NEWS AND NOTES
-For Jon Teitel’s most recent Bracket Projections – CLICK HERE
-For my latest Bracket Projections, which are brilliant, as well as the staff’s criticisms of my bracket, which are ignorant – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-A very big and sincere congrats to the Northwestern Wildcats, who arguably won their biggest game in program history when they knocked off Wisconsin yesterday. I know they’ve beaten teams that were more highly ranked, but they’ve never been to the NCAA Tournament before, and therefore they’ve never won a signature game as a tournament caliber team before. That’s what they did yesterday.
-SMU took down Cincinnati in a match-up between the two top teams in the AAC. Both are safe for the tournament and both will likely end up in the top half of the bracket if they hold serve, but I don’t see either of them earning a protected seed despite their bloated records. Had Cincinnati picked up the road win they would have had a case for it, but I think the #5 line is their ceiling.
-Virginia lost a double overtime thriller to Virginia Tech. It’s the second time this season that we’ve seen what appeared to be a comfortable lead melt away for the Hoos in a big road game. As for Virginia Tech, it certainly helps their profile, but I still think they need a few more road wins to safely feel they’re above the #8/9 seed range.
-Michigan finally picked up a road win as they beat Indiana, and pretty much led the whole game. Indiana coach Tom Crean is not taking it well. Google it or seek it out on Twitter if you haven’t already.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-LOUISVILLE AT SYRACUSE (ACC). Syracuse is coming off of a loss, but all and all they’ve been playing a lot better lately and would make the NCAA Tournament if the season ended today. It’s a chance for them to pick up another quality win, and a chance for Louisville to get what would actually be one of their better road wins of the season.
-BAYLOR AT TEXAS TECH (Big Twelve). Texas Tech nearly knocked off Kansas over the weekend, which would have really helped their cause. They are currently right on the bubble and winning a big game like this would go a long way toward them landing safely inside of it. Baylor is still in contention for a #1 seed and can add another decent road win to their profile tonight.
-MONMOUTH AT SIENA (Metro Atlantic). I’m a little surprised this wasn’t the UTR Game of the Day. It’s more of a litmus test than anything else. What can Monmouth, who is the conference frontrunner but not in a position to get an at-large, do in a game that’s being played on the floor where the conference tournament is being played and against the team who is hosting it?
-WEST VIRGINIA AT KANSAS (Big Twelve). Kansas survived a scare over the weekend, but is still on track for a #1 seed. They lost at West Virginia earlier in the year and have a chance to avenge that today.
-VILLANOVA AT DEPAUL (Big East). This is perhaps Nova’s most winnable road game of the season. If they hold serve they should end up on the #1 line.
-GEORGIA STATE AT COASTAL CAROLINA (Sun Belt). Although they did stumble over the weekend at Appalachian State, Georgia State will still get a chance to maintain a share of the Sun Belt lead should they win at Coastal Carolina tonight. The Chanticleers are not too far from the top of the Sun Belt standings themselves.
-GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT APPALACHIAN STATE (Sun Belt). The Eagles also have a share of the Sun Belt lead, but as noted above, they’d better not overlook Appy State tonight.
-COLGATE AT BUCKNELL (Patriot). Outside of two losses against Lehigh, Bucknell has dominated the Patriot League this season. They get a coveted time slot on CBS Sports Network tonight before the Villanova-DePaul game.
-ARKANSAS STATE AT TEXAS STATE (Sun Belt). More Fun Belt action tonight – while we’ve paid quite a bit of attention to Arkansas State this year, the Bobcats have also been a pleasant surprise in league play this year.
-LITTLE ROCK At TEXAS-ARLINGTON (Sun Belt). While this rivalry had higher stakes last season, the Mavs better hold serve at home if they want to stay on pace with the 3 teams above them in the Sun Belt – the two Georgia schools and Arkansas State.