Touchdown Tuesday: College Sports Roundup [1/29]

For those of you out there who can never seem to get enough college sports like us, have no fear! Each week we will bring you the latest college sports news in Touchdown Tuesday, a roundup including scores and game highlights, coaching changes,recruiting information, and all things college sports. 

With the 2013 Pro Bowl behind us, we look forward to our favorite moments of Super Bowl week — arrival of the players, the always-anticipated bizarre questions on media day, and let’s not forget the game of course! —but before the Ravens and Niners kickoff Super Bowl XLVII, let’s recap the past week in college sports.  This week in college hoops we witnessed several top programs suffer major upsets and a staggering record-setting performance as conference standings begin to settle.

• Struggling Cardinal: It was a difficult week for the 5^th ranked Louisville Cardinals who sat atop the Big East standings.  Tuesday night the Cardinals fell to unranked Villanova 64-73 as Louisville Junior Russ Smith and company struggled to convert opportunities.  Things didn’t get any easier for the men from Louisville as they narrowly lost Saturday afternoon to Big East rival Georgetown 51-53 dropping the Cardinals to 4-3 in the Big East and 16-4 overall.
• Hurricane Warning: Top-ranked Duke traveled to rowdy Coral Gables Wednesday night to take on the up-and-rising Miami Hurricanes.  The Canes dismantled the Blue Devils on both sides of the ball early on and never looked back.  The Dukies struggled throughout the first half, missing 13 consecutive shots at one point allowing the Hurricanes to go on a surprising 25-1 run that ultimately put the game out of reach.  Canes’ offensive surge proved too much in the second half giving Miami the victory 90-63, Miami’s first victory over no. 1 ranked team in program history.
• Already Feels Like March: Saturday proved to be difficult for several top-tier programs as four of the nation’s top-12 teams fell to unranked opponents.  In addition to Louisville losing to the Hoyas, Big East powerhouse Syracuse fell to Villanova in overtime 71-75.  Iowa State upended no. 11 Kansas State beating the Wildcats 73-67 in Ames and Wisconsin showcased its home court advantage in a 45-44 victory over no. 12 ranked Minnesota.
• Record-Setting Performance: Northern Illinois broke their own NCAA record scoring a woeful four points in the first half of a 25-42 loss to Eastern Michigan on Saturday.  The Huskies managed just one bucket on 31 shot attempts in the first half, tying an NCAA record.  As a team, Northern Illinois shot just 3.2% from the field in the first period and 13.3% for the game, both shattering records for lowest field goal percentage.

In other news: as National Signing Day quickly approaches the nation’s most sought after recruits are pressed for time, and an update in the NCAA’s battle with the University of Miami.

• Lost Opportunity: U.S. Representatives Charlie Dent and Glenn Thompson wrote NCAA President Mark Emmert Monday asking the NCAA to restore football scholarships striped from Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.  In the letter Dent and Thompson say the sanctions unfairly punish innocent student-athletes and deny them a “chance to get a great education”.  Dent and Thompson currently await a reply.
• Not So Fast: The NCAA’s official notice of allegations against the University of Miami is being put on hold.  On Wednesday, college sports’ governing body said its enforcement staff improperly obtained information through a bankruptcy proceeding that did not involve the Miami investigation.  Former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro’s attorney has publically questioned the NCAA’s motives in light of the new development.
• Haith Facing Ethics Violation: The NCAA is expected to notify Missouri coach Frank Haith of allegations of “unethical conduct and failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance” while his time as coach at Miami.  The charges stem from allegations Miami recruits received travel payments as well as contact with former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro.  CBS reports the NCAA could release the notice of allegations as early as next week.
• The Clock is Ticking: With National Signing Day just over a week away the nation’s top recruits are beginning to feel the pressure to make a decision.  Half of ESPN 150’s top-ten are still undecided, including the no. 1 recruit defensive end Robert Nkemdiche and the nation’s no. 4 overall recruit cornerback Mackensie Alexander.  Check in each week to get the latest recruiting information as February 6^th quickly approaches.

Tune in every Tuesday for more college sports updates!

Featured photo credit: photo credit: Official U.S. Navy Imagery via photopin cc