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MAC:
-If Buffalo wins at Akron AND UMass wins at Ball State – Ball State is out
-If Buffalo wins at Akron AND UMass wins at Ball State AND Miami-Ohio wins at Eastern Michigan – Eastern Michigan is out
-If Buffalo wins at Akron AND UMass wins at Ball State AND Bowling Green wins at home over Western Michigan – Western Michigan is out
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NEWS AND NOTES:
-As impossible as this seems, Houston has now lost three straight games. All three losses were against very tough opponents, so it doesn’t set them back that much, but it probably does mean they will not reach the #1 line minus winning out. Kansas actually beat them rather handily last night 69-56.
-Louisville was down by 16 in the second half at North Carolina and made a late comeback, but could not come all the way back. The Tarheels held on to win 77-74. Louisville is safely in the field, and safely in the top half of the bracket, but they are still lacking a really big true road win on their profile.
-Stephen F Austin fell at home to New Orleans 77-73 in a bit of an upset. This kept them from clinching 1st place in the Southland.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-NC STATE AT VIRGINIA (ACC). NC State is inside the bubble but they could raise the value of their profile if they can get this one on the road. Considering that Virginia is within reach of a protected seed it would probably be their biggest win of the year.
-CINCINNATI AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Texas Tech is trying to show they can still play at a high level after the loss of one of their best players. Cincinnati is a good ways away from the bubble, but after four straight wins and a big win at Kansas over the weekend they are now playing like an NCAA Tournament caliber team even though they do not have an NCAA Tournament caliber profile. Having said that, if they somehow win this one we will probably have to sit up and take notice.
-TENNESSEE AT MISSOURI (SEC). Tennessee is coming off their best win of the year, which was a road win at Vanderbilt, and now they’re within reach of a protected seed. If they can pick this one up against a Missouri team that’s flirting with the bubble and needs a big win of their own it will raise their profile even more.
-MIAMI FL AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). Florida State is nowhere near the bubble, but they have won six of their last seven and are fresh off a big win against Clemson. This will not be an easy game for Miami FL to win. They’re inside the bubble, and will likely remain inside the bubble even with a loss, but a win would really help them out.
-UCF AT BYU (Big 12). UCF has not been good away from home and a win like this would really strengthen their profile. BYU has dealt with injuries, but can still play at a high level, especially on their home court. The Cougars have now won three of their last four after hitting a bit of a skid where they lost five out of six.
-NEW MEXICO AT NEVADA (Mountain West). This is a tough road game for New Mexico and one they absolutely must have if they want to make a case that they belong in the field.
-USC AT UCLA (Big Ten). It’s a rivalry game and it’s a high stakes game between two teams that are right on the bubble.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-Miami OH @ Eastern Michigan (MAC) – Miami OH is getting closer and closer to completing a perfect regular season! If they finish the season unbeaten I think they’ll be inside the bubble regardless of what happens in the conference tournament
-Duke @ Notre Dame (ACC) – Duke takes over the #1 ranking and should be able to hold serve on the road
-Saint Louis @ Dayton (Atlantic 10) – it’s the second leg of the Arch-Baron Cup, which is the biggest rivalry in the history of sports!! It’s also a game that SLU should be able to win on the road and hold on to a spot in the top half of the bracket. (Historical note from Stalica – 2009-10 was the last season in which SLU swept the 2-game regular season Arch Baron Cup. They did beat UD twice in 2018-19, but one of those games was in the A-10 Tournament)
-Northwestern @ Indiana (Big Ten) – Indiana is still right on the bubble and can’t afford to lose at home to a team that’s nowhere near the bubble.
-Kentucky @ South Carolina (SEC) – Kentucky has lost three straight and really can’t afford to lose this one. It is their easiest remaining game despite being a road game
-Minnesota @ Michigan (Big Ten) – Michigan is coming off a loss to Duke, but should have little trouble bouncing back at home tonight
-Arizona @ Baylor (Big 12) – Arizona just won a huge road game at Houston, which is one of the best singular wins any team has managed this year. They should be able to follow that up with another road win tonight
-Iowa State @ Utah (Big 12) – Iowa State is within reach of a #1 seed and should be able to pick this one up on the road. It’s one of their easiest remaining games despite it being a road game
-Arizona State @ TCU (Big 12) – TCU is straddling the bubble and right around our First Four. They absolutely need to hold serve at home against a team that’s nowhere near the bubble
-Auburn @ Oklahoma (SEC) – this is a road game that Auburn needs to win. The Tigers have played a very tough schedule and they just snapped a five game losing streak. This is a game they should win and that they need to win.
UTR WATCH:
-Southern Indiana @ Morehead State (Ohio Valley) – Morehead State is in a three way tie for 1st place with just two games remaining. The fact that the top two teams get byes into the semifinals makes these last remaining games highly important
