NEWS AND NOTES
-For Chad Sherwood’s Under the Radar Game of the Day between Ball State and Toledo, which has implications for the MAC Tournament – CLICK HERE
-Miami FL held on to beat Virginia in an exciting game that went back and fourth. I was really starting to like Virginia as a #1 seed caliber team, and think that this was the kind of road game that could have helped cement it. They still have a shot at it, but it’ll require a Herculean type of finish.
-West Virginia picked up a big home win against an Iowa State team that still looks like a protected seed, but could have really used that win to help cement it.
-Texas got it done at K State, but barely. I must admit that it was more of a struggle for them than I thought it would be.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-ALABAMA AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Alabama is coming off a fairly damaging loss, but we’ve still got them inside our bubble. A win today would certainly help. Kentucky isn’t coming off of a damaging loss by any means, but it is understandably a frustrating loss, so they’re looking to rebound as well.
-LSU AT ARKANSAS (SEC). LSU is on the wrong side of the bubble, and they’ll need a strong and impressive finish to get on the right side of it. This is the kind of game they have to be able to win. Arkansas has been strong at home, but they’re still nowhere close to a tournament caliber team.
-VANDERBILT AT FLORIDA (SEC). Florida should cruise to a bid so long as they hold serve and win the games they’re supposed to win.
-TEMPLE AT TULSA (American). This is suddenly a hugely important game between two bubble teams. Every game has a pivotal feel if you’re a bubble team. That’s especially true if you’re playing another bubble team.
-KANSAS AT BAYLOR (Big Twelve). Right now Kansas is looking like a #1 seed, and may end up getting the overall #1 seed. A road win tonight would sure help that cause. Baylor is safely in the field and depending how strong they finish they could end up as a protected seed. Whether or not they’re good enough will be determined, but they had a nice win over the weekend against Texas and the opportunities are certainly there.
-DAYTON AT SAINT LOUIS (Atlantic Ten). Dayton has lost two straight and needs to pull out of this tailspin they’re in. This is a road game, but it’s a very winnable road game. In fact it would be a somewhat damaging loss if they didn’t win it.
-TCU AT TEXAS TECH (Big Twelve). Texas Tech is by far the nation’s most improved team over the last couple of weeks. They should cruise to another conference win tonight.
-MICHIGAN STATE AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). I don’t think Ohio State has much of a profile, but they’re way up in the Big Ten standings and they have opportunities for quality wins between now and the end, and that includes tonight. They can still play their way in, but it won’t be easy.