Happy college basketball season everybody!!!

[xubrew]

College hoops never really kicks things off with a bang (unfortunately). It starts off with boring exhibition games that don't count, and then proceeds to bombard us with huge mismatches for the first week or two. The stage of being bombarded with mismatches begins tonight.

Valpo is at Arizona, Eastern KY visits Mississippi State and William & Mary takes on Saint John's. All of these are part of exempt tournaments consisting of four big names and a bunch of cupcakes. It's rigged so the big names can square off in the semifinals.

Oh well. At least college hoops is now officially back. I know it comes of no surprise to anyone here, but I do think it is the most exciting sport there is. It has the most exciting postseason, and after the first couple of weeks, it has the most exciting regular season as well. With 340+ teams fighting for a limited number of spots, the regular season is hugely important and very intense.

HAPPY COLLEGE HOOPS SEASON!!!

it's too bad Valpo doesn't have their team from last year. That would be an intriguing game. They had a good team last year, but lost a ton of talent, and are kind of in reset mode. Zona will likely win easily.

[Titanxman04]

One of the best days of the year. HORRAY! We've made it!

[paulxu]

You would think that if 344 teams in 33 conferences can organize themselves for a 64 team 6 game National Championship playoff....that 120 teams in 12 conferences could organize themselves to at least an 16 team, 4 game National Championship playoff.

If that's too much, at least then go for an 8 team, 3 game playoff.

[GoMuskies]

St. John's is only an 8 point favorite over W&M, so that one might be interesting.

[MCXU]

Sorry, I must have blacked out there for a minute.

Last thing I remember I was getting thrown out of the "City Tap" in Cleveland.

What did I miss?

[Snipe]

It is a great day to be an American.

I wonder about the NBA, and I think this could be good for Xavier.

ESPN doesn't have any NBA highlights to show every night, and the Top 10 Plays of the Day are all going to have to come from college hoops if the NBA isn't running.

I think this bodes well for us as long as they stay locked out. If they could miss the season, college hoops would get more press than ever before. Even as it is now we stand to benefit. We are ranked and all of our Novermber games will get ESPN highlights. We are all they have, and we play one hell of a non-conference schedule.

I love the lockout. Good for Xavier means good for me.

[Jumpy]

I'm not too worried about the mismatches early this week. Getting to watch the X game (then the MSU vs. UNC game on tape delay directly after it) will more than make up for bad basketball leading up to Friday night.

And to think, the Bengals not only kept us interested in football until CBB started, but it looks like they will hold interest until the end of the football season!

[American X]

ESPN doesn't have any NBA highlights to show every night, and the Top 10 Plays of the Day are all going to have to come from college hoops if the NBA isn't running.

Have you ever seen Sportscenter? Top 10 Plays will be 7 hockey goals that look exactly the same, 1 soccer goal, a totally awesome shot in a women's tennis match, and 1 basketball play.

[Snipe]

But college hasn't start yet brother. We will dominate those plays. That is what I am talking about. Who cares about women? They are physically inferior.

[xudash]

You would think that if 344 teams in 33 conferences can organize themselves for a 64 team 6 game National Championship playoff....that 120 teams in 12 conferences could organize themselves to at least an 16 team, 4 game National Championship playoff.

If that's too much, at least then go for an 8 team, 3 game playoff.

Not to hijack the thread, but there is one very nasty four letter word that will keep anything like that from happening: BOWL.

Otherwise, I'm ready for the Magic Carpet Ride that will be the Xavier 2011-2012 season.

[xubrew]

I agree with Snipe. I'm a big fan of the NBA so long as it is locked out. College hoops interest is going to be through the roof this year.

[X-band '01]

Have you ever seen Sportscenter? Top 10 Plays will be 7 hockey goals that look exactly the same, 1 soccer goal, a totally awesome shot in a women's tennis match, and 1 basketball play.

It will probably be 10 NFL plays from games that either take place in a Monday night mismatch or from Sunday's action. I'd watch the games but I just can't sit through NFL Network-Bristol SportsCenter anymore.

[Masterofreality]

Damn right it's college basketball season.

Right on time I got the bill for the Lew Hirt Society ad in the Xavier Gameday program. They don't miss a trick when it comes to collecting the moollah.

[PMI]

I actually think William & Mary is going to give St. John's a real scare tonight. In fact, I think there is value in all three underdogs tonight. W&M sucked last year, but they return all their starters. SJU is a 0 on the experience scale, and Lavin won't be on the bench tonight. I just find it hard to believe that they can win by double digits with a group of youngsters and walk ons tonight. Arizona giving up 13.5 is also quite a bit for a team with a seemingly soft front court and who just lost to a D2 team in their exhibition. I think they win by around ten, but will fail to cover. I don't know much about EKU by any means, but laying 17 with a Rick Stansbury-coached team is not something I'm interested in doing on the first night of the season, regardless of how talented they're supposed to be. Probably wouldn't touch this game normally, but I see some value in taking all three underdogs and hoping at least two hit. This is the time of the year (in any sport) where the oddsmakers don't have a clear advantage over the public, or at least not nearly as much of an advantage. I think all three lines are off tonight.

Don't mean to turn this into a betting thread. I'm pumped for college hoops to start regardless though. Like people have mentioned, the lack of NBA action makes college hoops that much more noticeable right now. I couldn't ask for a better year for Xavier to be loaded, even if the other powerhouses are too. Doing damage in college basketball this year will garner us much praise and attention, which are good things, if we just take care of business.

[xubrew]

William & Mary is passing and shooting the ball well in the first half, and has actually controlled the game. Most of SJU's points have come off forced turnovers, so if Bill & Mary can take better care of the ball, they'll be in good shape. This is a team that was just 9-22 a year ago. I know they return a lot from last year, but I guess I didn't see that as a good thing.

The thing that sucks about this tournament is that it isn't a tournament. If W&M wins, SJU still goes to the winners bracket. You gotta love the Gazelle Group. It really does suck because it denies W&M a shot to win and advance to play more quality competition and help establish their profile.

Same thing happened to San Diego State last year, and would have happened to Rhode Island had they held on to beat Pitt.

[Cincypunk.org]

I actually think William & Mary is going to give St. John's a real scare tonight. In fact, I think there is value in all three underdogs tonight. W&M sucked last year, but they return all their starters. SJU is a 0 on the experience scale, and Lavin won't be on the bench tonight. I just find it hard to believe that they can win by double digits with a group of youngsters and walk ons tonight. Arizona giving up 13.5 is also quite a bit for a team with a seemingly soft front court and who just lost to a D2 team in their exhibition. I think they win by around ten, but will fail to cover. I don't know much about EKU by any means, but laying 17 with a Rick Stansbury-coached team is not something I'm interested in doing on the first night of the season, regardless of how talented they're supposed to be. Probably wouldn't touch this game normally, but I see some value in taking all three underdogs and hoping at least two hit. This is the time of the year (in any sport) where the oddsmakers don't have a clear advantage over the public, or at least not nearly as much of an advantage. I think all three lines are off tonight.

Don't mean to turn this into a betting thread. I'm pumped for college hoops to start regardless though. Like people have mentioned, the lack of NBA action makes college hoops that much more noticeable right now. I couldn't ask for a better year for Xavier to be loaded, even if the other powerhouses are too. Doing damage in college basketball this year will garner us much praise and attention, which are good things, if we just take care of business.

You were right on all 3 accounts. Good calls!

Arizona plays Duquesne tonite. Havent heard much about Duquesne this year.

Wonder how they will do...

[XUglow]

I am thinking Akron takes Miss State down tonight. MSU has wildly underperformed under Stansbury the past few years. They didn't show anything against EKU that makes me think this year is any better. Akron, on the other hand, seems to have a coach that gets the most out of his players.

I still wouldn't touch the game because MSU shoots so many 3's. (Street ball...) If they are hot from the arc, they might just throw in enough points to cover.

[MADXSTER]

Happy college basketball season to everyone!!

:logo::shield::sword:

[xubrew]

I've heard a lot of people that are big on Mississippi State this year. I have no idea why. Yeah, they return a lot of their personnel, but they return it from a team that was 17-14, and 9-7 in conference playing in the SEC West, which wasn't even as strong as the Ivy League. Returning contributing players from a mediocre team is hardly a sign that you'll be strong. They had trouble with Eastern Kentucky. I wouldn't be surprised to see Akron take them down tonight.

Because it's the Gazelle Group, Mississippi State will still advance to the semis, though.

[XUglow]

I've heard a lot of people that are big on Mississippi State this year. I have no idea why. Yeah, they return a lot of their personnel, but they return it from a team that was 17-14, and 9-7 in conference playing in the SEC West, which wasn't even as strong as the Ivy League. Returning contributing players from a mediocre team is hardly a sign that you'll be strong. They had trouble with Eastern Kentucky. I wouldn't be surprised to see Akron take them down tonight.

Because it's the Gazelle Group, Mississippi State will still advance to the semis, though.

Hardly the same team as last year, and yet, things may remain the same. Sidney has lost a lot of weight, but he only had 9 pts on Monday. Arnett Moultrie is a good player from Memphis that transferred in from UTEP. He looks solid. May be a double-double guy. Rodney hood is solid freshman that will do very well before he leaves. Dee Bost is very good. On paper they look pretty good, but I will have to see them do it on the court before I believe anything that comes out of Stansbury's mouth. Bama being solid + 3 top ten teams means that MSU will be working to get to the top half of the middle of the pack.

They were a train wreck on and off the court last year. It is hard to imagine that this year will be worse, but who knows with CRS at the helm.

[waggy]

Is it me or is Lehigh getting phucked by the officials?

[XULucho27]

Is it me or is Lehigh getting phucked by the officials?

Very much so. Double bonus with 7 to go.

[waggy]

The whistle blows immediately if a Lehigh player just looks in the direction of a Johnnie, but take heavy contact with no call on the other end.

The suck of college officiating damn near ruins it for me.

[XULucho27]

Case in point that last reach-in foul on Lehigh after heavy contact on the other end. Ridiculous.

[SixFig]

Wow. Lehigh put a finger on a SJ player and a foul. Methinks the organizers of the 2K Classic (can you really call it classic?) are rooting for SJ (as well as the ESPN announcers)

Lehigh is the better team. CJ McCollum is a baller.

[xubrew]

Wow. Lehigh put a finger on a SJ player and a foul. Methinks the organizers of the 2K Classic (can you really call it classic?) are rooting for SJ (as well as the ESPN announcers)

Lehigh is the better team. CJ McCollum is a baller.

What's ridiculous is that the semifinals is predetermined. Akron beat Mississippi State, but they'll still play along with Saint John's, TAMU and Arizona.

Kind of surprised by Lehigh. They may be worth paying attention to this year.