ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
|
|||
RK
|
TEAM
|
RECORD
|
PTS
|
1
|
Kentucky (31)
|
19-1
|
775
|
2
|
18-1
|
725
|
|
3
|
17-3
|
687
|
|
4
|
20-1
|
686
|
|
5
|
16-3
|
660
|
|
6
|
16-3
|
571
|
|
7
|
17-2
|
569
|
|
8
|
16-3
|
565
|
|
9
|
20-0
|
502
|
|
10
|
16-3
|
498
|
|
11
|
16-4
|
453
|
|
12
|
17-2
|
403
|
|
13
|
15-4
|
396
|
|
14
|
18-2
|
343
|
|
15
|
18-3
|
337
|
|
16
|
16-4
|
236
|
|
17
|
16-4
|
230
|
|
18
|
16-4
|
213
|
|
19
|
14-5
|
203
|
|
20
|
19-2
|
193
|
|
21
|
15-3
|
171
|
|
22
|
15-5
|
165
|
|
23
|
16-2
|
99
|
|
24
|
14-4
|
80
|
|
25
|
15-5
|
49
|
|
25
|
16-5
|
49
|
|
Now, I know
the poll/rankings in CBB are somewhat meaningless (for some people), with the
Top 25 not evening being half of the teams that represent the NCAA Tournament
come March. However, with losses by Syracuse, Baylor, and Duke, Ohio State
jumped up 3 spots to number #3 in the current ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Murray State now the only undefeated team in the land, sits at #9 at 20-0. Some
intriguing games this week here’s a link for you all to check out the Top 25/NCAA
Division 1 games for the rest of the week: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/schedule
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes 17-3 (5-2 in
the Big Ten)
Things would
be a lot less stressful on Ohio State fans, if the Buckeyes could play/win the
way they did on Saturday night the rest of the season. The Buckeyes playing
their only game of the week went out to Lincoln, NE and put a whooping on the new
guys of the Big Ten (1st year in the conference) Nebraska
Cornhuskers, 79 to 45. Not a single Buckeye starter played more then 29 minutes
in this game, allowing for the All-American bench, to tally some minutes. The
Buckeyes had three in double figures with William Buford leading all-scores
(15) and Deshaun Thomas and Jared Sullinger chipping in 14 a piece. The
Buckeyes also find themselves on top of the Big Ten Standing with Michigan
State and Michigan (5-2). The Buckeyes finish up the month of January with two
home games, Wednesday night vs. Penn State and on CBS Sunday afternoon vs.
Michigan. The Buckeyes by this time next week should be sitting at 19-3, with a
make or break month of February ahead of them.
Now, lets
talk some NBA hoops:
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||
| Eastern | W | L | PCT | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | L 10 | STREAK |
| Chicago1 | 16 | 3 | 0.842 | 0.0 | 10-1 | 3-0 | 8-0 | 8-3 | 9-1 | W 4 |
| Indiana2 | 11 | 4 | 0.733 | 3.0 | 9-3 | 2-1 | 5-0 | 6-4 | 7-3 | W 2 |
| Atlanta3 | 13 | 5 | 0.722 | 2.5 | 11-4 | 4-1 | 8-1 | 5-4 | 8-2 | W 2 |
| Philadelphia4 | 12 | 5 | 0.706 | 3.0 | 8-2 | 1-1 | 8-1 | 4-4 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| Orlando5 | 11 | 5 | 0.688 | 3.5 | 6-3 | 3-0 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| Miami6 | 11 | 5 | 0.688 | 3.5 | 7-2 | 3-1 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| Boston7 | 7 | 9 | 0.438 | 7.5 | 7-5 | 2-1 | 5-5 | 2-4 | 4-6 | W 2 |
| Cleveland8 | 6 | 9 | 0.400 | 8.0 | 4-5 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 4-6 | 3-7 | L 3 |
| Milwaukee | 6 | 10 | 0.375 | 8.5 | 4-3 | 1-0 | 4-2 | 2-8 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| New York | 6 | 10 | 0.375 | 8.5 | 5-4 | 2-1 | 3-6 | 3-4 | 4-6 | L 6 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 13 | 0.278 | 10.5 | 3-9 | 1-1 | 2-5 | 3-8 | 3-7 | L 1 |
| Toronto | 4 | 13 | 0.235 | 11.0 | 3-9 | 1-3 | 2-5 | 2-8 | 1-9 | L 8 |
| Detroit | 4 | 14 | 0.222 | 11.5 | 3-8 | 1-5 | 3-6 | 1-8 | 2-8 | L 1 |
| Charlotte | 3 | 14 | 0.176 | 12.0 | 2-13 | 0-6 | 2-6 | 1-8 | 1-9 | L 4 |
| Washington | 2 | 15 | 0.118 | 13.0 | 1-12 | 0-2 | 2-8 | 0-7 | 2-8 | L 3 |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||
| Western | W | L | PCT | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | L 10 | STREAK |
| Oklahoma City1 | 14 | 3 | 0.824 | 0.0 | 9-2 | 1-1 | 7-1 | 7-2 | 9-1 | W 2 |
| Denver2 | 12 | 5 | 0.706 | 2.0 | 5-5 | 1-2 | 6-2 | 6-3 | 7-3 | W 4 |
| L.A. Clippers3 | 9 | 5 | 0.643 | 3.5 | 5-4 | 2-0 | 8-2 | 1-3 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| Memphis4 | 10 | 6 | 0.625 | 3.5 | 7-5 | 3-1 | 6-2 | 4-4 | 7-3 | W 7 |
| Utah5 | 10 | 5 | 0.667 | 3.0 | 6-5 | 2-1 | 8-2 | 2-3 | 8-2 | W 1 |
| San Antonio6 | 11 | 7 | 0.611 | 3.5 | 10-5 | 4-2 | 9-1 | 2-6 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| Dallas7 | 11 | 7 | 0.611 | 3.5 | 7-6 | 2-1 | 7-2 | 4-5 | 8-2 | W 3 |
| Houston8 | 10 | 7 | 0.588 | 4.0 | 6-6 | 3-2 | 7-1 | 3-6 | 8-2 | W 7 |
| Portland | 10 | 7 | 0.588 | 4.0 | 7-4 | 2-0 | 7-1 | 3-6 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 10 | 8 | 0.556 | 4.5 | 8-4 | 2-2 | 9-2 | 1-6 | 6-4 | L 3 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 10 | 0.412 | 7.0 | 5-4 | 0-2 | 4-6 | 3-4 | 5-5 | L 2 |
| Phoenix | 6 | 10 | 0.375 | 7.5 | 3-6 | 1-1 | 3-4 | 3-6 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| Sacramento | 6 | 12 | 0.333 | 8.5 | 3-8 | 1-0 | 4-3 | 2-9 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| Golden State | 5 | 11 | 0.313 | 8.5 | 0-6 | 0-3 | 3-6 | 2-5 | 3-7 | L 3 |
| New Orleans | 3 | 14 | 0.176 | 11.0 | 2-13 | 0-6 | 1-9 | 2-5 | 1-9 | L 8 |
Cleveland Cavaliers (6-9)
Well, so much
for that wishful thinking, after a surprising start to the season, the Cavs
dropped three straight games last week. After losing a home game to the Golden
State Warriors last Tuesday, the Cavs got embarrassed in losses vs. the
Rose-less Bulls (114-75), the franchises worst home defeat and the following
night down in Atlanta, the Hawks flew by the Cavs 121 to 94. Now, I’m not
saying the season is over for the Cavs (#avoidingthat26gamelosingstreak), but
it was pretty disappointing to read about those two lopsided defeats. On top of
that, it doesn’t look to get any easier for the Cleveland hoopsters as they
have four games this upcoming week. Starting tonight at Miami vs. the Heat, then
have home games vs. the NY Knicks Wednesday night, and on Friday night facing
the NJ Nets. It’s critical for the Cavs to win those two home games against two
teams behind them in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs finish up the week on
Sunday, with a game up in Boston vs. the Celtics. I still believe the Cavs can
hang around this season and make a run for the 7th or 8th
spot in the East, in which they currently are hanging onto the 8th
seed as of last night.
I leave you
all with a short clip, welcoming back to Cleveland, the
pride and face of the Cavs for so many years, “Big Z” Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who
as of last week accepted the Assistant GM position with the Cavaliers. Welcome
Back, Big Z.
