NEWS AND NOTES:
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-San Diego State picked up their biggest win of the year as they knocked off Gonzaga on the road 84-74. Gonzaga now falls to a modest 9-4 on the year and their resume is starting to look a little flimsy. None of their losses are bad, but to date Syracuse is the only team they’ve beaten that currently has a winning D1 record. The WCC also appears to be collectively weaker than normal. In one sense, that means the Zags should be able to blow through it like they always do, but in another sense it means they don’t have too many chances at quad 1 level wins. They do have a game later this season against Kentucky, and right now that’s suddenly looking really important for them.
-Texas also has a flimsy looking resume, but they did play what was probably their best game of the season last night as they blew out a decent UNC Greensboro team 72-37. This was just the second win for the Longhorns against a team that currently has a winning record against D1 opponents.
-McNeese knocked off Michigan 87-76 and were pretty much in control for the entire game. I feel that McNeese is a better team than Michigan and think it would have been a little more surprising had they not won the game. McNeese barely faces any top 250 teams the rest of the way, so it’s very possible (even probable) that they will run the table in the Southland all the way through the conference tournament and enter the NCAA Tournament with over 30 wins on the year.
-Washington battled at Colorado, but came up just short 73-69. The Huskies have another tough test coming up against Utah tomorrow. This was a chance to get a huge road win against a conference opponent on their resume, and at this moment in time it would have probably put them inside the bubble if they had won the game, but I still think they’ve shown they can play at a high level and are good enough to get the wins that they need to between now and the end.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
PITTSBURGH AT SYRACUSE (ACC). The former Big East/current ACC rivalry resumes today! Both teams are having much better years than what was expected of them in the preseason, but both still have work to do and this would be a big win for whichever team ends up pulling it off.
-CREIGHTON AT MARQUETTE (Big East). These are two teams that are in the rankings and that we think have a solid chance of ending up as a protected seed, but both have shown they have some room for improvement as well. This should be a great match-up and is certainly a great resume-building opportunity.
-VIRGINIA TECH AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Both teams did modestly well OOC and both could reach the bubble with a strong showing in ACC play, but both still have a lot of work to do and a win today would be a good start.
-INDIANA STATE AT MICHIGAN STATE. This is a hugely important game. Indiana State is 11-1, but hasn’t quite gotten the attention of the nation yet. A win today would likely result in that happening. Michigan State was somewhat disappointing in the early part of the season, but they blew out Baylor and have won two straight since then, so perhaps they are coming out of it. This is a big test for them as well, and is a chance for us to learn something about both of them.
-ALABAMA AT LIBERTY. Alabama is just 7-5, but they’ve played a ridiculously tough schedule, are still a really good team, and I think they’ll be able to show that between now and the end of the year. Having said that, they’ve got another really tough test today against a Liberty team that’s also really good, especially at home, and who will look at this as a showcase game.
-WICHITA STATE VS KANSAS (Kansas City, MO). The game is in Kansas City, but it’s being listed as a home game for Kansas and not a neutral game, which I don’t think is correct, but we will sort that out later. Either way, it’s an interesting game because it’s been a long time since these two regularly played, and the last meeting occurred in the Round of 32 of the 2015 NCAA Tournament and was a game that Wichita State won. This edition of it appears to be more of a mismatch and a game that Kansas should hold serve in and remain within reach of a #1 seed. As for Wichita State, they aren’t awful, but they haven’t looked like a top 40ish/tournament caliber team so far this season either. A win today would change that, of course, but it’s easier said than done.
-UCLA AT OREGON (Pac 12). UCLA came from behind to beat Oregon State the other night, which was a nice win that they really needed, but they may need this one as well. Oregon is a very respectable 9-3 and is in the mix to land inside the bubble. It would definitely be a good win both on and off paper for a Bruins team that is trying to turn their season around.
-COLGATE AT CORNELL. We are highlighting this one simply because these are two really good UTR teams and this is a bit of a fascinating match-up on the court.
-AKRON VS SAINT BONAVENTURE (Legends of Basketball Showcase, Cleveland OH). I don’t think either team is currently inside the bubble right now, but both have a path to land inside of it. That being said, both have limited opportunities at notable wins between now and the end, and both could really use this win today.
UNC WILMINGTON AT ARKANSAS. UNCW has a signature win at Kentucky, and that may be enough to get them strongly considered if they’re able to blow through league play, but a win today would certainly get them even more consideration and make their resume look even better. Arkansas is a talented team that’s done okay this year, but really no better than ‘just okay.’ Eventually they need to start consistently playing at a higher level and stringing more wins together, and a win today would certainly help.
-YALE AT SANTA CLARA. These are two teams that are on the outside looking in, but I still can’t help but think both are good enough to at least have a chance to play their way “inside” and would be dangerous opponents if they do somehow get to the Round of 64.
USC AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12). Both teams have a ton of work to do. USC has been somewhat disappointing whereas Oregon State has been a little better than expected. Either way, both could use this one today.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES/BUY GAMES:
-Virginia @ Notre Dame (ACC) – should be a relatively easy road win for the Hoos, who have been struggling lately, but should still be able to win at ND
-Stonehill @ Rutgers
-Hofstra @ Saint John’s – The Johnnies can’t just overlook Hofstra, but as well as they’ve been playing lately they should get this one at home
-UL Monroe @ Appalachian State (Sun Belt) – Appy State is coming off a somewhat surprising loss to UNC Asheville, which knocks them down to 9-3, but they can still reach the bubble if they’re able to dominate the SBC. This is their conference opener
-Quinnipiac @ Florida
-Queens @ Duke
-Texas State @ James Madison (Sun Belt) – conference opener for JMU
-Florida A&M @ South Carolina
-NC A&T @ George Mason
-Longwood @ Dayton – Longwood has a bloated record and is not a team that Dayton wants to just overlook, but it should still be a somewhat routine win for the Flyers
-Central Arkansas @ Missouri
-UMES @ George Washington
-Wyoming @ BYU – BYU is having an amazing year and should be able to get this one at home and improve to 12-1 on the season
-Penn @ Houston – Houston should hold serve and stay unbeaten
-Florida Atlantic @ FGCU – This is a road game, but it’s basically a home buy game on the road. It’s a great opportunity for a showcase opponent at home for FGCU, but FAU should roll
-Austin Peay @ Memphis
-Prairie View @ Texas A&M
-Ohio State vs West Virginia (Legends of Basketball Showcase, Cleveland OH) – this should be a rather easy win for Ohio State
-Louisiana Tech @ Grand Canyon – LA Tech has had a strong year, but has struggled lately. GCU is having an amazing year and will play their way inside the bubble if they keep it up
-Chattanooga @ Auburn
-Fresno Pacific (nonD1) @ Nevada