NEWS AND NOTES
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-No real huge surprises from yesterday. Oklahoma looked like a top 25 team on the road against Kansas, but not like the #1 team, which is pretty much what it would have taken to get out of there with a win. Still, it was a solid showing.
-Nevada stomped all over Utah State, which is probably their toughest competition in that conference. They still have to play them again on the road, but it was a dominant showing.
-Texas Tech picked up a close road win at West Virginia to keep their momentum going.
-Maryland won a home thriller against Nebraska in a game that they really needed to pull out.
-Two notable results from the American were South Florida’s home win over UConn. USF has played a light schedule, but they’re 11-2 on the year and are worth keeping an eye on. UCF also picked up a nice and much needed home win against Temple in what was a very bubblicious game.
-Butler has looked awful over their last few games losing badly to Florida, and at home last night to Georgetown. The Bulldogs are falling behind the pack need to string together several wins to put themselves back into the NCAA Tourney hunt.
-Speaking of not looking good, Kansas State was blasted at home by Texas last night. K State really hasn’t looked all that impressive at any time this season. Their two best wins are probably Penn and Missouri down in the Paradise Jam.
-Drake, the one team from the MVC we had been praising for the last couple of weeks,went on the road and lost to Evansville.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-PENN STATE AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Penn State has been one of the bigger disappointments of the year, and Michigan has been one of the bigger surprises. The Wolverines are ranked 2nd in the nation and are right now playing in a way that could earn them a #1 seed.
-NC STATE AT MIAMI FL (ACC). NC State is 12-1 and they have some nice wins on their resume, but they’re still looking for their first true road win of the season. Miami FL has been a bit of a disappointment this year, but they have played well at home and will have the opportunity to turn their season around in conference play.
-ILLINOIS AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Indiana is ranked in the top 25, and deservedly so. They have a conference game that should end up looking a lot like a buy game.
-IOWA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Purdue is coming off one of their more impressive looking wins of the year after dominating a pretty good Belmont team, but they still have a lot of work to do. I still believe the Boilers are better than what their current resume shows, but they have to start picking up quality wins. They face an Iowa team that’s been somewhat impressive, but that’s still looking for their first true road win.
-MARSHALL AT OLD DOMINION (Conference USA). This ODU team has some nice OOC wins, and if they can blow through Conference USA they should be right on the bubble.
-CHARLESTON AT TOWSON (Colonial). Charleston will have to win out or come close to it, but if they do they could be flirting with the bubble.
-GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT TEXAS STATE (Sun Belt). These are two of the better teams int he Sun Belt and it will be fun watching them square off early on in conference play.
-LOUISIANA TECH AT NORTH TEXAS (Conference USA). Two of the stronger C-USA teams going at it. North Texas only has one loss on the season, but they’ve played a rather weak schedule. This is one of their tougher tests of the season so far even though they’re at home.
-MINNESOTA AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Wisky is trying to rebound from a somewhat surprising road loss against Western Kentucky by knocking off a Big Ten rival. Minney is 11-2 on the year and looking to pick up what would probably be their biggest win of the season so far.
-JACKSONVILLE STATE AT BELMONT. Belmont’s margin for error is very thin, but if they can run the table in the OVC they should be inside the bubble going into Selection Sunday.
-COLORADO AT ARIZONA. Speaking of razor thin margins for error, both these teams are on the outside looking in, and will remain there unless they can run through the Pac Twelve.
-SAINT MARY’S AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). San Francisco is coming off a somewhat surprising loss to UC Santa Barbara. They’re still in position to play their way into the NCAA field, but they can’t afford to stub their toes in games like this.
-I don’t think this will end up impacting the NCAA Tournament’s at large field, but it’s a fun night in the SoCon with Samford visiting East Tennessee State and The Citadel traveling to Wofford.