1. I watched three Big East Conference games in a row today, starting at 9 a.m. Here are a few observations:
Villanova defeated Georgetown, 80-66.
From last year's superb team, Villanova lost two exceptional seniors, Phil Booth and Eric Paschall. Coach Jay Wright's challenge this year is to develop new leadership on this year's team and learn what players his team can depend on for scoring, especially when a game is tight. For much of this season, Collin Gillespie has filled that role, but as the season continues into conference play, Saddiq Bey is emerging as a premier player and today he had a dazzling game, scoring 33 points. Jermaine Samuels and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are also maturing as key Villanova players and so the Wildcats are developing into an increasingly potent and balanced team, persistent on defense and becoming more versatile offensively.
Creighton defeated Xavier, 77-65.
When Creighton's guards pepper the hoop with consistent scoring, the Bluejays torment their opponents. Today those guards, Mitch Ballock, Ty-Shon Alexander, and Marcus Zegarowski combined for 48 points. Xavier had to defend these guards far from the basket. It stretched their defense and opened up space for Christian Bishop and Denzel Mahoney to also score in double figures and Creighton secured a vital win on the road in Cincinnati.
In the game I was most looking forward to watching, Seton Hall defeated Marquette, 69-55.
I nicknamed this game "Ali vrs. Frazier". It featured the conference's two best guards, Myles Powell for Seton Hall and Markus Howard for Marquette.
Powell (23 points) and Howard (27 points) both led their respective teams in scoring, but on both offense and defense, Powell had more support from stronger and better teammates. Seton Hall plays tenacious defense both on the exterior and inside. Their two 7' 2" centers, Romaro Gill and Ike Obiagu, demoralized Marquette inside, swatting away several shots and discouraging the Golden Eagles from taking shots close to the cup. Moreover, in the second half, having surrendered a seven or eight point lead, Seton Hall called upon reserves Anthony Nelson, Shavar Reynolds, and Tyrese Samuel to give the starters a rest and to rev up the Pirates. They succeeded. Nelson scored four points and hit Reynolds with a pinpoint pass from under the cup to outside the three point line, Reynolds hit the trey, and Seton Hall regained their lead. The starters returned rested. Marquette tried to claw back again, but didn't -- and Seton Hall remains atop the Big East.
2. The Pac 12 had its own version of Ali/Frazier. Remy Martin and Payton Pritchard might be the conference's two top point guards and both registered spirited performances. I didn't see the first half, but I learned after tuning in during the second half that Pritchard had hit a handful of moon shots from behind the arc.
When I did tune in, ASU was pressing the Ducks, feverishly working to trim the Ducks' lead. Remy Martin shouldered much of their scoring effort and Eddie House's kid, Jaelen, valiantly tried to defend Pritchard, containing him at times, but not stopping him. Similar to the Seton Hall squad, Oregon had stronger players, more depth than ASU; Pritchard had options for giving up the ball that Martin didn't have on the ASU side, but, believe me, Pritchard made great plays scoring, too. He's spectacular and sparked the Ducks to a 78-69 victory.
3. Debbie and I popped uptown to the deserted streets of Kellogg for a visit to the Lounge, the Inland Lounge. It was quiet. Cas had plenty of time to yak and laugh with us. We ordered egg rolls and seafood lo mein from Wah Hing and ate dinner at the bar. I paired my dinner with a couple cans of Coca Cola poured over ice with lemon slices and it was a perfect match.
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