UPDATED: And this is why you play the games, take 3…
November 7, 2007 by Rich Carlson
Filed under Basketball
The college basketball season is barely a few hours old, and we’ve already had a couple of huge upsets.
And please don’t tell me that these games don’t matter because they are in the “pre-season”.
They DO matter…
Last night, Division II school Findlay upset Ohio State 70-68. This is the same Ohio State squad that lost to Florida in last year’s NCAA title game. Yes, they lost Greg Oden, Mike Connelly Jr., and Daequan Cook from last year’s squad. But they were ranked just outside the top 25 and figured to contend for another Big 10 conference title.
Oops.
Last Saturday, another Division II school, Grand Valley State, beat Michigan State 85-82 in double overtime. The Spartans are ranked #8 in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 rankings and were picked by many analysts as the favorite to win the Big 10 championship.
Double oops.
I don’t care that these games are considered “exhibitions”. To quote Herm Edwards, “You play to win the game”. Period.
The Buckeyes and Spartans had better turn things around quickly, or else they will get eaten alive in the Big 10 this year.
UPDATED: another stunner from college basketball Wednesday night as Gardner-Webb, who was picked to finish 8th in the Atlantic Sun Conference this year, went into Rupp Arena and smoked the Kentucky Wildcats 84-68.
Welcome to Lexington, Billy Gillespie. I hope you enjoy your stay in the Bluegrass State. And it won’t be a very long stay if you let middle-of-the-pack Atlantic Sun teams come to town and take you out to the woodshed.
Somewhere in the Twin Cities, Tubby Smith is smiling…
