NEWS AND NOTES:
-We will be recording this week’s Under the Radar Video Podcast tonight, so keep an eye out for that.
-Louisvlle vs Kentucky was a high energy, high intensity affair where Louisville pretty much had a lead from tip to buzzer and got up by as much as 20 in the second half. Kentucky kept hitting shots and got as close as 4, but Louisville held on for the 96-88 win. This is a nice win on paper, but I think it was a bigger win for Louisville psychologically than anything else. It wasn’t that long ago when they were crippled by NCAA sanctions and had two consecutive seasons where they won just 4 games, and then 8 games. To be back to the point to where they are now, and to get a big win over a big rival, is a big moment for that program even though it is only November. And…why did they play this game so early this year?
-One of the biggest surprises of the night, at least to me, was Wake Forest’s overtime loss to Michigan in Detroit. Wake did not win the game, but they were right in there and had chances to win both at the end of regulation and in OT. I didn’t think much of the Deacs in the preseason, but to come that close to pulling off that kind of a win, especially when they struggled offensively for certain stretches, was an impressive showing.
-Florida State, another team I was expecting almost nothing out of this year, almost pulled off a huge road upset over rival Florida. The Gators held on 78-76, but the Noles battled and were in a position to get the win. Similar to Wake, it demonstrates that they have a lot of potential and were perhaps undervalued in the preseason.
-Texas Tech went on the road to Illinois for their first big road test,and came up short 81-77. It’s a nice win for Illinois despite being at home, and as for Texas Tech the loss is hardly damaging. They were my preseason pick to win it all and I’m sticking by it. They’ll have plenty of chances for big wins throughout the season, and now they’ve gotten the feel of playing against a highly ranked team in a true road game.
-Creighton also faced a highly ranked team in a true road game in Gonzaga, and the Zags just completely blew it open in the second half and ran away with it 90-63. I don’t think Creighton is necessarily in trouble long term. I just think Gonzaga is really tough to beat at home, which is something we already knew.
-DAVIDSON WON THE HORNETS NEST!!!!! THE TROPHY IS COMING BACK TO…well…DAVIDSON!!!! They picked up their first true road win of the season 62-55 and improved to 3-0 on the year.
-Cincinnati basically led Dayton from tip to buzzer and held on for a 74-62 win. While the Bearcats didn’t blow them out, they didn’t really sweat them out either.
-Ole Miss held off Memphis at home 83-77. The loss ultimately won’t hurt Memphis that much, but these early season games are important for the Tigers since they have so few chances at the kinds of wins that would jump out at the committee once conference play starts.
-Last but not least (well, it actually is least) Central Connecticut went on the road and beat Boston College 60-59!! Our friend @HurleyMania is still celebrating!!
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-SAINT JOSEPH’S AT VIRGINIA TECH. This game probably isn’t all that exciting, but both teams come in unbeaten and VA Tech does have a notable win against Providence, so this one is at least worth tuning in to tonight, and VA Tech may surpirse us this year!
-SIENA AT SAINT BONAVENTURE (Big Four). This gets highlighted simply because both teams are 2-0 and because we love mythical conferences and regional rivalries!! Plus, the Bonnies did get at least a semi-notable win in their opener against Bradley, and can improve to 2-0 in the mythical Big Four tonight!! *NOTE FROM CHAD: While Siena and St. Bonaventure are both from upstate New York, I am fairly certain that Albany is not a suburb of Buffalo and Siena is not part of the Big Four (Canisius, Niagara, Buffalo and the Bonnies). Griggs not only loves mythical conferences, he apparently even loves adding new teams to them!
-MINNESOTA AT MISSOURI. Both teams are unbeaten, but both have only played home buy games, and the teams they’ve beaten have one a combined total of (checks notes) one D1 game (VMI over Southern Indiana). So, this is the first test for both teams.
-UT MARTIN AT BRADLEY. We are highlighting this one because Bradley is at least a decent team in the Missouri Valley this year, and UT Martin is coming in at 2-0 after already managing a road win at UNLV. If UT Martin could follow that up with a win tonight, then that’s a fantastic early start. We watch all the teams until they give us a reason not to, and UT Martin has certainly not done that yet.
-SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT OREGON. It’s a buy game, but it’s one that’s worth watching. Oregon has been dealing with injuries and has struggled in their first two games, and South Dakota State is one of the better teams out of the Summit League.
-NORTH TEXAS AT OREGON STATE. Both teams are unbeaten and North Texas, despite all the turnover, looks to be strong again this year.
-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT NEVADA. Both teams are unbeaten, but this is perhaps the first semblance of a test for either one of them.
BUY GAMES AND OTHER CRAPPY (BUT MENTIONABLE) GAMES:
-Binghamton @ Georgetown
-North Florida @ Tennessee
-Elon @ Marshall – both teams 2-0
-Presbyterian @ South Caorlna
-Coppin State @ South Florida
-Saint Peter’s @ VCU
-Milwaukee @ Indiana
-American @ George Washington
-Oakland @ Houston
-Eastern Kentucky @ Vanderbilt
-Tulsa @ Oral Roberts – Tulsa should improve to 3-0 and pick up their first road win
-Little Rock @ Marquette
-Middle Tennessee @ Evansville – Middle Tennessee can get to 3-0 and pick up their first road win
-UNC Greensboro @ NC State
-Prairie View @ Oklahoma State
-Fairleigh Dickinson @ Texas
-Weber State @ Utah State (Bee Hive)
-UC San Diego @ Fresno State – UCSD should be able to stay unbeaten and pick up their first road win
-Cal Poly @ Colorado State
-Idaho @ San Diego – Idaho can get to 3-0 and pick up their second road win
-Portland State @ San Francisco
-Montana State @ Stanford – Stanford better be on upset alert
