NEWS AND NOTES:
-For last night’s UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-Auburn v Alabama was delayed because the lights went out, but it was worth the wait. Alabama held a lead all throughout. Auburn fought back on the road and had a chance to win in the final minutes, Bama held on 79-75. Still, I’m impressed with Auburn’s team, and while this would have been a great win on the road, the loss isn’t really that much of a setback for the Tigers.
-Northwestern v Illinois was a thriller with Northwestern getting the big win in overtime. Illinois won in a blowout the first time around, and this would have been a big road win for the Illini’s resume, but they’re still in great shape overall. As for Northwestern’s resume, this win gives it another nice boost.
-Nevada snapped their losing streak with a 77-64 win over Colorado State at home. Colorado State has now lost three of their last five, and they only have two true road wins to date and need to get some more before the season is over, but overall their resume is still very healthy.
-Providence, despite the injuries and despite all the setbacks, still keeps going!! They picked up a MASSIVE road win at Seton Hall last night 67-63. This Seton Hall team had been as hot as anyone in the Big East, and they were coming off a close loss to Creighton and were looking to bounce back, but Providence still got the win. Can the Friars, after all they’ve been through, still make the NCAA Tournament?
-Samford, who came into last night’s game at Furman with 17 straight wins, did not get to 18. They lost 78-68. While the streak came to an end, Samford is still having an incredible year and can still be very dangerous come March. And, we still love #BuckyBall!!!
-It was a crazy night in the Missouri Valley with Drake falling on the road at Missouri State, who is a team that always seems to give the Bulldogs trouble, and Indiana State barely escaping at UIC.
-Mississippi State, who was a team we liked but also felt they needed some more road wins to help boost their resume, did not win on the road last night. They fell to Florida 76-70 in a game they really could have used.
-Utah, who was a team we liked but who also needed some more road wins, did not win on the road last night. They were actually blown out by a so-so Washington State team 79-57, and now it may be time for us to start asking ourselves about Utah.
-Colorado needed a road win last night…and they actually got it!! They knocked off Washington 98-81 for their first true road win of the season.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-GRAND CANYON AT STEPHEN F AUSTIN (WAC). GCU is coming off a road loss to Seattle U. I still think they can land inside the bubble, but they’ve got what may be perhaps an even tougher road test tonight at SFA. If they can win out until the conference tournament I think they’re safe, but that’s much easier said than done.
-ARIZONA STATE AT OREGON (Pac 12). Oregon is right on our bubble and needs to hold serve in this one tonight.
-SAN FRANCISCO AT GONZAGA (West Coast). I think Gonzaga can land inside the bubble if they blow through the rest of the WCC schedule, and despite struggling from the outside I still think they’re good enough to do it. Having said that, they may be tested at home tonight, and if the Dons can get this one then the committee may start paying some attention to them.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
–Georgia Southern @ Appalachian State (Sun Belt) – App State just doesn’t want to get caught looking ahead. They still have a shot to make a run at the bubble if they can run the table from here on out, which they may be good enough to do
-Vermont @ UMass Lowell (America East) – these are the top two teams in the America East, and this game could determine home court advantage throughout the conference tournament
-Drexel @ Towson (Coastal Athletic) – Drexel is starting to make quite a bit of noise in the CAA
-Arizona @ Oregon State (Pac 12) – Arizona is a protected seed caliber team and this should be a routine road win
–Pacific @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – SMC is hovering around the bubble and needs to hold serve in this one