NEWS AND NOTES:
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-At the Champions Classic last night, neither Michigan State nor Kansas was a champion at shooting the basketball. Michigan State was just 3-of-24 from the outside and Kansas was under 30% from beyond the arc. Despite the poor shooting and appearing to be overmatched, Michigan State hung in. Kansas pulled it out in the end 77-69, but when I now look at Michigan State I see a team that went up against the top ranked team in the country and didn’t play their best game, but still hung in for most of the game. Imagine what they’ll look like when they do start playing their best games!
-Duke v Kentucky was played at a much higher level. Both teams were super talented, and both played together well despite it being early in the season and most of the players being new to the rosters this year. Duke appeared to be pulling away in the first half, but in the second half Kentucky made a defensive adjustment and actually came out in what looked to be a match-up zone. I think Kentucky’s defense in the second half made the difference. After about four video reviews in the final 30 seconds of the game, Kentucky got a huge 77-72 win. This is a big statement win for the Cats. They aren’t just a top 25 team, but a team that can compete against the best in the country.
-Villanova lost the Holy War to Saint Joseph’s. I know this is a rivalry, and that many think Saint Joe’s is good (despite already having a loss to Central Connecticut) and that many know that Villanova is not, but WOW has Nova fallen in the last two years!!
-UCF remains undefeated after their 100-94 win against Florida Atlantic. Considering FAU was on the road, they actually played really well in this game and kept fighting back every time it looked like UCF was about to get control. FAU may be better this year than what we were expecting despite the departure of Dusty May.
-North Florida, who had knocked off South Carolina and Georgia Tech, couldn’t get past Georgia last night. Georgia won 90-77 to stay unbeaten on the year, and while UNF didn’t get blown off the floor, it never really felt like they were in the game either. Still, from a UTR standpoint, North Florida has had a great start to the season.
-It seems like Syracuse always has trouble with Colgate, and they did again last night. It came down to the last possession with Colgate having a chance to either tie or win, but they couldn’t get a shot up and the Orange held on 74-72.
-The Battle of the Boulevard never disappoints!!! Last night was another thrilling, close, and back and forth game with Belmont grabbing the lead in the final seconds, Lipscomb having one last possession, but then failing to get a shot off. Belmont got the dramatic 80-79 win. This is one of our favorite rivalries, so we always mention it.
-Two other teams to keep an eye on that are from the Sun Belt are Texas State and Arkansas State. Texas State didn’t get the win at TCU, but they hung in there, and Arkansas State took Alabama to the wall a few days ago and blew Little Rock off the court last night. The Sun Belt is looking like a strong league this year and we will certainly be discussing that on our Under the Radar podcast tonight. So, don’t miss it!!
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-KENT STATE AT AUBURN. This is obviously a buy game, and it’s a game that Auburn should win rather easily (especially when you consider how well they’ve been playing), but Kent State does come in undefeated and if they can some how aim at the moon, shoot at the moon, and hit the, it would catapult them onto the national scene and give them the kind of win that could land them inside the bubble come March.
-TROY AT ARKANSAS. Troy was my preseason pick to win the Sun Belt, and while they haven’t had a test like this yet they do come into this one at 2-0. Arkansas is coming off a close loss to Baylor and will be looking to bounce back from that.
-CALIFORNIA AT VANDERBILT. Neither team will likely be anywhere close to the bubble come March, but for now they both come into this one at 2-0.
-WYOMING AT TEXAS TECH. We really like this Texas Tech team and while they may be tested a little bit tonight against a Wyoming team that comes in at 2-0, they should be able to win this one at home.
BUY GAMES (and other games that might as well be):
-UMass @ Louisana Tech – LA Tech can get to 3-0
-Wagner @ Saint John’s
-Le Moyne @ UConn
-Montana @ Tennessee
-Coastal Carolina @ NC State
-Ball State @ Dayton
-SC Upstate @ Wake Forest
-Merrimack @ VCU
-Louisiana @ Houston
-Oral Roberts @ Tulsa
-Hofstra @ Seton Hall – Seton Hall is coming off a loss to Fordham and needs to be on upset alert again in this one
-Fairleigh Dickinson @ Nebraska
-Houston Christian @ Creighton
-Westminster (nonD1) @ Utah State
-Oakland @ Illinois
-Cal State Fullerton @ Colorado
-Queens @ BYU
-North Dakota State @ Santa Clara
-Fresno State @ UC Santa Barbara – both teams are unbeaten
-Weber State @ Nevada – this could be somewhat competitive, but Nevada should win at home
-Long Beach State @ San Francisco – San Francisco is off to a good start and should stay unbeaten
-UT Arlington @ USC
