WASHINGTON — The college basketball world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Grayson Allen learned his lesson and returned to the Duke lineup for their bludgeoning of Georgia Tech. After being suspended “indefinitely” for his third trip of an opposing player in less than a calendar year, the All-American sure learned his lesson this time.
I mean, even Bobby was more apologetic when taking out Daniel LaRusso’s leg in the All-Valley Karate Tournament (Dutch was a completely different story). Johnny Lawrence would be proud with how the prized pupil of Durham’s Cobra Kai chapter handled himself in his return.
Just as by announcing the need for back surgery after the loss to Virginia Tech takes the focus off the Blue Devils’ loss in Blacksburg, the return of Grayson Allen after one game away sours those on the fence regarding the Blue Devils. Just as the coach who publicly chastised an Oregon player in the handshake line after a loss now decides to teach his players “internally,” the phrase “double standard” once again begins and ends with a D. A big, blue D.
Saturday’s games:
Georgetown (8-7, 0-3 Big East) vs. #18 Butler (13-2, 2-1), noon (FOX)
The Hoyas haven’t started 0-4 in conference play since Hall of Fame coach John Thompson, Jr. retired midway through the 1998-99 season. The Bulldogs are coming off a home win over top-ranked and defending national champ Villanova…so they might be ripe for the picking. They also own the #1 turnover margin in the conference, while the Hoyas rank 9th. If there was a “costly turnover category,” one feels they’d be leading that. At least this game starts at noon instead of 11 a.m. like last week’s morning matinee with Xavier.
VCU (12-3, 2-0 Atlantic 10) vs. UMass (10-5, 0-2), 1 p.m. (NBCSN)
We could use the transitive property of basketball and say that because the Rams beat George Mason and the Patriots beat the Minutemen, Virginia Commonwealth is better than Massachusetts. You could also go the Captain Obvious route and simply realize that VCU is better than UMass. Just when the A-10 was getting used to a world without Melvin Johnson, freshman Samir Doughty tallies 23 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists in the Rams’ midweek win over Duquesne. Meet the new boss…similar to the old boss.
#21 Virginia Tech (12-2, 1-1 ACC) at #12 Florida State (14-1, 2-0), 2 p.m. (ACCN)
The road will be cruel this winter in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as witnessed in the Hokies’ 104-78 loss at NC State, where they allowed the Wolfpack to shoot 64 percent from the field. It doesn’t get any easier Saturday, as the Seminoles lead the league in shooting percentage and are second in the ACC in scoring. Can Buzz Williams cook up a defense that can contain FSU’s Dwayne Bacon (18 points per game and less than a week removed from a game-winning three against Virginia)?
Maryland (13-2, 1-1 Big Ten) at Michigan (11-4, 1-1), 3:15 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Terps showed their fans the absolute ceiling (25-point thumping of Illinois) and floor (scoreless final 6:02 in a loss to Nebraska) in their first two conference games. The Wolverines have been much more consistent, looking equally as underwhelming in their three-point loss at Iowa as they did in a three-point win at home against Penn State. The maize and blue are also 13th in the Big Ten in rebounding margin and last in the league at defending the three-pointer. With #25 Indiana coming to College Park Tuesday, this is a must-win from a standings, confidence, and momentum standpoint for Melo Trimble and company.
George Mason (11-4, 1-1 Atlantic 10) at St. Bonaventure (9-5, 1-1), 5 p.m. (NBCSN)
The Patriots held their own in their conference opener against VCU and played well in their victory over UMass…but will that translate to the road? It’s been said that “defense and rebounding travel” and Mason, led by Marquise Moore, leads the A-10 in rebounding margin. The Bonnies boast the highest-scoring offense in the conference and hit a league-best 38 percent of their three-pointers. Junior Jaylen Adams is the A-10’s top scorer at 23 points per game and likely hasn’t forgotten last winter’s 3-for-16 shooting performance in Fairfax.
Howard (3-12) at Columbia (5-7), 7 p.m.
The Bison began MEAC play Wednesday with a 78-66 loss at home to Florida A&M. That’s the bad news. The good news is that James Daniel played for the first time all season and the nation’s returning leading scorer tallied a team-high 24 points. There’s more good news in the form of James Miller playing for the first time in eight games, netting 18 points. Now that coach Kevin Nickelberry has his stars back, he needs to keep them healthy while finding the right combinations with the rest of a roster that’s shown plenty of talent. This game is the final dress rehearsal for the preseason MEAC favorites.
Sunday’s games:
George Washington (9-6, 1-1 Atlantic 10) vs. Richmond (8-6, 2-0), noon (NBCSN)
After making 11 of 18 three-pointers in their 73-69 win over Davidson Thursday night, the Colonials may find things a little stickier on the perimeter against the Spiders (2nd in the A-10 at defending the three). GW continues to have issues taking care of the ball — committing 17 turnovers against the Wildcats didn’t help the school that’s last in the conference in turnover margin (Richmond is fourth-best in the league). It’s a matchup of versatile big men in Tyler Cavanaugh against T.J. Cline — both average 17 points per game while being their team’s offensive focal point. Richmond may be unbeaten in league play, but let the record show both of their A-10 wins have come against schools that are 0-2 in the early going.
American (4-10, 1-2 Patriot League) at Lehigh (7-7, 1-2), 2 p.m.
Both teams are coming off home losses, but the Eagles may be able to build off their 69-60 defeat to conference-leading Bucknell better than the Mountain Hawks in their attempted recovery from blowing an 18-point lead in a loss to Loyola (Md.). AU freshman Mark Gasperini will have his hands full with two-time Patriot League Player of the Year Tim Kempton (21 points and 10 rebounds per game while shooting 38 percent from three-point range). Sophomore Lonnie Rivera has the hot hand for the Eagles, although the 15 points he scored against the Bison were nine shy of equaling his total during Patriot League play last winter. Thursday may have been an isolated incident.
Navy (5-10, 0-3 Patriot League) vs. Colgate (3-13, 1-2), 2 p.m.
After dropping their first two conference games by a combined five points, the Midshipmen dropped the ball early and often Thursday against Boston University, turning the ball over 27 times during a 71-53 loss. Coming into Annapolis is a red-hot freshman by the name of Will Rayman — who is averaging 22 points per game in conference play — and a team that actually has a better record on the road than on their own campus. Okay, so 2-7 isn’t that much better than 1-6…but when you’re already 10 games under .500 the first weekend in January you have to cook the books in some manner to highlight the possibilities.
#11 Virginia (11-3, 1-2 ACC) vs. Wake Forest (10-5, 1-2), 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
How crazy is the Atlantic Coast Conference season after one full week? Entering Saturday’s games, 10 of the 15 schools were 1-1. The Cavaliers can ill afford to start 1-3 in league play and they face a Demon Deacons team that is their defensive opposite. While UVa leads the conference in scoring defense and opponent’s field goal percentage, Wake ranks 13th in points allowed and 15th in opponent’s shooting. They also don’t have the offensive weapons Florida State and Pitt possess. Quietly, junior guard Devon Hall has scored in double figures in each of the Cavaliers’ ACC games — is that a three-game oasis or the start of a trend?
