The weekend’s Ugliest Game Award goes to yesterday’s battle between Creighton and Nebraska. Both teams shot under 30% from the field. Normally, you’d at least have the consolation of a close game in that circumstance, but Creighton won 70-44 in part due to 31 Nebraska turnovers, the most by a power conference team so far this season. Now for the better performances of the weekend…
Friday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Todd Sowell 33 9-17 0-0 1-1 8-12 0 4 1 1 6 19
Result: Win. St. Peter's 69, Cansius 64.
Keydren Clark is the guy you’ve heard of from St. Peter’s. He’s averaging 22.4 points a game (he posted 42 against Niagara yesterday), but he’s doing so on a yucky 42% in the eFG department. Sowell probably deserves to get the ball a little more. The best way he’s been able to get his hands on the rock is by leading his team in rebounds in each of the last seven games.
Saturday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
J.J. Redick 37 13-24 9-16 6-6 1-4 0 1 3 1 0 41
Result: Win. Duke 97, Texas 66.
I’ll just stick to the obvious here, although Brandon Heath’s 1 of 13 effort for San Diego State in a loss to Washington State would have provided a good platform to reiterate how overrated the Aztecs were this season. Honorable mention to Georgia Tech’s Jeremis Smith went for 22, 11, and 8 in 28 minutes against Tennessee State.
Sunday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Andre Collins 38 15-25 6-10 3-5 1-3 1 3 1 4 0 39
Result: Loss. Manhattan 85, Loyola MD 73.
A Redick-like performance in a losing effort. If nothing else, this line offers the chance to demonstrate how unlikely it was for Loyola to start the season 5-0, with all of their wins against bona-fide Division I competition, mind you. Over the previous six seasons, the Greyhounds averaged 4.9 wins per season. There’s actually life before lacrosse season for once.