NEWS AND NOTES
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-Gonzaga jumped out to a big early lead in the first two minutes of the game against BYU, and while the Cougars didn’t play too badly once they settled down they were never really in control of the game. The Zags ended up with the 82-71 win.
-Maryland got out to a first half lead against Ohio State, but then Ohio State came back, got control, and kept control as they picked up another impressive road win.
-Kansas played their best game of the season perhaps as they held off (and really kind of controlled) a really good Oklahoma Stat team. This may be what Kansas needs to turn their season around.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-NOTRE DAME AT DUKE (ACC). Duke is slipping further and further outside the bubble and really needs to hold serve tonight.
-VCU AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). We have VCU just outside our bubble, but they are definitely within reach of it and can play their way in if they can finish strong.
-ALABAMA AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). South Carolina has been a bit of a disappointment this year. Alabama…well…has not. They are coming off a loss, but are still looking like a solid protected seed and could still end up as high as the #2 line.
-SYRACUSE AT NC STATE (ACC). Both teams are on the outside looking in, both should have a huge sense of urgency coming into this game, and both have a lot of work to do if they want to go dancing.
-PENN STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). This is another game between two teams that are hovering around the bubble, most likely outside of it, and need a big finish to the season to end up on the right side of it.
-ARKANSAS AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Arkansas is another team that we have squarely on the bubble who needs a strong finish to the season. They need to be able to hold serve tonight.
-TEXAS AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Texas is in a bit of a tailspin, but it’s been brought on by the combination of a tough schedule and taking some hits because of COVID. They should be able to snap out of it tonight and are still a really dangerous team.
-WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). This should be a fun one. Both teams are good and both appear to be getting better as the season progresses. It wouldn’t shock me if both ended up as protected seeds.
-SAINT JOHN’S AT BUTLER (Big East). Saint John’s is on a roll. They are getting closer and closer to landing inside the bubble and have another winnable game tonight.
-CREIGHTON AT GEORGETOWN (Big East). Creighton looks to be a lot better than Georgetown on the surface, but the Blue Jays have been struggling lately whereas Georgetown is starting to play a little better and will likely have some confidence coming in to this game.
-IOWA STATE AT TCU (Big 12). TCU still has a path to getting an at-large, and they’ve played well at times throughout the season, but they really need to string together some wins in these last few weeks, and that means holding serve tonight.
-NEW MEXICO AT COLORADO STATE (Mountain West). Colorado State remains right around the bubble and needs to hold serve tonight.