Scores from last night include some more of my sterling picks:
Cincinnati 72 - Marquette 61 = Well, I actually blew this one. I said the Bearcats would win on a late bucket, so unless it was a 12-pointer I wuz wrong. The Golden Eagles don't have a snowball's chance at a #1-seed now, and may end up on the 3-line.
Temple 90 - U Mass 88 (OT) = I said about the Minutemen, and I quote they would ". . . give Temple about all they can handle . . . . They may not win, but they will show up." How much closer do you want me to call them?
South Florida 58 - Louisville 51 = And the Bulls came through for me too, winning on the road against Pitino's Yo-Yos.
Purdue 80 - Penn State 56 = Though this likely did not make the 'Makers' grasp on an at-large any more secure, it helps more than a loss would have hurt.
North Carolina 88 - Maryland 64 = The only other blowout I'll report, not because it helped the Heels with a seat (much less seed) all that much, nor because it hurt the Terps, who were already roadkill, but solely because it sets up what we all want to see . . . UNC at Duke Saturday night for the ACC regular-season title.
Texas 72 - Oklahoma 64 = I'm not gonna guarantee the 'Horns have earned an at-large, much less that they deserve one, but this does keep their hopes moving in the right direction.
Tennessee 74 - LSU 69 (OT) = As does this for the Vols. Maybe both these UTs will need a win or three in conference tournament play to insure their Dance, but it don't hurt them none.
St. Bonaventure 98 - St. Joseph's 93 (2OT) = But this heartbreaker for the Hawks may have ended their aspirations for that potential at-large from the A-10. Yet these two certainly did give us a great show here.
Missouri 78 - Iowa State 72 = I did NOT call for the Cyclones to knock off the Tigers on their home court. I DID say it would be more of a fight than you might think, and by my lights it was precisely that.
Mississippi State 69 - South Carolina 67 (OT) = Hey, surprise surprise! The Bulldogs win a game . . . or was it the 'Cocks who lost another one? As I said yesterday, I'm not sure if this saves their season or not (not, in my book, but I don't get a vote), yet it did not doom it either.
Ohio State 75 - Northwestern 73 = And again, I did not actually call for the Smarty 'Cats to beat the Buckeyes, though I may have hinted strongly at that possibility. However, even if I had, I'd profess that a game which hinges on one bucket, one rebound, one turnover, one foul, one whatever is close enough for guv'mint work.
N. C. State 77 - Miami 73 = Can you count this as that one signature win Jerry's Wolfpack needed to get back into the "at-large" picture? Ehhhh, I'd say no, despite the fact that Miami had a few of their own. So figure NCSU still need to make an ACC tourney run to sneak over the bubble. Question is, did this pop said bubble for the Hurricanes? Me, I'll let you know in about 10 days.
Colorado State 66 - UNLV 59 = Another Rocky Mountain highlight film here, which is getting almost scary. The Runnin' Rebels were all over the Rams in the first half, scoring 41 points to their 26. But apparently they forgot to bring any O2 tanks into their visiting lockerroom, and they ran out of that gas in the 2nd stanza, scoring only 18 more and turning a rout into a riot.
Today's action includes a ton of action in small and mid-major tournaments, either continuing or beginning. This included leagues like the Big South, American East, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Atlantic Sun, and West Coast . . . damn few of which have any chance at all of anything more than the single automatic bid. So I'll hold off on these, despite the fact that many teams' hopes will be crushed today, and stick to games like:
Michigan vs. Illinois = At 17-12 and 6-10, the Illini are likely victims of their 2nd-half collapse, and should be NIT-bound shortly. Still, if the UTs and NCSUs of the world have some hope remaining, so should Illinois. A win over the Wolverines would help, even if it did not totally clinch an at-large, and as I've harped on long and often, the Logans can struggle to outscore their opponents. This is in Champaign, so you can't quite stick a fork in the Illini . . . yet.
Florida State vs. Virginia = Both these teams, now the "also-rans" in the ACC race, have bids safely in their hip pockets. All a win or a loss here will do is affect their seeding in both the league and NCAA tournaments, moving one up a line while sliding the other down. That's not a big deal, in my way of thinking, but sometimes every little bit helps.
Virginia Tech vs. Clemson = Why bother with this one? Well, all the experts seem to feel the ACC will get 4 bids to the NCAA, or maybe 5 if Miami or State get lucky. I say, "What about the Tigers?" They are 7-7 in conference play, with the 'Canes and 'Pack at 8-7, plus they have very good wins over Iowa, Florida State, Virginia, and NCSU too. How can people talk about sub.500 Big East or Big Ten teams, yet ignore this? Because their stupid, that's how.
Georgia vs. Kentucky = Yeah, the Bulldogs shocked me some when they beat the Gators in Athens, so most anything can happen. But skin the 'Cats, in Rupp? Sure. Don't get me wrong . . . I'd kinda like to see it, and it might even be good for UK to lose one before The Dance begins, just to get their attention. Yet if this one isn't over with 10 minutes left, I'd consider it a moral victory for the Peaches . . . who will be creamed.
Washington vs. USC = With a conference 13-3 mark, against California's 13-4, the Huskies have their fate in their own hands. Considering how bad the Trojans have leaked this year, I give them as much of a shot at home as I game Georgia on the road above. And if, as I expect, they get past USC in LA tonight, they can assure with their next game they'll take it all by taking care of . . .
Washington State vs. UCLA = . . . the Bruins, who may just get booed off their home-away-from-homecourt tonight, following stories about what stupid spoiled drunked doped-up bozos they have become under Ben Howland. Hell, I'm a continent away, and even with my aged ears I can hear John Wooden spinning in his grave. Neither a win nor a loss, by either team, will make any difference whatsoever in the conference or national picture, and I even doubt that a total stomping by UCLA of the Cougars can turn their agony into ecstasy. Rave on!
That's gonna be it for this evening. As always, I hope you . . . enjoy.