Higher Post: It's a hoopy holiday season!
...and please, don't be Patheticut.
Congregation, please stand up….
…because Sunday is International Basketball Day!
Yes, it’s true. This Sunday is International Basketball Day! And, while some of these official days are just bs (looking at you “Public Sleeping Day” day) International Basketball Day was declared as such in Resolution A/RES/77/324 by the United Nations on August 25, 2023. Yup, it’s a thing!
And, this being the holiday season in which many major religions (and a few mid-major ones) celebrate significant holidays around this time, it only makes sense for the faithful roster of the Church of Bracketology do the same with our own. Seriously, like Northwestern getting its first tourney bid in 2016, it’s just nice to get recognized.
As faithful Bracketologists, it’s important to go out and celebrate our special holiday. It’s perfect day to call out of work for your “Senior Skip Day” but it’s already the weekend so there is a good chance you are off already. Plus, it’s good to save a few of those days for the holy month of March. You’re gonna need them one way or another.
Get off the bench and go support your favorite team, whether it be local and in-person, or on tv, in a bar, or just at home, but share time definitely with friends and family. That is exactly what I intend to do today because …
“I don’t what they had me doin’. What does that even mean? Are y’all settin’ me up for something ugly? - LSU head coach Kim Mulkey (regarding the pandemonium when the Tigers scored their 67th point.)
The Women’s Champions Classic is back, baby!
In 2011, the first men’s Champions Classic tipped at Madison Square Garden, starting an amazing annual event between blue bloods: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State.
Honestly, North Carolina should have been in that mix (arguably over MSU) since the Tar Heels rank 3rd all-time with 6 national titles, which is more than Duke (5), Kansas (4) and Michigan State (2), but it’s wise to not have two teams from the same conference, especially such hated rivals as Duke/UNC are. As the Spartans rank 6th on the all-time NCAA Tourney wins list, I feel their inclusion is valid.
However, shifting to the women’s game, last season introduced a Women’s Champions Classic with a rotation including UConn, Tennessee, Louisville and Iowa, and this year’s event tips Saturday at 11a!
First up, #16 Louisville vs #17 Tennessee (11a - Fox Sports)
Last season, Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell showed us a new direction for her Tennessee program in her first year on Rocky Top. Focused around the use of a havoc-style defense to produce offense, they produced an exciting style of play that frustrated opponents all season on route to a 22-10 season. Oh, and In the middle, she took a couple of games off to have a baby. Just that.
They take on a tough Louisville Cardinal squad who has been challenged early with games against #1 UConn, #3 South Carolina, #12 North Carolina and #20 Kentucky. They lost the first 2, but took victories against the second 2. You can’t tell me that Jeff Walz won’t have his team prepared. This will be fun, uptempo and chaotic. I expect the Lady Vols to wear the Cardinals down to reach the Summit when the clock buzzes all zeros.
Second, #11 Iowa vs. #1 UConn (1:30p - Fox Sports)
Yes, there’s a Hannah in town and this time she’s going head-to-head with national player of the year candidate Sarah Strong.
As there tends to be a lot of Hannah chatter here on the Higher Post (see, almost every other post) you can imagine my excitement when one of the Hannahs comes to play in my fair city. Especially, against the #1 team in the country! Needless to say, I have loaded up on my necessary NIL-sponsored accoutrements.
Frankly, I am a little worried about this one. UConn (11-0) is just that good. Think they are down without the WNBA Rookie of the Year, Paige Bueckers? Think again. UConn never rebuilds, they reload, and have been taking down quality opponents easily all season, including last week’s demolishing of #16 USC.
There are 4 (count ‘em) Huskies on the Wooden Watch List: Seniors Azzi Fudd (G) and Serah Williams (F), as well as sophomores Sarah Strong (F) and Kayleigh Heckel (G). That’s 3 more than Iowa, who’s freshman Addie Deal was also made the list.
However, Iowa plays a fun sharpshooting style of B1G ball with strong interior defense from Hannah and Eva Heiden, complemented with big 3s from their long range experts, Chit-Chat Wright, Taylor McCabe, and Kylie Feuerbach.
Unlike USC, Iowa has more height down low. Heiden will defend under the hoop, but as Stuelke and Strong are the same height, if Hannah does become The Incredible Stuelk, Strong will have her work cut out for her. Hannah might not be the offensive threat we’re hoping she becomes in order to move to the next level, but defensively she has stood ground against Lauren Betts and Kamilla Cardoso and won both, so you might be surprised how well they match up.
Expect the Huskies to stay undefeated and keep the #1 ranking, but not without a fight.
We Got Next: Games to watch this weekend! (all times EST)
The CBS Sports Classic is also on Saturday with fantastic pairing of mentor/mentee matchup as former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino takes his #22 St. Johnnies to challenge former Wildcat player and now Kentucky coach Mark Pope! Don’t forget these two won a title together in Lexington.
Saturday - 12:30p: #22 St. John’s at Kentucky (CBS)
This is just the top-half of a fantastic double-header for Saturday. The second bottom half has #12 North Carolina hosting THE Ohio State at 3p!
The Tar Heels (10-1) are off to strong start so far, absorbing some of the heat off of Hubert Davis’ seat a bit (well, for now) behind the McDonalds All-American forward Caleb Wilson. Elliot Cadeau may have transferred, but Wilson has taken over the offense beautifully hitting double-digits in all games on the season so far. Also, we can expect to see the return of senior guard Seth Trimble, who has been out most of the season with an injury. I’m excited to see these two in rhythm as conference tips off.
Meanwhile in Columbus, it’s still football season.
Saturday - 3:00p: Ohio State / #12 North Carolina (CBS)
Here are some other highlights of the weekend:
MBB:
Saturday - 5:30p: #8 Houston / #14 Arkansas (CBS) Classic red-on-red violence.
Saturday - 6p: Maryland / #23 Virginia (ESPN) The Buzz is back in College Park.
Saturday - 6:30p: #21 Auburn / #6 Purdue (Peacock) Purdue needs more Iron.
Saturday - 8p: #3 Duke / #19 Texas Tech (ESPN) Boozin’ in Lubbock
WBB:
Saturday - 5p: Kansas State / #9 TCU (ESPN+) Can Miles get 4 triples in a row?
Sunday - 2:30p: Penn State / Richmond (ESPN+) The Spiders are getting votes!
Sunday - 8:30p: #19 USC / California (ESPN) USC to rebound but The UC’s hungry
The Full Day
In the essence of Jimmy V. Let’s have ourselves a full day!
Laugh: That’s Patheticut!
Ok, there is beef. And I usually leave it in the locker room, but I’m not letting this one go.
As a born and raised “Masshole” that has now migrated south of the DiMaggio-Williams Line, there is a special contempt for that small yacht club of a state that cannot make up its mind if it wants to be New England or Westchester County.
That said, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont forced my hand with his new “Welcome to” signs lining various borders.
The ones on the Massachusetts border say:
“Welcome to Connecticut - Home of the Basketball Capitol of the World.”
Oh, and these signs literally face Springfield, MA, the birthplace of our holy game and home of the Naismith Hall of Fame. Literally THE Basketball Capital of the World.
Yes, we know that UConn has a total of 18 titles between mens and women’s, which to be fair, is an amazing achievement. But that is as many as the Boston Celtics have too, so your claim is down right laughable.
But honestly, that is not even the best one. At least there is hoops achievements to build your gym on. But, the signs that face my adopted home of New York say:
“Welcome to Connecticut - Home of the Pizza Capital of the World.”
Wait, what??
I assume you are talking about the apizza from New Haven (which is good stuff), but are you seriously saying that to New York City? Hey Ned, Brooklyn wants a word and they are holding on line 2.
Think: Miles Stones Hit
We know Olivia Miles is one of the best out there. She is one of my all-time favorite players in both men’s and women’s ball. At the end of last season, she shocked the hoops world by forgoing the WNBA draft to stay in school, but also transferring from Notre Dame, where she played for 4 years, to TCU.
This move has given a new spark to the already superstar in the making, as Miles this week tied an NCAA record of 3 consecutive triple-doubles. Once she got that 10th rebound, the whistle was blown, she stopped and then broke into tears. Its was extremely moving.
If you have not watched Olivia play, please stop what you are doing and go watch her. You will thank me later.
Cry: Miami forward Marcus Allen to miss the rest of the season after cancer diagnosis.
The University of Miami announced on Friday that sophomore forward Marcus Allen will have to miss the rest of the season to go through treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Allen, a 4-star recruit coming out of high school, started his career at Mizzou before transferring back home to Miami. You never want to see anyone go through this, but it always feels different when it's a kid. We’re praying for you Marcus.
Five Touches: Passing around the sports world
Martha Stewart reveals Jalen Brunson accidentally broke her toe during playoff game: Maybe she can hit up Snoop for some ‘painkillers’
Of course it was a dunk: Florida big man, 7’9” Oliver Rioux cuts and dunks to score his first collegiate career points. He barely has to jump to do it. The crowd went crazy like he scored the 67th point.
Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Bruce Pearl, Mark Few, Elena Delle Donne are amongst the list of first-timers nominated for the Naismith Hall of Fame induction ballot. Finalists will be announced during the NBA All-Star weekend sometime between the WNBA player pickets and the animations explaining the new all-star game format.
Speaking of 67: This has been the craz blowing up arenas all over the country. Many of us know about the 6-7 trend, but NO ONE actually knows what it means. Well, many programs have youth days where local schools or youth leagues are invited to day games, exposing them to the amazing world of college hoops. At many of these games, if a team (especially the home team) hits exactly 67 points, pandemonium breaks with kids all doing the 6-7 ‘thing’. I gotta say, as a GenX’er, I never understood that kind of hysteria for events like “The Beatles on Ed Sullivan” and I miss it here too. But I will say, the energy is fun! Especially when coaches get in on the action.
Finally, the WNBAPA has officially voted to strike ‘when necessary’. We have been saying this fight will get ugly and it’s happening. It's very possible we don’t have a season - or a shortened one, which would be a shame since there is so much excitement and growth in the game these past few years. When a strike happens, the fan base usually just blames players for getting greedy - and I expect all these fans who walked into fandom through the Indiana door will do just that - but that is not the case here. The league (especially Commissioner Cathy Engelbert) has made a mess of this. More to come.
Ok, friends! That is it for this week! Get out and watch some hoops!
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Always live One Shining Moment at a time. Never be boring.