0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 12/9/2015
With the carnage that Larry Brown has left at another program, the best that one of the top teams in the nation can do this season is play the role of spoiler. SMU, off a 24-point beatdown of a solid Michigan team Tuesday night, is basically playing for pride this season — well, pride and […]
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 12/5/2015
The first AAC championship would clearly be decided by one aspect of the competition: Houston’s offense against Temple’s defense. Yet, the other matchup ultimately told the tale of why Tom Herman’s first regular season as a collegiate head coach became a complete success. Houston’s offense and Temple’s defense lived up to the billing on Saturday, […]
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 22: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Wichita State Shockers celebrates as the second half ends against the Kansas Jayhawks during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 22, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 12/4/2015
For Gregg Marshall and Wichita State, the 2015-2016 season had all the makings of a triumphant procession through the college basketball realm. Over the past three years, the Shockers have been a top seed in the NCAA tournament and even made a Final Four, but this season’s squad appeared deep and experienced. The Shockers have […]
CORAL GABLES, FL – NOVEMBER 4: Angel Rodriguez #13 of the Miami Hurricanes chases a loose ball against the Dowling Golden Lions on November 4, 2015 at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. Miami defeated Dowling 91-40. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer
Prior to the loss to Northeastern last Friday, Miami was one of the hottest teams in college basketball. The Hurricanes beat Mississippi State, Utah, and Butler in consecutive games. Not only did they win, but the margins were 26, 24, and 10. Of the 5-0 start, Miami won by an average of 21 points. While […]
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 20: Trevon Bluiett #5 of the Xavier Musketeers drives to the basket against Zak Irvin #21 of the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Crisler Arena on November 20, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Xavier defeated Michigan 86-70. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer
Let’s give you an early report on a college basketball season which is just beginning to take shape. When it comes to one of the best unbeaten teams, the response may surprise you. When you’re told that it comes from the Big East and it is not Villanova, prepare to be shocked even further. Xavier, which […]
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 24: Ben Simmons #25 of the LSU Tigers drives to the net against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Barclays Center on November 24, 2015 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 12/3/2015
Ben Simmons was awarded the title of the second coming before logging any minutes of college basketball. He was anointed as the top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft before completing his first dribble at LSU. Simmons is this year’s “it guy” for the top freshman in the country…and he has done nothing at all […]
HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 27: Tony Parker #23 of the UCLA Bruins pulls down a rebound against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during a South Regional Semifinal game of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at NRG Stadium on March 27, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer
Last season, UCLA barely squeaked into the NCAA Tournament because it played a murderer’s row schedule in the non-conference realm. The selection committee did not account for the fact that the Bruins lost to nearly every quality team they played; it gave them credit merely for scheduling tough teams. This season, UCLA’s profile is developing […]
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 12/2/2015
When looking at the resumes of teams the College Football Playoff Selection Committee has placed at the top of the next-to-last rankings, one thing is abundantly clear: the committee values quality wins over losses. While strength of schedule is a hot button topic for the committee, the past two seasons have shown it is more […]
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 11/30/2015
For Tennessee, an 8-4 season and a 5-3 record and a tie for second in the SEC East could be viewed as a successful season in Knoxville. This can be true even in light of all the preseason hype and expectations: not many had the Vols above second in that half of the conference. However, […]
during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida.
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 11/29/2015
After a rocky November stretch that featured one-score wins against Vanderbilt and Florida Atlantic, the Florida Gators were not as fortunate on Saturday. Reality and the Florida State Seminoles smacked the Gators in the face. Offense has been a problem for the Gators since Will Grier was suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs in October. Treon […]
Nov 21, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Justin Jackson (21) rushes with the football during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 11/21/2015
As we all know, the holidays are a time of giving. With Thanksgiving approaching, Wisconsin was in a giving mood to Northwestern for most of Saturday in a 13-7 Wildcat victory. Joel Stave and the Badger offense weren’t just generous. They were charitable on their own side of the field, especially in the early going. […]
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 21: P.J. Walker #11 of the Temple Owls throws a pass in the first quarter against the Memphis Tigers on November 21, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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A common theme has emerged this AAC season for both Memphis and Temple: finishing. Coming into the contest, Temple had lost two out of three games against Notre Dame and South Florida, with a win over SMU sandwiched in. The Owls were in need of a momentum-generating win. Enter Memphis. In key moments from Saturday’s […]
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 17: Marshall Plumlee #40 of the Duke Blue Devils is fouled by Alex Poythress #22 of the Kentucky Wildcats as he tries to drive between Poythress and Marcus Lee #00 during the Champions Classic at the United Center on November 17, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 11/18/2015
Tuesday night in Chicago, college basketball observers gained a lot of information on two of the superpowers in the sport. The big question is if Tuesday’s revelations will still hold true in the middle of March… and perhaps early April. * In the first heavyweight contest of the season, Kentucky showed that it is clearly […]
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the fourth quarter during the game at Heinz Field on November 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
0 comments by Ryan Palencer
Love him or hate him for his sideline antics, Brian Kelly has done some amazing things with Notre Dame over the years. Keeping the Irish in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings this late into the season certainly rates as one of them. With the Irish contending for a College Football Playoff […]
0 comments by Ryan Palencer on 11/17/2015
Outrage flooded the NBA when the “Hack-a-Shaq” took effect. During the last few years, the same outrage has followed in the NBA playoffs when teams would foul poor free throw shooters to gain possessions. In the first few games of the new college basketball season, we’re seeing something different. What’s happening on the hardwood is […]
