For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE
.
-NEW HAMPSHIRE @ BINGHAMTON (America East) – a loss for Binghamton eliminates them
-LONG BEACH STATE AT CAL POLY (Big West) – a loss for Long Beach State eliminates them
-EASTERN ILLINOIS AT LINDENWOOD (Ohio Valley) – Eastern Illinois is eliminated with a loss tonight and wins by Tennessee Tech at UT Martin and a win by Little Rock at home against Morehead STate
.
NEWS AND NOTES:
-Saint John’s visited Connecticut last night and were treated very badly. UConn did rude, awful, inhospitable, and perhaps even illegal things to the Johnnies in a 72-40 blowout win in a game that was pretty much over by the first media timeout. UConn has played with their food at times this year, but they did no such thing last night.
-Florida got a battle on the road at Texas as you would expect, but pulled away late for another really solid road win 84-71.
-Arkansas handily beat Texas A&M 99-84. As good as I thought TAMU was about a month ago, I was wrong. They should still safely make the field, but they likely won’t be in the top half of the bracket.
-Vanderbilt held serve against a Georgia team that had been playing really well going into yesterday’s game. It was a battle, but the Dores won 88-80.
-California got a much needed 73-69 game over SMU. Both teams were squarely on the bubble and both really needed this one.
-Saint Mary’s…okay! I am impressed. We had been questioning their profile. We had been questioning their team. last night they handily beat a really good Santa Clara team 86-67 and seemed to establish pretty decisively that they are the better team, they are a tournament caliber team, and they belong inside the bubble.
-Every time I say something critical about Wisconsin they make me look like a fool. But the opposite is also true. Every time I say something nice about Wisconsin they make me look like a fool. I had been saying nice things about them and last night they made me look like a fool. They lost to Oregon, who…well…stinks, 85-71. I’ve given up trying to decide what this team will do on a day to day basis.
-Utah State suffered their biggest loss of the year (at least in terms of margin) and has now lost two straight. San Diego State is not an easy place to go and win, and I don’t want to take away from what was a really good showing by the Aztecs, but I was wrong when I said Utah State was a top 25 caliber team. They’re a good team. They will make the NCAA Tournament field. But they are not as good as I thought. They had a chance to show they were good this week by playing two tough road games, but they lost them both and they lost last night rather handily.
-In an Under the Radar note Central Arkansas got a big win at Austin Peay last night 93-88, which gives them the most D1 regular season wins ever. They’ve had a great year and are one of the biggest surprises in all of college basketball. They will likely still finish a game behind Austin Peay (who has also had a great year). It is likely we will see these two again, and when we do it will be for the auto bid.
.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-MICHIGAN STATE AT PURDUE (Big Ten). These are two probable protected seeds that are playing for seeding more than anything else. It would arguably be the biggest win of the year for Michigan State seeing as how it would be a true road win against a protected seed.
-Bryant @ UMBC (America East) – UMBC can clinch at least a share of 1st place in the AEast and a 1st place finish means home court advantage in the conference tournament
-Bethune Cookman @ Grambling (SWAC) – Cookman still has a two game lead in the SWAC with just three games remaining, so they can clinch at least a share of 1st place tonight. Watch the game for free on SWAC TV, which is one of the best conference apps available!!
-High Point @ Presbyterian (Big South) – High Point can lock up 1st place outright tonight. This is also their last regular season game
-Chicago State @ Long Island (NEC) – Long Island has already clinched. Chicago State is locked up with Saint Francis in a battle for the last spot in the NEC Tournament
-NC A&T @ UNC Wilmington (CAA) – UNC Wilmington appears to be on cruise control toward a 1st place finish. They’ve had a fantastic year
-Liberty @ Kennesaw State (Conference USA) – Liberty has blown through CUSA this season (despite being blown out themselves in their last game). This is a bit of a tough road test, but it’s one they’re capable of winning. The Flames will be a dangerous team in the Round of 64 if they can win the auto bid.
-Morehead State @ Little Rock (OVC) – Morehead State is in a three way tie for 1st place and can clinch at least a share of it tonight. It’s a pivotal game as a loss could knock them down to as low as 4th and keep them from getting a buy into the semis.
-Tennessee State @ SEMO (OVC) – this is the game of the night in the conference. Both teams are part of a three way tie for 1st place, so something has gotta give! The loser will also fall behind Morehead State and not get a bye into the semifinals
-North Dakota State @ Saint Thomas (Summit League) – these are the two best teams in the Summit and it’s North Dakota State’s toughest conference road test tonight
-Hawaii @ UC Davis (Big West) – Hawaii is in a three way logjam with Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine
-Northern Colorado @ Eastern Washington (Big Sky) – It’s the NoCoEWU Cup!!!!!!!
-UC Irvine @ Cal State Northridge (Big West) – this is the game of the night in the Big West. Both teams are in a three way tie for first place and Northridge has gone on an insane winning streak to play their way to the top of the standings!
