Under The Radar Game of the Day – Wednesday, January 18th

Posted on January 18, 2023 by John Stalica

UMBC (13-6, 3-1) at UMass-Lowell (15-4, 3-2) – 6:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day returns to eastern Massachusetts for a matchup in the America East between the UMBC Retrievers and the UMass-Lowell River Hawks. UMBC has won 10 out of their last 12 games; their only losses in that span were at Maryland and at Vermont in their conference opener. Last time out, UMBC beat one-time conference foe Hartford 87-62; Jacob Boonyasith had 19 points in the win against the Hawks that included a 4-for-6 performance beyond the 3-point arc.

However, it is UMBC that is in a tie for first place and not UMass-Lowell; the River Hawks had increased expectations after a surprising 12-2 start in nonconference play that included a road win against the flagship UMass across the state. They’ve lost 2 of their last 3 games against Albany on the road and Binghamton (the other co-leader in the America East) on the road. Everette Hammond averages 12.7 points a game and 5.4 rebounds a game for the River Hawks.

Posted in CBB on TV, Daily Rundown, News and Notes, Under the Radar | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Tuesday, Jan 17th

Posted on January 17, 2023 by David Griggs

NEWS, AND NOTES:

For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Purdue survivied a scare at Michigan State in a game that was close all throughout (and that the final minute seemed like it took an hour to play), and held on to pick up yet another impressive road win 64-63.

-Miami FL survived a scare from Syracuse, but escaped with an 82-78 win after trailing most of the game.  Syracuse has been playing better, but to get all the way back into a position to where they are on the bubble they’ll need to keep stringing together wins.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-HOUSTON AT TULANE (American).  It’s a showcase game for Tulane, they’re going to be way up for this one, and they have been playing well lately.  But at the end of the day Houston is a #1 seeded caliber team and Tulane looks more like an NIT team than an NCAA Tournament team.  But, a win tonight would be HUGE for them, so it should be fun.

-KANSAS AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12).  When it comes to game atmospheres this one tonight may be among the best we’ll see all season.  K State is having a monster year, it looks like they’ll be a protected seed, and they’re hosting their big rivals who many feel should be the #1 overall seed right now.  Kansas certainly has a shot at becoming the #1 overall seed and a win tonight would be a huge step toward that.  This one is going to be tons of fun!!

-TENNESSEE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC).  Tennessee is fighting to end up as a protected seed, and Mississippi State is fighting just to get into the field.  Tennessee is still ranked in the top ten and is looking to bounce back from a somewhat surprising home loss to Kentucky, and Mississippi State has lost five of their last six and are trying to snap out of that tailspin.

-NC STATE AT GEORGIA TECH (ACC).  NC State has been playing really well and can continue to secure a spot inside the bubble.  This should be a winnable road game for them.

-BOSTON COLLEGE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC).  UNC appears to be safely inside the bubble for now and just needs to hold serve in games like this where they’re playing teams at home that are nowhere near the bubble.

-CREIGHTON AT BUTLER (Big East).  Creighton is just 10-8 on the year and still doesn’t have a true road win this season.  This is perhaps the most winnable road game they have remaining and if they can’t take care of business tonight then they are in legitimate danger of missing the field entirely.

-KENT STATE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN (MAC).  I still think there is a place for Kent State inside the bubble if they can either win out or come close to winning out.

-TEXAS AT IOWA STATE (Big 12).  It’s yet another Big 12 matchup between two teams that are high in the rankings and competing for protected seeds.  That seems to be the storyline for nearly every Big 12 game this year.  Iowa State is coming off a close loss at Kansas, and Texas is also on a complete tear where they’ve strong together a lot of wins against a lot of good teams.

-ALABAMA AT VANDERBILT (SEC).  Alabama has proven they can win tough games, and they should be able to get this one on the road tonight, but Vandy isn’t a cakewalk when they’re at home, and they just beat a fairly decent Arkansas team their last time out.

-PENN STATE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten).  Penn State is hovering around the bubble, and winning a road game like this against a very good Wisconsin team is a very good way to get inside the bubble.  Wisky has lost three in a row and needs this win tonight to help get things turned around.

-CLEMSON AT WAKE FOREST (ACC).  Wake is just a bubble team, but this might be Clemson’s toughest game of the year so far considering it’s on the road, and that Wake is unbeaten at home, and that they also really need this win to help them land on the right side of the bubble.  On paper this means quite a bit to both teams.

-BAYLOR AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12).  Baylor is one of the many teams in the Big 12 that’s fighting for a protected seed, and Texas Tech is still simply looking for their first win in conference play.

-GEORGIA AT KENTUCKY (SEC).  With the win at Tennessee, Kentucky seems to have pulled themselves out of the tailspin and has things turned around, but they need to keep stringing together wins in order for their stability to be…well…stable.  Georgia is fighting for a spot inside the bubble and a road win like this would be huge for them.

-UNLV AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West).  Both teams are on the outside looking in, but both could still reach the bubble if they can string together some wins.

-SAN JOSE STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West).  New Mexico’s win at San Diego State changed the entire complexion of their season, and they now look like a team that is solidly inside the bubble and will remain there so long as they hold serve in games like this.

-NEVADA AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West).  I think Boise is inside the bubble and is good enough to remain there.  Nevada is fighting for a spot in the field and a win in a game like this would be huge for them.

Posted in Daily Rundown, News and Notes | Comments Off on Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Tuesday, Jan 17th

Under The Radar Game of the Day – Tuesday, January 17th

Posted on January 17, 2023 by John Stalica

Murray State (10-8, 5-3) at Belmont (13-6, 6-2) – 9:00 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)

For several years, the fate of the Ohio Valley Conference hung in the balance with the Murray-Belmont rivalry. Tonight will be the first time they face off as conference rivals in the Missouri Valley as the Racers travel to Nashville to face Belmont. Murray State did come back to earth in the conference after a winless road trip against Drake and Northern Iowa. Rob Perry leads the Racers with 14.9 points a game.

Belmont is currently in a 3-way tie for first place in the Valley alongside Southern Illinois and Indiana State. The Bruins are currently in a stretch where they have won 7 out of 8 games overall; the only loss in that stretch was against the aforementioned Salukis on the road. They only play Indiana State once and Drake twice, so there is a bit of an easier schedule for the Bruins as they contend for the Valley regular season title. Ben Shepard averages 18 points a game and 4.8 rebounds a game for Belmont.

Posted in CBB on TV, Daily Rundown, News and Notes, Under the Radar | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Under The Radar Game of the Day – Tuesday, January 17th

The Hoops HD Report – Jan 16th

Posted on January 16, 2023 by David Griggs

We’ve got a bit of an extended edition tonight because it was such an eventful week in college hoops, and there is a ton to get to.  We had nine ranked teams lose over the weekend, which included Tennessee losing at home to a Kentucky team who picked up not just a good win, but an elite level win, which will really help their resume.  The Big 12 has as many as six teams that could end up as a protected seed, and each week is chuck full of elite games.  We look back at a busy week from last week, and look ahead to all the exciting games this week.  The Big Ten is also hugely competitive with Purdue looking like a #1 seed, Michigan State and Iowa playing a lot better, and Rutgers and Northwestern are also looking like Tournament caliber teams.  New Mexico had a big win at San Diego State out in the Mountain West, and Boise State is also putting together a strong resume.  We discuss all that, and more…

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

Posted in Hoops HD Report, Podcasts, Videocasts | 1 Comment

Hoops HD Staff Bracket Projections (From the Puppet) – Jan 16th

Posted on January 16, 2023 by David Griggs

This bracket was complete on Monday, January 16th, at 12pm, est.  No games that were played after that time were considered.

For today’s Hoops HD Daily Rundown – CLICK HERE

READ BEFORE VIEWING:  I want to make sure everyone knows what it is they are looking at.  This is my own personal bracket, and it is based on what I think the field SHOULD look like if the season ended TODAY.  I am NOT trying to guess the future, nor am I trying to speculate as to what the actual committee would do if today were Selection Sunday.  If that is the kind of bracket you want to look at, then what is below isn’t for you at all.  Check out Jon Teitel’s bracket by CLICKING HERE.  He is one of the best people on the planet at guessing what the actual selection committee will do.

Below the bracket are some comments from me, and below that are some comments from the staff.  I do not know why the staff is allowed to comment on my work!!  It is PERFECT!!  And NOTHING I do should be allowed to be disputed!!!

OTHERS CONSIDERED: Nevada, Maryland, Saint John’s, UCF, Memphis, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Utah, USC, Mississippi State, UNLV, Utah State, Sam Houston State, Virginia Tech, North Texas, Oklahoma State

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Alabama is my overall #1 seed.  They’ve won at Houston, and at Arkansas.  Of all the teams on the #1 and #2 lines, they are the only one that’s actually beaten another #1 seed on the road.

-Gonzaga puzzles me.  When I watch them play, they don’t scream #1 or #2 seed, yet I have them on my #2 line.  The reason is because when I looked at their profile, it simply looks amazing with so many high caliber wins, including wins against other protected seeds, away from home.  And when you look at their losses, none of them really make you hold your nose.  So, there they are.

-You may notice Duke and North Carolina are squarely on the bubble.  Allow me to explain.  North Carolina’s only true road win was at Louisville, and Duke’s only true road win was at Boston College.  Beating a non-protected seed at home, even if that team is ranked in the top 25, is something that NIT caliber teams can routinely do.  It’s arguably as hard or harder to beat an NIT team on the road than it is to beat a non-protected seeded team at home, even if that team is solidly in the field.  North Carolina and Duke have beaten no one in true road games.

To build on that, if a team’s key wins are at home against teams that can’t win on the road, I don’t think they particularly deserve a lot of credit for that.  Beating Duke and North Carolina at home is not that hard to do.  All but one team that they’ve played have done it!  So that’s why you see some of the teams that have beaten them a little lower in the seedlist.

COMMENTS FROM STAFF:

FROM CHAD:

  • One marquee win is not enough to be the #1 overall team.  Alabama won at Houston, a team whose own profile is lacking in key wins, won at an Arkansas team that I feel David has way overseeded, and beat some bubble teams.  Plus they have twice as many losses as the true #1 team — Kansas.  The Jayhawks have 11 wins against the top two tiers, 6 if those coming away from home.  They are 5-0 in the best conference in the country.  Alabama is a very good team and a 1 seed (albeit with a current significant off-court distraction), but is not #1 overall right now.  I would probably have Purdue over the Tide as well.
  • I was one of the first to call Kansas State a 2 seed.  But they did not look good at all in their loss at TCU this week.  Griggs may still have them on the 2 line, but I think they are closer to the 4.
  • I also still cannot figure out why everyone loves this Tennessee team this much.  I would have them down on the 4 line also.  Yes, they beat my #1 overall team (Kansas on a neutral court).  After that they have not beaten anyone that is solidly in the field.  And they have a loss to a Colorado team that is not even close to being in.  Plus, they only have 2 true road wins, neither of which is of any note (Ole Miss and South Carolina).  Given how much David values road wins, I am shocked to see the Vols on his 2 line.
  • As for the teams that should be on the 2 line — UCLA is 4-0 on the road and has won 13 games in a row.  Xavier is 4-0 on the road and has won 11 in a row.  Both these teams are criminally low on the 4 line.
  • I mentioned it earlier, but Arkansas seems to be in freefall and is probably a 7 seed at best right now.  The Hogs have ZERO road wins and only one win of any note (neutral court vs San Diego State).  They have now lost 3 of 4 games, including against a pair of teams not very close to the field (Vandy and LSU).  I don’t understand their seeding one bit.
  • Ohio State is not deserving of a 7 seed.  This team is now 10-7 overall with a Tier 4 home loss to Minnesota.  Their only wins against teams in or near the field are home vs Rutgers and at Northwestern.  Like it or not, the Buckeyes belong on the bubble.
  • West Virginia not only does not belong on the 10 line, they do not even belong in the field.  The Mountaineers are 10-7 overall and their only win against the field is at Pitt.  In fact, that is one of only three wins they have against the top three tiers combined.  I get that their SOS is #4 in the nation  — but you do have to beat teams to make the field.  They simply have not done so yet.  I don’t even have them in my top 12 teams out.
  • I can at least understand the reason was North Carolina is so low, even if I do not agree with it.  The Tar Heels have a resume that blow many of David’s higher choices out of the water with their wins over Charleston and Ohio State, and all of their losses being in Tier 1 (and the #11 SOS).  Duke’s position on the #11 line is just flat out stupid.  The Blue Devils have wins over 4 teams in the field, and all of their losses were to teams that David included.  Maybe they belong in a 6/11 game, but as the 6 seed!  (Actually, I would have them on the 5 line!)
  • Not even a consideration for Michigan?  The Wolverines seem to be turning things around and have 4 wins against the field while only one bad loss (albeit a horrible home one to Central Michigan).  But David ignores bad home losses anyhow (see Ohio State).
  • All in all, I would give David a solid F+ grade for this bracket.  I was going to give him a D-, but Longwood and Youngstown State belong on the 15 line, not the 16, so he lost the final half grade.  Better luck next time, Griggs.

FROM JOHN:

  • I’m going to try not to repeat what Chad said about the teams he mentioned earlier, but UConn is another team that has gotten off to a fast start but is slowly regressing to the mean in conference play. I understand that trying to win at Xavier, Providence and Marquette are very difficult to do. Losing at home to St. John’s (who is maybe NIT at best) is not what protected seeds do. (Now, if Griggs used the workbook like Chad does, we could at least see if UConn is #13 overall or #16 overall)
  • I know I’m the outlier on our committee when it comes to Michigan State, but if you did a blind resume involving both Michigan State and Baylor, could you really tell me one team is a 4 and the other a 7? If we’re valuing Kentucky as an NCAA Tournament-caliber team again, keep in mind that I would value wins away from home against Kentucky (neutral court), Penn State and Wisconsin. Losing at Notre Dame should carry a bit of a penalty, but not 3 seedlines.
  • I also look at profiles like Saint Mary’s and Boise State and would agree that they could end up as a 7 seed and 10 seed, respectively IF we are doing projected finishes and not the checkpoint that Griggs mentioned at the top of the article. The real meat is not there yet.
  • Creighton could end up like Georgia in 2001 and Vanderbilt in 2017 in that they could have a cra pton of losses but still get in the field because their schedule has been insanely tough. It was frontloaded with road games at Marquette, Xavier and UConn, so there are chances for the Bluejays to get more wins at home later in the season. They better not slip up against the Seton Halls and the Johnnies in the league, though.
  • And what about the Johnnies all of a sudden? They embody everything weird about this season. They’re 13-6 and suddenly have a win at UConn that gives their resume a much-needed boost. Losing against Iowa State, Xavier, Providence and Marquette are forgivable. But losing to Seton Hall and even Villanova are dragging down their profile where, if they just win 1 of those 2 road games, I could even make a case that they should be IN the field.
Posted in Bracketology | Comments Off on Hoops HD Staff Bracket Projections (From the Puppet) – Jan 16th

Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Monday, Jan 16th

Posted on January 16, 2023 by David Griggs

NEWS, NOTES, AND LINKS:

-When it comes to people who try and guess the Selection Committee, Jon Teitel is one of the best people on the planet at it!!  For his latest Bracket Projections, which were posted yesterday morning – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-We will be recording this week’s Hoops HD Report tonight.  I will also be posting my own personal bracket projection later today, so be on the lookout for both of those.

-UConn has gone from being ranked 2nd in the nation to now losing four of their last five.  None of those losses looked all that bad individually, but yesterday’s 85-74 loss at home to Saint John’s, who had at best looked like an NIT team, was rather alarming.  UConn travels to Seton Hall next in a game they need to win in order to pull themselves out of the tailspin they’re in.

-Xavier and Marquette gave us another Big East thriller that came down to the final seconds before Xavier held on 80-76 to remain unbeaten in Big East play.  They are looking more and more like a solid protected seed.

-Northwestern fell at Michigan 85-78 .  Michigan can play at a high level at times.  They can also play at a level that makes you think they wouldn’t finish in the top half of the MAC.

-Rutgers held serve a home against Ohio State and Iowa picked up a solid win against Maryland.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PURDUE AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten).  Purdue is looking like they can end up with a #1 seed, but they will be tested on the road against a Michigan State team that has been playing really well, but that did have a 7 game win streak snapped in their last game at Illinois.  This would give the Spartans a huge boost if they’re able to win it even though they’re at home.

-WILLIAM & MARY AT CHARLESTON (Colonial).  This should be an easy win for CofC, but Bill & Mary did shock UNC Wilmington on the road in their last game.

-ILLINOIS AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten).  Illinois has now won three straight and this should be another winnable road game for them.

-SYRACUSE AT MIAMI FL (ACC).  Miami is coming off a tough loss to a really good NC State team on the road that would have been a really big win had they been able to pull it off, but the loss wasn’t that much of a setback.  They should be able to hold serve at home in this one, but Syracuse has won 10 of their last 12 and is quietly starting to play a lot better.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT WESTERN KENTUCKY (Conference USA).  FAU’s dream season continues, but this one may be slightly more challenging than it appears.  Western Kentucky is a very talented team that has fallen way short of expectations, but in a situation where they get way up for a game and come together they can play really well.  Getting to play a team at home that’s on the brink of cracking the top 25 may cause them to pull together.

Posted in Daily Rundown, News and Notes | 1 Comment