I’m not really sure what’s going on with the sidebar. I’ll try and get this thing fixed as soon as possible. What matters is what’s below.
–No. 2 Memphis 82, Tulsa 67. I’d argue that beating Tulsa by only 15 in your own gym after that sloppy performance against Tennessee is a worrisome result.
–No. 6 Kansas 75, Iowa State 64. ‘Hawks held Iowa State to just 23 points in the first half, effectively delivering the win. Darrell Arthur, one of the key cogs to this team, had an 18-and-10 night. It’s funny to see how so many people have kind of turned on Kansas, yet this team has only three losses entering March.
–No. 7 Duke 71, Georgia Tech 58. I gotta say: Duke looked good. I also gotta say: It was their home floor against Georgia Tech. Coach K is a win away from No. 800, so ESPN is warming up that PR machine right about now. Who would you pick to go farther in The Tournament—Duke or unranked Arizona?
–No. 11 Georgetown 64, St. John’s 52. Three things that happened last night: DaJuan Summers scored 21 points, Georgetown shot 88 percent from the line and the team kept the total points under 120. Whenver that happens, Georgetown will win 90 percent of the time.
–No. 16 Purdue 65, Minnesota 53. The best thing I have to say about Purdue: They have been winning the games they’re supposed to win for about two months now.
Notable:
Kentucky 58, Mississippi 54. Okay, now we’ve really got something cooking here. Ole Miss is falling without a parachute, while Kentucky is 10-3 (in a weak SEC) and starting to make things confusing for the selection committee.
UAB 88, UTEP 81. Blazers’ RPI keeps creeping.
Nebraska 63, Oklahoma 45. Hopefully the committee won’t overlook this cringe-worthy loss from the Sooners, who have the same conference record as the Huskers (6-7).
George Washington 85, Rhode Island 68. Rams started the year 14-1. Since then: 6-8. Bubble has burst and the Rams are quite soapy right now.
Alabama 59, Arkansas 56. The SEC is eating itself alive.
Clemson 79, Miami (FL) 69. ‘Canes cool off and with this loss are now back to below .500 in the ACC.
Question: Can the Selection Committee actually say, “There aren’t even 34 teams worthy of at-large bids this year”? Because that’s what it feels like right now. Oklahoma loses by 18 to Nebraska? Rhode Island loses by 17 to GW? Arkansas loses to ‘Bama? Oy vey.
Also, re: Kansas – that is fine with me if people want to turn on them. The more that hop off their wagon, the better. Of course, I said that last year about A&M and look where that got me.
It’s seasons like this that make coaches like Boeheim look foolish for saying The Tournament should have more teams. I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me. The Tournament’s size is P-E-R-F-E-C-T minus the play-in.