NEWS AND NOTES
-For the latest Hoops HD Report Video Podcast, where we report on and analyze all of the major conferences – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s Under the Radar Game of the Day between Jacksonville and Florida Gulf Coast – CLICK HERE
-Virginia picked up a much needed road win, and did so under what were perhaps the most improbable circumstances of all time. They were down by 7, without the ball, with just 21 seconds to play. They got a turnover, hit a three, fouled, got the rebound after two missed freethrows, hit a three, fouled again, got the rebound after one missed freethrow, and hit a three at the buzzer. They then dropped the mic and walked off the stage. Wake Forest is probably still stunned.
-Xavier had an impressive season profile coming into last night, but it’s looking even better now after they knocked off Providence on the road. The Musketeers led throughout the entire game, which was impressive, and survived a big charge at the end by Providence to hold on for one of their biggest regular season wins in years.
-Creighton also collapsed in the final minutes of their game against Georgetown, albeit not nearly as drastically as Wake Forest did. The Hoyas escape with a win that they really needed, and Creighton passed up what would have been a huge road win for them that would have kept them near the top of the Big East standings.
-Indiana fell on the road in overtime to Wisconsin. The Hoosiers aren’t in any danger, but that is a road win that they really could have used.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-TEXAS A&M AT ARKANSAS (Southwest Conference SEC). TAMU is now ranked #5, and is looking as good as just about anyone in the country minus maybe Oklahoma. Arkansas is having kind of a down year, but they are still a respective 8-2 at home this year, so TAMU should get some credit if they pull it off.
-TEMPLE AT EAST CAROLINA (American). Temple sits at a modest 11-7 right now, and they still have a very long way to go, but they’re playing great basketball and if they can blow through the rest of their conference schedule they should be in the picture at the end of the year.
-SAINT LOUIS AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). Dayton is well inside the bubble and depending on how strong they finish they could have an argument for a protected seed. They shouldn’t have too much trouble tonight.
-PITTSBURGH AT CLEMSON (ACC). Clemson is squarely on our bubble right now, and if they keep it up they’ll be safely inside of it. Pitt is a team with a bloated record that could use a notable road win or two to really help improve the complexion of their profile. There’s something to be gained by both these teams.
-RUTGERS AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Michigan is in good shape and needs to hold serve at home against non tournament teams.
-DEPAUL AT BUTLER (Big East). Butler is in a bit of a tailspin as they sit at just 2-5 in Big East play. Much of that is symptomatic of a front loaded schedule though. That being said, they absolutely cannot afford to lose this one.
-SAINT JOHN’S AT SETON HALL (Big East). Seton Hall appears to be rolling and should be in great shape for the NCAA Tournament. Having said that, they do need to hold serve at home against non tournament (or in this case non NIT) teams.
-UMASS AT SAINT JOSEPH’S (Atlantic Ten). At 16-3, Saint Joseph’s is looking very much like an NCAA Tournament team. I don’t expect them to have too much trouble at home against UMass.
-LOUISVILLE AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). VA Tech isn’t a tournament team, but they’re tough to beat at home, and it would be a good win for a Louisville team that really needs to add some meat to their profile.
-MISSOURI AT KENTUCKY (SEC). It’s a conference game, but it isn’t likely to be a challenging one for Kentucky, who’s unbeaten at home and taking on a Missouri team that’s winless on the road.
-BAYLOR AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big Twelve). Every road game is a big test in the Big Twelve, and although Oklahoma State isn’t a tournament team, they’re still tough to beat at home. Just ask Kansas. Baylor’s profile has improved a ton since they picked up two big road wins the other week, and they could give it another boost tonight.
-PURDUE AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). This is one of the more winnable conference road game for the Boilers so it’s important that they take advantage of it.
-STANFORD AT COLORADO (Pac Twelve). This is an important Pac Twelve team between two of the several teams that are hovering around the bubble. We believe Colorado is in, and that Stanford is just out, but both still have work to do if they want to feel safe, and that means winning games like this.
-LOYOLA IL AT WICHITA STATE (Missouri Valley). Wichita State is a dangerous, and perhaps forgotten team that has been blowing through conference play. Their losses came when they weren’t at full strength, and the committee will take that into account. If they continue to blow through the league I think they make it in without any problems.
-CALIFORNIA AT UTAH (Pac Twelve). Utah picked up some big road wins which hugely boosted their profile. Cal is still on the bubble, and the one thing they need is road wins. To pick up a quality one like this at Utah would greatly improve their resume.
News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Wednesday, Jan 27th
NEWS AND NOTES
-For the latest Hoops HD Report Video Podcast, where we report on and analyze all of the major conferences – CLICK HERE
-For Chad Sherwood’s Under the Radar Game of the Day between Jacksonville and Florida Gulf Coast – CLICK HERE
-Virginia picked up a much needed road win, and did so under what were perhaps the most improbable circumstances of all time. They were down by 7, without the ball, with just 21 seconds to play. They got a turnover, hit a three, fouled, got the rebound after two missed freethrows, hit a three, fouled again, got the rebound after one missed freethrow, and hit a three at the buzzer. They then dropped the mic and walked off the stage. Wake Forest is probably still stunned.
-Xavier had an impressive season profile coming into last night, but it’s looking even better now after they knocked off Providence on the road. The Musketeers led throughout the entire game, which was impressive, and survived a big charge at the end by Providence to hold on for one of their biggest regular season wins in years.
-Creighton also collapsed in the final minutes of their game against Georgetown, albeit not nearly as drastically as Wake Forest did. The Hoyas escape with a win that they really needed, and Creighton passed up what would have been a huge road win for them that would have kept them near the top of the Big East standings.
-Indiana fell on the road in overtime to Wisconsin. The Hoosiers aren’t in any danger, but that is a road win that they really could have used.
HIGHLIGHTED GAMES
-TEXAS A&M AT ARKANSAS (
Southwest ConferenceSEC). TAMU is now ranked #5, and is looking as good as just about anyone in the country minus maybe Oklahoma. Arkansas is having kind of a down year, but they are still a respective 8-2 at home this year, so TAMU should get some credit if they pull it off.-TEMPLE AT EAST CAROLINA (American). Temple sits at a modest 11-7 right now, and they still have a very long way to go, but they’re playing great basketball and if they can blow through the rest of their conference schedule they should be in the picture at the end of the year.
-SAINT LOUIS AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). Dayton is well inside the bubble and depending on how strong they finish they could have an argument for a protected seed. They shouldn’t have too much trouble tonight.
-PITTSBURGH AT CLEMSON (ACC). Clemson is squarely on our bubble right now, and if they keep it up they’ll be safely inside of it. Pitt is a team with a bloated record that could use a notable road win or two to really help improve the complexion of their profile. There’s something to be gained by both these teams.
-RUTGERS AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Michigan is in good shape and needs to hold serve at home against non tournament teams.
-DEPAUL AT BUTLER (Big East). Butler is in a bit of a tailspin as they sit at just 2-5 in Big East play. Much of that is symptomatic of a front loaded schedule though. That being said, they absolutely cannot afford to lose this one.
-SAINT JOHN’S AT SETON HALL (Big East). Seton Hall appears to be rolling and should be in great shape for the NCAA Tournament. Having said that, they do need to hold serve at home against non tournament (or in this case non NIT) teams.
-UMASS AT SAINT JOSEPH’S (Atlantic Ten). At 16-3, Saint Joseph’s is looking very much like an NCAA Tournament team. I don’t expect them to have too much trouble at home against UMass.
-LOUISVILLE AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). VA Tech isn’t a tournament team, but they’re tough to beat at home, and it would be a good win for a Louisville team that really needs to add some meat to their profile.
-MISSOURI AT KENTUCKY (SEC). It’s a conference game, but it isn’t likely to be a challenging one for Kentucky, who’s unbeaten at home and taking on a Missouri team that’s winless on the road.
-BAYLOR AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big Twelve). Every road game is a big test in the Big Twelve, and although Oklahoma State isn’t a tournament team, they’re still tough to beat at home. Just ask Kansas. Baylor’s profile has improved a ton since they picked up two big road wins the other week, and they could give it another boost tonight.
-PURDUE AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). This is one of the more winnable conference road game for the Boilers so it’s important that they take advantage of it.
-STANFORD AT COLORADO (Pac Twelve). This is an important Pac Twelve team between two of the several teams that are hovering around the bubble. We believe Colorado is in, and that Stanford is just out, but both still have work to do if they want to feel safe, and that means winning games like this.
-LOYOLA IL AT WICHITA STATE (Missouri Valley). Wichita State is a dangerous, and perhaps forgotten team that has been blowing through conference play. Their losses came when they weren’t at full strength, and the committee will take that into account. If they continue to blow through the league I think they make it in without any problems.
-CALIFORNIA AT UTAH (Pac Twelve). Utah picked up some big road wins which hugely boosted their profile. Cal is still on the bubble, and the one thing they need is road wins. To pick up a quality one like this at Utah would greatly improve their resume.