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GAME OF THE WEEK... (6) Oklahoma State at (13) Texas It's a border battle Monday evening in Austin as Oklahoma State and Texas, the top two teams in the Big XII South over the last few years, get together on the hardwood. The Cowboys have lost just once this season and have not been beaten in conference play. The 'Horns, meanwhile, have been defeated three times, one of those coming on the road at rival Texas A&M last Wednesday. Coach Eddie Sutton's team, a preseason top five pick by SCS.com, has won four straight since dropping a three-point game to Gonzaga in Oklahoma City late in December. Their last three wins have been league victories, though none have come by more than a dozen points. OSU's top five scorers are all seniors. Forward Joey Graham and guard John Lucas are not only the team's top scorers but are also the top two point-producers in the Big XII. Each contributes about 19 points a game. Forward Ivan McFarlin is the only other scorer in double-figures for O-State. Texas has won six of their last seven with five of those victories coming at home. Their losses this season have come by two points to Iowa, one point to Wake Forest, and eleven points to Texas A&M. Each of those contests was played away from home. No Longhorn scores as many as fourteen points a game, but a half-dozen players account for between ten and thirteen points each night out. Sophomore forward P.J. Tucker leads the way, while Daniel Gibson, Brad Buckman, Kenny Taylor, Jason Klotz, and LaMarcus Aldridge all score in double-figures. Gibson, a guard, and Aldridge, a center, are both true freshmen. The Longhorns have played nine games in the Erwin Center, winning each by an average of 20 points. While Oklahoma State may be the better team in the end, the game is on the Longhorns' floor, and right now, it is Coach Rick Barnes' team that seems to have the most balance. Though they are much younger and have less experience than OSU, give the victory to UT in a close one. The Editor Says: Texas THE WEEK'S OTHER TOP MATCHUPS... Mississippi State at Alabama The Dawgs and Tide have been dominant in the SEC West over the last few years. Both teams have won conference championships in recent seasons, MSU most recently in 2004. Coach Stansbury's team is dealing with the loss of star guard Winsome Frazier, and with Alabama playing at home, round one goes to the Tide. The Editor Says: Alabama Charlotte at Cincinnati The 49ers are probably being overlooked by the national media so far this season. They've lost two games by a total of three points this season and are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak. If Cincy had beaten UL last week, I would take Charlotte in an upset, but the 'Cats can't afford another home CUSA loss this soon. The Editor Says: Cincinnati (3) Kansas at Villanova Kansas is coming off of a three-game road swing to Kentucky, Iowa State, and Colorado and is still unbeaten on the season. Villanvoa started off the year by winning eight of their first nine but has since lost two of their last three. While the Wildcats will be a NCAA bubble team, KU has much higher goals for the coming months. The Editor Says: Kansas (14) Wisconsin at Michigan The Badgers are again making a name for themselves in the Big Ten. They have the nation's longest home winning streak, but this one will be played in Ann Arbor. Though the Wolves have dropped five games this year, they have won six straight, including an impressive road win at Iowa two weeks ago. In a close one.... The Editor Says: Michigan (2) Wake Forest at Cincinnati The Bearcats make the list of top games twice this week. Though they'll be at home all week, there is nothing comforting about the upcoming schedule. After hosting Charlotte on Wednesday, Cincy welcomes in preseason number one Wake Forest. The Deacons are more talented and experienced than the 'Cats and will grab the victory. The Editor Says: Wake Forest BEST OF THE REST... Connecticut at Seton Hall - Monday Georgetown at (4) Syracuse - Tuesday (2) Wake Forest at Florida State - Tuesday Oklahoma at Texas A&M - Tuesday Notre Dame at West Virginia - Wednesday Tennessee at Florida - Wednesday Memphis at South Florida - Wednesday Villanova at (9) Boston College - Wednesday Providence at Rutgers - Wednesday Arkansas at LSU - Wednesday (11) Kentucky at Mississippi - Wednesday Minnesota at Ohio State - Wednesday Texas Tech at Missouri - Wednesday Michigan at Indiana - Wednesday (8) Duke at Miami - Wednesday (5) North Carolina at Clemson - Wednesday Virginia at Maryland - Wednesday Iowa at (1) Illinois - Thursday Arizona State at Oregon State - Thursday Marquette at DePaul - Thursday Hawaii at UTEP - Thursday St. Mary's at Pepperdine - Thursday Gonzaga at San Francisco - Thursday Stanford at UCLA - Thursday California at Southern Cal - Thursday (10) Arizona at Oregon - Thursday George Washington at Richmond - Saturday LSU at (11) Kentucky - Saturday West Virginia at (4) Syracuse - Saturday Memphis at UAB - Saturday Auburn at Arkansas - Saturday Charlotte at Marquette - Saturday New Mexico at Utah - Saturday California at UCLA - Saturday (13) Texas at Oklahoma - Saturday Alabama at Mississippi - Saturday Kansas State at Texas A&M - Saturday Vanderbilt at Georgia - Saturday Tennessee at (15) Louisville - Saturday Michigan State at Minnesota - Saturday (8) Duke at Florida State - Saturday South Carolina at Mississippi State - Saturday Gonzaga at San Diego - Saturday Clemson at Virginia - Saturday (9) Boston College at St. John's - Saturday Ohio State at Indiana - Saturday (10) Arizona at Oregon State - Saturday Miami at (5) North Carolina - Saturday Colorado at Iowa State - Saturday Southern Illinois at Wichita State - Saturday Northern Iowa at Bradley - Saturday Pittsburgh at Connecticut - Saturday Arizona State at Oregon - Saturday Notre Dame at Georgetown - Sunday Washington State at (7) Washington - Sunday NC State at Maryland - Sunday The Editor's CBB Records: |
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