Illinois Upsets Ohio State Behind Brandon Paul's 43 Points

College Hoops Player of the Day for Tuesday, January 10, 2012

It was a great night for fellows with the surname Paul.

Texas representative Ron Paul scored a clear second in the Republican party's New Hampshire primary, but Illinois sophomore swingman Brandon Paul was first in the hearts and minds of Fighting Illini fans as he scored a career high 43 points en route to Illinois dumping #5 Ohio State, 79-74.

Paul was brilliant, going 8-for-10 from 3-point range and 11 of 15 overall, in addition to hitting 13 of 15 free throws. A homegrown product from Gurnee, Illinois, Paul more than doubled his previous season high of 21, significantly boosting his scoring average which was 12.1 points per game heading into the fray with the Buckeyes..

In addition to producing the second-highest point total in Division I this season, Paul added eight boards, two assists, two steals and four blocks, including a crucial rejection of Ohio State's star center, Jared Sullinger, in the final minute of play.

The unranked Illini improved to 15-3 and 4-1 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes dropped to 3-2 in the conference, behind a host of contenders led by 4-0 Michigan State, who demolished Iowa, 95-61. Ohio State is 15-3 overall.

Cincinnati Upsets Georgetown as Sean Kilpatrick Scores 27

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, January 9, 2012

Sean Kilpatrick scored a career-high 27 points with four steals to lead the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 68-64 win over Georgetown.

Cincinnati went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 70 seconds, and allowed the Hoyas to get off only four shots in the final six minutes as the Bearcats rallied from a six-point deficit.

The Hoyas fell for the second straight time, losing to West Virginia on Saturday, 74-62.

Kilpatrick, a sophomore fuard, was 10-for-16 from the field, hitting 3 of 5 3-pointers, making four of his five free throw attempts. Averaging 16.6 points per game, Kilpatrick has socred in double figures in all but two of Cincinnati's 17 games this season. The two times he fell short of double digits he had 9 points.

The Bearcats are unranked despite being 13-4 overall and 3-1 in Big East contests. Georgetown, ranked 11th in the latest AP poll (Monday), fell to 13-3.

Jordan Hulls and Matt Roth Lead Hoosiers to 88-82 Win Over Penn State

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, January 8, 2012

A few days ago, it was duly noted here how Indiana's Cody Zeller and Christian Watford were dominant inside players. On Sunday, the Hoosiers went out and proved that they had dead-eye shooters on the outside as well.

In their 88-82 struggle over Penn State, Jordan Hulls and Matt Roth popped for a combined 50 points, missing just three shots from the field as the 12-ranked Hoosiers improved to 15-1 and are certain to move up in the rankings when the new poll is released Monday.

Hulls, a junior guard, led all scorers with 28 points, going 7-for-9 from 3-point range and the same from the free throw line. The only two shots he took from inside the arc were misses, but his teammates were more impressed with his career high scoring effort.

Roth, a 6'3" senior guard, missed just once, going 5-for-6 from 3-point range and made all seven of his free throws for 22 points. The duo was a combined 12-for-15 from beyond the arc, accounting for 36 points on 12 of the Hoosiers' 16 3-point makes. Zeller and Watford each scored 10.

The win snapped Indiana's 16-game Big Ten road losing streak that dated back to late January, 2010. They've come a long way since then and have raised eyebrows around the country after going 12-20 last season.

NOTABLE: It isn't often that a player - none less a senior - sets career highs in two categories, but that's exactly what Yale's Greg Mangano did in the Bulldogs' 101-86 victory over St. Joseph's of Long Island. Mangano scored 35 points, making 14 of 26 shots, including 3-for-6 on 3-pointers. He also hauled down 22 rebounds as the 6'10" Yalite dominated the boards. Mangano is averaging a double-double this season, with 19.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Yale is 10-4 and opens Ivy League play on January 14 against Brown University.

Upsets Galore as Darryl Bryant and Kevin Jones Lead West Virginia Past 9th-Ranked Hoyas

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, January 7, 2011

One of the more amazing aspects of West Virginia's 74-62 victory over #9 Georgetown is that 12-4 Mountaineers have received no votes - that's right, zero - in any of the AP polls this season.

One might think that West Virginia is on probation (not the case) or that the entire voting community of coaches holds a grudge against Mountaineer head coach Bob Huggins (well, maybe), but that all may change on Monday when the new poll comes out after Darryl (Truck) Bryant paced all scorers with 25 points and Kevin Jones notched his 11th double-double of the season with 22 points and 16 hard-earned boards.

Both players are seniors and coach Huggins leans heavily on his two stars for scoring as well as leadership. The Mountaineers were 21-12 last season, ousted from the NCAA tournament in the second round by Kentucky. This year, votes or no votes, ranked or unranked, West Virginia is poised to make noise come March.

NOTABLE: Upsets dominated the college basketball landscape on Saturday, with no fewer than seven ranked units being knocked off. #1 Syracuse - seldom mentioned here due to their balanced scoring which rarely produces a 20-point scorer - took care of business with a 73-66 win over #20 Marquette, but that was business as usual for the 17-0 Orange.

Elsewhere, Tennessee topped #13 Florida, 67-56, #23 Kansas State took down previously-unbeaten #7 Missouri, 75-59.

Rutgers won at home over #9 Connecticut, 67-60, while the Fighting Irish went on the road to defeat #11 Louisville in double overtime, 67-65.

In the usually wide-open SEC West, Arkansas took down #15 Mississippi State, with a 98-88 home win.

Iona Tops Niagara on 19 Points from Michael Glover

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, January 6, 2012

With very limited action on Friday nights (only 4 games this Friday), the opportunity to focus on some of the better, less-publicized programs across the country is afforded. One such team is the Iona Gaels, currently leading the MAAC with a 4-0 conference record and a solid 12-3 mark overall after taking down the Niagara Purple Eagles by a 73-61 score.

The Gaels didn't overpower Niagara, leading by only four points at the half, but managed to pull away late, establishing themselves as a contender in the conference that includes only a few perennial small-college powerhouses, such as Fairfield (3-1 in the MAAC) and Loyola of Maryland (also 3-1).

Iona's defense did the trick against Niagara, limiting their opponent to just 36% shooting, including 4-for-19 on three-pointers. Meanwhile, the Gaels' leading scorer, senior forward Michael Glover, provided efficient offense, hitting 6 of 7 shots from the field and making 7 of 8 free throws for a game high 19 points.

Glover also inhaled six rebounds, and provided two steals.

Iona lost to St. Peter's in last season's MAAC tournament championship and made it through three games of the of the CIT Tournament before falling in the final to Santa Clara, 79-69. Missing out narrowly on making the cut for the NCAA tourney last year seems to have provided the Gaels with some added motivation this time around and they are blazing a trail that may land them a spot at the Big Dance come March.

Christian Watford, Cody Zeller Lead Indiana Over Mighigan, 73-71

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, January 5, 2012

Tom Crean is building a champion at Indiana.

Crean's 12th-ranked Hoosiers won for the third time this season over a ranked opponent with a 73-71 home win over #16 Michigan, improving their record to 14-1 and 2-1 in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers, already victorious over then-#1 Kentucky and #2 Ohio State, are becoming a force to reckon with both inside and out of the rugged Big Ten conference. Thursday night's win over the Wolverines was a testament to the power of their inside-outside game, wherein forwards Cody Zeller and Christian Watford dominated inside, scoring 18 and 25 points, respectively, with Watford grabbing high-scorer honors for the game. Watford also grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists.

Indiana led for most of the game, taking a 39-32 lead into the break, but the Wolverines fought back in the second half to tie the game and briefly lead in the final moments, but Zeller and Watford were simply too much to handle and the Hoosiers held on for the win.

Watford, a 6'9" junior forward from Alabama, hit on eight of 11 shots from the field and had three 3-pointers in four attempts, while freshman Zeller - who's older brother Tyler plays for the North Carolina Tar Heels - was eight for 10 and displayed moves in the paint that belied his tender age.

The Hoosiers finished last season with nine straight losses and did not play in any post-season tournaments past the Big Ten. This season, with the addition of Zeller as a complement to Watford inside, they appear to have their sights set on a lengthy run beyond the regular season.

Hollis Thompson, Jason Clark Lead Hoyas to Comeback Win over Marquette, 73-70

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Hollis Thompson hit a tie-breaking, game-winning 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and Jason Clark pumped in 18 of his game high 26 points in the second half, as the 9th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas defeated #20 Marquette, 73-70, before more than 11,000 rabid fans at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

Trailing by as many as 17 points in the second half, Clark and his Hoya teammates stages a furious rally to catch and finally surpass the Golden Eagles, sending them to their third loss against 12 wins. Georgetown improved to 13-1 and 3-0 in the Big East with their 11th straight victory. The Hoyas' only loss was a November 21, 67-63, setback to Kansas.

Sharpshooting Thompson was deadly from the field, hitting 6 of 7 shots, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. He finished with 16 points. Clark was less accurate but more persistent, making nine of 14 shots (2-for-7 on 3-pointers). The Hoyas shot an incredible 63% (27-43) for the game while holding Marquette to 44%.

Thompson, a junior forward, is second on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game. Clark, a senior guard, leads the squad with a 15.9 points per game average. It was Clark's fourth 20+ point outburst this season, two shy of his season high 28, which he scored against Chaminade in the Aloha Classic.

Off to one of their best starts in school history, the Hoyas hope to continue improving as the Big East season unfolds. Last season, they lost five of their last six Big East games - including an first round loss to UConn in the conference tournament, but still made the NCAA tourney, though they were eliminated in the opening round by VCU, 74-56.

NOTABLE: Khalif Wyatt pumped in 21 points to lead the Temple Owls to a 78-73 win over #5 Duke. It was Temple's first win over the Blue Devils since 1996. The unranked Owls are 10-3. Both Temple and 12-2 Duke have not lost at home this season.

#14 Kansas (11-3) got their Big 12 season started with a convincing, 67-49 home win over 23rd-ranked, 12-2, Kansas State.

Top-ranked Syracuse outscored Providence 51-39 in the second half to extend their winning streak to 16 games to open the season with an 87-73 win. The #1 Orange are one of just three unbeaten college squads. Missouri (14-0) and Murray State (15-0).

Anthony Davis Has 4th Straight Double-Double as Kentucky Rolls to 14-1

College Hoops Player of the Day for Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Leading at half time with a 30-27 edge, the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans gave #2 Kentucky something to discuss during intermission.

Apparently, with conference play beginning in just four days - January 7 vs. South Carolina - the Wildcats worked things out and blitzed the Trojans in the second half, scoring 46 points to Little Rock's 21 for an easy-looking 73-51 victory.

When all was said and done, the Wildcats held their opponents to just 31% shooting, while Kentucky hit half their field goal attempts (28-56), out-rebounded them 47-19 and blocked 12 shots. Despite their slow start and 19 turnovers, the Wildcats proved too much for the smaller Trojan squad.

Three of those blocks belonged to freshman sensation Anthony Davis, who leads the nation with 67 blocks. Davis also led the Wildcats on the scoreboard with 22 points, and rebounds, with 16.

The 6'10" Davis hit on 9 of 11 shots from the field and notched his 4th straight double-double and 8th overall.

Kentucky is 14-1 and have won six straight following their only setback, a 73-72 loss at Indiana.

NOTABLE: Seton Hall topped the Huskies of Connecticut for the first time in ten years (2001), 75-63, as Jordan Theodore scored 19 points and distributed 11 assists. Three other Pirate starters scored in double figures and held the Huskies to just 35% shooting.

Kenny Gabriel Posts Triple-Double for Auburn in 67-41 Win

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, January 2, 2012

Auburn won its ninth straight home game, defeating Bethune-Cookman decisively, 67-41 as the 10-3 Tigers held the Wildcats to just 24% shooting from the field and won the battle of the boards, 41-28.

The main component of Auburn's defensive display was also their leading scorer. Kenny Gabriel scored a game high 24 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and added 10 blocked shots for the rare triple-double. The senior forward also contributed four steals and three assists, going 11-for-13 from the floor without ever stepping to the foul line. Gabriel hit two of his three 3-point shots.

Gabriel's double dozen points matched his career high. This was the third time he's scored 24 points, the most recent coming about a week ago when he put in 24 in an 83-76 loss to UTEP.

The Tigers face stiff competition in the SEC from a handful of teams, including Kentucky, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi State. The Tigers hit the road on Wednesday, January 4, when they conclude the non-conference part of their schedule with a visit to Florida State, then open SEC play at Vanderbilt on January 7 and host #2 Kentucky on January 11.

Trey Burke Is Lights Out for Michigan in Win over Minnesota; Pitt Loses Third Straight

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, January 1, 2012

The Michigan Wolverines are hoping to get back to the kind of quality team that was a regular at the NVAA tournament, but they've only been to the tournament twice since 1998 - in 2009 and 2011 - both times being beaten in the second round.

This season's vintage of Wolverine basketball may make a better showing, especially if they begin shooting the ball better. In Sunday's 61-56 win over Minnesota, the Wolverines shot just 38.5% from the field, but were bailed out by Trey Burke's sharpshooting.

The 6'1" freshman guard scored a game high and career-best 27 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including going 2-for-2 from outside the 3-point line and making 9 of 11 free throws. While Burke was efficient, the rest of the Michigan squad sot a combined 12-for-41 for the game, making just 4 of 18 3-point attempts and hitting 6 of 12 from the foul line.

The Wolverines, ranked 18th in the latest AP poll, won their seventh straight, improving to 12-2 and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Their next two games are both against ranked opponents. Michigan travels to Indiana on January 5 and then returns home for a meeting with Wisconsin on January 8.

NOTABLE: Once a top 10 team, the Pittsburgh Panthers have hit a rough spot in their schedule, losing their last three straight, including Sunday's 66-63 loss to 13-2 Cincinnati. The two previous losses were to Wagner and Notre Dame, after the Panthers had won nine straight and were cruising with an 11-1 record. Now, at 11-4, he Panthers are in danger of falling out of the Top 25.

Kidd-Gilchrist Leads Kentucky Past Louisville with 24 Points and 19 Rebounds

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, December 31, 2011

Whenever Kentucky and Louisville get together for a friendly game of college hoops, it's usually a good time for the fans, as Wildcats' coach John Calipari and Cardinals' coach Rick Pitino routinely send to the floor some of the top talent in the nation.

Saturday's festivities at Rupp Arena were well worth the price of admission as #3 Kentucky bettered #4 Louisville, 69-62, extending the Wildcats' home win streak to 44 games.

Kentucky is notable for Calipari's recruiting, which every year produces freshmen blessed with an abundance of talent and the current squad is not an exception. This year's starting five features three freshmen, including 6'7" forward, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who guided the Wildcats to victory with 24 points and 19 rebounds.

Kidd-Gilchrist was 7-for-16 from the field, with two of three from 3-point range, and 8-for-13 from the foul line. Both his scoring an rebounding were career (14 games) bests for the Somerdale, NJ native. His double-double effort was just his second of the season.

Fellow frosh Anthony Davis pitched in 18 points, 10 boards and six blocked shots. Davis saved all his scoring for the second half.

The game featured some of the most contentious defense of the season, with Kentucky winning while shooting just 30%. Louisville shot 32%, but Kentucky really made hay at the foul line, cashing 32 of 43 charity shots.

Louisville reserve guard Russ Smith came off the bench to score 30 points in 27 minutes for the Cardinals.

NOTABLE: Indiana did it again, knocking off #2 Ohio State, 74-70, just three weeks after setting down then-#1 Kentucky, 73-72. Entering the game, the 13-1 Hoosiers were ranked #13 in the last AP poll, and are certain to move up on Monday, when the new poll is released. Ohio State suffered just its second loss of the season. Their #2 ranking appears to be in jeopardy.

George Mason Tops Charleston, 84-76, as Ryan Pearson Pours in 35

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 30, 2011

George Mason's leading scorer, Ryan Pearson, pumped in 35 points as the Patriots finished off their 2011 schedule in fine fashion with an 84-76 road win over a solid Charleston team from the Southern Conference.

Pearson, a 6'6" senior forward, made 15 of 25 shots from the field, one of three from beyond the arc, cashed all four of his free throws and hauled in a game high 14 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. His 35 points were a career high, and he added four assists, two steals and a blocked shot in an all-around superior performance.

Antwaine Wiggins had 19 points and 9 boards for the 10-3 Cougars.

The Patriots, out of the Colonial Athletic Association, shot 52% for the game, improving to 9-4 on the season and 1-0 in conference play (defeated Towson, 65-53). George Mason is best remembered for their 2006 NCAA tournament run, when they topped Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut, before falling to eventual champion Florida in the Final Four semi-final, 73-58.

Last season, the Patriots won 16 straight games, lost in the CAA championship game to VCU, 79=63, but were an at-large invite to the NCAA tourney where they beat Villanova in their opening game before losing to Ohio State in the second round.

St. Mary's 12-2 After Whipping BYU on Jones, Delladevoda Double Doubles

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 29, 2011

There are a slew of teams scattered across the landscape of America with solid records that have somehow escaped the notice of poll participants.

One such under-appreciated squad is the St. Mary's Gaels, which opened their West Coast Conference (WCC) campaign with a strong, 98-82, victory over Brigham Young, improving their record to 12-2.

The talented Geals, which missed out on an NCAA invitation last season after losing the conference championship to Gonzaga, were led Thursday night by a pair of double doubles from junior point guard Matthew Delladevoda and senior forward Rob Jones.

Jones led all scorers with 24 points and held sway in the paint with 15 boards for his 9th double-double of the season Jones was just 6-for-14 from the field, but was a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line. Delladevoda pitched in 18 points while dishing a career high 12 assists. The gritty guard also grabbed six rebounds and had four steals.

The Gaels took a 53-43 lead into the half and held the Cougars at bay for the duration, opening up a lead of 22 points in the second half. St. Mary's shot a combined 55% for the game, including 12 3-pointers.

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Syracuse, Ohio State Retain 1-2 Status in Polls; Fab Melo, Will Buford Star

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Undefeated Syracuse opened their 2011-12 Big East campaign with a trademark, 75-49, victory over Seton Hall in which the Orange deployed coach Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense to force 23 turnovers, 17 steals and 15 blocked shots.

Sophomore center Fab Melo collected 10 of those blocks, a school record, to go with his 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting for his first career double-double. The 7-foot Brazilian also added seven rebounds in the rout of the Pirates, which shot just 32% from the field.

Syracuse, ranked #1 in the AP Poll, improved to 14-0. The win was the 870th for coach Boeheim, leaving him in fifth place all time, six behind Kentucky's Adolph Rupp and nine behind North Carolina's Dean Smith.

#2 Ohio State was also opening conference action, theirs the Big Ten, and the Buckeyes responded with an 87-54 trouncing of Northwestern.

The Buckeyes shot 48% while holding the wildcats to 32% shooting for the game. Ohio State made 10 of 20 3-pointers, including 5-for-7 by senior guard William Buford, who led all scorers with a career high 28 points on 9-for-14 shooting.

Sophomore Jared Sullinger tossed in 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Buckeyes held the top two scorers in the conference - John Shurna and Drew Crawford - to a combined 24 points on 9-for-30 shooting.

The 6'6" Buford continues to move up the Buckeye's career scoring leaders list, chasing Dennis Hopson's 2,096. Buford is averaging 16.6 points per game and needs 439 to catch Hopson.

The Buckeyes are 13-1 and favored to capture the Big Ten championship. Their win over Northwestern was the 31st straight time the Buckeyes have downed the Wildcats in Columbus, dating back to 1977.

Moe Harkless Goes for 32 and 13 as Red Storm Dumps Providence

College Hoops Player of the Day for Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Conference play opened in the Big Ten and the Big East on Tuesday, and the spotlight fell on the St. John's Red Storm, at home in Carneseca Arena to face Providence, which came into the game sporting a gaudy 10-2 record.

But it was St. John's, which improved to 7-5 with a dominating, 91-67, victory led by true freshman Moe Harkless, who was simply unstoppable, hitting 14 of 17 shots from the field for a career high 32 points.

Harkless, a 6'8" forward with considerable upside, also controlled the boards, snatching a game high 13 rebounds, for his 4th double-double of the season, all coming within the last five games.

The Red Storm hasn't fared well against ranked opponents this season, losing to Kentucky, Arizona and Texas A&M, but they got off to a fine start in conference play. Their other losses were to Northeastern and Detroit.

With three straight wins, St. John's looks forward to their next test, when they face the Connecticut Huskies in Storrs, CN, at noon on New Year's Eve.

Rodney McGruder Scores 26 as Kansas State Captures Diamond Head Classic

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, December 25, 2011

There were only four college basketball games played on Christmas, all of them out on the island of Hawaii, in the Diamond Head Classic at Honolulu.

Kansas State took one of those games, 77-60, over Long Beach State, capturing the championship to improve their record to 10-1, completing a successful trip with their third win in four days.

The Wildcats knocked off Southern Illinois in the opening round, 83-58, and reached the final with a 78-70 win over UTEP on the 23rd.

In the championship game, junior guard Rodney McGruger was nearly flawless on the court, making 10 of 11 shots from the field, including two of three 3-pointers, and six of seven from the foul line for a game high and career high 28 points.

McGruder's scoring outburst made him the team's leading scorer. Kansas State hosts Howard on New Year's Eve, then opens 2012 with a conference match-up at Kansas on January 4th.

Pierre Jackson Lifts Baylor Past Kevin Jones and West Virginia, in OT, 83-81

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 23, 2011

Reserve guard Pierre Jackson scored the last five points in regulation, including a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left to send the game into overtime and scored the first three points in overtime with another bomb from beyond the arc as the #6 Baylor Bears were pressed into an extra session by West Virginia, finally emerging with the 83-81 OT win, in Las Vegas.

Jackson, a 5'10" Las Vegas native put on a show back in his hometown, scoring a career high 23 points on 9-for-16 shooting (4-for-7 from 3-point range) to go with five rebounds, four assists and three steals, helping to keep the Bears undefeated at 12-0.

For West Virginia, a 9-3 team that didn't receive a single vote in the latest AP Top 25 poll, the narrow loss was bittersweet, at least proving that the Mountaineers could go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country.

They wouldn't have done it without the monster performance of Kevin Jones, who was simply unstoppable in the paint, scoring a game high 26 points and ripping down 17 rebounds. Jones was 13-for-21 from the field, including a pair of three pointers. His board work included six offensive rebounds.

Jones, who averages a double-double (20.4, 11.5) had his eighth of the year. Amazingly, neither his point nor rebound total was a season high for the 6'8" senior. He had 18 rebounds in a loss to Kent State on November 15th, then scored 29 two nights later in a 97-62 win over Alcorn State.

Arnett Moultrie Double-doubles with 24 and 14 as Miss. State Wins 11th Straight

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 22, 2011

On a night in which three starters - Dee Bost, Rodney Hood and Jalen Steele - were a combined 8-for-31 from the field, Mississippi's State's junior forward, Arnett Moultrie, put his team on his back and delivered one of his finest performances of the season.

Moultrie hit eight of 11 field goals, was 8-for-8 from the foul line for 24 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished four assists - each game highs - as the Bulldogs outlasted Northwestern State, 82-67, for their 11th straight win and an overall 12-1 record. Their only loss was to Arkon, 68-58, in their second game of the season.

At 6'11", Moultrie present a difficult match-up for most teams, but Moultrie really had his way against the undersized Demons. Thursday marked the 7th time this season he's recorded a double-double and he's only played in 10 of the Bulldogs' 13 games.

Mississippi State has been on the cusp of breaking out the past two seasons - going 17-14 last season, without Moultrie, and 24-12 in 2009-10 - though they're still awaiting an NCAA tournament bid. With their hot start and Moultrie on his game, the Bulldogs appear poised to challenge Kentucky, Florida and Vanderbilt in the SEC when conference play begins in January.

Next up for the Bulldogs will be their toughest test of the year, as they host unbeaten Baylor on December 28. The Bears are 11-0 and ranked #6 in the AP Poll. The game will be televised on ESPN, starting at 9:00 pm ET.

Vanderbilt Buries Layfayette as John Jenkins Drops in 27

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Vanderbilt junior guard John Jenkins hit seven of nine 3-pointers and was 9-for-12 overall, leading the Commodores to a dominating, 89-58, victory over the Lafayette Leopards.

Jenkins finished with 27 points in 27 minutes, pushing his season-long average to an even 20 points per game, tops on the team. The 6'4" Tennessee native added four assists, a rebound and one steal.

The Commodores have put together an 8-4 record this season, with odd losses to Cleveland State and Indiana State, plus back-to-back overtime defeats at the hands of Xavier and Louisville.

Vandy's next game is also a tough one, at Marquette, on December 29. The Golden Eagles are 10-1 and rank 10th in the latest AP Poll.

Darien Brothers Lights Up ODU with 38 Points for Richmond

College Hoops Player of the Day for Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Darien Brothers, a 6'3" Richmond guard averaging less than 10 points per game, scored 12 of his career high 38 points in overtime to lead the Spiders to a 90-82 victory over Old Dominion.

Brothers spent most of the night torching the Monarchs from beyond the 3-point line, where he was 7-for-11. He went 9-for-15 overall and added 14 of 15 free throws.

Richmond, out of the Atlantic-10 conference, is now 7-5, but should be considered one of the contenders in their conference, which they won last season, taking down Dayton in the final of the A-10 tourney, 67-54, and closing out their season with nine straight wins (two in the NCAA tourney) before losing to Kansas, 77-57, in the Sweet 16 round.

The Spiders take their game out to the West coast next, to battle UCLA in what should prove an interesting road test for Richmond and a gut check for the Bruins, on Friday, December 23. The A-10 regular season opener for the Spiders is on January 4, at the Charlotte.

Winter the Perfect Time for Golf

With the holidays upon us, many people will have time off from work, and planning a short trip - especially from the cold Northeast to the warm South - might be part of one's plans to ring out the old year and ring in the new.

With snow on the ground and temperatures the past few months not conducive to optimal outdoors activities like tennis or golf, heading to a lower latitude is probably the best way to avoid winter blahs and, so to speak, get back into the swing of things.

If golf is on the agenda, there are plenty of courses in the Southern states, especially the hot spots of Florida Alabama and Mississippi, so be sure to pack or ship your clubs and stock up on some premium golf balls to make your excursion not only enjoyable, but satisfying from a handicap perspective.

Another idea is to wait for the inevitable sales on golf equipment in January, where clubs, bags, shoes, caps and specialty items like distance golf balls will be on sale.

You can save, snatching up good deals by buying at the right time, then taking your gear down to the lush links of the sunny South.

Kevin Jones Scores 25 with 14 Boards as West Virginia Rolls

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, December 19, 2011

On a day in which two ranked teams met defeat on the courts, coach Bob Huggins and his West Virginia Mountaineers made their case for inclusion in the Top 25.

#13 Kansas was dumped by Davidson, 80-74 and LSU dropped #11 Marquette, 67-59. Meanwhile, West Virginia improved to 8-2 with a 72-53 blowout over Tennessee Tech.

The Mountaineers were buoyed by the all-around performance of Kevin Jones, who scored a game-high 25 points and hauled in 14 rebounds, also tops for the contest.

A 6'8" senior forward, Jones, the Mountaineers' leading scorer and rebounder (20.3, 11.4), had his sixth double-double of the season, going 11-for-20 from the field despite missing both of his 3-point attempts. He's scored in double figures every game this season, and the four times he didn't have double figures in rebounds, Jones pulled down eight and nine, twice each.

The Mountaineers two losses came against Kent on November 15 and Mississippi State on December 3. Since their loss to the Bulldogs, West Virginia has won four straight, including a double overtime win against then-unbeaten Kansas State and a 77-66 win over Miami.

Whether or not West Virginia belonga in the Top 25 will be put to the test in back-to-back games at Baylor on December 23 and in their home opener of their Big East schedule, against Villanova on the 28th.

The Mountaineers received no votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, released Monday.

Super-sub Michael Dixon Pours in 30 as Missouri Improves to 11-0

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, December 18, 2011

When it comes to winning conference championships and making deep runs in the NCAA tournament, depth is a key ingredient, which includes having a solid sixth man coming off the bench to add a spark to the offense.

Missouri's Michael Dixon, probably the best sixth man in the country, dropped 30 points on William & Mary in 28 minutes as the Tigers improved to 11-0 (8-0 at home) with a 97-56 romp over the visiting Tribe.

The #10 Tigers raced off to a 19-0 lead and never looked back. They've won all of their home games by a minimum of 15 points, but also hammered Notre Dame by 29 and Cal by 39 at neutral locations. Villanova came the closest to beating the Mizzou, losing by 10 at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic on December 6.

Dixon was firing at will in his career high effort, hitting 13 of 19 shots, including 3 of 7 from 3-point range. His 30-point output easily eclipsed his prior best scoring effort of 19, which he had against Northwestern State on December 2nd.

The Tigers face Illinois nest, on December 22, and begin conference play on January 3rd, against Oklahoma.

Zeller Goes for 31 in 26 Minutes as Tar Heels Roll to 9-2

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, December 17, 2011

Even though they've dropped two games already, the North Carolina Tar Heels are still a force with which to be reckoned, especially when their twin towers, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, are having their way in the paint.

Henson scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, but Zeller led all scorers with 31 points, to go with his 10 rebounds, as the Tar Heels dominated Appalachian State, 97-82, improving to 9-2 on the season and 6-0 at home.

The final score doesn't truly indicate just how badly the smaller Mountaineers were outplayed, as no North Carolina starter played more than 29 minutes. Zeller, the 7-foot forward many believe to be one of the top three big men in the country, did his damage in just 26 minutes, making 11 of 15 shots and hitting nine of 10 from the foul line.

Zeller's 31 was just one shy of his career high, which he scored in North Carolina's opening game in last season's NCAA tournament, a 102-87 rout of Long Island. The ten boards gave him his third double-double of the current season.

The 6th-ranked Tar Heels shot 55% for the game, racing out to a 48-32 lead at the break. Coach Roy Williams played mostly subs in the second half, allowing the Mountaineers to stay relatively close, though never threatening North Carolina's lead.

With just four more games before opening ACC play on January 7 against Boston College, North Carolina's toughest opponent in upcoming games will be the Texas Longhorns, on December 21. On Saturday, the unranked, 9-2 Longhorns knocked off Temple, 77-65.

Jorge Gutierrez Stops Nation's Leading Scorer, Pops for 24 as Golden Bears Win 8th Straight at Home

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 16, 2011

Cal's Golden Bears improved to 8-0 at home and 9-2 overall, as they held the nation's leading scorer, Weber State's Damian Lillard, to a season-low 14 points, with a 77-57 win.

The reason for Lillard's dull performance was due in large part to the defense of Cal senior guard Jorge Gutierrez, who limited Lillard to 4-for-17 shooting while pumping in a game high 24 points himself.

Gutierrez was on the money from the field, canning 8 of 12 shots, including 3 of 5 3-pointers and making 5 of 6 from the foul line.

The Golden Bears took an early lead and expanded it to 32-18 by the break and cruised home with one of their easier wins of the season. Cal has been pounding opponents at home of late, beating San Jose State, 81-36 and Jackson State 73-46 in their previous two games at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.

Holdiay Break Perfect Time to Hit the Beach

Since this is a slow time for college hoops - most colleges are in the midst of term finals or have already broken for their holiday break, perhaps some other sporting activities will prove entertaining enough to get yur winterized body off the couch and out the door, preferably to a beach for surfing or to a nice cove or bay for scuba diving or snorkeling.

In either scenario a proper wetsuit would be required wear against the possibly cool conditions of the water, and while squeezing into a skin-tight wrapper isn't for everyone, not all wetsuitsare created equal.

If your outdoor closet isn't already equipped with suitable surf or diving gear, one should expect to spend upwards of $125 for a full suit or anywhere from $65 to $150 for a jacket alone. Of course, savings can be found by buying a combination of a full suit and jacket and adding accessories, like gloves or hooded vests.

Some of the best wetsuits available are those produced by Body Glove, which can be found in most better scuba and surf shops or at the company website. One advantage is that the holidays aren't actually the biggest time of year for surf and beach gear dealers, so deals are out there.

If you're lucky enough to already have your wetsuit ready, then you're all set for some holiday surf.

Missouri at 10-0 after Dominating Kennesaw St., 104-67

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 15, 2011

#8 Missouri reached the 10-0 mark with a win over Kennesaw State that looked more like a pick-up scrimmage or a shoot-around as the Tigers shot 60% against their undermanned opponents.

Missouri had five players in double figures in the 104-67 rout, including 18 points from both forward Ricardo Ratliffe and sixth man, guard Michael Dixon, who was seemingly everywhere in his 25 minutes of floor time, hitting five of seven shots, including a pair of treys, 6-for-6 from the foul line, and had two rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot.

Dixon is one of the most productive bench players in the Big 12, providing a spark for Mizzou whenever he steps on the floor, averaging 10.9 points per game with 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals.

Ratliffe led the Tigers with seven rebounds - three on the offensive end - and also had one of Missouri's 14 steals. The Tigers hit 39 of 65 shots, only six of 18 from 3-point range and were 20-for-25 from the foul line.

The Owls' Delbert Love led all scorers with 27 points, but he was one of just two players in double figures for Kennesaw State.

Missouri is 7-0 at home and will have the opportunity to extend that streak when they host William & Mary on December 17 and #19 Illinois on December 22.

Antwaine Wiggins Scores 24, 8-1 Charleston Drops Tennessee, 71-65

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Charleston forward Antwaine Wiggins couldn't get his free throws to drop, hitting just one of five foul shots in College of Charleston's 71-65 win over Tennessee.

Fortunately, for him and the Cougars, he was lights out from the field, hitting 10 of 12 shots, including three of four from 3-point range for a game-high 24 points.

Normally, Wiggins, a 6'7" senior from Greenville, Tennessee, is OK from the charity stripe at about 60%, but his 1-for-5 effort was a career low on a night in which he tied a career best for the 8-1 Cougars. He also helped out on the boards, with eight rebounds. Wiggins leads the Cougars in scoring this season, averaging 18.1 points per game.

Last season, Charleston just missed an automatic invitation to the NCAA tournament, losing to Wofford in the final of the Southern conference tourney, 77-67. Instead, the Cougars accepted an offer to play in the NIT, where they won two games - over Dayton and Cleveland State - before falling in the quarterfinals to Wichita State, 82-75.

Tennessee dropped to 3-6 on the year. The Vols have suffered under first year head coach Cuonzo Martin, who took over the basketball program after Bruce Pearl was fired in March.

Next up for the Cougars is a home game with plenty of local flavor, as they battle Charleston Southern on December 17 before traveling to play #4 Louisville on the 20th.

Marcus Jordan Matches Career High 28 in UCF Win over NCA&T

College Hoops Player of the Day for Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Like his father Michael, UCF junior Marcus Jordan is turning into a prolific scorer. In Tuesday's 77-65 win over North Carolina A&T, Jordan matched his career high with 28 points, helping the Knights improve to 7-2 on the season, in preparation for what appears to be a Central Florida run at the Conference-USA championship as the Knights, along with Tulane, Marshall and Southern Miss seek an end to Memphis dominating the conference.

Jordan got his game going early on, scoring 17 in the first half, including four of his five 3-pointers, as UCF built a 39-26 lead at the break. Jordan has scored in double figures in each of the seven games he's played this season and got some help from his older brother, Jeff, a senior, who came off the bench to score nine points and distribute six assists. Marcus finished 8-for-17 from the field, adding three assists and a pair of steals.

UCF began last season with a 14-0 mark, but then lost eight straight games as they struggled to a 6-10 mark in conference play. The Knights finished the 2010-11 season a respectable 21-12, however, eventually losing in the semi-final of the College Basketball Invitational to Creighton.

E.J. Singler Leads Ducks to 79-70 Win over Portland State; Murray State Racers in Top 25

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, December 12, 2011

With no Top 25 teams in action on Monday, one meaningful game was played in the Pacific Northwest, as the Oregon Ducks improved to 6-2 with a 79-70 home win over Portland State.

Leading all scorers was Oregon's junior forward, E.J. Singler, with 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Singler, the younger brother of Duke alum, Kyle Singler, who led the Blue Devils to the national championship last season, also grabbed seven rebounds for the Ducks.

NOTABLE: As expected, the latest AP Top 25 poll, released on Monday, has Syracuse as the #1 team in the country, followed by Ohio State and Kentucky, two teams that suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday.

Polls being what they are, the teams that beat the Buckeyes and Wildcats - Kansas and Indiana - were ranked #12 and #18 respectively.

The real shocker, however, was Murray State's inclusion in the Top 25. The Racers come in at #24 and are 10-0, but play in the relative obscurity of the Ohio Valley conference. Their 76-72 win at Memphis on Sunday had a great deal to do with their inclusion among college basketball's elite teams. Murray State hasn't been ranked since the end of the 1997-98 season, when they showed up at #25.

Murray State Upends Memphis, 76-72, as Donte Poole scores 20, Hits 6 of 8 Threes

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, December 11, 2011

The Memphis Tigers are almost certain to fall out of the Top 25 in Monday's polls after losing its third game of the season, dropping their record to 5-3 with a 76-72 loss to unbeaten (10-0) Murray State.

The Racers, the only undefeated team out of the Ohio Valley conference, looks like a lock to capture that conference title and proceed to the NCAA tourney. Their win at Memphis, over a ranked opponent, bolsters their already impressive resume and likely marks the end of Memphis domination of Conference-USA. The Tigers have won the conference tournament five of the last six years.

Murray State was paced by senior guard, Donte Poole's 20 points. The sharpshooter was on target on seven of 11 attempts from the field, including going 6-for-8 from outside the 3-point line. Memphis' Will Barton led all scorers with 27 points in the losing effort.

NOTABLE: Following the despicable display of unsportsmanlike behavior in Sunday's Xavier-Cincinnati game (won by Xavier, 76-53) which ended in a bench-clearing brawl with 9.4 seconds left, the two programs issued suspensions to a total of eight players, four from each squad.

For the Bearcats, the major blow will come in the middle, with center Yancy Gates receiving a six-game suspension along with junior Cheikh Mbodj and freshman Octavius Ellis. Freshman Ge'Lawn Guyn will be suspended for one game.

Xavier issued a one-game suspension to senior guard Tu Holloway and will sit freshman Dez Wells and walk-on Landen Amos for four games. Junior guard Mark Lyons received a two game suspension.

The two conferences which the teams represent - the Atlantic-10 (Xavier) and Big East (Cincinnati) - indicated that they will not issue additional suspensions. The NCAA has not weighed in on the matter, though they could issue additional penalties.

Thomas Robinson, Christian Watford Lead Kansas, Indiana Past #2 Ohio State, #1 Kentucky

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, December 10, 2011

With only the Army-Navy game and some Division 1 playoff games on tap Saturday for college sports fans, attention turned to college hoops as ESPN presented back-to-back "road test" games featuring the two top teams in the AP Poll, #1 Kentucky and #2 Ohio State.

In the first match-up, the Buckeyes were overwhelmed by an aggressive Kansas team which led from the opening tip to the final buzzer and handed Ohio State its first loss of the season, 78-67.

Paced by junior forward, Thomas Robinson's 21 points, the Buckeyes had few answers inside as their star player, Jared Sullinger, sat out the contest with a foot injury.

Robinson's 21 points tied Will Buford's total for Ohio State for game-high honors, though Robinson was much more deadly in the lane and around the hoop, going 7-for-9 from the field and nailing 7 of 8 free throws while ripping down seven rebounds.

In the second game, unranked Indiana remained unbeaten at 9-0, knocking off the #1 Kentucky Wildcats, 73-72, on Christian Watford's buzzer-beating three-pointer that sent players and fans streaming onto the court like the Hoosiers had just captured the national championship.

The game was a statistical oddity, in that Kentucky outshot Indiana, 56%-43%, but the Hoosiers made hay outside the three-point line, hitting nine of 15 attempts, easily outshining the Wildcats' 2-for-9 effort from beyond the arc.

At one point in the second half, the red-hot Hoosiers made seven straight threes to build their lead to 10 points, but Kentucky continued to play hard inside and eventually take a two-point lead with just 5.7 seconds remaining on Doron Lamb's free throw.

Watford, a 6'9" junior with range, led all scorers with 20 points, made 8 of 15 shots from the field, going 4-for-6 from three-point range, including the clutch game winner.

With upsets to the top two teams in the polls, #3 Syracuse, an easy, 85-50, winner over George Washington went to 10-0 and will likely be the nation's #1 team when the new poll comes out on Monday. Indiana will surely be ranked, how high they go and how low Kentucky and Ohio State fall is a matter left to the voters.

No matter what, the Wildcats and Buckeyes each took home failing grades from their early-season road tests.

Hospital Scurbs Making Bold Fashion Statement

What more can be said about Blue Sky Scrubs and their fantastic line of fashionable line of hospital scrub uniforms other than that they are transforming dull, drab, everyday hospital wear into a trendy, stylish fashion segment with work clothes that are not only functional, but attention-getting, comfortable and diverse.

Some of the company's latest offerings include urban cell scrubs in a variety of colors with shirt pockets designed to keep cell phones handy and scrub hats in a wide variety of custom patterns including florals, polka dots, and geometrical designs.

For those less-inclined to go the completely fashion-ista route, the company offers - on it's easily-navigable, eye-catching website, a complete line of scrubs for women which can be accessed by following the link below:

http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/

Blue Sky Scrubs has been offering choice in a clothing line that previously had been dominated by the typical and mundane style that has dominated the medical field for decades. The offerings of shirts, pants, lab coats, hats and accessories - for both men and women - are not only transforming the look of hospital and medical workers, but are also adding an element of fun and individuality that is likely to have an overall effect on worker and patient well-being.

The line of clothing is so good-looking that some of the outfits will easily double as lounge wear or comfort clothing around the house.

Boynton Pours in 28, #12 Gators Roll Past Rider, 90-69

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 9, 2011

After an early season schedule that saw the Florida Gators play Ohio State, Syracuse and Arizona, coach Billy Donovan and his players got a bit of a break in the schedule, topping Metro Atlantic's Rider Broncs, 90-69, on a neutral court in Jacksonville.

Fewer than 3500 fans were in attendance to see junior guard Kenny Boynton put on an offensive display with a season high 26 points on 9 of 13 shooting, including five 3-pointers on nine attempts.

Despite two losses, the 7-2 Gators are ranked #12 in the country, basically because their defeats came at the hands of two powerhouse programs, Ohio State and Syracuse, currently the #2 and #3 teams in the country, respectively, according to AP voters.

Boynton added five rebounds and three assists, and has scored in double figures in all but one of Florida's games this season.

The Gators look to be one of the top teams in the SEC this season, along with Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi State. Last season, they lost in the SEC championship to the John Calipari's Wildcats, currently the top team in the polls, and reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, falling to eventual runner-up Butler, 74-71.

Even though Florida and Rider each shot 49% from the field and 42% from 3-point range, the difference in the game was possessions and three-point shots. Florida only turned to ball over six times, while Rider committed 12 turnovers. The Gators also squeezed off 14 more shots than the Broncs, and hit 14 treys to Riders eight.

The Gators will be off for a week, their next game not until December 17, when they host #25, Texas A&M.

Kevin Jones Drops 30 on K-State in Double OT Win

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 8, 2011

Kevin Jones scored 30 points, including a tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation that sent the game into its first overtime as West Virginia dealt the Kansas State wildcats their first loss of the season, in double OT, 85-80.

The nationally-televised (ESPN) basketball treat was one of the most closely-contested games of the season, with Bob Huggins' Mountaineers facing the Wildcats, coached by Frank Martin, a former assistant under Huggins at both Cincinnati and Kansas State.

Played at a suspect "neutral" court in Wichita, fan support was largely in favor of Kansas State. The two teams batted through 17 ties, nine lead changes and an extra ten minutes of play in the two overtime periods.

Jones, a 6'8" senior forward and the Wildcats' leading scorer at 21.8 points per game, popped a career high with his 30, breaking the mark he set just three weeks ago when he pumped in 29 points in a 97-62 win over Alcorn State. Getting 30 - even in 49 minutes of floor time - against an unbeaten opponent in unfriendly territory, was a defining achievement.

Hitting 12 of 17 shots, including two of three 3-pointers, Jones led all scorers and recorded his fifth double double of the season with 12 rebounds.

Darryl (Truck) Bryant, a senior guard from Brooklyn, knocked down 24 points for the Mountaineers. Rodney McGruder led the Kansas State scoring with 20 points.

The loss dropped Kansas State to 5-1. 5-2 West Virginia previously suffered losses against Kent State and Mississippi State.

Jeffery Taylor Pops in 30 as Vanderbilt Halts Two-Game Skid

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Commodores of Vanderbilt improved to 6-3 on the year with a tight, 87-83, road win over the Davidson Wildcats.

The victory was keyed by a career high 30 points from senior forward Jeffery Taylor and 22 points from junior guard John Jenkins, who leads the Commodores in scoring at 21.3 points per game.

Taylor hit 12 of 17 shots from the field, including three of four from 3-point range, leading Vanderbilt back from two straight losses - to Xavier and Louisville.

While the Commodores field a competitive team night in and night out, their three losses so far this season stem from a lack of depth. On Wednesday, Taylor and Jenkins accounted for 60% of the scoring. Add in Festus Ezeli's 15 points, playing in his first game of the season, and that's 77% of the scoring from just three players, not exactly what one might call balance.

If Vanderbilt can develop some players who can contribute off the bench, they should do very well in the SEC. Even with the scoring set-up as it is currently configured, Vanderbilt will be a competitive team in the conference, as there are only three or four teams with comparable ability.

Thomas Robinson Leads Jayhawks Past Long Beach with Career High 26 Points

College Hoops Player of the Day for DAY, Month, 2011

It hasn't been the best of starts for 6-2 Kansas, having already suffered a couple of tough losses - to Kentucky and Duke - but the 13th-ranked Jayhawks are surely a prime contender in the Big 12, as usual.

Led by Thomas Robinson's career high 26 points, the Jayhawks took down Long Beach State on Tuesday, 88-80, in advance of another tough outing on December 10, when they host #2 Ohio State, unbeaten through eight games.

Robinson, a 6'9" junior forward from the Washington, DC area, spent most of his first two seasons at Kansas riding the bench, but has emerged as a major force in the paint on both ends of the court. Averaging a double-double this season with 17.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, Robinson snatched 11 rebounds to complement his scoring, his seventh double-double of the season.

Last season, Kansas had one of the best seasons in its long and storied basketball history, finishing 35-3, fallling just short of reaching the Final Four when they fell to VCU, 71-61, in the fourth round of the NCAA tournament.

They hope to repeat as Big 12 champions this year, though there is tough opposition in the conference from teams such as Baylor, Texas A&M and Missouri.

Providence Tops Brown as Vincent Council Misses Triple-Double by One Rebound

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, December 5, 2011

There are few constants in the wide-open world of college hoops, but one dogmatic dictum is that Ivy League colleges are generally no match for teams from the Big East (with a tip of the hat to Harvard and their first ever Top 25 ranking, this week).

This condition has been thoroughly tested in the past, but Ivy League coaches and ADs still like to schedule the games just to use as a measuring stick in evaluating their squads, such as Brown did Monday night when they took on cross-town rival, Providence at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and dunkin' was part of the Friars' agenda as they whipped the Bears handily, 80-49 before a sparse crowd of just over 5,000.

With the result never in question, Providence took an early lead, expanded their advantage to 15 points at the half and cruised to an easy victory as three starters played more than 35 minutes. One of those starters was Providence's assist and scoring leader, junior point guard, Vincent Council, who did some stat-padding by coming within a whisker of his first triple-double in 37 minutes of court time.

Council tossed in a game high 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting with a pari of treys, dished out 11 assists and ripped down nine rebounds as the 7-2 Friars geared up for Big East play which begins - for them - on December 27 at St. John's.

A three-year starter, Council has improved with each season, bettering his scoring average (10.3, 13.7, 19.1) and assist totals (4.5, 5.9, 6.3) every year.

The Friars, one of the few Big East teams with losing records over the past two seasons - 12-19 in 09-10 and 15-17 in 10-11 - are off to a solid start and hoping to play at least .500 ball through the conference schedule. With Council directing the attack, they appear poised for an improved season in basketball's most competitive conference.

Wichita State Sends UNLV to First Loss, 89-70, as Joe Ragland Bags 31

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, December 4, 2011

Just over a week ago, #18 UNLV handed the North Carolina Tar Heels its first loss of the season, employing a combination of tenacious defense and hot shooting to overwhelm the visitors in the finals of the Las Vegas Invitational.

On Sunday, they ran into a team more than matching their intensity when they stepped onto the floor of Charles Koch Arena, in Wichita, Kansas. There, the hometown Shockers took it to them with great interior play the dagger-like 3-point shooting of senior Joe Ragland for an 89-70 stunner.

Ragland, a six-foot guard who redshirted his first two seasons, pumped in a career high 31 points, including 8 of 9 from 3-point range, as the Shockers took charge midway through the first half with a 9-0 run and never looked back.

Wichita State led 47-32 at the half and kept the Runnin' Rebels mired in a double digit deficit, never allowing them closer than 14 points from tying the game.

Ragland's open threes were a complement to sturdy inside play from teammates Carl Hall and Garrett Stutz, who chipped in 17 and 13 points, respectively. Ragland also added five rebounds and three assists as the Shockers handed the Rebels their first loss of the season.

5-2 Wichita State dropped a pair of back-to-back games to Alabama and Temple, but have since regrouped to win three in a row. The Shockers had a solid, 29-8, season last year and look ahead to Missouri Valley conference play which begins December 28 at Bradley.

Noah Hartsock Scores 23 with 12 Boards as BYU Downs Oregon, Goes 6-2

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, December 3, 2011

After their prolific scorer, Jimmer Fredette, graduated, fans of the BYU Cougars wondered just who would pick up the scoring and how well the Cougars would do in 2011-12 season.

After getting to 6-2 with a 79-65 win over Oregon, some of the answers are emerging.

Nobody is going to score at the pace of Fredette, though Noah Hartsock is leading the team with 16.9 points per game, but the team is more front court oriented as seniors Hartsock and Charles Abouo do most of the damage inside and on the boards.

Hartsock had his best game of the season against Oregon, scoring a career high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting while pulling down 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Improving his scoring average each of his four years as a Cougar, Hartsock, a 6'8" forward, is hitting at 57.8 from the field.

Last season, the Cougars were 32-5, losing in the third round of the NCAA tournament to Florida to finish their season.

Hartsock and the Cougars will get a quality check come December 17 when they host the Baylor Bears. The team opens West Coast conference play on December 29, at St. Mary's.

NOTABLE: The early season showdown between North Carolina and #1 Kentucky did not disappoint. Anthony Davis blocked John Henson's potential game winner with less than four seconds on the clock to seal the Wildcats' 73-72 victory. Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with his first collegiate double-double, leading all scorers with 17 points and hauling down 11 boards. It was the second loss for the Tar Heels, while Kentucky improved to 8-0.

The Big East won two of the four games on Saturday, with UConn downing Arkansas, 75-62 and Pitt taking down Tennessee, 61-56 to capture the Big East - SEC Challenge, eight games to four. Winners for the SEC on Saturday were LSU, with a 55-50 win over Rutgers, and Mississipi State, which topped West Virginia, 75-62.

Mizzou Win 8th Straight as Marcus Denmon Pours in 31

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 2, 2011

The Big 12 regular season is still about a month away, but the Missouri Tigers are already in mid-season form, winning their 8th straight to start the 2011-12 campaign with a 90-56 victory over Northwestern State Friday night.

Setting career highs for both points and 3-pointers was Marcus Denmon, the 6'3" senior guard leading all scorers with 31 points on 11-for-16 shooting, including making 7 of 10 from outside the arc. Denmon also added six rebounds and two assists as the Tigers romped home again with another blowout win.

Missouri has won every game by at least 17 points, their largest margin of victory actually coming in their only road game, a 39-point, 92-53 win at Cal.

Denman, a four-year player, has improved his shooting percentage and scoring each season, now hitting at a 53.3% rate from the floor and scoring 20.3 points per game on a Mizzou squad chock full of scoring threats.

The Tigers were 23-11 for the second straight season, ousted in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last year, losing to Cincinnati, 78-63.

Next up for the Mizzou is a visit to Philadelphia on December 6, to play the struggling, 4-2, Villanova Wildcats.

NOTABLE: After splitting four games Thursday night, the Big East took all four of their Friday games in the Big East-SEC Challenge as Syracuse, Cincinnati, Louisville and Seton Hall each notched wins over their SEC rivals. The series concludes with four more games on Saturday. The only SEC winners thus far have been Kentucky - an 81-59 winner over St. John's - and Mississippi, which held off a furious second half rally to win 70-68 over DePaul.

7-0 Wildcats Rip Red Storm Behind 26 from Terrence Jones and 15-15 from Anthony Davis

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 2, 2011

It's still early in the season, but the Kentucky Wildcats, ranked #1 in the country this week after North Carolina's loss to UNLV, look like a good bet to make it to the Final Four come March.

As usual, coach John Calipari has done a great recruiting job and has assembled a team loaded with hungry, talented underclassmen, two of which - sophomore Terrence Jones and freshman Anthony Davis - led the Wildcats to their seventh win without a loss, dropping St. John's, 81-59, on Kentucky's home court at Rupp Arena.

Jones pumped in a game-high 26 points on seven of 12 shooting, adding 11 points from the foul line, on 16 free throw attempts. A 6'9" forward, Jones also snagged nine rebounds, blocked four shots and ripped off four steals.

His performance wasn't enough to overshadow his front court running mate. 6'10" Davis had a double-double with 15 points and 15 boards. He also blocked eight shots and picked off a couple of steals.

The Wildcats were not only impressive on the offensive end, but their stifling interior defense held the Red Storm to just 32% and out-rebounded the Johnnies, 48-43.

Kentucky will have a great opportunity to prove just how good they are on Saturday, when the North Carolina Tar Heels come calling for a nationally-televised game at high noon in Rupp Arena.

Mike Moser Gets Career High 34 as UNLV Goes to 8-0; Orlando Johnson Scores 36 in Defeat

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, November 30, Month, 2011

Fresh off their upset win over then-#1 North Carolina, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels ran smack into a determined foe when they took on UC_Santa Barbara Wednesday night.

The Gauchos came into the game 4-1, having lost their previous game in overtime to San Diego State, 76-75, and took UNLV to double overtime before finally falling, 94-88, as Mike Moser, the NCAA leader in rebounds (13.3 per game), exploded for a career high 34 points, adding 10 boards as the 18th-ranked Rebels improved their record to 8-0.

As versatile a forward as there is in the country, the 6'6" Moser, who sat out last season after transferring from UCLA, hit on 12 of 18 shots from the field, including 6 of 9 3-pointers, but he was not the high scorer for the game, that honor falling to the Gauchos' Orlando Johnson, a 6'5" senior, who had 36 points and also hauled in 10 rebounds. After six games, Johnson is third nationally in scoring, with a 23.8 per game average.

The game was tight throughout, with Santa Barbara taking a 28-27 lead into the half and UNLV's Chace Stanback extended the game into a second overtime with a clutch 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the first extra period.

UNLV, which finished the 2010-11 season with a 24-9 record, was 11-5 in the Mountain West conference, finishing third behind San Diego State and BYU. Their next game is Sunday, December 4, at Wichita State.

Buckeyes Hammer Blue Devils; Sullinger, Craft, Buford, Thomas Shine

College Hoops Player of the Day for DAY, Month, 2011

An individual player having a monster game is always a good thing, but, in the long run, basketball is a team game, and teams which don't have to rely on one or two star players are usually the better for it.

Take Ohio State, for instance, a team which demonstrated a wealth of talent among their starters as they bombed the Duke Blue Devils in the now-annual ritual of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, smashing Duke's perfect season with an 83-65 blowout victory.

The Buckeyes led wire-to-wire, beginning the game with an 11-0 run that set the stage for the monumental win.

Jared Sullinger led all scorers with 21 points, adding eight rebounds. The sophomore forward from Columbus, Ohio was 8-for-14 from the field.

Three of Sullinger's teammates weren't far behind in the scoring category. Senior guard, William Buford, closing in on the all-time Buckeye scoring leaders, pumped in 20 on 8-for-15 shooting, including two of three from beyond the arc. Highly-touted sophomore, Deshaun Thomas was 8-for-12 with a pair of threes, for 18 points, his high point total for the season.

Point guard Aaron Craft may have had the best game of all, scoring a season-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Craft also dished out eight assists, for his third straight game.

Ohio State, which was moved up to #2 in Monday's rankings, improved to 7-0, dropping #3 Duke to 7-1. The win also gave the Big Ten a 4-2 edge in the challenge series, which continues on Wednesday.

NOTABLE: Winners for the Big Ten, along with the Buckeyes, included Northwestern, a 76-60 winner over Georgia Tech, Purdue, 76-65 over Miami, and Illinois, which topped Maryland, 71-62.

For the ACC, Clemson beat Iowa, 71-55, and Virginia topped Michigan, 70-58.

The Baylor Bears, already ranked #7, got a big boost from sophomore Perry Jones III, who crammed in 27 points in Baylor's 90-54 win over Prairie View A&M. The 6'11" forward hit 10 of 14 shots and grabbed six boards.

Jones was playing his first game of the season due to a six-game suspension for accepting disallowed benefits which included Baylor's final game in the Big 12 tournament last season. Baylor is 6-0.

Syracuse played their first game since assistant coach Larry Fine was fired for alleged sexual misconduct, but the Orange didn't miss a beat, knocking off Eastern Michigan, 84-48, before a packed house at the Carrier Dome, Super sub, James Southerland, scored 19 points in 19 minutes. The crowd gave head coach Jim Boeheim, himself under fire in the scandal, a raucous standing ovation as he made his way onto the floor. Boeheim addressed the issues in the post-game press conference, but said there was nothing he would do or say until the investigation into the matter was concluded. Syracuse officials are staunchly behind Boeheim remaining as head coach of the Orange, a position he's held since 1976.

Gaels Pound Weber St. as Three Players Record Double-Doubles

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, November 28, 2011

There's a storm rising in the West, and it's coming in the form of the St. Mary's Gaels, runners-up in the West Coast conference last year to Gonzaga, but tuning up - at 4-1 - for a run at the title this season.

In Monday's 87-70 runaway win over Weber State, the Gaels proved unstoppable from the field, shooting 56% (27-48) and having three different players post double-doubles.

Point guard Matthew Dellavedova scored a team-high 25 points and also delivered 11 assists, both career highs for the 6'4" junior from Australia.

While Weber State's Damian Lillard poured in a game-high 36 points, he was just one of two players in double figures for the Wildcats, no match for Dellavedova, senior forward Rob Jones - 24 points and 14 rebounds - and another senior, Creighton transfer Kenton Walker II, who popped for 14 points and 11 boards.

The Gaels were 25-9 in 2010-11 and look to make some noise come March. A measuring stick comes December 22nd, when St. Mary's travels to Texas to take on top-10 Baylor. The West Coast regular season opens for the the Gaels on December 31, when they play at Pepperdine.

Missouri Romps to 6-0 Behind Career High 29 Points from Kim English

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Missouri Tigers improved to 6-0 on the season and should move up - from their position of 21 - in the national rankings Monday afternoon when the latest polls are released after an 88-59 victory over Binghamton.

The Tigers put four players in double figures as they routed the winless Bearcats, including 6'6" forward Kim English, who registered a career high 29 points on 11-for-15 shooting, including 7 of 10 three-pointers.

Though the win over a weak opponent wasn't exactly a major accomplishment, the Tigers have been impressive thus far in the season, posting lopsided wins over Notre Dame (87-58) and California (92-53), as the Tigers took the CBE Classic title last week in Kansas City.

English, a senior, has scored in double figures in each of the Mizzou's first six outings. The Tigers have scored at least 81 points in each of their games this season.

THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION

Guest post from: Steve Delaney

That time of year is rolling around again. It is the time of year that usually causes me a lot of stress because I hate shopping at the mall. Part of the reason I hate shopping at the mall are the crowds, but also because I never know what I am going to get my family and friends for Christmas. Of course, I could think of a ton of things that I would like for myself ( which sounds totally selfish), but when it comes to buying for some of my family members I am totally at a blank. I know that I would like Direct TV Cyber Monday Deals and upgrade our television package. I think that I may skip the Black Friday shopping and opt for shopping for my friends and family on-line during the Cyber Monday deals. I just hate getting out in all of those crowds and aimlessly wandering, buying things impulsively that I am not sure that my family is going to like. I think that I probably have a 75% gift return rate. Hopefully, with some thought and consideration, I can lower that rate this year!

It's Cyber-Week, So Get Shopping!

It's definitely holiday shopping season, but the majority of people still have to take care of everyday chores and shop for items not necessarily on a Christmas wish list, so it pays to shop around for items like trash bags, tackle boxes and utility box covers, because saving a little on ordinary items might lead to better holiday gifts all around.

The shopping site, Become.com is a favorite destination for hundreds of thousands of goods, with 14 main categories, from Automotive to Electronics, Health & Beauty, Sports and Outdoors, and of course, Toys and Games.

The site is searchable by keyword from the home page or within categories, making finding items like an
acrylic basketball backboard a snap with hundreds of models available, from the basic, under $100 types to deluxe models costing well into the hundreds of dollars for those who take their hoops practices and backyard games seriously.

And, if you're going to be throwing up 3-pointers from just off your deck or driveway or doing other types of exercise, you'll definitely want to hook yourself up with a nice pair of adidas adiprene running shoes which come in a variety of colors and styles, though the Sharp Blue/Electricity/Black color scheme is both eye-catching and a safety feature for night runners.

Priced in a range any serious runner or athlete would find reasonable, the high-tech footwear from Adidas is world-class, even if your game is primarily a local one. They come in all sizes for kids, men and women, and make the perfect athletic holiday gift or a special stocking stuffer for yourself.

Hide the Children! UNLV Upsets #1 North Carolina, 90-80

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, November 26, 2011

Top-ranked North Carolina took their 5-0 record out to the Las Vegas Invitational to meet the unranked UNLV Runnin' Rebels Saturday night.

What they discovered upon their arrival was that being #1 is like having targets on your jerseys. The Rebels aimed and fired a 90-80 win, improving to 7-0 and ensuring that there would be a change atop the national rankings come Monday when the latest poll is released.

After a hotly-contested first half, won by the Tar Heels, 42-38, the Runnin' Rebels took command with a 14-0 spurt to open the second half and held North Carolina at bay, never allowing them closer than five points. In the city known for sins, secrets and slots, North Carolina came up dead to start the second half, missing their first ten shots from the field.

Senior swingman Chase Stanback led all scorers with a career high 28 points. The 6'4" guard/forward added 10 boards for his first double-double of the season.

Stanback was 10-for-19 from the field and splashed in four treys. The Rebels had 13 3-pointers on the night, compared to just four for the Tar Heels. They outplayed North Carolina in almost all aspects of the game, hitting 15 of 18 free throws and had a 48-39 rebounding edge. The Rebels also had 22 assists to North Carolina's 14.

Point guard Oscar Bellfield, another of the seniors, chipped in 16 points, including four 3-pointers, adding nine assists. Sophomore Mike Moser pumped in 16 points and had 18 rebounds.

UNLV went 24-9 in 09-10, and 25-9 in 10-11, losing their opening game of the NCAA tournament both times. This year may be different come March as the Rebels sport four seniors and a sophomore as their starting five.

Marcus Jordan, UCF Stops UConn Win Streak at 16 with 68-63 Victory

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, November 25, 2011

Just as UConn had been rolling along, ranked #4 in the nation with a national championship and a 16-game win streak, along came the UCF Knights and Marcus Jordan, son of basketball's greatest player - Michael - to upend the Huskies and take some of the shine off their smiles.

The Knights dumped Connecticut 68-63 in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis, as Jordan and Keith Clanton each scored 20 points for the 4-1 Knights, taking the lead late in the second half on a pair of Jordan free throws. Mike's kid was 6-for-6 from the line with seven rebounds and seven assists. He was 6-for-16 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers.

The Knights shot just 40%, but only turned the ball over seven times to UConn's 11. The Huskies outrebounded UCF, 37-30, but were dead from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 18 3-point attempts.

Jordan, a 6'3" junior swingman, is averaging 17.3 points per game after putting up 15.2 as a sophomore and 8.0 as a freshman. He's scored in double figures in each of the four games he's played this season.

The Knights will face another upset winner on Saturday. Harvard topped Florida State, 46-41, in the other semifinal. The Crimson are undefeated (5-0) and haven't allowed more than 67 points in any of their games, holding three opponents to under 50.

Backcourt Duo Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb Lead Huskies to 16th Straight Win; Upsets Rule Holiday Tourneys

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, November 24, 2011

As reigning national champions, the Connecticut Huskies get their share of perks, like a Thanksgiving trip to the Bahamas to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau.

The Huskies wasted little time establishing their dominance in their opening game vs. NC Asheville, taking a 39-28 leas at the half and cruising to their 16th straight win with a 73-63 victory.

Led by their backcourt tandem of Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb, each of whom has 23 points, the Huskies improved their current season record to 5-0, maintaining their spot at #4 in the AP poll, behind the top three of North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio State.

Napier had seven assists and three steal to go with his 7-for-14 shooting, with four 3-pointers, He was a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line.

Lamb pitched in eight of 13 shots from the field with three 3-pointers. He was also flawless at the line, making 4 of 4, to go with six rebounds.

The Huskies will face the University of Central Florida in the semi-finals of the tourney on Friday. UCF dispatched the College of Charleston, 74-63.

NOTABLE: The other half of the draw at the Battle 4 Atlantis saw Harvard blow out Utah, 75-47, in a day full of surprises and upsets.

At the Old Spice Classic in Kissimmee, Florida, Indiana State downed Texas Tech, 60-49, the Dayton Flyers downed Wake Forest, 80-76, and Fairfield dominated Wake Forest, 54-45.

In the only game of the Old Spice Classic that went somewhat according to plan, Minnesota knocked off DePaul, 80-79.

Rounding out the Thanksgiving Day upsets, St. Louis put down Boston College, 62-51 at the 76 Classic at Anahiem, California.