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NEWS AND NOTES:
-Illinois is currently playing as well as anyone in the country and yesterday they picked up one of the single most impressive wins that any team in the country has managed so far. They knocked off Nebraska 78-69 in Lincoln to avenge a home loss to the Huskers from earlier this year. We used to call this the ‘Road-Win-Exchange-Program.’
-Since adding Charles Bediako to the roster, Alabama has looked noticeably worse than they did before they got him, and they did not look good at all yesterday as Florida blew them out 100-77. Now to be fair, the Gators looked fantastic and have been looking fantastic for the past several weeks now, but Alabama looked as if they were on the level of a team that was playing a road buy game.
-Iowa won decisively at Oregon 84-66. While it isn’t a huge profile win, to be able to win it that decisively as a road team is a statement for the Hawkeyes. As much as I have admittedly criticized their profile, this is a legit good team.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-KANSAS AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just another Big 12 game between two probable protected seeds. Texas Tech is looking to rebound from their loss at UCF and Kansas is looking to pick up what would probably be their single best win of the season so far.
-Syracuse @ North Carolina (ACC) – UNC seems to be playing their best ball of the year right now and shouldn’t have too much trouble at home in this one
UNDER THE RADAR WATCH:
-It’s February, which means we will be eyeing all the conference races in the daily write ups.
-East Tennessee State picked up a huge 86-72 win at Wofford last night to put themselves a game in front of the Terriers in the SoCon standings. Wofford had been playing really well, so for ETSU to get this one on the road is a big statement.
-McNeese @ Stephen F Austin (Southland) – it’s unlikely that either team will land inside the bubble, but both are potentially very dangerous teams in the Round of 64 and there is probably only room for one of them to get there. It will come down to the conference tournament to see who gets the bid, but this could be a game that helps propel one of them to the #12 line. Rocco Miller will also be in the building for this game!
-Bethune Cookman @ Alabama A&M (SWAC) – this is a road test for Cookman, who is currently atop the SWAC standings
-Idaho State @ Portland State – Portland State sits atop the Big Sky and should be able to hold serve tonight and stay there
