NEWS AND NOTES:
-Wofford, who was expected to be the doormat of the SoCon this year largely due to what they went through off the court prior to the start of the season, could very well be the best team in the SoCon. They blew away Chattanooga 81-55 last night to improve to 7-2 in SoCon play and have now won eight of their last ten and pulled even with East Tennessee State at the top of the standings.
-That would be because ETSU had a surprising home loss to Western Carolina. Even more shocking is that gives the Catamounts a season sweep of the Bucs.
-I can’t decide which team’s collapse is more surprising and…well…more complete (I guess). It’s either Northern Colorado or Hofstra. Hofstra lost their fifth straight game last night as they fell at home to Charleston 66-64. A couple of weeks ago I would have told you I thought they were good enough to run away from the CAA and make a run at the bubble. I would have said the same about Northern Colorado prior to conference play starting.
-Troy, who is a bit schizophrenic, appeared to have pulled it together and to be establishing themselves as the best team in the Sun Belt. So of course they lost at home last night to James Madison 73-64.
-We thought Liberty would be tested on the road last night at Middle Tennessee, but they really weren’t. Liberty won rather easily 81-65, is clearly the best team in CUSA, and may be the best overall Under the Radar team.
-Saint Thomas suffered a surprising home loss to North Dakota last night 81-80 and we now suddenly have a logjam at the top of the Summit League standings. This game snapped what was the nation’s longest home court winning streak, so a really nice win for North Dakota.
-Last but not least, UC Irvine needed overtime to get by Hawaii, but they pulled away in the extra frame for a big 87-76 win. This puts the Eaters atop the Big West standings as the two teams split the regular season series. This would have been a massive, perhaps seedline-jumping level win for Hawaii had they been able to pull it off. Still, if Hawaii does end up winning the automatic bid they will be a very dangerous team in the Round of 64.
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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-KENT STATE AT AKRON (MAC). This is one of the great rivalries in all of college basketball and not just one of the better UTR rivlaries. Kent State is having a good year and Akron may be the best team in the conference despite the fact that Miami OH is the team that’s in the rankings and getting all the attention. I love this rivalry and can’t wait for it tonight.
-MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). It’s a rivalry game between two protected seeds and it will always be a battle when these two get together. As good as Michigan is, they don’t have a win as good as this one would be on their resume yet. This would be a true road win against a top ten team. Not to mention what this game means off paper.
-DAYTON AT SAINT LOUIS (Atlantic 10). Dayton was my preseason pick (again) to win the A10. I picked them to win (again) because I am an IDIOT!! Of course they’ve fallen apart and of course they are in a tailspin. Saint Louis, on the other hand, is in the rankings and on a path to landing in the top half of the bracket. They could be challenged today at home, though, because on the occasions when Dayton does pull it together they are a tough team to beat. Especially tough when the Arch Baron Cup is at stake!
-Providence @ Villanova (Big East) – Nova has been playing well, is easily in the top half of the bracket right now, and should be able to hold serve tonight. They can’t completely overlook the Friars; they’ve been competitive in both games against UConn and did manage to beat St. John’s at MSG.
-Dartmouth @ Yale (Ivy League) – Yale is the best team in the conference, they are good enough to win out, and if they do they are going to be right on the bubble
–Mount Saint Mary’s @ Saint Peters (MAAC) – SPC is trying to remain atop the MAAC standings
-Boise State @ Grand Canyon (Mountain West) – I don’t know if Grand Canyon can get themselves all the way inside the bubble because it took them a little too long to get rolling, but they are definitely rolling now! They should be able to hold serve in this one and pick up yet another win.
