NCAA Basketball...

Plenty of college basketball action today. Two teams that I liked in particular today, and expect to make serious noise this season were Michigan St. and Marquette. And they have one major thing in common: great guard play. #12 Michigan St. beat Kansas 75-62. Interestingly, Michigan St. shot a lower percentage from the field than Kansas did, but the difference was at the free-throw line, where the Spartans had 9 more points than the Jayhawks. Sophomore guard Kailin Lucas led Michigan St. with 22, while Kansas Junior Sherron Collins had 25. In addition to Lucas, the Spartans have a handful of guards including Travis Walton, Durrell Summers, and Chris Allen.

In a rugged Big East matchup, Marquette topped West Virginia, 75-53. Jerel McNeal put in 26 for the Golden Eagles. Dude has emerged as the best of Marquette's lethal three-headed guard attack. When McNeal, Dominic James, and Wesley Matthews all came in as freshmen, it was James who was considered the cream of the crop - and rightfully so. But James' numbers have declined since then, and McNeal's defense has set him apart as the best of the three. They say guard play is what is most important come tournament time, and with all that experience McNeal, James, and Matthews bring as seniors, along with junior Maurice Acker, I think Marquette has a good chance at making strong run in the tournament.

Top 25 Scores...1/10/09 (road team listed first. winner in bold)

#2 Duke 66, Florida St. 58

#5 UCONN 81, Cincinnati 62 

#6 Oklahoma 61, Kansas St. 53

Iowa St. 67 , #7 Texas 75

#9 Syracuse 82, Rutgers 66

Providence 75, #10 Georgetown 82  

N.C. St. 51, #11 Clemson 63

Kansas 62, # 12 Michigan St. 75

Seton Hall 79, # 13 Notre Dame 88

#22 West Va. 53, #15 Marquette 75

Oregon 58, #16 Arizona St. 76

#21 Louisville 61, #17 Villanova 60

Detroit 50, #20 Butler 54

Texas Tech 61, #23  Baylor 73

Miami (FL) 77, # 24 Boston College 71

#25 Tennessee 86, Georgia 77

Also, Georgia Tech lost to Maryland in College Park, 68-61. Shouts out to my boy Shump who had 9 points, 5 boards, and 4 assists for G-Tech, who fell to 9-6.