By David K.
Welcome to a new weekly article at thesportsbank.net! Here I’ll give you the 101 on what has happened in the week of college basketball and what’s to come in the days ahead. We are only really a week into the season and already there have been some exciting games and big time match-ups thanks to early season tournaments. Trust me when I say it will only get better this week.
Rewind
-Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin is justifying what many mock drafts (including mine) are saying; that he will undoubtedly be the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Griffin has been ridiculous this year, averaging 26 points, 19.8 rebounds through the Sooners’ first four games. He will be tested in his next three games taking on UAB, USC and their physical post player Taj Gibson, and Tulsa seven-footer Jerome Jordan.
-Throughout his career at Marquette, Wesley Matthews has played third wheel to fellow senior guards Jerel McNeal and Dominic James. Not this season. Matthews has surpassed his career-high scoring mark in all three games this season, scoring 27, 26, and 25 points in the Golden Eagles’ three victories. He is also averaging 7 boards, 4.3 assists, and 2.7 steals, even though he is playing out of position at times at the four spot due to injuries up front for MU.
-The Pac 10 is proving that it has no where near the talent it did last season. A young UCLA team was upset by Michigan in the Semifinals of the 2k Sports Classic. USC has already lost to Seton Hall and Missouri at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Arizona fell at home to UAB. Like I predicted, expect Arizona State to be the cream of the crop in the conference.
-Texas Tech dropped 167 points on East Central Thursday night. Ten players scored in double figures as the Red Raiders threw up 113 shots. TTU scored 90 second half points in that game. Last season, they scored 90 or more points in only two of their 30 games.
Fast Forward
-I am really excited to watch Tom Crean and his Hoosiers get whooped by Notre Dame Monday night in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. (4:30 ESPN2) North Carolina and Texas are also in Hawaii which should set-up a must-see championship game.
-The Old Spice Classic tips off on Thanksgiving with a loaded field of four ranked teams; Michigan State, Gonzaga, Tennessee, and Georgetown. Hey, they call it “Feast Week†for a reason.
-#2 UConn will meet Wisconsin in the championship game of the Paradise Jam Tournament on Monday night. The Badgers have not looked that strong early this season, but could pick up some major confidence by knocking off the Huskies.
The Push to 225
So I have set an over/under for myself. My goal is watch at least 225 college basketball games this season thanks to the wonder that is DVR. Here is my weekly update:
Games watched through 11/23:Â 17
UW-Whitewater at Wisconsin
Houston Baptist at Marquette
Long Beach St. at Wisconsin
Chicago St. at Marquette
UMass at Memphis
Fresno St. at St. Mary’s
SIU-Edwardsville at Wisconsin
Davidson at Oklahoma
UAB at Arizona
Richmond at Syracuse
Kentucky at North Carolina
Duke vs. Southern Illinois
UCLA vs. Michigan
UCLA vs. Southern Illinois
Duke vs. Michigan
UW-Milwaukee at Marquette
Xavier vs. Memphis
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