It was a wild week of college basketball and the Hoops HD panel recaps all of the action. Texas Tech got a massive win at Arizona, which was their third win over a team ranked in the top 4 of the NET. Michigan is now the top ranked team in the country, and Purdue and Illinois continue to look really impressive in the Big Ten. Duke continues to roll through the ACC, Gonzaga had a big win at Santa Clara and is close to locking up a protected seed, Saint Louis just keeps winning games, and three teams are still battling in the Mountain West. We also have some big games coming up this week, particularly Duke v Michigan, and we look ahead to those as well.
And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
-Yesterday was rather non-cataclysmic. Illinois handled Indiana no problem 71-51, and Belmont overcame a 17pt second half deficit to win by 17 at Murray State 87-70.
.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-HOUSTON AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). Both teams are ranked in the top five, and while neither was on our 1-line in our latest Bracket Rundown, both are still in a position to reach it. This will be one of Houston’s toughest tests of the year as Iowa State is one of the toughest road environments to play in.
-Syracuse @ Duke (ACC) – Duke is solidly on the 1-line (for now) and Syracuse is outside the bubble. Duke should roll
-Wagner @ Long Island (Northeast Conference) – Long Island suffered a loss over the weekend, but is still in 1st place in the NEC
-Morgan State @ NC Central (MEAC) – both teams are within reach of finishing in 1st place
-Stephen F Austin @ TAMUCC (Southland) – SFA should be able to hold on to their two game lead in the Southland
A full Hoops HD panel have all submitted their own individual seedlists. They were then cross country scored by Chad to form a master seedlist, and it is revealed to the panel Selection Sunday style team by team and line by line. They discuss, assess, and debate each team as they are revealed. See who the #1 seeds are, who the rest of the protected seeds are, who is on the bubble, and who just missed it.
Below is the final bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!
And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
We are 4 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 66 of the 68 teams that made the 2025 tourney: 62 of his 66 were within 1 spot of their actual seed and 52 were right on the money. He will spend the upcoming weeks predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 15th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 7th out of 186 bracket veterans over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com
SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE) 1: Michigan (Big 10) 1: Duke (ACC) 1: Arizona (Big 12) 1: Connecticut (Big East)
METRO ATLANTIC: –Rider out with a loss at Sacred Heart –Canisius out with a home loss to Manhattan and wins by Iona (at Niagara) and Sacred Heart (vs Rider) –Niagara out with a home loss to Iona and wins by Manhattan (at Canisius) and Sacred Heart (vs Rider)
AMERICAN: –UTSA out with a loss at Charlotte
.
NEWS AND NOTES:
-The biggest result from yesterday was hands down Texas Tech’s win at Arizona. I realized while the game was going on that I had completely skipped over it during yesterday’s write up, which was stupid because it was a game between two protected seeds. It was an overtime thriller that was tied at the half and tied at the end of regulation. Texas Tech just kept making big plays and kept the momentum from swinging Arizona State’s way. Texas Tech now holds two wins away from home against likely #1 seeds, and one of those was a true road game. No one else’s resume tops out as good as that.
-Iowa State blew a red hot Kansas team off the floor 74-56. Kansas is really good, but this just goes to show you how hard it is to win at Iowa State.
-UConn keeps winning games, but they don’t always do it the easy way. The got an unexpected battle from Georgetown and only held on to win 79-75. UConn has a habit of playing with their food.
-Gonzaga got an expected battle from Santa Clara, but held on to pick up a really nice 94-86 road win. Santa Clara is by no means a protected seed caliber team, but they are a good team that’s hovering around the bubble and that was jacked way up for this one.
-Florida kept Kentucky at arms lenght in their 93-82 win. Kentucky came into this one playing really well and this loss really won’t set them back that much.
-Virginia had more trouble with Ohio State down in Nashville than I expected, but did hold on to win 70-66. Ohio State continues to hover around the bubble and UVA continues to hover around the 4-line.
-Saint John’s got a road win at Providence in a game that was unfortunately highlighted by a scuffle that occurred after a ridiculous hard foul committed by Providence. Basically had he done this to someone on the street he’d be charged with assault. No one was injured, several were ejected, some will likely be suspended, and the Johnnies won 79-69.
-Texas A&M’s losing streak continues as they fell at Vanderbilt 82-69. None of TAMU’s losses are particularly bad, but when you add all four of them together they do start to add up.
-TCU got a much needed road win at Oklahoma State 95-92. They are squarely on the bubble and adding another decent road win to their profile was something they needed.
-Virginia Tech lost to Florida State, at home, by a lot. The final score was 92-69. This was a pitiful performance by a VA Tech team that looked to be trending up. Losing badly to teams that are nowhere near the bubble is not a good move for teams that are on the bubble themselves.
-SMU, another team that’s hovering around the bubble, lost on the road to Syracuse 79-78. Syracuse has had a rather underwhelming season, so this one is going to leave a mark on the Mustangs.
-Georgia is another team that is going in the complete wrong direction. They fell at Oklahoma 94-78 and really didn’t look at all like a tournament caliber team. Georgia has now dropped five of their last six and is in a complete tailspin.
-Miami FL got a huge win at NC State 77-76. It’s an important road win for a team that appeared to be hovering around the bubble. Both teams are safely in our field for now, but neither can afford to just coast to the finish.
-VCU had to sweat a little bit to do it, but they knocked off Richmond 78-67 on the road to improve to 20-6 on the year. They should at least get a serious look from the committee if they win out until the conference tournament, but then don’t win the auto-bid.
-West Virginia is a team we’ve been saying you need to watch, and yesterday they showed us why. They picked up what was perhaps their most important win of the year (so far) as they went down to UCF and won 74-67. UCF is a place where Kansas and Texas Tech failed to win. WVU likely isn’t all the way inside the bubble yet, but they are playing well enough to get there.
-Missouri, who had been on an absolute roll, was absolutely rolled over on their own court last night by Texas 85-68. It’s a win the Longhorns really needed and probably moves them off the bubble and into the field (for now).
.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-INDIANA AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Illinois has all the indications of being a team that will end up with a protected seed. Indiana is inside our bubble and a win for them today would certainly be their best of the year and shoot them up the seedlist.
-South Florida @ Florida Atlantic (American) – South Florida appears to be in the driver’s seat in the American
-Belmont @ Murray State (Missouri Valley) – these are two of the better teams in the MVC and it is a really tough road test for Belmont
-Seton Hall @ Butler (Big East) – If Seton Hall wants any shot of landing inside the bubble they need to hold serve in all remaining games like this one
-TENNESSEE TECH AT SOUTHERN INDIANA (Ohio Valley). Southern Indiana will be eliminated if they lose this game and Eastern Illinois wins at home today against Little Rock.
.
NEWS AND NOTES:
-Wisconsin in suddenly on a rampage. They’ve won back-to-back against at Illinois and a blowout win over Michigan State at home last night. After having what seemed to be kind of a blah season, you look at the Badgers now and realize they’re 9-2 in their last 11 games and have won at Michigan, at Illinois, and blown out Michigan State in that stretch.
-Mother Miami and Ohio had the national stage to themselves on ESPN last night – while the Redhawks were a little slow out of the gate, they did kick into another gear in the 2nd half and ended up blowing out the Bobcats. Angry Frank’s UMass team is next in line (at home in Amherst) to try to end the nation’s last undefeated team.
-It was a rather chalky night last night with Saint Louis, Akron, Harvard (albeit barely), and Yale all winning
.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:
-CLEMSON AT DUKE (ACC). Before their last game I wrote about how Clemson was having an incredible year and were not getting the general appreciation that they should be, so of course they went out and lost their next game to Virginia Tech. Today they’re facing a #1 seed caliber team on the road. The Tigers are good, but probably not this good.
-TCU AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). A very bubblicious game here between two teams that both really need to win this. TCU is right on the bubble and needs road wins like this to help them get on the right side of it, and Oklahoma State needs to string together wins between now and the end just to reach the bubble.
-UCLA AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). UCLA is hovering around the bubble. As frustrating as their season has been they have a chance today to really slingshot themselves up the seedlist. Having said that, it won’t be easy. Michigan is good enough to win it all and beating a team that’s as good as that on their floor is…well…not easily done.
-KANSAS AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). This is a clash between two heavyweights. Kansas has been playing much better and just knocked off top ranked Arizona, but going on the road to Iowa State may be even more challenging given the fact that it’s a road game. Iowa State had a somewhat surprising loss earlier this week that they are looking to bounce back from. The atmosphere for this one should be incredible.
-TEXAS A&M AT VANDERBILT (SEC). Both teams are in the top half of the bracket (for now), but both also have room for improvement on their profiles and today’s game is a chance to do that. TAMU has lost three straight, so there is likely some added urgency on them to snap that losing streak.
-KENTUCKY AT FLORIDA (SEC). Kentucky has really been playing well lately having won eight of their last nine, but they’ve got a very tall order today. Florida, regardless of what the paper an profiles say, looks to be the best team on the court right now in the SEC and it may not even be close. They are good enough to go deep into March, and they’re at home. If Kentucky could somehow win this one they should shoot up the rankings and the seedlist.
-MIAMI FL AT NC STATE (ACC). Miami is coming off a big home win against UNC, which is one of their better wins of the year. They can really strengthen their resume if they can win this one on the road today. NC State was blitzed at Louisville earlier in the week and is looking to bounce back. They had been playing really well before that.
-HOFSTRA AT UNC WILMINGTON (CAA). I’m actually highlighting this one even though it’s a UTR game. I think these are two of the best teams in the CAA, and if one of them ultimately wins the auto-bid I think either one would be a very dangerous team in the Round of 64, so watching them go at it today is interesting enough to highlight.
-PURDUE AT IOWA (Big Ten). Iowa had been rolling with six straight wins, three of which were on the road, but lost a somewhat surprising game to Maryland their last time out. Things don’t get any easier today. They’re at home, but against a really good Purdue team that is a solid protected seed and who is looking for their 7th true road win.
-WEST VIRGINIA AT UCF (Big 12). West Virginia is climbing the Big 12 standings and is actually even with UCF. WVU is nowhere near the bubble, but they may be able to be within reach of it if they can get this one on the road today. UCF appears to be relatively safe, but they need to hold serve in games like this.
-VIRGINIA VS OHIO STATE (Nashville TN). Virginia looks like a team that will end up as a protected seed whereas Ohio State is outside the bubble and needs some big wins to get on the right side of it. A win today would certainly help them.
-AUBURN AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Both are likely NCAA Tournament teams and Arkansas should be safely in the top half of the bracket. This is just a resume building opportunity for two teams that appear to be playing for seeding at this point.
-TEXAS AT MISSOURI (SEC). Mizzou is coming off one of their better wins of the season as they knocked off Texas A&M on the road. They have a winnable, but also somewhat challenging home game tonight against a Texas team that’s playing better and that’s right on our bubble. A road win like this for the Horns would be huge.
-NEVADA AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). Both teams are outside the bubble and both have very narrow paths to get inside the bubble, but both have played well and have shown they may be good enough to do it. Having said that, this game is almost a must-win for both these teams.
-GONZAGA AT SANTA CLARA (West Coast). The importance of this game is obvious. Santa Clara is right on the bubble and a win today against Gonzaga will likely vault them onto the right side of it. It’s a showcase home game against a blue blood program. The Zags, on the other hand, are trying to stay within range of a protected seed and this would be one of their better wins of the season if they can pull it off.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:
-California @ Boston College (ACC) – Cal is just outside the bubble and can’t afford to lose a game like this
-Northwestern @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – Nebraska shouldn’t have too much trouble bouncing back after their to Purdue in their last game. The Huskers have lost three of their last four, but are still in really good shape.
-Saint John’s @ Providence (Big East) – The Johnnies are really on a roll and may win out through the regular season. They could still end up as a protected seed. However, keep in mind that Providence already beat the Johnnies at The Garden earlier this season.
-Pittsburgh @ North Carolina (ACC) – UNC is coming off a tough loss to Miami FL, but should be able to bounce back today in what almost amounts to a buy game
-Florida State @ Virginia Tech (ACC) – VA Tech is inside the bubble and needs to hold serve at home today
-SMU @ Syracuse (ACC) – SMU is inside our bubble, but they are not safe. This is the kind of road game they need to be able to win to show they belong inside the field
-Villanova @ Creighton (Big East) – Nova is on pace to land in the top half of the bracket and while it’s never easy to win on the road, this is a game they should win
-Georgia @ Oklahoma (SEC) – Georgia can and should win this. It’s a road game against a team they should beat and it’s the kind of game they need to win to safely stay where they are on the seedlist
-Kansas State @ Houston (Big 12) – Houston started off good and they’ve just gotten better since. They are about as good as anyone in the country and should hold serve at home in this one
-Colorado @ BYU (Big 12) – BYU just snapped a four game losing streak and they should be able to follow that up with another win today
-Louisville vs Baylor (Fort Worth TX)- an interesting OOC game that looked a lot more compelling back in November than it does now. Louisville hasn’t always been the best road team, but they’re good enough to where they should win this one, especially since it isn’t a true road game
-VCU @ Richmond (Atlantic 10) – VCU’s path to land inside the bubble is very narrow, but there does appear to be a path. They need to take care of business against their rival today
-LSU @ Tennessee (SEC) – Tennessee should be able to hold serve in this one
-Georgetown @ Connecticut (Big East) – UConn should hold serve in this one
-Saint Mary’s @ Pacific (West Coast) – This is the kind of game that a solid tournament team should be able to win on the road. It won’t be easy. Pacific is 9-1 at home and they’ll be up for this one, but like I always say, teams have to show they can win games that aren’t easy to win in order to make the NCAA Tournament
-Memphis @ Utah State – another OOC game that looked a lot more interesting back in November than it does now. As things played out this is just another quad 3 home game for Utah State
-South Carolina @ Alabama (SEC) – Bama is on the verge of a protected seed and should be able to hold serve in this one
UTR WATCH:
-Navy @ Colgate (Patriot League) – Navy is running away from the rest of the PL
-Long Island @ New Haven (Northeast Conference) – LIU is running away from the rest of the NEC and should have home court advantage in the conference tournament
-UMBC @ New Hampshire (America East) – UMBC is one of the teams in the AEast conference race
-High Point @ Gardner Webb (Big South) – High Point is in a race with Winthrop and should absolutely flatten Gardner Webb today
-North Dakota State @ North Dakota (Summit League) – North Dakota State now has a two game lead in the Summit standings, but will be challenged today on the road against a rival
-Bryant @ Vermont (America East) – Vermont is chasing NJIT and UMBC and is a game behind in the AEast standings
-West Georgia @ Central Arkansas (Atlantic Sun) – Central Arkansas is having a historically good year and is just a game behind Austin Peay in the ASun standings
-Liberty @ UTEP (Conference USA) – Liberty looks to remain unbeaten in conference play and is probably good enough to win out
-NJIT @ Maine (America East) – NJIT is one of the teams in the three-horse-race for 1st place in the AEast
-Bethune Cookman @ Alcorn State (SWAC) – Cookman has just one confernece loss and appears to be the best team in the SWAC
-Portland State @ Northern Colorado (Big Sky) – Portland State appears to be running away with it. Northern Colorado looked to be the best team prior to the start of conference play, but was real disappointing once conference play got underway. They’ve now won five in a row and could be dangerous
-Coppin State @ NC Central (MEAC) – NC Central trying to hold on to 1st place in the MEAC
-UT Martin @ SIUE (Ohio Valley) – UT Martin still looks to be the best team, but they’ve now lost two straight and just one game separates the top six teams in the league
-Stephen F Austin @ UTRGV (Southland) – SFA has a two game lead over McNeese, but they will likely be challenged today on the road against a really solid UTRGV team that’s been playing well lately
-Bellarmine @ Austin Peay (Atlantic Sun) – Austin Peay is trying to hold on to their one game lead over Central Arkansas in the ASun
-Yale @ Harvard (Ivy League) – it’s the two best teams in the Ivy League and this game could determine who the 1st place finisher ends up being
-Hawaii @ Cal State Northridge (Big West) – road games are extra challenging for Hawaii, but if they can win this one they can keep themselves atop the Big West standings
-Troy @ Southern Miss (Sun Belt) – after losing three of their last four in conference, Troy has lost what appeared to be a comfortable lead and we now have a four-team logjam atop the SBC standings
-California Baptist @ Utah Tech (WAC) – Cal Baptist is now alone in 1st place, but Utah Tech is just one game behind them. This is a pivotal game to determine who will finish 1st and get a bye into the semifinals
