Dramatic start to Rivalry Week -- what's next?
Posted: Monday, February 09, 2009 8:43 PM
Filed Under:
Big 12, Rivalries
Ah, Rivalry Week. I don’t care if it is a TV invention – it’s one of the better themes ESPN uses.
It’s not perfect. Kentucky-Louisville was last month, and Xavier-Cincy was back in December. Traditionalists don’t get to see Indiana-Purdue until Feb. 21st. Still, there’s plenty for even the most discerning hoop fans who love a good rivalry.
Like Monday’s primetime game. Few things build drama in college hoops like regional rivalries.
Kansas and Missouri used to be one of the nation’s marquee matchups, but the Tigers haven’t been part of the national picture since Quin Snyder ran the program into the ground. That changed Monday when the No. 16 Jayhawks and No. 17 Tigers played their first ranked showdown since 2003.
And it didn’t disappointment for drama (it wasn’t the prettiest game to watch, just exciting).
Missouri (21-4) trailed Kansas (19-5) throughout and trailed 58-51 with about 3:30 remaining. The Jayhawks – who made just one basket in the final 8:18 – should’ve had the game won, but Mizzou’s nasty defense turned in enough defensive stops to finally take its first lead, 60-58, with :51 seconds left.
Kansas responded with a jumper of its own, but Missouri’s Zaire Taylor gave the Tigers the win when his 10-foot jumper bounced off the back of the iron and through the net, prompting 15,061 fans to storm the court. (I’m a Kansas grad. I wrote the last three grafs gnashing my teeth and cursing. Often.)
What’s in store the rest of the week? The MEGA game of the week is Wednesday. As if you didn’t know…
Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators (19-4) are atop the SEC East, while Billy Gillispie’s Kentucky Wildcats (16-7) are trying to end a three-game skid. This game’s usually been one of the conference’s better matchups the last few seasons.
In-state rivals Michigan and Michigan State also play Tuesday. John Beilein’s Wolverines started the year 13-3, but have lost six of their last eight. The Spartans (19-4) are trying to get healthy (no Raymar Morgan?), which makes Tuesday anyone’s game.
Duke-North Carolina is Wednesday. More on that later. (If I were you, I’d hit a bar so you can watch Xavier-Dayton and Syracuse-UConn before the biggie begins at 9 p.m. ET.)
Thursday’s not bad either.
Two of the Pac-10’s best, UCLA (19-4) and Arizona State (18-5), play in Tucson. The Bruins may be the nation’s best team that doesn’t earn weekly raves and feature an offense that isn’t what you’d expect from a Ben Howland team (Read: High-scoring and efficient). The Sun Devils aren’t ripping through foes, but have a mighty efficient offense of their own.
Gonzaga (17-5) and Saint Mary’s (19-4) would normally be a game worthwhile No-Doz game for East Coast folk, but the Gaels don’t have Patty Mills. That makes the day’s second-best matchup a Big 5 showdown between St. Joe’s (14-8) and Temple (13-9).
Saturday closes with a couple of decent matchups, but nothing national.
Cal (18-6) and Stanford (14-7) aren’t NCAA tourney locks. It won’t matter to the fans. And Syracuse vs. Georgetown (13-9) is one for old-school fans who remember the days John Thompson II patrolled the Hoyas sidelines.
