Weekly Reflection: Duke Was Trimbling
...and spring is coming, let the Violets grow!
Greetings, Congregation.
I was confused.
Today is the big day! I was ready. I had my drinks and snacks lined up. No time to build a snack stadium, but I did my best. Brewed fresh coffee - nothing gets me ready for the BIG game like coffee.
Then, we’re off! The ball goes back and forth, strong action from both sides. History on the line. The good guys hold a slim lead at half, but last time these two teams met with everything at stake, it went down to the final seconds. No chance to relax. But that’s fine - we’re about to see Bad Bunny perform...
...but he didn’t. He was nowhere to be seen. Just a scoreboard. Dead air. No pyrotechnics, no dancers, no Bad Bunny. Nothing. I was confused. I thought this was the BIG game.
I phoned a friend who knows about these things. “What happened to the Bad Bunny halftime show?” She was confused too. As far as she knew, nothing changed. “Wait... he should be coming on soon, right?” That’s when she told me his show was for some American football game on tonight and that’s where he was playing. He was not going to be at the NYU Women’s basketball game at Carnegie Mellon University.
I mean, I guess that makes sense. I couldn’t believe 1.) he’d play such a small arena, but also 2.) why would Carnegie Mellon throw a massive halftime celebration for their opponent? We’re celebrating the Violets breaking the D3 winning record - and to do that, they’d have to beat Carnegie Mellon. What if they didn’t? Would he still play? That would be the greatest display of sportswomenship we’d ever see. Nope, that makes no sense.
Yup, I had the wrong BIG game.
But back in ‘Bracketville’, the Violets did it! They beat the all-time win streak record for D3 Women’s Basketball and are now 82-0 going back to the start of the 2023 season. They’re in the history books... and so is UNC guard Seth Trimble, but more on that below.
In Case You Didn’t Witness:
Many favored teams did their job this weekend, but some lost ground. Here are some highlights.
MBB: #4 Duke 68 - #14 North Carolina 71: Two households, both alike in dignity, in the fair ACC is where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, two old foes fight for dominance of 94 feet of hardwood real estate. I said this would be the ‘Game of the Gospel’ and it didn’t disappoint. Duke bust out to an early lead before Caleb Wilson said, hold my blue cup.
Duke’s lead went up and down until 0.4s left when until UNC senior guard Seth Trimble hit a the loudest 3 signal to the masses, it was time to invade Franklin Street! The revenge game at Cameron Indoor Thunderdome on Saturday March 7 to end the regular season.
WBB: #2 UCLA 69 - #8 Michigan 66:
The two top programs currently in the B1G went head-to-head in a Sunday Showdown for the ages. These teams don’t match up on size, but Michigan is the Scrappy Doo who can solve the case if Scooby is too busy looking for snacks. They brought both UConn and Vanderbilt to one-possession games before falling at the buzzer
This one just seems like a mismatch at times with UCLA getting off to a double-digit lead in the second. But in the final minutes, the Olsen-Swords show got medieval and swashbuckled their way back to within 3 in final seconds but they weren’t able to close out the full comeback. This is the Wolverines’ 4th loss of the season (#1 UConn, #2UCLA, #5 Vanderbilt, and Washington who have entered the Top-25 conference call). They get a break this week with N’Western before ending the regular season as Ann Arbor’s Tribute in the B1G Hunger Games: #12 Michigan State, #10 Iowa, #9 Ohio State, and #22 Maryland.
MBB: Oklahoma 92 - #15 Vanderbilt 91:
Well, Sooner or later you gotta win one, right? Going into Saturday’s game at #15 Vanderbilt, Oklahoma was on a 9-game losing streak. They were only 1-9 in conference play (poor Ole Miss). So, you can see why we’re all surprised to see them take command over the Commodores. Frankly, the score does not show the true pace of the game. For most of the game, the Sooners led by double-digits - even as high as 21pts twice. The Commodores are not an 8-bit team though and hacked their way back to get within 6 in the final minutes. That’s when Oklahoma remembered who they were and through a series of fouls, missed free throws, and bad defense, they let the #15-ranked team get from 9 down to 1 down in the last minute of play. Honestly, they were lucky to hold that victory.
WBB: #19 Tennessee 50 - #3 South Carolina 93:
Not just a conference matchup, this is a clash of titans across the women’s basketball landscape. In Kim Caldwell’s short tenure as the steward of Rocky Top, she has installed a chaotic defensive strategy that flusters and frustrates opponents time and time again. But, this time, Dawn Staley has seen it multiple times and is ready for it… and that showed on Sunday as her squad from the lower Carolina was able to exploit it and throw the Summiters off their game. The Lady Vols relied mostly on the 3, which was not friendly to them. They only shot 23% from 3, but shot a total of 44 3’s. Meanwhile, South Carolina shot 50% from 3, but only shot 10 total because they rebounded and scored in the paint, thanks to senior center Madina Okot pulling down 16 boards (13 of those were defensive). When you can shut down the paint and make the #19 team in the country rely on shooting 3’s they can’t hit, you are in their heads.
The Infoulable!
Tracking the remaining teams who have yet to commit the ultimate sin...of losing.
MBB: Two still on the board and showing no signs of falling back to Earth.
#1 Arizona Wildcats (23-0 overall, 10-0 Big XII):
✅ Saturday: Arizona 84 - Oklahoma State 47
Next: Monday 2/9 vs. #11 Kansas (9p, ESPN)
#23 Miami of Ohio! (24-0 overall, 10-0 MAC!):
✅ Saturday: Miami 90 - Marshall 74
Next: Friday 2/13 at Ohio (9p, ESPN)
WBB: UConn is The Highlander! There is only one.
#1 UConn Huskies (25-0 overall, 14-0 Big East):
✅ Saturday: UConn 80 - Butler 48
Next: Wednesday 2/11 at Creighton 6p, (Peacock)
NYU Women’s Undefeated Streak: 82 - RECORD BROKEN!!!
They did it! Think about this for a moment. How hard is it to go undefeated for an entire season. Then do it again the next season. And while we’re at it, keep on going. That is what the NYU Violets did…excuse me, ARE DOING! Today was just one milestone to get to the record, but every win from here is just another record. No reason to stop. The pressure is off.
One of the fun stories from this run is their coach Meg Barber. She is an NYU alum and played for the women’s team at the time when the previous record holder, Washington University in St. Louis, broke the previous record. One that held for 25 years until today. Great job, Meg! I look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood and having you join us for a celebratory shot…ahem, free throw, with the Congregation. #GoViolets!
Speaking of WashU, I'm really looking forward to 2/20 when the Bears come to the Village for the annual R. Norman Rose Classic. The Congregation will be there in attendance decked out in violet ready for the fight. If you're in the area, come find us - we should be easy to find - we'll be the ones losing our minds every time NYU extends the streak.
#1 New York University Violets (82-0 overall, 20-0 this season, 9-0 UAA):
✅ Sunday: NYU 69 - Carnegie Mellon 59 (RECORD IS BROKEN!)
Next: Friday 2/13 at University of Rochester (7:30)
NYU’s Path To Infoulability: Let’s follow The Violet’s 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)
CoB Saturday School!
What did we learn from the weekend that will help us win the office pool?
Bluegrass Cats Pounce Late: It's not usual for us to say, watch out for those Kentucky Wildcats, because we are very used to them being front and center, rolling through a tough SEC at this time of year. However, this has been an up and down year for the Lexington Felines. They started with much promise but lost a few crucial games, all against ranked teams (Louisville, Michigan State, UNC, Gonzaga) before conference play. All those were Quad 1 opportunities they let slip.
However, they are now 8-3 in conference play but their MO is not just winning, it's coming from behind to do it. In both meetings with Tennessee this season, Mark Pope got his team to rally back from double-digit deficits to steal a win. These types of wins are not only special to watch, they are big morale boosters and give players the faith in themselves to not quit. This is how a team who goes 11-6 can then take 7 of their next 8. This type of confidence is something to watch when the Wildcats go down early. It's not over until after the rally.
These Gators can turn fast: Staying in the SEC for a moment. Remember when the reigning national champions the Florida Gators started the season at #3? That was a long time ago. They built a tough non-con schedule and got roughed up as a result, dropping games to #13 Arizona, TCU, #4 Duke, #5 UConn. Other than TCU, these are understandable, but unfortunate. The Gators then dropped to #22 after dropping one to Mizzou to start conference play. This was before the comeback. Since then they have gone 8-1, and like the heat in Gainesville, they rose to the top of the standings. The SEC is not a chump conference but having chomped on most of the tough meat already, the remaining courses will be lighter and less filling. Expect the hungry hungry Gators to keep feeding all the way through March.
We Got Next: Games to watch this week! (all times EST)
Lots of fun action this week, including all the Infoulables. See key games below:
MBB: Big game in the Phog on Monday!
Monday - 9p: #1 Arizona at #11 Kansas (ESPN) Infoulable Watch!
Tuesday - 7p: NC State at #24 Louisville (ESPN) Will Wade needs a big one.
Tuesday - 7p: #12 Purdue at #9 Nebraska (FS1)
Tuesday - 7p: George Mason at Richmond (ESPN+) Bubble Watch!
Tuesday - 8p: Wisconsin at #5 Illinois (Peacock) Bubble Watch!
Wednesday - 7p: #17 Florida at Georgia (ESPN2) Mr. White in the arena with the bulldog.
Friday - 9p: Ohio at #23 Miami (OH) (ESPN) Infoulable Watch!
WBB: UCLA going for two for the glove
Monday - 7:30p: #16 Kentucky at #4 Texas (SECN) ooh. that’s it.
Monday - 9p: #11 Oklahoma at #7 Vanderbilt (ESPN2) Blakes vs. Beers
Wednesday - 6p: Creighton at #1 UConn (Peacock) Infoulable Watch
Wednesday - 7:30p: #24 Washington at #10 Iowa (B1G+)
Wednesday - 8p: #2 UCLA at #12 Michigan St (Peacock) Gloves come in pairs
Thursday - 7p: #14 TCU at #15 Baylor (ESPN)
Thursday - 7:30p: #4 Texas at #7 Vanderbilt (SECN)
Friday - 6p: #23 Princeton at Columbia (ESPNU) 1 vs 2 in the Ivy
Friday - 6p: Harvard at Yale (ESPN+) The GAME.
Final Seconds
Ok, friends! March is coming!
34 days until Selection Sunday (March 15)
38 days until First Round (March 19-20)
54 days until Final Four (April 4)
And remember, to do these three things: Like, Share and Subscribe.
Always live One Shining Moment at a time. Never be boring.