NEWS NOTES AND LINKS
-We will be recording our Bracket Rundown Video Podcast this evening. We will once again be joined by Warren Nolan as he helps us put together the seed list and build our latest bracket, so be sure and check that out.
–For our latest Under the Radar Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-Last, and DEFINITELY not least…if you haven’t seen it yet, you need to see it. To say it is the greatest thing in the history of the Pac Twelve doesn’t come close to doing it justice. That’s like saying the surf was high the day the tsunami hit. This is, without question, the greatest thing in the world’s entire history of sports fandom! It is the Curtain of Distraction!!! If you haven’t seen it, then you absolutely must click the link! Arizona State’s student section is the first student section in the history of college basketball that has literally changed how the game is broadcast. Now, when opposing teams shoot freethrows, the networks show a wide shot so we can see the Curtain of Distraction – CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST AMAZING VIDEO EVER!!
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-SOUTHERN MISS AT OLD DOMINION (Conference USA). I think we’re pretty much done with Old Dominion. They’re three games behind conference leader Louisiana Tech. We highlight this game simply to point that out.
-SAINT JOSEPH’S AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). Dayton is in good shape and will stay that way so long as they avoid doing things like losing at home to non tournament teams.
-TEMPLE AT SMU (American). Good match up here between two teams that appear to be in good shape as far as the NCAA Tournament goes. Temple could use this more than SMU, but losing this game won’t really hurt the Owls.
-LOUISIANA TECH AT CHARLOTTE (Conference USA). If LA Tech wins out, they may get somewhat of a look from the committee, but only slightly. Anything short of that and they pretty much have no chance at all.
-PURDUE AT INDIANA (Big Ten). This is a hugely important game. It’s a rivalry game between two teams who could really use the win. Indiana was blown out of the place when they visited Purdue earlier this year. Purdue is outside the bubble, but could REALLY get the attention of the selection committee if they’re able to pull off this road win. This should be fun. It’s been awhile since this game was important on paper to both teams.
-NEBRASKA AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Indiana v Purdue isn’t the only big time Big Ten rivalry this week!! Nebraska and Maryland!! Two conference foes that go all the way back to……November 2014. Ahh, nevermind. Maryland is inside the bubble and could end up as a protected seed. Like we always say, they need to avoid home losses to non tournament teams.
-RUTGERS AT IOWA (Big Ten). The heat just keeps getting hotter!! Tonight we feature a THIRD in the series big bitter Big Ten rivalry games as Rutgers visits Iowa!! You know it’s Rivalry Week when Rutgers is at Iowa!! Iowa is going in the wrong direction and needs to avoid losing at home to a pitiful Rutgers team tonight.
-EASTERN KENTUCKY AT BELMONT (Ohio Valley). Neither team is inside the bubble, but both are in a fight for first place in their division, which means a bye to the semifinals of the conference tournament, so this one is important tonight.
-UCONN AT MEMPHIS (American). We highlight this game only to mention how truly disappointed we are in both of these teams.
-USC AT ARIZONA (Pac Twelve). This is a conference game that may end up looking like a buy game.
-OLE MISS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Ole Miss has really been playing well, and Mississippi State has…well…not been playing well. Still, it’s not a walk in the park when you’re the road team in a rivalry game, and it’s a loss that Ole Miss’s profile could really do without.
-UC DAVIS AT LONG BEACH STATE (Big West). Folks, there is no good reason in the world this should not have been Chad Sherwood’s pick for the UTR Game of the Day. It features UC Davis, who is one of the great storylines in all of college basketball and one of the most improved programs in all of div1, taking on Long Beach on the road. Davis is getting closer and closer to an outright first place finish, which would guarantee them a spot in the NIT, and hopefully put them in a good position to win the conference tournament and the automatic bid that comes with it.
-GONZAGA AT PACIFIC (West Coast). Gonzaga should end up getting the #1 seed if they win out, but if they lose any time between now and the end of the season I don’t think they have any real chance.
-UTAH AT OREGON STATE (Pac Twelve). Oregon State isn’t a tournament team, but they’re much improved and aren’t the easiest team in the world to beat on the road. Utah is in good shape, but this won’t be a walk in the park.