NEWS AND NOTES
-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day between Grambling and Jackson State – CLICK HERE
-The showcase game of the day between Michigan and Ohio State did not disappoint!! It didn’t come down to the final seconds, but for the first 38 minutes of the game or so, it seesawed back and forth with both teams making big plays. It was just a fantastic game to watch! Michigan got the win on the road, and is by all accounts the definitive #3 on everyone’s seedlist, but Ohio State showed that they are capable of being just as good. I still think they belong on the #1 line, and it wouldn’t shock me at all if we see these two face off again in the B1G Tournament.
-Maryland picked up another big win at Rutgers, and should be putting to bed any concerns about them not belonging in the NCAA Tournament.
Other than that it was a pretty chalky day with most tournament caliber teams holding serve against non-tournament caliber teams.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-EVANSVILLE AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley). Drake appears to be cruising toward the NCAA Tournament. So long as they win out and avoid an early loss in the MVC Tourney I think they’ll be inside the bubble even if they don’t win the automatic bid.
-SYRACUSE AT DUKE (ACC). Both of these teams still feel like they’re a long way from making the NCAA Tournament, especially Duke, but Duke at least played really well their last time out and is perhaps playing like a tournament caliber team right now.
-TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). I still really like both of these teams, but both have some room for improvement and could really use this win tonight. Texas Tech has lost their last two (although neither loss was all that bad), and Oklahoma State could just use a few more big wins at the top of their resume to help them climb the seedlist.
-OREGON AT USC (Pac 12). Oregon has had an unspectacular year for most of the year, but they are really starting to play well now and can pick up what would arguably be their biggest win of the season so far if they can pull this one off tonight. USC is coming off a loss, but it’s hardly a damaging loss. They still look like the best team in the conference and have a chance to end up as a protected seed if they can finish the season strong.