ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top Ten
1) Kentucky 28-1
2) Syracuse 28-1
3) Duke 25-4
4) Kansas 24-5 (25-5, winning @ Ok State Monday)
5) Michigan State 24-5
6) North Carolina 25-4
7) Marquette 24-5
8) Missouri 25-4
9) Murray State 28-1
10) Baylor 24-5
Ohio State Buckeyes (23-6, 11-5 Big Ten)
Notice you do not see the Buckeyes sitting in the Top Ten anymore. After the third straight week of losing the weekend game on their schedule (all three L's coming against Top 20 teams), the Buckeyes are sitting at 11th in the current Coaches Poll. Sunday afternoon, the most disappointing/frustrating defeat for me as a fan, the Buckeyes could not close out the Wisconsin Badgers. After going up 50-42, the Buckeyes were outscored 21-10, losing 63-60 on SENIOR DAY of all things. What was the last game for Senior William Buford, the Buckeyes again had long scoring droughts and missed too many free throw attempts (10-19). Now, this team like I've mentioned before has Final Four talent on paper, but as I watch other games around the nation, its hard to see them getting passed the Elite teams of College Basketball. With two regular season games left, along with the Big Ten Conference Tournament (March 8-11), the Buckeyes need to flip the switch, and flip it fast. Not getting production out of "Sully" the past two games and shooting poorly in the past three marque games, makes you wonder how far to take the Buckeyes in your bracket this season. Was Sunday the last home game for Sullinger? However, with all that said, the Buckeyes still cling on to hope of a Big Ten Regular Season Championship. How that happens is Indiana needs to beat Michigan St (Tonight, ESPN 7 PM) and then the Buckeyes will have to win their last two games (@ Northwestern, Wednesday & @ Michigan State, Sunday) and that would give the Buckeyes a share of the Regular Season Title. At this point, the Buckeyes are sitting as a #2 seed for the NCAA tourney, and probably have to win out, including winning the Big Ten Tourney to hold on to that spot. It's been a frustrating last couple of weeks, but Feburary L's are forgotten, with March W's. LETS GO BUCKS!
Big Ten Standings
Now lets see how the boys of the NBA are doing...
Cleveland Cavaliers 13-18 9th in the East (2 GB of 7th, 1.5 GB of 8th)
Well, what does this team have in store for the second half of the NBA season? With being five games under .500, first things first, you got to find a way to get on the good side of .500. The Cavs had some impressive W's in the first half of the season, but also had some lop-sided L's against the elite teams of the NBA and a couple that they let get away. With the trade deadline coming up (March 15), the Cavs probably won't be looking to add any pieces, if anything depending on how the next couple weeks go they could be sellers and want to continue to rebuild the franchise, by getting some additional draft picks for the future. As a fan, you want to see your team be in contention all the way to the end. The Cavs will be interesting to watch this second half, to see if they have the poise and/or talent to stay in the playoff race. The Cavs start the second half of their season @ home tonight, when the Boston Celtics come to town, concluding the Cavs 9-game home stand (4-4 to this point in the stand). The Cavs then travel to face the Knicks in NY on Wednesday Night. The Cavs have a tough March schedule, depending on how the month of March goes will determine how the Cavs finish down the stretch. Should be interesting, if anything we get to continue to watch the development of the franchise PG Kyrie Irving. LETS GO CAVS!
Check out the current NBA Standings
