News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Thursday, November 26th

Below is a rundown of today’s action, along with a few news and notes

NEWS AND NOTES

-For Chad Sherwood’s Under the Radar Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!  I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day, and that you get to enjoy some football and basketball with the family.  Hey, if you’ve had too much Holiday Spirit (something I’m quite familiar with) it’s best to just park it on the couch and watch some basketball.

-Indiana did not have a great trip out in Maui losing two of three games to teams like Wake Forest and UNLV, who are questionable teams at best.  Fortunately for them, the Big Ten will allow them the opportunities they need to not only make the NCAAs, but still end up as a protected seed.  But, it was a missed opportunity, and the rest of their OOC schedule only provides them with one or two more chances at statement wins going in to conference play.

-CHEICK DIALLO HAS BEEN CLEARED TO PLAY FOR KANSAS!!!  I’d like to thank the NCAA for their promptness and their sense of urgency to get a young man cleared that, seeing how he was cleared, shouldn’t have had to miss any games in the first place!!  Kansas won the Maui Invitational last night with a win over a very strong Vanderbilt team.

-The Battle 4 Atlantis has resurrected three rivalries that have been dormant for quite some time.  Gonzaga knocked off Washington without too much trouble, and Texas A&M took care of Texas.  Later today, we get to see Syracuse and UConn renew their long time rivalry.  Hopefully those two will agree to play regularly in the near future.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-ALABAMA VS XAVIER (Advocare Invitational).  Xavier is unbeaten and has looked impressive at times.  Alabama has just one loss, but it was a blowout loss in the only game they’ve been tested in.  The winner will move on to likely face some high caliber competition, and the loser will likely face less than high caliber competition in the loser’s bracket.

-TEXAS A&M VS GONZAGA (Battle 4 Atlantis).  Both teams just won rivalry games against teams who’s series have been put on hold.  TAMU just knocked off Texas, and Gonzaga just won against Washington.  This is probably the biggest test for either team on the season so far, and it’s a chance to pick up a quality win away from home and build the NCAA Tournament resume.

-WICHITA STATE VS USC (Advocare Invitational).  USC comes into this game unbeaten, and although all the wins have come at home and none were against high caliber teams, they weren’t all against cupcakes either.  If they’re for real, we’ll get to see int his tournament.  Wichita State is dealing with a short handed roster and this could prove to be a bigger test than expected.

-ARKANSAS VS GEORGIA TECH (Preseason NIT).  I’m not expecting much out of either team, but they have decent records at this point in the year and can build up some momentum if they can do well in this tournament.

-SYRACUSE VS CONNECTICUT (Battle 4 Atlantis).  This is another series that needs to resume in the regular season at campus sites, but at least we get a version of it, and it actually is a stakes game for both teams.  Both are off to good starts at 4-0, and both could use a notable win away from home on their profile.

-BALL STATE VS UC IRVINE (Wooden Legacy).  UC Irvine is unbeaten, and if they want to play their way into a position to be able to make the NCAA Tournament without needing to win the Big West Tournament, then it is hugely important that they do well in this tournament.  This is their chance to get notable wins away from home, which I think they’re good enough to do.  Boise had a rather bad loss to Montana to open the year, but has looked pretty decent since.  This tournament is a chance for them to get some good wins on their profile, which is something they’re gonna need.  I know it’s early, but this game really does have a pivotal feel to it.

-STANFORD VS VILLANOVA (Preseason NIT).  I don’t think Nova is going to have too much trouble winning this tournament.  I’m not expecting much from Stanford, but a win in a game like this could really spring board their season.

-RICHMOND VS WEST VIRGINIA (Las Vegas Invitational).  I really like both these teams, but both have some work to do, particularly Richmond.  This game, and this event, is a chance for them to get some much needed statement wins.

-WESTERN MICHIGAN VS STEPHEN F AUSTIN (Challenge in Music City).  For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day CLICK HERE

-NOTRE DAME VS MONMOUTH (Advocare Invitational).  I really like this Notre Dame team, but today shouldn’t be a complete cakewalk as Monmouth already has a road win against UCLA.

-BOSTON COLLEGE VS MICHIGAN STATE (Wooden Legacy).  We like picking on BC, and for good reason, but they come into this game 3-0 and have a win over a pretty decent Harvard team.  I don’t think they’re anywhere close to as good as Michigan State, but if they pull the shocker today they will have made their statement and will have shut us up.

-TEXAS VS WASHINGTON (Battle 4 Atlantis).  As it was pointed out by Lee Delvecchio, this is the second time these two have met this year.  They’ve met in two different countries, and neither of them was the United States.

-IOWA VS DAYTON (Advocare Invitational).  This tournament appears to have five strong NCAA Tournament teams in it, and three sub NIT teams in it.  These are two of the tournament teams.  That means, this is a hugely important game, especially for a team like Dayton, because winning it awards them the opportunity to likely play against good teams and build their profile, whereas losing it will give them just two blah games away from home.

-EVANSVILLE VS PROVIDENCE (Wooden Legacy).  Both teams come in unbeaten, and both appear to be pretty good.  It’s an early test for both teams and the winner will likely get to continue to face high quality competition, which is important for building an NCAA Tournament resume, especially for a team like Evansville who will have limited chances after this.

-CHARLOTTE VS MICHIGAN (Battle 4 Atlantis).  Michigan is off to a rough start.  They need to pick up two wins in the loser’s bracket and get out of here having at least won two games away from home.

-SANTA CLARA VS ARIZONA (Wooden Legacy).  If this weren’t a tournament game, it would be a buy game.  Santa Clara hasn’t won yet, and Arizona hasn’t lost yet.

-CALIFORNIA VS SAN DIEGO STATE (Las Vegas Invitational).  Cal is off to a good start, but this may be their biggest test yet.  I say “may be” because San Diego State is someone who we believed to be good, but they’ve been anything but impressive up to this point.  This tournament is a chance for them to pick up a win or two of note and turn their season around.