No. 14 Georgetown 62, No. 13 Louisville 59: See here and here.
One more thing to note from this game -- what makes Georgetown so dangerous this season is not only that they have two or three option of guys that can carry the team, but that those guys are not concerned about the number of points that they score. For example, against Villanova, Austin Freeman was sizzling from the field and Jason Clark and Hollis Thompson were both knocking down their jump shots as well. Chris Wright was 0-3 from the floor in that game and didn’t score a point, but the Hoyas still won. Fast forward to Monday, and Georgetown got a season-high 24 points from Wright while Clark and Thompson combined for just eight points* and Freeman had an off-night, finishing with 13.
(*To be fair, Clark was scoreless until he hit two free throws in the final minute that put Georgetown up three. Thompson scored half of his six points with a three at the two minute mark that turned out to be the game-winner, putting the Hoyas up 58-55.)
No. 3 Texas 69, No. 16 Texas A&M 49: Well, then.
For the second time in just 12 days, the Longhorns embarrassed the Aggies. This game was over midway through the first half, when Texas went up 32-12. It was, in a word, impressive, just like everything else the Longhorns have done the past month.
There is no doubt about it anymore. Texas is a certified national title favorite. As talented a team as they are offensively -- Jordan Hamilton is one of the best pure scorers in the country, Tristan Thompson and Gary Johnson provide plenty of toughness and rebounding around the rim, and Cory Joseph and J’Covan Brown have both proven capable of being more-than-capable scorers -- this team hangs its hat on the defensive side of the ball. They have shot up Kenpom’s rankings and now sit as the No. 1 team in the country in defensive efficiency.
Just ask the Aggies. Last night, they shot 30.1% from the field and 1-12 from three point range. Khris Middleton was held scoreless, missing all nine of his shots from the field, by Hamilton, a guy whose weakness was defensively coming into the season. The haven’t given up more than 63 points to a Big XII opponents yet, and the 63 was against Kansas, who had 18 points in the first five minutes of the game.
The Longhorns don’t do anything special. They don’t run a full court press or a half court trap. They aren’t playing gimmicky defenses or playing a zone. Its simple, physical, half court man to man. They force you to take tough shots and clean up the glass when you miss.
And if they continue to play this way defensively, it will only be a matter of time before people start asking if this team is actually better than undefeated Ohio State.
Norfolk State 110, Coppin State 108 2OT: Kyle O’Quinn had 37 points, 19 boards, and six blocks, including the game-winning free throws with 4.5 seconds left, in the double overtime win.
Other Notable Scores:
- Northern Arizona 65, Northern Colorado 54
- Hampton 78, UMES 66
- East Tennessee State 82, Mercer 75
- Vermont 63, New Hampshire 49
- Fairfield 70, Canisius 55
- Jackson State 86, Arkansas-Pine Bluf 64
- Texas Southern 73, Alcorn State 59
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @ballinisahabit.