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Games To Watch - 12/5/07

December 5, 2007  |  By Benjamin Miraski

If you looked at the score of the Tennessee - Chattanooga game and thought that it should have been a bigger spread, you are probably right. However, the score probably should have been going in the other direction.

Tennessee, a team expected to take the SEC crown with only scant pressure from Vanderbilt, was out-rebounded by the Mocs, and shot a season low 36%. If they had not forced Chattanooga into 33 (!!) turnovers, you could have expected to be reading about another upset of a top ten team this morning.

On another note last night, you can look at Harvard's game against Boston University for one of the reasons Tommy Amaker was let go from Michigan. I know I thought he deserved a little more time with the Wolverines. However, you can't lose games that you are supposed to win. Now, I am not saying that Boston University should have been a "gimmee" win for Harvard, but the Terriers were only 1-6 entering the game last night. Add in that Harvard was coming off a big win against Michigan, no matter how bad Michigan is going to be this season. You have to ride that wave and take it to another victory, not lose all momentum. I can see the headlines on all of the Michigan blogs this morning: "Same old Tommy".

Looking out West, it was a bad night for the Mountain West conference. The two teams expected to be near the top of the league, New Mexico and Air Force, both lost games on the road against inferior opponents. New Mexico lost to in-state rival, and member of the lagging WAC, New Mexico State by 9. Air Force was taken down by the MAC's 1-6 (prior to the game) Northern Illinois. Repeating my statement from the Harvard game, you have to win the games you are expected to win.

One final note before looking at tonight. I should apologize for making anyone watch the USC - Memphis game last night. USC had a nice game plan, forcing everyone not named Derrick Rose to beat them. It worked for most of the game because they forced Memphis into terrible possessions which led to turnover after turnover. But that is not what I wanted to point out.

Michael Beasley and OJ Mayo are not ready for the NBA.

There, I said it. Neither one has a game developed enough to move to the next level. Neither of these guys is a Greg Oden, or a Kevin Durant, who came into college last year, and already had most of the skills they needed in order to succeed at the next level. While I thought Durant was undersized (he has been hitting the weights), and Oden needed a few more low post moves, they were ready.

However, Beasley and Mayo continue to confound me. Yes, I can see the talent that is there. However, it is too raw for the next level. I can't see coaches at the next level working to refine their game. It is going to take a miracle for them to step in and be ready. Just look at Mayo's shooting. The boy is a 20-year old freshman and he has terrible shot selection. He also struggles in man to man defense, not keeping an eye on the ball and the man at the same time. This actually allowed Memphis to get a couple of easier baskets last night (although nothing really came easy for them), because Mayo was just looking at his opponent's belly button the entire time. They need more time.

Do I have faith in the NBA scouts to notice this, or for people with smarts to tell them this? No. But it will definitely come as a shock to these two when they are sitting on the bench in the NBA next season, instead of starting, and improving, in the college ranks.

Let's look at tonight:

Posted December 5, 2007 12:30 PM

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