HHCBV2's Season 1 should be full of surprises. The surprises kicked off with the HHCB Preseason Tournament
which used the preseason AP Poll as seeds. Out of the 10 games, 5 lower seeds pulled off the victory, including
the championship. UMass was responsible for 3 of those 5 games. The Minutemen were the 10 seed, and had to pull
off victories over #7 Virginia Tech by 6, over #2 Illinois by 12, and then in the Championship after defeating
#11 Inidana by 9 whom knocked off the other 2 upsets. Indiana defeated #6 Ohio St. by a point and #3 UNLV by 11.
#1 UNI was the opposition against #10 UMass, and UMass got the 54-53 upset win.
New rankings aren't due until after games 1-5 of the HHCB Regular Season, but, unless UMass bombs, we should see
a big jump for the Minutemen and Hoosiers. And, possibly, drops by Illinois and UNLV for losing by double digits
to these bottom of the barrel teams. UNI will hold a question mark. A 5-0 run should keep them #1, but they will
hold this cloud over their head until they meet UMass at UMass in game 11 of the regular season. They will
then meet again in games 16 and 20. Game 16 being in Iowa, and 20 in Massachusets.
For more on predictions, check out the network analysis!
January 1, 2001
As stated last time, HHCBV2's Season 1 has been full of surprises.
The surprises kicked off in game 1 as #4 Kentucky got their revenge against #1 Northern Iowa. Also, in game 1,
#9 Iowa upset #2 Illinois, and #3 UNLV dropped a game to #6 Ohio St.
Game 2 continued the upsets as #1 UNI couldn't rebound on the road against #2 Illinois, who picked up their
rebound game. And #3 UNLV lost again by 2 to #4 Kentucky.
In game 3, UNI found the winning way, but it was against Rutgers. UNLV continued to struggle against Illinois
65-60, and Iowa got an upset road win against #7 Virginia Tech by 3.
Game 4 saw #5 Cal St. Northridge knock down Illinois by 10, not turning the ball over once en route to victory.
UNLV did win, but it was against Rutgers, and UNI beat a non-Rutgers over Virginia Tech by 3. Kentucky suffered
loss number 1 to Rhode Island by 11.
And, amazingly #9 Iowa and #6 Ohio St. was picked as the highlight game for game 5(the highlight games are
picked prior to all games for that week). It was amazing because it just happened to be the dual of the only
unbeatens at 4-0. And Ohio St. took full advantage of Iowa's extra turnovers, and the home court advantage with
the 47-41 victory to move to 5-0, the only undefeated team in HHCB. UNLV lost again to Tech by 14, dropping to
1-4 and down the ranks to #11. That's dead last. UNI also lost by 6 to Indiana. That dropped the Panthers to
2-3 and down the ladder from #1 to #5.
All and all in the ranks, everybody shuffled except Virginia Tech who's 3-2 record kept them at #7.
Kentucky now holds #1 from #4 at 4-1, but Ohio St. is at #2 from #6 and looking to jump the spot with a win in
game 9 when Kentucky visits the Buckeyes. Iowa was #3 from #9 with their 4-1 record.
For the rest of the AP Poll, Check out the AP Poll.
Next week, watch for an in depth preview of the final 10 games of the conference season following the first
4 games in the conference year. What new conference rivalries are brewing? To find the answer, check out the
Bits Saturday.
February 5, 2001
After long wait, HHCBV2 is back online.
Here's the topics of the day in order:
1) What went wrong---Explanation of delay
2) Games 6-20
3) Conference Tournaments Preview
4) Season 2
Ok. What went wrong was that the disk went bad only losing one file. The one that the game actually runs on.
The only back up was on a missing piece of paper. Work and school hampered the search and the reentering.
However, once this was down, I decided to get us back on schedule ASAP and super sized your serving of HHCB
tonight with the tournaments coming up right away on Wednesday.
Let's begin now with the ever anticipated game 6 featuring #1 and #3. #1 Kentucky squeaked out the victory by
1 point in Iowa closing out the non-conference season.
The conference season saw Illinois defeat Kentucky in game 7 at Kentucky.
Also, Indiana upset Ohio St, UNLV upset the Matadors, Illinois took advantage of the Buckeyes, the first 2
overtime games occured in game 8 seeing UNLV beat Iowa at home and the Matadors beat UMass at home.
Continuing, Virginia Tech held off Indiana by 1, Indiana surprised Kentucky, and Virginia Tech shocked Illinois.
The rankings then saw Indiana gain a bit of respect to #7, Illinois go from #4 to #1 and Kentucky drop from #1 to
#5. Iowa also quietly took over #2 from the 3-spot.
In games 11 and 12, Indiana wanted more respect defeating Illinois, Rhode Island wanted out of the basement with
huge wins over UNLV and UMass(17 and 16), Kentucky upset Illinois, and Ohio St. stopped the Indiana "Heat".
Game 13 saw the rematches of our overtime games with Iowa gaining revenge 34-32, and Cal St. winning again 34-32.
Games 14 and 15 saw UMass upset the hot Hawkeyes, Rhode Island continue winning over the Matadors and then Iowa by
11, and Indiana took a game at Kentucky.
These games put Ohio St. into #1, and Illinois taking their spot at #4. Iowa stood at #2, Kentucky at #5, and
Cal St. Northridge at #6 as Indiana wrapped up the top 6 jumping 4 to #3.
Then the conference season closed in the next set:
In games 16 and 17 Illinois won at Indiana, Virginia Tech wanted to move back up from the new found 8-spot as they
beat Ohio St, UNLV wanted out of the basement beating Rhode Island, Ohio St. thrashed Kentucky at Cat Country while
UMass beat Iowa.
In game 18, another overtime thriller between Indiana and Kentucky, Indiana won at Kentucky by 3 while Virginia Tech
and UNI surprised Illinois and Cal St. Northridge.
In games 19 and 20 Kentucky upset Illinois, Ohio St. upset Indiana, UNI thrashed Iowa, Illinois halted Indiana again,
Virginia Tech upset Ohio St, and Iowa couldn't find the win column against Cal St for a second time.
So, in the Big Ten, Indiana wants to avenge that late game 19 loss to Ohio St. at Ohio St. However, the Buckeyes are
favored. Virginia Tech is favored to defeat Kentucky for the right to play Illinois, but Illinois should make the
Championship. Ohio St. is favored to take the road win for the Championship. However, Indiana has something to
fight for other then revenge against Ohio St. A revenge game at Illinois.
In the Big 12, UNI is favored over UNLV, giving UNI the right to travel to UMass who got the 2-spot with the 2-1
regular season edge over the Panthers. UNI wants revenge, and is favored to earn it. Meanwhile, Rhode Island is
favored to defeat the Matadors for the right to travel to Iowa and lose. In the battle of Iowa, the Panthers are
favored behind their late fire, dispite being in Carver Hawkeye, not the UNI-Dome.
Now, for some Season 2 business.
Season 2 will occur, but, since we are still early in the game, there will be some changes. There are many scores in
the 20's and 30's, and that should be changed. Shots per game and shooting percentages will be uped so that we can
see a 70, 80, 90, or even 100.
Remember, to come back soon(Wednesday), for the conference tournaments!!!
February 7, 2001
And now we know who's going to Orlando for this weekend's Dance. Unfortunately, Rhode Island and UNLV weren't asked
out, and we must first get rid of a third wheel.
The third wheel for Illinois's pairing is either UNI or Cal St. Northridge. Each are great teams, but only one can
win. Each split in their conference tournaments with UNI playing closer, but the Matadors playing tougher teams.
No matter who wins, neither has a great chance at being able to defeat the Illini.
The 4/5 pairing of Iowa and Virginia Tech is also too close to call, while Indiana and is favored and Ohio St. is
heavily favored in the other two match ups, but upsets have and do happen.
Kentucky, UNLV, UNI, and Illinois were the preseason media picks for the Final 4. One wasn't invited, and one has a
legitamate chance in Illinois. Virginia Tech and Cal St. Northridge also received small picks with the Hokies having
the better chance there.
The current Final 4 picks from the media are Illinois, Ohio St, Indiana, and Virginia Tech in 1-4 order with another
Illinois and Indiana battle predicted for the Championship, this time seeing the Hoosiers victorious.
However, the media is rarely right. UNI and Kentucky were picked for the National Championship this preseason with
Big 12 Champions Iowa and UMass picked to go #6 and #4 in the conference's regular year. And in the Big 10 Champion
of Illinois picked to go second and runner up Indiana #5.
Time will tell.
Also, check out the All Star Info today for information on how the players will be picked, and then again on Sunday
to see who the all stars are for V2 Season 1!!!
February 10, 2001
Here's the short preview of the Final 4:
#3 Indiana---The Hoosiers come into the Final 4 at 15-9 and the current heavy favorite for the Championship. The
Hoosiers got here with one tournament win over UMass by 5 points. They're problem may be looking past #7 Kentucky to
#4 Virginia Tech, but the Hokies may also have that problem.
#4 Virginia Tech---The Hokies are one of the three Final 4 qualifiers given preseason consideration. Virginia Tech
got here with a tough victory over Iowa to move to 14-9, but they, like Indiana, can't look past their next opponent
as the #8 Panthers came out clawing against the #1 Illini to shock their way to a Final 4.
#7 Kentucky---The Wildcats are one of the two given serious consideration in the preseason for a National Championship.
And after a lackluster 12-9 prior to the Dance, they have gotten themselves in the Final 4 at 13-9. They are in no
position to look past the strong Tech team.
#8 UNI---The Panthers were also strongly considered for the National Championship, but hovered around .500 through
the entire season coming into the Final 4 at 13-11 even having to qualify for the Elite 8. However, after getting past
the #1 seeded Illinois, UNI could be back on their way to finding another Championship Game(remember their preseason
championship loss to UMass?).
Maybe the networks aren't too dumb after all with those preseason picks, but their 3 teams aren't the favored right
now. Will the networks's teams pull through, or will Indiana make them bite the dust. Find out tomorrow.
February 11, 2001
The National Champion has been decided.
In the Orlando Final 4, two Cinderellas, and two of the Nation's best took the floor. In David vs. Goliath, Part I,
The Panthers of Northern Iowa took on The Hokies of Virginia Tech. UNI out rebounded on the basis that they didn't
shoot as much due to a large amount of extra turnovers which the Hokies took advantage of.
The Panthers were to be in the National Championship in the preseason picks, but looked distant from that mark over
the regular season. In reality, they came just 5 points shy in a 34-29 loss.
Then it was time for David vs. Goliath Part II, as The Wildcats of Kentucky took on the Hoosiers of Indiana. This
was an even game as the Hoosiers reboudning advantage knocked out the Wildcat turnover advantage, and it came down
to shooting as Indiana was 1 point better. The Wildcats were also to be in the National Championship according to
the preseason, looked good to start, but slowed down gaining speed in the tournament only to be taken off their life
support by Indiana. The Hoosiers move on with the 1 point win.
Then it was time for Goliath vs. Goliath. Which Goliath is stronger? Which would outlast the other? Virginia Tech
showed that they didn't need to outlast Indiana on this day, out agressing on the boards 23-12, and taking advantage
of Indiana's excess sloppiness. Indiana tried to get in it with blocks and steals, but the Hokies quited the Hoosiers
with a couple long balls. In all, anything they could piece together wasn't enough for the Hoosiers as Mr. Strong's
Virginia Tech squad became National Champions.
