Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Saturday, Feb 15th

Posted on February 15, 2025 by David Griggs

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-AUBURN AT ALABAMA (SEC). If our research is correct, this is just the 4th time in the last 25 years that we’ve had a #1 vs #1 matchup in men’s college basketball. Auburn sits atop the AP Poll, and Alabama sits atop the Coaches’ Poll. And it’s a big rivalry game. And it’s a conference game. And the top seed in the South is up for grabs, which means getting sent to Atlanta for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. The two will meet at least one more time in the regular season, and could face each other again in the SEC Tournament, so there isn’t anything that will be finalized today, but it is still a really exciting and very unique matchup considering the storyline coming into this one.

-ARKANSAS AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). Arkansas is continuing to try and make a run at the bubble, but at some point needs a few more wins like this in order to get them there. Texas A&M is a really good legit top ten team that may be getting overlooked a little bit just because of how many other great teams are in the SEC.

-VANDERBILT AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Vanderbilt won the first meeting between these two, but going on the road and doing it again is a whole other challenge. Vandy is a home court hero, and while they’re inside the bubble for now, a road win like this would push them much further inside of it. Tennessee is still within reach of a #1 seed, so every game is big for them.

-WISCONSIN AT PURDUE (Big Ten). I have not been nearly as big on Wisky as most of the rest of Hoops HD, and I guess most of the rest of everyone else out there who follows college sports. I’m going on record now to say that if they can get this one on the road, I’m right there with everyone else. This would be a protected seed caliber win for the Badgers. Purdue is coming off a tough loss at Michigan and is looking to bounce back. Prior to that they had looked as strong as just about anyone in the country.

-HOUSTON AT ARIZONA (Big 12). This is a major showcase game between two highly ranked teams that seem to be on a path toward protected seeds. Houston may still have an outside shot at getting a #1 seed, but they’d need to win games like this in order to do it. Arizona is coming off their first loss in a while as they fell to Kansas State and will be looking to bounce back.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT BAYLOR (Big 12). This is a big game for both teams, especially West Virginia who may be sliding outside of the field and who needs wins to show they can still win big games despite the injuries. Baylor still has some work to do as well and needs to hold serve in this one at home.

-MISSOURI AT GEORGIA (SEC). Mizzou continues to put together really impressive looking wins and climb the seedlist. One area where could stand to improve is true road wins. They only have two on the year and this is a shot for them to get a 3rd. Georgia is squarely on the bubble, so every game has a pivotal feel for them. Like all bubble teams, they could really use a win like this.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT OLE MISS (SEC). It’s a rivarly game between two ranked teams who still have shots at ending up as protected seeds. So, it means a lot both on and off paper. The first game between these two was an overtime thriller with Ole Miss getting the win on the road, which is one of their biggest wins of the season. It should be another good one today.

-WAKE FOREST AT SMU (SEC). Hoops HD has both teams squarely on the bubble, which makes this game hugely important and hugely pivotal for both these teams. Simple as that. It has the feel of a must-win game.

-ILLINOIS AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams have had their ups and downs, but when they’ve had their ups they’ve been about as good as anyone in the country. Both still have room on their resumes for improvement, and both could really use this win today.

-KENTUCKY AT TEXAS (SEC). Kentucky should end up as a protected seed if they keep going like they have been, especially when you look at how impressive some of their wins have been. They could use a few more road wins, and this is perhaps one of their more winnable remaining road games. Texas is right on the bubble and will likely have a huge sense of urgency coming into this one. They could really use it.

-KANSAS STATE AT BYU (Big 12). This is yet another very pivotal game between two teams that are right on the bubble. K State is on fire with six straight wins against some of the strongest teams in the country, but they still have work to do. If they get this one, they may make our next bracket projection. BYU is right on the bubble and given how soft their OOC schedule was they probably need to get pretty far inside of it in order to feel safe. This is a big game for both of these teams.

-BOISE STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). We’ve been kind of quiet about Boise State lately, but I still like their profile and I think if they can get this win on the road, which I know is a tall order, they will be back in the picture and perhaps back inside the bubble. San Diego State is in our field, but they need to hold serve and finish strong in order to stay there.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Clemson @ Florida State (ACC) – Clemson continues to roll and outside of Duke may be the best team in the ACC. They have a somewhat challenging, but also winnable conference road game today.

-Depaul @ Xavier (Big East) – If Xavier is going to make the NCAA Tournament then they pretty much need to win out

-Saint Joseph’s @ George Mason (Atlantic 10) – if George Mason can win out then they should get a serious look from the committee

-Vermont @ Maine (America East) – this game won’t impact the bracket, but will have a big impact on the AEast standings and potentially who gets home court advantage in the semis of the AEast Tournament

-Connecticut @ Seton Hall (Big East) – it’s a conference game, and it’s a road game, but it still carries little more weight than what a home buy game would for UConn

-Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State (Big 12) – Texas Tech had a poor performance earlier in the week, but they still got the win and they should be able to pick this one up away from home as well

-Stanford @ Duke (ACC) – Duke has a clear path to a #1 seed and just needs to hold serve in order to get there. Stanford may be able to reach the bubble, but they’d probably need a win like this in order to do it

-Cincinnati @ Iowa State (Big 12) – Iowa State hasn’t looked like a #1 seed 100 percent of the time, but they’ve done it enough to where they should cruise to a protected seed and should be able to hold serve at home today

-Wyoming @ Colorado State (Mountain West, Front Range) – We at Hoops HD LOVE the Front Range!!

-LSU @ Oklahoma (SEC) – the Sooners are still hovering around the bubble and need to hold serve in the few conference games they play that are “easy.”

-UC Davis @ UC San Diego (Big West) – I think UCSD should be inside the bubble if they win out the regular season, which they are good enough to do

-Akron @ Central Michigan (MAC) – this game doesn’t impact the bracket, but Akron is unbeaten in conference play and will be a dangerous team in the Round of 64 if they’re able to get there

-Princeton @ Yale (Ivy League) – these are the top two teams, and if Yale wins it there is almost no chance anyone is going to catch them. They’re also going to be a tough team to beat in the Round of 64 if they get that far

-Troy @ Arkansas State (Sun Belt) – one of many pivotal games in the logjammed Sun Belt

-Omaha @ Saint Thomas (Summit League) – these are the top two teams, although the storyline is somewhat skewed since Saint Thomas is not eligible for the NCAAs and since Omaha is coming off a loss

-South Carolina @ Florida (SEC) – I think Florida is good enough to end up as a #1 seed and they have been killing it lately. They should be able to hold serve at home

-Kansas @ Utah (Big 12) – Kansas hasn’t been the best road team, but this is one that they should be able to get

-Pepperdine @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – Gonzaga just had a nice win against San Francisco and should be able to hold serve tonight

-Washington State @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – I still think SMC is the best team in the WCC, and they should be able to take care of business and hold serve against a Wazzu team that’s been good at times, but not lately.

-San Francisco @ San Diego (West Coast) – San Francisco is outisde the bubble, but they still may have a chance to reach it so long as they finish strong. They absolutely need this one today, though

-UC Irvine @ Hawaii (Big West) – not the easiest road trip, but for UC Irvine to end the season inside the bubble and not needing to win the Big West Tournament in order to get a bid, they need to win out

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Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Friday, Feb 14th

Posted on February 14, 2025 by David Griggs

-I am now officially very impressed and all in on the Maryland Terrapins. They picked up another really nice road win last night as they beat a Nebraska team who was squarely on the bubble and had a lot to play for themselves.

-San Francisco had seemingly played their way pretty close to the bubble and had a chance at a huge win at Gonzaga last night last night. They actually had a lead for much of the first half, but couldn’t hold on and the Zags ended up with an 88-77 win that they kind of needed themselves.

-A couple of top Under the Radar teams had close calls last night. Grand Canyon barely escaped at Tarleton State, but held on 64-60, and UC Irvine barely escaped at home against UC Santa Barbara 62-60.

-UCLA AT INDIANA (Big Ten). As much as I’ve been beating up on Indiana, they have been very competitive against some really good teams in many of their losses, and with a recent win at Michigan State they may actually still have a path (albeit a narrow one) to making the NCAA Tournament. UCLA had been on a roll and is still in very good shape, but is coming off a close loss at Illinois and looking to bounce back.

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Aloha, Mr. Hand! HoopsHD interviews former Virginia star Donald Hand

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Neither BC nor Virginia have had smooth sailing this year…but after seeing NC State win 5 games in 5 days at the ACC tourney last March you can no longer count anyone out in this conference. Another thing that the Eagles and Cavaliers have in common is great FT shooting from the Hand family. Donald Jr. is currently 3rd in the league with 86.9 FT%, and more than 25 years ago his father led the league with 86.2 FT%. Today marks the 26th anniversary of the original Donald scoring a career-high 41 PTS in a 3-PT OT win over NC State on Valentine’s Day 1999. HoopsHD got to chat with the fantastic father about being named an ACC Legend in 2015 and watching his son living out his dream in 2025.

You were born/raised in Paterson, NJ, where you played on the legendary 1994 Paterson AAU national championship team (along with future NBA players Kobe Bryant/Vince Carter/Tim Thomas): when you look back on it more than 3 decades later, do you have any doubt that it was the greatest AAU team ever assembled? We had some other guys you may have heard of including Kevin Freeman/Rodney Rogers. At that time AAU ball was at an all-time high and everyone wanted to be the best. Every time that we stepped onto the court we played with a high intensity.

Your 1st coach at Virginia was Jeff Jones: what made him such a good coach? I was a late signee so after going there on my visit and learning about the academics/athletics it really stood out. I had a rough start because I was playing behind guys like future lottery pick Courtney Alexander.

You were the 1st UVA player to serve as captain for 3 straight years: what is the key to being a great leader? Consistency both on and off the court and knowing your teammates. As a PG you need to understand where everyone likes to get the ball. I had to set the standard for all the young guys to teach them the “UVA Way”.

You still rank in the top-10 in school history with 529 AST/179 STL: how did you balance your passing with your defense? Being consistent. My high school coaches always told me that nobody showed up to see me: my role was to get the ball to everyone else.

On Valentine’s Day 1999 you scored a career-high 41 PTS in a 3-PT OT win over NC State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Absolutely. I remember that it was a very nice day in Charlottesville with great weather. We had 6 walk-ons on our roster at the time and Coach Pete Gillen said to go out/have fun/let it fly, and it really worked out for us.

You led the conference that year with 86.2 FT%: what is the secret to making FTs? Just staying focused. I struggled from the FT line as a freshman, but it was just a matter of adjusting to the college ranks. I always kept my eye on the inside of the rim: we tend to look down when we step up to the line, but you need to focus on the target.

After graduation you spent several years playing pro basketball overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? They learn the game a lot earlier overseas: spacing, 3-PT shooting, etc. The biggest difference is that they play at a slower pace and have often played pro ball since age 15, so it gives them an advantage when they come to the US. AAU ball helps American kids get college scholarships, but they are more advanced in the pro game overseas.

In 2015 you were recognized as an ACC Legend along with several former stars including Horace Grant (Clemson)/Shane Battier (Duke)/Derrick Coleman (Syracuse): where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I think it is at the top. My blood/sweat/tears allowed me to overcome a lot of things. I never imagined that I would go to UVA and get my degree, so to become an ACC legend at a great institution means that it paid off for me. Seeing my son become successful has probably passed that.

Your alma mater has made almost every single NCAA tourney during the past decade but is just 12-12 this season: what was your reaction last October when you learned that Coach Tony Bennett was retiring, and what will it take for the team to get back on track in the future? My 1st reaction was shock because Tony is such a legend and has done so much for the school/community. He won the 1st NCAA title in UVA history, but I respect his decision based on NIL and other factors. You want to go out on top and he did that. Sometimes you have a down year: it has been hit-or-miss this year so they just need to bring back some former players to show what the brotherhood is about.

Your son Donald Jr. is currently leading BC in PPG/RPG and leading the ACC in FT%: how was he able to make such a huge leap from last year to this year, and who on earth do you cheer for when he plays against your alma mater?! That is a hard question! I cheer for both…but my heart is always with my son. He has always had the talent, and the BC coaching staff did a great job of putting a plan together for him. He came in a little older: taking a year off really helped him get his body right. He figured out how to compete and allowed the game to slow down. He has always been a gym rat but what separates him is his hard work. He concentrates on his FTs and is a very humble kid who respects the game and treats it like a pro. That is his dream, so the sky is the limit…if he keeps working hard because hard work pays off.

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Hoops HD Staff Bracket – David Dorman – Feb 13th

Posted on February 13, 2025 by David Griggs

The bracket below was put together by David Dorman. His comments are below that, as well as some comments from the staff.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID DORMAN:

-Right off the bat let’s look at my last few teams in the field and first ones left out because I expect to take heat on those selections. 

IN – Vanderbilt, BYU, U.C.- SD and VCU.

LEFT OUT – Texas, San Francisco, Arkansas and Wake Forest. 

-My philosophy on including UC-SD and VCU over the power conference teams is team success in conference play. UC-SD (10-2) and VCU (10-2) are having great seasons outside the power conferences. Texas, Arkansas and Wake Forest get many opportunities to accumulate tier 1 wins and have come up short time after time. I want to see teams in the tournament that have had exceptional seasons, we don’t always need to include power conference schools that are .500 (or below) in their conference because they played a tough conference schedule. I truly believe these UTR teams would have done better than .500 in power conferences. These UTR teams have been winning all year long and many times take that winning mindset and momentum right into the NCAA Tournament and put a run together. 

-I have nothing against Texas, Arkansas and Wake, I just believe their body of work at this point in time does not justify an at-large bid. 

-I have 3 SEC schools on the 1 line and Duke. Florida jumped Tennessee this week with the Vols loss at Kentucky while Florida went on the road to Auburn and Mississippi State and came away with 2 victories.

-As far as bracketing goes it will be very interesting to see how/if the NCAA Selection Committee can get the SEC and BIG TEN teams away from each other in the bracket. It gets very tricky with those two conferences and the BIG 12 getting more than 90% of the at-large bids. I believe we will be seeing conference matchups as soon as the second round.

-Keep an eye out this weekend as the actual NCAA Tournament Committee has gathered  together putting the top 16 teams in the country in a bracket. The committee will put together the top 4 seeds in each region. I do enjoy this exercise every February, I just wish they went a little farther into the bracket ( give us the top 6-7 seed lines) and then give us the top 4-5 teams just outside their bracket. 

-These next 2-3 weeks in college hoops are critical for so many teams as they fight for seeding in their conference tournaments. Conference seeding is so important because many conferences have byes and double byes in their tournaments that keep players fresh. Also around the country other teams are fighting just to be included in their conference tournaments because many conferences this year are not inviting all members. 

-BUCKLE UP, this is the best 6 week stretch on the sports calendar every year! Make sure to follow along daily at HOOPSHD.com 

STAFF COMMENTS: (coming soon)

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Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Thursday, Feb 13th

Posted on February 13, 2025 by David Griggs

NEWS, NOTES, AND LINKS:

For the latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

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

-For all the Hoops HD Team Sheets – CLICK HERE

-Saint John’s winning streak was finally snapped as they fell at Villanova yesterday 73-71. All four of the Johnnies’ losses this season have been by 3pts or less, and while Nova is nowhere near the bubble the loss won’t hurt them that badly.

A few teams had close calls last night

-Texas Tech had all kinds of trouble with Arizona State, but held on to win in overtime 111-106 sidestepping what wouldn’t have been a huge landmine, but it’s still a loss that would have set them back.

-Ole Miss also struggled last night against an inferior South Carolina team, but did manage the road win 72-68.

-New Mexico really struggled with Wyoming and avoided a loss that would have knocked them pretty far down the seedlist, but held on to win at home 71-67

-Wake Forest, who was squarely on the bubble and could not afford a home loss to a team that was nowhere near the field, lost last night to Florida State, who was nowhere near the field. Not only did they lose, but they lost stupidly. They threw up a halfcourt shot with 12 seocnds to go, and then waited to foul FSU after failing to make the shot and not getting the rebound. The final was 72-70.

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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-MARYLAND AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). Maryland continues to string together wins, boost their metrics, and climb the seedlist. They’ve got another tough one tonight against a Nebraska team that has been playing really well lately, and who is right on the bubble, and who needs this one themselves.

-MEMPHIS AT SOUTH FLORIDA (American). Memphis is good enough to win out, and if they do they should be very close to a protected seed.

-UC SANTA BARBARA AT UC IRVINE (Big West). UC Irvine is coming off a rare loss, but if they can win out, which they are good enough to do, they will still be right on the bubble and I think they can still get in. They’re still one of the best defensive teams in the country.

-SAN FRANCISCO AT GONZAGA (West Coast). This is a hugely important game. Gonzaga is trying to improve their profile and climb the seedlist, whereas San Francisco is squarely on the bubble and a win like this would likely put them inside of it.

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Under the Radar Game of the Day – Thursday, February 13th

Posted on February 13, 2025 by John Stalica

UC-Santa Barbara (16-8, 8-5) at UC-Irvine (20-4, 10-2) – 11:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day is one of the highlights of the UTR Calendar – this will be the first leg of the Gauch Eater Cup where the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos travel south to take on the UC-Irvine Anteaters. Irvine is coming off of a tough 18-point loss at home against UC-San Diego that knocked the Anteaters down into a first-place tie for the Big West conference lead. It was also a serious blow for their at-large NCAA Tournament hopes, but they will still be one of the favorites to win the Big West Tournament coming up in March. Bent Leuchten averages 16 points a game and 9.1 rebounds a game for the Anteaters.

UC-Santa Barbara got off to a rough start in conference play with losses against UC-San Diego and UC-Davis back in December, but since have gone a very respectable 8-3 in conference play. They are one game back of Northridge and UC-Riverside for 3rd place in the conference. Deuce Turner had 23 points off the bench to lead the Gauchos to a 76-72 win over Hawai’i in their previous game on Saturday.

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