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–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.
This is just getting ridiculous. Arizona State, St. Joe’s, Arizona, Michigan State: What the hell?
The A-10 is very fortunate that so many BCS schools are struggling in locking up at-larges, because otherwise it would be a one-bid league this year. I think St. Joe’s still has the bonafides for a second bid for the league, but more losses like last night will change that.
Smails – I still think that the smaller conferences will be represented to a lesser degree than in recent years. Some have convinced themselves that since Drake, Xavier and Butler are doing so well that it’s an up year for the Small Guy, but that’s certainly not the case.
I put up a link to an article a few weeks ago that made the case that this year’s Tournament will have more upsets, but I’m not so sure about that.
I agree with you on the smaller conferences – and it’s too bad because the overwhelming mediocrity of the BCS schools left the door open for what should be unprecedented numbers of mid-majors getting at-larges this year. Doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. It’s just mediocre all the way around.