College Basketball Open Thread

Submitted by MichiganMan2424 on

Long day of college basketball on ESPN2 today as they have 10 straight hours of games with some good games on tap.

Currently: #8 Cincinnati @ #24 Pittsburgh

2 PM: #19 Michigan State @ #11 Minnesota

4 PM: #5 Indiana @ Iowa

6 PM: #13 Gonzaga @ #22 Oklahoma State

8 PM: Harvard @ Saint Mary's

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UMFan1780

December 31st, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^

But it seems that every game is a "must-win" game of some variety. The winner of Minn/MSU has the inside-track at a top-echelon finish, while the loser has some catching up to do. It's going to be a glorious conference season to watch. I wouldn't be surprised if the winner has 4-5 losses (like last year) but still nabs a #1 seed (again, like last year).

Joined: 03/22/2011

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MichiganMan2424

December 31st, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^

This Pitt Cinci game has just been ugly. Pitt is up 34-26 at the half, but it's just been a foul fest. Go Pitt though, make our win over them look even better.

Joined: 03/09/2011

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WolverineHistorian

December 31st, 2012 at 1:14 PM ^

Indeed.  I just looked at who Pitt's 12 wins have come against so far...

Mount St. Mary's, Fordham, Lehigh, Oakland, Delaware, Howard, Detroit, Duqesne, North Florida, Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State and Kennesaw State.  

That's about as an embarrassing of a schedule as a team could have.  They need this game. 

Joined: 08/10/2009

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MH20

December 31st, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^

Pitt had a chance when they went to the line down three, but Woodall's miss and then Cincy's subsequent two FTs iced the game.

The Panthers are not a bad team but they are certainly nowhere near as good as their 12-1 record coming into this one.  They'll lose 8-9 games in BE play and make the tournament, but I don't think they are going to make Michigan's victory over them a "marquee" win.

Joined: 10/30/2008

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MichiganMan2424

December 31st, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^

Cinci wins the first game against Pitt 70-61, which is fairly disappointing. Oh well, time for Minni vs State. Go Gophers!

Joined: 03/09/2011

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B-Nut-GoBlue

December 31st, 2012 at 2:36 PM ^

Headed to the Iowa-Indiana game here in about an hour...pretty stoked to see Indiana.  This will be the big test to see how far the Hawkeyes have really come in their quest to be relevant again.

Joined: 09/30/2011

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UMFan1780

December 31st, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^

Tubby might be finally getting it together. I wouldn't mind them finishing second behind Michigan - that fan base has been through the ringer (the football team has not been to the Rose Bowl in 50 years and the basketball team has been to one Final Four - which was vacated).

Joined: 03/22/2011

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Blue boy johnson

December 31st, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^

MSU has a nice starting 5. Denzel Valentine is the consumate team player. Easy to see  why Beilein was after him. Gary Harris could be a one and done, but I think he will probably be back.

Joined: 03/15/2009

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SF Wolverine

December 31st, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^

but seeing it live makes quite clear that the B10 is going to be a really tough row to hoe this year.  Minn/MSU likely the two most physical teams this year, and are both very good teams.  It will take very good performances to beat either one of them.

Joined: 10/04/2010

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M Fanfare

December 31st, 2012 at 4:15 PM ^

I'm just sad that Minnesota no longer has the McDonald's arches on all the steps going up anymore. It was hilarious to see that level of corporate whoredom.

Joined: 08/17/2008

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