NEWS AND NOTES:
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-We knew Gonzaga would be tested last night, but we also felt that if they really are a top 15 caliber team they should be able to beat Oregon State on the road. Instead they fell in overtime 97-89. Oregon State is a good team and is not easy to beat at home, but it’s still a setback for the Zags and an indication that they aren’t quite in the same class as Auburn, and Tennessee, and Iowa State, and the top half of the SEC, and those types of teams.
-Michigan, who had been red hot, also suffered an overtime loss as they fell to Minnesota 84-81, which ends a five game winning streak for them.
-Memphis, who we had been praising all year and felt was good enough to run the table in the American, lost at Temple last night 88-81. Because the rest of Memphis’s schedule is so weak they may be out of strikes in terms of getting a protected seed. They’re still very safely inside the bubble, but another loss could knock them out of the top four lines.
-Northwestern, who really needed something to go right for them, managed to beat a pretty solid Maryland team at home last night, and for once they won a game on a last second shot! The Wildcats got it done against the Terps 76-74.
-Nebraska dropped one at home to Rutgers 85-82 in a loss that wasn’t too terrible, but was the kind of game they needed to hold serve in if they wanted to show that they should be safely inside the bubble.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
PROVIDENCE AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Nova has lost their last two games and is once again on the outside with a ways to go to get back inside the bubble. They need to hold serve and win this one at home.
-INDIANA AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Indiana has been blown out in two consecutive games and has all the signs of heading in the wrong direction and missing the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State has lost three out of their last four, but all three were close games against tough opponents. This is a winnable game for the Buckeyes, and one they sort of need to win.
-IOWA AT UCLA (Big Ten). UCLA’s losing streak is now at four and this feels like a game they really need to win. Iowa has not won a true road game all season, so it’s a big game for them as well. Both teams have reasons for needing this one.
-BOISE STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). New Mexico had been rolling, but then suffered a big setback with a loss to San Jose State that will leave a mark on their resume. They need to bounce back at home against Boise State tonight. This game has a really bubblicious feel to it.