Bowling Green (16-7, 7-4) at Louisiana (15-9, 8-4) – 3:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
Believe it or not, there are a few basketball games being played today (I’m hearing there’s a mix of a football game and mega concert tonight), so we go south to Lafayette, Louisiana for the final game of the inaugural MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. The Sun Belt has already won the series with 14 wins to the MAC’s 9.
Bowling Green comes into today’s game tied for 4th in the MAC; the Falcons have won two out of their last three games. Marcus Hill scored 27 points in their 87-73 victory at home against Buffalo. Louisiana is also in fourth place in the Sun Belt; they’re two games back of Appalachian State and Troy and a game behind James Madison. The Rajun’ Cajuns had been on a roll with a 7-game winning streak, but their streak was snapped in a surprising 78-69 loss at Georgia State.
HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend this season covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. He was in attendance Saturday afternoon and prepared this photo essay about the Hoyas’ matchup against UConn.
I do not often get to see the #1 team in the nation and luckily we had a pregame meal that was worthy of the defending champs: bagels and cream cheese! You also know that it is a big game because there are fans sitting in the upper deck (a rarity this season):
Let’s tip it off:
Could there be 2 coaches from the same conference heading in such vastly different directions? UConn coach Dan Hurley entered the game with the nation’s longest winning streak (11 in a row), while Georgetown coach Ed Cooley has lost 10 of his past 11 games with the lone win coming by 3 PTS vs. DePaul:
Huskies SO F Alex Karaban came out hot and stayed hot throughout the 1st half with 17 PTS in 16 minutes thanks to a ton of layups, a pair of threes, and an old-fashioned 3-PT play:
Coach Cooley kept calling timeouts to try to re-focus his team and after 11 minutes he only had ONE timeout left. The only player who seemed to respond was JR F Dontrez Styles, who did his best Karaban impersonation with 17 PTS in 19 minutes with a trio of trifectas and an old-fashioned 3-PT play:
UConn FR F Stephon Castle has shown significant improvement as the season goes on. He had a pair of dunks, a 3, and a leaner in the lane to finish with 9 PTS in the 1st stanza and help his team build a 52-28 halftime lead:
In the 2nd half Karaban kept making 3-PT shots, Castle kept making layups, and UConn extended its winning streak to 12 games with an 89-64 win. In the postgame press conference I asked Coach Hurley about Castle’s continued development. He said that it was due to his humility and his parents: after Stephon had a poor performance vs. Butler last Tuesday Coach Hurley did not have to say anything to him because it was Stephon’s dad who “ripped him”:
Since Coach Cooley has now faced UConn twice in the past 4 weeks after playing them 3 times last year when he was at Providence, I wondered if he thought this year’s version of the Huskies was as good as last year’s squad. He was unsure but admitted that they are “damn good” and confirmed that he will always cheer for his fellow Big East members in the NCAA tourney:
That is a wrap, check back later this month when Rick Pitino brings the Red Storm to DC!
-Dayton’s chances at getting a protected seed took a body blow at VCU last night. Despite holding VCU scoreless for the final 6 minutes, the Flyers were unable to come out victorious in this rock fight that VCU won 49-47.
-Nevada has had a great week in the Mountain West – first they won at Utah State on Tuesday night to vault back into the NCAA Tournament picture. They might have vaulted above the cut line (for now) with their win at home against San Diego State last night. Colorado State also held serve in what amounted to a buy game home win against San Jose State.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-WISCONSIN AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). Wisky is still a solid protected seed, and they should win this game, but they are in a bit of a tailspin that they need to pull themselves out of. Winning at Rutgers is not the easiest thing in the world to do, even when Rutgers isn’t all that good. This would be four straight losses for the Badgers, and two straight against teams that are nowhere near the field, if they can’t take care of business today.
-ALABAMA AT LSU (SEC). Bama kind of got their noses bloodied against Auburn earlier in the week, but this is a much more winnable road game for the Tide and they should be able to bounce back.
-CLEMSON AT SYRACUSE (ACC). Clemson is coming off a massive road win against North Carolina and has been playing really well. But, they have been inconsistent at times this year, and while Syracuse is not the toughest place to win, it’s not the easiest either. Can Clemson come down from the UNC win, refocus, and pick up yet another road win in conference?
-CREIGHTON AT XAVIER (Big East). Creighton could be in for a battle today. It was certainly a battle the first time these two met. They’ve lost two straight, both were very close games, and need to bounce back tonight if they want to get back on pace to end up as a protected seed. Xavier is just trying to get inside the bubble, and needs a strong finish to the season in order to do it. A win today would go a long way for them. (Note from Stalica – the Puppet’s favorite uniforms will be on display as Xavier will be wearing the Runningman throwbacks. Former stars Trevon Blueitt and JP Macura will be inducted into Xavier’s Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend)
-ILLINOIS AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). I think what Michigan State needs more than anything right now is road wins, which they can’t get today, but a win over an Illinois team that’s very close to getting a protected seed certainly wouldn’t hurt them.
-TCU AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). We have both teams way inside our field, and both are moving up our seedlist. Iowa State is looking like a solid protected seed, and TCU is looking like they may be able to end up there if they can keep pulling off big wins. And, a road win at Iowa State would absolutely qualify as a big win.
-PROVIDENCE AT BUTLER (Big East). This one is hugely important to both teams. I think Butler should be safely inside the bubble right now, but I also feel they still have some work to do between now and the end in order to stay there. Providence continues to play tough and has pulled off enough big wins to be squarely in the picture. A road win like this would be huge for them.
-CORNELL AT YALE (Ivy League). This is for first place in the Ivy League, and if one of these teams is able to run the table, especailly if it’s Cornell, they should at least get a look from the committee if they fail to win the conference tournament. (UTR Game of the Day)
-SOUTH FLORIDA AT RICE (American). I’m putting this up with the highlighted games because I don’t think everyone is aware of what South Florida is doing. South Florida is your current 1st place team in the American. They are a game ahead of FAU, and three games ahead of Memphis. They are 14-1 in their last 15 games, they should get this one on the road, and they have a chance to play their way onto the bubble.
-AUBURN AT FLORIDA (SEC). This is a big resume boosting opportunity for both teams. Auburn’s two biggest wins of the year have come in their last two games, and seeing as how this is a road win against a probable tournament team it would be one of their three biggest wins of the year if they’re able to pull it off. The Gators could use this win to help them climb the seedlist as well.
-NORTH CAROLINA AT MIAMI FL (ACC). North Carolina is coming off a bit of a surprising loss at home to Clemson, and it’s never easy when you have to bounce back on the road. Having said that, despite having incredibly high preseason expectations, Miami has shown us absolutely nothing this year and seems to be falling apart. Perhaps a win today could kickstart things for them and swing some momentum back their way, but they’ve shown virtually no indications of being capable of doing it.
-HOUSTON AT CINCINNATI (Big 12). We’ve got Houston back up on our #1 line, but this will be a tough road test for the Cougars. It’s definitely one they can win, but Cincinnati has shown they can play tough and beat really good teams themselves. Cincinnati is inside the bubble, but their resume will be tons more stable if they’re somehow able to pull this one off today.
-GONZAGA AT KENTUCKY. Kentucky has struggled a little bit. They’re still very easily in the field, but they aren’t a lock for a protected seed like we thought they were going to be a few years ago. Having said that, Gonzaga will almost assuredly miss the tournament altogether if they don’t win today and then fail to win the WCC Tournament. They haven’t shot the ball as well as what they normally do, and it’s just been a tough year for the Zags.
-UCF AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). UCF is outside our bubble, and we haven’t spent a whole lot of time discussing them this year, but they do have a couple of really big wins and will have the opportunity to reach the bubble. Texas Tech has been playing well lately and should hold serve at home, but if UCF can pull this off, then we may see them in some of our brackets next week.
-NC STATE AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Both teams are outside the bubble, but Wake is in a position to where they can reach the bubble if they can finish strong between now and the end. They need to hold serve today.
-WASHINGTON STATE AT OREGON (Pac 12). Wazzu keeps inching up our seedlist. They keep winning, and with each win they seem to get a little bit further inside the bubble. Oregon is also outside the bubble, but this would still be a really big win for Wazzu because it’s on the road.
-BAYLOR AT KANSAS (Big 12). Both teams are looking like probable protected seeds, and both could give their resumes a huge boost today, especially Baylor since they are on the road. The Bears have just two road wins, so as good as their resume is, a win today would make it tons stronger. It would also give them a two game lead over the Jayhawks in the conference standings.
-SAINT JOHN’S AT MARQUETTE (Big East). Saint John’s has hit a bit of a skid. They did win their last game against DePaul, but prior to that they had lost five out of six. It doesn’t get any easier today on the road against a Marquette team that has been looking like a top ten caliber team. And as our colleague Matt Zuchowski points out. Marquette rarely loses on National Marquette Day.
-AKRON AT JAMES MADISON. Both of these teams are top level UTR teams, and both are outside the bubble with only a slim shot of getting in, but both still have at least a chance, especially Akron since they are the road team. If they can win this, and then win out in MAC play, I think the committee will give them a very strong look.
-DRAKE AT BRADLEY (Missouri Valley). Drake is right on the bubble, and this is the kind of win that could make the difference as to wether or not they end up on the right side of it.
-VIRGINIA AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). Virginia has been on a roll, and picking up another road win would allow them to continue to climb the seedlist. Florida State appeared to be turning things around, but they’ve now lost three out of their last four, including a loss at Louisville which is like losing multiple games all at once. Still, beating them on the road would be a nice win for the Hoos.
-TENNESSEE AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). Tennessee is within reach of a #1 seed. This is not an easy road game to win, but Tennessee has shown us they can win games that aren’t easy to win on the road. TAMU could really use this one as well. They have some really good wins on their resume, but a win like this could really strengthen it and give them a lot more security.
-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT MISSOURI (SEC). Mississippi State has yet to win a road game. They have some good wins on their resume, but no true road wins. None at all. If that does not change, they will not be selected, nor should they be. Missouri is not a big opponent, but this is still a hugely important game because Mississippi State absolutely needs some road wins.
-ARIZONA AT COLORADO (Pac 12). Arizona has had some stumbles on the road, but sweeping the Utah/Colorado road trip isn’t easy. They had a big triple OT win at Utah the other night, and if they can get this win tonight then they deserve a ton of credit for it, and will remain well on pace to end up as a protected seed.
-KANSAS STATE AT BYU (Big 12). K State got a big win against Kansas earlier in the week, but they still have a lot of work to do. Having said that, getting a win at BYU would qualify as “doing a lot of work.” It may not get them all the way inside the bubble, but it would get them a lot closer than where they currently are. I think BYU has slid down the seedlist somewhat, but they’re still very safely in and should be able to hold serve in this one.
-BOISE STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). These are two of the better teams in the Mountain West and perhaps the best two teams. It’s a resume building opportunity for both teams, especially for Boise State since they are on the road, and it should be a fun one.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
–Connecticut at Georgetown (Big East) – if there is any such thing as a home buy game on the road, this is it
-Vanderbilt @ South Carolina (SEC) – South Carolina has been playing lights out lately, and this should be an easy conference home win
–Toledo @ Appalachian State – the hopes of landing inside the bubble are now very faint, but they aren’t entirely non-existent for App State. They do need to win out to have any sort of a chance, though
–Samford @ VMI (SoCon) – If Samford wins out, which they are good enough to do, they should be inside the bubble. I don’t know if they WILL be, but they SHOULD be
–Boston College @ Duke (ACC) – BC actually does have a pulse this year, but Duke should be able to hold serve without any problems at home today
–Indiana State @ Missouri State (Missouri Valley) – Indiana State is good enough to win out, and if they do they should be in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens in the MVC Tournament
–West Virginia @ Texas (Big 12) – I continue to value Texas a lot more than the rest of my Hoops HD colleagues, but we all agree they are safely inside the bubble and expect that they’ll hold serve at home in this one
–TAMUCC @ McNeese (Southland) – McNeese’s chances for an at-large are probably shot, but they should get some sort of a look if they’re able to win out
–UCLA @ California (Pac 12) – UCLA is still a million miles from the bubble, but this would be their 5th straight win if they can pull it off. A Cal win would put the Golden Bears above .500 in the Pac-12 for the first time in quite a while.
–Princeton @ Penn (Ivy League) – Princeton’s at-large hopes may have been dashed. Any chance of them getting any look at all will require them to win out
–Michigan @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – Nebraska needs road wins more than anything else, but they also need to hold serve at home against teams that are nowhere near the bubble
–Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma (Big 12) – BEDLAM!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy this series this year, because it will probably be the last time that we see it for a while. As far as what it means on paper, Oklahoma needs to hold serve at home against a team that’s nowhere near the NIT
-Indiana @ Purdue (Big Ten) – I know it’s a rivalry game, but this particular edition of it is rather pathetic. Purdue is our overall #1 seed and they should roll at home in this one
–UNLV @ New Mexico (Mountain West) – New Mexico is inside our bubble and they’ve been very strong at home this year. They should be able to hold serve in this one
–Arizona State @ Utah (Pac 12) – Utah is coming off a very tough triple overtime loss to Arizona that could have really helped their profle. They should be able to bounce back from that tonight
–Southern Utah @ Grand Canyon (WAC) – GCU is good enough to win out, and if they do they should be inside the bubble
–UC Irvine @ UC Riverside (Big West) – UC Irvine probably can’t get inside the bubble, but they are really good and may at least get a look if they’re able to win out
–Saint Mary’s @ Portland (West Coast) – I really like how SMC has been playing and they can end up in the top half of the bracket if they keep it up
–Winthrop @ Longwood (Big South) – We at Hoops HD love the Winwood Cup!
Cornell (17-3, 6-0) at Yale (15-6, 6-0) – 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
Something has to give among the last two Ivy League unbeaten teams in today’s UTR Game of the Day where the Cornell Big Red pay a visit to the John J. Lee Amphitheater, home of the Yale Bulldogs. At first glance, first time visitors will look at the building and think it’s the campus chapel, but this is where the basketball teams play their home games on campus.
Both teams have in common a home win against Princeton thus far, but both teams have the vaunted Penn-Princeton double coming on the road in the next couple of weeks as the Ivy League will begin doing the Friday-Saturday doubleheaders next week. Cornell’s only losses have come on the road against George Mason, Syracuse and Baylor; however they don’t have enough quality on their resume that they could be an at-large NCAA contender like Princeton was until they lost to both Cornell and Yale on the road. However, if Cornell wins this one on the road and ends up with a 14-0 Ivy League regular season, there is still a remote chance of a 2-bid Ivy if they end up losing in the Ivy League tournament.
For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast where the latest Staff Bracket is revealed and discussed line by line – CLICK HERE
-Arizona jumped out to a big first half lead on Utah, but the Utes came back and Arizona needed triple overtime before getting a really nice 105-99 road win. Arizona is looking more and more like a #2 seed or better as the season goes on.
-Another overtime game was Florida Atlantic at UAB. FAU had a lead throughout the first half, but couldn’t hold on and fell to the Blazers 76-73. As far as being inside the bubble and being well positioned for a bid I think FAU is still in good shape, but this loss will knock them down a little bit.
-Samford played what was probably their toughest remaining game of the season last night at UNC Greensboro, and managed to win it 78-69. It was close all throughout, but in the final couple of minutes Samford pulled away. The Bulldogs are now 20-3 on the season, which is even more remarkable when you consider that they started off 0-2 with losses at Purdue and at VCU. They are good enough to win out, and if they do the committee should take a serious look at them.
-Washington State picked up another road win at Oregon State as they held off the Beavers 64-58. They continue to remain inside of our bubble. They’ve got another big one at Oregon on Saturday.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-DAYTON AT VCU (Atlantic 10). Dayton is to a point to where every road game is a road test because it is a showcase game for their opponents. They’re better than VCU, but the Rams will be way up for this one and they may be able to give Dayton a challenge. If Dayton wins out, which they are good enough to do, it is probable that they’ll end up as a protected seed.
-SAN DIEGO STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). Nevada is coming off a big win at Utah State, which is their biggest of the season so far. They are now inside our bubble and can strengthen their case even more if they can knock off San Diego State tonight. San Diego State is in better shape, but a road win like this will make their resume look better.
-SAN JOSE STATE AT COLORADO STATE (Mountain West). Colorado State is inside the bubble and should be able to hold serve at home tonight.
Chad, John, Jon and Matt reveal the current HoopsHD consensus bracket through all games of February 7 (games of February 8 were not counted). Most importantly, they celebrate a rare podcast without David Griggs!!! Check out the podcast below as the teams are revealed and discussed “Selection Sunday” style. After (and only after) you watch, check out the final bracket below!
