-BOISE STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). New Mexico is in much better shape, but both teams still have a lot of room to improve their resumes, so this game has a pivotal feel to it, especially for Boise. It’s a chance to get a win that will help put them way inside the bubble. The Mountain has been very exciting this year, and we could be in for another treat tonight.
-KENT STATE AT OHIO (MAC). As weak as the bubble appears to be, Ohio may get a look if they win out, but anything short of that and I’d say they have no chance.
-VILLANOVA AT CONNECTICUT (Big East). Nova has some good things on their profile, but they need a strong finish if they want to be considered.
-VIRGINIA AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). Virginia’s OOC schedule did them no favors, and it has put a lot of pressure on them to perform in conference. Having said that, they do have some nice wins and could add another to their profile today. For UNC, they appear to be inside the bubble, but still have a lot of room to improve. This game has a pivotal feel for both teams.
-NOTRE DAME AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). Notre Dame followed up their thrilling overtime marathon against Louisville with an unimpressive overtime win against DePaul. They appear to be solid and this would be another nice road win for them.
-SAINT JOSEPH’S AT LA SALLE (Atlantic Ten, Big Five). This should be an emotional game for La Salle, who is at home against a crosstown rival in a year where they’re trying to make the NCAAs for the first time in a generation..
-PITTSBURGH AT MARQUETTE (Big East). These are two teams with solid profiles who could end up as protected seeds.
-KENTUCKY AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Every game for the remainder of Kentucky’s season will have a pivotal feel to it. They’re on the bubble, and now they’re without their star player for the rest of the season.
-FLORIDA AT AUBURN (SEC). If Florida wants a #1 seed, they’ll pretty much have to win out, and that may not even be enough. They’re still a solid team and appear to be undermatched today.
-OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (BIG TWELVE). BEDLAM!!!! Both teams are in the tournament picture, which makes this rivalry that much more fun. Both are in good shape, but both also have room to improve their profiles.
-TCU AT IOWA STATE (Big Twelve). Iowa State is on the bubble and needs to hold serve in this game.
-PURDUE AT INDIANA (Big Ten). This is a big rivalry, but considering how big of a mismatch it is it doesn’t have all the appeal that it has had in previous years. The Hoosiers appear to be a #1 seed, and Purdue may make the NIT.
-INDIANA STATE AT BRADLEY (Missouri Valley). Indiana State lost to an awful Missouri State team earlier in the week, and they may not be able to recover. A loss in this one may knock them out of the picture entirely.
-VIRGINIA TECH AT NC STATE (ACC). NC State has done well at home. They need road wins, though. A win today against a lower caliber team won’t help nearly as much as a loss would hurt.
-BUCKNELL AT LAFAYETTE (Patriot League). Again, with the bubble being weak, Bucknell could be in the picture if they win out.
-CREIGHTON AT EVANSVILLE (Missouri Valley). Creighton has lost three straight and their profile is in a tailspin. They really need this win today. Evansville has just two home losses, so it won’t be easy for them.
-COLORADO STATE AT AIR FORCE (Mountain West, Front Range). This is a true test for Colorado State. It’s a rivalry game, it’s a conference game, and it’s a mythical conference game all rolled up into one. Colorado State has a solid profile, but if they can pick up some notable road wins their profile could end up being even stronger. Right now they’re playing as well as anyone in the league, and could end up with a protected seed if they finish strong.
-WYOMING AT FRESNO STATE (Mountain West). Wyoming really needs to turn their season around, and can’t afford any more losses to non-tournament caliber teams.
-MISSOURI AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Missouri won their first road game of the year against Mississippi State earlier in the week. A win in this game would really push them further inside the bubble. Arkansas isn’t a tournament team, but they are strong at home, and the biggest thing Mizzou is lacking is true road wins.
-BUTLER AT FORDHAM (Atlantic Ten). Butler went down to Charlotte earlier in the week, but they’re still right in the mix of the Atlantic Ten. This is as winnable as a road game as any in the conference.
-UCLA AT STANFORD (Pac Twelve). UCLA got creamed earlier in the week, but still appears to be in decent shape. They could use another good road win, though. Stanford started off weak, but has really come on strong lately. If they keep it up they’ll play their way into the discussion.
-GONZAGA AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). Gonzaga won a big game at Saint Mary’s earlier in the week and isn’t likely to be beaten again. They will have a case for a #1 seed if they win out.
-SOUTHERN MISS AT EAST CAROLINA (Conference USA). I still don’t like Southern Miss because of their lack of quality wins, but they do have a good record and the committee will likely give them a look if they can win out and get a win against Memphis either during the season or in the conference tourney.
-STEPHEN F AUSTIN AT SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA (Southland). It’s the same story for SFA. If they win out they may get a look, but anything short of that and they’ll need the automatic bid.
-DUKE AT MARYLAND (ACC). Duke is solidly in, but could use some more road wins to improve their profile. Maryland is outside the bubble and needs some notable wins to be seriously considered.
-TEMPLE AT UMASS (Atlantic Ten). Temple is the most schizophrenic team being considered this year. They just had a terrible loss to Duquesne, and that may be enough to sink them if they don’t get some more wins of note between now and the end. UMass had their doors blown off at VCU, and is also on the outside looking in right now. This is a desperation game for both teams.
-TEXAS A&M AT VANDERBILT (SEC). TAMU is way outside the bubble, but a strong finish should get them some consideration.
-CHARLOTTE AT SAINT LOUIS (Atlantic Ten). Charlotte managed a huge win earlier in the week at Butler, which really helps out their chances. A win in this game would put them way inside the bubble. I still think SLU is playing as well as anyone in the conference, and they’ve looked fantastic at home, so it’s a chance for them to pick up another win of note as well.
-BAYLOR AT KANSAS STATE (Big Twelve). Baylor is on the outside looking in and desperately needs a huge win in order to put them over the top. Beating K State on the road would certainly suffice.
-OREGON AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac Twelve). Oregon has been battling injuries, but is still in good shape and has a very winnable road game tonight.
-BOWLING GREEN AT AKRON (MAC). Akron has won sixteen straight games, and has been very tough at home. If they win out they’ll certainly get a look from the committee.
-GEORGE WASHINGTON AT VCU (Atlantic Ten). VCU looked very strong in their last game, and is in the mix to win the A10 and earn a very good seed.
-MEMPHIS AT MARSHALL (Conference USA). Memphis is looking for their 16th straight win, and appears to have a clear shot at winning out and landing safely inside the bubble.
-MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT UALR (Sun Belt). Middle Tennessee will land on the bubble if they win out, and is potentially a dangerous match-up in the NCAA Tournament.
-MICHIGAN STATE AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). I think Michigan State could end up as a #1 seed. This is a very winnable road game for them.
-GEORGIA AT OLE MISS (SEC). After playing their way into the rankings and being one of the bigger stories in college basketball, Ole Miss has really gone into a tailspin and needs to win just to stay on the bubble. A loss like this would be very crippling.
-SYRACUSE AT SETON HALL (Big East). Syracuse is coming off an emotional loss to UConn, but should be able to pick up this win on the road.
-ARIZONA STATE AT COLORADO (Pac Twelve). Colorado is pretty far inside the bubble. They’ve played well lately, and seemingly everyone else around them on the S curve has not. They got a big win against Arizona earlier in the week and have what appears to be a winnable game tonight.
-TEXAS AT KANSAS (Big Twelve). After going on a three game skid, Kansas appears to be back in full swing and should end up winning huge tonight.
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UNLV (Mountain West). UNLV has been a disappointment this year, but they still appear to be inside the bubble. Still, they could use another big win. San Diego State is a strong team that could use a notable road win to boost their profile as well.
Griggs