A Great Day of Basketball, to Honor a Great Man

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., on this the 25th anniversary of the inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day, ESPN has a day of basketball games that rivals any other lineup. With the headliner being #4 Syracuse at #5 Pittsburgh (as per last weeks rankings) the lineup is not limited to that.

Chicago Bulls at Memphis Grizzlies 1 p.m.

The Bulls travel to Memphis to take on the reeling Grizzles to lead the day off with a game from the professionals. The Bulls have won 17 out of their last 22 games and have risen to third in the East standings, and making a push towards that top spot, coming off a win against the number one Miami Heat on Saturday.

Derrick Rose is an early MVP candidate and since Carlos Boozer has come off of injury their whole team has begun to have a better chemistry. Today however Boozer is unlikely to play, after injuring his left ankle during the Heat game, and he was seen in a boot. Despite the loss of Boozer the Bulls learned how to play without him early in the year and should be able to take this one of the road.

Villanova Wildcats at Connecticut Huskies 3:30 p.m.

In a top 10 matchup between two other Big East powerhouses Villanova heads into Connecticut off a big come from behind win against the Terrapins from Maryland and the ACC. They were down 12 with about nine minutes left on Saturday before a 19-0 run gave them the lead and control of the game en route to a big victory at home.

UCONN on the other hand handled bottom-dweller DePaul easily, but more importantly got Kemba Walker back on track with a 31 point outing despite only playing just a little over 30 minutes. This game should be a close one throughout though, with both teams having big men with tough names to pronounce in Mouphtaou Yarou of 'Nova and Alex Oriakhi of UCONN. Then the strenght of both teams comes in their guards with Walker (favorite for player of the year at this point) and very talented Shabbazz Napier.

This one should be very entertaining and fast paced as both teams like to run with their guards, and athletic bigs. Don't be surprised if this one is played in the high 70's-80's.

Kansas St Wildcats at Missouri Tigers 5:30 p.m.

In a pivotal Big 12 match up these two teams come in struggling, and not where either expected to be. Both ranked high in the preseason Kansas St. is on the brink of falling out of the top 25, as Missouri lost a big game this weekend in overtime. This is a game where both teams have really talented players on the offensive end, and the styles of play match each other well.

Jacob Pullen leads the Wildcats, a preseason player of the year candidate he will have to control the game for them to win, and get more consistent on his outside shot. He will be seeing a lot of pressure from the Tigers press that tries to speed the other team up into an uncomfortable flow. They should have some success with the ball handlers besides Pullen. Curtis Kelly is back in action and he will have to go up against a big front line that will be focused on speeding Kelly and the other big men up as well, and make him work for his buckets, and try to get him into foul trouble.

Expect another shootout, and a game that the winner will need if they are going to try and challenge top dog Kansas in the Big 12.

Syracuse Orange at Pittsburgh Panthers 7:30 p.m.

Look to the Lead post on the blog for a complete preview of this game: http://www.4sportscorners.blogspot.com/

Kansas Jayhawks at Baylor Bears 9:30 p.m.

Kansas is coming in with a couple of close calls but still undefeated, while Baylor will be looking for a signature win to make their way back into the top 25. The Jayhawks almost lost their NCAA leading home winning streak to Nebraska over the weekend, before gutting it out at the end, and now they enter Baylor's tough home environment to try and slow down a very offensive minded bunch.

Freshman Josh Selby will be called on to really handle pressure from the Bears and step up in his biggest road game yet in his first year. He will be seeing a lot of the Bears star LaceDarius Dunn, who is on his way to being the all-time Big 12 leading scorer. This guard battle is the highlight of the game, but much like Villanova at UCONN the big men will have their say too. The Morris Twins will be battling a front line in Baylor that loves to run, rebound, and block shots. The Morris twins thrive on their athleticism, but this is a game where that will be matched by the opponent. Parry Jones will see probably his toughest defensive match up though in the twins.

This is a great end to the day of great basketball with wonderful match ups. The basketball fans will be happy but looking for more by 11:30 tonight. I anticipate it myself.

Who Should be Number One?

Now that the Duke Blue Devils have lost their first game there are four undefeated teams remaining, three of them were following behind Duke in this week's polls. With this situation at hand the question is now raised, who should take over that number one spot? The obvious choice is Ohio State, just move them from number one to two and be done with it. Kansas and Syracuse might have gripes with that, believing themselves to be worthy. Let's take a look at who really should be the top team by the numbers.

Ohio State

The Buckeyes have been number two behind Duke almost every step of the way this year after preseason top tier teams Michigan State and Kansas State have dropped deep into the top 25. They have a very good team, full of experience, guys that can defend, scorers that can attack from the inside, outside, and above the rim. Not to mention Jared Sullinger, maybe the Player of the Year, definitely the front runner for Freshman of the Year.

Ohio State has also played a tough schedule that has included out of conference games against that same Florida State, Florida, and South Carolina, winning all of them by double digits. Sullinger also gives them a player that can take over a game, that even as a freshman can put the team on his back and lead them to a victory.

The knock on Ohio State being number one could be made, because in their last four games since conference play started with a big win they have been on the brink a few times. They have won all four obviously against Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State, but struggled. They have won those four by only a combined 15 points. A cause for concern, but maybe a making a point that they are number one because of their ability to win close ones against familiar opponents.

Kansas

The Kansas Jayhawks are considered the most balanced, deepest, and talented team in the NCAA with the injury to Kyrie Irving of Duke. Most would say that should make them the number one team. They have athletic big men in the Morris twins, a dynamic freshman in Josh Selby, great shooters, and multiple ball handlers to go along with a good bench.

When you look at the numbers they are in the top 10 in the nation in assist to turnover ratio, and in points per game. They are able to defend, take care of the ball, and score, all necessary aspects to have as the number one team. They have played a decent schedule to this point, with out of conference wins over Arizona, USC, UCLA, Memphis, California and Michigan. Sharing a common opponent with both Ohio State and the other team up for the number one spot Syracuse in Michigan, they won by the largest margin (though it took overtime).

Kansas though has struggled as well lately, and are they really the number one team right now, or are they the potentially best team? they are averaging winning their last three games by only five points a game, and they had to go to overtime to win one of them, all against sub-par competition, though two of the three were on the road. Though not being able to win a tough game on the road is why Duke has lost and we are having any conversation.

Syracuse

The Orange have been able to overcome slow starts, bad finishes, and everything in between to make it to 18-0 and into the number one spot conversation. They have a team that is able to score in a variety of ways, and are one of the more dangerous teams in America when they get on the break. They have a big man in Rick Jackson that has been averaging a double-double this year, while leading the Big East in rebounding. Scoop Jardine is a premier ball handler and they have an athletic wing player with NBA lottery ability in Kris Joseph. Not to mention very good outside shooters in Brandon Triche, James Southerland and Dion Waiters.

The Orange have played a good schedule thus far, with wins over Michigan State on a neutral court, as well as Georgia Tech and Michigan to win their preseason tournament. In their conference play against the Big East, the toughest conference this year again, they have started 5-0 with wins over Providence, Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Saint John's and Cincinnati. They seem to have the intangibles to be considered the number one team, and having Jim Boeheim does not hurt the cause.

Syracuse has struggled though with teams that they should not have throughout the year, most recently Seton Hall who was missing their best player. They have the tendency to play down the their competition, though also up to it, and that has made some games closer than they probably should have been. Syracuse though will have their chance to prove themselves, if they are not number one for this week's polls, but are still undefeated after facing number five Pittsburgh on the road and then home to number seven Villanova, then it will be tough to say they should not be in that top spot.

Given all of the factors, I would have to go against the grain of simply bumping everyone up, and at this point I think the team that is most deserving, and should be number one come tomorrow, is the Kansas Jayhawks. But it could all be different come this time next week. And as it is, it is only January, being number one now does not really mean what it does in a month.

Which Undefeated is in the Most Trouble Today?

With Duke losing at Florida St. there is now less than a handful of unbeatens in college basketball, three of which are in a power six conference. All are in action today, so who is in the most danger of a loss? Number two Ohio St. is at home to face Penn St., Kansas welcomes Nebraska into the Phog, Syracuse is at home in the dome to host Cincinnati, and San Diego State is the only one of the four to travel, heading to New Mexico.

Let's discuss them in order of most likely to lose:

1. San Diego State is the most likely of the four to lose today, and that is not a bias opinion against a mid-major, but rather looking at a team who is for the most part a surprise, and a team that is going on the road. First things first, New Mexico is a tough place to play, the Lobos have only lost once at The Pit in the last two seasons, including 8-0 this year.

Going on the road is a tough thing to do, especially in conference (just ask Duke), so this should be a tough game against the two-time defending Mountain West champions. Also, in the last three games the margin of victory for the Aztecs has been a steady decrease from 12 to nine and finally only a six point win against a talented UNLV team. So while the Aztecs will probably win this game, the location and level of competition does put them as the most vulnerable team to lose today.

2. As much as I hate to say it, without being a complete homer, the Syracuse Orange would have to be the second most likely undefeated to fall today. Though they are at the dome, they are playing probably the best team of the day amongst the undefeated opponents. Cincinnati has only one loss to their credit, no matter how you slice it, and they are a long and athletic team that could slow the Orange attack. Not to mention that over the years, Syracuse does tend to struggle with weekend games that start at noon.

Also, Syracuse has a huge, and I mean HUGE, game coming up on Monday where they travel to play at Pittsburgh. It would not be a shock if there was a little bit of anticipation for this game, a slight chance that they may be caught looking ahead to that potentially Big East changing game on Martin Luther King Day.

Syracuse should hold steady and win this game, the 2-3 zone should take control and shut down the Bearcats who will struggle trying to shoot over the top. ESPN and the fans certainly hope so, setting up that big game in front of the Oakland Zoo.

3. Ohio St. has to be next, simply because at home or not, Penn St. has two wins over teams that are in the top 25 and were picked to finish in the upper half of the Big 10 this year. Penn St. has the ability to play defense and slow the game down, really control the tempo, and Ohio St. has to be able to adapt and play through Jared Sullinger, which they certainly have no problem doing.

If this game were at Penn St. it would probably be at the top of the list, simply because the success that the Nittany Lions have seen thus far at home. It does come ahead of Kansas however, because they have had close games lately in conference against Iowa and then Michigan, But that being said, Ohio St. may not win this game by a lot, or even double digits, but they should have no problems entering Sunday morning still with an unblemished record.

4. Finally, Kansas rounds out the list, with a very winnable game against Nebraska at The Phog. Nebraska has not won at Kansas in this millennium, and it would seem highly unlikely that it would start now. Nebraska is however 13-3 and coming off of a good showing at top 15 team Missouri. Kansas is another story though, with the Morris twins both playing at an extremely high level right now, and both coming off of double-doubles in a win at Iowa State.

Kansas should go into Allen Fieldhouse undefeated, and leave there the same way.

With all this being said, it should make for an interesting Monday to see where all of these teams will end up in the rankings. Who will be number 1? Ohio St? Kansas? It will all sort itself out today.

Oregon, Making A Push on the Court As Well

So Oregon lost in Monday's BCS National Championship for football on a game ending field goal, but that is not all the news from Eugene this week. No, the men's basketball squad also had a big week when they opened up their new arena last night, and you thought the Ducks were big time with their football jerseys? Well check out the new Matthew Knight Arena:

The $227 million dollar project was opened last night with a win against conference foe USC, as the Ducks took it 68-62. The new court might be a welcomed restart for the Ducks, as it gave them their first conference win, and brought them to within one game of .500. While the Ducks have some improving to do on their record, the court will certainly bring a welcomed new energy to the players and fans.

Rivaling most NBA facilities the arena is breathtakingly spectacular, but one of the most talked about aspects of the arena is not the size, the beauty, or the amenities. No, they are talking about the actual visual appearance of the court, which is one-of-a-kind. And would Oregon do it any differently? The court itself has the appearance of trees almost outlining the sidelines and baselines, with a phrase beneath the large 'O' in the middle of the court, that reads. "Deep in the Woods."

While it remains to be seen whether outlandish courts like this are the wave of the future, or simply something to be unique to the Ducks, it is certainly something to behold. The hopes are to bring in talent and players that can rival that of Oregon's football program, who has made strides when it comes to their football field, as well as drawing awe and admiration from many on their football jerseys. Several professional football players commenting on their jerseys from Monday night's football game alone, such as Arizona Cardinals standout defensive lineman Darnell Dockett who tweeted, "YOOOO I didn't go to oregon I went to FSU but, I want me a 90 oregon jersey!"

Oregon is reaching out to the youth and trying to reel them in with the best facilities and intangibles that money can buy. The field and jerseys worked for the football team, and now this arena and court are going to see what it can do for the basketball squad. They have already got a class of four freshman coming in next year, highlighted by five star shooting guard Jabari Brown, so maybe Oregon basketball will be back in the tournament before you know it.

Syracuse Hoops: Expect More?

With the new college basketball season there is a new set of players, and new chemistry (or lack thereof), and new expectations. For Syracuse they lost three starters last year, their backbone some would say, in Wes Johnson, Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku. So despite the players they do have returning, and the incoming talent that gave the Orange a top-5 recruiting class, lower expectations are understandable. But you have to look at the team with two exhibitions (for what they are worth), and two non-conference games and say they might be a lot better than what you would expect.

They have two winners of last years sixth man of the year award in the Big East now in the starting lineup with Kris Joseph (also a Sporting News Preseason All-American), and Scoop Jardine (who was on the US men's select team who played against the USA team that won gold this summer). They have Brandon Triche who was on the Big East Freshman first-team and a preseason Wooden Award watch list player, and Rick Jackson coming back who through two games is averaging a double-double.

But those are not the parts of the machine you look at and really deem their potential, but rather with the talented freshman class. Whether it is the number one center of the class, seven footer Fab Melo, or top five guard Dion Waiters, who can score with anyone. And can also dunk if needed:

Then again, those are the two you expect to see play well. No, Syracuse and their season might be made by their other freshman center Baye Moussa Keita, and forward C.J. Fair. In their last game against Canisius Keita had 15 rebounds to go along with his six points. Fair in his two regular season games is averaging 8.5 points a game while shooting 75% from the field, and also bringing down seven boards playing the athletic wing spot in the vaunted 2-3 zone.

The final touches of this team, and important ones at that are the bench "veterans". Only in the sense of the word that they are not freshman, James Southerland and Mookie Jones are going to be relyed on for their shooting. They are shooters, and for Syracuse to be successful, and make a push deep into the NCAA one, if not both, of these guys will have to step up and take shots and make shots. And everyone who knows Syracuse knows Mookie is ready and willing to at least step up and take the shot.

With the pieces at his hand Jim Boeheim should be able to win a lot of games this year, and there is no telling how far his coaching and this year's group of talent can go once all roles are laid out and hopefully achieved.

Brittney Griner Quickly Becoming the Greatest Women's Basketball Player Ever

So when you think about women's basketball you usually think, a slower and more fundamental game of basketball. Some purists might even prefer it to the men's game. Brittney Griner though is a different animal, and perhaps the future of the sport. She does things that nobody really has before, starting with her ability to dunk.

Yes, she can dunk regularly, oh and she knows how to fill the stat sheet too. Giner averages 19 points a game, almost nine rebounds and nearly six blocks a game. She is the leader in all of those categories and has the Baylor Bears in the top 15 in the polls and a real threat for the title (excluding UCONN of course).

But what is really making Griner the best women's player ever is the youtube clip that recently cost her two games:

That punch not only broke the nose of Jordan Barncastle from Texas Tech, but also got Griner suspended for a game by the NCAA and then a game by her coach as well. Now many people are upset by this, and think that it is appauling. However, this girl is the only thing worth talking about when it comes to women's basketball besides UCONN women. Tennessee is not what they used to be, and other than the Oklahoma girl's paying back of her scholarship for not winning the title last year, what is there to talk about with women's basketball? I'm pretty sure I will not talk about the sport besides one of those two topics being the focal point.

So while some people want to bash her for the bashing she dished out, I applaud her for being a true person. She is dominant, and she is tough, and when pushed (or pulled as the case was) she fought back and was the dominant person she is. I cheer for her to keep dominating, dunking and getting people talking about the women's game.

Duke Glad NCAA's are Neutral Courts and Not on the Road

So Duke is 25-5 this year, and all five of those losses have come on the road. Now in their defense three of those losses have come against teams that are currently ranked, in Wisconsin, Georgetown and now Maryland. However, the other two losses came against North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. (Not to mention the fact that they were utterly dominated in the games at NC State and Georgetown)

On Wednesday you saw a team that though they were in the game, and had the lead in the second half, seemed to be in the midst of committing grand larceny, because they were stealing a game they should not have been in at all. Maryland had a 40-29 lead when they just seemed to fall asleep at the end of the first half. Though Greivis Vasquez was not going to let that happen, scoring four of his 20 points at the end of the game, on two of the tougher shots of the game, week, month thus far...I mean it is only the third of the month.


Duke however is a potential number one seed come tournament time that is like night and day away from home. Now they are undefeated in neutral site games this year, but they are a home cooking team since their neutral site games are at Madison Square Garden, where they have played at numerous times in recent years.


The fact of the matter is that the Blue Devils are a team that relies heavily on the big three of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith. The team goes how they go, and away from Duke they are not doing so well, especially Singler. While Scheyer away from Cameron Indoor Stadium shoots 39% from the field and 36% from three (compared to 42% and 41% respectively at home) and Nolan Smith shoots 42% from the field and 39% from three (compared to 44% and 41%), Singler is horrid away from Cameron.

Singler shoots 41% from the field and 39% from three at Duke, but on when not on his own campus he shoots 36% from the field and only 32% from three. Not to mention if you take away a 10-17 night at Wisconsin, he would be shooting 34% from the field. Bad news for Dookies everywhere relying on Singler come tournament time, as this season on neutral court games he has shot a combined 15-51 from the field, including 4-18 from three.


Duke is a team that has essentially beaten three teams that anybody is expecting something from in the tournament, in Maryland, Gonzaga and maybe Clemson. The rest are not really wins worth noting to be honest. UCONN? Georgia Tech? Va Tech? If these are the wins that you are going to point to as a potential number one seed that struggles away from home as wins worth substance, then another early out seems possible for Duke.