Quick recap for last night – Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, Colgate and Montana State punched their tickets to the dance. The local teams had a bad night as Richmond lost to George Mason and Virginia Tech lost to NC State, probably ending their chances for the dance. Most of the bubble teams that needed wins yesterday got them, but there were a few exceptions (which were also teams at the fringe to begin with). The most notable is probably Wisconsin, who lost to 13th seed Ohio State and fell to 17-14 and 81st in the NET. Worst record that I remember getting an at large is 16-14, so Wisconsin has put themselves in a very bad spot.
I think at this point that we have no one else locking up an automatic bid until Saturday. But today is an incredible day for basketball – if you can’t find a good game, you are not trying. 16 of the top 25 play today – with most of them playing a bubble team trying to improve their resume. You also have one game where they pair off – as at 9:30 pm in the Big 12, #12 Kansas State plays #22 TCU. To be honest, if you want to watch great basketball, you can just turn on the TV at 12:30 pm for the first quarterfinal of the Big 12 between #10 Baylor and Iowa State, and then just leave the TV on that tournament for the other quarterfinals (#3 Kansas vs West Virginia at 3 pm, .#7 Texas vs Oklahoma State at 7 pm)
For the locals, VCU starts their Atlantic 10 tournament against Davidson at 11:30 am. The Rams probably need to win the conference title along with their regular season title to make the tournament, so hopefully 3 big wins in the upcoming days for them. Virginia plays in one of the best games of the day as the 13th ranked team in the country plays desperate North Carolina at 7 pm in the ACC quarterfinals.
If you want to see the top remaining teams, Big East regular champion #6 Marquette starts their quarterfinals at Noon against St. John’s (a slightly dangerous start since the Big East tournament is at Madison Square Garden where St. John’s plays from time to time at home). And #2 UCLA plays at 3 pm in their opening quarterfinal against Colorado.
But the real drama is still at the bubble. Here are 1 to 2 games at each time to keep in mind.
Noon – Big 10 – Michigan (17-14) vs Rutgers (18-13) – classic bubble game. Wolverines certainly can’t afford to get to 15 losses without at least 1 or 2 more wins. Rutgers meanwhile has been struggling and could use a win as well.
2:30 pm – Big East – #Connecticut (24-7) vs 21-10 Providence. OK – this isn’t a bubble game – both teams are likely in. But should be a great game.
2:30 pm – ACC – #21 Duke (23-8) vs Pitt (22-10). To think that if Pitt had made one last basket at the buzzer against Miami, they would be the ACC #1 seed. Now, they are a bubble team since their NET ranking is not strong (56th). Such is the life this year in the ACC (who I think is still stronger than people think).
5:30 pm – Mt West – Nevada (22-9) vs. San Jose State (19-12) – Many of the pundits have Nevada in the tournament, but losing to a dangerous San Jose St team might hurt those chances.
5:30 pm – Pac 12 – Oregon (18-13) vs. Washington State (17-15) – This is likely two teams on the wrong side of the bubble trying desperately for a win to keep their season alive.
6:30 pm – Big 10 – Illinois (20-11) vs Penn State (19-12) – The messy Big 10 has another classic bubble game. Illinois is safer here, so the Nittany Lions need this one more.
7 pm – SEC – Auburn (20-11) vs Arkansas (19-12) – both team that might be solidly in, or their conference records might drag them down. Don’t want to lose this game and find out how far they could be dragged down.
9 pm – Mt West – Boise St (23-8) vs UNLV (19-12) – should be a good game in a non-power conference.
9:30 pm – Big East – #24 Creighton (20-11) vs Villanova (17-15) – Villanova has been playing great at the end of the season but probably can’t get an at large bid with 16 losses.
9:30 pm – ACC – Clemson (22-9) vs NC State (23-9) – remember when two ACC teams with 22+ wins were locks. Not sure how both of these teams are on the bubble, and yet they are. Clemson might need this win a little more (despite being the better seed).
And for you nightowls or folks on the West Coast, the late games give you two of the best.
11:30 pm – Pac 12 – USC (22-9) vs Arizona State (21-11) – these are two teams that have been floating around the in/out line by the pundits. Arizona State probably needs this win more despite their recent victory over Arizona.
11:30 pm – Mt West – Utah State (24-7) vs New Mexico (22-10) – at one point, New Mexico was one of the last undefeated teams in the country. And then they took a tumble in January and February. Utah State has a great NET ranking but very few quad 1 wins. Should be a critical game for both teams.
Sorry if I missed a good one – I am sure there are lots of games to keep you entertained!!!!