wow it's coming down to the wire. 44.6 seconds left with St. Joe's 56 Villanova 55.


Villanova goes down misses a shot, and St. Joe's rebounds the ball with 28 or so seconds left, and Villanova doesn't foul until 16.9 seconds are left on the clock. WTF Villanova? St. Joe's player misses the front end of a 1-and-1. Nova rebounds and brings the ball up. Jay Wright calls a TO with 10.9 left. This has been an exciting game especially in the final few minutes.

[Edited on December 11, 2008 at 9:57 PM. Reason : ]

12/11/2008 9:53:29 PM

yes its a good game

12/11/2008 9:58:14 PM

lol, yea shoot a 2 with 2 seconds left down 3, what are you an nc state player?

12/11/2008 10:00:43 PM

Scottie Reynolds drives into the lane and a St. Joe's player steps in front of him and is called for a blocking foul w/4.8 seconds. Nova in the double bonus. Reynolds hits both FTs to go ahead 57-56. Nova steals the ball. St. Joe's fouls with 2.5 seconds. Nova hits both FTs. St. Joe's can't get a good full court pass play in. Nova wins 59-56. They were down 9 at halftime.

12/11/2008 10:01:14 PM

to be fair we would've just passed the ball around and not shot

12/11/2008 10:01:43 PM

Big 5 games are the best in the Palaestra but if they aren't held there I'd rather see them on campus than in the Wachovia Center... Nova's DuPont Center is a pretty cool place to see a game.

[Edited on December 11, 2008 at 10:03 PM. Reason : x]

12/11/2008 10:02:59 PM

I didn't realize Bobby Cremins won 354 games in 19 seasons while at GT. He's a great coach, and I hope the players at the College of Charleston know how good of an experience they are getting playing for him.

12/11/2008 10:05:15 PM

i used to really like watching nova play but now i just cant stand this run clock bullshit

12/11/2008 10:09:38 PM

Someone fucking commit a flagrant foul on Donnell Mack... simply for that guy as shit haircut.

Also, Chris Wright is a baller...

Hoyas-Memphis is a good game.

*** The SEC might be the worst Power 6 conference in the history of NCAA Basketball this year. Truly dreadful.

[Edited on December 13, 2008 at 3:29 PM. Reason : x]

12/13/2008 3:27:36 PM

too bad we couldn't keep wright

12/13/2008 4:02:21 PM

^

12/13/2008 4:09:22 PM

wonder if that 3 at the end affected any lines.

12/13/2008 4:26:33 PM

^ lol, I wondered if anybody else saw the end of the G-Town and Memphis gmae. I told cddweller that buzzer beating half court three's rarely happen. She has watched the VT-Xavier game and this game with me.

12/14/2008 12:51:24 AM

Fucking Gonzaga... fucked up a Top 5 matchup next weekend...

12/14/2008 8:00:04 PM

GO CATS!!!!!

12/14/2008 8:02:28 PM

Seriously, how good is the A-10 this year? UMass beats KU in Kansas City. Xavier beats crosstown rival, and Big East member, Cincinnati. And biggest of all Temple beats #8 Tennessee by a healthy margin. Also St. Joe's marched into The Pavillion and nearly knocked off #12 Villanova (they got stupid toward at the end). I'm not completely sold on Nova. Tonight they beat little old LaSalle in their high school gym by only 11.

12/14/2008 10:30:37 PM

Villanova is ok... not great. I think they were picked 6th in the conference. To be fair to Nova, all those Big 5 games are intense as shit and records/talent can pretty much be throw out...

LaSalle is pretty decent from what I've seen... They gave UConn a hell of a better game than did Miami or Wiscy...

12/14/2008 10:35:53 PM

Great article on Stanley Robinson

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3769359

And people talk a lot of shit about Jim Calhoun, and some of it earned (but not some of the rumors) given some players transgressions, but this right here is why his former players love him so much...

[Edited on December 15, 2008 at 4:40 PM. Reason : not many coaches would tell a 5* kid like Stanley Robinson to do what he did...]

12/15/2008 4:38:07 PM

What places do you really want to go to see a game? Here is my list. Some you will know, some you may not. Hopefully I'll be able to complete it one day.

Greensboro Coliseum for the ACC Tournament - capacity: 23,500


Madison Square Garden during the Big East Tournament - capacity: 19,763


Cameron Indoor Stadium - capacity: 9,314


Rupp Arena - capacity: 23,500


Allen Fieldhouse - capacity: 16,300


Rose Hill Gymnasium (opened in 1925 it is the oldest gym in the NCAA) - capacity: 3,200


The Palestra - capacity: 8,722


Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse soon to be Michael J. Hagan Arena after St. Joe's completes the renovation - capacity: 3,200, will be 4,200 after reopening

after renovation (it appears that suites will be put in place and the baseline seating where the students sit will be larger and have a steeper incline)


University of Dayton Arena which is known for annually hosting the play-in game - capacity: 13,409


The RAC - capacity: 8,000


Pauley Pavilion - capacity: 12,829


Maples Pavilion - capacity: 7,392


McArthur Court - capacity: 9,087


McKale Center - capacity: 14,545


Assembly Hall (UofI) - capacity: 16,618


Assembly Hall (IU) - capacity: 17,456


Breslin Center - capacity: 14,992


Williams Arena - capacity: 14,625


Crisler Arena - capacity: 13,751


Gampel Pavilion (preferably for a game against Syracuse) - capacity: 10,167


Fifth Third Arena (preferably for a game against Xavier) - capacity: 13,176


Carrier Dome - capacity: 33,633


The Pavilion - capacity: 6,500


Gallagher-Iba Arena - capacity: 13,611


Hinkle Fieldhouse - capacity: 10,757


Marriott Center - capacity: 22,700


Jon M. Huntsman Center - capacity: 15,000


University Arena - capacity: 18,018

12/15/2008 9:02:47 PM

Hey, Brass... what do you know about the new MSG renovation? I've only heard about it in passing.

Also, I'm going to Maples Pavilion later this year. Should be a good experience. Actually I think I'm going for the Arizona State game. Cal's home court was a pretty cool building but the atmosphere was yuck (even for a Pac-10 game against Oregon).

12/15/2008 9:04:48 PM

^^no Dean Dome?

12/15/2008 9:09:10 PM

^actually I may end up going to a game at the Dean Dome with my brother this winter. But it really wasn't a place that I really want to see a game at.


The MSG renovation will cost ~$500 million. I've heard that they are going to make it a double deck structure. The capacity will be the same. The walkways between the levels will be gone and mid-level suites will be put in place. The concourses will grow in size also. Supposedly it will start in the summer of 2009 and displace the WNBA team, and all work would be done in the summers so that the Rangers and Knicks games wouldn't be displaced. It would be in time for the 2011–12 seasons for the Knicks and Rangers.


Upper party deck









[Edited on December 15, 2008 at 9:17 PM. Reason : ]

12/15/2008 9:16:02 PM

who the fuck is cleveland state?

12/15/2008 9:25:11 PM

i dunno but ¾-court buzzer beater is ftw

12/15/2008 10:42:02 PM

Can someone explain to me the point of this SEC/Big East Invitational?

Why slap a name on random OOC games?

Here are the matchups based on preseason polls in conference

BE 16 vs SEC 6
BE 11 vs SEC 7
BE 2 vs SEC 12
BE 5 vs SEC 1

Umm.. what good does this do?

12/16/2008 8:56:38 PM

It won't ever be close to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (which is quite sad when you think about it). The two leagues should have grown some balls and had teams playing at their home gyms rather than at some "neutral" site. The atmosphere for these game were pretty crappy last year, and I don't suspect that to change anytime soon.

12/16/2008 9:18:21 PM

What the fuck as that Mountaineer rip off next to UT's mascot?

12/16/2008 10:24:14 PM

Does Wayne Chism have epilepsy?

He flails like he's being electrocuted every time someone goes near him...

[Edited on December 16, 2008 at 11:23 PM. Reason : there he goes agian...]

12/16/2008 11:23:25 PM

Predict how you think the rest of the season will turn out.

12/17/2008 9:09:51 AM

Hansbrough's mom got a job at UNC's Dental School
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/unc/mens_basketball/story/1338109.html

12/18/2008 9:20:19 AM

I'm going to predict the rest of the season's schedule.

Nov 15 at New Orleans - W
Nov 22 High Point - W
Nov 25 Winthrop - W
Nov 30 N.C. Greensboro - W
Dec 6 at (23) Davidson - L
Dec 13 Winston-Salem State - W
Dec 17 East Carolina - W

Dec 20 Lipscomb - W
Dec 22 (25) Marquette - L
Dec 29 Loyola (MD) - W
Dec 31 Towson - W
Jan 3 at Florida - L
Jan 10 at (22) Clemson - L (didn't we start out at there place last year also?)
Jan 13 Florida St. - W
Jan 17 Georgia Tech - W
Jan 20 at (9) Duke - L
Jan 24 at Boston Coll. - W
Jan 27 Miami (FL) - L
Jan 31 (1) North Carolina - L
Feb 3 N.C. Central - W
Feb 8 at Virginia Tech - W (we own them)
Feb 11 Wake Forest - L
Feb 14 at Georgia Tech - W
Feb 18 at (1) North Carolina - L
Feb 21 Virginia - W
Feb 26 at Wake Forest - L
Mar 1 Maryland - W
Mar 4 Boston Coll. - W
Mar 7 at Miami (FL) - L

18-11 (8-8)


We need to win at least one of the games against Marquette and Florida so that we'd have a marquee OOC win. We do that and win a game or two in the ACC Tournament, and we might sneak into the NCAA Tournament.

12/18/2008 11:56:23 AM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it, but we're on the verge of a Super Saturday of sorts. By far, the best inter conference slate of games this year. I know beer, pizza and college hoops awaits me all day tomorrow. The only shitty thing is the way CBS is regionalizing the games. I huge chunk of the country won't see UConn-Gonzaga, a matchup that some were calling the game of the season before UofA beat Gonzaga...

Some of the biggest games and my takes:

Michigan State - Texas (2:00 PM - CBS regional): Abrams has been a great leader to this point but I really think Damian James will be the difference. We saw how Izzo's group got manhandled by Dean Thompson and look for more of the same from the Longhorns.

Xavier - Duke (2:00 PM - CBS regional): A matchup that I haven't seen hyped but might be the second best game of the day. #6 vs #7 and one of the bright young coaches in the game versus one of the best ever. Duke is in their home away from home in New Jersey and make no mistake, this will hardly be a "neutral court." I really, really like the team Sean Miller has put out but I see no answer for Kyle Singler. Duke by a half dozen.

Davidson - Purdue (4:00 PM - CBS regional): I think Purdue is overrated and Curry is still Curry. Davidson in a close one, with the help of a few iffy calls late in the game.

Syracuse - Memphis (6:00 PM - ESPN) - This game lost a bit of luster with Devendorf out and Johnny Flynn questionable. I would have taken a full squad Syracuse team over Memphis, but on the road without their backcourt is too much to overcome. Memphis by 10.

And the game of the day

UConn - Gonzaga (4:00 PM - CBS regional): Last years game was an epic. Both teams are better this year and for the first time all year, both are whole. Josh Heytvelt can take Thabeet outside and Pargo is quicker than any guard not named Kemba Walker that UConn has. I think this will come down to Thabeet being able to stay on the floor and AJ Price finally getting his legs and confidence back. I think Pargo and Heytvelt will get Thabeet in trouble and Daye will be a matchup nightmare for a still green Stanley Robinson. Zags in a VERY close one, separated by one possession...

12/19/2008 7:36:21 PM

is nationally-televised #17 ASU versus 10-0 BYU not mentionworthy?

12/19/2008 7:44:51 PM

I'm stuck at work until 5 and I only got a chance to do the ranked vs ranked games. Feel free to add about ASU/BYU and UL/Minnesota.

Herb and Tubby are brethren...

12/19/2008 7:49:11 PM

is Looieville any good this year

i haven't seen a single minute of them so far

12/19/2008 7:53:59 PM

They looked really good for a good portion of the first half last night against Ole Miss, but then didn't look as hot and Ole Miss came roaring back. I really wish we had gotten Chris Warren. I wonder if there was some sort of grade issues when the staff looked over his transcript. It seemed odd that the staff seemed high on him at first, but then didn't offer, and had to go find Javi. I still like Javi and think he'll be a fine player for us when he's an upperclassmen though.

12/19/2008 8:00:57 PM

Richmond hanging around longer than they should against Wake Forest.

Plus, they have a pretty cool mid-court graphic.

12/19/2008 8:29:46 PM

the formula for beating Wake:

play decent defense...Wake WILL turn it over
make your threes


at least Richmond is doing one of the two

12/19/2008 8:34:54 PM

Well, they were doing 1 of those 2 things.

Spoke too soon. That Anderson kid is bringing some game.

[Edited on December 19, 2008 at 8:58 PM. Reason : ]

12/19/2008 8:48:34 PM

looks like Teague might bail them out

12/19/2008 9:00:16 PM

duke looks REALLY good early and they are getting called for all the ticky tack fouls. up 15 to 1 early and nolan smith is already on the bench with two cheap fouls.

make that 18 to 1

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 2:14 PM. Reason : .]

12/20/2008 2:14:32 PM

a coaching staff comprised of Herb and his Twelve Disciples still couldn't beat Coach K

12/20/2008 2:17:34 PM

this really IS a home game, isn't it?

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 2:18 PM. Reason : ac]

12/20/2008 2:17:34 PM

yeah, the meadowlands...a tourney site?

12/20/2008 2:19:16 PM

Lol at people falling for Lance Thomas' shot fake... He's a JR and I seriously don't think I've ever seen him take a jump shot...

** Singler is kind of a prick this year. Trash talking a lot more... good for him, though... Duke has had the "soft" look the last few years to me...

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 2:22 PM. Reason : x]

12/20/2008 2:21:41 PM

yeah Coach K keeps telling Singler that he has to be more aggressive and lead the team with toughness. I think it's more of the role he has to play than how he would normally play. he looks goofy talking trash imo.

12/20/2008 2:31:33 PM

This doesn't make me look forward to our games against Duke.

However, it makes me optimistic about UNC losing some conference games.

12/20/2008 2:43:42 PM

jesus christ xavier.

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 2:52 PM. Reason : ^ you couldn't have possibly been optimistic about them before this.]

12/20/2008 2:49:37 PM

UNC isn't unbeatable but they are very good. Unfortunately, I don't see the ACC being that strong this year as it has been in the past. Matchup wise it'll be tough for Duke to beat them... but they certainly have the best chance...

Duke is still inconsistent and too reliant on the outside shot. They are definitely better because Paulus doesn't play as much, but I can see them being an early out in the tourney on a bad shooting day...

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 2:52 PM. Reason : x]

12/20/2008 2:51:45 PM

Well, this game didn't turn out to be nearly as exciting as I had hoped.

12/20/2008 2:52:19 PM