Non P6 tourneys early days

ASUN: I like Lipscomb who opens against N Bama. Jacksonville and Queens won last night and face respectively, EKU and Stetson today. N.Florida faces APU.

HorizonT starts today with Oakland, the conference winner, on a bye. Northern Kentucky is notorious for good tourney runs.

March 6, 2024

ASUNT:  Lipscomb falls to UNA and EKU falls to JAC while Stetson and APU advance.

MAC: Akron falls to EMU and into a tie with Toledo for first.

MWC: UNLV beat SDSU, NEV knocked BSU, and both winners trail USU by a half game.

March 7, 2024

I. Milicic (26 PTS,10reb) for Charlotte(AAC) in a win over Rice to stay in 3rd behind FAU who beat UNT.

Richmond's win over JOES wasn't pretty but it kept them ahead of LOYCH who beat DAV(A10).

Wagner upset Sacred Heart in rd1 of the NECT.

March 8, 2024

ASUNT: Stetson & PEAY advance to the final. Swenson scored 29 for STET in a win over JAC.

Warrick scored 35 for NKU in an OT win over Wright St. Norse magic back for March.

MVC: UIC upset SIU. Murray St only scored 35 in a loss to MOSU.

March 9, 2024

Conwell scored 20 for the Sycamores in a win over MOSU and faces UNI(MVC) next. BRAD/Drake in the other semifinal game.

UALR and MHST advanced to the OVC final.

Sloppy Akron lost to WMU and is limping into the MACT.

Boise ST beats the Aztecs(5th in MWC)in OT

March 10, 2024

UNCG(Southern) went from upsetting UK to no shot at the Dance after losing to ETSU yesterday. Morehead St upset UARL to get OVC ticket.

FAU(AAC) put MEM nearly in the NIT, USF lost to Tulsa. Appy(SBC) needed OT to escape GASO.

Indiana St/Drake. Can goggle guy Avila keep it going?

Towson U beat W&M to advance in the CAAT.

March 11, 2024

 Williamson scored 18 for Towson U in a win over UNCW and faces Co C in a CAAT semi-final.

Drake gets the MVC ticket. Does INST get screwed? STET survived PEAY for the ASUN ticket.

Omaha upset NDak in a Summit semi. Will we see two Nebraska teams at the dance?

March 12, 2024

Zags beat SF and face SMC in the WCCT final. SF likely to the NIT. JMU wins SBCT, Appy likely NIT. 

Denver, with the nation’s leading scorer, Tommy Bruner, beat Omaha and faces SDAK St in the Summit final. Fidler scored 27 for Omaha.

 Towson fell to CoC, who faces Stony Brook in the CAAT final.

March 13, 2024

Mahaney (23pts) for SMC over the Zags in the WCCT final. Oakland won the HorizonT-big night for Townsend(38pts, 11reb) SDAK St won the Summitt. CofC struggled but survived Stony Brook in the CAAT final.

March 14, 2024

WACT: SFA beat AB. Tchoukuiengo (21pts, 10ast) for Cal Baptist in OT win over UVU.

CUSAT: one seed SHS beat FIU, two seed La Tech lost to MTSU

Big WestT: AMitchell(36pts,9reb, 5ast) for UCSB in a loss to CSN.

March 15, 2024.

UTA blew out SFA in the WAC. MEM and SMU are toast in the AAC. Akron won. Toledo upset by WMU in the MAC. I wonder how Nevada's loss to CSU affects Dance tickets.

March 16, 2024

Wilson scored 28 for UTA who edged Tarleton to face GCU in the WACT final.

Freeman(24pts, 21reb) for Akron who held off Ohio to face Kent St in the MACT final.

Aztecs handled Utah St 86-70. UTEP upset SHS in the CUSA. UAB,FAU, UAB, & Temple remain in the AACT.

March 17, 2024

Greg Tribble makes both free throw for Akron after getting fouled in the backcourt court with 4 seconds on the clock. AKR 62 Kent 61.

UAB and Temple in the AACT final today. Few foresaw that one.

Lobos win MWCT. GCU beat UTA in the WAC.WKU over UTEP in the CUSA.

L Traore and Thompson each scored 25 points for Long Beach St in a win over UC Davis in the Big West. Dan Monson, who was fired by LBST on Monday, gets to coach a little longer this season. 

March 18, 2024

USF(AAC) and Indiana St(MVC), regular season champs, got hosed by the Dance committee.

June 20, 2024

I'm late on this one

Eastern Washington hired Dan Monson, the coach who led Long Beach State to the Dance, to replace David Riley, who takes over at Wazzoo.

Monson's HC resume  Gonzaga, Minnesota,  & Long Beach St. LBS told him he was done after the season and he took them to the Dance.

He takes over an EWU program that has won the last two Big Sky Conference regular-season titles.

https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2024/02/non-p6-hoops-2024-part-3.html

Non P6 hoops 2024 part 3

 USF keeps its great season going with a win over Tulsa and extends it's AAC lead to 1.5 games over FAU.

UMASS upsets Richmond who falls a half game behind idle Dayton and LOYCH, a winner over JOES.

Utah St beat Wyoming to stay atop the MWC.

NKU upset Green Bay, Horizon Leader. Another late season run for the Norse? 

.

Feb 17, 2024

Ledee scored 23 for the Aztecs in an 81-70 win over the Lobos and now trail USU by a half game in the MWC.

VCU beat SLU to stay in the A10 race.

Appy is one game up on Troy and JMU in the SBC.

Feb 18, 2024

CSU handled USU easily which knocks the Ags into a tie with the Aztecs for first place(MWC). BSU and NEV won.

Akron beat Buff to remain atop the MAC.

Zags(WCC) beat Pacific and look like they're coming full force but trail St Mary's by 2 games.

Feb 19, 2024

S.Miguel scored 25 for USF in a 90 - 86 win over FAU. SMU blew out Memphis. Charlotte and UAB also won in AAC action.

Alston(21pts, 10reb) for LOYCH in a win over URI which moves them into a tie for first with Dayton(A10)

Feb 20, 2024

William & Mary is a nice campus to visit filled with history. Now to hoops: Policelli scored 15 for first - place Charleston in a CAA win over visiting W&M. UNCW & Drexel are each a half game behind.

Feb 21, 2024

S Wilson scored 18 points for Toledo in a win over Akron which leaves them tied for 1st in the MAC

MWC- USU beat SDSU and takes sole possession of first place. Boise and Nevada won, too.

Feb 22, 2024

AAC: USF keeps winning. Rice 96 UAB 71 wow. 

Freidel(19pts, 9reb) for JMU(SBC)in a blowout win over Marshall.

UNCG grinds out a tough win over W.Carolina to stay close to Samford.

Feb 23, 2024

Goldin scores 21 to lead FAU to an 80-70 win over SMU in AAC play.

TAR 77 GCU 74. Tarleton won its seventh straight game and moves to 1.5 gb of GCU in the WAC.

Feb 24, 2023

Akron(MAC) beat Kent St and moved a game up on Toledo who lost to Bowling Green. Freeman(24pts, 14reb) for the Zips.

Green Bay fell a game behind Oakland(Horizon) after losing to PFW.

Feb 25, 2024

MWC

10-4: Utah State, SDSU, Boise State beat CUSU

9-5: Nevada, UNLV beat CSU

9-6: New Mexico lost at home to AFA and is near the bubble. Pitino Jr - another late season slide.

AAC - Charlotte looked rough in a bad 81-79 loss to Tulsa.

WCC: looking like SMC, GONZ, and SF will be dancing.

SBC: Appy beat the # herd and stays one game ahead of JMU, a winner over GASO.

CUSA: SHSU and La Tech each won to remain tied for first.

Feb 26, 2024

AAC: USF beat SMU to maintain its 3game lead. Memphis beat FAU. Lendeborg(26pts, 12reb) for UAB in a win over Tulane.

Horizon: NKU beat IUPUI. Another Norse late season run?

Feb 27, 2024

Rough 2OT loss for UNCW who falls 1.5GB of COFC. Campbell 105 UNCW 100 Looks like CAA will be a one Dance ticket conference. A. Dell'Orso(34pts,11reb) for CAMP.

Feb 28, 2024

Top five in MWC are no more than a game apart. Boone (24pts, 12reb, 2ast) for UNLV in an OT win over WYO.

 MAC: Akron lost to Ohio, who've won 3 in a row.

Feb 29, 2024

Spillers (18pts, 16reb) for Appy in a 89-64 trouncing of ODU. Ark St, which hasn't lost in 3 weeks, beat CCU and is 4th in the SBC.

March 1, 2024

WCC: SMC crushed PEPP and still leads the Zags by 2 games. G. Ike scored 26 for the Zags in a win over 3rd place SF. WAC: Tarleton beat UTU for its 9th straight win and trails GCU by a half game.

March 2, 2024

Lipscomb(W4) may be the fave to win the ASUNT after beating EKU(L2) last night. APPY(W7) and JMU(W10) won last night and look impressive heading into the SBCT.

March 3, 2024

UNCW got back on track with a win over Towson but needs to win the CAAT to Dance.

WCC: Zags beat SMC - both teams will be dancing.

A10- VCU lost a close one to Richmond.

AAC: USF keeps rolling with a win over Charlotte and FAU gets a win over Tulane and moved into second place. What's going on with SMU(L3) lost to UTSA who got 33 points from Ivy-Curry.

Southern: Keeping my eyes on W. Carolina(W3) who beat CHAT last night.

March 4, 2024

Indiana St beat Murray St and won the MVC regular season. Conwell(24pts, 12reb)

June 10, 2024

Kennesaw St leaves the ASUN  for the CUSA formally this summer. Coach Pettway replaces Rahim, who took the USF job, and will face a more difficult path getting to the Dance

June 23 2024

Upcoming NBA draft: DaRon Holmes II, a center from  Dayton(A10), is stirring some rd1 chatter.  38.6% percent shooting treys last season.

Dillon Jones, G Weber State, Enrique Freeman, F Akron  Jonathan Mogbo, San Francisco 

Ajay Mitchell, G UCSB. Freeman did it all for the Zips. !8.6 ppg, 12.9 reb

June 27, 2024

Nuggets trade draft picks to the Suns to get  the 22nd pick and take  DaRon Holmes II from Dayton(A10). Hopefully he gives Jokic some support in the paint.

June 28, 2024

RD2: Freeman to the Pacers. Mitchell to OKC. I didn't see this one coming . Anton Watson(Gonzaga) to the Celtics. I guess they liked his D and passing ability.

UDFA: Alex Ducas, a guard from Saint Mary's, signed with OKC. Max Fiedler(Rice) signed with 76ers and could be Embid's backup.

https://busterother5.blogspot.com/

Peeking at non-p5 baseball-Carolina style

 ECU(AAC) is 30-6: Josh Moylan, a first baseman, leads the team in RBIs with 39

CCU(SunBelt) is 23-11 and its team batting average is .318

Campbell (Big South) is 30-8:  Bryce Arnold, a SS, leads the teams win Home Runs with 14.

Elon (Colonial) is 24-14.  took down # 2 Wake Forest(ACC). 

April 26, 2023

Rough night for most of the teams I listed. Wake Forest rolled CCU 11-1. Duke edged Campbell 4-2. ECU lost to NC St 5-4. Wake Forest has a killer lineup. I watched some of the game on the ACCN.

April 28, 2023

Not much D1 baseball action last night so I took a peek at the WCC.

BYU (18-21) defeated Portland (22-18) by a score of 9-8.  It's going to be rough for BYU in Big 12 baseball next season.

Tulane 's was leading ECU 9-6 when the game was suspended because of lightning. It will be finished today in AAC action. BTW UTSA(CUSA), who is AAC bound next season, has made it to the top 25.

May 2, 2023

Simon Miller earned his ninth save on Sunday for UTSA, keeping UAB scoreless in the final three innings.

May 4, 2023

Campbell beat Elon 5-2 in a matchup of Carolina teams. Jake Murray is now 3-0.

May 9,2023

Yesterday: Campbell rolled UNC-Asheville 10-3.

CCU 6 App St 5

ECU 11 Cincy 5: Justin Wilcoxen knocked in 5 runs for the Pirates.

May 13,2023

I forgot DBU left the MVC for the CUSA this season. Dallas Baptist got the better of host UTSA in both games yesterday, 11-7 and 11-9

May 15, 2023

A couple of pigskin-like scores in D1baseball yesterday. CCU 15 South Bama 10 in Sunbelt action.

I rarely look at Horizon baseball, but Youngstown St beat N Kentucky 17-13. Andre Good went 4-5 with 3 HR and 4 RBI for the YSU Penguins.

May 18, 2023

Off the beaten path: I wonder how often these teams have played: Miami O 14 McNeese St 8 in a MAC /Southland game.

May 19, 2023

Army may make the NCAA TOURNAMENT. they won the Patriot League regular season and face Bucknell in the conferenceT finals

Kind of surprised to UNC-Wilmington is on the bubble for D1 baseball tournament. Elon has slipped. CAAT starts May 24 with winner getting the one ticket.

May 21, 2023

Brutal day for the Herd: CCU 19 Marshall 1 then CCU 10 MU 9. ECU beat USF 7-1, Campbell beat USC-Upstate 12-9. Why is Oregon St(Pac12) playing Western Carolina(21-32 , 8-12 Southern Conference) a few days before conference tournaments? Oregon St 8 WCU 4.

May 23, 2023

Army and Penn are in the 64. Kinda funny that Rice(21-34), a one -time powerhouse, gets to host the CUSAT this season. CUSA shifted away from Biloxi as the host during Covid. I'll start a new blog as the conference tourneys kick into gear.

Chi-town area pre xmas 2019 hoops

Sometimes reading a print edition of the paper wakes me up to items I've missed.
The Coppin St Eagles , a Baltimore City university, who've been floundering in the MEAC for a few seasons beat Loyola of Chicago (MVC) early in November and just as I thought the Ramblers had stumbled in to a ditch, they upset Vandy(SEC)  76-72 last night .Krutwig  (22 pts, 10 assists)
DePaul (BIG East) has done well in pre conference play with wins over Iowa, Cincy, and Minnesota. Their sole loss was to Buffalo (MAC).
UIC Horizon) and Chicago St(WAC) have struggled big time.
Northwestern(Big10) had a nice win over Providence in November and came close against Sparty last night.

dec 21

It never fails:  I mentioned UIC's struggles and they go out out and beat UC Irvine(BIG West) 76-67. Ottey scored 18 for #UIC .

dec 25

On Sunday Dec 22 Chicago St Cougars lost to Indiana St(MVC) 85-64.Xavier Johnson and Isaiah Lewis led each scored  17 points in the defeat. Cougars head to Missouri(SEC) for a game on Dec 30
Loyola of Chicago lost to Davidson (A10). Marquise Kennedy scored 16 points off the bench for the Ramblers in  the loss.

DEC 29

#GodrenBoahen scored 21 points off the UIC bench in a 71-66 win over Cleveland St

jan 5, 2020

#depaul is missing those pre Xmas days. They're 0-2 in the Big East. Paul Reed had 24 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for the Blue Demons in a 66-65 loss to Providence who won when Nate Watson sank a free throw with a second left. Depaul lost to Seton hall 74-63 on Dec 30.

jan 19

DePaul got its first Big East win this season by knocking off # 5 Butler . #paulreed was the top Blue Deacon (23 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST) 79-66. Northwestern(B10) hung close but lost to Illinois 75-71. Tarkus Ferguson(16 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST) led UIC to a 75-66 win in Horizon Conference action.

feb 6

Loyola of Chicago only scored 16 points in the second half of  68-39 loss  to Indiana St in MVC game . Both teams are tied for third with 7-4  records. NIU (9-2) SIU( 8-3) are ahead of them in the MVC

feb 15

My occasional interest in Chicago area teams caused me to check in on the UIC((12-15, 7-7)/Wright St(22-5, 12-2) game last night. Tarkus Ferguson scored 18 points  for UIC in its 75-58 loss. Wright St has a one game lead over Northern Kentucky(19-7,11-3) , who hasn't appeared to be miss  a beat since Coach Brannen moved on to Cincy,  in Horizon League.

March 10

 Tarkus Ferguson scored 25 points for Illinois-Chicago in 73-56 win over Wright St to  advance to its first Horizon League title game since 2004. They'll face Northern Kentucky. Wright St finished first in Horizon in regular season play but may miss the Dance.

March 11

UIC made a run at NKU late and their press did some damage , but NKY punched the Horizon Dance ticket with a 71-62 win. 

T. Ferguson (ILLCH)I15 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST

T. Sharpe (NKY)16 PTS, 3 AST March 26 UIC has been talking a lot about getting to the Dance since they haven't punched a Dance ticket since 2004. They hired LukeYaklich, an assistant coach at Texas and a native of Illinois, to replace Steve McLain, who had three consecutive winning seasons. I bet McLain gets another HC gig soon. april 3  #DaveLeitao received a contract extension through 2023-24. I guess Depaul ADMIN saw signs of improvement, but after starting 12-1 last season they  finished16-16 overall. The Blue Demons  had solid victories against Iowa, Texas Tech and Butler but collapsed during the Big East Conference season. may 19, 2020  I was reading through my blog to see if I missed any hints that  Green Bay would fire Linc Darner who had a winning record in three of the past four seasons and took them to Dance in 2016, his first season. He was 96-80 in five seasons and  had Amari Davis,  Horizon League Freshman of the Year, returning this season.The "Zoom" coach search begins. June 9, 2020

Green Bay(Horizon) announced Will Ryan , the son of former Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, as its next HC. He was HC at Div II Wheeling U in West Virginia last season. I'm still looking for published reasons as to why Darner was canned.

June 17, 2020

Robert Morris(NEC) is joining the Horizon League beginning in the 2020-21 academic year for everything except football. The school is  located in  Moon Township, Pennsylvania and most of the Horizon League is located in the Midwest. RMU will join Fort Wayne as the conference’s 11th and 12th members this fall.

July 15, 2020

Robert Morris stays in the news. They will replace Fordham on Hawaii's 2020 football schedule. The football team is a 1AA Independent this season before moving to the Big South.

Nov 22, 2020

 #carmitacoleman , a former Chicago State University professor, faces federal charges for allegedly embezzling over $650,000 from Student National Pharmaceutical Association, a national organization geared toward providing opportunities to minority students.  Perhaps this is one of many reasons Chicago St, a WAC member, has so many financial problems.

Feb 14, 2021

Checking back in with Chi-town hoops. It's appears  those Catholics at Loyola-Chicago are getting into Dance mode. Aher Uguak sparked the Ramblers (18-3, 13-1 MVC) scoring eight points in a two-minute span and finishing with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 81-54 win over Drake (19-2, 10-2 MVC).

UIC  was swept by IUPUI, a Horizon League foe.

DePaul Blue Demons (3-9 Overall | 1-9 Big East - 11th) lost to Providence and sits alone in the Big East cellar.

Chicago St (0-9) hasn't played since just before Xmas 2020 and did play a WAC opponent. It sure appears as if  its sports program is nearly dead.

Feb 15, 2021

In the season of back to back matchups, Tremell Murphy scored 17 points, for Drake who rallied past No. 22 Loyola Chicago 51-50 on Sunday.

Aug 1, 2023

Appears NW football is setting up Skip Holtz, now a special assistant, to be the HFC in 2024. Somehow NW hoops HC Chris Collins has escaped the "hazing " storm?

Loretta Lynch will likely try to emasculate football at NW. Big 10 may need to raid another conference.

She stayed loyal to the Clintons during email scandal etc.

Aug 4, 2023

Here come the lawyers: Packers CEO Mark Murphy, the NW AD from 2003-07, is a defendant in a lawsuit by two former players, who both filed under "John Doe," were at Northwestern from 2004 to 2008.

Aug 10, 2023

'Cats Against the World' t-shirts," worn by players. NW AD says tone deaf. HC says I don't censor.

Sept 4, 2023

Rutgers 24 NW 7. It going to be a long season in Chicago. UTEP(CUSA) comes to NW- Cats looking at (0-2)?

Also, NW plays Chicago St in hoops this December.

Chi-town area Saturday (Jan 13) hoops

Last weekend I watched St Johns beat Georgetown in OT as two 80's stars now head coaches,  Chris Mullen and Patrick Ewing, are trying to revive their programs and rivalry games. Yesterday, DePaul((10-5, 2-2 Big East) which hasn't had much success since the Meyer/Aguirre days of the 80s beat the Johnnies behind #FemiOlujobi (27 PTS, 8 REB, 2 STL). GTown got 33 points from Govan in an OT win over Providence.
Last season's Madness Cinderella Loyola-Chicago held off Illinois State 67-64 with Marques Townes scoring 21 points.- in an MVC matchup . Also in MVC play SIU lost Valpraiso 65-61.
WAC doormat, Chicago St, is showing signs of recovery as they nearly took down Cal Baptist but fell 77-75 despite   (24 PTS, 9 REB, 2 STL) from #AnthonyHarris . 
UIC (Horizon) hit 17 treys in a 73-56 win over Cleveland St.
 St Louis (12-4, 3-0 A 10) got a solid game from Goodwin (12 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST) in a 71-64 win over LaSalle.

jan 17, 2019

#depaul  fell back to earth as Butler outscored them 51-29 in the second half.  Butler 87 Depaul 69. Ill St hung on Tuesday night for a 59-58 win over SIU in MVC play.
Northwestern's loss to Michigan on Sunday left them at 1-5 in B10 play.
Jordan Goodwin scored 20 points in the Saint Louis (4-0 in A10) win over Fordham 63-60 on Tuesday night.

Jan 19,2019

NW looked ragged but broke a two game losing streak with a 65-57 win over Rutgers.   St Louis won its sixth straight as Dion Wiley and Javon Bess scored 20 points apiece in a 68-57 St Louis(14-4, 5-0 A 10) win over St Joseph. Travis Ford , who was fired from OK St, is in his third season as HC. ST Louis exited the CUSA in 2005 for the Atlantic 10 , and I still feel like it wa san odd geographical move.

Jan 20, 2019

Loyola-Chicago  (12-7, 5-1 MVC) led by Cameron Krutwig 16 points and 10 rebounds spoiled Indiana St  celebration of the 1979 "Bird" team. L-C 75 ISU 67. Milik Yarbrough scored 27 points to lead Illinois State (4-2 MVC) over Evansville 78-70. Max Strus scored 22 points in DePaul's 67-63 (3-3 Big East) win over Seton Hall.

Jan 24, 2019

Tough night for Chicago's Catholic  teams: Depaul lost to Marquette  and Loyola- Chicago was pounded  70-35 by Missouri St.. #CameronKrutwig scored 15 of L-C 35 points.  Saint Louis

(14-5, 5-1 A 10) lost to Duquesne in A10 play.

Jan 28

 Cameron Krutwig scored 22 points in L-C (6-2 MVC)  75-50 win over SIU and took over the MVC top spot. Depaul lost to Providence and Northwestern was pounded by Wisconsin.

jAN 30

Terps got healthy beating up Northwestern last night. Fernando had a great night. DePaul
(11-8, 3-5 Big East) hosts a hot Villanova (16-4, 7-0 Big East) team tonight.

Jan 31, 2019

Depaul lost to Nova 86-74 and descended toward its old spot in the Big East cellar.Cameron Krutwig
(22 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST) led Loyola of Chicago to big  61-60 win over N.Iowa in MVC action. St Louis was upset by Richmond in A10 action.

Feb 2

 Marcus Ottey and Tarkus Ferguson scored 17 points each and Illinois-Chicago (5-5 Horizon) beat Wright State (6-4 Horizon) 67-53. Northern Kentucky Norse sits atop the Horizon with an 8-2 record

feb 3

#PaulJorgensen scored the game-winning basket on a goal-tending call in Butler's win over Seton Hall, and Depaul beat Providence in Chicago area Big East action. Yarbrough scored 21 in Illinois St. victory over Loyola-Chicago 65-57 that left both teams at 7-3 in the MVC. Illinois beat Nebraska and continuing its  climb out the B10 basement . #ChicagoSt  (3-20, 0-8 WAC), one of the worst teams in 1a hoops was beaten 83-39 by N Mex St.

feb 4

 #TarkusFerguson had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the UIC  69-67win over Northern Kentucky, the Horizon leader.

feb 5

#Northwestern (3-8) lost it's third game in a row and moves closer to joining Penn St (1-10) in the B10 cellar. Penn St 59 NW 52 

feb 6

90 miles from Chicago ,  #10 Marquette  was upset by  a St Johns' team who was just blown out by Duke. Ponds led the Johnnies with 28 points.  Illinois upset #9 Sparty. NIU was edged 73-72 by Ball St in MAC play. In MVC action Ill St lost 53-69 to Valparaiso and
M. Townes LOY CHI (32 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST) led  the Ramblers in a blowout of Drake.

feb 10

 Markus Howard (38 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST) led #Marquette (9-2 BE) to a big 66-65 win over Nova(10-1) while Paul Reed (15 PTS, 8 REB, 2 STL) led #Depaul (5-6) out of the Big East cellar win a win over Xavier. Marcus Ottey  scored the winning layup with 26 seconds to lead #UIC (7-5) to to its third Horizon win in a row.   Giorgi Bezhanishvili (35 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST) led  #illinois to a win  over Rutgers, its fourth win in the last five B10 games.

feb 11

Northwestern blew a huge lead to Iowa and lost 80-79/ In MVC play Townes scored 18 for  Loyola-Chicago (9-3) in its win over Valparaiso and Jarred Dixon banked in a half-court shot just before the final buzzer as Missouri St edged Illinois St 66-65.

feb 13

#marquette pounded depaul  Markus Howard (36 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST) had another huge night for Marquette. Butler lost to St Johns (18-7, 6-6 Big East) I'm guessing the Big East gets five dance tickets so the Johnnies needed this one . #siu lost to Drake in MVC play.

feb 14

Northwestern lost to Rutgers .and is down in B10 basement with Penn St. Javon Bess had 26 points as Saint Louis (A10) topped Gw 73-58. In MVC play Loyola of Chicago fell to Bradley while Missouri St beat Evansville, and N. Iowa beat ILL St. L-c (9-4) has a one game lead over Drake  and Missouri St in the MVC.

feb 17

UIC lost  81-73 to Youngstown St who were led by #DariusQuisneberry 's 37 points in an Horizon matchup.Tough night for other Chi-town teams: NW lost to Nebraska and Depaul lost to Butler. In MVC play Loyola of Chicago lost to Bradley while SIU beat Indiana St. A little further away St Louis defeated La Salle 62-49 behind Tramaine Isabell's  23 points and 10 rebounds.

feb 18

 Tulio Da Silva  (16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks) led Missouri State(9-5) to a 65-61 win over Loyola of Chicago (9-5)  and moved into a three way tie for first in the MVC with L-C and Drake.

Feb 21

Marques Townes had 21 points as Loyola of Chicago (10-5-MVC) defeated Evansville 70-58. Ill St (7-8)lost to Indiana St(6-9) and  SIU(7-8) lost to Valparaiso. Depaul (5-9) lost to Creighton(5-9) and is back in the Big East cellar

Feb 23

In Horizon league play #UIC (8-7) was nipped by Green Bay (9-6) 63-62 . Sandy Cohen III had 20 points for GB, who moved to with two games  of N. Kentucky and Wright St , both 11-4.

Feb 24

In MVC play  L_C lost to  SIU(8-8) to and remains in a three way (10-6) tie for first with Drake and Missouri St. In Horizon play Godwin Boahen had 22 points for UIC in a 74-59 win Milwaukee.

feb 28

Marques Townes registered 16 points and eight rebounds for Loyola of Chicago in a one point over UNI that kept them tied with Drake, a winner over Indiana St., for first .in the MVC. Missouri St  fell to second with a loss to Ill St. SIU beat Evansville.
Paul Reed registered 16 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST for DePaul in its loss to GTown

march 3

Are the L-C "Nuns"  gearing up for another Dance visit? #MarquesTownes had 26 points as Loyola-Chicago topped Bradley 81-68  to win a share of the MVC regular-season title with #drake , a 73-62 winner over Missouri St. In Horizon play Tarkus Ferguson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, his seventh double-double this season, for #UIC(10-8)  who rallied  to beat Detroit 80-71, but don't have a chance of catching N.Kentucky.

march 6

#UIC fell 82-77 to Green Bay in rd1 of the HorizonT.  Ferguson had 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists for UIC

march 7

 #depaul 101-69 blowout of Georgetown ended the Hoyas' slim Dance chance unless GT wins the Big East tournament.

march 8

 MVCT: Loyola Chicago faces Valparaiso who beat Indiana St last night while Drake gets Illinois St, a winner over Evansville.

March 9

Sister Jean's team, Loyola of Chicago, moved a step closer to a return to the Dance with a 67-54 win over Valparaiso in the MVC quarterfinals and faces Bradley, a winner over Missouri St. The other matchup is Drake/Northern Iowa. #TremellMurphy had a season-high 26 points for Drake in a 78-62 win over  Illinois State while WyattLohaus scored 21 points for UNI in a 61-58 squeaker over SUI Southern Illinois 61-58.

March 10

  No. 1 seed Loyola-Chicago lost to Bradley and No. 2 seed Drake lost to NIU in the MVC semifinals. I'm not sure if  L_C loses a Dance ticket. St Louis lost to St Bonaventure in A10 PLAY. Depaul lost to Creighton and finished the season in a three way with Providence and Butler for the Big east cellar spot. Northwestern lost to Purdue  and sits alone in the B10 basement.

March 14

DePaul  fell 82-74 to a the Johnnies, who are desperate to get off the bubble. Eli Cain had solid night for the Blue Demons (23 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST).  Giorgi Bezhanishvili scored 26 points andTrent Frazier added 21for Illinois in a comeback win over Northwestern.

March 15

Another long season ends for Chicago St(3-29, 0-16 WAC) , an 86-49 loser to NMST in rd1 of the WACT.
March 20:Loyola of Chicago lost to Creighton in rd1 of the NIT. Another solid game for Krutwig.
March 21- Depaul scored 100 points in a CBI win over Central Michigan.

March 30, 2019

 Max Strus and Paul Reed scored 24 points apiece for the Blue Demons in 92-87 win over Coastal Carolina to advance to best 2 of 3 CBI final series against #USF (AAC)
April 1 Depaul lost game 1 to USF 83-81 in the best of three series.

Eli Cain DEP - G 19 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
David Collins USF - G 23 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AS

April 4, 2019

#depaul survived some sloppy play at the end of regulation to defeat USF 100-96 in OT.  Paul Reed was big for the Blue Demons ( 28 PTS, 16 REB, 2 AST)

april 6

DePaul played sloppy ball in stretches and lost  77-65 at home to USF in the final game of the 2019 CBI.

april 18

#portermoser, the Loyola of Chicago HC, has turned down job offers from UNLV and St Johns this off-season
july 24: #depaul 's  climb out of rough seasons may be ending. The Blue Demons were 19-17 last season , but  he NCAA suspended DePaul(Big East) men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao for three games next season and placed the team on  three years probations for various infractions.

 

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