News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Sunday, Feb 20

NEWS AND NOTES:

-The NCAA Committee unveiled what the top 16 teams in the field would be if yesterday were Selection Sunday, and their #2 overall team Auburn celebrated by going on the road and losing to Florida 63-62.  They actually played their way into a position to potentially win the game on the last possession, but couldn’t get a shot up.  Florida was squarely on the bubble, and this win will probably be what gets them to the NCAA Tournament if they do end up making it.

-Oregon was another team that looked to be on the bubble, and although they played well at Arizona yesterday, they didn’t get the win, and it appears that they still are.  Oregon trailed 84-81 and had the ball for the game’s final possession, and inexplicably not only did not get a shot up, but actually drove the basket as time expired.

-Alabama had a very impressive first half against Kentucky, and built up a double digit lead, but Kentucky completely flipped the game in the second half and ended up with a 90-81 win.

-Texas Tech completed the season sweep of Texas with a very impressive 61-55 road win in Austin.  They will almost assuredly end up as a protected seed if they can just hold serve the rest of the year.

-Illinois, who hadn’t been the greatest team on the road this year, got a huge road win yesterday at Michigan State 79-74.  Michigan State continues to be in a bit of a tailspin, whereas the Illini are continuing to climb the seedlist.

-Arkansas remains red hot as they got yet another impressive win yesterday.  They knocked off Tennessee, who was selected as a protected seed, 58-48.

-Iowa was a team that was squarely on our bubble and who needed a big win.  Well, they got it.  They went into Ohio State and won rather convincingly 75-62, which is easily the biggest win for the Hawkeyes this year.

-Murray State clinched at least a share of first place in the Ohio Valley, but it wasn’t easy.  They beat UT Martin by a score of 62-60, and UT Martin actually had a shot at the buzzer to either tie or win the game.

-Xavier has now lost six out of nine.  They still appear to be inside the bubble because a road loss to UConn isn’t going to set you back, but the team is in a tailspin right now.

-Notre Dame had a chance to get a really nice win and shore up a profile that’s decent, but flimsy.  They couldn’t get it done at Wake Forest, as they fell 79-74 in a close one.  Wake is also squarely on the bubble, so this was an important win for them.

-Kansas State dropped a crucial game to Oklahoma State in overtime yesterday 82-79.  We did not select them for our latest mock bracket, but the top of their resume is really strong, and this was a winnable game that could have given their overall record some much needed padding.

-LSU dropped a game on the road to South Carolina 77-75.  The loss may hurt their resume some, and it certainly won’t help their seeding, but the Tigers are still in relatively good shape.

-North Texas is squarely on the bubble, and after their big last second road win at UAB yesterday, I would argue that they belong inside of it if they can hold serve throughout the rest of the regular season.  This is a good Mean Green team!

-North Carolina now FINALLY has a good win on their resume.  It’s not easy to win at Virginia Tech, and the Tarheels did it.  It’s the first decent win of any kind on their resume.  Granted, it follows up an atrocious home loss to Pittsburgh, but they now at least have SOMETHING on their resume to indicate they can win games that are moderately difficult to win.

-Miami FL looked to be solidly inside the bubble, but yesterday they lost at home to a Virginia team that’s outside the bubble 74-71, so that will qualify as a setback.

-Loyola Chicago needed a win at home yesterday against Drake, and didn’t get it.  This is a team that’s racking up quite a string of losses to teams that are not inside the bubble, and a few of those have come at home.  It’s hard to say how safe the Ramblers are.  It’s no guarantee the committee will take them if they don’t win the Missouri Valley Tournament.

-Colorado State, who we were starting to praise a little bit, put on a performance yesterday that deserves absolutely no praise at all.  UNLV, who isn’t exactly good, blew Colorado State off the floor 72-51.

-Saint Mary’s held on for a nice 69-64 home win against BYU.  BYU had looked awful for the last several weeks, but were actually competitive yesterday despite the loss.  In a way, I actually feel a little bit better about them even though they didn’t win.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PROVIDENCE AT BUTLER (Big East).  Providence is looking to bounce back from their loss to Villanova.  This is definitely a winnable game, but winning on the road can always be tough.  Even at Butler.

-HOUSTON AT WICHITA STATE (American).  After looking like a dominant team all season long, Houston is starting to show some cracks in their armor.  They did manage to pull away agains UCF in their last game, so they may be back on track.

-MICHIGAN AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten).  Michigan seems to have played themselves onto the bubble all of a sudden, but they still have a lot of work to do.  Having said that, winning on the road at Wisconsin would constitute doing a lot of work.  Wisconsin is on pace to get a protected seed if they can keep winning at the clip they have been.

-MEMPHIS AT SMU (American).  This is a very bubblicious game for both these teams.  Memphis has caught fire lately and is finally starting to look like the team we’d thought they’d be before the season started.  A win at SMU would be another big boost for their resume.  SMU is just outside our bubble, but they are close enough to where it is within arm’s length.  They need a very strong finish to the season, and every game has a pivotal feel to it.

-MARQUETTE AT CREIGHTON (Big East).  Both teams are in our field, and Marquette actually looks to be flirting with a protected seed.  Creighton is the team that probably needs this win a little more, especially since they’re at home.

-RUTGERS AT PURDUE (Big Ten).  Rutgers is absolutely on fire right now.  They’ve had some monster wins in the last couple of weeks, but most have come at home.  Winning at Purdue would be on a higher level than even some of the ones they’ve won.  I think they’re inside the bubble right now, but if they get this one on the road there should be no doubt about it.

-WASHINGTON STATE AT USC (Pac 12).  USC appears to be on pace to land in the top half of the bracket.  They just need to hold serve in games like this.