-BINGHAMTON (America East) – out with a loss AND a Maine win
-SELA (Southland )- out with a loss
-HOUSTON BAPTIST (Southland) – out with a loss OR a McNeese win
-NEW ORLEANS (Southland) – out with a loss AND a McNeese win
NEWS AND NOTES
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day between Furman and UNC Greensboro – CLICK HERE
-Duke lost another road game to a team that’s nowhere close to making the field. This time in double overtime to Wake Forest. The game went back and forth with Wake jumping out early, then Duke coming back and while not playing their best still appearing to be in control, then a bit of a collapse at the end of regulation, and then Wake sort of ran away in the second overtime. Duke is probably still a protected seed, but their resume has taken a few hits in recent weeks.
-Michigan State had a big second half against Iowa to pick up the win at home, which is something they kind of needed for their momentum.
-Oklahoma was right on the bubble, and really needed the win against Texas Tech yesterday. They pretty much controlled the whole game and it was somewhat of a disappointing effort from a Texas Tech team that could have really used the win as well.
-Memphis fell on the road at SMU, which they really could have done without since they are already just a bubble team at best. It’s looking more and more like they’ll need the auto bid to get them in.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-SAINT JOHN’S AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Villanova still has a shot at ending up seeded as high as the #2 line, and is just one game out of first place in the Big East. They need to hold serve at home.
-GEORGIA AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). We have South Carolina outside the bubble, but within reach of it. They obviously can’t afford to lose at home to a team that’s nowhere near the bubble.
-RUTGERS AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Penn State has taken a bit of a step back with two straight losses, but I still think they can end up as a protected seed if they can finish strong. This is a winnable game tonight that could get them back on track. Rutgers, on the other hand, has had a good season but has been awful away from home. If they win this game tonight then their NCAA Tournament chances would skyrocket. If not, then they have just one more shot at a true road win. I think the committee will leave them out if they don’t pick up at least one more, so this one tonight is HUGE.
-VIRGINIA AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). It’s never easy to go on the road and play a rival, but Virginia has been playing better, they need to hold serve in order to land inside the bubble, which means they need to win this one tonight.
-RHODE ISLAND AT FORDHAM (Atlantic Ten). Rhody is solidly on the bubble. They should win easily tonight. They’ll be in serious trouble if they don’t.
-RICHMOND AT GEORGE WASHINGTON (Atlantic Ten). Richmond is squarely on the bubble so every game has a bit of a pivotal feel to it. GW is nowhere near the bubble, so the Spiders will be in big trouble if they lose this one.
-EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT WOFFORD (SoCon). Wofford has lost five straight, but is still capable of playing well at home and will be jacked way up for this oneIt’s a tough road test for ETSU, but if they are able to win it and win out through the regular season after today then I do think they will be inside the bubble even if they don’t win in the conference tournament.
-NORTHWESTERN STATE AT STEPHEN F AUSTIN (Southland). If SFA wins out, the committee will give them a serious look.
-EVANSVILLE AT NORTHERN IOWA (Missouri Valley). Northern Iowa is flying very close to the cut line, but they can still land on the right side of the bubble so long as they win out and avoid an early loss in the conference tournament. They are very close to being out of strikes, though.
-GEORGETOWN AT MARQUETTE (Big East). Georgetown continues to walk the tight rope of the bubble. A win tonight would go a long way toward them landing on the right side of it. Marquette is a virtual lock at this point and will likely be in the top half of the bracket. They’re just playing for seeding.
-TENNESSEE AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Arkansas just snapped a five game losing streak and with four games to go, three of which are against teams outside the bubble, and I think they need to win all of them.
-MARYLAND AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). Maryland had their wining streak snapped at Ohio State this past weekend, but are still in really good shape and could end up as high as the #2 line if they finish strong. This is another winnable road game for the Terps.
-LSU AT FLORIDA (SEC). Both teams will make the NCAA Tournament barring a collapse, but both could also really improve their resumes between now and the end, and this game is a chance for both of them to do that.
-NOTRE DAME AT BOSTON COLLEGE (ACC). Notre Dame still has a path to the NCAA Tournament, but they will need a very strong finish in order to make that happen.
-UTAH AT STANFORD (Pac 12). Stanford still has a path to the NCAA Tournaemnt, but they will need a very strong finish in order to make that happen.