Under the Radar Game of the Day – Thursday, January 29, 2015: Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Chad

For our latest Under the Radar podcast, CLICK HERE.

Western Kentucky at Louisiana Tech, 7:00 PM Eastern, CBS Sports Network

The choice for UTR Game of the Day tonight could not have been easier as first place in Conference USA is on the line as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in one of the conference’s biggest and most important games so far this season.  Western Kentucky has caught our attention (and may be turning a lot more heads if they keep winning), jumping out to a 7-0 start in C-USA play and a 14-5 record overall.  They have won 9 straight games and notably have already picked up wins over Ole Miss, Old Dominion and UTEP this season.  They also took Louisville to the wire, in a game much closer than its 9 point final margin of victory.  While an at-large bid would probably require the Hilltoppers to run the slate in CUSA regular season play, we are not writing them out of that conversation quite yet.

WKU’s opponent tonight is the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, who enter the game at 6-1 in conference and 15-5 overall.  La Tech was our preseason pick to win CUSA and, at least since conference play began, has been playing up to that billing.  The Bulldogs’ biggest problem was their lack of quality non-conference games.  They were only able to schedule three (at Temple, at Syrcause, and at NC State), and lost them all.  In addition, a non-conference loss at Louisiana-Lafayette and a conference loss at North Texas have probably knocked them out of any serious conversation for an at-large bid.  However, if they want to get back into those talks, or at least make a run at the top seed in the CUSA tournament, the Bulldogs need to win and keep winning.  And they need to start tonight, at home, against the Hilltoppers.

 

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Under the Radar: January 28th

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David Griggs

Chad and David are back for this week’s edition of Under the Radar.  They start the show by talking about the efforts to have UTEP face Kentucky in Cole Fieldhouse next year for the 50th anniversary of when the two faced each other in the national championship, and how the game fell through.  After that, they run through all 23 Under the Radar conferences and discuss the standings, the different conference tournament formats and how the rest of the season will impact them, and the teams like Western Kentucky, Green Bay and SFA that could still end up inside the bubble.

 

And for all you radio lovers, there is an mp3 version of the show below.

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Highlighted Games For Wednesday, Jan 28th

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David Griggs

NEWS AND NOTES

-We will be recording our Under the Radar Podcast tonight and should have it posted either later on tonight or early tomorrow.  Be sure and check it out.

 

For a viewing guide of tonight’s games, and all of the games this week, check out Matt Sarzyniak’s site by – CLICKING HERE

TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-SMU AT SOUTH FLORIDA (American).  SMU continues to look better and better as the season progresses, and they have another winnable conference road game tonight.

-SETON HALL AT MARQUETTE (Big East).  There is a real sense of urgency here for Seton Hall.  They’ve kind of hit the skids somewhat, and they’re facing a Marquette team that doesn’t appear to be anywhere close to the tournament.  It really is the kind of road game they need to be able to win.

-ALBANY AT VERMONT (America East).  Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day, and It’s a Good one.  CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT.

-SOUTH CAROLINA AT LSU (SEC).  There doesn’t seem to be that much national interest in LSU, but they are a very strong team and should improve to 16-4 tonight.

-TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA (Big Twelve).  Oklahoma has played a gauntlet schedule as of late, which is symptomatic of being in the Big Twelve.  To have a winnable game at home is a welcomed change.

-DUKE AT NOTRE DAME (ACC).  This is a very tough road test for Duke, but they already have road wins at Wisconsin and Louisville, and are CLEARLY  a #1 seed caliber team.  If they pick this one up it just furthers that point.

-LOYOLA IL AT WICHITA STATE (Missouri Valley).  Loyola has hit the skids since we last praised them, but they’re still much improved this year. Wichita remains high in the rankings and could potentially end up as a protected seed.

-OREGON STATE AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac Twelve).  With Oregon State being in the top half of the Pac Twelve, with a 5-2 league record and a 14-5 overall record, is it possible that….Nah.  Couldn’t be.  Could it??

-NORTHERN IOWA AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (Missouri Valley).  No road game is easy, but Northern Iowa is continuing to blow through the league and climb the rankings.

-KANSAS AT TCU (Big Twelve).  This is a showcase game for a TCU program that, while not good, is noticeably improving.  They’re coming off a frustrating and heartbreaking overtime loss to West Virginia, which would have given them that much more momentum coming into this one.  Expect a more electric crowd than what we’ve seen at TCU in quite some time.

-CLEMSON AT NC STATE (ACC).  NC State is pretty close to the bubble and can’t afford a home loss to a non-tournament team.

-LOUISVILLE AT BOSTON COLLEGE (ACC).  Get the snow shovels out!!  Louisville shouldn’t have too much trouble picking up this road win.  Getting in and out of town may prove to be the bigger challenge.

-GEORGIA TECH AT MIAMI FL (ACC).  Miami is in the rankings, and deservedly so.  They shouldn’t have too much trouble at home against a struggling (and that’s being nice) Georgia Tech team.

-INDIANA AT PURDUE (Big Ten).  Purdue has shown signs of life at several points this season, and they’re liable to be amped up for this rivalry game.  Indiana has had a big year and is a much better team than I thought they’d be, but this won’t be an easy road game for them.

-SAINT JOHN’S AT CREIGHTON (Big East).  Saint John’s needs this road win.  Pure and simple.

-OREGON AT ARIZONA (Pac Twelve).  Oregon has a very outside shot at making the field, and doing so would require them to win a string of games like this one.  Arizona is a top ten caliber team that will finish way up the seed list.

-STANFORD AT WASHINGTON (Pac Twelve).  Washington is shorthanded for the rest of the season, and Stanford has a solid but not outstanding profile.  Any conference road win would help it.

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Under the Radar Game of the Day – Wednesday, January 28, 2015: Albany at Vermont

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Chad

Albany at Vermont, 7:00 PM Eastern, free streaming at catamounTV.com

The UTR Game of the Day returns to the shores of Lake Champlain tonight for the biggest game of the season to date in the America East conference.  The Albany Great Danes, currently sitting at 7-0 in conference and 12-7 overall, will be heading to Burlington to take on the Vermont Catamounts, who sit in second place at 6-1 in conference at 11-9 overall.

UAlbany enters tonight’s game having won 10 of their last 11 games, with only a somewhat inexplicable loss to Niagara on December 30 during that stretch.  They are coming off what looked like a huge road win at Hartford last Thursday night, though Hartford did follow up that loss with a home loss to the lowly Maine Black Bears as well.  UAlbany has also already picked up a road win at Stony Brook, the one other team we thought would contend in the America East this season.  As a result, a win tonight would complete a sweep of the toughest conference road games for the Great Danes, and put them in prime position to win the regular season title and the reward of home court advantage throughout the AEC tournament that comes with it.

Vermont should probably be entering this game undefeated in conference play as well.  However, they suffered an upset loss at New Hampshire last week, their only blemish to date in conference play (and it should be noted that UNH is having one of its best seasons in years).  With a win tonight, Vermont can send a statement to the entire conference that they intend to be in contention for the regular season title throughout the rest of the year.  However, a loss will knock the Catamounts two games back in the standings and could leave them fighting it out with New Hampshire, Hartford and Stony Brook for second place.

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Highlighted Games for Tuesday, Jan 27th

Posted on January 27, 2015 by David Griggs

For our latest Bracket Racket Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

For a viewing guide of tonight’s games, and all of the games this week, check out Matt Sarzyniak’s site by – CLICKING HERE

 

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-WEST VIRGINIA AT KANSAS STATE (Big Twelve).  West Virginia is coming off a close call where they almost lost to TCU at home.  K State is off to a good start in conference play, but was so weak out of conference that they have a ways to go.  But, a win gets them to 6-2 in what is arguably the toughest conference, so they are definitely in the picture.

-TULSA AT TULANE  (American).  Tulsa is a controversial team at Hoops HD.  They do have a unique case.  If they pick up yet another road win and remain unbeaten in conference, I don’t see how we can continue to dismiss them, although I’m sure some of us will try.  They did lose to div2 Southeast Oklahoma State, which is awful, but as the saying goes it’s the “entire body of work.” (unless you lose to BC, of course).

-XAVIER AT GEORGETOWN (Big East).  Georgetown is safely inside the bubble right now, and Xavier is squarely on it.  That can change if they can pick up some road wins, though.

-NEBRASKA AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten).  Both teams are outside the bubble, and quite honestly we probably shouldn’t even be mentioning this game, but I have a feeling that one or both of them are good enough to POSSIBLY play their way back into the picture.

-VANDERBILT AT GEORGIA (SEC).  Before the season started, I said I liked this Georgia team and people said I was crazy!!  They’re right about me being crazy, but it’s for reasons other than me picking Georgia.  They’re inside the bubble, and at home tonight with another winnable conference game, which can improve them to 5-2.

-GEORGE WASHINGTON AT VCU (Atlantic Ten).  A great game between two regional conference rivals.  VCU is a likely protected seed, and GW is inside the bubble.  They can get much further inside the bubble if they’re able to pull off the upset win here tonight.

-BAYLOR AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big Twelve).  Another Big Twelve match up between two teams that are safely in the field and looking for another quality win.  It’s to the point to where we need to start writing up the Big Twelve games where that is NOT the case, since that seems to be how virtually all the games are.

-WYOMING AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West).  Wyoming is right on the bubble with a small margin for error.

-FLORIDA AT ALABAMA (SEC).  Alabama is still outside the bubble, and Florida is even further outside.  Both teams have a lot of work to do, and that means winning this game.

-TENNESSEE AT ARKANSAS (SEC).  Tennessee is on the bubble, and needs a strong road win to help their case.  Arkansas is inside the bubble, but has struggled in their last couple of games.

-TEXAS A&M AT AUBURN (SEC).  TAMU is outside the bubble, but is playing much better than what most of us (including me until recently) have been giving them credit for.  They can pick up another road win tonight, which would really help their case.

-COLORADO STATE AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West).  Colorado State is in the rankings, inside the bubble, and has a chance to build on that by picking up another conference road win.

 

NEWS AND NOTES

-Michigan State @ Rutgers and DePaul @ Providence have been postponed due to severe winter weather in the Northeast.  Again, stay warm, stay fed and stay safe if you’re in that area.

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Under the Radar Game of the Day – Tuesday, January 27, 2015: Central Michigan at Kent State

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Chad

For our latest Bracket Racket podcast, CLICK HERE.

Central Michigan at Kent State, 7:00 PM Eastern, free streaming at kentstatesports.com

The UTR Game of the Day heads back to the MAC tonight for a clash between the two teams that are (for now at least) leading their respective divisions.  As we discussed last week, the MAC appears to be a free-for-all this year with at least four teams in contention for both division titles.  Kent State (14-5 overall, 5-1 in conference) currently has sole possession of the East Division lead.  The Golden Flashes have won five straight games, including a home win over Toledo, but arguably a favorable early conference schedule is all that has them out to this lead so far.  Jimmy Hall has been leading the way for the Golden Flashes so far this season.  After being held to only 6 points in the Toledo victory last week, he bounced back big time over the weekend, dropping 32 points on Ball State.

Kent State welcomes in West Division co-leader Central Michigan tonight.  CMU enters the game at 14-3 overall and 4-2 in conference (tied with Western Michigan for the division lead).  The Chippewas have been a bit hard to figure out so far this season, after padding their overall record with the 329th (out of 351) ranked non-conference schedule in the country.  They have, however, won at Toledo and at home against Buffalo already in MAC play — but then lost a game by 18 points at Ball State, one of the few teams we do not believe has a shot too contend in this conference.  If the Chippewas team that defeated Toledo and Buffalo shows up in Kent, Ohio tonight, especially with a strong performance by the team’s top scorer, Chris Fowler, they could knock Kent State back to the rest of the pack in the East.  If the team that lost games to Ball State and Bradley shows up instead, it could be a long night.

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