Well I watched a ton of college basketball this weekend and as always have to comment on it.
The top 5 teams in the country all won this weekend but 8 was the largest margin of victory.
#1 Duke beat Maryland by 7 at home, 71-64. I did not see this game
#2 Ohio State held off #22 Minnesota to win by a score of 67-64 at home. I did see this game and OSU had this game in hand but let Minnesota get back in it with under 4 minutes to go. Lighty had a solid game for OSU (19 pts) and Sullinger continues to impress down low. Freshman Guard Aaron Craft from Findley Ohio came in off the bench to lead the team with 7 assists and played well down the stretch for them and filled in for Lighty when he fouled out late in the game. This Ohio State team is good and deep. Not a big Ohio State fan but this team is going to stay at the top all year.
# 3 Kansas - survives scare in overtime in Ann Arbor and wins 67-60. Kansas did not look like a top 3 team in this game at all. Michigan shot poor, poor and poor. It took them almost 7 minutes (13:34 mark) to register their first field goal of the game. They shot 4-28 from three point range and still managed to almost pull it out. Kansas was averaging over 80 points a game and were held to 51 in regulation by a much undermanned defensive squad in Michigan. Michigan, which plays mainly man to man had to switch to zone to contend but switched back to man to man in the overtime period. This Michigan team is slow and small on the defensive end and they are typically one and done on the offensive end. How they kept in this game getting behind by 15 in the first half and shooting so poorly is beyond me. I tell you what I do like about them - young team that does not quit, Novak is like the energizer bunny and Tim Hardaway Jr. can flat out play.
#4 Syracuse got a scare from Seton Hall but ended up pulling away in the end. Joseph and Triche sparked my Cuse team offensively and Jackson was a beast as always on the boards with 14 rebounds. They made only 3-7 free throws including a couple one and ones down the stretch that kept Seton Hall in it until they got a nice defensive stop near the end and converted on the other end to seal their 16th victory with a 61-56 win.
# 5 Pittsburgh won 89-81 against Marquette at home. I taped this one but have yet to watch it.
Other games watched or of local interest.
Sparty gets stunned again this time by Penn State 66-62. I can not figure this team out. They have players that have moments where they showcase their true talent and then they have moments where they disappear or look awful. Draymond Green continues to be the consistent player that boards for this team. Delvon Roe looked good and strong going to the hole at times in this game but then again looked horrible on some short range shots. Derrick Nix - dare I say it - actually contributed for a 5 minute span. Summers continues to shoot well from the outside but is getting no one else that can knock it down consistently. Missed free throws cost this team and Keith Appling is falling into obscure ville. This team is very soft inside defensively and it is beginning to show. I would really like to see Adrian Payne step up and provide some toughness and rebounding in the paint. This team is not playing to its potential and I am beginning to think it will not happen this year.
Oakland University followed up their Thursday win with a trouncing of W. Illinois, 79-50 on Saturday evening. Was hoping to make it over to this one but didn't. Looked like they had very well balanced scoring with Hudson leading the team with 18 points and Bader dropping another 15 - all on three pointers. This kid has a great stroke and reminds me of another Kangas.
University of Detroit beat Illinois-Chicago for their 3rd win in their last 4 games. They were led once again by Freshman Ray McCallum (Detroit Country Day - McDonald's HS All American) who scored 17 including a rebounded missed free throw put back basket with less than 2 seconds to seal the win, 72-69. McCallum is playing up to his billing as he is the 4th highest scoring freshman in the country averaging 15.8 per game. UD is now tied for the division lead following Cleveland State's two losses this weekend to Butler and Valpo. I hope to see UD contend for the title with Bulter and Cleveland State but have three huge games coming up. They play home against Butler on the 14th and Valpo on the 16th and then travel to play Cleveland State on the 20th.
A shout out to my son's college at Western Michigan. He reported live via text from the ZOO student section to let me know that Western beat rival Central Michigan in overtime 63-56. Freshman Trey Zeigler (Mt. Pleasant HS) led CMU with 22 points including a lay up as time was expiring in regulation to send it into overtime. Demetrius Ward (Detroit Pershing) led WMU with 21 including 9 in the overtime period. Western has now won 3 in a row.
Also watched some of the Purdue - Iowa game today mainly because I was interested in seeing how freshman Roy Marble Jr (Southfield) is doing for the Hawkeyes. He had started the last two games but was actually first off the bench for them today. He played almost 25 minutes and has been getting increased playing time as the season goes on. He has not scored a lot and had 6 points today in their blowout loss to Purdue 75-52. Purdue is a strong team and for sure the second best team in the Big Ten behind Ohio State.
Texas - Connecticut was a Great game to watch. I predicted on two previous blogs that Texas would win this game. I hate admitting when I am wrong but Connecticut and Kemba Walker made me eat my words. However the outcome could have been different if the ref did not blow a big call with under 10 seconds. Texas took the ball to the hole with the game tied with just under 10 seconds and there was significant contact and no call. It could have been called either way, a block or a charge but something should have been called. In watching the replay several times and being a retired ref it was clear this was a block. In addition, it looked like they blew the goal tending call on the same play. Texas got screwed on this one and should have won that game. Regardless it went into overtime and Walker hit two unbelievable shots, the first was a hip shot off balance launch from about 30 feet just to beat the play clock that found nothing but the net, the next was the game winner with 5 seconds to go on a sick cross over penetration pull back jumper from about 15 feet for a 82-81 OT win. Texas lead the majority of the game and I thought outplayed them but why they would not double team or trap Walker when Connecticut had the ball down the stretch is a mystery to me. He is clearly the best player on the floor and they tried to contain him with man to man cover with no off ball help. It cost them.
HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS
Muskegon Heights Tournament that I wanted to attend but couldn't.
DCD led by Amir Williams (Ohio State) 18 points and 6 blocks beat Cleveland MLK by 72-46.
Romulus was led by Justin Moss (Toledo) had 19 points in their 81-75 win over Chicago Vocational
Host Muskegon Heights was crushed by top 25 national power out of Chicago, Whitney Young. Whitney Young, who lost to Muskegon last year, got revenge this year in a big way winning 75-49. I have seen this team play on TV twice now and they are talented. Two seniors lead this team, Sam Thompson - 6'7" guard who is rated one of the top 40 players in the country and going to Ohio State and Luke Hager who is going to North Carolina Wilmington. They also have one of the best sophomores in the country in Thomas Hamilton and one of the top freshman big men in the country in 6'10" Jahlil Okafur. This team is loaded.
Detroit Southeastern beats Pershing this past week by 7
There was a good game in Cleveland Friday night featuring two of the top players in Ohio. Medina, featuring Junior Kenny Kaminiski who is signed with Michigan State and Strongsville, featuring one of the top seniors in the state in Iowa signee Aaron White. My Strongsville Spy (Joe Mannix) has this recap and scouting report to convey.
Strongsville got beat on a last second three pointer. Kenny Kaminski did not have a very good game. Was in foul trouble early and his minutes were kept to a minimum. He can shoot the three and also has good touch from 17 and in. Needs to work on his left..... goes to his right almost exclusively. Big kid that can handle the ball and sees the floor fairly well. A little lazy at times getting back on defense. Did not see much of his inside game.
Aaron White (6'8' kid going to Iowa) can shoot the 3 and has great rotation on his shot. Very lanky.....will need to put on 20-30 lbs of muscle or else will get pushed around in college. My guess is that he will red shirt his freshman year. He did have about 3-4 dunks, He dunks with ease!! Makes bad decisions when dribbling to the hoop......gets called for offensive fouls when he should be pulling up and taking the 8-10 footer. He did have some nice blocks. This kid is very long .....huge wing span.
Stay tuned for High school rankings and upcoming games of interest this week and weekend. There are some real good showcase tournaments this weekend - One at Warren Fitzgerald, One at Lansing Eastern and one at Delta College.
Till the next blog. Good night from your Basketball SNOB.
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