Georgetown isn’t an NIT contender. The Hoyas are arguably the worst team in the Big East, and the Big East isn’t exactly loaded. Patrick Ewing’s crew’s best win, to date, came against UMBC, and if you’re sitting there saying, “but they’ve only played five games!” I’m sitting here saying, “they lost one of them to Navy.”
In other words, Georgetown’s loss to Villanova last night did not help their cause. But they still deserve our love today. Because no power conference basketball school should go unrewarded for turning an 18-point late first-half lead into a 13-point defeat.
Bravo, Georgetown.
Other notes:
- Seton Hall continues to do exactly what it should, with their latest act a narrow cover against St. John’s to open conference games.
- Marquette continues to tantalize. Will we get them? Why is so much of our focus on the Big East today? Is the Big East reclaiming the NIT? Do they love the Garden that much?
- No big surprises in the MAAC roundup, though Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels did figure out how to play defense, holding Fairfield to 42 in the first game of a two-day set.
- Mizzou is playing with fire today. Beat Illinois, and you’re officially in trouble. But at the same time, the SEC gives these guys a lot of opportunities to lose to bad teams. Never mind. Do what you want. We’re three months away from cashing checks.
- Clemson/Alabama. The rivalry. Now on the basketball court. Clemson has the potential to lose this game by 20, just because of how much running and gunning Alabama does. That would help. Clemson’s been looking far too good lately.
- Before Clemson/Bama, Atlanta enjoys Auburn taking on Memphis. Lot of winking and nodding, I’d imagine.
- Dayton and Mississippi State try to break 100. Combined.
- Utah visits BYU, and since I’m guessing BYU isn’t allowing fans, or very many fans, Utah’s probably feeling light as a feather.
- Syracuse and Boston College open ACC play (pour one out for the Big East). This is what ESPNU was made for.
- Old Dominion and VCU play in a we-get-these-schools-confused-a-lot, nonconference (!?) meeting.
- Texas A&M and TCU show down for the title of the sixth-best team in Texas. After the game, Jamie Dixon and Buzz Williams have plans to hold each other and cry.
- Cincinnati travels to Knoxville, because getting beaten by one wound up white-collar school wasn’t enough for the month.
- Newly NIT-eligible Oklahoma State (they made the appeal, friends) goes to Wichita. A seven-nation army would probably encourage them to flop, and not in the draw-a-foul sense. The hype’s loud. Need to disappoint it to get in the NIT picture.
- We continue our courtship with Kentucky as they host a bad Notre Dame team that Mike Brey is going to try to charm committees into taking when they finish 5-21. Tough schedule!
- The Dakota Thing™ reaches its thrilling conclusion. So far, the North Dakota’s are both 1-1, South Dakota State’s 2-0, and South Dakota’s 0-2. Poor Abel.
