NEWS AND NOTES
-To watch/listen to our latest Under the Radar Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s Under the Radar Game of the Day, which is likely the biggest regular season game of the year in the WAC between New Mexico State and Grand Canyon – CLICK HERE
-Xavier and Maryland both look like protected seeds (at least most of the time). They both took on non-tournament teams yesterday, and both escaped. Kansas, Iowa, and Virginia are likely protected seeds who had no problems against the non tournament teams that they faced.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-TEXAS A&M AT VANDERBILT (SEC). TAMU is coming off a big win against Iowa State, and appears to be cruising toward a protected seed. They should be able to pick up another road win tonight against a Vandy team that’s underachieved up to this point.
-UNC WILMINGTON AT HOFSTRA (Colonial). If Hofstra can run away from the league, they may land inside the bubble regardless of what happens in the conference tournament, but they’ll have to come close to winning out in order to do it. UNCW has had a good season as well, so this could be a challenge for the Pride.
-OHIO STATE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Both teams are way outside looking in, but Wisconsin has played better these past two weeks then they have all season, and they’ll be able to play their way into the discussion if they keep it up.
-WILLIAM & MARY AT NORTHEASTERN (Colonial). Northeastern has been somewhat of a disappointment this season, but they’re still capable of playing well. William & Mary, like Hofstra, has a chance to land inside the bubble if they end up running away from the league. Of course, that means picking up wins in games like this.
-WOFFORD AT CHATTANOOGA (SoCon). Chattanooga will likely land inside the bubble if they win out until the conference tournament, but anything short of that and they’ll probably need the automatic bid.
-SOUTH FLORIDA AT CINCINNATI (American). Cincinnati should win this without too much trouble. In fact, they’ll be in tons of trouble if they don’t.
-TROY AT LITTLE ROCK (Sun Belt). Little Rock has just two losses, and has some pretty impressive wins on their profile, yet no one in the media is even talking about them. I think they’re inside the bubble right now, and will be safe for an NCAA Tournament bid so long as they hold serve for the rest of the regular season.
-SAINT MARY’S AT BYU (West Coast). This is Saint Mary’s first really tough road test of the year, and I think it’s a game they need to win in order to feel completely safe. They’ve got a bloated record, but they did it against a weak schedule where they’ve played very few road games, and the ones they have played weren’t all that tough.
-CONNECTICUT AT MEMPHIS (American). UConn is inside the bubble for now, but they’re a long way from being able to coast. A road win in a game like this would help them out.
-COLORADO AT OREGON (Pac Twelve). Colorado has had a good season and should safely make the field. If they can pick up a road win in a game like this it would really help their seed. Oregon looks like the best team in the conference right now, and I expect that they’ll end up as a protected seed.
-GRAND CANYON AT NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC). The Team of the People is looking to pick up one of their biggest ever wins since transitioning up to div1!! These are the two top teams in the conference, and the winner will be in the driver’s seat to finish first!! #LopesWaiver
-GONZAGA AT LMU (West Coast). Right now I think Gonzaga is on the outside looking in. Their margin for error is incredibly small right now, and a loss in a game like this could really kill them.
-UCLA AT USC (Pac Telve). USC won the first meeting, and has looked like the better team overall this season. USC is contending for a protected seed. UCLA is simply trying to make the field. A win in this game would really help both teams’ causes. Oh yeah, it’s also a big rivalry game.
-UTAH AT OREGON STATE (Pac Twelve). Oregon State has tapered off somewhat and needs to turn it around quickly if they want to make the NCAAs. Whether they do or don’t, it’s still been a good year for the Beavers and for the first time in decades their program seems to be going in the right direction. Utah is in contention for a protected seed and road game like this are the kind that they need to win in order to end up there.