Each week it seems like another mid major team upsets a high major team…The truth of the matter is that football has skewered the basketball picture. Without a BCS label on your conference you are automatically placed in the mid major category. Financial resources may play a factor, but the dispersal of talent has made college basketball an even more entertaining product.
For example last night George Mason outplayed, outhustled and outexperienced the 20th ranked team in the country, Kansas State. A ranking that is based on the fact that they play in a BCS conference. There is no doubt with freshman sensation, Michael Beasley, the Wildcats are going to be a very good team. However, with 5 freshamn playing the majority of the minutes they were no match for a team with five seniors that included two players from a Final Four team. If you took away the name and just put up the roster of players my money would be on the Patriots of George Mason to be the ranked team.
Coach Jim Larranage was masterful in orchestrating the tempo of the game. Run when it there and grind when it’s not. Folarian Campbell and Will Thomas were too much for a youthful Kansas State team. It was the fourth straight win for the Patriots and the first time they have ever started 4-0. Look out CAA..Their back and wanting more.
For the Wildcats, Michael Beasley had 30 points (the third time in four games) and ten rebounds. Can you spell one and done. I just hope for Frank Martin’s sake he is able to lead them back to the NCAA tournament.
Speaking of Frank Martin. It was a homecoming for the Wildcats coach as he cut his teeth as a high school coach in Miami. Coach Martin is a guy who worked his way up through the ranks and will prove over time that you don’t have to be an assistant at Duke or North Carolina to do a great job…
Charlie Coles is the energizer bunny when it comes to college coaches. He just continues to win and win. Following an upset win over Xavier his Redhawks of Miami (OH) knocked off South Alabama to move to 2-0. Hard to believe he was let go as the head coach of Central Michigan back in the 80’s. I wonder if that Athletic Director caught any grief for that move?
