CoB Higher Post: Let's get it started!
Monday will be cray day...oh, then there is an election.
Congregation, please stand up….
…we are about to get some games!!
It’s HERE! The season is starts Monday and I cannot wait, but before we dive into the season, we need to acknowledge the bookends for Monday that the Bracketology Gods have blessed us with.
First - this weekend we get to move our clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings. Every spring, I complain the DST is dumb (spoiler: it is) and needs to go away. However, come autumn, it’s a blessing. We need that time to rest up before trying to figure out which remote goes with which screen. Rest up now, the road to the Final Four is a marathon, not a sprint.
Second - is the all important Election Day. In case you have been in hibernation for the past two years (and if you were - lucky you for missing UConn winning back-to-back titles #NeverGraduate) you might have heard there is an presidential election happening. Like the new Big Ten, these two combatants come from opposite coasts while fighting for supremacy of the Midwest!
This season, it’s vital for the faithful Bracketologist to recognize Election Day. Not only do you have your opportunity to exercise your constitutional right, but being Tuesday, it’s a welcome distraction from thinking about your team no longer being undefeated. After all, not all of us can open the season against LIU (yup, lookin’ at you #24 Ole Miss). So, make sure you get out and vote on Tuesday, but scout your plan beforehand because you will be tired from Monday. Seriously, if you do Monday right, you should be too tired to let the Election Day anxiety get to you - especially, if you stay up for the best game of the day: #8 Baylor at #6 Gonzaga at 11:30p EST. Go Defense!
Let’s take a closer look at what is happening on ‘Magnolia Monday’. Why Magnolia? Cupcakes - all over the place. This the time for power teams to feast on lower teams for easy wins, while lower teams feast on teams that don’t even have pages on sports website since they are not D1. That said…who cares!?! Let’s tip this off! And frankly, I have never seen a UNC fan that wasn’t excited about the annual Elon shellacking.
Here are some games to check out. They may not be the top games, but they are fun (all times EST):
Maine at #7 Duke (ACCN, 7p): Yup, it’s Black Bear hunting season in the Triangle. This cupcake will be extra tasty because it is the first time we get see #1 recruit (and predicted top NBA draft pick) Cooper Flagg. Flagg actually grew up 35mins from the UMaine campus proving that you actually can ‘get there from here’. This should be a drubbing, but don’t feel bad for the UMaine students. They will be too busy watching hockey highlights to notice.
#19 Texas at THEE Ohio State (TNT/TruTV, 10p): TNT/TruTV are taking a couple of hours to promote the new season of Impractical Jokers with a little basketball. But this game will be no joke since both teams have something to prove. Texas has had its ups and downs under Coach Rodney Hood so far, but there is optimism in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, THEE Jake Diebler starts his full season as THEE Buckeyes head coach after replacing THEE Chris Holtsman with 9 games to go last season. Both sides will want to start the season with a Q1 statement.
Towson at Saint Mary’s (ESPN+, 10p): Towson has put together some tough play the past couple of seasons. They are not a powerhouse by any means, but Pat Skerry teaches a smothering defense that has lead his Tigers to 3 consecutive 20-win seasons. Meanwhile, the Gaels are the Gaels. We usually don’t talk about them until conference play when they sneak up the polls and knock off Gonzaga. This game will give you a good window on seeing them before the east coast notices.
Fordham at St. Johns (FS1, 6:30p): This is just fun because who does not like local rivalry. This game will be in Queens so Slick Ricky P. won’t be wondering Arthur Ave post buzzer, it will be our first look at the ‘St. Giovanni’s Red Sauce’ as a preseason top-25 team. Meanwhile, the 3rd best Rams in the Atlantic 10 have been picked next to last in the conference preseason poll, Coach Keith Urgo has surprised us after taking over a rising program but this season looks to be an up Rose Hill battle. I don’t expect them to upset the Big Apple cart, but it should still be fun. A scrappy Fordham team is always fun.
Meanwhile, on the Women’s side: A ‘énorme programme double’ live from Paris featuring powerhouse teams from California who are both from the Big Ten. (Nope, doesn’t sound right to me either.) But, this lunch time doubleheader is worth taking a longue pause déjeuner for!
#20 Ole Miss vs. #3 USC (ESPN, Noon): After watching the US women’s Olympic team take their French squad to buzzer for gold, Paris will be exposed to our next-next big thing in sophomore super guard Juju Watkins. ESPN is actually preempting the replay of morning NFL argument shows to showcase this gem. And, even better, it is followed by…
#17 Louisville vs. #5 UCLA (ESPN2, 2:30p): What a way to start a hoops season. 6’7” Lauren Betts will guard inside The Arc against a reloaded Cardinal team. Amazing match up even though I will be missing me some Sydney “Swish” Taylor. #iykyk
And finally….
Massachusetts vs. Harvard (ESPN+ 8p): Ok, this is a seamless plug for my school and that is my disclaimer. But, if this is about fun, who doesn’t love #1 vs #1 battle - specifically the #1 public university in Massachusetts against the #1 private one. And, it's a literal ‘Battle of the Reds’! A Pantone Invitational, if you will, pitting the Crimson (19-1762 TPX) against the Maroon (18-1619 TPX)! Designers of the World unite! These are always nail biters and I except no less this time.
Keeping up with The Hannahs:
Two of my favorite players are not only incredibly fun to watch…but are both named Hannah! We dedicate this section to them. Try and keep up!
Hannah Stuelke (Junior / Forward / Iowa):
Unlike most teams, Iowa doesn’t play their first game until Weds, so you have to wait a bit to see Hannah Stuelke and the new look Hawkeyes when they take on Northern Illinois from the MAC. But, just a few days later on Sunday, they travel to neutral Charlotte, NC to take on always tough Virginia Tech. The Hokies are in transition after hiring Megan Duffy to replace Kenny Brooks after he left for Kentucky (taking All-ACC First Team guard Georgia Amoore with him) and losing All-ACC First Team center Elizabeth Kitley to graduation. With both team’s coaches in their first season, they will both have a lot to prove. Look for Hannah to make a statement down low in the Kitley-less paint.
Hannah Hidalgo (Sophomore / PG / Notre Dame):
Meanwhile, Hannah Hidalgo and the Irish will play on Monday against Mercyhurst so we can expect a less competitive game. They do travel to Purdue on Sunday 11/10 to fire up that regional rivalry! We will dig more into the Irish schedule in future posts because there are some gems there. In the meantime though, I want to leave you with this - As Puerto Rico has been in the news a lot recently, I felt it relevant to share a wonderful story about Hannah learning about her Puerto Rican roots. I have had the time to dig into my family history and it’s an amazing experience. It is worth a few minutes to read about this young woman discovering hers. Enjoy.
Five Touches: Quick passes around the world of hoops
Tough job market in the W: WNBA coaching carousel is spinning fast as half of the league’s head coaches were fired so far after this season. (Update: The Fever have hired former Sun coach Stephanie White)
Always have your priorities: Giannis Antetokounmpo arrives at the postgame presser dressed as Mr. Potato Head because he is a father first. Praise Naismith!
Vinsanity 2024: As Vince Carter gets inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, both the Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets (then NJ Nets) are retiring his #15 jersey. Carter’s will be the first number retired in Raptors franchise history, while this will be the second time the Nets retired a number of a player also retired by another franchise (Julius “Dr. J.” Erving was also retired by the 76ers)
No rookie hazing: The Players Tribune posted a WNBA Rookies Survival Guide for new rookies to learn lessons from this year’s remarkable class. Kate Martin, a surprise late draft pick for the Las Vegas Aces said, “Have fun, because at the end of the day, it’s a game that you love, so go out there and make the most of your opportunity.” Words to live by, Kate.
Not just about football: ESPN does a fast breakdown of conference realignment and how it is effecting women’s basketball. We will all be Big Ten some day.
Extracurricular Reading: Sometimes you gotta call a T.O.
The Rise of the Megadonor: While donations to higher education is going up, megadonors are attaching strings to their donations as a way to change schools and education - for better or worse.
Its always about football: Why the SEC and Big Ten are meeting to talk CFP automatic bids and scheduling arrangements
I don’t know it as a fact, I just know its true (with Duke and the Plumlees): As the LA Dodgers celebrate their fresh World Series win, an interesting stat has surfaced - a ‘Will Smith’ has won a World Series every year dating back to 2020. And, they are not the same Will Smith. There’s one…and there’s two.
Ok, that is it for now! Get your rest for the weekend and get ready to tip this season off Monday. Games start at 11a EST!
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