Monday, December 06, 2004
Know what's not stupid? College basketball.
Caught the Wooden Classic yesterday and am relieved to say that Arizona didn't pick up their third loss of the season before mid-December. Actually, much like the Wake Forest game, the Cats dominated for about thirty minutes before collapsing on defense and allowing Mississippi St. back into the game. If not for some tremendous moves by high-flying Hassan Adams and a dominating performance from Channing Frye, MSU probably would've taken it. God knows Arizona gave them chances. The Wildcats turned the ball over seemingly at every possible moment in the last ten minutes. My friend Kenneth pointed it out yesterday and I'm sad to say I agree with him: UofA is a first half team. At least at this stage they are. Miss. St. had no business losing by only four, especially when All-American Lawrence Roberts was completely shut down by Frye. It really was a great effort from Frye. He owned Roberts at every turn in the game. Owned him. Has a deed and everything.
Second matchup was a great look at what Boston College is capable of this season and what UCLA will be able to put together next season. BC won the game going away in the end, but it was tightly contested. Craig Smith is a guy I've known to be a stud for a long time, but for obvious reasons he doesn't get much publicity out west. Let me tell you now, though. This guy can play in the pros. UCLA is incredibly young. They had four freshman running the floor at several points yesterday. Tell you what, though, keep an eye on them come later this season. When Pac 10 play gets under way, I think UCLA will be a dangerous opponent. They've got a legit shot at a top three finish. We're starting to see Ben Howland's touch on the court with his latest recruiting class. Their backcourt impresses me, especially. Jordan Farmar is gifted. The guy has great court vision and more poise than he really ought to for a freshman. His partner at shooting guard, Arron Afflalo, has a lot of potential, too. If UCLA gets consistent play from the frontcourt, watch out for them to make a serious move in February and pencil them in as a serious Pac 10 contender for next year.
Not in the Wooden Classic, but how about the last two games George Washington University has rattled off? Upset wins over Michigan State (very overrated, but still) and Maryland. Looks like the Colonials could be pegged as this year's Cinderella, although I've never thought that the Atlantic 10 conference merited "Cinderella" status. They're definitely better than that, as St. Joe's (in for a rough year) and Xavier proved definitively last year.
Just for the hell of it, my Final Four as it stands today.
Illinois
Georgia Tech
Oklahoma St.
North Carolina
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Second matchup was a great look at what Boston College is capable of this season and what UCLA will be able to put together next season. BC won the game going away in the end, but it was tightly contested. Craig Smith is a guy I've known to be a stud for a long time, but for obvious reasons he doesn't get much publicity out west. Let me tell you now, though. This guy can play in the pros. UCLA is incredibly young. They had four freshman running the floor at several points yesterday. Tell you what, though, keep an eye on them come later this season. When Pac 10 play gets under way, I think UCLA will be a dangerous opponent. They've got a legit shot at a top three finish. We're starting to see Ben Howland's touch on the court with his latest recruiting class. Their backcourt impresses me, especially. Jordan Farmar is gifted. The guy has great court vision and more poise than he really ought to for a freshman. His partner at shooting guard, Arron Afflalo, has a lot of potential, too. If UCLA gets consistent play from the frontcourt, watch out for them to make a serious move in February and pencil them in as a serious Pac 10 contender for next year.
Not in the Wooden Classic, but how about the last two games George Washington University has rattled off? Upset wins over Michigan State (very overrated, but still) and Maryland. Looks like the Colonials could be pegged as this year's Cinderella, although I've never thought that the Atlantic 10 conference merited "Cinderella" status. They're definitely better than that, as St. Joe's (in for a rough year) and Xavier proved definitively last year.
Just for the hell of it, my Final Four as it stands today.
Illinois
Georgia Tech
Oklahoma St.
North Carolina
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