While The Madness has already started, today is the first official day of March, so….HAPPY MARCH MADNESS EVERYBODY!!!
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NEWS AND NOTES:
-Let’s see…where to start?? Oh yeah!! A dog took a dump on the floor at the Virginia Tech v Louisville game. It was one of the more notable things that’s happened at Louisville all season!!
-It was a close call, but Kansas escaped Texas Tech 67-63 in a game that came down to the final couple of possessions. Kansas led the whole way, but it was very close all throughout. I don’t want to say this hurt Texas Tech because a loss on the road to a team like Kansas is never going to set anyone back, but I will say that it was the kind of win that they needed in order to get selected for the tournament. As of now it looks like they’re still on the wrong side of the bubble.
-Virginia got a 64-57 win against Clemson which may have meant more off paper than on paper. The Hoos had really not looked good their last few games, so perhaps yesterday will snap them out of it. Clemson has a scattershot resume and remains hovering around the bubble.
-Indiana had their heads in the clouds after beating Purdue on the road for the season sweep. Unfortunately it looks like they weren’t able to get their feet back on the ground. They were at home against Iowa, and just got blown off the floor 90-68. The Hawkeyes were coming off of a crazy win of their own, so they must have had a lot of energy coming into this one.
-Boise State is right on the bubble, and really needed a big win, and got it last night against San Diego State 66-60. It was a home win, but they’ll still get some credit for it given how good San Diego State is.
-Duke got a 71-67 home win against rivals NC State to go perfect on their home court this year. I don’t think this result really moves either team’s place on the seedlist right now.
-Villanova continues to rack up wins and got another one at Seton Hall yesterday 76-72. They are currently too far outside the bubble to reach it by the end of the season, but they are really playing well and can make some noise in the Big East Tournament. I’m not going to go so far as to pick them to win it, but I will say that it wouldn’t shock me at all if they did given how well they’re playing. As for Seton Hall, I now think they’re only way into the NCAAs is to win the Big East Tournament. They’ve fallen to a very modest 16-14 on the year.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-XAVIER AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). There have been a lot of great Big East games this year, and it seems whenever Xavier and Providence get together it’s always some crazy, back and forth, multiple overtime game, so hopefully we are in for another good one tonight. Both teams are safely in the field and are really just playing for seeding the rest of the way. Xavier is fighting for a protected seed and Providence is fighting to move up the top half of the bracket.
-AUBURN AT ALABAMA (SEC). Round 2 of the Hoops Iron Bowl. Alabama is almost a unanimous #1 seed and perhaps the consensus overall #1 seed, but they have struggled in their last couple of games (understandably so) and may still be a little vulnerable. Auburn is squarely on the bubble and needs a big time win to help ensure they end up on the right side of it.
-MARYLAND AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Maryland has been a terrible road team this year. As good as a lot of their season has been, none of those good things have happened on other teams’ floors. Ohio State has been horrible since Big Ten play started, and if Maryland can’t get this win on the road, then it could really end up hurting their seeding.
-FORDHAM AT GEORGE MASON (Atlantic Ten). I highlight this game only to point out that Fordham is going for their 24th win of the season! If you don’t think that’s amazing then don’t bother visiting Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon. Those won’t impress you either.
-TEXAS AT TCU (Big 12). Both teams are probable protected seeds, and Texas has a shot at ending up as a #1 seed depending on how things play out. This storyline seems to be a recurring theme in the Big 12 this year.
-UTAH STATE AT UNLV (Mountain West). I suppose Utah State still has a chance?? But it’s a very steep and narrow path if they want to land inside the bubble.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-DePaul @ UConn (Big East) – UConn’s Big East record is somewhat lagging compared to everything else on their resume due to a slump back in January, but they are playing as well as anyone else in the league right now
-Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (SEC) – It took it a lot longer than usual for it to happen, but Kentucky is playing at a high caliber and can improve their seed between now and the end
-Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame (ACC) – Pitt is in the rankings, safely inside the bubble, and barring a collapse should go in to the field on the first ballot
-Oklahoma @ Kansas State (Big 12) – I wouldn’t call this an easy game because Oklahoma has shown they can beat really good teams, but it is perhaps the most winnable conference game K State will play all year. At home against the Sooners
-Georgetown @ Creighton (Big East) – a conference buy game for the Bluejays
-Chicago State @ Gonzaga – buy game
-Penn State @ Northwestern (Big Ten) – an NIT team is on the road against an NCAA Tournament team
-Missouri @ LSU (SEC) – Missouri is a solid tournament team, but more road wins will help them get a better seed