When we first scheduled our road trip months ago, I have to admit that the trip to SLU was sort of an afterthought. St. Louis is on the way home, and one of my closest friends lives in a ‘burb. Since it was on the way, we figured we might as well throw in one more game! Turns out, the Billikens provided one of the best college basketball experiences of the entire trip.

SLU welcomed New Mexico to Chafietz Arena on New Year’s Eve. The fact that the Lobos were newly ranked 20/23 thanks to that road win at Cincy that we just so happened to witness a few days earlier, gave the game a little more oomph. SLU hasn’t been on my radar this year, and since they are dealing with a new coach since the passing of Rick Majerus, I can’t imagine anyone expects much out of them. Well the scrappy team fed off the booming crowd and put on a performance. They jumped out early, and held on to a solid lead from start to finish.

Lobos coach Steve Alford was so frustrated that he got booted in the second half, which wasn’t going to help the struggling Lobos. When we saw New Mexico play Cincinnati, neither team really looked all that skilled. New Mexico didn’t look any better last night, but SLU displayed a lot more skills than the now #15 Cincinnati. With a halftime score of 33-13, New Mexico had a long hole to crawl out of.

Though New Mexico had a better showing in the second, it wasn’t nearly enough; the final score was an ugly 46-60.

After three straight days of driving and basketball, I was a bit tired by the end of the game, and had hoped for something a bit more enthralling. Aside from the exciting finish at Cincy, the three other games we witnessed were blowouts. As you can see from the final score, this game was no different. Luckily, the fans and the venue provided an unforgettable experience.

For one thing, I got to meet Mary from The Gold Rush, which was definitely a plus. Also, I would venture to say the arena was the most college-y that we’ve been to on our road trip. Despite the fact that it was New Year’s Eve, the stadium was pretty full. There was a band AND cheerleaders, and both were more than decent. The cheerleaders were moving around the entire game, and in the absence of male cheerleaders, the ladies did their own lifts. The band played throughout, never relying on the rap music so prevalent at the other venues. Memphis has a slight edge in the intro, but you’d expect that from a team that plays on an NBA court. SLU gave it a solid effort, and got the attentive crowd pumped.

The dancers – which we got to nickname the SLU-ts (pronounced Sloots, and yes, we’re terrible human beings), were adequate. Better than Cincy, but not as good as Memphis. Hot dog received a sad 6.5, but FINALLY I got to enjoy some real nachos. The ultimate nachos provided me with fresh multicolor chips, hot peppers, cheese, salsa, olives, beans and tomatoes. There was some chili for the carnivores, but even without that it was well worth the $8.25. To my surprise, alcohol was also available. That means that Vandy was the only stop that was dry. Unlike Cincy, SLU offered wine and margaritas, in addition to beer. We were also lucky enough to snag free parking, yet again.

I’m happy to be back in Chicago with my dog and the comforts of home, but I’m sad to close the book on our basketball road trip. I wasn’t sure we’d really make it to all those games and locations in such a short time, but I’m proud to say we did it. And, we witnessed some great games – and venues – in the process.

I credit my hairdo to the snow that fell ALL DAY in Nashville.

Last night’s visit to Nashville started off pretty exciting, but the game itself lacked the fast-paced, tense ending we enjoyed in Cincinnati.

Memorial Gym was unlike any college basketball stadium I’ve visited before, which is entirely refreshing. The building was older, with a classic and original feel. They boast the first raised court in college bball, which also makes it unique. Also unlike other courts, the team benches were seated underneath their respective baskets, rather than on the side of the court.

Overall, the feel of the gym was like a theater rather than a basketball court. There were bleachers (I think I forgot to mention Cincy had actual seats with backs, which I always prefer) throughout most of the stadium, and though our seats were on the 3^rd level we easily snagged a pair in the second.

So while the court itself was pretty cool, the spirit of the game was lacking a little oomph. There was no band (Cincy didn’t have one either), and there weren’t any cheerleaders or dancers! The husband wanted me to note that had there been dancers, he would’ve liked to refer to them as the “Commo-whores.” So perhaps it’s best they weren’t present.

Cincy had a bowl game at the same time as basketball, and still managed to scrounge up plenty of ladies to get us hyped up. One security person told us that the band leaves for winter break. Hope they had a good time relaxing while the basketball team was getting slaughtered.

The game began with even less fanfare than in Cincinnati, save for a few commercials for Vanderbilt on the big screen. Vandy was full-on in the game in the first half, though neither team did anything spectacular. Similarly to the Cincy halftime score, Butler had the lead at the half, 25-22.

The halftime show was the worst I’ve ever seen, because it didn’t exist. One kid had to walk around blindfolded to find a fiberglass house in the middle of the floor, and that was about it. We took that opportunity to try out the nachos and hotdogs. The husband gave the hotdogs a solid 7 (Cincy had a 6) and the nachos were the same salty chips with orange goop. But, I got to select my own hot peepers, which means I had lots and lots.

The second half was rather dull, and probably upsetting if you’re a Commodores fan. Butler started to heat up, and Rotnei Clarke (who pissed me off when Illinois played Butler in Maui) went off and plopped in some 3’s. All of a sudden, Butler was up by nearly 30 points and the crowd got frustrated and antsy. The game went by rather quickly, clocking in at barely two hours. The stadium was practically empty by the end, with a final score of 68-49, Butler.

It was dark and snowy, but the campus still looked lovely. Everyone was friendly, and no one seemed to mind our Orange and Blue getup. Cincy had a more “college-y” feel, but that might because it’s a bigger school, and a larger amount of students live in the immediate area. There was no student section to speak of, and in general the fanbased skewed a lot… more mature.

We’ve arrived in Memphis, and bless the Comfort Inn for having free wi-fi. Now to find a place with tasty snacks (vegetarian preferred) and the Bears game. Thankfully, the snow didn’t follow us.

Tomorrow morning my partner in crime and I will embark on a basketball road trip that we have been planning for months. To reminisce about the many who didn’t understand what could possible be fun about this trip take a look at my original post.  Five cities and four NCAA basketball games in five days is what’s on the itinerary, and we can’t wait to get going.

Since planning the trip, the matchups have gotten a touch more exciting. Also during that time, various people have told the old ball and chain that I must be a saint for agreeing to go on this trip with him. He beams with pride as he informs them that the trip was actually my idea.

Here’s the schedule, and what to expect:

Dec. 27, 9PM Eastern – #10 Cincinnati vs. New Mexico

Well, this game would’ve been a tad more exciting had New Mexico won last weekend against South Dakota State, as this game would be a top 25 matchup between two undefeated teams. However, Cincy is still the No. 10 team in the country, so that’ll be neat to see. New Mexico was ranked No. 16 last week, and for some reason that one loss kicked them out of the rankings entirely. Since they will be a major underdog tomorrow, clearly I’ll be rooting for the lobos all the way.

Dec. 29, 8PM – #18/21 Butler at Vanderbilt

For our second game in Nashville, we’ll be treated to another ranked team in Butler. Normally I would root for the unranked home team so that I can fit in with the crowd, but since Illinois beat Butler earlier in the season I’m going all-out Bulldogs all the way. I will already get side-long glances for my orange and blue attire, and then I’ll be rooting for the guest. Will the crowd be wearing suits and Sunday dresses, or is that just football games?

Dec. 30, 8PM- Memphis vs. Loyola (MD)

Okay, this game isn’t any more exciting than it looked on paper months ago. Neither of us have been to Memphis, and even though the team hasn’t been the same since Calipari left it in ruins a few years back, there’s still some great basketball history in that building! And, I hope to make a stop at Graceland. At 7-3, the season is far from over for Memphis, and it will be the first stop where we’ll get to join the crowd and root for the home team.

Dec. 31, 730PM – St. Louis vs. New Mexico

Oh Lobos! There you are again. By the end of this trip we will be big fans. Again, this game was just a nice stop on the trip because it’s on the way home, and we have friends in the area. As a bonus, joining us at this game will be the Aerys Gold Rush’s own Marquette expert, Mary! And, if New Mexico manages to win at Cincy, they’ll be ranked again, and then we’ll get to watch another ranked team. Without Rick Majerus (may he RIP), this game isn’t too exciting, but it will be fun to see how many people show up for a New Year’s Eve game!

That’s the trip in a nutshell! Along the way, we’ll also get to watch an Illini basketball game in a bar in Nashville (as a cruel joke they’ll actually be playing in Chicago) and a Bears game in Memphis. Tonight we will pack as many orange t-shirts as possible, because we represent the I-L-L no matter where we are, and even if Illinois has nothing to do with the game whatsoever.

We’ll be blogging along the way to let you know who has the best fans, and who has the best nachos. You’ll get to read about the atmosphere at each place, and who is the most annoyed at our orange and blue shenanigans. See our briefer musings by following @zforthree (or my other half who is a much better tweeter, @jjhparker) or take a look at #jzroadtrip.

Basketball immersion, here we come!

Tickets for our trip!!

It’s no secret to anyone that visits this site or has ever spoken to me that I am a huge fan of college basketball. So for me, the perfect holiday trip involves visiting four different college basketball venues in the span of five days.

The hotels have been booked and tickets for 3 out of the 4 games have been purchased, which means this trip is actually taking shape.

My team of choice is the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, but on the whole I’m obsessed with everything that relates to college basketball.

When I told some girlfriends about my upcoming trip while hopping up and down in excitement, what I got in return was a couple of blank stares.

Them: “Oh, so you’re going to see a bunch of Illini games?”

Me: “Actually, none of them are Illini games.”

Them: “You’re just going to random basketball games for no reason?”

Me: “Oh, there is a reason!”

At that point the aforementioned friends lost interest and began discussing something along the lines of buying a new outfit or a new nailpolish color for their own holiday extravaganzas. At which point I tuned out. It’s not that I don’t like shopping, I do! But, if I had a choice I’d rather be watching college basketball.

The Plan

Let me back up and tell you a little about the plan. Starting out in my hometown of Chicago, the first stop on the list is a trip to Cincinnati to see the Bearcats face New Mexico. Up next, me and my partner in crime (we’ll call him my husband) will travel to Louisville, just because it’s on the way.

Next up, a trip to see Vanderbilt play Butler in Nashville, then Memphis vs. Loyola Maryland in Memphis, and last on the list is SLU welcoming New Mexico, again. Lucky us, we get to see former Iowa coach Steve Alford and the Lobos twice in a row!

Let’s face it, the fact that I knew Alford was the coach of a team that doesn’t get a lot of attention, in addition to his former position (hey, it’s the B1G!) should give you an idea of where I’m coming from. I love the sport, and I love seeing it in person- regardless of who is playing.

In fact, sometimes it’s better to see a game that doesn’t involve Illinois, because I don’t have to hold my breath in fear the entire time. I can actually relax, watch the game and enjoy what’s happening. March is my favorite month for a reason.

While this trip is very much about basketball, it is also about visiting places I’ve never seen before. I’ve never hung out in Cincinnati, and I’ve never been anywhere near Memphis. I’ve been to St. Louis a million times, but I’ve never seen the Billikens play. It’s too bad Rick Majerus had to step down as the coach in August, but I just learned that interim coach Jim Crews was on the 1976 NCAA Championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers. The point is, I would watch any one of these games on TV at any given time, so why not see them all in person?

The one down side of this trip is that I will not be able to see Illinois play Auburn at the United Center this year. Usually this game is in early December, but for some reason this year it was scheduled over the break, and so I’m going to have to watch it in a dusty bar in one of the cities along the route. Again, this may not be a bad thing, since the Illini have lost the United Center game the last three times I was in attendance.

I will be chronicling my visit to each stadium here on the Neutral Zone, and I’m excited to share what I learn at each stop. And, in case you’re wondering, I will be wearing an Illini shirt at every game. I’ll let you know what kind of reaction that elicits, if any.

So stay tuned as we embark on our voyage on Dec. 27!

This may be used as a recruiting tactic, by Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin recently commented that one of the requirements for getting hired a Vandy was to have a hot wife. Yes, really.

He told 104.5 The Zone in Nashville on Wednesday:

 I’ve been saying it for a long time, I will not hire an assistant coach until I’ve seen his wife. If she looks the part, and she’s a D-1 recruit, then you got a chance to get hired. That’s part of the deal.

So he wants to use his assistant coaches wives as a selling point to his recruits? Shortly after the comments became public, Franklin quickly back-tracked via twitter.

 Franklin went on for several tweets about how his views on women were reflected poorly and his attempt at joke was a bad one. Vanderbilt Athletic Director, David Williams also played damage control at the SEC meetings in Destin, Florida. Williams stated that what Franklin said was not how he actually feels or how we (Vanderbilt) feel. He also said that he had a discussion with Franklin about what was said and how it could be taken negatively.

In case you were wondering, Franklin does have a pretty wife.

Franklin family photo from the Vanderbilt media guide

Let’s just hope Franklin doesn’t own a motorcycle.

Three B1g Ten teams played yesterday, and three Big Ten teams will advance to the Sweet 16 next week. So far, Michigan is the only team to fall, and two more teams will have the chance to advance today: #1 MSU and #10 Purdue.

#2 Ohio State vs. #7 Gonzaga

The Bulldogs gave the Buckeyes a good game, but in the end Big Ten play triumphed. This was the first time the two teams have ever met, and John Stockton sat in the stands to watch his son’s team get knocked out of the Tourney in the 73-66 win.

For more on this game, check in with our Zags correspondent on the Big Dance Crashers, or our Ohio State expert on the Poisonous Nuthouse.

Ohio State will face the winner of Cincy/Florida State in the Sweet 16 next week.

#5 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Wisconsin

The Badgers had a bit of a schizophrenic season, so some might be surprised that Bo Ryan led his team to the Sweet 16 yet again. It was defense that did the trick in the 60-57 win for Wiscy, not to mention five guys in double digits. Jordan Taylor had a team-high 14, which is a relatively low number, but they also held Vandy to the same standards, with Festus Ezeli having sharing the same team high for the Commodores.

Staying right at their average of just 8 turnovers also helped Wisconsin. Ryan Evans was able to grab a rebound and get fouled with 2.1 seconds left, and made one free throw to give Wiscy a 3-point lead. Vandy tried to launch the ball at the last second, but fell short in tying up the game.

Up next, Wisconsin will play Syracuse next week.

#5 Indiana vs. #12 VCU

Sadly, VCU won’t be the Cinderella again this year, though they should be proud of making it to this game with that upset over Wichita State. Shaka Smart and his guys gave Indiana a run for their money throughout the whole game, but in the end the Big Ten got the win, 63-61.

Will Sheehey was the unlikely hero, making a jumper with 15 seconds left to put the Hoosiers on top with 12.7 seconds to go. VCU then missed a last-second 3 that would’ve been the first buzzer beater success of the Tourney, but it fell short. The VCU Rams will head home, and questions will swirl about Smart’s future.

Christian Watford and Cody Zeller each had 16 points in the win, and while Brad Burgess for VCU had 15 points, he had just 3 in the second half. Indiana clamped down on the defense, and will advance to the Sweet 16.

Indiana will face Kentucky next,which is a matchup Wildcats fans are dying for. I’m sure they haven’t forgotten Watford’s bucket at the end of the game to give Indiana a win over the then-undefeated No. 1 team in the country. Kentucky is going to be ready for revenge.

As I was watching the late night Rivalry Game on ESPN2 last night, I watched the scores scrolling across the bottom line. I was shocked at what I saw in women’s college basketball: many of the highlighted teams (the winning teams) were unranked.

Is parody finally coming to women’s college basketball?

Well, not exactly. The top four teams are still more dominant than anyone else. Take number 4 Stanford’s win over Pac-12 opponent USC. They won 69-52 to extend their home court winning streak to 75 games.

Number 5 Duke survived a road test at Boston College, 71-62. What was shocking about Duke’s struggles was how dominant they were against ACC arch-rival North Carolina and how off they were against a team with zero wins in the conference.

Now onto the losses.

What was most disturbing was how these ranked teams lost. Six top 25 teams lost on Thursday night, five of those losses came by double-digits. Four of those losses came on the road.

Division I college basketball (both men’s and women’s) is down to just one unbeaten team and that would be Number 1 Baylor. Baylor will face 14th ranked Texas A&M on Saturday. Murray State lost to Tennessee State on Thursday night on the men’s side, while Green Bay lost on the women’s side. Green Bay lost to a team, Detroit, that has 11 losses and hadn’t won at Green Bay in 15 years. Detroit dominated on the glass (a 47-32 rebounding edge), got to the free throw line more (35 times to Green Bay’s 13), and held Green Bay to just 29.9% shooting. Two players for Detroit, Shareta Brown and Senee Shearer, scored 20+ points in the win.

» Continue reading “Thursday Night Full of Upsets in Women’s College Basketball”

In this week’s edition of the Division I men’s college basketball polls, Kentucky remains number 1 in both polls with a 21-1 record. The Wildcats were an unanimous selection in the ESPN/Coaches Poll.

Syracuse jumped to number two with their controversial victory over West Virginia on Saturday. Ohio State and Missouri round out the top four. Missouri lost to Oklahoma State on Wednesday to drop to fourth. They face Texas tonight and then host Kansas on Saturday night.

The two polls couldn’t agree on 5-7. The AP Poll has North Carolina, Baylor, and Duke. The ESPN/Coaches Poll has Duke fifth, followed by Baylor and North Carolina tied for sixth.

Kansas dropped to eighth as they lost to Iowa State on Saturday. The only undefeated team in Division I, Murray State, finally cracked the top 10 of the AP Poll (they sit in the tenth spot). The Racers still hold the 9th spot in the ESPN/Coaches Poll.

The big mover upward this week was Saint Mary’s. The Gaels jumped from 20th to 16th in the ESPN/Coaches Poll (21st to 18th in the AP Poll) after huge victories at Loyola Marymount and BYU this week.

Harvard kept the 23rd spot in the ESPN/Coaches Poll as they went 2-0 this week (with a blowout win over Yale). They are still unranked by the AP, but have moved to the 26th spot.

Florida State jumped into both rankings after going 1-0 this week. Gonzaga (24th) and Vanderbilt (25th) are new to the AP Poll this week. The ‘Zags face new to the West Coast Conference BYU on the road on Thursday night. The big matchup comes next week as they welcome Saint Mary’s to Spokane. Vandy faces road tests this week with Arkansas and Florida.

UConn and Kansas State dropped out of both polls. UConn lost their third straight game, losing at home to Notre Dame. KSU lost to Oklahoma on Saturday at home.