News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Thursday, Feb 17

Posted on February 17, 2022 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES:

CLICK HERE for our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast, where we run through the 22 non-major conferences in college basketball

-Texas Tech is proving to be among the toughest places to win on the road in the entire country.  They’re 16-0 at home, and their wins include Kansas, Baylor, and Texas in games where they pretty much had a lead all throughout.  They knocked off Baylor last night 83-73.

-Rutgers is suddenly one of the hottest teams in the nation.  That is not hyperbole.  They’ve won five of their last six, and in that stretch beat Michigan State, Ohio State, went on the road and won at Wisconsin, and then last night beat Illinois 70-59 after leading by as much as 20.  They got to Purdue this weekend.  If they win that one, they’d probably be projected in the top half of the bracket despite a very slow start to the season.

-Xavier lost at home to Saint John’s, and this one is going to leave a mark.  Xavier still has a pretty good resume overall, and still does not seem to be in any danger of missing the field, but with home losses to DePaul and Saint John’s, and last night’s being by double digits, and tough schedule to remaining to close out the season, the fans are starting to get restless.

-Miami FL is now 11-4 in ACC play after winning at Louisville 70-63 last night.  Louisville, on the other hand, has fallen to 11-14 and has now lost seven straight and ten of their last eleven.  That is a historically bad run for Louisville.

-Notre Dame needed overtime to beat Boston College.  At home.  They ended up with a 99-95 win, but that was not exactly what you would call impressive.

-North Carolina lost at home to Pittsburgh 76-67 after trailing for double digits for pretty much the entire game.  I’ve been saying all season that North Carolina does not belong in the field, and they don’t, but getting beaten handily at home by Pitt surprised even me.

-Loyola Chicago won at Valpo.  By 2.  Their resume is still good enough for them to be inside the bubble, but they’ve suffered a handful of losses to teams that don’t appear to be anywhere close to the NIT, and another one last night would have not been good.

-SMU had a solid record, and after their win against Houston it was looking like they could make a run at getting inside the bubble.  They followed that up last night with a 64-57 loss to Temple.  Well…so much for that!

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-AUSTIN PEAY AT MURRAY STATE (Ohio Valley).  Murray State is on cruise control right now.  So long as they don’t unexpectedly crash they’ll be okay.

-MICHIGAN AT IOWA (Big Ten).  Very bubblicious game out of the Big Ten tonight.  A lot of people like Iowa, but their profile looks pretty flimsy to me.  Michigan still has a ton of work to do, but based on their recent blowout win against Purdue it looks as though they are starting to get better and if they can string together some wins down the stretch they could end up in the field.

-OREGON STATE AT ARIZONA (Pac 12).  Arizona has a path to a #1 seed if they can win out, or at least finish very strong.  They shouldn’t have too much trouble tonight.

-EASTERN ILLINOIS AT BELMONT (Ohio Valley).  If Belmont wins out, which would include a win at Murray State, they’ve got a shot to at least be on the bubble, and perhaps make the field.

-UCF AT HOUSTON (American).  Houston has dropped two straight, both of which were surprises, and is looking to bounce back tonight.  It’s a game they should be able to win.

-COLORADO STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West).  Colorado State is coming off a huge win at Boise State and their resume looks to be solid (for now).  They should cruise in this one despite being on the road, but New Mexico just took down Wyoming so Colorado State won’t want to completely overlook them.

-OREGON AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12).  Oregon is squarely on the bubble.  I still think they are inside of it, but barely.  They cannot afford a loss tonight.

-SAN FRANCISCO AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast).  This is a rivalry game between two teams that appear to be inside the bubble.  Saint Mary’s is in a little bit better shape, but both could really use this one to add some sparkle to their resumes and move them up the seedlist a little bit.

-CREIGHTON AT DEPAUL (Big East).  I think Creighton is in relatively decent shape, but only relatively.  It would help them out a ton if they could string together some wins between now and the end, and even though this is a road game it’s one they should win.

-WASHINGTON STATE AT UCLA (Pac 12).  UCLA is a protected seed and Wazzu looks to be an NIT team minus some incredible and unexpected finish to the season.

-UTAH AT STANFORD (Pac 12).  I’ve given up on Stanford, but in case you haven’t, you should if they don’t win tonight.

-WASHINGTON AT USC (Pac 12).  Washington has played much better these past few weeks, and while USC is coming off a nice win against UCLA, their resume is still a little hollow.  All that being said, while it’s possible they won’t hold serve tonight, it is expected that they will.

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Under The Radar – February 16th

Posted on February 16, 2022 by David Griggs

Tonight’s featured conference is the Horizon League, and the reason we feature them was because of the spectacular public rebuke the league office gave to UIC for how they handled leaving the conference.  Oakland and Cleveland State are still near the top of the standings, but Northern Kentucky is coming on strong.

From there we run through the other 21 Under the Radar conferences, and discuss what a rough week it was for a lot of the top UTR teams.  Vermont lost at Hartford, but is still in control of the America East (and actually clinched first place tonight).  Iona had a rough week where they suffered a loss and probably fell outside the bubble.  Loyola Chicago held on to win at Valpo tonight, but barely.  The Big South is still tight, but Longwood has the best overall record.  North Texas may be positioning themselves for a spot inside the bubble if they can win out.  We discuss all that, and more.  And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

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

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Walker Houston Cougar: HoopsHD interviews McDonald’s All-American Jarace Walker

Posted on February 16, 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 Jarace Walker about being named a McDonald’s All-American and winning a national championship.

As a freshman at IMG Academy you won a national championship: what did it mean to you to win a title? It meant a lot and really helped my confidence.

Each summer you drive an hour to Route 1 Athletics to work with your longtime trainer/AAU coach Donnell “Mookie” Dobbins: how has he turned you into a 5-star recruit? He definitely knows what he is doing in terms of skill development and has help me become a better player.

What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? Just not being able to get into the gym: even when you do it is just for a minimal amount of time and not as many days/week as you would like.

You received offers from several great schools including Alabama/Auburn but signed with Houston last November: what was the biggest factor in your decision? The family atmosphere: I definitely felt at home during my visit. They also do a great job at developing big men to get to the next level.

What was it like to spend time with a pair of legends like Clyde Drexler/Hakeem Olajuwon during your recruiting trip? It was really cool to see them and talk to them and pick their brains about what it takes to play at a Hall of Fame level.

You are part of an outstanding recruiting class for the Cougars including Emanuel Sharp/Terrance Arceneaux: how well do you know either of them, and what makes them such good players? I do not know them personally yet but Emanuel can get downhill and create his own shot, while Terrance can stretch the floor and play great defense.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It definitely meant a lot. I have been working my whole life toward that goal and I finally reached it: to be honest it was amazing!

You have 2 IMG teammates who are fellow McDonald’s All-Americans (Jaden Bradley/Keyonte George): how do you think they will do in college? I think both of them will do really well in college. Keyonte is a great shot-maker and Jaden is a great all-around PG so I think that their games will translate well to the next level.

You are 6’8”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I had to play the 5 this year but feel really comfortable at whatever position the coach wants me to play. I can be productive at any position.

You have a couple of older sisters who played college basketball/volleyball: who is the best athlete in the family? I would definitely go with me, but if not then probably my youngest sister Jaden who plays basketball at St. Joe’s.

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News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Wednesday, Feb 16

Posted on February 16, 2022 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Kentucky, who had been looking like the best team in the nation, did not look that way last night.  Long scoring and field goal droughts plagued them as Tennessee rolled 76-63.  It was a great showing by the Vols, especially on the defensive end.

-Villanova got what was arguably their most impressive win of the year as they went into Providence, played a top ten team in front of a hostile environment, and basically had a lead from tip to buzzer in an 89-84 win.

-Duke had to sweat, and Coach K did not come out for the second half due to health concerns, but they held on to beat Wake Forest 76-74 with a game winning dunk in the final seconds.  This would have been a massive win for Wake and put to bed any debate as to whether or not they belonged inside the bubble.

-Wisconsin had to gut it out at Indiana, but they got the 74-69 win.

-Michigan State fell on the road at Penn State 62-58.  At times the Spartans have looked good enough to make the Final Four, and at other times you’re really scratching your head.  Then again, if you look at Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament history, perhaps they feel their chances of a deep run are better if they are a #7 seed.

-Texas got a big overtime win at Oklahoma 80-78.  The Sooners have been looking a lot better, but what they need is wins and they kind of let this one get away last night.

-Wyoming was unable to win their first game after cracking the rankings, and it was a bit of a surprising loss to New Mexico 75-66.  The Pit is traditionally not an easy place to play, but New Mexico has not looked good at all this year, so it was a bit of a surprise.

-I don’t want to declare that Memphis is inside the bubble yet, but I am going to declare that they are now very much worth paying attention to.  After six straight wins, and their last two coming at Houston and at Cincinnati, they are at least looking like a solid tournament team at the moment.  Their game at SMU this Sunday is HUGE…

-Florida is on the bubble. Florida lost at Texas A&M 56-55.  Texas A&M is outside the bubble.  That is not good for Florida.

-Iowa State needed a good win in the worst way, and got it on the road last night against TCU.  Their overall resume is solid minus their record in conference, but that may not be a factor.  Still, stringing together wins between now and the end is very much in the best interest of the Cyclones.

– While South Carolina’s win at Ole Miss has absolutely no NCAA Tournament implications, it is always fun to watch an overtime buzzer beater from Angry Frank’s team. Oh, and this was a halfcourt game-winner. There is that.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-SAINT JOHN’S AT XAVIER (Big East).  Xavier appears to be cruising toward the top half of the bracket and should be able to hold serve tonight.

-ILLINOIS AT RUTGERS (Big Ten).  Rutgers is starting to look more and more like a Tournament team both on paper and on the court  They’ve got a chance to pick up another very notable win tonight against an Illinois team that is really good, but not quite as good on the road.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT ALABAMA (SEC).  Alabama still has a path to a protected seed and has been very good at home this year.  Mississippi State has not been able to do anything on the road this year, so…

-MIAMI FL AT LOUISVILLE (ACC).  I think Miami is inside the bubble and will make the field so long as they hold serve.  That would mean they would need to win tonight.

-BOSTON COLLEGE AT NOTRE DAME (ACC).  The Irish have won eight of their last nine and their resume continues to get stronger.  They should be able to hold serve tonight.

-GEORGIA AT LSU (SEC).  LSU has digressed some over the last few weeks, but they haven’t digressed to the point to where they are likely to struggle tonight.  In fact a game like this could help them reform some good habits and be the start of starting to play like a protected seed again.

-GEORGETOWN AT MARQUETTE (Big East).  It has been a nightmare of a season for Georgetown.  Marquette has lost two straight, including a surprising loss to Butler in their last game, but their resume is still outstanding and they could still end up as a protected seed if they can get back to playing the way they were prior to last week.

-PITTSBURGH AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC).  Until North Carolina gets a good win on their resume they have to continue to avoid bad losses.

-LOYOLA CHICAGO AT VALPARAISO (Missouri Valley).  Loyola Chicago is still inside the bubble, but I wouldn’t call them safe.  They need to win out through the regular season for me to feel like they can safely make the field.

-SETON HALL AT UCONN (Big East).  I really like UConn’s resume, but they’ve lost three of their last five and barely beat a mediocre (at best) Saint John’s team in their last game. Seton Hall has been playing really well.  They did lose to Villanova their last time out, but you can hardly ding them for that.  Both teams are likely Tournament teams, so this is a resume building opportunity.

-VANDERBILT AT AUBURN (SEC).  Auburn is still on a path for a #1 seed and shouldn’t have too much trouble in this one.

-PURDUE AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten).  Purdue has struggled on the road at times this year, including against teams that don’t appear to be inside the bubble, but their resume is still outstanding and they could still wind up as a #1 seed.

-BAYLOR AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12).  This is a big time showcase game between Baylor, who is almost certainly a protected seed, and Texas Tech, who has a very good chance of getting a protected seed barring a collapse.  The fans should be out in full force for this one.

-SMU AT TEMPLE (American).  SMU can make the field, but their margin for error is small.  They basically need to win all their remaining games minus maybe the road game at Houston.

-BOISE STATE AT AIR FORCE (Mountain West).  Boise State is coming off a tough overtime loss to Colorado State, but I still think they are a solid team that is very much inside the bubble.  They should be able to pick this one up on the road tonight.

-GONZAGA AT PEPPERDINE (West Coast).  Gonzaga is the top ranked team who has a rather clear path to a #1 seed if they win out, which they are certainly good enough to do.

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News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Tuesday, Feb 15

Posted on February 15, 2022 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES:

CLICK HERE for the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast

-I thought Saint Louis had a path to getting inside the bubble.  Last night they lost at Saint Bonaventure 83-79.  I no longer feel they have a path to land inside the bubble.

-An under the radar note, Vermont, who was completely blowing through the America East, lost to Hartford, who is one of the weaker teams in that conference, 75-74.  It doesn’t matter that much.  Vermont still has first place pretty much wrapped up and they had very little hope for an at-large bid anyway, but it was still a huge upset, and it is something that could potentially effect their seedline in the Round of 64 assuming that they win the auto-bid.

-Kansas State’s home win over West Virginia is enough to at least get K State into the discussion right now, and enough to knock West Virginia out of the discussion.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN STATE AT PENN STATE (Big Ten).  This should be a winnable road game for Michigan State and keep them on pace for a protected seed.

-WAKE FOREST AT DUKE (ACC).  Wake remains inside our bubble, but they are far from safe.  Now, if they can win a game like this they’ll be safe, but that’s much easier said than done.  Duke  is almost assuredly going to get a protected seed and could end up as high as the #2 line.

-TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12).  Texas is coming off a loss to Baylor, but they’d won five of six before that and are playing better now.  This will be a challenge against a team that just blew out Texas Tech at home and then nearly won at Kansas.  Oklahoma is on the bubble, but they’ve really kicked it into gear their last two games.  This is one they need.

-MEMPHIS AT CINCINNATI (American).  Memphis is coming off a huge win at Houston and have won five straight, but they still have a lot of work to do.  They’ve got another test tonight, and it’s another test that they have to pass.

-IONA AT SAINT PETER’S (Metro Atlantic).  I think Iona is out of strikes and will need the auto-bid, but if they win out through the regular season they will at least be on the board.

-VCU AT FORDHAM (Atlantic Ten).  It would take a huge finish, but VCU has a path (albeit a narrow one) to get inside the bubble.

-FLORIDA AT TEXAS A&M (SEC).  Florida is right on the bubble and needs some big wins, and TAMU is outside of it and needs even more big wins.

-VILLANOVA AT PROVIDENCE (Big East).  Providence’s resume is outstanding, and they’ve won every close game they’ve been in.  They’re at home tonight for what should be a crazy atmosphere against Villanova in a game that has 1st place implications in the Big East, as well as protected seed implications for both teams (although regardless of what happens both could easily end up with protected seeds).

-MINNESOTA AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten).  Ohio State is cruising toward the top half of the bracket and should be able to hold serve tonight against Minney.

-KENTUCKY AT TENNESSEE (SEC).  Kentucky is playing as well as anyone in the country right now and can end up as a #1 seed if they keep winning at this clip.  They’ve got a very tough road game tonight against a Tennessee team that’s also in the rankings and while I don’t think they’re a protected seed now, they could end up there with a strong finish.

-WISCONSIN AT INDIANA (Big Ten).  Wisconsin has an amazing profile and I think they’re a solid protected seed that actually has a shot at ending up as high as the #2 line, but they’re coming off a somewhat surprising loss at home to Rutgers.  This is a winnable game, but Indiana also looks to be a likely Tournament team (and if they win this game they’ll look to be a VERY likely Tournament team), so it won’t be easy.

-IOWA STATE AT TCU (Big 12).  Iowa State is slipping further and further down the seedlist and needs almost any type of win to stop them from drowning in quicksand.  This one tonight won’t be easy.  TCU looks like a likely Tournament team and they’ve been playing well at home.

-UTAH STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West).  San Diego State is straddling the bubble and they need this one at home.

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The Hoops HD Report – February 14th

Posted on February 14, 2022 by David Griggs

The Panel looks at the American Conference, and the rough week that Houston had with losses to SMU and Memphis, and whether or not Memphis can play their way back inside the bubble.  In The Big 12 we discuss the likelihood of teams like Kansas State and Iowa State making the NCAA Tournament despite being very far below .500 in conference play, and how Kansas has a path to a #1 seed.  In the SEC we discuss how Kentucky is red hot, and how they could end up with a #1 seed along with Auburn.  Gonzaga has regained the #1 ranking, and Saint Mary’s and San Francisco are also playing really well while BYU is struggling.  USC got a big win against UCLA in the Pac 12, and Oregon continues to hang around the bubble.  We discuss all that, and more, as we touch on all ten major conferences.

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

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