This Week in College Basketball: Week 5

By Dennis Berry

This past week was a wild one for college basketball. There were coaches getting honors, big upsets, and even a brawl. So let's not waste any time and get to it.

Crosstown Shootout

The annual Cincinnati-Xavier game is one of the best games in college basketball. The two teams are less than five miles from each other and play for bragging rights of the city. This most figured that the Xavier would win and they did 76-53.

It was the end of the game that caught the nation's attention. As we have all seen by now, a fight ended the game with 9.4 seconds left. Xaiver's Kenny Frease had a bloody eye after taking a punch from Cincinnati's Yancy Gates and then getting kicked in the back from Cheikh Mbodj. It was sad way for a game to end.

After the game, Xavier's Tu Holloway said, "That's what you want to see from Xavier and Cincinnati."

Not it's not Holloway, what we want to see is a good basketball game, not a fight.

Kryzewski & Summitt Honored by Sports Illustrated

Duke's Mike Kryzewski and Tennessee's Pat Summitt were selected as Sportsman & Sportswoman of the Year. Last month Coach Kryzewski became the all time winners leader in men's Division I college basketball. Summitt is the all time leader in men's or women as she is the only coach to win over 1,000 games.

It was the first time that someone from college basketball had won the award since 1997. That year the award went to North Carolina's Dean Smith.

Vitale Honored at Detroit

Dick Vitale is one of the greatest voices of college basketball. He loves the game and it shows. Before the St. John's-Kentucky game he came on the Kentucky pregame show and became very emotional when he talked about nearing the end of his career.

Well Vitale's name will be on the court of his former team, the Detroit Titans renamed the home floor Dick Vitale Court. Vitale coached the Titans from 1973 to 1977. He went 78-30 during his time there.

Players Moving On

Arizona Freshman Sidiki Johnson is leaving the team weeks after being suspended from the ream. Johnson only appeared in three games for the Wildcats.

UCLA has dismissed Reeves Nelson, the leading scorer from last season's tea. Nelson has been in trouble all season with Coach Ben Howland. He has been suspended and even missed the team flight to Maui.

Big East Goes Nationwide

The Big East is expanding, but the conference will not be the same. Last week it announced that five schools are joining the Big East. Three will play basketball. Central Florida, Houston, and SMU are moving to the Big East starting in 2013-14. We all know that conference expansion is driven by football, which San Diego State and Boise State will join the Big East in 2013 as well.

The Big East had to something after losing West Virginia to the Big 12, as well as Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC. But UCF, Houston, and SMU are not on the level of those three.

Calipari Can't See Himself at UK more than 10 Years

John Calipari was on the Dan Patrick Show talking about various subjects. The one thing that caught Big Blue Nation's attention was when Cal talked about how long he would be. Calipari said he can't see himself more than 10 years. As long as he wins a National Championship before he leaves, Kentucky fans will be fine.

UPSETS!

Saturday was a bad day for top ranked teams. The number 1 & 2 teams both lost on the road.

• Indiana over #1 Kentucky
• #13 Kansas over #2 Ohio State
• Other upsets from the past week.
• Dayton over #16 Alabama
• Saint Joseph's over #19 Creighton
• Murray State over #20 Memphis
  

Dunk of the Week

Marquette's Vander Blue has had some great dunks. Go to the 15 second mark to see this week's dunk of the week.

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