Higher Post: ...and Dinner is Served!
...don't need no hateration, holleration, in this dancery!
Congregation, because MARCH MADNESS IS HERE…(looks at the calendar)…
…wait, it’s still March Eve??
It always seems the Basketball Gods have some tricks up their sleeves. Many times over the year I have been talking about this large amount of cupcakes that have been served over the season. It’s been a trend that is growing and growing because of over-bloated power conferences and the NET Ranking giving them the ‘pre-sale codes’ for tickets to the March Dance-offs. And, no I won’t go there again, except to say that all this sugar has made us quite hungry for real calories and the Gods have answered with a spectacular weekend featuring all four of the top-ranked teams going head to head in a wild and serendipitous doubleheader!
MBB: #4 Arizona at #2 Houston (Saturday, 3p EST, ABC):
Last week, the Zonacats showed their Foulability by traveling to Kansas, showing us the real man behind the curtain. They enjoyed it so much they brought that feeling home a few nights later against #16 Texas Tech. They were able to right the hot air balloon against a struggling BYU team just a few days ago.
In the Bracketology version of ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ featuring sports felines, the ‘wildcat’ usually beats ‘cougar’ but can Arizona take two Packs in a row? Cougars are solitary creatures on offense, but these Cougs attack as a team. This is a pivotal catfight for the Wildcats to show dominance in the ruthless Big XII. This is why the Gods make the schedules! Wooooboy!
MBB: #1 Michigan vs. #3 Duke (6:30p ESPN):
Flashing back to the 90’s is vogue with the kids these days. Just look at the Nickelback memes and the Fighting Szczerbiaks of Miami of Ohio.
So let’s go back to December 5, 1992, specifically. Coincidentally, it was also a day where all top 4 teams were playing each other on the same day. And, one of these matchups was also #4 Duke vs. #1 Michigan. It also happened to be a rematch of the 1992 championship game where Duke rolled The Fab Five by 20 points to snag their second consecutive title. Just 243 days later, they met again.
Some called it a revenge game. The Fab Five did. The Blue Devils didn’t. While Duke no longer had Christian Laettner to do the pushing around, Bobby Hurley and Thomas Hill didn’t get lost in the Maize.
And that is just 2 of 30 meetings between these two.
Today’s Michigan team is the newly minted #1 team in the country and have not bested Duke in the last 3 attempts — 20 years to be exact. They want to show they belong at the top. The Blue Devils want a bit more of ‘been there, done that.’ It is unusual to have such a non-conference matchup of this caliber this late in the season. Another reason to get out and practice at the local sports bar. Can I get a “GO DEFENSE!”?
And that is just Saturday!
If Saturday is the protein portion of the feast, Sunday has all the nutrients to round out a perfect buffet for a feast before the feast. It’s not an appetizer, it’s first breakfast.
There is an amazing slate on the women’s side in just the SEC and B1G games! March is just 8 days away. It’s crunch time for conference tourney seedings and getting dance tickets punched.
More in “We’ve Got Next” below!
Ballin’ and Brawlin’!
Is it me or has there been a bit more brawlin’ this season? I feel as if each weekend, there is a story about a fight that breaks out during or after a game.
Last night, there was a dust up at the end of the VCU/Saint Louis game as the Billikens were trying to dribble out the ball. There was a little shove on VCU’s Nyk Lewis prompting him to reach in and steal the ball. Then came the bench clearing, with everyone pushing and shoving. Even the refs got shoved around a bit.
It is no secret that these A10 foes don’t like each other but they used to keep the fighting contained to the stands.
It was just last week when Providence committed some extra-curricular activities on-court against the St. Giovani’s Red Sauce, resulting in a 20-minute delay of game and 6 players ejected.
That situation didn’t end there as a second incident saw a 7th player enjoy the rest of the game from the locker room.
This is not contained in the men’s game. Just a couple of weeks ago, a hard foul and shove from Kansas State’s Jenessa Cotton on Houston’s Amirah Abdur-Rahim gave both benches a chance for a jog on-court.
This game is a physical one and seems to be getting more physical by the day. Is this just a more common occurrence to be expected in the game or is there an actual change in how the game is called that is allowing more of these hard physical situations causing players to lose control? I don’t mind the physical play, but when it results in ejections and (god forbid) injuries — Coaches need to coach and refs need to ref because we don’t need no hateration, holleration, in this dancery.
The Infoulable!
Tracking the remaining teams who have yet to commit the ultimate sin...of losing.
MBB: If you had lil Miami as the last one standing, please meet me in Vegas!
#22 Miami of Ohio! (27-0 overall, 14-0 MAC!):
✅ Tuesday: Miami (of Ohio) 86 - Massachusetts (of MA) 77
✅ Friday: Miami (of Ohio) 91 - Bowling Green (of Orange & Brown) 77
Next: Tuesday 2/24 at Eastern Michigan (8:30p, ESPN+)
WBB: UConn is The Highlander! There is only one.
#1 UConn Huskies (28-0 overall, 17-0 Big East):
✅ Wednesday: UConn 83 - Villanova 69
Next: Sunday 2/22 at Providence 12p, (FS1)
NYU Women’s Undefeated Streak: 85 - RECORD BROKEN, STREAK CONTINUES!
The Violets are still blooming even in the cold weather of this frozen winter. Friday, they bested longtime rival #13 WashU in the annual R. Norman Rose Classic. As the previous winning streak record holders, there is nothing these Bears wanted more than to stop NYU’s streak. Not today! With this win, the Violets clinched their 5th consecutive UAA Conference title and with it the automatic bid to the D3 dance.
#1 New York University Violets (85-0 overall, 23-0 this season, 12-0 UAA):
✅ Friday NYU 82 - WashU 62
Next: Sunday 2/22: vs. University of Chicago (11a)
NYU’s Path To Infoulability: Let’s follow The Violets Stairway to the Rafters
✅ Women’s D3 Record!! (Nov, 2023 - current)
Men’s Record (all division): 88 - UCLA (Jan 30, 1971 - Jan 17, 1974)
Overall Record: 111 games - UConn WBB (Nov 23, 2014 - March 31, 2017)
We Got Next: Games to watch this weekend! (all times EST)
The Weekend Litany for the devoted Bracketologist
Games of The Service:
MBB: Forget the cupcakes, let’s dish out the main course!
#4 Arizona at #2 Houston (3p, ABC); and #1 Michigan vs. #3 Duke (6:30p, ESPN) This is obvious. It’s the main course. All four of the top-ranked teams going head to head on the same night? That’s a choice we wouldn’t even make Sophie choose. The good news, no one has to. They are back to back on the schedule. It’s a rare occasion for late season out of conference play. Make sure it’s a comfy seat because you ain’t moving.
WBB: #6 Michigan at #13 Iowa (12p, FOX): In a full day of big hoops, the Basketball Gods are not even waiting for the coffee to take hold before throwing us in the B1G fire for this Battle of the B1G Silver. We have seen what this young Michigan squad can do, just wrapping up a season sweep of cross-state rival Michigan State. Iowa, meanwhile, is not all Chit-Chat. They have steadied after a tough west coast trip that had them drop 3 in a row. The question is will Hannah Stuelke be back after sitting out due to injury after a hard fall in the game with Nebraska. She is listed day-to-day and if there was a day, this is the one.
WBB: #17 Ole Miss at #3 South Carolina (12p, ESPN): Coach Yo has been in the social feeds recently for her jarring with LSU (and former Ole’ Miss) football coach Lane Kiffin. While Dawn Staley has been seen earning her samaritan badge helping strangers parallel park.
Ok, sure I could talk about this match up, but it speaks for itself. This game will be tough, hard fought and one Ole Miss has circled on the calendar as a must not lose!
Other Bracketology Offerings:
MBB:
Saturday - 2p: Tennessee at #19 Vanderbilt (ESPN) — Yup, that little number is usually on the orange team, but this is a new SEC.
Saturday - 10:30p: #6 Iowa State at #23 BYU (ESPN) — Once Infoulable, BYU is now 4-6 in their last 10. A top-10 team shouldn’t be sweating a trip to Provo right now. And yet… we thank the Gods for March Eve!
WBB:
Sunday - 12p: Virginia at #8 Louisville (CW) — The Hoos are squaring the bubble. They need this one.
Sunday - 2p: USC at #10 Ohio State (FS1) — It’s been a tough season for the Trojans. Losing Jazzy Davidson this week gave them a scare. She is day-to-day and they need her…and this win.
Sunday - 2p: #21 Tennessee at #11 Oklahoma (ESPN) — It’s Rocky at the Top. The Lady Vols are the shampoo of women’s ball: Big win, big loss, repeat.
Sunday - 2p: Syracuse at NC State (CW) — Don’t turn your back on either of these teams. Cuse is going up. State has been less than usual, but still solid. This will be one to enjoy.
Sunday - 4p: #16 Kentucky at #5 Vanderbilt (ESPN2) — Classic SEC revenge game. The Commodores took the first one. Can Mikayla Blakes-Gilgeous-Alexander* lead her team to a sweep (* that one is all Kay. I take no credit!)
Sunday - 6p: #18 Michigan State at #23 Minnesota (FS1) — The Golden Gophers have been the upset queens. If Michigan State loses this it will be their 5th in their last 7 games.
The Magnolia Bakery Invitational: We all love our desserts.
WBB: Providence at #1 UConn (Sunday 12p, FS1): Again, an easy pick. Providence, who is 7-10 in the Big East, travel to Storrs for a good shellacking. Maybe they will get some of that ‘not as good as Brooklyn’ pizza at least.
Battle of Who Could Care Less: This one may require some No Doz.
MBB: California at Stanford (Saturday 6p, FS1): The new ACC Annual Science Fair brings a rivalry of teams that are neither on the Atlantic Coast nor above water in conference. I blame climate change, not coaching. Definitely not coaching.
The Indeed.com Classic: Lose this one and you might need to revise your resume.
MBB: UAB at Memphis (Sunday 12p, ESPN2): While the penny is no longer being produced, this Penny is no longer producing. If the 12-14 Tigers lose to a mediocre UAB team at home, this Penny will lose even more value. Just my two cents.
Final Seconds!
Wow, what a weekend for hoops! I had so much more to write about but only so much room. I need to quit so I can watch some games myself!
It’s the homestretch so get some hoopsin’ in this weekend, be it with friends, strangers, fans, alums, at a bar, or at home. Just Watch It!
22 days until Selection Sunday (March 15)
26 days until First Round (March 19-20)
42 days until Final Four (April 4)
Coming soon to Church of Bracketology:
Deep looks at the new ‘Redickous’ eligibility changes
Look at bracket expansion…again.
Travelogue of “CoB Pilgrimage 2026”
New online CoB Swag Store - powered by RAYGUN - with NIL shirts and fun to support this publication and some of the players we love.
Until then, stay safe, play hard, go defense!
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Always live One Shining Moment at a time. Never be boring.