NEWS AND NOTES:
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-Last night was pretty quiet with North Carolina blowing it open in the second half against Wake Forest, and Kansas holding off Cincinnati at home. The biggest game of the night was how McNeese escaped at TAMUCC. They missed several freethrows late in the game, including one that could have tied the game with just seconds to go, but they got the offensive rebound and put it back in just before the buzzer to secure the 62-61 win and keep their winning streak alive.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-KENTUCKY AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). Kentucky is a solid protected seed that may actually be good enough to make a run at the 1-line. They’ll be challenged today by a South Carolina team that’s having a good year, and that appears to be inside the bubble, and who will be jacked way up for this one.
-TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). It’s the hoops version of the Red River Rivalry!! Oklahoma picked up a big time road win this past weekend at Cincinnati, which I think did a ton for their resume. Texas also has a win at Cincinnati, but their resume is still a little flimsy overall. A road win in a game like this could turn that around in a hurry.
-WISCONSIN AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). I think Wisconsin is a solid protected seed who is playing as well as anyone in the Big Ten minus a recent loss to Penn State. Like most road games this will be a challenge, but it is one that they can certainly win. Minnesota is outside the bubble and a win like this could go a long way toward helping them out.
-FLORIDA STATE AT SYRACUSE (ACC). I think both teams are currently 0n the outside looking in, but both can still reach the bubble if they can start stringing together wins. Florida State had been playing a lot better, but is coming off a loss to Clemson and needs to bounce back.
-OHIO STATE AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). This game feels kind of bubblicious to me. Nebraska is inside of the bubble, but still has work to do if they want to remain there, and Ohio State is on the outside and needs some big wins. This has a bit of a pivotal feel to it for both teams.
-XAVIER AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Creighton is coming off a big time triple OT win at Seton Hall, which is one of their bigger wins of the year. They’re back home and should be able to hold serve in this one, but Xavier has been playing a little better and is trying to claw their way onto the bubble. A win like this could go a very long way. Having said that, a win like this is not easy to get.
HOUSTON AT BYU. Houston has been hovering between the 1-line and 2-line for the whole season. This is a big road test and on paper it would probably be their biggest win to date if they’re able to pull it off. BYU is ranked in the top 25 and has a shot at ending up as a protected seed themselves, but they’ll need a few more wins like this on their profile to make it happen.
-TCU AT OKLHAOMA STATE (Big 12). This is a winnable road game for the Horned Frogs that they kind of need. Another road win would boost up their resume some, and while it’s not an easy game to win, it is perhaps one of the more winnable road games they have remaining.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
–Dayton @ La Salle (Atlantic 10) – Dayton has won 12 straight and continues to climb the rankings. This should be a routine road win for the Flyers
–Butler @ Georgetown (Big East) – Butler is outside the bubble and needs to string together some wins. This is a winnable road game that they can’t afford to lose
–Duke @ Louisville (ACC) – Duke is coming off a shocking loss at home to Pitt, but should be able to bounce back from that and pick up a conference road win tonight
–West Virginia at UCF (Big 12) – Both teams have managed some pretty big wins recently, and UCF has started to make a case for themselves. They need to keep it up and hold serve tonight
-Ohio U @ Akron (MAC) – a win for Akron gets them to 15-4, and if they can blow through the MAC they may get a long hard look from the committee
–Michgian @ Purdue (Big Ten) – the Boilers are on just about everyone’s 1-line and are within reach of the top overall seed. They should hold serve at home in this one
–Boston College @ Virginia Tech (ACC) – VA Tech is on the outside looking in and needs to hold serve in games like this one
–Missouri @ Texas A&M (SEC) – the Aggies need to hold serve at home in this one
–Boise State @ Fresno State (Mountain West) – I believe Boise State has played their way inside the bubble and they need to hold serve tonight and get this one on the road