Breakfast of Champions 1/4: Bruins are Back

Game of the Night

UCLA 76 Stanford 67

Damn, hasn't it seemed like forever since the Bruins have played a big time game? After dominating some patsies throughout the month of December, the Bruins kicked off Pac 10 play with a convincing victory at previously cruising-but-unchallegned Stanford. Josh Shipp had the hot hand for the Bruins, scoring 21 points on 5 threes. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love also added 15 each.

Also Intriguing

Notre Dame 69 West Virginia 56

The Fighting Irish look like they will be that forgotten-but-talented team in the middle of the Big East pack that sneaks up on everyone for the second consecutive season, which is pretty remarkable when you think about it. Luke Harangody continues to be one of the most unheralded players in all of college basketball, going for 29 pts and 16 rbs in the win over the Mountaineers.


Arizona State 62 Oregon 54

Best story in college basketball that absolutely no one it laking about? Take a look at the 11-2 ASU Sun Devils. The win over Oregon has the Sun Devils just one victory from matching last season two win conference total. What a remarkable job Herb Sendek has done in just one season at Tempe. This is essentially the same squad tat struggled so mightily last season. Not sure if they can go dancing in the ultra-competitive Pac 10, but they will never be an easy out. As for Oregon, whenever I make a dumb prediction like I did with Siena and Memphis, I just think about how I said the Ducks would flatline this season without Aaron Brooks.

Upset of the Evening

DePaul 84 Villanova 76

As reader Luke said, Nova shit the bed in this bad, bad conference road loss to DePaul. Never thought Nova would lose via lack of offense, but that was the case in the first half against the Blue Demons. It seems that everyday the Big East picture gets just a little bit more fuzzy.

Other Scores

Cal 92 USC 82

Marquette 96 Providence 67

Xavier 108 Virginia 70

UConn 98 Seton Hall 86

Davidson 92 Georgia Southern 67

Ohio State 74 Illinois 58


Links

A look at the remaining unbeatens in college hoops (College Hoops Journal)

Pac-10 preview from a presumably happy Sun Devil fan (Pitchfork Nation)

Contenders and pretenders of the early season, looking pretty accurate on Nova (Luke Winn, SI)

I feel supergay by linking myself, but I'm going to start contributing at AOL Fanhouse. Here's my first post on the significance of the UMass win over Houston (AOL Fanhouse)