Your Home For College Hoops
Saturday, November 2, 2024
As early season tournaments get going with a few finishing up, one champion shows us what college basketball is these days as they show some resilience. Plus a few more tournament results, and another showcase features a triple overtime game that flew under many radars.
One of the last games of the night was all we could hope for and more, and also leaves one hopeful about future matchups between the two teams. Plus more tournaments get going, a straw breaks the camel’s back with transfer waivers, and a Wildcat is gone from the program.
Few may have known it, but the Mid-American Conference was a top-10 league in 2018-19. Most were plenty familiar with the team leading it, though, as Buffalo continued an historic run with one of the finest seasons in league history.
The Mid-American Conference has shown very well so far this season and had a deserved television showcase Friday night. A chance to show off the league’s depth instead saw Ball State and Buffalo deliver authoritative, impressive performances, both on the road.
The Maui Invitational is the last great preseason tournament left, and it opened with another terrific set of quarterfinals, even as it was missing something-host Chaminade. Plus more tourney recaps
The last time Villanova and Michigan met, it was a blowout. The same happened Wednesday night, but in perhaps even more stunning fashion. Plus, Indiana rolls, a record-performance by a Robert Morris player, and two ACC teams get chopped down.
As consistently balanced as it is, the MAC has rarely had a program that is a true bully, but Buffalo may be nearing that stage.
The Southeastern Conference is almost certainly on the precipice of a banner year for NCAA Tournament berths. Just which of those teams will receive them, though, and what might happen with them when they get there, will continue to be a mystery of the wildest proportions.
The Mid-American Conference in 2016-17 looked a lot like the Mid-American Conference in 2015-16, with big men, Akron, and a conference tourney upset among the storylines.
Saturday once again reminded us just how right the Big 12 and SEC got it when they moved their conference challenge event out of December and into the midst of conference season. Even as the Big 12 may not be enjoying the exposure from the event as much this year.
