2025 NIT O5

 AAC  gets smacked: WICH lost OKST and  STLU was pounded by ARST, led by Nelson 

(26 PTS , 10 REB , 2 AST) .Jax St handled GTech easily. Kent St . Santa Clara, and CHAT advance.

AAC: 0-2. SBC, CUSA, MAC, WCC, & Southern are  1-0)

Cal Baptist officially accepts invitation to join Big West in 2026 . WAC WAINING. Back to playing Cal-Bakersfield

March 20, 2025

AAC recovers: UAB over JOEs and NTX over Furman.

Malik Thomas scored 21 for San Fran(WCC) in a win over UVU(WAC).

NIT rescinded its invitation to South Bama. UC Riverside had committed to play in the(CBI) since it had not heard from NIT which decided to invite them. UC-R  then accepted the surprise NIT bid and the Jags were screwed.

March 23, 2025

Huff (26 PTS , 1 REB , 4 AST) led CHAT to a win over Dayton. Bradley beat George Mason.

Kind of wild to see Coach Ryan Odom, who just left VCU,  end up at UVA.  He coached the UMBC team that upset 1 seed UVA a few years ago at the Dance.

His dad coached at Wake Forest (ACC) from 1989-2001.

I graduated from UMBC in 1981.

March 24, 2025

Sullinger scored 34 for Kent St who  knocked out Stanford(ACC). UAB & NTX advanced. Also UCI and LOYCH. Is Mack leaving CoC for Xavier?

March 25, 2025

McCollum leaves Drake for Iowa, and Medved leave Col St for MINN.

March 26, 2025

OK St, the remaining Power conference member is out of the NIT. NTX took care of them last night. Teams that felt spurned by the Dance are alive. CHAT battled and eventually prevailed over Bradley. 

Huff CHAT G(21 PTS , 1 REB , 3 AST)

Today :UAB/UC Irvine, Kent St /LOYCH. 

So Pitino Jr took the XAV job, not the Nova gig, and VCU hired Bryant's Phil Martelli Jr.,

March 27, 2025

UCI outlasts UAB in OT and faces NTX next. Rubin (18pts, 9reb) leads LOYCH over Kent St  and faces CHAT next.

UNLV hires Pastner, whose last two gigs were Memphis and GTech

WV hires Hodge, the NTX Coach, who leaves after the NIT is over.

Intriguing: Landon Bussie leaves Alcorn St for Chicago St, who must have limited funds.

Magpayo leaves UC Riverside for Fordham(A10). He was Asst at Columbia(2010–2014)

 Quannas White, Houston U Asst, will be  the ULL HC after the Cougars are done at the Dance.

April 1, 2025

I'll roll the dice on  a southern flavored NIT final. NTX over UCI, and CHAT over LOYCH tonight. 

April 2, 2025

I was wrong on UNT who lost to UCI. Correct on CHAT who got 23 points from Bonham in a win over LOYCH.

April 4, 2025

Bonham (19pts, 10rebs) led CHAT to the NIT title with an OT win over UCI. Good win for the Southern Conference.

TAMU hires Samford’s Bucky McMillan to be hoops HC. One dance appearance and a 99-52 record in five seasons in the Southern Conference. Once Beard said no--

Non P6 hoops March is here.

 SBCT: TXST knocked JMU back to the 2 slot. USA is the top seed. T. Pope scored 23 for  TXST in a 102-93 W over the Dukes

MAC: Akron(15-1) beat Kent St and  has guaranteed itself at least a tie for the conference title. MOH(12-3).

ASUNT tips tomorrow. Lipscomb is the top seed.

March 2, 2025

Ituku scored 29 for JVST in a win over FIU to keep the pressure LIB(11-4-CUSA)

Gregg scored 23 for the Zags in a win over SF which moves them to 2nd in the WCC.

MWC: CSU(14-4 W5) handled USU and moves to 1GB of UNM.

March 3, 2025

Strong second half from the Tigers in a win over UAB.

JVST takes over first in the CUSA with LIB loss to KENN led by Cottle's 24 points.

ASUN: Hell of a game from N. Turner(37pts, 11reb) for CARK in rd1 win over STET.

Scotty Pippen played at Central Arkansas.

March 4, 2025

A. Wright (21pts) led NTX to a win over WICH and within a half game of MEM in the AAC.

Queens, the six seed in the ASUNT, upset FGSU to make it to the last four and faces LIP next.

March 6, 2025

VCU (9 straight ) and JOES(5 straight) are the two hottest A10 teams. Reynolds scored 22 last night for JOES in a win over URI.

OVCT: Guinyard (18pts) for  8th seed UTM over 5th seed TNTC

March 7, 2025

LIB and JVST are tied for first  in the CUSA. T. Peter scored 20 for LIB in a big win over MTSU. Mostafa (30pts, 20reb) for the Blue Raiders.

March 8, 2025

CSU beat AFA for its 7th straight win and remains 1gb of UNM in the MWC. Nique Clifford(18.4ppg)

SBCT: Herd got by GSU and ODU upset APPY.

March 9, 2025

Omaha is Dancing since its Summit final opponent, St. Thomas, is in the final year of its four-year transition period. SIU-E has the OVC ticket. DEL, the CAA 12th seed who is CUSA bound, upset CAMP and faces W&M today.

March 10, 2025

Local flavor in one CAA semi-final with DEL blowing out W&M, and Towson(Williamson 32pts) beating Drexel. CofC plays UNCW in the other semi.

March 11, 2025

Delaware  got past Towson and faces UNCW ,who survived COFC's comeback, in  the CAA final. 

Zags beat SF to make it to the WCC final against SMC. 

Troy TCOB in the second half over Ark St to win the SBCT. Conerway scored 23 points for Troy in the game.

March 12, 2025

Huff(18pts) helps Zags punch their Dance ticket with a win over SMC, who should get an at-large invitation.

Pasha played great for DEL, but the Blue Hens fell to UNCW in the CAA final.

March 13, 2025

K.Johnson (23pts ) for Montana as they beat NCOL to get the Big Sky ticket.

McNeese  gets Southland ticket. Is HC Will Wade headed back to a Power conference?Perhaps the ACC?

March 14, 2025

Tulsa(12-19, 11th in AAC) knocks out Temple. Can they upset NTX next? Boise St knocks out Aztecs and gets UNM in the MWC.

March 15, 2024

State of MD may get a second team into the Dance. MSM upset MERR and faces Iona in the MAAC final. Morgan St lost to Norfolk St in the MEAC semis.

March 16, 2025

Mt St Marys wins the MAAC

Another  solid performance by Landeborg in UAB's win over NTX. This is Coach AK's time of year to punch a ticket. Blazers face MEM who survived Tulane.

GCU beat UVU to get the WAC ticket.

Zips survive MOH to get the MAC ticket.

March 18, 2025

Somehow the MWC got four teams into the Dance despite all the Blue bloods and SEC favoritism .Props to CSU, UNM, USU , and SDSU. I like USU getting by UCLA in rd1.

Last blog: https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2025/02/non-p6-hoops-its-february.html

Non P6 hoops- it's February

 I watched most of the second half of Akron's win over Kent St. Zips(9-0-MAC) led by N Johnson (20 points)  look like a very tough team.

Dayton got a much needed win over SLU to stay in the A10 race

MSM(5-5 MAAC) got a much needed win  over Merrimack to stay on the fringes of the conference race.

Feb 2, 2025

Ark St and Troy, the top two SBC teams, each won. 

Q.House (18pts, 4ast) for first place JVST in win over LIB. MTSU moves into second in the CUSA with a win over UTEP.

In the WCC, first place SMC beat the Zags, who fell to 3rd place behind SF who handled Wazoo.

Feb 3, 2025

AAC: Rice gave MEM a scare, Haggerty(26pts 8 reb, 5 ast) for the Tigers in the 86-83 win. Tulsa gave Tulane a scare, FAU blew out USF.

Feb 4, 2025

Lendeborg leads UAB to a 64 -61 win over UNT, and the Blazers move into second place in the AAC.

WM handles COFC and moves into a tie for second with UNCW in the CAA.

Feb 6, 2025

UNG(polite 16points) handled Citadel, but Samford keeps rolling in the Southern conference.

SBC: Herd's win over Ark St helps them, APPY, USA, and JMU.

Feb 7, 2025

J Forrest scored 37 for Chicago St (4-5 NEC) in a W over MHU.

CUSA: KENN and LIB each won to stay 2GB JVST. Cottie scored 30 for the Owls.

Feb 9, 2025

MAC teams prevailed 8-4 in challenge with SBC. T Johnson (20 pts) for Akron in win over USA, MIOH beat Troy, TOL beat JMU.

BTW, I noticed EMU named its arena George Gervin. EMU 76 ODU 70

Feb 11, 2025

Duggan scored 26 points for Campbell in its win over NCAT, which makes 7 straight wins and keeps them two games behind Towson in the CAA.

Feb 12, 2025

AAC: Bad loss for UAB to ECU. NTX beat Rice.

A10: Newton scored 27 for first -place  GMU in an OT win over SLU.

WCC: A. Marciulionis (24pts, 6ast) for first place SMC in a win over SCU.

Feb 13, 2025

UNCG rolls VMI and moves into a tie for 1st with CHAT in the Southern Conference.

Dickerson scored 21 for RMU(2nd-HOR) in a win over CLEV(1st-HOR). YSU blew out PFW, and both are tied with RMU.

Feb 14, 2025

USA needs OT to get by the Herd. App cruise by CCU. Both teams trail Ark St by a game in the SBC,

Ike(18pts, 13 reb) in a win over SF and trail SMC by a game in the WCC

Feb 15, 2025

Medley (24pts) for Kent St in a nailbiter over Ohio.

QUIN's win over SH moves them into a first place MAAC tie with MERR who lost to Manhattan.

Feb 16 , 2025

AKR (12-0 MAC) got (18pts, 7reb) from Johnson in a win over CMU. Zips 13th straight win

These four teams are tied atop the SBC. Ark St lost to Troy 71-70   USA & JMU won.

CHAT & UNCG each won to remain tied atop the Southern.

Feb 18, 2025

MVC race: T Campbell scored 21 for UNI in a win over MURR to move the Panthers into a tie with BRAD, 1GB of first place Drake.

Bradley edged Drake 61-59 on Sunday Feb 16.

Feb 19 2025

Akron(13-0 MAC) beat NIU  and takes a 3 game lead over MIOH(10-3), who lost to EMU. Toledo(9-4) edged Ball St to move into 3rd place. Adams(18pts, 3ast) for the Rockets.

Feb 20, 2025

SBC: USA takes over first with a win over Ark St. who falls to 4th.

MWC: USU rolls SJSU and moves to within a game of 1st place NM who lost to BSU.

Feb 21, 2025

Thomas scored 21 for SF(3rd -WCC) over Pacific.

Liberty is only .5gb of JVSU who lost to NMSU in CUSA action

WICH won its fifth straight AAC game. WICH 75 FAU 68

Feb 23, 2025

JMU takes over first place in the SBC with a win over GASO and USA losing to TXST. Appy. Mingo (25pts, 4 ast) for Herd in win over Appy.

WCC: SMC ,who beat the Zags has a 3 game lead on Gonz and SF. Williams (23pts, 7 reb) for Dons in a win over SD.

MWC: BSU survived Nevada 70-69 in as sloppy final minute of action.

MAC: Ohio had a he!! of a first half and handed Akron its first conference loss.

Feb 24, 2025

AAC: UAB and NTX won to  remain 1GB of MEM in the AAC. Wich won its sixth straight. X. Bell (23 points)

Feb 25, 2025

Obioaha  scored 23 points for UNCW(2nd in CAA) in a win over WM.

Big West raids the WAC and takes Cal Baptist, and UVU(20-7, 12-1-1st in WAC)

Feb 26, 2025

Mingo(22pts, 6ast) led the hot Herd over ODU. 1st place JMU keeps winning in the SBC.

Feb 27, 2025

ASUN:  Blanton scored 24 for EKY in a win over UNF. Johnson scored 26 points for FGCU in a win over BELL and still trails first place LIP by a game.

Feb 28, 2025

Coach Billy G has TARL at 3rd in the WAC with the win over AC. UVU and GCU have been hot.

NTX and UAB TCOB last night and each trail MEM by a game. Blazers play the Tigers on Sunday.

·

2025 is on for the non P6

Yes I'm 65 and miss the ACC

 

Terp guy blogging:. When I was much younger, South Carolina's exit(1971)  and GT's hoops entrance(1979)  to the ACC irked me. Now, I'm noticing the former PAC12 teams , Stanford and Cal, and former  AAC team SMU, creeping up in the basketball standings. 

SMU beat NCSU, Stanford beat NCSU, and CAL trounced MIA yesterday. S. Yiğitoğlu scored 20 for the Mustangs.GT football joined the ACC in 1983.

Jan 30, 2025

Four in a row for the Terps after beating Wisky last night.. D.Queen -12 rebounds.

Stanford and SMU won and moved into a three way tie for fourth in the ACC.

Feb 7, 2025

 SMU AD Rick Hart, who has led the athletic department since 2012, will step down at the end of the academic year. Maybe he's tired or something else is going on. Kind of odd after a successful football season.

previous blog : https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2022/09/yes-im-63-and-miss-acc.html

2025 is on for the non P6

 Southern Conference action: UNCG outscored  Wofford 47-38 in the second half  for a  68-66 W. 

Mercer beat CHAT 99-94 in OT. T. Johnson scored 26 for the Bears. 

Jan 4, 2025

Chicago St got their first win of the season and it was in NEC play. Crawford scored 15 for CHS in a 64-52 win over Wagner.

It appears those ex-Sycamores are taking root in St Louis. SLU 73 JOES 57 in A10 action.

Mashburn Jr scored 24 in Temple's win over Wichita St in AAC action.

Jan 6, 2025

AAC: Big  68-64 win for Memphis over NTX. Haggerty -27 points for the Tigers

FAU outlasted ECU 78-76. Walker (21pts, 13reb) for the Pirates

ECU/MEM matchup on 1/11

Jan 9, 2025

On the Horizon: YSU beat NKU: Dynes (15REB) for the Penguins

CLEV beat RMU: T. Smith (10 reb, 5 asst) for Vikings

PFW beat MILW: J. Jackson (25pts, 9 reb) for Mastodons

Jan 12, 2025

Calmese scored 20 for Wazoo(3-2 WCC) in a loss to the Zags. ORST(3-2 WCC) blows out Pacific.

Looking local: . J. Theodosiou scored 27 for LOYMD in a 75-74 win over Navy in Patriot League action

Towson  outscored Drexel  17-6 in OT for CAA win.

Jan 14, 2025

Merrimack, formerly in the NEC,  is 5-0 in its first season in the MAAC. They beat Manhattan on Sunday.

UAB is  getting into gear. Blazers have won three straight  games in 2025. Lendenborg (22pts, 10reb, 7 ast) in win over FAU on Sunday.

Jan 15, 2025

Bamisile(23 points) for VCU  in a solid win over SLU.

Miami(OH), Akron , and Ohio remain undefeated in MAC action. Clayton 16.8 PPG for the Bobcats.

Jan 16, 2025

Rebels' upset USU with a solid team effort in MWC action.

Are Andy Kennedy's Blazers getting in gear for the Dance? Coleman (21pts, 8reb)  led UAB to a 92-83 win over USF.

Jan 17, 2025

Mild surprises. Oregon St beat Gonzaga in OT in WCC action.  Temple beat Memphis in AAC play.

Rataj (29 pts 7 reb) for the Beavers. Mashburn scored 21 for the Owls.

Jan 19, 2025

Pat Kelsey left COFC for Louisville(2024-) and has had some success this season. Chris Mack ,his replacement at COFC,  took the Cards(2018-22) to one Dance, but is doing well at (14-4, 2nd in CAA) this season. COFC(2024-) edged Northeastern  last night.

WCC gets more interesting:  Santa Clara gets into the race with a 103-99 win over the Zags. San Fran beat Oregon State. First place SMC (6-0) beat PEPP.

SBC: First place Jags survived to edge Troy 64-63. Tale of two halves. Troy scored 22 in the first half and USA scored 22 in the second half.

Jan 20, 2025

It's been a few years since Cal State Bakersfield (9-10-8th in Big West) left the WAC in 2020. Rod Barnes is in his 14th season as the HC. J.Jones (29 pts) did his best for CSB in a 81-70 loss to Hawaii(12-6), 5th in Big West) .

Last Dance appearance was in 2006.

Mashburn (32pts) keeps Temple hot in a win over Tulane.  MEM beat CHAR

Jan 22, 2025

UAB(5-1) takes a half game lead in the AAC with a win over UTSA. Another big game for Landesborg. Riley scored 27 for ECU(3-4) in an OT win over Tulsa.

Akron and MOH are tied at 6-0 atop the MAC.  Zips blew out Buffalo and Redhawks beat BGSU last night.

GMU beat the Bonnies to stay a half game ahead of VCU in the A10.

Jan 23, 2025

Robert Morris (6-4) joined the Horizon in 2020 and is having a decent season . RMU 72 YSU 70. CLEV(9-1)  got 23 points from T Smith in a win over DET.

Jan 24, 2025

Memphis beat WICH in AAC action but it wasn't pretty.

Julien scored 18 points for Ark St in a win over APP to move to a half game behind USA in the SBC.

Jan 26, 2025

McCray V scored 24 points for JAC (1st in ASUN) over Queens .

He!! of a first half for Akron(1st in MAC) in a 102 - 75 win over MIOH

SBC: USA loses to Troy.  Ark St beat TXST and sits alone in 1st place. Herd and Appy are hanging around.

Jan 27, 2025

MEM(6-1 AAC) slapped UAB (5-2) back to reality with a 100-77 win. Lorient scored 17 points for NTX(6-1 AAC) in a win over FAU.

Jan 28, 2025

Rough loss for the Trojans in OVC action. EIU(2-8) 53 UALR(7-3) 51

Williamson scored 21 points for Towson U in a win over NE, which moves the Tigers into a tie for first with WM in the CAA.

Jan 29, 2025

Out west: Zags roll the Beavers in WCC action. 

 MWC:  Gwath scored 24 for SDSU in a win over SJSU. Clifford scored 22 for CSU in a win over AFA.  Winners trail NM and USU in the conference standings.

Jan 31, 2025

Grant- Foster  scored 24 points for GCU in a win over SEA and is a GB of UVU in the WAC.

Troy beat GASO and is a GB of Ark St in the SBC.

Two O5 bowl games remain 2024-25

 NTX(AAC)/TXST(SBC): I thought this was going to be a shootout, but Morris, NTX QB, left for UVA. McCloud will toss 2 TD passes for TX St in a 24-13 win.

Buffalo(MAC) /Liberty(CUSA): Salter, Flames QB, transferred to Colorado, therefore I'll go with Buffalo 20 Liberty 16.

MAC Carousel: Matt Drinkall (Army OL coach ) is the CMU HC

Joe Harasymiak ( Rutgers DC) is UMass HC as they head into MAC football.

Jan 4, 2025

Mestemaker had a solid game in his first start at QB  for NTX, and his 70yd TD run  got them within two points of TX St late in the game but the Bobcats held on for a 30-28 win.

NIU is leaving the MAC for the MWC for football only in 2026. No decision on the rest of its programs. They were in the Big West from 1993 to 1995.

Correct on Buffalo. Flames were down from the jump. Bulls look like a team that's on the rise in the MAC. Henderson rushed for 119 yards for BUFF.

Tre Lamb (ETSU) is the new Tulsa HC. Tough gig, low NIL funds.

Jan 15, 2025

Sluka ,who left UNLV over a verbal commitment of 100K  not being paid,  will play for JMU.  I thought it was an odd move , but saw that he's back with some of his former coaches from Holy Cross.

Feb 28, 2025

BGSU HC Coach Loeffler headed to Philly(NFL) to be the QB coach

Babers contract at Arizona (OC/QB) was not renewed so he's on the market for the BGSU HC gig.

March 9, 2025

Bowling Green extended an offer to Tennessee State's Eddie George to be its next HC.

April 3, 2025

Not quite buying Mike Green, edge rusher for the Herd going in the top 15 in the NFL draft. Perhaps early rd2.

April 6, 2025

Shavon Revel started 3 games at DB for ECU(8 tackles, 2 INTs) then missed the rest of the season after tearing his left ACL. Maybe late in rd2? No way he's going in rd1

O5 bowl games three more in 2024

 I skipped a few score guesses lately. I'm thinking about tossing a nickel on the USF(AAC)/SJSU(MWC) game. Ok, SJSU beat Stanford,while USF lost to Rice in their respective final, regular season games. SJSU 24 USF 19

I'm taking BGSU(MAC) over Ark St(SBC)   because the Falcons have Fannin, who I consider the best TE in college football. BGSU 27 Ark St 24.

Not sure Toledo(MAC) has enough firepower to upset Pitt(ACC). Pitt 30 Toledo 23. Schools are about 3 hours apart if you're driving on I-80.

It took 5 OTs, Eget had a solid second half for the Spartans, but it wasn't enough. USF 41 SJSU 39

Wrong on pick 1

Dec 27 2024

Well,Toledo had enough firepower to outlast Pitt in six OTs  in a 48-46 win

Fannin 17rec , 213 yards, 1TD  wasn't enough for the Falcons.  Ark St 38 BGSU 31

0-3 this blog

Let's see if I can get one right. Oklahoma  31 Navy (AAC) 20

Dec 28, 2024

0-4 this blog. OK went for two the 2pt conversion with 14 seconds remaining in regulation and failed. Navy 21 OK 20 Nice win for the AAC squad.

Saturday hunches for better or worse on O5: ULL loses to TCU. Army beats LA Tech, MO beats CSU,  and ECU beat NC St in an intrastate matchup.

Dec 29, 2024

Finally made a few correct picks. Right on MO but surprised the RedHawks blew out CSU 43-17. Davis rushed for 148 yards and 2 TDs .

Rahjai Harris(ECU) rushed for an 86 yard touchdown, the game winning score. ECU 26 NC St 21

Army 27 LA Tech 6.  TCU 34 ULL 3