News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Thursday, Dec 9

UNDER THE RADAR:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-We get into this in more detail on the show, but the Under the Radar teams that could make a run at the bubble are starting to emerge.  Everyone knows what Iona has done, and their win against Alabama is looking bigger and bigger.  Monmouth (who is in the same conference as Iona) also may be emerging.  They’ve got a big win tonight.  Belmont is another team that we really like who has put together some big wins and has some more coming up.  And Chattanooga has some tough road tests against other good UTR teams, so if they can pick up some wins in those games we have to start thinking they may make a run at an at-large.

NEWS AND NOTES:

-So a lot of the games I was looking forward to last night, particularly the measuring stick games for teams like Wyoming and Weber State, turned out to be duds.  Wyoming was down by 20 to Arizona seemingly when the game tipped off and just never got any closer, and Weber State was blasted into the sun by Washington State.

-UConn seemed to have every chance int he world to get a big road win at West Virginia, but just couldn’t get the ball in the basket on their last few possessions and fell 56-53.

-Michigan State handed Minnesota their first loss of the year and picked up what looks to be (at least for now) a nice road win.

-Indiana had perhaps the best first half that any team has had all season!!  They built a 20ish point lead on the road against a VERY good Wisconsin team and appeared to be making the statement of all statement.  Then, the second half started, and you do have to credit Wisconsin for playing their way back into it and outscoring the Hoosiers 39-17 in the second half and escaping with a 64-59 win.  I complimented IU on how well they played in the first half, and because I did that, IU Twitter now hates me.  I don’t blame them.

-BYU held serve against a very good Utah State team, which was a nice feel good win over a Beehive rival.  They’ve actually put together two nice wins since falling at Utah Valley, so the Cougars are still in great shape.

-Dayton had been on a roll after getting rolled over in their first couple of games, but didn’t quite have enough muscle to get the win at SMU last night.  It’s not easy to win at SMU, but like I always say it’s not easy to land inside the bubble either.  To do it you have to win games that are hard to win.

-Marquette got another really nice win as they knocked off Kansas State on the road 64-63.  It is the first road win of the season for Marquette, and it was a tough one, so this helps them out a lot.

-San Francisco is now 10-0, and while their hasn’t been a gauntlet, it hasn’t been a pastry cart either.  They beat a pretty good Fresno State team last night 71-63, and I think they’ve done enough to where some of the voters should at least be voting for them.  I’m sure the committee has noticed them.  They notice everything.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-TEXAS AT SETON HALL.  Both teams are in the top 25, and both have played well with some pretty impressive wins already.  Texas is still looking for their first true road win (their only other attempt was at Gonzaga, so no shame there) and this would be a huge protected seed caliber win if they were to get it.  Seton Hall has a nice win against Michigan, but this would also be really big even though they are at home.

-PURDUE AT RUTGERS (Big Ten).  I don’t think Rutgers can even compete with Purdue despite the fact that they’re at home.

-MONMOUTH AT SAINT JOHN’S.  Iona is getting all the love out of the MAAC, but Monmouth has a pretty strong resume as well, and it will be a lot stronger if they can pick this one up on the road.  A win here means you have to start thinking of them as a potential NCAA Tournament team.  The Johnnies are 6-2 on the year with all six wins coming at home and they still don’t have a notable win yet.

-IOWA AT IOWA STATE.  This game is always crazy.  I think everyone knows it’s a rivalry, but I don’t think many outside the state of Iowa realize just how bonkers of a rivalry it is.  Iowa State is off to a shocking 8-0 start and has a well deserved ranking of #17.  Iowa comes in at a respectable 7-2, but this would easily be their biggest win of the season up to this point.  Both on and off paper.

-GRAND CANYON AT ARIZONA STATE.  Grand Canyon is on our radar, but barely.  They’re 8-1, but haven’t played a tough schedule and would pretty much need to come close to running the table to get inside the bubble.  This would be a nice road win for them, but Arizona State still doesn’t look like a team that you can hang your NCAAT Tournament resume on.

BUY GAMES (or games that might as well be):

-Bethune Cookman @ NC State
-Merrimack @ Gonzaga