Wednesday Wrap

Can the Big 12 Keep it Going?

Coming into Wednesday's games, the Big 12 sported an astounding record of 115-1 in home games this season.  The gaudy record is even more impressive when you recall how many titanic battles there have been this year involving Big 12 programs.  Nearly every team in the conference had a marquee win against a quality opponent. 

• Texas - Marquee wins over Michigan St and USC
  
• Kansas - wins over Michigan, Cal, Cornell
• Texas Tech - wins over Washington, Stanford and UTEP
• Oklahoma - wins over Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma St  
• Colorado - an upset victory over 22nd ranked Baylor at home
• Baylor - wins against Xavier, Oklahoma 
• Kansas St - wins over Washington St, Xavier, Texas A & M
• Missouri  - wins over Kansas St, Oregon, Georgia 

While obviously the Big 12 boasts two of the goliaths in Texas and Kansas this year, it's clear that winning on the road for anyone in the Big 12 will be a challenge.  So on Wednesday night, with Texas on the road against upstart Iowa St, Kansas facing off with Nebraska in Lincoln, and Missou in Lubbock, something would have to give.

Texas 90 Iowa St 83

Bad news for the Big 12: freshman Avery Bradley is quickly becoming a force for the insanely deep Longhorns.  Bradley who was content to play suffocating perimeter defense, has lately gained a scorer's mentality and is becoming an expert marksman from beyond the arc.  In the last two games, he's shot 22 for 28 including a perfect 7 for 7 from three point range.  Bradley's 24 points and the consistent dominant play of double double machine Damion James (23 points 14 rebounds) were too much for the upstart Cyclones.  Iowa St led at the half 44-42 with a barrage of three pointers.  But Texas behind Bradley kept the Cyclones at bay to win a tough one in Ames, Iowa.

Missouri 94 Texas Tech 89 OT

The Tigers appeared to be cruising to a relatively easy win in Lubbock but Texas Tech rallied to force overtime by scoring 13 straight points in the final minute.  Missouri was able to regroup in time as the duo of Kim English and Marcus Denmon tallied 40 points, 16 boards, and 5 three pointers. 

Kansas was workmanlike in its victory over Nebraska as well.  Thus ended the miraculous streak for Big 12 teams at home although all 3 games were anything but a cakewalk in the rough and tumble Big 12.

Quick hitters

Clemson 83 UNC 69 - Another step backward for the Tar Heels who appear lost right now

Michigan St 60 Minnesota 53  - Spartans continue early season Big 10 dominance

Pitt 67 U Conn 57 - Pitt continues to be the surprise of the season in the Big East in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year

Virginia Tech 81 Miami 66 - Malcolm Delaney with 28 points and 9 assists

St. John's 52 Cincinnati 50 - The Bearcats are suddenly struggling and have dropped 3 straight Big East battles

Akron 67 Ohio 62 - A nice win for the Zips on the road to maintain the lead in the MAC East

Virginia 82 Georgia Tech 75 - The Cavaliers move to 2-0 in ACC play with the upset

Wisconsin 60 Northwestern 50 - Trevon Hughes 4 three pointers down the stretch were the difference in the game.

Vanderbilt 65 Alabama 64

Utah St 79 Nevada 72 OT - Despite Luke Babbitt's 26, the Aggies prevail in OT behind Jared Quayle's 21 point effort. 

What's on tap for Thursday-

Radford vs Coastal Carolina - the Chanticleers are 9-0 at home and 16-2 on the season with an unblemished 6-0 record in conference.   Still, Radford are the defending conference champs and big Artsiom Parakhouski with his 24.1 ppg and 12.9 reb per game averages will try to prove that the Highlanders are still the team to beat in the Big South.

Wright St at Wisconsin Green Bay - Both teams have identical 11-6 (4-2 in conference) records and along with Detroit are tied for 2nd in the Horizon conference behind Butler.  A win would help establish the pecking order.

Arizona St at Oregon - Which Duck team will show up -  the one that posted consecutive victories over Washington St and Washington or the one that slipped up against rival Oregon St who had lost to Seattle by 51 points?  The Sun Devils are winless on the road and will have to step up their game in Eugene.

Gonzaga at St. Mary's - the classic 1/2 rivalry in the WCC, the Gaels will look to end the Zags 10 year stranglehold on the WCC regular season title.  St. Mary's has won five straight and 13 of their last 14.  Gonzaga won all three meetings last season though.