Old Spice Classic

[Zag4Hire]

Nice to waltz into the office today with two proud WVU alums absolutely avoiding me. I think the GU classy way is you don't have to say anything (similar to my previous SMC WCC Championship game experience). But trust me I had many a zingers prepared just in case.

Looking forward to the OSC so the 'Tall Prince' can get an early tournament type atmosphere experience. Is there a scouting report on Clemson? I recognize Booker from last year's ACC tourney viewing and he is quite the load. However since Purnell left, they have been off my radar. When Purnell was the HC, you knew Clemson was playing because of the orange coat (not to be confused with Pearl) and a team that could push both UNC and Duke to the brink but rarely seal the deal. If the Zags get by Clemson, Spangler's Sooners would possibly be the next tilt. Nice to see no Tiny Gallon to cause delays in the viewing. The Sooners, another team I know nothing about but glancing at the roster lists a James Fraschilla. I am guessing that is Fran's son and would be interesting if he would be doing color for the game.

[Zag4Hire]

Looks like the CBS Sports preview was written by a very casual fan. It was also ranked 7th out of 20 early season tournaments by the writer.

7. Old Spice Classic (Nov. 22-23, 25): Best preconference-play tournament you probably don't know about, and the Old Spice has been really good for nearly a decade now. Gonzaga the best of the group, but the next level of teams -- Davidson, West Virginia, Vanderbilt -- is really good, and even Clemson, UTEP and Oklahoma are on the upswing. Marist is the only dicey one of the group. Davidson can definitely win this, as De'Mon Brooks and Jake Cohen could have some monster years ahead. I'll take West Virginia though, mainly because Bob Huggins is already smarting from being picked sixth in the Eers' inaugural Big 12 year.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/20995191/ranking-the-best-early-season-tournaments

[Jakester425]

Looks like the CBS Sports preview was written by a very casual fan. It was also ranked 7th out of 20 early season tournaments by the writer.



http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...on-tournaments

I doubt he watched WV's first game. I think they will play better next week than they did against us, but ill be surprised if they make it to the final.

[allbusiness_zag]

Really?

Wow. I thought this might have been a quote from a couple weeks ago with the West Virginia pick...but then I saw that it was posted today. Seriously? The Zags are the best in the bunch, but he's picking WVU? Does he know we could meet in the final? Did he watch either of our games against them the past 8 months? Give me a job CBS, I want to be a 'Senior Blogger' too.

[CDC84]

I think that pick was made before GU torched the Mountaineers.

My sister is a West Virginia grad, but I don't have to see her moan because she lives in Michigan these days.

[krozman]

I doubt WV will be a top 50 RPI win by the season's end, so not sure I want to face them again anyway. Bring on the bigger boys!

[DZ]

I don't want to face WVU again b/c we have nothing to win and everything to lose. Plus, there is that proverbial "tough to beat a team 3 times" - -

I think WVU has a chance to come back and have a decent year, since we have "gotten to know him" my respect for Huggins has gone way up and I think that he will get these guys molded together and find a shooter somewhere on the roster.

[Zag365]

Likely opponents

I haven't seen anything that explains how the teams are paired after the first round of the OSC. If we beat Clemson, who are we likely to play in the second round? Is there a seeding? drawing out of hat? pistols at 20 paces?

[caduceus]

Bracket:

[primal23]

Beat Clemson, then a possible battle with Oklahoma. That could be interesting.

[LongIslandZagFan]

Here are my guesses:

WVU over Marist
Vandy over Davidson
Sooners over UTEP
Zags over Clemson

Round 2 winners
Vandy over WKU
Zags over Sooners

Round 2 Losers side
Davidson over Marist
Clemson over UTEP

Loser side final game
Davidson over Clemson
UTEP over Maris

Round 2 losers
Sooners over WKU

Championship Game
Zags over Vandy

[sittingon50]

You snuck the Hilltoppers in there, LI.

I'll go with Davidson on the other side.

[ValencyLovesZagsInAtlanta]

Here are my guesses:

WVU over Marist
Vandy over Davidson
Sooners over UTEP
Zags over Clemson

Round 2 winners
Vandy over WKU
Zags over Sooners

Round 2 Losers side
Davidson over Marist
Clemson over UTEP

Loser side final game
Davidson over Clemson
UTEP over Maris

Round 2 losers
Sooners over WKU

Championship Game
Zags over Vandy

Hi

Keep in mind Davidson was up 13 with just under 15:00 mins to go in the game @ New Mexico "The Pit" playing in the altitude at 3:30 AM in the morning east coast time when they hit the wall and were hit with a late run by the Lobos knocking them out.

What do you like most about Vanderbilt this year?

Val

[Tmac5360]

LIZ, normally Vandy would be a great pick. But they are going to struggle this year. Rebuilding in a big way. Davidson should handle them. WV will get through Marist and then lose to Davidson I think. The real game is second round between GU and OU. That to me is the title game. If GU can survive that one they should be able to handle Davidson. Certainly GU's tourney to win They are the class of the group but Lon Kruger is a great coach and they will pay there butt's off for him. Gonna be fun.

[gbnyba17]

My picks

Round 1:
WV over Marist
Davidson over Vandy
OK over UTEP
Zags over Clemson

Round 2 winners:
Davidson over WV
Zags over OK

Round 2 Losers:
Vandy over Marist
Clemson over UTEP

Loser Final Game:
UTEP over Marist

Round 2 Losers Winners
Vandy over Clemson

Championship:
Zags over Davidson!!!

I will further say that Zags toughest game will be the first game against Clemson. We will come out a little flat but early in the second half will pull away. 2nd and 3rd games will be dominating performance by the Zags with margins of victory around 20 pts for each game. I love these Zags.