
MATT CRAIG | NCAA EXTERN | BALL STATE SPORTS LINK
This piece was originally published on NCAA.com
This week’s social media roundup has a little bit of everything as the college basketball landscape starts to come into focus. We saw crazy upsets, former presidents and a birthday for a legend. For all of the moments on the court, and plenty off of it, the Internet was there to document the best that college basketball had to offer.
5) You know what they say: “In 49 states it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana.” That may be folklore, but there’s undeniably a different electricity when a pair of teams from the Hoosier state face off. Indiana has learned that lesson firsthand already this season, falling on the road against IPFW. And Butler became the latest victim this week, as its undefeated season came to an end on the road at Indiana State. In an even more fitting coincidence, the upset came on the day of Sycamore legend Larry Bird’s 60th birthday.
This one is for you, Larry Legend! 🎂 https://t.co/BdK6A0yNXl
— Sycamore Basketball (@IndStMBB) December 8, 2016
4) Bob Huggins has had a long and storied career, beginning in 1980 at Walsh University at the tender age of 27. Since then, he has been the model of consistency, averaging just over 23 wins per season and reaching a pair of Final Fours. He’s off to another solid season with his Mountaineers at 8-1, including a pair of wins this week. His latest, coming in a 90-55 trouncing of VMI, was the 799th in Huggins’ storied career. That leaves the door open for his 800th win coming next Saturday against UMKC.
With today's win @CoachHuggs is now at 799 career wins. He goes for No. 800 next Saturday at home against UMKC. Tip is set for 2 p.m. pic.twitter.com/MtqMEdADxb
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) December 10, 2016
3) TCU’s Jamie Dixon had gotten off to the best start of any first-year head coach in school history after his Horned Frogs started 8-0. But during SMU’s Wednesday night home contest against TCU, there were a few special guests on hand. George W. Bush, a Dallas native, was on hand with his wife Laura and former UK Prime Minister David Cameron. The Mustangs were led by 23 points from junior forward Semi Ojeleye, one of four starters to reach double figures.
2) Marcus Keene leads the nation in scoring at 30.8 points per contest, more than five points better than the next highest individual scorer. The junior stands at just 5-foot-8, but he has lead his Central Michigan Chippewas to a 8-3 start. This week all he did was drop 40 points on Green Bay, including this bomb from deep after turning his back disrespectfully on his defender.
1) Auburn is off to a hot start this season, sitting at 6-1 and ranked No. 21 in the latest RPI poll. Their only loss comes to No. 18 Purdue, a game in which the Boilermakers hit a ridiculous 17 3-pointers. Next up for Bruce Pearl’s Tigers is the inaugural Under Armour Reunion event hosted at Madison Square Garden. Being in New York City, the Auburn team took the opportunity to visit Ground Zero, taking a picture near the site of the North Tower.
Great, short & lots of retainable info! Good job Matt Craig!!