The Alley-Oop

Football season is over and that means it is time to focus on my second favorite sport, college basketball. I am feeling pretty excited this season. Last season was a total disappointment with North Carolina being dreadful, and George Mason being young and floundering. This year, Carolina is 17-6, and gave Duke all they could handle at Cameron Indoor. Mason has won ten straight games, is #23 in RPI, and has a legit chance at an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament if they continue to play well. There is also still an undefeated team remaining, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Lots of exciting things ahead the next two months. For those of you new to the blog this is how The Alley-Oop works. I will preview and predict Top 10 action, as well as my favorite teams George Mason and North Carolina each weekend leading up to the conference tournaments.

Saturday

#21 North Carolina (17-6, 7-2) at Clemson (17-7, 6-4)

Very tough loss to take on Wednesday night for Carolina against Duke. Carolina dominated the first half, jumping out to a 16 point lead. Then it seemed the stage got too big for them and they wilted under the pressure. They didn't even really lose to Duke, they lost to two men, Nolan Smith and Seth Curry. Saturday, they travel to Clemson, a very difficult place to play and win. Carolina won the first meeting with Clemson, 75-65 in Chapel Hill. Carolina G Reggie Bullock lit up the Tigers for 18 points off the bench and keyed the victory. The result wasn't a surprise though as Clemson never wins at Chapel Hill. The Tigers are a balanced team and are led by three main contributors. Their best player is G Demontez Stitt, who leads the team with 13.7 PPG, and 3.5 APG. Other key contributors are F-C Jerai Grant, and G Andre Young. Carolina did a good job in the first game of not allowing anyone to get going, as the Tigers leading scorers in that game had just 11 points. The Tigers have yet to lose a conference game at home, so the Heels have their work cut out for them. F Tyler Zeller has really come on strong for Carolina, leading them in scoring, including a 24 point effort against Duke. F Harrison Barnes has finally gotten going, which incidentally has coincided with G Kendall Marshall taking over the point guard duties from bum Larry Drew. I think the Heels have a legit chance to make at least a Sweet 16 run this year, and I like them to win a tough game at Littlejohn.

Prediction: North Carolina 73, Clemson 68

James Madison (18-8, 8-6) at George Mason (20-5, 12-2)

GMU's "rivals" the Dukes look to end Mason's ten game winning streak. It's not really a rivalry when one school consistently beats the crap out of the other, like Mason does to JMU. The first meeting this season was a back and forth battle, with Mason coming from behind to beat JMU 75-73.

Mason has a very balanced attack, a signature of coach Jim Larranaga’s teams over the years. You can’t just focus your attention on one player and expect to slow down Mason. Senior G Cam Long leads the team with 15.5 PPG, and also averages 3.1 APG. F Ryan Pearson is Mason’s bruiser and someone you will likely hear more about if Mason makes a run to the NCAA Tournament. Pearson was hit by a car when he was a teenager and due to the accident has one leg that is longer than the other. However, that hasn’t stopped him from leading the team in rebounding with 6.3 per game and being second in scoring with 14.4 PPG. The Patriots best overall player may be sophomore F Luke Hancock. Luke rebounds, passes, and scores with a high rate of consistency. Mason’s emotional leader is junior F Mike Morrison. Morrison’s numbers are down from last season but that is mostly because he has taken more of a defensive presence than he had in years past. Guards Andre Cornelius and Isaiah Tate can be dangerous from beyond the arc, and its especially refreshing to see Tate become a contributor in his senior season, as he had struggled his three previous years.

The lazy media keeps wanting to compare this team to the team that made the magical 2006 Final Four run. There is no comparing the two teams. 2006 was five years ago now and it is time for Mason as a program to stop living in the past. Mason hasn’t won a postseason game of any sort since that run and that is a streak that needs to end. It is obvious that the caliber of player Mason can attract has improved greatly because of that Final Four run. It is time for this group of players to make their own history.

JMU is powered by their burly F Denzel Bowles. Bowles averages 18.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, and almost 2 blocks per game. He will have a good game and Mason can accept that. Mason just can't allow Julius Wells or Devon Moore to get going too much. Mason is unbeatable at home and we never lose to JMU, I expect another good performance in front of a sell out crowd, getting Mason ready for their huge game at VCU on Tuesday.

Prediction: George Mason 72, James Madison 58

#1 Ohio State (24-0, 11-0) at #14 Wisconsin (18-5, 8-3)

People think this may be the game that ends the Buckeyes undefeated run. The Buckeyes lost Evan Turner, but haven't missed a beat with freshman Jared Sullinger in contention for Naismith Player of the Year honors. The Badgers will try to drag the Buckeyes to their level and make the game ugly and pretty much unwatchable. The Badgers are tough at home, but they barely beat Iowa, I think the Buckeyes remain unscathed.

Prediction: Ohio State 68, Wisconsin 65

Iowa State (14-10, 1-8) at #2 Kansas (23-1, 8-1)

Marcus and Markieff Morris power the Jayhawks who feature one of the most high powered offenses in the country. Iowa State is in the state of Iowa, and they suck.

Prediction: Kansas 90, Iowa State 72

Baylor (16-7, 6-4) at #3 Texas (21-3, 9-0)

Baylor has been a disappointment this season, as much was expected from them after their run to the Elite Eight last season. The Longhorns are unbeaten in Big 12 action, and the main reason has been Jordan Hamilton, who has vastly improved from his freshman season.

Prediction: Texas 83, Baylor 76

#4 Pittsburgh (22-2, 10-1) at #10 Villanova (19-5, 7-4)

The Big East is garnering most of the headlines as an eye popping 11 teams in the conference have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament. Pitt has lived up to lofty preseason expectations, while the Wildcats have hit a rough patch, losing 4 of their last 7 games. ESPN's College GameDay will be at this game and the atmosphere will be electric. However, I like the Panthers to keep rolling.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 74, Villanova 72

#6 San Diego State (24-1, 9-1) at UNLV (18-6, 6-4)

Steve Fisher, the former national championship coach at Michigan over 20 years ago, has done a fantastic job with the Aztecs. The Rebels (when did they get rid of the Runnin') are a tough team to beat in Vegas and I think they pull off the upset.

Prediction: UNLV 68, San Diego State 67

#7 Notre Dame (20-4, 9-3) at South Florida (8-17, 2-10)

Led by Tyler Hansbrough's little brother, Ben, Irish coach Mike Brey has his best Notre Dame team ever. The less said about South Florida's basketball program, the better.

Prediction: Notre Dame 78, South Florida 65

Utah (10-14, 3-7) at #8 BYU (23-2, 9-1)

The Mountain West has two teams in the Top 10!?!? What the hell is going on!?!? Oh yeah, BYU has this guy named Jimmer Fredette, you might have heard of him, unless you're Matt Kaufman.

Prediction: BYU 95, Utah 70

Sunday

#5 Duke (22-2, 9-1) at Miami (15-9, 4-6)

I hate Duke, I hate them so much, revenge will be the Tar Heels when they meet in Chapel Hill. For now, even though I hate Duke, I can't pick them to lose to Miami.

Prediction: Duke 77, Miami 70

Providence (14-10, 3-8) at #9 Connecticut (18-5, 6-5)

Outside of the sensational Kemba Walker, the Huskies seem pretty fraudtastic to me. I bet Providence wishes alum Jim Larranaga had said yes to them a few years ago. Sorry Friars!

Prediction: Connecticut 79, Providence 72