Hoops HD

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NEWS AND NOTES

-Texas Tech needed a huge win, and they got one.  They trailed by double digits in the second half at Texas and it appeared as though the Longhorns were just going to cruise, but Tech made some big plays both on offense and defense, and hit a 3 in the final seconds of the game for a 79-77 thrilling win.  This is the kind of win that puts Texas Tech solidly in the discussion for a protected seed.

-Northwestern’s tailspin continues as they lost their fourth straight game last night to Ohio State.  None of the losses are particularly bad individual losses for the Wildcats, but all of them added together seems to indicate that they may not be a top 25 team (and perhaps not a tournament team) after all.

-Florida State blew NC State off the court, which is a huge statement win for the Seminoles, and raises a lot of questions about the Wolfpack.

-Tulsa was on a bit of a hot streak, but Wichita State ran them out of the gym last night in a 72-83 win.  Wichita State is now 8-3 overall and they have some decent wins on their resume with more opportunities to come.

-LSU blasted Arkansas in what was a huge statement win for the Tigers.  LSU may have had a few early missteps, but they are certainly rolling now.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-UCF AT TEMPLE (American).  UCF has some good things on their resume, but they’ve also got some losses in games where they should have held serve.  I still think they have a path to the NCAA Tournament, but they have to avoid losses in games like this.

-CALIFORNIA AT COLORADO (Pac 12).  Colorado continues to look like a team that will solidly be inside the bubble and shouldn’t have too much trouble with Cal at home.

-STANFORD AT UTAH (Pac 12).  This isn’t the easiest road game to win, but Stanford appears to be straddling the bubble and this is the kind of game they need to win if they want to demonstrate they are a solid tournament caliber team.

WASHINGTON STATE AT UCLA (Pac 12).  UCLA continues to be undervalued and shouldn’t have too much trouble against a Wazzu team that appears to be getting better, but still has a ways to go to be considered a tournament caliber team.

-PURDUE AT INDIANA (Big Ten).  It’s a rivalry game between two teams that could really use the win to help build their resumes.  Both have had their moments this year, but both still have work to do.

-BELMONT AT TENNESSEE TECH (Ohio Valley).  If Belmont can run the table in the OVC, I think they will be inside the bubble.

-LONGWOOD AT WINTHROP (Big South).  Winthrop is unbeaten and shouldn’t have too much trouble staying that way.

-PEPPERDINE AT GONZAGA (West Coast).  Gonzaga has been blowing through everyone and I don’t see that changing tonight.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West).  This is a hugely important game between a San Diego State team that appears to be solidly inside the bubble (and is perhaps being undervalued) and a Utah State team that has a lot of momentum built up, but needs a big time win on their resume if they want to impress the committee.

-WASHINGTON AT USC (Pac 12).  USC is having another really good year and can improve to 10-2 with a win tonight.

-COLORADO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE (Mountain West).  Colorado State looks to be playing their way into the discussion.  They need to hold serve tonight against a pitiful San Jose State team in order to stay there.

-BYU AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast).  Both teams have made a little bit of noise (and BYU has perhaps made more than just a little), but both resumes still have room to improve and both could really use this win tonight.

NEWS AND NOTES

-Oklahoma State added another huge win to their already tournament caliber resume when they knocked off Kansas 75-70.  They had a lead for most of the game, but Kansas came back late and looked to be taking control, but the Pokes held on.  We say this every time we mention Oklahoma State, but if they can get the NCAA waiver, then they should be in the field.

-The game of the night…well…WASN’T!  Michigan just blew Wisconsin off the floor 77-54 in a game that probably wasn’t even as close as the score indicated.  Michigan remains unbeaten and you have to start asking yourself if they’re a Final Four caliber team.

-Virginia Tech added another notable win to their resume as they knocked off Duke 74-67.  People have been slow to go all-in on the Hokies, and a little hesitant to be all out on Duke, but Virginia Tech clearly looks better on paper, and last night they clearly looked better on the court.  So…

-North Carolina picked up a win against Syracuse in a game where both teams probably had a sense of urgency.

-Alabama continues to look impressive as they blew out Kentucky 85-65 last night.  The Tide are not in the rankings, but right now they look like the hottest team in the SEC.

-Last, but definitely not least, USC held off a pesky UC Riverside team in overtime for a 67-62 win.  UCR had a chance to win in regulation, but couldn’t get it done.  UCR has an incredible story as they were talking about cutting athletics altogether, so it’s nice to see them come out and play well this season.  They’ve easily looked as good as anyone in the Big West so far.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-VCU AT GEORGE WASHINGTON (Atlantic Ten).  If VCU wants to make a case that they belong inside the bubble then they can’t afford to lose games like this one.

-SAINT BONAVENTURE AT FORDHAM (Atlantic Ten).  I still like this Bonnies team and think the biggest issue with them is that they just haven’t been able to play enough games.  They shouldn’t have too much trouble getting this one at Fordham.

-FURMAN AT THE CITADEL (SoCon).  Furman could land inside the bubble if they’re able to win out, but anything short of that and they’ll need some help.  The Citadel is actually unbeaten, but they’ve played very few D1 games.

-NOTRE DAME AT VIRGINIA (ACC).  Virginia looks to be a solid protected seed caliber team and just needs to hold serve today.

-NC STATE AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC).  NC State needs to add some big wins to their resume if they want to go dancing this year, and this is another opportunity to do that.  It’s a winnable game for a Florida State team that’s looking to hold serve as well, and that hasn’t played since Dec 29th.

-NORTHWESTERN AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten).  Northwestern is in a bit of a tailspin and things won’t be any easier tonight as they take on an Ohio State team that’s coming off a big win against Rutgers and is solidly in the rankings.

-TULSA AT WICHITA STATE (American).  Tulsa is 7-2, has a big win against Houston, and is putting together a solid resume that will look even better if they can get this win tonight.

-AUBURN AT GEORGIA (SEC).  Georgia still appears to be on the outside looking in, but they can get to 8-3 with a win tonight and be in a position to play their way inside the bubble.

-LOUISVILLE AT WAKE FOREST (ACC).  Louisville has won four straight, including a win against a pretty good VA Tech team their last time out,a nd can keep that streak going tonight.

-TEXAS TECH AT TEXAS (Big 12).  We all like this Texas Tech team and expect them to be solidly in the rankings and in the field at the end of the year, but right now their resume is rather flimsy.  They can certainly correct that tonight if they’re able to win, but that’s far easier said than done.  Texas has played like a #1 seed this year and is building the kind of resume that can get them there.

-BOISE STATE AT WYOMING (Mountain West).  I like this Boise State team, and they have the chance to add another road win to an already solid profile.  I expect they’ll be in the field this March.

CLICK HERE for the most recent Hoops HD Report

NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-We normally don’t discuss it here outside of Joby’s rankings, but I do like college football.  There are a lot of things I dislike about it like how the College Football “Playoff” is an invitational that systematically excludes over half of the membership, and I don’t think teams should play more than four games without a bye week to help keep players healthy and teams closer to full strength, and I’m not particularly a fan of Alabama’s team.  But…they did win another championship, and we kind of are witnessing a historically good program that we haven’t seen probably since the days of Nebraska in the 1990s.  So, a Hoops HD congrats and a tip of the cap to them.

Now, back to hoops!!

-UConn held on to win against a DePaul team that gave them all kinds of fits, but that also fell apart in the latter part of the game.

-WISCONSIN AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten).  These are two Big Ten heavyweights that are ranked in the top ten and in strong contention for protected seeds.  Michigan comes into the game unbeaten, but this may be their biggest test of the year so far despite the fact that they’re at home.

-TENNESSEE AT VANDERBILT (SEC).  The Vols are ranked in the top ten, are cruising, and shouldn’t have too much trouble with their in-state foes tonight.

-DUKE AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC).  Interesting match-up.  VA Tech has a really good profile, but people aren’t entirely sold on them yet.  Duke has a pitiful profile, but they’re still getting ranked in the top 25 and people still seem to like them.  Something’s gotta give!!

-OLE MISS AT FLORIDA (SEC).  You get the sense that both these teams still need to do some heavy lifting in order to be in the discussion come March.

-TCU AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12).  TCU is off to a good enough start to where you don’t want to overlook them, but Oklahoma is off to a slightly better start and is probably being under-appreciated right now.

-KANSAS AT OK.LAHOMA STATE (Big 12).  Kansas is fighting for a spot on the #1 line, and although this isn’t an easy road game to win, it’s one you need to be able to win if you want a #1 seed.  Oklahoma State looks like a solid tournament caliber team, but again they’ll need to get a waiver first.

-SYRACUSE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC).  I get the feeling that both teams need to have a sense of urgency about this game.  Neither team is in trouble, but both of them still have work to do and could use a win tonight.

-PROVIDENCE AT MARQUETTE (Big East).  Providence has looked good on the court this season, but a series of crazy heartbreaking losses has kept their profile from looking as good as it could be.  Marquette is the nation’s most schizophrenic team.  You don’t know if they’re going to beat a top ten team, which they’ve done twice, or lose to a team that most likely won’t be anywhere near the NCAA Tournament.  They need some stability and a win tonight could help with that.

-ALABAMA AT KENTUCKY (SEC).  Alabama has had a hell of a year and probably belongs in the top 25.  Kentucky got off to an anemic start, but played their best game of the season by far against Florida their last time out, and if they win tonight they’ll have the momentum going their way.

-UC RIVERSIDE AT USC.  This is a buy game, but UCR has an really good story for this season on how much improved they are, and USC is an almost assured tournament team that also probably belongs in the top 25.