TODAY'S HIGHLIGHT: Well, duh, the North Carolina-Duke game is the highlight of the day. The biggest rivalry in men's hoops. However, there are a slew of more IMPORTANT games this week...as bubbles could burst all over the country. To me, the biggest is West Virginia at Cincinnati, Indiana at Michigan and Texas A&M at Texas Tech. I think that Cincy, Indy and A&M could all possibly guarantee a spot if they win on Saturday. Losses in those games would be just as devestating. The game is on all ESPN stations
OTHER BIG GAMES TODAY!!!!
West Virginia at Cincinnati: Cincinnati is trying to do the same thing Seton Hall did last night.....beat a Big East power in their finale. Of course, since Seton Hall did win [and Cincy lost to the Hall earlier in the week] the Bearcats' back are that much more against the wall. Their RPI numbers look pretty good....but a loss here would put them at 7-9 in the conference and losers of their final three games [and could be 4 straight Ls after they go to the Big East tournament.
Louisville at UConn,: The Cards are nearly dead...but an upset of UConn could put them back into the picture.
Indiana at Michigan: Neither team is a lock to get in at this point....though Michigan's remume does look good. Indiana needs this win, and maybe a strong showing in the Big Ten tourny, to lock down a spot in the Dance.
Texas A&M at Texas Tech: A&M has gotta beat Tech, or the win over Texas this week would be meaningless.
Iowa State at Colorado: Yep, ISU is the disappointing team here. But they still can pop Colorado. The Buffs really need to win this game to have any shot at getting in.
BIG SOUTH: Winthrop vs Coastal Carolina
ATLANTIC SUN: Lipscomb vs Belmont.
OHIO VALLEY: Murray State vs Samford
SO, WHO DO I THINK IS IN THE TOURNAMENT????
Below is my field of 65. I figure that 16 bids will go to those 1-bid conferences that have no possible at-large hopefuls. So, another 49 will come from the major conferences plus those conferences who seem to have at large quality teams. I feel that we have 32 of the 49 locked in. So, there are only 17 "bubble" spots remaining. In GREEN are my locks [32]....in BLUE are my "lookin' good" teams...and in RED are my true bubble teams. The teams in PURPLE have clinched automatic bids. My tournament field....
ACC: Duke, North Carolina, Boston College, NC State, Florida State
BIG EAST: Villanova, UConn, Pitt, West Virginia, Georgetown, Marquette, Seton Hall, Cincinnati
BIG TEN: Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan
BIG XII: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas A&M
PAC-10: UCLA, Washington, Arizona, California
SOUTHEASTERN: Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky
ATLANTIC 10: George Washington
COLONIAL: George Mason, UNC-Wilmington
CONFERENCE USA: Memphis, UAB
IVY LEAGUE: Penn
MISSOURI VALLEY: Wichita State, Northern Iowa, Creighton, Southern Illinois, Bradley
MOUNTAIN WEST: Air Force, San Diego State
PATRIOT: Bucknell
WEST COAST: Gonzaga
WAC: Nevada
Automatic Bids from the champions of these leagues [16 bids]....
America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Horizon, Metro Atlantic, Mid-Continent, MAC, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt
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