What’s Trending: A Month Away from March!
Posted by Griffin Wong on February 4th, 2016What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.
SEC/Big 12 Challenge
The midseason SEC/Big 12 Challenge took place last weekend, giving teams from both conferences a chance to prove themselves in a high-profile event. The highlight of the weekend was surely Oklahoma’s surge to beat LSU in overtime, as senior Buddy Hield poured in 32 points and pushed still closer to legendary 50-50-90 Club (50% 3FG, 50% FG, 90% FT). While Hield’s late flourish stole the show, it may have been Texas A&M that proved the most. Behind 20 points from guard Danuel House, the Aggies, lacking a signature win, cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the nation with a 10-point win over Iowa State. Overall, the Big 12 took the bragging rights with a 7-3 victory, and the event was a resounding success.
I'm loving the midseason Big 12/SEC Challenge. I propose they do the same thing in football — on the third Saturday in November.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 30, 2016
Buddy Hield took 22 shots in Oklahoma's win at LSU. Ben Simmons took seven. You've got to want the ball in your hands at crunch time.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 31, 2016
Texas A&M with a statement, bounce-back win against Iowa State with signature defense the key: https://t.co/UMCq8DTVMB
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 30, 2016
More Tragedy Strikes
Mercer senior Jibri Bryan was shot and killed last Tuesday while parked in a car outside a gas station. In what has seemed like a horribly tragic season of college hoops, it’s devastating to hear of even more despair. We wish all the best to the Mercer family and his loved ones.
We join with Mercer in mourning the loss of Jibri Bryan. pic.twitter.com/ME4MhWY3Ze
— NCAA (@NCAA) February 3, 2016
Chilling, wicked story that broke last night: Mercer hoops player shot in the head, killed in parking lot yesterday. https://t.co/X0LaHVt1np
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 3, 2016
Coach K Skips Trip to Georgia Tech
It was the first time Coach K had missed a game since the infamous 1995 season when his back problems forced him to miss much of the season. Many are poking fun at the connection between the ’95 team that ultimately missed the NCAA Tournament and this one, as Duke fell out of the Top 25 for the first time in nine years last week. The good news? College basketball’s all-time wins leader is reportedly already back in action.
Coach K will miss tonight’s game (illness). Last time he didn’t coach for Duke, per school, was in 1995 — when he stepped away w/back issues
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) February 3, 2016
I feel back spasms coming on for Coach K. https://t.co/z4zMQXYb3X
— Tony Basilio (@TonyBasilio) February 2, 2016
Indiana is Hot
Not only are the Hoosiers scorching because they have won 14 of their last 15 games and sit atop the Big Ten standings, but also because of a blistering 28-0 run that buried Michigan on Tuesday night. Down 24-20 in the first half, Indiana held the Wolverines scoreless for over 10 minutes of game action, going on a ridiculous run that left Michigan left for dead. As the Hoosiers’ defense improves, its opponents get increasingly nervous.
28 unanswered points. Here are all of them. #iubb https://t.co/SAppK8mLD2
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) February 3, 2016
It’s needless to say that Michigan fans weren’t happy.
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) February 3, 2016
Quick Hitters
-In trouble on Wednesday night against Illinois, Rutgers freshman Corey Sanders cleaned up his own miss and sends the game into double-overtime! Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, Sanders’ efforts weren’t enough, as his team fell to Illinois in triple-overtime.
WOW! @RutgersMBB's Corey Sanders makes a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime! #BTNStandout https://t.co/kGA4Bwwjb9
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 4, 2016
-Buddy Hield stole the show for Oklahoma, but it was fellow guard Isaiah Cousins who sealed the deal in the Sooners’ comeback win over LSU.
Wild finish to Oklahoma-LSU. Isaiah Cousins game winner. https://t.co/YKSh7LvdHF
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) January 30, 2016
-LSU freshman sensation Ben Simmons with the reverse!
Dunk of the Night: Ben Simmons edition. https://t.co/ZXkOIrD6Yj
— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) January 31, 2016
-Texas A&M’s Danuel House. Oh my.
It was close for most of the game, but this Danuel House dunk helped Texas A&M put away Iowa State, 72-62: https://t.co/aj7wXpjJpN
— ESPN (@espn) January 30, 2016
-What a way to score your first career three-pointer! Butler senior Roosevelt Jones with the first half buzzer-beater from three-quarters court!
Roosevelt Jones has UNLIMITED RANGE on his floater. @ButlerMBB and @MarquetteMBB tied at 37 at the half on @FS1 https://t.co/zJZVLWLeJa
— BIG EAST MBB (@BIGEASTMBB) January 30, 2016
-Louisville senior Damion Lee set the tone early with this slam in the Cardinals’ upset over North Carolina on Monday night.
Damion Lee kicked things off for @GoCards with this INSANE dunk! #MustSeeACChttps://t.co/tF0Vqw3qkP
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 2, 2016
-Kansas junior Wayne Selden with the monster jam against Kentucky in overtime!
This Wayne Selden dunk was absolutely absurd: https://t.co/m932NAJYX1
— ESPN (@espn) January 31, 2016
