Tonight’s feature conference is the Ohio Valley where SEMO appears to be the hottest team. They’ve strung together quite a few wins and have faulted themselves into 1st place. Little Rock and SIUE are also in the mix, and some teams at the bottom of the standings could be facing elimination this week.
After that, we run through the other 21 UTR conferences and discuss how Eastern Kentucky has caught fire in the ASun, Montana has won 8 in a row and passed Northern Colorado in the Big Sky, Towson has dominated the CAA, Yale is red hot in the Ivy League, UC Irvine and UC San Diego are still fighting to get inside the bubble out of the Big West, and Drake is trying to hold on to a spot inside the bubble in the Missouri Valley. We discuss all that, and more! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.
And, for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
If you want to win an NCAA title then you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 2 championship teams from 1979-2020 did not have such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn), and while UConn won a title in 2023 without 1 they added McDonald’s All-American Stephon Castle before winning a 2nd title in 2024. The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced last month after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Jon Scheyer how he likes having 2024 honoree Cooper Flagg at Duke! Unlike most years when 1 school stands out as the big winner with the most All-Americans, there are 2 different programs tied for the lead with 3 each (Duke/UConn) and 3 players who have not yet committed to a college. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Malachi Moreno about being named a McDonald’s All-American and seeing John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena in person.
Last season at Great Crossing High School you averaged 16 PPG/13 RPG/4 BPG: how big a deal was it to reach the Sweet 16 of the KHSAA state tournament for the first time in school history? It was a very big deal. The previous 2 years we had been upset in the regional tourney, but last year we were more experienced and were able to make it to the state tourney. It was a great steppingstone for both our players and our program.
You received offers from several great schools including Arkansas/Indiana/North Carolina but signed with Kentucky last August: was it an easy decision considering your high school campus is just 30 minutes from the Kentucky campus? I am a big relationship guy and developed relationships with all the coaches, but at the end of the day I could only pick 1 school. The things that Kentucky preached made my decision so much easier, plus the chance to be close to my family.
You got to attend the Arkansas-Kentucky game earlier this month: what was it like to see Coach John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena in person? It was something new. I heard some boos but a lot of applause as well because he created quite a legacy at Kentucky. I am sure that it was a surreal moment for both him and his players.
Coach Mark Pope’s team started this season 14-3 but is currently 17-8: how far do you think they will go in March? I think they will go as far as they want to go. They have been plagued with injuries but have depth/experience and nobody wants it more than them.
Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot. You always set goals for yourself when you play a sport, and I put in a lot of work/prayer after setting that as 1 of my goals. Once I saw my name on the list, I felt very proud of myself. I found out while I was with my teammates, which made it a memory that I will never forget.
You are part of a great recruiting class that includes Jasper Johnson/Acaden Lewis: how well do you know your 2 future teammates? I have known/played against Jasper for a long time: we only live 20-30 minutes apart and have always been friends, and our relationship has only grown stronger once we both committed. Acaden happened to be on my team at a basketball camp last summer, and I knew that we would kill it once we all committed to the Wildcats!
You were also named a member of the 2025 USA Nike Hoop Summit team last month: any chance you can convince your future Hoop Summit teammates Nate Ament/Koa Peat to join you in Lexington next fall? I certainly hope they come to Lexington so I can try my hardest…but it is their decision at the end of the day.
I have seen you listed anywhere from 6’10 to 7’1”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? In high school I am a traditional center, which is what I have been my whole life. In college I am hoping to be a stretch 5 like Amari Williams: initiating the offense and making plays for your teammates.
Your brother Michael played basketball at Eastern Kentucky: who is the best athlete in the family? That is hard to decide. We have different builds, but I would not be who I am without him setting the path for me. It pains me to say it…but I would have to choose him!
I read that you want to major in education and become a teacher someday: how come? I have had many teachers during my life who have been great role models and helped me make sound decisions. I want to be a role model to students in the future and just ensure that they are happy.
-Mississippi State pulled away from Texas A&M down the stretch for a very impressive 70-54 win. It was a home game, but it will still give the Bulldogs a bit of a resume boost.
-TCU knocked off Texas Tech last night 69-66 and while we haven’t been paying that much attention to them, it is probably time to start. They’ve won five of their last six, they suddenly have 3 quad 1 wins, they are 8-7 in a very strong Big 12 Conference, and in looking at their remaining schedule all the games appear to be winnable.
-Purdue has now lost three straight. They fell on the road to Michigan State 75-66 last night. While none of those losses are bad, and while winning at Michigan State certainly isn’t easy to do, the Boilers are in a bit of a tailspin.
-Kansas, who has not been the best road team this season, was far from the best road team last night. They were blown off the floor by BYU last night 91-57. It’s a big win for the Cougars who are right on the bubble, and a big setback for a Kansas team that will probably struggle to end up as a protected seed.
-UCLA, who had been on fire, somehow lost at home last night to Minnesota 66-63. This won’t knock UCLA out of the field by any means, but we were starting to think of them as a probable protected seed, and losing a home game to a team that is nowhere near the bubble is not going to help them with that push.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-UMASS AT VCU (Atlantic 10). VCU is squarely on the bubble and should get a look if they win out, but anything short of that and I think they’ll need the auto-bid.
-NEBRASKA AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Nebraska is inside our bubble, bot to say they are safely inside is a bit of a stretch. They need to be able to beat non-tournament teams on the road to show that they should stay inside the bubble.
-VANDERBILT AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Kentucky is on the fringe of earning a protected seed, but they still have some work to do. If nothing else they need to do a better job winning the ‘hold-serve games.’ They’ve shown they can win the big games. Vanderbilt is a home court hero and while we have them in the field, a win like this would make their spot so much more secure and shoot them up the seedlist.
-CINCINNATI AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). I think West Virginia’s NCAA hopes are slipping away and that a loss tonight may be enough to virtually end it.
-SMU AT NOTRE DAME (ACC). SMU continues to hover around our bubble and they can add another road win to their resume tonight.
-UIC AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley). UIC beat Drake earlier this season, so it is important that Drake can show that they can beat them. Drake needs to finish 1st and beat everyone in the conference at least once in order to show the committee that they belong inside the bubble. If Drake wins out, I think the committee will select them.
-OREGON AT IOWA (Big Ten). Oregon had been in a nosedive, but they’ve now won two straight and have a winnable road game tonight. Winning at Iowa isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it’s the kind of game that a team that’s looking to be placed in the top half of the bracket should be able to win.
-ARKANSAS AT AUBURN (SEC). Auburn is the consensus #1 team in very metric and every poll. Arkansas is hovering around the bubble. That’s the story line. If Arkansas can somehow win this game, it will rocket them up the seedlist and probably land them inside the bubble. At least for now.
-ALABAMA AT MISSOURI (SEC). This is a tough road test for an Alabama team that’s coming off a home loss to their rivals in one of the biggest regular season games in the last several years. Bama is still being projected onto the #1 line, and still has to win some tough games in order to stay there. Particularly this one. Missouri is looking like a possible protected seed and has been outstanding at home this year, so this one should be fun.
-SAINT JOHN’S AT DEPAUL (Big East). The Johnnies are red hot. They’re an outstanding defensive team, they’re solid on the road, and they should be able to pick this one up tonight without too much trouble.
-GONZAGA AT WASHINGTON STATE (West Coast). This is a big game for the Zags. They ares safely in the field, but have a chance to really build up their metrics and move up the seedlist if they can win out. Wazzu isn’t anywhere near the field, but this is still not the easiest road game to win.
-SAN JOSE STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). Utah State is coming back from a loss and needs to bounce back, which they shouldn’t have too much trouble doing tonight. They are safely inside the bubble and will remain there so long as they can continue to hold serve.
-NEW MEXICO AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). New Mexico is an amazing 22-4 on the year and is coming off a really big win against Utah State. They will be tested tonight against a Boise State team that has a high ceiling that they haven’t always played up to, but is still potentially dangerous. Especially when they are at home.
-PORTLAND AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast). It’s a conference game, but it has the feel of a buy game. SMC should steamroll through this one.
UNDER THE RADAR WATCH:
–BIG SOUTH – High Point has a half game lead over UNC Asheville and should win easily at home over Charleston Southern. UNC Asvheville has a tougher test as they are going on the road to Radford
–PATRIOT LEAGUE – American has a two game lead over Bucknell and Army with four games to go and can knock Army out of the race tonight.
–SOCON – Chattanooga and UNC Greensboro are tied with just four games to go and Samford is just a game behind those two. All three are in action tonight. Samford hosts Furman, UNCG has a tough test at East Tennessee State, and Chattanooga should roll Western Carolina at home.
–SUN BELT – It’s crazy!! Arkansas State, South Alabama, Troy, and James Madison are all tied for 1st place with just four games remaining. Appalachian State is just a game behind those four. Arkansas State hosts South Alabama in an extremely pivotal game tonight.
–SUMMIT LEAGUE – Omaha is just a game behind Saint Thomas with three games to go, but since the Tommies are ineligible for the NCAA Tournament Omaha is in the drivers seat. The go on the road to UMKC tonight
-ATLANTIC SUN – Bellarmine was mathematically eliminated from making the ASun Tournament with their 81-76 loss to West Georgia on Saturday.
-SOUTHLAND – Overlooked (by me) yesterday was that New Orlean’s 78-62 loss to Nicholls mathematically eliminates them from the Southland Tournament and from any chance of making the NCAA Tournament.
We are now down to just 353 teams who can still win it all!
-Arizona got another big win at Baylor 74-67 and is continuing to make a strong case that they belong as a protected seed.
-Kansas State really did have a hell of a run, but they started their sprint when they were way too far behind the rest of the pack, and last night’s 74-69 loss at Utah probably means that they cannot catch up to it without winning the Big 12 Tournament.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-VILLANOVA AT UCONN (Big East). UConn will be looking to bounce back from one of the biggest surprises of the season. Their overtime loss to Seton Hall was a setback, but it does not derail them. As for Nova, their Tournament hopes are barely flickering and they need a win in a game like this to keep them alive.
-OKLAHOMA AT FLORIDA (SEC). Oklahoma is squarely on the bubble and may be running out of strikes. They let a big one slip away over the weekend and now may need a win in a game like this to get themselves back in the picture. The Gators are having a great year and are in the hunt for a #1 seed.
-TEXAS A&M AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Both teams are in the rankings, and TAMU is looking like a solid protected seed who still may have a shot at the #1 line depending on how things play out between now and the end of the conference tournaments.
-PURDUE AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). This is a big showcase game between two likely protected seeds who are both looking to build up their resumes even more. Purdue has lost two straight after looking as good as anyone in the country. A win today, especially on the road, would be a huge way for them to bounce back.
-NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT AKRON (MAC). This likely won’t impact the bracket, but Akron can remain perfect in conference play and may get at least a look if they win out.
-COLORADO AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). This is one that Iowa State really should blow through. It isn’t quite a buy game, but it may end up looking like one.
-TEXAS TECH AT TCU (Big 12). Texas Tech is on a roll and appears to be cruising toward a protected seed. This is a chance for them to add another road win to their profile.
-BUTLER AT XAVIER (Big East). If Xavier wins out they should get a strong look from the committee, but even then they’d probably need to win a game in the Big East Tournament in order to feel safe. Either way, they cannot afford to lose this one at home.
-ILLINOIS AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Wisky is looking like one of the better teams in the country and can keep that momentum going with a win at home today. Illinois has had some huge moments this season, but they’ve also lost a lot of games that you would have expected them to win. So, one never quite knows what they are going to do.
-AIR FORCE AT WYOMING (Mountain West, Front Range). We at Hoops HD Love the Front Range!!!
-HOUSTON AT ARIZONA STATE (Big 12). It’s always a challenge to go on the road and win, but Houston is one of the best road teams in the country and should be able to hold serve in this one. They still have a shot at the #1 line depending on how things play out.
-SETON HALL AT MARQUETTE (Big East). I would say that Marquette should breeze through this one, and they should, but Seton Hall is coming off the upset win against UConn so Marquette doesn’t want to just overlook them. They didn’t exactly bury DePaul in their last game.
-KANSAS AT BYU (Big 12). Kansas has shown that they are not the best road team, and they will likely be challenged again tonight in one of the tougher road environments in the country. BYU is squarely on the bubble, so every game they go in to seems to have a pivotal feel to it. This one is no different. They need to win it.
-MINNESOTA AT UCLA (Big Ten). UCLA has been playing really well, and they continue to build their resume, boost their metrics, and climb the seedlist. They should be able to win this one at home tonight.
-FRESNO STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State appears to be safely inside the bubble, but a home loss in a game like this will make them a lot less safe.
Chad and the panel recap a busy week of action, including the Auburn vs Alabama game, which was just the fourth time we’ve had a #1 vs #1 matchup in the last 25 years. We continue to break down the overall strength of the SEC and how they are still on pace to get as many as five teams on the top 2 seed lines. The Big 12 also has a lot of strong teams as Houston looks to be in contention for a #1 seed and Texas Tech is also looking really strong. Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue continue to roll along in the Big Ten, it was a big week in the Mountain West with New Mexico and Utah State having squared off against each other, and it’s a big couple of weeks coming up for Gonzaga as they head down the stretch. We discuss all that, and more!
And, for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
-For Jon Teitel’s latest Bracket Projections – CLICK HERE
-For the Hoops HD Team Sheets and DefCon Ratings – CLICK HERE
-Saint John’s keeps winning, and yesterday they got another big one as they held off Creighton 79-73. The Johnnies are being projected as a protected seed, and the real committee gave them one in their exercise over the weekend, so they are flying pretty high right now.
-Memphis finally stubbed their toes. They went into The Round House at Wichita State, got a battle from the Shockers, and ended up falling in overtime 84-79. It is a setback for the Tigers, but it shouldn’t set them back too much. To take up for them a little bit, it can be difficult to run through a stretch of games where none of them help build up your profile, and everyone of them is the biggest showcase game of the year for your opponent. That is sort of the situation that Memphis is in.
-Michigan got another big road win in a close and hard fought game at Ohio State 86-83. The Wolverines look like a solid protected seed to me, especially after yesterday. Ohio State still looks like a team that is squarely on the bubble, especially after yesterday.
-Drake, who needed to win out in order to be safely in the field, lost at home yesterday 61-59 to Bradley. It was close all throughout, and Drake had a chance to tie it on the last possession, but could not find the basket. I still think they’ll be inside the bubble if they win out, and I still think they are good enough to do it, but anything short of that and they’ll probably need the auto-bid.
-New Mexico and Utah State squared off in a big Mountain West match-up, and it was as exciting as we would expect. New Mexico came from behind in the second half to get the big win and improve to 22-4, I like both these teams, I think they will both be in the field, and both will be tough to beat in the Round of 64.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-DUKE AT VIRGINIA (ACC). Duke is solidly on the #1 line and will likely be moving up to #2 in the polls today. Even though they’re on the road this should be a game where Duke is easily able to hold serve.
-KANSAS STATE AT UTAH (Big 12). K State just had their winning streak snapped with a loss at BYU. As good as they’ve been recently, they still have a long way to go in order to make the field and need to bounce back and get this one on the road tonight. Utah is also about a thousand miles from making the NCAA Tournament, but they are coming off a big win against Kansas.
-ARIZONA AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Arizona has lost two straight and needs to bounce back, but they will be tested tonight. Baylor has battled injuries and setbacks throughout the year, but they are still on pace to make the field and have been really tough to beat at home. This would be a nice win for them as well if they’re able to pull it off.
