General

January 20: The Night the Streaks Died

Jan 21, 2010, 3:57 PM UTC

Although I spent much of Wednesday night marveling at the NBA, as a college hoops fan I can’t help but take note of a few streaks that fell.â†µ

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â†µâ†µMemphis is far and away the most important of the three streaks I’ll touch on in this space, because they were tied with Kentucky for the longest consecutive conference winning streak. The Tigers were at 64 wins, but couldn’t take down UTEP. Memphis lost 72-67, and the run at 65 wins ended on its home floor. Keeping in mind that Kentucky’s mark was set in a span from 1945-50, you’re really left to marvel at what the Tigers have accomplished since 2006.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Conference USA that existed after the Big East raid was obviously a former shell of itself, but that this mark is from 65 years ago suggests that it’s a level of consistency almost impossible to sustain. (This is the part where, if I was a cruel guy, I’d mention that had John Calipari stuck around, Memphis would’ve probably kept rolling considering they would’ve had Xavier Henry and possibly John Wall on the same team. That’s a roster that makes you shudder.) It will be interesting to see how Memphis responds. They’re 13-5, but they’re also without a marquee win and hardly look like a tournament lock. A strong finish to C-USA play, coupled with a win against Gonzaga in February, could keep the Tigers dancing, but it won’t be the sure thing it was in the past.â†µ

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â†µPitt carried its own winning streak -- 31 in a row at home -- into Wednesday night, but didn't come out sitting on 32. Chris Wright had 27 for Georgetown in the Hoyas' 74-66 win. Pitt has nothing to be ashamed of. Georgetown is a quality opponent, and even with that loss, Pitt is playing at a higher level than anyone would've expected this season after the loss of Levance Fields and DeJuan Blair.â†µ

â†µâ†µA streak fell on Wednesday night that was longer than either of the ones mentioned above, and probably fills the hearts of ACC fans who don’t count blue as a primary color with great joy. Duke and North Carolina lost on the same night for the first time since Feb. 2, 2003. Wake Forest dominated the Heels in Chapel Hill, and N.C. State picked up a 14-point home win against Duke. North Carolina’s current three-game losing streak is its longest since 2003 a five-game skid. The middle game of that slide was a 79-75 loss to Wake Forest, on the very same night FSU knocked off Duke, 75-70. â†µ

â†µâ†µWhile those schools have to be down today, things are looking up on the DePaul campus. DePaul edged Marquette, 51-50,â†µto end an absurd 24-game losing streak in regular season Big East play.â†µThe Blue Demons’ last regular season Big East win was at Cincinnati onâ†µMarch 6, 2008. So that’s why Jerry Wainwright isn’t the coach anymore.â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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