News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Saturday, March 9th

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-TENNESSEE AT AUBURN (SEC).  Both teams are playing for seeding at this point, albeit very different seedings.  Tennessee is still in the hunt for a #1 seed, whereas Auburn is trying to get another nice win on their resume and move up to the top half of the bracket.

-FLORIDA STATE AT WAKE FOREST (ACC).  Wake Forest almost pulled off one of the most shocking upsets of the year, but missed a tip in at the buzzer that would have beaten Duke.  With our without the loss, they’d need tow in the conference tournament.  I think Florida State is on pace to end up as a protected seed and will get it so long as they hold serve.

-VILLANOVA AT SETON HALL (Big East).  Villanova is just playing for seeding at this point, but between this game and the Big East Tournament their seedline could move quite a bit.  Seton Hall is playing to stabilize their position inside the bubble.

-SYRACUSE AT CLEMSON (ACC).  Syracuse needs this one, but Clemson needs it infinitely more.  The Tigers are right on the bubble and literally every game has a pivotal feel to it.  If they win this and win their first ACC Tournament game I think they’re in.

-TCU AT TEXAS (Big 12).  This is one of the more bubblicious games of the day.  Both teams desperately need it.  It’s possible that only one makes it in.  It’s possible that neither make it in.  It’s possible that both make it in.  But, this is about as important as a regular season game can be for both teams.

-FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY (SEC).  We have Florida on the bubble, but in right now.  Who knows what the actual committee has, but either way I bet they have them on the bubble.  If Florida can somehow win this game, they are no longer on the bubble.  Kentucky still has a shot at a #1 seed.

-TEXAS TECH AT IOWA STATE (Big 12).  Iowa State has been on a downward spiral, and even though they are safely in the the tournament, they could still use a win in a game like this if for no other reason than to help out their confidence.  Texas Tech is most likely a protected seed and they can add another nice win to their resume this afternoon.  As good as their profile is, this would still be one of their better road wins of the year.

-BAYLOR AT KANSAS (Big 12).  I think both teams are in and are just playing for Seeding.  Baylor is hovering around that 7-10 seed range, but has the opportunities to pull themselves up higher by winning this game and winning some games in the Big 12 Tournament.

-NC STATE AT BOSTON COLLEGE (ACC).  People, including Hoops HD apparently, keep putting NC State in the field.  So, I guess we gotta highlight this game.  They were efficient against weak teams out of conference, and I guess those unweighted efficiency rankings are inflating their NET, and as a result people are giving them credit for being better than they actually are.  They shouldn’t be in the field, but they might make it anyway.

-TEXAS A&M AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC).  I think Mississippi State is a lock and is just playing for seeding the rest of the way.

-PURDUE AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten).  Purdue is the first place team in the Big Ten and still has a path to the #2 line with the upcoming conference tournament.  They need to hold serve today, though.

-GEORGETOWN AT MARQUETTE (Big East).  Marquette isn’t exactly finishing the season with a big head of steam, but they’re still in really good shape and are just playing for seeding at this point.  If they win this game and win the conference tournament they are all but assured a protected seed.

-OLE MISS AT MISSOURI (SEC).  Ole Miss is a virtual lock for the NCAA Tournament and is just looking to hold serve and protect their seed today.

-LOUISVILLE AT VIRGINIA (ACC).  Both teams are tournament teams.  Louisville is playing to improve their seed, which a win today would definitely do.  Virginia is playing to wrap up a first place finish in the ACC, and likely wrap up a spot on the #1 line today as well.

-UCF AT TEMPLE (American).  This is a hugely important game between a UCF team that has been playing extremely well, and a Temple team that is straddling the fence of the bubble and desperately needs a win.

-ARIZONA STATE AT ARIZONA (Pac Twelve).  It’s a rivalry game that is of huge importance to an Arizona State team that is sitting right on the bubble.  They need to win this and they need a strong showing in the conference tournament.

-SAINT JOHN’S AT XAVIER (Big East).  Xavier just had a five game winning streak snapped, but are still proving to be a dangerous team down the stretch.  The Johnnies have a bit of a schizophrenic profile, and a win on the road against a Xavier team that’s been playing well could really help out their profile.

-DUKE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC).  Both teams are in the top five.  Both are still in the hunt for a #1 seed.  It’s a huge rivalry game.  The two schools are eight miles apart.  The two schools have never met in the NCAA Tournament!

-OKLAHOMA AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12).  I think both teams are in the field.  A win for Oklahoma would pretty much lock them in.  Kansas State is still in the hunt for a first place finish as well as a protected seed, so there is quite a bit for them to play for as well.

-YALE AT PRINCETON (Ivy League).  I believe both have clinched spots in the Ivy League Tournament, and Yale is in the hunt for a first place finish

-ALABAMA AT ARKANSAS (SEC).  Alabama is squarely on the bubble and really needs this game.

-MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten).  Both teams are in the top ten and will likely end up on the #2 line.  Either way they’re just playing for seeding and are almost assured to be protected seeds no matter what happens the rest of the way.  It should be a raucous atmosphere!

-DEPAUL AT CREIGHTON (Big East).  Some are saying that Creighton is on the bubble, which I’m really not seeing, but they are playing well down the stretch and if they can hold serve today and make some noise in the Big East Tournament then they should get a serious look from the committee.

-VANDERBILT AT LSU (SEC).  LSU has cracked the top ten and still has a shot to end up as high as the #2 line.  Off the court they’ve had better weeks.

-CAL BAPTIST AT NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC).  New Mexico State will be on the board by virtue of their first place finish.  I don’t think the committee will take them, so hopefully they’ll win the WAC Tournament and won’t need an at-large bid.  This is a VERY good Aggies team.

-OREGON AT WASHINGTON (Pac Twelve).  Its’ a rivalry game, which is fun!  It’s also a game that I think Washington absolutely has to win.  When our mock committee put Washington on the #9 line the other night, I almost ran off the road.  They absolutely do not belong that far inside the bubble.  I don’t think the real committee would put them there (although, with them, who knows?), and if they lose this one I think they may end up needing the auto-bid.

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