First of all, congratulations to our early entrants into the NCAA Tournament, as these have won the automatic bids in their conference:
Belmont = Clearly the best team in that league all year.
Indiana State = I reckon Larry Bird is happy today.
UNC Asheville = Their first time to receive a bid, so good for them.
Morehead State = With all apologies and sympathy to Joe, they won, and so deserve it.
So 4 of the 31 automatics are in the book, with 4 more to follow tonight. Otherwise, as I said above, there was too much for me to report it all, so I'll just hit the games with the biggest significance (to me, which means you're free to add your own). On Saturday:
Clemson 69 - Virginia Tech 60 = And why do I consider this a significant game. Well, we know Duke, UNC, and FSU will get bids in the ACC, and the league may get 2 more at-large, or maybe even 3. Here are 2 in the running for that, as they both end the regular season with 9-7 conference records. In a "normal" year, a winning ACC record would assure one of a bid, but with the Big Mouth getting 15 or 20 bids themselves (
) there may not be too many left for the rest of the nation. So, did this put the Tigers in, or knock the Hokies out? It all might come down to who can win a game or three in the ACC Tourney. But you can pretty much forget about . . .
Virginia 74 - Maryland 60 = The Cavaliers had about the same chance as . . . well, as the Cavaliers . . . of getting into the postseason, but the Terps were sorta kinda close to, mebbe. Not any more, and their only chance is to run the table in Greensboro over this coming weekend.
Harvard 79 - Princeton 67 = And this was huge because the Tigers could have clinched the Ivy with a win. Now, they have to beat Penn in their final game, then beat Harvard in a 1-game playoff to get to the Dance. So the Crimson has two chances to win the automatic, while Princeton has two shots at losing it.
Iowa 67 - Purdue 65 = This didn't get the Hawkeyes into the Tourney, nor will it keep the Boilermakers out. But you gotta admit, it's a hell of a good win for Iowa, and a pretty crappy loss for Purdue this late in the year.
Michigan 70 - Michigan State 63 = Much as is the case in the ACC, there is a question as to how many Big Ten schools will get bids. Hey, there are only 68 slots available, and once you subtract the 31 automatics, and the two or three dozen the Big Mouth will get (
), that don't leave us mere mortals with much on the table. These two in-state rivals are now both 9-9 in conferece play. Are both in? Is one out? Will it hinge on Big Ten Tourney play? I'll tell you sometime Sunday night.
North Carolina 81 - Duke 67 = Well, my Heels still didn't shoot great, but they did shoot a lot better than Dook, and they owned the inside play. Plus, they played decent defense, nor did they wilt when the Blue Devils made their runs. The win gave them what must be considered a rather improbable ACC regular season championship against a team that was handed that crown from Day One of the campaign. Now, people who have dissed them for a year and a half are wanting back on the bandwagon. Sorry, but if you weren't in back pushing when we were stuck in the mud, you can't hop on when we're coasting.
Now on Sunday there was:
Boston College 84 - Wake Forest 68 = The win itself is no shock, but it does put the Eagles into that 9-7 ACC record discussion. Are they in, or out? Do they need wins in the league tourney, or even help from other conferences? Again, I'll tell you in about a week.
St. Peter's 62 - Fairfield 48 = The Fairfield Stags had been the best team in the MAC all year. Now it looks like they won't even get into the gym for one little Dance, and will need to shake their booty in the NIT.
VCU 79 - George Mason 63 = I have been a casual VCU fan for decades, so forgive me if I refuse to confess that the main reason I revel in the result is that Geo. Mason knocked my Heels outta the Dance some years back. I figure GM will still get an at-large, while VCU's shot may still hinge on their next game, tonight, against . . .
ODU 77 - Hofstra 69 = As above, I sorta like Old Dominion because they run a quality mid-major program that has success year after year. I'm not sure the Pride will get an at-large, as I'm not sure the Colonial will get 4 teams in, and I would think both teams playing for the championship should get bids. But me, I don't get a vote.
Penn State 66 - Minnesota 63 = Two vital points here. First, this puts the Lions into that 9-9 Big Ten question mentioned above. In, or out? Second, what in the hell happened to the Tin Gophers this year? They were having a nice season, but now have lost 9 of 10 games. There are struggles, there are collapses, and then there's just giving up. Sheesh.
Kentucky 64 - Tennessee 58 = As talked about briefly above, the 'Cats kept close in Knoxville, and made the plays in the last six or eight minutes the Vols could not. So there's also two questions here. Does Kentucky have the depth to win more than a game or two in the NCAAs? And do the Volunteers even get a ticket to the Dance at all? Before you automatically say "Of course they do", consider that their 8-8 and 18-13 record is "meh" at best, and perhaps more so when one considers how weak the SEC West division truly is, while the admittedly much better East has only 2 teams in the national rankings (Florida and Kentucky), and both are merely middlin' in those ranks. And the Vols have lost 6 or their last 9 to boot. In my eyes, it's not a layup.
Ohio State 93 - Wisconsin 65 = I have watched the Buckeyes play a few times this year, and came away with the impression that they were good, but far from great. Well, if they can bottle what they did yesterday, and play in the NCAAs the way they did against the Badgers, they could cakewalk through the "competition", if you could call it that. They have both size and perimeter play, both youth and experience, and play hard on both ends. What they don't have is depth, and that could hurt them if somebody . . . or three . . . tweeks a hammie or commits some stupid fouls early. Otherwise, they are clearly at this point the Number 1 Number 1.
Tonight, action continues in the Sun Belt and Summit tourneys, while it ends in others, as four more tickets get punched this evening:
VCU vs. ODU = As I said above, I'd put both the Colonial teams in, regardless. But if they want to insure a seat on the bus, all they have to do is win this game. I'm hoping for a great one.
Iona vs. St. Peter's = And this will determine the MAC's automatic, and will give one of these the chance to get beaten in the opening round.
Charleston vs. Wofford = This one is the Southern Conference championship, and there will be no at-large for the loser. I think the Cougars are better than the Terriers, and they have the better record to indicate that, plus they have already beaten them twice. But the third time, for all the marbles, is a different situation altogether. This could be an all-out war.
Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's = The Gaels have struggle down the stretch, but still are capable of beating anybody in the WCC. And, after their early problems, the 'Zags have managed to get back into contention for a seat they believe should be kept warm for them, year after year. The WCC may get both in regardless of the results tonight, but better safe than sorry. So, just win bay-bee!!
That's all for me for now. Back tomorrow. Enjoy. Screw Drew.