No Longer Undefeated: Pittsburgh Panthers Fall, Patriots Keep Rolling

Was it a case of a holiday hangover? A letdown after knocking another team down from the ranks of the undefeated? Or did the Pitt Panthers simply overlook the Dayton Flyers?

Whatever the reason, the Panthers laid an egg, and the Flyers brought down another Big East foe. Senior Brian Roberts—no, not that Brian Roberts—dropped thirty-one, including five of eight behind the arc, as the Flyers topped the sixth-ranked Panthers 80-55.

The win marks the second ranked team Dayton has beaten, en route to a record of eleven wins and one loss.

On December 8th, the Flyers beat Rick Pitino and the #11 Louisville Cardinals 70-65 at Freedom Hall. Dayton’s win marked the fifth time this season an A-10 team has beaten a Big East squad.

Both Rhode Island and UMass have knocked off Syracuse. Xavier topped cross-town rival Cincinnati.

In other great men’s games yesterday, the Volunteers of Tennessee used a smothering defense to outlast Gonzaga 82-72. Inbounding the ball against the Volunteers is nothing short of an adventure. Their half-court offense is nothing special—almost zero post-play—but they make up for it with an all-out denial defense.

For those of you who were scratching your heads at my headline, thinking Casey must be sipping the Sam Adams a little too early in the morning—on to the game of the weekend.

Where has this been all year? Eli rolling left and finding Boss in the end zone. Eli rolling right and firing an absolute strike to Plaxico who tip-toed in the end zone like it was a garden of tulips. Eli diving HEAD FIRST. Where has his stuff been all year? 22 of 32 for 251 yards? There’s the upside everyone wants to believe in.

The Better-Half and I listened to quarters two and three on the radio. (Daughter #2 had a hoops game an hour and a half from home). It was great to listen to Don Criqui and John Dockery call the game. Dockery and Criqui were at the point of giggling when discussing Eli last night. Descriptions like: "Eli looks at ease in the pocket," "Eli is making all the plays," etc. etc.

I have to rethink my evaluation of Dockery. As a sideline reporter for NBC, he was the bane of my college-football-viewing existence. He used to shove the microphone in the face of Bob Davie in such an intrusive manner.

Thanks to the Better-Half I have stuck with the Giants. Week after week, she has encouraged me to watch the G-Men—I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. All the while she has remained patient while I've erupted in frustration over their inconsistent play.

To top it off Hixon had a 74-yard kickoff return—and Brandon Jacobs! Any more of Jacobs and I am gonna get a severe case of amnesia when it comes to Giant running backs of the last seven years or so.

Of course Eli eventually botched a snap and threw an interception, the Giants abandoned the running game, they allowed the league’s best receiver to get wide open on back-to-back plays as the Pats took their first lead, and then missed tackles on two third and long plays as the Patriots drove for another touchdown.

Despite all that, Big Blue managed a late drive to pull within a field goal.

Credit Tom Coughlin

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