24 hours of hoops Tip-Off Marathon updates

The Courier-Journal's Michael Grant

11:49 Final: LSU 69, Texas Tech 64. the marathon is over. Goodnight everyone!

11:37 pm: One more game to go: LSU and Texas Tech in OT

11:36 pm: Final: Kentucky 72, Kansas 40. #ouch

11:34 pm: Well, this has been a collassal butt-kicking.

11:31 pm: Texas Tech and LSU going into OT in Baton Rouge.

11:26 pm: Does Kentucky have a third platoon to close out this game?

11:20 pm. If I'm Calipari, I make a beeline right to Shapiro's after the game. Maybe they stayed open late tonight.

11:12 pm: Meanwhile, LSU is in a battle with Texas Tech. Score tied at 53 with 5 minutes to play.

11:01 pm: How can Kentucky look this good tonight and yet play so poorly vs. Buffalo?

10:53: Marcus Lee has put in quality minutes: 4 points, 5 rebounds.

10:44 pm: Let's see if Kansas puts up a better effort in the second half.

10:31 pm: Halftime: Texas Tech 36, LSU 24.

10:29 pm: Halftime: Kentucky 38, Kansas 28.

10:25 pm: Will be very curious to see which one of these Kentucky players has the best NBA career.

10:15 pm: Kansas is getting punked on the boards.

10:03 pm: From an energy and effort point of view, this is one of the best Kentucky starts under Calipari.

10:01 pm: Bill Self is gonna need a bigger boat. Kansas down 24-9 to Kentucky.

9:54 pm: Wow. Kentucky already has five blocked shots.Two from Lee.

9:47 pm: Jim Calhoun... looks like the stressed out police captain in a buddy cop film.

9:45 pm: Kansas shooting 20 percent. Kentucky 33.3.

9:43 pm: That was a lot of action for zero points in Kansas vs. Kentucky.

9:34pm: It seems like Perry Ellis has been at Kansas since 2007.

9:24 pm: Final: Ohio State 74, Marquette 63.

9:21 pm: ESPN managed to sneak in a Tebow reference during the Ohio State vs. Marquette basketball game. I ..kid ..you ..not..

9:15 pm: What's next? Is ESPN going to torture us more by putting Chris Berman on?

9:14 pm: Stephen A. Smith?!? I'm switching the channel to the Lifetime Network.

9:08 pm: Final: Duke 81, Michigan State 71. Blue Devils shot 54 percent.

9:04 pm: Duke's Jahlil Okafor is a terrifyingly efficient 8 of 10 for 17 points.

8:56 pm: Matt Carlino's nomadic trek through college basketball continues. He's now with... Marquette? He's like a baseball journeyman.

8:49 pm: Hey, it's Greg Oden. Can't believe he's done at the age of 35.

8:44pm: Duke seems to have a never-ending supply of Plumlees

8:41 pm: Bad decision by Gavin Schilling. Should have just laid that up immediately.

8:29 pm: How is Michigan State hanging with Duke? The Izzo way: 11 offensive rebounds. Sparty trails 50-44 in second half.

8:27 pm: Halftime: Ohio State 33, Marquette 26.

8:20 pm Sparty hasn't done much to slow Okafor (13 points on 6 of 7 shooting).

8:15 pm: Final: VCU 87, Toledo 78. Rams surge late.

8:06pm: Toledo in full collapse mode. Looks like VCU will escape.

8:00 pm Duke no doubt inspired by the announcement of a 30 for 30 film called "I Hate Christian Laettner"

7:57 pm: Halftime: Duke 40, Sparty 33. Blue Devils shooting 56 percent.

7:38 pm: Tom Izzo's choice of tie... is interesting. Looks like a Father's Day gift.

7:27 pm: Seriously, Mike Krzyzewski is 67 years old with a full head of dark hair. Doesn't anyone else find that ...odd?

7:23 pm: Mike Krzyzewski - and his suspiciously dark hair - leads Michigan State 18-11.

7:19 pm: Eventually Duke will miss a shot. (7 for 7)

7:14 pm: Still stunned that Shaka Smart is still at VCU.

6:57 pm: Halftime: Toledo 45, VCU 42. This one is getting interesting.

6:27 pm: Holy Toledo. VCU is down early 23-20.

6:13 pm: Final: San Diego State 53, Utah 49. We're heading into the downstretch of this marathon.

6:02 pm: Utah's long nightmare is over. Delon Wright has scored. Did so with 1:22 left to play.

5:55 pm: "Bill Walton has a teepee in his backyard." Least surprising sentence ever.

5:52 pm: Utah star Delon Wright is 0 for 9 from the field for no points. He does have seven rebounds. 2:18 left to play. Utes trail San Diego State 40-33.

5:41 pm: Utah star Delon Wright has as many points in this game as I do. Zero.

5:34 pm:Is Larry the Cable Guy actually funny? From what little I've heard, I'm guessing no.

5:21 pm: San Diego State plays defense like gang-tackling linebackers.

5:07 pm: San Diego State's roster includes guys named Zylan, Kibret, D'Erryl and Aqeel.

4:51 pm: Halftime: Utah leads San Diego State 18-17. Offense optional. Bill Walton certifiable.

4:35 pm: My paternal grandfather lived to be 99. At the end, he spoke in only religious verses. He was more coherent than Bill Walton right now.

4:28 pm: I'm feeling trippy just listening to Bill Walton.

4:12 pm: Ah, San Diego. I already feel 15 degrees warmer just looking at you.

4:02 pm: Impressive second half by the Shockers. Curious to see how good they can be without Cleanthony Early.

3:46 pm: Really like the way Wichita State's Ron Baker plays.

3:28 pm: I'm shocked - shocked! Multiple three-pointers in the Wichita State-Memphis game.

3:11 pm: Halftime: Wichita State 29, Memphis 22. Teams are combined 0 for 9 from three-point range.

2:54 pm: I'm predicting that we won't see a three-point basket in this Wichita State - Memphis game. (Teams are a combined 0 for 8).

2:41 pm: The Wichita State-Kentucky game was one of the best NCAA tournament games I've ever been to.

2:38 pm: South Dakota looks like the planet Hoth.

2:25 pm: If I'm in the market for a basketball coach, the first call I'd make is to Wichita State's Gregg Marshall.

2:15 pm: Memphis is playing. Cue the obvious boy-band jokes. #JoshPastner

2:11 pm: Seems strange that Wichita State and Memphis are playing in... South Dakota.

2:07 pm: Final: Baylor 69, South Carolina 65. 13 games in the book.

1:52 pm: Frank Martin seems reasonably calm in this game.

1:29 pm: Final: UMass 77, Manhattan 68 in OT. Ex-WKU player Derrick Gordon with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Twelve games in the book.

1:23 pm: Nice response in OT by UMass.

1:11 pm Wow. Perfect lob dunk. OT at UMass.

12:52 pm: Halftime: Baylor leads at South Carolina 30-27.

12:47 pm: Deng and Duany are both Sudan natives. There it is customary for the first born son to have his first and last name be the same.

12:36 pm: The name of Baylor's Deng Deng instantly reminds me of former Wisconsin player Duany Duany.

12:19 pm: Apparently Steve Masiello forgot to pack a razor for his trip to UMass.

12:06 pm: So ESPN's doing a 30 for 3 called "I Hate Christian Laettner" Wonder if Kentucky fans are looking forward to that ...

11:54 am: Halftime: UMass and Manhattan tied at 28. Former WKU player Derrick Gordon went scoreless in the half (0 for 5). Has 3 assists, tho.

11:48 am: UMass' court always looks 150 years old. There should be peach baskets at each end.

11:33 am: Now on ESPN2: Manhattan vs. UMass. Former WKU player Derrick Gordon in action for Minutemen.

11:28 am: Wow. What a finish. Northern Iowa wins in OT 79-77. Ends SFA's 34-game home winning streak. Eleven games in the book.

11:25 am: This Northern Iowa vs. SFA game is like an NCAA tournament game.There have been 23 lead changes.

11:14 am: In OT. Northern Iowa vs. SFA. Lumberjacks have a 34-game home winning streak.

11:03 am: A fantastic finish brewing in the Northern Iowa vs. SFA game.

10:48 am: SFA has the longest home winning streak in the nation at 34. Leads Northern Iowa 63-58 with 5:44 left

10:36 am: SFA coach Brad Underwood's purple jacket makes him look like the Joker's father.

10:24 am: What I would like to see is a list made by coaches of the least most fundamental players in college basketball. That would be good reading.

10:19 am: SFA's Thomas Walkup named among the most fundamentally sound college players by BleacherReport. Jeff Van Gundy rightly mocks that list.

10:10 am: OK, guess we've come up two more notable Northern Iowa alums: Creighton coach Greg McDermott and Ali Farokhmanesh.

9:55 am: Halftime: Stephen F. Austin 39, Northern Iowa 35. I'm going to take advantage of this break.. by taking a shower.

9:52 am: Random thought: All this basketball has me suddenly craving duck fat fries from Hammerheads.

9:31 am: Can anyone name a prominent Northern Iowa alum - other than Kurt
Warner?

9:21 am: Solid high-top fade by Northern Iowa's Wes Washpun.

9:10 am: Final: Wofford 86, Iona 73. Ten games in the books.

9:07 am: Just saw Santa wearing a ridiculous shirt in the Wofford crowd.

8:56 am: Also just learned that Iona's David Laury was high school teammates with current Cleveland Cavaliers player and Syracuse alum Dion Waiters

8:36 am: Wofford's Justin Gordon with a put-back slam - one of the two best dunks I've seen during the marathon.

8:25 am: Best student crowd atmosphere has been Iona at Wofford. Looks and sounds like a great turnout.

8:06 am: Glad I'm staying in today for the Tip-Off Marathon. It's freezing outside and apparently there are rogue cows on I-64.

7:55 am: Halftime: Iona leads at Wofford 42-39.

7:53 am: Just learned something. Iona has former WKU signee David Laury. He must be a very old senior.

7:37 am: Iona also has Ibn Muhammad. (First Ibn I've seen since former UofL tight end Ibn Green.). And a Vangelis Bebis. Love those names.

7:24 am: I've been to Wofford. Only thing I remember: tuition there is really expensive.

7:15 am: Best name so far in the Tip-Off Marathon? Iona's Schadrac Casimir.

7:11 am: Final: High Point 62, Hawaii 54. Nine games in the books.

6:58 am: That botched behind-the-back pass probably made High Point coach and former WKU assistant Scott Cherry blind with rage.

6:45 am: I assume the fans with the plants is some sort of Hawaii thing. It'd be cool if Arizona fans brought cacti to games.

6:41 am: Hawaii's Quincy Smith with one of the best dunks of the marathon. Great baseline move.

6:37 am: So far home teams are 7-1. Only road team to win was Miami upsetting Florida.

6:20 am: Every time I see a pig roast, I think of Wilbur from Charlotte's Web. #SomePig

6:18 am: John Brown looks like the best player on the floor in this High Point vs. Hawaii game.

6:03 am: Bankers Life Fieldhouse is one of my favorite basketball venues.

5:52 am: Halftime: Hawaii 31, High Point 27.

5:48 am: Those shirts worn by the Hawaii coaching staff... are giving me a headache.

5:44: Is Kevin Spacey the first Academy Award-winning actor to appear in a video game?

5:32 am: High Point: Tubby Smith's alma mater. That's all I've got.

5:30 am: Final: St. Mary's 83, New Mexico State 71. Eight games in the books.

5:16 am: High Point and Hawaii have started. Wish I was there so I could work on my tan.

5:04 am: St. Mary's coach Randy Bennett looks like the veteran trainer in a bad boxing movie.

5:00 am: OK. I've reached that time of night/ early morning when I might be hallucinating. I saw something about Charles Manson getting married...

4:38 am: Brad Waldow of St. Mary's isn't particularly athletic or graceful. But he is effective.

4:30 am: St. Mary's and New Mexico State playing like the basketball is covered in Vaseline.

4:20 am: Is Bill Cowher wearing eyeliner in these Time Warner Cable commercials?

4:05 am: Halftime: St. Mary's 45, New Mexico State 31. On an unrelated note: could someone bring me a gallon of coffee?

3:56 am: Saint Mary's has cornered the market on Australian basketball players. 14 since 2001, according to ESPN.

3:53 am: New Mexico State has a player named Tshilidzi Nephawe. That's both difficult to say and spell.

3:44 am: Just saw a stat on ESPN that seems hard to believe: UConn women have lost their last 5 overtime games.

3:37 am: I know nothing about Dane Pineau of St. Mary's. But I'm 100 percent certain that he's funnier than Dane Cook.

3:28 am: I miss New Mexico State alum Sim Bhullar. The 7-foot-5, 360-pounder now plays for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League.

3:13 am: Next up: New Mexico State - coached by former UofL assistant Marvin Menzies - at St. Mary's.

3:12 am: Seven games in the books. Final: Colorado 90, Auburn 59.

3:03 am: Not a good start to the tip-off marathon by the SEC. Florida upset at home by Miami. Auburn getting waxed by Colorado.

2:59 am: A 24-0 Colorado run? #egads

2:50 am: Bruce Pearl's dry-cleaning bills must be hellacious.

2:46 am: Bruce Pearl is gonna need a bigger boat. Auburn down 64-46 with 9:54 left

2:37 am: A four-point play has to be one of the best feelings on the basketball court.

2:24 am: Tad Boyle has done a really good job at Colorado.

2:07 am: Speaking of Colorado. If you ever have a chance to go to Red Rocks for a concert, do it. Saw DeVotchKa there last summer. Terrific experience.

1:53: Halftime: Colorado leads Auburn 38-34.

1:52 am: Would have been fun to see Auburn's Antoine Mason play. Sorry to see that he's hurt.

1:41 am: Bruce Pearl is sweating worse than Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks) in Broadcast News.

1:38 am: I'm sweating just watching Bruce Pearl.

1:20 am: I've eaten sandwiches thicker than Auburn freshman Jack Purchase (6-foot-8, 198 pounds(allegedly)).

1:12 am: Bruce Pearl is also rocking the mock turtleneck.Guess he's picking up the slack for Mike Brey.

1:09 am: Always thought that Bruce Pearl kinda looked like a late-night lounge singer in a dive bar.

1:05 am: Final: No.13 Gonzaga 72, No.22 SMU 56. Former Kentucky player Kyle Witljer with 10 points. Former UofL player Angel Nunez with five. Six games in the books.

1:02 am: Oregon defeats Detroit 83-66. Five games in the books.

12:57 am: Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer has 10 points. UofL transfer Angel Nunez has 5 points. Gonzaga leads SMU one billion to very little.

12:51 am: Kinda disappointed in these Oregon uniforms. Not as avant garde as I would have expected. Or does Phil Knight just give money to football?

12:47 am: Oregon students holding up giant pictures of the ghosts from Pac Man. None of those kids were born when that video game came out.

12:38 am: It still floors me that Larry Brown, 74, is coaching college basketball. My father just turned 70 and he retired in 2002.

12:31: This SMU-Gonzaga game has been as disappointing as Interstellar. Zags up 52-36 with 12:24 left.

12:19 am: Oregon's court looks like a Rorschach test.

12:15 am: Kyle Wiltjer told me in September that one reason he chose Gonzaga: Kevin Pangos. They played together on Canadian national developmental team in the summer of 2013.

12:08 am: From the attendance at this Detroit-Oregon game, it looks like you could have your own personal vendor.

12:00 am: Halftime: Oregon and Detroit tied at 35.

11:53 pm: Halftime at Gonzaga: No.13 Zags lead No.22 SMU 37-27. Former Kentucky player Kyle Wiltjer and former UofL player Angel Nunez both have 5 points.

11:44 pm: I'd make fun of the Gonzaga fan wearing a Bugs Bunny suit... But I'm wearing bunny slippers.

11:41 pm: UofL transfer Angel Nunez with a nice defensive play for Gonzaga to force a SMU turnover.

11:36 pm: No.13 Gonzaga, a Final Four contender, is up 29-17 against No.22 SMU.

11:31 pm: Final: Stanford ends UConn's 47-game winning streak. Wins 88-86 in overtime. Four games in the books.

11:25 pm: Gonzaga leads SMU 20-15. Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer is 0 for 2 so far.

11:21 pm: UConn's 47-game winning streak is in jeopardy.

11:12 pm: Stanford's Amber Orrange with the shot of the night. Her trey with 1.4 seconds left ties score at 77 against defending champ UConn. Going into OT. Huskies' late-game defense has been fairly lousy.

11:06 pm: Oregon's court looks like it was painted by a visually-impaired drunk.

10:56 pm: Final: Iowa State 81, Georgia State 58. Three games in the books. Kevin Ware went 1 for 6 for 4 points. Ryan Harrow was 6 of 22 for 12 points.

10:43 pm: Georgia State's Kevin Ware (1 for 6) and Ryan Harrow (5 for 19) both having awful shooting nights at Iowa State.

10:36 pm: Iowa State is really good. Will be even better when Marquette transfer forward Jameel McKay becomes eligible next month.

10:30 pm: Kevin Ware has gotten rid of the headband. He's 1 for 6 for 2 points. Georgia State trails at Iowa State 62-42 with 10:24 left.

10:20 pm: SMU vs. Gonzaga tip off at 11 p.m. on ESPN2. Former UK player Kyle Wiltjer and former UofL player Angel Nunez play for Zags.

10:12 pm: Every time I see Iowa State, I think of the 2001 NCAA tournament when it was upset by Hampton. The sheer look of joy on the face of Hampton coach Steve Merfeld was priceless.

9:54 pm: UConn guard Kia Nurse's uncle is Donovan McNabb? Didn't know that.

9:35 pm: Former UofL player Kevin Ware has 2 points on 1 of 3 shooting. Former Kentucky player Ryan Harrow has 4 points on 2 of 6 shooting. Georgia State trails at Iowa State 28-27 with 4 minutes to go in first half.

9:23 pm: Don't care how often it airs. That Dish Network commercial with Heath Shuler, Matt Leinart and Brian Bosworth is never not funny.

9:15 p.m.: Final: Kentucky women 74, Baylor 64. Wildcats rally from 14 down for the victory. Two games in the books.

9:10 pm: Former UofL player Kevin Ware and former UK player Ryan Harrow are on ESPNU now. They play for Georgia State which is playing at Iowa State.

9:03 pm: First game in the books. Miami rallies from 15 down to stun No.8 Florida 69-67. Angel Rodriguez with a great second half, including a late trey for the lead.

8:58 pm Angel Rodriguez just made a three-pointer while falling down. And just drew a charge. Big-time rally by Miami over Florida.

8:43 pm: Kentucky women have grabbed first lead of second half, 57-56 with 7:04 to go.

8:30 pm: Kentucky women with a big rally against Baylor. Score now tied at 47 with 11:33 to go. Wildcats were down 14.

8:20 pm: It seems like Billy Donovan - much like Steve Alford - has had the same hairdo his entire life.

8:11 pm : Kentucky women had as many fastbreak points in the first half as me. Zero.

7:57 pm : Some halftime scores:Kentucky women trail Baylor 34-24. Florida men lead Miami 33-21. Only 28 or so hours to go.This is easy.

7:36 pm.: Florida up 25-15 on Miami. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley likely taking advantage of a timeout to call more coaching candidates about the football job.

7:24 p.m : No.13 Kentucky women trail No.8 Baylor 16-8 early. Non-basketball thought: These Christmas car commercials kill me. Has anyone in the history of automobiles bought someone a car as a holiday gift?

We're underway: Baylor at Kentucky women's game. Miami (Fla.) men at Florida. Let's see if the UK women can decide this game in less than four overtimes.

Welcome to the absurdity of me watching the entirety of ESPN's Seventh Annual College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.

First games start at 7 p.m. with the University of Kentucky women playing host to Baylor on ESPN2 and the Miami (Fla.) men at Florida on ESPNU.

Got some rest. Got my bunny slippers on. Let's do this.

ESPN Tip-Off Marathon Schedule

Monday, Nov. 17

Baylor vs. Kentucky (women), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Miami at Florida, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

UConn vs. No. 20 Stanford (women), 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

SMU vs. Gonzaga, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)

Detroit vs. Oregon (ESPNU) Legends Classic

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Auburn vs. Colorado, 1 a.m. (ESPN2)

New Mexico State vs. St. Mary's, 3 a.m. (ESPN2)

High Point vs. Hawaii, 5 a.m. (ESPN2)

Iona vs. Wofford, 7 a.m. (ESPN2)

Northern Iowa vs. Stephen F. Austin (ESPN2)

Manhattan vs. UMass, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)

Baylor vs. South Carolina, noon (ESPN)

Wichita State vs. Memphis, 2 p.m. (ESPN) — In Sioux Falls, S.D.

Utah vs. San Diego State, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Toledo vs. VCU, 6 p.m. (ESPNU) — Part of Legends Classic

Michigan State vs. Duke, 7 p.m. (ESPN) — Champions Classic in Indianapolis

Marquette vs. Ohio State, 7:30 (ESPN2)

Kansas vs. Kentucky, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) — Champions Classic in Indianapolis

Texas Tech vs. LSU, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)