| SEARCH SCS.com |
| SCS.com HOME |
| CONTACT SCS.com |
| SCS.com FORUM |
| THE COLLEGE CORNER |
| CONFERENCE PAGES |
| ACC |
| Big East |
| Big Ten |
| Big XII |
| CUSA |
| MAC |
| Mountain West |
| PAC 10 |
| SEC |
| Sun Belt |
| WAC |
| TUNE THE TUBE!...THE WEEK'S TOP GAMES | |
| Week of February 14 - 20, 2005 | |
| Jonathan, SCS.com Editor | Contact Jonathan |
Syracuse at Boston College
Saturday : 5:00 PM CST : ESPN
The top two teams in the Big East go head-to-head this weekend in Chestnut Hill. Boston College, 9-1 in league play and undefeated until a road loss at Notre Dame last week, will host Syracuse Saturday evening. The Orange hold a 9-2 record in conference games but have lost two of their previous four games, including a home loss to Connecticut last Monday.
Though they've hit some bumps in the road in recent weeks, Syracuse has been one of the nation's top teams since the season began. After an early-December setback against Oklahoma State, Coach Jim Boeheim's team won 13 straight before a late-January defeat on the road at Pittsburgh. Senior forward Hakim Warrick, a SCS.com Preseason First Team All-American, is leading the team with over 20 points a game. Junior guard Gerry McNamara accounts for 16 a contest, ten of those from beyond the arc. Senior Josh Pace is the only other player in double figures at 11 a night.
Boston College won their first 20 games of the season before falling at Notre Dame last week. The Eagles have eight days to recover from that defeat before returning for a two-game homestand that begins this Wednesday against Rutgers and concludes with Saturday's showdown against SU. Al Skinner's squad is led by junior forward Craig Smith. The Los Angeles native scores over 18 points a contest, while sophomore forward Jared Dudley rams home over 16 of his own each night out. Two other Eagles, guards Sean Marshall and Jermaine Watson, score nearly 11 a contest.
The upper hand in the stretch run of the Big East race is on the line this weekend. A win for the Eagles would give BC a huge advantage heading into the final weeks, while an Orange road win could tighten things up and make for plenty of scoreboard-watching between now and March 5. Though the Eagles have been extremely consistent this season, they are not a team that will blow away an opponent. Thirteen of their twenty-one games this season have been decided by 10 points or less.
Expect a tight, down-to-the-wire battle, but look for Boston College to take a huge step forward in the Big East race and in front of a national audience.
The Editor Says: Boston College
THE WEEK'S OTHER TOP MATCHUPS...
Pittsburgh at Syracuse
Monday : 6:00 PM CST : ESPN
Before the Orange can head over to BC, they'll have to avoid a let-down against Pittsburgh on Monday evening. Last week's "Big Monday" showdown was a huge disappointment for the 'Cuse, but with their backs to the wall and big games looming, Syracuse regroups and takes down the Panthers.
The Editor Says: Syracuse
Kansas at Texas Tech
Monday : 8:00 PM CST : ESPN
Though the Red Raiders lost at Iowa State this past weekend, Coach Bobby Knight's team has been hot as of late, winning eight of their last ten games and seven of their last eight at home. And the home court is exactly where they will be Monday night, but look for the experienced Jayhawks to pick up an impressive road victory over Tech and expand their Big XII lead.
The Editor Says: Kansas
DePaul at Charlotte
Wednesday : 6:30 PM CST
DePaul is one of those teams that has slipped under the radar most of the season, but that changed this past Saturday. That's when the Blue Demons, who are 8-2 in CUSA play and 16-5 overall, demolished Cincinnati by 19 points. But the team has struggled on the road at times this season, so look for the 49ers to squeak one out on Wednesday.
The Editor Says: Charlotte
Wichita State at Miami (Ohio)
Saturday : 11:00 AM CST : ESPN2
This is the first of a huge day on the ESPN networks, "Bracket Buster" Saturday. Wichita State, 18-4 overall, is currently tied atop the Missouri Valley standings, while Miami (Ohio), 15-6 on the season, has the best record in the MAC. The Shockers are a team to watch out for in March and show that with a road win in front of a national audience Saturday morning.
The Editor Says: Wichita State
Vermont at Nevada
Saturday : 1:00 PM CST : ESPN2
Two more teams leading the way in their respective leagues get together out west. Vermont is 18-4 overall and is leading the America East conference. Catamounts' senior forward Taylor Coppenrath is the nation's third-leading scorer at over 24 a game. The Wolfpack made March noise last year, will win the WAC this year, and knock off UV on Saturday.
The Editor Says: Nevada
Utah at Air Force
Saturday : 2:00 PM CST
Air Force currently holds the nation's second longest home winning streak at 24 straight games. The Falcons also play the nation's best defense, and that will be crucial because the Utes will bring in star center Andrew Bogut, a sophomore who rams home 20 points per contest. It won't be easy, but Utah makes a huge statement with a win and continues to control the MWC.
The Editor Says: Utah
UTEP at Pacific
Saturday : 11:00 PM CST : ESPN
Right behind Nevada in the WAC standings is UTEP. The Miners are led by senior forward Omar Thomas who scores nearly 20 points a game. Thomas will take his show on the road to Pacific this week and will have a tough battle on his hands in Stockton, CA. The Tigers are 20-2, ranked nationally, and running away with the Big West title. That run continues Saturday.
The Editor Says: Pacific
Wake Forest at Duke
Sunday : 5:30 PM CST : FoxSportsNet
Some could argue this to be the nation's best game this week, and it would be hard to convince them otherwise. But Duke has lost two games in the last two weeks and has shown several weaknesses along the way. Wake Forest, ranked #1 nationally in the preseason by SCS.com, has won five straight since the end of January, and that streak rolls along.
The Editor Says: Wake Forest
BEST OF THE REST...
Davidson at Charleston - Monday
The Editor Says: Davidson
Air Force at New Mexico - Monday
The Editor Says: New Mexico
Connecticut at Providence - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Connecticut
Wake Forest at Miami - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Wake Forest
Kansas State at Iowa State - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Iowa State
Kentucky at South Carolina - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Kentucky
Minnesota at Michigan State - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Michigan State
Virginia at North Carolina - Wednesday
The Editor Says: North Carolina
Arkansas at Alabama - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Alabama
LSU at Mississippi State - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Mississippi State
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Vanderbilt
Georgetown at Notre Dame - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Notre Dame
Texas A&M at Texas - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Texas
Southern Illinois at Illinois State - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Southern Illinois
Creighton at Wichita State - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Wichita State
Maryland at NC State - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Maryland
Louisville at Marquette - Thursday
The Editor Says: Louisville
Villanova at Seton Hall - Thursday
The Editor Says: Villanova
Arkansas-Little Rock at Western Kentucky - Thursday
The Editor Says: Western Kentucky
Oregon at Arizona - Thursday
The Editor Says: Arizona
Oregon State at Arizona State - Thursday
The Editor Says: Arizona State
Duke at Virginia Tech - Thursday
The Editor Says: Duke
UCLA at California - Thursday
The Editor Says: UCLA
Fairleigh Dickson at Monmouth - Friday
The Editor Says: Fairleigh Dickson
Notre Dame at Providence - Saturday
The Editor Says: Notre Dame
Illinois at Iowa - Saturday
The Editor Says: Illinois
Iowa State at Kansas - Saturday
The Editor Says: Kansas
Oklahoma at Kansas State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Oklahoma
Florida at LSU - Saturday
The Editor Says: Florida
South Carolina at Alabama - Saturday
The Editor Says: Alabama
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Oklahoma State
Maryland at Virginia - Saturday
The Editor Says: Maryland
Texas A&M at Colorado - Saturday
The Editor Says: Texas A&M
Western Michigan at Northern Iowa - Saturday
The Editor Says: Northern Iowa
UAB at Cincinnati - Saturday
The Editor Says: Cincinnati
Ohio State at Minnesota - Saturday
The Editor Says: Minnesota
San Francisco at Gonzaga - Saturday
The Editor Says: Gonzaga
Connecticut at Rutgers - Saturday
The Editor Says: Connecticut
Southern Illinois at Kent State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Southern Illinois
Arkansas at Vanderbilt - Saturday
The Editor Says: Vanderbilt
Miami at Virginia Tech - Saturday
The Editor Says: Miami
Oregon at Arizona State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Arizona State
Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Hawaii - Saturday
The Editor Says: Wisconsin-Milwaukee
TCU at Houston - Saturday
The Editor Says: Houston
Illinois State at Wisconsin-Green Bay - Saturday
The Editor Says: Wisconsin-Green Bay
Samford at Tennessee Tech - Saturday
The Editor Says: Samford
Mississippi State at Kentucky - Saturday
The Editor Says: Kentucky
DePaul at Marquette - Sunday
The Editor Says: DePaul
Pittsburgh at Villanova - Sunday
The Editor Says: Villanova
UCLA at Stanford - Sunday
The Editor Says: Stanford
Northeastern at Boston University - Sunday
The Editor Says: Boston University
Oregon State at Arizona - Sunday
The Editor Says: Arizona
Texas Tech at TCU
Days: Tuesday
(9) Rice at Houston
Days: Tuesday
(15) Arizona State at (11) Arizona
Days: Tuesday
Missouri at Winthrop
Days: Thursday / Saturday
Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina
Days: Friday
(2) Miami at Florida
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
TCU at Florida Atlantic
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
Oral Roberts at Baylor
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
(1) Cal State-Fullerton vs Southern Cal
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
(15) Arizona State at (4) Tulane
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
(6) Stanford at (3) Texas
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
(13) Washington at Santa Clara
Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday
Mississippi at (9) Rice
Days: Saturday
(12) Texas A&M at South Alabama
Days: Saturday
Clemson vs Coastal Carolina
Days: Saturday
Notre Dame at Central Florida
Days: Saturday / Sunday
Clemson vs East Carolina
Days: Sunday
The Editor's CBB Records:
Last Week: 45 - 13 (.776)
To Date: 362 - 151 (.706)
Game of the Week: 10 - 2 (.833)
