Last night, we saw a top 10 team go down, a Player of the Year candidate make a big statement and a tight finish between two very good Big East teams. Just another day in college basketball. Let's recap the action.
BYU: 71
SDSU: 58
What else can be said about Jimmer Fredette that hasn't already been said? The kid has the Big Game gene, he demands the ball and he can score from anywhere. In my eyes, he's the Player of the Year. Jared Sullinger is very good, but the team around him is better than Fredette's. Kemba Walker is still in the running as well. But I just think Jimmer means more to his team than anyone else in college basketball, and he constantly steps up. He's a very special player. BYU is now 20-1 and there is no question whatsoever about whether or not they are deserving of their top 10 ranking.
Providence: 83
Villanova: 68
Who saw this coming? Providence has really came to play lately, with back-to-back wins over ranked teams, and Villanova has walked the tightrope a couple times this year (I still can't believe that Maryland comeback). The win by Providence at home I can understand, but I never would have thought they'd beat 'Nova by that much. It had been almost a YEAR since Providence had beaten a conference opponent, and now they've got impressive wins over Louisville and 'Nova. Not bad. Can you say let down game for the Wildcats?
Louisville: 55
West Virginia: 54
This win was a big one for the Cardinals. The way Big East play goes, that loss to Providence could have easily led to one of those 3-4 game losing streaks that always seem to bite most of the teams in the conference. Especially since Louisville has back-to-back road games against Connecticut and Georgetown coming up. Rick Pitino's team could ill-afford to lose three out of four of those games. For West Virginia, that's another loss that hurts. They're up to six Ls now and still have Pittsburgh twice, Villanova, Syracuse, Notre Dame, UConn and another game against Louisville left on their schedule.
Today's games are not nearly as enticing, but we still have the always entertaining Michigan-Michigan State matchup, a Boston College-Duke game that could be close, two pretty good CAA teams squaring off in Hofstra and VCU and UCLA-Arizona and St. Mary's-Gonzaga out on the West Coast.