Congregation, please stand up!
…because you got burn off that Halloween sugar and make room for cupcakes!
This was a crazy week. You know it. Lots of uncertainty. All eyes on Michigan. But, they did it! The Blue team pulled off the surprising upset win!
Yes, of course I’m talking about #5 Michigan besting #2 UConn! Why, did something else happen this week??
We all know the UConn story by now, however the days of Paige and Azzi are past. But, the Huskies don’t rebuild, they reload. And, when you have Sarah Strong at the top of that roster, you’re just fine. And, sure, the #5 team upsetting the #2 is not much of an upset, but when it’s the Huskies, it’s always a big win. Even if the game was played in Ann Arbor.
The thing about playing UConn is their ability to roll over all their opponents makes them quite ‘infoulable’. Until they got cocked up by South Carolina in the Final Four last season, the Huskies mauled their opponents by a margin of 39.5 pts., including 33.9 pts. against a tough non-conference slate that included: #20 Louisville (13), THEE Ohio State (32), Utah (52), #11 Iowa (26), Notre Dame (38) and #15 Tennessee (30).
However, there was one outlier in the non-conference schedule for UConn last season: the Wolverines. They came into Uncasville and fought the Huskies to the wire, thanks to power sophomores Syla Swords and Olivia Olson, who provided 47 pts. of their offense. In the end, they fell by only one possession.
So, jump forward one year. No Azzi for the Huskies; Swords and Olson a year more experienced for the Wolverines, with the game in the cavern of Crisler Arena. It was no surprise the balance of power was going to shift.
The bottom line is the polls are to be believed. People underestimated the power of the Blue team. But, to quote Dennis Green, “They are who we thought they were.” And, with that, we woke up the next day to coffee tasting a little better. To air that just seems a little fresher. To a sky that is just a little bluer.
Because, in the first week of the season, UConn is no longer infoulable.
Go Defense.
Keeping up with the Season (cupcakes!)
Welcome to the end of week one of the college hoops season. This is officially the Magnolia Bakery part of the season as so many of the bigger programs schedule ‘pay games’ in order to pad their resumes for March selection. So, while the excitement of seeing the players take the court after the long summer hibernation, a lot of the games are not very exciting to watch. It tends to lead to more blowouts than a Saturday afternoon at Drybar.
On the men’s side:
Fairleigh Dickinson definitely felt the Illinoise as the #3 Fighting Illini unfairleigh jousted out the Knights by 75 pts! (120-45)
#7 Texas treated their fans to some 'Lamehorn Hoops’ over both Chicago State (109-59) and Gardner-Webb (98-50) for 50 and 48 point victories respectively. Couldn’t pick on someone ya’ own size?
#5 Duke got cocky swinging on the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina for a 61 point victory (113-52)
Despite having so many local teams to beat up on, the #22 UCLA Bruins paid the North Florida Osprey to come west coast fishing only to get nothing in their beaks (114-63)
#11 Louisville got less for more with Morehead State (107-57)
On the women's side, the blowouts are even grander!
#2 UConn took Cornell to court for a 65-point judgment. (100-35)
Can’t find a Bell-ar-mine! #7 Louisville jamm’d Bellarmine for 72. (119-47)
THEE #18 Ohio State Buckeyes don’t care as long as it’s a Michigan! 67 points over Central Michigan (103-36)
#13 Notre Dame took 83 from Stonehill in the Sisyphus Invitational (123-40)
No more love on the run! #8 Vanderbilt over (Carolina) Queens University (100-42)
Lastly, there was lots of crying over spilt Mulk as the LSU coach scheduled her first two games as potential blowouts, which they were. First a 94-point victory over neighbor SE Louisiana (129-35). But, that clearly wasn’t good enough as they took 109 against Texas Southern (131-22). Seriously, what is the point of that. Just have a scrimmage with the practice squad at this point. This is not something that is fun for the fans and it’s terrible for sportsmanship. But, for Kim Mulkey, the self-proclaimed basketball head for world peace, doesn’t really care about how her players feel. Just ask Kate Koval.
However, hidden amongst the red velvet crumbs, there were some gems and even some upsets:
WBB: West Virginia actully went back to its Atlantic 10 roots and played two old conference foes back to back (URI, GW)
#1 South Carolina over #20 Maryland (101-93) - it’s great to see two strong programs battle. Especially with a WNBA Finals featuring players from both programs.
#21 Oklahoma over #12 North Carolina (91-79) - The world is getting to see UNC’s phenom freshman Kate Harpring, but her 21 points wasn’t enough to hold back the Sooners.
Rhode Island loses to #24 West Virginia (68-64) - The Rhody Rams are a pesky program from a strong Atlantic 10. Sure, their coach went big time to the SEC at the end of last season, but the Rams have a foundation. Keep your eyes on them.
MBB: In-state rivals, old conference foes reunite and signature wins!
#1 Florida over #14 Miami (77-67) - the in-state challenge to keep the Gators golden.
Memphis over #18 Iowa State (80-76) - Penny Hardaway needs some big wins…badly. This is a great way to start the season. The Cyclones will not make a deep undefeated run this season.
#5 Arizona packed up a solid win against old conference foe #22 UCLA (84-75) - The classic
PAC-10B1G/XII Challenge!Purdue drops their first games of the season to #15 Gonzaga and Valparaiso. When is the last time you heard the words: “Purdue is 0-2?”
We Got Next: What to watch this week! (all times EST)
Since College Football is still roaring through until Thanksgiving, the best games are not on the weekends, but spread through the week. Here are the highlights when you need a break from football chatter on the podcast shows.
MBB: #12 Arkansas at #9 Virginia (Sunday 12p, ESPN)
When current Arkansas coach John Calipari was just starting his career at UMass, he built a nice rivalry between his Minutemen and then Wake Forest coach Dave Odom’s Demon Deacons due in part to their dynamic centers, Marcus Camby and Tim Duncan. Now, as Cal is in his later years, he gets to go head-to-head with Dave Odom’s son, Ryan Odom, who is now the head coach of Virginia. The ball is round and the hoops-world is a circle.
WBB: #10 Iowa at #2 UConn (Sunday, 2p, FS1)
No Caitlin or Hannah Stuelke. No Paige or Azzi. That’s ok. These teams reloaded. Don’t skip the Chit Chat and watch for new Hawkeye freshman McKenna Woliczko (hard to say, but easy to watch!)
WBB: #12 North Carolina vs. #1 South Carolina (Sunday, 5:30p, ESPN) UNC came out of the gates a bit slow dropping their first game to #21 Oklahoma. But, they did have UNC freshman Kate Harping leading the way with 21 points. You bet they are going to stick a heel on their neighbors from the South and paint the town blue! (oh, wait, that already happened!)
MBB: The Champions Classic is back! (Tuesday, 7p start, ESPN) This time is #6 Michigan State vs. #2 Duke followed by #17 Kansas at #23 Kentucky. This is always an event to circle on the calendar, especially when the rest of the calendar is just a pastry advent calendar.
Other Bracketology Offerings:
MBB: Lots of cupcake offerings this week, but if you look closely, you will find some nutrition.
Sunday - 12p: Iona at #13 St. Johns (Peacock) - Ricky P. versus his old assistant.
Tuesday - 6p: #1 Florida at Florida State (ESPN2) - This used to be a Florida holiday!
Tuesday - 8p: #3 Illinois at #19 Texas Tech (Peacock)
Weds - 7p: Marquette at #16 Michigan (FS1) - The Golden Eagles have fallen a bit in the past season, but this is good local rivalry.
Friday - 7p: Long Island University at Fordham (ESPN+) - Just think, an NYC classic with no Manhattan involved. Outer boros RULE!
Friday -7p: Georgia at North Carolina (ESPN2)
Friday -8p: #9 Virginia at Maryland (Peacock)
Friday -9p: #5 Arizona at Auburn (ESPN2)
WBB: If you watch one thing this week, make it Michigan AT Columbia. You’ll see me. It won’t be hard to.
Sunday - 1p: George Mason at #20 Maryland (B1G+) Don’t sleep on Mason.
Sunday - 3p: #14 Kentucky at #25 NC State (ESPN2)
Weds - 7p: Massachusetts at Harvard (ESPN+) New England’s top private vs. the top public schools (per US News, thank you) battle for wicked braggin’ rights. Don’t shoot till you see the crimson of their jerseys!
Thurs - 6:30p: #2 UConn at #18 THEE Ohio State (FS1)
Thurs - 7p: #5 Michigan at Columbia (ESPN+) This one might not be a close one, even though Columbia is no cupcake. However, this game is at Columbia in their 2700-person Francis S. Levien Gym. We will be there so you will see us on TV! I’ll be in the UNC gear!
Final Seconds
Ok, the crazy week has past and now we can get to some real hoopsin’. It was distracting this week as there was a major election happening at the same time. But, while there are many cupcakes to feast on before Thanksgiving, don’t play the ‘season don’t start until March’ game because you will miss so Mich…I mean, much.
Get thee to a TV, laptop, bar or live game. Do it with friends and spread the good word of Bracketology because the season is here!
126 days until Selection Sunday (March 15)
128 days until First Round (March 17)
146 days until Final Four (April 4)
Until then, stay safe, play hard, go defense!
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Always live One Shining Moment at a time. Never be boring.