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TUNE THE TUBE!...THE WEEK'S TOP GAMES
Week of February 21 - 27, 2005

Basketball   |   Baseball

GAME OF THE WEEK...

Kentucky at Alabama
Saturday : 12:30 PM CST : CBS

The top two teams in the SEC, the leaders of the Eastern and Western divisions, get together Saturday afternoon in a battle that will have a huge say in which club earns the conference's regular season championship. Kentucky dropped their first league game of the season last week at South Carolina but is still 11-1 in SEC play and three games ahead in the East. Alabama is 10-2 in the conference and has not lost since the first week of February.

In fact, the Crimson Tide has lost just four times all season long. Coach Mark Gottfried's team has been led by the play of two juniors and a senior. Guard Earnest Shelton, in his final year on campus, is averaging nearly 17 points a contest, about nine of those coming from behind the arc. Juniors Kennedy Winston and Chuck Davis also score in double figures, Winston at over 17 points a game and Davis at more than 14 each night out. After losing two of three right around the New Year holiday, UA has come out on top in ten of their last eleven, six of those by more than 10 points.

Coach Tubby Smith's young and inexperienced squad was expected to face some tough times this season, but that has rarely been the case. UK has lost just three games this year, and they did not pick up their first SEC loss until last week on the road at South Carolina. Since a non-conference loss against Kansas in early January, the Wildcats, like the Tide, have rolled off ten of their last eleven. Junior Kelenna Azubuike is leading the team with over 14 points a game. Seniors Patrick Sparks and Chuck Hayes both average about 11 each night out, while two true freshmen, Rajon Rondo and Randolph Morris, score nearly nine each.

If the Tide can come away with a 2-0 week, the SEC race will likely come down to the final weekend when UK visits Florida and UA travels to Mississippi State. A Wildcat win in Tuscaloosa likely sews up the regular season SEC title for Tubby Smith and his squad.

The defense will be fierce in this one, but with the home crowd and a slightly better offensive club, look for the Tide to come away with a close, hard-fought victory.

The Editor Says: Alabama


THE WEEK'S OTHER TOP MATCHUPS...

Oral Roberts at UMKC
Tuesday : 7:00 PM CST

The Mid-Continent's top two teams meet on the hardwood Tuesday evening. ORU is sitting at 11-2 in league play and is followed by the Kangaroos who are 10-2 and just a half-game back in the standings. UMKC won by fourteen in Tulsa back in late January, but they'll have to slow Eagles forward Caleb Green, the Mid-Con's leading scorer.

The Editor Says: Oral Roberts

Alabama at LSU
Tuesday : 8:00 PM CST : ESPN

The SCS.com Game of the Week will not mean quite as much if the Tide does not find a way to win in Baton Rouge Tuesday evening. The Tigers are perhaps the SEC's hottest team, winners of three of their last four, including victories at Mississippi State and against Florida. But the Tide steps up and stays in the SEC title chase.

The Editor Says: Alabama

Bucknell at Holy Cross
Wednesday : 6:00 PM CST

Bucknell and Holy Cross are the top two teams in the Patriot League, and they'll meet at in Worcester, MA Wednesday night. The Crusaders have lost just five times the entire season and currently hold a two-game lead over the Bison. A home victory for Holy Cross would give the team the regular season league title.

The Editor Says: Holy Cross

Central Florida at Gardner-Webb
Thursday : 7:15 PM CST

The Atlantic Sun is perhaps the strangest conference in the country. With the exception of Campbell who is 0-18, every team in the league has between 6 and 9 conference losses. Leading the way is Gardner-Webb at 12-6. The Knights are a game back at 11-7. A Bulldog victory would guarantee no worse than a tie atop the standings.

The Editor Says: Central Florida

Portland State at Montana State
Thursday : 8:05 PM CST

The best two teams in the Big Sky Conference will get together in Bozeman Thursday evening. The host Bobcats are two games back of Portland State, whom they lost to by 17 earlier this season. A Viking victory on the road Thursday would give the squad the Big South regular season conference championship.

The Editor Says: Portland State

Wichita State at Southern Illinois
Saturday : 1:00 PM CST

What was a very tight Missouri Valley race now appears to have turned into a two-team affair. SIU is leading the way at 12-3, while the Shockers are a game back at 11-4. WSU won the only other meeting this season, a two-point decision in Wichita. A Southern Illinois win would give the Salukis the title.

The Editor Says: Southern Illinois

Niagara at Rider
Saturday : 1:00 PM CST

The only two teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association with more than ten wins meet in New Jersey Saturday afternoon. The Broncs dropped a disappointing game to Siena last weekend and are now one game behind Niagara. After a mid-week contest for each, this showdown will wrap up both squads' regular season schedules.

The Editor Says: Niagara

Connecticut at Pittsburgh
Saturday : 2:45 PM CST : CBS

Though Boston College seems to have firm control of the top spot in the Big East standings, the race for second place is fierce, and two of the favorites to claim that spot meet in Pittsburgh on Saturday. UConn has won five of their last six, while the Panthers lost at Villanova last Sunday. Home court does the trick on Saturday.

The Editor Says: Pittsburgh

Arizona at Washington
Saturday : 3:00 PM CST : FoxSportsNet

The Wildcats and Huskies are far and away the top two teams in the PAC 10 this season, and heading into the week, Washington finds themselves one game behind UA. The 'Cats won the earlier battle this season by nine in Tucson. A Huskie victory would likely tie the teams atop the standings heading into the final week of the season.

The Editor Says: Washington

Louisville at Memphis
Saturday : 8:00 PM CST : ESPN

Memphis seems to have recovered from an early-season struggle that saw the Tigers drop games to the likes of Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, Providence, and TCU. UL is currently tied atop the CUSA standings. Since the final week of January, UM has won six of seven games, but that won't be enough to take down Rick Pitino's team on the Mississippi.

The Editor Says: Louisville

Oklahoma State at Kansas
Sunday : 3:00 PM CST : CBS

The Jayhawks had a terrible two games last week and are now tied with the Cowboys atop the Big XII standings at 10-2. OSU has won six straight games, including three consecutive victories over Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. The Cowboys have had problems on the road this season, though, so look for those to continue in Lawrence.

The Editor Says: Kansas

North Carolina at Maryland
Sunday : 4:30 PM CST : FoxSportsNet

The Tar Heels are still fighting for the ACC regular season title, but to stay at the top of the standings, they'll have to find a way to win in a place where their in-state rival Duke had major trouble. The Terps seem to have put themselves in position to grab a NCAA bid, but a victory like this would put them over the top.

The Editor Says: Maryland


BEST OF THE REST...

Notre Dame at Connecticut - Monday
The Editor Says: Connecticut

Utah at New Mexico - Monday
The Editor Says: Utah

Kansas at Oklahoma - Monday
The Editor Says: Kansas

UTEP at Hawaii - Monday
The Editor Says: UTEP

Miami at Florida State - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Miami

Texas at Texas Tech - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Texas Tech

Clemson at Maryland - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Maryland

North Carolina at NC State - Tuesday
The Editor Says: North Carolina

Oklahoma State at Nebraska - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Oklahoma State

Iowa State at Texas A&M - Tuesday
The Editor Says: Texas A&M

Duke at Georgia Tech - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Duke

West Virginia at Pittsburgh - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Pittsburgh

Memphis at Charlotte - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Charlotte

South Carolina at Tennessee - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Tennessee

George Washington at Xavier - Wednesday
The Editor Says: George Washington

Iowa at Minnesota - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Minnesota

Vanderbilt at Florida - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Florida

Boston College at Villanova - Wednesday
The Editor Says: Boston College

Wisconsin at Michigan State - Thursday
The Editor Says: Michigan State

Arizona at Washington State - Thursday
The Editor Says: Arizona

Marquette at Cincinnati - Thursday
The Editor Says: Cincinnati

Stanford at Oregon State - Thursday
The Editor Says: Stanford

Arizona State at Washington - Thursday
The Editor Says: Washington

George Washington at Dayton - Saturday
The Editor Says: George Washington

Missouri at Texas - Saturday
The Editor Says: Texas

Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas-Little Rock - Saturday
The Editor Says: Louisiana-Lafayette

Cincinnati at TCU - Saturday
The Editor Says: Cincinnati

LSU at Auburn - Saturday
The Editor Says: LSU

Georgia Tech at Miami - Saturday
The Editor Says: Miami

Texas Tech at Texas A&M - Saturday
The Editor Says: Texas Tech

Virginia Tech at NC State - Saturday
The Editor Says: NC State

Arizona State at Washington State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Arizona State

Stanford at Oregon - Saturday
The Editor Says: Stanford

Mississippi at Mississippi State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Mississippi State

Akron at Kent State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Kent State

Virginia Commonwealth at UNC-Wilmington - Saturday
The Editor Says: UNC-Wilmington

Nevada at Fresno State - Saturday
The Editor Says: Nevada

Miami (Ohio) at Bowling Green - Sunday
The Editor Says: Miami (Ohio)

Vilanova at Georgetown - Sunday
The Editor Says: Villanova

Michigan State at Indiana - Sunday
The Editor Says: Michigan State

Florida at South Carolina - Sunday
The Editor Says: South Carolina

UCLA at Notre Dame - Sunday
The Editor Says: Notre Dame

Wisconsin at Ohio State - Sunday
The Editor Says: Wisconsin

Virginia at Wake Forest - Sunday
The Editor Says: Wake Forest


COLLEGE BASEBALL...

Washington at Santa Clara
 Days: Monday

UNC-Wilmington at North Carolina
 Days: Tuesday

William & Mary at NC State
 Days: Tuesday

Southern Cal at UC-Santa Barbara
 Days: Tuesday

Florida State at Stetson
 Days: Tuesday / Wednesday

Alabama at UAB
 Days: Wednesday

Arizona State at Arizona
 Days: Wednesday

Nebraska vs New Mexico (Houston, TX)
 Days: Friday

Washington at Texas A&M
 Days: Friday / Sunday

Baylor at Arizona State
 Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

UC-Irvine at Clemson
 Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Tulane at Pepperdine
 Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Oral Roberts at South Alabama
 Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Southern Cal at Stanford
 Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Minnesota at Arkansas
 Days: Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Nebraska vs Rice (Houston, TX)
 Days: Saturday

Tennessee at UNC-Wilmington
 Days: Saturday

New Mexico at Rice
 Days: Sunday


The Editor's CBB Records:
    Last Week: 44 - 17 (.721)
    To Date: 406 - 168 (.707)
    Game of the Week: 11 - 2 (.846)

 > Talk about it in The College Corner...

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