Update on the Last Perfect Teams in Men's College Basketball - November 25, 2024

 The real MAC. Mid-American Conference, one of the original "super (i.e. high number) conferences. Now down to 12. And, there are none left with no defeats! I think I saw a good portion of one-loss Eastern Michigan go down last night. It was really the only thing on, maybe. EMU: 3-1. Many more losses to come, me thinks. UPDATE: Still all have lost. Kent State Flashes have only one defeat. Ohio Bobcats 2-5, at the bottom.

    There are eight in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The MEAC? It is a HBCU league, speaking of acronyms. Historically black college or university. Sorry, my friends: they have all lost! At least one. But I think some will have some winning seasons. We hold out for these perennial underdogs. At least I do. I visited a HBCU campus this past summer. It was cool. Virginia State. BEST AS OF LATE MONDAY... Norfolk State and South Carolina State. Both 4-3. Coppin State? 0-7.

    There are a dozen (as in 12) in the Missouri Valley Conference. Wait for it;

    And the Drake Bulldogs are without a loss! Yet... They are a fabulous, tremendous Two and Oh! (2-0). They should lose this weekend. Or at least this month, and/or soon. Latest: Drake is 6-0! Is this school in Illinois? Land of Lincoln?

    Eleven (a poor baker's dozen) remaining in the Mountain West. Conference. Meaning, records aside, this conference is imploding due to the Big Ten's savagery of the West Coast schools, and the Big-12 and ACC finishing the job minus Oregon State and Washington State. So, they will continue to exist by sacking the MWC. Thus is the way of things.

    The MWC this year, kind of its last as such, as FIVE whopping teams left among those without a loss. Way to go, Mountain West folks! Here's cheering for ya. BYU and Utah and TCU were MWC, once upon a shadow. As of this holiday Monday season? Only the Utah State Aggies are 6-0. Hang tight, Logan dudes.

    The Northeast Conference has nine teams (paging Mercyhurst!), and nary among them have maintained a perfect margin. Sorry, Charlie. Get used to the L column. Best tonight? Mercyhurst! 4-3! Who are these guys?

    The Ohio Valley Conference has eleven. Oh, that poor, poor baker. Conference numbers are odd, a lot, literally, because of all the shifting, scrapping, and scraping. And pandering and money making. This is capitalism. Profiting greatly when elite while the poor boys and girls sweat and work... Russian authors, anyone? Oh, yeah. All of the eleven have suffered a loss thus far, a week and half plus into the '24-'25 season. Best? SIU Edwardsville Cougars, 5-3. Worst? Eastern Illinois, 1-5.

        Ten, an even steven, in the Patriot League. And all have gone down in a game. As of November 15, halfway through this somewhat rainier month. Most of the U.S. is having a drought time, by the way, due to pressures in the north, it seems. Look it up. Best as of now? Bucknell and Holy Cross, both 4-3.

        The powerful and mighty and rich and decadent SEC. The Southeastern Conference. There are 16 of them now, after pillaging the guts out of the heartland and Bible country and ending up with Texas and Oklahoma. Now we got super conferences, for sure. It was the idea of the WAC in the 1990s, but they got weaker back then. Now we got fan bases, TV rights, and passion and champions. Hopefully they stay at 16. Big Ten has 18, don't ya know (in my worst Minnesotah accent.

    Undefeateds? A word I have now coined to the chagrin of this spell-check? Drum roll...

    11 left! Yowza. Some think Alabama is the best. We shall see. I have my doubts... But I would welcome them over UConn, or Duke, or UNC. Or Kentucky, despite me liking Mark Pope at the helm. Awkward for me. More on that later. And as of 11:13 tonight, while ISU and Auburn battle it out in the Caymans, I mean Maui...: Seven remain. And the Cyclones of Iowa State and the Tigers are tied with 31..2 left. Ooh, feel that zeitgeist, America! And the world! JUST NOW BREAKING. War Eagle wins with 1.2 seconds to go. A tipped missed lay up.

    Who next? Almost done? I forgot the numbering thing like I did in the last post.

        Ten in the Southern Conference. One remains with no loss! The Paladins. What is one of those? Who do they belong to? Furman. Where is that? At the top of the Southern Conference, that is where! Ze best of these southern... Re-reading this, I am confused. Furman is 6-0. Does that clear it up and explain it? Hope so. 

    12, a real dozen, in the Southland Conference. All defeated. Sorry, Incarnate Word et al. We still have the Big Guy, upstairs, with a name like that. The least losing? Three, as in trois. McNeese, Stephen F. Austin, and 

    I peeked. About four to go. This is fun, but a chore. Such is blogging and life.

    I could be doing something else. Reading a book, one I checked out in May, 115 pages to go. Or watching a show. Well, I am, because my son is watching his newest binge show, non-stop. Season 4... The Mentalist, oy ve.

    Another twelve in the Southwestern Conference. Another league of HBCUs. And the losers or winners overall is:   The Alabama A & M Bulldogs! Well, the Bulldogs be winnin'! AND NOW: All have at least 4 losses. Was the previously mentioned undefeated back then? The bottom two are 0-7. Might come up later. Poor losers. We all lose sometimes.

    Nine in the current Summit League. No one left, but all will fight to the hilt. Meaning, losing builds character. We are building towards March. 2025. Uh... losers and schmoozers. South Dakota Cayottes are 6-2. Okay, they are Coyotes. Say that in Spanish. Hint: don't get deported!

    14 in the Sun Belt Conference. All have lost at least one. (Loss). Most are where it is warmer and sunnier. Not as much James Madison, but they have moved up from D-1AA, or the FCS. The smaller guys. Ahora: Arkansas State is 4-1. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns? 1-6. That reminds me, I should blog about all the still completely defeateds! 

    Two to go? Lessee...

        

    11 in the WAC. Western Athletic Conference. The aforementioned OSU and WSU, as in the Beavers and Cougars, are with them now! Huh. Okay, new to me. But that is good to know. Who has not lost as of this Friday night, as I type? Five! Gonzaga, (rated 4th in the nation, killing Baylor), Oregon State, St. Mary's, Washington State, and the SAN FRANCISCO DONS!

    But now, however... How many days later? 5? 8? 

    And finally, last but not least, the whoops... I mixed up the West Coast Conference with the above. Scratch the one up there, with Gonzaga et al, and put the WAC down here. Okay? WCC has SF and WSU and OSU... You can do the math. St. Mary's is 6-0, while the Gonzaga Dogs are 5-0. I think I know which one is better. The one that tends to have more Canadians than Australians. Yeah, baby.

    The WAC, which used to be BYU and Utah as I grew up, has nine. Teams. Which are not at all what they were in the 1980s, or the 90s. A whole new world. Or universe. Not really, but things have changed, as is the constant.

    And one team, the Thunderous Southern Utah Thunderbirds, are undefeated and 3-0! Southern Utah now? 6-1. Whuh, whuhhhh.... They lost to: Loyola Chicago, by four points. Ahh, the humanity.

    And that is where we are. Fewer perfect teams, and we still have close to a week left of November.

    Go Cougars of BYU! And Indiana, because I am a homer.

    UCONN lost! McNeely, karma will dictate something... No more Huskies in the Final Four. I plead.

    

Team Rankings Has Issues: What Teams do not Fit? November 24 Version, 2024

    I have been counting or rating or qualifying the 364 teams of Division I men's college basketball this season. I have seen the undefeated teams keep getting knocked off. Only two, for me, would be a welcome amazing turn of events. My two undergraduate institutions, Indiana or Brigham Young. That is so unlikely. It is so, so hard to make it through a whole season with nary a loss. Last happened when I was five, in my hometown. The legendary Bob Knight got his first crown of three, and it was undefeated. The only one. His other two championship teams had nine- and four-season losses, respectively. 1981 and 1987. 

    So, what teams does Team Rankings have that look wonky to the eye right now?

    U Penn at 350, with a 2-3 record. I think that they are better than that. Time will tell, Quaker fans. Just a feeling. I have not looked at my Athlon magazine, but I should... Lot of work to research, sometimes. And for what? My little distractions...

    Brown, 343, at 3-3, and Indiana State, 336, at 2-2. They both will be better than that. Brown, though. Historically not as good as Penn, or Harvard, or even Cornell recently. 

    St. Louis, 328, 1-2. No, the Billikens almost always have more talent and results than a mere 328. They must sniff 150 or better by the end. 

    Fresno State at 324, 3-2 record. These Bulldogs will be better. They have a winning record now. Of course, I have not check their opponents' records much, either. These are just quick impressions, okay?

    Tulsa at 319? Sure, less than impressive start with a 2-3 win/loss record, but... This team should be better, right?

    Georgia Tech, 305? No, cannot be! 2-3 record, which is pretty poor for them, but this is a fairly major program, and even with an overall losing record, based on the tough schedule they play, will be better than in the last 64... Of 364. The bottom fourth Yellow Jackets? Nah, cannot be.

    Iowa State. 3-0. 287. What??? Undefeated, but apparently their opposition and the spreads have not been good. 287? They will be better than 87th, I would confidentially wager.

    Illinois State and Tulane at 285 and 284, with 3-2 records each. Both will be better.

    Villanova. 275. 3-3. They have lost a few, but they are a major school with talent to win a bunch. Hard times, compared to more recent champions, but 275? Puleeze, Team Rankings!

    Virginia Tech 261. 3-2 so far. They are bigger and better than that. Hokies at least in top 120. Maybe 60? Maybe not. Hope they still beat Duke and UNC, however. Go Hokes.

    Oklahoma. 4-0. 258. What? Make no sense, oh foolish ones.

    Oregon State. 3-1. 255. Nope.

    UAB. 2-4, 249. Nah, they will be better.

    Depaul. 6-0, 245. I know they have been bad the last few years, but 245 is not right. And they are perfect six in.

    Miami, 3-2. 243. No, the team that eliminated IU from the Dance two years ago has to be better.

    Utah, 4-1. 235. I think they have to better than that.

    Rice. 5-1. 222. Methinks it is not accurate.

    Arizona 2-2, 218. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. They played a bit with Duke a few days ago.

    Connecticut, 4-0. 217. What is going on? If was a potty mouth curser, I would say what in the #$%@^@ is this about?!! The two-time defending champs Huskies out of Storrs, wherever that is.

    Oh, and Minnesota, 219 with a 4-1 record? Eegh. 

    Illinois at 211 with a 4-1 start? C'mon. Does this website send soldiers and marines with all kinds of languages to all the wrong places? There is a demon ghost in the machine.

    SMU, 210, 4-2. I saw their Turkish center, a 7-2 freshman dude who can play. The team is competitive, too.

    Weber State is off to a ghastly 0-4 record, but really 205? I think they may recover... The house of Dame and all. But maybe everyone left this past off-season.

    Drexel, 3-2 and 204? These Dragons, I believe. We shall see.

    Michigan State 4-1 at 190? Cannot be that bad. No, they played a top team with some umph before coming up short. I saw it.

    Seton Hall 3-3, 186? No, they'll be stronger. And after them, Wyoming and Princeton. 185 and 184, 3-1 and 4-3. Both are better.

    Cincinnati, 5-0 and 181. Hmmm. Still broken, this thing.

    South Carolina, 3-2 at 172. Played IU, showed some moxy. Will be better, I predict. Major conference and past success at upsets.

    BYU at 5-0 and 162. Oh, to the heck no, Cougs! We are going far, before they break my heart! In March, though, for sure.

    Georgetown 4-1. 159. I think not. They are better this year, I do think.

    Rutgers. 4-0. 153. Neh. But, there is a fly in the ointment. They lost tonight to Kennesaw State, and the L is not reflected hours later in this page. Yeah, lots of flies going on here.

    Colorado State 3-2, 151. They were March dancers last year.  Must be better than 151.

    NC State 5-0 and only 145. Thurl Bailey will have your job!

    UCLA 5-1 and 135. No way.

    VCU. 4-2 and 129. Nah, these Rams play harder than that. I saw them.

    Virginia 3-2 and 124? Maybe 80, but not in the 100s.

    Texas Tech 5-1 and 121. Say it ain't so, ghost of Bobby Knight!

    Texas A&M, 4-1 and 118. No, Aggies got some ballers and thugs: I knows this.

    Maryland, 4-1 and 114? No, McQueen alone is better. They got a big win tonight, too.

    Providence, 5-0, 105. I think they are better.

    Houston, 3-1 and 100. WHAT??? These guys are a top team nationwide.

    Penn State, 5-0, and 95. Okay, maybe true.

    Oklahoma State, 4-1 and 93. This seems to be too high. Maybe 70? Maybe better.

    Arkansas. 4-1 and 91. Nope. The Hogs have to be better.

    Duke. 4-1 and 65th? Werrrrrrrr...

    Gardner-Webb, 2-3 and 50th? Are first graders doing this math?

    OKAY, the last ones here get very stupid, bear with me:

    Montana. 0-3. 38. Something broke, folks.

    UC Riverside. 2-3 29. Huh? What gives?

    McNeese Stare. 2-3. 28. Again: que demonios?

    N. Colorado. 3-2.  23. We are talking top 25 now. This is so weird and frustrating.

    It may be only me, however. No one else cares, or thinks it matters.

    UTEP. 1-1. 21. Guhhhhhh.

    Furman. 4-0. 16. yikes!

    Jacksonville. 2-2 19. Where in the blue blazes has this calculus come from?

    Utah Valley. 2-1. 15. REED iculoooose.

    Florida Atlantic. 3-3. 13. In what world?

    Memphis over Gonzaga, both undefeated, for 1 over 2. Dogs kill the Cats in a real one.

    Time should prove this thing more accurate and sane, but for now, this thing be whacked out the caboozle.

    Yep, you can quote me on that.

    Cheers, college basketball fans.

    We should have some fun sorting it all out.

    Go Hoosiers. Or Cougars, of the Provo variety.    

    

    

    

    

    

Humanity: What Have We Become? 2024 and Beyond

    Ending this year, near midway through our decade, the third of this millennium, it might be good to reflect and take a look around. Think about our values and hopes.

    I had a decent day, on a personal note. I played basketball with some friends, and my teams won a few, and I contributed to the games, got a good workout, and we all left healthy. Eleven of us. Okay, I missed a three to win one game, but we won all the rest. 7 games, eight games? We, I attended a viewing and the funeral of a 44-year-old. Not sure how he died. But the farewell was sweet, beautiful, and sad. But, we hold on to what we care about. Family, love, friends, community, grace, and kindness. Plenty of that this morning into the afternoon. Tears, and truth, and love.

    Then, my alma maters had to lose. Ugh, back-to-back losses for me today, and BYU back-to-back weeks. The seasons have been so good! But now... 

    Finished the evening with family playing SCRABBLE. My son wiped us out, getting big points with words like HONK, for more than 40 points. I barely beat my wife who usually schools me, but I think I cheated a bit at the end.

    But the point of this blog entry is about the greater humanity: our concerns, our problems, our plights.

    Understandably many of us, in the millions and particularly more youth, are very concerned with climate change and wrecking our planet. Good, those are real things to work on and improve. We must not run the earth's environments down and out. We have to find solutions to climate control and change, and pollution and ecological disaster.

    However, I have been thinking about how us humans, governments, armies and navies have been doing atrocious numbers on each other for all of our lives. Sometimes embodied in a person such as Mao, or Stalin, or Hitler, or Pol Pot, Idi Amin. Sometimes it is a group, a terrifying junta or cabal. Others can point to George W. Bush or Tony Blair as the meanies and killers, as opposed to the ones they sacked, like Saddam Hussein. And what of Putin and Netanyahu in 2024? Food for thought.

    

    However, it ... Moving on.

    Since 1924, the world has had its share of bad things that humans do to other humans. In the nastiest ways, apart from pollution and environmental degradation, and greedy privations that leave others out of the safety zones that we all deserve. The last 100 years can show us a few things.  And, unfortunately, my list will not be that comprehensive. Just my own thoughts and impressions of what bad things have occurred. As a biased American (U.S. citizen, Ana) and a patriot, I would like to think that the United States has helped more militarily than destroyed, but the nation and its service members have been part of many an ugly episode, to include all the interventions and wars.

    What is a what's what of the worst episodes? Here is a stab or so, no pun intended.

    World War II

    Much in this war was started by consequences of the First World War. Disgruntlements by the losers, Germany, led to more hostilities a generation later. Italy switched sides; go figure. Imperial Japan started its conquest in China many years before Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. Most of the 1930s had Japanese troops sweeping across their side of the world. China got the worst of it. Then eventually Germany invaded the U.S.S.R. (mostly but not just Russia, which was also largely Ukraine). 

    Tens of millions died. Some by starvation, or others freezing to death. Others in the gas chambers. 1931-1945

    Chinese Steps Backward

    The Japanese were savage in China the previous decades, but maybe Mao Ze Dong killed more through his miss-steps and economic plans that led to starvation of millions? Follow by 10-20 million being killed in the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976.

    Yikes. They also killed a million or so in the annexation of Tibet around 1959.

    Lately, they have oppressed a few million in Hong Kong, but not too violently, but have been more forceful and repressed against the Uyghur of Xinjiang.

    Congo 

Between 1995 and 2005, possibly 20 million Congolese died in this country. Hard to fathom. No one really knows the numbers. This was right after 1994 when about 800,000 people in Rwanda were massacred, mostly Hutus. Or was it Tutsis? Either way, really bad.

    Vietnam 

or 

    Korean Peninsula

Both were bad, killing many U.S. G.I.s, but many more locals were killed. Many Chinese in Korea, from 1951-1953. Vietnam went for us from 1960 to 1975. We lost almost 60,000 service members. One Clinch, in May of 1970. A Lieutenant? I read his name at the memorial not long ago.

    Iraq 

I am definitely thinking of U.S. conflicts and wars, but I should get to a few non-American wars and tragedies, too. A newspaper in the 1990s, maybe while I was attending college, proclaimed that the U.S. forces had killed 100,000 Iraqis in the liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. That was before we got into the country with 100k plus boots on the ground in 2003 and after.

    Of course, Saddam and the Shah fought each other in most of the 1980s, which cost Iran at least 1,000,000 victims, who they call martyrs. They are the ultimate Shia folks, which is sadly ironic, because the Sunni dictator of the Land of Two Rivers, former Babylon, and he, the self-fashioned Nebuchadnezzar, commanded his Shia rather than Sunni troops to the front line, more prone to be slaughtered. Perhaps like the Soviets sending more Ukrainians in harm's way than their native Russians.

    Afghanistan

    Many have died there over the last one hundred years. Which year was the worst? Was it when the United States and its allies of ISAF were targeting the terrorists and the insurgents.

    How many died there while the West was present from 2001 to 2021? Hopefully the killing has been reduced although we know that the repression over the general populace has come down with a vengeance.

    Algeria

This large, largely forgotten country has had times of war. Against the French in the 1960s, against themselves in the 1990s.

    Syria, Yemen, now Gaza... Perhaps Lebanon... Many Arab nations since the Arab Spring of 2011, and Lebanon in their Civil War of 1975 to 1990. 

    Sudan and other African nations. Uganda, Somalia... 

    Cambodia had an awful genocide by the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. At least two million died.

    The last hundred years have been difficult and impossible for so many.

    Before that in the 1700s and 1800s, there was the constant systematic reduction of the native Americans in the Western Hemisphere. It goes back to the violence and sicknesses of the first Europeans coming in, making contact, displacing or making other contact with the indigenous.

    Bosnia got bad in the 1990s.

    Ethiopia and a few other places have faced mass starvation, like in 1985. Somalia more recently, or what lead to U.N. forces in Mogadishu in the early 1990s.

    North Korea has faced starvation.

    What are we, if not social animals and little monsters or saviors, depending on the time or circumstance?

    What do we do today? Do we care about starving Gazans, or the Israelis threatened by Hamas or other Palestinian terrorists? Who are who? What of Lebanese Hizballah supporters? Or those back to Syria, Iraq, Iran?

    Where else? Catastrophes have wiped out many: earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, floods. Yet wars are the human-driven calamities.

    

    Where do we draw lines, or how do we try to implement zones of security?

    How do we save our planet? Do we put more resources in the elements and physical ways of preserving our plants, seas, animals, and biomes? Or should we focus more on the humans?

    Can we do neither well enough? Does our dismal science of economics prevent us from having the proper resources to fix these problems?

    Are we better than before 1924? I think so.

    But while the scientific foibles and challenges vex us in our environmental realms, to include space beyond our atmosphere, there is the constant pain and conundrum of us killing each other, ourselves.

    What have we become? Are we better than the last century? I think that we are better, despite the Holy Land, between the Arabs and the Israelis, and the Ukrainian and Russian nonsense.

    We can, we should, we will (fingers crossed) do better.

    We must. Be better. Be more secure. Less killing, less violence.

    

    

    

I Wanted to Write for Films and TV because the World Needs It: God Wants It

    But, lack of a few things. Tenacity, vision, planning, structuring, focus. All the things. But I did write a little, here and there. Some of those writings wound up on floppy discs and computer hard drives that have gone to ethereal, erstwhile graves. Some are recorded in pen and ink and graphite in far reaches of my home, and a few other odd parts of the world.

    Ho hum. So be it, and they.

    I will publish, I will live. My thoughts have been recorded here and there. The words will come, and will go forth. I must be cautious and careful, and notes taking. I have been. Or, so-so.

    I will write more, edit more, produce more.

    Publish. Disseminate.

    If God (and I) will it.

    God willing.

    Do I want it enough? If it is for Him, and us His children? Why not?

    Why not. That is what President Kimball, Holy man Prophet of my youth, had said.

Still counts. Blog it.

I Wrote a Book

    I did. It is mostly done. Maybe a few more polished sentences or thoughts. Or a re-arrangement of paragraphs. Hopefully nothing major to change. I think it is done.

    I was inspired to write the book that it mostly is, in the fall of 2021. So, three years ago I got the biggest inspiration for it. I had been waiting a long time to write something whole. 

    I have written things in parts. I think some of the things that I have written were worthwhile. Good. Good writing. I think. I hope.

    I have started some books. Fiction and non-fiction. Some are okay. But mostly not finished.

    Finishing. 

    Yep. Got to get it done. Edited. Produced. Published. Disseminated.

    Sure.

    What is it called?

    The Watchman.

    Watch for it.

The first Fourteen B-Ball Conferences 8 Days Later- How Many have Lost?

     Here goes: 8 Days later, on November 20th, the teams have played more. 

    

    1) Atlantic Sun. 7 out of 12 squads have already lost. Update: All have lost! Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky both have a 1 in the loss column. The rest have two or more. Bellarmine and West Georgia are 0-5 each! Do not to expect to see much of them come March...

    2) America East. 8 of 9 have lost. Tulane is 3-0! Wait: Tulane is not in this conference. No one called me out! Bryant and UAlbany Great Danes have each lost once. Maybe they were all defeated before... They are perfect losers, now, either way.

    3) Atlantic 10. 7 of 15 have lost, at least one. Updates: Only 3 perfect remain. If they hang on another week, it will be worth reporting who is left...Maybe. 

    4) Atlantic Coast (C). Only four of 18 have lost. UNC lost at Kansas, and it was close. New: Seven 0 columners remain now. How the week went, seven went down from the mighty conference of champions. Duke lost to Kentucky. Flagg is great, but he has his flaws.

    5) Big 12. 3 out of 16 have lost. Some consider this the best one in the land. (Go BYU!). And: Eight have lost now, so by my math five more joined the leger of losers. Sorry, Charlies! But again, champions do not have to be undefeated. People punched in the mouth can perfect and make great runs down the stretch. Even my Cougars. They are deep, and talented... But so are a few others in this conference alone. Of 16. Utah? Not so fast! 

    6) Big East. 3 of 11 have lost. Four are ranked, including the Huskies of UConn. (Go, anyone but them!) And currently: One more has lost, so there seven undefeated. Pretty good teams, including the dreaded Huskies of UConn. MAY THEY LOSE! Please. 

    7) Big Sky. 9 of 10 have lost. Remaining unblemished: Northern Arizona. Lumberjacks in the news: Nope. Lost a game. Thanks Stanford. You always have to be so superior. Big Sky not as sky high anymore. And this is November 20. Long months of winter to go. Many more losses to come. 

    8) Big South. 7 of 9 are marked. High Point and Longwood hanging around past the first week... But now: A mere half fortnight later, ... Whoa, yes! Panthers and Lancers hanging on, both 5-0.

    9) Big Ten. 4 of 18 have lost. Hoosiers, still perfect. Go IU! Fight, fight, fight! Beat Purdue. And Nebraska, why don't ya? Ze wealthy conference news: 7 remain. Without a loss, including IU. By some maths, that means a few lost in the interim. You do the math, smarty pants. Purdue lost to Marquette, in Milly Wau KAY. PS: Illinois is looking to lose to 'Bama as we speak. Oh, time.

    10) Big West. 8 of 11 are losers, but not out by a long shot. Unbeatens: Hawai'i, UC-Irvine, UC- Santa Barabara. Just because you lose early does not eliminate anyone. It is just fun and interesting to see how long all the undefeateds last. Indiana was the last perfect one in 1976! Lots of great teams since then. Update: The three Pacific Ocean types are all 4-0. Way to go! Shaka, brah.

    11) Coastal Athletic. 10 of 14 have lost. Remaining with 0 losses? Charleston, Drexel, Hofstra, and UNC-Wilmington. And as of November 20, this rainy Wednesday... Nope. All those above have a one in the L place. Sorry. What did you expect? Perfection past Turkey Day? Hah! Maybe next year, Huskies, Pride, and Cougars. NOT!!!

    12) Conference USA. 6 of 10 have lost. Almost there tonight...  Just the LA Tech Bulldogs left. Karl Malone might be proud... My teacher was a distant cousin of his. Calloway-Thomas. They are 4-0. Could be 30-0 before March... Nah, please. Please, my nene.

    13) Horizon League. 11 for 11 have lost! Two leagues to go. Who cares about this, anyway? I at least consider it entertaining. Now they all have at least two derrotas. That is Spanish for perdida. That last word has an accent over the first e, but I have not figured out how to do diacritics like that much in the last 10 plus years of blogging in this forum. Maybe in the next decade?

    14) Ivy League. 3 of 8 have lost. Not bad, brainiacs. All have... check that: the Columbia Lions! They are playing like Fierce Jungle Cats. Or Fierce, Savage Golden Felines of the Savannah, anyway. What if they were the best of all time? 6-0. Only 30 more to go, you never know...

    So the math is in: many fewer undefeateds a mere week and a day later. Like 30 in the first 14 listed?

    Play on, D-1 Men's teams...