More pub to Tennessee because they are under the hot light of being No. 1. Will they completely flame out against Kentucky? UK did defeat the Vols in Rupp on Jan. 22 , 72-66. Will Tennessee completely bottom out a week after their huge win over then-undefeated Memphis? (more…)

You know that if you’re getting anything picture-wise from the Northeast Conference on this site, that it’s going to be half-court-buzzer-beater stuff.

And they run out of the freaking gymnasium a la Drew Nicholas in the ‘03 Tournament. I. Love. It. Plus, an ex of mine is a grad student at CCSU, so I further approve of this highlight.

Yes, the media-hating hypocrite that is Bobby Knight will be at The Juggernaut for a few weeks, providing some quotables about how to bow out early win in The Tournament. And yes: Bloggers everywhere are rejoicing.

I don’t see how he’s going to really get that much of a sentence in during studio coverage with Vitale and Digger (who tend to tug at each other as is), but maybe Knight would prefer it that way. Can’t you see Knight just giving that holier-than-thou, creepy smile while he judges Phelps’ analysis. Great stuff.

I’d wax poetic about the unbridled joy that all fingers-to-the-keyboard bloggers are feeling today, but let’s just sit back and wait to see which ESPN employee is bribed with enough money to let his greasy fingers slip off the censor button in two weeks. Someone make this happen, please.

Another bottle on another floor. As a Bulls fan, this made me smirk. But I have to say that Kevin O’Neill was pretty on-the-ball last night after this “garbage” *rimshot* occured. God job from him. Also, notice how…

A) …Easily O.J. Mayo slices through Arizona’s defense.

B) …Davon Jefferson first taunts the student section as what he thought would be The Last Word in what must have had a few off-air exchanges

C)…Rece Davis promptly objects to the behavior. (Good boy, Rece.)

D)…Jay Bilas still is mastering the art of the pen-to-screen analysis.

Evidently my sidebar is completely screwy on some people’s browsers and perfectly fine on others. I’m not the savviest of Internet bloggers, but I’m trying to get the short circuit fixed ASAP.  

–No. 10 Wisconsin 57, No.19 Michigan State 42. Uh, I know that I’ve written about how Michigan State is a lock and all…but they have looked beyond pathetic in about a half-dozen games this year. I know Wisconsin can make you play through the mud, but 42 points? Will I have to be the one that comes out and blasts Izzo for this, or does he get a free pass from the media because he won a national title this decade?

–No. 13 Louisville 90, No. 17 Notre Dame 85. Luke Harongody goes for a beastley 40 in the losing effort. (Including some bizarre late 3-pointers.) You’re really starting to hear that “Louisville to the Final Four” bandwagon coming down the road. Remember: Edgar Sosa still has a prominent role on this squad.

–No. 4 UCLA 70, Arizona State 49. Twenty-one point losses this late in the season aren’t good things. Love gets another double-double, going for 18 and 12.

–No. 8 Stanford 82, Washington 79. Jon Brockman should stay around at Washington for another year if they want to make The Tournament next season. I really like this picture of Robin Lopez delivering a facial. Washington has not won in Stanford in two decades.

–No. 14 Butler 66, Wright State 61. You’ve got to learn how to win five-point games in the Horizon. Butler has become a master.

–No. 22 Washington State 70, California 49. Hey, this looks familiar…

Notable:

Maryland 74, Wake Forest 70. The Demon Deacons are a year away as is, but Maryland had to get this one on the road. James Gist comes out of his…shell…and goes for 31 and 11. Hey, hey, none of that in the ACC unless it’s coming from a certain Tyler fellow.

Saint Louis 64, St. Joseph’s 55. The A-10, which was once thought to be at LEAST a three-big league, is chewing itself inside out to try and prevent that from happening.

Southern California 70, Arizona 58. USC looked better and Arizona just can’t quite gel. Seems as though the ‘Cats would have to lose another two games (possible) to hit the under side of the bubble.

All the typical references: Drinking, MySpace, Lavin putting his two cents in on Andrews’ ratings contribution and, of course, Musberger ogling at Andrews from his computer after midnight.

I don’t know what the hell a pepper pot is, but thank you for the lexicon, Lavin. Someone explain to me why these two co-ed chasers aren’t replacing Shulman and Vitale for ESPN’s Saturday night primetime game.

Set to broadcast nationally…

»No. 17 Notre Dame @ No. 13 Louisville; 7 ET (ESPN).

»Saint Louis @ St. Joseph’s; 7 ET (ESPN2).

»Southern California @ Arizona; 9 ET (ESPN).

»No. 19 Michigan State @ No. 10 Wisconsin; 9 ET (ESPN2).

»Wright State @ No. 14 Butler; 9 ET (ESPNU).

»No. 22 Washington State @ California; 11  (FSN).

• USC @ Arizona.

  • If the Trojans win: They’re locked up for seeding for The Dance.

  • If the ‘Cats win: They’re locked up for seeding for The Dance.

• Maryland @ Wake Forest.

  • If the Turtles win: They prove that they’re not such a fraud and continue to remain relevant.

  • If the Deacs win: They leapfrog the Terps and are the No. 4 team on the ACC totem pole.

• Washington State @ Cal.
  • If the Cougs win: The avoid being seeded anything worse than a 5 for March.

  • If the Bears win: They keep their head above water. It’s going to take more than just this to get back into the good grace of the selection committee.

This from the Duke Drawer of Shame. I’d be remiss if I didn’t put up this video via Awful Announcing.

Hope the guy-or-girl inside that Devil is okay, but that is some WEAK sauce. The Phoenix Suns Gorilla is pissed off on behalf of all competent mascots. And I can’t believe That Dude in all blue at the end of the video was accepted into Duke. I just can’t.

February ends with a monstrous jump. We go from 15 to 22 locks in a week, which really tightens up that bubble. All the red means there’s blood in the water. Or something.

I remind you: this feature is not about projecting the field or anticipating what might happen. No, this is how I see the field of 65 and who I think should be in right now. After all, we all complain about who WE think should have/should not have gotten in on Aftermath Monday. And no, I do not read any Bracketology. As I’ve stated before, Lunardi is just too good at what he does that he takes the fun out evaluating the field for me.

There are only 34 at-large berths handed out each year, but you have to know that by now. For the sake of this column, I’m assuming the worst right now. That means that I’m assuming that every single conference tournament will produce a winner that has no at-large chances. Those rules will next week. This is bare bones at-large candidacy right now.

There are now 22 locks. The at-large field after that? We’re currently at 36 teams.

The math: 34 at-large berths - 22 locks= 8 spots left. The good news? Those spots will inevitably grow because some of the locks will earn the auto bids, clearing up more room for bubble teams. God, I love March.

If you have any questions, gripes, serious disagreements or love letters you’d like to send me, I can be reached at editor@collegehoopsjournal.com. Or you can just post in the comments, which is always encouraged.

Gone from last week’s edition: Oregon and Rhode Island. Back: Virginia Tech. Finally showing up: Kentucky. For all of your NCAA Tournament questions, needs and curiosities, follow me. (more…)