After falling behind by double digits, Denver is within 45-41 of North Texas with 9:39 to go. Go Pioneers! Go @naterohnert!
RT @slmandel News flash: Gonzaga overrated. (Again.) | That’s been clear to me since at least the Duke game.
Gonzaga looks like poop. St. Mary’s up by 14 with 5:38 left.
As regular readers know, I’ve got three primary college basketball rooting interests: my alma maters, USC and Notre Dame, and the team I’ve randomly followed since just before they became a household name, Gonzaga. There’s also team number four, the UConn Huskies, who I grew up rooting for, but who I now only casually follow, at best.
But there are also a bunch of other teams on the periphery of my fandom, mostly low-major schools that, come Championship Fortnight each year, I keep at least a loose eye on, hoping they’ll make it to the Big Dance. Here’s a look at the fortunes of these teams so far.
Denver: The Pioneers are a new addition to the Brendan Loy Bandwagon Peripheral Rooting Interests List, now that I’m a Denverite desperate for some mid-major college-sports action in this pro-sports town. DU has never been to the NCAA Tournament, but heading into this season, they had high hopes for a possible Sun Belt championship. Back in November, Kristy and I attended DU’s season opener — against mid-major darling Northern Iowa — and watched them nearly pull the upset. Unfortunately, the Pioneers’ perennial difficulties winning away from Magness Arena have persisted; they were 15-1 at home this season (that Northern Iowa loss being the only blemish), but 2-11 on the road. However, the Pioneers are doing well so far on the neutral court in Little Rock, Arkansas where the Sun Belt Tournament is being held. #6 DU beat #11-seeded, Isiah Thomas-coached Florida International, 71-64 on Saturday, then upset #3 Middle Tennessee State, 73-58 yesterday. Next up is #2 seed North Texas; that game is underway right now, with UNT leading DU by 1 point, 14-13, midway through the first half. If the Pioneers can with this one, they’ll play for a first-ever NCAA bid — against either #1 Troy or #4 Western Kentucky — at 5:00 PM tomorrow on ESPN2. Go DU!!!
Siena rallies to beat Fairfield in OT: http://bit.ly/bxyctt. Old Dominion wins CAA, denies William & Mary its first ever NCAA bid: http://bit.ly/ay3LtE.
UConn 59, Notre Dame 44, final. All-time record 71 straight wins for the Huskies, all by double figures. Symbol of might to the foe, indeed.
Notre Dame “only” down 10 to UConn women with 5 minutes left. Even keeping it to single digits would be a near epic shocker.
Fairfield up big over Siena, 32-19, with 6:25 left in first half. Will a Connecticut Cinderella relegate the Saints to the NIT?
NBC’s Chuck Todd: “There’s no worse crime in journalism these days than simply deciding something’s a story because Drudge links to it.”
I know about this interview with Chuck Todd because… Drudge linked to it.
I didn’t realize this: “Hurt Locker,” which beat box-office king “Avatar,” is the lowest-grossing Best Picture winner EVER. http://bit.ly/cGbQc6