News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Friday, Feb 25

Posted on February 25, 2022 by David Griggs

-For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which was updated last night – CLICK HERE

-For the CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT TAB – CLICK HERE

-Belmnot’s chances of playing their way inside the bubble got blown off the court last night.  Murray State doesn’t always play at a high level because, quite frankly, they don’t have to in order to beat a lot of the teams in their conference.  When they do play at a high level, they really do look like a top 25 team, and that’s what they looked like last night as they blew Belmont away by a score of…you know what??…I don’t even know what the final score was.  I turned it over.

-Oregon is straddling the bubble, and they got a big win last night against UCLA 68-63.  It was a home win, but it still gave them a much needed upward nudge.

-Ohio State picked up what is easily their biggest win of the year as they won at Illinois 86-83.  They were pretty much in control for the entire game, but after Brad Underwood had been tossed for presumably continuing to act like Yosemite Sam after being asked repeatedly to stop, the Illini actually went on a run, got back into it, and in the final minute of the game had a chance to win it.  But, the Buckeyes held on, and this is a win that REALLY helps their resume.

-USC really had to sweat out Oregon State, which is not a good thing to have to do, but held on for the overtime 94-91 win.

-In Under the Radar news, Wagner had a chance to clinch at least a share of first place in the Northeast Conference last night.  All they had to do was beat Fairleigh Dickinson, who came into the game at 3-20 on the year.  They failed to do so.  They lost an overtime thriller 88-86, and the results sets up a season finale with Bryant where the winner clinches home court advantage throughout the conference tournament.

-HARVARD AT PRINCETON (Ivy League).  Harvard is fighting for a spot in the conference tournament and Princeton is fighting for the top seed.

-CANISIUS AT IONA (Metro Atlantic).  It’s my feeling that Iona will have to win the MAAC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.  But I do think they are on the board, and as shocking as this is, I’m not actually on the committee, so I could be wrong.  Either way, they need to win tonight, though.

-IOWA AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten).  Road wins make resumes look better.  This is a winnable road game for Iowa.  In fact saying it’s a winnable road game may be an understatement.

-SAN JOSE STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West).  It’s a conference game that is virtually a buy game.  San Diego State is hovering around the bubble and can’t afford to lose a virtual buy game at home.

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Philling it up: HoopsHD interviews McDonald’s All-American Julian Phillips

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Jon Teitel

CLICK HERE for the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast, where we build a seedlist on the air

If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Julian Phillips about being named a McDonald’s All-American and getting faster/stronger.

You come from a military family: what impact did that have on you either on or off the court? Both of my parents were in the military and definitely taught me a lot of discipline. I stay humble both on and off the court.

You started your high school career at Blythewood High School where you were a 3-time all-state selection: how did you like playing with former teammate Tre Jackson, and how do you think his Iowa State team will do in the NCAA tourney next month? I had a great time playing with Tre and learned a lot from him. He is a great player and a better teammate so I think the Cyclones can go far and do great things.

Why did you decide to transfer to Link Academy last year, and how is it working out so far? I wanted a better opportunity to further my career: player development, a national schedule, etc. It has been great for me and is working out in my favor.

You have gained almost 35 pounds since your freshman year but can still put up a good time in the 40-yard dash: how have you been able to maintain your speed while also gaining so much muscle? I was like 145 pounds as a freshman but am now around 190! We do a lot of running in practice, which helps our conditioning.

What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? Just not knowing if things will go wrong, like losing a teammate to COVID for a couple of weeks. You cannot take any opportunities for granted and just have to stay in the moment.

You received offers from several great schools including Florida State/Tennessee/USC but signed with LSU last November: what was the biggest factor in your decision? I just wanted to be somewhere where I was comfortable with the coaching staff and could fit into the system. I built a great relationship with the Tigers and love their facilities/campus.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant the world to me and is 1 of the highest honors you can get as a high school player. It was really special to see my family so proud of me.

Your teammate Jordan Walsh was also named a McDonald’s All-American: did you think that your team had enough talent to go undefeated this year (you started 26-0 before a 9-PT loss to Sunrise Christian Academy a couple of weeks ago), and how will it feel to face him in the SEC next year when he is at Arkansas? We definitely had enough talent to go undefeated and were rolling for a while but will keep our heads high even after the loss. It will be even more fun to play against him next year on the college stage.

You are 6’8”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play the wing now and feel comfortable shooting and making plays off the dribble. I would feel great to keep playing the wing in college.

You stated that you would like to have a nice long pro basketball career: what would it mean to you to get drafted by an NBA team? It would mean a lot. I have been dreaming about it since age 5 and have worked hard at it my whole life. I will stay level but would love to support my family.

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Bracket Rundown – Feb 24, 2022

Posted on February 24, 2022 by David Griggs

The seedlist reflects all games that were completed before 10pm est on Thursday, February 24th.  None of the games that went final after, particularly the Gonzaga vs San Francisco, Murray State vs Belmont, Ohio State vs Illinois, and Oregon vs UCLA, were considered.

The panel builds a seedlist line by line, and assess, discusses, and debates each team as they get brought up.  Find out who the #1 seeds are, who the other protected seeds are, who is safely inside the bubble, who just made the field, who is on the bubble, and who is on the outside looking in.

The bracket below was put together using the seedlist we built, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

The bracket below was put together using the seedlist we built, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

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Hoops HD Special: Discussion with Selection Committee Chairman Tom Burnett

Posted on February 24, 2022 by David Griggs

Southland Commissioner Tom Burnett, who as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Selection Committee Chairman has one of the most important roles in all of college athletics right now, was gracious enough to spend about 45 minutes with Chad, David, and Jon Teitel.  He talked about his role as the Selection Committee Chairman, and delved into the exercise they did this past weekend (Feb 19th) where they selected and seeded the top 16 teams.  We also discussed the different ways they monitor and evaluate teams all throughout the season, and how the whole process really starts in November.

We also discuss the scenarios and challenges that many of the top Under the Radar teams face when it comes to putting together a strong body of work, and the things the committee looks at when considering them for selection.  We get a little bit into how they evaluate teams in regards to injuries and suspensions, how the make-up of the committee changes from year to year but how the overall points of emphasis remain largely the same, and how they use all of the different data that is available to them (and there is A LOT of it) to select and seed The Tournament.

It was a fantastic discussion.  We certainly appreciate his time, and we invite all of you to listen!  It is audio only, so our apologies to all of our television fans.  Puppets just aren’t allowed to appear on TV with committee members.  That’s what they’ve told me anyway…

 

Just click right above to listen!!!

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The next Jordan: HoopsHD interviews McDonald’s All-American Jordan Walsh

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Jon Teitel

If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jordan Walsh about being named a McDonald’s All-American and his amazing athleticism.

You started your high school career at Waxahachie Faith Family Academy before transferring to Link Academy last September: why did you decide to make the switch, and how is it working out so far? I actually started at Oak Cliff. I came here because I wanted to compete on a national level and showcase my skills.

What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? It was hard to get gym time and find a place to work out at 1st, but now it is much easier.

You received offers from several great schools including Kansas/Texas but signed with Arkansas last October: what was the biggest factor in your decision? I am really competitive and so is Coach Muss. He knows what it will take for me to get to the next level and I think we can both do great things together.

The Razorbacks are 1 of the hottest teams in the country and have won 12 of their past 13: how far do you think they can go in March? Coach Muss is such a great coach that I think they will have an opportunity to go very far.

You have a 41” vertical and a 7’3” wingspan: how much of an advantage is your athleticism/length on the court? It is a great advantage, especially when I combine it with my IQ. It allows me to get into passing lanes and maneuver while in the air.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means the world to me. It is something that I have been dreaming about since I was a kid. I remember growing up and watching the great players who were in that game: it is both a motivation and a great honor.

Your teammate Julian Phillips was also named a McDonald’s All-American: did you think that your team had enough talent to go undefeated this year (you started 26-0 before a 9-PT loss to Sunrise Christian Academy a couple of weeks ago), and how will it feel to face him in the SEC next year when he is at LSU? It is going to be a dogfight! He is a great player and we are great teammates: it will be a real competitive game for sure.

You are part of 1 of the best recruiting classes in the nation thanks to the Razorbacks bringing in another McDonald’s All-American next year in Nick Smith Jr.: how well do you know him, and what makes him such a great player? I know Nick very well: I have played against him a lot on the AAU circuit and at camps. He can score at will and is a great all-around PG so I think that we can be a major part of the team next year.

You are 6’7”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play PG/wing right now but am comfortable at either 1. My preference is PG but I am learning from my teammates who have played that position their entire life.

Earlier this month Anthony Black (the only uncommitted McDonald’s All-American) said that he has narrowed his list to the G-League as well as 5 schools (Gonzaga/Arkansas/Georgia/Oklahoma State/TCU): are you doing any individual recruiting, and do you think that we might see him in Fayetteville this fall? I am working hard: it would be great to have him join us so I am on the recruiting tip!

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News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Thursday, Feb 24

Posted on February 24, 2022 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES:

-CLICK HERE to watch the latest (and final) UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast of the season.  We run through all 22 leagues, look to see who is in position to lock up first place as we approach the start of the conference tournaments. 

CLICK HERE to view the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD!!  Some teams have begun to fall off of it already as the conference tournaments approach.

Oh yeah, and while we’re at it CLICK HERE for all of the Conference Tournament brackets, formats, times, and channels

-The game of the night, and maybe the week, and maybe the year, was the triple overtime game between Xavier and Providence.  It was a high level game between two teams that had something at stake (Providence playing toward a protected seed and Xavier trying to pull themselves out of a tailspin), but what really made the game one for the ages was the rain delay!  With less than 3 minutes to go in regulation with  tie score, water started falling in from the roof.  They were able to get it fixed to where they could finish the game.  It was a big win for Providence, and for Xavier, despite an incredible effort, their fifth loss in the last six games.

-Wisconsin really had to sweat out Minnesota last night, but they held on for the 68-67 road win.

-Texas trailed TCU by as much as 10 in the second half, but dominated the last 10-ish minutes of the game to get the 75-66 win and stay within range of a protected seed.

-Creighton held on for a nice 81-78 road win against a Saint John’s team that had been playing well these past few weeks, but they lost Ryan Nembhard for the season after he suffered a broken wrist, so we certainly feel bad for him and wish him a speedy recovery.

-Wake Forest is on the bubble and needed to hold serve last night at Clemson.  Wake Forest did not hold serve last night at Clemson.  They lost 80-69, and this one is a bit of a kick in the teeth for a team that appears to be hovering around the bubble and is very light on quality wins.

-Rutgers fell at Michigan 71-62 in a road game that they REALLY could have used.  I still think they’re in good shape to make the field, but a win yesterday would have really helped shore up their resume.  As for Michigan, it was a much needed win and they continue to hover around the bubble.

-Colorado State got a big win over Front Range rival Wyoming 61-55, and their resume is looking more and more solid.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-TEMPLE AT MEMPHIS (American).  Temple is a thousand miles from making the field, but they have won four of six and are getting better.  Memphis is coming off of a loss to SMU, which ended a six game winning streak, but they are still squarely on the bubble and a strong finish can get them on the right side of it.  They can’t lose a game like this one, though.

-MARYLAND AT INDIANA (Big Ten).  Indiana has a lot of flimsy things on their resume, but they still look to be inside the bubble and will stay there if they can hold serve.

-GONZAGA AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast).  Gonzaga will end up as the #1 overall seed for the second year in a row if they win out, which they are certainly good enough to do.  San Francisco is inside the bubble, and certainly won’t be knocked out of it because of a loss like this, but a win could absolutely pretty much lock them into the NCAA Tournament.

-OHIO STATE AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten).  Both teams are in the rankings, and Illinois appears to be heading toward a protected seed, so it’s a good resume building and momentum building opportunity for two teams that already have good resumes and a lot of momentum.

-BELMONT AT MURRAY STATE (Ohio Valley).  Murray State is likely in the field, but if they win this game I think they’re a virtual lock even if they somehow lose their last regular season game and lose in the conference tournament.  Belmont is outside the bubble.  If they want any chance at all at getting inside of it, they need this win on the road.  It would be their biggest win of the season so far if they can pull it off.

-UCLA AT OREGON (Pac 12).  Oregon is on the bubble, and like all bubble teams all their games seem to have a pivotal feel to them.  UCLA is within range of a protected seed and a win tonight will be a big step forward to them securing it.  Oregon is on the bubble and a win tonight would be a big step toward then landing on the right side of it.

-SAINT MARY’S AT SAN DIEGO.  Saint Mary’s appears to be cruising toward the NCAA Tournament.  They just need to keep their eyes on the road and not be looking ahead to Gonzaga this weekend so they can avoid a crash.

-LMU AT BYU (West Coast).  This is a virtual buy game.  If BYU loses it, they are in serious trouble.

-ARIZONA AT UTAH (Pac 12).  Arizona is on pace to get a #1 seed, and if they win out the regular season and avoid a loss in the quarterfinals of the Pac 12 Tournament they should lock it up.

-USC AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12).  USC is safely in the field, and likely still will be even if they lose this game, but it would still knock them down the seedlist so they need to hold serve.

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