For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
-VANDERBILT AT ALABAMA (SEC). Vanderbilt is a solid tournament caliber team that’s coming off a big upset win against Tennessee, but Alabama is a team that looks like they’re on pace to end up with a #1 seed and who seems next to impossible to beat at home.
-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Both teams are ranked in the top 15 and Tennessee is still within reach of a #1 seed. Mississippi State just had a big win against their rivals Ole Miss, but beating Tennessee on the road (who is looking to bounce back from a loss themselves) is a very tall order.
-BUTLER AT UCONN (Big East). UConn has slipped down the seedlist a little bit and needs to hold serve and get the win in this one.
-TEXAS TECH AT CINCINNATI (Big 12). Cincinnati has looked a little better recently with two straight wins, but still has a lot of work to do. Texas Tech is inside the bubble and has won four of their last five. Another road win will their profile look even stronger.
-VCU AT RHODE ISLAND (Atlantic 10). The A10 is really weak this year, and if VCU wants any shot at landing inside the bubble they pretty much need to blow through it.
-OHIO STATE AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Ohio State’s overall profile has a lot of weaknesses, and while a win tonight would go a long way toward turning things around, it’s far easier said than done. Purdue should be able to hold serve in this one and keep themselves within the group of likely protected seeds.
-BRADLEY AT BELMONT (Missouri Valley). We say this about them every game, but Bradley should be able to reach the bubble if they can continue to blow through the MVC.
-MISSOURI AT TEXAS (SEC). Missouri is playing really well lately and can continue to make their resume look better if they can pick up yet another road win tonight. Texas seems very bubblicious, and needs to approach this game with a sense of urgency.
-ARIZONA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). Overall Arizona has looked better than they did in the first part of the season, but their resume still isn’t stable to the point of them being able to mail it in. It’s a road game, but it’s a road game against an Oklahoma State team that’s nowhere near the NCAA Tournament, and therefore one that Arizona should be able to win.
-NORTH CAROLINA AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Wake has been on a rampage recently, but while they’ve won a lot of games in that stretch none have been against super high caliber opponents. North Carolina has been slipping and is sort of going in the opposite direction. They could really use a road win like this to stabilize themselves.
-CREIGHTON AT DEPAUL (Big East). The top of Creighton’s resume is really solid, but they still need to hold serve in games like this in order to remain safely inside the bubble.
-WISCONSIN AT UCLA (Big Ten). UCLA finally snapped a four game losing streak with a blowout win against Iowa, but tonight is a much bigger test. Wisconsin is in the rankings with an impressive 15-3 overall record, and just won rather easily against USC. This would be the third true road win of the season for the Badgers if they can pull it off.
-WASHINGTON AT OREGON (Big Ten). It’s a rivalry game, but it’s one that Oregon shouldn’t have too much trouble winning at home and staying within the group of likely protected seeds.