The SEC West's Best

Scary, isn't he? That's John Pelphrey, coach of Arkansas. His team is scary, too.

Last night, for the second time in a week, the Razorbacks gored a top-10 Big 12 team. That's right -- Arkansas. Ya know, the team picked by SEC media to finish last in the atrocious SEC West. It made sense at the time -- Arkansas only had three players with any college basketball experience. But this is a top-2o recruiting class working its tail off for Pelphrey.

And these are the results.

Arkansas is 12-1, with wins over the two best teams in the Big 12. The Razorbacks' only loss came at Missouri State, a 62-57 travesty that saw Pelphrey's cagers turn the ball over 17 times. But we're all entitled to an embarrassing loss, right? Especially if you can rebound with a 10-game winning streak and a pair of monumental upsets.

So, Arkansas, join the ranks of Boston College in the college hoops parthenon. You are deserving. Oklahoma and Texas are good. Both teams have a legitimate shot at stealing a 1 seed in March. And you have wins against both of 'em. Both!

Get used to the names Michael Washington and Courtney Fortson. Washington, a junior, has emerged as the BMOC at Arkansas, averaging 18 and 10. The freshman point guard Fortson is a nigthly triple-double threat, posting 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds a night. That's an inside-outside combo, my friends.

The SEC West has a new frontrunner. And the Top 25 won't be the best 25 teams in the nation if Arkansas isn't on there next week.

Elsewhere
-- Clemson is good. The Tigers are 15-0 after a win against Alabama. Why does Clemson start so hot every year?

-- So, remember last night when I said there were two ranked teams playing each other every night in the Big East? Well, this is what reminded me of it. A huge win for UConn at West Virginia. And Villanova does itself well, too, with a win against Seton Hall.

-- And, oh yeah, Purdue is 0-2 to start Big Ten play. Yikes. Really, though, you lost to Penn State. Doesn't that automatically disqualify you from the NCAA Tournament?

-- You know what? College football is stupid. There, I said it. This is why I'm a hoops guy. One game in the regular season doesn't determine your fate if you are a good enough team to rebound. And you decide your national champion with a grueling three-week tournament that, by the end of March, weeds out most, if not all, of the riff-raff. Oh, yeah, and the tournament actually decides on a champion. Why wouldn't someone want to see USC, Utah, Texas and the winner of Oklahoma-Florida in a playoff? Why can't we separate them into an eight-team playoff and add three other teams? God, even the overtimes are stupid. [/rant]

-- If I could, I'd like to recommend Seth Davis. He's always a good read. Also, check out his book, When March Went Mad. Not sure when it comes out officially, but I'm rolling through an advance copy now. Very good if you like sports. And SI.com's Luke Winn is good, too, even if he is stealing my blog post from months ago.

-- Movies you should see: Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler and Bond. Make it happen, people.

Is Curry overshooting?

He isn't a point guard. We know that much. But is Stephen Curry overshooting? In other words, is America's Favorite Basketball Player trigger-happy?

Let's break this down:

Caveat: Stephen Curry is one of my favorite college basketball players. He is the second-best player in the country to Blake Griffin, and is clear-and-away the best wing player around.

Last year, Curry played the 2. He V- and backdoor-cut, ran through staggered screens, took handoffs and isolated, launched over people, etc. He did everything he could to touch the ball at least once a possession.

This year, the 6-3 junior -- as you probably already know -- is playing point guard. The departure of his senior sidekick Jason Richards has clearly cramped Curry's style. Last year's Three Amigos -- Curry, Richards and big-man Andrew Lovedale -- are down to two, and Curry has taken on an even larger role in the offense.

None of this means that some role players haven't stepped up their parts. Hell, Davidson is 7-1, with its only loss coming in a thriller at Oklahoma. Steve Rossiter has certainly helped Lovedale underneath, Bryant Barr has fit nicely into the lineup as a wing threat and Mark Paulhus Gosselin (who missed last night's game against WVU) continues to be the team's top perimeter defender. And Will Archambault, Ben Allison and Ben McKillop have done well off the bench at different points.

But Richards was the NCAA's assists leader last year, setting up Curry for quicker, easier shots. And Richards also scored at a 13-point clip. That meant less shooting for Curry.

In eight games this year, Curry has taken 31.2 percent of his team's shots. His shooting percentage is nice -- 47.6 percent -- but in games against BCS opponents (at Oklahoma, NC State and West Virginia), Curry is 36 of 89 overall (40%) and 14 of 45 from 3 (31%). That's 29.7 shots a game, including 15 3s a contest.

At those percentages, that's a little too much. I hear your argument, Peanut Gallery. Those are tougher teams, so there is tougher defense, and Davidson relies on its star more than usual to score.

Fair point.

But in the three games against the BCS teams, Curry at times has forced shots. Maybe it's in his blood to bear any burden his team has. Maybe without Richards the trust isn't exactly there with some of his teammates yet. Who knows? But, like CBS's Gary Parrish notes, there was a point last night when Curry was 5 of 22 from the field. And a lot of those missed shots were forced.

Without having the chance to move off the ball to get open, things have changed for Curry. He has had to reinvent himself offensively and figure out how to get his looks. Part of that process is feeling out his comfort zones, and right now, it doesn't seem like he is entirely comfortable.

When he reaches that comfort zone, dear lord, look out.

Elsewhere
-- Texas' defense is as good as we talked about yesterday. Villanova couldn't get into the paint much. Scottie Reynolds struggled. And Texas overwhelmed the Cats on the inside. Recipe for victory.

-- Good matchups tonight: Cal at Utah, Dayton at Creighton, San Diego State at Arizona and Gonzaga at Wazzou.

Tuesday's Tussle

Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats have a tall order tonight: Beat sixth-ranked Texas (6-1) in New York. And it won't be easy. Texas has tested itself against some of the best competition in the country; No. 15 Villanova hasn't necessarily played the World's Hardest Schedule.

But here's a big chance to see where 'Nova (8-0) belongs. A win here proves the Cats belong in the top circles of college hoops this year (you know, the tier juuuust below North Carolina, which stands alone in its own group); a loss means there is more work to be done with Big East play lurking around the corner.

We know Villanova can defend. And the perimeter talent is always there. But can the Wildcats score against Texas' blistering D? Texas only allows 57 points a game, forcing opponents to shoot just 35 percent from the field. More importantly, the Longhorns have one of the most efficient defenses in the nation, according to Ken Pomeroy's scouting reports.

But 'Nova is no slouch on the defensive end, either. The Wildcats allow the same amount of points per game (albeit against lesser competition) and hold their opponents to 37 percent shooting. And their efficiency ratings are arguably better than the Longhorns'.

Key matchups: It has to be out on the perimeter, where AJ Abrams will try to continue his hot start to the season. It's simple really: When Abrams does well, so does Texas.

The same can be said for Scottie Reynolds at Villanova. Reynolds, however, hasn't exactly scorched the nets in his first eight games. Not that he hasn't had an impact -- the 6-2 shooting guard still averages 14 points, five assists and three rebounds a game -- but Reynolds only just found his shooting stroke, and it was against Houston Baptist. He's shooting 39 percent from the field, which is right around his career average, but he has always needed to be more selective with his shots.

And the key point to make is this: Even with Reynolds struggling in the early going of the 08-09 season, everyone else, especially Dante Cunningham, has picked up the slack. So any added showtime from Scottie will make 'Nova tough to beat.

Elsewhere
-- Another good, albeit quietly, game is West Virginia-Davidson. Bob Huggins's boys love to defend, and it will be interesting to see how WVU matches up with Stephen Curry. A key Davidson guard, Mark Paulhus Gosselin, received a suspension today from the Southern Conference. Keep an eye on how that impacts Curry's trust in his teammates.

-- Just a quick sidenote on college football: Texas got screwed, so'd Alabama. Ohio State shouldn't even be in a BCS bowl. And while I'm at it, does Georgia have to choke every year, or is that just a thing the Bulldogs like to do on their own?

Harmless in Hollywood

The ship hasn't quite sailed on UCLA yet, but it's clear that the Bruins aren't the super-elite team they were in the past three years. Maybe time will change that, but for now, UCLA is clearly in the second tier of college hoops top dogs this season.

Texas, on the other hand, is pending further investigation.

Last night's contest proved two things: AJ Abrams is a stud (but we already knew that) and UCLA has trouble getting points against good teams. The defense is still there for Ben Howland's club, but the offense might be the downfall later in the year. Granted, this game went down to the wire, but UCLA in years past would have won this game.

Elsewhere
-- What happens in Buffalo ... UConn almost lost to Buffalo last night, but held on to win, 68-64. This coming immediately after I wrote that UConn has the best shot of any team to beat UNC.

Why We Watch

We watch college hoops for a reason, and last night provided us with more than a few ...

No. 8 Notre Dame topped No. 7 Texas in a thriller, 81-80.

No. 17 Florida escaped with a win against Washington, 86-84.

And No. 22 Kansas lost to Syracuse, 89-81, in overtime.

Let's break these games down ...

-- Notre Dame cemented its status as a Final Four contender with a gritty, exciting win against Texas. The Longhorns didn't really lose much in terms of reputation or respect, just dropped the game.

-- Jon Brockman had a chance to tie the game for Washington in the waning moments, but his shot rimmed out off the glass. This would have been a huge win for Washington; instead, it's another disappointing loss. It's hard to come away with positives from KC after two really rough losses.

-- And the Syracuse-Kansas game was the game of the night. We had Sherron Collins and Jonny Flynn going toe to toe, runs catapulting one team into the lead before the other team roared back, and an extra five minutes to enjoy the competition. The CBE Classic turned out to be a pretty good tournament, and these guys have a lot to do with that.

Quote of the day: "I had a few too many Wheaties on it." -- Washington's Jon Brockman, after missing the would-be tying putback with less than five seconds to play in Washington's 86-84 loss to Florida.

Great game in KC

Regardless of who wins, Kansas and Syracuse are giving us a great late-night show after Texas and Notre Dame delivered on the promise of a marquee matchup.

Blockbuster Tuesday

No. 6 Texas and No. 8 Notre Dame meet tonight at 7 p.m. in the Maui Invitational. This game could turn into a track meet, given the athletic talent of Texas and Notre Dame's ability to fill it up in a hurry.

Still, the Longhorns' have a little bit more of a defensive bent than Notre Dame, and the Irish are one of the less physical teams in the Big East. It'll be fun seeing who adapts to the other more, but I think Texas might be the better team.

Best matchup: It has to be Tory Jackson vs. AJ Abrams. I've seen Jackson play a few times, and he is one of the fastest players I've ever watched in person (fastest being Darren Collison). Abrams is the most important player on Texas. Both are fast, but I give the slight edge to Abrams in terms of overall ability. In this game, this matchup might be the best indicator of who is winning.

Penn State at Penn ... just kidding.

A quietly good matchup in Dayton: Mercer at Dayton. Mercer surprised Alabama and Auburn and almost beat Georgia Tech (lost in OT), so expect the Bears to challenge a good Dayton team at UD Arena. This is the beginning of a really tough stretch for the Flyers, who host Mercer tonight, then play Auburn and No. 15 Marquette on Friday and Saturday, respectively, in the Chicago 'burbs. If Dayton is working on its Tournament resume, going at least 2-1 in this three-game period will help a lot. Undefeated will go a long way come March.

Florida-Washington in Maui. Florida needs to recover after its loss to Syracuse; Washington has less than 24 hours to change its ways. I like Florida, but this is secretly an important game for both teams.

UNC-Oregon. We know who will win this game, but if the Ducks can at least have a solid showing, it can only help, confidence-wise. Oregon has the talent, but does it have the guts?

Kansas-Syracuse for the CBE Classic title. Kansas is the favorite, but Syracuse looked good against Florida, not that that surprises anyone. But if the Orange can win again here, expect them in the Top 25 on Monday. And a win here will also quiet the always-rowdy critics in March, who always shellack Jim Boeheim for his scheduling.

Turkey and Hoops

The Maui Invitational tips off today in ... Maui. Here are the first-round matchups:

St. Joe's vs. No. 7 Texas
Indiana vs. No. 8 Notre Dame
Chaminade vs. No. 1 North Carolina
Oregon vs. Alabama

Here's how the bracket looks.

There's a good chance we'll see Notre Dame-Texas on Tuesday and North Carolina-Notre Dame/Texas on Wednesday. Those four hours of hoops will be enjoyable to say the least. It could determine how seriously we take Notre Dame and/or Texas early in the season.

Another big tourney tips off today, too
The CBE Classic in KC kicks back into action tonight with two semifinal matchups: No. 18 Florida-Syracuse and Washington-No. 24 Kansas. I don't think it's too crazy to say at least three of those teams are probably Tournament teams. The question is, like we asked above, how serious are thes guys?

Elsewhere
-- No. 2 UConn took care of business against No. 17 Miami, 76-63. I was right about Jack McClinton -- he had 27 points and five boards -- but the Huskies never trailed and led by as many as 15.

-- Little Rhody had another nice performance Sunday, topping VCU, a major CAA contender and probable bubble team, in the battle of the Rams.

-- Xavier beat No. 13 Memphis, 63-58. Xavier has wins against Missouri, Virginia Tech and Memphis now. Not a bad way to start building that resume.

-- Missouri beat No. 19 USC, 83-72. That's two tough losses for USC early in the season. Luckily for USC, it looks like the Trojans still might be at least the second or third best team in the Pac-10.

-- The Big East is good. Even its cellar-dwellers get results.

Rainy Saturday Quick Hits

That man up top -- the Godfather of Basketball, Rick Pitino -- is not walking through that door in Lexington. (He's walking through another door a few hours away, actually, coaching a team that', dare I say, good.) And you have to wonder if anyone in Kentucky basketball world is wishing Rick was ambling into Rupp Arena, because the Wildcats got off to another terrible start, this time losing to VMI, 111-103.

Not even kidding. VMI.

-- Does this really surprise you? Have you seen Nick Calathes? Plus, he plays for Florida, so it figures.

-- UNC topped Penn, 86-71, today. I know you were holding your breath.

-- Really? Davidson dropped 107 points?

-- Pitt took care of business, so did UConn, Texas, Purdue, Oklahoma and Arizona State. Buzz Williams is 1-0 at Marquette. Florida, Wake and 'Nova got off on the right track, too.

-- Just wondering: Is VMI a bubble team now? Kentucky certainly is.