Month: February 2008 (Page 22 of 30)

Big games abound in the Big East and Big Ten this weekend. First off, Purdue visits Wisconsin. I know Purdue is having a great year, but Bo Ryan’s Badgers just do not lose at home. Chalk one up for the home team.

On Sunday Indiana is at Ohio State. This is an opporutnity for the Buckeyes to build their post season resume. A win against Inidana will help tremendously. However, for them to win they will have to find a way to stop DJ White and Eric Gordon. This could be the game that Jon Diebler breaks out.

In the Big East, Georgetown visits Louisville. Ever since the return of David Padgett and Juan Palacios the Cardinals have been rolling. Look for them to continue their roll as they find a way to speed up the Hoyas. Both teams are great on the defensive end. The Cardinals are holding opponents to 59 points a game while the Hoyas are holding teams to 54 points per outing. Give the nod to the home team on this tight one.

Also, Marquette visits Notre Dame. Luke Harangody and his teammates need a win to build their resume. The Irish were soundly defeated by Marquette (26 points) earlier in the year. I have to believe that Coach Mike Brey will devise a way to slow them down and get it done at home.

In the Pac-10 USC visits Washington State. The Cougars were sailing along at one point. Then Cal and Stanford came to town and knocked them off their pedestal. Derrick Low needs to take back the leadership mantle and help his team rebuild their confidence. Talent and glitz vs. substance and grit in this one. I’ll take the grit and homecourt advantage of Washington State.

Back in the East, St. Joes visits Xavier. I know it’s not east, but the Atlantic 10 will always be an Eastern conference to me. After dropping a game to Duquesne, St. Joe’s needs a signature win that a victory ovr Xavier will provide. However, Drew Lavender is playing with a chip on his shoulder and I expect him to lead the Muskateers just as a couple of years ago Jameer Nelson did the same for St. Joe’s.

Two days after I wrote about officials working too many games in a week, I watched Steve Welmer (who has officiated 80 games this year) almost cost Indiana a win on the road a Illinois. With just under 3 seconds DJ White was fouled shooting a desparation shot right in front of Welmer (it was not a judgement call either–he clearly grabbed his arm) and Welmer swallowed his whistle.

Fortunately for the Hoosiers they were able to win in double overtime. How would you like to be Kelvin Sampson explaining how he lost the Big Ten title by one game after having that type of call missed? The sad part is the officials will not be reprimanded or penalized for a bad game.

Earlier in the week I watched two calls go against Gonzaga in their loss at St. Mary’s. I don’t want to take anything away from the Gaels win, but again it was a case of the same officials working too many games in a week.

As Jay Bilas has so eloquently put it. “There must be accountability to keep officials in line.”