Welcome back to the Monday Morning Knee-Jerk, where we take an over-the-top look at the past weekend of college basketball.
Don't be offended by anything you read. It's all in fun.
Mostly.
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| Sorry, Bobby Lutz, but the two people voting for Charlotte in the Top 25 need their heads examined. (AP) |
In a perfect world: These would be the Top 10 teams this week ... 1. Texas; 2. Connecticut; 3. Gonzaga; 4. Duke; 5. Michigan State; 6. Washington; 7. Iowa; 8. Memphis; 9. Florida; 10. Oklahoma.
Which means: Yes, I was wrong to rank Duke No. 1 and the Spartans No. 15 in the preseason. Very, very wrong.
Mighty has fallen: Southern Illinois lost in Alaska to Monmouth and Alaska-Anchorage. Monmouth is 1-3, and Alaska-Anchorage is a Division II school -- and Southern Illinois lost those games by a combined 20 points. Your run was good while it lasted, Salukis.
Weekend dream team: Creighton's Nate Funk (38 points vs. Dayton) and Dayton's Brian Roberts (34 vs. Creighton) at guard. La Salle's Steve Smith (31 and 13 rebounds vs. American) and Marquette's Ryan Amoroso (30 and 12 vs. South Carolina) at forward. Denver's Yemi Nicholson (22, 17 and four blocks vs. Colorado State) at center.
Craziest line: Florida's Taurean Green scored 15 points against Florida State ... with no field goals.
Automatic bid or bust: Mid-Continent heavyweight Oral Roberts removed itself from NCAA Tournament at-large consideration by losing to Marquette in Alaska. Coupled with its home loss to Utah State, Oral Roberts has blown its shot at non-conference glory. Yes, Oral Roberts beat Southern California by 20. That and 50 cents will get you the Tulsa World.
Liar, liar, pants on fire: Duke center Shelden Williams' game-winning tap-in against Memphis was offensive goaltending. The instant replay was obvious, even as ESPN's Dick Vitale was trying to convince us it wasn't. Whatever you say, Dukie V.
Boy am I smart: Who was down on Iowa State in the preseason? Nobody ... but me. That's the same Iowa State that lost 89-72 at home to Iona -- not Iowa, but Iona.
Boy am I dumb: Who was down on Boston College in the preseason? Nobody ... but me. CBS SportsLine.com's preseason Top 25 had the Eagles at No. 24, eight spots behind No. 16 Oklahoma State. Those teams played Saturday in Las Vegas, with BC winning 76-68. Oops.
Even bigger idiot: Anyone on the NCAA Tournament selection committee who doesn't recognize the at-large candidacy of Davidson. The Wildcats already have beaten two of the better teams in the Atlantic 10, UMass and Saint Joseph's. If they go 16-0 again in the Southern Conference and still can't get into the 2006 NCAA Tournament, the system is broken.
Rest of the story: No wonder Rhode Island coach Jim Baron tried to talk me out of writing about his best freshman in years, who happens to be his son, Jimmy Baron Jr. That was last week, when behind the scenes another Rhody guard, sophomore Jon Lucky, was considering leaving the team. Lucky made it official this past weekend: He's gone. Is it cynical to wonder -- OK, to assume -- that Lucky left because he couldn't handle losing minutes to the coach's son? Maybe so, but understand this: Baron Jr. is a better player.
Sky is falling: On Georgia Tech. The Jackets lost by 22 at home to Illinois-Chicago, two days after UIC lost at home to an NAIA school. On Wednesday, Georgia Tech plays at Michigan State. If you're still watching in the second half, you need a life.
Sky is not falling: On West Virginia. The Mountaineers have lost three straight games, but they were to Texas, Kentucky and LSU. And West Virginia should have beaten Texas and LSU. West Virginia will be fine.
