18 Feb26 - Two For Every Day Of The Week
Volume XXII, No. 17 - 18 Feb26 - [] Top 25 Ballot
Two For Every Day Of The Week
In the BIG EAST, Creighton edged Villanova in overtime (@89-83[OT] as tMarcus Foster[28p8r] starred) to knock the VU/Wildcats out of first place; earlier, CREIGH tanked at Butler (70-@93 as bKelan Martin[26p7r]b starred). Xavier held a one-game lead with one week to go.
In the BIG 12, Texas Tech fell at Oklahoma State (71-@79) while Kansas dumped Oklahoma (@104-74 sinking 16 threes and totally shutting down pTrae Young[11p9a5to;3/13fg]). That gave KANS a one-game lead on TXT heading into their showdown for first place. The Jayhawks edged the Red Raiders on the road (74-@72 as gDevonte Graham[26p4a] starred and bKeenan Evans[6p3a6r] was no factor). That locked up the regular season title for Kansas (and Bill Self): their FOURTEENTH-STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLE (breaking the NCAA record they shared with UCLA [1967-79]), an achievement it may well take another 40 years to match! Elsewhere, Kansas State split on the week: beating Texas (@58-48 as both teams struggled from three: 5-for-31 combined) but lost at OK (77-@86 as pTrae Young[28p7a5r5to] starred).
In the PAC-12, Arizona hung onto the lead with a week to go despite dropping a road loss without its leader. Coach Sean Miller was suspended one game for his part in The Shoe Scandal as the AU/Wildcats tripped in overtime at mediocre Oregon (93-@98[OT] as cElijah Brown[30p;15/17ft] dueled 28p18r;11/15fg from cDeAndre Ayton). Arizona State dropped both Beaver State stops: first, falling at ORE (68-@75 despite 25p from Shannon Evans); then, tripping at Oregon State (75-@79 led by tTres Tinkle[15p8a8r]). Likewise, UCLA dropped two on the road as well: first, falling at Utah (78-@84); then, tripping at Colorado (76-@80 despite 21p6a6r from pAaron Holiday).
In the SEC, Auburn hung onto the lead with a week to go despite falling at Florida (66-@72). Texas A&M fell at home to mediocre Mississippi State (@81-93 despite 25p11r from cTyler Davis). Kentucky turned in two rout wins: first, thumping Arkansas on the road (87-@72 controlling the boards 46-29 led by pShai Gilgeous-Alexander[18p7a5r] despite 26p1a from Daryl Macon); then, doing the same at home to Missouri (@87-66 despite 26p3a8r from tKassius Robertson). Tennessee edged FLA (@62-57). Alabama fell twice: first, tanking at arch-rival AUB (70-@91 despite 25p5r5to from fCollin Sexton); then, tripping at home to ARK (@73-76). Earlier, MIZZOU tripped at home in overtime to lowly Mississippi (@87-90[OT] as gBreein Tyree[25p] led the way).
In the ACC, Virginia cruised to the regular season title with a three-game gap. Elsewhere, Virginia Tech split on the week: first, beating Clemson (@65-58 despite xMarcquise Reed[28p3a10r]'s star turn); but then falling at home to Louisville (@68-75 as pQuentin Snider[22p6a6r] led the way). N.C. State thumped Florida State (@92-72 as the Seminoles were 0-for-15 from three-point land). Duke dumped LVILLE (@82-56 led by Grayson Allen[28p]).
In the AMERICAN, Houston fell off the pace with a road loss at Memphis (85-@91 despite 30p7a from pRob Gray). Meanwhile, Cincinnati led Wichita State by a game with one week to go.
In the BIG 10, all the top contenders cruised 2-0 on the week, leaving Michigan State on top to claim the regular season title.
Gonzaga (and Mark Few) closed the regular season 2-0 to claim the WEST COAST regular season title for the SEVENTEENTH TIME IN EIGHTEEN YEARS. (It's short of the achievement of KU/Self in the B-Major BIG12 [and only St. Mary's{bMatthew Dellavedova} in 2012 stood in the way of 18-straight]; but both feats by themselves are first-ballot Hall of Fame stuff.)
Nevada's 2-0 week clinched its second-straight MOUNTAIN WEST title.
Likewise, 2-0 Rhode Island opened a three-game gap to clinch its first-ever ATLANTIC 10 title (and first regular season title in any conference IN 37 YEARS!!!)
Louisiana's FOUR-GAME GAP clinched the SUN BELT title for the Ragin' Cajuns.
In the OHIO VALLEY, Jacksonville State knocked Belmont off the pace (@78-67 on 25 assists) while Murray State went 2-0 on the road to claim the regular season title.
The SOUTHERN race flip-flopped dramatically in the final week as East Tennessee State dropped three squeak losses (all at home): tripping against lowly The Citadel (@82-84 despite 17p5a6r from pBo Hodges), against Wofford (@71-75) and against Furman (@76-79). Meanwhile, UNC-Greensboro went 3-0 on the week to claim the regular season title by a game ... AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
In the WAC, a 2-0 week (and a two-game gap) gave New Mexico State its third regular season title in four years!
In the MID-AMERICAN, both Buffalo and Toledo split on the week: BUFF tripped at also-ran Miami(Ohio) while TOLEDO fell at also-ran Eastern Michigan (79-@85 as pPaul Jackson[18p10a] led the way). With a week to go, East-leader BUFF led West-leader TOLEDO by a game.
With a week to go in the BIG SKY, Montana's two-game gap clinched the regular season title for the Grizzlies.
In CONFERENCE USA, Western Kentucky hung in the race after thumping Old Dominion (@88-66). With a week to go, Middle Tennessee led WKU by a game (with a head-to-head showdown on tap).
Vermont opened a three-game gap to clinch its second-straight AMERICA EAST title.
In the showdown for the SUMMIT title, South Dakota State edged arch-rival South Dakota (@76-72 behind xMike Daum[20p12r] despite 33p from gMatt Mooney). It's the FOURTH TITLE IN THE PAST SIX YEARS for the Jackrabbits.
In the COLONIAL, spoiler William & Mary edged College of Charleston in overtime (@114-104[OT] as pDavid Cohn[30p9a5r] starred). The loss meant COFC had to share the regular season title (its first) with Northeastern.
The BIG WEST Wars have come down to the final week after UC-Irvine dumped UC-Santa Barbara (@69-49) to force a three-way tie (along with UC-Davis) for first place.
In the SOUTHLAND Wars, nothing has been settled. Lamar edged Stephen F. Austin on the road (71-@66). Meanwhile, Nicholls beat New Orleans (@78-64 thanks to 19 steals). NICHOLS led Southeast Louisiana by a game with a week to go.
In the METRO ATLANTIC, spoiler Monmouth knocked off Rider (@91-77 as bMicah Seaborn[30p5r] starred); but RIDER regrouped to outrun Iona (@110-101 as bDimencio Vaughn[26p6r] dueled 40p4a8r from tRickey McGill). Meanwhile, Canisius went 2-0 (including a road win at Niagara) as both teams shared the regular season title (the first in over 20 years for CANIS).
In the HORIZON, Northern Kentucky went 3-0 on the week (including a road win at Illinois[Chicago] [79-@72 as bLavone Holland{25p6r6to} starred]). Meanwhile, Wright State also beat UIC on the road as well (88-@81 as xLouden Love[23p15r5a] starred), but fell at IUPUI (56-@66) to only go 2-1 and miss a chance to grab a share of the regular season title. (It's the first-ever Division I title for NOKY.)
Penn took sole possesion of the IVY LEAGUE lead with a week to go after edging Harvard (@74-71).
In the BIG SOUTH, UNC-Asheville won its showdown with Winthrop (@89-75 controlling the boards 42-25) to clinch its second-straight BIG SOUTH title (outright this time).
The SWAC race is going down to the final week thanks to Arkansas-Pine Bluff beating Grambling on the road (75-@66) to pull the Tigers back to the pack. GRAMB leads ARBP by a game.
In the MEAC Wars, Savannah State lost twice: first, tripping in overtime at Hampton (102-@114[OT] as bKalin Fisher[37p6r] starred); then, tanking at Bethune-Cookman (92-@121 as BC notched 35 assists and 16 threes). Meanwhile, North Carolina A&T fell at Florida A&M (77-@83). Bethune-Cookman led by a game over four teams with a week to go. (Hampton was declared a 2-0 win by forfeit against Morgan State after multiple MSU players were ejected/suspended at 57-38 in the second half.)
- - - - - -
Further revelations in the NCAA Shoe Scandal implicated players such as Miles Bridges(MICHST), Wendell Carter Jr.(DUKE) and DeAndre Ayton(AZ) as a balance sheet of agent Andy Miller listed multiple "loans to players" for up to $10,000. Arizona suspended coach Sean Miller for a game while other schools claimed "no NCAA rules were violated".
- - - - - -
Fully one-third of the conference races are going down to the final week yet to be decided:
In the BIG EAST, Xavier leads Villanova (at Seton Hall, Wednesday) by a game. In the SEC, Auburn (at Arkansas, Tuesday) leads Tennessee by a game. In the AMERICAN, Cincinnati leads Wichita State by a game (and those two meet in the finale at WSU, Sunday).
In the PAC-12, Arizona still has work to do to hold off USC (hosting UCLA, Saturday).
In the MID-AMERICAN, East-leader Buffalo leads West-leader Toledo by a game overall. In CONFERENCE USA, Middle Tennessee (vs Marshall, Saturday) leads Western Kentucky by a game (and those two meet at MTSU, Thursday). The BIG WEST Wars conclude with three teams (UC-Irvine, UC-Santa Barbara, UC-Davis) tied for the lead all a game ahead of Cal State-Fullerton; (UCI hosts UCD, Saturday). The SOUTHLAND Wars conclude with Nicholls leading Southeast Louisiana (at New Orleans, Wednesday) by a game (and those two meet at SELA, Saturday).
In the IVIES, Penn (at Yale, Friday) leads Harvard by a game. In the SWAC Wars, Grambling State leads Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a game. In the MEAC Wars, Bethune-Cookman (vs NCAT, Monday) leads four teams (Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Savannah State, Norfolk State) all by a game; (NORFK hosts HAMP, Thursday).
There's no true Anti-Spoiler team this year who has a guaranteed At-Large bid waiting even if they fall in their 1BC conference tournament. None of the splashworthy 1BC gap-champions have quality wins from the preseason to be that highly rated individually. Loyola(Illinois)[MVC+4](won at Florida) and Louisiana(SUN.B+4) come from the highest-rated non-B-Major conferences but neither should take that risk. Vermont(AMER.E+3), New Mexico State(WAC+2)(beat Miami[Florida]), Middle Tennessee/Western Kentucky(beat Purdue)(C-USA) and Murray State/Belmont(OVC) all will be dangerous first-rounders but their Red Swirl status won't get them in without winning their own tourneys.
In case their teams don't make the Big Dance, this is the last chance to catch these Off-Broadway 1BC stars: Try not to miss shooters xMike Daum(South Dakota State) or gGarrison Mathews(Lipscomb).
The BIG 10 is playing a week early in order to book MADISON SQUARE GARDEN for its tourney. Only [2a]Ohio State(vs MICHST) had a decision win among itself, [1]Michigan State and [2b]Purdue; so none of them are clear favorites in the tourney.
FOUR-GAP [1]Loyola(Illinois) thoroughly dominated the MISSOURI VALLEY regular season; so the conference tourney should be no different.
FIVE-TiTo [1]Gonzaga and [2]St. Mary's traded road wins during the WEST COAST regular season; so both teams have reason for confidence in the expected rubber game final.
[2]Belmont won the only regular season matchup with [1]Murray State (but [4]Jacksonville State was 3-1 against them both); so the OHIO VALLEY tourney outcome is far from certain.
Home-court advantage should be the edge for [1]UNC-Greensboro past [2]East Tennessee State (who split home wins in the regular season) in the SOUTHERN tourney.
FOUR-GAP [1]Bucknell dominated the PATRIOT regular season; so home-court advantage should be overkill.
Three-gap [1]Vermont has only lost once to a AMERICA EAST team in the past two years, so playing at home should be license to cruise.
Gap [1]South Dakota State and [2]South Dakota split home wins in the SUMMIT regular season and both feel at home at the SANFORD PENTAGON; so the tourney crown is well up for grabs between those two.
[1]UNC-Greensboro and [2]East Tennessee split home wins in the SOUTHERN regular season (and only a lousy final week kept ETSU from being the gap-champ). Asheville might be as much of a home court for ETSU as UNCG.
[1a]Rider and [1b]Canisius traded (squeak) home wins in the regular season; so the expected METRO ATLANTIC final is basically a toss-up.
[2]Wright State swept two (squeak) wins over [1]Northern Kentucky in the HORIZON regular season; so NKU can't feel confident of going TiTo.
In the BIG SOUTH, [1]UNC-Asheville, [2a]Radford and [2b]Winthrop all split home-and-away among each other; so having home-court advantage should be the edge to see UNCA through.
Gap [1]Florida Gulf Coast and [2]Lipscomb swapped (squeak) road wins during the ATLANTIC SUN regular season; so playing at home may not mean much for FLGC in the expected rubber game final.
Home-court advantage should carry gap [1]Wagner through to the NORTHEAST tourney crown.
-- Ron
Top 25 - 18 Feb26 - [] Column
Two For Every Day Of The Week
In the BIG EAST, Creighton edged Villanova in overtime (@89-83[OT] as tMarcus Foster[28p8r] starred) to knock the VU/Wildcats out of first place; earlier, CREIGH tanked at Butler (70-@93 as bKelan Martin[26p7r]b starred). Xavier held a one-game lead with one week to go.
In the BIG 12, Texas Tech fell at Oklahoma State (71-@79) while Kansas dumped Oklahoma (@104-74 sinking 16 threes and totally shutting down pTrae Young[11p9a5to;3/13fg]). That gave KANS a one-game lead on TXT heading into their showdown for first place. The Jayhawks edged the Red Raiders on the road (74-@72 as gDevonte Graham[26p4a] starred and bKeenan Evans[6p3a6r] was no factor). That locked up the regular season title for Kansas (and Bill Self): their FOURTEENTH-STRAIGHT CONFERENCE TITLE (breaking the NCAA record they shared with UCLA [1967-79]), an achievement it may well take another 40 years to match! Elsewhere, Kansas State split on the week: beating Texas (@58-48 as both teams struggled from three: 5-for-31 combined) but lost at OK (77-@86 as pTrae Young[28p7a5r5to] starred).
In the PAC-12, Arizona hung onto the lead with a week to go despite dropping a road loss without its leader. Coach Sean Miller was suspended one game for his part in The Shoe Scandal as the AU/Wildcats tripped in overtime at mediocre Oregon (93-@98[OT] as cElijah Brown[30p;15/17ft] dueled 28p18r;11/15fg from cDeAndre Ayton). Arizona State dropped both Beaver State stops: first, falling at ORE (68-@75 despite 25p from Shannon Evans); then, tripping at Oregon State (75-@79 led by tTres Tinkle[15p8a8r]). Likewise, UCLA dropped two on the road as well: first, falling at Utah (78-@84); then, tripping at Colorado (76-@80 despite 21p6a6r from pAaron Holiday).
In the SEC, Auburn hung onto the lead with a week to go despite falling at Florida (66-@72). Texas A&M fell at home to mediocre Mississippi State (@81-93 despite 25p11r from cTyler Davis). Kentucky turned in two rout wins: first, thumping Arkansas on the road (87-@72 controlling the boards 46-29 led by pShai Gilgeous-Alexander[18p7a5r] despite 26p1a from Daryl Macon); then, doing the same at home to Missouri (@87-66 despite 26p3a8r from tKassius Robertson). Tennessee edged FLA (@62-57). Alabama fell twice: first, tanking at arch-rival AUB (70-@91 despite 25p5r5to from fCollin Sexton); then, tripping at home to ARK (@73-76). Earlier, MIZZOU tripped at home in overtime to lowly Mississippi (@87-90[OT] as gBreein Tyree[25p] led the way).
In the ACC, Virginia cruised to the regular season title with a three-game gap. Elsewhere, Virginia Tech split on the week: first, beating Clemson (@65-58 despite xMarcquise Reed[28p3a10r]'s star turn); but then falling at home to Louisville (@68-75 as pQuentin Snider[22p6a6r] led the way). N.C. State thumped Florida State (@92-72 as the Seminoles were 0-for-15 from three-point land). Duke dumped LVILLE (@82-56 led by Grayson Allen[28p]).
In the AMERICAN, Houston fell off the pace with a road loss at Memphis (85-@91 despite 30p7a from pRob Gray). Meanwhile, Cincinnati led Wichita State by a game with one week to go.
In the BIG 10, all the top contenders cruised 2-0 on the week, leaving Michigan State on top to claim the regular season title.
Gonzaga (and Mark Few) closed the regular season 2-0 to claim the WEST COAST regular season title for the SEVENTEENTH TIME IN EIGHTEEN YEARS. (It's short of the achievement of KU/Self in the B-Major BIG12 [and only St. Mary's{bMatthew Dellavedova} in 2012 stood in the way of 18-straight]; but both feats by themselves are first-ballot Hall of Fame stuff.)
Nevada's 2-0 week clinched its second-straight MOUNTAIN WEST title.
Likewise, 2-0 Rhode Island opened a three-game gap to clinch its first-ever ATLANTIC 10 title (and first regular season title in any conference IN 37 YEARS!!!)
Louisiana's FOUR-GAME GAP clinched the SUN BELT title for the Ragin' Cajuns.
In the OHIO VALLEY, Jacksonville State knocked Belmont off the pace (@78-67 on 25 assists) while Murray State went 2-0 on the road to claim the regular season title.
The SOUTHERN race flip-flopped dramatically in the final week as East Tennessee State dropped three squeak losses (all at home): tripping against lowly The Citadel (@82-84 despite 17p5a6r from pBo Hodges), against Wofford (@71-75) and against Furman (@76-79). Meanwhile, UNC-Greensboro went 3-0 on the week to claim the regular season title by a game ... AAARRRGGGHHH!!!
In the WAC, a 2-0 week (and a two-game gap) gave New Mexico State its third regular season title in four years!
In the MID-AMERICAN, both Buffalo and Toledo split on the week: BUFF tripped at also-ran Miami(Ohio) while TOLEDO fell at also-ran Eastern Michigan (79-@85 as pPaul Jackson[18p10a] led the way). With a week to go, East-leader BUFF led West-leader TOLEDO by a game.
With a week to go in the BIG SKY, Montana's two-game gap clinched the regular season title for the Grizzlies.
In CONFERENCE USA, Western Kentucky hung in the race after thumping Old Dominion (@88-66). With a week to go, Middle Tennessee led WKU by a game (with a head-to-head showdown on tap).
Vermont opened a three-game gap to clinch its second-straight AMERICA EAST title.
In the showdown for the SUMMIT title, South Dakota State edged arch-rival South Dakota (@76-72 behind xMike Daum[20p12r] despite 33p from gMatt Mooney). It's the FOURTH TITLE IN THE PAST SIX YEARS for the Jackrabbits.
In the COLONIAL, spoiler William & Mary edged College of Charleston in overtime (@114-104[OT] as pDavid Cohn[30p9a5r] starred). The loss meant COFC had to share the regular season title (its first) with Northeastern.
The BIG WEST Wars have come down to the final week after UC-Irvine dumped UC-Santa Barbara (@69-49) to force a three-way tie (along with UC-Davis) for first place.
In the SOUTHLAND Wars, nothing has been settled. Lamar edged Stephen F. Austin on the road (71-@66). Meanwhile, Nicholls beat New Orleans (@78-64 thanks to 19 steals). NICHOLS led Southeast Louisiana by a game with a week to go.
In the METRO ATLANTIC, spoiler Monmouth knocked off Rider (@91-77 as bMicah Seaborn[30p5r] starred); but RIDER regrouped to outrun Iona (@110-101 as bDimencio Vaughn[26p6r] dueled 40p4a8r from tRickey McGill). Meanwhile, Canisius went 2-0 (including a road win at Niagara) as both teams shared the regular season title (the first in over 20 years for CANIS).
In the HORIZON, Northern Kentucky went 3-0 on the week (including a road win at Illinois[Chicago] [79-@72 as bLavone Holland{25p6r6to} starred]). Meanwhile, Wright State also beat UIC on the road as well (88-@81 as xLouden Love[23p15r5a] starred), but fell at IUPUI (56-@66) to only go 2-1 and miss a chance to grab a share of the regular season title. (It's the first-ever Division I title for NOKY.)
Penn took sole possesion of the IVY LEAGUE lead with a week to go after edging Harvard (@74-71).
In the BIG SOUTH, UNC-Asheville won its showdown with Winthrop (@89-75 controlling the boards 42-25) to clinch its second-straight BIG SOUTH title (outright this time).
The SWAC race is going down to the final week thanks to Arkansas-Pine Bluff beating Grambling on the road (75-@66) to pull the Tigers back to the pack. GRAMB leads ARBP by a game.
In the MEAC Wars, Savannah State lost twice: first, tripping in overtime at Hampton (102-@114[OT] as bKalin Fisher[37p6r] starred); then, tanking at Bethune-Cookman (92-@121 as BC notched 35 assists and 16 threes). Meanwhile, North Carolina A&T fell at Florida A&M (77-@83). Bethune-Cookman led by a game over four teams with a week to go. (Hampton was declared a 2-0 win by forfeit against Morgan State after multiple MSU players were ejected/suspended at 57-38 in the second half.)
- - - - - -
Further revelations in the NCAA Shoe Scandal implicated players such as Miles Bridges(MICHST), Wendell Carter Jr.(DUKE) and DeAndre Ayton(AZ) as a balance sheet of agent Andy Miller listed multiple "loans to players" for up to $10,000. Arizona suspended coach Sean Miller for a game while other schools claimed "no NCAA rules were violated".
- - - - - -
Fully one-third of the conference races are going down to the final week yet to be decided:
In the BIG EAST, Xavier leads Villanova (at Seton Hall, Wednesday) by a game. In the SEC, Auburn (at Arkansas, Tuesday) leads Tennessee by a game. In the AMERICAN, Cincinnati leads Wichita State by a game (and those two meet in the finale at WSU, Sunday).
In the PAC-12, Arizona still has work to do to hold off USC (hosting UCLA, Saturday).
In the MID-AMERICAN, East-leader Buffalo leads West-leader Toledo by a game overall. In CONFERENCE USA, Middle Tennessee (vs Marshall, Saturday) leads Western Kentucky by a game (and those two meet at MTSU, Thursday). The BIG WEST Wars conclude with three teams (UC-Irvine, UC-Santa Barbara, UC-Davis) tied for the lead all a game ahead of Cal State-Fullerton; (UCI hosts UCD, Saturday). The SOUTHLAND Wars conclude with Nicholls leading Southeast Louisiana (at New Orleans, Wednesday) by a game (and those two meet at SELA, Saturday).
In the IVIES, Penn (at Yale, Friday) leads Harvard by a game. In the SWAC Wars, Grambling State leads Arkansas-Pine Bluff by a game. In the MEAC Wars, Bethune-Cookman (vs NCAT, Monday) leads four teams (Hampton, North Carolina A&T, Savannah State, Norfolk State) all by a game; (NORFK hosts HAMP, Thursday).
There's no true Anti-Spoiler team this year who has a guaranteed At-Large bid waiting even if they fall in their 1BC conference tournament. None of the splashworthy 1BC gap-champions have quality wins from the preseason to be that highly rated individually. Loyola(Illinois)[MVC+4](won at Florida) and Louisiana(SUN.B+4) come from the highest-rated non-B-Major conferences but neither should take that risk. Vermont(AMER.E+3), New Mexico State(WAC+2)(beat Miami[Florida]), Middle Tennessee/Western Kentucky(beat Purdue)(C-USA) and Murray State/Belmont(OVC) all will be dangerous first-rounders but their Red Swirl status won't get them in without winning their own tourneys.
In case their teams don't make the Big Dance, this is the last chance to catch these Off-Broadway 1BC stars: Try not to miss shooters xMike Daum(South Dakota State) or gGarrison Mathews(Lipscomb).
The BIG 10 is playing a week early in order to book MADISON SQUARE GARDEN for its tourney. Only [2a]Ohio State(vs MICHST) had a decision win among itself, [1]Michigan State and [2b]Purdue; so none of them are clear favorites in the tourney.
FOUR-GAP [1]Loyola(Illinois) thoroughly dominated the MISSOURI VALLEY regular season; so the conference tourney should be no different.
FIVE-TiTo [1]Gonzaga and [2]St. Mary's traded road wins during the WEST COAST regular season; so both teams have reason for confidence in the expected rubber game final.
[2]Belmont won the only regular season matchup with [1]Murray State (but [4]Jacksonville State was 3-1 against them both); so the OHIO VALLEY tourney outcome is far from certain.
Home-court advantage should be the edge for [1]UNC-Greensboro past [2]East Tennessee State (who split home wins in the regular season) in the SOUTHERN tourney.
FOUR-GAP [1]Bucknell dominated the PATRIOT regular season; so home-court advantage should be overkill.
Three-gap [1]Vermont has only lost once to a AMERICA EAST team in the past two years, so playing at home should be license to cruise.
Gap [1]South Dakota State and [2]South Dakota split home wins in the SUMMIT regular season and both feel at home at the SANFORD PENTAGON; so the tourney crown is well up for grabs between those two.
[1]UNC-Greensboro and [2]East Tennessee split home wins in the SOUTHERN regular season (and only a lousy final week kept ETSU from being the gap-champ). Asheville might be as much of a home court for ETSU as UNCG.
[1a]Rider and [1b]Canisius traded (squeak) home wins in the regular season; so the expected METRO ATLANTIC final is basically a toss-up.
[2]Wright State swept two (squeak) wins over [1]Northern Kentucky in the HORIZON regular season; so NKU can't feel confident of going TiTo.
In the BIG SOUTH, [1]UNC-Asheville, [2a]Radford and [2b]Winthrop all split home-and-away among each other; so having home-court advantage should be the edge to see UNCA through.
Gap [1]Florida Gulf Coast and [2]Lipscomb swapped (squeak) road wins during the ATLANTIC SUN regular season; so playing at home may not mean much for FLGC in the expected rubber game final.
Home-court advantage should carry gap [1]Wagner through to the NORTHEAST tourney crown.
-- Ron
- Key games this week:
- Monday:
- @Kansas-Texas, Duke-@VirginiaTech, TexasTech-@WVirginia, @
BethuneCookman-NC A&T, @MorganSt-CoppinSt(BaltimoreMD),
- Monday, Thursday, Sunday:
- ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT on-campus
-(@[1]FLGulfCoast, [2]Lipscomb),
- Tuesday:
- @NCarolina-MiamiFL, Auburn-@Arkansas, @TCU-KansasSt,
- Tuesday, Thursday-Friday, Sunday:
- BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT on-campus, @ #1-seed[UNCAsheville], on-campus
-(@[1]UNCAsheville, [2a]Radford, [2b]Winthrop, [4]@Campbell),
- Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday week:
- PATRIOT TOURNAMENT on-campus
-([1]Bucknell),
- Wednesday:
- Villanova-@SetonHall, @Clemson-FloridaSt, @NewOrleans-SELouisiana(LA),
- Wednesday-Saturday:
- OHIO VALLEY TOURNAMENT @EvansvilleIN
-([1]MurraySt, [2]Belmont),
- Wednesday-Sunday:
- BIG 10 TOURNAMENT @NewYorkNY/MSG/
-(Wed Open/32s: [11a]Minnesota-[14]Rutgers, [11b]Iowa-[11c]Illinois;
Thu 1st/16s: [4b]Michigan-[11b]/[11c], [6a]Indiana-[11a]/[14], [6b]PennSt-[10]Northwestern, [8]Maryland-[9]Wisconsin;
Fri 2nd/Qtrs: [1]MichiganSt-[8]/[9], [2a]OhioSt-[6b]/[10], [2b]Purdue-[6a]//[11a]/[14], [4a]Nebraska-[4b]//[11b]/[11c];
- Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday week:
- NORTHEAST TOURNAMENT on-campus
-(@[1]Wagner, [2a]MtStMarys, [2b]StFrancisPA),
- Thursday:
- Virginia-@Louisville, @MidTennessee-WeKentucky, @Montana-WeberSt,
- Thursday-Sunday:
- MISSOURI VALLEY TOURNAMENT @StLouisMO
-([1]LoyolaIL),
- Thursday-Monday week:
- METRO ATLANTIC TOURNAMENT @AlbanyNY/Siena/
-([1a]Rider, [1b]@Canisius),
- Friday:
- RhodeIsland-@Davidson, @Akron-KentSt(OH)(NEO),
- Friday-Monday week:
- SOUTHERN TOURNAMENT @AshevilleNC
-([1]@UNCGreensboro, [2]ETennesseeSt, [3]Furman, [4a]Mercer-[4b]Wofford),
- Friday-Saturday, Monday week-Tuesday week:
- WEST COAST TOURNAMENT @LasVegasNV/ORLEANS/
-([1]Gonzaga, [2]StMarys),
- Friday-Tuesday week:
- HORIZON TOURNAMENT on-campus, @DetroitMI/Detroit/
-([1]NoKentucky, [2]WrightSt, [3]ILChicago, [4]@Oakland),
- Saturday:
- NCarolina-@Duke(NC), @TexasTech-TCU(TX), WVirginia-@Texas, @MiamiFL-VirginiaTech, @SetonHall-Butler, @NCState-Louisville, @TexasA&M-Alabama, @Florida-Kentucky, @Missouri-Arkansas, @USC-UCLA(LosAngelesCA), @StJosephs-LaSalle(PhiladelphiaPA)
(BIG5), @UCIrvine-UCDavis(CA), @SELouisiana-Nicholls(LA),
- Saturday-Tuesday week:
- SUMMIT TOURNAMENT @SiouxFallSD/PENTAGON/
-([1]@SDState, [2]@SDakota),
COLONIAL TOURNAMENT @CharlestonSC/ColofCharleston/
-([1a]ColofCharleston, [1b]Northeastern, [3]Hofstra, [4]William&Mary),
- Saturday, Tuesday week, Saturday week:
- AMERICA EAST TOURNAMENT on-campus
-(@[1]Vermont),
- Sunday:
- @WichitaSt-Cincinnati,
- - - - - - -
- Monday week:
- Monday week:
- (None),
- Monday week, Thursday week-Saturday week:
- MID-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT on-campus, @ClevelandOH
-(Buffalo,Toledo, BallSt),
- Monday week-Saturday week:
- MEAC TOURNAMENT @NorfolkVA/NorfolkSt/
-(BethuneCookman, @Hampton,NCA&T,SavannahSt, @NorfolkSt).
Top 25 - 18 Feb26 - [] Column
- Virginia (26-2) ACC+3
- Michigan State (28-3) BIG10
- Kansas (23-6) 14-PEAT BIG12+2
- Villanova (25-4) 5-PEAT BIG5u
- Xavier (25-4)
- Gonzaga (27-4) 6-PEAT;17TH/18 WCC
- North Carolina (22-7)
- Duke (24-5)
- Arizona (22-7)
- Texas Tech (22-7)
- Ohio State (24-7)
- Purdue (26-5)
- Wichita State (23-5)
- Cincinnati (25-4)
- Nevada (25-5) repeat MWC+2
- Rhode Island (23-4) A10+3
- West Virginia (21-8)
- Auburn (24-5)
- Tennessee (21-7)
- Clemson (21-7)
- Michigan (23-7)
- TCU (20-9)
- St. Mary's (27-4)
- St. Bonaventure (22-6)
- Loyola(Illinois) (24-5) MVC+4
- Honorable Mention:
- Creighton (19-9),
Oklahoma State(16-13),Oregon(19-10), Florida (18-11), Virginia Tech (20-9), Memphis (18-11).
Louisiana (23-4) SUN.B+4,
Murray State (22-5) OVC,
UNC-Greensboro (21-7) repeat SOCON,
New Mexico State (21-5) 3RD/4 WAC+2,
Montana (19-7) SKY+2,
Vermont (23-6) repeat AMER.E+3,
South Dakota State(21-6) 4TH/6 SUMMIT+2,
College of Charleston(21-7)/Northeastern(20-9) COLON+2,
Nicholls(16-9),
Rider(22-8)/Canisius(21-10) MAAC+3,
Northern Kentucky (20-8) HORIZ,
Pennsylvania(20-7),
UNC-Asheville(18-11) BIG.S,
Bethune-Cookman(15-12).
posted by Ron @ Sunday, September 16, 2018
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