FRIDAY NIGHT
-VCU knocked off their old rivals Old Dominion to improve to 6-3. Iowa State vs Iowa was also a good game, and for the first time in a long time, it may turn out to be a meaningful game for both teams. Iowa led most of the game, but Iowa State did make several runs to keep themselves in it.
SATURDAY’S ACTION
SPOTLIGHT GAMES
-TEMPLE AT DUKE. Both teams are unbeaten. Duke has played a killer schedule, and while Temple’s has been tough, it hasn’t been nearly as tough as Duke’s. We should know a lot more about how good Temple really is when we see how they do on the road against what is currently the most accomplished team in the country.
-ILLINOIS AT GONZAGA. A great match up between two unbeaten teams who are high in the rankings. Both teams have been tested, but this is still probably the biggest test for either of them. If Gonzaga wants a #1 seed, they probably need this one because they don’t go through a gauntlet in conference play the way Illinois does. Having said that, though, if the Zags do get the win, you have to think that they’re good enough to win out the regular season. That would definitely get them on the #1 line. They’ve got one really tough test after this, and it’s at Oklahoma State.
-COLORADO AT KANSAS. Colorado has looked great this season, but this is just their second true road game. They lost their only other one at Wyoming. Colorado already looks like a tournament team, but this is the kind of win that can help make a case that they are a protected seed. As for Kansas, despite being the home team, it would probably be their best win on the season to date.
-BUTLER AT NORTHWESTERN. We at Hoops HD are constantly on this bandwagon, and have vowed to not get on it this year. Having said that, if Northwestern can manage a win in this game and improve to 7-2, it looks like this could be the year Northwestern finally dances. For Butler, it would be their best true road win to date, so there is a lot to gain for both these teams.
OTHER ACTION
-ARKANSAS AT MICHIGAN. I was expecting Arkansas to have a big year, and I guess they still could, but they’re just 4-3 on the year, they lack big wins, and this is their first true road game. Michigan, on the other hand, looked to me to be overrated at the start of the season, but they’ve proven me wrong. They’re currently #3, and they’re playing like it.
-MURRAY STATE AT EVANSVILLE. Evansville is perhaps a dark horse in the Missouri Valley, and is tough to beat at home. It won’t likely turn out to be a huge quality win, but it will still likely be one of the better road wins Murray is able to manage, if they’re able to manage it.
-VIRGINIA TECH AT WEST VIRGINIA. It’s good to see these teams play in basketball, and the atmosphere should be electric as VA Tech comes in unbeaten. This is an old football rivalry that has been put on hold, and the feelings of dislike are still very apparent and it should be an intense atmosphere and a fun game to watch.
-WISCONSIN AT MARQUETTE. Big rivalry game between two teams that look to have potential and that are trying to establish their profiles. This one is important both on and off paper.
-UTAH AT BYU. This is another big rivalry game between two teams that have shown promise, but need to build up their profiles.
-ARIZONA AT CLEMSON. Arizona is high in the rankings, but really hasn’t had a tough test yet, so we should learn something about them today. Clemson has just two losses on the year, and this is only their third home game of the year. It’s a chance for them to get a momentum building win.
-NORTHERN IOWA AT GEORGE MASON. Both teams are good, but both teams need credentials on their profile and it is still too early in the season to say for certain if one or both of them is good enough to be in the discussion.
-MISSISSIPPI AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE. Ole Miss is 6-0 on the year, but this is by far their toughest test. Middle Tennessee is 6-2 and is good enough to be in the at-large discussion, but their margin for error is razor thin, so this is a high stakes game for them, as well as a test for Ole Miss.
-LOUISIANA TECH AT SOUTHERN MISS. Both teams have good records, but still have a lot of question marks and need some credentials. A lot of the time you can’t tell how big or important a game will end up being. This is one of those times. Will they both be inside the bubble, or will they both be irrelevant??
-WESTERN MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS STATE. Similar story as above, although Illinois State has looked very good in games against Northwestern and Louisville. The problem is that they didn’t win either.
-COLORADO STATE AT ILLINOIS-CHICAGO. Again, similar story as above. This is a curious game because both teams have just one loss, but it’s hard to say for certain how good they actually are at this point.
-UCLA AT TEXAS. You get the sense that both these teams are trying to stay relevant, and losing this game will not help that cause.
-VALPO AT NEW MEXICO. Valpo is off to a 6-2 start and looks to be among the best in the Horizon League, but they are probably in way over their heads in this one.
-LOYOLA, IL AT MICHIGAN STATE. Loyola is off to a 6-2 start, but has no big quality wins to speak of. If they’re able to pull off the upset in this one it would certainly help boost their profile.
-KANSAS STATE AT GEORGE WASHINGTON. Kansas State is a quiet 6-1 on the year so far, but doesn’t have any notable wins. This would be their biggest so far.
-CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE AT ARIZONA STATE. With CS Northridge at 7-2 and Arizona State at 7-1, this is an early season game to keep an eye on.
-CLEVELAND STATE AT NC STATE. I’m not going to predict an upset, but I will say that Cleveland State is a decent team at 6—2 and NC State needs to be on upset alert.
-INDIANA STATE AT MOREHEAD STATE. Indiana State is 4-2 on the season and can pick up another road win today.
-AUSTIN PEAY AT MEMPHIS. Memphis has won three straight since struggling down in the Paradise Jam, and blew out a good Ohio team in their last game. A win in this will get them to 6-2.
-TOWSON AT GEORGETOWN. Towson won just one game a year ago, and is 4-4 on this season. I don’t see any way they win this one, though. The Hoyas have looked as good as anyone this season.
-TCU AT TULSA. Both teams have good records, but not much on their profiles as far as quality wins go.
-LONG BEACH STATE AT OHIO STATE. LBSU should make quite a bit of noise in the Big West, but they’re way overmatched today.
-CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT CHARLOTTE. Charlotte just picked up a big road win at Davidson and can stay unbeaten on the year if they can take care of business at home.
-PURDUE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN. Odd road game for Purdue, and at 4-4, it’s one they need if they want to resuscitate their profile. EMU is 5-2 on the year and unbeaten at home, so it won’t be a cakewalk.
-OAKLAND AT OHIO. Ohio has lost two straight, and needs to right their ship in a hurry if they want to be in the discussion for a tournament spot. Oakland should make quite a bit of noise in Summit League play, but it’s been a rough out of conference for them.
-LA SALLE AT NORTHEASTERN. La Salle hasn’t had a truly big test yet, but a win will get them to 6-1.
-RICHMOND AT JAMES MADISON. Richmond still likes to play many of their old CAA rivals. A win in this one will get them to an impressive 8-2.
-EASTERN KENTUCKY AT CHATTANOOGA. EKU is definitely untested, but a win does get them to 9-0.
-MISSOURI STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE. Oklahoma State has just one loss on the year and shouldn’t have too much trouble in this one.
-MINNESOTA AT USC. Minnesota has been a surprise this year. Their only loss came to Duke, and they have really shot up the rankings.
-WOFFORD AT DAVIDSON (SoCon). Davidson’s margin for error is razor thin for the rest of the year if they want to be in the at-large discussion.
-UNC WILMINGTON AT GEORGIA TECH. A win will get the Jackets to a respectable 6-2.
-EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA. A win for the Tarheels will get them to 7-2.
-PORTLAND AT KENTUCKY. Portland’s program is improving, but they’re most likely in over their heads in this one.
-MIAMI, OH AT DAYTON. Dayton just got a big win at Alabama, but this Miami team is a team they historically struggle with. They appear to be superior, but don’t be surprised if it isn’t a cakewalk.
-UMKC AT LOUISVILLE. Louisville has just one loss on the year and shouldn’t have too much trouble picking up this one.
-MONMOUTH AT SYRACUSE. Syracuse shouldn’t have any trouble staying unbeaten.
-NORTH FLORIDA AT PITT. Pitt has been very solid this year and a win will get them to 9-1.
-NORTHERN COLORADO AT WICHITA STATE. Wichita State is unbeaten and will likely stay that way.
-BROWN AT NOTRE DAME. The Irish has been better than expected and can improve to 8-1 with a win in this one.
-UMES AT CINCINNATI. UMES has not won, and Cincinnati has not lost.
-SOUTH CAROLINA STATE AT MARYLAND. Maryland can get to 8-1 with a win.
-LEHIGH AT SAINT FRANCIS, PA. Lehigh is lacking notable wins, but they can get to 8-2 on the year.
-MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT VIRGINIA. Virginia is off to a quiet 7-2 start and shouldn’t have too much trouble winning today. They haven’t done much away from home yet, though, so it’s hard to get too excited about them just yet.
-GRAMBLING STATE AT OREGON STATE. A win gets Oregon State to 5-2. I think they have a lot of potential this year.
-IDAHO STATE AT OREGON. A win gets the Ducks to 8-1.
-IUPUI AT WESTERN KENTUCKY. A win gets WKU to 8-2 on the season.
-CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT INDIANA. IU is unbeaten, ranked #1, and that is not likely to change.
-TULANE AT SAN DIEGO. As usual, Tulane is off to a big start, but as usual, they are completely untested. A win gets them to 8-2.
-IONA AT RUTGERS. Is Rutgers relevant?? Not sure, and winning today will hardly substantiate them as relevant, but they’re still worth keeping an eye on for now.