NEWS AND NOTES:
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-Kansas picked up another big win as they knocked off TCU 63-58. This avenges a blowout home loss from earlier in the year, and it also gives the Jayhawks what may arguably be their best true road win of the season so far.
-Oklahoma State, who I was super big on, has now been blown out in back to back games. Granted, none of these games are easy, but they still have some work to do. West Virginia, who also has some work to do, did do some work last night with the decisive 85-67 win.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-BAYLOR AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Both these teams are on pace to earn protected seeds, and while Baylor did lose over the weekend to Kansas they could still end up on the #1 line if they can have a really strong finish to the season. If they pull off this one on the road they would certainly belong in the discussion.
-TENNESSEE AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). TAMU has played amazingly well in SEC play, but their schedule is backloaded with their toughest tests coming in the last couple weeks. Having said that, they did get a huge win against Missouri this past weekend, and will be tested again at home today by a Tennessee team that, while they’ve dropped some games recently, is still on pace to get a solid protected seed and possibly go far in the tournament.
-MIAMI FL AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). I really like this Miami team and despite them being ranked as high as 13th I still think people are overlooking them. Having said that, this won’t be an easy one tonight. VA Tech is likely headed to the NIT, but they can still be very tough to beat at home.
-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT MISSOURI (SEC). This is a really important game for both of these teams because both of them could really use some more good wins on their resume. That’s especially true for a Mississippi State team that is right on the bubble.
-MAC. Again, a strange way to write up some games, but the top four teams in the MAC all square off tonight as Akron visits Toledo, and Kent State travels to Ball State. Both games have first place implications, and I still think that Kent State will get at least a look from the committee if they can win out through the regular season, but fail to win the conference tournament.
-MARQUETTE AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Marquette has looked like the best team in the Big East for the past several weeks, but even for them road wins against other top level teams in the conference have not come easy, and this will certainly be a challenge tonight against a Creighton team that’s 9-1 in their last ten games with the only loss being in overtime at Providence. Both teams are solidly in the field, and Marquette could still make a run at the #2 line if they can put together a really strong finish.
-IOWA STATE AT TEXAS (Big 12). Iowa State has slipped a little bit in recent weeks having lost four of their last six, but can still end up as a protected seed if they can turn things around. Tonight is a tall order, though, seeing as how Texas still has a #1 seed within their reach.
-INDIANA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Indiana was given a protected seed by the committee in the bracket reveal over the weekend, but they need to hold serve in order to keep it, and perhaps do a little bit more. Michigan State appears to be safely in the field, but they could give their resume a HUGE boost if they could some how pull this one out tonight.
-TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). As nuts as this is to say, we are starting to think that Texas Tech may actually have a path to the bubble. They have to keep winning, though, and they can’t afford to drop this one tonight.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-Villanova @ Xavier (Big East) – Xavier is capable of playing as well as anyone in the Big East, and is on pace to end up with a protected seed if they keep winning at the clip they have been
-Georgia Tech @ Pittsburgh (ACC) – Pitt is coming off a loss, but they’re still in a stretch where they’ve played really well and should be able to get this one without too much trouble
-VCU @ Saint Joseph’s (Atlantic Ten) – if anyone from the A10 can get a look from the committee, it’s VCU, but they need to win out in order for that to happen
-Georgia @ Arkansas (SEC) – Arkansas is inside the bubble, but not safely. They can’t afford to drop a game like this
-Utah State @ Wyoming (Mountain West) – Utah State is outside the bubble, but may be able to reach it if they can really finish the season strongly
-San Jose State @ Nevada (Mountain West – Nevada is clinging to the bubble and can’t afford to lose a game like this at home
-Colorado State @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – San Diego State appears to be safely inside the field and should go in on the first ballot so long as they hold serve