News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Tuesday, Feb 2nd

Posted on February 2, 2021 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES

-For the latest Hoops HD Report Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day between Akron and Toledo – CLICK HERE

-Texas Tech got a huge win over an Oklahoma team that had absolutely been on fire last night in a 57-52 defensive battle.  The Sooners had just 18pts at halftime and while they fought back to make it very close very late in the game, Texas Tech was able to hold on.

-Drake has cracked the rankings, and they had no trouble blowing out Illinois State last night after struggling with them just the day before.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-PURDUE AT MARYLAND (Big Ten).  Both teams appear to be safely inside the bubble (despite Maryland’s overall record being a little light) and both are also playing better now than they have at any point this season.  It should be a fun match-up.

-BAYLOR AT TEXAS (Big 12).  I know Texas may not be at full strength, but this still has a clash of the titans type of feel to it.  Both are within reach of #1 seeds, and it’s not out of the question that Baylor could end up with the #1 overall seed.  They have some outstanding true road wins and have the chance to pick up another one tonight.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT IOWA (Big Ten).  Iowa is a solid protected seed (at least that’s the consensus.  I don’t agree with it, but that is the consensus).  They need to hold serve in order to stay there.  Michigan State has been impacted by COVID (to say the least).  They haven’t looked good at all, but they still have a talented team that’s capable of stringing together big wins and getting back into the picture.

-TENNESSEE AT OLE MISS (SEC).  Ole Miss has been tough at times this year, and Tennessee had been slumping prior to their blowout win against Kansas over the weekend.  This is the kind of road game the Vols need to win if they are a top 4 seed caliber team.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT IOWA STATE (Big 12).  Under normal circumstances this is a very tough road game, but we are in a pandemic and Iowa State is uncharacteristically bad this year, so WVU should be able to add another road win to their profile.

-NORTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON (ACC).  These two teams seem to be going in opposite directions.  North Carolina has won six out of seven after getting off to a lackluster start.  Clemson has been blown out in three of their last four games after getting off to an amazing start.  Both teams could really use this win tonight.

-KANSAS STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12).  Kansas really needs this game moreso for their mental health than for their resume.  K State is pretty bad this year, but Kansas is in a major slump and beating up on an in-state rival may help snap them out of it.

–PENN STATE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten).  Penn State is just 6-7 on the season, but none of their losses are all that bad, and some of their wins are really good.  If this had been a regular year where they had played a few buy games, everyone would be saying Penn State was a tournament team.  If they can pick up a win tonight against a very good Wisky team they may be saying that anyway.

-ILLINOIS AT INDIANA (Big Ten).  Illinois is coming off a big win against Iowa and comes into this with a lot of momentum, but winning at Indiana won’t be the easiest thing in the world.  A win tonight would really help Indiana’s tournament hopes.

-USC AT STANFORD (Pac 12).  USC is inside the bubble and has been playing really well lately.  This is a chance for them to keep that momentum going.  Stanford is far more desperate as it appears that they are right on the bubble and could really use a win in a game like this right now.

-BYU AT SAN DIEGO (West Coast).  BYU hasn’t looked quite like themselves the last two games.  They did beat Pacific their last time out but they had to sweat to do it.  This should be an easy road win for them, especially if they can get back to their old selves.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT ARKANSAS (SEC).  Arkansas remains on the bubble and obviously needs to hold serve in games like this.

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Under the Radar Game of the Day – Tuesday, February 2

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Chad

Akron at Toledo, 7:00 PM Eastern, espn+

The Under the Radar Game of the Day focuses in on Toledo, Ohio today for a huge MACtion battle between the Toledo Rockets and Akron Zips.  Toledo has very quietly put together an impressive season, with a 15-4 overall and 10-1 MAC record entering tonight’s game.  They have already picked up a solid win at Marshall and swept conference rival Kent State.  The Rockets also played very well in a 3 point loss at Xavier back inn November.  Five players are averaging double digits for Toledo, led by Marreon Jackson’s 16.9 points per game.  The firepower on offense has KenPom rating this team with the 10 best adjusted offensive efficiency in the nation.

Toledo may be playing great, but they did lose one conference game back on January 16 — 95-94 in overtime at Akron.  The Zips are going for the regular season sweep tonight, as they enter the game at 10-3 overall and 8-2 in MAC play.  Loren Cristian Jackson is leading the Zips with an average of over 20 points per game, and tied his season high with 34 in these two teams’ last matchup.  The Zips have not lost since before the first win over Toledo, and will be looking to tie the Rockets for first in the loss column if they can pull the huge road upset tonight.

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The Hoops HD Report: February 1st

Posted on February 1, 2021 by David Griggs

Before we start going through the conferences, we begin tonight remembering John Chaney and all he did for college basketball throughout his career.  We also discuss the possibility of teams opting out of their conference tournaments, and the impact that could have on March Madness.

From there we look back at the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and particularly look at Oklahoma’s big win against Alabama, and Kansas’s loss to Tennessee as the Jayhawks continue to struggle.  We also look back at a big week in the Big Ten, Virginia Tech’s big win over rival Virginia in the ACC, Saint Louis’s struggles to get on the court in the Atlantic Ten, Colorado State and Boise State’s impressive run in the Mountain West, and how UCLA and USC are neck and neck in the Pac 12.  All that, and more!

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

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Hoops HD Staff Bracket Projections (From the Puppet): Feb 1st

Posted on February 1, 2021 by David Griggs

Before you go any further, I just want to make sure you know what you are looking at.  This is NOT an attempt to guess what the actual committee will actually do in March, nor is it an attempt to suppose what the actual committee would do if today were Selection Sunday.  These are entirely my own picks based on what has happened so far this season.  If you want a selection committee guessing expert’s picks, check out Jon Teitel’s bracket.  He’s way better at that than I have ever been or will ever be.

Below are some of my comments.  Below that are some comments/criticisms from the staff.  If they disagree with anything I have done, THEN THEY SHOULD BE IGNORED!!!  I AM ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

OTHERS CONSIDERED: Penn State, Providence, Syracuse, LSU, Georgia Tech, Utah State, VCU, Arkansas, Auburn Duke, SMU.

Yes, despite having a losing overall record, Penn State has a pretty good profile and is close to my bubble.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-I’ll start with what I think is most obvious, and that is the sheer number of UTR teams that are inside the bubble.  Drake, Loyola Chicago, Western Kentucky and Toledo are all seeded above the First Four, and while you can’t tell by looking at this bracket, I actually have Belmont sandwiched in between Colorado State and North Carolina.  That is not something I am expecting the actual committee to do, and truth be told some of those teams’ resumes do not top out as high as a few of the teams I have them ahead of, but when I look at how well they’re playing now, and the wins that they do have (either on the road against teams who are good at home, or in the case of WKU against a protected seed) I think they’re better than the teams I have behind them.

-Iowa on the #6 line is probably going to make some people scratch their heads.  I’m not seeing the protected seed caliber win on their resume.  Furthermore, when they’ve had opportunities to pick up a protected seed caliber win, they have failed to do it.  Several times.  To me, that means they’re not a protected seeded caliber team.  They may get up there by the end of the year, but they’re not there yet.

-You know who does have multiple protected seeded caliber wins??  Oklahoma!  They’ve really turned it on these past few weeks and have put some high caliber wins on their resume.

CHAD’S COMMENTS

– I will start with Iowa (though I should start with why David did not make Missouri a 4 seed and set up the potential second round game with Kansas, but I really don’t want to go there).  I understand that they do not have any HUGE wins on their profile.  But their wins are all very strong.  At Rutgers, at Maryland and home against Purdue, north Carolina and Minnesota (plus a sweep of Northwestern),  On the loss side, neutral court Gonzaga, at Illinois and at Minnesota (who beats everyone at home) are all easily excusable as well.  The only knock is a home loss to Indiana, who is still a very good team.  Let’s compare that to a team David thinks (for some reason) is a protected seed — Tennessee.  Given the way Kansas is playing right now, the only quality win I really see on their profile is at Missouri.  I would honestly flip these two teams completely in his bracket.

– I understood not liking Illinois’ profile before this weekend, but they won one of the best games of the entire season over the weekend when they beat Iowa.  I guess if you think Iowa stinks (as David does), the Illini would be on the 6 line.  I would have them 2 lines higher, and cases could be made to put them even higher than that.

– Maryland is 8-8 versus D1 competition and 3-7 in the Big Ten.  Road wins at Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota are incredible, but you cannot completely ignore the record.  I think the Terps belong in the field, but the 7 line is just flat out stupid — they are an 11 or 12 seed and may belong in the First Four.  #StupidPuppet

– Seton Hall is an 11 seed according to David.  While that is not in the field by much, I don’t understand why the Pirates are in the field at all.  They have exactly one win against a tournament team (at Xavier).  On the other hand they have two losses to teams not in the field (Rhode Island and Providence) and are only 9-8 overall.  I am all for putting teams with quality profiles in the field despite their overall record, especially this year.  I just do not look at Seton Hall and see a quality profile.  I see a good team that cannot win close games, and that is not good enough for me.

– Saint Louis is in David’s field.  Richmond is in David’s field.  Why?  The Billikens were hit hard by COVID and have only played 8 games, which I understand, but they have only one win against the top two tiers, have not beaten anyone in David’s field and their next road win will be their first.  That is not good enough to be in at this time.  Richmond does have three Tier 1 road wins, but the only tournament caliber win was at Loyola-Chicago.  They also have bad home losses to Hofstra and La Salle.  The Spiders belong “on the board”, but are not nearly good enough to be in the field yet.

– Where is Arkansas?  I get it that the Razorbacks have not beaten a tournament-caliber team, but their 5 losses are Tier 1 and on the road (other than Missouri at home).  I will take their profile over Loyola-Chicago’s (losses to Richmond and Indiana State and only two wins in the top two tiers) in a blind resume test 10 times out of 10.  Honestly, if the Hogs played in the SoCon or MAC, with the same exact resume, I think David would have them as an 8 seed.  This is bias against them because they are in a power conference, and it is unacceptable at this point.

– I agree with David’s Penn State comments — so why didn’t he do the right thing and put them in the field?  The Nittany Lions have one of the top 50 profiles in the nation, plain and simple.  I really do not understand Maryland as a 7 seed with a .500 record against D1 while Penn State is out with one less loss, a very comparable profile and a record only one game under .500.  Once again, #StupidPuppet.

 

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News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Monday, Feb 1st

Posted on February 1, 2021 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES

-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day, which highlights one of the best UTR rivalries – CLICK HERE

-Michigan State might be back, but they look nothing like an NCAA Tournament team.  Its’ not that losing to Ohio State is bad in and of itself because Ohio State is a likely protected seed, but the Spartans were never really in the game.

-Loyola Chicago should be getting the selection committee’s attention.  I don’t know if they are or not, but they should be.  Missouri State has been a solid team this year, especially at home, and Loyola just blew them out of the building.  They’ve looked the part all year, both at home and on the road, and deserve to at least be in the discussion.

-Drake, the other Missouri Valley team that’s gotten noticed, remains undefeated, but barely.  They needed overtime yesterday to get by Illinois State.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-GEORGIA TECH AT LOUISVILLE (ACC).  Georgia Tech can play their way inside the bubble if they can string together a few wins.  Louisville is inside the bubble, but they seem to have hit a bit of a skid and just haven’t looked as good on the court in recent games.  The sooner they snap out of it, the better.

-ILLINOIS STATE AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley).  Drake had to sweat out the win in overtime yesterday, but they remain unbeaten and I believe they remain inside the bubble.

-DUKE AT MIAMI FL (ACC).  Duke looked really good against Georgia Tech, and they may finally be starting to gel and starting to play like a solid tournament team.  They need to keep that momentum going with a win tonight.

-LOYOLA CHICAGO AT MISSOURI STATE (Missouri Valley).  This will be a tough road test for Loyola Chicago, but if they can pull off the win they’ll be in good shape for being in a position to get an at-large bid.  Or…they should be, at least.

-OKLAHOMA AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12).  Oklahoma has been playing incredibly well over the past two weeks and is starting to look like a protected seed.  Texas Tech also looks like a strong protected seed, so this is a big time match-up between two teams with good profiles that are looking to make them even better.

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Under the Radar Game of the Day: Monday, February 1

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Chad

St. Francis (Brooklyn) at Long Island University, 5:00 PM, necfrontrow.com

One of the best Under the Radar rivalries in college basketball is the focus this evening for our Under the Radar Game of the Day — the Terrier of St. Francis College in Brooklyn taking on their cross-town rivals the Long Island University Blackbirds Sharks in the second of this year’s Battle of Brooklyn matchups.

The Terriers enter today’s game at 4-3 in Northeast Conference play and 4-4 overall.  Their records puts them in the top four in the conference and tied for fewest losses with LIU — both of which are key this season with only four teams slated to qualify for the conference tournament.  Chauncey Hawkins, Travis Atson, Rob Higgins and Unique McLean are all averaging double figures in scoring for SFBK, the team that KenPom rates 14th in fastest Tempo in the entire nation.

14th may be a fast Tempo, but LIU enters today ranked 7th in the same category — meaning that we should be in line for another high action, fast paced game.  LIU, which won round one of this Battle on Saturday by a score of 102-88, also has four players averaging double figures in scoring — Ty Flowers, Eral Penn, Jermaine Jackson Jr and Alex Rivera.  Penn is in fact averaging just shy of a double-double with 9.6 rebounds per game and was named co-MVP along with Flowers in Saturday Battle of Brooklyn victory.

 

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