Back at it

Well, I've decided to resurrect this thing, after about a year off. A lot has happened in the past year to keep me from posting, but I've been able to keep up with everything.

Quick Recap so far:

My Davidson boys are off to a 12-3, 3-0 start, and boast and RPI of 27. Once again, they have established themselves as the team to beat in the Southern Conference.

Well...maybe the "co-team to beat." Appalachian State, after starting with a loss to the lowly Demon Deacons of Wake Forest, have compiled a 11-3, 3-0 record. The Mountaineers' last 4 wins have come over Virginia, Central Florida, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Commonwealth, with a combined record of 36-12. All four wins were away from Boone, NC, as well.

The Missouri Valley Conference is looking very jumbled, as usual. All ten MVC teams have winning records. Entering conference play, all ten also had RPI's of under 100. The Valley, however, is being characterized not by its success, but by its collapses. Creighton, for instance, was nationally ranked headed into the season, and was the consensus favorite to win the MVC. Right now, Creighton sits at 8-4, with underachieving losses to Nebraska, Dayton, Fresno St., and Hawaii. Wichita State was, two weeks ago, ranked #8 in both the AP and the ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches polls. Since then, they have recorded four consecutive losses.

Today's Featured Games:

Miami (Florida) @ UMass - It's just not The U's year. Let's just hope for a peaceful game, with no brawls.

NC-Greensboro @ NC State - All of the Wolfpack's losses are "good", except the bad one at Cincy. They also boast a number of bad wins: Wofford by 4, East Carolina by 7, Gardner-Webb by 12. The G-men are trying to extend a six-game winning streak. If they do so tonight, they will establish themselves as another SoCon contender. They're 3-1 in conference play, with road wins at Furman and GSU, upper tier SoCon teams.

South Florida @ UConn - Two notorious soft-schedule teams collide. I give the advantage to the Huskies.

Auburn @ Southern Miss - Both teams have won the games they were supposed to, and lost the games they were supposed to. That, in the eyes of the tournament committee, spells one thing. NIT.

Mississippi State @ Missouri - The Bulldogs lost to the unimpressive George Mason three days ago. Consecutive losses would kill what momentum they had going into SEC play. After starting a perfect 9-0, the Tigers have lost 2 of 3, losing on the road against Purdue, and at hoem against Illinois.

Missouri State @ Bradley - In a key MVC matchup between 10-win teams, look for Missouri State to control basically every aspect of this game. Bradley's senior leading scorer and one of the best three-point shooters in the country, Jeremy Crouch, is sidelined for 4-6 weeks with an injury. JC has been the fire underneath this team for quite a while, it's sad to see his senior year mostly taken from him.

Tulsa @ Arkansas - Tulsa is probably the worst 9-win team in the country. Their best win is over Oral Roberts, if that says something. Also, they haven't played in 10 days. Look for Arkansas to dominate.

Prarie View A&M @ Alcorn State -
Prarie View A&M: 0-10 vs. DI
Alcorn State: 0-10 vs. DI
Gee, I can't wait.

Winthrop @ Texas A&M - Sometimes Billy Gilliespie fails to make sense to me. As a BCS school, scheduling Winthrop is one of the worst things you can do. It's a lose-lose situation. Winthrop's losses came at UNC, Maryland, and Wisconsin; by an average of seven points. Why, Billy, why?

01/02/07 Picks:
Overall Record: (0-0)

at UMass 70, Miami (Fla.) 57
at NC State 72, NC-Greensboro 67
at Connecticut 85, South Florida 68
Auburn 61, at Southern Miss 58
at Missouri 78, Mississippi State 61
Missouri State 80, at Bradley 70
at Arkansas 84, Tulsa 69
at Alcorn State 58, Prarie View A&M 43
Winthrop 62, at Texas A&M 61

--Dave