College Basketball Knowledge
Duquesne has four starters back from 16-16/7-9 team; they lost 69-63 in first road game, at Robert Morris; Dukes didn't play Bowling Green LY, but beat Falcons by 11-18 points the two years before that. BG is 0-2 vs D-I teams, losing by 2-19 points- they've got three starters back from 14-16/6-10 team.
Detroit lost first two games vs D-I teams by 9-11 points, but covered in both games; Titans lost three starters from 20-14/9-9, but over achieved in recruiting star frosh McCallum (coach's son). Mississippi State has two starters suspended for first nine games; they won first two games, vs mid-majors by 10-2 points.
Wichita State has four starters back from 25-10/12-6 team; Shockers are expected to win MVC- they won only game so far by 12 points over Texas Southern. UConn lost three starters from LY's 18-16/7-11 team; they're 2-0 this year, beating Stony Brook by 27, Vermont by 16, but they were down at the half against Vermont.
Young Kentucky is 2-0, beating East Tennessee by 23, Portland by 31; Wildcats lost four starters from LY's 35-3/14-2 team. Oklahoma is 3-0, with all three against stiff teams-- they needed OT to beat NC-Central. Sooners have only one starter back from LY's 13-18/4-12 team- they are rebuilding bigtime.
Virginia coach Bennett played Washington a lot when he was coach at Wazzu; his Virginia team got waxed by 21 at Stanford Saturday- they beat WmMary by 24 (Tribe lost by 3 at Syracuse Sunday). Washington has four starters back 26-10/11-7 team; they won first two games, by 54 and 26 points against cupcakes.
Duke won its first three games by 27-34-52 points; they've lost three of starters who won national title LY, but are loaded as usual- returning starters are both seniors, which helps. Marquette is 4-0 already, beating Green Bay by 20, Bucknell by 11. Golden Eagles lost three starters from LY's 22-12/11-7 team.
Kansas State will have Kelly back in lineup after he was suspended to this point (unknown why); Wildcats are 3-0 beating pretty good Virginia Tech by 16- they lost three starters from LY's 29-8/11-5 team. Gonzaga lost at home to San Diego State last week; they've got four starters back from 27-7/12-2 team, but one starter they lost (Bouldin) was key guy.
George Washington is 1-1 to start season, losing by 9 to Boston U, with a 20-point win over Marist; Colonials have four starters back from team that was 16-15/6-10 LY. Nevada is rebuilding, with four new starters after LY's 21-13/11-5 team- they lost last two games, to Pacific by 11, to Pepperdine by 1.
Pacific has been all over, winning at UTEP, losing by 13 at UCLA after beating Nevada on neutral floor by 11. Tigers have three starters back from LY's 23-12/12-4 team. Arkansas State is off to 0-3 start, losing at Ole Miss by 8 (were up 8 at half), Missouri State by 9, Belmont by 30. ASU has four starters back from LY's 17-14/11-7 team.
St Peter's is off to 0-3 start, scoring just 46 ppg, losing by 25-7-12 pts- they're using rotation of seven guys. Alabama lost to Seton Hall by 5, Iowa by 7 (both those teams have new head coaches). Peacocks lost two starters from LY's 11-20/5-13 team. Crimson Tide lost couple starters from LY's 17-15/6-10 team.
Iowa beat Alabama by 8 Saturday, good win for them after losing by 13 to Xavier (they also lost at home to South Dakota). Hawkeyes are 2-2, rest of Big 11 is 32-2. Long Beach State lost to San Diego State by 16, Clemson by 14- they've got four starters back from LY's 17-16/8-8 team.
Seton Hall's leading scorer Hazell (wrist) is out; Pirates lost to Xavier by 5 yesterday, after beating Alabama by 5 Friday. Clemson is 3-1 after its 61-60 loss to ODU Sunday (trailed 28-19 at half); Tigers beat a pretty good Wofford team by 8 last week. Hall still has three starters back from LY beside Hazell. Clemson has three starters back from 21-11 team.
Xavier has two starters out for year with injury; they held Seton Hall to 34% from floor, 5-20 from arc in yesterday's 57-52 win. Musketeers are 4-0 with only one opponent scoring more than 66 points. Old Dominion was up nine at half in semis, held on to beat Clemson 61-60; Monarchs lost tough game to Georgetown in season opener, by 3.