2021-22 College Basketball Thread

[GeorgiaModerate]

Wild finish in Tennessee-Texas.  The Volunteers trailed 51-35 with 5:30 left, went on a 16-0 run to tie it with under a minute, then had a shot to take the lead, but missed it.  Texas got a free throw with 6 seconds left, and Tennessee had an open look to win it at the buzzer...but missed again.  Texas won 52-51.

[DINGO Joe]

Wild finish in Tennessee-Texas.  The Volunteers trailed 51-35 with 5:30 left, went on a 16-0 run to tie it with under a minute, then had a shot to take the lead, but missed it.  Texas got a free throw with 6 seconds left, and Tennessee had an open look to win it at the buzzer...but missed again.  Texas won 52-51.

Yeah, it was a game TX deserved to lose but TN didn't deserve to win. 

[GeorgiaModerate]

WEEK 12 RESULTS

For the first time in several weeks, there were no games canceled due to COVID.  NYE took first at 27-11, a game ahead of PA.  Full results:

27 NYE
26 Pessimistic Antineutrino
25 Illiniwek
22 GeorgiaModerate
19 JGibson

Illiniwek moved into the sole lead overall, three games ahead of PA and myself.  Year to date (294 games):

197 Illiniwek   
194 GeorgiaModerate, Pessimistic Antineutrino
183 NYE   
128 JGibson   
21 Orwell   
10 Utah Neolib   

[I’m not Stu]

Wyoming beats Colorado State 84-78.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Wyoming beats Colorado State 84-78.

Wyoming is now 17-3 and 6-1 in the MWC.  Their game against Boise on Thursday looms pretty large in the conference race.

[I’m not Stu]

What schools are possible candidates for future Pac 12 expansion?

[Illiniwek]

Week Thirteen Schedule

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Villanova @ Marquette TBD

Purdue @ Minnesota 7:00 PM

Vanderbilt @ Kentucky 7:00 PM SEC

Notre Dame @ Miami (FL) 7:00 PM ACCNX

Wisconsin @ Illinois 9:00 PM Probably I toughest test yet. If we have Kofi I think we can get it done.

Dayton @ VCU 9:00 PM

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Memphis @ Cincinnati 7:00 PM ESPN2

UCLA @ Arizona 8:00 PM ESPN

Iowa @ Ohio State 8:00 PM FS1

Oregon @ Colorado 10:00 PM

Friday, February 4, 2022

Creighton @ Seton Hall 7:00 PM

St. Bonaventure @ Richmond 7:00 PM ESPN2

San Diego State @ Colorado State 9:00 PM

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Michigan State @ Rutgers TBD

Texas Tech @ West Virginia TBD

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State TBD

UConn @ Villanova 12:00 PM

Illinois @ Indiana 12:00 PM Hate to say it, I think Mike Woodson's Hoosiers are going to be a problem

Wake Forest @ Florida State 12:00 PM ACCNX

Tennessee @ South Carolina 1:00 PM

Iowa State @ Texas 2:00 PM Longhorn Network

Louisville @ Syracuse 2:00 PM

Dayton @ Saint Louis 2:00 PM

Michigan @ Purdue 2:30 PM

Baylor @ Kansas 4:00 PM ESPN

USC @ Arizona 5:00 PM

Miami (FL) @ Virginia 5:00 PM ACC

Duke @ North Carolina 6:00 PM ESPN

Kentucky @ Alabama 8:00 PM

Kansas State @ TCU 8:00 PM

Gonzaga @ BYU 10:00 PM

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Loyola Chicago @ Missouri State 2:00 PM ESPNU

Houston @ Cincinnati 6:00 PM ESPN2

[NewYorkExpress]

What schools are possible candidates for future Pac 12 expansion?

San Diego State, Gonzaga (if they were interested in reestablishing their football program), UNLV, Nevada, BYU (if they decide to bolt from the Big Twelve in the not too distant future), Boise State, Wyoming and maybe Fresno State?

[DINGO Joe]

Wyoming beats Colorado State 84-78.

Wyoming is now 17-3 and 6-1 in the MWC.  Their game against Boise on Thursday looms pretty large in the conference race.

The NET ratings for the MWC are pretty ridiculous, but I haven't actually watched a MWC team this year, so who knows.

[NewYorkExpress]

Week Fourteen Schedule

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Houston @ SMU 7:00 PM

Ohio State @ Rutgers 7:00 PM

Xavier @ Seton Hall 7:00 PM

Louisville @ Notre Dame 7:00 PM

Missouri State @ Drake 8:00 PM ESPN+

Texas Tech @ Oklahoma 9:00 PM

Tennessee @ Mississippi State 9:00 PM

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Iowa @ Maryland 7:00 PM ESPN2

Duke @ Clemson 8:00 PM ACC

Purdue @ Michigan 9:00 PM

Stanford @ Oregon 9:00 PM ESPN2

Friday, February 11, 2022

UConn @ Xavier 7:00 PM FS1

St. Bonaventure @ Saint Louis 9:00 PM ESPN2

Fresno State @ Colorado State 9:30 PM

UNLV @ Boise State 11:00 PM

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Texas @ Baylor 12:00 PM

Arkansas @ Alabama 12:00 PM

Oklahoma @ Kansas 1:00 PM

Seton Hall @ Villanova 1:00 PM

Rutgers @ Wisconsin 2:00 PM

Davidson @ Rhode Island 2:00 PM ESPNU

Florida State @ North Carolina 2:00 PM

West Virginia @ Oklahoma State 2:00 PM

Miami(FL) @ Wake Forest 3:00 PM ACCNX

Texas A&M @ Auburn 3:30 PM SEC

Memphis @ Houston 3:30 PM ABC

Indiana @ Michigan State 3:30 PM

Florida @ Kentucky 4:00 PM

TCU @ Texas Tech 4:00 PM BIG 12/ESPN+

Murray State @ Morehead State 4:00 PM ESPN+

Chattanooga @ Furman 4:00 PM ESPN+

Ohio State @ Michigan 6:00 PM

Vanderbilt @ Tennessee 6:00 PM

Mississippi State @ LSU 8:00 PM

Saint Mary's @ Gonzaga 10:00 PM

UCLA @ USC 10:00 PM

Sunday, February 13, 2022

UConn @ St. John's 12:00 PM

Maryland @ Purdue 1:00 PM

Northwestern @ Illinois 2:00 PM

[GeorgiaModerate]

#17 UConn lost at home to Creighton 59-55, as unpredictability continues to be the norm in the Big East.

[JGibson]

Week Thirteen Schedule

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Villanova @ Marquette TBD

Purdue @ Minnesota 7:00 PM

Vanderbilt @ Kentucky 7:00 PM SEC

Notre Dame @ Miami (FL) 7:00 PM ACCNX

Wisconsin @ Illinois 9:00 PM

Dayton @ VCU 9:00 PM

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Memphis @ Cincinnati 7:00 PM ESPN2

UCLA @ Arizona 8:00 PM ESPN

Iowa @ Ohio State 8:00 PM FS1

Oregon @ Colorado 10:00 PM

Friday, February 4, 2022

Creighton @ Seton Hall 7:00 PM

St. Bonaventure @ Richmond 7:00 PM ESPN2

San Diego State @ Colorado State 9:00 PM

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Michigan State @ Rutgers TBD

Texas Tech @ West Virginia TBD

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State TBD

UConn @ Villanova 12:00 PM

Illinois @ Indiana 12:00 PM

Wake Forest @ Florida State 12:00 PM ACCNX

Tennessee @ South Carolina 1:00 PM

Iowa State @ Texas 2:00 PM Longhorn Network

Louisville @ Syracuse 2:00 PM

Dayton @ Saint Louis 2:00 PM

Michigan @ Purdue 2:30 PM

Baylor @ Kansas 4:00 PM ESPN

USC @ Arizona 5:00 PM

Miami (FL) @ Virginia 5:00 PM ACC

Duke @ North Carolina 6:00 PM ESPN

Kentucky @ Alabama 8:00 PM

Kansas State @ TCU 8:00 PM

Gonzaga @ BYU 10:00 PM

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Loyola Chicago @ Missouri State 2:00 PM ESPNU

Houston @ Cincinnati 6:00 PM ESPN2

[I’m not Stu]

I wonder when the MACtion between Buffalo and the Big West's UC Irvine will be played.

[Leohendo9]

bruins have won last 5 and are looking good for another final four push. odds are +1600 right now with an outside chance to come through march madness.

[GeorgiaModerate]

bruins have won last 5 and are looking good for another final four push. +1600 right now with an outside chance...

One of the ESPN commentators last night noted that it wouldn't be that crazy an outcome to have exactly the same Final Four teams as last year (Baylor, Gonzaga, UCLA, and Houston).

[GeorgiaModerate]

Some games in the middle of the country in the next couple days may be disrupted by the developing winter storm.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Villanova @ Marquette TBD
Purdue @ Minnesota 7:00 PM
Vanderbilt @ Kentucky 7:00 PM SEC
Notre Dame @ Miami (FL) 7:00 PM ACCNX
Wisconsin @ Illinois 9:00 PM   
Dayton @ VCU 9:00 PM

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Memphis @ Cincinnati 7:00 PM ESPN2
UCLA @ Arizona 8:00 PM ESPN
Iowa @ Ohio State 8:00 PM FS1
Oregon @ Colorado 10:00 PM  Tough one.

Friday, February 4, 2022

Creighton @ Seton Hall 7:00 PM
St. Bonaventure @ Richmond 7:00 PM ESPN2
San Diego State @ Colorado State 9:00 PM

Saturday, February 5, 2022

Michigan State @ Rutgers TBD
Texas Tech @ West Virginia TBD
Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State TBD
UConn @ Villanova 12:00 PM
Illinois @ Indiana 12:00 PM  I might change my mind on this one.
Wake Forest @ Florida State 12:00 PM ACCNX
Tennessee @ South Carolina 1:00 PM
Iowa State @ Texas 2:00 PM Longhorn Network
Louisville @ Syracuse 2:00 PM
Dayton @ Saint Louis 2:00 PM
Michigan @ Purdue 2:30 PM
Baylor @ Kansas 4:00 PM ESPN
USC @ Arizona 5:00 PM
Miami (FL) @ Virginia 5:00 PM ACC  I've come to hate picking Miami games.
Duke @ North Carolina 6:00 PM ESPN
Kentucky @ Alabama 8:00 PM  Kentucky is hot, but Alabama is crazily unpredictable.
Kansas State @ TCU 8:00 PM
Gonzaga @ BYU 10:00 PM

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Loyola Chicago @ Missouri State 2:00 PM ESPNU
Houston @ Cincinnati 6:00 PM ESPN2

[GeorgiaModerate]

Some games in the middle of the country in the next couple days may be disrupted by the developing winter storm.

And there's the first: tomorrow's Memphis @ Cincinnati game has been postponed due to expected severe winter weather in Cincinnati.

[I’m not Stu]

What happens to Conference USA when its top members leave?

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

What happens to Conference USA when its top members leave?

Its top member historically is Western Kentucky, so they will still be around. UAB has always been good not great and is the only team that will be missed. Old Dominion has never come through in the clutch despite many solid seasons.

North Texas and Middle Tennessee are the biggest noise-makers of the last decade in March, but neither is a spectacular program. The former is a short-term burst of super seniors so I don't think it will be missed that much. MTSU is sticking around and should be ready to battle.

The other six departing schools have virtually no basketball history (Charlotte was best before it joined this hideous conference, and Marshall had one good year thanks to decent coaching).


In place of shedding all this fat, they are loading up with basketball power New Mexico State and recently solid Liberty to join WKU. JSU and SHSU have always been 3rd place teams in worse conferences but could represent improvements as well.

Conference should be much improved with these typical prospective long-term power rankings (Current T-Rank in parentheses)

1. New Mexico State (105) - 25 NCAA appearances (last 2019)
2. Western Kentucky (140) - 23 NCAA appearances (last 2013)
3. Liberty (93) - 5 NCAA appearances (last 2021)

4. Middle Tennessee (108) - 9 NCAA appearances (last 2017)

5. Jacksonville State (122) - 1 NCAA appearance (2017)
6. Sam Houston State (144) - 2 NCAA appearances (last 2010)
7. Louisiana Tech (79) - 5 NCAA appearances (last 1991)

8. UTEP (191) - 17 NCAA appearances (last 2010)

Distant 9. Florida International (261) - 1 NCAA appearance (1995)

The top three should be competitive nearly every year, and MTSU is frequently as well. It's also not difficult to see 5-7 playing in conference tournament championships every so often - LT is already looking like it this year though I expect a quick downturn in the new conference. Lot of parity to like here

Average rank will improve from 174 to 138 under this new alignment. Should remain steadily 12/13th best conference.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

If you are worried about a 10th program, the six conceivable candidates are:

1. Chattanooga - Awesome dual sport program that would push the league ahead of the SoCon. Unfortunately, the exit fee just doubled to $2 million. They are happy where they are.
2. Missouri State - Little historic success. The 10 year plan is finally paying off in both basketball and football after some minor delays. The alumni probably want this most. Unclear if C-USA does but a good compromise candidate.
3. Stephen F. Austin - Bigger name for basketball than football, which is unlikely to drive decision-making, but SHSU is probably more supportive than other in-state rivals tend to be.

4. Kennesaw State - Probably most eager candidate. Atrocious basketball but tremendous football.
5. Eastern Kentucky - Eager but likely to be blocked by WKU. Below par basketball and mediocre football.
6. North Alabama - Not likely to be a candidate for a few years. Atrocious basketball but solid football potential.

Ultra longshots are SWAC schools that get thrown around which would be wholly uncompetitive in basketball (Jackson State/FAMU/NC A&T) or football (Texas Southern) as well as non-regionally sensible candidates like NDSU. I don't think these schools would have any interest.

My money is on Kennesaw State or Missouri State. Too early to tell. SFA would be a good third if they went to divisions, and you'd have 9-10 good basketball teams out of 12.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Kentucky survived a surprisingly tough game at home against Vanderbilt, winning 77-70.  The Wildcats led for pretty much the whole game, but could never put it out of reach.

[NewYorkExpress]

So, the big stories tonight are #18 Illinois 80-67 victory over #11 Wisconsin, and #24 Marquette defeating #12 Villanova 83-73.

[RINO Tom]

What schools are possible candidates for future Pac 12 expansion?

Who knows?  That conference seems like its tails are always between its legs.

[NewYorkExpress]

I apologize for the sudden announcement, but I will be leaving the forum, likely on a permanent basis.

GeorgiaModerate as scorekeeper will decide whether the pick'em will continue, and if does will take over for me.

[GeorgiaModerate]

I apologize for the sudden announcement, but I will be leaving the forum, likely on a permanent basis.

GeorgiaModerate as scorekeeper will decide whether the pick'em will continue, and if does will take over for me.

Sorry to see you go. Best of luck in the future.

We seem to have lost Pessimistic Antineutrino from the pick'em as well, so that will leave us with three people, which doesn't really seem worthwhile.  But I'm willing to continue keeping score if someone else will choose the games each week.  If not, we should probably pack it in.