Does any team have more to play for than Saint Louis? - Michael Hickey
There are only four games left in the college basketball regular season. We are less than 8 hours away from the Selection Show. Here is what you should be watching as you celebrate your Irish heritage or the Irish blood of a distant acquaintance (we'll accept both):
1 P.M., ESPN -- ACC Championship: Miami vs. North Carolina
Miami looks to continue their stellar play against any team not named Duke with a win over the Tar Heels in the ACC final.
1 P.M., ABC -- SEC Championship: Ole Miss vs. Florida
This is not the juiciest game on paper, but it has the most post-season implications. Ole Miss currently sits on the bubble and can 100% lock up a bid with an upset of the Gators.
1 P.M., CBS -- A-10 Championship: Saint Louis vs. Virginia Commonwealth
Two great teams that can both go deep in the NCAA Tournament. How can a neutral not root for for the Fighting Rick Majeruses?
3:30 P.M., CBS -- Big 10 Championship: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
Death. Taxes. Bo Ryan doing the unexpected. We can almost taste the Selection Show at this point.
Bubble Talk:
The only bubble team playing today is Ole Miss. They sit squarely on the bubble with a loss and would earn an auto-bid with a win. Talk about motivation.
Kentucky simply isn't tournament worthy. La Salle, UMass, Ole Miss and Tennessee all have better resumes. Alabama is about equal with the Cats. I would be surprised if they made it.
Middle Tennessee should not make the Dance. Period. They are 1-3 against the Top 50 (Ole Miss is sitting at 50) with 2 bad losses. Their RPI is good, but that index is woefully inaccurate at representing team strength. In comparison, Maryland, who are around the fourth team out, are 3-5 against the Top 50. Sorry, Blue Raiders.
The St. Mary's Gaels should be sweating it out today. With a record of just 1-3 against the Top 50 (they are 5-1 against Top 51-100) I would not be surprised if the Gaels missed as one of those sucker-punching snubs that no one foresaw. Their resume is only a hair better than Middle Tennessee's.
As a reminder, South Orange Juice has set up our first NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge. Sign up here (it's free!)
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