Happy Thursday, 'Nova Nation! Two days until finals week hell is over and Syracuse comes to town for a beatdown. We should have our standard Q&A dropping with the TNIAAM crew either today or tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that and remember to not be a troll if you decide to head over there. All things considered they are a pretty cordial group.
If you're in the Atlanta area, we're hosting another gamewatch on Saturday - if you're not on my email list for that, shoot me a note and I'll get you the details. I met a few readers last time out and it'd be great to have some more show up.
And now, the "news."
Titus’s Top 12 NCAA Power Rankings: Looking for Heartbreak? Play Arizona. | Grantland
Look what he says about Ryan Arcidiacono...
Villanova men's basketball team not on the same level as last season | The Morning Call
The reality is, right now Jay Wright's guys are just on another level. And maybe not just in their hometown.
Will Syracuse basketball play Villanova at Madison Square Garden in 2015-16? (Mike's Mailbox) | syracuse.com
When the Syracuse-Villanova series was first announced, some media outlets incorrectly reported that it would be a three-game series with each team getting a home game and then a third game being played at Madison Square Garden.
Villanova's Polony, a Whitehall High product, made most of second chances | The Morning Call
Whitehall product Chris Polony ended his career on a winning note in a Villanova loss.
TNIAAM roundtable previews Villanova | Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
The TNIAAM basketball gang gathers 'round to take themselves off (or onto) a ledge after the Louisiana Tech game, and preview Villanova a bit too.
Syracuse basketball stat pack: How the Orange has fared against Top 10 teams in the last 5 years | The Daily Orange
Now — five years and one month later — the Orange (6-3) will face No. 7 Villanova (10-0) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday, and the situation is far different. SU head coach Jim Boeheim said the Orange is "not anywhere near a good basketball team" after a narrow win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday, and a date with its former Big East rival comes at a crucial point of its early season.
Rawle Alkins update | ZagsBlog.com
Villanova and Indiana watched on Tuesday as Alkins went for 26 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 assists and 4 steals in a 74-57 win over All Hallows.
North Florida Loses Because They Dunked During Pregame Warmups | Deadspin
Tennessee Tech beat the University of North Florida 82-80 in college basketball tonight, in a non-conference matchup of two NCAA Division I schools that you have probably never heard of. But how the North Florida Ospreys lost was really quite brutal, as bad as you'll see in college basketball this season. The SB Nation mothership has more on this rule.
Is Penn State A Pretender Or Contender? | Rush The Court
Last Sunday, Penn State got its best win of the season when it soundly defeated a talented George Washington team at the Bryce Jordan Center. The victory pushed the Nittany Lions’ record to 10-1, which is tied for best in the Big Ten — the lone loss a double-overtime bout with Charlotte. While the number of wins is impressive, a deeper look into the record reveals the absence of any other resume-enhancing wins.
Bo Pelini calls Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst a 'C' & 'P' | Deadspin
Former Nebraska football coach--and new Youngstown State football coach--Bo Pelini had a final meeting with his players on Dec. 2 at Lincoln North Star High School where he lit up his former boss. Better yet though, we get @FauxPelini at the FCS level.
Throwback: Michael Jordan tells UNC Player not to Wear Kobe's | Modern Notoriety
"Hey Dude, Next time I see you wearing those Kobe Bryant’s I’m cutting you right off"
U.S. will bid for 2024 Olympics, pick city later | Chicago Tribune
The United States Olympic Committee has thrown a hat in the ring for the 2024 Summer Olympics. No candidate city has been put forward just yet, however.