Churn, Churn, Churn

Okay, the top ten is on its ear again.  Ohio State jumped over Kansas and took the top spot, while my BYU Cougars skulked up to the number 3 spot.  While I have been singing BYU's praises all year, I did not see them ascending this high in the polls.  However, I did say this team would be lethal come March.  It looks like the scoring balance they are going to need is emerging.  There is a question mark about their defense, but any team that puts up the numbers BYU does offensively may not have to worry about it.  Duke's and UCONN's defenses have been underrated in the past because of pace at which they played.  More trips up and down the floor mean more points for both sides. Hypothetically, if you're up 24 with 6 minutes to play (as Duke and UCONN were often when they had their championship-caliber teams), then it is only sporting to let off the pedal and coast to victory.  I'm not suggesting that BYU is in the league of either Duke's or UCONN's championship teams...I'm just suggesting that defensive intensity is not required when you blow a game open as BYU has done quite often this year.

Look at the Red Storm...they are now ranked 15th in the country!  Holy smokes.  They've managed to knock off most of the top teams in the Big East.  In the last month alone, St. John's has beaten Duke, UCONN, Pitt and Villanova.  They've managed to split with Georgetown and Notre Dame as well.  As amazing as it seems, they could be a favorite to win the Big East Tournament with the home court advantage.  If they can manage to hold on to a bye, look out for them.  BTW...it is unprecedented for a conference to have 8 teams in the top 20 at this point in the year, but the Big East has managed it.  If they get 11 teams in the Tournment, it will be virtually impossible for the Big East to avoid head-to-head play on the first weekend if they all win their first games.  This is the price of success.

As for the ESPN NCAA projections, they have slid another A-10 team in there to make 3 teams from the league, but I still think they are over-valuing the SEC and Big-12.  Georgia and Baylor do not belong at this point.  Come to think of it, neither does Penn State at 15-12, although I think the Big 10 is one of the top 3 conferences in college hoops this year.  Memphis deserves a bid over Penn State unless the Lions beat Ohio State this week. 

Duke at Carolina is going to be a huge game for both teams.  They are playing for seeding in both the ACC Tournament and the NCAA's.  It's a great game to watch regardless of the circumstances, but when there's something on the line, that game is delightful.  Carolina also lost a tough one at Cameron a few weeks ago.  I look forward to watching as always.  Oh yeah, Dean Smith turned 80 today.  He's the 5th best coach in college history.  God bless him.