I know I wrote a couple of days ago that when you get into conference games the media will call too many wins upsets, but there were a couple of upsets on Saturday. Starting with Maryland over North Carolina. How can a team that lost to Ohio and American at home go to the DeanDome and pull of the upset. Call it great coaching. Gary Williams has his players believing again. What makes this an upset is not that North Carolina is #1 in the country, but that it was at home.
The other upset was on the other end of the country. USC drove crosstown to knock off UCLA in Pauley Pavilion. Again, I ask how could a team that lost to Mercer (an Atlantic Sun team under .500) look up at all those championship banners and not be intimidated. Tim Floyd’s team has struggled with eratic play from OJ Mayo, but this win shows just how good these young freshmen and sophomores could be for the men of Troy. If they can learn to share the ball (hear theat OJ) and guard with the intesity that is needed in college than they could be a force come tourney time….
Staying in the Pac-10, Stanford knocked off Arizona State. I would consider this an upset even though Arizona State was the higher ranked team. However, the final margin (15) says alot about how good the Cardinal will be now that Lopez (the good half) is back.
In the Big 12, Kansas State handed Texas A & M it’s second straight loss. Looks like Mark Turgeon is getting some ill hospitality in his first run through the Big 12. Again, the final score is what makes this game so surprising. The final score was 75-54 and the score was a lot closer than the game. After intermission the Wildcats controlled both ends of the floor. Michael Beasley led the way with 21. He is getting my vote for best freshman and maybe player of the year…
Some other surpises of note,UConn beat Marquette, Auburn beat Ole Miss, NC State beat Miami, and Cincy beat Pitt. All victories by the lower rated teams. However, they wer all on the victors home court. As a former coach I know how tough it is to win on the road, so I wouldn’t consider them too much of an upset.
A couple of teams getting it done on the road. Kansastraveled over to Missouri for the first installment of the Border War and came away with a 76-70 win. Also, Michigan Statewent to Minnesota and came away with a win. Winning on the road is how you win conference championships. Kansas is well on it’s way to another title under Bill Self.
