1. Alabama has used the Puerto Rico tip-Off to prove that they are legit. At least defensively. In two games at the Tip-Off Bama has limited their opponents to 0.77 points per possession, which is rediculous. They smothered Maryland in the opener and held a very good Wichita State team to 60 points in 71 possessions. But as Florida State has proven in recent years – defense does not, in fact, win championships. Rather, defense combined with a great offense wins championships. And Alabama’s offense has been marginal, at best. So far they’re averaging 1.03 per possession, which isn’t going to get it done. They aren’t bad at any one particular thing, but they aren’t good either. They just are.
2. Virginia went the entire first half without recording a 2-point basket against the TCU Horned Frogs. It only took them three seconds to correct this in the 2nd half (a K.T. Harrell jumper) but the Cavaliers never could overcome the six points they trailed at halftime. Joe Harris had a chance to win it with a three in the waning seconds, but missed as UVA fell 57-55. The low score isn’t odd for a Virginia game, but the tempo was. The teams clocked in at 66 possessions, which is a pace the Hoos only reached four times last year. TCU’s defense is not particularly solid, which should have Virginia fans worried. 0.83 points per possession is awful, regardless of opponent. Virginia was counting on the return of Mike Scott and the injection of talented freshman to boost the offense (ranked 145th last season), and after a couple decent games against overmatched opponents, this is a bit of a letdown.
3. Do triple-doubles count if the competition isn’t Division I? I don’t think Duqesne’s T.J. McConnell is worried about that. Against District of Columbia McConnell dropped 15 points, 11 assists and 10 boards in a blowout win. The 6’1 sophomore guard is no stranger to the Atlantic 10, where he was Rookie of the Year last season after he spent the season filling up the statsheet. His 115.8 offensive rating was remarkable for a freshman, he had a great assist rate, and his 5.16 steals% was 7th best in the entire country. Twice he nearly went for triple-doubles – in his 3rd career game (at Bowling Green) he had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists; and then later in the season against St Bonaventure when he had 12 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds. The one downside last night is that he committed a career high 6 turnovers, though he nearly made up for it by recording 5 steals.
4. Another diminutive guard capable of filling it up is Iona’s Scott Machado, one of the best point guards in the country. Last night against Western Michigan the senior had 17 points, 15 assists and 5 steals. Last year he was one of 12 players nationally to have an assist rate greater than 39 (39.2), and one of two in the MAAC in excess of 30 (along with Anthony Nelson of Niagra). Through two games (a one-point loss to Purdue, and last night’s win) Machado is averaging 13 assists a game.
5. Everyone knew Boston College was going to struggle this year. But a 22-point loss to Holy Cross (in their 111th meeting)? Their defense was non-existent, surrendering 1.39 points per possession. To put that in perspective, in Steve Donahue’s tenure at BC, only UNC’s 106 point outburst last year was worse – and that only marginally. That was an up and down game which equated to 1.39 points per possession. Another decimal point is needed to show that it was worse: last night was 1.387, while the UNC game was 1.394. But getting torched by UNC if forgivable. Getting torched by Holy Cross isn’t. In Holy Cross’s previous two games, Harvard and the College of Charleston both held the Crusaders under a point per possession.
BONUS KNOWLEDGE: NC State’s Scott Wood explaining his ankle injury:
