NEWS AND NOTES:
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-The game of the night, and maybe the week, and maybe the year, was the triple overtime game between Xavier and Providence. It was a high level game between two teams that had something at stake (Providence playing toward a protected seed and Xavier trying to pull themselves out of a tailspin), but what really made the game one for the ages was the rain delay! With less than 3 minutes to go in regulation with tie score, water started falling in from the roof. They were able to get it fixed to where they could finish the game. It was a big win for Providence, and for Xavier, despite an incredible effort, their fifth loss in the last six games.
-Wisconsin really had to sweat out Minnesota last night, but they held on for the 68-67 road win.
-Texas trailed TCU by as much as 10 in the second half, but dominated the last 10-ish minutes of the game to get the 75-66 win and stay within range of a protected seed.
-Creighton held on for a nice 81-78 road win against a Saint John’s team that had been playing well these past few weeks, but they lost Ryan Nembhard for the season after he suffered a broken wrist, so we certainly feel bad for him and wish him a speedy recovery.
-Wake Forest is on the bubble and needed to hold serve last night at Clemson. Wake Forest did not hold serve last night at Clemson. They lost 80-69, and this one is a bit of a kick in the teeth for a team that appears to be hovering around the bubble and is very light on quality wins.
-Rutgers fell at Michigan 71-62 in a road game that they REALLY could have used. I still think they’re in good shape to make the field, but a win yesterday would have really helped shore up their resume. As for Michigan, it was a much needed win and they continue to hover around the bubble.
-Colorado State got a big win over Front Range rival Wyoming 61-55, and their resume is looking more and more solid.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-TEMPLE AT MEMPHIS (American). Temple is a thousand miles from making the field, but they have won four of six and are getting better. Memphis is coming off of a loss to SMU, which ended a six game winning streak, but they are still squarely on the bubble and a strong finish can get them on the right side of it. They can’t lose a game like this one, though.
-MARYLAND AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Indiana has a lot of flimsy things on their resume, but they still look to be inside the bubble and will stay there if they can hold serve.
-GONZAGA AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). Gonzaga will end up as the #1 overall seed for the second year in a row if they win out, which they are certainly good enough to do. San Francisco is inside the bubble, and certainly won’t be knocked out of it because of a loss like this, but a win could absolutely pretty much lock them into the NCAA Tournament.
-OHIO STATE AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Both teams are in the rankings, and Illinois appears to be heading toward a protected seed, so it’s a good resume building and momentum building opportunity for two teams that already have good resumes and a lot of momentum.
-BELMONT AT MURRAY STATE (Ohio Valley). Murray State is likely in the field, but if they win this game I think they’re a virtual lock even if they somehow lose their last regular season game and lose in the conference tournament. Belmont is outside the bubble. If they want any chance at all at getting inside of it, they need this win on the road. It would be their biggest win of the season so far if they can pull it off.
-UCLA AT OREGON (Pac 12). Oregon is on the bubble, and like all bubble teams all their games seem to have a pivotal feel to them. UCLA is within range of a protected seed and a win tonight will be a big step forward to them securing it. Oregon is on the bubble and a win tonight would be a big step toward then landing on the right side of it.
-SAINT MARY’S AT SAN DIEGO. Saint Mary’s appears to be cruising toward the NCAA Tournament. They just need to keep their eyes on the road and not be looking ahead to Gonzaga this weekend so they can avoid a crash.
-LMU AT BYU (West Coast). This is a virtual buy game. If BYU loses it, they are in serious trouble.
-ARIZONA AT UTAH (Pac 12). Arizona is on pace to get a #1 seed, and if they win out the regular season and avoid a loss in the quarterfinals of the Pac 12 Tournament they should lock it up.
-USC AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12). USC is safely in the field, and likely still will be even if they lose this game, but it would still knock them down the seedlist so they need to hold serve.