For today’s News, Notes and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE
For Jon Teitel’s latest Bracketology projection – CLICK HERE
Southern Illinois (16-12, 10-5) at Northern Iowa (22-5, 11-4) – 2:00 PM EST (ESPNU)
Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes place in Cedar Falls, Iowa where the Southern Illinois Salukis hit the road to take on the conference leading Northern Iowa Panthers. The Salukis are a game out of first place and have a chance to create a 3-way tie for first place should they be able to pull off an improbable sweep of UNI today. Southern Illinois won the first matchup 68-66 after the Panthers missed a potential game-winning shot in the closing seconds. Aaron Cook leads the Salukis with 15.0 points a game, but watch out for Marcus Domask (14.7 PPG) as well; he is shooting 42.3% from 3-point range this season.
The bad news for Northern Iowa is that they are on a two-game losing streak and are seeing their at-large chances for the NCAA Tournament coming to a near end. The good news for the Panthers is that they are a perfect 14-0 at home this season, and their season wraps up with two home games (including today and their finale against Evansville on Wednesday) and a road game at Drake. At worst, UNI would clinch no worse than a tie for first place in the conference should they win at least two of their final three games. AJ Green (20.2 PPG) is also a sharpshooter from outside range; he is shooting 41% from 3-point range with an average of just over 3 made 3-point shots a game.