Post UNC Duke Game

Following today's action four teams are now in the field of 65: Cornell (Ivy), Winthrop (Big South), Belmont (Atlantic Sun), and Austin Peay (Ohio Valley). Tomorrow is a key championship game for bubble teams between Drake (in the tourney regardless) and Illinois St. (on the bubble). Most likely the MVC will get both teams into the field based on their league's history.

I watched Baylor today, against the hardest team to figure out in America, my Red Raiders, and I was very impressed at how they came out and competed like a team that knew a win would virtually lock them into the NCAA tournament.

Other games/teams of note:

• Syracuse over Marquette: The Orange kept themselves in the hunt with a huge win in the Carrier Dome
  
• West Virginia over St. Johns: Mountaineers avoided a BAD loss in overtime today.
• Georgetown over Louisville: I have not been impressed with the Hoyas all year, however, after their win today they look to be a solid 2 seed again.
• North Carolina over Duke: The Tarheels looked up a 1 seed in my mind tonight. At the moment they also have a nice path to San Antonio, Raleigh and then Charlotte. Dick Vitale needs to start making deodorant ads after seeing vast amounts of perspiration clearly on his shirt.
• New Mexico over Colorado St.: The Lobos continue to roll now 24-7 and make their case for an at-large bid ever stronger. However I would like to see Alford win the MWC tourney so Loboland does not have to sweat it out on Selection Sunday.
• UCLA over Cal: Amazing game! PAULY MAGIC or words to that effect from Musburger's mouth. How 'bout seeing Lavin commentating at the place that fired him? Personally I like Lavin and think he is a great analyst, and probably has a much less stress filled job working along side Brent, or maybe not?
• USC over Stanford: Trent Johnson is not having a good week. Should've beat UCLA and now is looking like a 3 seed. The Trojans however are looking very good and are one of those teams you don't want to play in the NCAA tournament.
• UTEP over Houston: Cougars must win the C-USA tourney to make the NCAA tourney.
• Memphis over UAB: Interesting how much better Memphis plays when they respect their opponent.
• Dayton over St. Joe's: Goodness me, last weekend I had the A-10 down to 2 teams Xavier and whoever wanted to win a couple games. Now St. Joe's beats Xavier and then goes on the road and gets beat pretty solidly by a desperate Flyer's team. So currently I am back to 4 A-10 teams: Xavier (Lock), UMass (solid bubble), Dayton (iffy next to last team in), and St. Joe's (last team in).

Alright another important game Arizona at Oregon is not over yet, but a win by Arizona should pretty much lock up a bid, and Oregon needs to win this and a couple in the Pac-10 tourney.

Sunday's Games

• Florida at Kentucky: Florida needs this game badly. Billy G thinks his team is ready for a deep NCAA tourney run according to ESPN's Andy Katz' blog. Mr. B's opinion: win this game first Billy G and then you can start conjuring up images of March Madness.
• Oklahoma St. at Texas: Texas can get a share of the Big 12 title and the #1 seed in the Big 12 tourney with the head to head victory over Kansas.
• Illinois St. vs. Drake: I think both teams are in, but if Illinois St. wins both teams WILL be in.
• New Orleans vs. South Alabama: Bubble teams want the Jags to win the Sun Belt tourney.
• Kent St. at Akron: Interesting game in the MAC could be a preview of the MAC final.
• Maryland at Virginia: Terps need to figure out how they want to end their season.
• North Texas vs. Western Kentucky: Although S. Alabama swept Big Red (best mascot in a non-BCS league) in the regular season, but I like Hilltoppers to win the Sun Belt tourney, which means I think the Sun Belt will get 2 teams in the field of 65 (I just heard a bubble pop!)

College basketball is AWESOME baby with a capital A! Gotta Love Dickie V!