About Last Night...again

Last night's Cornell-Kansas slug fest proved two things: One, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, the two-pronged all-american attack proved too strong for the Big Red. Two, even in losing 71-66, the Big Red proved resillient even in defeat and as such, strengthened their at-large case as best as possible without winning. As of this morning, they stay in field, though it is as the best Ivy League team by RPI, by 4 ten thousandths of a point over Harvard! Let's hope the Big Red can stay in the conversation.

The other big story of the night is the continuing suckitude of the Pacific-10 Conference. No, it wasn't UCLA's one point OT shocker up in Berkley, it was Oregon State's 99-48 loss at home to Seattle University. The Redhawks aren't even eligible for the tournament yet! The worst thing about the Bruins-Golden Bears debacle, Cal has not had a good OOC victory, the best one being a 25 point shellacking over the "vaunted" Pacific Tigers. Failing to get one win over Syracuse, Ohio State or Kansas has hurt the Bears' chances. They must beat Southern California if they are to stay reasonably away from the cut line.

Other games of burning import: Syracuse put Memphis away in the second-half of the 74-57 triumph. The Tigers' performance does auger a good chance of remaining the kings of Conference USA. VCU's chances are all but nil after losing at Drexel 75-72, while William & Mary's season of living dangerously continues, needing a 3-ball with 3 seconds left to down Delaware 74-73. Ohio State needed a victory over Indiana last night and got it convincingly. With Evan Turner coming back full-time(he played limited minutes vs. the Hoosiers) Saturday in Minnesota, the Buckeyes appear to be set to make it back in the bracket(IMO, it isn't Turner I was concerned with when I left the Buckeyes out, it was the high RPI numbers). And lastly, the Atlantic 10 season got underway with Temple triumphing over St. Joseph's in a birdly battle.

Update: Forgot two games that I kept an eye on. UNLV could not get it done in Provo, losing to Brigham Young 77-73. Also Marquette FINALLY got a closely fought victory, defeating Georgetown 62-59 in Milwaukee, the Golden Eagles aren't in the field yet, they have to revenge their home loss to Villanova this weekend in Philly to get close.