ESPN/USA Today top 25 sees a few changes

Vanderbilt, Gonzaga and Texas Tech enter while LSU, Florida State and Georgia Tech drop out of this week's ESPN/USA Today top 25:

1. Baylor
2. Connecticut
3. Notre Dame
4. Texas A&M
5. Stanford
6. Duke
7. Maryland
8. Tennessee
9. Miami
10. Kentucky
11. Louisville
12. Rutgers
13. North Carolina
14. Georgia
15. Penn State
16. Purdue
17. Wisconsin-Green Bay
18 (tie). Ohio State, Oklahoma
20. Georgetown
21. DePaul
22 (tie). Texas, Vanderbilt
24. Gonzaga
25. Texas Tech

Two ties? Interesting.

The good and the sad

Oklahoma State update:

Miranda Serna was laid to rest Saturday in her home state of New Mexico.

So far, an investigation has revealed that the plane banked to the right and then dipped before crashing and killing all aboard.

Taking on good causes:

Baylor has adopted a child.

Former University of Nevada guard Tahnee Robinson will be a an official spokeswoman for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Class of 2012:

ESPN has tagged six seniors as players to watch this season.

Former Seattle Storm practice player dies from cancer:

Andrew Moritz, who played for the Washington Huskies, died from cancer yesterday at age 33.

Mater Dei, former Brea Olinda star ruled ineligible to play

Mater Dei guard Nirra Fields, who is UCLA-bound, and former Brea Olinda star Jeanier Olukemi have both been denied transfers from the California Interscholastic Federation. Unless both win hardship appeals, neither will be able to play this season.

Big things poppin

#1 Baylor held off #7 Tennessee. ESPN's Mechelle Voepel analyzes. So does Baylor point guard Odyssey Sims.

At halftime of the big match up, the Pat Summitt Foundation was launched. It will support Alzheimer's programs.

Baylor Coach Kim Mulkey had some kind words for the longtime coach.

Upsets:

Nebraska beat #24 Florida State.

Cal beat their first ranked opponent - Joanne Boyle's #22 Virginia Cavaliers, no less.

The unbeatens:

#19 Ohio State remains undefeated after outlasting #23 LSU, who is now 3-3 on the year.

Texas Tech is also unbeaten after today's victory over Louisiana-Monroe.

The Oregon Ducks won their own tournament and are now 6-0 on the year.

Milestone:

UConn has now won a record 89 consecutive home games after pounding Dayton today.

Heads up:

Missouri's move to the SEC will cost them.

Today, yesterday

Today it's #1 Baylor at #6 Tennessee.

Last night it was Cal State Northridge over West Virginia - the Matadors' first win over a Big East opponent in team history. Box score.

Thankful for all of this game action

Upsets:

#21 Georgetown beat #10 Georgia.

Unranked Vanderbilt defeated #14 Oklahoma.

Excitement:

#3 Notre Dame needed a last-second Natalie Novosel bank shot to overcome #6 Duke at the Junkanoo Jam.

#18 Green Bay needed a last-second Adrian Ritchie three-pointer to slip by #25 Georgia Tech in overtime.

Cal missed a last-ditch shot to give #22 Texas the one-point win.

Minnesota's buzzer-beater put them over Virginia Tech by a point.

#13 Rutgers held off Arizona State at the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Shootout.

Update at 9:23 p.m.: Cal State Northridge 48-47 over West Virginia.

TCU beat Fordham by the same score, 48-47.

Also Yale over Texas-Pan American, 59-57.

It's madness, I'm tellin' ya.

Oklahoma State returns to the court with a win

The 59-35 victory over Coppin State was more than just a win - it was a triumph:

STILLWATER, Okla. -- For the first time in more than a week, the Oklahoma State women's basketball team felt somewhat normal for a few hours Saturday.

With nine days filled with funerals, memorials and mourning behind them, the Cowgirls played their first game since OSU coach Kurt Budke, assistant Miranda Serna and boosters Olin and Paula Branstetter were killed in a plane crash Nov. 17.

On Saturday, the Cowgirls wore patches on their uniforms of the number "4" that featured the initials of each crash victim and the date of the accident stitched onto the number. Coppin State players wore orange T-shirts emblazoned with the number "4" during their pregame warmups.

"Today was much deeper than the basketball part of it," OSU interim coach Jim Littell said of the Cowgirls' 59-35 victory over Coppin State at Gallagher-Iba Arena. "We had a chance to pay honor today.

"Did we play like we are capable of? Definitely not, but it was a step. It's much, much deeper than a basketball game."

Video.

Game recap.

I respect their courage.

Keeping up with the tournaments and games

Stanford overpowered Xavier, 80,64, behind Nnemkadi Ogwumike's season-high 34 points.

The Cardinal spent Thanksgiving at the home of junior forward Mikaela Ruef.

At the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas, Skylar Diggins and Notre Dame had stellar games, and beat USC yesterday, 80-58. Trojan guard Jacki Gemelos is back and in full effect, with no more doubts.

In Hawaii, Cal took their opener at the Waikiki Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown over the hosts, 69-54. Bear freshman Reshanda Gray led her team with 16 points and six rebounds. Cal takes on #24 Texas today in round two.

Schoni Schimmel lead #12 Louisville past #24 Florida State, as she put up 25 points.

#8 Maryland's win over Florida International makes them 6-0 - their best start in years.

Today's schedule.

Tomorrow is the big Baylor-Tennessee match up. Vol guard Taber Spani, who has been out with an injured elbow, will play.

It's high school tournament time in Southern California

......the happiest time of the year........

Nov. 28-Dec. 3:

Brea Olinda Ladycat Classic

Inglewood City of Champions Tournament

Nov. 30-Dec. 3:

La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 Invitational

Dec. 5-Dec. 9:

Mater Dei Matt Denning Classic

Dec. 5-Dec. 10:

Fountain Valley Hoop Challenge

These are a few of my favorite things

Sue Bird and Candace Parker talk about playing against dudes.

Dishin & Swishin interviews Tamika Catchings.

Cal is in Hawaii at a tournament, and they're set to take on former Coach Joanne Boyle's Virginia team.

I'm holding off on score reporting because many games have yet to take place, but you gotta love this Thanksgiving weekend for hoops.