COLLEGE BASKETBALL LOG BOOK
A look at the stats, facts and story lines from the past week as we begin to think ahead to Selection Sunday (March 15) and the first games of the NCAA tournament (March 17):
Monday
Detroit Mercy plays — and loses to — No. 1 Gonzaga. It is Detroit’s first game against a No. 1 team in 42 years. Or, to put how long ago that was another way, it was in the 1977 NCAA tournament (vs. Michigan) and it was the final game for a 37-year-old Titans coach by the name of Dick Vitale.
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North Carolina defeats Yale, 70-67, to give Roy Williams his 879th career win and tie him with mentor Dean Smith for fourth on the all-time Division I wins list. Said Williams: “It means I stayed around a long time, probably longer than some people wanted me to stay at places.”
Tuesday
Anthony Davis
Among the best of the 2010s
The Associated Press announces its all-decade team: G Kemba Walker, Connecticut; G Jalen Brunson, Villanova; F Anthony Davis, Kentucky; D Zion Williamson, Duke; F Doug McDermott, Creighton.
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Some upsets are bigger than others. Florida A&M travels to Iowa State as a 25.5-point underdog, as a team that was 1-9 and as a team picked to finish ninth in the MEAC, and defeats the Cyclones, 70-68. It is the Rattlers’ first win vs. a Power Five school.
Wednesday
Two unbeatens remain in Division I as the new year arrives: Auburn (12-0) and San Diego State (14-0), which survives some holiday sloppiness to defeat Fresno State, 61-52.
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Jordan Lyons scores 40 points, including 10 of 12 3-pointers, as Furman defeats VMI, 89-73. Lyons is the first player since Darrell Floyd (1953-57) with two career 40-point games for Furman.
Thursday
Ian DuBose scores 44 points as Houston Baptist beats Central Arkansas, 111107, in OT. It ties for the fourthhighest single scoring game this season. The top five: • Here’s something not often seen. No. 4 Oregon goes into its game against an unranked team as an underdog (11 ⁄ 2 points). What’s more, the Ducks actually lose, 74-65. Of course, Colorado isn’t your normal unranked team. The Buffaloes are 12-2 and were picked to finish second in the Pac-12 — behind Oregon.
Friday
To its all-decade team The Associated Press adds a coach of the decade: Villanova’s Jay Wright. Wright is 280-86 since the beginning of the 2009-10 season with two NCAA championships and nine NCAA tournament bids.