In response to yesterday’s Morning Roundup, a few kind individuals pointed out that the University of San Diego, the team Saint Mary’s knocked off Monday night, is also a Catholic school. A quick check of the most authoritative source available to budding lawyas confirms that seven out of eight members of the West Coast Conference are run by children of the Bishop of Rome.

Um … whoops. Must of missed all the unis at mass on Sunday. Let me bring out Sister Mary Katherine for an appropriate punishment.

[rubs wrists] Sister needs to get laid.

Anyway, the overall point stands – Catholic schools have a weird habit of dominating small conference ball, even when they don’t control more than half of the teams in question. (See: A-10 and WCC this year, Patriot and MAAC most years, not to mention all the Jessy schools in major conferences and the biggest upset in college basketball history.)

Whelliston probably has a historical explanation for this, but the only story we can come up with is that just because player aren’t ready for big conference ball doesn’t mean they aren’t itchin’ for big conference poon – and wherever go the priests, there go the school girls.

Obligatory, if utterly NSFW video that is totally acceptable because, dammit, The Kentucky Fried Movie was an important cultural moment after the jump.
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FAIL. (Half the time.)

The Game Everyone is Talking About (sort of)

So much for the lucky blazer
#14 Vanderbilt 72, #1 Tennessee 69:

Bruce Pearl seems to enjoy looking like a Creamsicle for the Vanderbilt and Kentucky games each year. But after last night’s game, Pearl’s record in the neon blazer is only 6-5 since taking over as Vols’ head coach in 2005-06. His desire to honor Ray Mears is admirable, but he’s not paid to honor history, so maybe a normal suit is in order for the UK game next week.

The keys to the win for the red-headed stepnerds of the SEC – hot shooting from senior star Shan Foster (32pts, 9/13 shooting, moderate and justified ballhogging) and cold shooting from the Vols (33% from the field). Vandy has now won four straight games against top-ranked teams, which is … wow.

My one question – does Vandy’s win mean that we have to listen to SEC chest-thumpers brag about how deep the conference is? Yes? DAMMIT. Don’t we get basketball season off from that shit?

The Game You Should Have Watched

Mormons reluctantly accept charity
#25 Brigham Young 70, New Mexico 69

The Cougars didn’t play their best game – they committed twice as many turnovers, let the Lobos grab 12 offensive rebounds, and floor leader Lee Cummard fouled out with a minute to go in a tight game. Fortunately, the Lobos were feeling grabby all over – and BYU’s squad reacted in exactly the understated, socially-neutral (read: boring) way you would expect – nailing their free throws down the stretch to clinch a hard conference win. Still, it was an overtime game, and overtime basketball kicks ass. (more…)