NEWS AND NOTES:
-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
EDIT: I think the combination of a staff worker, player, or just some regular fan that’s at a basketball game that just brazenly orders DoorDash, and then a delivery guy that is such an airhead that he is genuinely oblivious to the fact that he’s disrupting a the game is both hilarious and kind of cool. However, I think staging this stunt just so they can go viral on TikTok is actually kind of pathetic. This went from being my favorite thing that happened yesterday (and perhaps all season long) to me thinking everyone involved is stupid in a far less personable way than it originally appeared. So, I’ve deleted the link
-Alabama trialed Mississippi State at home for most of the game, but held on to win 66-63 in the end. It would have been a huge win for Mississippi State had they pulled it off and perhaps gotten them back within reach of the bubble, but as it stands now they’ve lost eight of their last nine.
-Xavier picked up a really nice road win at UConn last night 82-79. It may be the biggest win of the year for Xavier so far considering that it was on the road. UConn is in a tailspin having lost six of their last eight after starting off the season 14-0, but as our friend John Stalica observed Xavier is a big reason as to why they’ve lost six of their last eight.
-Texas A&M picked up a HUGE 79-63 win at Auburn that in my opinion flips the switch from them being outside the bubble to being inside of it. TAMU is the only team that has won at Auburn (my favorite stat), and while they were very sluggish prior to Christmas they’ve won all but one of their games since then (the loss at Kentucky), and are starting to build a profile that looks like a tournament caliber profile.
-Pittsburgh and Wake Forest squared off in a bubblicious match-up that had a pivotal feel to it for both teams, and Pitt held on to win at home in a close one 81-79.
-Wisconsin has not just stubbed their toes, but has slipped on the ice and broken their ankle. After looking really good for a stretch, they’ve now lost five of their last six, and last night they were just completely blown out 73-55 at Maryland. That cannot be confidence inspiring.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Conference USA). FAU is in the rankings and inside the bubble and should go into the NCAA Tournament on the first ballot so long as they keep holding serve.
-SMU AT MEMPHIS (American). Memphis is squarely on the bubble and it is crucial that they do not slip up in games like this, which are home games against teams that are nowhere near the bubble.
-IOWA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams are in our field right now, but both still have some work to do in order to become more stable. This game is a good opportunity for both teams to build up their resumes by picking up another notable win.
-SEATTLE U AT SAM HOUSTON (WAC). It’s not likely that either team will reach the bubble, but both could be dangerous in the Round of 64 if one of them happens to win the automatic bid. Sam Houston racked up wins against Oklahoma and Utah out of conference and while they’ve dropped some games in league play they are still capable of playing at a high level. Seattle U is trying to hang on to first place in the standings and will be tested in a big way tonight.
-PURDUE AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). I keep thinking it’s time to write Michigan off, but whenever I do they win a notable game. This would be VERY notable considering Purdue is the #1 overall team and on pace to get a #1 seed.
-UCLA AT USC (Pac 12). Lots going on in this one. It’s a rivalry game, UCLA is on pace to get a protected seed and depending on how things play out may still have an outside shot at a #1 seed, and USC is trying to get back into the field. USC’s profile needs some work, but on the court the team appears to be getting better and they almost upset UCLA at Pauley Pavilion the first time they played.
-UTAH VALLEY AT SOUTHERN UTAH (WAC) (Bee Hive). Utah Valley is having an outstanding year and are in the hunt to win the WAC and perhaps get a serious look from the committee if they can win out.
-ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac 12). At first glance Arizona should win this one easily, but it’s not a slam dunk. Wazzu actually won the first meeting between these two at Arizona and has proven to be very tough to beat.
-ARIZONA STATE AT WASHINGTON (Pac 12). Arizona State is squarely on the bubble, so every game they play seems to have a pivotal feel to it.
-UTAH AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12). Utah is outside of our bubble, but they are definitely close enough to it to reach it and they need to take advantage of what appears to be a winnable road game tonight.