It's College Basketball Opening Day (sort of); More Upsets Highlight Weekend Action

more posts by author

Technically the college basketball season is two weeks old, but since they don't formally kick off the sport I've always denoted today as that special today. 10 straight hours of hoops, the Maui Invitational, and numerous marquee matchup today give us a hint of March Madness in November. Now THAT is something to be thankful for.

Today's lineup:
#11 Marquette vs Chaminade (2:30 ESPN2)
LSU vs Oklahoma State (5 ESPN2)
#2 UCLA vs Maryland (7 ESPN2)
Georgia Tech vs Notre Dame
Princeton vs #10 Duke (9 ESPN2)
#12 Michigan State vs Missouri (9:30 ESPNU)
Arizona State vs Illinois (11:30 ESPN2)

Several more upsets highlighted the weekend action as well as the standout freshman class:

Winthrop 79, Georgia Tech 73
This probably isn't even an upset, but just a reminder that the "mids" are no longer one year wonders. Look for Winthrop to work their way into the Top 25 and get the credit they deserve.

New Orleans 78, #22 North Carolina State 76
Freshman J.J. Hickson continues to dazzle the Wolfpack, but a bad loss for NC State who was hoping to build on the momentum of last year's finish.

Siena 79, #20 Stanford 67
23 fouls called to 11 for the home team is a little curious, but either way the Cardinal have no business falling to a team who hasn't beaten a ranked opponent in 18 years.

#24 Kansas State 77, Western Illinois 64
Freshman Michael Beasley posted another 28 points and 22 rebounds. He's averaging 30 and 20.

Now that the season is unofficially underway expect a roundup post almost daily from here on out.

COMMENT

ADD FEED

35 comments

Vote!

Comment!

Your votes determine top comment

11/19/07

3	One of Maryland's assistant coaches is named Joe Harrington. There go their chances of winning anything.

11/19/07

0	I take it this will be the live thread for the day? I can't wait to finally get to see ASU tip off the season - this is the first time in forever that I am actually optimistic about the team going into the season.

11/19/07

0	Jon wrote: I take it this will be the live thread for the day? I can't wait to finally get to see ASU tip off the season - this is the first time in forever that I am actually optimistic about the team going into the season. yeah, looking forward to that game. I think that's a pretty even matchup. What's the line?

11/19/07

0	CriticalFanatic wrote: yeah, looking forward to that game. I think that's a pretty even matchup. What's the line? Looks like Illinois by 2.5, which most people seem to think is low.

11/19/07

0	(Edited by CHansen) Jon wrote: Looks like Illinois by 2.5, which most people seem to think is low. Interesting; maybe it's that 2-point win over Hawaii without one of UH's starting guards that's giving them the confidence.

11/19/07

0	By the way, how the heck was Stanford ranked? They were an 11 seed who got blown out in their only tourney game last year and lost their best player to academic ineligibility for this season. Am I just missing something?

11/19/07

0	Michael Beasley more like Michael Beastly.

11/19/07

0	(Edited by Jubanator14) Also, anyone else notice that on ESPN2 at 1 Central is the AL MVP Announcement. So 30 more minutes of A-Rod talk before College Hoops.

11/19/07

CHansen wrote:

By the way, how the heck was Stanford ranked? They were an 11 seed who got blown out in their only tourney game last year and lost their best player to academic ineligibility for this season. Am I just missing something?

I've only watched their game last week against Northwestern and they certainly weren't all that impressive. I was wondering the same thing myself. After 1-10 I doubt voters do a whole lot of homework prior to the initial ballot.

11/19/07

0	So I right. On ESPN2 right now is a 30 minute A-Rod Tribute.

11/19/07

0	Jubanator14 wrote: So I right. On ESPN2 right now is a 30 minute A-Rod Tribute. Did they have a 30-minute Eric Wedge tribute last week?

11/19/07

0	CriticalFanatic wrote: Did they have a 30-minute Eric Wedge tribute last week? I don't even think Eric Wedge got 30 seconds on Sportscenter.

11/19/07

0	CriticalFanatic wrote: Did they have a 30-minute Eric Wedge tribute last week? Silly CF, don't you know that the Midwest and all their teams are boring?

11/19/07

0	Apparently Vick is in jail now... crazy. But hey, at least he'll get out earlier now.

11/19/07

0	Is anyone actually watching Marquette-Chaminade? This game is much closer than I expected it to be with Marquette only up 5 with 7 minutes to go. I had a friend who was adamant that Marquette was completely overrated, but I wasn't buying it. . . I'm starting to, though.

11/19/07

0	And of course, right after I post that, Chaminade gets the game within 3, then. . . Marquette goes on a huge run is now up by 12 with 3 minutes to go. Marquette has 30 fast break points to Chaminade's 2.

11/19/07

0	(Edited by Jubanator14) I kinda missed Raferty.

11/19/07

0	I haven't seen much of the Marquette game, but they still have no inside presence, and have a player in Dominic James who could be an All-American if he had his head in the right place but instead is only worried about getting to the NBA.

11/19/07

0	kantwistaye wrote: I haven't seen much of the Marquette game, but they still have no inside presence, and have a player in Dominic James who could be an All-American if he had his head in the right place but instead is only worried about getting to the NBA. You haven't seen much of the Marquette game? I am going to have to question your fanhood for missing an live afternoon sporting event.

11/19/07

0	Jubanator14 wrote: You haven't seen much of the Marquette game? I am going to have to question your fanhood for missing an live afternoon sporting event. I decided to be a halfway decent student and go to class. I know its a weak excuse... but.... yeah I should've just stayed and watched the game.

11/19/07

0	Anyone who is watching the UCLA - Maryland game just saw the best facial of the new basketball season, courtesy of Josh Shipp. Maryland is hanging tough so far, though.

11/19/07

0	ASU is apparently the last Division 1 team to start the season. At least they're well rested?

11/19/07

3	One of Maryland's assistant coaches is named Joe Harrington. There go their chances of winning anything.

11/19/07

0	I don't usually make comments like this --- but is anyone watching MSU-Missouri on ESPNU -- I've NEVER heard a crowd complain so much about officiating when it's being called fairly.

11/19/07

0	ASU realizes this game counts, right?

11/19/07

0	Jon wrote: ASU realizes this game counts, right? Isn't ASU supposed to have a super freshmen this year? Down 19 to start out the year. Ouch. Go Big Ten!

11/19/07

0	CriticalFanatic wrote: I don't usually make comments like this --- but is anyone watching MSU-Missouri on ESPNU -- I've NEVER heard a crowd complain so much about officiating when it's being called fairly. Welcome to Missouri. This has been a pretty entertaining game; I'm surprised that Mizzou is sticking with MSU. The banked 3 to put them within 1 is ridiculous.

11/19/07

0	kantwistaye wrote: Isn't ASU supposed to have a super freshmen this year? Down 19 to start out the year. Ouch. Go Big Ten! Yeah, Harden. Well, given that they are starting 3 freshmen, their inexperience is going to show early on this year. Hopefully they can get it together as time goes on.

11/19/07

0	kantwistaye wrote: Isn't ASU supposed to have a super freshmen this year? Down 19 to start out the year. Ouch. Go Big Ten! Geez, ESPN2 just switched to this game. What the heck happened? I know ASU is young with Harden and Boateng and what not, but this is ridiculous. Maybe ASU can pull a V-tech against UI, but I doubt it.

11/19/07

CHansen wrote:

Geez, ESPN2 just switched to this game. What the heck happened? I know ASU is young with Harden and Boateng and what not, but this is ridiculous. Maybe ASU can pull a V-tech against UI, but I doubt it.

I generally pull for all the Big Ten schools when they are playing OOC games, but that Va Tech game I had to root for them. That was an amazing comeback. Plus I picked them to win, so that was nice.

11/20/07

CHansen wrote:

Welcome to Missouri.

This has been a pretty entertaining game; I'm surprised that Mizzou is sticking with MSU. The banked 3 to put them within 1 is ridiculous.

MSU was only favored by 1.5 so I wasn't all that surprised by the 3 point win. 40 minutes of hell is going to be a nuisance in Missouri for a long time, particularly at home. I'll take any win against a pressing team with 3 freshman playing significant minutes.

I must say that Missouri fans qualify atop my list now of those lacking bball knowledge. I've never heard a group complain at EVERY call. They genuinely felt the fouls should have been 40 to 0.

11/20/07

0	Randle would be a heck of a player if he could ever stay on the court. This Illinois team will be interesting to see how it progresses. They lost 3 of their top scorers from last year, but bring in a lot more athleticism and overall talent. They may be a wild card this year.

11/20/07

CriticalFanatic wrote:

It isn't just basketball that Missouri fans/students are bad about that in Football also.

11/20/07

Jubanator14 wrote:

It isn't just basketball that Missouri fans/students are bad about that in Football also.

Seriously. The "Antlers", the recent "scoreboard" shirt, thrown whiskey bottles, <1000 people in attendance for Midnight Madness, naming their brand new arena after a plagiarizing daughter of a donor, referring to players with the last name of Talib and Muhammad as "terrorists" . . . the list goes on. Their fans are clueless morons, for the most part; booing is about the smartest/classiest thing you could expect from them.

And yes, I can see how the 40 minutes of slight discomfort could cause troubles for teams, I'm just surprised that Mizzou actually has the personnel to run it effectively this year.

11/20/07

CHansen wrote:

I'm not sure I'd call them a good team, but when their shots fall I suspect they'll upset a few teams this year at home with that insane pressure.

11/20/07