NEWS AND NOTES:
– The Iron Bowl, Part II looked like it was going to be a signature win for an Auburn team that had a profile lacking such wins of late. The game featured a pair of Alabama players being ejected in the 2nd half for leaving the bench for a fracas and ended up seeing Auburn blow a 2nd-half double-digit lead en route to an overtime loss against the Tide. Alabama is now the outright SEC regular-season champion and Auburn now has to quickly turn around and try to beat Tennessee in their regular season finale.
– As for Tennessee, their win on Tuesday night at home against Arkansas turned out to be a real expensive one. Zakai Ziegler left the game with an injury and it turned out to be a torn ACL; that is a huge setback for the Vols.
– Xavier got off to a fantastic start at Providence and led by as many as 20+ in the first half before Providence mounted a serious run wrapped around halftime to get back within 2 of the Musketeers. Despite mounting foul trouble on the floor, Xavier survived for what was the first win by a road team at Providence this season. While the Musketeers may have done enough to get back into protected-seed territory; the Friars are advised not to stand pat and try to make a little noise in the upcoming Big East Tournament; otherwise they may not get in on the first ballot when it comes to at-large bids.
– Maryland did not have a good night at Ohio State. The Terps blew a major opportunity to get a true road win and now face a game at Penn State that becomes even more pivotal. The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, got a much-needed road win at Northwestern; if they beat Maryland at home and possibly get a win or two in the B1G Conference Tournament, they’ll merit some serious discussion.
– Despite a frantic comeback late against Notre Dame, Pittsburgh also had a setback on the road against the Irish. The Panthers will now have to win on the road at Miami to clinch a share of the ACC regular season title. For Notre Dame, it was a big win in Mike Brey’s home finale as the Irish head coach.
– While Kentucky was suddenly looking like a Top 10 team at home against Auburn on the weekend, they did take a step backward after losing a game at home to Vanderbilt in the closing seconds. It obviously will not be a fatal wound for Kentucky, but it gives Vandy another lifeline and the Commodores will be a team to watch in the SEC Tournament next week. Still, their home finale against Mississippi State is a must-win game.
– TCU also got out to a big lead against Texas en route to a significany victory and are looking better now that Mike Miles Jr. is healthy again for the Horned Frogs.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Michigan is outside our bubble right now, but they are definitely within reach of it. A road win like this could be enough to get them right on it, and perhaps even inside of it. There are some good things on their profile, and between this game and the upcoming Big Ten Tournament they will get the chances they need to put themselves in the field.
-ARIZONA STATE AT UCLA (Pac 12). Arizona State went from outside the bubble to right on the bubble with their last-second-beyond-halfcourt-shot-win at Arizona. If they can win at UCLA, I think they go dancing! It’s much easier said than done as UCLA actually has a path to a #1 seed, but it is possible that the Sun Devils make the field.
-PURDUE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Purdue has actually lost five out of their last seven, and while they’re still very good and could even still get a #1 seed, they have not looked like a #1 seed caliber team during that stretch. They will be tested again today against a Wisconsin team that can play well, but doesn’t always do so, and has been doing so less and less down the stretch. Purdue needs this win to get back within reach of a #1 seed, and Wisconsin needs this win just to get back within reach of making the NCAA Tournament.
-MEMPHIS AT SMU (American). Memphis is on the bubble, and while SMU is nowhere near it, we are highlighting this because if Memphis can avoid losing this game I do think that will be enough to make the NCAA Tournament. They won’t need to beat Houston in their final regular season game, and they won’t need to win American Tournament. If they can just avoid losing to bad teams then that should be enough.
-ARIZONA AT USC (Pac 12). I think Arizona will almost assuredly end up with a protected seed, but has almost no shot at ending up with a #1 seed. Still a road win here would help move them up the seedlist. USC is on the bubble, but after winning two straight road games they’re in much better shape than they were a week ago. If they can win one of these last two games then I think that’s enough. Beating Arizona won’t be easy, though. Even at home.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-Wichita State @ Houston (American) – Houston can lock up a #1 seed if they win out through the regular season regardless of what happens in the American Tournament
-Rutgers @ Minnesota (Big Ten) – Rutgers has been somewhat schizophrenic this year, but when they’re good they’re really good, and when they’re bad they’re still better than Minnesota
-Middle Tennessee @ North Texas (Conference USA) – if North Texas can win out to the CUSA Championship Game I think the committee will take a long look at them
-Florida Atlantic @ Rice (Conference USA) – FAU is very close to being a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and almost assuredly will be if they win their last two regular season games