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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-KANSAS AT TEXAS (Big 12) (***Spotlight Game***). Both teams are in the top ten and Kansas is solidly on the #1 line. This would be their single most impressive win of the year if they’re able to pull it off, which is saying a lot because of how many good wins they already have. Texas can still get to the #1 line with a win today and a strong showing in the Big 12 Tournament next week.
-ALABAMA AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). This is a big showdown between Alabama, who most have as the overall #1 seed but who has also struggled in their last few games, and Texas A&M who has been red hot who can continue to move up the seedlist with a win today. This one should be a lot of fun!
-IOWA STATE AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Baylor has been playing like one of the better teams in the country since the end of January, and Iowa State is a complete tailspin and while they’re in no danger of missing the field, they may not end up anywhere close to a protected seed if they lose this game and then don’t win a single game in the Big 12 Tournament.
-KANSAS STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). K State is pretty much assured a protected seed and is just playing to get as high on the seedlist as they possibly can, and West Virginia is just trying to get into the field. They’re coming off a big road win at Iowa State, and a near huge upset at Kansas before that, so they are in a stretch where they are playing really well.
-TENNESSEE AT AUBURN (SEC). Tennessee pretty much has a protected seed locked up, but is still trying to get used to not having their point guard for the rest of the year due to an injury. Auburn is simply trying to make the field. They’ve had several near big wins, including their last game where they lost to Alabama on the road, they still don’t have enough actual wins on their resume yet to assure them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, so a win today would be huge.
-KENTUCKY AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Kentucky is coming off a bit of a surprising loss to Vanderbilt, but is still in the middle of a stretch where they’ve been playing well and have looked as good as they have all year. They can shine up their profile even more if they can get this one on the road. Arkansas is probably solidly in the field as well, but this is a chance for them to make their resume look a little better.
-TCU AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). TCU has dealt with injuries throughout the year, but when they’ve been healthy they’ve played as good as anyone. This is a chance for them to add another road win to their resume. Oklahoma has shown they can play with the very best in the nation at times, but they’ve also shown they’re an NIT caliber team most of the time.
-PITTSBURGH AT MIAMI FL (ACC). Both teams are solidly in the field, but both of them also can improve their seed with a strong finish to the season. Miami FL recently lost to Florida State, which is a bit of a setback, but they’re still really good and I think they can actually win out through the ACC Tournament and end up with a protected seed. Pitt also has some head-scratching losses, but also has some really good wins and to get this one on the road would improve their seed in They Big Dance.
-OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). This is a very bubblicious game between two teams that can still make the NCAA Tournament, but who are right on the cut line and and need some big wins between now and the end. A win today doesn’t lock either team in, but it certainly helps. A loss doesn’t totally end their hopes, but it will make it exceedingly difficult.
-DUKE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). 8 miles apart!!! And have never met in the NCAA Tournament in a round prior to the Final Four!! Duke is in the field, but has a lot of room to move up the seedlist and getting this one on the road would certainly help. North Carolina is squarely on the bubble, but has been really strong at home and a win today would certainly help their case. Either way I think they need some notable wins in the ACC Tournament next week, though.
-UCONN AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Nova is finally healthy, and they are on an absolute rampage right now. It took them too long to start playing like a top 25 caliber team for them to make The Tournament without the auto-bid, but they are in fact playing like a top 25 caliber team right now. It wouldn’t shock me to see them win today and do quite a bit of damage in the Big East Tournament next week. UConn is also playing really well and can probably lock up a protected seed if they’re able to win this one today.
-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT VANDERBILT (SEC). Mississippi State is a team that we have inside the bubble, and while they’ve played well over the past month or so they still don’t have it entirely locked yet. A road win against a Vanderbilt team that’s also been playing really well lately and who perhaps has an outside shot at reaching the bubble if they can win this and win a few big games in the SEC Tournament, but will now have to do it without Liam Robbins, who was probably their best player and will miss the rest of the season due to injury.
-BOISE STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). A bubblelicious game between a Boise State team that is squarely on the cut line and who could come very close to locking up a spot if they can get a road game tonight, and a Utah State team that needs to win this and win multiple games in the MWC Tourney next week just to get solidly in the discussion.
-ARIZONA AT UCLA (Pac 12). A massive showcase game for the Pac 12, and perhaps a preview of next week’s Pac 12 Championship game. UCLA is within reach of the #1 line, and if they win out, which I think they are good enough to do, they could end up with a 1 seed.
-ARIZONA STATE AT USC (Pac 12). This is a hugely important game for both teams. We have USC just inside the bubble and Arizona State right on the bubble. Today’s game is extremely pivotal for both teams and could make the difference as to whether or not they end up making it.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-Seton Hall @ Providence (Big East) – Providence is solidly in the field and is very tough to beat at home, so they should be able to hold serve in this one
-Ohio State @ Michigan State (Big Ten) – Sparty has played well for a lot of the year, but has also lost some really close games that they were right in that could have made their resume look even better. They should be able to get this one at home
-Saint John’s @ Marquette – Marquette has locked up 1st place in the Big East and has a chance to end up as high as a #2 seed if they can win out through the Big East Tournament
-Louisville @ Virginia (ACC) – UVA has been in a bit of a tailspin, but they did look good in their last game and should have no trouble winning this one at home today
-UNLV @ Nevada (Mountain West) – it’s a rivalry game, but it means a lot on paper as well as Nevada is squarely on the bubble and losing at home to a team that’s nowhere near the bubble will hurt them
-Butler @ Xavier (Big East) – Xavier is coming off one of their biggest wins of the year after knocking off Providence on the road. Strangely enough, Butler won the first meeting between these two, so X will look to get revenge for that today
-Notre Dame @ Clemson (ACC) – Clemson has been all over the map this year as far as the quality of their wins and the awfulness of their losses. They need to hold serve at home tonight in order to remain on the bubble.
-Creighton @ DePaul (Big East) – Creighton is a team that will go into the NCAA Tournament on the first ballot and should be able to hold serve today.
-Wyoming @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – San Diego State will be wearing white in the Round of 64, and is basically playing to sustain their seed for the rest of the year