NEWS AND NOTES:
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-Houston and Texas, after both being national programs for close to a decade, FINALLY played each other in basketball!! And it was everything we KNEW it would be!! The crowd was great! The game was exciting and even went into overtime! And Houston got a massive 76-72 road win that means a lot both on and off paper, and the Cougars are continuing to look like a #1 seed. They play again later this season! Then, after this season Texas is bolting for the SEC. Please, please, PLEASE keep this series going!!!!! It makes college basketball better!!
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-SOUTH CAROLINA AT TENNESSEE. South Carolina is coming off a big win against Kentucky that was both celebratory off paper and big on paper, but they’ve got a much bigger test tonight against a Tennessee team that could still reach the #1 line. The Vols should hold serve at home in this one.
-NORTH CAROLINA AT GEORGIA TECH (ACC). GA Tech has managed a couple big wins at home this year, so the Tarheels don’t want to just overlook them, but it’s still a game UNC should win.
-MARQUETTE AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Marquette is looking like they could end up as high as the #2 line come March, whereas Nova’s resume is really flimsy and they need some more wins just to help insure that they get in at all. Tonight is kind of pivotal for Nova.
-ILLINOIS AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Ohio State has looked solid at times, but right now it feels like they’re on the outside looking in, whereas Illinois is looking like they could end up as a protected seed. This would be just the third true road win for the Illini, so it would make their resume look a little better.
-TEXAS TECH AT TCU (Big 12). Both teams are in the rankings and both have been playing very well lately. Texas Tech just got a massive road win at Oklahoma, and TCU has won two straight on the road, including a triple overtime thriller at Baylor. Both are trending up, and both have the opportunity to go up even higher if the can win this game tonight.
-GEORGE WASHINGTON AT DAYTON (Atlantic 10). Dayton has had a great season, but they’re coming off a loss to Richmond and need to hold serve and bounce back at home. They may not make it all the way to being a protected seed, but they are still very safely inside the bubble.
-SYRACUSE AT BOSTON COLLEGE (ACC). Syracuse has been quietly coming on strong lately, and while they still have a ways to go, they do appear to be heading in the right direct. Another conference road win tonight should help them keep getting closer.
-AKRON AT EASTERN MICHIGAN (MAC). Akron suffered a surprising loss at Miami OH over the weekend, and they basically need to win out in order to have any chance at landing inside the bubble.
-OKLAHOMA AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Oklahoma has been in a bit of a tailspin and could really use a road win to help stabilize their resume. K State is right on the bubble, so every game for the Wildcats has a pivotal feel to it. Both teams should have a bit of a sense of urgency coming into this one.
MISSISSIPPI STATE AT OLE MISS (SEC). Ole Miss is coming off a really big win at Texas A&M, and their fans should be jacked way up tonight for their in-state rivals. Mississippi State had a nice win over Auburn this weekend, but they still don’t have any road wins this season and could really use this to boost their resume as well as earn some bragging rights.
-OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12). The Jayhawks have struggled in some of their conference road games, but they’ve been rock solid at home and should hold serve in this one tonight.
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT COLORADO STATE (Mountain West). Both teams are having good seasons and both look to be safely inside the bubble for now, but both could also use a big momentum boost as well as a resume boost, and this game is a big opportunity for both teams. It should be a fun one!
-LOUISVILLE AT CLEMSON (ACC). This should be the equivalent of a home buy game for Clemson, but they did lose to an even worse Louisville last year, and it was likely that loss that kept them out of the NCAA Tournament, so they don’t want to overlook them.
-MIAMI FL AT NC STATE (ACC). Right now we have both teams outside the bubble and they both need to string together wins in order to end up on the right side of it.
-MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). This is a rivalry game and it’s always pretty intense, but this year’s edition matches a Michigan State team that’s trying to stay inside the bubble against a Michigan team that is nowhere near it.
-SETON HALL AT DEPAUL (Big East). Seton Hall had been as hot as anyone in the conference, but they’ve now lost three straight (although some of that is due to injuries). If they lose to DePaul and make it four straight, then they’re REALLY going to be in trouble!!
-LMU AT GONZAGA (West Coast). The Zags have been playing a little better and they just need to keep holding serve.