU the cushion they needed to move to 2-1 in league play. Le'Bryan Nash led the way with 21 points and seven rebounds and Keiton Page added 18 for the victors, while OU's Steven Pledger made just three of thirteen shots from the field. Now 0-3 in league play, Oklahoma finds themselves in a position where they likely need to sweep their two-game home stand against Kansas State and Texas Tech.

3. Saint Mary's takes care of business, but the bigger issue is the defensive woes of their opponent.
Randy Bennett's Gaels did what they had to do in order to remain tied with Gonzaga atop the WCC standings. Matthew Dellavedova scored 27 points, Rob Jones 18 and Stephen Holt added 11 and ten rebounds, but it isn't ad if the visiting Dons did a great job of making things difficult on the Gaels. Saint Mary's shot 67.3% from the field and 11-for-19 from beyond the arc in the 87-72 win, dropping San Francisco to 0-4 in WCC play.

Defense has been the problem for Rex Walters' team, as they've allowed three of their four league opponents to shoot 52% or better from the field. The one exception was Loyola Marymount, who beat the Dons by a point on New Year's Eve. The talent and athletic ability are definitely there, with the likes of Angelo Caloiaro and Perris Blackwell leading four players averaging double figures, but if the desire to defend isn't there as well more results like this will occur. Once thought to be a team in the middle of the WCC who could give the three favorites fits, San Francisco finds themselves in desperate need of a league win.

Quick Hitters

1. There were two mid-year transfer decisions announced on Monday, one of which being former Pittsburgh forward Khem Birch deciding to transfer to UNLV. Birch, who was a McDonald's All-American out of high school, is a big pickup for Dave Rice's program. Could this help the Runnin' Rebels with marquee 2012 recruits Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett? That remains to be seen, but at the very least to get a player of Birch's caliber into the program is an important get for UNLV.

2. The other announcement came from former Texas A&M guard Jamal Branch, who has decided to transfer to St. John's. Branch's addition adds some depth to the Red Storm backcourt, and with Steve Lavin essentially using this season to recruit while recuperating from prostate cancer treatment he needed a commitment to spark things on the trail. Maybe this is it.

3. Morgan State played without suspended head coach Todd Bozeman and dropped a close one 57-55 at Savannah State. Rashad Hassan's dunk with 1:12 remaining proved to be the difference as the Tigers moved to 3-1 in MEAC play, and the Bears dropped to 1-1 and 3-10 overall. Norfolk State leads the conference with a 4-0 record.

4. Also in the MEAC North Carolina Central handed Bethune-Cookman their first league loss, winning 69-64 in Durham. Ray Willis scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds in leading the Eagles while Dominique Sutton added 11 and ten rebounds. Talent-wise, Levelle Moton's team can hang with any team in the conference.

5. While Lipscomb's win over Belmont on Friday opened things up in the Atlantic Sun, Monday's results showed just how wide open the league could be. Six teams sit one game behind the first-place Bruins in the loss column, and it's anyone's guess who the best option to challenge Belmont may end up being. One option: Mercer, who boasts a 4-2 league record (12-7 overall) after winning 73-66 at USC Upstate. Justin Cecil, who finished with a game-high 26 points, sparked a 14-1 second half run that helped the Bears take control of the action.

6. It's pretty much a lock at this point in the season that the automatic qualifier out of the SWAC will be playing in one of the four first-round games, but that doesn't mean that the race will lack intrigue. Texas Southern and Mississippi Valley State lead the league with matching 3-0 marks as the Delta Devils won 81-69 at Alabama A&M. Falando Holmes led five MVSU players in double figures with 18 points, and the Delta Devils scored 45 second half points.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati)
Career-high 27 points (10-16 FG) and four steals in the Bearcats' 68-64 win at #11 Georgetown.

2. G Matthew Dellavedova (Saint Mary's)
27 points (9-13 FG), six rebounds and four assists in the Gaels' 87-72 win over San Francisco.

3. C Andre Drummond (Connecticut)
20 points (9-11 FG), 11 rebounds and three blocks in the Huskies' 64-57 win over West Virginia.

Cincinnati vs St. John's: Prediction and Fan Poll

Greg Mengelt — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:02:06 -0800

ST. JOHN’S (7-7, 1-2 Big East) AT CINCINNATI (12-3, 2-0 Big East)

Time/TV: 2 p.m./MSG, MASN, FSN, ESPN3

Location: Fifth-Third Arena

RPI Rankings: St. John’s 183; Cincinnati 108

Line: Cincinnati -13

St. John’s Players to Watch: F Moe Harkless, 6-8 Fr. (15.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 45.1% FG); G D’Angelo Harrison, 6-3 Fr. (15.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg); F God’sgift Achiuwa, 6-8 Jr. (11.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 52.8% FG). Harrison had a game-high 24 points and added five rebounds in the Storm’s x-x loss to Louisville on Tuesday and continues to be the team’s leading scorer.

Cincinnati Players to Watch: G Sean Kilpatrick, 6-4 So. (15.3 ppg, 5 rpg, 39.8% 3s); PG Cashmere Wright, 6-0 Jr. (10.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, 1.8 spg); F Yancy Gates, 6-9 Sr. (12.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 45.9% FG). Gates came off the bench Wednesday for six points and eight boards in his first game back since his 6-game suspension for his role in a brawl against rival Xavier. Gates made 3-of-4 field goals in the 71-55 victory over Notre Dame.

Storylines: Considering it played six straight games without some key players, Cincinnati’s 6-1 stretch in its last seven games is stunning. The Bearcats are 2-0 in the Big East, a half-game behind Syracuse and Georgetown. St. John’s, on the other hand, is coming off back-to-back Big East losses to Connecticut and Louisville, but the shortheaded Red Storm appear headed toward a bright future.

Keys to Victory: With the Storm struggling from the 3-point line (25 percent) and with Cincinnati’s size advantage, St. John’s will likely look to push the tempo Saturday and force turnovers. After going 2-for-16 and 4-for-24 from beyond the arc in Big East losses to Louisville and Connecticut, respectively, the Red Storm would be wise to try to get to the basket. Harrison, Harkless and fellow-freshman Sir’Dominic Pointer have the ability to do so, but the Bearcats do block 5.4 shots per contest.

The Bottom Line: St. John’s has more athleticism, but Cincinnati has the experienced guards to handle any St. John’s pressure. Throw in their size and shooting advantages, and this should be a routine victory for the Bearcats.

The Pick: Cincinnati 71, St. John’s 59.

Tuesday Preview: #11 Michigan State at #19 Wisconsin

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:57:02 -0800

Arguably the quickest way for a team to eliminate itself from a conference title race is to drop games at home. So while the term "must-win" shouldn't be used for #19 Wisconsin (12-3, 1-1) there's no doubt that Tuesday's game against #11 Michigan State (13.2, 2-0) is critical following their loss to Iowa on Saturday. The biggest reason for the Badgers' loss was their three-point shooting, as they made just three of twenty-eight attempts on the afternoon.

Without a front court player the caliber of the departed Jon Leuer Bo Ryan's team has had to rely more on the outside shot, scoring 35.8% of their points from distance. Guards Josh Gasser (7.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Ben Brust (10.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg) are their two best shooters while senior point guard Jordan Taylor (12.7 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.0 rpg) can also knock down the bonus shot if allowed quality looks. This will be a good test for a young Spartan backcourt that's matured very well during their 13-game win streak.

Sophomore Keith Appling (12.3 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3.5 rpg) and freshman Travis Trice (5.8 ppg, 2.1 apg) have been the two players entrusted by Tom Izzo to handle the point guard duties, with Appling steadily becoming a player who can get others involved as well as create his own offense. Setting up teammates was an issue early, but there isn't much shame in struggling against North Carolina and Duke as Appling did in this regard. And while he may not be a guard per se, it certainly helps Michigan State that they've got the versatile Draymond Green to count on.

Green (15.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) is essentially a coach on the floor for Michigan State and he ranks among the most versatile players in the country. Either Ryan Evans or Mike Bruesewitz will get this assignment for the Badgers, and they have to do a good job of limiting the senior. Averaging 2.5 offensive rebounds per game, Green's one reason why Michigan State corrals 39.6% of their missed shots. Branden Dawson (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Derrick Nix and Adriean Payne are also good at hitting the glass, and as a team the Spartans out-rebound their opponents by 10.5 rebounds per game.

Michigan State will be up against history however, as they haven't won in Madison since 2001. In order for Wisconsin to keep that streak alive they have to be proficient from distance, but with Michigan State limiting their opponents to 29.9% shooting from three that's easier said than done. Also keep an eye on Michigan State's turnover count, with it being important that they don't try to force things in an attempt to speed things up. Wisconsin's opponents turn the ball over on 21.3% of their possessions and average 12.8 turnovers to just 7.2 assists per game.

Also on the docket Tuesday is Seton Hall hosting Connecticut, and while the Huskies are the more talented team man for man the Pirates definitely have a shot of winning at The Rock. In Herb Pope the Pirates have one of the early frontrunners for Big East Player of the Year, and while UConn has just one loss on the season they haven't shown the killer instinct one would expect of an elite team. But Seton Hall's young guards will have to rise to the challenge in facing Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier if they're to win.

Oklahoma's trip to Columbia should be another interesting game to keep track of, as the Sooners look to rebound from their loss to Cincinnati, and Louisville had better be careful with that St. John's matchup zone. Oral Roberts at Oakland is a game in the Summit that the Golden Grizzlies need in a big way following their rough trip to the Dakotas, and Alabama hits the road to take on Georgia Tech at Philips Arena in a game that would have a bigger impact on the Crimson Tide's resume should they lose rather than take care of business.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM Arkansas-Little Rock at (2) Kentucky (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Oklahoma at (6) Missouri (ESPN3)
6:30 PM Nebraska at (7) Ohio State (BTN)
7:00 PM (8) Connecticut at Seton Hall (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (10) Louisville at St. John's (ESPNU)
7:00 PM (11) Michigan State at (19) Wisconsin (ESPN2)
7:00 PM UAB at (14) Florida (ESPN3)
7:00 PM (21) Harvard at Fordham
8:05 PM Drake at (24) Creighton (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Holy Cross at Yale
7:00 PM UMKC at IUPUI
7:00 PM Bucknell at Dartmouth
7:00 PM Longwood at Army
7:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at Lehigh
7:00 PM Carver Bible College at North Carolina A&T
7:00 PM Oral Roberts at Oakland
7:00 PM South Carolina State at South Carolina
7:00 PM Indiana-Northwest at Toledo
7:00 PM Milwaukee at Western Michigan
7:00 PM Southern Utah at IPFW
8:00 PM Savannah State at Arkansas
8:00 PM Cornell at Maryland (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Oswego State at Texas-Pan American
8:00 PM South Dakota at Western Illinois
8:30 PM Alabama A&M at Jackson State
8:30 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Mississippi Valley State
8:30 PM Southern at Prairie View A&M
9:00 PM Alabama at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
9:00 PM SMU at Ole Miss (ESPN3)
9:00 PM Houston Baptist at New Mexico
9:00 PM Siena vs. Iona*
9:00 PM Johnson and Wales (Den) at Air Force
9:00 PM Alcorn State at Texas Southern
9:00 PM Alabama State at Grambling State
9:05 PM Wyoming at Utah Valley (FCS)

#9 UCONN vs St. John's: Preview & Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:07:45 -0800

ST. JOHN’S (7-5) AT NO. 9 CONNECTICUT (11-1)

Time/TV: Noon/FSN

Location: XL Center

Line: UConn -14.5

St. John’s Players to Watch: F Moe Harkless, Fr. (15.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg); G D’Angelo Harrison, Fr. (15.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F/C God’sgift Achiuwa, Jr. (12 ppg, 7.3 rpg). Harkless and Harrison – the Red Storm’s top two scorers – had breakout games in Tuesday’s blowout win over Providence.

Connecticut Players to Watch: G Jeremy Lamb, So. (19.3 ppg, 51.6% FG); PG Shabazz Napier, So. (14.5 ppg, 6.4 apg); PG Ryan Boatright, Fr. (12.5 ppg, 3.5 apg). Lamb is not only a great scorer, he seems to have inherited Kemba Walker’s penchant for hitting big shots. Napier and Boatright have to be the best pair of point guards in the country.

Storylines: Both teams opened Big East play with a victory. Harkless, Harrison, Boatright and UConn center Andre Drummond make up four of the top 15-25 freshmen in all of college basketball.

Keys to Victory: the Red Storm’s offense was impressive in their win over Providence. Whether it was St. John’s efficiency or the Friars’ putrid defense, the Johnnies likely gained confidence from the performance. Their defense is another story.

The Bottom Line: The Huskies were less-than-impressive in a 60-57 road victory over South Florida, but their talent and depth should be too much for St. John’s.

The Pick: Connecticut 90, St. John’s 74.

Saturday Preview: #4 Louisville at #3 Kentucky

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:49:22 -0800

The final day of 2011 features one of the most anticipated games of the college basketball season, a rivalry game that captivates an entire state and is one of the best games in college basketball. #4 Louisville (12-1), fresh off of a lost to Georgetown in their Big East opener, visits #3 Kentucky (12-1) in what should be a spirited battle at Rupp Arena. The Cardinals have played just one road game this season but it was also one of their best efforts as they won at Butler without the then-injured Peyton Siva. Kentucky's lone defeat also came at the hands of a ranked team, as the Wildcats fell at the buzzer at Indiana.

One player who will definitely be a focus on Saturday is Kentucky sophomore forward Terrence Jones (12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg), whose scoring and rebounding averages are down from a season ago. But that isn't as big a deal as the last five games for Jones, as he missed two of them with a dislocated finger. In the other three games he scored a combined 13 points, and Jones also turned the ball over six times in the loss at Indiana. John Calipari has other players to call on up front, but that doesn't mean that the Wildcats want to find out (again) if they can win a big game without Jones being productive.

Also inside for Kentucky is big man Anthony Davis (11.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 4.3 bpg), who is one of the toughest matchup in America due to his versatility. Davis is 6'10" but he can defend on the perimeter, as evidenced by his many blocks of three-point attempts. A virtual lock to be a lottery pick whenever he leaves Lexington, Davis runs the floor extremely well and has a good motor to go along with his many skills. Also of importance for Kentucky is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg), a wing who simply does whatever it takes to win. He's been the leader for this group, organizing the now-famous early morning workouts many team members now take part in.

Louisville will counter with one of the most improved big men in the country in Gorgui Dieng (10.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.8 bpg), who has gone from a player Rick Pitino could only call on for spot duty to one of the coach's most important players. Dieng's most effective around the basket, so it's going to be interesting to see how he deals with Kentucky's mobile big men. Freshman Chane Behanan (8.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and veteran Rakeem Buckles complete the rotation for minutes inside with Jared Swopshire's minutes dropping in recent games. Kentucky's a slightly better rebounding team but Louisville does a better job of getting after the offensive boards with an average of 14.5 caroms per game.

The guard play will likely determine the outcome especially for the visitors, as Louisville has struggled offensively in the half court. When they're forcing turnovers the Cardinals are a tough team to stop, as much of their offense comes as a result of the turnovers. But they weren't able to get enough fast-break chances against Georgetown, and they ultimately lost as a result. Siva (9.5 ppg, 6.4 apg) has dealt with injury issues, limiting his effectiveness for much of the season. Chris Smith and Kyle Kuric are the other starters on the perimeter, with Kuric being the Cardinals' most versatile player as he can play a variety of positions. And then there's redshirt freshman Russ Smith, who is second on the team in scoring and has the potential to be a handful for either team.

Sophomore guard Doron Lamb (15.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg) is Kentucky's leading scorer, and the New York native is a smooth player who rarely gets out of control. He and senior Darius Miller won't be of concern for Calipari as both have a good idea of what needs to be done on the floor. As for freshman Marquis Teague, who at one time was committed to attend Louisville, he can get out of control on occasion. Look for the Louisville pressure to attack Teague for this reason as he averages 3.1 turnovers to go along with 4.4 assists per game. As a team the Wildcats average 12.6 turnovers per game while Louisville forces an average of 17.4. Look for this statistical category to determine the outcome of the game.

In other games Saturday there's a nice mix of conference and important non-conference games to take in. The Big Ten's got an important battle in Bloomington as Indiana hosts Ohio State with the home team looking to avoid an 0-2 start to conference play. The Buckeyes blew out Northwestern in their Big Ten opener while the Hoosiers fell at Michigan State in a game that featured big runs by both teams. The key for Indiana is to limit Jared Sullinger's impact on the game while also keeping Cody Zeller out of foul trouble. Two other conference games to watch are UConn hosting St. John's (Moe Harkless was originally a UConn commit) in the Big East and Milwaukee visiting Butler in the Horizon League.

As for another big non-conference game there's Xavier hosting Gonzaga, with the Musketeers looking to capitalize on being a full team with the return of Dezmine Wells to the lineup. And given their 1-2 record at the Diamond Head Classic this game could be key for Xavier from an NCAA Tournament seeding standpoint. Gonzaga's going to need consistent play from Elias Harris on the road, and he may be the key to a long run in March for Mark Few's squad. Harvard taking on Saint Joseph's is another good non-conference game for the Atlantic 10, and the battle between C.J. Aiken and Harvard's Keith Wright will be fun to watch.

Virginia Tech visits Oklahoma State in a game that would likely have a bigger effect on the Hokies should they lose given the Cowboys' play this season and the struggles of many ACC teams in the non-conference portion of the schedule. And there's also a critical game in the MVC as Creighton visits Wichita State, needing a win to avoid an 0-2 start to league play. The Pac-12 will cap 2011 with all 12 teams playing conference games, with UCLA visiting Cal in a game that the Bruins needs to avoid an 0-2 start to league play. And just as the ball is dropping in Times Square, Oregon and Washington should be wrapping up the final game of 2011. Happy New Year.

Top 25 Games
6:00 PM (2) Ohio State at (15) Indiana (ESPN2)
12:00 PM (4) Louisville at (3) Kentucky (CBS)
12:00 PM St. John's at (9) Connecticut (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Yale at (10) Florida (ESPNU)
1:00 PM Iowa at (11) Wisconsin (BTN)
2:00 PM Providence at (12) Georgetown (ESPN2)
3:00 PM Utah State at (14) Mississippi State
3:00 PM (17) Michigan State at Nebraska (BTN)
4:00 PM North Dakota at (18) Kansas (ESPNU)
6:00 PM (19) Creighton at Wichita State (ESPNU)
8:00 PM (20) UNLV at Hawaii
4:00 PM Saint Joseph's at (23) Harvard
2:00 PM Howard at (25) Kansas State (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Virginia Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN3)
12:00 PM Saint Francis (PA) at Drexel
12:00 PM Austin Peay at Morehead State (ESPNU)
12:00 PM Boston University at Quinnipiac
12:00 PM USC Upstate at South Carolina (ESPN3)
1:00 PM Mississippi Valley State at Iowa State (ESPN3)
1:00 PM Virginia-Wise at East Carolina
1:00 PM Colgate at New Hampshire
1:00 PM Presbyterian at VMI
1:00 PM Lehigh at Bryant
1:05 PM Bradley at Indiana State
2:00 PM Idaho at Boise State
2:00 PM Wright State at UIC (HLN)
2:00 PM FIU at Western Kentucky (FCS)
2:00 PM Samford at Maryland (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Western Carolina at North Carolina State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Holy Cross at Dartmouth
2:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at New Mexico State
2:00 PM Rice at Texas (LHN)
2:00 PM Tulane at UT-Pan American
2:00 PM Youngstown State at Cleveland State (HLN)
2:00 PM St. Francis (NY) at Army
2:00 PM Chicago State at Ball State
2:00 PM Cornell at Bucknell
2:00 PM Milwaukee at Butler (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky
2:00 PM Lyon College at Lamar
2:00 PM Hartford at La Salle
2:00 PM Charleston Southern at Liberty
2:00 PM Detroit at Loyola (IL) (HLN)
2:00 PM Southern Miss at McNeese State
2:00 PM Gardner-Webb at Radford
2:00 PM Louisiana Tech at SMU
3:00 PM Alabama A&M at UAB
3:00 PM Delaware State at George Washington
3:00 PM Northwestern State at Oklahoma
3:05 PM Drake at Missouri State
3:30 PM Albany at Mount St. Mary's
3:30 PM South Alabama at Middle Tennessee (ESPN3)
4:00 PM UCLA at California (FSN)
4:00 PM Troy at North Texas
4:00 PM Houston Baptist at Duquesne
4:00 PM Illinois at Purdue (ESPN2)
4:00 PM Sacramento State at Weber State
4:00 PM UNC Asheville at Winthrop (MASN)
4:30 PM Jacksonville State at SIU-Edwardsville
5:00 PM Arkansas State at Louisiana-Monroe
5:00 PM Tennessee Tech at Tennessee-Martin
5:05 PM Green Bay at Valparaiso Tickets
5:15 PM Florida Atlantic at Louisiana-Lafayette
5:30 PM Arizona State at Arizona (FSN AZ)
6:00 PM Utah at Colorado (ROOT)
6:00 PM Saint Louis at New Mexico (The Mtn)
6:00 PM San Diego at Brigham Young (BYU TV)
6:00 PM Oregon State vs. Washington State* (ROOT)
6:00 PM Arkansas-Little Rock at Denver
6:00 PM Saint Mary's at Pepperdine
6:30 PM USC at Stanford (FSN W)
7:00 PM Coastal Carolina at High Point
7:00 PM Tulsa at TCU (CBSSN)
8:00 PM Loyola Marymount at San Francisco
8:00 PM Gonzaga at Xavier (ESPN2)
9:00 PM Charlotte at Memphis (CSS)
9:35 PM Northern Arizona at Northern Colorado
10:00 PM Oregon at Washington (ESPN2)

St. John's Starts New Year Four Days Early

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:52:49 -0800

The 2011 pre-Big East season was one St. John’s fans will want to forget.

First came word that three members of the Red Storm’s talented freshmen class would be academically ineligible to start the season. JaKarr Sampson – the 32nd-ranked recruit, according to ESPN – and Norvel Pelle – ranked 77th – each de-committed upon word they would not be allowed to play during their first semester at St. John’s.

Cincinnati Reds draftee Amir Garrett, who was the 99th-rated incoming freshman, was also ruled ineligible for the first semester, although he decided to attend St. John’s for the second semester and became eligible on Dec. 21.

Current high school senior Ricardo Gathers – the 30th-ranked high school senior – also backed out of his verbal commitment to the program in the off-season.

Then came worse news. St. John’s coach Steve Lavin was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery on Oct. 6. He has been declared cancer-free but has been replaced by Mike Dunlap on the sidelines until Lavin regains enough stamina to return.

On the court, St. John’s had to replace 98 percent of its scoring and 96 percent of its rebounding from a year ago – and it showed early. The Red Storm began the campaign 4-5, including losses to Northeastern and Detroit Mercy. With all of their missing parts, the played much of the early season with a 6- and 7-man rotation.

St. John’s 2011-12 season began with as much tumult in one semester as most programs have in a decade, but on Tuesday, things began to turn around in the Big Apple. A corner appeared to be turned.

Led by freshmen Moe Harkless and D’Angelo Harrison, the Storm opened Big East play with a 91-67 victory over Providence. The story wasn’t St. John’s third-straight victory, as big as it was. The story was how it happened.

On one night, Red Storm fans got a glimpse into an exciting future.

Harkless scored a Big East freshman-record 32 points and seemingly grab every rebound in sight. Harrison scored a season-high 25 points and scored them in nearly every conceivable fashion. Fellow-freshmen Phil Greene and Sir’Dominic Pointer added a combined 18 points.

“We were obviously happy that these young guys could learn that if they play a certain way, we could get a Big East win,” Dunlap said after the win over Providence.

“It was just a matter of time for everything to click, and I think right now we’re starting to click and can still get a lot better,” Harkless said.

Harkless leads the Storm at 15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest. His game has been compared favorably to Ray Allen’s college game, and with his skill-set, most experts believe he will continue to improve each year.

“Moe Harkless is a terrific player,” Providence coach Ed Cooley said. “He is a great player. He’s definitely the face of the Big East. He’ll go down as one of the better players in the conference when it’s all said and done.”

With such little experience. it’s hard to imagine the Red Storm have many nights like Tuesday this year. But behind Harkless and Harrison, it may not be long before St. John’s returns to the glory days of its past.

Tuesday Recap: Pittsburgh Has Some Issues to Address

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:31:36 -0800

Outside of Xavier it's difficult to think of many two-game losing streaks this season that have sparked as much concern nationally as the one Pittsburgh is currently going through. A team that looked preoccupied with their Christmas break plans on Friday in a 59-54 home loss to Wagner dropped another game on Tuesday, 72-59 at Notre Dame. The second half was a serious departure from what the Panthers do on both ends of the court, with Notre Dame being able to accomplish just about whatever they wanted to offensively. Mike Brey's team shot a staggering 72% in the second half and scored 42 points, and Alex Dragicevic scored a career-high 22 points to lead the way.

"He was 2-for-6 in the first half. Then in the second half the three-pointers and the some lay-ups got him going," said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon of Dragicevic. "That's where it really got started and then their three-pointers broke it open. Give them credit they were patient we had some breakdowns that were pretty hard to recover from."

Point guard Tray Woodall returned to the rotation for Pittsburgh after being out since the Duquesne game with groin and abdominal injuries, and it's safe to say that the redshirt junior wasn't 100% on Tuesday. Woodall played 18 minutes and did not score, tallying two assists and two turnovers off the bench. Talib Zanna led the way for the Panthers with 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, but that wasn't enough to make up for Pitt making just one of fourteen shots from beyond the arc and being outscored 21-3 on three-pointers. But the biggest concern for Pittsburgh going forward has to be the defensive breakdows, as the Fighting Irish were able to find a number of open looks in the second half as they ran away with the game.

"Second half the defense just let down for us," said Dixon. "They executed - converted lay-ups that they turned into open jump shots and they started making those. We need to play better, we will play better and that's what we have to work on."

In addition to Dragicevich, Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant scored 15 points apiece for Notre Dame, who has now beaten the Panthers in each of their last four meetings. The Irish scored 1.24 points per possession and finished with an efficiency of 124.1, the highest number Pitt has allowed since their loss to Long Beach State in the third game of the season. Challenging cutters and playing tough defense has been one of the trademarks of the Pitt program going back to the Ben Howland years, but that wasn't on display Tuesday night. With talented players such as Woodall, Ashton Gibbs and Nasir Robinson the potential to turn things around is defintely there. Whether or not the Panthers act on that potential is entirely up to them.

Other Notable Happenings

1. After a quick start, Nebraska gets a rude introduction to Big Ten basketball from Wisconsin.
While there's no doubt that Nebraska was coming from a very tough basketball conference in the Big 12, their first taste of Big Ten basketball was going to be an interesting experience for Doc Sadler's program. Things were going very well for the Huskers to begin their game against Wisconsin as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. But the Badgers stayed the course and did what they do: execute on both ends of the floor at their tempo. What resulted was a thorough beating of Nebraska in Lincoln, with Wisconsin holding the home team to 14 second-half points in the 64-40 win.

Ryan Evans scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds and Wisconsin made 11 of 21 shots from beyond the arc on the night. Jordan Taylor finished with 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals with just one turnover, and the Badgers picked apart the Nebraska defense to shoot 51% from the field while holding the Huskers to 31% shooting. Nebraska will encounter different styles of play in their first run through the Big Ten, but they found out that playing Bo Ryan's team is an experience unlike any other.

2. Moe Harkless puts up a performance for the ages in a St. John's blowout of Providence.
The question for St. John's was a simple one entering Big East play: even with the arrival of Amir Garrett would the Red Storm have enough depth to navigate the conference slate? Hard to glean a concrete conclusion from one game, but to say the least the Big East opener for the Johnnies. Moe Harkless put up a performance for the ages with 32 points and 13 rebounds while D'Angelo Harrison added 25 points and seven rebounds in the 91-67 win over Providence. This was a stunning outcome considering the Friars' 11-2 start under first-year head coach Ed Cooley, not to mention the struggles of the home team. And that "performance for the ages" line isn't hyperbole, it's fact.

Harkless' point total replaced the 30 points scored by Troy Murphy and Allen Iverson in their Big East debuts as the highest point total in conference history. Think about all the great freshmen who have played in the Big East through the years, and that makes Harkless' achievement all the more noteworthy. St. John's shot 56.5% from the field and forced 20 Providence turnovers, converting those miscues into 34 points. For the talk of Providence feeling a bit disrespected due to the game being played at Carnesecca Arena instead of MSG they sure didn't look like a team that deserved that stage on Tuesday, and that's a credit to how well St. John's played.

3. Illinois needs double overtime to beat Minnesota in Champaign.
The end of game execution for both teams left much to be desired with Illinois becoming stagnant offensively and Minnesota not fouling when down six with less than a minute in double overtime, but that shouldn't take away from how entertaining the Big Ten opener was. Brandon Paul led the Fighting Illini to the 81-72 win with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Meyers Leonard added 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots. Illinois turned the ball over 21 times but ended up winning by limiting the Golden Gophers to 37.7% shooting, and Minnesota could only manage 16 points off of those turnovers.

By comparison Illinois scored 19 points off of 14 Minnesota turnovers, as a result helping to minimize the impact of their mistakes. Ralph Sampson III led Minnesota with 22 points and nine rebound but the Gophers had just two players score in double figures while Illinois finished with five, and that's not going to get it done for Tubby Smith's team down the line if they want to be an NCAA Tournament team. Illinois will need to cut down on their turnovers but it should be seen as an encouraging sign that Bruce Weber's team was able to make up for the discrepancy in other areas to pull out the win.

Quick Hitters

1. Georgia needed overtime to beat Winthrop at home 82-76, but the question is whether or not the game should have gone to overtime to begin with. With the Eagles leading 76-74 in the final seconds, Georgia's Gerald Robinson junior got away with a blatant travel and scored the game-tying basket.

2. Rhode Island head coach Jim Baron made the decision on Tuesday to dismiss leading scorer Jamal Wilson (16.4 ppg) for a violation of team rules. To say the least this is the last thing the Rams, who are 1-11 on the season. Mid-year transfers Andre Malone and Billy Baron should have every opportunity to take over as the primary scoring options as a result of this move.

3. Also on Tuesday, Illinois guard Crandall Head announced his decision to leave the school. Head, whose older brother is Illinois great Luther Head, averaged just 6.4 minutes per game this season.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Moe Harkless and G D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's)
Harkless finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds and four assists while Harrison added 25, seven assists and three steals in the Red Storm's 91-67 win over Providence.

2. G Andre Jones (Winthrop)
33 points (10-15 FG) and three rebounds in the Eagles' 82-76 overtime loss at Georgia.

3. F Ryan Evans (Wisconsin)
22 points (9-11 FG), six rebounds and two assists in the Badgers' 64-40 win over Nebraska.

Tuesday Preview: Minnesota at Illinois

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:47:44 -0800

After a day off college basketball is back with a small albeit important slate to keep an eye on. Why? The start of conference play in both the Big East and Big Ten, with more leagues due to join in on the fun later in the week. Tuesday's game of interest matches #24 Illinois (11-2), who is undefeated at home and looking to bounce back from their loss to rival Missouri, and a Minnesota (12-1) team that's managed to win six straight games. Many thought that the roof would cave in on Tubby Smith's team after losing Trevor Mbakwe for the year with a torn ACL, but guys have stepped up in his absence.

Before a five-point outing against North Dakota State on Thursday, guard Julian Welch (9.9 ppg, 2.5 apg) had reached double figures in eight straight games. He's shooting 48.8% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc, both which are improvements on his numbers as a freshman at UC Davis during the 2009-10 season. Andre Hollins (6.1 ppg), Austin Hollins (8.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and Chip Armelin (6.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) are all players the Golden Gophers call on for production on the perimeter, and without a marquee scoring option they've adjusted their tempo some (267th in adjusted tempo per Ken Pomeroy).

Illinois will counter on the perimeter with D.J. Richardson (14.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Brandon Paul (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Sam Maniscalco (10.6 ppg, 2.9 apg), and freshman Joseph Bertrand stepped up with 19 points in the loss to Missouri. But the one issue with the three starters has been shot-making, with Richardson's 43.1% being the highest number. Paul's only making 36.7% of his shots from the field, and that's a number that will have to improve in Big Ten play if the Illini are to contend. The real key for Illinois will be to make sure they get their big man quality touches inside.

Sophomore Meyers Leonard has improved a great deal since last season, and he's second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) while leading the way in both rebounding (8.2 ppg) and blocked shots (2.4 bpg). One thing that's seemed to be an issue for the Illinois backcourt has been the art of the entry pass, and with Minnesota ranking in the Top 10 nationally in steal percentage (14.3%) Bruce Weber's team will need to be sound with the basketball. Minnesota will counter with Ralph Sampson III (8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg) and the high-flying Rodney Williams (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), and it's become even more important that they stay out of foul trouble with Mbakwe's injury.

However it's Illinois that's taken better care of the basketball to this point in the season, and Welch and Andre Collins both have personal turnover rates approaching 28%. Sound decision-making will be key for the Golden Gophers on the road, and even though school's not in session Champaign is a tough place to play. Minnesota's done a good job of getting to the foul line, as their lack of an outstanding perimeter shooter means that they've got to attack the basket more than most teams. Whichever team continues to attack the basket while limiting their opponent's opportunities will likely win, meaning that Illinois can't afford to fall in love with the jump shot.

Also in the Big Ten, Nebraska gets their first taste of league play as they host #14 Wisconsin. The individual matchup between Jordan Taylor and Bo Spencer will be fun to watch, and the Huskers are going to need a big night from Jorge Brian Diaz as well. In the Big East, surprising Providence visits St. John's in a game both teams need as the schedules get much more difficult in their next games (Providence visits Georgetown, St. John's visits UConn). And Pittsburgh looks to rebound from their loss to Wagner at Notre Dame, and it's a game-time decision as to whether or not Tray Woodall will be able to go. But if the Panthers don't step up their perimeter defense with (or without) Woodall they could be in trouble against Notre Dame's Eric Atkins.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM (13) Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (ESPN2)
9:00 PM (14) Wisconsin at Nebraska (ESPN2)
7:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at (24) Virginia

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Winthrop at Georgia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Providence at St. John's (ESPN3)
7:30 PM Minnesota at Illinois (BTN)
8:00 PM Texas Southern at Saint Louis
8:00 PM New Orleans at North Texas
8:00 PM Belhaven at Southern Miss
8:00 PM Cal State Bakersfield at Texas Tech (ESPN3)
8:30 PM Eureka at Western Illinois
9:00 PM Cal State San Marcos at BYU (BYU TV)
9:00 PM Vanguard at Loyola Marymount