College Hoopla- March 1

This week started a normal week in college basketball and ended with the top three teams in the nation all losing. Kansas, Kentucky, and Purdue all lost to conference rivals. Kansas lost in Stillwater to Oklahoma State, the Wildcats went to Knoxville and lost to Tennessee and Purdue lost at home to Michigan State. With mid-major conference tournament starting this week, College Hoopla will be back with a preview later in the week but for now, there are the week's best.

Player of the Week:
Greivis Vazquez, G, Maryland
Vazquez is one of the most underrated players in the nation and proved why he should be noticed more on Saturday. Vazquez and the Terps went into Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech in a game that essentially decided the number two team in the ACC. The game went into double overtime and was won 104-100 by the Terps thanks a career-high 41 point from Vazquez, who was 10 of 10 at the free throw line. Vazquez leads Maryland into a crucial home game against Duke on Wednesday.
Team of the Week:
Notre Dame
Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are truly fighting their way back into tournament contention. After the loss of star senior Luke Harangody to injury, most experts had the Irish down and out, but two big wins over Pitt and Georgetown put them back on the bubble. After losing three straight games by less than three, the Irish came back from adversity and beat Pitt at home on Wednesday, four of five starters scored in double digits. On Saturday, on the road at Georgetown, Notre Dame pulled off an upset 78-64. Both of these wins strengthen their tournament resume and has seen the production of Ben Hansbrough, Tyler's brother, step up in absence of Harangody.
Game of the Week:
Maryland 104, Virginia Tech 100 (2OT)
As mentioned above, this game had seeding implications for the ACC tournament. The number two seed would be all but locked up for the Terps with a win, and they did just that. With a career performance from Vazquez, the Terps got a big conference win.
Upset of the Week:
Oklahoma State 85, (1) Kansas 77
The Jayhawks were not expecting a challenge from the Cowboys at Gallagher-Iba Arena but they did and were out shot. Led by Keiton Page and James Anderson, who both made four three pointers, Travis Ford's Cowboys took over the game leading 45-29 at halftime and then matched the Jayhawks shot for shot from behind to arc to halt a comeback attempt from the Jayhawks.
Games to Watch This Week:
Monday: Georgetown @ West Virginia (7, ESPN)
Tuesday: Georgia Tech @ Clemson (8:00)
Wednesday: Kansas State @ Kansas (8:00)
Thursday: Seton Hall @ Rutgers (7, ESPN)
Friday: Bradley vs. Creighton (3:35)
Weekend 6-Pack to Watch:
West Virginia @ Villanova (Sat, 12:00, CBS)
Richmond @ Charlotte (Sat, 2:00)
Texas @ Baylor (Sat, 4:00, ESPN)
North Carolina @ Duke (Sat, 9:00, ESPN)
Wisconsin @ Illinois (Sun, 12:00)
Clemson @ Wake Forest (Sun, 2:00)
What the Top 10 Should Be:
(1) Syracuse
(2) Kansas
(3) Kentucky
(4) Duke
(5) Kansas State
(6) Ohio State
(7) Purdue
(8) Villanova
(9) West Virginia
(10) Butler

Check back later this week for the Hoopla mid-major conference tourney preview.