NEWS AND NOTES:
-Nebraska snapeed a rather long losing streak and got a surprise home win over Illinois in overtime 80-74. Illinois is very inconsistent. When they’re good, they look like they can beat just about anyone, but they’re not always good and they weren’t good last night.
-UCLA IS looking good. They absolutely clobbered Oregon last night 78-50. Whatever it was that was wrong with them is no longer wrong with them.
-A few UTR surprises. Eastern Kentucky went on the road and won at Lipscomb, and South Dakota State went on the road and beat rival North Dakota State. UC Irvine needed overtime to get past their rivals on the road at Long Beach State, but held on 80-75. A loss in this game would have all but crushed any chances of them making the NCAA Tournament without having to win the conference tournament.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-YALE AT PRINCETON (Ivy League). This game isn’t likely to impact the bracket or the bubble, but these are the two best teams in the Ivy league and both are potentially dangerous in the Round of 64 if one of them wins the auto-bid.
-DAYTON AT SAINT LOUIS (Atlantic Ten, Arch Baron Cup). This game isn’t likely to impact the bracket either, but the Arch Baron Cup is BIGGER than the NCAA Tournament!! This is the most heated rivalry in all of sports in all of human history!! Tune in!!!
-AKRON AT KENT STATE (MAC). Kent State probably won’t get inside the bubble even if they win out, but they are playing really well now, are unbeaten in conference play, and have their big rivals at home tonight.
-INDIANA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). This is a rivalry game, but it’s also a huge mismatch. Purdue appears to be cruising toward a protected seed and Indiana appears to be cruising toward the NIT.