Higher Post: Already missing the Atlantic 10
...and holy upsets this week!
Congregation, please stand up….
…because its good to be home!
Hello! It’s the Rev. reporting live from Amherst, Massachusetts, home of the University of Massachusetts and only 30 miles away from the holy land of Springfield, where the great James Naismith created our beloved game.
UMass basketball is also home to greats Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, Marcus Camby and where coaching great Rick Pitino and Al Skinner had their undergrad playing years. But, also more recently, women’s players Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy made their mark here.
It was also where John Calipari started his head coaching career. It was during those years, I found my calling as a Bracketologist - not in the science and math way you see on tv, but in the faithful sense as it the name of this publication.
I’m here for a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader of both women’s and men’s games, which is rare in today’s scheduling.
There is something special about coming ‘home’. Walking through the doors of the Mullins Center is like getting a hug from an old friend. Memories flood back of Mike Williams buzzer-beaters over Temple (when both teams where ranked and in the Atlantic 10), of A10 championships, Marcus Camby blocking shots as “The Human Eraser", and of course “TV Lou” Roe going off as many of those games were nationally televised. It was a special time.
I don’t talk much about Homecoming here because schools hold Homecomings during the football season and I mostly come back for basketball. That was our thing. That’s what my old friends come out for as well. That is our homecoming.
But, this one is bittersweet as this is the last season UMass will be in the Atlantic 10. Next season, all sports are moving to the MAC so football will have a conference. For football, that is a great move. For basketball (and everything else) it’s a downgrade. The Atlantic 10 (or as I call it ‘The Little East’ or “The Little Conference That Does”) is not a sexy conference like the Big East, but there’s a lot of quality ball played and I LOVE it.
This week, we were treated to a 3OT thriller in The Bronx when UMass MBB traveled down to Fordham for the usual conference tussle. Going to see games at Rose Hill, celebrating its 100th year, is a gem for any basketball fan. Its small and intimate setting amplifies an already ruckus student in to loud chaos. I will still go to Fordham games, but I won’t see my school play there anymore.
This is the sad part of conference realignment for the basketball fan loses a lot. As the football landscape changes, it breaks up old regional rivalries creating new matchups that do not make geographical sense.
Yesterday, we were treated to Stanford at UNC as an ACC game. That still looks weird. In his presser, UCLA’s Mick Cronin was going off on the travel - specifically, that they have to make 3 trips east, when the other B1G teams only need one trip west. That maybe fine for football, but basketball has 18 conference games on the schedule now. That’s a lot of traveling. That is a lot of time out of class. A lot of jet lag when you need to be sharp.
I will miss UMass being in the Atlantic 10. It’s a fun conference. With rivals in Rhode Island, Philly, upstate NY, DC, and of course, Fordham, going to an away game was always an easy drive. Even Richmond is a fast and cheap flight. But, now in the MAC, the closest team is Buffalo. I don’t go to Michigan often. But, if I decide to go, I will now have 3 Michigans to choose from. Sigh. #Go Defense.
Week Reset
With conference play in full battle mode, the upsets are happening! Lots of resumes are shifting this week and new bubbles forming. These are just in the Top 25!
Men’s Game:
Tuesday:
Arizona over #25 Baylor: 81-70
Mizzou over #5 Florida: 83-82
#21 Ole Miss over #4 Alabama: 74-64
Wednesday:
UNLV over #22 Utah State: 65-62
Thursday (all ranked teams lost):
Oregon State over #16 Gonzaga: 97-89
Temple over #18 Memphis: 88-81
Minnesota over #20 Michigan: 84-81
Saturday:
West Virginia over #2 Iowa State: 64-57
Vandy over #6 Tennessee: 76-75 (STORM THAT COURT!)
Xavier over #7 Marquette: 59-57
Creighton over #14 UConn: 68-63 (Snaps the Huskies 28-game home winning streak)
Santa Clara over #16 Gonzaga: 103-99 (that’s 2 in row for the Zags. Slipper is getting tight)
Women’s Game:
These ‘underdogs’ are teams who had from tough losses in potent non-conf schedules, prepping them for conference play to beat on up some rivals. Its happening.
Sunday:
Indiana over #23 Iowa: 67-58
Louisville over #13 Georgia Tech: 69-60
Tuesday:
Baylor over #23 Utah: 70-61
Houston over #24 Oklahoma State: 79-76
Lastly, we have a comeback story when SMU went to Pitt and built up an 32 point lead in the first half only to lose by 13, tying an NCAA record! Congrats Coach Verdi and the Pittsburgh Panthers!
We Got Next: Games to watch this week! (all times EST)
…and here we go again for another round!
Men’s Games:
#19 Illinois at #12 Michigan State (Sunday, 12p, CBS) You remember Michigan State, right?
#15 Mississippi State at #6 Tennessee (Tuesday, 7p, ESPN2)
VCU at Rhode Island (Tuesday, 7p, CBSSN) Everything is scrappy in the A10
#11 Texas A&M at #21 Ole Miss (Weds, 9p, ESPN) Like a XII matchup but with more Buzz.
Women’s Games:
#4 USC at Indiana (Sunday, Noon, NBC) Indiana was on a role, but let one get away against Illinois. Will they rebound against Juju and #4 USC?
Stanford at #16 Duke (Sunday, 1p, ESPN2) Stanford is in danger of missing the Dance for the first time since 1987. They could use this one.
#13 Oklahoma at #2 South Carolina (Sunday, 3p. ESPN)
#7 Texas at #8 Maryland (Monday 5:30p, FOX)
Massachusetts at Rhode Island (Weds, 6:35p, ESPN+) Old rivals always make for fun games.
#10 TCU at #24 Oklahoma State (Weds, 8:30p, FS1) Yes, both of these teams are still in the Big XII
#8 Maryland at #9 Ohio State (Thursday, 6p, BTN) Life is not easy in the B1G
#5 LSU at #2 South Carolina (Thursday, 8p, ESPN) Titans go head-to-head. ESPN breaks out the big network for it too. Expect Ryan and Rebecca on the call.
#15 Tennessee at #7 Texas (Thursday, 9p, SEC) The Lady Vols have recovered from their 2 losses last week. Can they take down the Horns?
Keeping up with the Hannahs
Two of my favorite players are not only incredibly fun to watch…but are both named Hannah! I dedicate this section to them. We try and keep up with them during a pivotal season!
Hannah Stuelke (Junior / Forward / Iowa):
Tough times have fallen on this Iowa Hawkeye squad as they entered this week on a two-game losing streak. The B1G is a mine field that this young squad seems to be trapped in and it didn’t get better this week.
Indiana 74 - Iowa 67:
Indiana enters Carver-Hawkeye arena hot and hungry winning 4 of 5 in conference (only losing to #1 UCLA) and 8 of their last 9…and they came out ready. Iowa, on the other hand seemed a bit lost. Hannah fought for position down low but was shut down offensively, only hitting 1 for 6 in shooting in 23 mins of play.
However, this game baffled me. Many times, Coach Jensen would pull experienced starters in place of her freshman recruits for long periods of time. There were times previously where she did that, but there was usually a cushion on the scoreboard to give that opportunity. At times, it felt like Jensen was working to find a combo to battle the adversity but then just left all the young players in. Hannah Stuelke and Lucy Olsen only played 23 mins each, which is just over half the game. Kyle Feuerbach only played 9, with no fouls holding her back. Even in the final minutes, only down 9, Olsen stayed on the bench replaced by freshman PG A.J. Guyton. To be clear, this is no knock on Guyton, who in the short time has been dynamite and showing her talent, but it’s early and she is growing. Trailing late in a game at home while on a losing streak, logic would dictate that your dynamic senior point guard should be running the floor. To be fair, I will trust that either Jensen has a plan or was looking for a better one, but she will need to find that combo of experience and raw youth soon as the B1G only gets harder. These home games are ones you cannot let go.
Nebraska 87 - Iowa 84 (OT):
Remaining at home, Iowa welcome a Nebraska team who has lost 11 of their last 12 against these Hawkeyes. This is the perfect opportunity to stop a losing streak. But, the Huskers smell blood on the court.
This was a well fought battle, with experienced leadership in Stuelke and Olsen leading the way. Stuelke got back to her comfortable spot down low and pulled down 11 defensive rebounds (16 total) to keep her team in the game. The Huskers, meanwhile, did not tell freshman guard Britt Prince of the Iowa-Nebraska history, as she went off, hitting five 3’s and leading scoring with 22pts. The game was close throughout all the way to overtime, where the Huskers were the final victors. It was great to see Hannah back to her old self, getting minutes and takin’ names, but sadly, this was another one that slipped away.
Up Next (all times EST):
Sunday 1/19 - Iowa at Oregon (5p, B1G+)
Wednesday 1/22 - Iowa at Washington (9p, Peacock)
Hannah Hidalgo (Sophomore / Guard / Notre Dame):
This was a tough week for fans of Hannah Hidalgo as she is battling an minor ankle sprain.
In the game against Wake Forest last week, she took an awkward landing and rolled her ankle. She immediately left the game to see the trainer, but as the Irish were up 25 with 7mins to go in the game, she did not need to return.
#3 Notre Dame 67 - Clemson 58:
As a result, we did not see Hannah vs. Hannah as the Irish traveled to Clemson. Coach Niele Ivey kept her on the bench as a precaution. Since this squad is stacked with experienced talent, especially after the return of Maddy Westbeld, Coach Ivey has options, even with a short bench. Seniors Liatu King (23 points / 11 rebounds) and Olivia Miles (17 points / 9 assists) carried the team to victory over the Tigers keeping them undefeated in ACC play, but the absence of Hannah was felt as The Irish scored their lowest total points in a game this season so far.
#18 Georgia Tech 81 - #3 Notre Dame 66:
All was good when Coach Ivey said Hidalgo would be ready to go on Thursday against #18 Georgia Tech, however due to a last minute change, she did not take the floor after all.
After a strong start at 15-0, the Yellowjackets are hitting a bit of a bump in their conference run, dropping 2 straight before arriving in South Bend. But, this time it was seniors Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld who carried the Hidalgo-less squad, netting over half of the Irish’s points.
This team is loaded, but when you lose a reliable player like Hannah Hidalgo, you feel it. The Irish don’t look the same without her, but they can still get the job done.
See, she is like us: We’ll leave with this moment. At one point, the camera focused on Hidalgo on the bench. Never shy from big moments, she suddenly noticed the camera, giving an awkward smirk that went viral. Hysterical Hannah. Get back soon. We miss you.
Up Next (all times EST):
No word yet if she is going to return for SMU on Sunday, or Boston College on Thursday, which be a bummer since I have tickets to that one. All the Bracketology prayers for you Hannah!
Sunday 1/19 - SMU at #3 Notre Dame (6p, ACCNet)
Thursday 1/23 - #3 Notre Dame at Boston College (7p, ACCExtra)
Five Touches: Passing around the hoops world
The Ultimate Answer: Duke’s freshman sensation Cooper Flagg sets an new ACC freshman scoring record after dropping 42 against Notre Dame!
A New Dawn: Dawn Staley signs a (well deserved)$25M contract extension making her the highest paid WBB coach.
A won, A Twooo, A Three! Skylar Wiggins-Smith hits the first game ending buzzer beater of the Unrivaled season to give her Lunar Owls the win.
The ‘West’ in West Virginia: WVU celebrated the life of legend Jerry West on Saturday by retiring his #44 in all sports across the University.
Get Well Dickie! We’re missing ya! 85yo broadcasting legend (and World’s #1 Hoops Fan) Dick Vitale puts his broadcasting return on hold after being hospitalized following a fall.
Extracurricular Reading: Sometimes we all need a T.O.
The Big Bet: USC football commit Matai Tagoa’i will be accepting part of his NIL contract earnings in Bitcoin
No Rookie: Esquire profiles sideline reporter Taylor Rooks and her secrets to how she gets athletes to tell her everything.
Finally, Katie Nolan has a few things to get off her chest. Anytime, Katie. Please.
Final Seconds
Ok, folks! I’m off to the Mullins Center for UMass MBB vs. LaSalle! I’ll see you all next week!
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