A little thing called “Christmas” on Tuesday has left the early part of this week devoid of very many college hoops games.
But things will pick up with another Solid Saturday of matchups, including the likes of Arizona at Memphis, Pittsburgh at Dayton, Gonzaga vs. Tennessee (in Seattle) and Oklahoma at West Virginia.
I’ll address those in more detail when I’ve recovered from my turkey-, ham- and mashed potatoes-induced coma by Thursday . . .
And, for those of you who are wondering why Michael Beasley’s name is nowhere to be found in my listing of “Top Player Honors” after he totaled 64 points and 25 rebounds in a collective 48 minutes of action against Florida A&M and Winston Salem, here you go:
In reality, he produces the kind of weekly numbers (he’s averaging 26.3 points and 14.0 rebounds per game, while shooting .571 from the field) that would merit inclusion every week.
But I’d prefer to throw him on the list when he racks up solid numbers versus much more formidable resistance than teams such as Florida A&M and Winston Salem can offer.
Besides, the guy is a lock to be my “November-December Top Freshman” next week and a legitimate contender for “November-December Top Player” (period), as well.
So there you have it.
Oh, and special props to the respective Stanford men’s and women’s programs for knocking off the teams by the most winning coaches in women’s (Pat Summit of Tennessee) and men’s (Bob Knight of Texas Tech) hoops history.
EARLY-WEEK GAME TO WATCH
THURSDAY
Nevada at North Carolina
Frank Says: This would have been intriguing if a couple of fellows named Nick Fazekas and Ramon Sessions were still wearing uniforms for the 7-4 Wolf Pack of Coach Mark Fox.
TOP PLAYER HONORS
(For games of Dec. 17-23)
POW
Levance Fields (5-10, Jr., Pittsburgh)
Frank Says: He dropped in a 3-pointer with six seconds to go in overtime Thursday night for the deciding hoop in a 65-64 win against Duke in a battle of unbeatens in Madison Square Garden. He had 21 points, four assists and two steals in the contest. Over the past three games (Washington, Oklahoma State and the Blue Devils) he is 21 of 32 from the field, including six of 10 on attempts behind the arc.
OTHERS
Joey Dorsey (6-9, Sr., Memphis)
Frank Says: He, and not Roy Hibbert of Georgetown, was the dominant post player on the floor Saturday afternoon in Memphis with 11 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots during the Tigers’ 85-71 decision that was Georgetown’s first loss. Earlier in the week he had eight points and seven rebounds during a 79-69 win at Cincinnati.
Kalin Lucas (6-0, Fr., Michigan State)
Frank Says: He scored 18 points to go with six rebounds and six assists, as well as just one turnover, in 28 minutes off the bench to help the Spartans hand Texas its first loss, 78-72, Saturday night in Auburn Hills, Mich. Three nights earlier he had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists during an 85-45 cruise-control victory over San Jose State.
Patrick Mills (6-0, Fr., Saint Mary’s)
Frank Says: The Canberra, Australia import continued his sizzling play from the point for the Gaels with 23 points in a 70-63 victory over Ohio Saturday night in Honolulu for the championship of the Rainbow Classic. He totaled 34 points and 10 assists over the previous two nights in wins against Tulane and East Tennessee State.
J.P. Prince (6-7, So., Tennessee)
Frank Says: The transfer from the University off Arizona came off the bench to score 23 points (nine of 14 from field, including one of two on 3’s, and four of five from line) in just 20 minutes to help the Volunteers rally to beat host Xavier Saturday, 82-75. Earlier in the week he went for 13 points, four rebounds and seven assists in 26 reserve minutes of an 86-73 victory over visiting UNC-Ashville.
Updated Frankhoops.com Top 25
(Includes results of Dec. 23; previous rating in parentheses)
1. (1) North Carolina 11-0
Frank Says: The two remaining unbeaten teams in the ACC meet in Miami on Jan. 23. One of them will still be unbeaten at the time.
2. (2) Memphis 10-0
Frank Says: That rockin’ home schedule continues Saturday when the Tigers play host to a very hot (and No. 15-ranked) Arizona team.
3. (3) Kansas 12-0
Frank Says: Ivy (league) makes its way inside the walls of Phog Allen Fieldhouse Saturday when the Yale Bulldogs come a calling.
4. (5) Washington State 11-0
Frank Says: The Cougars open Pac-10 play in Seattle on Jan. 5. That should be pretty cool to watch.
5. (7) Texas 11-1
Frank Says: The Longhorns will play host to possible NCAA Tournament teams on consecutive Saturdays (upcoming, Wisconsin, and Jan. 5, Saint Mary’s) in Austin.
6. (8) UCLA 11-1
Frank Says: The Bruins play host to UC Davis on Saturday. UCLA’s next venture against a sister member of the UC system – the one located in Berkeley – will be considerably more challenging.
7. (9) Marquette 9-1
Frank Says: The team’s Saturday opponent (Savannah State) has already played 17 games!
8. (10) Michigan State 11-1
Frank Says: No real surprises in what transpired Saturday night in Auburn Hills – the Spartans looked like the Big Ten’s best team and a strong contender to get to San Antonio on the final weekend of the season.
9. (11) Pittsburgh 11-0
Frank Says: The program’s most significant non-conference victory in a long while (Thursday vs. Duke in New York City) came at a price – a season-ending, ACL injury for senior wing Mike Cook.
10. (6) Duke 10-1
Frank Says: The Panthers exposed the weakness in the post strength (how is that for an oxymoron?) of the Blue Devils while crunching them under the backboards, 49-31.
11. (4) Georgetown 8-1
Frank Says: Once the game in Memphis Saturday got into the seriously up-tempo mode, the Hoyas were doomed.
12. (12) Texas A&M 11-1
Frank Says: Fellow Big 12 members Colorado (by 24 points) and Kansas State (by 27) have already squashed Florida A&M, so what are the Aggies going to do to the Rattlers Saturday in College Station?
13. (13) Indiana 10-1
Frank Says: The 27-point margin over Coppin State Saturday was deceiving – the Hoosiers led by only a deuce at intermission.
14. (14) Tennessee 11-1
Frank Says: For those who like to plan three weeks ahead, the Commodores come to Knoxville on Jan. 17.
15. (15) Arizona 9-2
Frank Says: Sophomore post Jordan Hill has been quite productive over the past four games: 17.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game.
16. (17) Butler 11-1
Frank Says: The Bulldogs visit Carbondale and the Southern Illinois Salukis Friday as a return for the Bracket Buster that was played in Indianapolis last season.
17. (18) Miami 12-0
Frank Says: The Hurricanes continue to play up a storm. Sorry, I couldn’t resist!
18. (20) Vanderbilt 11-0
Frank Says: The Commodores have scored fewer than 81 points just twice, and on both of those occasions the total was 77.
19. (21) Rhode Island 11-1
Frank Says: Yeah – everyone expected the Rams to be 11-1 and a Top 25-caliber team as 2007 drew to a close.
20. (22) West Virginia 10-1
Frank Says: One of these days – and, probably, Saturday against Oklahoma – the Mountaineers are going to be seriously challenged by an opponent.
21. (23) BYU 10-2
Frank Says: Several Mountain West programs have impressive records. But this is the one that is actually a very good team.
22. (ur) Saint Mary’s 10-1
Frank Says: The Gaels came out of Honolulu with three victories – and that’s nothing to shake a lei at.
23. (ur) Mississippi 11-0
Frank Says: Forget about Vanderbilt – this is the real surprise team in the Southeastern Conference.
24. (ur) USC 8-3
Frank Says: Hard to find much fault with a three-loss team when two of those were tight decisions with unbeatens Kansas and Memphis.
25. (ur) Oklahoma 9-3
Frank Says: Recent wins over Arkansas and Gonzaga get recognized via a Top 25 appearance.
DROPPED OUT: Gonzaga 16, Clemson 19 and Xavier 25
Inducted into the USBWA Hall of
Fame in April, 2005, Frank Burlison is Scout.com’s national basketball expert and is
also a columnist for the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram. He can be reached at
frank.burlison@presstelegram.com. Read more of Burlison’s pieces at
www.frankhoops.com