EXAMINER TOP 25
Michigan St. falls out of top 25
Each week this month has brought the fall of another undefeated team. Last week it was Kansas, a 74-63 victim against visiting Texas, leaving No. 1 Ohio State and No. 3 San Diego State as the lone unbeatens. Both will be challenged this week — the Buckeyes by No. 15 Purdue and the Aztecs by No. 10 Brigham Young. Taking the biggest tumble was Michigan State (12-7), which fell from No. 15 to out of the rankings after back-to-back losses to Illinois and Purdue. No. 20 Vanderbilt is in the rankings for the first time after taking down ranked St. Mary’s.
| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Ohio State (20-0) » Seven-man rotation includes three freshmen » 1 2. Pittsburgh (19-1*) » Nation’s runaway leader in rebound margin (plus-13.7 pg) » 3 3. San Diego St. (20-0) » Toughest test in Mountain West comes Wednesday at BYU » 4 4. Duke (18-1) » Likely to waltz into a No. 1 seed again, deserving or not » 5 5. Kansas (18-1) » In last five, Selby is shooting just 30 percent from floor » 2 6. Connecticut (16-2) » Evolving Huskies are no longer so dependent on Walker » 7 7. Villanova (17-2) » Mastery of Syracuse continued Saturday in Carrier Dome » 8 8. Texas (16-3) » Longhorns ended KU’s 69-game home winning streak » 11 9. Syracuse (18-2) » Even return of Joseph (23 points) wasn’t enough vs. Nova » 6 10. BYU (19-1) » Fredette on a tear (averaging 34.2 ppg in last five) » 10 11. Texas A&M (17-2) » After 21-point loss at Texas, nice bounce back vs. KSU » 9 12. Missouri (17-3) » Tough assignment at red-hot No. 8 Texas Saturday night » 13 13. Kentucky (15-4) » What Calipari meant to say against Bama: ‘Dad-gummitt’ » 12 14. Washington (15-4) » Thomas, Huskies convincing in win over upstart Arizona » 16 15. Purdue (17-3) » Johnson has scored 100 points in last four games » 20 16. Notre Dame (16-4*) » Hansbrough (28 points, 6 assists) huge vs. Marquette » 21 17. Wisconsin (15-4) » Freshman Gasser had program’s first triple-double vs. NW » 17 18. Minnesota (15-4) » Senior PG Nolen (broken foot) is out, maybe for season » 18 19. Vanderbilt (14-4) » Goulbourne (29 points, 26 rebounds) rose in two big wins » NR 20. Cincinnati (17-3) » Gates’ 3-point-play beat SJ, halted Bearcats’ slide » 22 21. Louisville (15-4) » Shot 17 percent from 3-point range in loss at Providence » 14 22. Georgia (14-4) » The Bulldogs must beware of payback Saturday at Rupp » 25 23. West Va. (13-5) » Loss in Morgantown to Marshall was the Pitts (25 points) » 19 24. Georgetown (14-5) » Hoyas (No. 8) one of seven Big East teams in RPI top 14 » NR 25. Illinois (14-6) » The Illini impressive, even in losing three of their last four » NR * Results as of 11 p.m. on Monday night |
HEATING UP
Texas; Also » Washington, Wisconsin
COOLING DOWN
Syracuse; Also » Temple, Michigan State
TOP 25 GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 3 San Diego State at No. 10 BYU, Wed., 10 p.m., CBSCS
National scoring leader Jimmer Fredette (25.8 ppg) of BYU takes his shot at undefeated No. 3 San Diego State on Wednesday night in what figures to be the Aztecs toughest test in the Mountain West. The Cougars have won the last five regular season meetings with Fredette scoring a combined 87 points in the last three wins. State counters with 6-7 F Kawhi Leonard (15.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg) the leader of the Aztecs’ big, athletic frontcourt.
PLAYER TO WATCH
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue C
The 6-10, 220-pound senior gives away 60 pounds to 6-9 freshman Jared Sullinger (17.9 ppg, 10.2) of No. 1 Ohio State on Tuesday night in an intriguing matchup of quickness vs. power. Johnson (20.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg) can take it to the perimeter, demonstrated by his 18-footer with three seconds left that subdued Penn State last week. The home team has won each of the last six meetings, with all the games decided by single-digits and two going to OT. (Tues., 9 p.m., ESPN)
STORYLINES
1. Texas riding high » In a span of four days, Texas knocked off a pair of top-10 teams, demonstrating that it has recovered from its shocking freefall from a 17-0 start to a 7-10 finish last season. On Saturday, the Longhorns got their first-ever win at Kansas, knocked the Jayhawks from the ranks of the unbeaten, and ended their 69-game home winning streak. Texas did it after falling behind 18-3 to start the game. Sixth-man J’Covan Brown (23 points) was the hero of the comeback. On Wednesday, Texas toppled Texas A&M as Jordan Hamilton (27 points, 8 rebounds) riddled the Aggies’ formidable defense.
2. Walking tall » In perhaps the most bizarre story so far this season, West Virginia’s Danny Jennings left the bench two minutes into the second half of the Mountaineers’ 56-46 victory over South Florida and never returned. The 6-foot-8, 260-pound sophomore had started four games this year, between trips in and out of coach Bob Huggins’ doghouse. He had not played in Sunday’s game when he walked out. “Unexcused, inexcusable,” Huggins said. “Never to be seen again, I guess.” Jennings, who was averaging 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds a game, likely is done in Morgantown, leaving the Mountaineers with nine scholarship players.
3. Bucking the trend » Unbeatens are going down rapidly, but in the rugged Big Ten, No. 1 Ohio State continues to be perfect by performing under pressure. The Buckeyes found themselves down by eight at Illinois with 12:51 left but rallied to win on the strength of a 14-0 run ignited by a 3-pointer from freshman Deshaun Thomas and fueled by freshman Jared Sullinger (27 points, 16 rebounds). After drilling its first 14 opponents by double-digits, OSU has won five of its last six by five points or less. The road doesn’t get easier in the Big Ten as OSU plays six games against ranked foes.
AREA INTELLIGENCE
MARYLAND
Coach Gary Williams used with his fifth different lineup in the last eight games, giving freshman Haukur Palsson his first start and benching junior Sean Mosley, a starter since his freshman year, in a 79-77 win over Clemson. Maryland (12-7, 2-3) hit 8 of 14 3-pointers, its second best game from beyond the arc this year.
Next » at Virginia, Thu., 7 p.m. (CSN)
GEORGETOWN
After two Big East wins in New Jersey, the No. 25 Hoyas are in the midst of an eight-day break before returning to the floor Wednesday against St. John’s (11-7, 4-4). GU looks to avenge a 61-58 defeat earlier this month in New York. Since that game, the Red Storm have lost four of five, all to ranked Big East teams.
Next » St. John’s, Wed., 7 p.m. (MASN).
NAVY
After losing its first four league games and dropping into the cellar in the Patriot League, Navy found the answer at archrival Army, 85-81. Junior Jordan Sugars (25 points) hit five 3-pointers as all five starters scored in double figures, including O.J. Avworo (15 points, 9 assists), who hit four free throws in the final minute.
Next » American, Wed., 7 p.m.
AMERICAN
All four of the Patriot League wins for AU (14-6, 4-1) have come by single-digit margins, including Saturday at Holy Cross, 60-57. Stephen Lumpkins had 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Crusaders, compensating for an off-night from top scorer Vlad Moldoveanu (14 points), who missed 16 of 22 shots.
Next » at Navy, Wed., 7 p.m.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
GW’s fickle shooting continues. During their three-game losing streak, the Colonials have hit just 10 of 43 shots from beyond the arc (23 percent) and have retreated to the middle of the pack in the Atlantic 10. Two of the next three games for GW (10-9, 3-2) are against league-leaders Xavier (13-5, 5-0) and Duquesne (13-5, 5-0).
Next » at Xavier, Wed., 7 p.m.
