NEWS AND NOTES:
-We will be recording our Hoops HD Report Video Podcast tonight, so be sure and check that out. We should also be posting our first bracket of the season later on today, and the bracket after Week 1 is always…well…interesting!!
-Virginia had no problems with Arkansas. They won 91-72 out in DC and at no point did it feel like the Hoos were not in control. Keep in mind that Calipari teams seemingly never start off fast. We saw them struggle early on last year as well. They tend to really kick it in gear over the winter holidays, so I’m not about to write off the Razorbacks, or even question their potential yet.
-USC got a battle from what appears to be a solid Wichita State team, but held on to win 93-86. Wichita State is a team that will likely make some noise in the American. That entire league appears to be stronger than it was a year ago.
-The game of the day was an overtime thriller between Saint Mary’s and Nevada in the Lake Tahoe Classic. Nevada pulled it out 96-95 in what is their biggest win of the early season so far. The only problem is that there was no video stream available. All the other games in this event were streamed but this one. I think I speak for all of us when I say…WTF!!??
-Pittsburgh is off to a 3-0 start after beating Penn State 82-76 in the Palestra. I’m still not all that big on Pitt, but as of today they’ve won three and that’s all they’ve played.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-SYARCAUSE VS INDIANA (Indianapolis, IN). I gotta be honest, neither team excites me all that much, although I do think Indiana may find their way into the NCAA Tournament. But neither team has lost yet (neither has really been tested either) and we always keep teams on our radar until they give us a reason to take them off. It’s the first real test for either team and we should learn something tonight.
-MINNESOTA AT CINCINNATI. This is the first real test for both teams and I think both could end up having nice seasons and making the NCAA Tournament. Cincinnati in particular is a team I’m big on. We should learn something about both fo them tonight.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-UNC Greensboro @ UIC – no real huge storyline here other than whether or not UIC can remain unbeaten?
-South Dakota State @ Chicago State – SC State likely won’t end up anywhere near the bubble, but as of now they are 2-0 and are looking for their second true road win
-Louisiana Tech @ LSU – both teams are unbeaten, and LA Tech may have some life in them this year, but they’re probably way overmatched in this one.
-Illinois State @ Purdue – this is a buy game, but Illinois State is a solid team from the MVC and Purdue is still looking for their first win
-Seton Hall @ Charlotte – I’m not all that big on either team, but both come in 2-0 and Charlotte did manage a road win at Indiana State
-Boston U @ Northwestern – both teams 2-0
-Portland @ Hawaii (Rainbow Classic) – Hawaii is trying to improve to 4-0.
BUY GAMES:
-Marshall @ Ohio State
-Wagner @ UConn
-Grambling @ Texas – both teams are unbeaten
-Radford @ Tennessee
-North Florida @ Miami FL
-Oakland @ Alabama
-Eastern Illinois @ Notre Dame
-North Dakota @ Clemson
-FGCU @ Georgia
-College of Biblical Studies (nonD1) @ McNeese
-Jackson State @ Mississippi State
-SIUE @ Missouri
-UL Monroe @ Texas A&M
-North Alabama @ Oklahoma – North Alabama is 2-0 and Oklahoma has lost a home buy game
-Appalachian State @ Auburn – both teams unbeaten
-Alabama A&M @ DePaul – both teams 2-0
-Eastern Washington @ Oregon State – Oregon State can get to 3-0
-Rice @ Stanford – Stanford can remain unbeaten
