Click here for the weekly HoopsHD Report previewing the NCAA Tournament which starts tonight; also click here for Chad Sherwood’s analysis of the 2016 NCAA Tournament bracket.
Also click here for Jon Teitel’s interview with Saint Joseph’s F Isaiah Miles and here for his interview with Middle Tennessee assistant coach Win Case
-Trent Johnson and Johnny Dawkins were both dismissed from their positions yesterday, although neither result was unexpected. What was unexpected was Cal assistant Yann Hufnagel being dismissed over sexual harassment allegations just days prior to the Bears’ NCAA Tournament opener.
-The CIT got off to a good start for the Team of the People last night; despite a late charge from South Carolina State in the inaugural John McLendon Classic, Grand Canyon defeated the Bulldogs 78-74. The Lopes’ Grandy Glaza was named MVP of the game. Jackson State defeated Sam Houston State 81-77 in the other 1st-round CIT game played last night.
(8) HIGH POINT AT (1) SOUTH CAROLINA (7:00 PM, ESPNU) – This is the first game of the NIT between one of the first 4 teams left out of the NCAA Tournament in South Carolina and the regular season champs of the Big South, the High Point Panthers. Both teams have dealt with injury issues in recent weeks, but it’s difficult to imagine High Point making this game competitive without John Brown in their lineup tonight.
(6) AKRON AT (3) OHIO STATE (7:00 PM, ESPN) – This is actually a rematch of the 1989 NIT opener for both teams; back then, Gary Williams was coach for Ohio State and Bob Huggins was coach for Akron in a game that Ohio State won at St. John Arena. Akron wound up in the NIT after winning the regular season in the MAC but wound up losing in the closing minutes of the MAC championship to Buffalo. Ohio State did rack up a few decent wins at the end of their Big 10 campaign and will likely be favored to win tonight as well.
(5) DAVIDSON AT (4) FLORIDA STATE (7:00 PM, ESPN2) – There is some talent on the floor here with Davidson’s Jack Gibbs and Florida State’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes and their talented freshmen, but the Noles stumbled in the 2nd half of ACC play (although they did score wins over Virginia and Notre Dame at home this year). Davidson never looked like a serious contender after getting embarrassed against Pitt at Madison Square Garden back in December.
(5) ALABAMA AT (4) CREIGHTON (9:00 PM, ESPN) – Both teams were pleasant surprises in their respective leagues, although Alabama did have real NCAA Tournament hopes as late as the end of February. Led by their lightning-quick guard Maurice Watson Jr., Creighton will likely be too much to handle in Omaha in their first postseason game in the post-Doug McDermott era.
(7) NORTH FLORIDA AT (2) FLORIDA (9:00 PM, ESPNU) – This is another rematch of the 2014 Sweet 16 game between the Gators and Ospreys, although not quite as much is at stake for this go-around. North Florida (Atlantic Sun regular season champion) is looking to rebound after a disastrous finish to their regular season finale at home against Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun Tournament. Florida will look to extend their stay in the O-Dome for a little longer before it undergoes renovations this summer.
(6) LONG BEACH STATE AT (3) WASHINGTON (9:00 PM, ESPN2) – This is another pair of at-large NIT teams that were also pleasant surprises to advance to this tier of postseason play. Long Beach did pick up notable wins against BYU, Seton Hall and a pair of wins against Hawaii earlier in the season. Washington’s best wins were against Texas (overseas in November), USC and Colorado. However, the Huskies were only 1-1 against Big West foes – they beat Cal State-Northridge but lost a game to UC-Santa Barbara.
(8) TEXAS SOUTHERN AT (1) VALPARAISO (9:15 PM, ESPN3) – Valpo is another team that gets one of the four 1-seeds in the NIT by virtue of being one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament field. They were assured of an NIT bid because of their Horizon League regular-season crown, but Texas Southern also gained entry to the NIT by virtue of their SWAC regular-season crown. Even the Tigers’ loss in the SWAC tournament wasn’t a complete shock as Southern was the most consistent team all year in the SWAC.
(7) NEW MEXICO STATE AT (2) ST. MARY’S (11:00 PM, ESPN2) – As tough as it was for the Gaels to not hear their name called for the NCAA Tournament after winning the regular season title in the West Coast Conference, it was tougher for the Aggies since Cal State-Bakersfield ended their reign of terror in the WAC with a buzzer-beater in the WAC Championship. New Mexico State must turn around very quickly to try and beat St. Mary’s in a place where Pepperdine was the only visitor to leave victorious.
MOREHEAD STATE AT SIENA (7:00 PM, sienaallaccess.com) – Siena will begin their quest for the program’s 2nd CBI crown tonight; they also won this tournament 2 seasons ago. Morehead State also had wins against Belmont and Austin Peay in their only meetings with those two teams earlier this year, but they lost in the Ohio Valley semifinals to Tennessee-Martin. Tonight’s winner will face the winner of tomorrow night’s Duquesne-Omaha game.
CIT – all games streamed on the CIT’s website
MERCER AT COASTAL CAROLINA (7:00 PM) – This is the first time in 3 seasons that Coastal Carolina will not be representing the Big South in the NCAA Tournament, but nonetheless will get to experience one more postseason run before they transfer to the Sun Belt for basketball and all sports (besides football) for next season. Mercer will begin their quest for their 2nd CIT championship; they also won the 2012 CIT championship at Utah State.
BALL STATE AT TENNESSEE STATE (8:00 PM) – Both the Cardinals and the Tigers had breakout seasons in their respective conferences, although their tournament runs ended early in the MAC and OVC conference tournaments. Ball State’s best win came at home against Valparaiso early in the season; Tennessee State split a pair of games with regular-season champion Belmont and tournament champion Austin Peay.