Coast to Coast...like Tyus Edney against Mizzou

We finally had out first big upset Saturday of the season. I still cannot believe North Carolina losing at home to Maryland. This seems like a classic Roy Williams team who is bound for an early tournament flame out. Luckily for them, all four games they play in the tournament before the Final Four will be in the state of North Carolina assuming the get the #1 seed in the East. You have gotta love this photo of the man who seemingly was in college for 10 years, Jess Settles.

Maryland 82 #1 North Carolina 80 - Talk about a stunner. The same Maryland team that has home losses to Ohio and American went into the Dean Dome, led most of the way, and pulled it out in the end, thanks to a solid defensive performance and game plan by Gary Williams. Tyler Hansbrough was just 6-15 thanks to being double and triple teamed everytime he touched the ball in the post. Maryland's James Gist was magnificent, scoring 22 points and helping on Hansbrough. Bambale Osby went right at the All-American big man and out-physicalled him. Greivas Vasquez was completely under control running the point and dishing out 11 assists while playing 38 tough minutes. North Carolina's two holes finally caught up to them for a loss: average defense and poor three point shooting. I don't want you to think this is a high powered Maryland team. They are averaging 71 points per game and this is the first time they have scored over 80 since December 6th. The Heels shot just 7-23 from deep. They've been living dangerously for three weeks. It was only a matter of time before someone came up and bit them. We just didn't think it would be Maryland.

USC 72 #4 UCLA 63 - If I told you before the game USC's OJ Mayo would only score 16 points and take 12 shots, while UCLA's Josh Shipp would score 21 and Kevin Love would have 18 and 12, who who you guess would have won? Well in this stunner, the poor shooting Trojans sizzled at a 60% clip, "the other" Freshman for USC Davon Jefferson had a career high 25 to go with nine boards. Tim Floyd threw the triangle and two on UCLA's Love and Darren Collison and locked down the Bruins shooters. They were a porous 8-27 from deep and 33% for the game. Games like this one prove there are no off nights in the Pac-10, unless you play Oregon State.

Kansas State 75 #9 Texas A&M 54 - A huge win for the Wildcats in their quest for a tournament bid. Michael Beasley and Bill Walker, two future NBA talents took control of the game in the second half. Beasley was saddled with two first half fouls, and Walker single-handedly kept his team in the game. Once the second half arrived, it was Beasley time. Neither Joseph Jones nor DeAndre Jordan could handle the man-child who led all scorers with 21.

#6 Georgetown 84 Notre Dame 65 - That is more like it Hoyas. The type of performance we've been expecting all year. Great defense, patience on offense, and balance. Roy Hibbert had his finest game of the year, scoring 21 points and completely shutting down Irish big man Luke Harangody on 3-14 from the floor. The Hoyas held ND to 31% for the game. Dajuan Summers had 17 and Austin Freeman added 16 for JT3's crew. You know we love to sound the fraud siren. Notre Dame set it off.

#21 Villanova 81 Syracuse 71 - Jim Boeheim is lucky he won his one title, because once again he was completely outcoached by Jay Wright. Nova went to the line an amazing 40 times and outscored the Cuse by 16 in the second half to score a huge road win. Scottie Reynolds led all scorers with 25 including four triples. I guess we were wrong about Donte Greene dominating this game in the post. He was in foul trouble all game, scoring just 12 points in 23 minutes.

#14 Vanderbilt 92 LSU 76 - Nice bounce back win after the two straight losses. Man is LSU bad.

#5 Duke 93 #23 Clemson 80 - We came away pretty impressed by both teams after this one. The Devils won their 22nd straight over the Tigers thanks to 53% shooting and forcing 20 turnovers. Demarcus Nelson was spectacular, shooting 10-13 for 24 points. I gotta give Oliver Purnell's club credit. They fought hard, outrebounded Duke 37-24 and held the Devils to 7-22 from deep. They also shot 53% from the field. However they shot 10-23 from the line and Three-point specialist Terrance Oglesby was just 3-11.

Auburn 80 #15 Mississippi 77 - We put our eggs in the Rebel basket, then they go to a banged up and below average Auburn and lose a game they have no business losing. While Chris Warren had 25 and the dominated the glass 45-33, but they forgot to play defense. Auburn shot 10-19 from deep and Frank Tolbert had a career high 29.

#3 Kansas 76 Missouri 70 - KU gutted this one out against a game Missouri squad who cam out fired up against their hated rival. In the end, the Jayhawks defense and balance won this game. The Tigers were a pathetic 5-28 from three while KU had six players score at least eight, led by Mario Chalmers 18. Even with Brandon Rush having his worst game of the year (2-14), Kansas had plenty in reserve. Rush, Darnell Jackson, and Darrell Arthur were all over the glass, each grabbing nine rebounds.

#19 Texas 69 Colorado 67 - Could there be something wrong with the Longhorns? They just haven't been right for two weeks now. There is now reason they should be trailing at home to a 9-8 Colorado team by eight at the half at home. DJ Augustine's 25 saved them. Damion James battled foul trouble all night, but fellow big Conner Atchley picked up the slack, with 15 points on 6-7 shooting.

#7 Tennessee 74 Ohio State 69 - Once again, the Buckeyes manage to play up to the level of their competition. They hung with one of the best teams in the nation for 40 minutes and if not for 2-20 three point shooting, they would have pulled this one out. Evan Turner's 21 and 10 and Othello Hunter's 17 and 14 showed the one soft spot the Vols have; interior play.

Cincinnati 62 #16 Pittsburgh 59 - Can't say this is a bad loss, considering the Bearcats play of late. The Pitt guards only combined to score 12 points and Dejuan Blair was in foul trouble all game. He took only five shots and scored four points.

NC State 79 #24 Miami 77 OT - Sound the fraud siren. How is Miami ranked with zero quality wins? Talk about a team with zero low post play. Take G Jack McClinton off this team (26 points) and they'd struggle to win 10 games.

Stanford 67 #24 Arizona State 52 - The Stanford defense came to play and took over in the second half. Trailing by 10 at the half, the Cardinal went to the inside force Brook Lopez. He missed nine of his first ten shots, then went on a personal 10-0 run to get Stanford back to even. Then they took over on the glass, finishing with a 15 rebound advantage. ASU's Jeff Pendergraft picked up his 4th foul early in the second half, which didn't help matters for the Devils.

#2 Memphis 83 Southern Mississippi 47 - As they say at the barber shop...NEXT.

Other Scores of Note:

Seton Hall 92 Louisville 82 - Just when we all finish stroking Louisville, they lose to Seton Hall? How many of you saw this one coming? Jeremy Hazzel's 29 points combined with Brian Laing's 25 and Lousiville's 8-28 deep shooting were a recipe for disaster.

Mississippi State 66 Alabama 56 - The Bulldogs are now 4-0 in the SEC.

Florida 81 Kentucky 70 OT - Could Bill Donovan be in the running for coach of the year? he is working wonders with this young team. Freshman Nick Calathas (24) can play for me anytime.

Drake 79 Illinois State 73 - Drake took the first battle of the two MVC undefeated teams. They are now 16-1 and 7-0 in conference.

Cleveland State 69 Valparaiso 63 - How about those Vikings? 7-0 in the Horizon League and pulled this one off only making 3-12 threes and leading scorer Cedric Jackson going 3-11.

Arizona 79 Cal 75 - A much needed road win for the Cats. Jerryd Bayless led Arizona with 24, Chase Budinger added 21.

BYU 55 Utah 52 - Won a huge in-state rivalry game with stud PF shooting just 2-11 from the field.

UIC 75 Detroit 65 - Here's one for you. Detroit shot two free throws the entire game. They were on a technical foul. UIC shot 27.