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NEWS AND NOTES
-Texas Tech needed a huge win, and they got one. They trailed by double digits in the second half at Texas and it appeared as though the Longhorns were just going to cruise, but Tech made some big plays both on offense and defense, and hit a 3 in the final seconds of the game for a 79-77 thrilling win. This is the kind of win that puts Texas Tech solidly in the discussion for a protected seed.
-Northwestern’s tailspin continues as they lost their fourth straight game last night to Ohio State. None of the losses are particularly bad individual losses for the Wildcats, but all of them added together seems to indicate that they may not be a top 25 team (and perhaps not a tournament team) after all.
-Florida State blew NC State off the court, which is a huge statement win for the Seminoles, and raises a lot of questions about the Wolfpack.
-Tulsa was on a bit of a hot streak, but Wichita State ran them out of the gym last night in a 72-83 win. Wichita State is now 8-3 overall and they have some decent wins on their resume with more opportunities to come.
-LSU blasted Arkansas in what was a huge statement win for the Tigers. LSU may have had a few early missteps, but they are certainly rolling now.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-UCF AT TEMPLE (American). UCF has some good things on their resume, but they’ve also got some losses in games where they should have held serve. I still think they have a path to the NCAA Tournament, but they have to avoid losses in games like this.
-CALIFORNIA AT COLORADO (Pac 12). Colorado continues to look like a team that will solidly be inside the bubble and shouldn’t have too much trouble with Cal at home.
-STANFORD AT UTAH (Pac 12). This isn’t the easiest road game to win, but Stanford appears to be straddling the bubble and this is the kind of game they need to win if they want to demonstrate they are a solid tournament caliber team.
WASHINGTON STATE AT UCLA (Pac 12). UCLA continues to be undervalued and shouldn’t have too much trouble against a Wazzu team that appears to be getting better, but still has a ways to go to be considered a tournament caliber team.
-PURDUE AT INDIANA (Big Ten). It’s a rivalry game between two teams that could really use the win to help build their resumes. Both have had their moments this year, but both still have work to do.
-BELMONT AT TENNESSEE TECH (Ohio Valley). If Belmont can run the table in the OVC, I think they will be inside the bubble.
-LONGWOOD AT WINTHROP (Big South). Winthrop is unbeaten and shouldn’t have too much trouble staying that way.
-PEPPERDINE AT GONZAGA (West Coast). Gonzaga has been blowing through everyone and I don’t see that changing tonight.
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). This is a hugely important game between a San Diego State team that appears to be solidly inside the bubble (and is perhaps being undervalued) and a Utah State team that has a lot of momentum built up, but needs a big time win on their resume if they want to impress the committee.
-WASHINGTON AT USC (Pac 12). USC is having another really good year and can improve to 10-2 with a win tonight.
-COLORADO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE (Mountain West). Colorado State looks to be playing their way into the discussion. They need to hold serve tonight against a pitiful San Jose State team in order to stay there.
-BYU AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast). Both teams have made a little bit of noise (and BYU has perhaps made more than just a little), but both resumes still have room to improve and both could really use this win tonight.