December 9 Predictions (Late shift)

Arizona (14 - AP, 15 - ESPN/USA TODAY) @ San Diego State (Not Ranked)

Upset alert is at level 11 out of a possible 10. Brandon Heath (20 ppg, 2.4 spg) is probably the best guard on the West Coast and his Aztecs have tied the best nine-game start in school history.

They are going up against the legendary Lute Olsen, though folks, and his 14th ranked Wildcats are ranked that high in the country for a reason.

Highly touted freshman Chase Budinger (19.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg) gets all the attention, but Ivan Radenovic (18.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg)

Prediction: San Diego State 75, Arizona 70

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Washington (13, 8) @ Gonzaga (18, 18)

With the nation's longest home winning streak, the Bulldogs will have their hands full with in-state rival the Washington Huskies.

Gonzaga through the first couple weeks, were much better than I gave them credit for. Then when I start giving them daps, they go off and lose to Washington State (useless info of the day: my alma mater Radford lost to the Cougars by 17 ... but WSU is 8-1 this year).

So I'll just keep my mouth shut about Gonzaga. I will say that they will look for a big game out of Josh Heytvelt (17.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) as he goes up against HS class of 2005 Top 10 recruit Spencer Hawes (12.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg).

Prediction: Gonzaga 72, Washington 68

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Xavier (24, NR) @ Creighton (NR)

A lot of readers have been writing me this week telling me to keep an eye on Creighton in this matchup. I respect Dana Altman. He's a great head coach and his BlueJays will have a great season in the Missouri Valley Conference and will move onto the NCAA tournament. But they won't get past the X-men.

Xavier is one of the most balanced teams in the country. Yeah I said it. And no I haven't been drinking the kool-aid. Forwards Josh Duncan (13.6 ppg, 5 rpg) and Justin Doellman (10.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) complement each other wonderfully. Stanley Burrell (11.8 ppg, 3.4 apg) is the best guard in the state of Ohio and probably the best guard in the A-10. Justin Cage ( 9.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) is one of the most versatile players in the nation. Oklahoma transfer Drew Lavender (6.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) is beginning to gel with the rest of the team. Head Coach Sean Miller's squad will get to at least the Sweet 16 and beyond.

Sorry, but no upset here.

Prediction: Xavier 77, Creighton 71

December 9 Predictions (Early shift)

Wisconsin (11 - AP, 12 - ESPN/USA Today) vs. Marquette (17, 20)

If you're a big fan of guard play ... this one is for you. Everyone is on the Dominic James (17 ppg, 4.2 apg) bangwagon, I'm not sold on him yet. Let's see what he can do against the Badgers stud-studded backcourt in Kammron Taylor (11.9 ppg) and Alando Tucker (19.3 ppg).

Wes Matthews (Marquette) and Michael Flowers (Wisconsin) are underrated and watch for them to have big games.

Prediction: Wisconsin 64, Marquette 59

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Texas A&M (6, 6) vs. UCLA (1, 1)

Things don't get any easier for the Aggies. After losing at LSU on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's NCAA tournament classic, the Aggies now have to travel to Cali to face the #1 Bruins. C'mon that's not fair. Well life isn't fair, so Acie Law (13.6 ppg, 4.8 apg) and company has to deal with it.

Texas A&M boasts four guys that average in double figures going up against the Bruins, who also have four that are up in double figures. Arron Affalo (17.1 ppg) vs Law is going to capture everyone's attention and rightfully so.

Prediction: UCLA 84, Texas A&M 77

A great night for college hoops...

I'm so glad I have off "work" tonight. Got to witness Oklahoma State-Syracuse (ESPN HD). Then the ending of Northern Iowa @ Iowa (ESPN Full Court). Now flipping between Louiville-Arizona (ESPN HD), Cal State Fullerton @ UCLA (Fox Sports College Sports), Gonzaga @ Washington State (Fox Sports Pacific) and Texas A&M @ LSU (ESPN Full Court) - a rematch of last year's NCAA tournament classic.

The Louisville-Arizona game ... everyone is talking about the Diaper Dandies - Derrick Caracter and Chase Budinger - of Louisville and Arizona respectively, but the real matchup to watch is Juan Palacios (U of L) vs Ivan Radenovic (U of A).

A great night for college hoops...

P.S. I have a guy crush on Dick Vitale.

Jimmy V

When I was kid I loved college hoops (still do, it's my #1 passion), but I remember at the time Jimmy Valvano's spoke at the 1993 ESPY awards, I was just 10 years old. I thought he looked weird, thought he talked weird, but I knew he was an important figure in college hoops. I was fairly young to realize what he had accomplished and what he was dying from, but I just remember my dad telling me all the great Valvano moments. I had the remote control on that day and in most cases with some guy talking for more than two minutes, I would have changed the channel. Not that day. Not that speech. Even if I was a 9 year-old or a 10 year-old at the time, I was drawn to him and to his speech.

"30 seconds ... what are you nuts ... enjoy your life with all the precious moments you have...don't give up, don't ever give up."

Everytime I watch his speech - being played right now on ESPN - I still get choked up.

He was and is the face of college hoops.

Orange Bowl...

Oklahoma State vs Syracuse right now who have brought seas of orange.

Oklahoma State was up 67-54 with 3:52 remaining, a minute left now ... 67-64 OK State.

Great game so far.

Paul Harris is about to take over.

Big week of NCAA FB? How about NCAA hoops...

What a week it was - in fact - still is, in the world of college hoops.

.::. Georgetown-Duke was a sloppy game but still came down to the wire. Bottom line: both teams are overrated.

.::. Just as I was beginning to write a piece about Maryland basketball being a top 10 (maybe even top 5) program ... they fall to lowly Notre Dame. Still at 8-1 the Terps are a team to be afraid of come March.

.::. Nice week for University of Florida football program; not the same for the basketball team.

.::. Speaking of football: while we won't see an Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the championship; in basketball, don't be surprised to see a Ohio State-UNC rematch for the championship.

.::. I have no idea who Missouri has played, but just throwing it out there ... they are 9-0.

.::. I told you Marquette is overrated.

.::. Butler and Marist are two teams that weren't in my preseason Top 10 Mid-Majors, but should've been. They'll be in my next batch, because guards A.J. Graves (Butler) and Jared Jordan (Marist) are two unknown studs of college hoops.

.::. So let's get this straight. Gonzaga lost Adam Morrison to the NBA, but somehow they are 8-1 with wins over UNC and Texas. Hmmm...

.::. The ACC > Big East.

.::. Have to do it ... big congrats to my Radford Highlanders of the Big South Conference for upsetting the Richmond Spiders (@ Richmond) by 17. Next up for RU? A home date with 2006 Final Four squad George Mason.