Top 25 College Hoops Weekly Wrap-Up Here come the conference tournaments!
Can you feel it? The excitement is really starting to build now. With each passing day we are inching closer and closer to the decisive conference tournaments. This is where dreams are realized or broken. A good showing can usher you along to the NCAA tournament, a loss can leave you sitting at home after Selection Sunday.
Even if you aren't feeling it, the teams are. Many are playing with a renewed sense of urgency heading into this time of year. The marathon is over, it is definitely an all out sprint from this point forward!
Monday gave us two games and surprise, surprise, one of them was an upset. Not very big, but #17 Oklahoma State took down #16 Oklahoma. It was a four point swing in what amounted to a pretty epic game.
Tuesday brought us a bunch more action with seven games being played.
For me, the most exciting part of Tuesday was watching my niece's team win the first game of regionals. If you remember they were facing off against a team that had five Division 1 commits on their team. I am not sure how intimidated they were, but I sure would have been.
They were down by eleven points going into the half. They came back out in the second half and absolutely dominated. They won the game by three points and sent the other team home literally crying. It was probably one of the most fantastic games I have seen all year. My niece didn't get a ton of playing time, but when she was on the court she left it all out there. I am so proud of her. They face their next challenge tonight. Fingers crossed!
#3 Baylor (What!, they only dropped one place?) got things back together with a narrow win over #6 West Virginia. The other most notable and epic upset of Tuesday night came from #4 Illinois taking down #2 Michigan. I mean absolutely destroying them. It was pretty epic.
If I had to pick one Big 10 team to cheer for in the tournament, it would probably be Illinois. Michigan State beat Indiana, but lost to Michigan last night(big surprise), so it isn't very likely they are going to be in the tournament. Tennessee is iffy, so I might need yet another team to cheer for.
Three games were played on Wednesday night and one was cancelled. None of them were upsets so it was a fairly boring evening.
Finally, last night as I said Michigan State fell to Michigan in their first of two games against each other this week. I am hoping the results from the game this weekend will be perhaps a little better.
Like I said, teams are really starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The time for sloppy play and not being on your "A" game is past. There were no upsets on Thursday either. If I had to pick a standout game, it would be the absolute throttling Nebraska took versus #5 Iowa. Sorry @gooddream, 102 to 64 is just beyond ouch!
Only one game tonight and then a flurry of activity this weekend before the majority of conference tournaments start next week.
Who are you cheering for this season? Will they make it to the big dance? How far do you think they will go? I already know your answers @bigtom13!
Ahahahahaha. It's a disappointment if GU doesn't win the tourney. I think they were in position last year, too.
That's really awesome about your nieces' team. 5 division 1 commits is a really big deal. That's quite a win.
My old HS is having a rough year :) Last year they didn't lose. Football or Basketball and were the preseason Baseball choice. Most of that team graduated and well, they aren't wondering where to stay for the state tourney this weekend :)
Yeah, they are looking really good. It is either going to be pretty one-sided this Spring or there is going to be massive cinderella story. I almost feel sorry for any team that might become that stop sign for them. Ah, yeah that sucks about your home teams. I think my other niece is going to be in a similar position with her softball team this year. Lots of people moved up or just stopped playing.
Ahahahaha
I'd really like them to get their first net before the upsets start :) But the rest of the story is that is how the game is played. Do you know how many times Gonzaga has been the one to stop a run to the title? Lots. That's how they got their 'cred'.
Do not weep for my old HS. It's even smaller now than it was, and they had 6 really superior athletes in the same class. They didn't lose a football game (8 man) after their freshman year. 3 peat on the state champs. They lost in the championship at the state tourney in basketball 2 years in a row before the undefeated season.
Basket 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀
I think I need to redefine my love for Nebraska... haha. It kind of only extends to their football team and I don't really even pay attention to how they do in basketball. Maybe it sounds like I am making excuses here but that is one hell of a blowout for sure.
It is okay, I totally understand. Especially since you moved around so much, you probably have several favorites!