Monday, Jan 26th
Marquette @ ND - Things are starting to go from "Well, we're not the greatest of teams, but we'll get a decent tournament seed anyway" to "We're not in any real danger of missing the tourney, but it would be nice to get a good win in every once in a while" for the Irish. Here's a good opportunity against a Marquette team that is somewhat unproven in conference and doesn't have anyone to adequately match up with Harangody. And it would be advisable for ND to stay above .500 in conference play as much as possible.
Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St. - The Sooners are really starting to look like a dominant team, to the point where they could compete for a National Championship should things go their way. We all know what Blake Griffin can do, but it's been the emergence of Willie Warren and, over the past few weeks, Austin Johnson, which has carried this team to the level they're at. Meanwhile, the Cowboys survived a must-win over Nebraska in OT and will be hungry and desperate for a good win. A & M was in a similar position a week ago against OU and the Sooners prevailed. Will it be the same this time?
Cal St. Bakersfield @ Oregon St. - This is mainly my way of giving a shout-out to the Beavers, who won back-to-back conference games last week and actually look like a somewhat difficult matchup for Pac-10 teams now. Considering where they were a year ago, this is a very good step.
Tuesday, Jan 27th
Miami (Fl) @ NC State - Miami can use all the conference wins they can get right now. NC State can use all the wins they can get, period.
BC @ Maryland - What happens when you pick up one big-time win but fail to get anything else worth considering on your tournament resume. Fair to say loser is done?
Texas @ Baylor - Well, I would hope the Bears have some pride and make a game out of this after getting embarrassed vs. OU. I understand OU's got Griffin and he's going to tear you up inside, but come on... at least UAB made a game out of it in a similar position. Either way, this should be an easier matchup for Baylor and it's at home.
Purdue @ Wisconsin - This game scares me because Wisconsin is always tough at home and this team will be VERY desperate for a win. The Badgers are a buzzer beater at Virginia Tech away from having absolutely nothing on their tournament profile, and now that they're below .500 in conference play, their tournament bid is looking really, really shaky right now.
BYU @ Utah - The Utes were up 8 @ UNLV but fell apart in the 2nd half and lost by 10. That was a win they really could have used, but for now they'll have to move on to play the preseason conference favorites, who have slipped up a few times in early MWC play. Despite their loss to UNLV, this conference is still anyone's race and the MWC regular season championship is likely good enough for an at-large bid. Should be some interesting basketball out west.
Wednesday, Jan 28th
Michigan @ Ohio St. - I understand it's a football rivalry, but it's a shame these teams are done playing each other by late January. Either way, the home team prevailed last time (Michigan) so Ohio State will be looking to take out two birds with one stone by picking up a good conference win and defending their home turf. And beating a rival. So three birds with one stone. Not bad
Duke @ Wake Forest - So much for a #1 vs. #2 matchup. Whatever. Anyway, Virginia Tech gave Wake fits offensively and defensively in the 2nd half of that game on Wednesday, and Duke has the tools to do the same to the Deacs this Wednesday. Maybe if Wake realizes Duke has no interior presence on either side of the ball, their offense will be more consistent. I still like Duke in this matchup though. This is the most athletic, experienced team Duke has had in a few years and they'll take it to the youngsters.
Pitt @ Villanova - Maybe this week voters will realize Nova shouldn't just be in the polls by default and should actually get a good win or two before being ranked.
Temple @ Rhode Island - This could be a matchup between the 3rd and 4th best teams in the A-10. Yea... they're getting two in this year max
Syracuse @ Providence - How about a Friars upset to throw some real chaos into the bubble picture? Such a weak non-conference resume, but how can you ignore 6-2 in the Big East right now? Should be interesting to watch.
LSU @ Tennessee - The Tigers are a very interesting case. They could go 24-7 and not make the tournament. Yea, 12-4 in the SEC should be good enough, but there's NOTHING on the non-conference end after falling short to Xavier. And if they don't get wins like this, what are they going to have to back up that lofty record? Meanwhile, Tennessee's seed is plummeting faster than anyone else's in the country right now and they really could use a good home win to get back on track.
UNC @ Florida St. - After Virginia Tech's emergence, the Seminoles have some competition for the 6th spot in the ACC... and there may not be room for 7 (although with the way the bubble's looking right now, there could be). This is a tough one to get, but after your competition wins back-to-back games against ranked opponents on the road, you have to do something to look good.
TCU @ San Diego St. - More MWC fun. Because anyone could win that conference right now.
Thursday, Jan 29th
Clemson @ Virginia Tech - Speaking of the Hokies... how about we make it 3 for 3?
Washington @ Arizona - Wait, the Huskies are the ones in prime position for the NCAAs? And the Wildcats are the ones falling apart in conference? Are you sure that's right?
Washington St. @ Arizona St. - If only because watching the end of the UCLA-Washington St. game was as much fun as I've had watching an underdog try to take down a big name school in a while. They are passionate for their basketball up in Washington. Too bad this one's on the road
Illinois @ Minnesota - Disaster avoided when Minnesota barely escaped IU with a victory. Now the Illini come to town, and they're playing as well as anyone in the Big Ten right now. A win would do well to keep Minnesota afloat on the bubble for the time being.
Alabama @ Arkansas - Still waiting for that first Razorback SEC win... and waiting...
San Diego @ Portland - Ah, my trendy mid-major pick of the year... you have disappointed me so... no respect shall be given to you on this blog. In fact, I'm rooting for Portland. What now, Toreros?
Cal @ UCLA - Will the real Cal please stand up? Is it the ones who started off on a tear in the beginning of Pac-10 season? Or the mediocre bubble team that's played the rest of the year? I would really like to know.
Stanford @ USC - Speaking of teams with gaudy records that probably won't get in the tournament... yes, I'm looking at you, Stanford. Maybe you should start beating teams like Oregon State (and yes, I did applaud and insult Oregon State in the same blog post. Here's how I reconcile it: what the Beavers did was great. But in the end, tournament teams should still beat them. Simple as that)
St. Mary's @ Gonzaga - One of only two WCC games you need to care about. The other being Gonzaga @ St. Mary's
Friday, January 30th
Valparaiso @ Butler - How about it? The Bulldogs have flown basically under the radar to an 18-1 record and continue to dominate the Horizon League (and picked up a win over fellow mid-major Xavier). Wasn't this supposed to be a down year for them too? So much for that
West Virginia @ Louisville - The Cardinals look to keep it perfect in the Big East with a win on Saturday. And unlike some other undefeated Big East teams (cough Marquette cough) they've actually beaten some decent opponents.
ND @ Pitt - The Irish just finished a three game stretch against 3 of the top 15 teams in the nation, two on the road. What do they get for their troubles? Another four games that include 3 more top 15 teams, including Louisville again. There is no mercy in the Big East.
Michigan @ Purdue - Michigan is one of the more difficult teams to figure out due to the strength of their wins (UCLA, Duke) and the weakness of some of their losses (@ Maryland, @ Penn St., down by 20 at one point @ IU). All in all, this team seems to be shaping up as an interesting bubble case and could really use a win on Saturday. Then again, so could my Boilers, who are looking to keep pace with Michigan St. in the Big Ten title race.
Oklahoma St. @ Texas A&M - The Aggies need this win like no other right now.
Georgetown @ Marquette - Well, this is certainly shaping up to be a marquee day for the Big East, isn't it? Time for the Golden Eagles to put their money where their mouth... er, record, is.
South Carolina @ Kentucky - It's not a good thing if you're a power conference and your conference leader, the only undefeated team in conference play, lost to VMI.
Stanford @ UCLA - The Cardinal are beginning to pay for their weak non-conference schedule. You gotta take advantage of the opportunities you get when you go that route... and with so few of those opportunities, you can't be picky.
UNC @ NC State - This has to be somewhat fierce of a rivalry, right? And NC State technically is still alive as a bubble team, right? Maybe that one was pushing it too far.
New Mexico @ Utah - Because anyone can win that conference right now. And yes, I know I used that argument earlier in the post. But when over half the teams in the conference have a share of first, really, ANYONE can win the conference.
Providence @ UConn - Big week for the Friars, with two shots at marquee wins. Get one of them and we're talking.
UNLV @ Air Force - Because anyone can win... well, not Air Force. But you get the point.
Arkansas @ LSU - The sad thing is, the winner of the SEC West might not even get a tournament bid. I'm still amazed at the mediocrity of this conference. At least last year teams like Miss St. emerged and made a run. I'm not sure any of these teams are going to do it this year.
Washington @ Arizona St. - The Huskies can make it a clean sweep of the Pac-10 title contenders. And establish themselves as a contender, if they haven't already.
Baylor @ Missouri - Important game for both teams to add more insurance to what is likely tournament bids for both school.
Virginia Tech @ BC - The Eagles need wins, and need them fast. Luckily for them, Virginia Tech just became a legitimate victory, so here's a chance handed to the Eagles on their doorstep. I'd take it if I were them.
Miami (Fl) @ Maryland - Ditto for both of these teams.
Florida @ Tennessee - Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2008-2009 SEC representatives in the NCAA Tournament!
Cal @ USC - Because you need something to do at 11:30 PM at night, seeing as it's uber-lame to go to bed at 11:30 on a Saturday night. Or something like that
Sunday, Feb. 1st
Penn St. @ Michigan St. - The Nittany Lions are currently over .500 in the Big Ten. Their non-conference resume isn't special, but they've got some decent conference wins. The profile would look just a bit stronger if they found a way to get this one done.
St. Joseph's @ Dayton - Important game for St. Joe's to gain national respect and for Dayton to retain it.
Boise St. @ Houston Baptist - Only because Gordon Watt, who is leading Houston Baptist at 17.6 pts per game, used to play for Purdue. That's all I got, sorry.
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