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SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (click here to view)
-Kennesaw State will be eliminated if they lose at Liberty, which is VERY likely, and Stetson wins at North Florida (which isn’t so likely).
NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-Kansas hasn’t done much away from home since losing Azubuike, but at home they look as good as ever. They won rather easily against K State last night to even the score against their rival. Despite all they’ve been through, they are now just one game back of first place in the Big 12, so the streak may continue!
-Also int he Big 12, Iowa State won handily at home against Oklahoma. The Sooners have struggled in conference play, but if they can win two of their last three I’d say their chances of making The Dance are way over 50/50.
-DUKE AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). Duke will likely still be without Williamson. If they can win without him I think it solidifies them as a #1 seed caliber team. If they cannot win without him and he’s back for the NCAA Tournament, then I think it still solidifies them as a #1 seed caliber team. This would be a nice win for the Hokies, who are already cruising toward the top half of the NCAA Tournament bracket.
-AKRON AT BUFFALO (MAC). It’s kind of the same story for Buffalo. If they win out they should be safely in the field, and should even land in the top half of the bracket and be wearing white in the first round.
-IOWA AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). This is a big game for an Ohio State team that’s 7-9 in Big Ten play and while they’re inside the bubble, they’re not so far inside that they can just cruise on in. Iowa seems to win a close game every time they take the floor, and their resume continues to look better and better and better.
-ALABAMA AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). Alabama is squarely on the bubble and could use a road win. This game has a pivotal feel to it for the Tide.
-MISSOURI AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Mississippi State is cruising to the NCAA Tournament and just needs to hold serve against sub-tournament caliber teams. Like Mizzou.
-PROVIDENCE AT BUTLER (Big East). Butler has a lot of work to do, but they still have a path to the NCAA Tournament if they’re able to piece together a strong finish.
-TCU AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). For the most part TCU has been horrendous on the road. This is some low hanging fruit that could help out their road record, and they need to grab it.
-SAINT LOUIS AT VCU (Atlantic Ten). VCU will land in the NCAA Tournament if they win out through the regular season, which they should be able to do.
-ARKANSAS AT KENTUCKY (SEC). This is a winnable road game for a Kentucky team that suddenly looks to have a path to a #1 seed.
-SYRACUSE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). Both are probable tournament teams, but will land in very different spots within the bracket. North Carolina is almost assuredly going to get a protected seed, and Syracuse will most likely land somewhere in the 7-10 seed range.
-TEXAS A&M AT LSU (SEC). LSU should hold serve and win this one rather easily. Chances are they end up on the top four lines.
-WISCONSIN AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Indiana has won just one game since January 3rd, but STILL has a path to the NCAA Tournament if they can somehow turn it around and finish strong. That’s easier said than done, though. Wisconsin is likely safely in the field and is just playing for seeding the rest of the way.
-TEMPLE AT MEMPHIS (American). Temple is squarely on the bubble with an almost non-existent margin for error. They need to pick this one up at Memphis tonight.
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). If any MWC team other than Nevada is going to land inside the bubble, it’s Utah State, but they also have a non-existent margin for error. If they fail to win out, which would mean beating Nevada, then it may not be enough.