Highlighted Games for Wednesday, Dec 17th

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David Griggs

-GEORGIA STATE AT OLD DOMINION (Spotlight Game).  Also our UTR Game of the Day.  CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.

-TENNESSEE AT NC STATE.  You get the sense that both of these teams have work to do, so this game has a pivotal feel to it.

-CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT WOFFORD.  Wofford has the big win at NC State, and will get some chances at other big wins as well.  Having said that, they need to also win the small ones.

-USC UPSTATE AT MEMPHIS.  This is a very winnable game for USC Upstate, which would improve them to 9-3.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT CINCINNATI.  If you like offense, watch something else.  Both these teams could use a win, but you get the since Cincinnati needs it more.  It will likely be a rock fight.

-EASTERN MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN STATE.  Eastern Michigan has just one loss, and also has a notable win at Michigan.  They’re probably in over their heads tonight, but if they pull off this upset, you have to start seriously thinking of them as a team that could end up inside the bubble.

-NC A&T AT OHIO STATE.  Buy game.

-MANHATTAN AT PITTSBURGH.  Buy game

-HAMPTON AT ILLINOIS.  Buy game

-SC STATE AT TEXAS TECH.  Buy game.  Texas Tech has just one loss.

-PINE BLUFF AT HOUSTON.   Buy game.

-TEXAS STATE AT SFA.  Buy game.  Probably not technically, but it feels that way.

-MOREHEAD STATE AT GREEN BAY.  Buy game.  Probably not technically, but it feels that way.

-NEW MEXICO STATE AT BAYLOR.  Buy game.

-GRAMBLING STATE AT WASHINGTON.  Buy game

-CS NORTHRIDGE AT OREGON.  Buy game

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Under the Radar Game of the Day – Wednesday, December 17

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Chad

Georgia State at Old Dominion, 8:00 PM, American Sports Network (check local listings)

There are plenty of times that choosing the UTR Game of the Day is difficult — times when no game stands out or when a small group all appear noteworthy and a choice needs to be made.  Then there are days like today, when it is absolutely clear that one and only one game is the correct choice.  Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day is Georgia State at Old Dominion, as two teams from non-major conferences that could both end up at-large worthy by the end of the season play head-to-head.

Georgia State enters tonight’s game with a record of 6-2.  The Panthers have a notable blowout home victory over Green Bay, another very strong Under the Radar team.  Their two losses came at Iowa State and at Colorado State, both losses that are easily excusable.  Of course, with the rest of the Sun Belt Conference being on the weaker side (Louisiana-Lafayette’s KenPom rating of 142 is second best behind Georgia State), the Panthers will need a win or two of note to hang their hats on if they need an at-large bid.  Tonight’s game at ODU and next weekend’s game at Green Bay may be their only real chances to get that.

Old Dominion was a team that we initially picked to be just off the pace behind teams like UTEP and Louisiana Tech in Conference USA.  While both of those teams have struggled, the Monarchs have raced out to a 7-1 start on the season including an impressive home win over VCU and a neutral court win over LSU.  Their only loss was to Illinois State in the Paradise Jam, a loss that may come back to haunt them if they end up on the bubble at the end of the year.  In terms of quality wins on their profile, the bad news is that tonight’s game is their last major non-conference test.  The good news is that playing in Conference USA they will get some chances at resume building wins, including road tests at Charlotte and at UTEP.  However, if the Monarchs want to prove that they are a legitimate NCAA tournament team, winning tonight’s game would be a huge step in that direction.

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Bracket Racket: Dec 16th

Posted on December 16, 2014 by David Griggs

Below is our latest Bracket Racket podcast, where we reveal what we think the NCAA Tournament field would look like if the season ended today.  David, Chad and Joby banter about all that, and more….

To see Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day, CLICK HERE

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

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Under the Radar Game of the Day – December 16, 2014

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Chad

Northern Arizona at St. Mary’s, 10:00 PM Eastern, free streaming at thew.tv

The St. Mary’s Gaels are coming off of their biggest win of the season this past weekend, having headed to Omaha and pulled off a thrilling overtime win against the Creighton Bluejays.  That victory moved the Gaels to 6-1 on the season, with the only blemish being a home loss to Boise State.  It was also good enough to get them (just barely) into out bracket projection this week (click the link above for a look).

Tonight, the Gaels are sandwiching in a home contest against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks before heading on their longest road trip of the year, a cross-country journey to Madison Square Garden to take on nationally-ranked St. John’s Friday night.  After the St. John’s game, the Gaels will return home for a contest against a very solid Northeastern team before West Coast Conference play starts December 27.  The Gaels have been led offensively so far this year by Brad Waldow, though keep an eye on both Aaron Bright and Kerry Carter, the later of whom is shooting over 50% from behind the three point arc.

Northern Arizona has struggled so far this year, sitting at 3-6 with only wins over Southern, Fresno State and Loyola Marymount to their credit.  The Lumberjacks needed overtime to defeat Southern and have an overtime loss at home to a fairly weak UTSA team.  In other words, their best shot at a win tonight may be if the Gaels overlook them with this game coming in between two big road trips.  Ako Kaluna has been their leader offensively so far this season, though watch out for Quinton Upshur and Aaseem Dixon, neither of whom will shy away from shooting a three.

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Highlighted Games (or lack thereof) For Monday, Dec 15th

Posted on December 15, 2014 by David Griggs

-Duke, Georgia Tech, Pepperdine and Oregon State are all potential postseason teams that have buy games tonight.  Other than that, there is nothing of note.  You have our permission to take tonight off.

-Be sure and check out our podcast and updated bracket projections, which should be posted by tomorrow morning.

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Highlighted Games for Sunday, Dec 14th

Posted on December 14, 2014 by David Griggs

-NJIT AT LIU BROOKLYN.  UTR Game of the Day.  CLICK HERE.

-GEORGE WASHINGTON AT PENN STATE.  Both teams have good records, but still have a lot of work to do if they want their profiles to be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament.

-TEMPLE AT VILLANOVA (Big Five).  Nova clearly looks to be the superior team, but Temple is much improved this year with a 6-3 record.  If they can pull off an upset win in a game like this it will be one of the signature wins of their season.

-BUTLER AT TENNESSEE.  Butler has been a surprise team this year, but as of now they still only have one true road win, and Tennessee is unbeaten at home so far.

-LOUISIANA TECH AT SYRACUSE.  This LA Tech has a very high ceiling, and they’re certainly capable of winning this game.  Their problem is that they don’t always play up to their ceiling, and are coming off a very damaging loss to Louisiana Lafayette.  If they want any shot at all at an at-large bid, they have to pick up this win at Syracuse.

-EASTERN WASHINGTON AT WASHINGTON.  This is technically a buy game, but it is a very interesting match up.  Eastern Illinois has just one loss, and already has a notable win at Indiana.  Washington is unbeaten and off to a much better than expected state.  If Eastern can pull off the upset, you have to start thinking they’re a team that can land inside the bubble of the NCAA Tournament.

-WOFFORD AT NC STATE.  It’s a buy game, but an interesting one between what appears to be the best team in the SoCon and a one loss NC State team.

-ILLINOIS STATE AT DEPAUL.  At 6-2, DePaul has looked better than expected, but still has a lot of work to do.

-WEST VIRGINIA VS MARSHALL.  West Virginia is off to a great start and Marshall certainly is not, but this is game that WVU has struggled to win in the past, so it may be more competitive than you would expect.

-FORDHAM AT SAINT JOHN’S.  It’s a crosstown match up, but it is also a huge mismatch.  The Johnnies have had a great year so far this year.

-SAINT PETER’S AT SETON HALL.  Buy game.  Seton Hall has just one loss.

-COPPIN STATE AT UCONN.  Buy game.

-PRARIE VIEW AT TEXAS TECH.  Buy game.  Texas Tech has just one loss.

-MONTANA STATE AT WYOMING.  We’re still keeping an eye on Wyoming, but they’ve go ta lot of work to do.

-FIU AT FGCU.  FGCU has just one loss and should be able to get this one at home.

-NC A&T AT OLD DOMINION.  Buy game.

-JACKSONVILLE AT FLORIDA.  This is a buy game that the Gators cannot afford to lose.

-NORTH TEXAS AT SFA.  If SFA can win out, they may have a chance at an at-large.

-UNC WILMINGTON AT LOUISVILLE.  Buy game.

-SOUTHERN AT IOWA STATE.  Buy game.

-SOUTHERN UTAH AT BOISE STATE.  Buy game.

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