College Hoopla: January 18th

This past week of college basketball did not provide as many upsets as last week but the potential was defintely there. (1) Texas almost lost both games this week and Purdue and North Carolina fell apart by losing both games this week. Here is the good, bad, and ugly from the hoopla in men's basketball last week.
Player of the Week
Damion James, G/F, Texas
James singhandedly carried the Longhorns to a win Saturday night at home against Texas A&M. James also did the same on Wednesday in Ames against Iowa State but to a lesser extent. In both games, he put up a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds Wednesday, and 26 and 12 versus the Aggies. James already has 10 double-doubles this season and should record 10 more.
Team of the Week
Pittsburgh
Jamie Dixon's Panthers went into Hartford on Wednesday and played another classic game against UCONN and pulled away late winning 67-57. Then, on Saturday, they played a tough Louisville team that sent them to overtime but the Panthers got the job done winning 82-77. Led by guards Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker, Pitt is exceeding preseason predictions, which had them finishing in the bottom half of the Big East.

Game of the Week:
Texas 72, Texas A&M 67 (OT), Saturday
Many people might not have seen this coming or saw the game at all but the Marc Turgeon's Aggies were the dominant team for the whole game. Texas did not lead until the overtime period in which Damion James took over. The real turning point in the game was when Aggies F Bryan Davis fouled out with a couple minutes left in the second half. The Aggies lost their inside presence and were forced to shoot the three and gave James the opening he needed to drive to the hoop.

Upset of the Week
Northwestern 72, (6) Purdue 64
In another game many people did not see because of the more popular sport having playoff action on Saturday night, the Wildcats ignited their home crowd at Welsh-Ryan Arena and upset Purdue in a dominant way. The inside play of Luca Mirkovic gave the Boilermakers trouble and when Mirkovic was covered, clutch threes were made throughout the game to keep the momentum on the home team's side. The loss put Purdue at a three game losing streak and is suceptible to falling out of the Top 25 with another loss.

What the Top 10 Should Be:
(1) Texas
(2) Kentucky
(3) Syracuse
(4) Kansas
(5) Villanova
(6) Tennessee
(7) Duke
(8) Michigan State
(9) Pittsburgh
(10) Kansas State

GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK:
Monday: Texas @ Kansas State (9:00, ESPN)
Tuesday: Clemson @ Georgia Tech (7:00 ESPN2)
Wednesday: Georgetown @ Pittsburgh (7:00 ESPNU)
Thursday: San Diego @ St. Mary's (11:00 ESPNU)
Friday: Portland St. @ Weber St. (9:05)

WEEKEND 6-PACK:
Ohio State @ West Virginia (2:00 Sat, CBS)
Michigan @ Purdue (4:00 Sat, ESPN)
Texas @ UCONN (4:00 Sat., CBS)
Duke @ Clemson (9:00 Sat., ESPN)
Pittsburgh @ Seton Hall (2:00 Sun.)
Northern Iowa @ Indiana State (2:05, Sun.)

Come back every week until the championship for more college hoopla.