In typical UNLV fashion, after looking like national champions in the first half, the Rebels falter down the stretch due to terrible game management.

I love that instant replay can now be reviewed to determine possession of something like a loose out-of-bounds ball. A similar play was reviewed in the UNLV-Illinois game tonight and the correct call made. I've seen too many games over the years swing one way or another after the wrong call in such a situation was made. Who cares if it slows the game down for a minute or two. I like it.

Mike Anderson's reconstruction project of the Arkansas basketball program is slowly but surely coming along, but not quite there yet. Another tough loss for the Hogs tonight to Gonzaga. Really like some of the Hogs' younger players, though. Frosh forward Bobby Portis is going to be a great player. Went for 18 and 7 tonight and has ton of athleticism. I think Arkansas is about two years away from competing for Final Fours again.

Kevin Pangos continues to shoot lights out, going for 34.

Arizona looking like crap early on. 6 turnovers in the first four minutes.

A Drexel win would be great here. Though, I am certainly not overlooking Trevor Releford and Alabama. Releford is playing out of his mind this year. He's averaging 18 points on 70% shooting from two and 50% from three.

Drexel doing battle tonight.

If Massenat is out for any period of time, though, it's over. Hopefully it's just cramps..

Good battle by Drexel, sloppy effort by us, especially early on.

Bring it on Rec!! Can't wait for the game. Really good litmus test for both teams, even though it's irrelevant come March.

Azubuike24;1543867 wrote:Gregory was a completely average coach too. If Archie proves to be superior, he's not staying more than 3 more.

Yet another successful example of the Matta coaching tree. Here's a good article that talks about it.

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2013/07/23493/branching-out-thad-matta-coaching-tree

lhslep134;1544236 wrote:Good battle by Drexel, sloppy effort by us, especially early on.

Bring it on Rec!! Can't wait for the game. Really good litmus test for both teams, even though it's irrelevant come March.

With all the athleticism and talent on both teams, it should be an exciting, up-and-down affair similar to the 2001 title game. As birddog alluded to in the Duke thread, though, I'd be happy if Arizona doesn't have a dunk contest against Duke this time. I can still see Derrick Williams flying over me in my dreams.

Tonight, No. 18 Creighton (4-0) and Arizona State (6-0) face off in what will mark arguably the most exciting meeting this season between any two players, in early NPOTY favorites Doug McDermott (27.5 PPG) and Jahii Carson (23.0 PPG). Each has already recorded among the best single-game scoring performances in all of college basketball this season, with McDermott netting 37 against UKMC and Carson dropping 40 on Vegas. There are not two better pure scorers in the country.

Game is on ESPN2 at 11.

Iowa came back and beat Xavier in OT. They were down the whole game basically.

I don't think there is a player in college basketball with a more in-your-face killer instinct than Doug McDermott. When he decides he wants to score, he's going to score. The look he gets is almost Larry Bird-like. He's got 12 points in the first seven minutes. Would not be surprised if he drops 35 or 40 tonight if Creighton needs it.

Right now, though, the Bluejays are handling Arizona State fairly easily. They're just the more talented team overall with all the available shooters/scorers.

Creighton is just toying with Arizona State and the Sun Devils can't do a thing about it. Bluejays up 81 to 56 right now.

This is a great Creighton team. There is so much scoring balance surrounding McDermott, and JC transfer Devin Brooks gives the Jays an extra dynamic they've lacked in the past as an explosive point guard with speed and athleticism who can break down defenses off the dribble as well as shoot from outside. That's on top of the eight guys who can stroke the trey from just about every position on the floor. This might be their year to make the Final Four.

What seed do you think Creighton ends up with? I would hate to see them as a 3-4 seed in whatever region Arizona or Ohio State ends up in.

lhslep134;1544481 wrote:What seed do you think Creighton ends up with? I would hate to see them as a 3-4 seed in whatever region Arizona or Ohio State ends up in.

While they've been great so far in the non-conference and while I think they have the talent and depth to make a run at playing in April, to get a firm grasp on where Creighton will seed this year we'll probably have to wait to see how at least some of the Big East season plays out to determine how the well Jays have adapted to the elevated competition level. Despite their talent, there might be an adjustment period to the different style of play they'll be facing nightly, which might lead to some losses early. Or maybe not.

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say Creighton ends up somewhere around a 4 or 5.

Possibly. I guess we will see how they do in the Big East. The Big East is kind of like the A-10 or Mountain West now. Maybe go 5 or 6 deep in the NCAA Tournament, but unless a team rolls up 27+ wins, they aren't going to get a seed higher than a 3 or so.

I see Creighton being more in the 6-8 loss range and thus, I'd put them more around a 6 or 7.

Big win for your Cats, lhselp. Gotta hand it to Sean Miller. In each of his last two games against Duke, Miller has understood exactly what his advantage was heading into the game -- in the 2011 NCAAs that being athleticism on the wing and tonight interior superiority -- and both times his team successfully capitalized on it. I'm furious, but the better team won on this night. Arizona is a legit national title contender. A very solid team. T.J. McConnell is as good a playmaker as I've seen this season.

That was a really, really good basketball game.

Azubuike24;1544533 wrote:Possibly. I guess we will see how they do in the Big East. The Big East is kind of like the A-10 or Mountain West now. Maybe go 5 or 6 deep in the NCAA Tournament, but unless a team rolls up 27+ wins, they aren't going to get a seed higher than a 3 or so.

I see Creighton being more in the 6-8 loss range and thus, I'd put them more around a 6 or 7.

In the end, Creighton as a 5 ot 6 sounds about right. The rigors of life on the road in the Big East -- playing in places like Jamaica, Landover, Philly and Milwaukee -- will be unlike almost anything in the MVC when factoring in both atmosphere and in terms of just overall talent level. A Saturday night game at Georgetown is obviously a different animal than a Tuesday game at Indiana State. So time will tell how Creighton is able to adapt to that and how quickly.

If Creighton were still in the MVC, we're talking a 3 or 4 seed most likely, because I think the talent would be there for them to finish the regular-season undefeated or, at most, with one or two losses. It goes without saying that life will be tougher for Creighton in its new league.

The Jays are getting rocked by San Diego State right now.

Well, this game certainly comes at a bad time for my Creighton post above. But, even the best of teams have a night where they are completely out of it, which the Jays are. Nothing going right for them right now. Can't buy a basket. But San Diego State is an excellent team, so credit them for a great effort.

Nova is also beating Kansas at the half and has led by as many as double-digits. KU hasn't looked good.

I don't think Creighton is any better than last year. Probably a 6-7 seed.

I don't think Creighton can be judged based on this effort tonight. When playing their best, or just to their potential, like last night against Arizona State, they can compete against anyone. On a night like tonight, when only McDermott is scoring, then, yes, I agree they are not much better than last year's unit.

Jays slowly making a great comeback against SDSU. Down to 3.

Wow, Gibbs got mugged there (officiating was definitely not in Creighton's favor all night IMO), but credit San Diego State for having an answer all game. Steve Fisher has another great team. Such an overlooked coach nationally.

Still think juco transfer Devin Brooks is the guy that gives Creighton that something extra this year. A great creator off the dribble, but just couldn't get his shots to drop tonight.

Wiggins has really yet to impact the college game like Randle or Parker.

Honestly, 75% of the time he stands on the perimeter and his other teammates don't look at him like he's a superstar.

Twice in this last 5 minutes, Tharpe (he's not very good) has basically looked off Wiggins and forced a bad shot.