NEWS, NOTES AND LINKS
-For our latest Bracket Racket Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-An interesting bit of trivia. Alabama has lost five games by two points or less. That is remarkably unlucky. Essentially, they’re outside the bubble now and really aren’t close. But, they’re ten points away from being very safely inside the bubble and most likely ranked in the Top 25 at 21-6. They play Angry Frank Martin’s South Carolina Gamecocks tonight in a game we will not be highlighting.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-TEXAS AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big Twelve). Texas doesn’t have any bad losses, but they have A LOT of losses. With this many opportunities at good wins, they eventually have to pick up at least one or two of them. If they go 7-11 in conference play they’re in trouble.
-PROVIDENCE AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Nova is contending for a spot on the #1 line, and Providence is a first ballot team that can add to an already very impressive profile.
-WISCONSIN AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Wisky is a very good team, but to date they don’t have a high caliber true road win. That can change tonight. Maryland had hit a skid, but they appear to have come out of it. The place should be electric tonight.
-LSU AT AUBURN (SEC). LSU is not as safe as they’d like to be, and that status will not improve if they fall on the road to a sub-NIT Auburn team.
-NC STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). Duke v UNC has more tradition, but NC State v UNC has more hate. On top of being a bitter rivalry, this is a hugely important game for both teams on paper as well as off. UNC is trying to earn a protected seed, and NC State is trying to get themselves safely inside the bubble. We don’t see enough games like this in college basketball anymore, so I’m going to enjoy this one tonight.
-SYRACUSE AT NOTRE DAME (ACC). Notre Dame is a very solid protected seed and shouldn’t have too much trouble at home against the Orange.
-BOSTON COLLEGE AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). Pittsburgh is outside the bubble, but they’ve played their way into the picture. The last thing they need is a home loss to a weak team.
-TEXAS A&M AT ARKANSAS (SEC). This is a hugely important game for a TAMU team that’s right on the bubble. This would be a much needed quality road win that would change the entire complexion of their profile.
-NEW MEXICO AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). Boise State is right on the bubble and can’t afford any type of home loss to non tournament teams.