NEWS AND NOTES:
-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE
-Bill Self decided to leave early (he got ejected) last night during Kansas’s game at Texas Tech, and I can’t say I blame him. It wasn’t a good game, and his team was getting blown into the sun. The final score was 79-50. It was yet another very unimpressive road performance by Kansas, who may be really good, but who doesn’t look like a #1 seed, and in my opinion shouldn’t be on either the 1 or the 2 line with just two true road wins and a lot of bad road showings. Having said that, Texas Tech played an outstanding game, so props to them!
-And…that’s really it! It was a quiet night.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-MARQUETTE AT BUTLER (Big East). This is a massive game for the Bulldogs, who have been playing really well lately. They’ve won four out of their last five with a win at Creighton in that stretch and the only loss being on the road to UConn. They’re inside our bubble, but I think that we will all start to value them a lot more if they can add this win to an already pretty impressive profile. As for Marquette, they are looking like a solid protected seed and may even be in play for a #1 seed if they can finish the season strong.
-NORTH CAROLINA AT SYRACUSE (ACC). UNC really had to sweat out Miami FL in their last game, which was a bit of a surprise even though it was a road game, but they were still able to get the win and are still in play for a #1 seed . They’ve got another winnable conference road game tonight.
-MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Illinois continues to play well and continues to climb the seedlist. They should be able to hold serve at home in this one without too much trouble.
-IOWA STATE AT CINCINNATI (Big 12). Iowa State is looking more and more like a solid protected seed as they continue to rack up impressive wins. They are 3-3 on the road, and it won’t be easy to get this one because Cincinnati is right on the bubble and has shown they can play well against strong opponents. Whereas Iowa State is trying to land a protected seed, Cincinnati is just trying to make the field, so this is a very big game for them.
-DUQUESNE AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). Dayton is coming off a rare loss to VCU and is looking to bounce back. It may be too late for them to earn a protected seed, but they’ll still be well positioned in the field if they win out, which they are good enough to do.
-PITTSBURGH AT VIRGINIA (ACC). Virginia is red hot right now, and while Pitt has shown that they do have a pulse, it’s still a game that Virginia should be able to win at home. Believe it or not the Hoos are just one game back of 1st place in the ACC standings right now.
-ILLINOIS STATE AT INDIANA STATE (Missouri Valley). Indiana State barely escaped over the weekend, but we still have them inside our bubble and we believe they will stay there so long as they keep holding serve.
-SAINT JOHN’S AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). This game is slightly bubblicious. It’s a game that both teams really need. The Johnnies have been on a bit of a tailspin, and Providence seems like they’ve been straddling the bubble for the entire season. This has a pivotal feel to it for both teams.
-TEXAS A&M AT VANDERBILT (SEC). TAMU is inside our bubble, but isn’t safe enough to where they can afford too many losses to teams that are nowhere near the bubble. Despite this being a road game, it’s one they really can’t afford to lose.
-DRAKE AT EVANSVILLE (Missouri Valley). It’s a long shot for Drake, but they should at least get a serious look from the committee if they’re able to win out.
-LSU AT FLORIDA (SEC). Florida is inside the bubble and should stay there so long as they hold serve. This is a home game against a non-tournament team, so it’s one they need to win.
-GEORGETOWN AT CREIGHTON (Big East). This isn’t a buy game for the Bluejays, but it might as well be. They need to hold serve in this one.
-OHIO STATE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). The Badgers are in a huge tailspin right now with four striaght losses. They are falling down the seedlist and need to pull themselves out of it. This is a winnable home game, and while it won’t do much for their profile if they win it, it will at least stop it from continuing to digress.
-OKLAHOMA AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Baylor is solidly in the field and is still in play for a protected seed. Oklahoma is coming off a feel-good win against rival Oklahoma State, but while they got the win it was a struggle at home against a non-tournament caliber team. They’ve got a really tough test tonight. A win could REALLY boost the Sooners’ resume, but it won’t be easy.
-OLE MISS AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Kentucky is has lost three straight at home and the grumblings are starting to get louder and louder. They need this win for their mental health as much as anything else. Ole Miss is right on the bubble, and this is a huge opportunity for them to help them land on the right side of it.
-UCF AT BYU (Big 12). BYU is in the rankings, and relatively safely in the field right now barring a complete plane crash between now and the end. They should be able to hold serve in this one against a UCF team that’s on the outside looking in, but that has shown us at times they can play at a high level, and who we’ll need to look at more closely if they can pull of a few wins like this.
-COLORADO STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). Every game in the Mountain West seems to be a showcase this year (regardless of what our colleague Joby Fortson thinks!), and this is yet another big game between two teams that are looking to build up their resumes and climb the seedlist. The standings are logjammed and every game has a pivotal feel to it. Colorado State has won four straight, and San Diego State is trying to bounce back after an overtime loss to Nevada.
-NEW MEXICO AT NEVADA (Mountain West). These two teams are going in opposite directions. Nevada has won three in a row, and the last two of those were HUGE. New Mexico has gone from looking like the best team in the league to one that will now struggle just to get inside the field, and they will likely struggle on the road tonight.