So, who really wants to be #1??

Nolan Smith and Duke; back at 1?

Duke's 79-57 win over Georgia Tech saw them regain the #1 spot, and also end an "upset" type of weekend.

#4 ranked Pittsburgh  fell 60-59 to St. John's, who entered the rankings for the first time in what has almost been eternity.  Seriously, can anyone remember the last time St. John's made some noise on the basketball scene?  Besides winning the 2003 post-season NIT, I can't recall anything else.

#7 Notre Dame fell 72-58 to West Virginia, while #16 ranked Louisville beat #12 Connecticut;  another testament to just how brutal the Big East can be.  You can make an argument that it is possibly the best conference in America, even though they haven't produced a national champion since 2004.

Texas was literally held back by Nebraska

Kansas had retaken the top stop, only to get upset by Kansas State a few hours later.  That left the door open for Texas, who looked really good after putting the hurt on Oklahoma State last Wednesday.  The only thing standing between the Longhorns was a trip to Lincoln, NE.  Nebraska managed to hold off them off for 70-67 win.  The fans rushed the court to celebrate the upset win, but I'm thinking that there's probably more to the story.  I'll save that for a later discussion.

E'Twaun Moore and Purdue halted Ohio State.

Following Texas' loss to Nebraska, Ohio State had a great chance to go back to #1, but E'Twaun Moore (38 points) and Purdue had other ideas.  The Boilermakers handed Ohio State the second loss in as many days.

Since nobody wants to be #1, I guess Duke didn't mind skipping up four spots from their previous #5 position.  They started at the top anyway, so I guess they might as well take the reigns.

It's not even March and the madness is already under way. 

And down goes Kansas.

Just a few hours after reclaiming the #1 spot, Kansas fell to Kansas State 84-68.  Jacob Pullen scored a career-high 38 points, in what was the Wildcat's 3^rd win against the Jayhawks in the last 45 meetings.  Can't blame the crowd for storming the court after the game.


Pullen the strings (no pun intended)



Just a little over a fortnight ago, Kansas State was on the tail end of a 90-66 whipping by the Jayhawks.  It was quite a fall for a team that was ranked #3 in the pre-season, with Jacob Pullen (the school's first pre-season All American) gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.  I guess the "SI Cover jinx" is still alive after all.

This win will definitely ease the sour taste of a season that has just gone horribly wrong.  Pullen served a 3 game suspension for receiving inappropriate discounts at a local clothing store and two players left the team.  I'm guessing that's not exactly the way they were hoping things would go when the season started.  That is why you need nights like this, just to remind you that maybe you've still got it in you after all.

The Morris twins, Markieff and Marcus, have been rock solid for the Jayhawks, but were missing in action.  They both combined for 16 points and 3 rebounds (Markieff didn't register any rebounds).  With the twins getting into early foul trouble, Kansas State was able to establish an inside game and they never really looked back.

A moment of Self-reflection

Also due to early foul trouble, Kansas couldn't establish their own inside game; something that hurt them in their loss to Texas (who will likely take over the #1 spot).  Shooting 44%, down from their 52.3% didn't quite help their cause.  Still, there's a good amount of basketball left to be played.  Kansas can still make something of what's left in their season.  I wouldn't be too worried.

The Wildcats can only hope that the worst is behind them.  They are a team that is capable of going deep in the tournament, and a win like this is proof of what they are capable of.  The problem with winning a big game like this, is the letdown that usually follows when you play your next opponent (especially if they are trying to make their own statement). 

Knowing how rare wins against the Jayhawks are, I don't blame Wildcat fans if they decide to hold on to this one for as long as they'd like to.