Best Day Ever
January 27th 2011 20:00
Today is special in so many ways. ESPN is showing not one, but two west coast games tonight. Duke is playing and not on national television. Stephen Bardo is doing a game. Overall, we are getting seven games tonight, not counting ESPNU because we don’t get that in the sticks.
The games from worst to first:
Cleveland State is tied in first in the Horizon League and Illinois (Chicago) is dead last. The Vikings haven’t won a meaningful game all season and have losses at West Virginia, at Butler, and at Valparaiso. Cleveland State should win easily, but weirder things have happened; Illinois (Chicago) beat Illinois earlier this season at the United Center.
Verdict: Might TiVO, might not.
Prediction: Cleveland State
Question of the Game/Season: Can Cleveland State double the Cavs' win total this season? Cleveland State may play around 30 to 35 games, while the Cavs get 82. Time will tell.
6. Oregon State @ California, 10pm CT, Comcast
At least tonight the Chicago Bears report won’t get in the way of my precious Pac-10 Thursday night game. Usually this is the only Pac-10 game we get during the week. Last week, the Chicago Bears report overlapped the first half of the Arizona @ Washington game – it was infuriating to say the least.
Verdict: Watch during commercials of St. Mary's and Gonzaga and TiVO
Prediction: California
Question of the Game: Can the deep bench of Oregon State handle California on the road?
5. Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State, 6pm CT, ESPN2
I was tempted to put this sixth, but thought better of it because Vanderbilt is ranked. I really don’t have much use for SEC basketball but I definitely want to see the Commodores play at some point this season.
Mississippi State has had problems this season, to put things lightly. Renardo Sidney got into a fight with former teammate Elgin Bailey (who has now transferred to SE Louisiana) in Hawaii while in the stands waiting for the Hawaii/Utah game to begin. If Sidney can get his act together, he could be a top player in the SEC.
Verdict: Watch during commercials of Michigan State and Michigan and TiVO
Prediction: Vanderbilt
Question of the Game: John Jenkins of Vanderbilt and Renardo Sidney of Mississippi State get to show their value on national television. Who will outshine the other?
4. Michigan @ Michigan State, 6pm CT, ESPN
This rivalry is much more intense on the football field, but neither team likes each other. The young Wolverines are big underdogs here on the road, but they are capable of hanging with anybody if they can get open looks from the three-point line. All of their Big Ten road games have turned into blowouts this season, but if things are going to change at some point this season, tonight could be it.
Michigan State just lost talented but struggling G Korie Lucious for the season after being suspended by coach Tom Izzo. Lucious was only averaging 6.5 PPG but provided depth for the Spartans. This is the last thing Michigan State needed as they continue to struggle in a season where there were high hopes, but now an NCAA birth isn’t even guaranteed.
Verdict: Watch
Prediction: Michigan State
Question of the Game: How will the Spartans handle the adversity of losing teammate Korie Lucious?
3. Illinois @ Indiana, 8pm CT, Big Ten Network
Illinois is coming off a tough home loss to Ohio State and faces their border rival, the Indiana Hoosiers. These two usually have close games and this one could go down to the wire. Bruce Weber’s Illini are a different team on the road and struggle against lesser opponents.
Indiana has some good players, it’s just a matter of how they are going to play game-in and game-out. F Christian Watford and G Verdell Jones III have Illinois on upset-alert tonight and I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull this one out.
Verdict: Will TiVO and flip back and forth with the UCLA – Arizona game.
Prediction: Illinois
Question of the Game: Can Illinois get someone to take control of a ballgame consistently, or will Verdell Jones III and co. take advantage and steal a game at home?
2. UCLA @ Arizona, 8pm CT, ESPN2
This game is going to decide who jumps to second place in the Pac-10 and it should be a good one. UCLA can compete with any team in the nation if they are on, but if they aren’t, they are capable of losing to anyone. The Bruins have defeated BYU this season and played Kansas really close in Lawrence, but loses to VCU and Montana are a black eye on their schedule.
The best team Arizona has beaten is Washington State and they could use this win to pad their resume for Selection Sunday. If the Wildcats want to keep pace with Washington, they need this home win.
Verdict: Watch
Prediction: Arizona
Question of the Game: Neither team has shown much consistency - can either of them tonight?
1. St. Mary’s @ Gonzaga, 10pm CT, ESPN2
Now this is what I’m talking about. I miss the days when I would be flipping the channels late at night, and all of a sudden, I hear Jimmy Dykes commentating on a late West Coast Conference game. Dykes won’t be doing tonight’s game, but beggers can’t be choosers.
To say there are must-wins in mid-major conferences in the regular season may be a stretch, but if there is a must-win for Gonzaga, this is it. The Bulldogs have wins against Marquette and Baylor, but if they slip up in the WCC tournament, they may need this win on Selection Sunday.
Verdict: Watch
Prediction: Gonzaga
Question of the Game: Who outshoots who – the Zags’ Steven Gray or the Gaels Micky McConnell?
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