NCAA Basketball: Jon Axel Gudmundsson and Radford top mid-major performers for the week
By Logan Butts
Most Anticipated Rematch – Nevada 79 Loyola Chicago 65
Things went a little differently than the last time around this rematch of an Elite Eight battle from March. Nevada got their revenge with a 79-65 win in Chicago as a part of the MWC/MVC Challenge.
The Martin twins (Cody and Caleb) came through to keep the Wolfpack undefeated and gave the Ramblers their third loss of the season, half as many as they had in last year’s regular season.
Best Upset That I Wish Had Been a Football Game – UCF 70 Alabama 64
Congrats to UCF, led by B.J. Taylor’s 24 points, who were given a chance to take down the Crimson Tide on the field, something their football counterparts have not been afforded…
Most Surprising Undefeated Squad – Furman Paladins
The Paladins aren’t the only undefeated mid-major left (five of the 11 remaining unbeatens are mid-majors!), but they are easily the most surprising.
It took a 90-88, double-overtime win at Elon, but Furman hung onto their perfect record heading into week five.
Best Mid-Major Matchup – Buffalo 85 San Francisco 81
After staying unbeaten with a dominant 76-58 win over Stephen F. Austin, the San Francisco Dons’ undefeated season went down fighting with a four-point loss to fellow unbeaten squad (and ranked foe!) Buffalo.
Both teams featured balanced scoring attacks, with five Dons and four Bulls landing in double-digits at the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic.
Next. First-Team mid-major All-Americans for November. dark
Honorable mention goes to a handful of pairs of games: Illinois State beat 92-89 and loss to San Diego State 75-65, ETSU beat Georgia Southern 69-64 and loss to Wofford 79-62, UC Irvine beat Saint Mary’s 80-75 and lost to Utah State 89-65, Belmont beat Samford 99-93 in overtime to remain undefeated and then lost to Green Bay 100-92.