Higher Post: Where is the Love?
...its a battle of 'M's in red' but I will be wearing pink.
Congregation, please stand up….
…and take a moment to let cupid shoot you with a 3-point arrow right through your net!
It’s the Rev. here reporting live from Amherst, Massachusetts for a little women’s #MACtion as my UMass Minutewomen (17-5 Overall, 9-2 MAC) against conference leader Miami of Ohio, who is still undefeated in conference as we round the last bend on the road to March. And, this Valentine’s Day is a perfect backdrop for the revenge game for a Minutewomen squad that succumbed to the RedHawks in Oxford 72-60. It was the Minutewomen’s first loss in their new conference and a surprise at the time considering that Miami was only 9-4 at the time. However, they have run the table since, creating a natural pecking order in the MAC with Miami at 11-0, Ball State (11-1) and UMass (9-2). You can guess where those losses came from.
This battle of the ‘M’s in Red’ is taking place on Jack Leaman’s Court at the Mullins Center to tip off a perfect Valentine’s Day Weekend filled with love.
However, like any perfect pairing - the yin needs the yang, the sweet needs the sour, like Chit Chat to Stuelke, the love of Valentine’s Day also comes with a little hate. To be fair, this is not real hate (Yes, I actually mean it UConn MBB). This is the hate of the colors and name on the jerseys coming from the other locker room. The hate you love to hate.
Welcome to Valentine’s Day hoops! #GoDefense.
Radio Raheem: If I love you, I love you. But if I hate you…
Mookie: There it is, Love and Hate.
- Do The Right Thing (1989)
Past Loves
This season, our special day of love is actually falling on a Saturday, our day of service. This happens every few years and it always makes the day more special. However, we’ve been doing this a long time.
It’s easy to reminisce about players like Kevin Love, once a UCLA Bruin, now the silver fox of the ‘Senior Tour’
Then from the east, there was Caleb Love who spent 3 seasons as a Tar Heel causing this reverend to yell the great mystery of the Tobacco Triangle… “Where’s the Love, man???” Once he transferred to Arizona, it was lost Love. Buried in mountains of west coast tip times.
Up here in the East region, we watched another Wildcat named Josh Hart win a title in Philly. He now gives the love to the 5 boroughs of NYC as a member of the NY Knicks. Last season, he shared a locker room with Isaiah Hartenstein, which is what you get if Rammstein scored Hallmark movies.
Which brings me to the Valentines. We all remember Denzel Valentine from his time at Michigan State, but it’s his brother Drew who needs love in a rough season as the head coach of Loyola Chicago. This year, the Ramblers are without their chaplain, Sister Jean, who passed away last fall. On the sidelines since 1994, no one loved the Ramblers more than the great Sister Jean.
There are a few Valentines on rosters in college hoops this season, including UMBC junior Ace Valentine, no relation. UMBC was no one’s valentine when they upset Virginia in 2018 to be the first #16 seed to upset a #1. Ironically, UMBC’s head coach at that time was Ryan Odom, who is actually now in his first season as the head coach of the Hoos! That is like hating your friend's girlfriend because she gets in the way of your friendship but then you end up marrying her anyway.
Meanwhile…
No Love’s Lost
With all this love, the Basketball Gods need to give us games. And, with games, there are rivals. There are conference foes. Sometimes, there is just no love lost. This weekend, we are getting:
Saturday: It’s Play4Kay so at least some of these not-so-love birds will be in Power Fuchsia!
MBB: #9 Kansas at #5 Iowa State (1pm, ABC): On Monday, the Jayhawks did see a puddy-tat from Arizona, swooped in and stole the undefeated record. And, they did it without Darryn Peterson. Now, we get to see if they can steal another game from a ranked foe. There is a love here, as in, Cyclones fans would love to throw Dorothy’s house to Oz.
MBB: #25 Kentucky at #14 Florida (3pm, ABC): There was never any love lost between these SEC powerhouses going back to the Billy Donovan days. Florida is peaking at the right time on their road for a second consecutive championship for the second time in school history. Kentucky has come back from the dead and risen once again. The Wildcats need this more but the Gators are hungry in Gainesville.
WBB: #3 South Carolina at #6 LSU (8:30pm, ABC): The only love seen here will be the hearts on Kim Mulkey’s fit. Two top teams. Conference foes. And one MiLaysia Fulwiley, once a Gamecock and now a Tiger. Oh, and College GameDay will be there to bring the love.
Sunday —after the wine wears off:
WBB: #21 UNC at #11 Duke (1pm, ABC) And speaking of LSU, that was the last game Kara Lawson’s Blue Devils lost. And that was just after Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Tar Heel head coach Courtney Banghart was feeling the love Thursday night as the Tar Heels beat SMU to give coach her 400th career win. Both teams are rolling. But this is the home stretch, and there is never any love lost between Duke and UNC.
WBB: #4 Texas at #22 Tennessee (3pm, ABC): On a weekend where red is the color, we are going all orange for this in-conference throwdown. And while it was Tennessee who was smoked by South Carolina for the worst loss in program history, it is the Longhorns whose orange is burnt. The Lady Vols need a bounce back game and would love to give Vic Schaefer something to complain about.
WBB: #13 Michigan State at #7 Michigan (4pm, FS1): It was just 2 weeks ago that these far-from-kissing-cousins of the lower glove met for an overtime thriller that was inches away from a Spartan victory. That one went to overtime but was mere inches from not. Now they are going to Ann Arbor to do it all again.
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!
#1 Arizona Wildcats (23-1 overall, 10-1 Big XII):
❌ Monday: Kansas 82 - Arizona 78: let’s just say that Tuesday’s flight home was a bit Phoggy.
#23 Miami of Ohio! (25-0 overall, 12-0 MAC!):
✅ Friday: Miami (of Ohio) 90 - Ohio (of Ohio) 74
Next: Tuesday 2/17 at My UMass Minutemen (7p, ESPN+)
WBB: UConn is The Highlander! There is only one.
#1 UConn Huskies (26-0 overall, 15-0 Big East):
✅ Wednesday: UConn 94 - Creighton 44
Next: Saturday 2/14 at Marquette 1p, (FS1)
NYU Women’s Undefeated Streak: 83 - RECORD BROKEN!!!
Ok, they broke the record last weekend, and of course, as the saying goes, you break it, you own it! Now the pressure is off so let’s see how they respond.
Next in sight is John Wooden’s classic UCLA record of 88. Only 6 more to go to break it.
#1 New York University Violets (83-0 overall, 21-0 this season, 10-0 UAA):
✅ Friday: NYU 78 - University of Rochester 51
Next: Sunday 2/15 at Emory University (7:30)
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 Gospel:
WBB: #3 South Carolina at #6 LSU (8:30pm, ABC): This is easy. When you have two Top-6 teams in-conference, two fiery and passionate coaches, and a lot on the line, this is the mustn’t miss game. But really, we just want to see what Kim Mulkey wears on Valentine’s Day.
MBB: #9 Kansas at #5 Iowa State (1pm, ABC): Kansas is showing excitement, passion, and the ability to peak at the most important time. The BigXII is brutal and Bill Self is showing why he is a Hall of Famer. Will there be a letdown after Arizona? Tune in and find out.
WBB: #13 Michigan State at #7 Michigan (4pm, FS1): The first installment of this rivalry was so much fun to watch. I cannot wait to see this match up a second time.
Other Bracketology Offerings:
MBB:
Saturday - 12p: #20 Clemson / #4 Duke (ESPN)
Saturday - 1p: Texas A&M / #19 Vanderbilt (SECN)
Saturday - 6p: VCU / Richmond (CBSSN) These teams are on opposite ends of the standings, but this is always a hated crosstown and in-conference rivalry.
Saturday - 6:30p: #16 Texas Tech / #1 Arizona (ESPN)
WBB:
Saturday - 1p: #1 UConn / Marquette (FS1) Should be clear sledding from here to March.
Saturday - 1p: Miami (OH) / Massachusetts (of MA) (ESPN+)
Sunday - 2p: #20 Maryland / #8 Ohio State (FS1)
Sunday - 2p: #14 Ole Miss / #18 Kentucky (SECN)
Sunday - 4p: #10 Oklahoma / #22 Alabama (SECN)
Sunday - 8p: #19 West Virginia / #17 TCU (FS1)
The Magnolia Bakery Invitational: We all love our desserts.
MBB: Kansas State at #3 Houston - Saturday 4p (Peacock) I feel for Jerome Tang. His hiring made sense. Coming from Scott Drew’s Baylor program, he started with some instant success with the Wildcats. But this season has a conference reciprocal record as their opponent (10-1 vs 1-10) and should be one not to remember. Houston is already looking ahead to #5 Iowa State on Monday.
Battle of Who Could Care Less: This one may require some No Doz.
MBB: California at Boston College - Saturday 12p (ACCN): Losing records…coast to coast. Will Berkeley’s students get up on a Saturday morning for a game at 9a? Will Boston College’s students get up at noon for … brunch?
The Indeed.com Classic: Lose this one and you might need to revise your resume.
WBB: NC State at Notre Dame - Sunday 4p (ESPN): I admit, this could be in the Confessional because I’m a little worried about Irish coach Niele Ivey. She is a legend in South Bend. She won a national title as a player. She has her name in the rafters. But after last season’s late fall and another sweet 16 exit (4 in a row) the natives were getting restless. Then, many transfers and not much new talent coming in the dark cloud over the rainbow leading to that pot o’gold at the end of the Final Four. It was clear this was going to be a tough season, but just knowing that does nothing to quiet the voices in the shire of northern Indiana. Enter NC State, who has not had a bad season, but a little down from normal. If Notre Dame lets this home game slide, that might be where we point to when we wonder when the AD decided to change things. (Personal Note: Ivey has a solid class coming in so they should give her a chance to continue and regroup. It’s always hard with a legendary program. This is where I love being wrong. And, will likely be. But there is a lot of chatter…)
The Confessional: I confess. I can’t wait for this one.
WBB: Richmond vs. George Mason - Saturday 3p (ESPN+) I miss the Atlantic 10. The lil conference that does never lets me down when it comes to quality hoops. Those who know, know. Currently, there is a logjam at the top of the conference standings. Rhode Island is having a phenomenal season so far going 22-2 on the year and undefeated in conference (13-0). However, both Richmond and George Mason are right behind them with only 1 loss each. A Mason win would provide the much loved chaos late in the season.
Final Seconds!
There is a lot of tough stuff happening right now outside of the hoops world. On this Valentine’s Day, make sure you tell someone that you love them today, be it your partner, a family member, a close friend, just someone in the neighborhood, or your friendly local mascot (where is Ellie these days?) It’s important to share that.
We’re coming down the homestretch of the season. March Eve is already half over. If you are just starting your season, get out there and do some hoopsin! Or, put up the multiview and get the Olympics on one side. This is a great time for good sports. I gotta run and get my Power Fuchsia ready for today’s game (yes, we Play4Kay in Amherst today!) Make it social. Make friends. And keep it hoopsy!
29 days until Selection Sunday (March 15)
33 days until First Round (March 19-20)
49 days until Final Four (April 4)
Coming soon to Church of Bracketology:
Deep looks at the new ‘Redickous’ eligibility changes
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.