News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Sunday, Feb 27

NEWS AND NOTES:

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So, let’s review what a lot of the top ten teams did yesterday!!

-Gonzaga fell behind early at Saint Mary’s, and stayed behind.  The final score was 67-57 and at no point was Saint Mary’s not in control of the game.

Arizona played a decent first half at Colorado, and then just decided to call it a day and not come out for the second half.  The Buts outsored the Wildcats by 21 and basically blew #2 ranked Arizona off the floor 79-63.

-Auburn fought hard at Tennessee, but ended up coming up just short 67-62.  This wasn’t THAT big of a surprise.  Tennessee is a really good team who was projected as one of the top teams just last week, and protected seeds typically don’t lose at home.  Ever.  But, As a team that has a shot at a #1 seed, it was a game that Auburn was good enough to win.

-Purdue fell to Michigan State 68-65 in an upset.  Michigan State had been slumping a little but and this could pull them out of it.  It was close the entire way with Michigan State hitting a go-ahead game winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.

-Kansas went on the road and lost to Baylor.  No real big surprise there.  Baylor is still within reach of a #1 seed (although it would take a lot).

-Kentucky could not get it done at Arkansas.  Again, not a huge surprise since it is very difficult to win at Arkansas.  They came up just short 75-73, but I still think they have a case for (and a path to) a #1 seed, and that Arkansas now has a case for and a path to a protected seed.

-Texas Tech, who had been playing really well in recent weeks, fell at TCU 69-66.  Again, this wasn’t overly jaw dropping.  Texas Tech hadn’t been as good on the road as at home, and TCU is a good team (obviously) who needed a big win.

-Duke won at Syracuse rather easily.  It was 97-72.  This was an anomaly yesterday.  A top ten team that actually won!

In other news..

-Providence blasted Creighton to lock up a first place finish in the Big East.  The Friars deserve a protected seed unless they totally tank out this last week and in the conference tournament.

-USC picked up a nice road win against an Oregon team that could have really used a nice win.  I don’t think the Ducks will miss the field, but their resume is a little bit hollow.  As for USC, they gave their resume a huge boost after winning the 70-69 thriller.

-Murray State trailed at SEMO for much of the game, and appeared to be beaten, but had a late flury to secure the 70-68 win and a perfect regular season record in the Ohio Valley.  They should be a lock for the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens next week in the OVC Tournament.

-Iowa State and Kansas State squared off in a game that both teams really needed, Iowa State needed to pad their Big 12 record, and Kansas State needed to pad their overall record.  The Cyclones picked up the 74-73 win on the road, and their overall resume is looking better and better despite them being just 7-9 in league play.  In fact I don’t think that matters.  The Cyclones should be safely in.

-Dayton appeared to have played their way onto the bubble.  They went into La Salle yesterday.  They did not beat La Salle.  Dayton is now back outside the bubble.  The final score was 62-60, and Dayton had the ball with less than 10 seconds to go.  After that, I don’t know what happened, because the video stream went dark.

-Miami FL, who appeared to be climbing the seedlist, had a setback after losing at home to Virginia Tech 71-70.  I don’t think this win gets the Hokies inside the bubble, but it certainly gets them closer than they were before.

-Seton Hall got a big road win at Xavier.  They basically blew them off the court 82-66, which helps shine up their resume.  Xavier is now in a complete tailspin having lost six of their last seven.

-Virginia appeared to be inching toward the bubble, but suffered a crippling loss to Florida State 64-63.  Florida State actually hit a last second mostly desperate heave at the buzzer to pick up the win.

-Northern Iowa and Loyola Chicago went into overtime in a season finale where the winner would clinch first place in the Missouri Valley.  Northern Iowa, who we were big on coming into the season but who also struggled OOC, got the 102-96 win.  This actually knocks Loyola Chicago down to 4th place in the conference, and while that shouldn’t matter too much to the committee…I can’t help but think that it certainly doesn’t help.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-UCONN AT GEORGETOWN (Big East).  UConn is in the hunt for a protected seed, and this should be an easy road game for them because Georgetown is most likely just counting down the days until the season mercifully ends.

-SMU AT HOUSTON (American).  We have SMU outside the bubble.  If they want in, they need this win.  It’s not easy, but that’s just it.  They need to win a game that’s not easy to win in order to get there.

-ILLINOIS AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten).  Illinois is trying to lock up a protected seed and Michigan is just trying to make it into the field.  Both teams have something at stake, but the stakes are certainly different given the places that they’re both in.

-IONA AT RIDER (Metro Atlantic).  Iona will be seriously considered for a bid, but they basically need to win out.

-WICHITA STATE AT MEMPHIS (American).  Memphis is hovering around the bubble after picking up a few big wins.  They need to keep holding serve and can’t afford to drop this one at home.

-OHIO STATE AT MARYLAND (Big Ten).  Ohio State is really starting to climb the seedlist after picking up some big wins last week.  It’s never easy to win on the road, but this is one that they should be able to get.

-INDIANA AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten).  Indiana needs some road wins to polish up the overall look of their resume, and this is a winnable road game.  if they win, I think they can breathe a lot easier.  If they lose they’re not out, but a win really does help even though it’s not against a top level team.

UNDER THE RADAR:

-PRINCETON AT HARVARD (Ivy League).  Princeton is trying to lock up first place.  Harvard is trying to make the Ivy Tournament

-Bryant knocked off Wagner in a season finale thriller 78-70.  This means that Bryant will have home court advantage in the Northeast Conference Tournament, which begins tomorrow!!

-South Dakota State wrapped up a perfect season in the Summit League with their 86-75 win over Kansas City.

-New Mexico State lost at Chicago State.  I can barely process that information.  I know that seven top ten teams lost today, but I think this may actually be more surprising than all seven of those losses combined.  The Aggies were missing two of their top players for this game, but that still is not an excuse.

-North Texas knocked off Louisiana Tech to wrap up first place in Conference USA.  This is a team that deserves to be inside the bubble.  On the court, they’re good enough, and on paper, they’re good enough!!  ARE YOU LISTENING SELECTION COMMITTEE??