NEWS AND NOTES
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game(s) of the Day – CLICK HERE
-Yesterday was a day of (sort of) upsets in the Big Ten. Ohio State ended Maryland’s winning streak with a 79-72 home win over the Terps. It really shouldn’t set Maryland back all that much, but I do think it’s another nice step forward for the Buckeyes, who have looked really good when they’re at full strength this year.
-Indiana was blowing out Penn State, then Penn State came back and got the lead, and then Indiana got the lead back and held onto it for a 68-60 win. The Hoosiers are getting closer and closer to making the NCAA Tournament and should get there if they can hold serve the rest of the way.
-Creighton continues to look very impressive as they just obliterated Butler yesterday 81-59.
-Wichita State really needed a road win against Cincinnati, but didn’t get it. They are beginning to look very bubblish right now. Cincinnati is right on the bubble as well.
-Rutgers still can’t win on the road, and I personally think it will ultimately end up costing them a bid. They fell at Wisconsin yesterday 79-71.
-USC could have done without losing to Utah. I still think they’re inside the bubble, but not in the top half of the bracket and they need some wins down the stretch in order to feel safe on Selection Sunday.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-LOUISVILLE AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). Both teams are close to being locked in as protected seeds, and both can still end up finishing first place in the ACC. Louisville already has a road win at Duke, and picking this up would give them two massive road wins.
-WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS (Big 12). West Virginia looks like they’ve slid quite a bit. I still think they’re relatively safe to land in the top half of the bracket, but they don’t look anything like a protected seed to me. This is a road game that they should be able to win, but it’s also the type of game that they haven’t always won.
-NEBRASKA AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). This is perhaps Illinois’s most winnable game that they have remaining. They should be able to hold serve.
-OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12). There is a good chance that Kansas will be ranked #1 overall later this afternoon. They have a path to the overall #1 seed if they can keep winning like they have been.