Congregation, Please Stand UP!
As I’m sure you know by know, I am staunch follower of the Atlantic 10. For years, the A-10 has been on the bubble between major and mid-major status from all the pundits, strictly on the type of year the schools have. Unlike its bigger and stronger brothers, A-10 schools have to rely on scheduling tough non-con games to make sure the resume is strong enough to make the NCAA. Even my beloved Minutemen at 15-5 can’t utter the words NCAA because their RPI is below 60, so the likelihood of getting an at-large is as about as likely as NJIT’s unless they win the AQ.
I have been screaming to the masses that the A-10 is a major, and apparently ESPN agrees with me. The Mothership has released their schedule for the annual BracketBuster weekend which is bigger than ever this season, featuring 142 teams from 15 conferences. However, not one A-10 school is included. Since this is the great mid-major showcase, it is clear that Sean Miller’s voice was heard…after he bolted for Arizona in the ‘major’ PAC-12.
Ironically, it will the PAC-12 that needs to watch it’s back this season come Selection Sunday, as their abysmal collective performance this year should open up a few bubble bids for the Atlantic 10. I love this stuff Go Defense.
On that note, I’m proud to announce that the NYC-based ‘YES’ Network (Yankees Entertainment and Sports – which should be YEaS, but whatever) has discovered that there actually is basketball east of the Big XII. No offense to the BXII, but nothing drives me more crazy then when regional sports net plays out of region games when there are games at home.
So, with that, this week’s Saturday Services is sponsoring A-10 member and (The) Bronx resident, Fordham University Rams as they take welcome the Colonials of George Washington on the YEaS Network! Sure, my girlfriend is an alum and of course I have an agenda here, but keep in mind, it is vital(e) for every practicing Bracketologist to keep everything happy on the homefront as March gets closer – but more on that in February. That said, for everyone else on this list that didn’t go to Fordham, Thoms does have about 15 other TVs that will have other games (Like Syracuse, UMass, Duke, St.Johns, Kansas, Virginia Tech, Florida, etc)….natually, there’s a complete list below.
Lastly, if you are not aware, Professor Thoms has awarded the CoB with our own branded Loyalty Card! PT’s started the Loyalty Card program last spring, sign up for free, and swipe your card whenever you close out your tab. You collect points which can be used for some pretty cool stuff (t-shirts, bartending lessons, private parties, etc). If you already have a non-CoB card, just ask them to swap it out. They are good and can do that because they love you.
And on that, here is the fantastic Saturday Services schedule. Most of the best games are early ones, so rest up on Friday, or plan for the ‘Hair of the Hoya’. Either way, the Neeruchino is your best friend.
KEY MATCHUPS:
TIME (ET) MATCHUP
12:00 PM St. John’s at (6) Duke
12:00 PM (18) Marquette at Villanova
1:00 PM West Virginia at (4) Syracuse
1:00 PM George Washington at Fordham
1:00 PM Texas at (7) Baylor
1:30 PM Texas Tech at (2) Missouri
1:30 PM (16) Mississippi State at (13) Florida
2:00 PM (5) Kansas at Iowa State
2:00 PM Saint Louis at Massachusetts
2:30 PM Virginia Tech at Maryland
4:00 PM (1) Kentucky at LSU
4:00 PM (10) Georgetown at Pittsburgh
4:00 PM (12) San Diego State at Colorado State
6:00 PM (23) Harvard at Brown
6:00 PM Cincinnati at Rutgers
6:00 PM Auburn at Tennessee
7:00 PM Xavier at Charlotte
7:00 PM Butler at Green Bay
7:00 PM Oklahoma at (24) Kansas State
8:00 PM Eastern Illinois at (9) Murray State
8:00 PM (21) Virginia at North Carolina State
8:00 PM (25) Louisville at Seton Hall
8:05 PM Bradley at (14) Creighton
9:00 PM (15) UNLV at Air Force
9:00 PM (20) Saint Mary’s at Brigham Young
9:00 PM Marshall at Memphis
OTHER NOTABLES:
12:00 PM Hofstra at Northeastern
12:00 PM Wake Forest at Clemson
1:00 PM Arkansas State at North Texas
1:30 PM Arkansas at Alabama
2:00 PM Valparaiso at Milwaukee
2:00 PM James Madison at George Mason
3:00 PM Wofford at Charleston
3:00 PM Tennessee Tech at Morehead State
3:00 PM Tulsa at Southern Methodist
3:30 PM Wyoming at Boise State
4:00 PM Purdue at Northwestern
4:00 PM Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
4:05 PM Southern Illinois at Illinois State
5:00 PM Colgate at Holy Cross
5:00 PM Northern Iowa at Missouri State
6:00 PM Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan
7:00 PM Washington at Arizona
7:00 PM South Carolina at Ole Miss
8:00 PM Illinois at Minnesota
9:00 PM Wichita State at Drake
9:30 PM Fresno State at New Mexico State
11:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Long Beach State
11:05 PM Hawaii at Idaho
And that’s the double truth, Ruth! So, they’re calling for snow starting at Midnight tonight and giving us a a few inches of the white stuff during the day. I see no better idea than to sit in the warm inside with hoops, friends, nachos and boooooze!! (there is a hot version of the Neeruchino too – its almost the same w/o ice)!
First, Baylor – we all know that Baylor is one of the last three undefeated teams left (Syracuse, Murray State) with the record of 15-0. The 15 games to date have been on the weaker side until Christmas, then they were tested in overtime against a good West Virginia team. Then came the nailbiter against then #14 Miss St. to end non-conference play. However, the chance that they will finish the regular season undefeated will be near to impossible in the Big XII. Since they have the gone to the balanced schedule, they will have to play Kansas, Mizzou, and Kansas State twice. That is a gauntlet that should take a causalty along the way. Mizzou found that out the hard way last week going down to tonight opponent, K-State. And, the different between Miss St. and K-State is the conference familiarity. Scott Drew’s Bears will need to watch up for K-State because…
