NEWS, NOTES AND LINKS:
-For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN, where we build and bracket a seedlist on the air – CLICK HERE
-For the CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK: DAY 3, where we recap and preview all the conference tournament action – CLICK HERE
-For the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, where we lay out who is a lock, who is being considered, and who needs the auto-bid to make the NCAA Tournament – CLICK HERE
-For the CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, where you can see all 32 brackets and schedules – CLICK HERE
-Arkansas escaped against LSU 77-76 in a thriller, but they picked up another big win and their momentum keeps going.
-Creighton held on to beat UConn 64-62. They had a lead for most of the game, but UConn made a late run and actually had a chance to win in the final minute or so, but the Bluejays held on.
-Alabama continues their schizophrenic season. Most of the time they are good, and some of their good is REALLY good, but then you have nights like last night where they got beaten handily at home by a Texas A&M team that doesn’t appear to be anywhere close to making the field (but is perhaps at least on the board now). They’re still a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but their seed is starting to take a hit.
-Xavier’s nosedive continues. It’s actually rather impressive. They fell at Saint John’s 81-66. It was their fifth straight loss and the 7th in their last 8 games. They are in danger of missing the field entirely.
-Iowa State, who we had been singing the praises of and had all but locked into the field, scored just 36pts in their 53-36 home loss to Oklahoma State last night. Certainly not their best game of the season.
-Rutgers needed a big win last night…AND GOT IT!! In another close, well played, and exciting game, which Rutgers seems to be leading the nation in this year, they picked up a huge road win against Indiana 66-63. A sequence in the final minute of the game which featured a bad pass, that inadvertently hit a referee to keep it in play, to Indiana having to foul, to a flagrant 2 foul being called on Rutgers, to Indiana scoring 5pts out of that sequence to tie the game, only having Rutgers hit a 3 in the final couple of seconds to win the game, was…well…quite a sequence!!
-Marquette, who’s praises I had been singing for weeks, lost at DePaul yesterday 91-80. They are still in good shape, but they could have certainly done without that.
-Wyoming, who had been on cruise control, fell at UNLV last night 64-57. We still feel they are inside the bubble, but they are starting to slip and they need to at least hold serve the rest of the way in order to feel safe.
HIGHLIGHTED REGULAR SEASON GAMES:
-TEMPLE AT HOUSTON (American). They haven’t really been on our radar, but Temple has had a fairly decent season. That being said, I think winning at Houston is a little over their heads. The Cougars are on cruise control and will easily be seeded in the top half of the bracket if they continue to hold serve.
-PENN STATE AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Illinois will end up as a protected seed so long as they hold serve over these next couple of games.
-MICHIGAN STATE AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Both are locks for The Tournament, but both of their resumes could use some polishing, and both are in a bit of a tailspin right now, so this is a big opportunity for both.
-CINCINNATI AT SMU (American). I think SMU is going to run out of season before they’re able to get their resume up to caliber, but they should at least be on the board if they win out and then manage some big wins (if there are any to be had) in the American Tournament.
-IONA AT MANHATTAN (Metro Atlantic). Iona’s at-large hopes are slim at best, but this is still an awesome rivalry!!
-TCU AT KANSAS (Big 12). We feel TCU is a lock. A loss at Kansas, who still has a case for a #1 seed, certainly isn’t going to set them back. It would absolutely catapult them forward, though.
-STANFORD AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). Arizona appears to be cruising to a #1 seed. They shouldn’t have too much trouble at home tonight.
-IOWA AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Michigan continues to hover around the bubble, and like every bubble team every game seems to have a pivotal feel to it. Iowa has caught fire and really been playing well recently, and a road win would help out their resume as well, so there is quite a bit at stake for both teams.
-MEMPHIS AT SOUTH FLORIDA (American). We now have Memphis just inside our bubble as well, but barely. This is the kind of game where a win doesn’t help them and a loss totally buries them. They need this one tonight.
-OREGON AT WASHINGTON (Pac 12). Oregon is right on the bubble, and a road rivalry game at Washington could be tough. If they want to make the NCAA Tournament then they really need a win in this one.
-FRESNO STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State is coming off a hugely important win that I think took them from on the bubble to rather safely inside of it. They just need to hold serve tonight so they don’t undo it.