For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day between The Citadel and UMBC, CLICK HERE. As an added bonus, Anthony Bourdain on acid Chad also gives us dining advice if you’re ever in Baltimore or nearby Aberdeen, MD.
For my weekly accurate bracket predictions, CLICK HERE. Pay no attention to haters like John and Chad.
– Yesterday had a couple of buzzer-beating shots, although it simply meant that a pair of teams avoided disastrous losses. Auburn hit a game-winning 3 against Mercer that was very similar to what James Forrest of Georgia Tech did against USC in the 1992 NCAA Tournament (#HolyMackerel). UAB also hit a game-winner at home against Texas Southern.
– Michigan State has not had a banner season so far. Until last night, they had held serve in games they were supposed to win. After last night’s slipup at home to Northeastern, they now have a lot of work to do (although I still believe they’re in the field, albeit barely).
– Gonzaga got off to a fast start against Tennessee yesterday and were able to withhold a late Vols comeback for a nice win away from home (albeit in Nashville). It’s early, but the talk of Gonzaga potentially running the table will come in play if they’re still unbeaten when they go into WCC play.
– The Team of the People – never mind. Yesterday never happened.
–Tim Miles got another – never mind. YESTERDAY NEVER HAPPENED. HE WILL CRUSH THE NONBELIEVERS!
– Clemson got a decent win away from home against Alabama yesterday. They will have a much bigger test later this week at Angry Frank’s place. If they win that game, not only do I predict Clemson will be in my next field, I will also go out on a limb and say that Angry Frank will not be in a good mood during Christmas break.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-TENNESSEE STATE AT DUKE. We highlight this same because it gives Tennessee State a chance at a profile-defining win. It’s not you average buy game.
-CHARLESTON AT LSU. Charleston gets a shot at a Power 5 road win at LSU tonight. However, teams like Houston and Texas Southern were unsuccessful in their attempts to win at Baton Rouge.
-SOUTHERN MISS VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE (played in Jackson, MS). If anyone is vulnerable to an “upset” this season, look no further than the Bulldogs. Southern Miss isn’t quite as good as East Tennessee, and they’re not much better (if at all) than Lehigh, though.
-COLORADO AT AIR FORCE (Front Range). Highlighted because we at Hoops HD love the Front Range!
-STANFORD AT SMU. Our friend Jerry Palm has Stanford in his first edition of Bracketology this year, although SMU is his first team out of the field. Doesn’t he know that MY picks (me being the Puppet) are what matter?
-UC IRVINE AT NEW MEXICO STATE. Since what I say in my bracket matters, we’re going to highlight another pair of tournament teams in Irvine and New Mexico State.
-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT UNLV (Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge). We at HoopsHD love conference challenges, although this game is a leftover of the main course that was played a couple of weeks ago.
BUY GAMES
-Samford @ Florida State (afternoon matinee)
-Western Illinois @ Purdue
-Eastern Michigan @ Syracuse
-Colgate @ Notre Dame
-Army @ St. Bonaventure
-Saint Francis University @ Marquette
-Delaware State @ Indiana
-SE Missouri State @ DePaul (nonbracketed – Las Vegas Classic)
-Chicago State @ Missouri State (nonbracketed – Las Vegas Classic)
-Cornell @ USC (nonbracketed – Las Vegas Classic)
Griggs