NEWS AND NOTES:
– As mentioned on last night’s podcast, Mike Hopkins will be moving on from Washington at the end of the season, although he will remain as coach during the Pac-12 Tournament this season.
– Dayton needed overtime, but the Flyers outlasted VCU 91-86 in overtime at Dayton. This will likely net the #3 seed for Dayton in the A-10 Tournament and also locks up the #4 seed for UMass. VCU will be the #5 seed and will get a bye into the second round of the tournament.
– The biggest winner on the court last night was Boise State – the Broncos have now netted a season sweep of the Aztecs and could potentially be a first ballot team when the Selection Committee begins their meetings next week.
SURVIVAL BOARD WATCH:
BIG WEST:
– Cal State-Fullerton: out with a loss (vs UC-Irvine) or a Bakersfield win (at Hawai’i)
– Cal State-Bakersfield: out with a loss (at Hawai’i) and a Fullerton win (vs UC Irvine)
WAC:
– California Baptist: possibly out with a loss (vs Grand Canyon) and a Utah Tech win (at SFA); however, the WAC uses a resume based seeding system so final word will be needed from the league.
SWC:
– Alabama State: out with a loss (vs Grambling) or wins by both Alabama A&M (vs Southern) and UAPB (at Alcorn State). If Alabama State wins and one or both or AAMU and UAPB lose, one of the three will be eliminated via a scoring margin tiebreaker between the tied teams.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
– ARKANSAS AT ALABAMA (ESPN). The Crimson Tide had a slip-up at Florida earlier in the week, but are expected to rebound at home against Arkansas on Senior Day. Losing this one might potentially endanger a protected seed for the Tide.
– MEMPHIS AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (CBS). This is a pivotal game in the American conference standings and there is a heightened sense of urgency for both teams. FAU is coming off of a road win at North Texas, but Memphis appears to be back on the rails after a catastrophic month of January.
– GEORGETOWN AT ST. JOHN’S (FOX). This is the last of what will be a conference buy game for the Johnnies, so they best not lose this one against a Georgetown team that has only managed a pair of wins against DePaul in conference play.
– IOWA STATE AT KANSAS STATE (ESPN2). Iowa State has already sewn up a perfect record at home and are looking to potentially vault up to the 2-line with a win today and a solid performance in the Big 12 Tournament. K-State has lost 5 out of their last 7 and are likely a solid NIT team.
– OKLAHOMA AT TEXAS (ESPN). This will be the Big 12 swan song for both teams, but the Red River Rivalry will continue in the SEC next season. The winner will reach the .500 mark in conference play; the loser will be 8-10 instead.
– WEST VIRGINIA AT CINCINNATI (ESPN+). Cincinnati is likely in a position where they need to get to at least the Big 12 championship game to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but they cannot overlook a West Virginia team where they already had a 2nd half collapse and a loss earlier this season.
– TEXAS A&M AT OLE MISS (CBS). Both teams are likely NIT bound at this point, but seeding in the SEC Tournament is still at stake for both teams today.
– CREIGHTON AT VILLANOVA (FOX). There is a lot more urgency for Villanova on Senior Day, but the Wildcats were one of two teams (Butler being the other) that have managed wins at Creighton earlier in the season. This could also be a preview of the late-night Big East quarterfinal round.
– SOUTH CAROLINA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC Network). Mississippi State’s postseason hopes are also in peril following a 3-game losing streak; they now have to go up against a South Carolina team that is coming off of a home loss against Tennessee.
– RICHMOND AT GEORGE MASON. The Spiders have already clinched the #1 seed in the A-10 Tournament, but can now clinch the outright regular season crown with a win at George Mason. The Spiders might make the NCAA Tournament without winning the auto bid, but they best not mess around against a GMU team that has already beaten Dayton at home.
– SOUTH FLORIDA AT TULSA (ESPN+). While the Bulls are locked and loaded into the top seed in the American conference tournament, USF realistically needs to win every game prior to the American championship game to garner at-large consideration.
– KANSAS AT HOUSTON (ESPN). A win for the Cougars today would clinch the outright Big 12 title in their inaugural season; a Houston loss and an Iowa State win would result in co-champions for the league.
– KENTUCKY AT TENNESSEE (CBS). While Tennessee has already clinched the SEC regular season title outright, the Vols are playing for a #1 seed today. Kentucky is playing for a possible protected seed themselves today.
– COLORADO STATE AT AIR FORCE. Huge Front Range stakes for today’s game; a Colorado State loss would open the door for Wyoming to win the Front Range. Oh, and there’s the little thing of the Rams potentially endangering their NCAA hopes with a loss today as well.
– FLORIDA AT VANDERBILT (SEC Network). While Vandy has shifted to baseball mode among their fanbase, the Gators are further trying to solidify a seed in the top half of the NCAA bracket.
– MARQUETTE AT XAVIER (FOX). Marquette will play at least one more game without Tyler Kolek in the lineup – should the Golden Eagles stumble today and his health remain up in the air, this would be a bad sign for Marquette’s seeding. For Xavier, this is one final opportunity to at least beat a protected seed caliber team and a tuneup for the Big East Tournament that they must win at this point to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in 6 years.
– COLORADO AT OREGON STATE (Pac-12 Network). Colorado already won the first leg of the Oregon roadtrip against the Ducks; they cannot completely overlook the Beavers since OSU already beat Utah at home earlier this week.
– UCF AT TCU (ESPN+). The Horned Frogs also need to win on Senior Day to feel safe about their NCAA chances, but could also vault into the top half of the bracket today should they win today along with at least one Big 12 Tournament win.
– BAYLOR AT TEXAS TECH (ESPN2). Baylor is another contender for a 2-line seed and could put themselves in a great position with a road win at Tech today. We can only hope Tech fans will be better behaved then they were when Texas came to town a few days earlier.
– CLEMSON AT WAKE FOREST (ACC Network). Wake may as well start preparing to host NIT games after a last-second home loss against Georgia Tech. The Tigers are realistically looking like a 5-seed or a 6-seed after some recent slides in the ACC.
– NORTH CAROLINA AT DUKE (ESPN). Nothing to see here. Carry on.
– GEORGIA AT AUBURN (SEC Network). Auburn is also trying to earn a protected seed in the NCAA Tournament and need to avoid a stumble against their old rival Georgia.
– UTAH AT OREGON (Pac-12 Network). Realistically, both teams are looking like they’ll be sent packing to the NIT and could potentially meet up there in a rematch (if not in the Pac-12 Tournament depending on seeding).
– NC STATE AT PITTSBURGH (CW). Our last regular season matchup on the CW Network will be a very pivotal game for Pittsburgh; they need a win tonight and likely multiple ACC Tournament wins if they’re going to make the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.
– UCONN AT PROVIDENCE (FOX). There’s a lot at stake for Providence in this regional Big East rivalry, but don’t expect UConn to be any less motivated themselves as they potentially fight for the #1 overall seed in the NCAAs.
– GEORGIA TECH AT VIRGINIA (ACC Network). The Yellow Jackets have a knack for pulling upset after upset in the ACC and are a team nobody wants to play in that conference tournament. Virginia has had a horrible 3 weeks and best not be taking this game for granted.
– NEW MEXICO AT UTAH STATE (CBS Sports Network). Utah State has already clinched the #1 seed in the Mountain West Tournament, but they can clinch the outright regular season crown with a win tonight.
– DEPAUL AT SETON HALL (FS1). Seton Hall gets a conference buy game before warming up for the Big East Tournament.
– OKLAHOMA STATE AT BYU (ESPN+). A rare buy game-quality game in the Big 12 here, so BYU should enter the Big 12 Tournament on a winning note.
– MINNESOTA AT NORTHWESTERN (BTN). A final tuneup for both teams going into the B1G Tournament in Minneapolis. Northwestern is in like Flynn, but Minnesota needs to win the B1G Tournament regardless. Still, they have a wing and a prayer.
– ARIZONA AT USC (ESPN). We’re running out of ESPN/Pac-12 After Dark with Bill Walton on the call. Arizona has already clinched the Pac-12 regular season crown outright and remain in contention for a #1 seed in the NCAAs.
– UNLV AT NEVADA (CBS Sports Network). The Silver State rivals end the Mountain West regular season with a bang – will the red-hot Rebels continue their winning ways and potentially steal an auto bid out of the Mountain West?