Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin has agreed to become FAU's next head football coach, ESPN's Chris Low and Brett McMurphy on Monday.
Low also reported that Kiffin plans to remain as Alabama's offensive coordinator throughout the College Football Playoff. Alabama was ranked No. 1 of the CFB Playoff's Bowl Game Rankings, as well as No. 1 on the Associated Press' last Top-25 Poll.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Army beats Navy 21-17 to end 14-year losing streak in series
David Ginsburg
Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Army football team and its fans around the world can finally rejoice.
No longer will they have to listen to barbs from Navy or lament another missed opportunity in the biggest game of the year.
At long last, The Streak is over.
Army ended a 14-year run of frustration against the Midshipmen, using an overpowering running game and opportunistic defense to carve out a long overdue 21-17 victory Saturday.
With future commander in chief Donald Trump looking on, the Black Knights blew a 14-point lead before quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw scored on a 9-yard run with 6:42 left to give Army the win it had been waiting for since 2001.
The Black Knights' 14-game losing streak was the longest by either academy in a series that began in 1890. Army (7-5) now trails 60-50-7 in one of the nation's historic rivalries.
"We heard for a long time here at West Point about the streak and all that," Army coach Jeff Monken said. "It feels good to be a part of the team that put that to an end."
Navy (9-4) was coming off a physical 34-10 loss to Temple in the American Athletic Conference title game and had only one week to prepare for Army with a new quarterback, sophomore Zach Abey, who was making his first college start. Abey took over Will Worth, who broke his foot against Temple.
Abey ran for two touchdowns but passed for only 89 yards and was intercepted twice. Navy had four turnovers, three in the first half.
"I take a lot of responsibility for the game," Abey said. "Obviously, in the first half I made some bad decisions. I feel horrible for the seniors."
This senior class at Navy has accounted for 37 wins, most ever at the Academy over a four-year period. But they'll never forget this defeat.
"It hurts a little bit. It hurts a lot a bit," senior receiver Jamir Tillman said. "We will take this loss into the offseason and use this as inspiration and run with it."
That was a mantra chanted by the Black Knights for the past 14 years. Not anymore.
"I'm just happy for our seniors," Monken said. "The sense of pride that they'll have to go on, having beaten Navy, having beaten our biggest rival in their senior year. It's great for everybody in that locker room. I want them to enjoy it."
By halftime, Army led 14-0 and owned a 14-1 advantage in first downs.
After watching from the Navy side of the field before halftime, Trump visited the TV booth on the Army side in the third quarter. The interview with the president-elect coincided with a big shift in momentum.
"In the second half we made some adjustments, and those helped us out pretty well," Navy defensive end Amos Mason said.
Andy Davidson lost a fumble on the Black Knights' first possession of the second half and the Midshipmen recovered at the Army 32. A screen pass for 16 yards set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Abey to get Navy to 14-7.
Minutes later, the Midshipmen got a field goal after a replay overturned a lost fumble by Abey at the Army 11.
A 41-yard touchdown run by Abey gave Navy the lead with 12:42 remaining. But Army wasn't done.
The Black Knights put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and ended with Bradshaw's TD.
"It was a great feeling," the junior quarterback said. "I can't describe it. It just felt amazing. Our team worked really hard for this to happen today."
Bradshaw went 2 for 4 for 35 yards and an interception in Army's first win in Baltimore since 1944.
Davidson ran for 87 yards and two first-half scores, and Kell Walker carried 16 times for 94 yards.
NEVER QUIT
Some teams might fold after letting a two-touchdown lead vanish. Not Army.
"When they took the lead 17-14 ... maybe some teams get that look in their eye of doubt, or concern," Monken said. "But I think our guys just knuckled down and were determined that they were going to win."
FAREWELL VERNE
This was the final game in the broadcasting career of 76-year-old Verne Lundquist. He was cheered by the crowd during a live shot on the scoreboard.
THE TAKEAWAY
Army: The Black Knights appear to be on the upswing under Monken, now in his third season. They're headed to a bowl game and have a victory over Navy to celebrate.
Navy: The Midshipmen are staggering to the end of the season after a 9-2 start. The loss to Temple was tough to take, but this was much, much worse.
UP NEXT
Army: The Black Knights meet North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, Army's first postseason action since 2010.
Navy: The Midshipmen face Louisiana Tech in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23. It will be Navy's 13th bowl appearance in the last 14 years.
Associated Press
No longer will they have to listen to barbs from Navy or lament another missed opportunity in the biggest game of the year.
At long last, The Streak is over.
Army ended a 14-year run of frustration against the Midshipmen, using an overpowering running game and opportunistic defense to carve out a long overdue 21-17 victory Saturday.
With future commander in chief Donald Trump looking on, the Black Knights blew a 14-point lead before quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw scored on a 9-yard run with 6:42 left to give Army the win it had been waiting for since 2001.
The Black Knights' 14-game losing streak was the longest by either academy in a series that began in 1890. Army (7-5) now trails 60-50-7 in one of the nation's historic rivalries.
"We heard for a long time here at West Point about the streak and all that," Army coach Jeff Monken said. "It feels good to be a part of the team that put that to an end."
Navy (9-4) was coming off a physical 34-10 loss to Temple in the American Athletic Conference title game and had only one week to prepare for Army with a new quarterback, sophomore Zach Abey, who was making his first college start. Abey took over Will Worth, who broke his foot against Temple.
Abey ran for two touchdowns but passed for only 89 yards and was intercepted twice. Navy had four turnovers, three in the first half.
"I take a lot of responsibility for the game," Abey said. "Obviously, in the first half I made some bad decisions. I feel horrible for the seniors."
This senior class at Navy has accounted for 37 wins, most ever at the Academy over a four-year period. But they'll never forget this defeat.
"It hurts a little bit. It hurts a lot a bit," senior receiver Jamir Tillman said. "We will take this loss into the offseason and use this as inspiration and run with it."
That was a mantra chanted by the Black Knights for the past 14 years. Not anymore.
"I'm just happy for our seniors," Monken said. "The sense of pride that they'll have to go on, having beaten Navy, having beaten our biggest rival in their senior year. It's great for everybody in that locker room. I want them to enjoy it."
By halftime, Army led 14-0 and owned a 14-1 advantage in first downs.
After watching from the Navy side of the field before halftime, Trump visited the TV booth on the Army side in the third quarter. The interview with the president-elect coincided with a big shift in momentum.
"In the second half we made some adjustments, and those helped us out pretty well," Navy defensive end Amos Mason said.
Andy Davidson lost a fumble on the Black Knights' first possession of the second half and the Midshipmen recovered at the Army 32. A screen pass for 16 yards set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Abey to get Navy to 14-7.
Minutes later, the Midshipmen got a field goal after a replay overturned a lost fumble by Abey at the Army 11.
A 41-yard touchdown run by Abey gave Navy the lead with 12:42 remaining. But Army wasn't done.
The Black Knights put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and ended with Bradshaw's TD.
"It was a great feeling," the junior quarterback said. "I can't describe it. It just felt amazing. Our team worked really hard for this to happen today."
Bradshaw went 2 for 4 for 35 yards and an interception in Army's first win in Baltimore since 1944.
Davidson ran for 87 yards and two first-half scores, and Kell Walker carried 16 times for 94 yards.
NEVER QUIT
Some teams might fold after letting a two-touchdown lead vanish. Not Army.
"When they took the lead 17-14 ... maybe some teams get that look in their eye of doubt, or concern," Monken said. "But I think our guys just knuckled down and were determined that they were going to win."
FAREWELL VERNE
This was the final game in the broadcasting career of 76-year-old Verne Lundquist. He was cheered by the crowd during a live shot on the scoreboard.
THE TAKEAWAY
Army: The Black Knights appear to be on the upswing under Monken, now in his third season. They're headed to a bowl game and have a victory over Navy to celebrate.
Navy: The Midshipmen are staggering to the end of the season after a 9-2 start. The loss to Temple was tough to take, but this was much, much worse.
UP NEXT
Army: The Black Knights meet North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, Army's first postseason action since 2010.
Navy: The Midshipmen face Louisiana Tech in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23. It will be Navy's 13th bowl appearance in the last 14 years.
Top 25 Capsules (December 10, 2016)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Bam Adebayo scored 16 points, Malik Monk added 15 and No. 6 Kentucky scored 21 straight points in a first-half run to beat Valparaiso 87-63 on Wednesday night.
Needing to rebound after Saturday's upset by then-No. 11 UCLA, Kentucky (8-1) turned a 4-all tie into a 29-9 lead behind that big run over 8:51, holding the Crusaders scoreless for 7 minutes during that stretch. Valparaiso (7-2) shot 23 of 67 from the field (34 percent), including 28 percent in the first half.
Derek Willis added 12 points and Isaiah Briscoe 10 for Kentucky, which shot 46 percent after making just 41 percent against UCLA.
High-scoring Valparaiso forward Alec Peters scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half for the Crusaders, who had their four-game winning streak snapped eight days after upsetting No. 21 Rhode Island.
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No. 7 NORTH CAROLINA 83, DAVIDSON 74
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Justin Jackson matched his career high with 27 points and hit a career-best seven 3-pointers for North Carolina.
Luke Maye added an early burst by scoring all of his career-high 10 points before halftime for the Tar Heels (9-1), who played without top point guard and No. 2 scorer Joel Berry II.
Jack Gibbs - ranked seventh nationally by averaging 23.3 points - finished with 30 points for the Wildcats (5-3), who trailed by 16 midway through the second half before making a late push to get within three in the final 2 minutes.
But Kennedy Meeks answered with two free throws, then Isaiah Hicks followed with two more after getting a big rebound in traffic with 52 seconds left to help UNC hang on.
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No. 8 GONZAGA 98, WASHINGTON 71
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Nigel Williams-Goss scored 23 points for Gonzaga in a resumption of the cross-state rivalry.
Przemek Karnowski added 17 points and Jordan Mathews had 14 for Gonzaga (9-0), which dominated from the opening minutes.
Freshman Markelle Fultz had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Washington (4-4), which has lost three straight. The Huskies came in averaging 88 points per game.
Noah Dickerson had 12 points and 15 rebounds for Washington, which shot just 30 percent for the game. Gonzaga shot 53 percent.
Williams-Goss, who played for Washington before transferring to Gonzaga and becoming eligible this season, made 9 of 13 shots against his former team.
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No. 10 CREIGHTON 77, NEBRASKA 62
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Maurice Watson Jr. scored a season-high 25 points and Cole Huff added 13 as Creighton dominated the second half.
The Bluejays (9-0) have won 15 of 18 meetings with the Cornhuskers (5-4), including the last six by double digits.
Creighton led 31-30 at halftime and held Nebraska scoreless for 6 1/2 minutes in the second half while going up 51-37 and grew the lead to 21 in the last 3 minutes.
Tai Webster had 16 points and Ed Morrow had 13 rebounds for the Huskers.
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No. 11 LOUISVILLE 74, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 51
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Mangok Mathiang scored 15 points to lead Louisville.
The 6-foot-10 senior got the Cardinals (8-1) off to a hot start as he scored the team's first seven points, and Louisville settled in from there, extending the lead to 21-4 in the game's first 8 minutes. In making six of nine shots, Mathiang finished two points shy of his career high in just 22 minutes.
As Southern Illinois (5-4) had no one taller than 6-9, Louisville used its size to its advantage. The Cardinals blocked nine shots and outrebounded the Salukis 43-31.
Sophomore Deng Adel posted his first double-double for Louisville, as the 6-7 forward finished with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
Sean O'Brien led the Salukis with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
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COLORADO 68, No. 13 XAVIER 66
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Derrick White scored 23 points and had a crucial block with 13 seconds remaining to help Colorado.
Xavier Johnson added for 18 points for the Buffaloes (7-2), who have posted consecutive wins over ranked teams for the first time since 2013. They knocked off a ranked Texas team at the Legends Classic in New York last month.
Colorado was 1-5 against ranked teams last season.
Trevon Bluiett tied a career high with 27 points for Xavier (7-2), which has lost two straight.
Spurred on by the shooting of White and Johnson, the Buffaloes went on a 12-0 run midway through the second half. They kept Xavier scoreless for more than 6 minutes during the pivotal stretch.
It was a frenzied ending, though, with Xavier getting several good looks. White swatted one of those away - his only block of the game.
---
No. 15 WEST VIRGINIA 90, WESTERN CAROLINA 37
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Esa Ahmad scored 14 points for West Virginia.
West Virginia (7-1) didn't slack off after a close road win at No. 14 Virginia on Saturday. The Mountaineers forced 34 turnovers against Western Carolina, a week after setting a school record by forcing 40 against Manhattan.
West Virginia scored the game's first seven points and used a 16-0 run to build a 25-point lead midway through the first half. Western Carolina went scoreless over the final 7:39 and trailed 46-12 at halftime.
By then, Western Carolina (3-6) had 19 turnovers to far surpass its season average. And West Virginia's pressure defense was just getting started. A 26-4 run by the Mountaineers followed early in the second half.
Jevon Carter added 13 points for the Mountaineers, who had 21 steals.
Western Carolina's Haboubacar Mutombo was limited to six points, six under his team-leading average.
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INDIANA ST. 72, No. 16 BUTLER 71
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Brenton Scott made one of two free throws with 0.8 seconds left and finished with 25 points to help Indiana State to the upset.
Matt Van Scyoc scored 23 points and had six 3-pointers, both career highs, as the Sycamores (5-4) won their third straight to snap a four-game losing streak in the series.
Coach Greg Lansing set a school record by picking up his fifth career victory over a ranked team. Lansing had been tied with Bill Hodges, who coached Larry Bird, and the late Royce Waltman.
Andrew Chrabascz had 18 points for Butler (8-1) and Tyler Lewis added 15. The Bulldogs came into the game as one of 11 unbeaten teams left in Division I.
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No. 17 WISCONSIN 78, IDAHO ST. 44
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Bronson Koenig scored 21 points and Ethan Happ had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Wisconsin.
The Badgers (8-2) scored the first 10 points and opened up a 21-3 lead as the Bengals (1-8) could only muster a single 3-pointer in the opening 11 1/2 minutes. Wisconsin led 35-16 at halftime.
Nigel Hayes added 11 points for the Badgers, who had a 44-14 edge in points in the paint and outscored Idaho State 23-5 in points off turnovers. Wisconsin won its fourth straight game.
The Badgers held Bengals leading scorer Ethan Telfair (19.8 ppg) to two points on 1-of-9 shooting, with his only basket coming with 5:57 left in the game.
Needing to rebound after Saturday's upset by then-No. 11 UCLA, Kentucky (8-1) turned a 4-all tie into a 29-9 lead behind that big run over 8:51, holding the Crusaders scoreless for 7 minutes during that stretch. Valparaiso (7-2) shot 23 of 67 from the field (34 percent), including 28 percent in the first half.
Derek Willis added 12 points and Isaiah Briscoe 10 for Kentucky, which shot 46 percent after making just 41 percent against UCLA.
High-scoring Valparaiso forward Alec Peters scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half for the Crusaders, who had their four-game winning streak snapped eight days after upsetting No. 21 Rhode Island.
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No. 7 NORTH CAROLINA 83, DAVIDSON 74
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Justin Jackson matched his career high with 27 points and hit a career-best seven 3-pointers for North Carolina.
Luke Maye added an early burst by scoring all of his career-high 10 points before halftime for the Tar Heels (9-1), who played without top point guard and No. 2 scorer Joel Berry II.
Jack Gibbs - ranked seventh nationally by averaging 23.3 points - finished with 30 points for the Wildcats (5-3), who trailed by 16 midway through the second half before making a late push to get within three in the final 2 minutes.
But Kennedy Meeks answered with two free throws, then Isaiah Hicks followed with two more after getting a big rebound in traffic with 52 seconds left to help UNC hang on.
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No. 8 GONZAGA 98, WASHINGTON 71
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Nigel Williams-Goss scored 23 points for Gonzaga in a resumption of the cross-state rivalry.
Przemek Karnowski added 17 points and Jordan Mathews had 14 for Gonzaga (9-0), which dominated from the opening minutes.
Freshman Markelle Fultz had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Washington (4-4), which has lost three straight. The Huskies came in averaging 88 points per game.
Noah Dickerson had 12 points and 15 rebounds for Washington, which shot just 30 percent for the game. Gonzaga shot 53 percent.
Williams-Goss, who played for Washington before transferring to Gonzaga and becoming eligible this season, made 9 of 13 shots against his former team.
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No. 10 CREIGHTON 77, NEBRASKA 62
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Maurice Watson Jr. scored a season-high 25 points and Cole Huff added 13 as Creighton dominated the second half.
The Bluejays (9-0) have won 15 of 18 meetings with the Cornhuskers (5-4), including the last six by double digits.
Creighton led 31-30 at halftime and held Nebraska scoreless for 6 1/2 minutes in the second half while going up 51-37 and grew the lead to 21 in the last 3 minutes.
Tai Webster had 16 points and Ed Morrow had 13 rebounds for the Huskers.
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No. 11 LOUISVILLE 74, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 51
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Mangok Mathiang scored 15 points to lead Louisville.
The 6-foot-10 senior got the Cardinals (8-1) off to a hot start as he scored the team's first seven points, and Louisville settled in from there, extending the lead to 21-4 in the game's first 8 minutes. In making six of nine shots, Mathiang finished two points shy of his career high in just 22 minutes.
As Southern Illinois (5-4) had no one taller than 6-9, Louisville used its size to its advantage. The Cardinals blocked nine shots and outrebounded the Salukis 43-31.
Sophomore Deng Adel posted his first double-double for Louisville, as the 6-7 forward finished with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
Sean O'Brien led the Salukis with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
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COLORADO 68, No. 13 XAVIER 66
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Derrick White scored 23 points and had a crucial block with 13 seconds remaining to help Colorado.
Xavier Johnson added for 18 points for the Buffaloes (7-2), who have posted consecutive wins over ranked teams for the first time since 2013. They knocked off a ranked Texas team at the Legends Classic in New York last month.
Colorado was 1-5 against ranked teams last season.
Trevon Bluiett tied a career high with 27 points for Xavier (7-2), which has lost two straight.
Spurred on by the shooting of White and Johnson, the Buffaloes went on a 12-0 run midway through the second half. They kept Xavier scoreless for more than 6 minutes during the pivotal stretch.
It was a frenzied ending, though, with Xavier getting several good looks. White swatted one of those away - his only block of the game.
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No. 15 WEST VIRGINIA 90, WESTERN CAROLINA 37
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Esa Ahmad scored 14 points for West Virginia.
West Virginia (7-1) didn't slack off after a close road win at No. 14 Virginia on Saturday. The Mountaineers forced 34 turnovers against Western Carolina, a week after setting a school record by forcing 40 against Manhattan.
West Virginia scored the game's first seven points and used a 16-0 run to build a 25-point lead midway through the first half. Western Carolina went scoreless over the final 7:39 and trailed 46-12 at halftime.
By then, Western Carolina (3-6) had 19 turnovers to far surpass its season average. And West Virginia's pressure defense was just getting started. A 26-4 run by the Mountaineers followed early in the second half.
Jevon Carter added 13 points for the Mountaineers, who had 21 steals.
Western Carolina's Haboubacar Mutombo was limited to six points, six under his team-leading average.
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INDIANA ST. 72, No. 16 BUTLER 71
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Brenton Scott made one of two free throws with 0.8 seconds left and finished with 25 points to help Indiana State to the upset.
Matt Van Scyoc scored 23 points and had six 3-pointers, both career highs, as the Sycamores (5-4) won their third straight to snap a four-game losing streak in the series.
Coach Greg Lansing set a school record by picking up his fifth career victory over a ranked team. Lansing had been tied with Bill Hodges, who coached Larry Bird, and the late Royce Waltman.
Andrew Chrabascz had 18 points for Butler (8-1) and Tyler Lewis added 15. The Bulldogs came into the game as one of 11 unbeaten teams left in Division I.
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No. 17 WISCONSIN 78, IDAHO ST. 44
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Bronson Koenig scored 21 points and Ethan Happ had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Wisconsin.
The Badgers (8-2) scored the first 10 points and opened up a 21-3 lead as the Bengals (1-8) could only muster a single 3-pointer in the opening 11 1/2 minutes. Wisconsin led 35-16 at halftime.
Nigel Hayes added 11 points for the Badgers, who had a 44-14 edge in points in the paint and outscored Idaho State 23-5 in points off turnovers. Wisconsin won its fourth straight game.
The Badgers held Bengals leading scorer Ethan Telfair (19.8 ppg) to two points on 1-of-9 shooting, with his only basket coming with 5:57 left in the game.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
The State of College Basketball - For Now
With about a month of the College Basketball Season complete, it’s never too early to be looking at resumes and who’s on the bubble. Who has been the most impressive team so far? Most disappointing? Early bubble teams?
Final Four Favorites
Villanova - The defending National Champs seemed to go under the radar for most of the offseason. They’re currently #1 in the AP Poll after an 9-0 start. The defending champs recorded a most impressive win at Purdue earlier in the season and they have shown us why they should be favorites to make it back to the Final Four.
Kansas - After starting the season with an overtime loss in Hawaii to Indiana, the Jayhawks rebounded by getting a close win over an undermanned Duke team in New York. The Jayhawks still look to be the kings of the Big 12 with Perry Ellis running the show.
Baylor - The Bears may have the best resume in all of College Basketball at this point with wins over Michigan State, Oregon, Louisville and Xavier. If there’s a team out there that can dethrone Kansas in the Big 12, it may just be the boys from Waco.
UCLA - UCLA is back baby! This is a team that can put up 90-100 points night in and night out. They now have two quality wins over Texas A&M and a big one in Lexington over then #1 Kentucky. This may just be the best offense in all the land, let’s see if they can keep this pace up heading into Pac 12 play.
Duke - Injured? Yes. Getting healthy? Certainly. Duke started the season as #1 for a reason and it’s because when healthy, they are the best all around team. From ultra talented freshmen to seasoned veterans, Duke is still the National Championship favorites. Oh by the way, we still haven’t seen Harry Giles play yet. Mmhmm… that’s kinda scary.
Indiana - Are the Hoosiers for real? They certainly looked for real when they beat Kansas and North Carolina, but they didn’t exactly look for real when they lost to Fort Wayne. That’s right. Fort Wayne. The Hoosiers can run the floor with anyone and that should make them a team that could certainly get to Phoenix in April.
North Carolina - The Tar Heels started the season 7-0 with all seven of those wins coming by 15 or more points, but then they ran into a buzzsaw Indiana team in Bloomington. They’ve rebounded from that loss with wins over Radford and Davidson, but the Tar Heels, who are undoubtedly talented, are still looking to find their identity as they hope to make back to the Final Four.
Gonzaga - This may just be the best team Mark Few has ever had at Gonzaga. Why? They are D-E-E-P. They have one of the better resumes out there currently with quality wins over San Diego State, Florida, Iowa State and Arizona.
Kentucky - Yes they lost at home for the first time in forever, but as we stated earlier, UCLA is a for real. My point, don’t overreact BBN. Kentucky is still a very talented team, but as usual, very young. But they showed us how good they were with that blowout win over Michigan State.
Don’t Dare Underestimate These Teams
South Carolina - The Gamecocks missed the Tournament last year because they lacked strong non-conference wins. Well, they won’t let that be the reason they miss it this year as they’ve gotten early wins over Syracuse and Michigan. South Carolina looks to be really talented again this season, let’s wait and see what they do in SEC play against the likes of Kentucky and Florida before we give you a true reading on them.
Virginia - Virginia looks very good again, and as always, superb defensively. But if they want to prove themselves as a National Title contender, they need to show us something against solid competition. The best win they have is either Ohio State or Providence and they lost their only game against a top team in West Virginia.
West Virginia - Speaking of the Mountaineers… Press Virginia is in full swing again. In their last game against Western Carolina, they forced 34 (!!!) turnovers. 34 turnovers! Are they as good as Kansas or Baylor, probably just below them, but if you can force 34 turnovers every game, I guarantee you you’ll win.
Oregon - Yes the Ducks are off to a slow start after losses to Baylor and Georgetown, but this team is too talented to be looked over. Dillon Brooks is still getting healthy, and once he’s a 100%, Oregon will likely be contending for a top seed again.
Creighton - Hey guys, Creighton is undefeated. I tell you this because it seems like no one realizes that. Not only are they unbeaten, but they have beaten quality teams in Wisconsin and North Carolina State too. The Blue Jays can certainly pose a threat to Villanova in the Big East.
Teams That Have Disappointed
Michigan State - Listen, I have no doubt Tom Izzo will turn this team around and it will be at the very least a Sweet Sixteen team, but so far, they haven’t looked good at all. In the early part of the season, they have lost to Arizona, Kentucky by 21, Baylor and Duke. Oh, and did I mention they came within a point of losing to Florida Gulf Coast and nearly blew a big second half lead to Wichita State.
Connecticut - Are you kidding me UConn? Are you kidding me Kevin Ollie? I don’t know what this is UConn is trying to sell to us, but it’s not good basketball. UConn started the season ranked 18th in the Polls, and then they went on to lose to Wagner & Northeastern to begin the season, nearly lost to Loyola Marymount, and then lost two more games to Oklahoma State and Oregon. They did just get a win over Syracuse which is solid, but UConn is awful right now.
Rhode Island - I had a lot of high hopes for Rhode Island entering the season, and I must not have been the only one considering they started the season in the Top 25. They haven’t been awful, but they haven’t looked great either. They competed with Duke, but never really looked like they were in position to win that game. They followed that up with losses to Valparaiso and Providence. Hopefully the Rhodys can get it pointed in the right direction when A10 play gets started.
Ohio State - Okay, I didn’t think the Buckeyes were suddenly going to be advancing to the Elite Eight and contending for a Final Four, but I did think they’d be in the Tournament this year and contend with leading teams in the Big Ten. They contended with Virginia before losing by two, but they haven’t looked very convincing in their other wins. They won by single digits against North Carolina Central, Providence, Fairleigh Dickinson AND they lost at home to Florida Atlantic as 22 point favorites.
San Diego State - The Aztecs we’ve come to know and love of late are… the be kind… gone. They fooled around and nearly lost to San Diego to begin the season, they they were blown out and didn’t even look competitive against Gonzaga. Then after three straight wins, they’ve lost two straight to Loyola Chicago and Grand Canyon. LOYOLA CHICAGO AND GRAND CANYON!!!
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Baylor Hires Matt Rhule as Head Football Coach
WACO, Texas -- Baylor University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades IV announced today the appointment of Matt Rhule as the 27th Baylor Head Football Coach. Rhule comes to Waco after four seasons as the head coach at Temple University, where he led the Owls to consecutive 10-win seasons in 2015 and 2016 and the 2016 American Athletic Conference championship.
Rhule will be introduced at a campus celebration on Wednesday at a time and site to be determined.
"We could not be more excited to welcome Matt, Julie and their children to the Baylor Family," said Rhoades. "When we set out on our search for a new leader of our football program, we wanted a coach who shared our values, who had demonstrated success, who showed a true commitment to the overall student-athlete and who we believed could lead Baylor to a national championship. We found all of that and more in Matt and I know that he will be a perfect fit with the Baylor Family."
Rhule served as Head Coach at Temple for four years, compiling a 14-2 conference record in the past two seasons, which included two bowl appearances, two American Athletic Conference East Division titles and the 2016 American Athletic Conference championship. It is the first time in Temple football history that it registered consecutive 10-win seasons and consecutive bowl game appearances. Prior to Temple as the Head Coach, Rhule served as an offensive line coach for the New York Giants in 2012, after coaching six years at Temple, first as the defensive line coach, before switching to quarterbacks and ultimately, to offensive coordinator in 2008. Prior to Temple, Rhule coached at Albright, Buffalo, UCLA and Western Carolina.
"I am truly honored and humbled to join the Baylor Family," said Rhule, "and I can't thank President Garland and Mack Rhoades enough for this incredible opportunity. Baylor is a tremendous institution with a history of football success and I know the passion that so many have for the Bears will help bring the community together to reach even greater heights. I am excited to get started."
Rhule played linebacker from 1994-1997 at Penn State, then earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 1997, before graduating with a degree in Political Science from Penn State and a Master's degree in Education Psychology from SUNY-Buffalo. He and his wife, Julie, have three children: Bryant (12), and daughters, Vivienne (3) and Leona (1).
"This is a great day for Baylor University and the beginning of a new chapter in our football program," said Interim President David Garland. "Matt is the absolute right man at the right time to lead us forward and I am confident that his values are our values and that his teams and student-athletes will make us all proud, on and off the field."
- Baylor Football
Rhule will be introduced at a campus celebration on Wednesday at a time and site to be determined.
"We could not be more excited to welcome Matt, Julie and their children to the Baylor Family," said Rhoades. "When we set out on our search for a new leader of our football program, we wanted a coach who shared our values, who had demonstrated success, who showed a true commitment to the overall student-athlete and who we believed could lead Baylor to a national championship. We found all of that and more in Matt and I know that he will be a perfect fit with the Baylor Family."
Rhule served as Head Coach at Temple for four years, compiling a 14-2 conference record in the past two seasons, which included two bowl appearances, two American Athletic Conference East Division titles and the 2016 American Athletic Conference championship. It is the first time in Temple football history that it registered consecutive 10-win seasons and consecutive bowl game appearances. Prior to Temple as the Head Coach, Rhule served as an offensive line coach for the New York Giants in 2012, after coaching six years at Temple, first as the defensive line coach, before switching to quarterbacks and ultimately, to offensive coordinator in 2008. Prior to Temple, Rhule coached at Albright, Buffalo, UCLA and Western Carolina.
"I am truly honored and humbled to join the Baylor Family," said Rhule, "and I can't thank President Garland and Mack Rhoades enough for this incredible opportunity. Baylor is a tremendous institution with a history of football success and I know the passion that so many have for the Bears will help bring the community together to reach even greater heights. I am excited to get started."
Rhule played linebacker from 1994-1997 at Penn State, then earning Academic All-Big Ten recognition in 1997, before graduating with a degree in Political Science from Penn State and a Master's degree in Education Psychology from SUNY-Buffalo. He and his wife, Julie, have three children: Bryant (12), and daughters, Vivienne (3) and Leona (1).
"This is a great day for Baylor University and the beginning of a new chapter in our football program," said Interim President David Garland. "Matt is the absolute right man at the right time to lead us forward and I am confident that his values are our values and that his teams and student-athletes will make us all proud, on and off the field."
- Baylor Football
Sunday, December 4, 2016
CFB Committee sets Final 4, Top-6 set: Alabama tops the list
Final Rankings:
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Washington
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
No. 1 Alabama will face No. 4 Washington in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, while No. 2 Clemson will face No. 3 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31 as well.
Alabama is in the playoff for the third straight season and is the top seed for the second time.
No. 2 Ohio State is making its second playoff appearance and No. 3 Clemson is in for the second consecutive season.
The rest of the New Year's Six bowls were also announced:
- Florida State (9-3) will play Michigan (10-2) in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.
- Southern California (9-3) will play Penn State (11-2) in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2.
- Auburn (8-4) will play Oklahoma (10-2) in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.
- Western Michigan (13-0) will play Wisconsin (10-3) in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2.
The national championship game will be Jan. 7 in Tampa.
The Associated Press on Sunday also released their updated Top-25 list.
New AP top 25:
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Washington
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
7. Oklahoma
8. Wisconsin
9. USC
10. FSU
11. Colorado
12. Western Michigan
13. Oklahoma State
14. West Virginia
15. Louisville
16. Stanford
17. Auburn
18. Virginia Tech
19. LSU
20. Florida
21. Iowa
22. Pittsburgh
23. Temple
24. Nebraska
25. South Florida
Watson, Clemson claim ACC title and await playoff berth
By FRED GOODALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Deshaun Watson's mission is not over.
The Heisman Trophy hopeful and third-ranked Clemson Tigers are ready to return to the College Football Playoff and try to resolve some unfinished business from last season.
Watson bolstered his candidacy for the sport's biggest individual award by passing for three touchdowns and running for two more to lead the Tigers (12-1, No. 3 CFP) a 42-35 victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.
Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send coach Dabo Swinney and his players back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second straight year, providing Watson with an opportunity to resolve unfinished business from last January , when the Tigers lost to Alabama in the national championship game.
"What a blessing to be a part of this journey," Swinney said, flanked by Watson. "This guy is the best player in the country, and it isn't close."
The Clemson star completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers. They've won back-to-back ACC titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986-88.
Watson's Virginia Tech counterpart, Jerod Evans, was just as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound ran for two touchdowns and rallied the Hokies from a 21-point deficit to make it close at the end.
The Hokies (9-4, No. 23 CFP) scored on three straight possessions, trimming what was once a 35-14 deficit to seven points on Evans' 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Cam Phillips' 26-yard TD reception with just under 6 minutes remaining.
"We've been there before. We were down 17 in the Notre Dame game and we were able to rally together to fight back," Hokies receiver Isaiah Ford said. "So we were confident we could come back."
Virginia Tech got the ball back with a chance to force overtime. Evans drove his team to the Clemson 23, where the drive stalled when Tigers cornerback Cordrea Tankersley intercepted a pass on fourth-and-6.
"They got here for a reason," Swinney said of Virginia Tech. "We just couldn't put them away."
Virginia Tech didn't take solace in playing Clemson close.
"They showed up here to win the ballgame. It's a pretty somber locker room because of that," coach Justin Fuente said.
"Obviously, we came up 'a little short, but it wasn't because we weren't out there competing," Fuente added. "I think our kids poured their heart and soul into this and are going to learn some life lessons from this endeavor."
SITE CHANGE
The game, originally scheduled to be played in Charlotte, N.C., drew a crowd of 50,628 — about 20,000 shy of Camping World Stadium's listed capacity. The ACC moved the event to Orlando because of North Carolina House Bill 2, a controversial law that limits legal protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
EVANS' BIG NIGHT
Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans finished 21 of 35 for 264 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed for 46 yards on 21 carries, and joined Travon McMillian in scoring two TDs on the ground. Meanwhile, Cam Phillips had 12 receptions for 92 yards, and Isaiah Ford had four catches for 89 yards while becoming the Hokies' career leader in receiving yards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Clemson: It's been a yearlong quest to get back to the CFP, and the Tigers survived every test with the exception of a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh in early November — a game in which the Tigers turned the ball over three times but still came within a fourth-and-1 conversion of winning. Watson was overshadowed early in the season, when ACC player of the year Lamar Jackson was posting gaudy statistics for Louisville, however the Clemson quarterback's performance Saturday night added to the sterling resume he's put together for Heisman Trophy consideration .
Virginia Tech: The Coastal Division winners weren't just happy to be in the title game. Fuente and his players were determined to make the most of the Hokies' first appearance in the title game in five years. And for a half, they kept it close, weathering Clemson scoring on its first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead. Even after being outgained 148 yards to minus-14 while falling behind by three TDs in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, Evans rallied his team to make a game of it in the fourth quarter.
DISQUALIFIED
Clemson LB Dorian O'Daniel was ejected in the opening quarter after being penalized for targeting on a high hit on Virginia Tech RB Sam Rogers, who was dropped for no gain on a pass reception. The call, along with Terrell Edmunds' 20-yard reception on a fake punt play and a 15-yard pass interference penalty against Tankersley, fueled the Hokies' first scoring drive, a 12-play, 77-yard march that McMillian finished his TD run.
UP NEXT:
Clemson: Awaits official word on a berth and seeding in the CFP, which begins with the national semifinals on Dec. 31.
Virginia Tech: Will travel to a bowl game hoping to finish its season under Fuente with 10 wins for the first time since 2011. Fuente also would become the first coach in school history to win 10 games in his first season leading the Hokies.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Heisman Trophy hopeful and third-ranked Clemson Tigers are ready to return to the College Football Playoff and try to resolve some unfinished business from last season.
Watson bolstered his candidacy for the sport's biggest individual award by passing for three touchdowns and running for two more to lead the Tigers (12-1, No. 3 CFP) a 42-35 victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.
Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send coach Dabo Swinney and his players back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second straight year, providing Watson with an opportunity to resolve unfinished business from last January , when the Tigers lost to Alabama in the national championship game.
"What a blessing to be a part of this journey," Swinney said, flanked by Watson. "This guy is the best player in the country, and it isn't close."
The Clemson star completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers. They've won back-to-back ACC titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986-88.
Watson's Virginia Tech counterpart, Jerod Evans, was just as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound ran for two touchdowns and rallied the Hokies from a 21-point deficit to make it close at the end.
The Hokies (9-4, No. 23 CFP) scored on three straight possessions, trimming what was once a 35-14 deficit to seven points on Evans' 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Cam Phillips' 26-yard TD reception with just under 6 minutes remaining.
"We've been there before. We were down 17 in the Notre Dame game and we were able to rally together to fight back," Hokies receiver Isaiah Ford said. "So we were confident we could come back."
Virginia Tech got the ball back with a chance to force overtime. Evans drove his team to the Clemson 23, where the drive stalled when Tigers cornerback Cordrea Tankersley intercepted a pass on fourth-and-6.
"They got here for a reason," Swinney said of Virginia Tech. "We just couldn't put them away."
Virginia Tech didn't take solace in playing Clemson close.
"They showed up here to win the ballgame. It's a pretty somber locker room because of that," coach Justin Fuente said.
"Obviously, we came up 'a little short, but it wasn't because we weren't out there competing," Fuente added. "I think our kids poured their heart and soul into this and are going to learn some life lessons from this endeavor."
SITE CHANGE
The game, originally scheduled to be played in Charlotte, N.C., drew a crowd of 50,628 — about 20,000 shy of Camping World Stadium's listed capacity. The ACC moved the event to Orlando because of North Carolina House Bill 2, a controversial law that limits legal protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
EVANS' BIG NIGHT
Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans finished 21 of 35 for 264 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed for 46 yards on 21 carries, and joined Travon McMillian in scoring two TDs on the ground. Meanwhile, Cam Phillips had 12 receptions for 92 yards, and Isaiah Ford had four catches for 89 yards while becoming the Hokies' career leader in receiving yards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Clemson: It's been a yearlong quest to get back to the CFP, and the Tigers survived every test with the exception of a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh in early November — a game in which the Tigers turned the ball over three times but still came within a fourth-and-1 conversion of winning. Watson was overshadowed early in the season, when ACC player of the year Lamar Jackson was posting gaudy statistics for Louisville, however the Clemson quarterback's performance Saturday night added to the sterling resume he's put together for Heisman Trophy consideration .
Virginia Tech: The Coastal Division winners weren't just happy to be in the title game. Fuente and his players were determined to make the most of the Hokies' first appearance in the title game in five years. And for a half, they kept it close, weathering Clemson scoring on its first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead. Even after being outgained 148 yards to minus-14 while falling behind by three TDs in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, Evans rallied his team to make a game of it in the fourth quarter.
DISQUALIFIED
Clemson LB Dorian O'Daniel was ejected in the opening quarter after being penalized for targeting on a high hit on Virginia Tech RB Sam Rogers, who was dropped for no gain on a pass reception. The call, along with Terrell Edmunds' 20-yard reception on a fake punt play and a 15-yard pass interference penalty against Tankersley, fueled the Hokies' first scoring drive, a 12-play, 77-yard march that McMillian finished his TD run.
UP NEXT:
Clemson: Awaits official word on a berth and seeding in the CFP, which begins with the national semifinals on Dec. 31.
Virginia Tech: Will travel to a bowl game hoping to finish its season under Fuente with 10 wins for the first time since 2011. Fuente also would become the first coach in school history to win 10 games in his first season leading the Hokies.
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