College Basketball: Another #1 Team Falls
March Madness is just days off now, with conference tournaments getting underway and tickets being punched for automatic bids to the Big Dance.
What no one seems to want to be right now, however, is the number one team in the nation.
After last week, when both number one Kansas, number two Kentucky, and number three Purdue all fell, in addition to other top teams scuffling, Syracuse was elevated to the top spot in the polls for the first time since winning the national title when Carmelo Anthony played his one season there.
It was to be short lived.
In front of a record crowd at Freedom Hall in Louisville, where the Cardinal were playing their final home game in the storied venue after 54 years, Louisville upended the top ranked Orange by a 78-68 count, setting the top team in the nation tumbling again and opening up for debate who would be number one when the new rankings came out. It was Syracuse's first loss away from the Carrier Dome this season, as they fell to 11-1. Reserve Kyle Kuric scored all of his career high 22 points after intermission to spur the Cardinals to victory, allowing them to sweep the season series from Syracuse and beat them for the sixth consecutive time.
FIfth ranked Kansas State also suffered from the upset bug, as they fell in overtime to Iowa State 85-82. With a chance at the Big 12 regular season title on the line going into the week, the Wildcats wilted, dropping games to Kansas and the Cyclones. The upset win boosted Iowa State's road record against ranked opponents to a staggering 8-104. That's right...it was the EIGHTH win for them in 112 chances on the road against a ranked opponent. Kudos to them for pulling it off. It was a gritty performance from a team that will be seeded eleventh in the Big 12 Conference tourney next week.
One man who doesn't need to worry about purchasing weight loss supplements is North Carolina coach Roy Williams. The stress and clamoring from the fan base on Tobacco Road and in Chapel Hill will be more than enough to keep his metabolism running high. The Tar Heels were flat out waxed by Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium last night by a count of 82-50, one of the most one sided losses in the storied history of the Duke/Carolina rivalry.
One season after winning the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina bottomed out, finishing 5-11 in the conference, and 16-15 overall. Instead of defending their crown, they'll be lucky to get into the NIT with their numbers. The 50 points was the lowest scored in the Williams era, and the 32 point defeat was the worst since a 96-56 whipping by Maryland back in 2003. How the mighty have fallen.
Conference tournament action abounds and March Madness looms...it's the best time of year for college hoops. Sit back, grab some snacks and a cold beverage of choice, and enjoy it.
What no one seems to want to be right now, however, is the number one team in the nation.
After last week, when both number one Kansas, number two Kentucky, and number three Purdue all fell, in addition to other top teams scuffling, Syracuse was elevated to the top spot in the polls for the first time since winning the national title when Carmelo Anthony played his one season there.
It was to be short lived.
In front of a record crowd at Freedom Hall in Louisville, where the Cardinal were playing their final home game in the storied venue after 54 years, Louisville upended the top ranked Orange by a 78-68 count, setting the top team in the nation tumbling again and opening up for debate who would be number one when the new rankings came out. It was Syracuse's first loss away from the Carrier Dome this season, as they fell to 11-1. Reserve Kyle Kuric scored all of his career high 22 points after intermission to spur the Cardinals to victory, allowing them to sweep the season series from Syracuse and beat them for the sixth consecutive time.
FIfth ranked Kansas State also suffered from the upset bug, as they fell in overtime to Iowa State 85-82. With a chance at the Big 12 regular season title on the line going into the week, the Wildcats wilted, dropping games to Kansas and the Cyclones. The upset win boosted Iowa State's road record against ranked opponents to a staggering 8-104. That's right...it was the EIGHTH win for them in 112 chances on the road against a ranked opponent. Kudos to them for pulling it off. It was a gritty performance from a team that will be seeded eleventh in the Big 12 Conference tourney next week.
One man who doesn't need to worry about purchasing weight loss supplements is North Carolina coach Roy Williams. The stress and clamoring from the fan base on Tobacco Road and in Chapel Hill will be more than enough to keep his metabolism running high. The Tar Heels were flat out waxed by Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium last night by a count of 82-50, one of the most one sided losses in the storied history of the Duke/Carolina rivalry.
One season after winning the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina bottomed out, finishing 5-11 in the conference, and 16-15 overall. Instead of defending their crown, they'll be lucky to get into the NIT with their numbers. The 50 points was the lowest scored in the Williams era, and the 32 point defeat was the worst since a 96-56 whipping by Maryland back in 2003. How the mighty have fallen.
Conference tournament action abounds and March Madness looms...it's the best time of year for college hoops. Sit back, grab some snacks and a cold beverage of choice, and enjoy it.
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