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SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE!!! (Thanks to Chad Sherwood For Researching)
-COLUMBIA (Ivy) – out with a loss OR wins by Harvard, Brown and Princeton.
-CORNELL (Ivy) – out with a loss AND wins by Harvard and Princeton
-MIDDLE TENNESSEE (Conference USA) – out with a loss AND a Rice win
-SEMO (Ohio Valley) – out with a loss OR wins by EIU, Morehead and J’ville State
-UT MARTIN (Ohio Valley) – out with a loss AND wins by EIU and Morehead
-SIUE (Ohio Valley) – out with a loss AND wins by EIU, Morehead and J’ville State
-NEW ORLEANS (Southland) – out with a loss
-SELA (Southland) – out with a loss and a McNeese win
-HOUSTON BAPTIST (Southland) – out with a loss and a McNeese win
UL MONROE (Sun Belt) – out with a loss
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-KANSAS AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Both teams are being projected onto the #1 line, and I don’t think the outcome of this game will change that. As big as this game is as a showcase, I don’t think it will really change the value of the losing team’s profile.
-TENNESSEE AT AUBURN (SEC). Auburn has dropped a couple of games, both to teams that are seemingly outside the bubble, and needs to get things turned back around with a win at home today.
-MARQUETTE AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). Providence is not in our field, but they are making a run at the bubble and a strong finish should be enough to get them in. Marquette looks to be rather safe for now and adding another road win just helps them out even more.
-VIRGINIA AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). Virginia is inside our bubble, but barely. They need to hold serve in road games like this.
-UNC GREENSBORO AT VMI (SoCon). If UNCG wins out, their chances of landing inside the bubble and getting a bid without winning the conference tournament aren’t great, but it’s not impossible either.
-MISSOURI AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Arkansas has fallen outside the bubble and really needs to win this game.
-DUQUESNE AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). Dayton continues to roll, and if they win out the real committee will likely give them a #2 seed.
-WEST VIRGINIA AT TCU (Big 12). West Virginia has had their struggles, but they’ve still got a solid team and a solid resume with a good chance of ending up as a protected seed. Holding serve and picking up this road win will get them one step closer.
-HOUSTON AT MEMPHIS (American). Houston appears to be running away from the American, but can’t exactly put it on cruise control yet, especially if they want to end up with a favorable seed. This is a winnable road game that a team that lands in the top half of the bracket should be able to pick up.
-MICHIGAN AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Michigan has been looking better, and has even started playing better on the road lately. If they finish strong, which they are capable of doing, then they could still end up as a protected seed. Purdue continues to be schizophrenic and just needs some wins to help assure that they land on the right side of the bubble.
-VILLANOVA AT XAVIER (Big East). Villanova has been locked into our field and remains on pace to end up with a protected seed. Xavier has played their way inside the bubble and is trying to continue to play their way toward a tournament lock. So, both teams have something to gain from a win today.
-SMU AT TULSA (American). SMU is outside the bubble and is almost out of strikes. They basically need to win out and have a strong showing in the American Tournament in order to land inside the bubble.
-EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT SAMFORD (SoCon). It’s not a guarantee, but I think East Tennessee State will be inside the bubble, and in the field, if they win out the regular season but fail to make the conference tournament.
-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). Mississippi State is outside of our bubble and cannot afford to lose this one, even if it is a road game.
-FLORIDA STATE AT NC STATE (ACC). NC State just obliterated Duke in their last game, which certainly helps their case. If they can knock off another likely protected seed today, it will strengthen their case even more. Florida State, on the other hand, is in a three way tie for first and can probably play their way up to a #2 seed if they finish strong.
-LOUISVILLE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). After a bad week last week, Louisville is still in a tie for first place and a strong finish will earn them a protected seed, and perhaps even a #2 seed. They need to avoid bad losses in games like this (which is a really strange thing to say).
-UCLA AT COLORADO (Pac 12). I like Colorado’s chances of winning the Pac 12. Having said that, UCLA has been playing much better in the last few weeks, and while they don’t have a resume that can get them to the tournament, they can make quite a bit of noise down the stretch.
-OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). Bedlam!!!! Oklahoma is looking to remain inside the bubble, which means holding serve in games like this. That may be easier said than done since it’s a rivalry game on the road.
-WYOMING AT AIR FORCE (Mountain West) (Front Range). This game has major opening round implications in the Mountain West Tournament, brought to you by ConExpo-Con/AGG!! And, we at Hoops HD love the Front Range!!
-RHODE ISLAND AT DAVDSON (Atlantic Ten). Rhode Island continues to hover around inside the bubble. They’ve done a good job of holding serve and need to keep that up today.
-FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Kentucky needs this win to help them end up with a protected seed, and Florida needs this win to help them end up safely inside the bubble.
-TEXAS TECH AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). This is the kind of game Texas Tech should be expected to win. If they’re able to hold serve, then they should end up in the top half of the bracket.
-LSU AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). LSU is very much safely in the field and will likely end up in the top half of the bracket despite hitting a slump recently. South Carolina is still outside the bubble and needs this win (and a bunch of others) in order to make the field.
-RICHMOND AT SAINT BONAVENTURE (Atlantic Ten). Richmond is squarely on the bubble, so every game has a pivotal feel to it. This is a game they need to win, and should win, but it may be tough. The Bonnies have been playing well recently (albeit not in their last game, but just prior to that they had been).
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UNLV (Mountain West). San Diego State is a lock in the field and will end up as a #1 seed if they win out. It’s never easy to go on the road, but SDSU has been able to do things that weren’t easy all year long, which is why they are where they are.
-VIRGINIA TECH AT DUKE (ACC). Duke was crushed in their last game, and normally when that happens they do a good job of regrouping. They shouldn’t have too much trouble washing that taste out of their mouths tonight and maintaining a very strong resume.
-SAN DIEGO AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast). Saint Mary’s appears to be inside the bubble (although I personally am not sure why) and should make the field if they can hold serve the rest of the way.
-OREGON STATE AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). Arizona State continues to play better and better, and they have another winnable game tonight. They are on pace to land in the top half of the bracket and be wearing white (or whatever their home uniform color is) in the Round of 64.
-OREGON AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). Oregon is coming off a loss to Arizona State. As good as their resume is, they probably need a few more good road wins to catch up with the rest of the protected seeds. This would qualify, but this is also easier said than done. Arizona has won six of their last seven and is very tough to beat at home.
-GEORGETOWN AT DEPAUL (Big East). Georgetown is straddling the bubble. Every game will have a pivotal feel to it the rest of the way, including this one on the road tonight. It would be a great story if they were able to make the tournament given how beat up they’ve been.
-GONZAGA AT BYU (West Coast). BYU has cracked the rankings and some are starting to place them in the top half of the bracket. This is a rare chance for Gonzaga to pick up a road win against a team that’s in the top half of the bracket this late in the year. If they lose, then they probably stay on the #1 line if they win out, but they also probably fall below San Diego State. So, it’s a big game for the Zags.
UNDER THE RADAR NOTES (Potential First Place Finishers)
-VERMONT – has already clinched a share of first place in the America East. They will win it out right with just one more win (face UMBC on Saturday), which means they will get home court advantage throughout the conference tournament.
-LIBERTY – Picked up a big win against North Florida this week, and now have a one game lead in the ASun with three games to go. If they finish first, they face Stetson today and can get one step closer
-WINTHROP and RADFORD are tied in the Big South with three games to go. They split with each other during the season. The first place finisher gets home court advantage. Winthrop hosts Hampton today, and Radford hosts SC Upstate
-UC IRVINE can clinch at least a share of first place in the Big West if they beat Cal State Northridge today. One more win and they win it outright.
-HOFSTRA has a two game lead in the Colonial with three games to go. A win at Delaware today clinches at least a share of first place, and one more will give it to them outright.
-WRIGHT STATE has a one game lead with two games to go. If they win at Cleveland State they clinch at least a share of first place
-COLGATE has a two game lead in the Patriot League with three games to go. If they beat Holy Cross today (which is VERY likely) they will clinch at least a share of first place. One more win and they win it outright and earn home court advantage throughout the Patriot League Tournament.
-NEW MEXICO STATE will clinch an outright first place finish in the WAC if they beat UTRGV today