NEWS AND NOTES:
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-After getting sidetracked in Colorado, Arizona once again looked like a #1 seed caliber team yesterday as they went into USC and blew them off the floor. Since it was a road game that followed a loss, and since they won so handily, I’d almost go so far to say it was one of their most impressive showings of the year.
-TCU knocked off Kansas yesterday 74-64, which should shoot them up the seedlist. Kansas has a lot of tier 1 wins, but they also have very few true road wins against teams that will likely be the better seeded team in the Round of 64, and they missed another chance to get a #1 seed defining level win last night. For that reason I continue to question whether or not they should be on the #1 line.
-Wisconsin held on to beat Purdue 70-67. Both are protected seeds, so it wasn’t much of a setback for the Boilers, but had they won it they would have had a strong case for a #1 seed themselves.
-Providence was without a key player and fell behind kind of big late in the first half at Villanova, but still fought their way back into it and were in a position to win in the final minute of the game. Despite the loss, considering that it was on the road at Villanova, and considering they were without a starter, I think I was more impressed with what Providence did yesterday than I have been at any other time. And, that’s saying A LOT because they have some VERY good wins this year.
-Ohio State is in a bit of a tailspin. They’ve now lost two straight games, and both were to team teams that are about a thousand miles away from the NIT, much less the NCAA. Nebraska beat them 78-70. While their seed will take a bit of a hit, I still think they’re a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but to say they’ve been playing well would be incorrect.
-Michigan blew Michigan State off the floor, and seeing as how they are on the bubble they really needed that. Not to mention, blowing out a rival always makes you feel good!
-VCU blew Saint Bonaventure off the floor, out of the gym, and into the sun. The final score was 74-51, but the game was over about ten minutes in. The Bonnies looked so bad that not only does it make me question why I ever thought they might belong in the field, but it’s making me question every good thing I’ve said about them for the past ten years or so. They got THWACKED!!!
-Boise State locked up first place in the Mountain West with their win against Nevada, and Florida escaped what would have been a very crippling loss at Vanderbilt.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-XAVIER AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). Xavier has slid all the way down to the bubble, and if they lose this game it could knock them outside of it. A win should stabilize things somewhat, so this is a very pivotal late season game for Xavier.
-TEXAS A&M AT ALABAMA (SEC). Alabama is still within reach of a protected seed if they finish strong, but the are starting to feel more and more like a 5 or 6 seed. Either way, they’ll want to hold serve tonight.
-GEORETOWN AT SETON HALL (Big East). Seton Hall has won three in a row, appears to be a virtual lock for the NCAA Tournament, and should stretch that out to four in a row tonight.
-NOTRE DAME AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). Notre Dame appears to be very much in the middle of bubble-land, so every game they play the rest of the way is going to have a pivotal feel to it, including this one on the road.
-OKLAHOMA STATE AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). I think a win today virtually locks Iowa State into the field. They may be a lock already. This would get them to 8-9 in conference play with just one game remaining, and as strong as their resume is they should make it easily.
-GEORGE MASON AT DAVIDSON (Atlantic Ten). Davidson should remain inside the bubble so long as they’re able to hold serve in these last few regular season games.
-RUTGERS AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Indiana is coming off a much needed road win, and can polish up their resume a little more if they’re able to win this one tonight. Rutgers’ resume also needs quite a bit of polishing. There are some really good things on it, but another quality road win would make a huge difference for a team that looks to be right on the bubble.
-CONNECTICUT AT CREIGHTON (Big East). UConn appears to have a strong case for a protected seed, and a road win in a game like this will make it even stronger. Creighton appears to be on the right side of the bubble barring a complete and total collapse, and are really just playing for seeding.
-AUBURN AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Auburn is still a virtual lock for a protected seed and depending on how things play out they could still end up on the #1 line. They’ll need this one on the road, and while Mississippi State is nowhere near the field, they are 14-2 at home, so it’s still not an easy place to go and win.
-LSU AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Arkansas continues to climb the seedlist and is even making a strong case that they deserve a protected seed. They’re good enough to beat almost anyone at home. LSU is safely in, but could really shoot up the seedlist if they’re able get this one tonight. A loss isn’t likely to set them back at all, but a win would be a huge boost.
-MARQUETTE AT DEPAUL (Big East). Marquette has a really strong resume and has played a really tough schedule. This is a game that they should win, but don’t be surprised if it’s still a battle. DePaul has played a lot of teams tough.
-NC STATE AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Wake is probably inside the bubble, but if they want to stay there they really need hold serve in games like this. Their margin for error is very small. If anything I’d say they still have a little bit of work to do.
-MIAMI FL AT BOSTON COLLEGE (ACC). I like this Miami team and think they’ll make the NCAA Tournament rather safely. Having said that, they really don’t want to stub their toes in a game like this.
-WYOMING AT UNLV (Mountain West). The Cowboys are looking to rebound from their loss to San Diego State, and they could be in for a test tonight. UNLV can be tough to beat at home. I think their resume is okay, but they may be starting to sweat just a little bit if they don’t get this win.