THE SPORTZ ASSASSIN  SportzAssassin.COM

                        

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHT:  Well, duh, the North Carolina-Duke game is the highlight of the day.   The biggest rivalry in men's hoops.  However, there are a slew of more IMPORTANT games this week...as bubbles could burst all over the country.  To me, the biggest is West Virginia at Cincinnati, Indiana at Michigan and Texas A&M at Texas Tech.  I think that Cincy, Indy and A&M could all possibly guarantee a spot if they win on Saturday.   Losses in those games would be just as devestating.   The game is on all ESPN stations

OTHER BIG GAMES TODAY!!!!

West Virginia at Cincinnati:  Cincinnati is trying to do the same thing Seton Hall did last night.....beat a Big East power in their finale.  Of course, since Seton Hall did win [and Cincy lost to the Hall earlier in the week] the Bearcats' back are that much more against the wall.  Their RPI numbers look pretty good....but a loss here would put them at 7-9 in the conference and losers of their final three games [and could be 4 straight Ls after they go to the Big East tournament. 

Louisville at UConn,:  The Cards are nearly dead...but an upset of UConn could put them back into the picture.   

Indiana at Michigan:  Neither team is a lock to get in at this point....though Michigan's remume does look good.  Indiana needs this win, and maybe a strong showing in the Big Ten tourny, to lock down a spot in the Dance.  

Texas A&M at Texas Tech:  A&M has gotta beat Tech, or the win over Texas this week would be meaningless. 

Iowa State at Colorado:  Yep,  ISU is the disappointing team here.  But they still can pop Colorado.  The Buffs really need to win this game to have any shot at getting in. 

BIG SOUTH:  Winthrop vs Coastal Carolina

ATLANTIC SUN:  Lipscomb vs Belmont.

OHIO VALLEY:  Murray State vs Samford

SO, WHO DO I THINK IS IN THE TOURNAMENT????

Below is my field of 65.  I figure that 16 bids will go to those 1-bid conferences that have no possible at-large hopefuls.  So, another 49 will come from the major conferences plus those conferences who seem to have at large quality teams.  I feel that we have 32 of the 49 locked in.  So, there are only 17 "bubble" spots remaining.  In GREEN are my locks [32]....in BLUE are my "lookin' good" teams...and in RED are my true bubble teams.  The teams in PURPLE have clinched automatic bids.  My tournament field....

ACC:  Duke, North Carolina, Boston College, NC State, Florida State
BIG EAST:  Villanova, UConn, Pitt, West Virginia, Georgetown, Marquette, Seton Hall, Cincinnati
BIG TEN: Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan
BIG XII:  Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas A&M
PAC-10:  UCLA, Washington, Arizona, California
SOUTHEASTERN:  Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky
ATLANTIC 10:  George Washington
COLONIAL:  George Mason, UNC-Wilmington
CONFERENCE USA:  Memphis, UAB
IVY LEAGUE:  Penn
MISSOURI VALLEY:   Wichita State, Northern Iowa, Creighton, Southern Illinois, Bradley 
MOUNTAIN WEST:  Air Force, San Diego State
PATRIOT:  Bucknell
WEST COAST:  Gonzaga
WAC:  Nevada

Automatic Bids from the champions of these leagues [16 bids]....

America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Horizon, Metro Atlantic, Mid-Continent, MAC, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Sun Belt

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