College Hoops Top 25: Sunday’s Results

Selection Sunday: officially less than a month away!

–UPSET–Wake Forest 86, No. 2 Duke 73. Duke was due for a performance like this. Think: what are the criticisms of the Blue Devils? They are too short/cannot rebound efficently—Wake out-rebounded them 41-33 ; they rely too much on the 3—they shot 29 percent (to Wake’s 46) ; they cannot sustain double-digit leads against legitimate competition—huh, well they never led by more than five in this one. Plus, 52 percent from the free throw line and getting out-blocked 8-2 will also doom you. The blueprint—not that we needed one—to defeat Duke is ready for distribution.

–No. 6 UCLA 56, Southern California 46. Uck-luh kept USC at arm’s length for the entire game and avenge their loss from earlier in the season. More and more it’s looking like the Pac-10 may really hurt itself in trying to get eight bids to the NCAAs. Plus: what ugly unis from Southern Cal last night, right? I think it’s safe to say that they won’t be breaking out those things again.

–No. 20 Notre Dame 71, Rutgers 68. Syracuse, a team that really needs all of the good wins that it can get, just defeated Georgetown on Saturday. They are scheduled to play Notre Dame, a team that escaped in Piscataway last night. Just put it in the back of your mind for a few days from now.

Notable:

West Virginia 89, Seton Hall 68. The water-and-oil nature of college basketball is really starting to take effect and it’s good to see; it makes things less confusing for aspiring Bracketologists.

Massachusetts 88, Saint Louis 77. A loss here probably would’ve buried the M’Men until the A-10 gave them their shot at an auto bid. Still, they don’t sprain their ankle and can get to .500 in league play on Thursday against fellow bubbler Rhode Island.

Miami (FL) 64, Georgia Tech 63. The ‘Canes sustain a win streak—the first time since Jan. 12 that they can say that. Still, 4-6 in the ACC doesn’ets bode well—they’re going to need to make at least the quarters in the ACC tourney.

Michigan 80, Ohio State 70. Dam-a-ging. I didn’t see a lick of this game (how would I expect a 7-17 UM team do defeat the Bucks?), but I do learn all I need to know from Ohio State due to this result. The Buckeyes cannot be trusted and deserve to be on the wrong side of the bubble for the immediate future.