Small Conference Game of the Day 03.02.12

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Johnny Basketball

We are nearing the end of the regular season which will bring with it the end of the Small Conference Game of the Night, but the games have not ended yet. As was the case both Friday and Saturday last week, there are prime choices from the Ivy League for this feature, with co-leaders (in the loss column) Harvard and Penn both in action. However, I am going to pass on both of those games, as well as the very tempting “completely meaningless” game between Dartmouth and Cornell, and instead turn to the Mid-American Conference.

Heading into last weekend, Akron looked like a team that could at least merit some at-large consideration if they fell in the conference tournament finals. They then went out on national television Sunday night and had Ohio University take them to the woodshed in an 81-65 loss that wasn’t even that close. To make things wilder in the MAC, Ohio U then when to Kent State on Wednesday night and lost 68-61 in a game that was not that close either. So, of course, tonight we have Akron traveling to Kent State to wrap up both of their regular seasons (7pm, ESPN2). Based on this past week’s results, Kent State should win this game by about 200 points…though I have a feeling it will be a lot more competitive than that.

With a win tonight, Akron clinches outright the MAC regular season championship. They can also get it with a Buffalo loss on Saturday to Bowling Green. The game may be even bigger for Kent State though, as the Golden Flashes are currently tied for third in the conference with Ohio U, a game ahead of Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green. The conference gives double byes into the quarterfinals for seeds 3 and 4 (and triple byes into the semifinals for the top 2 teams). A win tonight will guarantee Kent State no worse than fourth place and let them avoid two additional games just to get to the quarterfinal round. The byes could be huge in the MAC this year, as Akron, Buffalo, Ohio, and Kent State are all talented enough to win the tournament, and Bowling Green is not far behind those four as a possible dark horse candidate.

COMING TOMORROW: The final regular installment for the 2011-12 season of the Small Conference Game of the Night.

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Conference Tournament Schedule – March 2

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Johnny Basketball

Here is the list of conference tournament games on the schedule for today, together with their available television/webstreaming options. Please note that I only list webstreams for games without national television coverage, even if a stream may also be available. “Local TV” means that the game does not have full national coverage and you should check your local listings. (PPV) means that the webstream has a fee.

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Bracket Racket 02.27.12

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Johnny Basketball

On the latest edition of the Bracketology Show, Galen and the Committee  break down the tidal wave of poor road losses from the past week, while previewing the upcoming conference tournaments. Our first guest, Troy Machir from NBC Sports’ CollegeBasketballTalk, speaks with us about the teams flying under the radar, the players that could emerge to an unknowing country in March Madness, and the conference tournament he’d most be interested in attending.

We’re then joined by John Gasaway of Basketball Prospectus and ESPN Insider. John talks with us about the NCAA’s media selection committee process and what he learned from that. We then start talking about some of the notable teams on the national scene, including New Mexico’s poor last week and Kentucky’s level of excellence. We wrap up by talking some Big Ten, including whether Illinois is still in the picture for an at-large bid.

Following that, we talk about some of the big conferences and where they’re at right now, before previewing this week’s conference tournament play. We also give you an expanded version of “Games You Must Watch”. All that and more, on this week’s episode of the Bracketology Show!

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Championship Week Notebook and other important action

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Johnny Basketball
288 teams remain!!  There were 13 conference tournamament games yesterday, and Fordham’s loss to Rhode Island mathematically eliminates them from the Atlantic Ten tournament.

-We basically had chalk all day, except in the Big South where #2nd seeded Coastal Carolina and #3 seeded Campbell both lost.  VMI will now face Winthrop in the semifinals.  Neither team has a winning record, but one of them will get the chance to play either UNC Asheville or Charleston Southern in the championship game.  UNCA is hosting, and is the only team that has any hope of avoiding the opening round.

-Mercer, the host team and second place finisher in the Atlantic Sun, had to sweat out their win yesterday against Lipscomb, but they’re still alive.  They will face either USC Upstate (another dangerous team) or UFGC in the semifnials.  Belmont is still the team that is best built for success in the NCAA Tournament, but if they face Mercer in the championship game it isn’t likely to be a cakewalk.

-The NEC quarters get underway today.  Long Island and Wagner are the top two seeds, and probably the two biggest rivals.  The tournament is at campus sites, so it should be quite the showcase for the league as the two neighboring schools play conference tournament games on the same nights leading up to the finals.

-The Ohio Valley quarters and WCC quarters.  I believe it’s safe to say that these games, along with all the others Chad listed, are knockout games.  That will take us down to 273 teams remaining tomorrow.  My team is still alive, and I want my “2012 Final 273” t-shirt.

-BINGHAMTON VS UMBC (America East Opening Round).  This game gets mentioned because it’s a knockout game, and the winner advances to the Final 273, but also because if Binghamton loses, they could end up with the Centenary Award.  It would be their 9th loss to a sub 300 RPI team, and they have six additional losses to sub 250 teams.  Half their games played have resulted in losses to sub 250 teams.  That is a strong case.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTED MATCHUPS

-MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten).  If there is one thing Michigan could use a little more of on their profile, it’s road wins.  If there is one thing Illinois could use a little more of on their profile, it’s wins of any kind.  As bad as the Illini have been, they can still play their way inside the bubble.

-GEORGIA AT KENTUCKY (SEC).  This would be nothing more than a blah win for Kentucky on their march to a #1 seed.

-NEW MEXICO STATE AT NEVADA (WAC).  The best Nevada can hope for is a spot on the bubble.  The opportunity to play their way safely inside it just isn’t there.  If they win out, they should get a look, though.

-COLORADO AT OREGON (Pac Twelve).  Both teams are outside the bubble and need a strong finish if they are to have any hope at all.

-WASHINGTON AT USC (Pac Twelve).  As much as it makes me grimace, Washington could end up inside the bubble, but the must avoid bad losses.

-FLORIDA STATE AT VIRGINIA (ACC).  Both teams appear to be safely in, but could really use this game to boost their resume.
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