NEWS AND NOTES
-For our final Under the Radar Video Podcast of the season – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day, which involves a New Orleans team who’s having a storied season – CLICK HERE
-Butler picked up what I believe is the single most impressive win that any team has this year with their win at Villanova. Nova had not lost at home all year, and their loss to Providence at home last year was their only one in the last three years. Last night was Nova’s first loss at the Pavilion in over four years. The top of Butler’s resume is incredible. They’ve beaten Arizona and Villanova twice and now have nine wins away from home, including six true road wins. That’s certainly the resume of a solid protected seed.
-Kansas clinched at least a first place tie in the Big Twelve for the thirteenth time in thirteen years with their win over TCU last night. TCU remains on the bubble, and Kansas remains atop the Big Twelve.
-Oregon was getting blown out of the place at the beginning of their game against Cal, which was a game the Golden Bears really needed to win. Oregon came back and hit a game winning three at the buzzer to keep their first place hopes alive, as well as keep them on pace to end up as a #2 seed. Cal, on the other hand, remains squarely on the bubble and is currently on the wrong side of it.
-Louisville stayed with North Carolina for about 30 minutes before UNC built up a reasonably comfortable lead. The game doesn’t hurt Louisville at all, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they still ended up on the #2 line. North Carolina continues to look like a #1 seed.
-Syracuse beat Duke with a banked three point shot at the buzzer. This is the second year in a row that when February started I was pretty sure Syracuse was dead, and they’re once again gaining steam late in the year. If they do make the NCAA Tournament, which it’s looking like they will, they’re tough to play against for teams that aren’t familiar with them because of their defense. Duke is still in really good shape, especially with the rest of the ACC schedule and the conference tournament after that. I still think they’ll end up on the #2 or #3 line.
-Providence picked up a huge road win at Creighton, which moves them closer to the bubble, and perhaps even inside of it. I’ll be curious to see where they end up on our bracket show tonight. They have certainly improved as the season has gone alnog.
-Minnesota picked up a very impressive win against Maryland, and made what was an already good looking resume look even better.
-Tennessee lost at home to Vanderbilt which really hurt what looked like a legitimate chance to play their way inside the bubble. With that being said, let’s take a quick look at Vanderbilt. They’re 6-2 in their last eight games with wins at Tennessee, at Arkansas, and at home against Iowa State. They do have a rather dumbfounding loss to Missouri, but other than that they’ve been playing very well and beating teams that are either on the bubble or inside the bubble. Their RPI is now in the top 50, their overall schedule strength is 3rd, and their OOC SOS is #1. We have not discussed Vanderbilt all year long, but those are all earmarks of a tournament team. They have games remaining at Kentucky and at home against Florida. If they can win their next one against Mississippi State, and then pick up just one of those last two, I think the Dores are in.
-Michigan picked up a true road win against Rutgers. That’s noteworthy because it doubles the number of true road wins this team has on the season.
-And, Xavier’s tailspin continues. They’ve now lost four straight, and quite frankly haven’t looked particularly good in any of those four losses, at least for not more than a half. They have a big home game coming up against a Butler team who is smoking hot right now. If they don’t win that one, and there is a good chance that they won’t, they may be falling out of first ballot range and into the bubble range.
-Oklahoma State keeps winning, and keeps looking impressive when they win. After an 0-6 conference start they’ve now won 8 of their last 9 conference games, and 9 out of 10 overall. They ran away from Kansas State on the road last night to add yet another good road win to a profile that just keeps getting better and better.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-GEORGIA AT ALABAMA (SEC). Alabama is right on the fringe of the bubble, and if they finish strong they can make the field. Every game has a pivotal feel to it and they really can’t afford to lose at home in a game like this.
-NEBRASKA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Michigan State is relatively safe if they hold serve, which means winning at home against non-tournament teams.
-MEMPHIS AT CINCINNATI (American). Cincinnati actually has a chance to win 30 games before the end of the conference tournament. I still don’t see them ending up as a protected seed, but they can make quite a bit of noise in the tournament.
-TOWSON AT UNC WILMINGTON (Colonial). I think UNCW has a chance of making the tournament even if they don’t win their conference tournament. I’d be disappointed if they win out and the committee doesn’t end up taking them. They may be tested today as Towson is one of the better teams in the league, and has been playing well lately.
-WISCONSIN AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Wisconsin is in a race for first place in the Big Ten and has a decent shot at ending up as a protected seed, but they’ll need a strong finish and a good showing in the conference tournament in order to make that happen. Picking up this win on the road would certainly help.
-UCLA AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac Twelve). UCLA appears to be a solid protected seed, and is in a three way race with Oregon and Arizona for first place in the conference.
-USC AT ARIZONA (Pac Twelve). Arizona has just one conference loss and currently has the strongest profile in the Pac Twelve. If the season ended today I think they’d be at least a #2 seed. USC is solidly in the field and has an opportunity to give their tournament resume a huge boost.
-GONZAGA AT SAN DIEGO (West Coast). Gonzaga can win their 29th game today. I’ll be surprised if they don’t win out and end up on the #1 line.
-SAINT MARY’S AT PEPPERDINE (West Coast). Saint Mary’s will end up in the top half of the bracket if they can hold serve the rest of the way.
News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Thursday, Feb 23rd
NEWS AND NOTES
-For our final Under the Radar Video Podcast of the season – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day, which involves a New Orleans team who’s having a storied season – CLICK HERE
-Butler picked up what I believe is the single most impressive win that any team has this year with their win at Villanova. Nova had not lost at home all year, and their loss to Providence at home last year was their only one in the last three years. Last night was Nova’s first loss at the Pavilion in over four years. The top of Butler’s resume is incredible. They’ve beaten Arizona and Villanova twice and now have nine wins away from home, including six true road wins. That’s certainly the resume of a solid protected seed.
-Kansas clinched at least a first place tie in the Big Twelve for the thirteenth time in thirteen years with their win over TCU last night. TCU remains on the bubble, and Kansas remains atop the Big Twelve.
-Oregon was getting blown out of the place at the beginning of their game against Cal, which was a game the Golden Bears really needed to win. Oregon came back and hit a game winning three at the buzzer to keep their first place hopes alive, as well as keep them on pace to end up as a #2 seed. Cal, on the other hand, remains squarely on the bubble and is currently on the wrong side of it.
-Louisville stayed with North Carolina for about 30 minutes before UNC built up a reasonably comfortable lead. The game doesn’t hurt Louisville at all, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they still ended up on the #2 line. North Carolina continues to look like a #1 seed.
-Syracuse beat Duke with a banked three point shot at the buzzer. This is the second year in a row that when February started I was pretty sure Syracuse was dead, and they’re once again gaining steam late in the year. If they do make the NCAA Tournament, which it’s looking like they will, they’re tough to play against for teams that aren’t familiar with them because of their defense. Duke is still in really good shape, especially with the rest of the ACC schedule and the conference tournament after that. I still think they’ll end up on the #2 or #3 line.
-Providence picked up a huge road win at Creighton, which moves them closer to the bubble, and perhaps even inside of it. I’ll be curious to see where they end up on our bracket show tonight. They have certainly improved as the season has gone alnog.
-Minnesota picked up a very impressive win against Maryland, and made what was an already good looking resume look even better.
-Tennessee lost at home to Vanderbilt which really hurt what looked like a legitimate chance to play their way inside the bubble. With that being said, let’s take a quick look at Vanderbilt. They’re 6-2 in their last eight games with wins at Tennessee, at Arkansas, and at home against Iowa State. They do have a rather dumbfounding loss to Missouri, but other than that they’ve been playing very well and beating teams that are either on the bubble or inside the bubble. Their RPI is now in the top 50, their overall schedule strength is 3rd, and their OOC SOS is #1. We have not discussed Vanderbilt all year long, but those are all earmarks of a tournament team. They have games remaining at Kentucky and at home against Florida. If they can win their next one against Mississippi State, and then pick up just one of those last two, I think the Dores are in.
-Michigan picked up a true road win against Rutgers. That’s noteworthy because it doubles the number of true road wins this team has on the season.
-And, Xavier’s tailspin continues. They’ve now lost four straight, and quite frankly haven’t looked particularly good in any of those four losses, at least for not more than a half. They have a big home game coming up against a Butler team who is smoking hot right now. If they don’t win that one, and there is a good chance that they won’t, they may be falling out of first ballot range and into the bubble range.
-Oklahoma State keeps winning, and keeps looking impressive when they win. After an 0-6 conference start they’ve now won 8 of their last 9 conference games, and 9 out of 10 overall. They ran away from Kansas State on the road last night to add yet another good road win to a profile that just keeps getting better and better.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-GEORGIA AT ALABAMA (SEC). Alabama is right on the fringe of the bubble, and if they finish strong they can make the field. Every game has a pivotal feel to it and they really can’t afford to lose at home in a game like this.
-NEBRASKA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Michigan State is relatively safe if they hold serve, which means winning at home against non-tournament teams.
-MEMPHIS AT CINCINNATI (American). Cincinnati actually has a chance to win 30 games before the end of the conference tournament. I still don’t see them ending up as a protected seed, but they can make quite a bit of noise in the tournament.
-TOWSON AT UNC WILMINGTON (Colonial). I think UNCW has a chance of making the tournament even if they don’t win their conference tournament. I’d be disappointed if they win out and the committee doesn’t end up taking them. They may be tested today as Towson is one of the better teams in the league, and has been playing well lately.
-WISCONSIN AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Wisconsin is in a race for first place in the Big Ten and has a decent shot at ending up as a protected seed, but they’ll need a strong finish and a good showing in the conference tournament in order to make that happen. Picking up this win on the road would certainly help.
-UCLA AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac Twelve). UCLA appears to be a solid protected seed, and is in a three way race with Oregon and Arizona for first place in the conference.
-USC AT ARIZONA (Pac Twelve). Arizona has just one conference loss and currently has the strongest profile in the Pac Twelve. If the season ended today I think they’d be at least a #2 seed. USC is solidly in the field and has an opportunity to give their tournament resume a huge boost.
-GONZAGA AT SAN DIEGO (West Coast). Gonzaga can win their 29th game today. I’ll be surprised if they don’t win out and end up on the #1 line.
-SAINT MARY’S AT PEPPERDINE (West Coast). Saint Mary’s will end up in the top half of the bracket if they can hold serve the rest of the way.