NEWS AND NOTES:
-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-Texas bounced back from their loss at Tennessee by snapping Baylor’s six game winning streak with a 76-71 win. Texas had a lead for most of the game, but in the final minute Baylor was right in there and had multiple chances to tie or go ahead, but just couldn’t get over the hump. Since it was a loss on the road to a probable protected seed, this loss won’t set Baylor back THAT much (if at all).
-Iowa State fell on the road to Texas Tech in overtime 80-77, and that WILL set them back. The Cyclones led by as much as 23 in the second half, but blew the lead. It was Texas Tech’s first Big 12 win, and Iowa State’s second straight loss, both of which were games you would have expected them to win.
-A couple of shout outs! One to Chicago State who picked up yet another win as they knocked off The Citadel 76-75 with a shot that just beat the buzzer, and another to Florida A&M who picked up their second win of the season as they knocked off Alabama A&M 69-58, which was a big step in avoiding the Centenary Award.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-WAKE FOREST AT DUKE (ACC). These Tobacco Road games are always fun! Wake was getting closer and closer to being safely inside our bubble, but they’ve now lost three straight. Having said that, a win at Duke would absolutely turn things around for them. Duke is a team I’ve been critical of all year, but they picked up a decisive road win over the weekend so I’m feeling a little better about them. They have been really strong at home and could roll in this one.
-TEXAS A&M AT ARKANSAS (SEC). This game is of huge importance to both teams. A lot of people are still big on Arkansas, but their resume is incredibly flimsy and while they played well over the weekend at Baylor, they still didn’t pick up the win. Texas A&M is right on our bubble, but is playing at a high level right now and will move inside of it if they keep it up. A road win tonight would certainly continue their surge forward.
-KANSAS STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12). The first game was a classic, and I’m really excited about this one as well. Many probably feel that Kansas is still the superior team because while K State won the first meeting, they won it at home and it was a very close game. If K State can somehow win this one, I think it amplifies their case for a #1 seed. If Kansas can win it, I think it puts them solidly back in the mix for a #1 seed. So, what we have here is a rivalry game with #1 seed implications.
-WEST VIRGINIA AT TCU (Big 12). TCU had a somewhat surprising loss to a so-so Mississippi State team this weekend and will look to bounce back from it and keep themselves in the conversation for a solid protected seed. They face a West Virginia team who had a nice win over the weekend and is trying to keep themselves in the conversation for any sort of a bid. A road win like this would help WVU immensely.
-INDIANA AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Maryland’s resume still has some holes in it, but they’ve been unbelievable at home with an 11-1 record on the year. Indiana appeared to be in a tailspin a few weeks ago after losing three straight, but they have since won five straight and have some VERY impressive wins in that stretch. This would be yet another impressive win for their resume if they can pull this one off on the road.
-NORTHWESTERN AT IOWA (Big Ten). I think this Northwestern team is being a little undervalued. They’ve won five of their last seven, have some very solid wins on their resume, and are playing really well. They’ll be tested today by an Iowa team that has some very nice wins on their resume, but also has some holes to fill as well and who could really use this win to help shore things up a little bit and insure that they are safely inside the bubble.
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). San Diego State is a good team that is solidly in our field (for now), but their resume is a little bland. This is a tough road game and it would help give them a nice nudge upward if they’re able to win it. As for Nevada they are squarely on the bubble and need to string together some wins in order to get inside of it, so this is a big one for them tonight.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-Mississippi State @ South Carolina (SEC) – I don’t know why anyone would have Mississippi State on their bubble, but we seem to! If they lose this they’ll be off of it, though
-Clemson @ Boston College (ACC) – Clemson continues to string together wins and shouldn’t have too much trouble picking up this one tonight
-Virginia Tech @ Miami FL (ACC) – Miami FL has lost four of their last seven, but has a winnable home game tonight against a team that’s outside the bubble
-Nebraska @ Illinois (Big Ten) – Illinois is 6-1 in their last seven games and shouldn’t have too much trouble picking this one up tonight
-VCU @ Davidson (Atlantic Ten) – VCU should get seriously looked at if they win out, but anything short of that and their only hope will (probably) be the auto-bid
-Central Michigan @ Kent State (MAC) – Kent State should get seriously looked at if they win out, but anything short of that and their only hope will (probably) be the auto-bid
-UConn @ DePaul (Big East) – UConn is just 2-6 in their last eight games and needs to win this one on the road (and they should) in order to snap out of that slump
-Vanderbilt @ Alabama (SEC) – Bama got blasted over the weekend, but should be able to regroup and bounce back tonight
-Ole Miss @ Kentucky (SEC) – Kentucky is looking to bounce back after their loss to Kansas and should be able to take care of business in this one
-Boise State @ Air Force (Mountain West) – Boise State is hovering around our bubble, but I believe they’ll make it if they keep holding serve. They can add yet another road win to their resume tonight.