Week 9 in the O5

 MWC: Is UNLV for real? Yes, I'll take Maiava to lead the Rebels to a 30-24 win over Keene and Fresno St.

MAC: Intrastate battle! E.Michigan needs this to stay in the MACW race to remain in the hunt. Lots of field goals. EMU 19 WMU 15

Sunbelt: More intrastate action, this time in VA. James Madison holds off a pesky ODU squad 27 -21. McCloud gets it done for the Dukes.

AAC: I remained intrigued by Coach "Biff" Poggi and his Charlotte squad will pull out another squeaker, They beat ECU 10-7 last Saturday. This week CHAR 17 FAU 13.

Oct 28, 2023

Very wrong on Charlotte: FAU 38 CHAR 16. Coach Tom Herman has FAU at 3-1 in AAC play.

Oct 29, 2023

Well the Rebels were restrained 31-24. Keane tossed 3 of his 4 TD passed in the 3Q for the Bulldogs. Maiva threw 2 td passes and 2 INTs for UNLV.

I was also wrong the MAC game WMU 45 EMU 21. J. Buckley (RB - WMU)25CAR 138YDS 2TD

J. Jackson (RB - EMU) 9REC 111YDS 1TD

And finally, my only correct pick. JMU 30 ODU 27.  J. McCloud(QB - JMU) 340YDS 3TD 2INT. Elsewhere in the Sunbelt Troy handled TX ST. Appy outscored USM 34-14 in the second half for a 48-38 win.

In AAC action Tulane made their fans sweat but survived Rice 30-28

Oct 31, 2023

Ok, Maction Tuesday returns tonight. NIU is riding three game winning streak. I'll take them to beat CMU 27-17 tonight. Lombardi will toss a td pass for the victors.

Wrong again: NIU was lackluster for nearly 3 quarters, but the O comeback led by Lombardi wasn't enough. CMU 37 NIU 31

Week 2 O5 matchups along the Atlantic.

 Miami (Ohio) visits Amherst, MA and wins a close one over UMass 20-19. Rough game for the Redhawks' Gabbert last week, but he'll return to form this week. I hope UMass returns to the MAC soon.

I've enjoyed this Marshall(SunBelt)/ECU(AAC) matchup over the years. Ali has a big game for the Herd and Garcia is not Ahlers yet for ECU. MU 27 ECU 19

FAU(AAC) hosts Ohio(MAC). Larry McCammon has a big game rushing for the Owls in a 24-20 win.

In a SunBelt matchup, ULL visits ODU in Norfolk, VA. Both are coming off tough matchups which they lost. ODU lost to VTech and ULL lost to Houston. Home cooking in a low scoring game. ODU 17 ULL14

Sept 10, 2023

G. Larvadain WR - M-OH 8REC 273YDS 3TD in a 41-28 win over UMass

The Herd took their time getting into gear and scored 21 points in the 4Q for 31-13 win over ECU.

FAU fell 17-10 to visiting OHIO. My only incorrect pick.

K. Wicks carried the ball 17 times for 103 yards for ODU in a 38-31 win over ULL.

Toss up on biggest upset yesterday. Rice (AAC) beat Houston (Big12) or James Madison(SunBelt) roaring back to beat Virginia(ACC).

Sept 12, 2023

App St (Sunbelt) took UNC to OT before falling. No games scheduled in the future for this intrastate match. UNC is up 3-1 in the series. Appy won in 2019.

Wyoming (MWC) plays TX this week. Got me thinking that's where Fred Akers was HC before he took the TX HC job. He was also Purdue HC after he left TX.

O5 Bowl Games Dec. 20-21, 2021

 Next three bowl games starts with afternoon kickoff on Monday Dec. 20

Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by TaxAct 

 Tulsa(AAC) 27 vs Old Dominion(CUSA) 23

Both teams had good Novembers , but I'll go with Brin and Brooks respectively, Tulsa's QB and RB, to lead them to victory.

Then two on Tuesday, Dec. 21

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 

Wyoming(MWC) 20 vs Kent St(MAC) 17

I've been wrong on Kent St often so I'll go with Wyoming who beat Utah St last month.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl 

UTSA(CUSA) 24 vs. San Diego St(MWC) 16

Aztecs have a solid D but not enough O to stay with Roadrunners QB F. Harris(2906 YDS, 25 TD), and RB  Sincere McCormack(298 CAR, 1479 YDS, 15 TD)

Dec 21, 2021

Well, I got Tulsa correct. Brin and Brooks were solid, and J. Johnson(8 rec, 129 yards, and a TD), had a nice game catching passes from Brin.  TuL 30 ODU 17

Dec 22, 2021

I split on Tuesday: I didn't foresee the Aztecs scoring 38 points. SDST 38 UTSA 24.

Wyoming couldn't stop Crum and the Flashes in the first half, but Levi Williams, the Cowboys QB, went wild starting in the second quarter and check out his stat line: 

16 CAR, 200 YDS, 4 TD, 9-11 passes, 127 YDS, 1 TD

WYO 52 Kent St 38

Dipping my toe into O5 hoops for 2021/22 season

 I've been consumed with Turkey weekend pigskin, but seeing that Georgia Southern(SunBelt) nearly upset GTech (ACC) yesterday gave me a jolt.

AAC: Mixed day: Big win by the Wichita St Shockers over Missouri(SEC). Tulsa beat Ark-LR, but ninth ranked Memphis got beat 78-59 by Iowa St (Big12).

MWC: New Mexico lost to little Towson U (Colonial), which is located a few miles from my home.

For new readers of this blog. O5 = non P5 football conferences: AAC, CUSA, MAC, MWC, and Sunbelt.

Nov 28, 2021

Andrew Taylor( MRSH - G 20 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST) had a solid game but the #herd couldn't keep up the pace and fell to Indiana(B10) 90-79.

Rough day for the AAC: ECU needed a last minute jumper to escape Coppin, a small MEAC school on the west side of Baltimore City. Cincy lost to Monmouth(MAAC), and Temple eked out a one point win over Delaware(COLONIAL). UCF gave OK (B12) a scare but lost by two points.

Dec 4, 2021

AAC woes continue: USF lost South Carolina St (MEAC) and Tulsa fell to Boise St (MWC).  Houston's AAC path looks easy at this moment.

 CUSA has a hard time with WAC with the UTEP loss to New Mexico St, and the UTSA loss to UTRGV.

Dec 9, 2021

I'm curious about how Buffalo(MAC) continues to move on after losing Coach Oats to Bama after the 2018/19 season. They made it to the NIT last season. Last night Josh Mballa had 19 points for Buffalo in a 77-67 win over Western Kentucky(CUSA).

Dec 11, 2021

 Memphis(AAC) is on a four game losing streak: Iowa St, Georgia, Ol Miss, and Murray St.  They face Bama next on Dec 14.

Dec 14, 2021

Houston (AAC) remains in the top 25. Pretty cool to see Colorado St(MWC) make an appearance after a recent win over Miss St(SEC) raised their record to 10-0.

Dec 15, 2021

What a way for Memphis(AAC) to snap its 4-game losing streak. Deandre Williams scored 20 points for the Tigers in a 92-78 win at Bama.

Dec 24, 2021

two games straight against a non-conference opponent is a rarity. South Bama (Sunbelt) split a series  against Tarleton St, coached by Billy Gillepsie, of the WAC. 

Dec 31, 2021

Covid has screwed with xmas hoops, but how about this: Darin Green Jr. scored a career-high 27 points, and Brandon Mahan added 26 to help UCF(AAC) beat Michigan 85-71. Johnny Dawkins got the best of Juwan Howard in the coaching battle.

In CUSA news, Cobe Williams scored 22 points for La Tech which extended its home win streak to eight games, beating Marshall 79-56.

Jan 11, 2022

Tyler Harris scored 20 points for Memphis in an 87-80 win over Cincinnati in AAC play. Their roller coaster season rides onward when they face UCF tomorrow.  Their only conference loss is to Tulane. Houston 3-0 - 14-2

Memphis 3-1 0.5 9-5

Tulane 3-1   0.5   6-7

Jan 13, 2022

Jaylen Forbes led Tulane (7-7, 4-1 AAC) scored 20 points to a 68-67 conference win over Wichita St. Ron Hunter is starting to turn the Green Wave program around in his third season since leaving Georgia St(Sunbelt).

UCF beat Memphis 74-64.

Jan 16, 2022

Reality checks in AAC with a USF blowout of UCF, and ECU edging Memphis. Houston remains undefeated in AAC play.

Odd to see Marshall, who lost to Rice yesterday, sitting in the CUSA cellar.

Coach Odom, who left my alma mater UMBC, for Utah St (MWC), is finding hoops life bumpier out West. Utah State (10-7, 1-3 MWC) lost Wyoming 71-69 yesterday.

Jan 19, 2022

I haven't looked at the MAC often this season. Ryan Rollins scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Toledo's 83-70 win over beat Ball State last night. The Rockets are 6-1 in the MAC and 14-4 overall including a win over Tulane. Their next game is against Ohio (5-0 MAC, 14-2). Ohio rolled Miami O by a score of 86-63 last night.

Jan 20, 2022

Hunter Maldonado had 20 points and 12 assists for Wyoming (3-0 MWC, 14-2 overall) in a 69-60 over San Jose State. I watched some of their win over Nevada on Monday night and was impressed with how hot they can get. Their two losses are to Zona and Stanford.

Jan 24, 2022

UTSA is also winless in CUSA play. Jamal Bieniemy had 18 points and 11 rebounds for UTEP in a 59-54 win over UTSA yesterday. 

Jan 28, 2022

UAB 7-1 in the CUSAW is and have won four in a row. They face the #herd tomorrow. The Blazers HC Andy Kennedy was an Asst with Huggy at Cincy before moving onto Ol Miss and UAB.

Feb 1, 2022

I checked on the Wyoming game on FS1 to see Maldonado who started slow but finished with 35 points for the Cowboys in an 84-78 win over Colorado St. 

Pitino Jr's move from Minnesota to New Mexico has been bumpy San Diego State(12-5, 4-2 MWC) 72 New Mexico(8-14, 1-8 MWC) 47

Feb 4, 2022

 I tuned into the ODU/MU game and was disappointed. ODU won mostly cuz the Herd were bad. A bit surprised that WKU blew out Charlotte.

Groundhog Day to the AAC and the O5 hoops

 Houston, we have a meltdown. East Carolina (8-6, 2-6 AAC). #JaydenGardner had 21 points and 15 rebounds for ECU in an 82-73 upset of fifth-ranked Houston  (15-2, 10-2 AAC). Wichita St(6-2), Memphis(7-3), and SMU(6-4) won their conference games  to stay close to the Cougars.

Here's my pre-Groudhog Day blog https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2020/12/o5-football-conferences-hoops-teams-as.html 

feb 6, 2021

Checking in the CUSA: #herd were outscored 54-30 in the 2nd half of a 82-81 loss to ODU. MTSU upset Charlotte and UAB(8-1) keeps trolling with a win over UTEP, but La Tech(8-3) stayed on the Blazers' heels with a win over  North Texas(5-2)

Feb 7 

Nice bounce back the #herd with a strong first half. MU 87 ODU 67. NTX beat La Tech and UAB rolled UTEP.

Feb 9 2021

ECU  crashed quickly after upsetting Houston a few days ago with losses to Memphis and SMU in AAC play.

Moving to the  MWC: Jordan Schakel scored 23 points for the SDST Aztecs in an easy 85-54 win over SJST and UNLV edged AFA.  Aztecs are staying in the MWC hunt. 

feb 11, 2021

Wichita State(12-4, 8-2 AAC) barely survived UCF(5-10, 3-9 AAC) 62-61 last night. Alterique Gilbert scored 17 points including Wichita State's last five points. Houston cruised by USF

Kalu Ezikpe( 22 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL) led ODU((10-5, 6-3 C-USA) to a 78-76 win over Charlotte and moved the Monarchs to within a half games of WKU in the CUSA East.

Feb 12, 2021

Michael Flowers posted 18 points and seven rebounds for South Alabama in a 73-70 win over Troy . GA St beat Ga Southern. TX St over UTA. ULM over ULL. #sunbelt

feb 17, 2021

#akron appears to be  the rising star in the MAC.  Bryan Trimble Jr. scored 22 points for Akron(13-4, 11-3 MAC) in an81-76 win over NIU. Toledo(17-6, 12-3 MAC) beat Miami O, and Kent State

(13-5, 10-4 MAC) beat WMU.

feb 19. 2021

The Shockers (13-4, 9-2) defeated  Houston (17-3, 11-3) 68-63 and moved into first place in the AAC standings. Tyson Etienne and Alterique Gilbert each scored 16 points for the victors.

feb 21

South Bama beat App St by two points  in each of the back to back games and sits atop at the Sunbelt East at 10-5.

San Diego St(17-4,11-3). swept Fresno St in back to back games and is ranked in the top 25. Boise St(18-4, 14-3) is unranked but  has a better MWC conference and also overall record. Boise will try to rectify  that when they visit SDSU for back to back games.

feb 22, 2021

Houston (18-3, 12-3 American) took out its anger on Cincinnati(7-8, 5-5 American). Quentin Grimes had 20 points and eight rebounds for HU in the 90-52 win.

DeVante’ Jones scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Coastal Carolina(7-5) in a 65-55 win over Georgia Southern and stay tied in the loss column with South Bama(10-5), but it will have to be resolved in a Conference tournament due to all the unbalanced schedules.

feb 24, 2021

MAC tightens up: Ben Roderick and Ben Vander Plas scored 17 points apiece for Ohio in a  90-73 win . Buffalo crushed NIU. 

feb 27,2021

I watched  the first half of the Marshall /NTX game and am not surprised the Herd lost 77-65. They played matador D and, made a ton of turnover s on O. NTX is 9-2 in CUSA play, but La Tech(11-4) and UAB(11-4) won their respective games to stay in the hunt in West .  ODU(9-4) is right there with WKU(8-5) in the West after  Kalu Ezikpe recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 67-61 win over MTSU.

March 1

A flew blowouts yesterday. HOU 98 USF 52 in AAC action. WKU 91 FIU 58 in the CUSA. Utah St 87 Nev 66 in the MWC.

Memphis(14-6, 10-3 AAC) beat Cincy yesterday for its fifth win in a row.

March 2

Guess who's making a late run in the MWC.  David Roddy posted  22 points and 12 rebounds for Colorado State(16-4, 13-3 mwc) Air Force 74-44 win over AFA. CSU is tied with SDSU for first place.

CUSA 2019.20 Hoops predictions

1) Western Kentucky are shaping up well for the CUSA conference play. Hollignsworth led the way with 22 points in a nice win over Arkansas(SEC) yesterday
2) North Texas Mean Green hit 19 treys in win over Ark-LR. Mohamed and Draper are over 50% in 3P%
3) Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Harper-Baker has played well. Eagles will be hanging around the CUSA  top 4
4) Charlotte 49ers upset Wake Forest. Freshman guard Jahmir Young led the way with 24 points.
5) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: Amorie Archibald and  the Bulldogs are going to be in the hunt. Nice win over Miss St.
6) Florida International Golden Panthers: Andrews will be top scorer
7) Marshall Thundering Herd played FLA tough in a loss on Xmas eve but have looked ragged in most games. Kinsey and West are averaging 14 PPG
8) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders has had a rough start. They'll need a ton of  treys from Antonio Green the rest of the season.
9) UAB Blazers played UK, Memphis, and Texas tough in losses. They'll need more points from Jalen Benjamin in CUSA play
10) UTEP Miners: Bryson Williams has played well and they look a little better than last season
11) Old Dominion Monarchs-Xavier Green will need to get to a 20 PPG for them to get in to the middle of the CUSA pack. Stith graduated.
12)  UTSA Roadrunners- J Jackson will need to hit a lot of treys again this season
13)  Florida Atlantic Owls- Scoring has been low. Maybe Cornelius Taylor will get into gear
14) Rice Owls will be hanging on a cellar limb again. TJ Atwood  score about 20 PPG

Jan 10, 2020

#usm (0-3) stands out as my worst prediction so far . Eagles lost 76-64 to UTEP (1-2) last night. Iran Bennett (17 points , 11 rebounds) led Marshall(2-1) to a 79-75 win over MTSU(0-3). Tavin Lovan scored 16 points for UAB(1-2) in a 72-62 mild upset of WKU(2-1).
UTSA (1-2) blew out La Tech (2-1). Fau(3-0) beat Rice(0-3) 81-76 NTX(2-1) blew out FIU(2-1) 74-56.

Jan 17

It's getting crowded at the top. Charlotte (4-0) edged Marshall 77-75. Taevion Kinsey had  29 points and 11 rebounds for the losing Herd.  FAU(4-1) beat MTSU. La Tech (4-1) beat Rice. WKU (4-1) beat ODU. NTX(4-1) beat USM.

Jan 21

In rare Monday night CUSA action Charlotte(4-2) fell to ODU(3-3) led by  Jason Wade's 23 points, and Javion Hamlet  scored 24 for NTX in a win over Rice, That's NTX sixth win in a row  and puts them alone atop the CUSA with half game lead on WKU(5-1)

Jan 24

I thought MTSU, a loser to La Tech(5-2) last night, would struggle but  not still be winless in CUSA play.   NTX is up to 7-1 with its 98-73 blowout of UTSA(3-4).  #JamirYoung scored 24 points for Charlotte(5-2) in its 70-68 win over FAU. .Eric Lovett hit six treys  for FIU(5-2) in its narrow win over ODU.

Jan 28

I'm not doing too bad on my pre-season top 4 in the CUSA.
1)NTX(8-1) I picked them second. 2)WKU (7-1) I had them first.  La Tech and Charlotte are tied for 3rd at 6-2. I had Charlotte fourth and La Tech fifth. NTX has won eight in a row and it's last defeat was to WKU who has a five game winning streak and it's last loss was to UAB.

Jan 31-

LaTech got a big win over Charlotte while WKU lost  to FIU and the #herd (4-5) is hanging around after a win over FIU . NTX 8-1, WKU and La Tech are 7-2. Charlotte is 8-3

Feb 9

Hamlet and Gibson each scored 13 points for NTX(10-2) in a win over UAB   that kept them in first place, one game ahead of WKU(9-3) a winner over USM.

 Feb 16

The top three teams NTX(12-2) , WKU(11-3), and La Tech(10-4) won yesterday. I was stunned to see Rice(5-9) beat Charlotte(8-6) and took note of Marshall(7-7) reaching .500 with it's win over UTEP(4-10).

feb 24

 The top three teams NTX(12-3) , WKU(11-4), and La Tech(11-4). La Tech's narrow win over NTX tightened up the standings and #wku  's loss to Charlotte  added to the tension. WKU faces La Tech on Thursday.

feb 28

Taveion Hollingsworth  (43 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST) led WKU to a big win over LATech to keep them within a game of NTX who beat FIU. NTX(13-3) , WKU(12-4), and La Tech(11-5).

March 2

 Javion Hamlet (25 PTS, 4 REB, 9 AST) led NTX(14-3) to a win over WKU(12-5) and the CUSA regular season crown with one CUSA game left.

March 8

 Mikel Beyers  (20 PTS, 5 REB, 1 BLK) helped Marshall(16-15, 10-8 C-USA) to an 82-77 win over UTSA while Charlotte(10-8) lost to LA Tech which leaves  them tied with Marshall for fourth in the CUSA after NTX,WKU, and La tech. Top four get a round 1 bye.

March 12

 Taevion Kinsey had 26 points as sixth-seeded Marshall beat No. 11 seed UTEP 86-78 in the first round of the CUSAT and will play third-seeded Louisiana Tech on Thursday. FAU beat ODU. UAB beat UTSA. FIU beat Rice
 

Week 7 Other five Conference time

CUSA: It appeared that  ODU was turning the corner after hanging tough in a loss to UVA but then they lost to ECU and WKU. Marshall will increase Knox's workload and edge  the visiting Monarchs 17-12
MAC: MIAMI(ohio) is coming off a solid conference win over Buffalo and will need a big game from rushing game from Jaylon Bester to win at WMU, led by the big arm of J. Wassink. Miami(O) 31 WMU 30.
Sunbelt: ULL hosts App St in a battle of two teams off to nice starts. Ragas/Mitchell lead a potent rushing attack for the home team, but I'll roll with Zac Thomas  to have a300 yard passing game in an App St 34 -32 win.
MWC: I'm taking Josh Love and the Spartans  to get a home win over the sluggish Wolfpack. San Jose St  29 NEV 22
AAC: Navy looks like they're back in  contention and Tulsa has been erratic. Tulsa will feed Brooks more carries and win a close one at home 23 20
Oct 9-  San Diego St football coach Rocky Long opinion on  JJ Justice, the son of former MLB star David Justice,  placing his name into the NCAA transfer database.  "He’s got a full-ride scholarship, he doesn’t have to play for it and he gets to finish out the semester."
Oct10- I was correct on App St but it was a low scoring game. Zac Thomas had two rushing TDs in the 17-7 App St win over ULL. 

Oct 13

I was way off on Tulsa, wrong on  Miami O  and San Jose St, and spared from going 0fer for saturday by  Marshall.
 Tulsa couldn't contain M.Perry, Navy's QB, who rushed for 218 yards and three TDs in a 45-17 win over Tulsa.
Gabbert threw three INTs, including a pick 6, in the Miami O 30-16 loss to W.Michigan. Bellamy rushed for two TDs and Wassink tossed two TDs for the Broncos.
Love threw for 405 yards but the his Trojan teammates rushed for only 34 yards in a 40-37 last play, Talton's 40 yard FG, loss to Nevada who were led by Taua's 160 rushing yards.
Knox rushed for 104 yards and a TD in the #herd's win over  ODU.
Here's what caught my eye in some other games. W.Kentucky(CUSA) held Army to 8 points in a 17-8 win..The MWC is definitely a rocky road. Wyoming got tripped by SDST, FresnoSt couldn't handle Air Force, and UNLV pounded Vandy of the SEC.
NIU got a game ending field goal in a wild 4th quarter to edge Ohio 40-37 in MAC play.
oCT14:   MWC geography and caliber of opponents fits AFA. ODD COMMENT from Air Force coach,Troy Calhoun,  who questions Air Force’s placement in the Mountain West: “I don’t know if it’s really a match”

CUSA 2018/19 Hoop predictions

1) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, with scorers like Jared Savage, may win the CUSA
2) North Texas Mean Green- A couple of dudes named Simmons  and a CBI 2018 title. Mean Green will be in the CUSA top five.
3) Marshall Thundering Herd- I was going to take the #herd higher, but they crumbled against the Terps last night. I suspect  #jonelmore will get "hawked" until the Herd adjust.
4) Charlotte 49ers upset OK ST. I'm bumping them up.
5) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: Amorie Archibald and  the Bulldogs are going to be in the hunt.
6) Florida International Golden Panthers: Andrews and beard are their top scorers.
7) Southern Miss Golden Eagles. T Griffin and crew  continue the slow climb out of the CUSA cellar
8) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have lost to some good teams, UVA and Stanford, in pre-conference play and should finish in the middle of the CUSA.
9) Florida Atlantic Owls- Seabrees is a freshman to watch
10) UAB Blazers- Zack Bryant has been solid, so far
11) Old Dominion Monarchs- BJ Stith will need a lot of 20+ nights
12) UTEP Miners got a way to go to see the light
13) UTSA Roadrunners- J Jackson will need to hit a lot of treys
14) Rice Owls will be hanging on a cellar limb

Dec 6, 2018: Checking in the CUSA OOC play last night: Taveion Hollingsworth 
WKU (24 PTS, 1 REB, 4 AST) lost 84-78 to  Missouri St (MVC)led by 
Tulio Da Silva (18 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST). Ryan Woolridge's triple-double led North Texas past Indiana St (MVC) 80-69. CJ Burks scored 26 but that wasn't enough for the #herd in a 93-82 loss to Duquesne (A-10). MTSU got crushed by Vandy (SEC). FAU edged Mercer (Southern).

dec 16, 2018

BJ Stith (18pts, 10reb)  led ODU to a big  road win over Cuse. Maybe I under-estimated the Monarchs? #JonElmore totaled 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the Marshall road  75-74  win at Akron . #herd was0-2 against MAC schools with recent loss to Ohio and Toledo.
dec 30
 Hollingsworth (22 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST)  and Banton with a triple double led #wku (7-6) over Wisconsin (B10) 83-76. It's been a strange first two months for the Hilltoppers including losses to Missouri St and Indiana St

jan 4, 2019

#usm hoops had a rough #Cusa start in a loss to Rice.  #herd get 20 points and 10 assists  from  Elmore in  a win over ODU.  NTX beat La Tech and is now 2-0 in the CUSA and 14-1 overall. #wku rolled charlotte. UTSA beat UTEP. UAB beat FAU. Beard and Jacob combined to hit eleven treys and score 48 points in #FIU 's win over MTSU.

jan 6, 2019

 Wow, Rice won again- this time over LA Tech. Herd squeak by Charlotte thanks to Burks. #wku fell to ODU. FAU over mtsu, ntx edged usm, uab over fiu. And this is some goofy scheduling: #JhivvanJackson scored 24 points to help UTSA beat UTEP for the second time in three days.

jan 11, 2019

NTX beat Utep moving to 4-0 in CUSA play. Rice cooled off in a loss to UTSA. MTSU  stumbled further in a loss to USM. FAU, FIU, and LA tech beat respectively, ODU, Charlotte, and UAB. 
jan13: How about the #herd knocking off #wku  70-69. Nice night from Hollingsworth ( 20 PTS, 4 REB, 1 STL). Also NTX lost to UTSA) ???

jan 18, 2019

Burks and Elmore led the #herd by FAU 96-84  last night, and MTSU edged UTSA for it's first CUSA win. Other winners: ODU, uab, fiu, and usm.
JAN 20 , 2019

Herd 105 FIU 97 Burks scored 30. WKU got back in the win column 72-66 over FAU. NTX survived Rice 76-75

jan 22, 2019 

Josh Anderson(25 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST) was a big factor in WKU 68-59 victory over the #herd. B.J. Stith scored 22 points and Ahmad Caver added 20 in ODU's second half comeback win over Charlotte.

 Jan 25, 2019 

A lot of shake up in the standings in a week . Last night WKU survived a big second half from USM. UAB nipped NTX. ODU struggled but won over UTEP, and the #herd  fell to La Tech despite a big effort from Burks. ODU (6-2). At 5-2 - Marshall, UAB, UTSA, NTX.. At 4-3: WKU , FIU

jan 27, 2019

 I did a double take when I saw the #herd score USM 101 MU 51 scroll across the bottom of my TV screen.The 31-6 USM run at the start was a killer . UAB, UTSA, NTX are tied for first after win over respectively Rice,  ODU,  & MTSU
feb 1
 What a night for Elmore(44 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST) in the #herd win over UTEP. Leonard Harper-Baker scored a career-high 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting for streaking USM in a win over FIU. FAU, ODU, and WKU defeated respectively LT, NTX, and UTSA.

feb 10

Great Saturday for the Texas  CUSA schools. UTSA(9-3), UTEP, and Rice beat respectively, Fau, Marshall and FIU. USM, WKU (8-4), Charlotte, and ODU(10-3) were the other winners. 

feb 15

Jared Savage tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds for #wku  (9-4) in a win over MTSU.
Cortez Edwards had 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists for USM(8-5) in its win over UTSA(9-4). NTX (8-5) lost to FAU.  #herd lost to UAB.

feb17

wku(9-5)  and utsa(9-5) losses to respectively La Tech and UAB helped the hot  ODU(11-3) and USM(9-5) squads who won last night. #herd beat mtsu 98-93 in the no D special last night.

  Feb 24

while the #herd (7-7) waits to play, ODU(12-3) beat wku (9-6) and and UAB(9-6) beat USM). NTX fell to 8-7 with a loss to La Tech (8-7)

March 1

 Elmore had 34 in the #herd win over La Tech. I caught the end of the #odu hanging on at UTSA in a fierce final four minutes to clinch the regular season title. WKU beat UAB.  ODU, WKU, UTSA, and USM are getting the rd1 byes at this moment.

March 4

 C.J. Burks scored 21 points in Marshall's 85-82 win over NTX and has a slim chance to get a rd1 bye . WKU beat USM to take a half game lead over UTSA, a winner over UAB,  for second  place.

Old Dominion	13-3
Western Kentucky	11-6
UTSA	10-6
Florida International	9-7
Southern Miss	9-7
Marshall	9-7

March 7

Another great night for Burks(21 points) in the #herd win over FIU. USM beat ODU while WKU lost to UTSA who got 29 points from J.Jackson. After ODU(13-4) UTSA is 11-6 and a win guarantees them a rd1 bye. USM and Marshall are 10-7 with a game to go.WKU finished at 11-7. FIU and UAB are 9-8.

march 10

USM beat UTSA and Marshall beat FAU moving to 11-7 creating a four way tie with WKU and UTSA for the three remaining byes after ODU (13-5). I'm not sure how this shakes out . Is it pod play?

march 14

Big game for Elmore (32 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST) in the #herd 82-65 win over Rice. La Tech in a squeaker over FAU.NTX beat FIU and UAB handled MTSU.

March 15

 ODU needed a last second trey from Ahmad Carver's  to eke out a 57-56 win over La Tech. Elmore had another solid game for Marshall but they fell to USM. UAB beat UTSA and WKU beat NTX.

March 17

#xaviergreen  scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to lead ODU to a 62-56 victory over #wku in the CUSAT, and will likely be the only CUSA team at the Dance. My pre-season rating of  Old Dominion finishing 11th in the CUSA was pretty bad.

March 21

 USM lost to Longwood and UAB fell to Brown in CBI action.

March 22

ODU only scored 19 in the first half and lost to Purdue 61-48 at the Dance.

April 5

I've been remiss in my #CUSA coverage. #herd got (28 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST) from  C.J. Burks to win the #CIT . Elmore added  17 points and 6 rebounds for Marshall in the 90-70 victory over Green Bay (Horizon Conference).

april 14

#docsadler , stepped down as USM HC after a 20-13 season and will become an assistant for Hoiberg at Nebraska

june 25

 Ryan Woolridge, a grad transfer from #NorthTexas, announced he will play his final season of eligibility for #gonzaga.  He was injured all of last season.

CUSA 2018 football predictions

EAST
Florida Atlantic- Kiffin  is looking for a Power 5 job ,and  former Nole  De Andre Johnson may be a his key.
Marshall's D held opponent under 20 PPG and returns nine starters  but #herd fans can only hope Doc has a cures for the O's woes.
Middle Tennessee: All rest on QB Stocksill if they can run with the big dogs in the East.
Florida Intl: Butch Davis has a lot of holes to fill, but the Panthers will be a tough foe  by the middle of October.
Old Dominion Monarchs- Wilder is a decent HC, but I'm not sold on the Monarchs' talent.
Charlotte has eleven D starters returning.
Western Kentucky- Year 2 w/o Coach Brohm and more holes to fill.
WEST

UAB's solid QB Erdely and a stellar rushing attack will lead the Blazers to the West title.
Louisiana Tech has a solid D and big hopes for QB J'Mar Smith.
North Texas - Nice job in 2017 by Fine and the Mean Green lads, but you can bet the West will exploit NT's weak O-Line
UT San Antonio: Josiah Tauaefa returns to the D and the Roadrunners need him
Southern Mississippi has great talent but keeps getting stuck when trying to turn the corner
UTEP Miners' Rebuild continues with new HC Dimel.
Rice : Good luck new HC Bloomgren!

8/17/18

#USM senior QB #KwadraGriggs, who started seven games last season, was suspended indefinitely  Saturday for a "student conduct matter." It appears transfer Jack Abraham will get the  starting job.

8/23/18

#WKU will host Cincinnati on 9/20/25 and visit them  on 9/26/26. They've never matched up on the field espite being  about three hours apart.

8/27/2018

Going to be a long season for #rice . Jack Fox kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to help Rice beat Prairie View

9/15/18

Glimmer of hope for the Cusa. #northtexas qb Fine led the Mean Green to romp over Arkansas.

9/26/18

Focusing on CUSA conference games. Love the #herd behind I Green at #wku. NTEX will be Fine hosting LA Tech. UAB handles Charlotte. #FAU will pull it out at end at #MTSU. UTSA gets by UTEP.
I don't trust ODU coming off the VA Tech win against ECU (AAC)

O5 Geography matters: martial re-alignment.

Hypotheticals to stir sports chatter:
 Find a way to get UMass into the AAC. I'd love this one for hoops more than football reasons. Tulsa to the Big 12 which won't take back Houston & SMU who go back to the CUSA. Tulane, too.
FIU and FAU exit the CUSA and return to the SunBelt.
Rutgers back to AAC  replaced by in the B10 by NIU from the MAC.

Return Marshall to the MAC  and  great matchups with the Ohio schools


New Mexico St from the SunBelt to the MWC. Wouldn't N.Mex St/New Mexico be a great conference and intrastate game? Move Idaho from Sunbelt to an Independent as  they are heading to1AA status.


For new readers: O5, the Other five 1A football conferences = AAC, MAC,MWC, CUSA,  &SunBelt

June 21, 2016

You can find UMass and other teams in

always looking for a new owner or two who will pay attention to their roster weekly

Seven weeks til 2016 automated draft.

1)acc ,b10,sec, aac, independents Aug 12

2)PAC12, B12,CUSA,SUNBELT, MAC, & MWC Aug 14

Free Fantrax leagues. Email me vaporbust4@gmail.com if you're interested and specify if which one(s) you want to join.

June 28, 2016

Let's try a reverse! How about Vanderbilt to the CUSA?

July 1 , 2016

Not often I can mention my Terps in an O5 blog .Teldrick Morgan will start for Terps.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/06/28/new-mexico-states-leading-receiver-joins-maryland-as-grad-transfer/comment-page-1/#comment-262983

July 3, 2016

Now I can include Coastal Carolina in Sunbelt blogs. CCU joined the Sunbelt Conference on 7/1/16 for all sports except football, which begins a two year entry process in 2017. Coastal Carolina’s first football season in 2017 will also mark affiliate members Idaho and New Mexico State’s final season in the Sun Belt. CCU football becomes eligible for SBC championship and bowl play in 2018.

Note to new readers: 05= AAC, CUSA,MAC, MWC, SBC. O5

July 19 ,2016

Bit surprised to see Houston looking at the PAC12. University of Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek met last month with Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott  as the school tries to attract interest from Power Five conferences.

AAC would miss houston

JULY 21,2016

Possible AAC raid continues: Big 12 focusing on  USF which  resides in the nation’s 11th-largest media market, according to Nielsen an will $5 million from the state — when it was awarded ‘emerging preeminence’ status by the Florida Board of Governors Strategic Planning Committee.

July 29,2016

Justin Timberlake, a Memphis native, is pushing hard for Memphis to leave the AAC for the Big 12.If it occurs where does the AAC turn?

September 28, 2016

Latest on B12 expansion "mess"

1) concern about how Houston would impact football recruiting in that area Texas.
2) West Virginia is believed to have reservations about elevating Cincinnati to "power five" status.
3) Oklahoma's wavering: Borens's favorite in expansion was BYU, which is now viewed as radioactive because of its stance on LGBT and Title IX issues , but it does have the backing of the Big 12's TV partners, especially ESPN.

October 19, 2016

#Houston, #Cincinnati and #BYU and eight other finalists spent $$$ for nothing as the #Big 12  will remain at ten teams.

1/15/17

#coastalcarolina baseball will shake up the Sunbelt

2/17/17

#Liberty U football is moving up to 1A They will transition this season and become Independent in 2018. #sunbelt conference could be a good landing spot. #ianmccaw is the current AD and was  the Baylor AD during the #Briles' scandal years. And their opening game this season is at #Baylor.

3/25/17

#wichitast wcould be a great hoops addition to AAC. They could fill the slot left by Navy not playing hoops in the AAC.

4/5/17

#WichitaState, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1945, is closer to joining the #AAC as its 12 th hoop team for the 2017/18 season

4/6/17

It appears the MVC will recruit #Valparaiso  to leave the Horizon League and fill Wichitast 's spot

4/18/17

#wichitast will phase in a new contract with #underarmor among its sports programs and their asst HC #chrisjans took the #newmexicost hoops job. #jans had a good 2014/15 season  as the #bowlinggreen HC before being fired for off court shenanigans.
MVC is also targetting #murrayst

4/20/17

First Wichita St now Cincy  adding a hoops home &home with UCLA. #aac is looking up

5/6/17

#coastalcarolina jumps to 1A Sunbelt with a brutal non-conference game Sat, Nov 4
@Arkansas.

5/11/17

Vaparaiso replaces #Wichitast in the #MVC and .#murrayst and #omaho top the list to replace Valpo in the Horizon. I'm not buying  #GrandCanyon of Phoenix, Arizona as  a remote possibility . The economics of travels  is enough of a deterrent for this small Midwestern league.

6/22/17

AAC is  stepping up it's hoop game. UConn to renew it's rivalry with Nova (Big East). #wichitast ,new kid in the AAC, has a competitive OOC schedule including #okst, and #baylor. Also #marquette and #notredame are possible #Maui Invitational opponents.

7/1/17

#summit hoops down to eight teams as Horizon League replaces Valpo with #IUPUI. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis pledges to  expand its hoops budget.

9/4/17

Liberty's upset of Baylor yesterday sparked a repost of my February comments:" #ianmccaw is the current  #liberty AD and was  the Baylor AD during the #Briles' scandal years. And their opening game this season is at #Baylor."

1/23/18

Will #newmexicostate makes another bid to join the #mwc.The honeymoon is over for #wichitastate in #aac hoops. #Valparaiso is 2-6 in its first season in MVC.

2/24/18

#valparaiso is 5-12 in conference play in its first #MVC season..#northernkentucky has a one game lead on wright st in the #horizon. IUPUI is in the middle of the Horizon pack. #wichitast  trails #cincy by a game in the #aac

5/4/18

 #NorthAlabama starts its move to 1A sports, including hoops but not football, this fall. UNA will play in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

5/18/18

#Liberty U is joining the Atlantic Sun for hoops but hasn't found a 1A conference for football. How about the Sunbelt Conference?

7/2/18

 It's official #Liberty is 1A and #Idaho has dropped to 1AA. Liberty Flames will also play a rare in-season home-and-home set against New Mexico State.

7/15/18

#Liberty will be next in line to fill any vacancy left open by the #AAC and Sunbelt for the  AutoNation Cure Bowl for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. There are provisions in place to allow the Flames ,playing in their first 1A season, to be included in the postseason in the event there are vacancies to fill.

1/12/19

Dusting off an old blog: #westvirginia had and may still have reservations about Cincy moving to Power 5 football status. Maybe FSU, Fla,, and Miami (FL) feel the same way about UCF
 Moving to hoops but staying in the area .
#NorthernKentucky moved to 4-1 in the Horizon league, edging Wright State 68-64 on Friday night.
Liberty  is 2-0 and Northern Alabama is 1-1 in conference play in their first seasons in the Atlantic Sun. 

3/11/19

#Liberty edged Lipscomb to win the Atlantic Sun Dance ticket  AND i'M STILL CAMPAIGNING FOR THE fLAMES TO JOIN THE sUNBELT, but maybe they're shooting for the AAC.

3/12/19

 Drew McDonald (18 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST) led Northern Kentucky to a 64-63 win and they'll face Wright St , a winner over Green Bay, in the Horizon T final.

3/13/19

How about NKU punching the Dance card? Dantez Walton (15 points and 14 rebounds) and Drew McDonald(13 points,  eight rebounds, and five assists) led The Norse to a 77-66 victory over Wright St. in the Horizon title game.

3/18/19

NKU travels to Tulsa, OK to face  Texas Tech, who is probably still pissed about the B12T loss to WVA ,and Liberty travels to San Jose, Ca to face Miss St..

3/20/19

BWampler scored 17 points for Wright St in an NIT rd1 loss to Clemson.

3/23/19

How about Liberty U  stunning Miss St? It wasn't good for my bracket,but a he!! of night for  C. Homesley(LIB) (30 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST),  Northern Kentucky was beaten soundly by Texas Tech.
T. Sharpe (NKY) (23 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST)

3/31/19

How about #Lipscomb , who finished second to Liberty in the ASUN, advancing to play Wichita St in the NIT semi-finals? #GarrisonMathews scored 44 points for Lipscomb in a 94-93 victory over North Carolina State.
 April 3, 2019 #Lipscomb 71 Wichita St 64:  Garrison Mathews LIP - G  (34 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST). Big win for the ASUN member who'll face Texas in the NIT final.
 June 23, 2019:  uconn wants to move to the Big East in 2020 and will likely be going Independent for football. Why not Liberty U as a full member of the AAC? Perhaps a local conference rivalry with #eastcarolina will develop?
July 2 :Arkansas State (Sunbelt), and Old Dominion (CUSA)  have been mentioned as possible AAC CANDIDATES
july 5:  James Madison is  interested in moving up to FBS to take UConn’s spot in #AAC
july11:  Liberty lands former Auburn QB Malik Willis and he'll be playing for Head Coach #hughfreeze, former Ol Miss HC.
july 17:  Aresco, AAC Commish, on REPLACING uCONN. we're not making phone calls but we'll receive them,

jAN 4 2020

 Reviving. It seems odd that the CUSA, which has a few Bible felt schools, has been bothered by Liberty U's evangelical system, and rejected it's bids and $$$ to join them. I've heard the Sunbelt is in talks with Liberty again..
It remains puzzling the James Madison  is stuck on joining the AAC or remaining in 1AA.

March 9, 2020

Liberty U (Atlantic Sun) hoops is going to the Dance again. Hey Sunbelt or AAC- it's time to invite them to your conference for hoops and pigskin.

May 16, 2020

 Liberty may be staying an Independent for awhile, but they're finding tougher opponents. Liberty added road trips to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia to its 2023-24 schedules .

June 1, 2020

Floyd Little ,the Denver Broncos sixth overall pick in the 1967 draft and an NFL Hall of Famer, is battling an aggressive cancer. I looked back at those Syracuse years when he was part a great group of running backs including Jim Brown and Ernie Davis and discovered that Syracuse was an Independent in football until 1991. Times have changed and Cuse didn't have #Liberty U's religious "baggage", but I bet those folks in Falwell country have studied Notre Dame and Syracuse football history as Independents.

July 17, 2020

St. Thomas , a private university in St. Paul, Minnesota, is jumping to 1A and  will compete in the Summit League in 19 of their 22 sports, including basketball.  The Tommies won the 2011 and 2016 NCAA Division III men's basketball championships. The school's football program is expected to join the Pioneer League  Subdivision.  

Aug 23, 2020

Liberty U revised it's schedule and updated information for ticketing for the five home games.

 Sept. 19 at Western Kentucky
Sept. 26 vs. FIU – 6 p.m.
Oct. 3 vs. North Alabama – 6 p.m.
Oct. 10 vs. Louisiana-Monroe – 6 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Syracuse
Oct. 24 vs. Southern Miss – 6 p.m.
Nov. 7 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 14 vs. Western Carolina – 2 p.m.
Nov. 21 at NC State
Dec. 5 at Coastal Carolina

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/article90826982.html#storylink=cpy