Siena (3-0) at Albany (2-1) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features the Battle of Albany between the Siena Saints and the (U)Albany Great Danes. Justice Shoats has averaged 24 points a game for Siena in their three wins so far this season. Under first-year head coach Gerry MacNamara, Siena has started their season with home wins against Brown and American along with a road win at Bryant.

UAlbany has started off the year 1-1 against D1 competition with a road loss at Army as well as an 87-73 win at Dartmouth in their last outing. Both Kehni Briggs and Bryan Joshua scored 19 points apiece in their aforementioned win at Dartmouth. This is also the beginning of a four-game homestand for the Great Danes.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-The game of the day, and probably the game of the season so far, was Charleston’s 119-116 double overtime win against Florida Atlantic. This game had so many exciting moments, and so many runs for each team, and so many momentum shifts, and was so good overall that when Charleston hit a dramatic 3pt shot at the buzzer at the end of the second overtime, I kind of felt disappointed that it went in!! I wanted them to keep playing!! Props and congrats to the guys at The Field of 68!! This game was part of their event, and it was INCREDIBLE!!! Now I expect every game they put on to be as good as this one!!!!!

-Purdue might not be quite as good as they were last year, but they are still pretty damn good! And it’s still one of the toughest places for road teams to win. Last night they took down 2nd ranked Alabama 87-78 in a really fun game to watch that went back and forth. Purdue did get control in the final minutes and Alabama, who was pretty good offensively for a lot of the night, came up empty on some key possessions late in the game.

-It’s hard to win at Wisconsin as well. Arizona fell 103-88 in what would have been an uncharacteristically high scoring game a few years ago for the Badgers. Wisky held a lead for most of the game, and every time Arizona came back they would go on a run and regain control.

-Marquette picked up a huge 78-74 road win at Maryland in front of a high energy crowd. The fans were in mid-season form! This game was just a blast to watch. Both teams made key plays at pivotal moments, the momentum felt like it was always shifting, and even in the final minute of the game when it looked like Marquette was putting it away Maryland forced some big plays and nearly tied it.

-Ohio State, who already had a nice win against Texas, just could not get their motors started last night on the road at Texas A&M. It was a sluggish first half for the Bucks, and while they weren’t blown out in the 78-64 loss, it never really felt like they were in the game either.

-High Point is an Under the Radar team to keep a very close eye on, and UAB is a team that is in trouble even though it’s just November. High Point knocked off UAB 68-65 on their home court yesterday in a game that was close for most of the way, but where High Point did seem to have the lead for most of the time. UAB, who had a razor thin margin for error due to their weak schedule, is now just 2-2 on the season. Their losses aren’t bad in the sense that they are going to be huge setbacks, but they are in the sense that those two losses were the kinds of games they needed to be winning in order to build up their NCAA Tournament resume. Some teams’ schedules don’t have the luxury of being able to improve as the season goes on. They need to start winning in November.

-Loyola Chicago got a really big 73-68 road win against Princeton. Like the rest of Princeton’s games, it was close and came down to the final minute of play, but unlike those other ones Princeton wasn’t able to hold on this time. Princeton has a ton of potential, and I think February-Princeton will be much better than November-Princeton, and that this will actually end up being a really valued road win for Loyola Chicago come March.

-Florida had very little trouble on the road against rivals Florida State. The Gators won 87-74.

-Virginia improves to 3-0 after their 70-60 win over Villanova. Nova is now just 2-3 on the year and leaking all kinds of oil.

-Michigan picked up their first notable win of the season as they knocked off TCU 76-64.

-Northwestern needed overtime to get by Eastern Illinois 67-58. That result is a little more than slightly discouraging for the Wildcats.

-Iowa knocked off Washington State 76-66 in a game where both teams came in 3-0. Obviously the Hawkeyes are now 4-0.

-DePaul is now 4-0 on the season after knocking off Duquesne 84-58 last night. They are MUCH better under Chris Holtmann as head coach this year.

-Florida had very little trouble on the road against rivals Florida State. The Gators won 87-74.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-WAKE FOREST AT XAVIER. Both teams are unbeaten. Wake had a very nice win against Michigan a little bit ago, but Xavier has only played home buy games and they didn’t exactly blow those teams off the floor. X should have the advantage playing at home, but it’s still their toughest test of the season by far up to this point.

-GEORGETOWN AT NOTRE DAME. Both teams are 2-0, but neither team has faced a real test, and we are still a LOOOONG way from declaring either one of them worthy of national attention. But, it’s a good early season game for two teams that have a long way to go, and a win would get each of them closer to where they want to be.

-LA SALLE AT DREXEL (Big 5). La Salle has shown some early promise, and will be tested on the road (at least somewhat) tonight against Drexel in the Big 5 Classic. It’s their first true road game (even though they’re not going all that far), so a win would be a nice addition to their early resume.

-SOUTH CAROLINA AT INDIANA. This is a game that the Hoosiers should hold on and win. It’s their first non-buy game, so it is a bit of a test, but it isn’t quite a HUGE test.

-COLORADO STATE AT OLE MISS. Ole Miss has won their three buy games, but they nearly lost to Grambling and didn’t exactly bury South Alabama, so for a team that came into the season with high expectations they are leaking quite a bit of oil. Colorado State has also had to sweat out some buy games, so they haven’t looked all that impressive either. It’s the first real test for two teams that have potential, but who have struggled on their early quizzes coming into this first test.

-SANTA CLARA AT NEVADA. Santa Clara has shown some promise despite being just 1-2 so far. They have a win against Saint Louis, and close losses to Arizona State and North Dakota State, so they could REALLY use a win like this to help even out their record and give their resume a boost early on. Nevada has a nice win against Washington, but I think this may be an even slightly tougher test.

BUY GAMES (and other notable games):

-Wofford @ Duke
-Mercychurst @ Columbia – Columbia can get to 5-0
-Youngstown State @ Syracuse – PENGUIN FEVER LIVES!!
-UT Martin @ Longwood – 2 UTR teams off to better than expected starts
-Tulsa @ Missouri State – Tulsa’s 1st road game, and can get to 4-0
-Stetson @ Oklahoma
-Stephen F Austin @ Arkansas State – I like this Arkansas State team, and a win gets them to 3-1
-Jackson State @ Vanderbilt – Vandy can remain unbeaten
-Idaho @ BYU
-Texas State @ Abilene Christian – a moderately interesting UTR game. It’s a winnable road game for Texas State
-Murray State @ Middle Tennessee – a win for MTSU gets them to 4-0
-LeMoyne @ Saint Bonaventure
-George Mason @ East Carolina – GMU is off to a bit of a slow start, and ECU is unbeaten so far
-Yale @ Minnesota
-East Tennessee State @ Davidson
-Green Bay @ Providence
-Mississippi Valley State @ Texas
-Oakland @ Kansas
-Northeastern @ Central Connecticut – two UTR teams that already have some notable wins
-Bowling Green @ Michigan State
-Kansas City @ Creighton
-Siena @ UAlbany – Siena is off to a 3-0 start and can pick up their second road win today if they can knock off their crosstown rivals
-Hofstra @ UMass – Hofstra has a win against Seton Hall already and can get another nice road win and stay unbeaten today
-Capital (nonD1) @ Dayton
-Loyola MD @ VCU
-James Madison @ Towson – two solid UTR teams
-Northern Illinois @ Bradley – both teams off to nice 2-1 starts
-LMU @ Saint Louis
-Omaha @ Southern Utah – Southern Utah can improve to 4-0
-Chicago State @ San Francisco – San Francisco can get to 4-0
-Pepperdine @ UC Irvine

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NEWS AND NOTES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-After nearly beating Gonzaga in their last game, Arizona State did pick up a really nice win against Grand Canyon 78-69. It was a missed opportunity for GCU to get a statement win on a neutral floor, and that’s something they’ll have limited opportunities to do given the strength (or lack thereof) of their conference, but I still think the Lopes can play their way into the top 25 by the end of the year, and that this was a good win for the Sun Devils.

-LSU picked up their first road win of the season and stays unbeaten after knocking off what we think is a pretty solid Kansas State team 76-65. It’s not easy to win at the Octagon of Doom, and the Tigers did it.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-VIRGINIA VS VILLANOVA (Hall of Fame Series – Baltimore, MD). Virginia won their first two buy games, and one could say this is their first real test, but when you look at how Villanova already has losses to Columbia and Saint Joseph’s and appears to be off the rails it may not be that much of a test after all. Still, it would be the most notable win on their resume to date.

-FLORIDA AT FLORIDA STATE. It’s a rivalry game between two teams that have blown through their home buy games up to this point, and will be tested for the first time tonight in a game that means something both on and off paper. We should learn something about both of them.

-TCU AT MICHIGAN. TCU is unbeaten in three buy games, but was challenged by Texas State in their last game and will be challenged a lot more tonight at Michigan. The Wolverines lost a close one to Wake Forest in their last game and will look to bounce back tonight at home against a quality opponent.

-ALABAMA AT PURDUE. Both teams are in the top 15, both have looked good so far, but both are also facing what will be their biggest test of the year so far tonight. It’s Alabama’s first road game, and while McNeese is solid, playing a ranked Purdue team on the road is a much higher hurdle to get over. It’s a chance for both teams to pick up a likely high caliber win that will look good on either teams’ resume come March.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT CHARLESTON. FAU didn’t get the win at UCF their last time out, but they played really well on the road against a really good team. I like this Charleston team as well. They come into this one unbeaten and while they don’t have any wins against the top 25, they didn’t just win easy home buy games either. They beat Southern Illinois out at the Pentagon in South Dakota and a decent South Florida team in their last game. This is the biggest test for either team so far, and we should learn something about both of them.

-UAB AT HIGH POINT. This is a VERY tough road test for UAB, and you get the sense that due to their light schedule it’s one that they kind of need on their resume. High Point is one of the better Under the Radar teams, and while I haven’t proclaimed them to be so good that I think they can make a run at the bubble just yet, I haven’t ruled out that possibility either. Another really good early season game where both teams will be tested and where we should learn something about both of them.

-LOYOLA CHICAGO AT PRINCETON. Both teams are unbeaten, and prior to the start of the season we felt that both of them had a very good chance of ending up as consensus top 40 teams and landing inside the bubble. Having said that, Princeton has had to sweat out three weak opponents, and while they did win them all, their level of play was concerning. Loyola hasn’t been tested yet and didn’t exactly blow through their first home buy game against Chicago State. Nevertheless, both teams have a lot of potential and tonight’s game is an opportunity for a solid win.

-SMU AT BUTLER. Butler has been a little disappointing so far, but has the chance to build up some momentum tonight. SMU comes in unbeaten, but this is their first road game and first real test. Like a lot of games we’re starting to see, it’s’ their first real test and we should learn something more about both of these teams.

-VIRGINIA TECH VS PENN STATE (Hall of Fame Series – Baltimore, MD). We aren’t really expecting big things from either team this year, but both are unbeaten and both have the chance to pick up what will (at least for now) be a notable win.

-MARQUETTE AT MARYLAND. This is the biggest test of the year so far for a Marquette team that we think can finish near the top of the Big East standings and end up as a protected seed. It’s their first road game against a Maryland team that’s blown through three buy games, and who is also being tested for the first time tonight.

-GEORGIA AT GEORGIA TECH. This one is usually fun. The Bulldogs are coming off a nice win against North Florida and can pick up their first road win against their rivals tonight.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT PITTSBURGH. It’s the Backyard Brawl!!! While we are happy that this series is back, and while both teams are undefeated, and while neither has faced a real test yet West Virginia has still shown a little more promise than what we were expecting. I’m not expecting either team to be inside the bubble come March, but they both certainly have a path to it and getting a win over a rival will help build up some momentum.

-WASHINGTON STATE AT IOWA. Both teams are unbeaten, but neither has faced a real test yet, so we should learn something about them tonight.

-ARIZONA AT WISCONSIN. Both teams are unbeaten, but both have played nothing but buy games. Arizona comes in ranked in the top ten and has very high expectations on the year. This is a very challenging road game, so we should learn something about the Wildcats.

-OHIO STATE AT TEXAS A&M. Ohio State already has a nice win against Texas, and if they can go on the road and beat what looks to be a really strong Texas A&M team then we’ll REALLY have to start looking at the Buckeyes. While we think TAMU is really good, they’re still looking for their first notable win of the year and have the chance to do that at home tonight.

BUY GAMES (and other games of note):

-Monmouth @ Rutgers
-Nicholls @ Cincinnati
-Tulane @ Furman – Both teams are unbeaten, and Furman has looked good so far, so this one is worth keeping an eye on
-Temple @ Boston College – it’s Temple’s first road game and a win gets them to 4-0
-American @ North Carolina
-Ohio U @ Memphis
-Eastern Illinois @ Northwestern
-Saint Joseph’s @ Pennsylvania (Big 5)
-Samford @ North Alabama – North Alabama can get to 4-0
-UMass Lowell @ Gonzaga – both teams are unbeaten, and Lowell will be a good team in the America East, but they are way overmatched tonight.
-Duquesne @ DePaul – DePaul can get to 4-0
-Cal State Fullerton @ Oregon State – Oregon State can get to 4-0

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VMI (3-0, 1-0 D1) vs. Tennessee Tech (2-1, 1-1 D1) – approx. 3:30 PM ET (PassThaBallLive.com)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day goes to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia for a contest in the opening round of the Greenbrier Classic (River Division). VMI started the year off with a pair of non-D1 wins and a 76-71 win at Bellarmine. TJ Johnson has averaged 18 points a game and 3 steals a game through his first 3 contests of the year.

Tennessee Tech started off the season with a loss at Georgia, but they now have a 2-game winning streak that includes a win against West Georgia and a non-D1 opponent. Daniel Egbuniwe scored 18 points in their win against West Georgia.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our 1st Under the Radar Video Podcast of the Season – CLICK HERE

-Auburn, Houst0n, Tennessee, Creighton, and Saint John’s all blew out their opponents in home buy wins.

-Troy ended up losing at Arkansas 65-49, but they were in this game for the majority of the time before they ran out of gas late in the second half. We were big on the Trojans coming into the season and still are. They probably needed a win in a game like this in order to make a solid run at landing inside the bubble, but even if they don’t knock off a top 25 team on the road they may still get a very serious look from the committee if they can blow through most of the rest of their schedule.

-Wake Forest REALLY struggled against USC Upstate, and was actually behind for much of the second half. They barely held on to win 85-80, but the showing was less than spectacular.

-Hofstra improved to 3-0 with their 49-48 rock-fight-like win over Seton Hall. The Pirates have now fallen to Fordham at home, and Hofstra on a neutral floor. It may be a long year for Seton Hall.

-North Texas, who has been very good in recent years but who we weren’t expecting that much from this year, is now 3-0 and they got a really nice 54-51 win at Minnesota yesterday. They are now a team we have our eyes on!

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-NORTHERN IOWA AT WICHITA STATE. These two are old MVC rivals and I believe it’s the first time they’ve met since Wichita State left to become members of the American. The Shockers are off to a 2-0 start with one of those wins being at Western Kentucky so they have shown a fair amount of promise. Northern Iowa is a team I was big on coming into the season, but they were just dominated by UC Irvine in their last game and need to bounce back.

-NORTHERN COLORADO AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE. This is a really solid UTR match-up. Northern Colorado nearly beat Colorado last week, and South Dakota State comes in undefeated with a notable win over McNeese State. I don’t know if either team will end up near the bubble, but the Jackrabbits are off to about as good of a start as you can ask.

-GRAND CANYON VS ARIZONA STATE (Phoenix, AZ). I’ve said for the last several months that I really like this Grand Canyon team and think they’ll be in the top 25 before the end of the season. They really struggled in their last game against Western Kentucky, but they were without two key players, so they’ll be a lot more dangerous if they are at full strength. Arizona State wasn’t a team we expected much from at all, but they nearly pulled the upset at Gonzaga last week and appear to be much better than most of us realized. This would be a high caliber win for the Sun Devils and end up looking pretty good on their resume if they can pull it off. In short, this is a very good early season opportunity for both these teams.

-LSU AT KANSAS STATE. Both teams come in 2-0, but neither has really been tested yet, so we should learn something about both of them tonight.

-Southern Illinois @ Oklahoma State
-TAMUCC @ New Mexico State – New Mexico State can improve to 3-0
-Omaha @ UNLV

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Chad, Rocco, and David are here for the first Under the Radar of the regular season! Teams like North Florida and Austin Peay from the Atlantic Sun are out to very good starts, which is our featured conference of the week. After that, we run through the other 22 leagues and discuss how Troy and Arkansas State have looked good out of the Sun Belt, UC Irvine has looked amazing out of the Big West, and Grand Canyon, despite being down a few key players, is off to a strong start. We discuss all that, and more! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-At the Champions Classic last night, neither Michigan State nor Kansas was a champion at shooting the basketball. Michigan State was just 3-of-24 from the outside and Kansas was under 30% from beyond the arc. Despite the poor shooting and appearing to be overmatched, Michigan State hung in. Kansas pulled it out in the end 77-69, but when I now look at Michigan State I see a team that went up against the top ranked team in the country and didn’t play their best game, but still hung in for most of the game. Imagine what they’ll look like when they do start playing their best games!

-Duke v Kentucky was played at a much higher level. Both teams were super talented, and both played together well despite it being early in the season and most of the players being new to the rosters this year. Duke appeared to be pulling away in the first half, but in the second half Kentucky made a defensive adjustment and actually came out in what looked to be a match-up zone. I think Kentucky’s defense in the second half made the difference. After about four video reviews in the final 30 seconds of the game, Kentucky got a huge 77-72 win. This is a big statement win for the Cats. They aren’t just a top 25 team, but a team that can compete against the best in the country.

-Villanova lost the Holy War to Saint Joseph’s. I know this is a rivalry, and that many think Saint Joe’s is good (despite already having a loss to Central Connecticut) and that many know that Villanova is not, but WOW has Nova fallen in the last two years!!

-UCF remains undefeated after their 100-94 win against Florida Atlantic. Considering FAU was on the road, they actually played really well in this game and kept fighting back every time it looked like UCF was about to get control. FAU may be better this year than what we were expecting despite the departure of Dusty May.

-North Florida, who had knocked off South Carolina and Georgia Tech, couldn’t get past Georgia last night. Georgia won 90-77 to stay unbeaten on the year, and while UNF didn’t get blown off the floor, it never really felt like they were in the game either. Still, from a UTR standpoint, North Florida has had a great start to the season.

-It seems like Syracuse always has trouble with Colgate, and they did again last night. It came down to the last possession with Colgate having a chance to either tie or win, but they couldn’t get a shot up and the Orange held on 74-72.

-The Battle of the Boulevard never disappoints!!! Last night was another thrilling, close, and back and forth game with Belmont grabbing the lead in the final seconds, Lipscomb having one last possession, but then failing to get a shot off. Belmont got the dramatic 80-79 win. This is one of our favorite rivalries, so we always mention it.

-Two other teams to keep an eye on that are from the Sun Belt are Texas State and Arkansas State. Texas State didn’t get the win at TCU, but they hung in there, and Arkansas State took Alabama to the wall a few days ago and blew Little Rock off the court last night. The Sun Belt is looking like a strong league this year and we will certainly be discussing that on our Under the Radar podcast tonight. So, don’t miss it!!

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-KENT STATE AT AUBURN. This is obviously a buy game, and it’s a game that Auburn should win rather easily (especially when you consider how well they’ve been playing), but Kent State does come in undefeated and if they can some how aim at the moon, shoot at the moon, and hit the, it would catapult them onto the national scene and give them the kind of win that could land them inside the bubble come March.

-TROY AT ARKANSAS. Troy was my preseason pick to win the Sun Belt, and while they haven’t had a test like this yet they do come into this one at 2-0. Arkansas is coming off a close loss to Baylor and will be looking to bounce back from that.

-CALIFORNIA AT VANDERBILT. Neither team will likely be anywhere close to the bubble come March, but for now they both come into this one at 2-0.

-WYOMING AT TEXAS TECH. We really like this Texas Tech team and while they may be tested a little bit tonight against a Wyoming team that comes in at 2-0, they should be able to win this one at home.

BUY GAMES (and other games that might as well be):

-UMass @ Louisana Tech – LA Tech can get to 3-0
-Wagner @ Saint John’s
-Le Moyne @ UConn
-Montana @ Tennessee
-Coastal Carolina @ NC State
-Ball State @ Dayton
-SC Upstate @ Wake Forest
-Merrimack @ VCU
-Louisiana @ Houston
-Oral Roberts @ Tulsa
-Hofstra @ Seton Hall – Seton Hall is coming off a loss to Fordham and needs to be on upset alert again in this one
-Fairleigh Dickinson @ Nebraska
-Houston Christian @ Creighton
-Westminster (nonD1) @ Utah State
-Oakland @ Illinois
-Cal State Fullerton @ Colorado
-Queens @ BYU
-North Dakota State @ Santa Clara
-Fresno State @ UC Santa Barbara – both teams are unbeaten
-Weber State @ Nevada – this could be somewhat competitive, but Nevada should win at home
-Long Beach State @ San Francisco – San Francisco is off to a good start and should stay unbeaten
-UT Arlington @ USC

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Canisius (0-2) at Mercyhurst (2-1, 1-1 D1) – 7:00 PM ET (NEC Front Row)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day makes its first appearance in Erie, Pennsylvania as the Mercyhurst Lakers host their first ever Division 1 opponent – the Canisius Golden Griffins. MU defeated Morgan State 78-73 for their first win at the Division 1 level last week; they were led by Mykolas Ivanauskas’ 16 points off the bench. Mercyhurst will be playing in the Northeast Conference this season.

Canisius has started off the season with back-to-back losses; after a blowout loss at Arizona, the Golden Griffins hosted Big 3 rival St. Bonaventure but came up short 87-78. Paul McMillan IV (a transfer from Central Michigan) did score 31 points against the Bonnies, but it was not enough to lead Canisius to victory.

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NEWS, NOTES, AND LINKS:

-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT – CLICK HERE

For John Stalica’s UTR Game(s) of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Alabama held McNeese at arms length for pretty much the entire game, and while McNeese did play well, they didn’t quite play well enough to beat the #2 ranked team on the road. But to be fair there are very few teams in the country that are capable of playing that well. The Tide picked up a nice 72-64 win.

-Austin Peay remains unbeaten after holding off Chattanooga 67-61 last night, and they are definitely worth keepin an eye on. Remember that one of their three wins came at Butler.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-VILLANOVA AT SAINT JOSEPH’S (Big 5). Both teams come into this one having lost home buy games in their previous game, so it goes without saying that both are off to a slow start. Both could use this win for what it means on paper, but they also need the momentum that comes from winning a rivalry game to build up some much needed momentum.

-MICHIGAN STATE VS KANSAS (Champions Classic – Atlanta, GA). Both teams come in unbeaten, and Kansas is coming off a really nice win against North Carolina in their last game, so they have been tested, but this is still their first big game away from home. Michigan State blew through their buy games, but this will be our first chance to really learn something about them.

-DREXEL AT TEMPLE (Big 5). Both teams come in 2-0, but neither have really been tested yet. It’s a rivalry game and it appears to be the toughest opponent either team has faced yet, so we should learn a little something about them today.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC @ UCF. Both teams are off to really good starts and after just one week it looks like they are set to outperform their preseason expectations by a ton. UCF managed a big win against Texas A&M and FAU absolutely blew Indiana State off the floor. This is an early season match-up between two teams that appear to be better than what most people thought they’d be.

-NORTH FLORIDA AT GEORGIA. North Florida already has two wins in road buy games against South Carolina and Georgia Tech, and has a shot at picking up a 3rd tonight. This is another game that North Florida can win, especially if Georgia isn’t ready for them. The Dawgs barely got by Tennessee Tech in their opener. I know UNF is an under the radar team, but they’re starting to build up a really good looking resume.

-DUKE VS KENTUCKY (Legends Classic – Atlanta, GA). The expectations and enthusiasm has been high around this Kentucky program, but this is their first real test under new Head Coach Mark Pope and we are all seeing how they handle it. To be fair, it is also Duke’s first real test. It’s two talented teams that are still getting used to playing with each other, and we should learn quite a bit about both of them tonight.

-AKRON AT SAINT MARY’S. This is likely a mismatch, but Akron is a strong enough UTR team to potentially make this one interesting. SMC has won both their games so far, but this may be their toughest test to date.

BUY GAMES (and others worth mentioning):

-Hampton @ Providence – Providence can get to 3-0
-Cornell @ La Salle – both teams are 2-0 and La Salle has shown some promise early on
-Norfolk State @ William & Mary – Norfolk just beat James Madison and can get to 4-0 with a win in this one
-Mount Olive (nonD1) @ East Carolina – ECU can get to 3-0
-Lehigh @ Columbia – Columbia has the big win against Villanova and can stay unbeaten with a win
-NC Central @ High Point – High Point can get to 3-0
-NC A&T @ George Wahsington – GW can get to 3-0
-Tarlton State @ Florida State
-Saint Francis U @ Penn State
-UIC @ Northwestern – Northwestern looking to bounce back from a close loss at Dayton
-Colgate @ Syracuse
-Eastern Kentucky @ Clemson – both teams 2-0
-SELA @ Mississippi State
-Sam Houston @ Baylor
-South Alabama @ Ole Miss
-Ohio U @ Illinois State – both are fairly decent UTR teams
-Chicago State @ Texas
-Texas State @ TCU – both teams unbeaten
-Jackson State @ Xavier
-Denver @ Colorado State (Front Range) – We at Hoops HD LOVE the Front Range!!!
-Corban College (nonD1) @ Boise State
-TAMUCC @ New Mexico
-South Dakota @ Iowa – both teams unbeaten
-Queens @ Utah – both teams unbeaten
-Northern Arizona @ Stanford – both teams unbeaten
-Western Oregon (nonD1) @ Oregon State
-Portland @ Oregon

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Belmont (1-1, 0-1 D1) at Lipscomb (2-1) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

The first half of tonight’s UTR Doubleheader includes the Battle of the Boulevard between the Belmont Bruins and the Lipscomb Bisons. Belmont will be seeking their first D1 win of the year after a tough loss at home to Furman 76-74 last Friday. Despite 26 points from Brody Peebles, the Bruins gave up a 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left to provide the losing margin. Lipscomb already has a win at Duquesne and a home win against Wofford to their credit; their only loss to date was on the road at Arkansas.

UC-Riverside (0-2) at California Baptist (2-0) – 10:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

The second half of tonight’s doubleheader takes us to the Battle for Riverside between the UC-Riverside Highlanders and the California Baptist Lancers. UCR was a darkhorse pick in some circles to win the Big West this year, but their first week was spent on the road on the losing end of buy games at Oregon and at BYU. The Lancers, on the other hand, are in the midst of a 6-game homestand to start the season; they have defeated Incarnate Word and Kennesaw State to begin their season. Their future in the WAC looms uncertain with the departures of Grand Canyon to the Mountain West and Seattle to the West Coast Conference.

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A full panel convenes to recap a busy first week of college basketball. We start off in the Big East, and while most of the teams have held serve in terms of winning their buy games, to date no one in the conference has played anything but a buy game, and some of those teams struggled to win those. Villanova is off to a really rough start after their loss to Columbia. In the SEC, despite some trouble on the flight over, Auburn picked up a massive win against Houston which will end up looking very good on their resume. Ohio State got a big win against Texas, North Carolina had an impressive showing at Kansas, Memphis is off to a good start out in the AAC, New Mexico picked up a big win at UCLA, and Gonzaga is off to a very impressive start. We discuss all that, and much more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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For today’s Hoops HD Daily Rundown – CLICK HERE

Before anyone goes any further, let me explain what it is that you’re looking at. This is NOT an attempt to rank the teams based on how good I think they actually are. Not at all. It is simply an attempt to rank them on their CURRENT MERIT. Simply put, how hard was it for them to win the games that they’ve actually won??

Winning home buy games is not hard to do, and I therefore award zero credit for doing it. Winning on the road against an Under the Radar team may not be that hard either, but it’s still harder than winning a home buy game. No power conference team whose only wins were home buy games made the field.

And, it is my absolute pleasure to bring this to you!! It’s ridiculous!! It’s absurd!! It gets people who whine about how useless Bracketology is before the month of February into an absolute tizzy!! AND I AM SO GLAD THAT IT DOES!!! Annoying those people makes me happy!!

Allow me to explain/defend why I do this. For starters, as an exercise, it forces me (and all of us at Hoops HD) to evaluate teams solely on what they have actually done. Getting into that state of mind this early actually helps us do a better job of evaluating the teams as the season goes on, and helps us identify teams that that are having good years sooner.

Secondly, if you look at a college basketball game, the score is on the scoreboard from the very beginning of the game. No one says “What’s the point in showing the score in the first half!!??” No one would look at the score pictured below at this point of the game and think of it as being any indication of what the final outcome would be. But, at that moment in time, this WAS the score! Howard was ahead!

So, as you look through the list below…

-I do not think Houston, who I picked to win it all before the season started and who is still my pick to win it all, will fail to make the field

-I do not think North Florida and Columbia will end up with #2 seeds

-I do not think the final rankings will look anything like this.

But, as of now, as we are metaphorically about 2 minutes into the 40 minute game, and this what I think the score is!! And it is AMAZING!!! The bracket is below. Enjoy!!!

AUBURN – 2-0, win @ Houston
NEW MEXICO – 2-0, win @ UCLA
OHIO STATE – 1-0, neutral win vs Texas
GONZAGA – 2-0, blowout home win vs Baylor, win vs Arizona State
BAYLOR – 1-1, loss @ Gonzaga, neutral win vs Arkansas
Tennessee – 2-0, win @ Lousville
NORTH FLORIDA – 3-0, wins @ South Carolina and @ Georgia Tech
UC IRVINE – 2-0, won @ LMU and @ Northern Iowa
Kansas – 2-0, home win vs North Carolina
WAKE FOREST – 3-0, neutral win vs Michigan
MEMPHIS – 2-0, home win vs Missouri, win @ UNLV
Ucf – 2-0, home win vs Texas A&M
Austin Peay – 1-0, won @ Butler
Wichita State – 2-0, win @ Western Kentucky
COLUMBIA – 2-0, wins @ Loyola MD and @ Villanova
Princeton – 3-0, neutral win vs Duquesne, win @ Northeastern
CHARLESTON – 2-0, home win vs South Florida, neutral win vs Southern Illinois
DAYTON – 2-0, home win vs Northwestern
Davidson – 2-0, road win @ Bowling Green
Eastern Kentucky – 1-0, won @ East Tennessee State
MAINE – 1-1 – loss @ Duke, win @ Brown
BUCKNELL – 2-1, wins @ Delaware and @ Southern Indiana, loss @ Kentucky
LIBERTY – 2-0, neutral win vs Valparaiso, road win @ Seattle U
Arizona State – 2-1, neutral win vs Santa Clara, loss @ Gonzaga
Santa Clara – 1-1, neutral win vs Saint Louis, neutral loss vs Arizona State
Florida Atlantic – 2-0, neutral win vs Indiana State
Florida State – 2-0, win @ Rice
Fordham – 1-1, loss @ Saint John’s, win @ Seton Hall
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT – 1-1, loss @ Providence, win @ Saint Joseph’s
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE – 2-0, neutral win vs McNeese
San Francisco – 2-0, home buy win, home win vs Boise State
North Alabama – 1-0, won @ Air Force
MARIST – 1-1, lost @ Harvard, won @ Richmond
TROY – 2-0, wins vs Toledo and @ New Orleans
Louisiana Tech – 1-0, won @ UT Arlington
KENT STATE – 1-0, won @ Louisiana
FURMAN – 1-0, win @ Belmont
UT MARTIN – 1-0, road win @ Illinois State
Middle Tennessee – 1-0, won @ Abilene Christian
Rider – 2-1, loss @ UCLA, won @ San Diego, won @ Coppin State
Vcu – 2-0, neutral win vs Boston College
Buffalo – 1-0, won @ Old Dominion
Uc Santa Barbara – 1-0, road win @ Portland
Saint Bonaventure – 2-0, road win @ Canisius
UC Davis – 1-1, lost @ Washington, won @ Idaho
Vermont – 1-2 – win @ UAB, loss @ Merrimack, loss @ Auburn
Stony Brook – 1-1, loss @ Marquette, win @ Central Michigan
New Mexico State 1-0, won @ Utah Tech
Sam Houston State – 1-1, loss @ Nevada, won @ Tarlton State
WRIGHT STATE – 1-1, lost @ Kentucky, won @ Miami OH
Toledo – 1-1, lost @ Troy, won @ Marshall
ILLINOIS STATE – home loss to UT Martin, road win @ North Dakota State
Vmi – 1-0, win @ Bellarmine
Penn – 2-0, won @ NJIT
GARDNER WEBB – 1-1, loss @ Tennessee, win @ NC Central
Northeastern – 1-1, win @ Boston U, home loss vs Princeton
Siena – 2-0, won @ Bryant
NORFOLK STATE – 1-0, home win vs James Madison
MARQUETTE – 2-0, home win vs George Mason
Miami OH – 1-1, won @ Appalachian State, home loss to Wright State
Central Michigan – 1-1, won @ South Alabama, home loss to Stony Brook
Youngstown State – 1-0, won @ Chicago State
South Alabama – 1-1, home loss vs Central Michigan, win @ Nicholls
Utah State – 2-0, home win vs Charlotte
Western Illinois – 1-1, won @ San Jose State, loss @ Pepperdine
Omaha – 1-1, won @ Stetson, loss @ Minnesota
Saint Francis U – 1-2, 2 road buy losses, win @ Campbell
Pacific – 1-0, neutral win vs San Jose State
Alabama – 2-0 in home buy games
Arizona – 2-0 in home buy games
Connecticut – 2-0 in buy games
North Carolina – 1-1, won home buy game, loss @ Kansas
Temple – 2-0, won home buy game and neutral vs Monmouth
Houston – 1-1, won a home buy game, lost vs Auburn
Iowa State – 1-0 in home buy games
Duke – 2-0 in buy games
Creighton – 2-0 in buy games
Kentucky – 2-0 in home buy games
Purdue – 2-0 in home buy games
Cincinnati – 2-0 in home buy games
Illinois – 2-0 in home buy games
Rutgers – 1-0 in home buy games
Ucla – home buy win, home loss vs New Mexico
Arkansas – 1-1, home buy win, neutral loss vs Baylor
Texas – 1-1 – home buy win, neutral loss vs Ohio State
Saint Mary’s – 2-0 in home buy games
Byu – 2-0 in home buy games
Ole Miss – 2-0 in home buy games
Clemson – 2-0 in buy games
Pittsburgh – 2-0 in buy games
Michigan State – 2-0 in home buy games
NC State – 2-0 in buy games
Virginia – 1-0 in buy games
Texas Tech – 2-0 in home buy games
Saint John’s – 2-0 in buy games
GRAND CANYON – 2-0 in home buy games
Texas A&M – 1-1, home buy win, loss @ UCF
Michigan – 1-1, won a home buy game, lost vs Wake Forest
Virginia Tech – 2-0 in buy games
Tcu – 2-0 in home buy games
Florida – 2-0 in home buy games
Mississippi State – 2-0 in home buy games
Xavier – 2-0 in buy games
Oregon – 2-0 in home buy games
Wisconsin – 3-0 in home buy games
Nevada – 2-0 in home buy games
smu – 2-0 in buy games
Loyola Chicago – 2-0 in home buy games
Kansas State – 2-0 in home buy games
San Diego State – 1-0 in home buy games
Utah – 2-0 in home buy games
Iowa – 2-0 in home buy games
Oklahoma State – 2-0 in home buy games
Winthrop – 1-0, home win vs Little Rock
Northwestern – 1-1, home buy win, loss @ Dayton
Oklahoma – 1-0 in home buy games
Colorado State – 2-0 in home buy games
Georgia – 2-0 in home buy games
Syracuse – 1-0 in buy games
Maryland – 2-0 in nome buy games
Stanford – 2-0 in buy games
Notre Dame – 1-0 in buy games
Providence – 2-0 in buy games
Lsu – 2-0 in home buy games
California – 2-0 in buy games
West Virginia – 2-0 in home buy games
Colorado – 2-0 in home buy games
Georgetown – 2-0 in buy games
Vanderbilt – 2-0 in home buy games
Nebraska – 2-0 in home buy games
DePaul – 2-0 in buy games
Boise State – 1-1, home buy win, road loss @ San Francisco
EASTERN WASHINGTON – only Big Sky team with a D1 win
GRAMBLING – 0-1, no SWAC teams have a D1 win, they almost beat Ole Miss
MCNEESE STATE – 0-1, no Southland team has a D1 win

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which is a good one between UT Martin and North Alabama – CLICK HERE

-Arizona State, who had shown no signs of real life in their first two games (even though they did win them) somehow hung with, and damn near beat, a Gonzaga team that had just gotten through blasting a top ten team off the court in their previous game. The Zags won 88-80, but my biggest takeaway was…WOW! Arizona State got A LOT better over the last couple of days!! They may be worth keeping an eye on.

-North Florida has been a great story this season!! They are now 3-0 with wins at South Carolina and at Georgia Tech! I know neither of those teams are likely tournament teams, but to go on the road and get two wins in road buy games is still a notable accomplishment, and it’s more than what the vast majority of teams around the country have been able to accomplish up to this point. The Ospreys were picked to finish 7th in the ASun preseason standings. Perhaps they’re better than that!

-Wake Forest held off Michigan 72-70 in a game that was close throughout and that went back and forth. Michigan didn’t get the win, but they hung with a likely tournament team on the road, which is a sign that they are VERY much improved.

-Princeton is now 3-0 after their 79-76 win against Northeastern. That’s the good news. The concerning news is they’ve won those games by 1, 7, and 3 points, and they weren’t playing against good teams. Princeton was a team I thought would be top 40 this year and inside the bubble, and they still might end up being that good, but despite winning all three games they really haven’t shown it yet.

-A team that has shown out is UC Irvine! They are off to a very impressive start. They went on the road against a pretty good Northern Iowa team and absolutely blew them off the floor 80-60. They’re now 3-0 on the season with two true road wins against failry decent teams. That’s not a bad early season profile!!

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MCNEESE AT ALABAMA. McNeese has had this game circled for a while. They are a good team (or we think they are) with limited chances at big wins that will impress the committee, but this is certainly one of those chances. Having said that, they are sort of shooting at the moon. They’re not playing a team ranked in the mid-teens on a neutral floor. They’re playing the 2nd ranked team in the country in a true road game. They also already have a loss on their profile. If they are able to pull this off it goes without saying that it would be a massive win, but that’s far easier said than done.

-CHATTANOOGA AT AUSTIN PEAY. I know these are UTR teams, but Chattanooga competed with Saint Mary’s in their last game, and Austin Peay is a big story coming off their win at Butler. A win for the Govs gets them to 3-0 and off to a really good start.

-IDAHO AT WASHINGTON STATE. Folks, this is one of the great rivalries in all of sports!! These two teams are just eight miles apart!! And as incredible as this may sound, they’ve NEVER met in the NCAA Tournament!! (I got so sick of hearing that a hundred times a year about another rivalry that I won’t mention, so I always like to point out that the same is true about these two). Wazzu can (and should) get to 3-0 with a win.

-Youngstown State @ Ohio State – both teams 1-0
-Grambling @ Florida – Grambling gave Ole Miss a hell of a game over the weekend, and Florida is dealing with some off the court stuff
-Saint Peter’s @ Rutgers
-Gardner Webb @ Pittsburgh
-Buffalo @ Notre Dame – both teams unbeaten
-Western Michigan @ Butler
-Florida A&M @ Maryland
-Winthrop @ Virginia Tech – both teams unbeaten, and Winthrop has looked tough so far
-Coppin State @ Virginia
-Alcorn State @ Tulane – Tulane can get to 3-0
-Kansas City @ Iowa State – both teams unbeaten
-Lamar @ Texas A&M
-Yale @ Purdue
-Northwestern State @ Oklahoma
-UNC Greensboro @ SMU
-Central Michigan @ Marquette
-Mercer @ DePaul – both teams unbeaten
-Boston U @ UCLA
-Pacific @ Hawaii (Rainbow Classic) – both teams are unbeaten

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UT-Martin (2-0, 1-0 D1) at North Alabama (2-0) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game heads for the first time (we believe) to Florence, Alabama as the Lions of North Alabama host the UT-Martin Skyhawks. North Alabama opened the season with a solid 73-57 win at Air Force; Dallas Howell led the way with 17 points that included a 5-for-8 performance from 3-point territory. UNA followed that game up with a non-D1 win at home.

Like the Lions, UT-Martin opened up their season with a road win and followed it up with a non-D1 win in their home opener. The Skyhawks won at Illinois State 67-65 on Monday night; Josue Grillon led the Skyhawks with 18 points and 9 rebounds. In all, not bad for a team picked to finish tenth in the 11-team Ohio Valley Conference.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-I think it is safe to say we are through the first couple days of the season where all the games seem like they were ordered off the pastry cart.

-Yesterday, on November 9th (not Feb 9th or March 9th), Auburn and Houston gave us a game that was played at a high level between two of the best teams in the country. There have been Final Four games that didn’t feature two teams as good as that who played as well as that. And, congratulations to Auburn on going into the city of Houston (albeit not Houston’s home court) and getting a win against a legit top 4 caliber team. Granted they had some issues on the flight over, but once they got there they were amazing to watch! Considering that it was a (mostly) road game against a team that could still end up as a #1 seed, this may turn out to be one of the most impressive singular wins that any team manages to put on its resume all season long! And, it’s November 9th! But, both teams played great, and made big plays, and it was close all the way down the stretch. It was just a fantastic college basketball game! I still think Houston is really good, and I still think they can win it all. This loss will probably just make them better.

-Baylor also bounced back from getting pounded at Gonzaga with a really nice 72-67 win over Arkansas. Suddenly Baylor’s resume is this…a lost at Gonzaga (not bad at all), and a neutral floor win against Arkansas (very good!). The Bears will be just fine. I expect that Arkansas will be similar to many previous Kentucky teams we’ve seen. They’ll start off okay, then get really good over the winter break, and then be high in the rankings and in the protected seed range by the end of the year.

-Louisville fans were as excited for their game against Tennessee yesterday as they had been for just about any home game they had played since before Covid. And for about 90 seconds it was a hell of a game! It was 10-0 just a couple minutes in and I don’t think it was ever below double digits after that as Tennessee won handily on the road 77-55.

-Fordham got a nice 57-56 win at Seton Hall. Having said that, I think this says more about how Seton Hall is bad than it does about how Fordham is good.

-Memphis went on the road and got a really nice win against UNLV. I have been very skeptical of this Memphis team (and to be honest I still am). I know they are talented, but my question is can they play together? Well, they’re off to a great start! To go on the road and win at UNLV is a very good early season win for a team that’s trying to play its way inside the bubble.

-Northwestern hung tough with what we think is a very good Dayton team for about 30 minutes, and managed a double digit lead into the second half, but the Flyers rallied, came back, got control late, and ended up with a nice 71-66 win. I think both teams will go on to have pretty good years, so it was a good early season game for both of them to have on their schedules.

-I said Richmond might be a dark horse in the Atlantic 10 before the start of the season. Last night they lost at home to Marist 79-72. I now need to go find where I said that and delete it.

-I said Vermont would be a top level Under the Radar team before the start of the season, and after their win at UAB I said they may have a shot at landing inside the bubble. They were blown out by Auburn right after that, but I still wasn’t overly concerned. Yesterday, they lost 65-51 to Merrimack. I am now concerned. I now need to go find where I said that and delete it.

-Grand Canyon was without two starters, and trailed Western Kentucky at home for seemingly the entire game, but they kept it close. Then, in the final minute, they made some big plays and escaped with a buzzer beating shot to win 74-72. I’ve been saying for a while that I think Grand Canyon is a top 25 team. While they did struggle more than you would expect yesterday, they were without two of their key players, and WKU is a talented team, and the Lopes still won the game. So, I won’t be going back to delete anything I said about them! At least not yet.

-Boise State is a team we think can (and still will) make the NCAA Tournament. We knew they’d be tested yesterday on the road at San Francisco. They failed the test 84-73. And before I get attacked about how it was a tough road game, I know it was a tough road game! But…THAT’S THE POINT! NCAA Tournament teams are expected to be able to win tough road games. And while winning at San Francisco is admittedly tough, it’s not like they were playing at Gonzaga or Arizona. It was a tough game that a good team should have been able to win. I still like the Broncos, but the loss gives me a little bit of pause.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN VS WAKE FOREST (Greensboro, NC). This is the first real test for either of these teams. Michigan is expected to be much better this year under head coach Dusty May, and Wake is someone that we think can be an NCAA Tournament team. It’s both an early test and an early opportunity to add a notable win to their profiles.

-UC IRVINE AT NORTHERN IOWA. These are two really good UTR teams that we expect will do very well in their conferences. I actually picked both these teams to win their conferences, so it’s fun to see them square off against each other. These are the kinds of OOC games that you want to see the top UTR schools play. It’s probably a long shot to think either of these teams can end up inside the bubble, but a win today would likely end up looking good on either team’s profile and would be a step in the right direction.

-ARIZONA STATE AT GONZAGA. Both teams come in without a loss, but given how Gonzaga blew out Baylor and how Arizona State struggled to get by Idaho State in their opener, this looks to be a big mismatch. Arizona State did beat Santa Clara in their last game, and that may turn out to be a really nice win, but whereas Santa Clara might be an NIT team, Gonzaga might be a Final Four team. They are on a much higher level.

-Eastern Illinoins @ Indiana
-Appalachian State @ Wisconsin
-SEMO @ Vanderbilt
-North Florida @ Georgia Tech – both teams unbeaten
-Stephen F Austin @ Drake – both teams 1-0
-Princeton @ Northeastern – Princeton has won their first two games, but both have been a struggle
-Eureka (nonD1) @ Loyola Chicago
-Binghamton @ Miami FL
-Saint Thomas @ Oklahoma State
-SELA @ UAB
-Texas Southern @ Georgia
-Tennessee State @ Wyoming – Wyoming can get to 2-0
-Alivia (nonD1) @ Saint Louis
-Fairleigh Dickinson @ Creighton
-Alabama State @ LSU
-San Jose State @ Hawaii (Rainbow Classic)

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UC-Irvine at Northern Iowa – 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day returns to Cedar Falls for the second time this week – this time Northern Iowa hosts the UC-Irvine Anteaters. Tylan Anderson led the Panthers with 19 points in an 87-68 drubbing of preseason Horizon favorite Milwaukee. Trey Campbell also had 16 points in the game for UNI.

UC-Irvine is again the preseason favorite in the Big West; this will be the second conference leader that Northern Iowa will be playing in a week. The Anteaters started the year with a non-D1 win at home before getting a road win at LMU 66-51. Andre Henry led UCI with 17 points in the win; Bent Luechten also had 11 points for the Anteaters.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we have to wait 4 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with fellow Virginia Tech star Ace Custis about 1988 Olympic bronze medalist Bimbo Coles being a great scorer and winning a bronze medal.

Vernell Eufaye Coles was given a nickname by his cousin, who really enjoyed the country song “Bimbo” by Faron Young (www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rpy9qMY7Rc): did everyone really call him that? Everyone calls him Bimbo: a lot of people do not even know his real name!

In addition to basketball he was a 2-time all-state football player at Greenbrier East High School and was selected by the Phillies in the 1986 MLB Draft and by the Angels in the 1990 MLB Draft: which sport was he best at, and which sport did he enjoy the most? I only know him for basketball but he was a great athlete so I think that he could play any sport.

What made him choose Virginia Tech? Being from West Virginia it must have been a hard decision because there is a big rivalry with Virginia Tech…but I am sure that it became easier after the staff recruited him.

He played for Team USA at the 1988 Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and do you think that NBA players would have ever been allowed to participate if they had not won a bronze medal that summer? What an honor it must have been to wear USA on your chest as a college athlete. When I watched the Olympics last summer I could see the pride on everyone’s faces. When you see the elite athletes today take time out of their schedule to do it, it must have been an even greater honor to make it as a college kid. I do not think college athletes could handle the amazing global talent that we see today in other countries.

He led the conference in scoring for 3 straight years and graduated as the all-time leading scorer in Metro Conference history with 2465 PTS: what was his secret for being a great scorer? When you think about putting the ball in the basket from any angle at any range: that is Bimbo. He was an elite scorer and did it at an exceptional rate.

He also led the conference with 5.9 APG in 1988: how did he balance his scoring with his passing? As a youngster I looked at the record book and noticed that he was high on the career lists in both PPG/APG. He could score but also keep his teammates involved as well.

He was selected by Sacramento in the 1990 NBA Draft and immediately traded to Miami: how did he feel about getting drafted, and how did he feel about getting traded? I am sure that he did not like the idea of being traded so quickly…but you cannot go wrong living in Miami! It is such an honor to hear your name called so I am sure he put that trade on the backburner and just got ready for his rookie year.

He was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2017: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? All his accolades were well-deserved. He was a tremendous athlete and an even better person.

The Virginia Tech athletic department later appointed him to be a Director of Student-Athlete Support and Community Engagement: how did he like mentoring student-athletes at his alma mater? He was a great spokesman for Virginia Tech athletics and embraced being a role model.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? As a fierce competitor who brought it every single night. You always knew what you would get from him, and his legacy will live on forever.

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Most young people know Dell Curry as “Steph’s father” or “Hornets’ TV color commentator” but the older generation knows how great a player he was back in the day. In 1986 Dell was named conference POY/All-American as a senior, then was drafted 15th overall that spring, and retired 16 years later as 1 of the best 3-PT shooters in NBA history. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with fellow Virginia Tech star Ace Custis about Dell being a great scorer and a famous father.

Dell was born/raised in Virginia, where he led his Fort Defiance High School teams to state championships in both baseball/basketball and was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 1982 MLB draft and the Orioles in the 1985 MLB draft: which sport was he best at, and which sport did he enjoy the most? I only know Dell from a basketball background, but he certainly looked the part on the baseball field.

What made him choose Virginia Tech? I am not 100% sure but once he arrived on campus I am sure that the university/community sold itself because we have a family atmosphere here.

As a senior in 1986 he averaged 24.1 PPG/2.6 SPG: how did he balance his offense with his defense? He was a complete player who played both ends of the court. His highlight was his long-range shooting, but he could score from anywhere.

He was named conference POY/All-American: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? He was 1 of those guys who really stuffed the stat sheet but was also a team player. He was deserving of all those honors and he left his mark here: just check out the record book!

He was selected 15th overall by Utah in the 1986 NBA Draft: did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was a milestone that was 1 of his goals in life. Most young kids dream of making it to the NBA…and his dream finally came true.

In 1999 he led the NBA with 47.6 3P% and he retired in 2002 ranked 9th all-time with 40.2 3P%: what was his secret to being a great 3-PT shooter? He was an exceptional shooter…and his son is an even better shooter! I remember him speaking at a basketball camp 1 year when someone asked him what his range was. He started out under the basket, then kept making shots and moving back and back until he reached midcourt: nothing but net!

Despite Dell and his ex-wife Sonya both going to Virginia Tech, their alma mater famously did not offer their son Stephen a scholarship but rather a preferred walk-on spot: how did Steph feel about it, and how did Dell feel about it? Whenever the Curry name comes up in Blacksburg, it reminds us that it was a missed opportunity for us, but also a great opportunity for Steph. Instead of backing up 1st-team All-ACC player Malcolm Delaney, he got to have the ball in his hands at Davidson.

In 1998 he founded the Dell Curry Foundation, which builds learning centers to educate youth in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area via skill-based programs/community service projects: how much importance does he place on helping others? When you are an icon in the community you try to give back to your community. It was not an obligation but rather something he took pride in and he succeeded with it.

He currently works for the Charlotte Hornets as a TV color commentator: are you surprised that he ended up in the media, and how does he like it? When you are a high-level athlete you want to stay around the game for as long as you can. He has a great voice and is doing an exceptional job. I love tuning into the games to hear his voice or see him when I attend games in-person.

In 1996 he was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame and later became the 1st Hokie basketball player to have his jersey retired: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He really gave his all every time that he stepped onto the court. He wore the Virginia Tech jersey with pride, and everybody loved him not just for his accomplishments but for the person he is.

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The marketplace for college athletes to engage in Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) deals was created in 2021 after the NCAA v. Alston case and now it seems like every college is ready to start spreading the wealth. There are already more than 100 “collectives” either in operation or being formed. They allow alumni/fans/whoever to donate money to assist a specific school in creating opportunities for student-athletes to make some money off of their celebrity. We have reached out to many collectives and will try to interview representatives from as many of them as possible to see how each of them operates. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Mike Pittman of the Hoop And Holler Houston NIL Micro-Collective, who discussed what his group is about and what it has accomplished so far.

You are the Operations Manager at Star Pizza: how did you get into the business, and how do you like it? I got into the business literally at the ground level: Delivery Driver. I am dedicated to what I do and learned a little bit of everything. It is not like a job: it is like school every day, so you must keep learning. Once you think you know it all: you have failed. The industry is always a challenge, more than ever since the pandemic. People’s habits changed: how/when/what they eat changed. You cannot count on the things you used to anymore. Prices are all over the place, which makes it harder to ride the wave: you cannot increase prices every time a cost goes up. You must learn to ride the wave, keep your menu affordable, and keep your customer base happy.

You and your wife Jennifer are the founders of an NIL micro-collective called “Hoop & Holler Houston”: how does a micro-collective differ from a regular collective? We started our UH support group as the first NIL Collective at UH (an LLC) to go public but quickly realized that we were never going to have time to run another full-time business managing other people’s money as we already put 125% of our time into Star Pizza. The decision was made to keep our group very small, family-based, and put our support where we could/when we could. Star Pizza’s social media gives us a large platform to work from. This resulted in our ability to keep costs at almost zero and put any money out there 100% to the student-athletes. We never charged anything for our services no matter who we were working with from J-Bar-M BBQ to Tacos A Go Go or anyone else. We choose who we work with instead of just taking anyone’s money who wants to throw it at UH Sports: some things are simply not a good fit.

In addition to men’s basketball your collective works with football/women’s basketball: why did you decide to focus on those sports? Women’s hoops was a no-brainer because it is underserved and so deserving. We met a couple of UH WBB players, mainly Laila Blair (who became the 1st player in school history to be named All-Conference 1st-Team in 2023): we have a good relationship with her and her family. She is also a Film Production graduate and is working on shooting some NIL clips for us: it kind of comes full circle. Football was a fluke: D’Anthony Jones made a fun post online asking, “Where the NIL deals at?”, so we had no choice but to reach out. One thing led to another working with him: we got a great Star Pizza commercial and worked with the defensive line for a few years (and still do with Zion Taylor). Now we have a 2nd-year NIL deal with almost the entire Kick Squad.

Some of the deals you have created include social media endorsements, meet-and-greets, and digital content: which 1 of them has received the best response? The best response is social media engagement and endorsements. Houston is a BIG city, so it is hard to get anyone to come out in person to do much.

What kind of connection does your group have with Coach Kelvin Sampson? Coach Sampson’s family has been integral in a lot of what we do. I cannot say that we laid the groundwork, but we are told that 1 of our first NIL deals with Tramon Mark/Marcus Sasser was used as the “framework” for how the Men’s Basketball team wanted deals to look/feel: very personal. Kelvin’s daughter Lauren has been a big supporter and always makes sure to let us know how much they appreciate all the support we have shown, which means the world to us.

Your school hired Eddie Nunez last August to be your new Athletic Director: what do you know about him so far? I can say I have seen Eddie at every turn of every event we have attended from recent basketball “50/50 Club” support group socials to tailgates to off-campus charity events. He is everywhere and working hard to change our UH Culture for the better. It is going to be a rough go, but he seems like the guy for the job.

The Big 12 has undergone some major changes over the past few years: any thoughts on conference realignment? We really like the current state of the Big 12. I am not so sure I dig the whole SEC/Big 10 takeover in terms of football…but what can we do? The conference powers in football and basketball are so different anyway so it does not matter that much.

People are obviously free to do whatever they want with their hard-earned money…but do you ever have any second thoughts about whether you should be encouraging your donors to do something else like fight cancer/reduce homelessness? There is a lot of room for charity out there. The Men’s Basketball team is playing Texas A&M in a charity exhibition game next month with proceeds going to support Hurricane Beryl Disaster relief. Locally it will be a big help: the game is almost already a sell-out. This is also why we stayed a private or “Micro-Collective”: we do not openly solicit donors to give to any students in a UH NIL. If someone comes to us with the intent to donate to a particular student-athlete or team via NIL, then their mind is made up and they know what they want/need.

In recent years we have seen a basketball team’s season suspended (New Mexico State), a football team’s coach fired (Northwestern), and a swim team’s season suspended (Notre Dame) due to gambling/hazing: how concerned are you about entering contractual relationships with teenagers who might end up behaving badly? Young adults are who they are, many experiencing the “away from home” status for the first time, but we are very selective about who we work with. For one thing, Coach Sampson recruits whole families, so his group is already vetted, so you pretty much know the guys you get are good kids who will not/do not act wrong. The new Culture surrounding the UH Football team is great, but sports gambling has gone wild. The toothpaste is out of the tube, and I am not sure you can get it back in. You are just going to have to deal with it.

The Cougars have won at least 32 games for 3 years in a row: what are your expectations for this season? That is a loaded question!! The team is returning a few fantastic starters: some of the kids who played a little last year are returning with a great group around them. Now that our conference schedule has been released there are for sure some gauntlets in there, but that is what makes this team tick. Nothing is taken for granted: that is the CULTURE. One game at a time, one play at a time. We just want to go 1-0 in our next game. These guys play for each other, they are tough, and as always, we are looking to hang that banner.

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SWAC MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL:

Grambling State
Texas Southern
Southern
Jackson State
Alcorn State
Alabama State
Prairie View A&M
Bethune Cookman
Alabama A&M
Arkansas Pine Bluff
Florida A&M
Mississippi Valley State

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 1ST TEAM

-Kintavious Dozier – Grambling State (Offensive Player of the Year)
-TJ Madlock – Alabama State
-Tidjiane Dioumassi – Southern
-Shannon Grant – Jackson State
-Chad Moodie – Alabama A&M

MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SWAC 2ND TEAM

-Grayson Carter – Texas Southern
-CJ Hines – Alabama State
-Kenny Hunter – Texas Southern (Defensive Player of the Year)
-Ubong Okon – Alabama State
-Lorenzo Downey – Alabama A&M

COMMENTS FROM DAVID GRIGGS:

-Grambling State went for the double last year with their 1st place finish in the regular season and then winning the conference tournament to secure the Automatic Bid. They went on to win their First Four game against Montana State before falling to National Runner-Up Purdue in the Round of 64. Expectations are high again this year with two starters who averaged double figures last year returning to the lineup in Kintavious Dozier and Antwan Burnett. Chilaydrien Newton also returns to the lineup after missing all of last year with injuries and is expected to contribute this year as well. They appear to be balanced, and if they can develop some depth they should once again be at or near the top of the SWAC.

-Texas Southern is another team to watch as Coach Johnny Jones’s team finished last year on an 8-1 run before losing to Grambling in the SWAC Championship game. They are looking to replace PJ Henry, who was arguably their best player a year ago. They do appear to be in a bit of a rebuilding period, but they have some experience returning in the frontcourt with Grayson Carter, and should have a fair amount of depth once they get their rotation set.

-Southern was red-hot in the first half of conference play, but struggled down the stretch losing five of their last seven games. With only five players back from last year’s team, there seem to be more questions than answers. DaMariee Jones was a standout player in NAIA last year averaging close to 16ppg/8rpg, so he should be able to contribute right away. Michael Jacobs had a big year last year in JUCO and is another newcomer to watch.

-Jackson State appears to be starting over. All five starters from last year’s team are gone. They have added some standout JUCO players and will be looking at them to contribute this year.

-Alcorn State is another team that lost its entire starting lineup from a year ago. They were strong in the second half of conference play last year with a 2nd place finish, but will now need to rebuild. Like a lot of teams, they will be relying heavily on transfers to rebuild their roster.

-Alabama State is a bit of an oddity in the sense that they are returning four of their top players from a year ago. The problem is that this team really was not all that good a year ago, and while you never want to overlook experience, you wonder if a team that lost 9 of its last 11 will benefit much from it. Having said that, they have two really good players in TJ Madlock/CJ Hines, and appear to be adding some transfers that could really contribute. We could see the Hornets take a big step forward this year.

-Prairie View A&M ended last season with a 7-game losing streak. They do not return a whole lot from that team, and that may be a good thing. Bryon Smith has had some good years as head coach and there is reason to think he can build up success again, but with so many new players it is hard to know what to make of them.

-Coach Reggie Theus has increased Bethune-Cookman’s win total in each of the three years he has been there, but with just one starter back from last season continuing that improvement will be a huge challenge. The addition of grad transfer Gianni Hunt from Cal State Northridge should be big for them, and Reggie Ward returns after averaging just under 10ppg a year ago, but Cookman does appear to be in rebuild mode this season.

-Alabama A&M had a nice postseason run to the CIT semifinals a year ago. They also return Chad Moodie, who appears to be one of the up-and-coming stars in the conference and gives AAMU a lot of strength in the post. This is a transfer-heavy roster, and I think it is a team that could exceed expectations. I do not think they will win the league, but I could see them doing much better than 9th and could end up surprising some people.

-Arkansas Pine Bluff is another team that has to replace its entire roster. It could be a long year for the Golden Lions.

-Florida A&M first year Coach Patrick Crarey II has his work cut out for him. He is also tasked with rebuilding the roster as just one starter returns. It could be a very long season for the Rattlers.

-Mississippi Valley State, with their 1-30 record, won the HoopsHD Centenary Award last year. ..and it was well deserved. While they may not repeat as the worst team in nation again this year, I still think they will be much closer to the bottom than the top. George Ivory was 6-57 as head coach so wins will be few and far between.

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They are running out of Halls of Fame in which to induct Sue Wicks. She is already in the Suffolk County/Nassau County/New York state high school/Rutgers/New Jersey/New York City Halls of Fame, and in 2013 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was 1988 national POY at Rutgers, a WNBA All-Star in 2000, and made 4 WNBA Finals during her 6 years with the Liberty. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with fellow Rutgers star Mark Peterson about Sue winning a gold medal at the Pan Am Games and being 1 of the best athletes in Scarlet Knights history.

In 1987 Sue played for Team USA at the Pan American Games: what did it mean to her to represent her country, and what did it mean to her to win a gold medal? I assume it meant a lot to her. She prided herself on how her accomplishments benefited her team’s success, so I think it meant the world to her.

She was a 3-time All-American/3-time conference POY at Rutgers and in 1988 she was named national POY: what did it mean to her to receive such outstanding honors? Sue was never about individual honors. I am sure she appreciated the recognition but was prouder to play at that high a level and make the NCAA tourney every year.

She still holds several school records including 2655 PTS/1357 REB/293 BLK: did you realize at the time how prolific a player she was? I absolutely knew that she was a special talent. If we were playing a men’s pickup game in the gym and she wanted to play then she would get picked as high as anyone else. She was like a female Bernard King!

After graduating she spent several years playing professionally overseas: what was the situation like back then for female college stars before the WNBA was created in 1997? I had the opportunity to play abroad as well, and I soon realized that all the top women’s players were overseas. She was a legend in Europe where women’s basketball was on a much larger stage so she would always be mentioned in the foreign sports magazines.

In Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals as a player for New York, Tina Thompson made a jumper to give Houston a 2-PT lead with 2.4 seconds left, then Teresa Weatherspoon took an inbounds pass from Kym Hampton and made a 50-footer off the backboard to win the game: where does that rank among the most amazing shots that you have ever seen (www.facebook.com/watch/?v=986188338618491)? That was a very tough shot, and considering that it occurred in the Finals it is definitely 1 of the top-10 shots that I have ever seen. Sue was 1 of the 1st people to run over and congratulate T-Spoon.

In 2000 she received the WNBA’s Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award: how much importance did she place on sportsmanship? It goes right along with the type of person she is. The fact that we remain close friends to this day is because she is a down-to-earth/good person despite winning all those awards. She always deflected the attention to her teammates because that is the type of player she was.

She made the WNBA Finals 4 times in 6 years but went 0-4 vs. Houston/Los Angeles: do you consider her playoff runs a success (since she kept making the Finals), or a failure (due to never getting a ring), or other? She was just glad to be a key contributor on a team that was a true perennial contender. She gave everything on the court and did her best, which is nonetheless an amazing accomplishment.

In 2002 she went public with her sexual orientation: how big a deal was it at the time, and how did you feel a few years later when she said that being a lesbian was an “overwhelming liability” in getting hired as a basketball coach? Sue never hid who she was and never shied away from it. Sometimes it caused her to miss out on opportunities…but she would not slight herself just to get a job. If they did not accept her then she would not take the job or feel like she missed out on anything.

After getting out of coaching she became CEO of Fight 2B Fit, a youth fitness program that works with kids in New York: what has she been able to accomplish so far? I am more familiar with her oyster farming! She is the top oyster producer in Long Island, which came out of a family business that she added her own touch to.

In 2013 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: when people look back on her career, how do you think that she should be remembered the most? As an unstoppable player, great teammate, and wonderful person.

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We are still about 5 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Kansas State PG Serena Sundell, who talked about being a great PG and her expectations for this season.

You were born/raised in Missouri: what made you choose Kansas State? I was not looking for distance to be a factor: most of my offers were from mid-majors but Kansas State ended up as my only Power-5 offer. I wanted to see if I could play at the highest level, and I liked how Manhattan is a great college town that is all about the university. It was an easy decision for me because the coaching staff believed in me: they made me feel welcome and said that I could be an impact player.

In 2022 you led the team with 32.2 minutes/game and were named to the conference all-freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I will never forget my 1st summer here adjusting to the speed/physicality of the game. I was not expecting to be a PG, but they needed someone to step up and ultimately I won that spot. I was thrown to the wolves a little bit, but it was good. I was skinny/weak when I look back at myself…but I have grown at lot.

Last year you were named to the all-conference 1st-team: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? That was a special moment. This conference is so competitive and has so many great players, so I was proud of myself and am excited for this year.

You led the conference with 5.7 APG last year and your 549 career AST is #4 in school history: what is the secret to being a great PG? I have made my fair share of mistakes but have learned a lot. Coach Jeff Mittie gets a lot of credit for teaching me a lot about why certain people are cutting/rolling in certain directions. You must be super smart/aware of where your teammates are and know what each of their strengths are. I enjoy the learning part of the game and it is a lot of fun.

Your FG% has improved each year, and your 3P% went way up last year, but your FT% has gone down each year: how on earth did that happen? The honest answer is that it is a mental thing. I was in my head at the FT line and was a mental head case and had never struggled like that before. I tried so many different techniques (including singing a song!) but I am confident that I can get it back up this year. Making them in practice is important but it is impossible to replicate a game situation.

In the 2024 NCAA tourney you scored 16 PTS/3-4 3PM in a win over Portland and 11 PTS in a loss to Colorado: what did you learn from your postseason run that you think will help you this season? Those games were very fun: we got to see our fans come together in a sold-out Bramlage Coliseum. We just had too many breakdowns against Colorado and lost our focus and let them hit us 1st. You must stay the course: there were moments when we were trying to make a hero play (me included). You need to trust what you have been practicing since October and believe that it will carry over into March.

Your father Bob did college basketball/track, your mother Korena played college basketball, and your brother Jalen was an offensive lineman at North Dakota State: who is the best athlete in the family? My brother just made the 53-man roster for the Seahawks so he might win it with that stat, but my dad made the Olympic trials in the high jump so he might have the edge.

You graduated last May with a degree in organizational management and are working on your MBA: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? A Masters is different than undergrad: I must be very intentional with my time, so I have deleted TikTok and have tried to limit my screen time on my phone. Yesterday my day included practice/homework/meals/etc.: it was busy, but it was good. I like my classes and am learning a lot but there is not a lot of free time, which is the beauty of being a student-athlete.

Your conference has seen a lot of additions/subtractions from last year: any thoughts on conference realignment? I am excited: I had the perfect situation of playing teams like Texas/Oklahoma who have left, then I got to play some new teams last year, and will get 4 more new teams this year. I like visiting new places and will get to spend a week in Utah when we have back-to-back games against BYU/Utah.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We are not shying away from anything: we want to win a Big 12 title. The rankings do not matter right now so we just block it out. We have a lot of experience/talent, so it is up to us as to what we want to do with it. We are continuing to push each other: when Ayoka Lee decided to return that is what she texted all of us. It would be great to host a game in March Madness or make the Final 4 so we will set our goals high. I do not have any specific personal goals but will just try to make the right plays/reads. I want to limit my turnovers and make more free throws but mostly just win as a unit.

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We are still about 5 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with BYU women’s assistant coach Lee Cummard, who talked about conference realignment and his expectations for this season.

In 2004 you led your Mesa High School team to a state title and were named Arizona high school POY: what did it mean to you to win a title? At the time it was the peak of everything that was important to me in my life. Most of my teammates were locals who had all played together with me. We had been knocking on the door for a couple of years so it was great to finally win it. It was a family event because my cousin was 1 of my teammates: it is a fond memory for sure.

You were recruited by several great schools including Gonzaga/Miami/San Diego State: what made you choose BYU? I was being recruited by a few schools early on and then I blew up on the scene later in my career. I knew that I wanted to stay out west and grew up watching ASU/UofA. I kind of kept BYU at a distance to start but they did a great job recruiting me. Dave Rose was an assistant coach at the time and he and the rest of the staff just stayed the course: I was buying what they were selling. It came down to ASU vs. BYU until I took a visit to each school. BYU was the blandest experience you could imagine…and ASU was the complete opposite! Ultimately it came down to what would be best for me as a person and the academic experience. I am completely biased now that I made the best choice: 100%. 1 of the biggest blessings of my decision is that I needed to get away, which I realized after the fact.

You played for Coach Rose: what made him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? My 1st year was his 1st year so we kind of climbed the mountain together. I also coached for him for 3 years after I retired as a player. I got 2 of my old teams together earlier this month to reminisce about those good times. He was great at getting us out of our comfort zone: at 1st he was pushing us so hard that it seemed like nobody was making a shot! There are a lot of big egos/aspirations in the locker room but when I coached for him he got us to believe that we could achieve even more than we thought if we played as a team. I also learned how much time/energy/concern he put into his guys, which really impressed me.

In 2008 you were named conference co-POY/AP All-America Honorable Mention: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was like my high school experience. The Cougars only won 9 games the year before I arrived, but we took a big step during my 1st year by winning 20. After my freshman year my whole perspective changed: everything I wanted to achieve could happen if I put the team 1st, and that has been my MO since then. You must decide how you can help the team win, and then let the talent go out there and compete. It was a tremendous honor to win those awards…but the main goal was to win a championship.

You finished your career with 53.5 FG%/43.1 3P%/84.2 FT%: what is the secret to being a great shooter? Shot selection is key! I always wanted to wait until my rhythm was right. I put the work in for sure…but was also lucky at times. If you are choosier with your shot selection, then your percentages can increase 3-5%. You should wait until you get a good pass and are going to the rim.

After going undrafted in 2009 you ended up playing pro basketball for 7 years in Belgium/France/Japan: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The American game has historically been a few years behind Europe. Some of the current concepts/spacing in the US originated in European basketball: perhaps due to athleticism, but more about a focus on fighting for the best shot. Corner threes, catch-and-shoot threes, and the analytic side are big now, but I never recall hearing anything about that when I was in high school/college. It changes the outcome when you have a lot of data points. The shot-making ability in the NBA/WNBA is other-worldly, especially in the playoffs.

After retiring as a player, you spent a few years at your alma mater as a grad assistant/assistant coach for the men’s team: what is the biggest difference between coaching men vs. coaching women? The conversations are a little bit different. On the men’s side every single player thinks they will go to the NBA and get 3 contracts, which leads to a desire to constantly be in the gym. The women want to be professionals as well but some of them have other aspirations: they are slightly more focused on their academics, which comes at the cost of putting in the extra work in the gym. However, this is the 1st year where our roster always wants to be in the gym and improve on their craft. You are not drawing up alley-oop plays but the preparation is identical. There is less entitlement/ego at BYU: I get to work with phenomenal student-athletes.

Your team lost its top-2 scorers from last year (Lauren Gustin/Kailey Woolston): how will you try to replace all that offense/leadership? We also lost a huge piece in Kaylee Smiler, who is now playing pro ball in New Zealand. Gustin was all-conference and led the country in RPG so we will have to get that done by committee, including some guards. We have some transfers who can really score and a couple of freshmen playmakers, so we feel very good about our group. Kailey was as good as you can ask for as a freshman to come in and score/shoot. Sneakily, Smiler might not have shown up as much in the box score but that is a hole we will have to fill as well.

Your conference has seen a lot of additions/subtractions from last year: any thoughts on conference realignment? It is going to be interesting: as an Arizona guy I am happy to have 2 trips back home. All 4 of the former Pac-12 schools are great additions and are historically good programs. Coach Adia Barnes has done a great job at Arizona and beat us a few years ago so we owe them. Utah was as good as anyone we saw last year and has some good pieces coming back: they were a legit Final 4 team last year until Gianna Kneepkens got hurt. Iowa State is great, TCU has reloaded, and West Virginia has everyone back: it is a tough league. We also no longer need to worry about the size/athleticism of Texas & Oklahoma. We learned a lot in year 1 and hope to do even better this year.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? With Gustin leaving it will change how we play: you will see more of the modern game (spacing the floor, letting playmakers create, etc.). Offensively we will try to create an advantage and defensively we will use our versatility. Most teams in our league have monster in the middle who can score so we will try to change up defenses and maybe use some press/zone depending on the opponent. We will play a little smaller than in the past, have more ball-screen action to spread the floor, and hopefully shoot it well.

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We are still about 6 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Utah SO F Reese Ross, who talked about joining a new conference and her expectations for this season.

You were born/raised in South Dakota, where you were named 2023 Gatorade state POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was such a cool honor because it is nationally recognized, so I do not take it for granted. Some of the most profound athletes in all different sports have won that award in the past so I am so grateful for it.

What made you choose Utah for college? So many things. We were originally in the “Conference of Champions” and the chance to play against the best of the best is not something you get to do every day. Being around Mount Rushmore back home means that being outside is important to me, as is having a social life and getting to do things outside of basketball. I also like having coaches who know what they want out of a player. There is a great support staff here, the media is awesome, and we have great sports psychologists: it is like a family and no matter what you need you can find it.

You play for Coach Lynne Roberts: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? She is awesome! She is very balanced: she tells you what you need to hear but always has the best intentions at heart. She is such a unique coach because she cares. We have had some players transfer in and it is interesting to her what coaches at other schools are like: she is amazing.

You played in 31 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I have a tenacious ability to do the dirty work. If I can get a couple of offensive REB/defensive stops then it is not about me but about something more. My high school coach taught me that basketball is played best when you play for each other.

Last November you had a pair of double-doubles against Alaska-Anchorage/Merrimack: how were you able to be so productive despite playing fewer than 20 minutes/game? Just going out there and competing. I never try to get 10 PTS or 10 REB or any other individual stats: I just try to play hard. My teammates and I bring out the best playing styles in each other because we have unique skill sets. If you play hard and do the little things right…then the stats will come along with it.

Last December you scored 2 PTS in a 9-PT loss to eventual NCAA champion South Carolina: where does that undefeated Gamecocks team rank among the greatest that you have ever seen? It was pretty dang cool to get to play such a high-level opponent so early in the season. It really shows that we are a high-level program who can compete with anyone in the country: it is not like we got blown out by 40 PTS. We were underestimated in a way because we have so much potential: it really helped us see what we can do if we ride that train together.

In the 2024 NCAA tourney you had a win over South Dakota State before losing to Gonzaga: what did you learn from that tourney run that you think will help you this year? That is what separates you from other athletes: having experience in pressure moments. Our team has an extra year of experience so that will make us more comfortable this year going into big moments. We can make it back to the NCAA tourney this year…and then try to go a little bit further.

You finished the season by shooting 51.1 FG%/40.5 3P%: what is the key to being a great shooter? Repetition. Our coaches do an amazing job at player development: I was not the most skilled player when I arrived here, but the staff does a great job of bringing out the best in each player. Whether I am working on my shot from beyond the arc or my footwork down low, there is always a chance to get better. Those high shooting percentages helped get me onto the court, and the chance to play with teammates who put up crazy-good numbers of their own made me want to do the same.

Your school joined the Big 12 during the offseason: any thoughts on conference realignment? It is exciting. Being from South Dakota it will be nice to play at Iowa State this winter so that my family/friends can come see me. We want to play the best of the best and we have a unique style of basketball that will carry over to the Big 12, which will broaden our horizons. There is no doubt in my mind that we will prove to the entire conference that we are here to compete.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We want to make a statement in our new conference and prove that we can overcome any adversity. Everyone’s goal is to win a national title, but it starts with winning our preseason games and getting better. As much as people do not talk about going out and getting wins, it will all come together when you play as a team.

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We are still about 6 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Middle Tennessee G Jalynn Gregory, who talked about graduating last summer and her expectations for this season.

You originally committed to UT-Martin before reopening your recruitment: what made you choose Middle Tennessee? The culture that they have developed through the years. It is very much a close-knit family and they are not afraid to tell you what you are doing right/wrong. I am such a big family person so that drew me here.

You play for Coach Rick Insell: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? There are so many things that make him a good coach but 2 of the most important are his love for the game and his directness. When he gets on you he is just trying to make you better: if he let us sit there and be complacent then we would just be a mediocre team.

In the 2022 WNIT quarterfinals you made 2 FTs to tie the game with 7 seconds left (your only 2 PTS of the game) in a 2-PT win at Toledo: how nervous were you with the game on the line as a freshman, and did you think that you were going to make them both? Of course I was nervous: it was a big game and 1 of the best atmospheres that I have ever played in. I have prepared myself for moments like that so Rick gave me a head nod and that was enough for me to know “I got this”.

In the 2023 C-USA tourney title game you scored 24 PTS/5-5 3PM in a win over Western Kentucky en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? That was my night for the team: I had to step up as part of my job and the role I play. I was the 1 being left open so I had to do it for them. We were all so excited and happy for each other in the locker room.

Last December you scored a team-high 22 PTS/5-9 3PM in a win over Tennessee: how big a deal was it to get the 1st win over the Lady Vols in school history, and how do you like your chances for the rematch in Knoxville this November? That was a great feeling, especially growing up as a Tennessee kid watching Coach Pat Summitt. It pushed a lot of us to win that battle, and the next battle in November will not be easy, but we are just as good as last year so I think our chances of winning again are good.

Last season you won each of your final 16 regular season games, then won the C-USA tourney, then scored 24 PTS in a 2-PT upset of Louisville in the NCAA tourney before losing at defending-champ LSU: what did you learn from that remarkable run that you think will help you this year? Every day you have to work to win that next game. You cannot get ahead of yourself, take it 1 game at a time, and try to win the next practice.

You are a career 87.1% FT shooter and have led the league in 3PM during each of the past 2 years: what is the key to being a great shooter? Staying consistent in the gym, keeping a positive mindset, and always believing that your next shot is going in.

Your cousin Kelsey played basketball at Lipscomb: who is the best athlete in the family? I will have to go with myself but we were different kinds of players. She was a true PG but had 3 ACL tears so we never got to see what she could really do.

You graduated with a degree in psychology a couple of months ago: how does it feel?! It feels great! I enjoyed getting to graduate early and my current schedule does not involve any in-person classes, but I am glad that I get to work on my next degree (a Masters in professional studies with a concentration in leadership).

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to play my role for my team and do a better job of being a vocal leader while backing it up with my actions. We want to be ranked after non-conference play, go undefeated again during conference play by taking it 1 game at a time, and then make it to the Elite 8/Final 4.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we have to wait 4 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Fresno State play-by-play guys Paul Loeffler and Randy Rosenbloom about Paul George joining a new team last summer and winning a gold medal.

After Paul’s junior year of high school he verbally committed to Santa Clara (the 1st school that offered him a scholarship) but later decommitted because his high school coach thought he should keep his options open, then committed to Pepperdine but decommitted after Coach Vance Walberg (now the coach at Fresno State) resigned, and ultimately chose Fresno State because it was closer to home and he liked the campus: what was the reaction when he 1st arrived after this rollercoaster of a recruiting process? Paul Loeffler: Nobody really knew who he was. Steve Cleveland was the coach at the time and had a very good NIT team and a player named Dom McGuire who left early for the NBA. Paul was a skinny 6’7” FR who was all limbs. Early on you could see his skill: he had a laborious release on perimeter shots…but he made them. His coming-out moment was during 1 of those season-kickoff games that tipped off at 11 PM PT on national TV. In 1 halfcourt set against St. Mary’s he got into the paint and hammered home a dunk (www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uXmDwm8UJY): everyone in the gym had their jaws drop. He was injured as a sophomore (which cost him all-conference honors) but still finished the year strong. When he declared for the draft some people were unsure if he was ready but Pacers president Larry Bird saw something in him. Randy Rosenbloom: It is different for me because I got to see him play in a high school all-star game called “The Battle of the Valley” where he is from. That is where I 1st saw him and he was far and away the most talented player on the floor even though he was a little raw. After the game I had a nice chat with his mom/dad. I did not want to influence kids but I had heard that he was considering a few schools including Fresno State/Pepperdine. I told his parents that I felt he would fit in well with Pepperdine’s transition game and I was friends with their coach (Tom Asbury). I did not realize at that time that he would become an NBA superstar.

In 2009 he was 1 of the top-15 freshman scorers in the nation: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college? PL: He was 1 of those guys who believed in himself more than other people did. His parents moved to a small town 30 minutes outside of Fresno called Kingsburg, so they were able to attend all his games. Since there was not a lot of talent on the team that year he got a lot of playing time on the wing and was hitting 3s and was a much better defender than anyone realized. There was nothing he could not do and as he put on weight and gained more confidence he got better and better. RR: He was just more athletic than everyone around him. There was 1 game I remember against St. Mary’s that tipped off at midnight during an ESPN season-opening marathon game: Paul told me that he was yawning during the layup line! He made a dunk over Mickey McConnell that is still on YouTube.

In 2010 he set a school record with 90.9 FT%: what was his secret for making FTs? PL: Just dedication and work ethic: that is why he is 1 of the best players on the planet. He was not as good a FT shooter as a freshman but worked hard on his shooting. The old adages of muscle memory/repetition: he just became automatic that year. There was 1 home game vs. Boise State where he scored 29 PTS and became the leader of this team, which is a game that I think he would always remember. RR: 1 thing about Paul is that he had some holes in his game but he was trying to do a lot of different things. There was 1 game at Louisiana Tech where he had to play the point and helped them win down the stretch, which really impressed me. He had a streak of about 30 straight during that season that is still among the best in school history. I do not know if there is any secret to it: I think it was just a case of his hard work paying off. He missed a few games with a sprained ankle and I recall his 1st game back at Hawaii just lathering up before the game: I realized then and there that he was going to be great. He is a streaky player but when he goes off…he goes OFF! He scored 15 PTS in the 1st 4 minutes vs. Pepperdine and then did the exact same thing at Montana. Those 2 games showed his explosiveness, especially those 4-minute windows: we were looking at a Kobe/LeBron-type player.

In the spring of 2010 he was selected 10th overall by Indiana in the NBA draft: did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? PL: I think it was big-time validation because a lot of people questioned him when he decided to leave early…but he knew. He made a strong impression during his workouts and improved on everything: his foul-shooting, his 3-PT shooting, etc. He shored up every potential weakness in his game and scouts saw that he could guard anyone 1-5. My colleague Randy and I had a trip to Oregon State during his sophomore year and were trying to come up with a good nickname for him. He would often swoop right to the rim and Randy came up with the nickname “Swoop Dog”, which we used the rest of the year and which Paul liked. I still remember several of his dunks. RR: I do not think that it was unexpected by him. They got eliminated that March at the WAC tourney and I heard that he told the media that he was coming back the following year…but then he came on our postgame show and told us that he was jumping to the NBA. He had holes in his game and was inconsistent but certainly had his moments. He knew that he was explosive enough so I am not surprised that he went 10th overall. I knew a San Antonio scout named David Fehte who was hoping that he would drop to 16.

In 2019 he led the NBA in SPG and he is a 4-time member of the All-Defensive Team: what makes him such a great defender? PL: Clearly his length has something to do with that. He is coordinated and knows how to position himself to bait his opponent. He moves his feet well, can block shots, and is a student of the game. He has a humble confidence, which he got from his parents. He had the desire to outwork everyone, which you do not always see. RR: He is long, athletic, has a huge wingspan, and is very coachable. People say that Tom Brady did not mind getting yelled at, and I think Paul is the same way. His body made him a quick athlete and he worked hard on defense after people got in his ear.

In November of 2012 he broke Reggie Miller’s franchise record with 9 3PM in a win over New Orleans and he should pass Jason Terry next season to enter the top-10 of most career 3PM: how did he balance his great long-range shooting with his great defense? PL: If he sees a weakness in his game then that is what he pays attention to. His shot was a work in progress when he 1st arrived but it was consistent. Now he has a quick release and can get it off from any angle. He moves with great fluidity and everything he does is smooth both on and off the court. His range is limitless and he has the courage to take those shots. I do not think he gets enough credit for his mental game. RR: He had endurance working on his side so when he is in a game he can go for long stretches at a time. He is in great shape and always comes to camp in shape, which makes him a great 2-way player. Even in that high school game I recall him hitting 5 threes in the 2nd half. He has great confidence in his shot and can get to his spot, and if you get in his face then he can drive right around you.

He played for Team USA at the 2016 Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? PL: I know it meant the world to him and his family. It is never about him but rather who he represents. The injury in 2014 was catastrophic/devastating but it steeled his resolve and he came back even stronger. I do not know exactly how to rank the players today but I think he is 1 of the top-5 players on the planet in terms of his all-around game. RR: He is an emotional guy so I think that it had to mean everything for him. Imagine a guy making it to the Olympics after not being recruited heavily by USC/UCLA, playing for the Clippers rather than the Lakers, then having that horrible injury in Vegas.

In 2019 his #24 was retired by Fresno State: where does he rank among the greatest players in school history? PL: His playing career at Fresno State was good but not great. Other players had better stats or more team success but nobody has come close to what he has done in the NBA in terms of stats/awards. When he came back for the retirement ceremony the entire Clippers organization also came here for it, from his teammates to his coach Doc Rivers to his owner Steve Ballmer. RR: It depends on how you look at it. If you are talking about the most accomplished NBA player he is #1, but in terms of his college career he was not even 1st-team all-conference, although he had great moments. He was like Sandy Koufax/Gale Sayers: a streaking guy who went through the program in just 2 years.

Last July he signed as a free agent with the 76ers: how do you think that he is going to do in Philly? PL: I think he will mesh with them perfectly because it is never about him. During his time here his mother was battling some specific health challenges, so he has never taken anything for granted. That is why he was willing to play the post in high school: he always put his team/family 1st. He knows the 76ers have plenty of other firepower so if they need him to give it up to Joel Embiid he will: he is the ideal team guy, which has had a huge role in his success. He gave his cell # to everyone on the Fresno roster last year and told them to call him if he needed anything: the quality of human being that he is has not changed a bit. RR: He fits in: he has the man in the middle in Embiid and has Tyrese Maxey at the point so he will get a lot of opportunities to make threes. He will have to perform otherwise the crowd will get on his case in Philly but he should get really good looks and have success.

He is a 9-time All-Star: do you think that we will see him inducted into the Hall of Fame some day? PL: I do not think there is any doubt because he is not done so his numbers will only get better. No matter how you slice it his consistency over time, on top of overcoming an injury that would have ended many players’ careers, is amazing. He has made the game better and is an ambassador for every team he has played on because that is the kind of guy he is. He is not looking for the spotlight but it will find him because of the good he does. RR: He is 1 of my favorite guys but the main knock is that his team has never won a title. He is closing in on 20,000 PTS with 20 PPG, which is very hard to do, and when you add in the STL/defense then it will be hard to deny him. I think it is a better than 50-50 shot. I am rooting for him internally since I have known him for so long and because he is just a friendly guy.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we have to wait 4 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett about his former player Matthew Dellavedova being an NBA champion and winning a bronze medal.

photo credit: Daily TelegraphMatthew was born/raised in Australia: how did you get him to St. Mary’s? Matt was at what was at that time the Australian Institute of Sport (now COE) and was part of a good age group. I saw him play PG in some tourney early on and really liked him. David Patrick was on my staff and helped recruit him. The only other visit he took was to Pacific and when he came to our place he committed. We knew that he was good and then after playing U-19 ball everyone else realized that he was good.

He started all 34 games as a freshman, averaged 12.1 PPG, and helped you reach the Sweet 16 with some crucial late FTs in a 7-PT upset of Villanova: how was he able to come in and contribute right from the start? I did not really know until we had him, but as soon as we saw him play at open gym/practice you just realized that he played a significant amount harder than anyone else. He could guard and was already strong so he was like a college player. He is probably the smartest person who ever played here with as good an attitude as anyone, as good a leader as anybody we have had here and as tough as anybody we have had here. There are some others up there with him in some categories but across the board I have never seen anyone quite like him. He was ready to play, ready to win, and was 1 of our 3 best players as a freshman.

In 2012 as a junior he was named conference POY: what did it mean to him to receive such an outstanding honor? We won the league during his sophomore year and Mickey McConnell was named conference POY. Mickey left and people wondered who our PG would be! We knew Delly was our PG and he won POY so we went back-to-back. He was always all about winning: he was not trying to be POY but received it because he was the best at making his team win. His junior year we won both the league and the conference tourney for the 1st time: we had a very good team with him and Rob Jones.

In January of 2013 he scored 18 PTS including a game-winning 40-footer at the buzzer in a 1-PT win over BYU (www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-Tb29zAzQ): what are your memories of the “Dellavedagger”? Incredible! It was a HECK of a game: it was 1 of the 1st times we went up to play BYU. Their guy Tyler Haws hit a big shot and the place was going nuts with 4 seconds left. Beau Levesque inbounded the ball and threw it deep to Delly and he was just playing/competing and it happened to go in. It went to crickets real fast: we were kind of stunned because the game was over. We were going to lose and then we were all celebrating: it just happened that quickly. The emotions in that game were unbelievable, as was our players’ composure to get a good shot with 4 seconds left. Delly is smart and did not panic and got us the best shot we could get and it happened to go in.

He graduated as the school’s all-time leader in PTS/AST/FT%/3PM and the following year the school retired his #4 jersey: where does he rank among the greatest players in school history? He is at the top: I do not even have to think about that. He played 4 years. Leader: top. Toughness: top. Work ethic: top. Intelligence/basketball IQ: top. His care factor: top. There are not many guys who can check the box on all of those. He is kind of the standard for our program. When we recruited him he was not the best talent but in terms of best player nobody who helps your program win there is nobody above him.

In 2013 he was named an Academic All-American: how did he balance his work on the court with his work in the classroom? He is just a smart guy who takes pride in his work whether it is basketball/academics/whatever. I think he won it twice: at that point we had never had anybody win it here so we never talked about it before. We have had a couple of guys do it since (Beau/Joe Rahon) so it is cool: he ever led in that department! When he is done playing I wish he would come work for us. He is heck of a guy who comes around, plays with our guys, and trains here during the offseason. He helps us out and gives money and does all the things you should do when you are 1 of those guys. He is just a 1st-class guy.

He went undrafted in 2013 but later played for Cleveland/Milwaukee/Sacramento: why did no team choose to select him, and how was he able to stick around for almost a decade? They passed on him because he is not the athlete they are looking for in a PG: they are looking for someone quicker/more athletic, maybe a better shooter (although he was a pretty good shooter in college). He was a 4-year guy and every time he stepped onto the floor he was the best PG. There were a couple of teams who knew he was under the radar. The reason he was successful is that he could really guard in the NBA: if he could not have done that then he would not have made it. Toughness/IQ/work ethic/leadership: all of those kicked in. He will help you win games whether he sets foot on that floor: all it takes is 1 coach/franchise to see that and believe in him, and the Cavaliers did and they ended up winning a championship. When he joined the Kings they made the playoffs for the 1st time in 17 years. He was not the reason they did it…but he was part of the reason based on his intangibles both on/off the court: he just breathes winning.

As a player for the Cavaliers he lost the Finals to Golden State in 6 games in 2015 but beat the Warriors in 7 games in 2016: what did it mean to you to see him win an NBA title? It meant a lot: I was happy/excited for him. It is so hard to get into that league, and play in that league, and stick in that league, and play for a championship team. He played minutes in the playoffs and had to guard Steph Curry a lot. It was funny: we are so proud of this guy but the whole Bay Area had to root against him because he was going against the Warriors! His style of play will get under your skin because he is so tough and coming at you. I was so proud for him and what he has overcome and his stick-with-it-ness: it was great to see him get to the top. Seeing him play in those games: there was a lot of pride to see a guy who had come through our program. It makes you feel that what you are doing is working in terms of player development and getting right between the ears. This program put him in a position to continue developing in those area: those were great times.

He played for Team Australia at the 2020 Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent the Boomers, and what did it mean to him to win a bronze medal? It was probably his greatest moment. If there is anyone who cares more about playing for his country then I do not know who it would be. To do that with his fellow countrymen and medal for the 1st time ever was tremendous pride for those guys. We had 2 other guys on that team and an assistant coach. It was special for our whole program at St. Mary’s but for Delly I think it is probably his biggest moment. Obviously, winning an NBA championship is way up there too.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? I would say his leadership…but right behind it is his winning/toughness. He was a Gael through and through: whatever Matt does, he is in 110%. As a coach you learn from your players if you have 1 around like that: he has helped me to see where the bar sits for those categories because he kind of set the bar.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we have to wait 4 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Ariel Atkins about being a great defender and winning a gold medal.

In 2014 you were named national high school POY and a McDonald’s All-American: could you tell at the time that your fellow nominee A’ja Wilson was going to become a superstar? We obviously got glimpses of it. I never faced her during AAU/high school, but we did some national team stuff together and she was a focal point of the team. I always knew that she was good.

What made you choose Texas for college? I felt that it had everything I needed both athletically/academically and it was not too far from home.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you made the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual-champion UConn, and in the 2016 NCAA tourney you made the Elite 8 before losing to eventual-champion UConn: what was it like to keep running into Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma in March? 2016 was very tough.

In the spring of 2018 you were drafted 7th overall by Washington: did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the WNBA, or other? It was a lifelong dream and something that I always wanted to do. I was not sure if it would come true during my freshman year, but it was a full-circle moment for me to be drafted 7th since I wear #7.

In the 2018 playoffs you made it all the way to the Finals before getting swept by Seattle: were you sick of Breanna Stewart ruining your postseason every single year? I do not think she has ruined my postseason EVERY year!

In the decisive Game 5 of the 2019 WNBA Finals you scored 6 PTS in a win over Connecticut: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was pure excitement in the locker room. After getting swept the previous year we knew that we were coming back the following year locked in and would get it done. It was magical!

In 2021 you played for Team USA at the Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It meant a lot. I have given a lot to USA Basketball, and it is always an honor for them to call you up. It was great to pursue that dream and win a gold medal.

You are the 1st player in WNBA history to be named All-Defensive team in each of your 1st 5 seasons: what is the key to being a great defender? Anticipation. I am not the biggest/fastest player, but I have good eyes and am pesky so I can use my height/quickness to my advantage.

Your career 84.5 FT% is top-40 all-time: what is the secret to making FTs? Funny enough, I have used the same routine since I was 16 years old. It is about focus and quieting things in your mind and focusing on what is in front of you.

You spent last year as the assistant coach for player development of Michigan women’s basketball: how did you like the gig, and what do you want to do after you retire as a player? I enjoyed it and have thought about coaching in the future but there are a few different avenues I am looking into as well. The kids and staff in Ann Arbor were amazing: they took me in and were very receptive/helpful to me.

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We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Mississippi State assistant coach Scott Padgett, who talked about winning the 1998 NCAA title and his expectations for this season.

You played for Rick Pitino/Tubby Smith at Kentucky: what was the most important thing that you ever learned from either of them? Rick brought a children’s book to our 1st official practice which taught us how to focus on the task at hand. He stressed the importance of outworking the guy against you every day. The #1 thing about Tubby was how he treated everyone with respect: he would walk by the scorer’s table and get to know everyone’s name. My future wife played volleyball at Kentucky and after 1 practice he introduced himself to all of volleyball players: when he saw the 2 of us together a few days later he asked her what she was doing with “this knucklehead”!

In the 1997 NCAA tourney title game you scored 17 PTS in a 5-PT OT loss to Arizona: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I have a 1-A and 1-B: that 1 is 1-A. I sat out the 1996 season when Kentucky won the title, and I know that it is very rare for a school to make 3 title games in a row. I was worried that I had missed out on my only chance: we missed a bunch of FTs so it was tough. 1-B is our loss to Michigan State in the 1999 Elite 8 because it ended my career.

In the 1998 NCAA tourney title game you scored 17 PTS in a 9-PT win over Utah: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? It was everything because it was always my dream: it is weird for your lifelong dream to arrive at age 21 because then you need to go get a new dream! I am still in touch with those guys: we called ourselves the “Leftovers” because none of us were good enough to leave early like some of our former teammates. When we landed at the airport there were thousands of fans screaming at the fence, and then a parade of cars back to the arena where 25,000 people were waiting there just to see us hold up the trophy.

You were named Academic All-SEC in both 1998/1999: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I was always a good student but flunked out of school as a freshman. It was the 1st time that I was never “the guy”: I barely got onto the court. I let my academics suffer and had to work 3 jobs to make enough money to get back to school the following year. After working 7 days/week at those jobs I decided to dedicate myself to school by staying organized and getting ahead of things so that I would not need to play catch-up during road trips.

In January of 2005 as a player for Houston you made a 1-handed, off-balance last-second shot to beat the Knicks (www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUXELjuxnDs): did you think that the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is probably my best NBA moment: I grew up knowing that the Garden was a special place even for non-basketball players like Muhammad Ali. They put me in at the end of the game just to space the defense out, but when the Knicks double-teamed Tracy McGrady the ball came to me. I happened to dribble with my head up and could see that it was going in: I was just shocked that I had the ball in my hands.

You later spent 6 years as head coach at Samford: what is the biggest difference between being head coach vs. being an assistant coach? The head coaching job is all-encompassing and you need to ensure that everything is running smoothly. As an assistant you only have 1 main area to focus on like recruiting or player development or something else.

Last March as an assistant to Chris Jans at Mississippi State you made the SEC tourney semifinals before a 7-PT loss to Auburn, then lost to Michigan State in the NCAA tourney: what did your team learn from that postseason run that you think will help them this season? You hope that they realize every moment matters: the farther you got in a tourney the better the team you will face. 1 particular play can be the difference in advancing vs. going home so every detail matters.

You lost 5 of your top-7 scorers from last year (Jimmy Bell/Dashawn Davis/DJ Jeffries/Shakeel Moore/Tolu Smith): how will you try to replace all that offense/leadership? We added a lot of weapons on offense like Claudell Harris Jr./Riley Kugel/RJ Melendez/etc.: guys who can not only make plays for others but also shoot the ball. We played a lot through Tolu in the post the past couple of years but will probably shoot/make more threes this year then we have ever done before. From a leadership standpoint I think you will see Cam Matthews step up as THE leader, and Josh Hubbard will take more ownership as well.

The SEC got 2 new members this year in Oklahoma/Texas: any thoughts on conference realignment? It makes the league even better/tougher since they are both very good programs in multiple sports. We can all be a Monday morning QB and give our 2 cents…but what is nice is that I think the SEC is still at the top of the food chain.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We have had good years the past 2 years by making the NCAA tourney. We went 11-2 without Tolu last year so it was a great job by our guys to hold down the fort while he was injured. Now we want to go deeper in the tourney and try to win a couple of games: when you get hot in the tourney anything can happen. The 1st thing is to win a game to get that snowball rolling and then go from there.

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We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with new Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb, who talked about being a great PG and his expectations for this season.

You played for Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State: what made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? While his process might not be 1 that I would always use today, the result is that we had really good players who played very hard and respected him. There are no magic plays: you must get good players to play at their peak every day with competitiveness/toughness. We would each meet with Coach before the season and he would tell you what your role was, and if you did not want to accept it then you could go play somewhere else.

You led the NCAA in AST in back-to-back years and your 947 career AST remains top-15 in NCAA history: what is the secret to being a great PG? Not every PG is the same: some are scorers, some are great athletes, and some (like me) will do whatever it takes to make the team better. I think you need to know everything on both offense/defense: what we want to do and how we want to do it. The next challenge is that you cannot just be a robot so you have to do your own thing while feeling 1-2 plays ahead. Your brain can never be off, which is why most elite coaches are former PGs (Bill Self, Billy Donovan, etc.). You need to get everyone involved: who is the shooter, who is the driver, etc. There are lots of guys who can handle the ball but there are very few PGs in college basketball right now.

You played pro basketball in the US/overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? There is a creativity to how they play abroad: they have taken what we have taught here and put a bit of soccer mentality on it. In the US we are very linear, such as setting a ball screen at the top of the key. In other countries they will do the same ball screen but at the perfect angle with perfect timing that ends up with a matchup you do not like. So many foreign players have excelled regardless of their athleticism. When I played in Russia/France/Israel we practiced twice per day, and I will use that logic with my current group. We are not playing pickup ball…but you can learn more playing 5-on-5 so you understand how to work together. I have 13 new guys and you can overcome a lack of athleticism with some sleight of hand so I think it will be better for our conditioning/skill-building. If you can go 75 minutes in the morning and 75 minutes at night then I think you can accomplish more than doing it all in 1 sitting.

You were MVP for Team USA at the 2001 Maccabiah Games and coached Team USA at the 2017 Maccabiah Games: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal as both a player/coach? I also won it in 2022 as a coach. Winning as a player is super-fun: I played for Larry Brown’s brother Herb in 2001 after losing in 1997. I was on the Lakers’ summer league team but left to go play in Israel because it was that important to me. As a coach I love building a team/family and seeing if you can get all of them to buy in and fight for each other. Some of my teammates became my closest friends and were even in my wedding. I try to coach people the way I wanted to be coached because kids will respond better to it. Last time I became a convert to 5-out basketball and learned a lot about how to overcome the weakness of playing small. I like FIBA rules and situational basketball and enjoyed coaching more than playing because you are responsible for 12 little brothers as they learn to become a team.

Your father Bob was an assistant to Sutton at Creighton and later was a head coach at Jacksonville/Milwaukee, while your brother Gregg is an assistant for the San Diego State women’s basketball team: how much of an impact were either of them on your own decision to become a coach? Huge: basketball is our family business. When you are a coach’s son it becomes who you are. I am not trying to win battles that my dad lost and am incredibly respectful of my brother’s hard work. I take the honor/commitment that Green Bay made very seriously and will try to live up to it. When we went on “vacations” as kids we would go to the Final 4 or to Newark to play pickup ball.

What kind of relationship will you have with the media after spending the past 2 decades as a college basketball writer/TV analyst/radio host? Friendly/respectful/open/honest/etc. I never understood coaches who were defensive about the media because I am not. It is reasonable to think that a guy who has never coached in college may not be able to do so, but the best of the best will do their job by attending practices and understanding what the job entails. Same with the officials: I carry no baggage. I am close friends with the play-by-play guys I work with like Spero Dedes/Boog Sciambi/etc. I am not taking it for granted or trying to get a pass: do your job and I will do mine. The last thing is to be positive: this is a dream scenario for me and I am in it for the right reasons so I will be an open book and tell the truth.

Your regular season opener will be against your alma mater: how do you feel about heading to Stillwater on November 4th? I think it is awesome! We have 1 kid who transferred in from OSU and another who signed with them before decommitting. It is a lot emotionally for a kid but my daughter goes to school there and my son’s high school is about 30 minutes away. I would much rather compete against Coach Steve Lutz’s 1st team than his 3rd/4th team. I love that place and want them to do well so the only logic behind that game is to show our kids what big-time college basketball is about. If they can see that early on then it will help them make the transition to playing hard.

In addition to 5 players from Wisconsin your roster contains players from 7 other states and 3 foreign countries: what sort of recruiting philosophy do you have? When I took the job I told people that I had an army. We turned down about 25 kids so that we could get the right kids and leaned into our strengths. I have strong ties in Israel due to playing/coaching there. We love Ben Tweedy from Australia and we will continue to add from there: he is only 18 but everyone has a tremendous amount of respect for all the Aussies who are at St. Mary’s. 1 of my dad’s closest allies runs the NBA Academy in Senegal and all the guys we took are from our staff connections. You get good in-state kids, use your connections for out-of-state kids, and then build the trust. We want to make them better and become part of what we do: it was not about getting a specific # of players from a specific area. I will not accept that we will not be able to get some kids because we are in Green Bay. Players want coaches they can relate to and a place where people give a s—: this is Titletown and they want us to win. I got the job in May and wanted to get guys who want to play our way as part of a bigger family who want to be at Green Bay. If you act like you are too good for us then we do not really have a good use for you: we want tough kids who are better than their ranking and have something to prove. Our most decorated player is Anthony Roy: he can score and is tough and I will be surprised if he does not make an all-conference team. I think our best all-around player is Marcus Hall: he has a crazy-high basketball IQ. Preston Ruedinger is our unquestioned leader: he literally does everything you want a kid to do. Foster Wonders is an elite shooter so we will try to get him about 10 3PM this year. Jeremiah Johnson was a top-150 recruit and is a coachable/likable team guy with a tremendous future ahead of him.

You only have 3 seniors/2 juniors on your roster: do you think you have enough veteran leadership to succeed this season? Yes: it will be challenging because we are very inexperienced but there is some upside that is high. I have a lot to learn and will make mistakes but real leadership comes when it is 20-below outside and we have lost a few games. Right now we are undefeated and have had 4 months of perfect weather and everyone is excited about the program. We are putting them in disadvantageous situations while hoping that they will prepare us for a tough rut.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I just want them to play good basketball and compete. Our goal is to make the NCAA tourney and be 1 of the 68: it would be an amazing story just 2 years after being the worst team in the country in KenPom. Our non-conference schedule is ridiculous: I inherited the St. Thomas game and an MTE game at Evansville. We are going to Western Illinois: they are grown men. Everyone told me to play 2 teams outside D-1 but we are only playing 1. We would love to win a “guarantee game” but just need to keep getting better and better. I want our opponents to remember that when they played us we did not beat ourselves and had a great spirit about us. I will judge the process more than the results: if we stay healthy then we can compete at the top of this league in February/March. The real challenge is the conference games within the non-conference schedule: you must maintain your kids’ confidence if you are getting your ass kicked.

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In this time of hightened political interest, Hoops HD has decided to stage their own college basketball centric debate!! Chad Sherwood acts as hosts and moderator as David Griggs and Zach Singer discuss such topics as the expansion of the NCAA Tournament, new NIL rules, video replay reform, conference realignment, and much more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Charleston G Derrin Boyd, who talked about being named Scholar-Athlete of the Year and his expectations for this season.

In 2022 you transferred from Georgetown College to Lipscomb and became 1 of 2 players to start all 33 games: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? Coach Lennie Acuff believed in my offensive abilities. The staff stressed improvement on the defensive end, and I was able to learn the system very quickly, which helped me beat out other people for the starting spot.

Last January you scored a career-high 38 PTS/8-11 3PM in a win at FGCU: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Definitely: it was 1 of the most memorable games of my career and a fun night because everything was going in so Coach let me keep shooting.

The following month you suffered a season-ending knee injury: how bad was it, and how is your health now? It was not horrendous: just a typical ACL tear. We are taking it week by week so I can be ready when the season starts.

Last year you were named conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was a great honor: my mom has always stressed dedication in my life and I could tell how proud she was of that accomplishment. I did not win conference POY…but Scholar Athlete of the Year was still a nice award to have.

You shot 52.6 FG%/44 3P%/83.7 FT% last season: what is the secret to being a great shooter? Just repetition and putting in the work. You do not become a good shooter overnight: it takes time. I continue to work on it every summer and figure out my strengths/weaknesses: it is a process for sure.

Last April you picked a new school: why did you choose Charleston? The coaching staff led by new head coach Chris Mack: I could feel his enthusiasm as he gets back in the swing of things. After my injury I needed to find a team that believed in me, which was also a big thing. He made it seem so effortless to transfer from 1 school to another and knows what I can bring to the table.

Your roster has 4 freshmen/5 sophomores: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? I do not consider it pressure but I feel it is my duty as 1 of the older guys. The young guys are unseasoned but I have been through almost everything so I will try to build them up and let them know that it is not easy. You cannot get too high or low: just keep an even keel and get better every day.

Your non-conference schedule includes games against FAU/Oregon State: is there any 1 game that you feel will present your biggest test or that you are looking forward to the most? I am looking forward to every game on the schedule. Not a lot of people believed in me after my injury, which pissed me off a bit, so I want to go out and prove to everybody who did not want me that I am still here and can still do this.

What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? As a team I would love to get a 3-peat in the CAA and go to March Madness: I wanted to go last year but it was not in the cards. As an individual I would love to shoot 50/40/90 since I was right there last year and also win CAA POY.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we have to wait 4 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with former Army SID Bob Kinney about Mike Silliman being a 3-time All-American and winning a gold medal.

Mike averaged 20+ PPG/20+ RPG as a senior at St. Xavier High School and led his team to a Kentucky high school basketball title in 1962: how good was he in high school? Kentucky head coach Adolph Rupp let a good 1 get away.

He was a Parade All-American that year and had scholarship offers from 55 colleges: what made him choose Army? I got to West Point in 1963 and Mike was already a plebe at that time.

The new coach during his senior year at Army was a guy named Bob Knight, who later called Mike “the best player I ever coached”: how did these 2 legends get along together? Mike’s 1st 2 years on the varsity were spent playing for Tates Locke while Bob was an assistant. Plebes were not eligible to play as freshmen but he led the team in scoring each of his other 3 years and led the team to the NIT when it was comprised of only 16 teams. We made it to the NIT semifinals during each of those 3 years. Bob and I were both inducted into the Army in 1963: I arrived 2 weeks ahead of him.

He averaged 19.7 PPG/11.5 RPG during his time at the Academy and graduated as the all-time leading scorer in school history: what was his secret for being such a great scorer? His feel for the game and the fact that even though he was 6’6” he could score inside. The team looked to him on offense quite a bit because he was their best player.

In addition to being a 3-time All-American he was an Academic All-American who graduated with honors and a degree in mathematics/engineering: how did he balance his work on the court with his work in the classroom? It is comparable to most of the cadets there. Cadets are graded every day and he kept his grades high. He was 1 of my favorite players: very personable/friendly/helpful.

He also played baseball/golf: which sport was he best at, and which sport did he enjoy the most? Not only did he excel in basketball but he was a great 1st baseman. He hit 1 ball as hard as anyone I saw during my 32 years at West Point: it bounced off the door of the Officers’ Club on 1 bounce and did not even go 20 feet off the ground. I would think he enjoyed basketball the most. As a SR he injured his knee in a game 1 afternoon and were scheduled to play Penn State soon after that. Mike did not play but we somehow won that game because Knight did a great job of preparing the team: Army was up 24-7 at halftime and won 59-39. Mike’s presence on the bench might have had something to do with it as the rest of the team rose to the occasion. We had an excellent baseball season during his SR year and he was a big part of their success.

In 1968 he was captain of Team USA at the Olympics: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? I saw Mike at the Pan Am Games the summer after graduation and he could not speak highly enough of his time at West Point. I never saw him wear the gold medal but I later saw him in Nashville when we were playing Vanderbilt in football and he wore his West Point ring with a lot of pride.

He later played 1 year for the Buffalo Braves before an injury cut his career short: what was it like to see a guy from Army in the NBA? It was a thrill to see him make the NBA but he had a great career that ended too quickly. He had a 4-year commitment that he had to serve after graduation.

He was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988, inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1990, and had his # retired in 2015: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? He was just a special guy who was in the inaugural class when West Point founded its Hall of Fame.

He passed away in 2000: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? I have a lot of basketball perspective as the only person on the planet who worked as SID for both Bob Knight and Mike Krzyzewski. He should be remembered with every positive thought possible: he was someone who the corps looked up to. We filled the fieldhouse for every weekend home game: you could not find an empty seat on Saturday nights and I am sure that Mike was the reason for that.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have now won 17 gold medals in the 20 tournaments they have participated in during the past 88 years, while the women have won 10 gold medals in the 12 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 48 years. While we have to wait 4 years until the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Yvonne Anderson about playing for Team Serbia in France and being a great defender.

You were born in Arkansas and went to high school in Missouri: what made you choose Texas for college? There were a bunch of factors but a big part of it was coaching. My father is a coach and Gail Goestenkors came from Duke and is now in the Hall of Fame. I was raised in the South and also wanted to stay in that region.

What made Gail such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from her? She came up during a time when women’s basketball was very different. IQ mattered more, the game was quicker, etc. I can respect someone who knows the game and can give back to kids. She came to the South and gave it her all because it was her passion. You do not hear about her Texas years as much as her time at Duke but she gave a lot back to the game.

You majored in finance and were named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll 5 times: how were you able to balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I had a great academic advisor and was well taken care of: I had study hall/tutors if I needed them and time scheduled for those things because it was a priority. I was always had good grades in school and was a “math head” so it came easy to me.

You played 11 games in the WNBA but have spent most of the past decade playing pro basketball overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? I think you saw it more on display at this year’s Olympics then ever before. The investment in basketball in the US is huge but overseas they have built a culture. It is not focused on individuals because everyone is part of a bigger puzzle. I found my role and it takes every piece to have success: it is more team-oriented overseas.

You won a gold medal at EuroBasket 2021 and were named EuroLeague champion last April: what is the key to winning championships? A bit of luck: you need a lot of things to align correctly. In 2021 there were still a lot of restrictions due to COVID. I was on a talented team but we had a little more motivation than everyone else. Last spring we won because everyone played their role and we were primed to win the whole thing. You still need hard work/practice but sometimes it is about being in the right place at the right time.

You were named EuroLeague DPOY last year: what is the key to being a great defender? It is a mix of toughness/respect. I guard my opponents to the max. Kayla McBride was the best shooting guard in EuroLeague and I guarded her during practice. I am 5’6” on a good day but also had to guard Napheesa Collier, who is several inches taller than me. I can adapt quite well so I take great pride in guarding whoever my coach needs me to. It is an honor to have that pressure placed on you.

How excited were you to see Napheesa win her 2nd Olympic gold medal earlier this month? I was happy for her. I had friends on several other teams as well but I was happy that the US won. I just want to see women competing on the largest stage.

You played for Serbia at the Olympics this summer and made it all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to Australia: what is your favorite memory from your time in France? I was in training camp for 2 months so my summer was LONG! We have been working on this since Tokyo and our goal was to make it back to the Olympics, which was very hard to do. Knowing that we made it to the quarterfinals was huge because it was not easy. We played the best teams in the world and I am grateful for each step of that journey. It is a new generation of Serbian basketball and I got to share it with my friends.

Your alma mater joined the SEC this summer: any thoughts on conference realignment? I do not pay too much attention to college sports anymore. It is becoming a business more and more every day but I hope the Longhorns are successful in the SEC.

Your father Mike played basketball at Tulsa (before becoming coach at UAB/Missouri/Arkansas/St. John’s) and your brother Michael Jr. played basketball at Missouri: who is the best athlete in the family? Me, for sure! I also have a cousin named DeMarre Carroll who played in the NBA for more than a decade…but I think the argument is settled due to my own longevity/success.

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For the monthly offseason podcast (after skipping a month) Chad is joined by a full panel that discusses the new changes to the Selection Committee team sheets and some of the new metrics that have been added. They also look at some of the upcoming MTEs and how NIL money is playing a role. We cover some of the conference realignment, some of the charity games that have been announced, and other offseason news and notes.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the days ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Dylan Penn, who will be playing for UKnighted after winning back-to-back conference tourney titles at Bellarmine/Vermont.

In addition to playing basketball in high school you played football and were a track star: how much of an advantage do your skills in other sports give you on the basketball court? I only played football for 1 year but the strength/conditioning I learned taught me how to take care of my body. When I got to college I noticed that the track part helped me a lot because I like to play fast.

What made you choose Bellarmine to start your college career? I had a pair of D-2 offers but Bellarmine had a family atmosphere where I felt that I could thrive. Their recruiting pitch made me feel a lot more comfortable.

You appeared in 29 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? A lot of freshmen are not brought in to score points right away so I made sure that I would help guys get prepared for games during practice. 1 of my biggest strengths is my speed so I would push the transition in tempo and try to give the best effort I could.

In 2020 your school made the leap from the Great Lakes Valley Conference to the Atlantic Sun Conference: what is the biggest difference between D-2 and D-1? Definitely the size/athleticism, especially at the 4/5 spot: instead of 6’8” centers you might see some 7-footers.

In the 2022 conference tourney title game you had 22 PTS en route to being named tourney MVP in a 5-PT win over Jacksonville: how weird was it to hoist the championship trophy but not get to go to the NCAA tourney because schools are prohibited from participating during their 4-year transitional period from D-2 to D-1? I think that I am the only player who ever won a championship and felt depressed afterward because we did not feel like champions. We earned everything we got but it was a very hollow feeling that stretched out for an entire year. It felt like I was not fulfilled despite our team’s success.

That spring you had offers to transfer to several great schools including Missouri/Purdue/VCU: what made you choose Vermont? Things are VERY fluid/fast-moving in the transfer portal: you can go from 30 offers in 1 day to 10 the next and then 50 the day after that. I knew that Vermont would make me a priority and had a well-established coach. I visited Missouri but Coach Dennis Gates and his staff were still trying to figure things out. I already knew Robin Duncan and his brothers who played there, which helped get me in the door, but I liked that they were not just using me to fill out a spot. I knew with the roster they had that we were good enough to win a conference title and compete with any mid-major team in the country.

In 2023 you finished #2 in the conference with 54.4 FG% during league play: what is the secret to being a great shooter? You need the confidence to make shots and the intelligence to take good shots.

In the 2023 America East tourney title game you scored a game-high 21 PTS in a win over UMass-Lowell en route to being named tourney MOP: how did it compare to the previous year since you knew that you would finally get to play in the NCAA tourney? That was 1 of the most gratifying feelings in my life. I put a target on myself to play in the NCAA tourney that year, which some opponents used as bulletin-board material, but to win another title/MOP award is not something that a lot of people have done. I set a goal, worked for it, and eventually achieved it.

In the 2023 NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS/5-10 FG in a loss to Marquette: what is the key to winning games in March? To approach each game as if it is the 1st game in December with a lot of preparation. I feel that the teams who are willing to give a little extra usually win: you cannot just be happy to be there.

You are playing for UKnighted in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I do not want to give away too much: we are building chemistry and the best part is having different generations of players come together. I also do not want to put the cart before the horse, but 1 of the 1st things I would do is take my car to the shop. I head overseas 3 days after the championship game on August 4th so if we win it all then I am taking my whole family to Hollywood!

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Stephan Hicks, who will be playing for Fort Wayne Champs after graduating as the leading scorer in CSUN history.

You were born/raised in California: what made you choose CSUN? Coming out of high school I had limited scholarship opportunities. CSUN took a chance on me, was the 1st school to offer me, and they were close to home.

You redshirted during your 1st year: how much of an advantage did that give you the following year? It gave me a huge advantage: it allowed me to get a feel for college and a chance to get stronger. 1 of the seniors who played my position graduated the next year, which helped as well.

In 2012 you were named conference ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to me. I started basketball at a later age and only played 1 year of high school varsity, so that award built a lot of confidence in me.

In 2013 you were #2 in the conference with 1.96 SPG: what is the key to playing great defense? Just having energy and wanting to do it. It is all about mindset so you need to bring effort to it.

In the 2014 conference tourney title game you had 11 PTS/12 REB in a 2-PT loss to Cal Poly: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It took me awhile to get over that game after I made a couple of mistakes at the end: it hurt a lot.

You graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1959 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer? Just being consistent and growing each year. You need to work on your game and perfect it while bringing something new to the table.

You also set a conference record with 599 career FTM: how important to your offense is your ability to get to the FT line and then make shots once you do so? It was a huge accomplishment and a huge goal of mine. During my 1st year 1 of my coaches told me not to settle for threes. Once I learned how to get to the line I used it to my advantage by attacking the basket more.

You have spent the past decade playing pro basketball in the G League and overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US v. basketball in other countries? The athleticism/ability/talent is better over here, and our style of play is a little faster. Overseas it is a more physical game that will take a toll on your body, but there are a lot more resources here in terms of taking care of your body.

You are hosting your 1st-ever basketball camp next week: what will make your camp different from other camps? I want to be involved with the kids and make sure that I get to know each camper. I want to build those relationships even after the camp ends so that I can check in with them and see how they are doing.

You are playing for Fort Wayne Champs in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think we are looking good. We have a lot of players who do a lot of great things so we have a chance to be successful. I would use the money to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend!

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Alterique Gilbert, who will be playing for AfterShocks after being coached by not 1 but 2 NCAA championship coaches during college.

You won 3 state titles in 4 years at Miller Grove High School: what is the secret to winning championships? Just being a consistent worker behind closed doors and having a team that comes together for a common goal.

In the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 7 PTS for the West in a win over the East: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Bam Adebayo/De’Aaron Fox/Jayson Tatum/other)? I was most impressed with De’Aaron. I 1st saw him at a Nike Skills Academy and later played against him at a USA camp: his quickness/decision making/athleticism was great. Then again, our whole class was amazing.

You are 1 of the only guys I know who played for multiple national championship coaches during college (Kevin Ollie/Dan Hurley): what was the most important thing that you learned from either of them? When I came in with Coach Ollie I learned that he is 1 of the hardest workers I have ever come across. He really instilled a work ethic in us, but we had a lot of injuries on the roster during our 2 years together. He taught me to “not put peppermint over bad breath”. Coach Hurley is a different kind of guy: his passion for the game is at a different level than everyone else and he taught me how to win at life with the things I do off the court. Now the Huskies are on a 2-year championship run, which shows how he built the foundation. He is a great guy and also 1 of the hardest workers: he is consistently up at 5AM to work on his routines and then sticks with them. It is good to see where the program is now after some tough down years when I 1st arrived. I am excited for the young guys coming in.

You only played 64 games during your 4 years at UConn: how frustrating was it to keep dealing with injury after injury? Injuries are never part of any athlete’s plan so I just tried to ask myself the hardest question: what can I learn from this process? It was a mind thing: I questioned my ability, which was the hardest part. At the same time, everything you learn builds your character and impacts how you live your life, which is the most fortunate thing. You must continue to believe in yourself and stay in the fight. Shout-out to Coach Tom Moore, who taught me that if I never quit then I will never lose.

In 2020 you had transfer offers from several great schools including Arkansas/Florida/Texas Tech: what made you choose Wichita State? I played a road game against them 1 time and the environment was crazy: it was 1 of the most electrifying places I have ever seen. I did not get the full experience during COVID but we always felt the support of the fans. The people were great and it was a big accomplishment for me since it was my 1st full year playing every game. Going to the Roundhouse was a great move for me.

In 2021 you helped the Shockers win their 1st AAC regular season title: where does that season rank among the highlights of your career? It is definitely a big 1 due to the situation we were put in. After Coach Gregg Marshall got fired right before the season we had a little setback but just had to regroup. Everyone played together and we had no chemistry problems because everyone got along. The toughest thing was COVID but everything else was smooth. I think that we could have done even better because we had such a nice group of players/people.

In the 2021 NCAA tourney you scored 10 PTS but missed a 3 off the front of the rim at the buzzer in a 1-PT loss to Drake: did you think the shot was going in? Of course! When I shot it I believed that it was going in, just like every shooter does. I like to take those shots whether I make or miss them: it comes with the game.

You finished top-10 in the conference in APG during each of your final 3 years: what is the key to being a good PG? I will tell you 1 of my secrets that was passed down to me: I scout my team and “marry my shooter” so that I can get him the ball where he wants it. I like to pass the ball during transition before the defense gets set, and if they double-team him then other guys will be open. It is just a “feel” thing: you need to have great relationships with your teammates.

You have played pro basketball in Europe for the past few years: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? I would say the fundamentals that they teach kids in Europe: they understand movement/cutting/passing. Americans do fundamentals as well but when you think of “beautiful basketball” I think of Europe. There is less athleticism in Europe but there are high-IQ players in both places. I had to adjust my game by making those reads, and then it became a lot easier.

You are playing for Aftershocks in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think that we are looking good and have a nice little team! If we play together and have the right mindset then we will have the advantage while playing at home: I think we will definitely make a run. I do not know about the money right now: I will probably sit on it for a couple of days and think of a plan. I do not like to count money that is not there but I pray that it will happen.

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Shelvin Mack, who will be playing for All Good Dawgs after making back-to-back NCAA title games in 2010/2011.

You were born/raised in Lexington, KY: were you a part of Big Blue Nation as a kid, and what made you choose Butler for college? At that time it was REALLY Big Blue Nation with coaches like Rick Pitino/Tubby Smith winning titles. I always wanted to go to Kentucky but they did not really recruit me. Butler had graduated 2 seniors and I knew that it would give me a chance to play right away at a high level.

You played for Coach Brad Stevens: what made him such a great coach, and how happy were you to see him win an NBA title last month as president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics? That is my guy! We have a great relationship and I am so glad that he finally got over the hump to win a title. He put together a highly polished team both on and off the court: they have no egos and by bringing in guys like Kristaps Porzingis/Jrue Holiday he showed his Midas touch.

In the summer of 2009 you were captain for Team USA at the FIBA U-19 World Championship: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It meant a lot, especially coming from Butler. Team USA had been struggling to win a U-19 gold medal during the time and it allowed me to measure myself against players from bigger conferences after spending 3 weeks at training camp. It also let me know that we were building something special, since my Butler teammate Gordon Hayward was there with me.

In the 2010 NCAA tourney title game in your team’s home city of Indianapolis you scored 12 PTS in a 2-PT loss to Duke: did you think that Gordon Hayward’s half-court shot at the buzzer was going in? Yes I did, just like everyone else: there was an ESPN “Sport Science” episode said it was only off by a couple of inches (www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQs-d_9iJ14). If it would have gone in then it would have been the best ending ever: Denzel Washington could have played me in the movie! What most people do not remember is the screen that Matt Howard set, which gave us a chance to win it at the end.

In the 2011 NCAA tourney title game you led your team with 13 PTS/9 REB in a loss to UConn: what on earth happened to your team’s offense (18.8 FG% remains the lowest in NCAA title game history)? We struggled to score that year and any night can be an off night. Looking back on it I just wish we had another chance to face them because I think that we could have won.

In the spring of 2011 you were selected 34th overall by Washington in the NBA Draft: what did it mean to you to get drafted, and how frustrating was it to have to wait more than 6 months to begin your pro career due to a lockout? It is always a dream of any kid to make it to the NBA. I spent the draft with all of my friends/family in Lexington and it was a dream come true. I still wish that I would have been picked in the 1st round but there were a lot of potential Hall of Famers in that class (Jimmy Butler/Kyrie Irving/Kawhi Leonard/Klay Thompson/etc.). I did not get the chance to have a normal rookie vibe at the start of that season and our team was not that great so it was a big transition: we started out 0-8 that year, which was pretty nasty. We had to play the 76ers every other night since they were so close geographically and it was a tough matchup because they had guys like Jrue Holiday/Andre Iguodala.

As a player for Atlanta on December 17, 2014, you scored a career-high 24 PTS on 6-6 3PM off the bench in a win over Cleveland: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I just got hot at the right time. We were losing so our coach put in some bench players to give us a spark. Jeff Teague was hurt at the time so I got to play a little longer than normal. I loved playing for the Hawks and still have a special bond with those players/coaching staff.

A few years ago you allegedly spent part of your bachelor party working on a paper for school: is that true, and how much importance do you place on academics? That is 100% true, and I am getting ready to graduate soon. Academics are very important at Butler: the only 2 people in the past 2 decades who have not graduated were me/Gordon so I did not want to be the only 1.

For the past 2 years you have worked as an analyst for CBS Sports: how do you like the gig, and what do you want to do in the future? I love it because it gives me the opportunity to stay around the game of college basketball. It is a little different from when I played due to the transfer portal, and hopefully 1 day I will be able to cover the Final 4. I like challenges: if you want to try to be great you must always continue to get better.

You are playing for All Good Dawgs in the TBT: how much of a home-court advantage will you have while playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think we will have a great home-court advantage: I only lost 3 regular season games at Hinkle during my career. I cannot wait to see the sun beaming through the windows: it will be great to connect with some old teammates and I think it will be a great experience. If we win then I will probably give some of the money back to Butler to help the collective and use the rest of it for my foundation by buying school supplies to help out some families.

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Bryce Alford, who will be playing for The Enchantment after becoming the best 3-PT shooter in UCLA history.

In 2013 you were named a Parade All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Aaron Gordon/Zach LaVine/Andrew Wiggins/other)? Zach is still 1 of my closest friends to this day: we started at UCLA together and I still feel that he is the best player I have ever played with/against. My dad recruited Aaron out of high school and he was a stud back then (and still is!).

You were born in Indiana/raised in Albuquerque: what made you choose UCLA? Obviously, my dad being named coach there had a big impact. He had been coach at New Mexico so I originally committed to play for the Lobos, but after he took the job at UCLA I followed him there because I had always wanted to play for him. It was also an opportunity to play for a program that has the most titles and the best history in the sport.

Your father Steve was your coach and your brother Kory was your teammate for 2 years: what was the best part of having your family on your roster, and what was the not-so-best part (if any)? The not-so-best part was whenever I played bad or even just okay because some people would say that I did not deserve to play. It took time for me to mature and stop listening to the people who did not matter. The best part was having my dad at all my games, which was another reason I chose to play for him. Those family memories will be with us for a lifetime.

You made 3 Sweet 16s from 2014-2017: what is the key to winning games in March? That is the interesting part of college basketball: the best team does not always win the tourney, or even their 1st game. You must get hot at the right time and have the kind of guys who understand the importance of every single possession. The room for error becomes smaller so you need to take care of the ball and defend the best that you can.

You set school records for most 3PM in a game/season/career: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? There is a lot to that: years and years of muscle memory via repetition that I got by practicing my shooting every day of my life. It also comes down to opportunity because if guys like Lonzo Ball/Kyle Anderson/Aaron Holiday did not pass me the ball and if our screeners did not set picks for me then I would not have made as many as I did.

As a senior you were named 1st-team all-Pac-12: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? That was a cool thing: I also made the all-freshman team my 1st year. It is great to look back and see the other players on that team who went on to have great pro careers (Kyle Kuzma/Lauri Markkanen/Derrick White/etc.).

Speaking of your former conference, which no longer exists: any thoughts on conference realignment? That is a weird 1 for me: I wish that I would have set a few more Pac-12 records because now they would be there forever! I understand the reasons for realignment, but I do not like it because all the rivalries/history will be somewhat diminished.

After going undrafted in 2017 you spent 2 years in the G League and then several years playing pro basketball in Europe: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? It is a different style of game even from country to country. It is cool to see how the game is played/coached/officiated. There is less of an isolation game overseas and there is not a defensive 3-second call (similar to college basketball) but the basic strategy remains the same: you need to put the ball in the basket and stop your opponent from doing so.

You run a basketball camp each summer: what makes your camp different from other camps? I hold the camp at my old high school in Albuquerque and we follow the same structure that my dad has used for the past 4 decades at his own camp in Indiana. We give the kids a free lunch each day via a sponsor and they go through different stations. I give each camper an evaluation so that they can go home and work on their shooting, which is a special thing I offer.

You are playing for The Enchantment in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We are excited: I am heading to Albuquerque next week for my camp and then will start working with the team. They had a good year last year by making it to the Sweet 16. I am bringing my overseas teammate Joey Brunk with me, and I know a lot of guys on the roster very well. It will be a challenge, but I think that we can win some games. As far as the money, I would probably take a golf trip and then spend the rest on my son.

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We commence our coverage with Darius Washington Jr., who will be playing for Team DRC after spending almost 2 decades playing pro basketball.

In the 2004 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 9 PTS for the East in a win over the West: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (LaMarcus Aldridge/Rudy Gay/Dwight Howard/other)? All of those guys were special so nobody stands out. It is hard to say who was the best because they all had their great moments. Al Jefferson/Shaun Livingston/Jordan Farmar: I could keep going for days! I think it will go down as 1 of the best classes ever.

You had scholarship offers from several great schools including Arizona/Florida/UConn: what made you choose Memphis? Their style of play. I had been watching them since Dajuan Wagner was there and I just loved the way they played. The chance to learn from Coach John Calipari was also great.

What makes Calipari such a great coach, and how do you think he will do this fall in Arkansas? I think it will be better than Kentucky because he can get back to the up-and-down style he used to have. At Kentucky you are under a microscope and the fans you expect you to win from your very 1st year. Prestigious programs like Duke/UNC hold you to such a high standard but now he can let his guard down a bit.

In 2005 you were named C-USA ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? Coming out of high school you are entering an unknown world at the bottom of a totem pole, so it was a great accomplishment for both me and the program. The year before Sean Banks won it so it was nice to keep the trophy in Memphis. When you go from being the big man on campus to a freshman in college you need to reinvent yourself.

You led the nation that year with 1334 minutes played: how exhausted were you by the end of the season?! There were a couple of things that happened that led to me getting those minutes but you just have to step up and do whatever the team needs.

In the 2005 C-USA tourney title game you scored a game-high 23 PTS but missed 2 of 3 FTs with no time on the clock in a 1-PT loss to Louisville: did you learn any life lessons from that heartbreaking moment? The trial-and-error we went through that year outside the view of the cameras was tough. We sacrificed a lot to get to that moment and I just felt that I let my team down. I certainly did not know it was going to happen that way but we had to win that game to get an automatic bid to the NCAA tourney. I was nervous about the 1st 1 but I made it…and then I could not finish the job. I would not change anything: it is part of the game. If I had just walked off the court with a nonchalant reaction then people would have said I did not love the game. My reaction was what I felt in that moment. Basketball involves ups and downs: it could have broken me and ended my career, but I used it as motivation and was able to eventually play pro basketball for 17 years. It is part of my story and I tell the new generation that they must finish the job. If things do not go your way you cannot get too low and if things do go your way you cannot get a big head: you need to stay in the middle. I made several game-winners after that so it was just a temporary feeling: it is not permanent.

During your college career you went 12-3 in postseason play: what is the key to winning games in March? Once you get into the postseason everyone is 0-0 regardless of their seed. Everyone is equal and the name on the front of the jersey does not matter. You see Cinderella teams win games all the time…but every team works hard so if you are a #1 seed then you need to come out and play like a #1 seed. If I was a coach I would tell my players that we are looking forward rather than backward. You can go undefeated in the regular season and then get knocked out in the 1st round so you must play every postseason game like it is your last game.

In 2007 you played 18 games for San Antonio: what is your favorite memory from your time in the NBA? Just being around a championship team with Hall of Fame players like Tim Duncan/Manu Ginobili/Tony Parker. As a young guy I got to learn from a veteran team and see how they carried themselves at a high level under a Hall of Fame coach in Gregg Popovich. Just learning the little things from them all was fun: what to wear, how to interview, etc. Every day was a fun day, especially after not getting drafted out of college.

You also spent more than a decade playing pro basketball overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? The fundamentals: overseas players are more fundamentally sound/team-oriented. American players go at a faster pace and are more athletic, but foreign players will work the shot clock to get a better shot. You see it now with guys like Nikola Jokic: he is not dunking but he can do it all. Luka Doncic: he can get his shot off and has a very high IQ. There are overseas practices where we only worked on shooting. The Gasol brothers knew how to pass/run the floor and used their IQ as well.

You are playing for Team DRC in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We are looking solid and have some good pieces that we are putting together. We will get into the gym after the 4th of July. We have no egos, which is the biggest thing in a money tournament. Some games we might need different people more than others so you have to sacrifice at times. We have some veteran guys who have played pro ball so they know how to handle tough situations. I think we can make a nice little run but every game counts. I would use the money to host some events for my foundation and give back to the youth. It is not about me any more but I have a platform and will try to help the kids. There is more life outside our community and there is more life outside of basketball. Not everyone can play pro basketball, but if you go to the right school and meet the right person then you might be able to be your own boss someday.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 16 gold medals in the 19 tournaments they have participated in during the past 87 years, while the women have won 9 gold medals in the 11 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 47 years. With the 2024 Olympics in Paris less than 1 month away, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Scott Ostler, nationally-syndicated sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle who helped write “Spencer Haywood: The Rise, the Fall, the Recovery”, about Spencer’s career, which included winning a gold medal in 1968 and being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

In 1967 Haywood was named national high school POY, then enrolled at Trinidad State Junior College where he averaged 28.2 PPG/22.1 RPG: were there any concerns that a 19-year old junior college player (the youngest player to ever make team USA) would not be good enough to make the team USA roster in 1968, and how did he get along with his older teammates? That team did not have a lot of talent and the USA was in danger of losing its first Olympic basketball title ever. America’s best players, including Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before he changed his name)/Wes Unseld/Elvin Hayes, either chose not to play or did not make the team. The team especially needed a good big man because international basketball can be rough and physical, so a rugged European team would pose problems. Coach Henry Iba and his players could see that Spencer, however raw, had great talent and great size, and they knew he would be badly needed. There really were no Olympic veterans on the team so they were all in the same boat. With a group of new guys there was no real pecking order and Spencer fit right in.

Despite being very ill the night before the Olympic gold medal game he scored a game-high 21 PTS in a 65-50 win over Yugoslavia (he was the leading scorer for team USA that summer with 16.1 PPG), after which opposing coach Ranko Zeravica called him “the best amateur player in the world”: what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? He was very proud to represent his country, even though he had experienced a lot of racial discrimination. Once he got to the Olympics, he was exposed to older/more mature teammates who were bent on protesting, like Tommy Smith and John Carlos did. Spencer listened to them, but in the end he listened more to his new girlfriend who was a runner on the U.S. track team.

After transferring to Detroit that summer he scored 32.1 PPG, led the nation with 21.5 RPG, and was named an All-American: how was he able to be such a great rebounder despite standing just 6’8”? He had a long wingspan so he played taller than his listed height, plus he was a great leaper, very quick/strong, and he did not mind mixing it up under the boards. Rebounding is mostly about hard work, and Haywood was used to hard work.

He decided to turn pro after his sophomore year, but NBA rules at the time prohibited him from entering the league, so the ABA came up with the idea for a “hardship exemption” and he was drafted by Denver: has any basketball player ever had more of a hardship then the son of a mother who raised 10 children by herself while picking cotton for $2/day in Mississippi? They picked the right guy, for sure, to represent “hardship.” It was a brilliant legal strategy and it helped break down a system that exploited guys like Spencer, who would have had to spend four years in college while getting almost zero education (1 college coach steered him to the dumbbell courses). He was earning zero money for himself while earning millions for his school.

He led the ABA with 30 PPG/19.5 RPG, led the Rockets to a Western Division title, and was named ROY/MVP/All-Star Game MVP: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros, and where does that rank among the greatest rookies seasons in pro basketball history? He made a smooth transition because he had already been exposed to elite competition at the Olympics, and he was also a physically mature/gifted player. The only better rookie season I can think of is Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged 37.6 PPG/27 RPG as a rookie and was named ROY/MVP…but Wilt was 23 years old when he broke into the NBA.

After that season Seattle SuperSonics’ owner Sam Schulman launched an antitrust suit against the NBA, and after the Supreme Court found in favor of Haywood by a vote of 7-2 the NBA later agreed to a settlement: what impact did the decision have on Haywood as well as on high school/college students who wanted to get drafted without waiting until 4 years after high school? That decision was huge then and it is just as huge now. For Spencer, it got him and his family out of poverty, allowed him to fairly pursue a career in pro basketball, and paved the way for thousands of men and women who came after him. It ended a very exploitative system that benefitted colleges financially, as well as corporate sponsors and TV people, but screwed the athletes.

In the early 1970s a little-known company approached Haywood about a shoe deal and his agent choose to take $100,000 (while Haywood was on a road trip) rather than accept a 10% stake in the company (which is what Haywood wanted): how do you think that he feels today about missing out on a potential $3 billion deal with the company called Nike?! Woody (as many call him) still kicks himself today, but he is able to laugh about it. I think he would tell you he knows that money is not the answer to everything, and his life has played out nicely even without the staggering riches he would have had.

During the late 1970s he became addicted to cocaine and while winning a ring with the Lakers at the 1980 NBA Finals he was dismissed from the team by Coach Paul Westhead after falling asleep during practice before Game 3 due to a night of partying: how bad was his drug use, and how good do you think that he could have been if he had remained sober? His drug use was serious and he got sucked into an epidemic when he was traded to the Lakers. Everyone in sports (or at least a high percentage of athletes) was doing cocaine, as well as many people in the music and show-biz industries, and Spencer was a part of all those worlds. He had no way of knowing what he was getting into and got seriously hooked. He became the NBA’s first drug casualty and was thrown out of the league for abusing drugs. He was on the downside of his career at the time and the drugs just wiped him out. Had he been sober, or even reasonably so (like some of his teammates), he would have been an important rotation player for that team, which badly needed his rebounding/defense.

He spent a decade married to fashion model Iman, hosted weekend jazz shows on the radio in both NYC/Seattle, and later became involved in real estate development in Detroit: how did his life off the court compare to his life on the court? In some ways, his life off the court was more successful than his life on the court…and he was a Hall of Fame player! He overcame poverty and racism, as well as a serious drug problem, and became a person who helped others by doing (and still doing) good work in his community. He became a Hall of Fame person.

He was named to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He should be remembered for being a great player (that sometimes gets overlooked), an Olympic hero, the guy who broke down the 4-year-college rule that was so wrong/unfair, the NBA’s first drug casualty, and a man who picked himself up and made himself into an honorable/productive guy who worked hard to make the world better.

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The NBA Finals have concluded so it is time for all 30 teams to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 12th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal was June 16th, and the draft will take place on June 26th/27th. We will spend the next 24 hours interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Arkansas F Chandler Lawson about winning the 2023 AAC tourney and what it would mean to him to get drafted.

You won 4 straight state titles in high school: what is the key to winning championships? We had a great group of guys who bought in and had no egos. Everyone followed the game plan, had fun, and knew that we would all have each other’s back.

Your dad Keelon was your coach at Wooddale High School for that final title: what was the best part of having your dad as your coach, and what was the not-so-best part (if any)? The best part is that I could take any shot I wanted…but the not-so-best part is that I would have to deal with the consequences of missing any shots when I got home! It was a great run for both me and my brother Johnathan: we did a great job of running through the city and winning it all.

In 2020 as a player at Oregon you were the only freshman to appear in all 31 games and you started the final 12 games of the season: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? Being in a basketball family I learned how to play with different people. I adjusted, learned fast, listened to the coaches, watched film, and did all the little things that not every other freshman was doing. I felt like a junior coming in because I was able to pick up things so fast.

Your team went 24-7 that season and entered the Pac-12 tourney as the #1 seed: what was your reaction after you learned that the entire postseason was being canceled due to COVID? We had a great run and I thought that we could make a big run in March had it not been for COVID. We had some good pieces like (future NBA champ) Payton Pritchard but I was really sad that everything got cancelled because it was the final season for a lot of our guys.

In the 2023 AAC tourney as a player at Memphis you scored 5 PTS in a 10-PT win over a Houston team that had only lost 2 games at that point: where does that upset rank among the best wins of your career? It is a top-5 win. Houston is always 1 of the best teams in the country and a strong defensive-minded squad. We had to be really locked in and not take a single play off. I felt like we could have beaten anybody after beating the Cougars.

In the 2023 NCAA tourney you scored 5 PTS but Nicholas Boyd made a floater with 2.5 seconds left in a 1-PT win by FAU: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? That is 1 of the 2 toughest losses of my career. Every play counts and we could have changed a lot of things toward the end of that game. We put ourselves in a couple of bad positions for the game to go down that way by giving them a chance to win it.

Last March as a player for Arkansas you scored 2 PTS in a 111-102 loss to Kentucky: how do you think that former Wildcats coach John Calipari will do in Fayetteville next year? It is a new journey for him. He has done a good job of bringing in great recruits but you never know how everyone will bond with each other. You have to hope they are all on the same page while chasing championships.

You are 6’8” but have a 7’7” wingspan: how much of an advantage is your length on the court? I use my length a lot: I can guard my man without being right up on him and can defend multiple positions very well.

Your brothers Johnathan/Dedric/KJ all played college basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say me, for sure!

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean a lot to get drafted. Everyone dreams of that…but if not then it is just another stepping stone. I will try to find a way to get on a summer league team and if not then maybe go overseas. I am just thankful for the situation I am in and am ready for whatever comes next.

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The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 26th/27th so this is our final attempt to predict where everyone will get selected. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available” but we try to focus on team needs: for example, if a team like Atlanta already has Trae Young at the point then they are probably not selecting a PG with the 1st overall pick. Please see our 1st round predictions below and then tweet us your comments regarding what looks good and what might need a re-pick.

#. TEAM: NAME, POSITION (SCHOOL/YEAR OR COUNTRY)
1. Atlanta: Zaccharie Risacher, SF/PF (France)
2. Washington: Alexandre Sarr, C (France)
3. Houston: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG (Kentucky/FR)
4. San Antonio: Stephon Castle, PG/SG (UConn/FR)
5. Detroit: Matas Buzelis, SF (G-League/FR)
6. Charlotte: Donovan Clingan, C (UConn/SO)
7. Portland: Cody Williams, SF (Colorado/FR)
8. San Antonio: Tidjane Salaun, PF (France)
9. Memphis: Dalton Knecht, SG/SF (Tennessee/SR)
10. Utah: Devin Carter, PG/SG (Providence/JR)
11. Chicago: Ronald Holland, SF (G-League/FR)
12. Oklahoma City: Ja’Kobe Walter, SG (Baylor/FR)
13. Sacramento: Jared McCain, PG/SG (Duke/FR)
14. Portland: Nikola Topic, PG (Serbia)
15. Miami: Rob Dillingham, PG (Kentucky/FR)
16. Philadelphia: Carlton Carrington, PG/SG (Pittsburgh/FR)
17. LA Lakers: KyShawn George, SF (Miami/FR)
18. Orlando: Isaiah Collier, PG (USC/FR)
19. Toronto: Kel’el Ware, C (Indiana/SO)
20. Cleveland: Tristan da Silva, PF (Colorado/SR)
21. New Orleans: Zach Edey, C (Purdue/SR)
22. Phoenix: Yves Missi, C (Baylor/FR)
23. Milwaukee: Terrence Shannon Jr., SG (Illinois/SR)
24. New York: Johnny Furphy, SG/SF (Kansas/FR)
25. New York: DaRon Holmes II, PF (Dayton/JR)
26. Washington: Tyler Kolek, PG (Marquette/SR)
27. Minnesota: Cam Christie, SG (Minnesota/FR)
28. Denver: Kyle Filipowski, C (Duke/SO)
29. Utah: Jaylon Tyson, SG/SF (California/JR)
30. Boston: Ryan Dunn, SF (Virginia/SO)

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 16 gold medals in the 19 tournaments they have participated in during the past 87 years, while the women have won 9 gold medals in the 11 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 47 years. With the 2024 Olympics in Paris just over 1 month away, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Boston Globe sports columnist/associate editor Dan Shaughnessy about Larry Bird’s career, which included winning 3 NBA titles with the Celtics in the 1980s and a gold medal with the Dream Team in 1992.

Bird was raised in French Lick, IN, with a mother who worked 2 jobs to support 6 kids and a father who got divorced before committing suicide: what impact did such a childhood have on him either on or off the court? It was a hard childhood since he grew up poor. The hunger that he had always showed in his game: nothing was handed to him and he had to work hard for everything. He was “farmboy strong” and had a chip on his shoulder towards people who had it easier or played in elite conferences like the ACC.

After Boston selected him 6th overall in the 1978 NBA draft, he decided to return to Indiana State and led his team to 33 straight wins as national POY: how close did he come to going pro that summer, and why did he choose to go back to college? He told everyone in advance that he was going back to college so it was “buyer beware”. He was committed to playing his senior year so that was a risk for GM Red Auerbach. It went down to the wire: Red tried to get him to the NBA right after Larry’s junior season finished in the spring of 1978…but Larry was not interested.

He scored 19 PTS in a loss to Magic Johnson’s Michigan State team in the 1979 NCAA title game (which remains the highest rated college basketball game in TV history), then faced Magic’s Lakers team in the NBA Finals 3 times during a 4-year stretch from 1984-1987: what made their rivalry so special, and how much credit do they deserve for revitalizing the NBA during the 1980s? That is not an understatement: the Bird-Magic rivalry really revived the NBA, and those Celtics-Lakers series became like the Ali-Frazier fights of the 1970s. It was just perfect: you had players of different races, from vastly different college conferences, who played on different coasts after arriving in the NBA, etc. For Larry I think the 1984 Finals were the highlight of his life after losing to Magic in 1979: it was huge for him.

During the 1985 offseason he injured his back while shoveling crushed rock to create a driveway at his mother’s house, and in 1988 he was limited to 6 games after surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels: do you think that a healthy Bird might have put up some stats/records that would still be standing today? I would not go that far. He had a pretty long career: it could have been a little longer but a lot of guys break down, so it was not like he was really short-changed.

In 1986 the Celtics won 67 games and an NBA title: what made that team so special considering they had the same nucleus (Bird/Danny Ainge/Dennis Johnson/Kevin McHale/Roger Parish) for most of that decade? I covered that team on a daily basis and it was the best NBA team that I have ever seen. I think it holds up over the past few decades due to their size and outside shooting. Their frontcourt (with Bill Walton coming off the bench) is as good as any assembled in the history of the sport, and their bench players (including guys like Jerry Sichting/Scott Wedman) were also critical.

He teamed up with Magic and several other legends on the 1992 Dream Team to win an Olympic gold medal: do you think that we will ever see a greater collection of basketball talent? It was quite an assemblage. Larry was near the end of his career because his back was barking but Michael Jordan was at his height, and they had enough other guys close to their prime (Karl Malone/Charles Barkley/Patrick Ewing) that it remains the standard. I was in Barcelona with that team: they were global superstars and their opponents would take photos with them before games.

He was 1 of the most notorious trash-talkers of his era: was it more about being psychological or cocky or competitive or other? It is all those things: he was legitimately confident and was never intimidated by players with more athletic gifts. He was able to enforce that on the court and won MVP 3 years in a row. Other teams were in awe of him because he was so far ahead in the mental component of the game.

He is 1 of 3 players (along with Kevin Durant/Steve Nash) to have multiple 50–40–90 seasons: where does he rank among the greatest shooters in the history of the sport? Those things are hard to quantify, and Steph Curry has kind of redefined that for smaller guards. Bird is probably in everyone’s top-10…but Curry has taken it to another level.

He is the only person to ever be named Rookie of the Year AND Most Valuable Player AND Finals MVP AND All-Star MVP AND Coach of the Year AND Executive of the Year: how was 1 guy able to succeed in so many different roles over the course of several decades both on and off the court? That is a pretty good stat. Translating your success as a player into a role as coach/executive does not always work out so well for everybody. It was no small thing and is a cool stat.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? I am in Boston and he basically got in and out of here unscathed. He was never controversial (a la Bobby Orr) but it is rare to retire here with impeccable love/admiration from the entire fanbase. He was also smart enough to not stick around here as a coach/executive and possibly get booed if his teams did not play well. It was pretty perfect, which is tough to do.

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The NBA Finals have concluded so it is time for all 30 teams to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 12th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal was June 16th, and the draft will take place on June 26th/27th. We will spend the next week interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Indiana G Xavier Johnson about being a great scorer and what it would mean to him to get drafted.

You started high school at 5’6” but grew to 6’ by the time you graduated: how did that growth spurt help your on-court play (if at all)? It helped me become more athletic and fit in with the other guys who were taller than me. It made me into a totally different player.

You originally committed to Nebraska: why did you ask to be released from your letter of intent, and what made you choose Pitt? There was a coaching change at Nebraska (Fred Hoiberg replaced Tim Miles in March of 2019) and I sat down to talk about it with my family. After I asked for my release I visited Pitt and then committed there.

In 2019 you started all 33 games, were named to the ACC All-Freshman team, and became the 1st Pitt freshman to lead his team in scoring since 1985: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college? My high school was part of a great conference. The WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) has amazing talent and is 1 of the best leagues in America for high school basketball.

You also led the ACC that year by making 157 FTs: how important to your success is getting to the line and then making FTs once you get there? It was a big emphasis on my game to get downhill due to my speed. Guys could not stay in front of me so they picked up a lot of foul calls, which led to a lot of easy points.

In 2021 you decided to transfer to Indiana: were you concerned that the Hoosiers already had a pair of PGs on the roster? We talked about it, but it was not a big concern because they discussed playing with 2 PGs on the floor at times.

You turned around your 1st season in Bloomington after your grandfather passed away in early-February: how close were you 2, and how were you able to improve your game after losing him? We were very close: we traveled to his home in Georgia to celebrate the holidays together and he texted me a lot, so after he died it was a big motivation for me to play better. I needed something positive so I was able to turn around my season, which was good for both me and my team.

You were team captain last year: what is the key to being a good leader? You must be disciplined and be the 1 who sets the example. I was not a vocal guy when I 1st came to Indiana, but Coach Mike Woodson stayed on me to become more vocal.

You only played 20 games last year due to foot/elbow injuries: how is your health doing now? I am doing really well now that I have the right shoes!

Your father Michael played college basketball, your godbrother Marcus Georges-Hunt played in the NBA, and your cousins Larry/Tracey Gibson played D-1 basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? My dad claims he is and calls himself “Flight” because he dunked on so many people…but I would say me!

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean the world to me and my family: I have dreamed about it since I was young. If I do not get drafted then I will just try to get on a summer league or G-League team and work my way up from there.

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CLICK HERE for Jon Teitel’s latest BRACKET PROJECTIONS. He is as good as anyone on the planet at forecasting what the Selection Committee is going to do.

NEWS AND NOTES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

There is a lot to unpack from yesterday.

-UConn was tested on the road at Villanova just like we knew they would be, but held on to win 66-65. This should enable them to hold on to the #1 ranking and it also adds another notable road win to an already very impressive profile. For Nova, a win would have been a huge boost to their resume, but a loss is hardly a setback. I still think this Nova team could be dangerous this March and think they will keep improving as the year goes along.

-Purdue did something we hadn’t been seeing them do very often, and that’s win a conference road game rather handily. They knocked off an Iowa team that had been playing pretty well 84-70.

-Kansas did something we’ve seen them do several times, and that’s struggle against a team that we were expecting them to bury. Only yesterday at West Virginia, they didn’t manage to escape. West Virginia held on for the 91-85 upset, which may knock the Jayhawks off the 1-line.

-Pittsburgh went into Cameron Indoor and knocked off Duke 80-76 in what was probably the biggest surprise of the day. Pitt had shown no signs at all of being capable of such a thing, and Duke had been absolutely rolling coming into this one. In fact they had just blown Pitt out at Pitt less than two weeks ago.

-Texas got a big win against Baylor 75-73. It was a win that the Longhorns really needed, but it was still a home win. What Texas also needs is a few more wins away from home.

-Arizona had to come from behind to beat UCLA. Arizona was at home, Arizona is a top ten team, UCLA is…well..NOT a top ten team, and Arizona was getting blown off the floor in the first half. They did manage to come back, get control (albeit very late in the game), and escape with a 77-71 win, though.

-Auburn continues to look like a top ten caliber team. They blew out Ole Miss yesterday 82-59, and Ole Miss is good!

-I had been beating up on Oklahoma for not doing anything on the road all season. Yesterday, the Sooners did something on the road! They won at a pretty good Cincinnati team 69-65, which I think is one of the bigger wins of the entire season for the Sooners.

-Marquette escaped with a big road win at Saint John’s 73-72. They appeared to be in control of the game, but the Johnnies made a late run and nearly stole it from Marquette. It was one of many insanely exciting Big East games yesterday.

-I loved how Seton Hall had been playing and had been beating the drum that not only should be in the field, but that they should be way up the seedlist!! Yesterday, they had several chances to win at home against Creighton, but after three overtimes of a game that went back and forth the entire time, Creighton escaped 97-94. It was a really nice, and certainly a hard fought, road win for the Bluejays that I think boosts their resume a little bit.

-Iowa State was running TCU off the floor and had an 18pt lead at the half. Then, they almost blew it. TCU came all the way back and almost escaped, but Iowa State held on for a 73-72 road win, which really gives their resume a nice boost.

-BYU was also winning big at Texas Tech. Like Iowa State, they blew their lead. Unlike Iowa State, they were unable to hold on. Texas Tech came from 17pts down in the second half for the 85-78 win.

-Boise State just keeps winning, and I now think the Broncos have played their way inside the bubble. They knocked off San Diego State 67-66 yesterday, and while it was a home win, it was still a big win for the Broncos.

-South Carolina really needed a road win, and they got one at Arkansas yesterday 77-64. The Gamecocks are now an impressive 15-3 on the season, and yesterday was one of their best overall wins.

-Nebraska, after blowing a lead at Rutgers earlier in the week, managed to beat Northwestern 75-69 at home yesterday. Both teams appear to be in that 7-to-10 seed range of the NCAA Tournament right now.

-Clemson, who had been in a bit of a tailspin, went on the road and beat Florida State 78-67. This was a win that Clemson desperately needed because they had been struggling, it was on the road, and it was against an FSU team that had been playing fairly well in recent weeks.

-New Mexico won at Air Force 85-66. It was just their second road win of the season, and it was a decisive one in a place that can be tricky to win at. I’m starting to become more and more of a believer in the Lobos.

-Nevada, who was a red hot team from the Mountain West, suffered a road loss at Wyoming yesterday. I think this is a bit of a setback for the Wolfpack. They’ve now lost three straight games, and are just 2-3 in conference play. Their game against Colorado State later this week now seems to have a huge sense of urgency to it.

-Saint Mary’s got a nice and decisive 77-60 win at San Francisco. The Dons had been playing pretty well, so while it’s not the kind of win that jumps to the top of Quad 1, it’s still a big statement win for the Gaels, who have looked like the best team out of the WCC this year so far.

-Grand Canyon, who had been on an absolute rampage and seemed to be close to getting into the rankings, will not be getting into the rankings. They lost on the road to Seattle U 86-79. The game seesawed back and forth all the way through, but then the Lopes just couldn’t score in the final minute and Seattle U got control. I still think the Lopes can land inside the bubble, but this may have perhaps been their last strike.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN STATE AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Michigan State’s place in the bubble right now isn’t exactly guaranteed. They should be there in the end, but they don’t have a true road win yet. Maryland has looked more like an NIT team than an NCAA Tournament team, but it would still be a hugely important win for Michigan State if they’re able to pull it off.

-MEMPHIS AT TULANE (American). Memphis will be tested on the road in this one, but it’s still the kind of road game they should be able to win. The loss at South Florida was a setback, but it didn’t set them so far back that they’re out of reach of a protected seed.

-RUTGERS AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Rutgers is coming off a nice home win against Nebraska, but winning on the road at Illinois is probably way too tall of an order. The Illini can now be back at full strength and should hold serve at home.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT UTSA (American). This should be a routine win for FAU despite it being a road game, but one never knows what to expect out of FAU this year.

-OREGON AT UTAH (Pac 12). Both teams are within reach of the tournament, but both still have work to do and both could really use this win today to help build up their resume. Oregon had been playing well, but was absolutely blasted by Colorado in their last game. Today’s isn’t likely to be any easier.

-INDIANA STATE AT MURRAY STATE (Missouri Valley). Indiana State can still reach the bubble if they can blow through the rest of their schedule, but anything short of that and they’ll need the auto-bid.

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Wagner (9-7, 3-1) at Sacred Heart (9-10, 3-1) – 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day heads up to Fairfield, Connecticut where the Sacred Heart Pioneers host the Wagner Seahawks in a matchup of leaders in the Northeast Conference. As is typical of an NEC team, Sacred Heart had a 7-game losing streak in nonconference play. The Pioneers have since rebounded with wins in 5 of their last 6 games to vault themselves into a 3-way tie for first place along with Wagner and Central Connecticut State. Joey Reilly had 23 points for SHU in their most recent game – an 80-73 win at Le Moyne.

Wagner didn’t have as long a losing streak as Sacred Heart did in noncon play, but the Seahawks also come into today having won five out of their last six games. Melvin Council Jr. had 15 points in Wagner’s 71-65 win at Merrimack in their last outing.

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We are only 8 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2023 tourney with 65 of his 67 within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 53 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 17th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 11th out of 174 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Connecticut (Big East)
1: Houston (Big 12)
1: North Carolina (ACC)

2: Kansas (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Tennessee (SEC)
2: Wisconsin (Big 10)

3: Auburn (SEC)
3: Kentucky (SEC)
3: Baylor (Big 12)
3: Duke (ACC)

4: Marquette (Big East)
4: Creighton (Big East)
4: Illinois (Big 10)
4: Dayton (A-10)

5: Memphis (AAC)
5: Alabama (SEC)
5: Oklahoma (Big 12)
5: Clemson (ACC)

6: BYU (Big 12)
6: San Diego State (MWC)
6: Colorado State (MWC)
6: Utah State (MWC)

7: Iowa State (Big 12)
7: FAU (AAC)
7: Utah (Pac-12)
7: Villanova (Big East)

8: Texas A&M (SEC)
8: St. John’s (Big East)
8: TCU (Big 12)
8: Texas Tech (Big 12)

9: Mississippi (SEC)
9: Mississippi State (SEC)
9: Seton Hall (Big East)
9: Nevada (MWC)

10: Nebraska (Big 10)
10: Northwestern (Big 10)
10: Michigan State (Big 10)
10: South Carolina (SEC)

11: Boise State (MWC)
11: Cincinnati (Big 12)
11: New Mexico (MWC)
11: Wake Forest (ACC)
11: Oregon (Pac-12)
11: Grand Canyon (WAC)

12: Princeton (Ivy)
12: St. Mary’s (WCC)
12: Indiana State (MVC)
12: James Madison (Sun Belt)

13: McNeese State (Southland)
13: UC-Irvine (Big West)
13: Samford (SoCon)
13: Akron (MAC)

14: Drexel (CAA)
14: High Point (Big South)
14: Vermont (America East)
14: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)

15: Oakland (Horizon)
15: Morehead State (OVC)
15: Louisiana Tech (C-USA)
15: Colgate (Patriot)

16: Quinnipiac (MAAC)
16: South Dakota State (Summit)
16: Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun)
16: Southern (SWAC)
16: Merrimack (NEC)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)

1ST 4 OUTKansas State (Big 12)
Miami (ACC)
Providence (Big East)
Texas (Big 12)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-Stalica may have been on to something when he was nervous about the Xavier-Georgetown game. The Hoyas led for 36 minutes of the game and it looked like Ed Cooley’s team was going to walk out of the Cintas Center with a back-breaking upset against Xavier. But Dailyn Swain and the Musketeers had different ideas in mind – he had a go-ahead dunk with 30 seconds left to give Xavier the lead for good.

-The last time Indiana won at Wisconsin, it was 1998 and Bob Knight was still the Hoosiers’ coach. They still have not won in Madison since 1998.

-Colorado State has played with fire since getting into Mountain West play and last night was no different; UNLV had a 9-point lead in the 2nd half before the Rams came back and took the lead for good at the 3-minute mark in the 2nd half. UNLV is going to be a major spoiler in this conference and could potentially cost the conference a bid or two (to Joby’s ultimate delight).

-Terrence Shannon Jr. has been granted a temporary restraining order by a federal judge to rejoin Illinois after being suspended indefinitely. Potentially, his next game back in an Illinois uniform would be tomorrow at home against Rutgers.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-BAYLOR AT TEXAS (Big 12). Texas is a team that we have outside of our bubble, whereas Baylor is someone we have as a strong protected seed. The game is at Texas, but it would still be a huge and much needed win for the Longhorns if they’re able to pull it off.

-MARQUETTE AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). Saint John’s was just blown out by Seton Hall, but they’ve still been playing a lot better and still look to be a solid tournament team. Marquette is a team with some really big wins already and is someone who we think is a solid protected seed and this would be another nice road win for them if they’re able to pull it off.

-CREIGHTON AT SETON HALL (Big East). Seton Hall is one of the hottest teams in the Big East right now. They’re 8-1 in their last nine games with some really nice wins in that stretch. Creighton is a team that we have solidly in the field and who could use a really big road win like this one to help push them back toward being a protected seed.

-OKLAHOMA AT CINCINNATI (Big 12). Cincinnati has been playing really well in recent weeks, especially at home. Oklahoma is still solidly in the rankings, and we had them pretty high up in our seedlist on Thursday, but I’m personally not quite as sold on them as everyone else because they have yet to win a true road game. Having said that, my opinion of them will completely change if they’re able to somehow pull this one out today.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). Boise State keeps playing better and better and will play their way inside the bubble if they keep it up. This is a huge game at home for them today against a San Diego State team that’s solidly in the field and looking to build up their own resume with what would be a really big road win if they’re able to pull it off.

-SOUTH CAROLINA AT ARKANSAS (SEC). We have South Carolina hovering around our bubble and a road win in a game like this would certainly help them out. Arkansas has had a disappointing year, but they did just pick up a win over a pretty good Texas A&M team (which snapped a three game losing streak). They are talented and they have the capability of turning things around.

-THE CITADEL AT VMI (SoCon). Neither team has won a conference game yet, but this is still one of my favorite rivalries in all of college basketball, which is why I always highlight it. The fact that neither team has won in conference actually makes it a little more interesting.

-PURDUE AT IOWA (Big Ten). Purdue is one of the top teams in the nation, but they’ve struggled on the road in conference play (albeit not in their most recent road game). Iowa is outside the bubble, but is also starting to play a lot better and a win today could really boost their resume.

-UCF AT HOUSTON (Big 12). I think UCF is getting pretty close to the bubble and a win today may actually put them inside of it. Having said that, winning at Houston isn’t exactly something that’s just routinely done. Houston is in the mix for a 1-seed and should be able to hold serve at home.

-ALABAMA AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Tennessee is still in the mix of teams that could end up on the 1-line, but they’d have to really blow through the rest of the season in order to make that happen. They should win at home today, but this Alabama team is better than what a lot of people are giving them credit for. This would be their best win of the season to date if they’re able to pull it off, and I bet people will then start to really pay attention to them.

-IOWA STATE AT TCU (Big 12). Both teams are in the rankings and both have been playing well lately, but both still have quite a bit of room to improve their resumes. This would be a nice resume-enhancing win for whichever team pulls it off, especially for Iowa State since they are the road team and only have one true road win on the season so far.

-NORTHWESTERN AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). We have both teams in our field, but neither one of them are exactly virtual locks. Both have played well, both have nice wins, but both still need to do some more between now and the end.

-CLEMSON AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). While both of these teams are still pretty far apart, Clemson appears to be falling backward whereas Florida State, who’s 11-6 and 5-1 in ACC play with some pretty decent wins, appears to be building themselves up. Clemson needs the win to pull themselves out of their tailspin and stabilize their resume, and FSU needs the win to keep progressing toward playing their way into the discussion to make the field.

-TEXAS A&M AT LSU (SEC). LSU has been playing well in recent weeks and is starting to get our attention. TAMU has some good wins, but still has more work to do. A road win today would certainly help.

-NEW MEXICO AT AIR FORCE (Mountain West). What New Mexico did last week was super impressive, but in order to really solidify their resume they need to beat someone…anyone…away from home. It’s not easy to win at AFA. They’re not an easy team to scout or play against. If they can get this one, even though it’s against a team that’s nowhere near the NIT, I still think it makes their resume look a ton better.

-GEORGIA AT KENTUCKY (SEC). I really like how this Georgia team has been playing. They’ve won 11 of their last 12 with the only loss being a battle against Tennessee, and they’re coming off a really nice win on the road against South Carolina. Having said that, I think Kentucky is a solid top ten team, and winning on their court may be too tall of an order. If they are able to pull it off, though, it would almost assuredly land them inside our bubble.

-BYU AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). We actually had BYU in as a protected seed on our last bracket show, and while I personally don’t agree with that, my mind may be changed if they’re able to win this one on the road. Texas Tech could really use this win as well. They’re in the rankings, but their resume is still a little light when it comes to big wins.

-UCONN AT VILLANOVA (Big East). UConn is up to the top of the polls, and deservedly so. This won’t be an easy road game, but it’s still one they can definitely win. Having said that, Villanova looks to be a solid tournament team that could end up in the top half of the bracket, and who could give their resume a really nice boost if they’re able to pull off the upset at home.

-OLE MISS AT AUBURN (SEC). I’m impressed with what Ole Miss has done this year, and anyone who doesn’t think Chris Beard can coach is nuts, but I still think they’re being a little bit overvalued. Having said that, if they can win this one on the road, I will shut up and be all in on them. I really like this Auburn team, I actually think they’re good enough to be a protected seed by the end of the year, and think they’ll take care of business in this one.

-GRAND CANYON AT SEATTLE U (WAC). The Lopes are getting closer and closer to cracking the top 25, and while I think they’re still about a week or two away, it COULD happen this week! Having said that, this is probably one of their tougher road games. It’s a game they should win, but it’s not going to be a cakewalk. GCU should be in the rankings by the end of the year, and should be in the NCAA Tournament on the first ballot.

-SAINT MARY’S AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). We have Saint Mary’s right on the bubble right now, and a win today is something they kind of need on their profile. San Francisco has been playing really well, but they need to keep stringing together wins if they want to be in the mix for a bid come March.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

–Miami FL @ Syracuse (ACC) – both teams are outside the bubble and Miami in particular is in a bit of a tailspin. They both need to start stringing together wins to get back on the right side of it
–Virginia Tech @ NC State – VA Tech has some decent wins overall and NC State is 5-1 in ACC play, but both still have work to do if they want to make the field
–Louisville @ Wake Forest (ACC) – Wake is perhaps heading in the right direction, but they still have a long way to go. They need to hold serve at home in this one
–Penn State @ Ohio State (Big Ten) – We have Ohio State outside the bubble right now, and they’ll fall even further back if they can’t hold serve at home in this one
–George Washington @ UMass (Atlantic 10) – I don’t know if GW will make it all the way to the bubble or not, but they’re having a good year and a win gets them to 15-3 on the season
–Rhode Island @ Dayton (Atlantic 10) – if Dayton continues to blow through the league they could at least be in the discussion for a protected seed
–Western Carolina @ Furman (Socon) – WCU did suffer a home loss earlier in the week, but a win still gets them to 16-3 on the season
–Princeton @ Columbia (Ivy League) – It’s a road game, but it should be a winnable conference road game for Princeton and move them to 15-1 on the year while remaining unbeaten in the Ivy
–North Carolina @ Boston College (ACC) – UNC is on our 1-line, and while it’s not easy to win on the road this is the kind of game that 1-seeds are expected to be able to win
–Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State (SEC) – Mississippi State is on our bubble and they need to hold serve in this one
–Kansas @ West Virginia (Big 12) – This should be a winnable road game for a Kansas team that’s struggled at times, but has pulled it out most of the time and is still fighting for a spot on the 1-line
–UCLA @ Arizona (Pac 12) – this is a big rivalry game, but this particular edition of it happens to be a mismatch. Arizona should roll at home
–Fresno State @ Utah State (Mountain West) – Utah State is safely in our field and headed toward going in on the first ballot if they can keep holding serve
–DePaul @ Butler (Big East) – Butler has had some close losses and would be in much better shape had they pulled out a few of them. A loss today would really sink them, though
–Washington State @ California (Pac 12) – Wazzu is outside the bubble, but they’ve been playing better and they may be able to reach it if they can keep stringing together wins
–Virginia @ Georgia Tech (ACC) – Virginia needs to string together lots of wins, including lots of road wins, just to get themselves into the discussion
–Evansville @ Drake (Missouri Valley) – Drake is looking like the new MVC frontrunner and a win today gets them to 16-3 on the year
–Mercer @ Samford (SoCon) – Samford can get to an amazing 17-2 on the season with a win today
–McNeese @ Incarnate Word (Southland) – McNeese continues to roll along and has a shot at landing inside the bubble if they blow through the entire Southland
–Oregon State @ Colorado (Pac 12) – Colorado is just outside our bubble and needs to hold serve today in order to hold their spot
–Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (Big 12). K State is a very respectable 13-4 on the year, but is still squarely on the bubble, so every game has a pivotal feel to it. They need to hold serve in this one
–Nevada @ Wyoming (Mountain West) – It’s not easy to go on the road and win at Wyoming, but it’s the kind of game that a tournament caliber team like Nevada should be able to win
–Pittsburgh @ Duke (ACC) – Pitt has done some decent things this year, but Duke is playing really well and should get this one on their home court
–Florida @ Missouri (SEC) – Every time it looks like Florida is about to break through, they lose. They’ve now lost three out of four and really can’t afford to lose this one
–Gonzaga @ San Diego (West Coast) – Gonzaga basically needs to win out in order for me to feel they are safely in

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Troy (11-7, 5-1) at Southern Miss (10-8, 4-2) – 3:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a matchup of two of the top teams in the Sun Belt NOT named either Appalachian State or James Madison. Rather, the Troy Trojans travel west to visit the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Troy had shot to the top of the conference standings with wins against App State, Louisiana and Southern Miss in their first meeting of the year at Troy. In that matchup, the Trojans hammered Southern Miss 82-56. More recently, South Alabama ended Troy’s 5-game winning streak down in Mobile. Christyon Eugene leads the Trojans with 15.4 points a game and 3.9 assists per game.

Southern Miss had a 3-game winning streak earlier this month; their most notable result was an 81-71 win over James Madison that knocked the Dukes out of the remaining unbeaten teams in Division 1 at the time. Following the blowout loss at Troy, the Golden Eagles rebounded with a 69-66 win at home against Arkansas State. Austin Crowley led Southern Miss with 25 points in that victory against the Red Wolves.

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Akron (13-4, 5-0) at Kent State (9-8, 2-3) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the edge of Ohio’s Snow Belt as Kent State hosts the first leg of the Wagon Wheel between Akron and Kent State. Since a close loss against St. Bonaventure up in nearby Cleveland, Akron has won 5 straight games in the MAC to open conference play. Enrique Freeman is a serious contender for MAC Player of the Year and leads the Zips with 18.4 points a game and 13.2 rebounds a game.

Kent State has been a surprise in the league so far, and not in a good way. They had a 3-game losing streak that included a pair of road losses against the directional Michigan schools (Eastern and Central). They did snap that losing streak with an 83-76 win against Northern Illinois; VonCameron Davis led the Golden Flashes with 23 points in that game.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES (From the Puppet):

-Memphis had what appeared to be a routine conference home win against South Florida last night, but ended up losing 74-73. Memphis had been playing with fire all year long and had pulled out several close ones that should have won handily. Well, last night they finally got burned. They’re still in good shape, but it is a bit of a setback.

-Florida Atlantic got a battle at home from Wichita State, but was able to get control in the final minutes of the game and hold on for an 86-77 win.

-Oregon, who had been playing well, lost rather handily at Colorado 86-70. It’s a nice win for the Buffs, but the thing I think they need more than anything right now is wins away from home.

-GEORGETOWN AT XAVIER (Big East). Xavier has a lot of work to do to even get within reaching distance of the bubble, but they have been playing better as the season has gone along.

INDIANA AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Wisky is coming off a somewhat surprising road loss at Penn State, but they should be able to bounce back at home tonight against an Indiana team that’s still pretty far outside the bubble

-UNLV AT COLORADO STATE (Mountain West). UNLV has been playing better, but I don’t think they’ve improved so much that they’re likely to go on the road and pull an upset like this. Colorado State has been in a bit of a slump, but they’re back at home with a winnable game tonight.

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, January 18th. No games that went final after that, particularly Oregon vs Colorado, were considered when creating this bracket.

Chad and the panel build a seedlist line by line and debate, discuss, and assess, and sometimes strongly argue about each team as they go. Find out who they have on the #1 lines so far, who is safely in, who still has work to do, and who on the bubble just made it in and just missed it.

Below is a final copy of The Bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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NEWS AND NOTES:

For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day between the top two teams in the Big West – CLICK HERE

-UConn and Houston both faced good opponents at home, but both won handily. UConn beat Creighton 62-48 without really having to sweat, and Houston blew out Texas Tech 77-54. North Carolina, Kentucky, Arizona, and Auburn also all won easily. It was an unusual night of chalk.

-Ole Miss suffered what was just their second loss of the season, and it was a bit surprising as they fell 89-80 at LSU. LSU is suddenly 3-1 in SEC and 11-6 overall. They still have a ton of work to do to get themselves in the discussion, but it was a solid win yesterday and a solid start to league play.

-The Miami Hurricanes continue to spiral downward. Last night they lost at home 84-75 to Flroida State. They’ve now lost three of their last four games, and the losses were to Wake Forest, Louisville, and Florida State, none of which are solid tournament teams. That’s just a bad stretch.

-UCF bot a really nice road win at Texas 77-71. With wins over Kansas, and now a road win at Texas, UCF has done a lot to boost their value in the last week or so. They’ve still got a lot of work to do, but they’re heading in the right direction. Texas, on the other hand, has now lost three of their last four after playing a rather weak overall OOC schedule.

-San Diego State got out to a first half lead against Nevada and held it the whole game for a 71-59 win.

-Northwestern almost blew it against Maryland, but held on to win 72-69 in a game that saw several lead changes in the last minute of play.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MINNESOTA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Michigan State is feeling more and more bubblicioius as the year goes on. They need to start stringing together wins in order for their resume to become more stable. Minnesota has lost two straight and will likely have a hard time getting this one on the road.

-SOUTH FLORIDA AT MEMPHIS (American). Memphis has had to sweat out a few games that they should have cruised through, but they keep winning. This is another game where they should be able to hold serve.

-WICHITA STATE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (American). Three of FAU’s four losses have been surprises, especially given some of the games they’ve been able to win. They should cruise through this one at home tonight, but it doesn’t mean that they will.

ILLINOIS AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Illinois isn’t quite the same team since they lost such a key player, but they’re still easily inside the bubble and this is the kind of road game they should be able to win.

-OREGON STATE AT UTAH (Pac 12). The Utes have lost three of their last four, and are coming off a particularly bad loss to Stanford. They should be able to hold serve in this one tonight….and they need to!!

-UTAH VALLEY AT GRAND CANYON (WAC). The Lopes have been rolling all season long and shouldn’t have too much trouble rolling today.

-GONZAGA AT PEPPERDINE (West Coast). Many people are saying Gonzaga is outside the bubble. I think the committee will still take them so long as they blow through the WCC between now and the end. Either way, they can’t afford to lose this one tonight.

-OREGON AT COLORADO (Pac 12). These teams seem to be going in opposite directions. Oregon has won six straight and is suddenly red hot, whereas Colorado just snapped a three game losing streak after beatinng USC at home. It would be another nice road win for the Ducks, and a chance for Colorado to shore up their resume and pull themselves out of their tailspin.

-LMU AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). San Francisco is out to a 14-4 start, is 3-0 in WCC play, and should be able to win tonight. They’re a team to keep an eye on.

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UC-San Diego (11-6, 5-0) at UC-Irvine (12-5, 5-0) – 10:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to Orange County in Southern California where the UC-Irvine Anteaters host the surprising UC-San Diego Tritons in a battle of Big West leaders. UCSD is a fourth-year transitional team that will be fully eligible for the NCAA Tournament and other postseason play beginning next season. Their notable wins in the Big West have come against UC-Santa Barbara and Long Beach State. Bryce Pope leads the Tritons with 18.7 points per game.

UC-Irvine has mostly built their record in league play against teams in the bottom of the conference, although their win at UC-Davis was against someone in the top half of the league. Outside of the Big West, the Anteaters have beaten Denver, USC and Toledo. Defense continues to be UC-Irvine’s calling card; they allow only 66.5 points a game to their opponents during the season.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the Horizon League, where Oakland is out to a surprising start after struggling through most of their OOC schedule. They had a big win tonight against Youngstown State to maintain their hold on 1st place. Purdue Fort Wayne, who we were the biggest on coming into league play, has struggled since the start of conference play.

From there, we run through the other 21 UTR leagues and discuss how teams like Grand Canyon and Princeton are looking more and more like they could land inside the bubble and make the NCAA Tournament even if they don’t win their conference tournaments. Samford from the SoCon now has the longest winning streak in the nation after their big win at Western Carolina. McNeese also continues to rack up wins out of the Southland, and teams like Akron and UC Irvine are starting to look a lot better. We discuss all that, and more! And, as we do every week, we close with our UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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There are scorers and then there are SCORERS: LaTaunya Pollard was most certainly 1 of the latter. At East Chicago Roosevelt she was named Indiana Miss Basketball after becoming 1 of the highest-scoring girls basketball players in Indiana history. At … Continue reading →

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Ken Pomeroy, publisher of KenPom.com, is our guest on this special edition of the Hoops HD Report. We focus on his site and ratings and talk about how he got started in publishing his site, what exactly his rankings are … Continue reading →

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UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Denver won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with … Continue reading →

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The Hatters made a trio of D-2 tourneys from 1967-1971, and although they have yet to make an NCAA tourney they have made the CBI twice in the past 3 years. 1 of the best all-around players in school history … Continue reading →

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The Lopes did not join D-1 until a decade ago but hit the ground running, as they have made it to a postseason tourney 7 times in the past 10 years. They were not too shabby before then either, making … Continue reading →

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What sport did you think a guy named Dunkin was going to play in college: tennis?! Tony Dunkin showed up at Coastal Carolina in the fall of 1989 and proceeded to win every available award. He was named Big South … Continue reading →

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Chad and the panel begin by the events that led to Hall of Fame Coach Bob Huggins resigning from West Virginia, and how it is an unfortunate end to a very successful career. From there we look at the new … Continue reading →

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The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place tonight so this is our final chance to predict where everyone will get selected. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available” but we try to focus on team … Continue reading →

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Posted below is what I feel all of us need right now!! Joby Fortson has taken our offseason JNG Rankings, which is among the most successful metrics when it comes to forecasting what the actual selection committee will do (you … Continue reading →

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For those of you who cannot wait until Midnight Madness tips off this fall, you can see the stars of tomorrow in a couple of weeks at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Featuring the best basketball players in the world … Continue reading →

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The NBA Finals are underway but there are 28 other teams who have already started preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 16th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal is June 12th, and the draft will … Continue reading →

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The NBA Finals have not started yet but it is time for 28 other teams to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 16th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal is June 12th, and the draft will take place on June 22nd. We will spend the next few weeks interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel commences our coverage by chatting with USC G Drew Peterson about being a great 3-PT shooter and what it would mean to him to get drafted.

You began your college career at Rice where you started 24 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? It was a big change of pace from high school but I had some early success. It was a hard year but Coach Scott Pera started me a lot and I loved my experience there.

Why did you decide to transfer in 2020, and what made you choose USC? There were a couple of moving pieces as we entered COVID. It was kind of a timing thing but I also wanted to try playing for a bigger school. I committed to Minnesota for a couple of days but then decommitted because I had rushed it. After discussing it with my family I thought that USC was the perfect all-around fit for me.

You are a 6’9” guard: how were you able to develop backcourt skills despite being tall enough to play in the frontcourt? Growing up I always tried to develop my ball-handling/shooting, which has helped me play on the perimeter and push the ball in transition. I also had great trainers who helped me during my whole life.

In the 2021 NCAA tourney you had 3 straight wins before losing to Gonzaga in the Elite 8: what is the key to winning games in March? A lot of it comes down to experience. We rode a big momentum wave that year and had a great all-around team. Great guard play is also a main focus…but having a big guy like Evan Mobley who was a next-level type of talent really helped!

In February of 2022 you had 27 PTS/12 REB/5 BLK in a 3-PT win over UCLA: how do you explain the rivalry with the Bruins to someone who has never seen it in person? It is awesome! I had heard about notable rivalries like Duke-UNC while growing up but seeing the commitment from both of our schools in terms of how much we care about sports is cool. We never lost to UCLA at home during my time at USC, which I am proud of, and to play well in a big game like that was an awesome experience.

In the 2022 NCAA tourney you scored 17 PTS (including 8 PTS in the final 44 seconds) but Charlie Moore made 2 FTs with 3 seconds left in a 2-PT win by Miami: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It was unfortunate because we had a late comeback that could have been like Northern Iowa’s loss to Texas A&M in the 2016 NCAA tourney. I wish Charlie did not get that questionable call at the end…but they were a good team so I give them credit.

You shot 38.4 3P% during your 3 years at USC: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? Just consistency/repetition. Coach Andy Enfield helped me a lot with my shooting. You have to know what you do well and pick the right spots to be as efficient as possible.

You were named 1st-team All-Conference during each of your final 2 seasons: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I am really grateful for that and how everything worked out. The staff had incredible trust in me and we made the NCAA tourney every single year.

You suffered a back injury toward the end of the regular season last spring: how is your health doing at the moment? Great! I am fully back to normal. I did not have to sit out any games but I am really happy to be back in great health. I took it for granted before the injury occurred but have finally learned how to stretch for the 1st time in my life!

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the post-graduation plan if you do not get drafted? It would be awesome! I am looking to make my way and prove that I can stick in the NBA. The draft itself is just 1 night but I am hungry and ready to prove that I can make an impact.

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Chad and David are joined by Rocco Miller, who is the first ever regular Hoops HD panelist to appear on the show as a guest!! In addition to being a Hoops HD panelist and contributor, Rocco is also a Scheduling Consultant for many D1 programs, and we talk with him about how programs go about building their out of conference schedules. We discuss the differences of how Power 5, multi-bid leagues, and under the radar leagues go about putting together their schedules, we focus on all of the different multi-team events (MTEs) that are coming together, talk a little bit about the challenges under the radar teams face when they try to get other good teams to schedule them, and talk about how the sport would benefit if all the teams who avoid playing certain opponents would reconsider and play those teams.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show….

https://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HHD-May-Podcast-Audio-Only.mp3

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The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 22nd and until then we will do our best to predict where everyone will get selected. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available” but we try to focus on team needs: for example, if a team like Portland already has Damian Lillard at the point then they are probably not selecting a PG with the 5th overall pick. Please see our 1st round predictions below and then tweet us your comments regarding what looks good and what might need a re-pick.

#. TEAM: NAME, POSITION (SCHOOL/YEAR OR COUNTRY/LEAGUE)
1. San Antonio: Victor Wembanyama, C (France)
2. Charlotte: Brandon Miller, SF (Alabama/FR)
3. Portland: Scoot Henderson, PG (G-League/FR)
4. Houston: Amen Thompson, SG (Overtime Elite/FR)
5. Detroit: Ausar Thompson, SG (Overtime Elite/FR)
6. Orlando: Anthony Black, PG/SG (Arkansas/FR)
7. Indiana: Gradey Dick, SG (Kansas/FR)
8. Washington: Jarace Walker, SF/PF (Houston/FR)
9. Utah: Taylor Hendricks, PF/C (UCF/FR)
10. Dallas: Cam Whitmore, SF (Villanova/FR)
11. Orlando: Cason Wallace, PG/SG (Kentucky/FR)
12. Oklahoma City: Nick Smith Jr., PG/SG (Arkansas/FR)
13. Toronto: Keyonte George, SG (Baylor/FR)
14. New Orleans: Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG (Indiana/FR)
15. Atlanta: Jordan Hawkins, SG (UConn/SO)
16. Utah: GG Jackson, PF (South Carolina/FR)
17. LA Lakers: Kobe Bufkin, SG (Michigan/SO)
18. Miami: Jett Howard, SG (Michigan/FR)
19. Golden State: Kris Murray, SF/PF (Iowa/JR)
20. LA Clippers: Rayan Rupert, SG/SF (France)
21. Brooklyn: Dereck Lively II, C (Duke/FR)
22. Brooklyn: Maxwell Lewis, SG/SF (Pepperdine/SO)
23. Portland: Leonard Miller, SF (G-League/FR)
24. Sacramento: Brice Sensabaugh, SF (Ohio State/FR)
25. Memphis: Noah Clowney, PF (Alabama/FR)
26. Indiana: Dariq Whitehead, SF (Duke/FR)
27. Charlotte: Bilal Coulibaly, SF (France)
28. Utah: Jalen Wilson, SF/PF (Kansas/JR)
29. Indiana: Bobi Klintman, SF/PF (Wake Forest/FR)
30. LA Clippers: Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF (UCLA/SR)

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The Knicks need a win over Miami tonight to stay alive but they have overcome deficits in past playoff series. Back in 1973 the Knicks lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to Boston before becoming the 1st team to beat the Celtics in a Game 7, then lost Game 1 of the Finals to the Lakers before winning 4 in a row to clinch their 2nd title in 4 years. 1 of those 2-time champs for New York back in the 1970s was Dick Barnett, who also won 3 straight NAIA titles at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State) from 1957-1959 and won back-to-back championship MVP honors in 1958/1959. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Dick about playing for Hall of Fame Coach John McLendon and winning all of those titles. Today is the 50th anniversary of the Knicks winning their 2nd title on May 10, 1973, so we take this time to reflect on that remarkable accomplishment.

In college you were known as “Dick the Skull”, and in the NBA legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearn called you “Fall Back Baby” (since you would tell your teammates to get back on defense after you took a jump shot): what was your favorite nickname? I had a bald head during college so that was the origin of the “Skull” nickname.

You were a 3-time All-American at Tennessee A&I and the 1st African-American ever named to the National All-American team: how big a deal was it to be a pioneer for African-American basketball players? I did not realize it at the time: I was just a teenager who was playing basketball and searching for what I would do as a young adult. It was a dream unknown/destiny unseen/voice unheard: it was all preparation for the future.

You played for Hall of Fame Coach John McLendon: what made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? I had never heard of Coach McLendon when he started to recruit me but later learned how close he was to Dr. James Naismith. He had great preparation and focused on his players. He was a great recruiter across the US when Black players could not attend White colleges. You have to remember that this was during the era of the Ku Klux Klan and segregation.

In the 1957 NAIA tourney you won the title over Southeast Oklahoma State (despite 43 PTS from tourney MVP Jim Spivey): what did it mean to you to be the 1st historically Black college to ever win an integrated national championship? I always thought that it would happen if we just had the opportunity to compete. We wanted to face San Francisco and Bill Russell because they were the best team in the NCAA. We tried to get accepted by the NIT and play in Madison Square Garden but they refused our request.

In 1959 your team became the 1st to ever win 3 NAIA titles in a row and you became the 2nd player to ever be named back-to-back tourney MVP (after Jerry Anderson): what is the difference between making a great 1-year run vs. building a dynasty? It was historic and had never been done before. I put in the time/effort to be where I should be, starting with a ping pong ball and a tin cup: I knew what I was doing!

In the spring of 1959 you were drafted 4th overall by Syracuse (2 spots behind Bailey Howell): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I was not surprised. I wanted to play against the best because I was 1 of the best. I was a significant player at Tennessee State but later got involved with education. The best thing that happened to me was not all of my NAIA/NBA titles: it was during 1967 when I got injured while playing against Oscar Robertson. I was faced with the realization that I could not play anymore so I started to take school more seriously…and ended up getting 3 degrees. It changed my life: basketball was my mistress but education became my lifelong romance!

In the summer of 1961 you decided to leave the NBA and play for Cleveland in the American Basketball League: how did you like playing for Pipers owner George Steinbrenner, and how were you able to come back from a 2-0 deficit to Kansas City by winning 3 straight games to clinch the title? Steinbrenner was obviously a unique individual: he wanted to own an NBA team but they turned him down. He fired my college coach but we were still able to win the title.

In 1968 you scored 15 PTS in 22 minutes in your only NBA All-Star appearance: what did it mean to you to finally be recognized as an All-Star, and how did you like being part of what has to be 1 of the most talented teams ever assembled (10 of your 11 teammates on the East squad were future Hall-of-Famers: Dave Bing/Wilt Chamberlain/Dave DeBusschere/Hal Greer/John Havlicek/Sam Jones/Jerry Lucas/Willis Reed/Oscar Robertson/Bill Russell)? I should have been an All-Star at least 7-8 times but the NBA was not ready to make that happen. My # should have been retired at Madison Square Garden a lot sooner. I take no back seat to anyone else on that All-Star team: I was guarding each 1 of them during the regular season. There were only 8 teams in the league back then so we faced great players every single night. I was averaging 28.4 PPG at the 1966 All-Star break, which was certainly All-Star-worthy, but I was not selected. I did not get a fair shake because they would only allow so many Black players on the court at 1 time. I take my hat off to Red Auerbach for starting an All-Black team in Boston, which was the most racist city I ever played in.

You won a pair of NBA titles with New York in 1970/1973: what was your reaction before Game 7 at MSG in 1970 when Willis Reed famously walked out onto the court despite a severe thigh injury? We knew that Willis was going to play so we were not surprised. He could not really move but played tremendous positional defense on Wilt to get us off to a great start. We had a hell of a team with guys like Bill Bradley/DeBusschere and should have won at least 1 more title.

In 2007 you retired from teaching Sports Management at St. John’s and were also inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame: how did you enjoy being a professor, and where does that induction rank among the highlights of your career? I enjoyed teaching a lot and still look forward to doing a few things virtually. I had no idea during high school that I would later become a professor. I have been inducted into a few other Halls of Fame as well because I know that I was 1 of the best: I do not pull any punches about that! Our run at Tennessee State was even better than UCLA’s legendary run because they did not have to endure any of the things that we did in terms of hotels/travel.

If you want to see a trailer for “The Dream Whisperer” (a 2022 documentary about Dr. Barnett’s quest to get his groundbreaking Tennessee State team into the Naismith Hall of Fame), please go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dS80BUpS1k&t=2s

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#. TEAM: NAME, POSITION (SCHOOL/YEAR OR COUNTRY/LEAGUE)
1. Detroit: Victor Wembanyama, C (France)
2. Houston: Brandon Miller, SF (Alabama/FR)
3. San Antonio: Scoot Henderson, PG (G-League/FR)
4. Charlotte: Amen Thompson, SG (Overtime Elite/FR)
5. Portland: Ausar Thompson, SG (Overtime Elite/FR)
6. Orlando: Anthony Black, PG/SG (Arkansas/FR)
7. Indiana: Gradey Dick, SG (Kansas/FR)
8. Washington: Jarace Walker, SF/PF (Houston/FR)
9. Utah: Taylor Hendricks, PF/C (UCF/FR)
10. Dallas: Cam Whitmore, SF (Villanova/FR)
11. Orlando: Cason Wallace, PG/SG (Kentucky/FR)
12. Oklahoma City: Nick Smith, PG/SG (Arkansas/FR)
13. Toronto: Keyonte George, SG (Baylor/FR)
14. New Orleans: Rayan Rupert, SG/SF (France)
15. Atlanta: GG Jackson, PF (South Carolina/FR)
16. Utah: Jordan Hawkins, SG (UConn/SO)
17. LA Lakers: Jett Howard, SG (Michigan/FR)
18. Miami: Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG (Indiana/FR)
19. Golden State: Kris Murray, SF/PF (Iowa/JR)
20. LA Clippers: Kobe Bufkin, SG (Michigan/SO)
21. Brooklyn: Dariq Whitehead, SF (Duke/FR)
22. Brooklyn: Dereck Lively II, C (Duke/FR)
23. Portland: Leonard Miller, SF (G-League/FR)
24. Sacramento: Maxwell Lewis, SG/SF (Pepperdine/SO)
25. Memphis: Noah Clowney, PF (Alabama/FR)
26. Indiana: Brice Sensabaugh, SF (Ohio State/FR)
27. Charlotte: Jalen Wilson, SF/PF (Kansas/JR)
28. Utah: Julian Strawther, SF (Gonzaga/JR)
29. Indiana: Colby Jones, SG (Xavier/JR)
30. LA Clippers: Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF (UCLA/SR)

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Alex Gross only played 1 season at Morehead State but he sure made the most of it. On the court he averaged 2 BPG, was named conference DPOY, and helped his team overcome a 15-PT 1st-half deficit on the road to beat Clemson in the NIT. Off the court he was named an Academic All-American with a 4.0 GPA as a Sports Management major. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Alex about his work on the court and his work in the classroom.

You began your college career at Olivet Nazarene, where you had 3 triple-doubles as a senior: how are you able to balance all of the different aspects of your game? I was put in a perfect system that maximized my skill set. The coach put me in the right spots and I just tried to make my teammates better and do whatever it took to win games.

What is the biggest difference between NAIA and D-1? The physicality that is allowed. In D-1 there is much more physicality between post players and a lot more guys can create their own shot so the skill level also goes up a notch.

What made you choose Morehead State over San Jose State/Stetson/Utah State? Coach Preston Spradlin and his staff during the recruiting process. Coach P separated himself due to his honesty/integrity: it is pretty remarkable. Morehead is also 3 hours from my hometown, which has allowed my parents to come to my games and be part of my journey. It has been the right spot for me.

What makes Coach Spradlin such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? The patience/passion that he brings every single day. He backs up his actions due to his consistency and I really admire his outlook on life. We share a lot of the same values off the court. The most important thing I learned was the importance of discipline. He taught us how much it can help us both individually and as a team if we stuck to the right things.

You averaged 2 BPG this season and were named conference DPOY: what is the key to being a great defender? You definitely need to get the schemes down by learning the ins/outs. You need to know your surroundings and read rotations so that you can react in a timely manner. Blocking shots is about timing it right when someone is going up for a layup.

Take me through the NIT last month:
You scored 16 PTS/7-9 FG in a 4-PT win at Clemson: how were you able to overcome a 15-PT 1st-half deficit on the road vs. an ACC team? That game was awesome because when we played Power 5 schools earlier in the season we struggled due to having 11 new guys who were still learning how to play with each other. It was really cool to see how far we came: Clemson came out hot but we were able to overcome that adversity. Coach P told us to stay true to the game plan and take it 1 possession at a time. We let it rip in the 2nd half so I give credit to our coaches for getting our minds right.

You scored 11 PTS/5-8 FG in a loss at UAB: you played some great teams in non-conference play this year (including Indiana/Vanderbilt/West Virginia) but where do the Blazers rank among the best teams that you have ever faced? UAB was definitely 1 of the better teams we played and were probably the most athletic team we played along with Indiana. That is what jumped off the page when we played them: there is a reason they made the championship game.

In 2022 you were named NAIA Academic All-American of the Year and in 2023 you were named 2nd-team Academic All-American: how are you able to balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It is about time-management and scheduling out your day. I try to put in blocks during my day for eating/shooting/assignments. Some people use a list but I am a calendar guy. I am a planner so when I wake up I like to figure out what I have to do and how many hours it will take and just plan accordingly.

You had a 4.0 GPA this year while majoring in Sport Management: why did you choose that subject? I have always loved sports: it has been my favorite thing in the world since I was a little kid. I want to work in sports as a professional and I have a business minor so I might tap into that as well. I love the atmosphere of all sports and knew I had to work somewhere within that.

What is the post-graduation plan? I have been talking to agents to figure out which is the best 1 and my plan is to play pro basketball overseas.

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Now that we have reached the end of the college basketball regular season we can start looking ahead to the stars of tomorrow as the best high school players in the country are starting to receive some national exposure. The McDonald’s All-American Game took place on March 28th in Houston, and the Nike Hoop Summit tipped off on April 8th in Portland. Several of last year’s college basketball super-freshmen played in last year’s Nike Hoop Summit including Amari Bailey (UCLA)/Gradey Dick (Kansas)/Jarace Walker (Houston). Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Eric Dailey Jr. about winning a pair of gold medals and choosing the Cowboys.

In 2021 you played for Team USA at the FIBA 3X3 U-18 World Cup in Hungary, and in 2022 you played for Team USA at the FIBA U-18 Americas Championship in Mexico: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a pair of gold medals? Putting on that USA jersey is such a blessing because there are only so many people who get that chance. To play on a big stage at the highest level meant a lot to me.

You are captain of the team at IMG Academy: what is the key to being a good leader? It starts with doing the right things at the right time. You have to be vocal and not scared to make mistakes because nobody is perfect. I try to bring energy to my teammates each day and be positive.

You have been at IMG longer than almost anyone else: which of their alumni impressed you the most (Josh Green/Jett Howard/Anfernee Simons/other)? I was in 8th grade when Ant (Anfernee) was here. To see his journey to the NBA has been great and now that he signed his 2nd contract last summer he is making big money and playing in big games.

Last year you spent some time playing for Stella Azzurra Roma: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The biggest difference is technique: the US has more athleticism but overseas there is more focus on passing/cutting/moving without the ball. Now I am more versatile because I know how to play both styles of basketball. I took little things from over there and merged them with my game.

You received offers from several great schools including Kansas/Kentucky but officially signed with Oklahoma State on Wednesday: what was the biggest factor in your decision? The coaching staff: I wanted to play for a coach who understands where I am trying to go. The Cowboys had Cade Cunningham (6’6″) in the past so I can related to a big guard like that. You need a coach you can trust and a coach who trusts you. They have a few guys leaving so it is a perfect opportunity for me to come in and be a leader as a freshman on a team in a big conference.

You are part of a great recruiting class that includes Connor Dow/Brandon Garrison/Jamyron Keller/Justin McBride: how well do you know any of the other guys? I have known Justin since I was a kid: he actually plays on the same team as my little cousin. Brandon and I played together in AAU as well as with team USA so our journey has come full-circle. I talk to the other guys on the phone a lot and we are still building our relationship but we are all ready to work.

You are 6’8”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I am more of a point-forward but I can bring the ball up or play down low because I am a well-rounded player. I have always been a guard even though I am big but Coach Boynton wants me to be a position-less player as well: I will just try to make plays from wherever I am on the court.

You have a 7’1” wingspan: how much of an advantage is your length on the court? It makes it easier for me to guard smaller guys, but I am also strong/quick so it gives me an advantage on offense as well.

Earlier this month you scored 3 PTS for Team USA in a win over the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit: how exciting was it to reunite with your former gold medal teammate Jared McCain (who scored 10 PTS)? Jared and I had a great time winning a gold medal together. He is a fun guy to be around and a great shooter/teammate. He will be great at Duke and hopefully we see each other again in the NBA.

Your mother Shell played basketball at Texas, your father Eric Sr. played pro basketball in Spain, and your uncle played a decade in the NFL: who is the best athlete in the family? It is me…by far! Everyone has great accolades but I have earned that title.

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Gary Blair has a Hall of Fame resume, which is why he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last week. In his 37 years as a college head coach he only had 2 losing seasons and made 23 NCAA tourney appearances, including a Final 4 with Arkansas in 1998 and an NCAA title with Texas A&M in 2011. His 852 career wins are still in the top-15 all-time for D-1 women’s coaches and he is 1 of a handful of coaches to lead 3 different schools to the NCAA tourney. Earlier this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Gary about winning a national title and making the Hall of Fame.

You played baseball at Texas Tech: how good a player were you back in the day, and how did you become a basketball coach? I was a walk-on at Texas Tech and was also an architecture major. I was a good player in high school and made the freshman team. I got into some scrimmages during the fall but in the spring I had to focus on my grades. Donny Anderson was playing 4 sports and I used to shag balls for him: he was 1 of the best athletes I have ever seen. I was 128 pounds and just ran out of ability. In high school I would walk or bunt my way on and wait for somebody to knock me in. I loved basketball but could not shoot worth a flip. I could run the point so I played intramurals at Texas Tech after my baseball/architecture careers ended.

In 1969 you enlisted in the Marines and spent 2 years in Okinawa: what impact did your military service have on you either on/off the court? I was drafted at age 23 and left Tech for a year to manage some restaurants in California and figure out what I wanted to do. I was supposed to report in 5 days and told them that I wanted to join the Marines: it was 1 of my best decisions ever. The 3rd Marine Division got pulled back from Vietnam 2 weeks before I arrived so I just spent the whole time in Okinawa. I got my early-out, sprinted back to Texas Tech to finish my final year of school, and became a high school coach/teacher. I was not a war hero or anything but I love my country and was proud to be a Marine. I was getting a good game plan to figure out what I was good at.

As coach at South Oak Cliff High School 2 of your players were Debra/Kim Rodman: how did you like playing ping pong with their brother Dennis, and could you have ever imagined that he would become a fellow Hall of Famer? I am super-proud of that. Dennis went on to do his thing but people do not realize that he was only 5’11” in my PE classes and was not even good enough to make our junior varsity team. South Oak Cliff was the Dallas Cowboys of high schools back then. We were a basketball/football power: Harvey Martin played there as well. Debra was a great player for us at Louisiana Tech: she was a great rebounder/defender, won a pair of NCAA titles, and was as funny as can be. I think that she got a lot of that from Dennis. Kim went to Stephen F. Austin, had some good seasons, and later worked at the Post Office. Dennis grew 8½” after high school and just kept getting better and better while playing at the rec center. He finally got the chance to join a college team and became a very good player. He did not get picked until the 2nd round by Detroit and became a “Bad Boy” as a teammate of guys like Bill Laimbeer/Joe Dumars. There should be a movie made about his life: he was the most ordinary kid and was so supportive of his sisters. His mother Shirley was a teacher’s aide who bowled with us in our faculty bowling league and raised those kids by herself.

In 1980 you were offered an assistant coaching job at Louisiana Tech by Sonja Hogg, initially rejected it, then accepted it and made 4 Final 4s during your 5 years under Coach Leon Barmore: what made you change your mind, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from Leon? I had just won a state title after going 40-0 in 1980 and Debra was heading to Louisiana Tech. Leon called me on a Sunday morning to see if I would be interested in having an interview. I had worked at their camps in the past and I saw them play in the Wayland Baptist tourney. I took a 2-seater flight and had a good interview but I loved what I was doing and was fixing to win a state title again the following year. If we had won in 1979 then I probably would have turned down the job because I would have had a 116-game winning streak! The money was about the same and I already had my Masters’ degree, but all my friends persuaded me to not turn down the job. It took me 2 weeks to tell my kids that I was going to move on to Louisiana Tech. I regretted it the very 1st night because I was freezing in a rental house while sleeping on the floor with no furniture. Sonja was 1 of the best recruiters ever (and the best-dressed coach in our sport in the 1980s!) who brought Leon over from his job as coach at Ruston High School. That team was very special. Leon and Kim Mulkey are in both the Women’s Hall of Fame/Naismith Hall of Fame, while Sonja/Sue Donahoe are both in the Women’s Hall of Fame, and now I am in both Halls as well. I do not think that you can find another program (men’s or women’s) with their entire staff in the Hall of Fame. We used to call Leon the “Bobby Knight of women’s basketball”: he was organized and could coach/prepare. He had a huge heart and we just went around the country and played everywhere from USC out west to Madison Square Garden back east. In 1985 Sonja had gone through a divorce and was ready to move to Texas. Leon preferred to be a coach/teacher/mentor while Sonja and I were the 2 people on the recruiting trail. There was a quote I remember: “Leon hits the homeruns but Sonja gets to circle the bases”.

1 of your freshmen in 1980 was Kim Mulkey, who last weekend became the 1st women’s coach to ever win titles at multiple schools (Baylor/LSU): what was she like as a player, and how proud are you of all that she has accomplished as a coach? I was very proud of Kim winning another title. Her team at LSU used a lot of Louisiana Tech stuff: overloading 1 side of the floor, shooting the 3 from the corner, finding the post player down low, etc. During her 1st year we already had future Hall of Famer Janice Lawrence and several other great freshmen. We were America’s darlings: our school president would come to our games even though Karl Malone was on the men’s team! Kim came off the bench as a freshman and played a lot of minutes. Jennifer White was our PG but we moved her to the 2-guard because we were such a loaded team. I saw Cheryl Miller last night up in the suite. We recruited Miller very hard but she was from the big city and made the right decision: we lost to USC in the 1983 title game and 1984 Final 4. I have learned from some of the greatest high school/college coaches. I could not be as intense as Leon but I could manage a lineup and learned how to recruit. I learned to not be afraid of hiring people who might be better than me in certain areas. I have 9 former assistants who are currently college coaches. I have only been turned down for 1 job in my life: at North Texas State in the late-1970s because the AD was not going to hire a man. Vic Schaefer was with me for 15 years and is 1 hell of a coach at Texas.

Your recruiting philosophy was to find good offensive players and then teach them how to play defense: what is the key to playing good defense? You need to buy into it. Some of them were better defensive players: Christy Smith took us to the Final 4 in 1998: the state of Indiana was very good to me. At SFA it was hard to beat Texas because Jody Conradt was so good, but I edged her out on 2 kids who ended up becoming All-Americans and taking us to the next level. At Arkansas I brought in Tom Collen as a national recruiter, and at Texas A&M I brought in Vic. At the time we were the worst program in the Big 12 so we surrounded ourselves with people who knew the state. I do not want someone who is an exact copy of me or only a friend: I want them to sell me on the kid while recruiting people who want to play pressure defense: MTM (make them miss), not HTM (hope they miss). It was easy to sell Texas A&M because back then there were not portals or NIL money: we just told them how they could use their degree after college. It was the best place that I ever lived in my life and I never miss a basketball/football game. I am a total sports nerd and learn from the other coaches at age 77: how do they handle press conferences, losing, etc. I feel I am a better coach today than when I retired a year ago…but no way do I want to get back into it! I saw a list in the paper of how much NIL money the men’s Final 4 players are making: how can I look my players in the eye and tell them they were just born at the wrong time? We have lost so many great coaches recently because we want to remember how our legacy was built: on kids who loved the game and stayed in school at least 3 years. I am not old-school…but how can you tell me that Mike Trout is better than Willie Mays? Why do we need an asterisk by someone’s name from a different era? 90% of kids transfer for playing time. Coaches need to focus on what is good for the student-athlete and teach kids how to stick with something through adversity. I just hope it does not filter down to high schools as quickly as it did to colleges. Last weekend I got to visit with Dirk Nowitzki/Dwayne Wade/Tony Parker/Pau Gasol/Becky Hammon: I was like a kid in a candy store due to how they handle themselves now. I wish that every 1 of my fans could see how genuinely excited they are to represent the sport even though they have made millions of dollars. The most mind-boggling thing is that they all still look like they could play 20 minutes/game! It really made my weekend: Gene Bess received as much attention as everyone else. You need an ego to coach in this game but you better remember what this game did for you. Our program at South Oak Cliff basically was a result of Title IX. I was waiting around for a baseball job but that is how I got started, and when we won state in 1977 they asked me to become the head baseball coach but I turned it down to stay with the women. I owe a lot to Sonja/Leon/Kim/Janice/all those kids: it has been a tremendous ride.

In the 1998 NCAA tourney as head coach at Arkansas you led an unranked team to the Final 4 before losing to eventual champion Tennessee: where does that 39-0 Lady Vols team rank among the greatest in the history of the sport? We were a Cinderella as a 6’1”-and-under team before losing to the 3 Meeks (Chamique Holdsclaw/Semeka Randall/Tamika Catchings) and Kellie Jolly Harper on the best team that Pat Summit ever had. They are definitely in the top-5 along with some teams from Stanford/UConn/Texas. Louisiana Tech in 1982 was pretty damn good too, as well as when they won it with Teresa Weatherspoon in 1988. All these names come back to me. There are different eras but who knows what Babe Ruth would do today. It is a 12-month commitment whether you are a pro/college/high school player because the rewards are mind-boggling. Look at the door that Becky Hammon has opened up: I think she is good enough to become the 1st women’s coach in the NBA and she is already filling seats in the WNBA.

In 2006 you became the 4th coach in NCAA history to take 3 different schools to the NCAA Tournament: how were you able to have so much success at so many different schools? It all started with the blueprint when I started the South Oak Cliff program from scratch. At Louisiana Tech I was just 1 piece of the puzzle but learned how to compete. The hardest game that Leon and I ever had was on the golf course: if he lost then you would have to play an emergency 9 holes until he got his money back! If they offered me the Texas Rangers 3rd base coaching job today then I would be out the door because I love the sport. Pat’s 1998 team was her best BY FAR, even better than her championship teams with Candace Parker in 2007/2008.

In the 2011 NCAA tourney title game as coach at Texas A&M you had a 6-PT win over Notre Dame: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? The best team we played that year was Baylor: we lost to Kim/Brittney Griner by single-digits each time. We finally beat them in the Elite 8 and I was sitting behind Rebecca Lobo: Kim has definitely upgraded her outfit! When we beat Stanford in the semifinals we felt like we had beaten the best team remaining after trailing by double-digits with 5 minutes left in the game. We were not named UConn/Tennessee/Stanford: we were the new kid on the block and I felt an obligation to all of the other coaches out there to play great under pressure. The following year every team in the country felt they could be Texas A&M because we were not the blue-blood. We kept going to NCAA tourneys but never won it again. We felt that we were better inside than Notre Dame but had to prove it on the court. We were down by 4 PTS at halftime and Sydney Colson was in foul trouble. Before we let ESPN into the locker room I asked them to give me 4 minutes. I told Sydney to stop trying to steal the ball and told Danielle Adams that we were coming to her inside. The most mind-boggling thing was after the game ended. There was blue/green/gold confetti falling from the rafters: we did not care so we just did snow angels on the court! I have yet to receive an apology from the NCAA: it should have been generic-colored confetti and they have not made that mistake again. Our fans scooped up handfuls of the confetti and we sold it at our charity golf tourney! Holly Rowe asked me how it felt and my players told me to do the Dougie: that is how happy I was. Every morning on Sports Center for the next year they showed it as an example of “White Men Can’t Dance”! We were not lucky, we were good…but it was good for women’s basketball to have someone win it who was not a blue-blood. We need more Texas A&Ms/Marylands to break through: it was good that LSU finally won it last weekend to get someone else in there. We can all build off that and recruit off that…or “portal” off that.

In 2013 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, last year you became the 3rd coach (along with Pat Summitt/Kay Yow) to have a basketball court named after them, and last week it was announced that you will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: where do these rank among the highlights of your career? The 1st state title in high school in 1977 was the best: we were the 1st school to win both the men/women win titles. South Oak Cliff gave me my start/confidence and I am in the Dallas Independent School District Athletic Hall of Fame as well. You go back to your roots. I am proud to share it with a bunch of other A&M coaches but I do not want us to wait another 8 decades until we win a national title. We have a great track team as well as a great women’s golf team, and Buzz Williams/Jimbo Fisher are great coaches. Bill Byrne hired me when he was athletic director, and now his son Greg is athletic director at Alabama. I must have taken 300 pictures last weekend: former players, officials, etc. It meant the world to me that they could still remember me. It is not just about winning and losing: it is about how you treat people and build programs. You will eventually see a female president, a female coach in the NBA, etc. Do not think that you have earned it or that you have been held back: make it happen and teach your kids how to be difference-makers in life. Michael Jordan has meant a lot to all of us…but it can also be someone like Caitlin Clark/Aliyah Boston/Angel Reese. We are creating our own set of heroes and I am very proud of that, but let’s do it the right way: we do not need any controversy. At the Friday night Hall of Fame dinner they had John Calipari/Elvin Hayes/Bill Walton talk: we were more nervous as the new inductees but it was so special. I wish they had taped that: none of us knew that we were going to talk so we just each said a few words.

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Congratulations to UConn, who defeated San Diego State 76-59 to win the National Championship!! It is the 5th for the school, and they are also just the 5th team (we think) to win every single NCAA Tournament game by double digits. We also believe that they are the first team to win the National Championship after losing so many games in the month of January, but cannot say for sure.

We recap the Final Four, and discuss the fantastic and storied seasons that all four had, particularly Florida Atlantic who basically walked out of the Atlantic Ocean to win 30+ games and advance to the Final Four. We also briefly discuss all of the other men’s and women’s postseason tournaments, and then each share some final thoughts on the Final Four, the NCAA Tournament, and the season as a whole.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 took place in 4 cities around the country and we could not have been more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD covered all of the angles and hopes you enjoyed our cascade of coverage last week. Jon Teitel wraps up our coverage from Las Vegas with UConn G Andre Jackson Jr.’s mother Tricia Altieri.

What was Andre like as a child? He grew up with his brother/sister (who are twins) and was always outside lowering the hoop and trying to dunk! He started AAU ball really early (around age 10) and was always traveling/working out. He was trained by a pastor 3-4 times/week in Amsterdam, NY. He was a really caring/generous kid who did great at school.

At Albany Academy he was named NY Sports Writers Association Class A Player of the Year and led his team to a pair of Class A Federation Tournament of Champions titles in 2017/2019: what did it mean to you to see him win a pair of titles? It was amazing! That was such a big thing for us: being able to see him play on a huge platform. He had an excellent coach/mentor in Coach Brian Fruscio and also got to play with his brother Marcus, which was extra-special.

He received scholarship offers from several great schools including Iowa/Maryland/Syracuse/UCLA: what made him choose UConn? Coach Hurley. His relationship with Coach Hurley was the best 1 of any that he had and he believed in Coach Hurley’s desire to build this thing together. On the way home from his recruiting visit he decided that was where he wanted to be. Assistant coach Tom Moore recruited him and traveled to numerous tourneys to watch him play. UConn really makes you feel like family.

This year he is a team co-captain along with Adama Sanogo: what makes him such a good leader? The #1 thing is that he cares more about the success of the team then about his own success. He enjoys seeing other people do well/score and he likes making other people better by passing them the ball. That is something he has always done since he was a kid: he just has that way about him. He is focused/determined and know what he wants. He has also been around great leaders and has taken pieces from all of them to help lead his team.

He was also named to the Big East All-Academic Team: how does he balance his work on the court with his work in the classroom? He has always done really well in school. He is an excellent speaker/writer who has good study habits and attends class. 1 of his teachers was at the Gonzaga-UConn game in Vegas and said what a great student he is due to him asking/answering questions, which comes from going to a great school like Albany Academy. It has done wonders for him in his success as a student.

He wears #44, which is the same # that your brother Chris wore before passing away due to an aneurysm at age 13, the same # that your cousin Lester wore as the star RB on Amsterdam High School’s 1995 state championship football team before he died a couple of decades later in a car accident in 2013, and the same # that your son Marcus wears as a basketball player at UAlbany: what does it mean to your family to keep this legacy alive? It is really important in our family. My brother passed away in middle school and was a huge basketball fan/player. My cousin passed away a few years later and my kids wanted to carry on that legacy. We have numerous younger cousins who wear it in their middle school/CYO leagues because it has become a family tradition. I love it and think that it is a great thing.

In addition to all of the athletes above, you played high school basketball and were an amateur boxer, Andre’s father played college basketball and could dunk while taking off from the FT line, and your brothers Mike/Rich were Jujitsu instructors and power-lifters: who is the best athlete in the family? I would have to say Andre’s father. We have some extraordinary athletes but Andre’s father had the jumping ability and all of the basketball skills. I would love to give credit to my side of the family…but I would say him.

Andre played great during the 1st week of the NCAA tourney this month with 7 APG in a pair of wins in Albany over Iona/St. Mary’s: I assume it was not a coincidence that he was able to do so well while playing in front of all the hometown fans? I think that he had a huge crowd but it can work both ways: you can be nervous or go out and play the best you can. He was able to block it out and stay focused. It was great for us to see him play so well and we were so happy for those 2 games in Albany!

He continued his great play last week in wins over Arkansas (7 AST/3 STL)/Gonzaga (8 PTS/9 REB/10 AST/0 TO): how have you and the other players’ parents bonded during this remarkable run? I have gotten to know a few of the other parents including Donovan Clingan’s father/Jordan Hawkins’ mother/Tristen Newton’s mother. It brings you closer when your kids are playing so well and we definitely shared some hugs after the Elite 8 because we are all experiencing the same thing.

Any predictions for the Huskies this weekend in Houston? We are on a pretty good roll and if the kids continue to play the way that they have been playing they will be unbeatable. I think we can do anything we put our minds to.

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The Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight were as crazy and surprising as they’ve ever been in recent memory!! Florida Atlantic won a pair of exciting games to go to their first ever Final Four after having only been to one NCAA Tournament in their entire history prior to this year. San Diego State wasn’t expected to do much after beating a 12 and 13 seed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, but they knocked off Alabama in a shocker (at least to us), and held on to beat Creighton in a thriller to advance to their first ever Final Four. Miami FL advanced to their second straight Elite Eight game after a shocking and decisive win over Houston, and then got by a really good Texas team to get to their first ever Final Four. UConn has been the most impressive team in The Tournament so far and blew past both Arkansas and Gonzaga to advance. We recap all the action, look ahead to the Final Four and discuss those matchups, and more…

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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This has been a dream season for C-USA. In addition to FAU making the Final 4 for the 1st time ever, both North Texas and UAB are still alive in the Final 4 of the NIT. The Mean Green have won 29 games (and counting) and had a good chance to sweep the Owls during the regular season before coming up short in a pair of 4-PT losses. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with North Texas dance team member Camryn Stowers about being part of 1 of the best basketball conferences in the country.

You are from Houston: what made you choose North Texas? I have a lot of family/friends in the DFW area so I traveled up here all the time as a kid during family road trips. My uncle works here so it just came full-circle, plus I fell in love with the dance team. They also have a great psychology program here.

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? Technically I have been dancing for 19 years but my mom was dancing while she was pregnant with me so perhaps even earlier than that! I love dancing because it lets me move around and let go of all the stresses in my life.

You are a co-captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? There are many keys but a big 1 is to be authentic. If not then you will never be able to grow your team. 1 of my favorite sayings is, “There is never any comfort in the growth zone and never any growth in the comfort zone”.

You are majoring in Psychology Pre-Med and minoring in Human Development and Family Science: why did you choose those subjects? My mom is a mental health counselor so I have always grown up around it and learned the importance of protecting your mental health. I initially wanted to do forensic psychology but I love working with kids and want to help them stop any problems before they start.

Your post-graduation plan is to become a Pediatric Psychiatrist: how many more years of school will that take (if any), and what does a Pediatric Psychiatrist do? I want to get my doctorate so I am looking at another 5-8 years after college: pray for me! I would prefer to be more on the clinical side: legally prescribing medication and seeing what the kids are growing through. I also want to help their families in general.

You are an executive board member of your chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha: what is Greek life like at North Texas? It is incredible! I am still a neophyte who just crossed last spring but I have embraced everything that the university has to offer. I have learned much through out community service projects: we work with a lot of kids/elderly folks, which I think is great.

Some of your hobbies include singing/cooking: do you have a favorite song, and do you have a favorite food? It is hard to pick 1 song, as it changes every day, but SZA’s “SOS” album is the 1 in my head at the moment. Bacon is my favorite pizza topping and I love all kinds of Italian food.

Last year your conference only had 1 team win 27 games (UAB), but this year you have 3 teams still alive who have already won 28 games (FAU/North Texas/UAB): what is it like to have such a competitive league? I am extremely proud of the Mean Green. We did not win the C-USA title this year but did set a school record for wins in 1 season. We are moving into the AAC next year: it is a bigger conference but we are more than capable of competing.

How did your school decide who gets to go to the NIT, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We have a travel squad of all vets. Our coach chooses the most elite performers who can project/connect with the crowd. It is always bigger than yourself when it comes to dance, so as a student ambassador it is extremely cool to be on the frontlines while showcasing our school. We are currently #2 in the nation in D-1A pom!

Any predictions for the Mean Green on Tuesday vs. Wisconsin in Las Vegas? A blow out win! A win for the Mean Green is always a win for me so Go Mean Green! As our fight song says: “Victory in store whatever the score”.

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel culminates our coverage from Las Vegas with some illustrious images from the UConn postgame celebration.

That is 1 nice looking West Regional trophy!

Everyone was in a great mood as the Huskies hoisted the trophy amid the confetti.

Exactly 1 month ago Dan Hurley’s brother Bobby ruined my weekend thanks to Desmond Cambridge making a 60-footer at the buzzer to upset my Wildcats in Tucson: how great was it that I got to see him in person in Vegas cheering on the Huskies?!

In 1989 PJ Carlesimo led Seton Hall to the title game and lost by a single point in OT. A couple of years later he had a freshman name Dan Hurley join his team, and today PJ was the Westwood One college basketball radio analyst watching his former player make the Final 4.

Amazingly, PJ is not even the greatest coaching influence on Dan, whose father Bob Sr. Hurley won 26 state titles in 39 years as a high school coach and in 2010 became only the 3rd high school coach to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

1 of the warmest scenes was seeing Dan’s wife Andrea leap into his arms to give him a huge embrace.

The band/mascot/cheerleaders all had a lot of spirit left over despite a hectic month of travel: Philly to face Villanova in the regular season finale, NYC for the Big East tourney, Albany for the 1st 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney, and Vegas for this unforgettable weekend.

I just wish that Coach Hurley could get a little more hyped about making the Final 4:

1 of the best sightings was Dr. Charles McClelland: I got to interview him last month, and next year he will become the 1st person from an HBCU league/school to chair the NCAA men’s basketball selection committee.

Joey Calcaterra had been winless vs. Gonzaga in 7 games while at San Diego but he decided 8 was enough as he scored 8 PTS in 13 minutes last night.

Some people from Joey’s cheering section were very excited to take a postgame photo…

And some were not (although I am loving his hoodie):

FR Alex Karaban played like a SR during his 2 games in Vegas with 12 PPG/6 RPG/71.4 FG%.

Adama Sanogo dominated the paint during his 1st 4 NCAA tourney games with 20 PPG/10 RPG/65.5 FG%.

Jordan Hawkins turned into the best shooter in the NCAA tourney with 16-31 3PM through his 1st 4 games.

Donovan Clingan’s shirt says it all, as the 7’2” giant was “Made Four This”.

Andre Jackson Jr. is a co-captain along with Sanogo and had 1 of the best all-around performances vs. the Zags that you will ever see: 8 PTS/9 REB/10 AST/0 TO.

Everyone got to climb the ladder to cut down a piece of the net, including UConn assistant coach Luke Murray, while his 2 young sons hung on for dear life.

You might have heard of Luke’s father Bill, who I hear is an actor of some acclaim.

After the postgame conference they packed up the trophy and headed back to Storrs before hopping on a plane to Houston later this week.

That is a wrap from Vegas, hope you enjoyed all the coverage, and we cannot wait for 1 wild weekend to determine a champion!

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It has been a dream season for FAU: 28-3 in the regular season, then 3 wins in 3 days to clinch the C-USA tourney title, then 4 straight single-digit wins (and counting!) in the NCAA tourney over Memphis/Fairleigh Dickinson/Tennessee/Kansas State to join Wichita State’s 2013 squad and my 1979 Quakers as the only #9 seeds to ever make the Final 4. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with FAU dance captain Dani Garcia about a season for the ages.

You are from Palm Beach Gardens, FL: what made you choose FAU? I chose FAU because I wanted to be close to home but still get the full college experience.

How long have you been dancing, and what is your favorite part? I have been dancing for 17 years. My favorite part is the feeling I get when the choreography just clicks and you can put your heart/passion into your motions.

You are captain of the dance team: what is the key to being a good leader? I think the key to being a good leader is empathy. People will always work harder for someone they know has their back and cares about their well-being.

Your favorite kind of food is Cuban: any specific dish you recommend? I love black beans, white rice, and yuca. They are mostly side dishes but they steal the show!

You are majoring in business health administration: why did you choose that subject? I chose this so that I could still make an impact while not having to go to as much extra schooling that would be required for someone like a doctor.

You graduate in a few months: what is the post-graduation plan? I have no plans thus far. My plan is to see what opportunities come my way and then decide from there. I start an internship prior to graduation so once I finish that I will apply for some jobs in August.

Your basketball team only won 19 games last year: how exciting has it been this year to dance for a team that has 35 wins (and counting) and is undefeated at home? This basketball season has been a dream for me, although I love game days for both basketball/football. Cheering on a winning team is always a little easier and more rewarding. I am grateful that I am here to experience the history being made.

How did your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what did it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? My coach decides who she wants to go. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in front of a national crowd.

Your team has turned into 1 of the all-time tourney Cinderellas: how incredible has this journey been? It was some of the best college basketball that I have ever seen. Those close games were really special and it is always really cool to see your team put in the work to get there.

Any predictions for the Owls next weekend in Houston? Well I always say the Owls will come out on top so GO OWLS!!

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a recap of UConn-Gonzaga.

Nothing to see here, just a couple of guys dropping by the arena to wrap up a business trip: Mark Few (who has the highest winning percentage in D-1 history with a minimum of 600 games) & Drew Timme (3-time consensus All-American):

Adama Sanogo/Andre Jackson Jr. were also all business during warmups:

I wonder if 2006 national POY Adam Morrison (who is the radio color commentator for Gonzaga basketball) would be able to avoid any semblance of bias:

It always helps to have your Hall of Fame father on hand to support you in the form of Bob Hurley Sr.:

The UConn & Gonzaga cheerleaders were ready:

…as was Danny Hurley, walking out of the tunnel for the biggest game of his life:

I anticipated a great game because these teams have met 5 times in the past, all at neutral sites, and all of them were decided by 5 PTS or less, so let’s tip it off:

Gonzaga’s 2 heroes from their win over UCLA on Thursday continued to produce on Saturday. Both Timme and Julian Strawther were able to score a bunch of PTS in the lane, combining for 18 of their team’s 32 PTS in the 1st half. 1 of UConn’s breakout stars was FR Alex Karaban. After marching into the NCAA tourney like a lamb with just 9 PTS combined in his 1st 2 games, he scored 11 PTS vs. Arkansas on Thursday and scored 10 more in the 1st half vs. Gonzaga including a 3 in the final seconds right before halftime to give his team a 7-PT lead as they headed to the locker room.

Timme has never fouled out of a postseason game, but after picking up 2 fouls in the 1st half and then 2 quick fouls during the 1st 3 minutes of the 2nd stanza, Coach Few had no choice but to take him out of the game despite trailing 44-34. By the time he came back a few minutes later UConn had completed an 8-0 run to make it 52-34, and it did not get better from there. While Sanogo finished with a double-double (10 PTS/10 REB) and Jackson nearly messed around and got a triple-double (8 PTS/9 REB/10 AST/0 TO), the 2nd half turned into the Jordan Hawkins show. The SO G from Maryland had made at least 3 shots from behind the arc in each of his previous 3 tourney games, but took it to another level against the Zags by tying his career-high with 6 3PM (while the entire Gonzaga team combined to make 2-20 3PM). UConn was up 65-40 at the under-12 timeout (which as far as I can tell is the 1st time in Timme’s 133-game college career that he has ever trailed by 25 PTS) and up 80-47 with 4 minutes to play as they blew out the Bulldogs 82-54.

In the postgame press conference I asked Hawkins (on the left) if he just felt like he was in the zone all night long. He said that after the 1st 1 went in he just kept taking them and credited his teammates for finding him:

I attempted to get Coach Hurley to confirm that between his Hall of Fame father, 2-time NCAA champion brother, and now himself and his son Andrew heading to the Final 4 next weekend, they could properly be considered among the preeminent families in the history of the sport alongside the Barrys (Rick/Jon/Brent/Drew), the Currys (Dell/Steph/Seth), and the Drews (Homer/Bryce/Scott). He would neither confirm/deny but is certainly proud of his family. His dad is the patriarch who is 1 of the best coaches of his generation, and he is just blessed that his father pushed him and his brother Bobby to succeed. Now he is happy that he gets to take his dad to the Final 4:

That is a wrap for the recap, but check back later this weekend for 1 HECK of a photographic celebration with the West Regional champs!

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We have not even reached the end of the college basketball regular season but can already start wondering about the stars of tomorrow as the best high school players in the country prepare to receive some national exposure. The McDonald’s All-American Game will take place on Tuesday in Houston, TX, and the Nike Hoop Summit will tip off on April 8th in Portland, OR. Several of this year’s college basketball super-freshmen played in last year’s McDonald’s Game including Gradey Dick (Kansas)/Keyonte George (Baylor)/Jarace Walker (Houston). Earlier this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ron Holland about winning a pair of gold medals and choosing the Longhorns.

In 2021 you won a gold medal with team USA at the FIBA U-16 Americas Championship in Mexico, and in 2022 you won a gold medal at the FIBA U-17 World Cup in Spain: what did it mean to you to win a pair of gold medals? Winning a pair of medals was crazy: it was nice to represent my country even 1 time, but I was able to do so twice, and I have a chance to do it again this year. Knowing that they keep trusting me to represent not only my city and my town but my country: it just means a lot to me that they trust me with their brand and the meaning of USA Basketball. Me and the other guys are the face of the team and the fact that they are giving their all to us and want me to represent our country is just a blessing.

You received offers from several great schools including Arkansas/UCLA but signed with Texas back in November: what was the biggest factor in your decision? The biggest factor was everybody who is leaving, but also the academics. Everybody leaving means that I will get 1 of the best opportunities to go in there and prove that I can be one of the best freshmen ever. I get to put my stamp on why I should be in the NBA draft lottery sooner than later. However, my mom is really big on me being good at things besides basketball. You need to have your books right so that you know how to read a contract: you do not want anybody to be playing with your money. She trusted UT the best with the whole academic thing so I think I will be set with that.

You are part of a great recruiting class that includes AJ Johnson: what makes him such a good player? AJ is a skinny guard who can maneuver and play/guard multiple positions. He complements my game because not only does he try to score but also looks to pass: I feel like we will be a good duo going to Texas. There are other guys who have a chance to come back like Tyrese Hunter, Dylan Disu, or even Dillon Mitchell. I am sure they are not all coming back because those guys are having a great season and probably going to the league. AJ just really complements my game so I feel like we will be great together.

TCU showed the country that they still play some good football down in Texas, but do you think that it is turning into a basketball state due to all of the top-25-caliber teams such as Baylor/Houston/TCU/Texas? I think it is…but honestly I feel like Texas just does everything better than everybody else. I feel like everybody in Texas believes that, and if you do not then you have an issue. If you go down the list of who beat who and all of the names that we have: nobody does it like us!

Earlier this year your mother tweeted that you remained committed to the school even after Coach Chris Beard was suspended (and subsequently fired) after being charged with a 3rd-degree felony for family violence: what kind of relationship do you have with his replacement (Rodney Terry)? I love Coach RT and he loves me. The relationship I have with him: I can tell that he already trusts me more than he should and I really commend him for that. He has shown that he really wants me but I can tell that it is something more. It is deeper than that: I feel like he needs me and I really need him too. I love the relationship we have and I cannot wait for him to be my coach.

You are 6’8”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? Right now in high school I am position-less because I can guard anybody and do everything that a guard or big man can do. However, in college I feel like they are going to have me focused on being a small forward/power forward or perhaps a shooting guard. Regardless of those 3 positions, I know that I can still get down there and bang in the post but can also guard the post and defend point guards and control/handle the ball like a point guard. I shoot it at a high level and will just control my team, facilitate things, and be the leader that I am.

Last December your fellow honoree Stephon Castle scored 41 PTS before fouling out in a 4-PT loss by Newton at Red River Hoopfest: will you remind him of the final score when you face him again at the McDonald’s Game in March?! I am definitely going to talk but I do not even know what he is going to say back. He had 41 PTS so he is a very good basketball player, obviously, but we came out with the win and it was a really fun game. I did not really have as good of a game as I wanted to, but it gave my teammate KJ Lewis a chance to show why he is 1 of the top players in the country. I think he had 34 PTS that night as well: we have the kind of team where you never know whose night it will be.

In January you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot just knowing that I can showcase my talents all over the country and am able to put myself in the conversation with other great players. Knowing that I get a chance to go out there and show the world that I am one of the greatest players in the country and represent my city: it is just a whole lot of love.

How excited were you to see that your fellow 2-time gold medalist Jeremy Fears was also named a McDonald’s All-American? We talk almost every day: that dude and I have been through a lot together: from making the team USA roster to playing with and against each other in AAU and being at all of the camps. Just knowing that 1 of my brothers made it brought a whole lot of joy to me and felt really good.

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An already chaotic NCAA Tournament became even more unpredictable after the completion of the Sweet 16 round; we are now assured of no 1-seeds advancing to the Elite 8 for the first time since seeding began for the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Texas is the lone remaining 2-seed, and the only regional that has teams with recent Final Four experience is in the West with Gonzaga and UConn, although you could add Texas from the Midwest (although their last Final Four was 20 years ago).

EAST REGION (Saturday, March 25)

(3) KANSAS STATE vs (9) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (6:09 PM ET, TBS) – Kansas State on paper looks to be the favorite in this matchup, and thanks to some heroic performances from Marquise Nowell and Keyontae Johnson the Wildcats were able to avoid a 2nd-half flurry from Michigan State and ended up winning the first overtime game of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. A win here would give the Wildcats their 5th Final 4 appearance and their first since 1964. However, Florida Atlantic has been venturing further and further into uncharted territory this season – their first Final Four would not be out of the question, either. This is the first time since 2008 that a team from Conference USA has advanced this far in the NCAAs, so naturally they will be moving up to the American next season.

WEST REGION (Saturday, March 25)

(3) GONZAGA vs (4) CONNECTICUT (8:49 PM ET, TBS) – Our own Jon Teitel has done a fantastic job covering the West Regional out in Las Vegas this week and we will be treated to what should be a classic matchup between the Zags and UConn. The Huskies looked relentless in their first weekend of tournament play against Iona and Saint Mary’s and took it up another level against Arkansas on Thursday night. Gonzaga, on the other hand, had to dig out of a deep hole against UCLA early in the 2nd half and ended up having to withstand a furious UCLA run in the final minute before Julian Strawther added his name to Gonzaga lore with a game-winning 3 against the Bruins. The Zags would be looking for their 3rd Final Four since 2018 and the Huskies would be looking for their first Final 4 appearance since 2014.

SOUTH REGION (Sunday, March 26)

(5) SAN DIEGO STATE vs (6) CREIGHTON (2:20 PM ET, CBS) – The Mountain West Conference collectively had an 11-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament before San Diego State finally got off the mat and ended up getting wins against Charleston and Furman in the first weekend. After a bit of a slow start against Alabama last night, the Aztecs went on a 12-0 run to take the lead in the 2nd half and never trailed after that point. While Creighton is technically in the Elite 8 for the 2nd time in program history, their previous appearance was in 1941 with a much smaller field; this is the first time the Bluejays have won 3 games to advance to the Elite 8 in program history. They have quietly defeated NC State, Baylor and Princeton to qualify for today’s game. We are guaranteed a first-timer in the Final Four for whoever wins this game.

MIDWEST REGION (Sunday, March 26)

(2) TEXAS vs (5) MIAMI (5:05 PM, CBS) – Miami had a great shooting night from both Isaiah Wong and Nigel Pack as the Hurricanes blew out to a 2nd-half lead that got as high as 19 points against Houston. Not bad for a team that was staring down the barrel of a 5-12 upset against Drake just a week earlier. While Texas lost Dylan Disu to injury for potentially the remainder of the tournament, they got a complete team effort from Marcus Carr, Jimmy Allen, Tyrese Hunter and Christian Bishop and never trailed against Xavier in their matchup last night. This game will feature the ACC regular season champion versus the Big 12 Tournament champion.

So if you’re keeping score, we now have 2 teams from the Big 12, 2 teams from the Big East and 1 team from the ACC, Mountain West, WCC and C-USA.

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with UCLA PG Tyger Campbell’s father Tony.

You allegedly named your son Tyger because he was born while Tiger Woods was on his way to winning the 2000 Mercedes Championship: what was he like as a child, and if Woods had not beaten Ernie Els by making a 40-foot putt on the 2nd playoff hole at Kapalua then would you have named him Ernye!? All of our kids have sports theme names. We had some other names we were thinking about but we just felt that “Tiger” would be an awesome sports name that an announcer could say over the loudspeaker at a football game: “tackle by Tiger”! The “Y” was just to make it a little different. He was pretty chill as kid: he was the youngest for a long time until we had our 4th child. He was a typical kid so there was nothing too outlandish, but he was an athletic prodigy so from age 5-6 we knew that he would become a great athlete. He was able to do some crazy gymnastic stuff when he was younger, which I think has helped with his muscle movement. My wife Jennifer is about 5’9” and Tyger ended up being 5’11” so once he got too tall for gymnastics he began to focus on basketball.

He received his 1st scholarship offer at age 13 from Western Kentucky while starting on the Christ Presbyterian Academy high school team as an 8th grader, committed to DePaul in 2017, and later signed with UCLA in 2018: why did he change his mind, and what made him choose the Bruins over schools like Maryland/Purdue? As a dad, when you walk out of any recruiting visit you are like “Wow, they love you, you should go here!” He had pro aspirations and we all liked the UCLA coach at the time (Steve Alford), as well as the weather. It is a good school with a great tradition and was the best fit…but it was Tyger’s decision.

He tore his left ACL during a preseason practice in October of 2018 and missed the entire year: how bad was it, and how was he able to finally get back onto the court? It was your typical ACL tear. When they gave us the final diagnosis in the hospital he was just like, “Okay, what’s next?” He listened to his doctors, did everything the right way, and came back sooner than anyone had expected. It is a tribute to how seriously he took his rehab: I was proud of him for doing that.

In the 2021 Final 4 he scored 17 PTS/6-11 FG but the Zags beat UCLA on a Jalen Suggs 40-foot bank shot to beat the buzzer in OT: what are your memories of that stunning shot? We were sitting right there and were all very excited: even though we were an 11 seed we felt like we could beat anybody because the whole team was clicking on all cylinders. When Johnny Juzang hit that layup with 3.3 seconds left we just assumed that the game would be going to a 2nd OT. I have never experienced anything like that: the high of Johnny’s shot and then the low of Jalen’s shot. It was just a tough shot by a tremendous player.

Earlier this month he was named 1st-team All-Pac-12 for the 3rd year in a row as well as honorable mention All-American: how proud were you to see him receive all of these outstanding honors? Very proud! Growing up you train and go to AAU tourneys so you have to get up early and stay up all night. You want to give your kid a chance to play college basketball, and he ended up playing at an elite level for the majority of his career. I was just reflecting on all of his career accolades with my oldest son. Tyger passed Tyus Edney last night for #2 on the UCLA all-time AST list and his 3:1 AST/TO ratio is the best of anyone by far. How many parents can say that they got to watch their kid even play in the Final 4, much less as 1 of the main contributors on his team?! Nobody can ever take that away from us.

In his 6 postseason games this month he has made 33-37 FTs with 41 AST/4 TO: do you feel like he has been playing the best basketball of his life this month? If you look at his stats this is the best year he has ever had. Talking to him, even though his shot has not been falling as much he says this is the most comfortable he has ever felt on the court. He looks so fluid and has so much confidence. I am not sure what he would say but he is doing a great job of running the team/making the right pass/taking the right shot.

You played basketball at Luther College: who is the best athlete in the family? If you want to go off of straight athleticism…it would be me. I was the only 1 in my family who could dunk consistently: my wife might roll her eyes at that but it is true! Tyger is cerebral/skilled but does not get enough credit for his own athleticism.

You are the founder of a youth basketball organization called Handles & Buckets: what makes your group different from other groups? Our approach: we call ourselves a skills program that happens to have AAU teams. We stress fundamentals/development and are a 1-stop shop: camps, leagues, travel ball, skills, etc. We participate in leagues year-round and have 16 different travel teams. We provide everything for the kids that come out of our program. Every single person has improved over time and we take pride in that: other programs might have cut some of our players but we coach them as if they were elite-level talent. If a 5th grader is not the top 5th grader around, we still have success stories where he ends up making his middle school team in the years ahead. We have elite kids but do not just limit it to that. Myself/my wife/my son/my daughter have all seen the process that Tyger has gone through from elementary school to now: we have a unique advantage/perspective because we have seen it from every single level. We want to help kids not just on the court but also by serving as a resource. My wife’s passion is to conduct classes for parents of young kids to give them information and help them navigate through the process that we have been through ourselves. We can help with all different facets of the journey: we can make your kid better at basketball AND help you decide which tourneys/camps to send him to because we have a pretty good grasp of the youth basketball landscape. We started from nothing and it is a pretty cool thing to be able to help so many kids. I was a teacher/coach for 20+ years so to be able to keep working with kids on my own and run it as a family (my 2 oldest kids are the directors and my wife is our operations manager) has been an amazing thing. My oldest son was “Client Zero” but to have 1 of your main “clients” playing high-level college basketball and potentially going pro says a lot about being able to run a program successfully.

I could have conducted an entire interview just about the game last night vs. Gonzaga: what will you remember the most about that “instant classic”? I thought that it was a good game and we were in a good position for most of it. The 2 things that hurt us were the 11-minute stretch in the 2nd half when we did not make a single FG and the fact that we got almost doubled-up on the boards (Gonzaga had a 50-26 REB advantage). If the Bruins had made just a few more shots or only been out-rebounded by 10-15 then they would have won the game. All that being said, they were still in a position to win it at the very end, which says a lot when you consider how they played for most of the 2nd half. I was not like this in the stands yesterday but after a night of sleep I can reflect on it a little better. To be down by 10 PTS with under 3 minutes left and then come all the way back to take a lead…and then have it take a Suggs-type of shot to beat them: I am so proud of the way that UCLA fought back. Even though Tyger did not make a shot in the 2nd half he had several AST to help fuel the comeback. He also did not shy away from the moment, which is why he took the final shot that would have tied the game. He had a tough 2nd half and it hurts to lose: a lot of people picked them to go far this year but I am still proud of how they competed.

When people look back on Tyger’s college career, how do you want him to be remembered the most, and what is the next step? It is crazy that my son could be considered 1 of the best PGs in the country this year and in UCLA history: I say that humbly but if you look at the past 4 years he really did all of that. His goal is to play in the NBA. He is not 6’5” but I still feel that he can be a great PG in the NBA. His path is unknown: he may or may not get drafted but I think that he can make an NBA roster and thrive once he gets there. He is a winner who has won at every level. When he was in high school at La Lumiere he played with a pair of future 1st round picks in Jaren Jackson Jr./Jordan Poole…yet he averaged 16 PPG/7 APG while making his teammates look good. He does not have to be a superstar but he still has superstar numbers. He was actually the leading scorer for the Bruins in the NCAA tourney last year. He does not have to be the main guy but will make your team better and help you win games. If you already have All-Star-caliber guys he will make them better and still put up numbers of his own. I feel like he can run a team and elevate the players around him. That is who he is: he makes people better and does whatever is necessary to win. In high school he was touted by coaches as a player who can impact a game without scoring a single PT…but if you need him to score 30 PTS or control the tempo of the game then he will do whatever is asked of him. Here is my “Lavar Ball” dad take: any NBA team that needs a point guard should not pass on Tyger Campbell!

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a few player interviews from the UConn locker room.

JR G Hassan Diarra

The UConn women’s team plays Ohio State in the Sweet 16 tomorrow: how close are your team and their team? We are pretty close so wish them good luck. I actually went to their game vs. Baylor at Gampel Pavilion last Monday.

Their coach (Geno Auriemma) has made 22 Final 4s: can you even comprehend such a #? It is unbelievably ridiculous! It shows how great he is, the great players he had on his roster, and is a credit to both him and his staff.

You began your college career at Texas A&M: is this weekend exactly why you transferred to UConn? Absolutely! This is what I envisioned, being a part of March Madness.

You are 1 of 3 teams in the Big East who are still alive (along with Creighton/Xavier): how great is your conference? It is big-time basketball due to big-time teams/players/coaches, which is why I wanted to be here.

In the 2022 NIT title game you scored 12 PTS/5-7 FG in a 1-PT loss to Xavier: what makes the difference when you are playing for a championship? Camaraderie, togetherness, passion, and game-planning. You just have to be yourself.

SR G Joey Calcaterra

You began your college career at San Diego: is this weekend exactly why you transferred to UConn? This is what I came here for. I expected to have success like this and to play on a stage like this to showcase my skills.

You are 0-7 in your career vs. Gonzaga with each of the 7 losses by 12+ PTS: what makes the Bulldogs so great? They are a fast-paced group with 5 weapons on the floor at all times, so we will need to bring our A-game.

Your nickname is “Joey California”: who gave it to you, and how do you like it? Coach Hurley gave me the nickname and I have embraced it. There have not been too many kids from California to end up at UConn.

Your team’s 3-PT shooting during the NCAA tourney has been amazing (9-20 vs. Arkansas, 10-22 vs. St. Mary’s, and 11-25 vs. Iona): do you think you can keep it going tomorrow? We cannot control whether our shots will fall so we will see how the game goes, but we have a great group of shooters.

Taylor Swift is performing in Vegas this weekend: which of your teammates is most likely to attend? Tristen Newton: he is a soft guy who likes to pretend that he is a tough guy!

JR G Andre Jackson Jr.

You are a co-captain along with Adama Sanogo: how crucial has your leadership been this month? It has been very important, but everyone has grown this year to be leaders: we are just the ones who set the tone.

The Zags had a 50-26 REB advantage vs. UCLA: how do you anticipate the battle on the boards tomorrow when they have to face 6’9” Adama Sanogo/7’2” Donovan Clingan down low? Rebounding often determines who will win the game so we need to box out and crash the glass.

Your team’s 3-PT shooting during the NCAA tourney has been amazing (9-20 vs. Arkansas, 10-22 vs. St. Mary’s, and 11-25 vs. Iona): do you think you can keep it going tomorrow? We will just go with whatever presents itself and get it to all of our dangerous shooters.

You and Gonzaga have 2 of the most efficient offenses in the nation this year: do you anticipate a high-scoring game? I do, so we will just try to limit their scoring, and if it is a low-scoring game that will play to our strengths.

There were some reports in the news that you had to switch hotels due to the substandard shape of your rooms and had some items stolen out of your team bus during practice: have you channeled your off-court nightmares into your on-court success? We are just locked in.

*I also got to ask Coach Hurley how close the men’s and women’s teams are and whether he can even comprehend Geno’s 22 Final 4s. He said he cannot fathom that # and that at some point you just have to stop counting. He confirmed that the coaches/players are really close and supportive because they are each other’s biggest fans. He thinks it is really cool that his team is holding up its end this month:

View Details

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a few player interviews from the Gonzaga locker room.

SO G Joe Few

What makes your father such a good coach, and what makes him such a good father? He is always dedicated as a coach and puts the team 1st. However, when the game is over he puts our family 1st. I remember growing up that he went on so many road trips with the team but would always spend time with us as soon as he came home.

What are your memories of Jalen Suggs’ legendary 3-PT shot to beat UCLA at the 2021 Final 4, and how does it compare to Julian Strawther’s game-winner last night? I was at that game and it was an unreal shot. Lucas Oil Stadium was only at 25% capacity due to COVID, but after playing in empty arenas for much of the season it felt like an actual basketball game atmosphere and the players acknowledged us in the stands after the game. Julian’s shot last night was a mix of Jalen’s shot in 2021 as well as the Gonzaga-UCLA game from 2006 (when the Bruins scored the final 11 PTS in a stunning comeback win). That being said, I definitely thought that Julian’s shot was going in!

What is it like playing with Drew Timme? He just gets buckets so we keep going to him over and over. He is the best basketball player that I have ever seen in person.

Is the team worried about its FT shooting after only making 9-17 last night? It is always a focus. My philosophy is that when you have good nights at the line you should remember them going forward, but when you have a bad night like last night you should have a very short memory.

The Zags had a 50-26 REB advantage vs. UCLA: how do you anticipate the battle on the boards tomorrow when facing a UConn team that has 6’9” Adama Sanogo/7’2” Donovan Clingan down low? It has been a great factor in our success but we have been tested all tourney long: TCU is a good rebounding team but we beat them on the boards 43-36. When we were trailing in the 2nd half last night our rebounding really got us back into the game.

JR G Malachi Smith

Last year you were named conference POY at Chattanooga: is this weekend exactly why you transferred to Gonzaga? Personal accolades are nice but I will never forget winning games at this level.

A few weeks ago you were named conference 6th Man of the Year: is there a big difference in starting vs. coming off the bench? All I care about is winning so I will do whatever my coaches ask of me. I just try to control what I can control.

Your grandfather Larry Knight was drafted in the 1st round by the Utah Jazz in 1979: who is the best athlete in the family? I have to say him…but I am coming up! He still has some records from when he played at Loyola-Chicago.

You scored 12 PTS in the 2nd half last night to help fuel your team’s comeback: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? I have put the work in so I was not nervous. I am a confident/experienced player so while it was a surreal experience it was not surprising to me.

You faced both Xavier and Texas in non-conference play: any predictions for their game tonight? It is other people’s jobs to make predictions but I think it will be a high-scoring game. We played them both back in November and I can tell you that when Texas plays at home they are a completely different team.

SR F Anton Watson

You went to high school at Gonzaga Prep: where you destined to go to college at Gonzaga? I grew up in the area and remember watching their games my whole life.

Are you worried about your FT shooting (57% this year) after the team only made 9-17 last night? It has been a huge factor all year, and we all know that we need to hit them.

You and UConn have 2 of the most efficient offenses in the nation this year: do you anticipate a high-scoring game? I am unsure: their defense is great and ours has gotten a lot better during the year.

Taylor Swift is performing in Vegas this weekend: which of your teammates is most likely to attend? Drew Timme: she probably knows who he is and will give him a VIP pass!

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-Jon Teitel is in Las Vegas, and I think is providing more coverage of The Tournament than everyone else other than perhaps CBS and Turner themselves. So, check out his work! You should ALWAYS check out his work even when he isn’t in Vegas, but definitely check out what he’s doing while he IS in Vegas! What happens in Vegas with Teitel DOES NOT JUST STAY IN VEGAS!!! Scroll down! You can’t miss it!

-I hate backhanded compliments, so I hope this doesn’t sound like one. UCLA had an incredible season. The fact that they made it to the Sweet Sixteen without such a key player in Jaylen Clark, and then lost two other key front court guys before having to face Gonzaga, and damn near won the game is…just…WOW!!! I know all the moods of the Bruins and their fans would have been a lot better had they won, but the level of pride the Bruins and their fans should have today should be through the roof. I personally define toughness as one’s ability to keep fighting through adversity even when your instincts are telling you to stop. This UCLA team showed more toughness than any other team I’ve seen at any point this season. And, BTW, if you read or follow this site at all, you know that I’m not particularly a fan of UCLA. I do think that UCLA and Gonzaga should have to play every year!! The NCAA should mandate it during this year’s Summer Meetings!! Whenever they play, it’s awesome!!

-Florida Atlantic has become just the second team in history to advance to the Elite Eight after beating a #16 seed in the Round of 32!! (*Take THAT bit of trivia John Stalica!!! He thinks he’s such an expert and acts so important because his team is in Kansas City!*) Some point out that had it not been for the once-in-an-eon-upset of Fairleigh Dickinson over Purdue they wouldn’t have had such an easy path. While that is undeniably true, we at Hoops HD actually picked FAU to knock out Purdue in the Round of 32, and I believe they would have if that’s who they had ended up playing. People will also say had Tennessee been at full strength, and had Zeigler been able to play, Tennessee would have probably won. Well…perhaps…BUT had Zeigler not been injured then Tennessee probably isn’t a #4 seed and FAU isn’t even playing them last night in the first place. If FAU wins the National Championship, I think naysayers will point to something that happened in all six of their games and try to argue that they got lucky and don’t deserve it. The truth is, FAU is in the Elite Eight because they DO deserve it!! And if you’ve been following the other tournaments, Conference USA looks like the paper and metrics did not properly measure just how good the league actually was.

-Kansas State vs Michigan State was a great game. I believe it is the first time the two had played since 1997. I hope we don’t have to wait as long until they play again! I don’t know when K State last made the Final Four, but I’m pretty sure it was somewhere around…say….FOREVER ago!!! Earlier I mentioned that FAU is just the second team ever to advance to the Elite Eight after beating a #16 seed in the Round of 32. The other team to do it was….KANSAS STATE!! They beat UMBC back in 2018 after the Retrievers knocked off Virginia. No team has ever made the Final Four after beating a #16 seed in the Round of 32!! We will see history made on Saturday!! (*Take THAT bit of trivia John Stalica!! He thinks he’s such an expert and acts so important because his team is in Kansas City!!*)

-As for tonight’s games, I thought Texas should have been a #1 seed over Purdue, and had been saying that for the last month or so, but while I was proven correct (I feel I am ALWAYS correct) the one thing about the NCAA Tournament is that as much as people like us love to forecast the seeding throughout the season, nothing is less important once the games actually start. The best team is the best team regardless of what their seed is, and Texas may be as good as anyone. It would be a lot of fun to see them finally square off against Houston if both get through the Sweet Sixteen tonight. I think both should, but that doesn’t mean they will. Miami FL has been good all year and is a team I’ve liked all year, but I think Houston is just better. Xavier has looked fantastic at times, and managed some huge wins during the regular season, so if “Good Xavier” shows up they may be able to take down Texas, but Texas just looked better on more occasions.

-Princeton’s 1-3-1 defense confused the hell out of Arizona, and confused Missouri even more. It was a bad match-up for Mizzou, and I would have probably picked Princeton to win that game had the two played during the regular season, but Arizona, with so much size, strength, and talent underneath, should have been able to pick Princeton apart. The way to beat that type of zone is to move the ball and feed it into the low post. This causes the defense to make a choice of either doubling down (which means someone else is open) or not doubling down (which means the advantage is to the offense if they have high caliber post players, which Arizona did). While it made complete since that Princeton beat Missouri (rather badly) it made almost no sense at all that Princeton won that first game against Arizona. As for the game against Creighton tonight?? Creighton SHOULD win, but Princeton has a chance! Creighton has good outside shooters, but if Princeton can extend just a little bit out of their zone to contest those shots, or if Creighton simply isn’t hitting, Princeton does at least have a shot.

-San Diego State is a really good team. Alabama is an absolutely outstanding team. As a match-up, I don’t think there is really much to deep dive into when it comes to the schematics. I think Alabama is just better.

ENJOY THE GAMES!!!

View Details

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a recap of Gonzaga-UCLA.

Gonzaga SR superstar Drew Timme was unstoppable to start the game, scoring 15 of his team’s 19 PTS during the 1st 8 minutes. UCLA FR G Amari Bailey kept his team afloat with 9 PTS of his own in the 1st 9 minutes as the Bruins edopen up a 31-21 lead, causing Gonzaga coach Mark Few to call a timeout to settle his squad down. The Bruins’ senior studs (Tyger Campbell/Jaime Jaquez Jr.) finally picked up the slack as they each scored double-digits in the 1st half. The Bruins committed exactly 1 turnover in the 1st 20 minutes, took a 46-33 lead at halftime, and looked completely in command. I used up most of my halftime celebrity sightings in Game #1 so the best I could do was…Jim Gray?

Timme kept pouring in the PTS during the 2nd half in every way imaginable: a pair of jump shots, a REB/putback, and a spin/bank shot to give him 29 of his team’s 1st 50 PTS and cut the deficit to 54-50, causing UCLA coach Mick Cronin to call a timeout of his own to stop the bleeding. The 2-time-defending WCC POY started the 2nd stanza 6-6 from the field but finally found a teammate to shoulder some of the burden in the form of Malachi Smith. The Chattanooga transfer had only scored 13 PTS combined in his 2 tourney games last week in Denver, but he rolled a pair of double-sixes tonight with 12 big 2nd half PTS including a jumper with 9 minutes left to give his team a 61-59 lead and a 3 from the top of key to finish off a huge run and take a 72-62 lead that appeared to have finally finished off the Bruins. NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS!

The Zags only made 8-16 FTs in the 2nd half, which gave Jaquez a chance to show off his own conference POY skills. He had a coast-to-coast dunk, a corner 3, an old-fashioned 3-PT play, and then a layup with 32 seconds left to bring his team most of the way back as they trailed 75-73. Timme was the hero of the 1st 39 minutes, scoring 36 of his team’s 1st 72 PTS while tying Brandon Clarke’s school record for most PTS in a tourney game. However, he almost turned into the goat after missing a pair of FTs with 25 seconds left that would have made it a 2-possession game…and then things got VERY interesting.

Bailey made a huge 3 with 12.2 seconds left to give his team a 76-75 lead as the UCLA fans went nuts and Coach Few drew up 1 final play to try to win it. Jalen Suggs was not walking through that door, but Las Vegas native Julian Strawther was all aces as he drilled a deep 3 to take a 78-76 lead with 7.2 seconds left, then made a FT to put the cherry on top, and when Tyger Campbell missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer Gonzaga celebrated yet another dagger to the soul of Westwood in a 79-76 instant classic. I did not get a lot of good photos while up high in the overflow media seating but after hustling down toward the locker room I got some nice shots of the Bulldogs running off the court after their remarkable win:

In the postgame press conference I asked Drew Timme if he tried to put the team on his back as a guy who has only lost 12 games in his college career. He said that they just got hit in the mouth and had to battle/fight. The ball kept finding him in the 1st half so he kept shooting/scoring, and in the 2nd half the whole team rallied with Malachi Smith scoring a lot of PTS. It is the story of their year: the 1st half was not their “best 20” but they dug deep and kept fighting because while they might be down but are never out. I wondered if Coach Few saw any similarities to his last game as an assistant coach in the 1999 West Regional (Gonzaga faced UConn in the Elite 8 after Casey Calvary’s game-winning tip-in to beat Florida in the final seconds of the Sweet 16). He shut that idea down because “it was like 125 dog years ago”! He told his team that they would celebrate tonight’s win in the locker room…but as soon as they walked out the door their focus would shift to UConn, who he thinks is playing as well as anyone in the tourney.

That is a wrap on 1 of the most exciting games that I have ever attended, so if the Elite 8 has even half the drama then it will be must-see-TV on Saturday night!

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a recap of Arkansas-UConn.

Welcome to T-Mobile Arena!

Do not even think about sneaking in because there are a LOT of police outside:

Sadly, there is absolutely nobody protecting my seat because it is WAY up high.

The control booth appears to have more buttons/monitors than NASA preparing to launch a space shuttle.

The last time these 2 teams met was in the 3rd place game at the PK-80 Invitational in November of 2017 when Mike Anderson’s Razorbacks ran roughshod over the Huskies in a 102-67 win. Let’s tip it off:

The good news for Arkansas was that their super-frosh duo of Anthony Black/Nick Smith combined for 16 PTS in the 1st half. The bad news was that the hero of the Kansas game (Devo Davis) picked up 2 quick fouls within the 1st 2 minutes and ended up making exactly 1 shot before halftime. The worst news was that Adama Sanogo dominated the paint, including a layup to give his team a 34-17 lead and force Arkansas coach Eric Musselman to call a timeout just 12 minutes into the game. The Huskies maintained that margin as they went into the locker room with a 46-29 halftime lead, while I went searching for (and finding!) some celebrity sightings:

Razorback alum John Daly with a big old beard:

UConn assistant coach Luke Murray’s father Bill:

Head coach Dan Hurley’s Hall of Fame father Bob Sr.:

The 2nd half was more of the same, with Sanogo making a ton of layups (finishing with 18 PTS/9-11 FG in 24 minutes) and his teammate Jordan Hawkins making a ton of threes (finishing with 24 PTS/9-9 FT in 28 minutes), as UConn cruised to an 88-65 win.

In the postgame press conference I asked Coach Hurley if winning a Sweet 16 game by 23 PTS with his son on the court and his father/family in the stands and his college coach doing radio on press row was the greatest day of his life. He did not take the bait and said that the best days of his life were meeting his wife Andrea and later marrying her: “Some other guys just say that but I mean it!” As a player it was not a joyride for him, and he later got fired as an assistant at Rutgers in 2001, but he is proud of the way that he has proved myself at every level that he has coached at:

That is a wrap for Game #1, check back later for a recap of Gonzaga-UCLA.

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with Arkansas band member Noah Boggs Riley.

You were born/raised in Fayetteville: what made you choose Arkansas? Growing up in Northwest Arkansas, I have fond memories of my parents taking me to Razorback football/basketball games. It was an exhilarating experience and something that I will never forget. I always remember looking down at the field or in the stands when the band was performing and telling myself, “That is going to be me one day!” I decided a long time ago that I was going to be a Razorback and I have never regretted it. They have a beautiful campus and I have received a high-quality education.

You have been playing the trombone for about 10 years: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? In the Fayetteville School District, we are allowed to join the band in the 7th grade and learn an instrument. I originally was not going to do band because I wanted to learn more about media. However, my parents had a different plan for me. My brother was in the band before me so we already had a trombone in our house: it was strongly suggested that I do band and at least try it out for a year. Little did I know that decision would have such a huge impact on my life and who I am now. I tried it out for a year and fell in love with playing music. I continued all the way through high school: I was a section leader to start and later became a drum major. Coming to college, I was worried that the time commitment was going to be overbearing, but after I joined I knew that I could juggle it all. College band has given me more once-in-a-lifetime opportunities/experiences than a regular student. Imagine traveling to Buffalo and seeing Niagara Falls for the first time or going to San Francisco and taking a boat ride under the Golden Gate Bridge with your best friends. That is what being in a band and playing music has given me: the chance to travel across the states to create music and gain new experiences.

You play in both the Razorback Marching Band and the Hogwild Band: what is the biggest difference between playing at a football game vs. playing at a basketball game? There are many differences when it comes to playing at these two events, but the main difference is how intimate the games are. Playing at a football game, the audience loves to watch our pre-game when we form the big “A” on the field and high-march up and down the field. The crowd goes crazy, but there is a clear separation between the performers and the crowd. In Hogwild, we are one with the audience and enhance the crowd’s hype/energy because we are able to interact with the crowd while we perform. The intimacy within the basketball game creates a bi-directional energy of hype.

You are majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences in the Bumpers College: why did you choose those subjects? I originally was a biochemistry major but then decided that was not the path I was meant to fulfill. After taking a few classes in the degree, I discovered that I wanted to hone in on my interpersonal skills and help create connections, not only with others but within themselves as well. I realized that I could create a larger change by studying this than I ever could in biochemistry. These skills/practicing/learning may seem like human nature, but we as a society have lost some of these “natural” skills and need help redirecting the focus from our busy lives.

What is the post-graduation plan? It is still up in the air. I can do a lot with this degree but am not sure where to direct my focus. I definitely know that I want to go to Graduate School after I complete my bachelor’s degree. I could see myself getting my masters in higher education, counseling, or human development and family sciences. Any 1 of these degrees will set me up for success and help me better the lives of the people in my community.

You are part of Kappa Kappa Psi (the National Honorary Band Fraternity) and Alpha Epsilon Kappa (an organization you created for people in your major to network and serve local families/the community): how much importance do you place on community service? I think the least someone can do is give back to the community and people who have given so much to them. Service in general really boils down to having empathy and love for others and being willing to go above and beyond for someone else. It involves selflessness, an attitude of giving, and putting the needs of others before your own while striving to make a difference in this world. It is important as humans to look out for each other.

It sounds like your band duties take up a majority of your time: how do you balance your work in the band with going to class/having a social life? I am the “band kid” and most of us have excellent time management skills because we have to in order to survive. One thing about band is that it is a community. I may be performing my duties for the band, but I am doing it all with my friends (who I call my family). You have your support network and the accountability to get everything done. Everyone you surround yourself with has the same priorities/ambitions that you do, which makes it easier to stay caught up on everything and have a good time while doing it.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our director of the Hogwild Band (Chase Jones) decides who gets to attend the NCAA tournaments. There are multiple factors such as attendance throughout the season, the audition we had at the beginning of the season, and instrumentation. It is also based on our availability. We have had some members who were only able to go on 1 trip this season while other members have been on every trip that we have taken. Being able to go on these trips is an honor that I never thought I would have. It means so much to have the opportunity to be the face of the University of Arkansas. It connects all of the Razorbacks across the nation, and for us to be on the sideline cheering on our team feels like we are the voice of all these Razorbacks. We are One Razorback!

Last weekend you beat Illinois/Kansas in Des Moines: how was it, and how excited is everyone on campus now that you are in the Sweet 16? To beat a 1-seed and the defending national championship was a crazy experience. The little sliver of Arkansas fans in attendance were as loud (if not louder) than all of the KU fans in the entire arena. It was a good feeling to see the team finally click together and produce such an incredible game. Everyone on campus is still going wild that we are in Las Vegas about to start the Sweet 16. Our fans never lost faith in our team even during the low points.

Any predictions for the Razorbacks vs. Connecticut on Thursday in Las Vegas? Hogs by 90…always!

View Details

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a few player interviews from the Gonzaga locker room.

SO G Hunter Sallis

In 2021 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: are any guys from that game still alive in the NCAA tourney? Just this 1 next to me (his Gonzaga teammate Nolan Hickman)!

Coach Mark Few has won 23+ games for his 24th year in a row: how important has his leadership been to your team? He has so much experience that it gives us all a lot of confidence.

You had a brutal non-conference schedule this year including Michigan State/Texas/Kentucky/Purdue/Xavier/Baylor/Kent State/Alabama: which of those teams impressed you the most? I would say Texas: their defensive aggressiveness was unlike anything else we had seen early in this season, but it has really helped prepare us for March.

In the 2021 Final 4 the Zags beat UCLA on a Jalen Suggs 30-foot bank shot to beat the buzzer in OT: what are your memories of that sensational shot? I remember watching it on TV: it was a really amazing shot.

You beat GCU/TCU last week: what is the mentality of the team as you prepare to face UCLA? We will take the same approach as always by bringing the same intensity/aggressiveness.

SO C Efton Reid III

You went to IMG Academy: are you friends with any of your fellow alumni who are still alive in the NCAA tourney (Charles Bediako at Alabama/Alex Karaban at UConn/Jarace Walker at Houston/other)? I was part of the post-graduate team so I do not know everyone but we still have a connection. I was there during COVID so I grew close to some of the younger guys on the team.

You began your career at LSU: why did you decide to transfer to Gonzaga? A little of everything: the culture, the family atmosphere, etc. It has been great for my basketball development.

In the 2021 Final 4 the Zags beat UCLA on a Jalen Suggs 30-foot bank shot to beat the buzzer in OT: what are your memories of that sensational shot? I remember watching it on TV at home with my family during COVID and just screaming out loud after he made it!

Coach Mark Few has won 23+ games for his 24th year in a row: how important has his leadership been to your team? You cannot beat winning: that is all that matters. It really speaks to his career as a coach.

You beat GCU/TCU last week: what is the mentality of the team as you prepare to face UCLA? We will play like underdogs because when we get momentum we cannot be stopped.

SR F Drew Timme

You are the 2-time defending conference POY: how crucial is it for you to leader this team? Obviously, it has been that way during my entire time here, but pressure is a privilege.

You were named conference tourney MVP earlier this month: do you feel like you are playing the best basketball of the season and/or your life? I am just being me.

You scored 12 PTS in the 2021 title game loss to Baylor: what will it take to get over the hump if you make it back to the title game this year? We just need to be us.

You scored 25 PTS in a Sweet 16 6-PT loss to Arkansas last March: how sweet would it be to beat them in a revenge game in the Elite 8 if you both make it that far? They are a different team than last year, and so are we.

If you could be selected 1st overall in the NBA draft by any team or last overall in the NFL draft by your beloved Dallas Cowboys, which would you choose? (Long pause) Cowboys!

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a few player interviews from the UConn locker room.

JR G Andrew Hurley

Where does this week rank among the highlights of your career? It is definitely up there, we did not get what we wanted the past 2 years (9-PT loss to Maryland in the 1st round of the 2021 NCAA tourney and 7-PT loss to New Mexico State in the 1st round of the 2022 NCAA tourney) so to make it this far has been great.

Will your uncle (ASU coach Bobby Hurley) and/or grandfather (Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr.) be in the arena this week? My grandfather will be here for sure, and I think my uncle will come up from Tempe as well. Hopefully my uncle can give us a little help with strategy if we play UCLA in the Elite 8.

Your father Dan was hired as coach at UConn 5 years ago today: what do you remember about that day? He was just trying to restore the program to its past glory.

There have been a lot of Big East coaching moves this week with Rick Pitino going to St. John’s (after you beat him by 24 PTS last Friday) and Ed Cooley moving from Providence to Georgetown: how great is your conference? The Big East is loaded and will be an even more interesting league next year.

SR G Nahiem Alleyne

You began your college career at Virginia Tech, where you scored 28 PTS/4-10 3PM in a 5-PT OT loss to Florida in the 2021 NCAA tourney: what is the key to winning games in March? You need to have that mentality of “win or go home” and see who will bring it more. I tell my teammates that we have worked too hard all year to go home now. March bring a different feeling for everybody.

Why did you transfer to UConn? The culture: it just felt like a good place for me to be. I wanted to help them keep building their history and it was the best decision that I ever made. I have become a tougher player because it is such a good conference?

This year your team started 14-0 and then lost 6 of its next 8: what went wrong, and what has gone right since then? Nothing went wrong: we just encountered a little adversity. My former coach Mike Young said that when things are not going right you can either lay down or fight back. We just have to throw the next punch, which we did in February, especially on the defensive end of the court: the sky is the limit.

Your assistant coach Luke Murray’s father Bill is 1 of the funniest men on the planet: have you had a chance to meet him yet? I have never met Bill, and only realized that he was Luke’s father a couple of weeks ago!

There have been a lot of Big East coaching moves this week with Rick Pitino going to St. John’s (after you beat him by 24 PTS last Friday) and Ed Cooley moving from Providence to Georgetown: how great is your conference? Really great: the Big East is getting better and better with all of those great coaches. I think that Coach Pitino even has a little Dan Hurley in him!

FR C Donovan Clingan

You are 7’2”: how much of an advantage is your size on the court? It helps a lot on the court but sometimes is it not so fun off the court. Trying to find clothing is a struggle: there are not a lot of places that sell pants with a 40” inseam!

You are from Bristol (where I used to work a LOOOOONG time ago): what was it like to grow up there? It was nice. Everyone got along and I gained a lot of support from the town throughout my childhood so I could not be more thankful.

Your assistant coach Luke Murray’s father Bill is 1 of the funniest men on the planet: have you had a chance to meet him yet? I gave him a fist bump at the Big East tourney a couple of weeks ago and finally got to say hi to him at our hotel in New York City. He said, “Hi, I’m Bill, Luke’s father”, and I responded, “Hi Bill, I know who you are”: he is a cool guy to be around.

You are 1 of only 5 teams to beat Alabama this year: how good are they? They are really good and have a lot of weapons. Even with Brandon Miller going scoreless in their 1st round game last Thursday they still won by 21 PTS.

You had 2+ BLK in each of your 2 games last week: how does the defensive game plan change when facing a taller team like Arkansas? I will keep trying to disrupt their shots and guard the paint: they have a lot of great athletes.

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a few player interviews from the Arkansas locker room.

The hardest part was just getting to the Razorbacks’ locker room without bumping into any of the Gonzaga players who were stretching in the hallway!

JR G Ricky Council IV

In 2022 you were named AAC 6th Man of the Year at Wichita State: is there a big difference between starting vs. coming off the bench? I was kind of used to starting and thought I would start last year but I only started 7 games. I started almost every game this year before coming off the bench for several games down the stretch.

As someone who faced Houston several times in AAC play, how good are they? I played them 4 times while I was at Wichita and it starts with their defense. I am not surprised at all that they have had such a great season due to the physicality and rebounding.

Why did you transfer to Arkansas? It was just a better opportunity for me, as I have always had a goal/dream to play at the highest level.

Your brother Ricky II played at Providence/UMBC, brother Ricky III played JC basketball sister Rhianna played at UNCG: who is the best athlete in the family? Me!

SR F Jalen Graham

You went to Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix: how did you end up at Arkansas? I transferred after playing 3 years at ASU. I saw that Arkansas made back-to-back Elite 8s and I wanted to be a part of that.

Since Vegas is not that far from Phoenix, will you have any family/friends at the arena this week? My mother/brother/sister will all be here, as well as most of my close friends.

You played for Dan Hurley’s brother Bobby at ASU: how awkward will it be if you end up facing UConn on Saturday?! I have thought about that a couple of times this month.

You beat Illinois/Kansas last week after losing 4 of 5 games entering the NCAA tourney: how was your teams able to get back on track? We had some pieces return from injury, plus we had a really tough schedule down the stretch (featuring 5 straight games against NCAA tourney teams: Alabama/Tennessee/Kentucky/Auburn/Texas A&M).

Speaking of injuries, how is Anthony Black’s left foot doing? I think he is good.

SR F Kamani Johnson

You transferred from Little Rock: what made you choose Arkansas? I had a really good connection with the Little Rock coaches who (like me) were from New York (including head coach Darrell Walker, who was a player/assistant for the Knicks). I looked around and then fell in love with the staff here.

Your brother Dakari played basketball at Kentucky: who is the best athlete in the family? My brother has it right now since he made the Final 4 in 2015 and the title game in 2014 (a 6-PT loss to UConn), but I just told him the other day that I am coming for him!

You played 3 minutes in a 6-PT win over Gonzaga in the Sweet 16: how exciting would it be to face them again in the Elite 8 on Saturday? We are not looking ahead, plus they have to face a good UCLA team tomorrow…but a rematch would be great. I actually think they were a little better last year but there would be a LOT on the line if we play them again.

Your spectacular non-conference schedule included games against Creighton/San Diego State/Baylor: which 1 of those teams impressed you the most? San Diego State was really tough. I played really well against them (7 PTS/7 REB in 19 minutes) so I cannot wait to see how they do vs. Alabama on Friday.

Speaking of Alabama, you 2 plus Tennessee gives the SEC 3 teams in the Sweet 16: do you have the best conference in the country? I think the SEC is #1. We have the best athletes/greatest coaches.

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel commences our coverage from Las Vegas with the Arkansas open practice.

It was a LOOONG series of connecting flights from DC to Vegas yesterday but I arrived in 1 piece. There were plenty of people to see at the Arkansas open practice on Wednesday morning:

The CBS announcing crew of Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner/Stan Van Gundy/Lauren Shehadi huddling up in preparation:

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman (who is attempting to make his 3rd straight trip to the Elite 8):

FR G Anthony Black (getting his left foot wrapped up tight after entering the arena in a walking boot):

You did not think that each player had to bring his own sneakers did you?!

ESPN/Westwood One Basketball Analyst PJ Carlesimo (who coached Dan Hurley at Seton Hall back in the 1990s):

FR G Nick Smith Jr. (who averaged 15 PPG in 2 SEC tourney games but only 3 PPG in 2 NCAA tourney games):

JR G Ricky Council IV (who made 21-23 FTs combined in 2 wins last week):

JR G Davonte “Devo” Davis (who scored a game-high 25 PTS in a 1-PT win over defending champion Kansas last Saturday):

SO F Trevon Brazile (at least I THINK so, since I thought he was injured and had dark hair?):

Check back for much more coverage all weekend long!

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It has been quite a month for Auburn: almost upsetting Alabama in OT on March 1, beating Tennessee on Senior Night on March 4, having an amazing comeback vs. Arkansas in the SEC tourney that came up just short on March 9, beating Iowa in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney last Thursday, and holding a 10-PT halftime lead over Houston before losing in the 2nd round last Saturday. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Auburn cheerleader Britt Ware about a wild weekend in Birmingham.

You are from Birmingham: what made you choose Auburn? I am from a big Auburn family: my parents/grandparents went to Auburn…but 1 of my grandfathers played football for Bear Bryant. I have always loved the games/atmosphere so it was not a hard decision and I have loved it here.

Your NCAA tourney games were in your hometown last week: did you have any family/friends who got to see you in person at Legacy Arena? Yes: my parents got to come, which I was so thankful for. My sister could not make it because she had cheer tryouts but my brother came down from Nashville for the game. I actually got to cheer in that same arena during high school when our basketball team won 3 straight titles from 2017-2019 so it was fun to be back in that position.

How long have you been cheering for, and what is the best part? I started cheering in 6th grade so I have done it for a long time. Competitive cheer and sideline cheer are very different but coming here I was interested in the community aspect of it. I wanted to serve my school/community so the best part has been meeting people and getting to appear at events with people of varying ages from babies to folks in nursing homes.

Your family friend Juli Carr was an Auburn cheerleader back in the 1980s: how has the role of a cheerleader changed over time (if at all)? Auburn is very traditional and we try our hardest to keep it that way. It has changed a little over time but we have always been community-based and it can only change so much. There are only 10 girls and 10 guys so every year we have to teach our new teammates why we do this/love this.

Your favorite Auburn tradition is Tiger Walk: what is it, and why is it so special? That is the 1 thing I remember attending from age 5. It is 1 of the best game day traditions: even when we were not doing great in football there are still fans who show up and cheer you on every step of the way. It makes you so grateful to walk down the aisle and wave to little girls sitting on their father’s shoulders. It is 1 of the calmer/busier moments of the day and just shows what makes the Auburn family so special.

You are majoring in hospitality management: why did you choose that subject? I have always loved planning events. My mom is an interior designer but I know that it is a LOT of work. I do not know if I want to deal with crazy brides at a wedding but I do love flower arrangements, organizing a schedule for someone else, etc. I love to serve people so if I can be a planner/coordinator then I could help take the stress off of someone else. The combination of structure/creativity has always caught my eye.

What is the post-graduation plan? I made the cheer team during my sophomore year…which was during COVID. I will stick around 1 more year and hopefully have an internship this summer. We have 5 girls graduating so my main plan is to help the 5 new girls replacing them. I plan to minor in leadership, which will help me be a leader during my final year.

What was your favorite moment from this season: starting 16-3, beating Tennessee on Senior Night, almost beating Alabama in OT on March 1st, other? I would say the Tennessee game, which was pretty exciting. It seems like most of our losses this year have been closed games that were decided during the final 5 minutes. It was really fun to have our entire squad back for the 1st time since football season. The fans were excited to honor the seniors and it was fun to watch them from courtside.

How did your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what did it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It was awesome. Every single experience is fun whether we win or lose, and you have to take in every single moment because you never know when it will be your last game. It really taught me to never take anything for granted, which helps because our team was on fire. I still cannot believe that we were on TV.

Last weekend you beat Iowa and lost to Houston in Birmingham: how was it? There were a lot of emotions. The Iowa game was really exciting and we kept saying that it would be the start of our hot streak. The energy rolled over into our 2nd game vs. #1 seed Houston: we did not want to get our hopes up but we did a great job of pushing ourselves to the last minute. I was really proud of our team because they worked so hard: we just need to work on our FTs (19-36 vs. the Cougars)! Bruce Pearl is a great coach and my friends/family have been so supportive during this whole experience. Just to look up and see them smiling in the stands makes it all worth it.

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Chad and the panel recap the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. There are always surprises, but this year we seemed to have more surprises than we were expecting! The most notable is Fairleigh Dickinson’s win over Purdue. It is so surprising that perhaps the second biggest surprise was Fairleigh Dickinson’s win over Texas Southern in the First Four. For the third year in a row, a 15 seed is in the Sweet Sixteen as Princeton knocked out both Arizona and Missouri. Only two of the 1 seeds made the Sweet Sixteen, and other teams really had to sweat to hold on. We go over all of the action from the first two rounds, preview the upcoming Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games, and more!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/HHD-Report-Sweet-16-Audio-Only.mp3

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It has been quite a month for Auburn: almost upsetting Alabama in OT on March 1, beating Tennessee on Senior Night on March 4, having an amazing comeback vs. Arkansas in the SEC tourney that came up just short on March 9, beating Iowa in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney last Thursday, and holding a 10-PT halftime lead over Houston before losing in the 2nd round last Saturday. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Auburn Tiger Paw Evie Ann Owen about a wild weekend in Birmingham.

You were born/raised in Georgia but moved to Auburn in the 10th grade: what made you choose Auburn for college? I was really reluctant at 1st because I was worried that I already knew everybody. I took a tour with my dad and the excitement both he/I had really pulled me toward Auburn. I fell in love with it and after Tiger Paw auditions it was just set in stone. Now that I am here I barely see anyone I know!

How long have you been dancing for, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since age 3. I was on a dance team in middle school/high school and always loved performing on stage. We did solos for competitive dance and it was just not my thing: I preferred being part of a team. I did not want to stop in college so I tried out for Tiger Paws and made it. My favorite part is the team aspect: we had a 2-week camp before the fall semester started so to have 19 other girls who I could rely on and become close with was great. We are always supportive of each other.

Your parents moved to Germany the summer before you started college: how difficult was it to be away from them for an entire year? It was a very big change. The time zone difference was the hardest if we wanted to talk while we were both awake. I got to go to Germany for a month during Christmas break, which was awesome. I remember being on the beach when COVID happened and international travel got shut down: my mom was actually in the air heading from the US to Germany so after spending about 12 hours in Germany she was finally able to catch a flight back. We do tailgates before football games and my team was always there for me.

You are majoring in Nutrition-Wellness: why did you choose that subject? I was planning on going to medical school but I was told about the nutrition program and how it might set me apart. I have always been interested in nutrition and it felt perfect. The new plan is to head to PA school so hopefully I can blend what I know about nutrition into that.

You graduate in a few months: what is the post-graduation plan? I am planning on working for 2 years, hopefully as a medical assistant. I need to get 1000 hours of patient care to be competitive when I apply, and it is hard to get those hours while I am in college, so I will apply for PA school next summer.

What is the Iron Bowl like for those of us who have never experienced it in person? It is great and 1 of the best experiences of my life! The energy leading up to it is insane. We come in several hours early and the crowd for Tiger Walk is just crazy. It is so fun seeing everyone getting ready for the game and once you look up and see a packed stadium: there is nothing really like it. Anything can happen at Jordan-Hare: we won when I was a freshman and everyone rushed the field but my junior year we lost in OT. Even though we lost I was on the edge of my seat the whole game and was so proud of our players.

You are in a sorority: what is Greek life like at Auburn? I have loved being in a sorority. It is difficult to manage your time between school/Tiger Paws but all of my roommates are in my sorority. Greek life here is very cohesive so I can be best friends with girls from other sororities. I cannot make it to every event but my roommates understand what is going on and keep me updated.

What was your favorite moment from this season: starting 16-3, beating Tennessee on Senior Night, almost beating Alabama in OT on March 1st, other? I love watching our basketball team. Going to Birmingham and just seeing the players around town: they are so kind. It brings it into perspective that they are college students just like me but they have so much more pressure on them. It is always a fun watch: I like a game that has 2 teams fighting to the very end. Everyone was so hyped up for the Tennessee game. Having the opportunity to sit on the baseline and hear everything going on is an opportunity that I will never get again…unless someone gives me front-row seats! In Birmingham we were right next to the team and feeding off their energy.

How did your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what did it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? I am 1 of 4 seniors and we were allowed to take 4 people so it worked out perfectly based on seniority. I have anticipated this weekend for awhile after seeing seniors from the past go to the NCAA tourney so the 4 of us just had an amazing time and were so pumped.

Last weekend you beat Iowa and lost to Houston in Birmingham: how was it? It was really great! I love being able to cheer for those guys because they really did a great job against Iowa. At halftime against Houston we were so hyped up and at the end I was sad because it was our last basketball game as seniors. They pushed through the odds and really held their own. We kept the energy up and it was 2 fun games that I really enjoyed.

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Ron Perry was 1 of those all-around athletes who was good at everything. As a high school star at Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury, MA, he set a Massachusetts state scoring record with 2481 career PTS. At Holy Cross he set the school scoring record with 2524 career PTS. When he was not busy starring on the basketball court, he also played a little baseball and was named Cape Cod Baseball League MVP in 1979. After graduating in 1980 he was drafted by both the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Celtics. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ron about being a great athlete and a great student. Today is Ron’s 65th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

Your father Ron pitched 2 complete games in a 3-day stretch to lead Holy Cross to the 1952 NCAA baseball title, and in 1954 he captained the basketball team to the NIT title: how great an athlete was he back in the day, and were you worried about trying to follow in his large footsteps? He was a great athlete so it was great to carry on the tradition: it seemed like he was on a bunch of championship-winning teams dating back to high school. There are not a lot of guys who have won NCAA titles in multiple sports and I do not think that anyone else will do it again at Holy Cross. It was also great to have the opportunity to make my own path.

Your dad also served as AD at Holy Cross for more than 25 years, including the time you were there as a player: how did he enjoy being AD, and was it weird to be an athlete at Holy Cross while he was AD? He was AD from 1972-1998. The reality of it is that he did his job and I played sports. It was nice to have him attend my games but I never felt any additional pressure from him being there.

In 1966 as an 8-year-old you won the national Punt, Pass, and Kick finals in front of 70,000 people at the Orange Bowl: what was it like to win it all, and why did you not stick with football throughout your career? It was somewhat random that I got involved with it: the Ford dealership in West Roxbury was having a local contest and my dad gave me some tips on my technique. I loved to compete and got to do my thing in Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium before making it to the Orange Bowl. I made it back to the finals the following year, and I finished 2nd to a kid who I had beaten the previous year from Walla Walla, WA! I was so young that I had no idea how big a deal it was.

In 1976 you graduated as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the state with 2481 PTS: do you feel like you were 1 of the best high school players in Massachusetts history, and what is the secret to being a great scorer? I will let history be the judge. My dad coached at my high school while I was growing up, and the 1 player of his that stands out in my mind was King Gaskins, who scored 2000+ PTS. I certainly knew that I had reached a high level, which was satisfying, but it is just nice to be considered in the same company of other great players. The game has changed a lot so it is hard to compare guys from different eras.

In the finals of the 1976 state Catholic tournament against archrival Don Bosco, you scored 45 PTS for Catholic Memorial but missed a FT with 1 second left to lose by 1 PT: did you think the FT was going in, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards? We had a great rivalry with Don Bosco back then, as they were also from Boston. We were down by about 20 PTS in that game but came all the way back: everything I was throwing up went in. I think the opposing coach called a timeout to freeze me but I still felt very relaxed and confident when I got to the line. I thought the ball was going in when I released it, but it went off the back rim so maybe I had a little more adrenaline than I thought. My coach came over to me in the locker room and told me that we would not have even been in the game had I not played so well. I remember looking at my teammates on the bench after I missed: they just looked amazed that it did not go in. I have not thought about it in awhile, but I think it was a great experience as we played well and fought all the way back. It could have been 1 of the greatest nights of my life, but it stands out because I did all that I could so it is still a great learning experience.

You averaged 23 PPG during your freshman year at Holy Cross: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I did not expect to play so well as a freshman, even though I felt ready to play right away. We were coming off of a 20-win season and had a senior PG who was very unselfish. I had played against some great competition in high school and I felt great physically. The seniors made the transition very easy for me: the whole team welcomed me.

What are your memories of the 1977 NCAA tourney (Rickey Green scored 35 PTS/16-20 FG in a win by Michigan)? I severely sprained my ankle in the last game of the year at home against BU so I did not get to play against Michigan, nor did my other teammate who was hurt. Despite that, the team played really well without us and had a lot of confidence. Rickey Green had a sensational game for Michigan. The color commentator for that game was actually John Wooden!

What are your memories of the 1980 NCAA tourney (you scored 24 PTS/10-19 FG in a 6-PT loss to Iona)? What I actually recall most was being in the ECAC playoffs and having to beat BU just to make the tourney. BU was coached by Rick Pitino and they used a lot of full-court pressure. I had a hot streak and finished with 30 PTS but we still only won by single digits. We always played well against Iona during the year and the game was in Providence. Iona had Jeff Ruland but we were ahead for most of the game. We had a chance to beat them but they won 29 games that year and had a great team. I actually played with Ruland as a sophomore on a team that went to Yugoslavia.

You were named All-American as a senior and graduated as the all-time leading scorer in school history: did you feel like you were 1 of the best players in the country, and did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were? I certainly thought that I was in the class of players among the best in the country, but I always had this feeling that I had to keep working and get better. I was a 6’2” guard with decent speed who was fundamentally sound. I knew how to play the game but never had an inflated view of who I was. I had knee surgery in October of my senior year and just had to gut it out all season long. It was hard to practice after games: this was before arthroscopic surgery so it was quite a struggle.

In the summer of 1980 you were drafted in the 3rd round by the Celtics (4 spots ahead of Kurt Rambis): were you thrilled to realize your dream of getting drafted by your hometown team, and what was it like to try and make the roster of a team that ended up winning the 1981 NBA title? I grew up in Boston as a Celtics fan so it was a thrill to get drafted by them. I joined the Celtics after playing baseball all summer and they had their entire team returning. The tough part of that was making it through the entire preseason without knowing if they would have a roster spot open for me. Dave Cowens retired to create a spot but I was told 2 days before the season that someone else had taken his spot: it ranks as 1 of the biggest disappointments in my life.

You were also an All-American in baseball and were drafted by the White Sox in the 3rd round of the 1980 draft (11 spots ahead of Danny Tartabull): which sport did you enjoy more, and how far were you able to go with pro baseball? I played with the White Sox Double-A team right after graduation. I enjoyed both sports pretty equally, having played both while growing up. Basketball gave me more attention from others, but looking back on it I think a 3rd round baseball pick is considered more valuable than a 3rd round basketball pick. I played 2 years of Double-A ball but never had a chance to rehab my knee, which started to bother me. I finally saw some doctors and had a couple of arthroscopic procedures. After the White Sox traded me to the Twins, I elected to just move on with my life and have no regrets about that.

You were a 3-time Academic All-American, won an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and in 1996 you were inducted into the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame: how important are academics to you, and how did your intelligence help you on the court? The Academic All-American awards were the most important awards that I got. The combination of academics/athletics has gotten lost in translation over the years, both with the athletes as well as with the schools themselves. My induction into the Academic All-American Hall of Fame was a tremendous honor/thrill. I was inducted along with a guy who became a brain surgeon (Dr. Carlton Young from Villanova)! I worked hard in school and had always done well: I knew that I could not play ball forever. Holy Cross is a small school so we had to go to class with everyone and ate at the same dining halls as the rest of the student body. I was able to develop a good business career by applying the principles I learned while playing sports.

Your son Matt was drafted by Detroit Tigers back in 2010 after being named conference POY and breaking your own record for most hits in school history: how proud are you of all that he has accomplished, and does he credit at least some of his success to genetics? I am hugely proud of him. I call him a late-bloomer because he was never 1 of the biggest kids physically. He grew about 6 inches in high school, then came into his own and got better every year. He broke all of the major offensive baseball records…including several that I held. My dad and I were both at the game during his junior year when he broke my single-season hit record: it was pretty cool.

You later became a basketball analyst for the Big East and an announcer for the ECAC Baseball Tournament: how did you like the on-air gigs, and which sport did you feel more comfortable analyzing? I have been doing regional basketball commentary since 1981: I love being at the games and seeing the young guys play ball.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I want them to remember me as a hard worker who was team-oriented and got the absolute maximum out of his abilities.

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The North Carolina men’s basketball team made the title game last April before losing to Kansas. They could not make it back to the NCAA tourney this year but their women’s team made the cut and will play St. John’s this afternoon. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with North Carolina cheerleader Jada Angel about her book recommendation.

You are from New York: what made you choose UNC? When choosing a college to attend I wanted to go to a big school with school spirit and amazing academics…and Carolina had all three. Another thing I loved about Carolina was the atmosphere: there is just something about Chapel Hill that feels like home.

You have been cheering for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I got into cheerleading through my hometown friends who were cheering at the time. They taught me their routine and we performed it for my parents. After that, I begged my mom to let me join my youth league team and my love for the sport grew from there. The best part of cheerleading is the connections/bonds you form through participating in the sport.

You are majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Composition/Rhetoric/Digital Literacy: why did you choose those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I have always loved the outdoors and was interested in how human behavior impacts the environment and how these effects may be addressed. My minor focuses on how corporations, advocacy groups, and governmental agencies develop campaigns and messages on various platforms. Once I graduate I plan to work in sustainability consulting and marketing.

You have spent several years as a cheerleading coach: what is the hardest part of being a coach? The hardest part is keeping your emotions in check. As a coach, I only want the best for my athletes and while working with them I form bonds and relationships…but cheerleading is also a numbers sport and the love for an athlete cannot outweigh the best decisions for a team.

1 of your hobbies is reading: do you have any book recommendations? Alice Sebold’s “The Lovely Bones” is a book I recommend. The topic of accepting life’s events even if you aren’t in control of them is discussed in the book. It is written in snapshots that connect the lives of living people together. The plot centers around a family’s sadness and the unsolved murder of the main character, Susie. The reader experiences moments of pure adrenaline as they follow the protagonists in their quest for knowledge, motivation, and the murderer itself.

Your men’s team made the NCAA title game last year before losing to Kansas: what is your favorite memory from their remarkable run? The spirit and camaraderie in the Hill was my favorite part of the men’s basketball team’s championship journey last year. Nobody anticipated that we would defeat Baylor or get as far as the title game. Being the underdogs that we were, beating the odds was remarkable. Defeating Duke in the Final 4 and rushing Franklin Street for the second time that season was the cherry on top!

Your women’s team made the ACC tourney quarterfinals before losing to Duke: how do you describe the rivalry to someone who has never seen it in person? The UNC-Duke rivalry is the best rivalry in college sports. I would explain it as, “the moment.” It is not only a fight for the better blue (which is Carolina Blue!) but for state and national dominance.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our coaches choose who gets to travel based on skill/seniority. I have been given an amazing opportunity to travel with the women’s basketball team to two NCAA tournaments during both of my years as a cheerleader at Carolina. I am grateful for the opportunity to cheer in March Madness. It is not often you see a program as diverse as ours on national television.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Columbus? We plan to give every game our all. The women’s basketball team has worked so hard this season, battling injuries/obstacles and they deserve to have the love and support the cheerleading team can give to them. As a squad, we will bring energy to Columbus.

Any predictions for the Tar Heels on Saturday afternoon vs. St. John’s? I have 100% confidence in the UNC Women’s Basketball team and we will win the game against St. John’s: Go Heels!

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Saturday Games (all times Eastern)

(13) FURMAN vs. (5) SAN DIEGO State (12:10 PM, CBS) – Furman advanced to the 2nd round with a furious comeback in the closing seconds against Virginia; for the Paladins to advance to the Sweet 16, they will need to pull off another upset against a San Diego State team that survived an upset bid of their own against Charleston on Thursday. The Aztecs snapped what was an 11-game losing streak by the Mountain West in NCAA Tournament play.

(5) DUKE vs. (4) TENNESSEE (approx. 2:40 PM, CBS) – Duke continued their red-hot play with a blowout win against Oral Roberts in their opener; Tennessee needed a full 40 minutes to survive against a game Louisiana squad on Thursday. With the Vols out a key starter, Duke will likely be favored in this game.

(8) ARKANSAS vs. (1) KANSAS (5:15 PM, CBS) – Arkansas was a team that started the year on a hot streak before injuries cooled off the Razorbacks. They have since righted the ship and did not have much trouble against Illinois in their opener. Kansas won their opener against Howard with interim head coach Norm Roberts on the bench; Bill Self was still recovering from a procedure performed during the Big 12 Tournament. (UPDATE – Self will not be on the bench for today’s game)

(15) PRINCETON vs. (7) MISSOURI (6:10 PM, TNT) – Princeton pulled off the major stunner on Thursday with a comeback against Arizona; it was the Tigers’ first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 1998. They now face a Missouri team that beat Utah State in their opener on Thursday.

(9) AUBURN vs. (1) HOUSTON (7:10 PM, TBS) – This could be an interesting setup with Auburn having a “home court” advantage against a Houston team that had to play a full 40 minutes against Northern Kentucky on Thursday. And I use quotes because while the crowd normally pulls for the underdog to win, I have a hard time imagining a partisan Alabama crowd pulling for their archrival in this one.

(10) PENN STATE vs. (2) TEXAS (approx. 7:45 PM, CBS) – Penn State had no trouble against Texas A&M in their opener and won in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2001 NCAA Tournament; that year also saw the Nittany Lions pull off a stunner against UNC to advance to the Sweet 16 that year. Texas also snapped what I believe was a 6-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament with their win against Colgate.

(7) NORTHWESTERN vs. (2) UCLA (approx. 8:40 PM, TNT) – UCLA is now the last team remaining from the Pac-12 after their 1st-round victory; they will take on a Northwestern team that is making only their 2nd NCAA Tournament appearance of any kind.

(8) MARYLAND vs. (1) ALABAMA (approx. 9:40 PM, TBS) – The nightcap in Birmingham will feature a Maryland team that had their biggest win away from home since November with their comeback victory against West Virginia. They will take on an Alabama team that beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with ease.

Sunday Games (all times Eastern)

(11) PITTSBURGH vs. (3) XAVIER (12:10 PM, CBS) – We nearly had an occurrence where a 1, a 2, a 3 AND a 4 seed could have lost their first-round games. Xavier needed a 13-point comeback against Kennesaw State to move on to the 2nd round; they will face a Pittsburgh team that won a rock fight against Iowa State on Friday. They held the Cyclones to 23% shooting from the field in their win.

(6) KENTUCKY vs. (3) KANSAS STATE (approx. 2:40 PM, CBS) – Kentucky exorcised their ghosts from last year’s run with a win against Providence in their opener; they will be looking to avenge a loss to Kansas State in the 2018 NCAA Tournament when both teams met in the Sweet 16 that year.

(7) MICHIGAN STATE vs. (2) MARQUETTE (5:15 PM, CBS) – Marquette secured their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2013 when they beat Vermont on Friday; Michigan State secured their spot for the 2nd round when they opened the 2nd half against USC on a run and ended up beating the Trojans without too much trouble.

(5) SAINT MARY’S vs. (4) CONNECTICUT (6:10 PM, TNT) – For one half, Iona looked like they were prime to upset UConn, but the Huskies shifted into overdrive for the 2nd half and completely overran the Gaels in their opening game. Saint Mary’s survived a potential 5-12 upset with their win against VCU on Friday.

(6) CREIGHTON vs. (3) BAYLOR (7:10 PM, TBS) – This is a rematch from the 2014 2nd round when Baylor pulled off a mild upset in what turned out to be Doug McDermott’s last game at Creighton. The Bluejays outlasted NC State in their opener; Baylor also had a brief scare against UC-Santa Barbara before kicking into another gear and pulling away from the Gauchos in their opener.

(16) FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON vs. (9) FLORIDA ATLANTIC (approx. 7:45 PM, TruTV) – FDU’s upset against Purdue may have been even bigger from a NET standpoint than UMBC’s win against Virginia 5 years ago; it was also the first win for a Northeast Conference team in the NCAA Tournament outside of the First Four. They will play a Florida Atlantic team that had multiple lead changes against Memphis and ultimately got a game-winner with less than 5 seconds to play.

(5) MIAMI vs. (4) INDIANA (approx. 8:40 PM, TNT) – Indiana played well into the night in their victory against Kent State on Friday; they will take on a Miami team that closed their game against Drake with a 16-1 run in the final 5:40 of their game to move on to Sunday night’s matchup.

(6) TCU vs. (3) GONZAGA (approx. 9:40 PM, TBS) – Mike Miles Jr. hit the game-winner against Arizona State to help the Horned Frogs advance to the 2nd round; Gonzaga advanced with a win against Grand Canyon on Friday.

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Last Friday Miami lost to Duke 85-78 in the ACC tourney semifinals but still received an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hurricanes only won 10 games in 2021 but have now won 25+ games in back-to-back seasons and clinched the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Miami Sunsations Dancer Allison Marsh about being a captain.

You are from Highlands Ranch, CO: what made you choose Miami? I only applied to schools that had warmer weather than Colorado. I loved Miami after I checked it out and the environment is so amazing that it was the best decision for me.

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I started dancing when I was 3 years old. I think that my mom wanted me to have something active to do so that I could channel my energy outside our house. I do not know what my life would be without it.

You are the Competition Captain for the Sunsations Dance Team: what is the key to being a good leader? I lead the competition part of our season that includes UDA Nationals in Orlando in January. It is such a spectacular event and I work with the coaches by leading the practices for both jazz/hip-hop. I help with choreography/formations to create 2 great competition pieces.

You are majoring in Health Science on the Pre-Medical Track and minoring in Public Health/Biology/Art History: why did you choose those subjects? I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor: both of my parents are physicians and I have spent a lot of time with them at hospitals. Miami has a spectacular pre-med program…and I also love art history classes.

What is the post-graduation plan? I was accepted into the Miller School of Medicine at Miami so I take the MCAT in April and then will start classes this fall.

You are a big skier: do you have a favorite ski destination? Vail is where I have always skied: it is a Colorado rite of passage to be on a ski team at a resort. I do not get the chance to ski much in Miami but I do miss it.

Your team won 25 games this year before losing to Duke in the ACC tourney semifinals last Friday: what is the mood like on campus now that the NCAA tourney is finally here? The hype is insane! Our home stadium is always sold out and the fans are incredibly loud.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our coaches select who will travel, which is such a spectacular opportunity. I love performing at Coral Gables but it is great to dance elsewhere as well.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Albany, and how cold is it outside?! It is really cold and feeling a bit like home! We are doing a halftime dance with a routine that we performed at the FSU football game. We are also working with Erin Andrews (who will let us wear some items from her clothing line) and are getting some more hype with a new video we are filming for our TikTok page.

Any predictions for the Hurricanes tonight vs. Drake? I think it will be a Canes win. I hope that everyone is healthy and that we just do what we have been doing all season: there have been enough upsets so far!

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Last week Sacramento State beat NAU 76-63 in the Big Sky tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hornets lost to NAU in OT in early-February but have won 9 in a row since then and clinched the 1st NCAA tourney bid in school history. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Sacramento State SR G Kahlaijah Dean about being named conference POY.

You played basketball/track/volleyball at Independence High School: which sport were you best at, and which sport did you enjoy the most? I was best at basketball, but I most definitely enjoyed both track and volleyball (volleyball a little more than track).

You began your college career at Oakland, where you were named 2020 conference 6th Player of Year: what is the biggest difference between starting vs. coming off the bench? The biggest difference is having to keep that momentum going or giving your team that energy when you are the 1 coming off the bench. I think you have more pressure coming off the bench because you have to give a little bit more and (depending on how long until you enter the game) you have to be ready to go at all times.

Why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Sacramento State? I chose Sacramento State because of the bond that I built with Coach Mark Campbell. He stood out the most from other schools and he wanted to know more about me than just who I was as a basketball player.

1 of your assistant coaches is Nyara Sabally, who was drafted 5th overall by the New York Liberty last April: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? Having Coach Sabally as an assistant coach is such a huge blessing. She is a woman of few words but they are very meaningful words. She is very honest with me about how I can become a better player. She makes sure that I play my best everyday and everything she has taught me is important.

This year you averaged 21.1 PPG/4.7 RPG/5.8 APG/1.4 SPG en route to being named conference POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was a blessing to receive the player of the year award. I do not really work to get accolades: I just play to win but it is good to see all of my hard work paying off. I could not have achieved that honor without my teammates/coaches: they are the ones who trusted me and put me in the position to be able to earn this award.

You also improved your 3-PT shooting from 28.2% last year to 38.5% this year: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? I just made better decisions with my shot selection in addition to taking what the defense gave me. Getting shots up in the gym on a consistent basis has also helped me grow as a player.

Last Wednesday in the Big Sky tourney title game you scored 16 PTS in a win over NAU en route to being named conference tourney MVP: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It meant everything to me to win a title. I have been playing basketball since I was a kid and it is what we as players dream of. I am glad that our team was able to make our dream a reality: it felt very surreal. Playing three games in three days was not an easy task, but every time that we stepped onto the court we truly gave it our all. The feeling in the locker room was very exciting…other than trying to run away from my assistant coaches Nyara Sabally/Minyon Moore because I did not want to get sprayed with water! People who know me are aware that I am not much of a fan of cold water. They chased me down and soaked me, but it was smiles/laughs all around the locker room. We did something that had never been done before at Sacramento State.

Your cousin Joey Porter won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers: who is the best athlete in the family? I mean he played at the highest level so he may have me beat. His son Joey Jr. did such a good job as well as a football player at Penn State and will soon be drafted into the NFL. Maybe we will all have to meet up one day and see!

How do you feel about being a 13 seed? Seeding does not mean everything to me and will not define who we are as a team. We will prepare for UCLA and continue to play our game no matter who our opponent is.

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The Hawaii sports scene involves a lot more than surfing. The Rainbow Warriors won 22 games this year before a 2-PT OT loss to Fullerton in the Big West tourney. Almost 50 years ago Hawaii made the 1974 NIT and even won a game before losing to eventual champion Purdue. 1 of the stars of that team was Melton Werts, who averaged 13 PPG/13 RPG. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Melton’s teammate Artie Wilson about that postseason run. Today marks the 49th anniversary of Hawaii’s win over Fairfield in the NIT on March 16, 1974, so we take this time to remember their amazing accomplishment.

Melton grew up in Pennsylvania: what made him choose Hawaii? We had a great coach at the time in Bruce O’Neil who was also a great recruiter. He had an incredible knack for plucking people off the East Coast and bringing them to Hawaii.

He was the 1st freshman to play for the Rainbow Warriors when the NCAA eliminated its ban on freshman in 1972: did fans/coaches feel that freshmen were ready for the varsity at the time? I was a freshman here a couple of years before Mel. He had gone to prep school and was ready to play as a freshman. He was big/strong and ready to be a big-time player even as a freshman.

In January of 1973 he had 22 PTS/21 REB vs. South Alabama: where does that rank among the most dominating performances that you have ever seen? I think he had many great games. The beauty is that he had a veteran backcourt in Tom Henderson/myself who had spent 2 years playing together. We guided him and helped him quite a bit.

In February of 1973 he tied a school record with 8 BLK vs. UCSD and his 163 career BLK is #2 in school history: what made him such a great shot-blocker? For his size/weight he was a pretty quick jumper. He enjoyed being an intimidator and wanted to claim the rim/paint as his own. He had extremely long arms and flailed them around quite a bit.

In the 1974 NIT the team had a 1-PT win over Fairfield before losing to Purdue: what are your memories of that postseason run? We had beaten Purdue in the Rainbow Classic earlier that season but our starting SF was declared ineligible from his days before arriving in Hawaii, which was really a negative for us.

In 1976 he played a few games for interim coach Rick Pitino: what was Pitino like back in the day, and could you have ever imagined at the time that he would win a pair of NCAA titles? I would not have imagined that. I met him while working out after being released by the Portland Trailblazers: he came in and wanted to throw me out of the gym that I had been playing in for 4 years. He was brash/aggressive and pretty sure of himself but he loved the game and thought that he was pretty special. He was well-connected on the East Coast.

His 1098 career REB remains the most in school history: what was his secret for being a great rebounder? He wanted to rebound and had the passion/desire for it. He took a lot of pride in wanting to claim every rebound as his.

He averaged a double-double for his career with 12.5 PPG/10.5 RPG: how did he balance his scoring with his rebounding? His 1st couple of years he did not have to score as much because we had a pretty good team that got up and down the floor. In his final 2 seasons he had younger guards who were trying to establish themselves. If he had played after the dunking rule was changed then he would have averaged another 6-7 PTS during his career. He was unstoppable and would try to break our hands in practice if we tried to block his shot! Mel wanted to throw it down on people hard.

He played pro basketball in the US as well as overseas: how proud are you of all his success? I am very happy that he had a long career. I wish that I could have played with him for 2 more years in college but I was happy that he took it to another level. I think he played around 15 years of pro basketball.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? As probably 1 of the all-time great big men in Hawaii history. He was a difference-maker on both offense/defense. He had a strong motor and became the player that he wanted to be.

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Last Sunday Memphis beat Houston 75-65 in the AAC tourney title game to clinch an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Tigers lost a pair of games to the Cougars during the past few weeks by a combined 10 PTS but the 3rd time was the charm as they claimed the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Memphis pom member Anna Merritt about teaching the next generation of dancers.

You are from Nashville, TN: what made you choose Memphis? The dance team and the program that Coach Carol Lloyd has created. I wanted to continue dancing while continuing my education: it just felt like home.

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I tried soccer for a couple of years…but it did not go over that well. There is a dance studio 5 minutes from my house and my mom suggested I try that instead. When you are with those people 24/7 it becomes like a family so the friendships are the best thing that have come out of it.

You are studying Exercise Sport & Movement Science: why did you choose those subjects? In high school I had an elective focus on health sciences and it just registered very well in my brain. All of my orthopedists/physical therapists have made a positive impact on my life so I want to make that kind of impact on the lives of other athletes.

You also teach at a local dance studio called Sequel Dance Complex: how old are your students and what kind of dancing do you teach? I teach kids from ages 3-18 and all different styles: contemporary, hip-hop, and everything else.

What is the post-graduation plan? As of now my plan is to finish up my degree at Memphis and then go to PT or PA school. I will apply to the Tennessee College of Health Sciences so I plan to be around Memphis for quite a while.

Your team lost to Houston twice in the regular season but then beat them last Sunday in the AAC tourney title game: where does that last game rank among the most exciting that you have ever seen? I was at the 1st 2 games but was not at the AAC tourney. Even while watching the game last weekend on TV I could still feel all of the emotion on the faces of the players and our squad on the sideline.

What is the mood like on campus now that the NCAA tourney is here? I think that everyone is excited to see how far we can go. More people are getting engaged in athletics after seeing how much of an impact the team has made this year.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? The travel decision ultimately belongs to the coach. It depends on how many appearances we have made throughout the season as well as our grades. We are super-excited to dance/cheer at the game because we have not really traveled to an event like this before.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? No, we will just do our same-old same-old and cause a ruckus on the sideline while cheering for our boys!

Any predictions for the Tigers on Friday night in Columbus? I feel like we will win so I am excited.

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Last Friday Maryland lost to Indiana 70-60 in the Big 10 tourney quarterfinals but was still able to clinch an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Terps won 17 games under Mark Turgeon in 2021 and 15 games under Danny Manning in 2022 but have won 21 games under Kevin Willard in 2023 and claimed the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2021. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Maryland cheerleader Karen Gottlieb about being a captain.

You are from Gaithersburg, MD: what made you choose Maryland? I have lived in Maryland for my entire life so even from a young age UMD was at the top of my list. I had a deep interest in attending a prestigious/reputable institution. Additionally, I am a homebody and definitely prefer to stay close to my family/pets. UMD satisfied all of those requirements for me and I had the most amazing college experience attending the University of Maryland!

You have been on the UMD cheer team for 4 straight years and are a co-captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? I have always strived to be a leader on every team that I have been on. The key to being a good leader for me is the ability for open/free-flowing communication. I believe that as an older member and inherent leader on the team I need to be a welcoming/inviting person who anyone on the team can feel comfortable enough to speak with about any positive/negative things they are experiencing without fear of judgment. It is extremely important to have a successful relationship between the team, its leaders, and the coaching staff.

You did gymnastics for several years before switching to competitive cheerleading at age 10: why did you make the switch, and what is the best part? I absolutely loved gymnastics when I was really young. However, as I got older, the number of practices/week increased significantly and it was definitely taking a toll on my physical/mental well-being. My parents and I knew that there was a cheerleading gym across the street from my gymnastics gym so one day we decided to look into it. After attending a cheerleading practice and absolutely adoring it, my parents decided to pull me out of gymnastics and enroll me at the cheerleading gym: Dream Allstars in Gaithersburg, MD. I stayed at my competitive cheer gym for seven years and the best part was definitely the team atmosphere. Like UMD cheer, my teams at Dream had a very supportive/competitive environment that pushed everyone to be the best athlete they could be. Every cheer team I have ever been on has been like a family.

You are in a sorority at UMD: what is Greek life like on campus? Being a part of Greek life at UMD is something that I have absolutely loved during my college career. The thing about Greek life at Maryland is that it is pretty small so you can have just as amazing a time at school without being a part of a fraternity/sorority. I love being a part of a community, which is why I decided to join my sorority and also become a member of the cheerleading team. Greek life at UMD is extremely inclusive and has given me so many lifelong friendships and memories that I will cherish!

You are double-majoring in economics and public policy: why did you choose those subjects? When I started my freshman year at UMD I was undecided about what I wanted to study. When I was in high school I took AP macroeconomics/microeconomics classes and excelled at both. My mother also majored in economics when she was in college so I decided that I wanted to give it a try. I ended up enjoying it so much that I finished all of my Econ courses prior to my senior year! Because I had scored well during my AP economics class in high school I was able to enter UMD with a few Econ credits. These credits allowed me to have a schedule that was fairly open, which is why I decided to add a second major. I had an interest in working in the public sector so I added public policy to learn about governmental relations. Now that I am a senior, I am so happy that I added public policy because I have developed a deep interest in working in local/state-level politics.

What is the post-graduation plan? I am in a program at Maryland that has allowed me to take around 10 credits of graduate courses in my undergrad in order to graduate with a master’s degree in just 1 year. The program that I am enrolled in is part of the Smith School of Business, and in May of 2024 I will graduate with a Master of Science in marketing analytics. I am also in the process of auditioning for the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleading team and will find out in a few weeks whether I am selected to be a member!

Last Friday your team lost to Indiana in the Big 10 tourney quarterfinals: what is the mood like on campus now that the NCAA tourney is here? The loss last Friday was obviously not intended, but with the NCAA tourney now starting the mood on campus is excited/hopeful. The UMD fan base is die-hard and extremely optimistic for a good outcome in the upcoming tournament game. Maryland fans are supporters for life and we want nothing but the best for our teams!

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Travel is limited to 8 individuals from the cheer team: the coaches select athletes based on seniority, position need, and other factors. Typically, we all get a chance to travel at some point but there are some instances when that cannot happen (like tournament season). The UMD cheerleading team has the amazing opportunity to represent our school at the NCA Collegiate Cheerleading National competition on April 6th/7th in Daytona, Florida. Therefor, this time of year is extremely busy for the cheer team. We are divided up so that we can allocate some cheerleaders to compete at nationals and some others to travel to both the men’s/women’s basketball tournaments. I was not selected to cheer at the NCAA Tournament but am thrilled to see my teammates cheering on our team in person.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Birmingham? The squad that is in Birmingham has already sent so many pictures of everyone hanging out and having a great time together. They have had some free time and decided to go to Top Golf and have a nice team dinner. Having the opportunity to travel to away games and tournaments is a huge privilege that the cheerleaders get to participate in so they are super-excited to cheer at the game on Thursday.

Any predictions for the Terps on Thursday afternoon vs. West Virginia? I predict that the UMD men’s basketball team is going to beat West Virginia with flying colors! I wish them luck: Go Terps!

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Cal Poly’s last NCAA tourney appearance was a miraculous 1 back in 2014. After finishing the regular season 10-19, Coach Joe Callero’s squad won 3 games in 3 days to clinch the Big West tourney title, then beat Texas Southern by double-digits in the 1st 4 before losing to an undefeated Wichita State squad. A few decades earlier Mustangs coach Ernie Wheeler led his team all the way to the Final 4 of the 1981 D-2 tourney before losing to eventual champ Florida Southern. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ernie about being the winningest coach in school history. Today marks the 42nd anniversary of Ernie’s Elite 8 win over New Hampshire on March 14, 1981, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishment.

photo credit: Lompoc Record

In 1972 you were hired as head coach at Cal Poly: why did you take the job? I spent 7 years coaching high school basketball in California so when I had the opportunity to become a college coach I took it.

In the 1977 D-2 tourney you had a 3-PT loss to North Alabama: how close did you come to pulling out the win? We had a heck of a team that year and beat Stanford by double-digits during the season. The North Alabama game was tremendous: it was probably the loudest arena that I have ever been in.

In March of 1981 you had a 4-PT win over New Hampshire to advance to the D-2 Final 4: where does that rank among the biggest wins of your career? Going to the Final 4 is something you always think about but never expect it to happen. They sent us to the Eastern regional in New Jersey so we were actually representing the East! We lost to Florida Southern in the semifinals but that tourney run ranks among the best teams that we have ever had here.

In December of 1982 you had a 3-PT 2-OT loss to Sacramento State: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I do not remember that 1. The loss that stands out was to Hayward State on the road when 1 of their players made a 25-footer at the buzzer!

You remain the all-time winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I think that someone will break it in time. We had a great run for 14 years and I got to have both of my sons play for me. My oldest son transferred from Idaho State and my other boy was highly-recruited but wanted to stay home. I was fortunate because they could really play and fit in as just 1 of the guys.

After leaving Cal Poly you spent 3 years as coach at Eastern Montana: what did you do during your time off, and why did you decide to get back on the sideline? I stayed at Cal Poly for a year working for their athletic department. I needed a job after Cal Poly switched athletic directors and Eastern Montana was a good way for me to get back into coaching. It is a wonderful profession because it is not just about Xs and Os but also the people around you.

You later coached in the CBA and served as a scout for Portland: which gig did you enjoy more, and what is the key to being a good scout? I evaluated mid-major players for the Trail Blazers for a year. Coaching in the CBA was neat: pro basketball is a completely different type of atmosphere than college. Some of the rules are different but the big thing is the travel.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? Cal Poly is 1 of the top academic schools in California so I was proud to have graduated over 90% of my players. We played hard and represented the university with class. I was lucky to coach at a place like Cal Poly.

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Last Saturday Norfolk State beat Howard 56-52 in the MEAC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Spartans won 5 games in 2021 and 17 games in 2022 but are 25-6 this year and clinched the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2002. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Norfolk State SR G Camille Downs about being a great defender.

You were born in Japan: how did you 1st get into basketball? My parents were in the military and I played a bunch of different sports over there including soccer/track.

You began your career at Coppin State/UNCW: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Norfolk State? I tore my Achilles as a freshman so I wanted a fresh start. UNCW was not a great fit for me and I wanted to be closer to home so that my parents could attend more of my games. I am glad I did so…because I am a champion!

You are majoring in cyberpsychology: what on earth is that?! It is the study of human interaction with technology. I recently wrote a paper on how things like online dating/gaming affect people’s mental state.

Last year you were #4 in the nation with 3.3 SPG and this year you are #6 in the nation with 3.4 SPG: what is the key to being a great defender? Just timing everything right and keeping my opponent in front of me. I just think to myself, “You are not getting past me”.

Last year against South Carolina State you had 15 PTS/12 REB/9 STL: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? That actually was not the best game of my career. When I played in the regional tourney at Butler Community College I averaged a triple-double!

In the 2022 MEAC tourney semifinals you scored 14 PTS including a turnaround jumper at the buzzer in a 2-PT win over Morgan State: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I will never forget that. My coach said that the game was going to end in a rebound so I just made sure that I was ready.

In the 2022 WNIT you scored 10 PTS in a 7-PT loss at Drexel: what did you learn from that loss that you think will help you this time around? Drexel was a very good/disciplined team. We worked hard but now we will be even more locked in/focused so that we can get the outcome that we want.

Last Saturday in the MEAC tourney title game you scored 6 PTS in a 4-PT win over Howard to clinch the school’s 1st tourney title since 2002 and tie the record for most wins in a season in school history: how big a deal was it, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was a very big deal just to be able to make history with my teammates. Last year we got a share of the regular season title but that was not good enough for us. My emotions are everywhere: I have re-watched the title game 3 times already!

You are 1 of 3 grad students on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader? There is no pressure at all. I have been playing for a long time so I have plenty of confidence: I just play hard and score when I need to.

How do you feel about being a 16 seed, and how do you like your chances against undefeated South Carolina in Columbia? We were hoping to get higher than a 16 but at this point I am just excited for the experience to play the #1 team in the country and see what happens.

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Last Tuesday Cleveland State beat Green Bay 73-61 in the Horizon tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Vikings won 14 games in 2021 and 21 games in 2022 but are 30-4 this year and clinched the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2010. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Cleveland State coach Chris Kielsmeier about his history of success.

You were born/raised in Iowa and went to Iowa State: how big is the Cyclone-Hawkeye rivalry? It is a big deal in that state because more than likely you are from 1 school or the other.

You spent almost a decade as coach at D-3 Howard Payne University, where you became the all-time winningest coach in school history: what is the biggest difference between D-3 and D-1? 1 of the biggest differences as I have worked my way up through the ranks is that a D-1 staff is much bigger and has more resources available to do more things. It was a challenge for me at 1st since I did not have a lot of experience with it. On the court the game is the game so I am comfortable with that part of it.

In 2008 you went 33-0 and won the national title: how on earth were you able to go undefeated? The same way that you win games in general: great staff/players and a supportive administration. We had an All-American and the national POY who helped create our culture. We were 27-1 the previous year entering the postseason before getting upset in the Sweet 16 because we just could not put the ball in the basket. That really motivated our returning seniors because they knew we were better than that. You also need a little luck: there are a lot of factors that go into it.

You were also named WBCA national COY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was really a reflection of our team. Individual accolades are significant but any COY award equates to team success. The key to me winning that award is that our team went 33-0! It was really about the players.

You spent 10 years as coach at Wayne State College, where you became the all-time winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? All records are meant to be broken! It will take someone staying there quite a while but if the right coach comes along then I am sure it will be broken someday…although it will be tough.

You were hired at Cleveland State back in 2018: why did you take the job? It was a new challenge after being at Wayne State for 10 years and having a lot of success. We pushed that program a long way even though we did not win a national title but were really relevant on the national scene. I want to constantly push myself to get better both as a coach and in life. Leading a staff has helped me grow as a person. I wanted to go to a place that was committed to success at the highest level and could consistently compete for championships. It is a unique place that I have really embraced.

In 2021 you won 3 games in 3 days to clinch the WBI title: what did your team learn from that experience that you think will help them this time around? We have played 15 postseason games during the past 3 years so our team is battle-tested. It is really just about the moment so we have to show that we can play great on someone else’s court and hit some shots. Our focus this week is to be at our best.

Last Tuesday in the Horizon tourney title game Gabriella Smith scored 19 PTS in a win over Green Bay: what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was a surreal feeling for everybody. Gabby played her best game of the year: we knew that we would have to hit some threes and she made a lot of big shots in that game. After the game it hit everybody that we had just accomplished what we had been working hard for all year long. Everyone just wanted to smile/laugh/cry and all of the great things that basketball can teach you from an emotional standpoint. We were proud of ourselves for accomplishing that, especially the folks who have been in this program for the past 5 years.

You only have 2 freshmen on the roster: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? It makes things easier. Experience does not give you extra points at the start of the game but it makes everything calmer. Our 2 freshmen have really not acted like freshmen all year because they knew they really could not do so on our senior-laden team. It is hard to establish yourself at an elite program at a young age but they both have made it look easy.

How do you feel about being a 13 seed, and what do you know about Villanova? We are extremely excited to keep playing in the NCAA tourney. Villanova has been in the top-20 all year long and won a lot of big games/close games. They are really tough-minded and really good at what they do, which is a recipe we model ourselves after.

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Last Thursday Iowa lost to Ohio State 73-69 in the Big 10 tourney 2nd round but was still able to clinch an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes need 1 more victory to secure their 5th straight 20-win season and claimed the school’s 3rd straight NCAA tourney bid. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Iowa cheerleader Jaclin Thompson about having both her men’s and women’s teams make the NCAA tourney.

You are from Brownsburg, IN: what made you choose Iowa? I grew up in a family where college athletics were very important, as 2 of my brothers played college football. I wanted a school that would expand my horizons, so after learning about the traditions at Iowa I just loved it.

How long have you been cheering, and what is the best part? I have been cheering for about 7 years after previously being a gymnast. The best part is interacting in the fans: just walking to the football stadium and having little girls say they want to be like me when they grow up is a thrill!

Your men’s basketball team is good but your women’s basketball team is outstanding: what is the mood like on campus now that both of them have made the NCAA tourney? I got to travel to the Big 10 women’s tourney and EVERYBODY was talking about it when I got back to campus and asking me if I was there. We have some very good teams so we are very fortunate. (Note: Iowa won the Big 10 women’s tourney, Iowa State won the Big 12 women’s tourney, and Drake won the MVC women’s tourney!)

You are majoring in business marketing management and minoring in Spanish: why did you choose those subjects? I picked marketing because I like communication/event management. I am fluent in Spanish now and am a certified translator, which came in handy during all of my exchange programs.

You graduate in a few months: what is the post-graduation plan? I am applying to law schools right now and trying to get all of my applications submitted. I would like to become an immigration attorney 1 day.

You have done a lot of volunteer work for Special Olympics/Catholic Charities: how much importance do you place on community service? It is something that I am very passionate about and is the #1 reason that I am a cheerleader. Fans might not know my name but they know my image for the impact I bring to different organizations.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Since our team is so small we get to choose 2 tourneys to travel to each year, and being a senior helped. This is my 1st year traveling to March Madness and I am very excited to see how we will do.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Birmingham? Not that I know of: we do not even know when we fly out yet! However, we always do a “Hawkeye Huddle” for the traveling fans to come visit/interact with us.

Are you worried that Auburn will have a home-court advantage since they are only a 2-hour drive away? That is EVERYONE’S main concern. Iowa thrives off our environment at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Any predictions for the Hawkeyes on Thursday night? I have a good feeling that we will win despite not doing as well at the Big 10 tourney as we had hoped.

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Chad and the panel begin by looking at the teams that actually made it into the field and briefly discuss what the committee did that we agree with, the things that we disagreed with, and the teams that were left out that we thought should have been in.

After that, we look at the Field of 68 and fill out the full bracket as a panel. We discuss match-ups, potential match-ups, upsets, our Final Four, and our National Champion.

In closing, we briefly look at the NIT and CBI Tournaments, and lastly we reveal this year’s AC8 field!!

Below is the bracket we filled out, but do not look at it until you watch the show!!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/HHD-Report-NCAA-Tourney-Audio-Only.mp3

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Last Saturday Arizona beat UCLA 61-59 in the Pac-12 tourney title game to clinch an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Wildcats lost 3 of their final 6 regular season games but won 3 games in 3 days in Vegas to clinch their 5th tourney title since 2015. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Arizona Pomline member Makenzie Stratton about her journey from Tempe to Tucson.

You were born/raised in Tempe: how the heck did you end up in Tucson?! It is actually a little bit of a funny story because my whole family (aunts/uncles/grandparents, etc) graduated from Arizona State. My parents begged me to go to ASU, but I was very interested in majoring in dance at the time and refused to even apply to Arizona State. I had applied to schools all over the country to audition for their dance programs and also started looking into their dance teams/pomlines. When I saw the Arizona Pomline with their style, the gameday atmosphere, and the University of Arizona’s campus it felt like home and my new dream was to be on the Arizona Pomline. I was lucky enough to have made the team going into my freshman year back in 2019 and have loved Tucson and the UofA ever since!

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I got into dance when I was about 3 years old all because of my aunt. She grew up dancing at Tempe Dance Academy and seeing her dance made me want to follow in her footsteps. I used to sit in my grandma’s lap at my aunt’s recitals, but unlike other kids who probably got antsy I sat completely still throughout the 2-hour-long shows. I was mesmerized by all of the dancers and ever since then I started taking dance classes and competing.

You are a captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? Being captain of the Arizona Pomline has been a dream come true. It has been anything but easy…yet the most rewarding experience ever. I think that 1 of the biggest things about being a good leader is being very open-minded. As a leader of a group of 24 incredibly talented girls, I am constantly trying to make the best decision for the team. Being open-minded helps me realize/accept when I am wrong and also allows me to become a better listener for my teammates. Even besides the fact of trying to make the best decisions for the team, being open-minded with your teammates builds a lot of respect/trust that pays off in the long run. As a team we lean on each other so much, and open-mindedness about everything/everyone helps build trust, respect, and an unbreakable bond.

You are majoring in veterinary science and minoring in business administration: why did you choose those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I have always wanted to be a veterinarian like every naïve little kid. As I got older and started working in the veterinary field I realized that becoming a veterinarian was the career path for me because it had a little bit of everything that I wanted in life. I would be able to practice medicine (which has always been something that I wanted to do) and give back by helping people’s pets. As I started my undergraduate work I added the minor in business administration because I would love to own my practice one day. However, I recently switched my minor to biochemistry because I believe it will apply more to my field and help me more during veterinary school. With that being said, I plan on attending veterinary school this coming fall. Although I have not decided which 1 I will be attending, I am very grateful to have been accepted to multiple schools.

You have a 3.9 GPA: how do you balance your work on the team with your work in the classroom? I feel like everyone says this but it really is all about time management and organization. I am very type-A and organized so this has never been hard for me to come by. Freshman year was definitely a great wake-up call because I had to learn study strategies, balance football and basketball season, gigs/other performances, along with moving away from home. It was overwhelming at times, but having a good planner along with a good outlet for stress was critical for my success through undergrad.

You have spent some time volunteering at local veterinary hospitals: how much importance do you place on community service? Most of my experience is based in Tempe since the summers are when I have the most time to volunteer, but I do think that community service is extremely important. At multiple humane societies in the Phoenix/Tucson areas I have volunteered for dog walking, dog/cat enrichment, and basic hands-on help throughout the facilities. I have also volunteered at the Therapeutic Ranch for Animal and Kids in Tucson where I got to help teach disabled kids about horses and how they can be a great outlet for the kids. Outside of the veterinary world, the pomline does an extensive amount of community outreach and volunteers for different charity events, parades, elementary school readings, etc. The feeling from giving back to the community is indescribable and I will always strive to volunteer in one way or another.

Last Saturday in the Pac-12 tourney title game Arizona had a 2-PT win over UCLA: where does that rank among the most exciting games that you have ever seen? I think it is by far the most exciting game that I have ever experienced! President Robbins was not kidding when he said he liked to call T-Mobile Arena “McKale North”. Although there were a bunch of UCLA fans, they could not even compare to the Wildcat fans because of their energy, love for the university, and love for our athletic teams. Although the game was super-close, and I still do not have my voice back yet, it was a game that I will never forget and will probably be ranked on the top of my list forever.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? For the pomline, we decide who gets to go to each tournament based on seniority. Seniors get the first bid and after that juniors get to take the remaining spots. It sounds like a simple process, but with only 6 tournament spots there is an extremely high expectation for anyone who gets chosen to travel. It really is an honor to be chosen whether or not you are a senior and the expectations for traveling only get higher from here. I am so excited to see our group take on the NCAA tournament. We have worked so hard this year and have cheered our basketball team onto victory so many times already. I cannot wait for all of our hard work to pay off and to be able to showcase what we can do on national TV!

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? As we get more details moving forward for the NCAA tourney I am sure that we will have some more stuff up our sleeves, but for now we are super-excited to continue performing with Arizona Cheer and Mascots in a joint performance, and of course the Pride of Arizona Pep Band. We’re ready to bring more energy than ever and hopefully get our basketball team a national championship!

Any predictions for the Wildcats next week? Even though the Pac-12 tournament seems like it just ended, I think our team is going to come off really strong this week with a big win against Princeton. These NCAA games just keep getting bigger and bigger so I am excited to see what our team has in store. The pomline and all of Wildcat nation has seen them work so hard this season. It has all paid off so far, but I think the big Pac-12 championship will give us a lot of confidence going into these first 2 rounds so that we can pull off 2 more Wildcat wins. I cannot wait to see where our team takes us and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to travel with them! Bear down, go Cats!

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Last Tuesday Charleston beat UNC-Wilmington 63-58 in the CAA tourney title game to clinch an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Cougars won 31 games this year and claimed the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2018. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Charleston Cougarettes dance team assistant coach Remy Hayes about a season for the ages.

You grew up in Madison, NJ: how did you end up at Charleston? Growing up I spent a lot of time in North Carolina and knew from a pretty young age that I wanted to go to college somewhere in the south. I looked at a bunch of options, but as soon as I stepped foot on campus I knew that College of Charleston was the one.

You were a captain of the Cougarettes Dance Team when you were in college: what is the key to being a good leader? I think a good leader has to be able to build meaningful relationships with those around them. I think making genuine connections and maintaining positive relationships is something that helps leaders continue to grow. I also think that leaders need to be adaptable. Each person you lead may need something different from you and finding the best way to motivate each individual is something I am constantly working on.

You graduated in 2014 with a degree in exercise science and later got your Masters’ degree from Northeastern in Sports Leadership: why did you choose those subjects? I wish I had a better answer for undergrad other than I enjoyed the topics and had some great professors. I really loved my biomechanics class and how physics applied to how our bodies move. After I started working in athletics I got really interested in leadership programs and Northeastern had a great Masters’ program that I could do online while continuing to work at CofC.

You spent several years working for the athletic department doing student-athlete academic services/compliance: why did you decide to focus on coaching the dance team full-time last year? The opportunity to coach the dance team presented itself at a time when I was reevaluating my career. In every professional role I have ever had personal interaction and hands-on experience with students has been my favorite part. Directly helping young adults grow/learn/succeed is something that I have always been passionate about and something I was missing in my role at the time. It was not an easy decision, and I really miss working in CofC’s athletic administration, but I am still around and some of my best friends still work in the department. I will say that coaching and being involved with dance, something that has defined me for my entire life, has been the best decision I could have made.

What has been your favorite moment so far this season: upsetting Virginia Tech back in November, your 20-game winning streak in the middle of the season, beating UNC-Wilmington last Tuesday, other? Well, winning the CAA championship has definitely been a highlight this season. For me, it was getting to see the hard work behind the scenes from the administration to the support staff (and of course our coaches/student-athletes) pan out into such a successful season. Fans do not typically get to see all of the hard work that goes into a successful season but I have been lucky to have a front-row seat to the dedication/details that the student-athletes/coaching staff/entire department put into each day. For it all to culminate in such a historic season is pretty incredible.

Your basketball team had a few mediocre years before exploding this year with a record of 31-3: what is the atmosphere like on campus now that the NCAA tourney is finally here? Charleston as a city has so much to offer that a lot of people miss out on supporting the college’s athletic teams. However, to gain the attention/interest of the entire city and have people all over Charleston trying to get tickets to games is something special. I have been around this program for almost 13 years and never seen the arena and fans as excited as they were this season. It makes it so much more fun for the spirit programs as well: dancing/cheering in front of excited fans is something my team always appreciates.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We used seniority to decide on who is traveling: we have 3 seniors and 3 juniors so the numbers worked out easily for us. The exposure and ability to continue to represent CofC is incredible. Our team competes at UDA Nationals in January so once basketball season ends so does our season. For our seniors to get this experience in their last months of college is beyond special and something I am thankful they will have memories of.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for next week? We like to keep things fun and fresh so there will be some new things during the timeouts, and we always love to get Clyde the Cougar involved, so keep an eye out for him as well!

Any predictions for the Cougars’ game on Thursday afternoon vs. San Diego State? The only answer is a Cougar win!

Will your husband Sean get to join you at the NCAA tourney next week or will he have to stay home to watch your dog Louie?! Sean is also a CofC alum and a huge basketball fan so there is NO chance he would miss the tournament. As soon as Orlando was announced as our site he booked a hotel!

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Last Friday Miami lost to Duke 85-78 in the ACC tourney semifinals but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hurricanes made the Elite 8 last March and have now clinched the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Miami associate head coach Bill Courtney about playing against Jim Boeheim in the NCAA tourney.

You were a 2-time 1st-Team All-Patriot League player at Bucknell: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I had a great experience playing for Coach Charlie Woollum all 4 years. I did not play much as a freshman but by my senior year I was 1 of the leaders.

You were also captain for 2 years: what is the secret to being a good leader? You need to be a hard worker, which was a big thing for me. I prided myself in being 1 of the hardest workers in the league so I put in the time to do that, which allowed me to gain confidence. My teammates did not love it when I pushed them into the gym but I just tried to lead them in the right direction.

In the 1989 NCAA tourney you scored 2 PTS in a loss to Syracuse: what was it like to face Jim Boeheim in the postseason, and can you believe that he finally retired last week? How about that!? I was so young as a freshman that I did not know how to handle their zone defense. Sherman Douglas was my favorite player growing up in DC so it was a thrill to actually play against him. Coach Boeheim was a legend even back then and now my friend Adrian Autry has taken over for him. Adrian was our director of basketball operation at Virginia Tech in 2010 while I was an assistant to Seth Greenberg!

In 2007 you were named to the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is right near the top. I have a great affinity for the place so to share that honor with my wife/2 boys was awesome. They had always heard that I could play but never actually thought that I could play!

You work for Jim Larranaga at Miami after having previously been his assistant at Bowling Green/George Mason: what makes him such a great coach, and what kind of bond have you 2 developed over the past 3 decades? He is not only my mentor but 1 of my best friends/father figures: he has been everything in my life since he hired me at age 26. I coached his son Jay, who remains 1 of my best friends and was the 1st person I hired when I became head coach at Cornell. We had a couple of years at the beginning here that we struggled but are succeeding now because he is 1 of the best to ever do it. He has built programs/teams everywhere he has been and done a remarkable job of having the same values/ethics throughout his life to do it the right way.

In 2022 you made the Elite 8 before losing to eventual champion Kansas: what did your team learn from that run that you think will help them this year? You need to have fun with it! We had more fun than anyone last year and felt loose/confident, which is also how we played. Coach gives his players the confidence to do their best so we will do what we have done all year to have success.

This will be the 10th postseason appearance of your coaching career: what is the key to winning games in March? If you start to try new things then it can hurt you a bit. Everyone always says “guard play”, which I agree is extremely important at tournament time since most of the games are close. You need guys who can make plays at the end of the game and the ball is in their hands. A lot of the big shots in tourney history were made by guards. We started 4 guards last year who were all tremendous at making plays down the stretch.

You are known as a great recruiter: what impact has NIL money had on your ability to recruit players (if any)? It has made things more complicated, for sure. Every state has different laws and every program has a different way of doing things. We have not been involved in that as a coaching staff because Florida state laws do not allow it: we just recruit normally as we always do.

Your team was top-25 in the nation this year in both PPG/FT%: how were you able to have such an amazing offense despite having only 1 SR on the roster (Jordan Miller)? What really helped us was recruiting very unselfish kids, as well as getting players via the transfer portal who were great teammates and willing to share the ball. We have 1000-PT scorers who will turn down a good shot for a better shot. Isaiah Wong is 1 of the best scorers in school history…but is also 1 of the best AST guys on our team.

How do you feel about being a 5 seed, and what do you know about Drake? Drake is very good! We played in the same tourney in Orlando with them last year and they have a very veteran team. Tucker DeVries is probably going to become a long-time NBA player and they do not make a lot of mistakes. They are very efficient on offense and Darian DeVries is a terrific coach so we have our work cut out for us. The MVC has always been an underrated league.

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Last Thursday Nevada lost to San Jose State 81-77 in OT in the MWC quarterfinals but was still able to earn an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Wolfpack won 22 games this year and claimed the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2019. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Nevada cheerleader Hallie Borgel about being a great student.

You were born/raised in Las Vegas: how did you choose Nevada? Choosing Nevada was not my initial plan, but I can safely say that I could not imagine myself at any other university. I knew I wanted to stay close to home but felt the pressure to go far and be fully independent. As I was entering my senior year of high school I initially planned on heading south and moving on from being a cheerleader to pursuing Greek Life. I looked at so many colleges and always had the University of Nevada on my list just in case. I then decided to try out for Nevada’s Cheerleading team in early March of 2019 to see if this would be my sign to become a part of the Pack or to move far away from my initial home. Making the team my freshman year changed my life in the best way possible. Even my parents (who are UNLV alumni) were so ecstatic about my decision and supported me from the beginning!

You have been cheering since you were 13 years old: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? Well, I was juggling both cheer/soccer at the time. My father was a big soccer star at UNLV (1990 conference POY) and inspired my sisters and I to follow that same path. I enjoyed soccer for the most part but did not feel like it was for me the same way that it was for my dad/2 sisters. I started taking tumbling classes at a local gym in Las Vegas, quickly picked up the skills, and convinced my parents to let me try out for a competitive team. They were fully supportive of cheer being my main sport/focus and I went on to compete for 4 more years! The best part of cheerleading to me is the friendships that I have made. Over the years I have made lifelong friends/mentors who I will cherish forever.

You are majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in PR/advertising: why did you choose those subjects? I always loved to write and problem-solve while growing up. I thrived in English classes and knew that I could not choose a career path that did not let me show my creativity to its fullest. The journalism school at Nevada is one of the best programs and I became more interested in PR and advertising as I entered my junior year. I chose this emphasis because I knew with my crisis-solving mindset and writing skills that I would excel best with this focus. However, I did not know that journalism could be such a diverse degree with many different routes to choose from!

You have a 3.6 GPA: how do you balance your work in the classroom with your work on the cheer team? It is not easy and did not come naturally to me, but I learned over time the importance of juggling different things all at once. I learned that in order to excel in all of the things I am involved in I have to equally give my time to each thing. I create calendars everywhere…and I mean everywhere: on my phone, in my room, on my laptop, and anywhere else I can find a place to write down my to-do lists! There are some days where I want to quit and give up, to be fully honest with you. Cheering a full season of basketball and football while being a community-based team is a LOT on top of school. However, I never expected to be able to balance everything immediately. It took me a good 2 years to finally be able to confidently balance my life accordingly. This has helped me with the mindset of balancing a job and family one day as I grow into adulthood!

You graduate in a few months: what is the post-graduation plan? I am so excited to be able to say that I will be staying in Reno post-graduation. I never thought when coming to Reno at age 18 that I would still be here full-time at age 22. I am planning to workas a Summer Intern at TrailRunner International, which is a remarkable crisis communication firm in Truckee. I will be working there for the entirety of summer and hopefully work full-time come the fall: fingers crossed!

1 of your hobbies is watching movies: what is the best 1 you have seen recently? I watch so many movies each week: where do I begin?! I would have to say the best one that I have seen recently is “The Menu”. It was so intriguing and like nothing I have seen before. I am a thriller movie lover at heart and this was a perfect movie for my liking.

Nevada was on the bubble all weekend: what was the reaction like on Selection Sunday when you finally heard their name called? I was actually in line at a pharmacy with my boyfriend. I got a text in our Mountain West chat from our coaches and we all were completely stunned and over the moon! The people in the pharmacy probably were eyeing me for the right reasons as I could not contain my excitement. We all expected the Mountain West tourney to be our final goodbye to the season…but that just shows that you never know what could possibly lie ahead despite all of the odds stacked against you.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? As I mentioned briefly above, we are a community-based team at heart. With that, choosing the team to represent the program at NCAA is about members who showed up to events around the Reno community, as well as those who showed dedication/ commitment to the team for the entire season. Being picked is an honor: I have been fortunate enough to represent Nevada at multiple tournaments/games. Moving on from the Mountain West Tournament to the NCAA Tournament will be sort of a culture shock. None of us have been to a tournament this big/extravagant during our years as cheerleaders. It will mean the absolute world to me to be able to say that I cheered alongside some of the best athletes and people on the biggest stage in college basketball!

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? As of now we have nothing planned. Between finding out that we made the field yesterday and then flying out today, we have not really had the time to plan anything fun to do while we are in Dayton…and hopefully moving onto Denver! I think the best things go unplanned and we all know how to make a good time out of anything! For the games, we have planned out some great stunts and dances to show to the crowd.

Any predictions for the Wolfpack on Wednesday night vs. ASU? I am an optimistic person at heart. Seeing how our season has unfolded, I learned to expect the unexpected. This group of boys is probably the best that I have seen during my four years as a cheerleader. Their record alone shows that, but when I say “best” I mean best at playing as a unit rather than as individuals. I am going to say that my Wolf Pack will come out on top in Dayton. I think with this chance that they were given they will show up and shut down ASU!

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Earlier this month Drake beat top-seeded Bradley 77-51 in the MVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs won 25 games last year and made the CBI quarterfinals but have already won 27 games this year to claim the school’s 2nd NCAA tourney bid in the past 3 years. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Drake cheerleader Savannah Ervin about being a captain.

You are from Bettendorf, IA: what made you choose Drake? I chose Drake because it has a good Occupational therapy program that is also accelerated, which means that I will finish my degree earlier than I would be at a different school.

You have been cheering for 8 years: how did you 1st get into it, and what is your favorite part? I first got into cheer during junior high. I had been dancing my whole life but some of my friends were trying out for the team so I thought that I would too. For a while I cheered/danced at the same time but it was too much work to do both so I had to pick 1. I decided to go with cheer (obviously!) and have not stopped cheering since. My favorite part of cheer is forming extremely close bonds with my teammates and stunting as well.

You are a co-captain of the team this year: what is the key to being a good leader? I think the key to being a good leader is making sure that you know what is going on. If you are unaware of what is happening and are unorganized then you will be be unable to lead anyone else. I also think that an extremely important part of being a leader is to find a good balance. You need to be able to tell people the expectations that they need to meet, but not sound bossy when you do so.

You are majoring in health sciences on the pre-occupational therapy track and minoring in psychology and behavioral analysis of developmental disabilities: how did you choose those subjects? I chose these subjects because I have always been interested in people with special needs ever since I was on an all-inclusive cheer team. I became close friends with so many of the other cheerleaders and wanted to be able to work with them for the rest of my life. I have continued doing extensive volunteer work with people who have disabilities and wanted to understand how to help them when they need it.

You are only a sophomore but what is the post-graduation plan? I am hoping to have a good-enough internship that I can just jump into a job right away. I want to work in a clinical setting at the moment so I am on the hunt for hospitals with internships for future occupational therapists.

What has been your favorite moment so far this season: upsetting Mississippi State back in December, winning back-to-back double-OT games to start February, Senior Night, other? I think that my favorite moment of this basketball season was Arch Madness. The energy in that packed stadium was incomparable. All of our fans were cheering our team to victory alongside the cheerleaders and it felt so good to know that our team had the most support in order to get that victory!

In the MVC tourney title game your team had a huge win over Bradley: what has the reaction been like since you returned to campus? Although the cheerleaders have been acting crazy since this amazing win (I am not sure if we will ever be able to let it go!), I feel like everyone else’s reactions have stayed the same.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Drake had a selection party yesterday when we found where we are going. All of the cheerleaders are so excited to have this game on national TV because it truly is a moment in history for our school.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? We do not have anything special at the moment, but I am guessing that once we figure out where we are going our coach (Morgan Petersen) will come up with a fun outing for all of the cheerleaders to indulge in whenever we have some downtime. She loves to surprise us as well.

Any prediction for the Bulldogs on Friday night vs. Miami? I am just hoping that we try our hardest and make it as far as we can.

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Earlier this month Virginia Tech beat Louisville 75-67 in the ACC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hokies wrapped up their 8th straight winning season by clinching the school’s 3rd straight NCAA tourney bid. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks about being a 1 seed.

You played basketball at JMU for Coach Lefty Driesell: what made him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He has been extremely influential in my life/career. I thought that he was the craziest man in the world when I played for him…but now I find myself doing a lot of the same things that he did! I am forever indebted to him and still talk to him every now and then. In 10-20 years hopefully my players will feel the same way about me.

In the 2014 NCAA tourney as coach at JMU you upset Gonzaga for the school’s 1st NCAA tourney win since 1991: where does that rank among the highlights of your career so far? That was huge! We had made it to the NCAA tourney before but never won it so we had to take the next step. It was monumental for our program and I was very proud of our kids. Once you win a tourney game you need to learn how to win more.

You were a 4-time CAA COY: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It is not everything and does not validate anything: there are some years when I did not win COY but still felt that I did a great job of coaching. When my kids come up and tell me that I am their COY that is all I need: I do not need a piece of hardware. That happened again this year even though I do not have the trophy.

You remain the winningest coach in JMU women’s history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? All records are made to be broken! I got married on that campus and my kids were born there. My career has been so rewarding.

In 2016 you were hired at Virginia Tech: why did you take the job? I wanted to go out and challenge myself on the highest level. When this job became available I had to take my talents here and see what I could do against the best.

Last week you had 3 wins in 3 days to win the ACC tourney title: what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards? It was surreal! All of the emotions involved in building a program from the bottom: my 1st year we were #13 in the ACC…and this year we are #4 in the country. The ACC trophy is a LOT heavier than the CAA trophy, which is symbolic because there are a lot of heavy-hitters/national champs in this league. It has not sunk in yet but I will get to reflect on it this summer at my lake house.

You play an up-tempo style of basketball: what makes it so effective? We are a very versatile group so if we have an easy opportunity then we will take it. We have the fastest PG in the country but also have 1 of the best centers in the country. It makes it exciting to come watch us because you never know what you will see.

SR Liz Kitley is the 2-time defending ACC POY and the all-time leading scorer in school history: where does she rank among the greatest players that you have ever coached? She is in a league by herself. I have had several WNBA Draft picks but she is #1. I have had some special kids but the way she operates and the level she has taken us to is 2nd to none…although I might have some former players get mad at me for saying that!

You only have 3 players on the roster from Virginia: what sort of recruiting philosophy do you have? I try to get kids who fit our culture regardless of where they are from. Geographically we are close to North Carolina: it takes me several hours to get to the Tidewater area. We have a top-20 recruiting class coming in with players from Connecticut/New York/Charlotte so we recruit nationally and want kids who love being at Virginia Tech.

How do you feel about being a 1 seed, and how far can this team go? Being a 1 seed is a monumental accomplishment…which comes with responsibility because we will have a target on our back. My associate head coach from last year (Shawn Poppie) is Chattanooga’s head coach and is 1 of my best friends in the business. The NCAA has a sick sense of humor having us face each other, but that is what makes the tourney fun. Some people thought that UConn should have been a 1 seed so I think our group will use that as motivation: it is great for our program.

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Today is the final day to make NCAA tourney predictions: Selection Sunday! HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. See below for his final list of who should make the cut this year and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC): AUTO-BID
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Purdue (Big 10): AUTO-BID

2: Texas (Big 12): AUTO-BID
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12): AUTO-BID
2: Marquette (Big East): AUTO-BID

3: Baylor (Big 12)
3: Gonzaga (WCC): AUTO-BID
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Connecticut (Big East)

4: Tennessee (SEC)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: Duke (ACC): AUTO-BID
5: San Diego State (MWC): AUTO-BID
5: Iowa State (Big 12)
5: Texas A&M (SEC)

6: TCU (Big 12)
6: Miami (ACC)
6: St. Mary’s (WCC)
6: Kentucky (SEC)

7: Missouri (SEC)
7: Creighton (Big East)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)

8: Florida Atlantic (C-USA): AUTO-BID
8: Arkansas (SEC)
8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Memphis (AAC): AUTO-BID

9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Iowa (Big 10)
9: Illinois (Big 10)
9: Penn State (Big 10)

10: Auburn (SEC)
10: Boise State (MWC)
10: Utah State (MWC)
10: USC (Pac-12)

11: Providence (Big East)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: NC State (ACC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Arizona State (Pac-12)

12: VCU (A-10): AUTO-BID
12: Charleston (CAA): AUTO-BID
12: Oral Roberts (Summit): AUTO-BID
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID

13: Kent State (MAC): AUTO-BID
13: Iona (MAAC): AUTO-BID
13: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID
13: Princeton (Ivy): AUTO-BID

14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: UCSB (Big West): AUTO-BID
14: Grand Canyon (WAC): AUTO-BID
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot): AUTO-BID
15: Montana State (Big Sky): AUTO-BID
15: Vermont (America East): AUTO-BID
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID

16: Northern Kentucky (Horizon): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland): AUTO-BID
16: Howard (MEAC): AUTO-BID
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Texas Southern (SWAC): AUTO-BID

1ST 4 OUT
Clemson (ACC)
Nevada (MWC)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Vanderbilt (SEC)

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The 2023 Hoops HD Mock Committee has completed its work!!! Here is our final Bracket:

Top 4 teams out: Oklahoma State, Clemson, Vanderbilt, Nevada

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-For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 13 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

Today is the final day to make NCAA tourney predictions: Selection Sunday! HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. See below for his list of who should make the cut this year and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com
*Final bracket coming later today.

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: Texas (Big 12): AUTO-BID
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12): AUTO-BID
2: Baylor (Big 12)

3: Marquette (Big East): AUTO-BID
3: Gonzaga (WCC): AUTO-BID
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Connecticut (Big East)

4: Tennessee (SEC)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: San Diego State (MWC): AUTO-BID
5: Duke (ACC): AUTO-BID
5: Iowa State (Big 12)
5: TCU (Big 12)

6: Texas A&M (SEC)
6: Miami (ACC)
6: St. Mary’s (WCC)
6: Kentucky (SEC)

7: Creighton (Big East)
7: Missouri (SEC)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)

8: Florida Atlantic (C-USA): AUTO-BID
8: Arkansas (SEC)
8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: West Virginia (Big 12)

9: Memphis (AAC)
9: Iowa (Big 10)
9: Illinois (Big 10)
9: Auburn (SEC)

10: Penn State (Big 10)
10: Boise State (MWC)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: Utah State (MWC)

11: Providence (Big East)
11: NC State (ACC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Arizona State (Pac-12)

12: Charleston (CAA): AUTO-BID
12: VCU (A-10)
12: Oral Roberts (Summit): AUTO-BID
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID

13: Kent State (MAC): AUTO-BID
13: Princeton (Ivy)
13: Iona (MAAC): AUTO-BID
13: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID

14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: UCSB (Big West): AUTO-BID
14: Grand Canyon (WAC): AUTO-BID
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot): AUTO-BID
15: Montana State (Big Sky): AUTO-BID
15: Vermont (America East): AUTO-BID
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID

1ST 4 OUT
Clemson (ACC)
Nevada (MWC)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Vanderbilt (SEC)

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 16 gold medals in the 19 tournaments they have participated in during the past 87 years, while the women have won 9 gold medals in the 11 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 47 years. While we have to wait 1 more year until the 2024 Olympics in Paris, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Mary Anne O’Connor about winning a silver medal in 1976 and (hopefully!) being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.

photo credit: Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

You were born in Bridgeport/raised in Fairfield: what made you choose Southern Connecticut State University for college? Southern Connecticut State was a local powerhouse for female sports. A lot of women who played semi-pro softball in the area stuck around during the winter and worked in Fairfield County as coaches, referees and PE teachers. We had a really good high school team coached by Ann DeLuca (who taught me my jump shot), that nobody knew about: we went undefeated for 2 years in a row. Coach DeLuca invited the Southern Connecticut State team to come play against us one day: they dominated us but I was in awe of them and their style was very appealing to me. I graduated high school in 1971 and decided to go to Southern Connecticut where the coach, Louise O’Neal was an icon. I majored in nursing, made the varsity and started as a freshman. We qualified for nationals all 4 years and made the Final 4 during each of my final 3 years. We got noticed and some of us received invites to try out for some of the national teams (I made the ’74 team): we toured the US playing against the Soviet team featuring 7’2” Ulyana Semenova. She had great footwork and was a 90% FT shooter! Needless to say our only option was to run if we wanted to medal.

Along with your sister Eileen, 2 of your college teammates were Joan Bonvicini (who became the 18th coach in D-1 women’s basketball history to win 600 games) and Sue Rojcewicz (your future Olympic teammate): what was it like to have so much talent on 1 team? We got along really well. I played 1-on-1 with Eileen growing up: she was only 5’7” but was strong as an ox and had flawless technique when it came to boxing out. She was even the leading rebounder at the 1975 national tourney. I played against Joan in high school: they called her “Spider” and she was like Pete Maravich. The only thing we lacked was size, which is why I played center. We trapped and used a full-court press. Our coach would take us to high schools and lead clinics for other coaches to give something back.

In 1975 you were named Southern’s Outstanding Scholar Athlete: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It was really hard. I missed a ton of clinical time due to basketball so I switched my major from nursing to psychology, which meant that I had to take like 10 psych courses during my senior year. I also had the incentive of not wanting to graduate with my sister! We never caught a break from any of our professors even though we put the school on the map every year. My parents were even prouder of that award than I was.

You won a gold medal with team USA at the 1975 Pan Am Games: could you tell at the time that your teammate Pat Head was going to become 1 of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport? I knew for sure that she was going to become a coach because she was like a general on the court. She had a good eye for flow/rotations that not many people knew about back then. Cathy Rush from Immaculata was our head coach and she liked to run a lot of different schemes.

You played for team USA at the 1976 Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a silver medal? An absolute dream come true! Just to qualify and get to the Olympics was amazing. Being in the Olympic Village with 11,000 other athletes and everyone speaking a different language and wearing different colored clothing was so cool. Even though it was a round-robin tournament it came down to the final game. My parents/siblings/83-year old grandmother all drove up from Fairfield after getting a car from a local dealership. My brother saw Curt Gowdy walking around so he thought he was a hot tamale! It is so immersive and I just soaked it all in. Everyone was over the moon to win a silver medal.

After the Olympics you spent almost a decade playing pro basketball in France and were named France’s Sportswoman of the Year in 1985: what was the biggest difference between college ball and pro ball? I went over in 1976 and played for the CUC 10-time defending champion of the French League for 2 years and then for the Stade Français in Paris for 6 years. The biggest difference was the international rules: the ref did not touch the ball as often so if you were unaware then you could get caught off-guard. It was also much more physical overseas. I got to go to so many great European countries even though the Iron Curtain was still thick. It was an education that I never would have experienced had I stayed in the US. I played for 8 years and won the title 5 times. I later got my MBA at University of Hartford in Paris, then worked as an agent representing American players who wanted to play in Europe. One of my clients was 1984 Olympian Denise Curry. It is amazing to see how much money the players make now.

After retiring from basketball you got your MBA and co-founded an IT/operations consulting firm: how do you like the job, and what do you want to do in the future? I have been doing this for 30 years after moving to San Francisco. It is still going strong but I am unsure how much longer I will feel like doing it. The pandemic has put a break on so many things but I am in a good place given the world we live in now.

Your mother played basketball at UConn and you along with all 5 of your siblings swam competitively: who is the best athlete in the family? If you asked everyone else in my family they would choose me since I did several other sports in addition to basketball. My brother John was a superstar swimmer before getting hurt. The fun thing is that we all drove around to different swim meets together: I do not know how my parents managed to fit the 6 of us in their station wagon!

In 2014 your Olympic team was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as “Trailblazers of the Game”: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is up there for sure. Halls of Fame are a cool thing because it means that people remember you. Even though we were the 1st women’s Olympic team we were standing on the shoulders of the women who came before us: it was the actualization of Title IX. Pat went to Tennessee and did not make a lot of money but changed the game forever. Tara VanDerveer is my age and just look at what she has done at Stanford. A lot of influence came out of the women who played in the 1970s. The biggest change for me is that there were so many female coaches back then. I am with Coach Muffet McGraw on that: young girls need to see women coaching/playing.

Last December your Olympic team was nominated to become part of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023: do you think we will hear your team’s name called when the inductees are unveiled during the Final Four on April 1st?! I am really hoping and I think that we deserve it. It would be really cool for us to be all together again. We have lost a lot of people including Pat/Billie Moore/Lusia Harris/Charlotte Lewis, which is sad, but it would be nice to take them along with us in spirit.

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The Hoops HD Mock Committee as completed Day 3 of their deliberations. We have completed our field of 68, seeded all the teams, and scrubbed lines 1 through 10. John Stalica has a writeup of what we’ve done so far. CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Saturday of Championship Week is in the books, and it is now officially Selection Sunday. We recap all the action from all the conference tournaments, discuss all the teams that punched tickets, and take a look at what happened in the major conferences and how today’s action could have impacted their seedlist. We close by showing you the board of what the Hoops HD Mock Committee has done.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-13-Audio-Only.mp3

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP:

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP:

AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP:

ATLANTIC TEN CHAMPIONSHIP:

IVY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP:

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Tonight was Day 3 of the Hoops HD Selection Committee meetings via Zoom conference call; our first major task of the night was adding the final 8 at-large bids to the field. With a lack of bid thieves this year, we were assured of bids opening up thanks to the American, Conference USA and SEC results from today.

Recall from Thursday’s meetings that our four carryover teams for the purposes of at-large selection were Mississippi State, NC State, Providence and Rutgers. After extensive debate of each under consideration team, each committee member sent a list of their top 8 teams to our committee chairman Chad Sherwood. The top 4 vote-getters (Oklahoma State, Penn State, Utah State and Arizona State) joined the 4 carryover teams and then each committee member ranked these teams 1 through 8. In this round of voting, we added Penn State, Providence, Mississippi State and Rutgers to our at-large board. (This also opened up another at-large bid with a bid thief no longer possible in the B1G). We repeated the process once more with only 3 carryovers; NC State was returned to the Under Consideration board after failing to make the ballot in 2 consecutive rounds. This time around, the top 5 vote-getters to join the 3 carryover teams were NC State, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Nevada and Boise State. After ranking these teams 1 through 8, our final four at-large teams added were Boise State, Utah State, Arizona State and NC State. Our first four teams out were Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, Nevada and Clemson.

Our next task was seeding the remaining lines from 8 through 16. After the field was seeded, we began scrubbing the seed list to account for Saturday results. Below is what our board looks like through tonight’s games:

Sunday afternoon will be the final day of the Hoops HD Selection Committee – there will be additional scrubbing of the seedlist to account for Sunday’s games. We will also build our bracket; no contingencies will be necessary.

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Last Saturday Tennessee Tech beat Little Rock 54-46 in the OVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Golden Eagles wrapped up their 5th straight winning season by clinching the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2000. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Tennessee Tech coach Kim Rosamond about playing for a Hall of Fame coach during her own college days.

You played basketball at Mississippi: how good a player were you back in the day, and how did you get into coaching? I was more of a role player…but I played my role well. Ole Miss was coming off an SEC title and Coach Van Chancellor had that thing rolling. I redshirted as a freshman and bided my time behind some all-conference players. As a 5th-year senior I tore my ACL and had to make a decision: I decided to play and it was extremely rewarding. It was a special time/place in my life. I majored in journalism/advertising and actually ran away from coaching! God kind of shifted my route and opened a door for me. The 3rd assistant coaching spot was a restricted-earnings position but I stepped in at my alma mater at age 23.

What made Hall of Famer Van Chancellor such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He always played his players to their strengths: he was very smart in that sense. I did not realize it as a teenage player but he always put the person before the player: from the meals his wife cooked to the flag football games he hosted in his backyard.

You were the 1st player to be named All-Academic SEC for 4 years in a row: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I grew up on a farm showing horses competitively, which is where I gained my work ethic. My mom was a single mother and after observing her I learned how to out-work people.

You won plenty of NCAA tourney games as an assistant to Stephany Smith at Middle Tennessee and Melanie Balcomb at Vanderbilt: what is the key to winning games in March? Our current team is a great example of this: guard play is so important. Every team that I have been a part of that has made deep runs had great guard play/shooting. We started 3 post players last year and made the title game before losing to Belmont. We lost some depth entering this season but our guard play kept getting better and better. In addition to the basketball piece, you need a group of players who love each other so much that they are not ready for their season to be over.

In 2019 as head coach at Tennessee Tech you snapped Belmont’s 47-game OVC winning streak and were named OVC COY: where does that win/honor rank among the highlights of your career? It was a really special time because we did not have a lot of on-court success during my 1st 2 years even though we were winning in the classroom/community/recruiting. We wanted to build not just a team but rather a program so it took a little time. To see things come together in year #3 was extra-special. You want to celebrate every win because it is hard at this level so you never take it for granted: it catapulted us to where we are right now.

Most of your roster is from Kentucky/Tennessee with a few players from some other states: what sort of recruiting philosophy do you have? When we got here there were only 2 players from Tennessee and that is something we knew that we had to change. Last January we got our 1000th win in school history, which only 21 other teams had done. It has not been as consistent during the past couple of decades and Tennessee high school basketball is as good as it gets. We started at home and built a lot of strong relationships so we knew that if we kept the top kids at home then we would have a chance. This is a great location because we can stay within a 6-8 hour radius and still find kids to help us win championships.

Your team is top-10 in the nation with 25.3 3P% allowed: how crucial is perimeter defense to your team’s success? We have gotten a lot better at it because 4 years ago we were not that great. When you defend good 3-PT shooters every day in practice then you will become very good at it. If you had told us that we would win a title while going 0-6 from behind the arc I would not have believed you! It has been very vital to our success.

Last Saturday in the OVC tourney title game Jada Guinn scored 12 PTS/6-6 FT in an 8-PT win over Little Rock: how on earth were you able to beat a team that only lost 1 conference game all year, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It is a great example of how we approach losses: we view them as lessons. They manhandled us in the 1st game and we lost our composure at their place. At our place their physicality really bothered us in the 1st half but we scored 26 PTS against them in the 3rd quarter, which I believe is the most they have allowed in a quarter all year. We lost the game but gained confidence and figured out the formula to beat them, which we did last weekend. The locker room was exhilarating/emotional. We did not skip a single step during the past 7 years: it took a winding road to get here but that just made it taste even sweeter. I know how special/rare it is to be a part of March Madness and I want our young women to experience it.

You had a birthday last month: what did you do for the big day? We had a game the very next day against UT-Martin in our regular season finale so we prepared for Senior Day. That is how I have spent my birthday for most of my career!

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? That is up to the committee. We are happy to be here…but we are not JUST happy to be here. We do not care where we go and I can promise you that this team will not back down from anybody. We will continue to fight for 40 minutes together because we are not ready for this ride to be over.

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Last Sunday Washington State beat UCLA 65-61 in the Pac-12 tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Cougars lost their regular season finale in double-OT but were able to win 4 postseason games in 5 days to make the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Washington State SR G Johanna Teder about making the NCAA tourney for the 2nd straight year.

You were born/raised in Estonia: how did you 1st get into basketball? My sister played basketball and I got interested after attending some practices when I was in kindergarten.

You began your college career at South Plains Community College: how close did you come to going undefeated in 2020, and what was your reaction when you learned that the national tourney was canceled due to COVID? I was supposed to go to a D-1 school but I ended up at a JUCO with a lot of other international players. We only lost 1 game and we were getting ready to go to nationals to try to win a title. It was a crazy time: we kept practicing and nobody went home because we thought that we would eventually play…but it never happened.

How did you end up at Washington State? I knew that year that I was ready to play D-1 by that point so when COVID hit I put my name in the transfer portal and a lot of teams contacted me. I got recruited by WSU and chose them.

You are majoring in Digital Technology and Communication Advertising and minoring in Fine Arts: what is the post-graduation plan? I actually finished all of my classes for my major/minor last December. My plan is to graduate next spring with 2 bachelor’s degrees. I am not sure of the long-term plan but I would love to play pro basketball. I think my major allows me to take my work wherever I am.

You play for Coach Kamie Ethridge, who was just named national COY on Thursday: what makes her such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? She is genuine and always treats us as human before athletes. She expects a lot out of us but is really fair.

Last year you led the team with 56 3PM: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? I have not always been a shooter: I was a PG in high school and barely attempted any threes. I started working on my shot after getting to college and now that is what my team expects me to do. I am a good shooter…but could always be better.

Your school also made the NCAA tourney for the 1st time in 30 years: how big a deal was it? Huge! They also made it during COVID so this year will be the 3rd time in 4 years. It has been amazing to build this program and see what our accomplishments mean to everyone. I am lucky to be a part of it and am excited for this year’s NCAA tourney.

You had a birthday last month: what did you do for the big day? We had a game that day against Cal and we won, so that was the best gift that the team could give me. However, I was a little bummed because I am already 23!

Last Sunday in the Pac-12 tourney title game you scored 7 PTS in a 4-PT win over UCLA: what did it mean to you to win the title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? The whole tourney was unbelievable: I still cannot believe that we did it! We pulled off a couple of upsets and after we beat Utah I thought that anything was possible. After the win over UCLA I just sat in the locker room and felt like it was 1 of the best days of my life: it was so awesome that I wish I just could re-live that day over and over.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? That conversation comes up almost every day. I am expecting a better seed than last year: maybe a 5/6? I feel that we have proved what we are capable of and we won a championship so I think that we should be up there somewhere.

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Last Wednesday Texas A&M Corpus-Christi had a 75-71 win over Northwestern State in the Southland tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Islanders started 4-3 in conference play but won 12 of their final 13 games to earn the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Texas A&M Corpus-Christi cheerleader Gabby Solis about going into nursing.

You are from Edinburg, TX: what made you choose Texas A&M Corpus-Christi? I grew up around South Padre Island so something about the beach kept me close to here. It is a very good college town.

You are a nursing major: how did you choose that subject? I have always known since I was little that I wanted to work in health care. It seems like nurses have the most interaction with patients, which is the most near and dear to my heart.

What is the post-graduation plan? I graduate in May and am really excited. I am planning to become a neonatal ICU nurse and will move home to begin my future career.

You have been a cheerleader for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I have been doing it for pretty much 18 years. It blows my mind that my 22-year old body can still do it but it is a great sisterhood and helps keep me busy/active. I love being a part of the spirit program and supporting our teams at all of their games.

1 of your hobbies is trying new restaurants: what is your favorite kind of food? I am a pretty plain-Jane girl so I am a die-hard chicken tenders fan!

What has been your favorite moment so far this season: your 8-game winning streak in January/February, winning the regular season finale in OT, Senior Night, other? The conference tourney was an amazing weekend with a whirlwind of events. 1 of the best games was our homecoming game when we won the regular season title: to get to share it with the community was a really great experience.

Last Wednesday in the Southland tourney title game your team had a 4-PT win over Northwestern State: what has the reaction been like since you returned to campus? It has been really exciting to have the support from the entire university/community. There will be a lot of watch parties on the island, which is such a great feeling. The vibe for Selection Sunday is great: everyone cannot wait to see where/who we will be playing!

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We participate in tryouts because they only allow 12 spirit members at the tourney. Our coaches rate us on our skills and I was gratefully given the opportunity. It is exciting to get that exposure on TV. I received so many notifications this week from friends/family who saw me on TV: what a way to go out with a bang as a senior!

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? Not really: we will just be prepared for the NCAA tourney by having some extra practices, and will attend Selection Sunday in support of our team.

Any predictions for the Islanders next week? We have the biggest support for our team and hope we can win that 1st game. We are getting better and better each year so even though we fell short last year (a 9-PT loss to Texas Southern) hopefully we can keep it going this year.

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Sacramento State won 2 of its final 4 regular season games last month but was unable to get by Weber State in the Big Sky tourney last Monday. Back in the 1980s they were in D-2 and their star was Robert Martin, who remains the school’s all-time leader in PTS/3PM despite having graduated more than 3 decades ago. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Robert’s former coach Joseph Anders about his star player. Today marks the 35th anniversary of Robert playing his regional semifinal game in the D-2 tourney on March 11, 1988, so we take this time to remember his remarkable career.

What made Robert choose Sacramento State? We had a new staff/program that had aspirations of making it to the next level as a D-1 institution, which they achieved soon after Robert graduated. It was my motivation as well.

His nickname was “Money”: who gave him the nickname, and how did he like it? He loved it! We came together at the right time because it was the era where they introduced the 3-PT line. Rob and Alex Williams would just spread the floor and knock down shots from behind the arc, which is how he got the nickname.

He remains the all-time leading scorer/3-PT shooter in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player he was, and do you think that anyone will ever break his records? I did not know that but the guards on that team were great. Rob was good but Alex was even more proficient from 3-PT range. Rob learned a lot from Alex in terms of practice habits/training regimen, which he would tell you himself.

In December of 1987 you had a 3-PT win over Texas A&M: how were you able to pull off the upset? We knew how to play basketball: the game does not change no matter who your opponent is.

That team set a school record with 22 wins: what made those guys such a special group? We believed in 1 another and grew together. We all trusted each other and those young men lifted me to an almost-40-year career because of the way that they responded. I love those kids because they gave me the opportunity to live my dream. The games were fun because we practiced so hard: our success was driven by everything they brought to the gym every single day. Rob was the leader: he became “Money Rob” because he always showed up.

They also had the highest scoring average with 93.1 PPG: what made the offense so effective? We had a PG named Chris Farr who loved to pass the ball to open people: he created the most artistic ways of feeding the shooter. I just let my players play: Chris practiced 1 play where he would drop the ball off between his legs to the trailer in Rob/Alex! We had a couple of games over 120 PTS: everything just clicked and it felt right. We always prayed for no injuries and it was fun to watch. I wish someone could put together the films from that season.

They made the NCAA tourney but lost twice to Cal State-Hayward: how big a deal was it at the time to make the tourney? It was huge. I actually received the Northern California COY award over guys like Mike Montgomery.

As a senior he led all of D-2 with 118 3PM: what was his secret for making shots from behind the arc? Trust from a coach who let him do it and believed in him. I had some incredible talent: we led the nation at 1 point with 10 3PM/game. I knew those kids could shoot and told them that I preferred threes over layups. I had some big-time risers as well so if we could spread the defense then we became the hottest ticket in town. I usually got to the game at least 2 hours early. I remember arriving to 1 game where people were actually waiting on the sidewalk and backed up into the street. I walked into the gym and there was simply no more room for anyone to enter. It was not me: I give my players all of the credit.

In 2017 he was inducted into the Sacramento State Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of his career? I have not had a lot of contact with Rob since then but he was an incredible young man: he was 1 of the crown jewels that we had.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He took the school to heart and graduated and played the game the right way. He played hard all the time and could shoot the basketball because that is who he was. I had the pleasure of watching him grow into an incredible player/young man.

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Last Tuesday Portland beat #1-seed Gonzaga 64-60 in the WCC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Pilots were swept by the Zags during the regular season but the 3rd time was the charm as they prepare to play the school’s 1st NCAA tourney game since 1997. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Portland F Alex Fowler about being a 2-time conference tourney MVP.

You were born/raised in Australia: how did you 1st get into basketball? I am a triplet and 1 of my sisters had a balance problem when she was younger. We all started playing basketball and I just fell in love with it.

Are you friends with any of the Australian men’s players in the US (Sean Bairstow at Utah State/Alex Ducas at St. Mary’s/Reyne Smith at Charleston/other)? I know all of those guys and we always hear about each other’s successes.

You are 6’2”: how much of an advantage is your size on the court? I would say it is less of an advantage. I have been told that I eventually need to move out to the wing and become a 3…but so far my size as a post player has helped.

In 2020 as a player at Portland you led the league in scoring with 18 PPG and were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I was a new player who had not been seen before so it was a lot easier for me. People did not know how to scout me and did not know my strengths/weaknesses and my coaches were very supportive.

In the 2020 WCC title game you had 21 PTS/10 REB in a 1-PT win over San Diego en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? My teammates/coaches/parents trusted that I had the ability to do whatever I could do to help our team win.

What was your reaction when you learned a few days later that the NCAA tourney was being canceled due to COVID? That was very heartbreaking for us. We had been a “dream team” so we were very excited and after hearing the news there were a LOT of emotions going on.

You have led the conference in FG% during each of the past 2 years: what is the secret to being a great shooter? Coach Michael Meek likes to harp on “finishing above the tape” and being “slow and in control” with your finishes.

You also led your team in AST 7 times this season: how do you balance your scoring with your passing? I have great teammates who get open on the perimeter. They can step up and produce on any night, which is why we are a great team.

Last Tuesday in the WCC title game you had 15 PTS/11 REB in a 4-PT win over #1-seed Gonzaga and became the 1st player in school history to be named the conference tourney MVP twice: how were you able to overcome an 11-PT halftime deficit, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? We came together at halftime and said that it was a new beginning after we had gotten rattled in the 1st half. We gave it all we had and found a way to get through it. It was such an amazing feeling because we put in 100% effort.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? I think we might get a 12 seed but it depends on so many other teams playing this weekend. It will be the 1st time for all of us and you never know what will happen in March. We could upset a bunch of teams or be 1-and-done but whatever seed we get I know that we will be ready to play.

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-For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 12 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

We are only 1 day away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the weekend predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)

3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Gonzaga (WCC): AUTO-BID
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Tennessee (SEC)

4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: Iowa State (Big 12)
5: Miami (ACC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)
5: TCU (Big 12)

6: Texas A&M (SEC)
6: Duke (ACC)
6: St. Mary’s (WCC)
6: Kentucky (SEC)

7: Missouri (SEC)
7: Creighton (Big East)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)

8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Arkansas (SEC)
8: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
8: Iowa (Big 10)

9: Illinois (Big 10)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Memphis (AAC)
9: Boise State (MWC)

10: Auburn (SEC)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: Providence (Big East)
10: Penn State (Big 10)

11: Utah State (MWC)
11: NC State (ACC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Arizona State (Pac-12)

12: Charleston (CAA): AUTO-BID
12: Oral Roberts (Summit): AUTO-BID
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID
12: VCU (A-10)

13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Iona (MAAC)
13: Princeton (Ivy)
13: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID

14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: Fullerton (Big West)
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID
14: Colgate (Patriot): AUTO-BID

15: Montana State (Big Sky): AUTO-BID
15: Vermont (America East)
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID
15: Northern Kentucky (Horizon): AUTO-BID

16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland): AUTO-BID
16: Grambling (SWAC)
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Grand Canyon (WAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Clemson (ACC)
Nevada (MWC)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Vanderbilt (SEC)

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WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We hope you enjoyed your pasta dinner tonight!! We also hope you enjoy all the free ice cream you can eat!! Don’t worry about selecting the teams because we can do that for you!!

The Hoops HD Mock Committee as completed Day 2 of their deliberations. John Stalica has summed up what we’ve done so far. CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

It was a crazy night in the WAC with a big upset as Grand Canyon knocked off Sam Houston State, and Utah Valley blew a 23pt second half lead to Southern Utah setting up an unexpected championship game. Vanderbilt was a huge story as they racked up another big win over Kentucky, and are looking more and more like they belong in the NCAA Tournament. It was also a big night in Conference USA, the Mountain West, the Big Ten, and Big 12. We go through all of today’s action and preview all of tomorrow’s

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-12-Audio-Only.mp3

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP:

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP:

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP:

PAC 12 CHAMPIONSHIP:

MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP:

CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP:

BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP:

WAC CHAMPIONSHIP:

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP:

METRO ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP:

AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP:

MEAC CHAMPIONSHIP:

SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP:

BIG TEN SEMIFINALS:

SEC SEMIFINALS:

AMERICAN ATHLETIC SEMIFINALS:

ATLANTIC TEN SEMIFINALS:

IVY LEAGUE SEMIFINALS:

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Tonight was the second night that the Hoops HD Selection Committee met via Zoom conference call to begin seeding the top of the NCAA Tournament at-large field. As of Friday evening, we had 51 teams in the field at that stage; there were 14 auto-bid winners (including Gonzaga) plus 37 at-large teams. The reason there were 37 was because we had 29 teams make the field on our first ballot plus 8 teams that were voted in on Thursday.

Keep in mind that at-large bids are guaranteed to open up in the Big 12 and the Big East; more bids will open up in the ACC with Duke and Virginia slated to meet in the ACC Championship as well as in the Pac-12 with UCLA and Arizona meeting in the Pac-12 championship.. As of the time this was written, the SEC has not opened up (although that would change if our Committee were to vote in Vanderbilt to the at-large pool). The American could open up tomorrow should Memphis and Houston meet in the conference championship game. We elected not to vote any at-large bids in tonight, nor for any contingencies that could arise. The Big Ten has Ohio State threatening to become a bid thief now that they’ve advanced to the semifinal round against Purdue. The Mountain West would open up should San Diego State win their conference tournament OR if either Utah State gets voted in as an at-large AND wins the conference tournament.

As for what we actually did, we began the process of seeding by submitting a list of our top 12 teams on the board to Chad Sherwood (NOT including teams Under Consideration). Once the process was complete, we individually ranked the Top 12 teams 1 through 12. The top eight vote-getters were added to the first 2 lines of the field; the remaining 4 teams carried over to the next round of voting. (The real NCAA Committee would submit a list of Top 8 teams and then rank the teams 1 through 8 as they add 1 line at a time to the field). After the first two lines were complete, we then again repeated the process of nominating 12 teams individually for tabulation. The top 8 teams would then be paired with the four carryover teams and would be ranked 1 through 12. The top 8 teams were added to the next set of seedlines (3 and 4). We repeated the process for the 5 and 6-lines and added only the 7-line afterwards since we did not have enough teams to add the 8-line at this time.

This is how our board looked at this stage:

On the at-large board, note the four teams in red (Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Illinois and Iowa) are carryover teams and will be included in the next round of voting tomorrow night as we continue to build the seed list. This is NOT to be confused with the four teams highlighted in red on the Under Consideration board (Mississippi State, NC State, Providence and Rutgers); these were carryover teams for the purpose of nominating teams to the at-large board. Also note the teams in orange on the Under Consideration board; these teams have been eliminated from their respective conference tournaments and can no longer add to their profiles. Penn State and Vanderbilt are examples of teams that are still alive and can add more signature wins to their respective profiles (or an automatic bid).

Tomorrow night will be our longest night of the weekend; we will then vote in the last remaining at-large teams plus any contigency teams. We will also finish seeding the rest of the field and do an initial scrub of the seedlist to account for results through Saturday night.

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You are from Midland, TX: what made you choose Texas A&M Corpus-Christi? My mom went to school here and when I was in high school I did not know where I wanted to go. As soon as I took a tour I knew that it would be the only school I applied to, and I love it!

You are an English major with a minor in Dance: how did you choose those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I have always been interested in English: I love to read and am interested in grammar. I also wanted to expand my dance expertise. There are a lot of ways that I could go: I could try the dance world or audition for a company or just use my degree.

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? When I was 4 years old my mom put me in cheer, then I got into gymnastics at age 5, and at age 6 my mom asked me if I wanted to do ballet so that is how it started. You never stop growing and there is always something that you can get better at. I can still take a class now on campus and learn something new.

You are a co-captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? You should be someone who does not pull from the front but rather pushes from behind. We constantly check on everyone to make sure they have what they need and pay attention to every little detail.

What has been your favorite moment so far this season: your 8-game winning streak in January/February, winning the regular season finale in OT, Senior Night, other? My favorite game was homecoming because there were so many people in attendance. I love when we have a big crowd because it gets everyone going.

1 of your hobbies is reading: what is the best book you have read recently? Can I recommend 3?! “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy, “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, and “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

Last Wednesday in the Southland tourney title game your team had a 4-PT win over Northwestern State: what has the reaction been like since you returned to campus? I have not been back to campus yet but the reaction has been exploding all over social media because everyone is so excited.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It will be the same group of girls who went to the conference tourney. We had to audition for our coach with 3 routines and I made the list. It will be so much more meaningful since we have already done it. The other captain and myself have been leading the girls all year.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? We have a really good routine that everyone enjoys because it is 1 of our best. We will bring a different type of energy and yell like we have never yelled before.

Any predictions for the Islanders next week? I do not have any specific predictions prior to Selection Sunday but I know that our boys will go out and do the best that they can on the court.

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Last Sunday South Carolina beat Tennessee 74-58 in the SEC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Gamecocks are the defending NCAA champs and have a good chance to make it 2 in a row as they are 32-0 so far this season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with South Carolina SR G Brea Beal about playing for a Hall of Famer.

You were born/raised in Illinois: what made you choose South Carolina? It started with the coaching staff: it just felt more genuine than any other program I looked at.

You play for Coach Dawn Staley: what makes her such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? During practice when she critiques us she explains why she is doing so. It is great to play under someone like her who has made the journey from great player to great coach.

In 2019 you were named a McDonald’s All-American along with Aliyah Boston/Zia Cooke: could you have ever imagined back then that you 3 would end up accomplishing so much together? I truly did not understand how far we could take it. It is crazy to think that we are now trying to win our 2nd NCAA title!

You have been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll 3 times: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? Just putting academics 1st. If we have to miss a practice to take care of a class then our coaches understand that is what we need to do.

As a freshman in 2020 you were 32-1: what was your reaction like when you learned that the NCAA tourney was being canceled due to COVID? It made us all very upset because we were on such a great run that year. We all felt like something had been taken from us.

Last year in the NCAA title game you had a 15-PT win over UConn: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? It was very surreal because it is something you dream about as a child while watching those great teams in the past like UConn/Tennessee winning it all. Seeing all of the students on campus cheering us on was a great feeling.

Last Sunday in the SEC tourney title game you had 8 PTS/8 REB/6 AST in a win over Tennessee: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? I think it was 1 of my best all-around games. I was able to make sure our post players got the ball: I take a lot of pride in putting them in a good position to score. I was able to finish my layups, make outside shots, and crash the boards.

Your father Kevin played basketball at UTEP: who is the best athlete in the family? I am sure that if you ask him he would say him! I would give it to my brother, who has guard skills even though he is 6’7”.

Your boyfriend Jaycee Horn plays CB for the Carolina Panthers: will we see him in the stands supporting your tourney run this month? Definitely: he loves those moments but gets butterflies while I am playing.

Do you think that you can go undefeated, and if you do then do you think your team would be considered among the best in the history of the sport? I do think we can go undefeated. If we can do that then I would consider us to be historically among the best.

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The best thing about conference tourney memories is that they last forever. As a freshman at CSUN in 1998 Brian Heinle finished 7th on his team with 6.9 PPG. As a senior he led the Big Sky with 20.2 PPG/9.2 RPG and was named conference POY. The cherry on top was the tourney title game as he scored 21 PTS en route to being named tourney MVP. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Brian about being a great passer and playing pro basketball. Today marks the 22nd anniversary of Brian being named tourney MVP on March 10, 2001, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishment.

In 2000 as a player at CSUN you scored a career-high 34 PTS vs. Weber State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I remember having a big 2nd half in that game. I would not say that I was “in the zone” but I got a few easy baskets which got me into a nice rhythm in the 2nd half. One vivid memory I have of that game was when my teammate had a breakaway layup and tried to dunk it: he hit the back of the iron and I followed up with a tip dunk. Tip dunks were few and far between for me so I tend to remember the ones I got!

In 2001 you had a career-high 17 REB vs. Montana State: what is your secret for rebounding? My secret for rebounding is to NOT box-out: that might sound crazy but I liked to make quick contact with my man and then go after the ball. Watching the flight of the ball and good positioning are keys as well.

You remain 10th in career AST in school history despite being a 6’10” center: how were you able to get so many AST despite playing center? I guess growing up watching Larry Bird/Magic Johnson did not hurt my passing skills. I had the ball in my hands a lot and knew the system we ran so well that I knew exactly where/when to get my teammates the ball.

You were named 2001 Big Sky tourney MVP after scoring 21 PTS to help beat Eastern Washington in the tourney title game: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what did it mean to you to win the conference tourney title? I do not think that I have ever been more focused for a basketball game in my life. That was my last chance to take my school to the NCAA tourney so I knew that I had to take advantage of the opportunity. I think my teammates knew that I was locked in and made an extra effort to find me in the 1st half, and we just broke the game open.

What are your memories of the 2001 NCAA tourney (you scored 13 PTS in a loss to Kansas, who was led by Nick Collison with 23 PTS/11 REB)? I remember having a terrible game: I got into early foul trouble and they just dominated us so it was not 1 of my finest hours. I still think that we would have been better off playing any other team in the country.

You remain 1 of the leading scorers in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were? I have never been accused of being prolific: I just improved every year and stayed healthy. It is really not a lot of points when you look at it. I knew that someone would break that record…and that I would be there to knee-cap them right before they did so: I am joking!

In 2001 you were named an All-American (the 1st D-1 All-American in school history): what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor? I never really thought about it since I have never really been interested in individual honors. However, I guess when I am finished with basketball it will be a pretty cool thing to have on my resume.

In 2001 you were chosen to play at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament: how did you play, and which of the other players there impressed you the most? I played really well there, but I injured my knee in the last game and was out for 6 weeks after that. One guy that impressed me was my teammate who played at Texas: Darren Kelly. He played really well and I think he even had a 30-PT game.

You spent 15 years playing professionally in Belgium/Hungary/Italy/Holland/Austria: what did you learn from these experiences, and how did they compare to college basketball? I learned many things playing overseas, about both basketball and life. My advice to any player heading overseas is to work hard, be respectful of your coaches/teammates/fans, do not take basketball for granted, and prepare for the future.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I would like people to remember that I always played the game the right way, was a good teammate, and a great human being…but not necessarily in that order.

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Last Wednesday Colgate beat Lafayette 79-61 in the Patriot tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Raiders were 6-7 on Christmas Day but have won 20 of their last 21 games to claim the school’s 3rd straight NCAA tourney bid. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Colgate JR PF Jeff Woodward about dominating his conference for 3 straight years.

You were born/raised in Pennsylvania: what made you choose Colgate? I grew up just outside of Philly. Colgate has a really cool close-knit community where you can get to know everyone really well. It is a perfect fit for me both athletically/academically.

You play for Coach Matt Langel: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is always focused on us not getting too caught up in the moment: we try to stay level-headed and just do what we need to do. He is great at X’s and O’s but also knows how to inspire people to follow him by practicing what he preaches.

You are a psychology major and philosophy minor: why did you choose those subjects, and do you use them at all during games? I am also a religion minor. I chose psychology because I took an AP class in high school and fell in love with it, and philosophy/religion are super-interesting to me. I want to go into the field of clinical therapy. I do not think about them too much during games but I have noticed that I use them both before and after games. I try to have the best mindset in advance and then use some tools afterward so that I do not get too high/low.

In 2021 you made the Patriot All-Rookie Team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? A lot of it is a credit to Coach Langel for believing in me and letting me play right away as a freshman and giving me a longer leash than other players in our conference might get. It gave me confidence and allowed me to just play without worrying about having to come out of the game if I made a single mistake.

In the 2021 NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS in a loss to Arkansas and in the 2022 NCAA tourney you scored 5 PTS in a 7-PT loss to Wisconsin: what did you learn from those 2 games that you think can help you this time around? Due to COVID the Arkansas game happened to be my 1st non-conference game of that season. The Wisconsin game in Madison involved a pretty hostile environment against a Power 5 team so I learned to control my reactions. They were both good teaching moments that should help everyone on our team.

In 2021 you went 14-2, last year you entered the NCAA tourney having won 19 of 20 and this year you have won 20 of 21 games since Christmas with only a 1-PT road loss at American: has it reached a point where you expect to win every single conference game that you play?! The expectation within our program is to go out and win every single game, which has been built over time through our sustained success. We do not go in with false confidence thinking that our opponents will roll over and die. We know that teams are gunning for us, especially when we are on the road, so we approach every game with confidence but never look past our opponent because we will get everyone’s best shot.

Last Wednesday in the Patriot tourney title game you scored 6 PTS in a win over Lafayette: what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was an awesome feeling, as were all of our championships. 2021 was my 1st title but it was a redemption game for our veterans who lost the title game at home by 3 PTS to BU in 2020. Last year was different because we finally had a full season with fans in the stands so it was more special to get to celebrate it with everyone. This year we lost a couple of guys who had made 5 conference title game appearances and were bringing in some new guys: even though we did not have the same leadership we did in the past we were able to grow together.

You have 6 seniors on the roster: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? It has been super-important because Tucker Richardson/Oliver Lynch-Daniels have played so many games before and been in those moments. We won a lot of conference games that went down to the wire, which is a credit to their leadership.

Your team leads the nation with 40.9 3P%: what is it like to not be a 3-PT shooter on the best 3-PT shooting team in D-1? It is definitely interesting: even 6’10” Keegan Records has stepped out and shot a few threes this year! I know my role and the things that I am good at. I do not want to bring down our team’s average by missing a lot of threes, and our great shooting allows space for me and our other big men to thrive in the paint. We do not get double-teamed a lot down low because you cannot leave our 3-PT shooters open: I had a similar situation in high school so I am used to it. I consider myself unselfish so I love to rack up some AST by kicking it out to our great shooters.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? I think that we deserve a 13/14 seed. We played some pretty good non-conference teams and picked up a road win at Syracuse in November. Our resume during the past 2 NCAA tourneys should also be factored in, as we played very tough against 2 very good teams. I think that we will end up with a 14/15 seed but we will have confidence no matter who/where we play because we know what we have done in the past.

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Last Sunday Chattanooga beat Wofford 63-53 in the SoCon tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Mocs were 10-9 in mid-January but have won 10 of their last 13 games to claim the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2017. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Chattanooga women’s assistant coach Katelyn Grisillo about how to win games in March.

You were born/raised in South Carolina: what made you choose Presbyterian for college? It was 1 of the schools on my list. I wanted to play D-1 basketball and had heard great things about it. I went on a visit and met some great people. It was a small campus so it reminded me of home.

Why did you decide to transfer, and how did you end up at USC-Aiken? Initially it was the opportunity to get more playing time. I was 5’4” so it was a better fit for me, and I got to stay in South Carolina near my friends/family.

You had a 3.8 GPA in college: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I credit my family for that. My mom is a teacher and my dad was in the military so education has always been a priority for me. The resources you get at the collegiate level when you surround yourself with good people allow you to be a student-athlete. I just got a card in the mail last week from someone at Aiken who reached out to me, which was very nice.

You graduated in 2016 with a major in communications and a minor in business administration: how did you get into coaching? I set out to become a coach or a sports broadcaster…which could go hand-in-hand down the road. As a young player you develop strong relationships with your assistant coaches via workouts/day-to-day talks. I tore my knee up at Aiken and had to watch from the sideline so I developed an appreciation for the game and what our coaches were doing. I wanted to pay it forward by coaching someone else and sharing my own passion for the game.

You spent 5 years as an assistant at D-2 Wingate: what is the biggest difference between D-2 and D-1? The athletes are bigger/faster/stronger. The resources in D-1 are great while in D-2 you have to do everything yourself: I have not touched a single food order in Chattanooga! Whether it is about support staff/social media/travel/gear we always have more hands willing to help.

You work for Coach Shawn Poppie: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? This is my 1st year with him but from the jump I saw him exude “humble confidence”. He has earned his way to this position by working his way up from D-2. He puts in the work and makes his presence known to people in the room while allowing everyone to get what they deserve. He is such a selfless leader that we want to buy everything he is selling!

What is the secret to winning games in March? Good players/play-calls/trainers/strength coaches/etc. It also helps to have a fanbase who make a neutral-site game feel like a home crowd. We do not have a large rotation so to have had our level of success this year is not normal. We have a growth-mindset so if we lose a game we learn from it rather than shut down. The people behind the scenes deserve a lot of credit: it takes so many moving pieces to have it all come together.

Last Sunday in the SoCon tourney title game tourney MOP Raven Thompson scored 19 PTS in an 8-PT win over Wofford: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was an incredible feeling to see this team’s hard work come to fruition: it almost made it feel even sweeter because Wofford swept us during the regular season. It has been almost a week but seeing the big picture of the growth that has happened has been amazing. Raven was named conference ROY so it is great to see what she has done for us. Coach has preached from the beginning that everyone has a role and brings value. This was a culture-building year for Yazz Wazeerud-Din: she always has her phone out and is watching a game because she loves the sport. You cannot deny that it had an impact on our mentality because we value winning.

You played several great teams in non-conference play including Alabama/Belmont/Tennessee: which of them impressed you the most? The Alabama game helped carry on our belief system. There were 5 minutes left but we were still in it against an SEC team. I remember stepping into Belmont’s territory but we took them right down to the wire despite us having a new team with about 1/17th of the play-calls that we now have! It was an important moment for us and made us realize that we had a lot of great pieces: it was super-eye-opening.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? We will have the biggest smiles on our face: I might black-out and not even see what seed we get! We will have an “attitude of gratitude” to hear our name called and then will get back to work preparing for our opponent. Age is just a #…and so is seeding.

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Last Sunday Chattanooga beat Wofford 63-53 in the SoCon tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Mocs were 10-9 in mid-January but have won 10 of their last 13 games to claim the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2017. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Chattanooga SR G Yazz Wazeerud-Din about winning the title game.

In 2020 you were named honorable mention NJCAA All-American at South Georgia Technical College: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I did not think I was going to receive that so it shocked me and felt good.

What is the biggest difference between JC and D-1? I do not think there is a big difference. There are more people involved in terms of fans/media and the speed of the game is also different.

As a player at Stetson in 2021 you led your team in scoring with 15.6 PPG and led your conference in steals with 2.4 SPG: how do you balance your offense with your defense? I let my defense get me going by trying to get some deflections and get into the passing lanes.

Why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Chattanooga? I wanted something different and when Chattanooga 1st contacted me they kept it real. The campus is nice and it is not too far from home.

You are majoring in Business Administration: what is the post-graduation plan? I am still trying to figure that out! I plan to go overseas for a bit and then go into real estate.

You play for Coach Shawn Poppie: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is a good person who is fun to be around. I have learned a lot but what stuck out to me this year was his emphasis on believing in yourself because positive outcomes will come out of that.

Last Sunday in the SoCon tourney title game you scored 16 PTS in an 8-PT win over Wofford: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It felt great! I have won 2 titles before but it was a different feeling on Sunday due to everything that we have went through this year. There were a lot of good vibes in the locker room.

You are 1 of 4 seniors on the roster: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? Sometimes I forget that I am a senior: I try not to think about it a lot but it is crucial.

You played several great teams in non-conference play including Alabama/Belmont/Tennessee: which of them impressed you the most? I would say Alabama because they had a big win at Mercer right before they played us, and the Bears were supposed to be 1 of the toughest teams in our conference. We could have beaten the Tide but we learned from it.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? I think a 14 seed would be good but we are just ready to go out/have fun/compete.

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-For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 11 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

We are only 2 days away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming days predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)

3: Gonzaga (WCC): AUTO-BID
3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Tennessee (SEC)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)

4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Virginia (ACC)
4: Indiana (Big 10)

5: Miami (ACC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)
5: Iowa State (Big 12)
5: TCU (Big 12)

6: St. Mary’s (WCC)
6: Kentucky (SEC)
6: Texas A&M (SEC)
6: Creighton (Big East)

7: Duke (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Missouri (SEC)

8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Iowa (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

9: Arkansas (SEC)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Auburn (SEC)
9: Memphis (AAC)

10: Boise State (MWC)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: Providence (Big East)
10: NC State (ACC)

11: Utah State (MWC)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Penn State (Big 10)
11: Clemson (ACC)

12: Charleston (CAA): AUTO-BID
12: Oral Roberts (Summit): AUTO-BID
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID
12: VCU (A-10)

13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Princeton (Ivy)
13: Iona (MAAC)

14: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID
14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot): AUTO-BID
15: Montana State (Big Sky): AUTO-BID
15: Vermont (America East)
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID

16: Northern Kentucky (Horizon): AUTO-BID
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland): AUTO-BID
16: Grambling (SWAC)
16: Howard (MEAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
Nevada (MWC)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

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The Hoops HD Mock Committee has started its deliberations!! John Stalica has summed up what we did on the first night – CLICK HERE to check out who has been voted into our field!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

It’s the busiest day of Championship Week, and one of the best days of college basketball for the entire season! We recap all of the conference tournament action and discuss San Jose State’s big win over Nevada and how that might impact the Wolfpack’s chances, some bubble teams were in action in the Pac 12, ACC, and Big Ten. We discuss all that, and more.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-11-Audio-Only.mp3

BIG 12 SEMIFINALS:

BIG EAST SEMIFINALS:

ACC SEMIFINALS:

MOUNTAIN WEST SEMIFINALS:

PAC 12 SEMIFINALS:

CONFERENCE USA SEMIFINALS:

BIG WEST SEMIFINALS:

MAC SEMIFINALS:

WAC SEMIFINALS:

METRO ATLANTIC SEMIFINALS:

MEAC SEMIFINALS:

SWAC SEMIFINALS:

BIG TEN QUARTERFINALS:

SEC QUARTERFINALS:

AMERICAN QUARTERFINALS:

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Tonight was the first night of our Hoops HD Selection Committee meetings; this is when we begin selecting in earnest teams that we feel should belong in the NCAA Tournament field. But our first order of business was selecting our annual Centenary and Stallings Award winners (CLICK HERE for the story on the awards); the Centenary Award went to the Long Island University Sharks and the Stallings Award went to the Louisville Cardinals. They will remain on our selection board for the duration of our committee meetings. We also made a motion to remove the 14 regular-season champions off the Under Consideration board (at least the teams that did not receive at-large consideration otherwise).

Once that was done, we began debate on teams that we feel should have been included in the field. Each member submitted a list of their Top 8 teams to our chairman Chad Sherwood; after tabulating the results we ended up with 4 teams plus a 5-way tie for 5th place, so we ended up ranking the following 9 teams on the next vote: Memphis, West Virginia, Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, Auburn, USC, Boise State, Pittsburgh and Maryland. After ranking these 9 teams, we added Florida Atlantic, West Virginia, Arkansas and Maryland to our field. The four teams that were carryovers to the next round of voting were Memphis, Pittsburgh, Auburn, and USC; Boise State was returned to the Under Consideration board since they were ranked 9th in the voting.

We then debated for a second round and again submitted lists of 8 teams apiece to Chad; tiebreakers AGAIN dictated that we had to rank a group of 9 teams instead of the usual 8. This was because there were 5 teams (NC State, Penn State, Rutgers, Providence, Mississippi State) that received unanimous selection along with the previous 4 carryovers. In this round of voting where the teams were ranked 1-9, we added Memphis, Auburn, Pittsburgh and USC to the field. Providence, Mississippi State, Rutgers and NC State will carryover to the next round of selection; Penn State returned to the Under Consideration board since they were not in the top 4 teams of carryovers.

With the results of tonight’s games, we are assured of two more at-large spots opening up since bid thieves are no longer possible in the Big 12 and Big East conferences. Spots could potentially open up tomorrow night for the Big Ten, ACC, SEC and Pac-12 as long as potential bid thieves like Ohio State and Vanderbilt fail to advance any further.

Therefore, this is our selection board after tonight’s games:

When we meet tomorrow night, we will begin ranking the top 8 seed lines in the field; we will also fill up any further vacancies in the at-large field and potentially scrub off more teams from the Under Consideration board. (We also scrubbed off Villanova after their loss against Creighton; they will not appear in tomorrow night’s update)

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Today begins the 4 most exciting days of our website as the Hoops HD panelists meet tonight to begin the process of selecting who we feel should qualify for the 2023 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Each of our panelists submitted two lists to our committee chairman Chad Sherwood; the first list consisted of teams that we felt should qualify as an at-large NCAA Tournament team regardless of how they finish their conference tournaments. Panelists could vote for up to 36 teams; teams that were listed on all but 3 of our ballots (this was because we had over 10 people submit ballots) were added to our NCAA At-Large board. Teams that appeared on at least 3 ballots but did not get the necessary votes for inclusion were added to the Under Consideration board. The second list consisted of additional teams to add to the Under Consideration board; again, teams needed 3 votes to qualify for the Under Consideration board.

And here are our initial results:

On the first ballot, 29 teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament field to go along with the 14 other teams that are already automatic qualifiers. When our Committee meets tonight, our main focus will be adding 8 more teams to the At-Large board. Other spots will open up as teams currently on the At-Large board win their respective conference tournaments and earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.

We will also unveil our Centenary and Stallings Award winners; they will remain on our board for the duration of our Selection Committee meetings (and will likely qualify for the 2023 AC8 Tournament).

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Yesterday Texas A&M Corpus-Christi beat Northwestern State 75-71 in the Southland tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Islanders started conference play 4-3 but have won 12 of their last 13 games to claim the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Texas A&M Corpus-Christi SR G Jalen Jackson about the special bond he has with Coach Steve Lutz.

Back at Wagner High School in 2019 you had a quadruple-double with 19 PTS/14 REB/10 AST/10 STL: where does that rank among the best all-around performances of your career? It is 1 of my top performances…but I think that my best is yet to come.

You began your college career at North Texas: what made you decide to transfer in 2021, and what made you choose Texas A&M Corpus-Christi? It just was not the right situation for me. I wanted to have a bigger role but shout-out to North Texas for giving me my 1st opportunity. Once I entered the portal it was a waiting game, and after I heard from Coach Steve Lutz (who I have known a while) I decided to take a chance.

Coach Lutz was a college teammate of your father Terence at Texas Lutheran: what makes him such a good coach, and what sort of bond have you 2 developed? He is all about winning and is a stand-up guy who tells you the truth whether it is good or bad. He always looks out for our best interest. We have always had a bond but since coming here we have grown a lot closer. I trust him a lot and he has a lot of trust in me on the court so it is an unbelievable bond that we have created.

Your father runs an AAU basketball program in San Antonio: how did you like playing for him, and who is the best athlete in the family? The AAU program actually started when I was in 2nd grade because my friend and I wanted to play together. As time went on the organization grew and became more of a national thing. I take every chance I get to go back and help the kids and hang out because I was in their shoes back in the day. I am a good athlete but so is the rest of my family: we all have good genes…but I think I have the best resume!

Last night in the Southland tourney title game you scored a season-high 17 PTS in a 4-PT win over Northwestern State en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how were you able to overcome a 16-PT 1st half deficit, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? We were shell-shocked at 1st because they came out with a different game plan and 1 of our players (Terrion Murdix) went down with a knee injury. Owen Dease did a great job of giving us a spark off the bench in the 1st half and bringing life to the team. If he had not done that then I think it would have been a different picture: it was his coming-out game. It was a blessing to be named MVP but I just did whatever I could do to help us win.

Terrion was named conference DPOY earlier this week but only played 3 minutes last night: what makes him such a good defender, and do you think that he will be able to play next week? I do not know if he will be able to play: we are waiting to hear what is going on. He is a great defender with long arms and knows when to go for steals. The way we play aggressive defense also helps him: we are up in gaps and pressuring the ball so shout-out to our coaching staff for giving us a chance to take risks.

You are 1 of 8 seniors/grad students on the roster: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? It has been very crucial. I think we returned 10 guys this year so we did not have to learn how to play with new teammates like we did last year. We knew everyone’s potential/ability so if someone is not giving their best effort we can call them out and have them pick up their play.

You are now 9-0 in conference tourney play during your career (5-0 in the Southland and 4-0 in C-USA): what is the key to winning games in March? Just being ready and staying prepared. Last year we had a 5-game losing streak late in the season and I told our guys that winning in March is about who wants it more. My guys have always wanted it more in conference tourney play: when it is game time we just do what we have to do to win.

You played several tourney-caliber teams this year including Arizona/Mississippi State/Oklahoma State: which of them impressed you the most? I would say Arizona because we do not usually see teams that big/long in our conference. They have 2 big men who can play inside or out, which we are not accustomed to, so it was a good experience for us to play in their arena.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? I do not know but hopefully a 15 seed. It really does not matter because we tell each other every day that we lace up our shoes the same way that our opponents do. When the ball goes up in the air we just have to play hard for 40 minutes and let our work/preparation determine the outcome.

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-For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 10 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

We are only 3 days away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming days predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)

3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Gonzaga (WCC): AUTO-BID
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Tennessee (SEC)

4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: Miami (ACC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Iowa State (Big 12)

6: TCU (Big 12)
6: Kentucky (SEC)
6: Texas A&M (SEC)
6: Creighton (Big East)

7: Duke (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Missouri (SEC)

8: Iowa (Big 10)
8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

9: Arkansas (SEC)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Auburn (SEC)
9: Memphis (AAC)

10: Boise State (MWC)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: Providence (Big East)
10: NC State (ACC)

11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Utah State (MWC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Nevada (MWC)
11: Penn State (Big 10)

12: Charleston (CAA): AUTO-BID
12: Oral Roberts (Summit): AUTO-BID
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID
12: VCU (A-10)

13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Princeton (Ivy)
13: Iona (MAAC)

14: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID
14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot): AUTO-BID
15: Vermont (America East)
15: Montana State (Big Sky): AUTO-BID
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
North Carolina (ACC)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

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CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Three more teams have punched their tickets to the dance as Colgate blew past Lafayette to win the Patriot League, Montana State won the Big Sky, and TAMUCC got past Northwestern State in a thrilling Southland Championship Game. We also saw some crazy games in the opening rounds of both the Mountain West and Big East Tournaments, particularly DePaul coming from 4pts down in the final few seconds against Seton Hall and then blocking a shot as time expired to win. It was a wild opening day in Conference USA as well with all three games coming down to the wire, and we had a huge upset in the SWAC Tournament with Texas Southern taking down Alcorn State. We discuss all that, and more!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-10-Audio-Only.mp3

BIG 12 QUARTERFINALS:

ACC QUARTERFINALS:

BIG EAST QUARTERFINALS:

PAC 12 QUARTERFINALS:

MOUNTAIN WEST QUARTERFINALS (brought to you by Joby Fortson):

ATLANTIC TEN QUARTERFINALS:

CONFERENCE USA QUARTERFINALS:

WAC QUARTERFINALS:

MAC QUARTERFINALS:

BIG WEST QUARTERFINALS:

METRO ATLANTIC QUARTERFINALS:

MEAC QUARTERFINALS:

SWAC QUARTERFINALS:

BIG TEN 2ND ROUND:

SEC 2ND ROUND:

AMERICAN OPENING ROUND:

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Here is a quick recap of the best photos I took during the Charleston postgame celebration last night:

The Cougar mascot was in a good mood:

The cheerleading team huddled together:

You do not need to be a tall coach to be a successful coach:

CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio handing over the hardware to the winning coach, who handed it to his players, who hoisted it skyward:

If you are going to punch your ticket then you better make it a big old ticket:

If Coach Pat Kelsey falls off that ladder with those sharp scissors then someone is getting sliced up!

The best father/son moment was when Coach Kelsey lifted his son Johnny up the ladder to cut down a piece of the net:

Johnny was everywhere at once: getting hoisted by Pat Robinson III, wondering when he will be tall enough to play for his dad, and letting everyone know who is #1!

Apparently postgame victory cigars are back in fashion:

Last, but not least, Ante Brzovic standing with his teammate Dalton Bolon, followed by Ante asking me to send him a copy, so if you see it on his Instagram feed: you’re welcome.

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-For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 9 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

We are only 4 days away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming days predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)

3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Gonzaga (WCC): AUTO-BID
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Tennessee (SEC)

4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Miami (ACC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)
5: Iowa State (Big 12)

6: TCU (Big 12)
6: Kentucky (SEC)
6: Texas A&M (SEC)
6: Creighton (Big East)

7: Duke (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Missouri (SEC)

8: Iowa (Big 10)
8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Arkansas (SEC)

9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Auburn (SEC)
9: Memphis (AAC)

10: Boise State (MWC)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: Providence (Big East)
10: NC State (ACC)

11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Utah State (MWC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Nevada (MWC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Penn State (Big 10)

12: Charleston (CAA): AUTO-BID
12: Oral Roberts (Summit): AUTO-BID
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID
12: VCU (A-10)

13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Princeton (Ivy)
13: Iona (MAAC)

14: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID
14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Montana State (Big Sky)
15: Vermont (America East)
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID

16: Northern Kentucky (Horizon): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
Oklahoma (Big 12)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

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FAU coach Dusty May certainly has things going in the right direction. After being hired in 2018 he had 4 straight winning seasons before taking it up a few notches this year with a 28-3 record as he prepares for his C-USA quarterfinal game on Thursday night. The coach who helped get the program going in D-1 back in the 1990s was Tim Loomis, who later was hired as head coach at Thiel College and just finished his 17th season in Greenville, PA. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Tim about a quadruple-overtime game and making the leap to D-1. Today is Tim’s 70th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

You spent 2 years as an assistant under legendary head coach Eddie McCluskey (1 of the best high school coaches in Pennsylvania history) at California University of Pennsylvania before becoming head coach yourself: what made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing you ever learned from him? He was the best coach I ever worked with. He was a national COY once and won a lot of state titles. The biggest thing I learned from him was how to make adjustments at halftime and manage a team. He is 1 of the most knowledgeable guys that I have ever met.

In 1984 you had a 2-PT 4-OT loss to Philly Textile: where does that rank among the most exciting games of your career? Herb Magee and I are good friends: he is a legend. I recall that we each ended up with only 4 players on the floor due to everyone fouling out! It was a strange and exciting game. Textile was a D-2 powerhouse and we were just starting to get good. We played UDC after they won the national title and had the D-2 tourney MOP (Michael Britt) and a future 1st round pick (Earl Jones): that was the other biggest game I was ever involved with.

You were an assistant coach under Bruce Parkhill at Penn State from 1986-1989: why did you decide to take the job? I did not start out wanting to coach but different things lead to different paths. I thought about staying in California but I was young and figured I would see what D-1 was like. Bruce was great to work for and I do not have any regrets.

What are your memories of the 1989 A-10 tourney title game (Rick Dadika made a pair of 3-PT shots in the final minutes of a 4-PT win by Rutgers)? It was a tough game and the loudest crowd that I have ever heard in my life. Bruce had taken the program a long way so it was disappointing to miss out on a spot in the NCAA tourney. My ears hurt for 2 days after that! We had a young pair of guards that year so it was a turning point for our program.

In the 1989 NIT 7’3” Tom Greis scored 24 PTS/9-11 FG in a 9-PT win by Villanova: I assume Greis was the “biggest” reason for the Wildcats’ win? The biggest thing from that game is that I distinctly remember Rollie Massimino switching from a matchup zone to a man-to-man defense. He came into our locker room after the game and was very gracious. It was great to break down film with coaches like him and John Chaney: they were so crafty and such great coaches.

Later that year you became head coach at Florida Atlantic, where you oversaw the team making the transition from D-2 to D-1: what is the biggest difference between the 2 levels of competition? Not a lot: good coaches can coach anywhere but the talent level is a bit different because the guys are bigger and the PGs are quicker. We figured we would stay at D-2 for awhile but the administration decided for a quicker switch so we had to get a lot of talent in there ASAP. Chaney’s advice was to just play it 1 half at a time and keep making adjustments. We had about 5 athletic directors during my 7 years there so it was hard to maintain a consistent winning atmosphere.

You have spent almost 2 decades as head coach at Thiel College: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? I love it here. Everyone in D-3 has a couple of low D-1 or D-2 guys and everyone can coach a little bit so you just have to keep recruiting talent. The last several years we have been good and we should have won the conference title at least once or twice so hopefully we can get to the D-3 tourney this year. We are kind of building our own good program and are well respected in the region.

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On Saturday Southeast Missouri State beat Tennessee Tech 89-82 in OT in the OVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Redhawks won 11 games in 2021 and 14 games in 2022 but won 19 games this year to claim the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2000. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Southeast Missouri State coach Brad Korn about his own run to the Sweet 16 as a player at Southern Illinois back in 2002.

You played for Coach Bruce Weber at Southern Illinois: what made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? A lot of what we will do leading up to the Selection Show is what I learned from him. He was a genuine person who challenged us but treated us like the stars of the show.

In 2002 you made the Sweet 16 before losing to UConn: what is your favorite memory from that remarkable run? I grew up watching Michael Jordan so to play well in the United Center in Chicago with my family there in the NCAA tourney was pretty great. It was kind of a storybook situation back then: just walking in and seeing the Jordan statue was a dream come true!

You lost in the 2003 NCAA tourney on a Ricky Paulding FT with 4.1 seconds left and in the 2004 NCAA tourney on an Antoine Pettway runner with 5 seconds left: what makes the difference in March in games that come down to the wire? Everything in society is results-based: I guarantee that if you go back and watch those games you could find a missed FT or turnover. People focus on the final play but everything means so much in a survive-or-go-home scenario so there is no play that is too small. It can come down to “1 shining moment” but it is not just about the last possession.

As a senior your coach was Matt Painter: would it be a dream or a nightmare if you end up facing Purdue in a potential 1 vs. 16 matchup?! A dream if we win and a nightmare if we lose! The crazy thing is that when I was at Kansas State we were in Charlotte for the 8 vs. 9 game in the 2018 NCAA tourney when UMBC upset Virginia so I have seen the only #16-seed upset in tourney history.

In the 2016 NCAA tourney as an assistant to Weber at Kansas State you made it all the way to the Elite 8 as a #9-seed: what is the secret to advancing as an underdog? I do not watch a ton of NBA basketball but I have heard Shaquille O’Neal/Charles Barkley talk about how “The Others” have to step up. We had some of our non-stars do a bunch of intangible things during our conference tourney. The top guys will always get keyed on by the opposing defense so you need to get some good minutes from your bench.

Last Saturday in the OVC tourney title game Chris Harris scored 26 PTS en route to being named conference tourney MVP in a 7-PT OT win over Tennessee Tech: how were you able to stay focused after Diante Wood’s amazing shot to tie the game at the end of regulation, and what was the feeling like in your locker room after winning 4 games in 4 days? I give Dylan Branson a ton of credit. Some of our guys came back to the huddle with tears in their eyes because they thought that we had lost the championship on a 3-PT shot, but Dylan told them that we had 5 more minutes to live out our dream. It just speaks to the level of resiliency that our guys have. There is so much that goes into it with so many people from our families to our support staff. It was an extremely nice celebration!

Your school had not made the NCAA tourney since a 3-PT loss to LSU in 2000: what has the reaction been like since returning to campus? We had a great crowd come up to Evansville. I think a lot of people have been sitting around and waiting for it to happen again but it has been a long time coming. This region knows basketball so it is almost like a sense of relief and hopefully it will bring out a lot of people. Hopefully we can bust it open and stay on the map.

You had a couple of road losses in December to teams who will probably make the NCAA tourney in Missouri/Iowa: which of them impressed you the most? I have been impressed with Missouri all year long, as well as teams like Bradley/SIU. We played a challenging schedule and hit our head a little bit but it was a microcosm of how we played in the tourney. Coach Dennis Gates has done an amazing job with the roster he inherited while playing an SEC schedule.

You only have 3 seniors/1 junior on your roster: while your team has proved it is built to win now, how excited are you by the fact that most of them will be sticking around for the foreseeable future? That is how we constructed our roster. We lost 10 players last year and then 2 assistant coaches so we strategically attacked that. We also had a bunch of guys hurt this year who will help us next year so I think the future is bright. It is always nice to ask recruits if they want to join a championship-level program …and we can now say that.

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? They are not even going to look at our resume but I do hope that they look at our non-conference schedule. I am hopeful for a 14/15 but due to the metrics we will probably get a 16 seed, and maybe even a play-in game. The most important thing is that SEMO made the NCAA tourney. You saw that our kids do not quit and keep fighting so we will take this opportunity and run with it.

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CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

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CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

There were five championships tonight, most notably Gonzaga blowing out Saint Mary’s to win the WCC (again), Charleston hanging on in a seesaw battle against UNC Wilmington, Northern Kentucky getting past Cleveland State to win the Horizon, Merrimack winning the NEC over Fairleigh Dickinson despite not being eligible for the NCAA Tournament, and Oral Roberts blowing out North Dakota State to complete the perfect season in the Summit League. We had some crazy semifinal action in the Big Sky with Northern Arizona pulling another upset to advance to the championship, and multiple overtime games in some of the other conferences. We discuss it all and preview all of tomorrow’s action.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-9-Audio-Only.mp3

BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP:

PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP:

SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIP:

METRO ATLANTIC QUARTERFINALS:

SWAC QUARTERFINALS:

MEAC QUARTERFINALS:

ACC 2ND ROUND:

ATLANTIC TEN 2ND ROUND:

BIG 12 OPENING ROUND:

PAC 12 OPENING ROUND:

BIG EAST OPENING ROUND:

MOUNTAIN WEST OPENING ROUND:

CONFERENCE USA OPENING ROUND:

BIG TEN 1ST ROUND:

SEC 1ST ROUND:

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place in Washington, DC, this weekend and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel wraps things up with a recap of the Tuesday night title game.

The final pregame meal was great: BBQ beef/pulled chicken/string beans/sweet potato/cheesecake/lemonade!
Let’s tip off the title game:

UNC-Wilmington vs. Charleston

The breakout star of this tourney remains…Coach Pat Kelsey’s son Johnny, who stood front and center during the national anthem, made sure everyone got a high-5 during the introduction of the starting lineup, then took his seat on the end of the bench to cheer on dad.

Both team’s fans were standing to start the game, realizing that 1 (or maybe both!?) of their schools was 40 minutes away from dancing.

The clear winner of the deja vu award is Seahawks big man Nick Farrar: exactly 1 year ago he played his final game in a Charleston uniform and scored 5 PTS in a 3-PT loss to UNCW that ended his Cougar career…and tonight he is playing for UNCW against Charleston! The 1st half was what you might expect from a pair of teams who were playing their 3rd game in 3 days and facing each other for the 3rd time this season. A lot of jump shots off the front of the rim, no easy baskets, and constant subbing to keep everyone fresh for the 2nd half. Charleston SR G Ryan Larson scored 8 PTS in a low-scoring 1st half but his team’s 2-14 shooting from behind the arc left them in a small hole at halftime, trailing 27-24. Fortunately, they are somehow 5-0 this season when having a halftime deficit!

The 2nd half got off to an exciting start with the ever-popular “mascot dance-off”:

Charleston big man Ante Brzovic dominated the 1st 3 minutes after intermission with 8 quick PTS and Larson chipped in a pair of shots from behind the arc as the Cougars opend up a 9-PT lead (40-31). However, Seahawks G Trazarien White became a 1-man comeback machine with back-to-back old-fashioned 3-PT plays and then a deep 3 to help his team finish off a 15-0 run to take a 49-42 lead. If you thought that a 30-win Charletson team would just roll over and die, think again. Larson keyed a late comeback with a long 3, a huge STL, and a coast-to-coast layup to help his team take a 57-53 lead with under 3 minutes to go as the Cougar fans were screaming at the top of their lungs. Brzovic made 2 tough jumpers in the final 80 seconds to give his team a 61-56 lead and they hung on to win it by a score of 63-58.

There was a nice trophy presentation followed by the cutting of the nets: tune in tomorrow for all of the celebration photos. What an exciting finish to a terrific tourney, congrats to the Cougars, and good luck to whoever gets matched up against them on Selection Sunday!

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On Sunday Drake beat top-seeded Bradley 77-51 in the MVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs won 25 games last year and made the CBI quarterfinals but have already won 27 games this year to claim the school’s 2nd NCAA tourney bid in the past 3 years. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Drake SO G/F Tucker DeVries about being named conference tourney MVP last weekend.

Your coach is also named “DeVries”: what is the best part of having your father Darian as your coach? Just the everyday process of getting to experience everything with him: the ups, downs, and everything in between. This has been the best time of my life and we have shared it together.

Last year you were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? It had a lot to do with the guys around me. We had a veteran group and they embraced me from the day that I stepped onto campus. They have confidence in me, which made it really easy for me to play well.

Last March you scored 14 PTS in the 2022 CBI quarterfinal 1-PT loss to UNCW: what did you learn from that loss that you think can help you in the postseason this year? Having this week off between the conference tourney and NCAA tourney is what I took away the most. When it comes to postseason basketball, if you lose then you are done, so having played in those types of games always helps. We have been to the MVC tourney title game for 3 years in a row and gained some valuable experience…and it showed.

Last month you had to check into the hospital due to a “scary infection” and spent 5 days there hooked up to IV’s: how is your health doing at the moment? For the most part I am 100% healthy from that. I was very thankful to have great people around me to ensure that it did not get any scarier. It is not ideal to try to get back into shape during the middle of the season but now I am back to normal.

Last week you were named conference POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It comes down to 2 things: team success leads to individual accolades, and it shows all of the hard work put in by me and the entire team. I am grateful to have been recognized and was very happy to win the award.

Last Sunday in the MVC tourney title game you scored a team-high 22 PTS en route to being named conference tourney MVP in a huge win over Bradley: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? Our whole team was very hungry to get that done. It makes it a lot easier to perform individually when the whole group is playing well all week.

Your 4 fellow starters are all seniors (Roman Penn/Darnell Brodie/Garrett Sturtz/DJ Wilkins): how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? Having a veteran group that has played a LOT of college basketball is great. Having 4th/5th/6th year seniors who remain hungry does not always happen. I am so proud of this group that has laid the foundation for our program.

1 of your high school teammates was Payton Sandfort, who will play for Iowa on Thursday in the Big 10 tourney: how excited are you that Payton will probably make the NCAA tourney even if his team does not win its conference tourney? Payton and I are really close and still talk almost every day and watch each other’s games. I am more stressed about his games than my own because there is nothing you can do when you are watching on TV! He was just named Big 10 6th Man of the Year a few hours ago and I wish him the best of luck in the NCAA tourney.

Your father played basketball at Northern Iowa, your uncle Dusty played football at Iowa, your aunt Jodi played volleyball at Northern Iowa, and your uncle Jared played in the NFL: who is the best athlete in the family? Oh boy…they are all so different in their own way. I heard the stories about all of my uncles while I was growing up: it was fun to learn about everyone’s journey in athletics and it has been special to have them all in my corner. It makes for some competitive tackle football during Christmas and random games at the lake during summertime!

What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? There is a lot of basketball left for a lot of teams in their own conference tourneys but the last 1-2 months we have been playing great by winning 13 of our past 14 games and we are excited to carry that momentum into the NCAA tourney. I am really happy with where we are and I see the same bracketology that you do. I have seen the experts list us as a 12-seed but whatever seed we end up getting I know that we will have a lot of fun!

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-For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 8 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

-For PART 2 of Jon Teitel’s Conference Tourney Previews – CLICK HERE

We are only 5 days away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming week predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)

3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)
3: Tennessee (SEC)

4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Miami (ACC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)
5: Iowa State (Big 12)

6: TCU (Big 12)
6: Kentucky (SEC)
6: Creighton (Big East)
6: Texas A&M (SEC)

7: Duke (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Missouri (SEC)

8: Iowa (Big 10)
8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Arkansas (SEC)

9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Auburn (SEC)
9: Memphis (AAC)

10: Boise State (MWC)
10: Providence (Big East)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: NC State (ACC)

11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Rutgers (Big 10)
11: Utah State (MWC)
11: Nevada (MWC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Penn State (Big 10)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID
12: VCU (A-10)

13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Iona (MAAC)
13: Princeton (Ivy)

14: Louisiana (Sun Belt): AUTO-BID
14: Furman (SoCon): AUTO-BID
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Vermont (America East)
15: Weber State (Big Sky)
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID

16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)
16: Northern Kentucky (Horizon)

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
Oklahoma (Big 12)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

Q and A With the Puppet and Jon Teitel:

In an email thread that all the Hoops HD Staffers are a part of, David Griggs asked the following questions and received the following answer, which I thought was fantastic!!

DAVID GRIGGS:-Teitel, I had two questions about your bracket. This isn’t me trying to argue because I know your track record speaks for itself, but rather trying to understand what’s in your head.
-Fairleigh Dickinson not being in one of the First Four games?
-Charleston. You said the other night that you thought they’d get selected even without the automatic bid, but it looks to me like you have them seeded outside of your bubble. Do you think they get in anyway if they don’t win tonight?

JON TEITEL:-what’s in my head is:

i have been posting a LOT of content this month (including your requested “who clinched” thing, which is finally over, thank god) and am dealing with midwestern SIDs who cannot figure out which time zone to use when i request an interview of their players/coaches, so i do not have time to examine the kenpom ranking of every single 16 seed every single morning…but as soon as good teams below them get auto-bids in the days ahead i assume FDU will drop into the 1st 4 (if not the worst team in the field)
charleston is getting in, as has every 30-win team in recent memory, so even if they forget to show up to the gym tonight then UNCW get the CAA auto-bid, charleston gets an at-large (maybe 11ish?), and someone’s bubble gets burst (maybe rutgers?)

anything else you need, BUDDY?

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WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We have stayed up late so we can help you make the proper selections and seedings!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Furman is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980! They beat Chattanooga to win the SoCon Championship. We saw two exciting games in the Colonial as UNC Wilmington knocked off top seeded Hofstra, and Charleston was in a battle with Towson that went back and forth. Louisiana will be going back to The Dance after winning The Sun Belt Tournament, and sadly Penguin Fever has come to an end after Youngstown State fell to Northern Kentucky in the semis of the Horizon League. We discuss all of this, along with the rest of today’s action, and preview a very busy day tomorrow as several conference tournaments have their championship games, and a few others get underway.

Audio only version:

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-8-Audio-Only.mp3

WEST COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP:

COLONIAL CHAMPIONSHIP:

HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP:

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP:

SUMMIT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP:

AMERICA EAST SEMIFINALS:

BIG SKY SEMIFINALS:

SOUTHLAND SEMIFINALS:

BIG WEST OPENING ROUND:

WAC OPENING ROUND:

METRO ATLANTIC OPENING ROUND:

ACC 1ST ROUND:

ATLANTIC TEN 1ST ROUND:

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 9pm, est on Thursday, March 6th, and the seedlist was created prior to 8pm, est. No games that were played that day, particularly the West Coast Conference Tournament games, were factored in

The Hoops HD Staff have each created their own personal seedlists. Those were cross country ranked to create a master seedlist, which was then put into a bracket by Chad. On this show, we reveal that bracket team by team, and then line by line in a Selection Sunday type format. The panel is seeing the bracket for the first time as it is revealed, and they debate, discuss, and assess each team as they are revealed.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BR-3-6-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place in Washington, DC, this weekend and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with a recap of the semifinal doubleheader on Monday.

The pregame meal was great: lemon rice/Mediterranean chicken/tomatoes/hummus/cheesecake/lemonade!
Let’s tip off a not-as-long day of games:

GAME #1: UNC-Wilmington vs. Hofstra

Hofstra won their only previous meeting this season by 24 PTS on January 19th so I was worried about witnessing yet another blowout. Hofstra SR Tyler Thomas dominated the 1st game with 28 PTS/3-6 3PM and had a solid 1st half tonight with 8 PTS/2-4 3PM. The star of the show, as you might have guessed, was his teammate Aaron Estrada (who was named conference POY a few days ago), who had 3 AST and scored 13 PTS in the 1st 20 minutes on a pair of layups and a trio of 3-PT shots. However, UNC-Wilmington did not back down from a double-digit deficit and even took a 42-41 lead right before halftime. It was a great team effort with 4 different Seahawks each scoring 7-10 PTS. Hofstra went into the break with a 43-42 lead and I had no idea what the final outcome would be.

The 2nd half was back-and-forth with the lead constantly changing hands and each team knocking down shot after shot. UNC-Wilmington SO Trazarien White only scored 3 PTS in the 1st matchup but was able to get to the FT line a ton tonight as he scored 21 PTS with 10 REB and 8-12 FTs.

Estrada did not get to the FT line during regulation but that did not prevent him from scoring 25 PTS of his own. It went down to the wire as Hofstra trailed 71-68 with 20 seconds left and Thomas was fouled while missing a corner 3: he made 3 clutch FTs to tie it at 71-all. The Seahawks missed 2 shots in the final seconds and we are headed to OT!

The overtime period was pretty sloppy with plenty of airballs/bad passes/exhausted players. White fouled out with 1:44 left while guarding Estrada (who played all 45 minutes), forcing Seahawks coach Takayo Siddle to look elsewhere for offense. JR Nick Farrar was 0-3 from the field in the 2nd half but came up big in OT with a spin into the lane before flipping in a lefty hook to give his team a 76-73 lead with 30 seconds left. The Towson/Charleston players got tired of sitting in their locker rooms so they came out to watch the end of the game with everyone else. The Pride missed a couple of long-range shots as the Seahawks pulled off the 79-73 upset and are now 1 win away from their 1st tourney title since 2017.

In the postgame press conference I asked Coach Siddle about his team’s ability to not waver. UNCW entered this tourney 1-6 this year when trailing at halftime, but they have now won back-to-back games despite trailing by 4 PTS to Drexel and 1 PT to Hofstra. He said it is all about learning something whether you win or lose. He told his guys, and they probably get tired of hearing it, but they have to get better from their mistakes and keep doing what they did well and with more force. Those losses prepared his team for this moment.

GAME #2: Towson vs. Charleston

I am sure that it was an enjoyable game…for people who do not need to join a podcast! Don’t believe me?

That is a wrap for today, check back tomorrow for the title game featuring UNC-Wilmington and Charleston.

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HoopsHD keeps celebrating the greatest time of the year with the 2nd part of our preview of every single conference tourney in the nation. Jon Teitel continues our coverage with his predictions for the 17 conference tourneys getting underway this week/weekend. Tweet us if you have any comments, and if you missed his picks last week concerning the 15 other conference tourneys you can find them at:
http://hoopshd.com/2023/02/27/conference-tourney-previews-part-1-of-2-8

AAC tourney predicted champ: Houston (#1 seed)
Dates: March 9-12
Location: Fort Worth, TX
2022 tourney champ: Houston (#1 seed)
Fun fact: Houston has been in title game each year since 2018
Seeding: 7 of past 8 champs were top-2 seed
Houston does not need a conference tourney title to advance…but will probably win 1 anyway as they attempt to get a #1 overall seed on Selection Sunday. Coach Kelvin Sampson has put together as good of a stretch as anyone in the nation during the past 6 years with 5 seasons of 27+ wins, but this might just be his best team ever despite nobody on the roster taller than 6’8”. The Cougars have lost exactly 2 games all season by a combined 7 PTS and are top-6 in the nation in both offensive AND defensive efficiency. They have a strong chance to win the national title in their home city on April 3rd.

A-10 tourney predicted champ: George Washington (#7 seed)
Dates: March 7-12
Location: Brooklyn, NY
2022 tourney champ: Richmond (#6 seed)
Fun fact: 7 different champs since 2015
Seeding: only 1 of past 8 champs was top-2 seed
This tourney has not been kind to top-2 seeds in the past so you should think twice before just handing the trophy to VCU or Dayton. The Colonials were 6-7 in league play in mid-February but got hot at the right time with 4 straight wins before losing the season finale at home by 6 PTS to VCU. Coach Chris Caputo might be a 1st year head coach but is no stranger to success in March: he spent more than 15 years as an assistant to Jim Larranaga, including a Final 4 appearance with GMU in 2006 and an Elite 8 appearance with Miami last spring. I saw them beat Dayton in person in January and they have won 4 games since then that went to OT so if you are going to beat GW then you better do so during the 1st 40 minutes.

ACC tourney predicted champ: Duke (#4 seed)
Dates: March 7-11
Location: Greensboro, NC
2022 tourney champ: Virginia Tech (#7 seed)
Fun fact: 6 different champs in past 7 tourneys
Seeding: 4 of past 5 champs were not top-2 seed
Duke is a bit of a homecourt hero…and has a 1st-year head coach…and is freaking Duke, but if you like teams paying well down the stretch then you cannot escape the fact that they won each of their final 6 regular season games. The good part about having so many teams crowded together at the top is that even if you pick a 4 seed it should not be considered that much of an upset. The Blue Devils have recently been known for having big-time scorers like Zion Williamson/Jayson Tatum, but this year’s squad is actually getting it done on defense, as they are top-40 in the nation in FG% allowed from both 2-PT/3-PT range. As for 1-PT range, they will just have to hope their opponents stop making an incredible 76% of their FTs. The key during their winning streak has been FR Kyle Filipowski: since going scoreless in 30 minutes during an OT loss at Virginia on February 11th he has averaged 16 PPG/9 RPG while making 28-33 FTs.

Big 12 tourney predicted champ: Kansas State (#3 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: Kansas City, MO
2022 tourney champ: Kansas (#1 seed)
Fun fact: only 3 champs since 2013 are Iowa State/Kansas/Texas
Seeding: 3 of past 5 champs were not top-2 seed
Kansas proved in 2022 that winning this tourney can help you win an NCAA title…but Baylor proved in 2021 that even if you get upset in the semifinals you can STILL win an NCAA title! I am normally not a fan of 1st-year coaches, especially when they lose 3 of 4 games to start February, but Jerome Tang got his guys back on track by winning 4 in a row before losing the regular season finale on the road by 8 PTS to West Virginia. However, this conference features so many terrific teams that literally all of them are capable of making the title game. The Wildcats are great at defending the 3-PT line (29.5 3P% allowed is top-15 in the nation) and have 1 of the best inside/outside combinations in the country, as Keyontae Johnson/Markquis Nowell have combined to average 35 PPG/11 RPG/10 APG.

Big East tourney predicted champ: Xavier (#2 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: New York, NY
2022 tourney champ: Villanova (#2 seed)
Fun fact: Villanova has won 4 of past 5 tourneys
Seeding: 3 of past 4 champs were not #1 seed
If Georgetown wins this 1 then I might just have to throw out the old keyboard because it means I know absolutely NOTHING about this sport. Coach Sean Miller won the A-10 tourney during his 1st go-round at Xavier in 2006 and then a trio of Pac-12 tourneys as coach at Arizona so he certainly knows what it takes to hoist the trophy. Even though the Musketeers lost 5 games in 5 weeks from mid-January to mid-February, 4 of those losses were by 1-2 PTS, which means that if they can just make some more FTs or get a couple more defensive stops then I feel they can go on a long winning streak. If that does not work: just keep shooting threes, as their 39.8 3P% is #4 in the nation. Even though big man Zach Freemantle (aka Big Frosty) is done for the year due to foot surgery, they have grown accustomed to his absence by now.

Big 10 tourney predicted champ: Penn State (#10 seed)
Dates: March 8-12
Location: Chicago, IL
2022 tourney champ: Iowa (#5 seed)
Fun fact: 4 different champs since 2018
Seeding: 3 of past 5 champs were not top-4 seed
There are like 10 different teams who could win this tourney…and if it was held in Piscataway then there would be an 11th! Purdue is certainly good enough to make a run, but since 1-seeds have not fared well in this tourney I will go WAY down the standings to pick a Penn State team that won 5 of their final 6 games with only a horrible home loss to Rutgers after blowing a 19-PT lead with 17 minutes to go. Their 39.9 3P% is #7 in the nation and they have 1 of the best all-around players in the nation: SR Jalen Pickett is averaging 18 PPG/7 RPG/7 APG while shooting almost 39% from the 3-PT line. There may also not be a team in the country who needs a couple more wins than the Nittany Lions, as they are sitting squarely on the bubble.

Big West tourney predicted champ: UCSB (#2 seed)
Dates: March 7-11
Location: Henderson, NV
2022 tourney champ: Fullerton (#2 seed)
Fun fact: 5 different champs since 2016
Seeding: 5 of past 6 champs were top-2 seed
This tourney seems to have a new champ every year and the Gauchos have only won it once in the past decade so why not them? Coach Joe Pasternack’s team looked very shaky in mid-February with 3 straight double-digit losses but found the knack in the nick of time by winning 4 straight to finish the regular season. UCSB has a super-efficient offense (49.5 FG% is #7 in the nation) that is led by the 2-headed monster of Ajay Mitchell/Miles Norris, who have combined for 30 PPG/9 RPG. The 2 concerns are whether they can win a close game (their opponents’ 75.2 FT% is among the highest in the country) and whether they can beat the #1 seed in UC-Riverside (who swept the Gauchos this year).

C-USA tourney predicted champ: Florida Atlantic (#1 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: Frisco, TX
2022 tourney champ: UAB (#2 seed)
Fun fact: 5 different champs since 2017
Seeding: 4 of past 6 champs were top-2 seed
The Owls lost 15 games last year but have been near-perfect this year with only 3 losses all season. North Texas/UAB have both been able to hang with Florida Atlantic but will probably have to battle each other to the death in the tourney semifinals. Coach Dusty May has a well-balanced offense with 5 guys scoring 9-14 PPG, and they also hit the boards as their 27.7 defensive RPG is top-20 in the nation. His team is so good that they probably do not even need to win their opening game to make the NCAA tourney. The most terrifying thing is that Michael Forrest is the only SR on the entire roster so they might just end up as a protected seed in 2024!

Ivy tourney predicted champ: Yale (#1 seed)
Dates: March 11-12
Location: Princeton, NJ
2022 tourney champ: Yale (#2 seed)
Fun fact: only team to win tourney since 2019 is Yale
Seeding: each of 4 all-time champs were top-2 seed
As much as I would like to pick my Quakers to rally from a 9-11 start this season and end up making the NCAA tourney…my Penn education has taught me that is a poor wager. Since it might literally kill me to pick Princeton despite their home-court advantage, I will be going with Yale. Coach Joe Jones stumbled out of the block by losing 3 of 4 to start conference play (including an almost inexcusable road loss at Columbia) but has righted the ship by winning 9 of his final 10 with only a 2-PT loss at the Palestra. The Bulldogs will not be intimidated by Jadwin Gymnasium since they swept the Tigers this season but health could be the X-factor, as leading scorer Matt Knowling missed the past 3 games with a sprained ankle.

MAAC tourney predicted champ: Iona (#1 seed)
Dates: March 7-11
Location: Atlantic City, NJ
2022 tourney champ: St. Peter’s (#2 seed)
Fun fact: Iona has won 6 of past 9 tourneys
Seeding: 10 of past 11 champs were not #1 seed
Iona has owned this tourney for most of the past decade…and even though this tourney has not been kind to 1 seeds, if the Gaels were able to win it 2 years ago as a 9-seed then how on earth could anyone pick against them as the best team in the league this year!? It is also never a good idea to bet against Rick Pitino in March. He has only lost 3 games since Christmas due to his team being top-10 in the nation at defending the 3-PT line (29.5 3P% allowed). The Gaels only got 7 games out of SR Quinn Slazinski before season-ending ankle surgery and Cruz Davis missed the final 7 games due to an Achilles injury, so it remains to be seen if Iona will have enough left in the tank to win 3 games in 4 days.

MAC tourney predicted champ: Toledo (#1 seed)
Dates: March 9-11
Location: Cleveland, OH
2022 tourney champ: Akron (#4 seed)
Fun fact: 4 different champs in past 5 tourneys
Seeding: 4 of past 6 champs were not top-2 seed
This tourney is often won by an underdog but when the big dog (Toledo) has the longest winning streak in the nation at 15 games and counting you go with the momentum. The Rockets have not made the NCAA tourney since 1980 so it is far from a slam dunk, and even if they were the defending champ you should not pencil them in just yet because the #2 seed (Kent State) beat them by double-digits on January 10th. Coach Tod Kowalczyk has a below-average defensive team but when your top-3 scorers (RayJ Dennis/JT Shumate/Setric Millner) are combining to average 52 PPG/15 RPG you are not going to have a lot of low-scoring affairs so prepare for take-off!

MEAC tourney predicted champ: Howard (#1 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: Norfolk, VA
2022 tourney champ: Norfolk State (#1 seed)
Fun fact: only 2 champs since 2011 who are still in this conference are NC Central/Norfolk State
Seeding: 4 of past 6 champs were top-2 seed
There has not been a lot of DC-area basketball worth cheering about this year but the program that has looked the most impressive is Howard. Despite not having won this tourney since 1992, they have a legitimate shot this year due to an amazing turnaround led by Coach Kenny Blakeney. He won 5 games combined during his 1st 2 years but followed up last year’s 16-13 season with a regular season championship this year. The Bison have been living by the 3, as their 37.6 3P% is top-25 in the nation. They also have a very young team, with only 1 SR in the starting lineup, but instead of throwing in the towel after a 4-8 start they have come of age while winning 11 of their last 13 games.

MWC tourney predicted champ: San Diego State (#1 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: Las Vegas, NV
2022 tourney champ: Boise State (#1 seed)
Fun fact: San Diego State has made title game each of past 5 years
Seeding: 6 of past 7 champs were top-2 seed
1 of the few things you can bank on in Vegas is that the Aztecs will make this title game, since they have done so for 5 years in a row. They are not invincible, and only 1-3 in neutral-site games this season, but Coach Brian Dutcher’s team remains stout on defense as always. San Diego State is not outstanding in any 1 particular category but 1 thing they do have going for them is experience, as each of their top-9 scorers are juniors/seniors. That being said, their epic collapse at Boise State on February 28th was as close to a red flag as we have seen all year.

Pac-12 predicted champ: UCLA (#1 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: Las Vegas, NV
2022 tourney champ: Arizona (#1 seed)
Fun fact: only 3 champs since 2015 are Arizona/Oregon/Oregon State
Seeding: 6 of past 8 champs were top-2 seed
Are you loving the tourney logo with the anonymous player’s number representing the # of teams in this league?! The Bruins have not won this tourney since 2014, but they proved they were the class of this league all season long by winning 24 of their past 26 games with only a pair of road losses to Arizona/USC. Coach Mick Cronin has been starting a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans this season in Amari Bailey/Adem Bona, and they have been great complimentary pieces to the scoring of Jaime Jaquez Jr., the passing of Tyger Campbell, and the thievery of Jaylen Clark. UCLA made the Final 4 in 2021 as an 11-seed before losing on 1 of the all-time daggers from Jalen Suggs, so you can bet that they want to get as high a seed as possible to avoid such a fate this time around.

SEC predicted champ: Texas A&M (#2 seed)
Dates: March 8-12
Location: Nashville, TN
2022 tourney champ: Tennessee (#2 seed)
Fun fact: 4 different champs since 2018
Seeding: 6 of past 8 champs were top-2 seed
I thought our good friend Uncle Buzz had nowhere to go but down after last year’s 27-win season that came up 1 possession shy of winning the NIT over Xavier, especially after a home loss to Wofford on December 20th. However, he has exceeded all expectations since then by winning 17 of his final 20 games including a pair of home victories over Tennessee/Alabama. The Aggies are a bit of a homecourt hero, as 7 of their 8 losses occurred away from College Station, but anyone who can go 15-3 in the SEC is no joke. They have a relatively young team with only 2 seniors among their top-9 scorers, but there is literally nobody better at knocking down FTs, as their 19.4 FTM/game is #1 in the nation.

SWAC predicted champ: Grambling (#2 seed)
Dates: March 8-11
Location: Birmingham, AL
2022 tourney champ: Texas Southern (#2 seed)
Fun fact: Texas Southern has won 6 of past 8 tourneys and finished 2nd once
Seeding: 8 of past 10 champs were top-2 seed
Texas Southern used to own this tourney but they have been rather underwhelming this year so the door is ajar for someone else to win it. In contrast, Grambling has never made the NCAA tourney but I think this could be their year. Since mid-January they won 12 of 13 games with only a 3-PT loss to Alcorn State, who they will probably have to face in the title game. Coach Donte Jackson’s team does its damage on defense, as they are top-30 in the nation in shooting percentage allowed from each of 1-PT/2-PT/3-PT range. The big red flag is their FT shooting: 63.5% is bottom-10 in the nation.

WAC predicted champ: Utah Valley (#2 seed)
Dates: March 6-11
Location: Las Vegas, NV
2022 tourney champ: New Mexico State (#3 seed)
Fun fact: New Mexico State has made title game each year since 2012
Seeding: 19 of past 20 champs were top-3 seed
This appears to be a 2-team race between Utah Valley and Sam Houston, and since the Wolverines skinned the Bearkats by 16 PTS in their only meeting on December 29th they get the nod. 25 years ago Mark Madsen helped his Stanford squad make the Final 4 before a 1-PT OT loss to eventual champ Kentucky: now he has a chance to help Utah Valley make the 1st NCAA tourney in school history. They are not going to beat you from behind the arc as their 32.3 3P% is well-below-average, but thanks to their Twin Towers of 7’ Aziz Bandaogo/6’9” Tim Fuller they lead the nation with 6.7 BPG.

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For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 7 where we break down all of yesterday’s conference tournament action and preview all of todays, and with links to brackets, schedules, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

We are only 6 days away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming week predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)

3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)
3: Tennessee (SEC)

4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: Miami (ACC)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)
5: TCU (Big 12)

6: Iowa State (Big 12)
6: Creighton (Big East)
6: Kentucky (SEC)
6: Texas A&M (SEC)

7: Duke (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Missouri (SEC)

8: Iowa (Big 10)
8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Arkansas (SEC)

9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
9: Providence (Big East)
9: Boise State (MWC)
9: Memphis (AAC)

10: Auburn (SEC)
10: West Virginia (Big 12)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: Rutgers (Big 10)

11: NC State (ACC)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Nevada (MWC)
11: Utah State (MWC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Wisconsin (Big 10)

12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: Charleston (CAA)
12: VCU (A-10)
12: Drake (MVC): AUTO-BID

13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Iona (MAAC)
13: Princeton (Ivy)

14: Louisiana (Sun Belt)
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Furman (SoCon)
14: Kennesaw State (Atlantic Sun): AUTO-BID

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Vermont (America East)
15: Weber State (Big Sky)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)

16: UNC-Asheville (Big South): AUTO-BID
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
Oklahoma (Big 12)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Penn State (Big 10)

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WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We are your perpetual mentors and are providing you with all of the guidance and information that you need!!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Three more champions were crowned today as UNC Asheville, Kennesaw State, and Drake all punched their tickets to the NCAA Tournament. Kennesaw State is dancing for the first time ever after an exciting win on their home floor against Liberty. We saw some more big upsets as Eastern Washington was knocked out of the Big Sky Quarterfinals and South Alabama pulled off another upset as they knocked out James Madison in the semifinals of the Sun Belt. We break down all of today’s action for you.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-7-Audio-Only.mp3

SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP:

SOCON CHAMPIONSHIP:

WEST COAST SEMIFINALS:

COLONIAL SEMIFINALS:

HORIZON LEAGUE SEMIFINALS:

SUMMIT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS:

BIG SKY QUARTERFINALS:

SOUTHLAND QUARTERFINALS:

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The end of the regular season means that it is time to recognize the best players/coaches in college basketball this season. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has reviewed all of the numbers and is ready to announce his picks for the 5 best players from each conference based on their all-around stats. Players are listed in a traditional 5-position lineup (G-G-F-F-C) whenever possible with several exceptions, plus special awards for each conference’s Player of the Year (POY), Rookie of the Year (ROY), Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), 6th Man of the Year (6TH), and Coach of the Year (COY). If you think he has overlooked anyone then feel free to tweet us your comments, and if you missed last week’s picks for the rest of the conferences in Part 1 you can find them at: http://hoopshd.com/2023/02/26/handing-out-the-hardware-all-conference-awards-of-the-year-part-1-of-2-8

AAC
G: Kendric Davis (Memphis)
G: Zhuric Phelps (SMU)
G: Jalen Cook (Tulane)
F: DeAndre Williams (Memphis)
F: Kevin Cross (Tulane)
POY: Kendric Davis (Memphis)
ROY: Taylor Hendricks (UCF)
DPOY: Craig Porter (Wichita State)
6TH: Khalif Battle (Temple)
COY: Kelvin Sampson (Houston)

A-10
G: Foster Loyer (Davidson)
G: James Bishop IV (George Washington)
G: Darius Quisenberry (Fordham)
F: Tyler Burton (Richmond)
F: DaRon Holmes II (Dayton)
POY: James Bishop IV (George Washington)
ROY: Jason Nelson (Richmond)
DPOY: Ace Baldwin (VCU)
6TH: RJ Luis (Massachusetts)
COY: Keith Urgo (Fordham)

ACC
G: Jarkel Joiner (NC State)
G: Tyree Appleby (Wake Forest)
F: Armando Bacot (North Carolina)
F: Hunter Tyson (Clemson)
C: Jesse Edwards (Syracuse)
POY: Tyree Appleby (Wake Forest)
ROY: Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
DPOY: Jesse Edwards (Syracuse)
6TH: Nike Sibande (Pitt)
COY: Jeff Capel (Pitt)

Big 12
G: Markquis Nowell (Kansas State)
G: Marcus Carr (Texas)
F: Jalen Wilson (Kansas)
F: Keyontae Johnson (Kansas State)
C: Tanner Groves (Oklahoma)
POY: Jalen Wilson (Kansas)
ROY: Keyonte George (Baylor)
DPOY: Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas)
6TH: Sir’Jabari Rice (Texas)
COY: Rodney Terry (Texas)

Big East
G: Umoja Gibson (DePaul)
G: Souley Boum (Xavier)
F: Bryce Hopkins (Providence)
F: Adama Sanogo (Connecticut)
C: Joel Soriano (St. John’s)
POY: Adama Sanogo (Connecticut)
ROY: Alex Karaban (Connecticut)
DPOY: KC Ndefo (Seton Hall)
6TH: Da’Sean Nelson (DePaul)
COY: Shaka Smart (Marquette)

Big 10
G: Boo Buie (Northwestern)
G: Jalen Pickett (Penn State)
F: Kris Murray (Iowa)
F: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)
C: Zach Edey (Purdue)
POY: Zach Edey (Purdue)
ROY: Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State)
DPOY: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)
6TH: Payton Sandfort (Iowa)
COY: Matt Painter (Purdue)

Big West
G: Elijah Pepper (UC-Davis)
G: Zyon Pullin (UC-Riverside)
G: Ajay Mitchell (UCSB)
F: Miles Norris (UCSB)
F: Lassina Traore (Long Beach State)
POY: Elijah Pepper (UC-Davis)
ROY: Roddie Anderson II (UCSD)
DPOY: Jadon Jones (Long Beach State)
6TH: Jamal Hartwell II (UC-Riverside)
COY: Joe Pasternack (UCSB)

C-USA
G: Jordan Walker (UAB)
G: Cobe Williams (Louisiana Tech)
F: Isaiah Crawford (Louisiana Tech)
F: Max Fiedler (Rice)
C: Jacob Germany (UTSA)
POY: Jordan Walker (UAB)
ROY: Arturo Dean (Florida International)
DPOY: Jamarion Sharp (Western Kentucky)
6TH: Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic)
COY: Dusty May (Florida Atlantic)

Ivy
G: Paxson Wojcik (Brown)
G: Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (Columbia)
F: Dame Adelekun (Dartmouth)
F: Chris Ledlum (Harvard)
F: Tosan Evbuomwan (Princeton)
POY: Chris Ledlum (Harvard)
ROY: Zinou Bedri (Columbia)
DPOY: Dame Adelekun (Dartmouth)
6TH: Chris Manon (Cornell)
COY: Steve Donahue (Penn)

MAAC
G: Walter Clayton Jr. (Rider)
G: Noah Thomasson (Niagara)
F: Josh Roberts (Manhattan)
F: Nelly Junior Joseph (Iona)
C: Patrick Gardner (Marist)
POY: Patrick Gardner (Marist)
ROY: Tahj Staveskie (Canisius)
DPOY: Nelly Junior Joseph (Iona)
6TH: Jaylen Murray (St. Peter’s)
COY: Kevin Baggett (Rider)

MAC
G: RayJ Dennis (Toledo)
G: Sincere Carry (Kent State)
F: Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan)
F: Enrique Freeman (Akron)
C: Payton Sparks (Ball State)
POY: RayJ Dennis (Toledo)
ROY: Reggie Bass (Central Michigan)
DPOY: Malique Jacobs (Kent State)
6TH: Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green)
COY: Mike Lewis (Ball State)

MEAC
G: Sam Sessoms (Coppin State)
G: Joe Bryant Jr. (Norfolk State)
F: Steve Settle III (Howard)
F: Kris Bankston (Norfolk State)
C: Brendan Medley-Bacon (NC Central)
POY: Sam Sessoms (Coppin State)
ROY: Jevin Muniz (Delaware State)
DPOY: Eric Boone (NC Central)
6TH: Will Thomas (Morgan State)
COY: Jason Crafton (Maryland-Eastern Shore)

MWC
G: Omari Moore (San Jose State)
G: Isaiah Stevens (Colorado State)
G: EJ Harkless (UNLV)
F: Tyson Degenhart (Boise State)
F: Morris Udeze (New Mexico)
POY: EJ Harkless (UNLV)
ROY: Corbin Green (Air Force)
DPOY: Jaelen House (New Mexico)
6TH: Dan Akin (Utah State)
COY: Ryan Odom (Utah State)

Pac-12
G: Boogie Ellis (USC)
G: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA)
F: Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona)
F: Keion Brooks Jr. (Washington)
C: Oumar Ballo (Arizona)
POY: Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona)
ROY: Jordan Pope (Oregon State)
DPOY: Jaylen Clark (UCLA)
6TH: Michael Jones (Stanford)
COY: Craig Smith (Utah)

SEC
G: Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
G: Kobe Brown (Missouri)
F: Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky)
F: Brandon Miller (Alabama)
F: KJ Williams (LSU)
POY: Brandon Miller (Alabama)
ROY: Brandon Miller (Alabama)
DPOY: Colin Castleton (Florida)
6TH: Kowacie Reeves (Florida)
COY: Nate Oats (Alabama)

SWAC
G: Cam Christon (Grambling)
G: Marcus Garrett (Bethune-Cookman)
G: Kylen Milton (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
F: Carte’Are Gordon (Grambling)
F: Joirdon Karl Nicholas (Texas Southern)
POY: Marcus Garrett (Bethune-Cookman)
ROY: Zion Harmon (Bethune-Cookman)
DPOY: Yahuza Rasas (Prairie View)
6TH: Dominic Brewton (Alcorn State)
COY: Donte Jackson (Grambling)

WAC
G: Cameron Gooden (Utah Tech)
G: Rayshon Harrison (Grand Canyon)
F: Justin Johnson (UTRGV)
F: Sadaidriene Hall (Stephen F. Austin)
C: Aziz Bandaogo (Utah Valley)
POY: Justin Johnson (UTRGV)
ROY: Chendall Weaver (UT-Arlington)
DPOY: Aziz Bandaogo (Utah Valley)
6TH: Noah Baumann (Grand Canyon)
COY: Mark Madsen (Utah Valley)

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For the HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN where we recap all of yesterday’s regular season action and preview all of today’s games – CLICK HERE

For the latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK where we recap and preview all of the conference tournament action – CLICK HERE

We are only 1 week away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming week predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: UCLA (Pac-12)

2: Purdue (Big 10)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)

3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)
3: Tennessee (SEC)

4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Virginia (ACC)

5: Miami (ACC)
5: TCU (Big 12)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)

6: Iowa State (Big 12)
6: Kentucky (SEC)
6: Creighton (Big East)
6: Texas A&M (SEC)

7: Northwestern (Big 10)
7: Duke (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Iowa (Big 10)

8: Maryland (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Missouri (SEC)
8: Arkansas (SEC)

9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
9: Providence (Big East)
9: Memphis (AAC)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)

10: Boise State (MWC)
10: Rutgers (Big 10)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: NC State (ACC)

11: Auburn (SEC)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Nevada (MWC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Arizona State (Pac-12)
11: Oklahoma (Big 12)

12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: Charleston (CAA)
12: VCU (A-10)
12: Bradley (MVC)

13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Toledo (MAC)
13: Iona (MAAC)

14: Louisiana (Sun Belt)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Furman (SoCon)

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
15: Vermont (America East)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)

16: UNC-Asheville (Big South)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC): AUTO-BID
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC): AUTO-BID

1ST 4 OUT
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Penn State (Big 10)
Utah State (MWC)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

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The Riverhawks are having a great season with 25 wins so far and a spot in the America East semifinals on Tuesday night. 1 of the coaches who paved the way for Pat Duquette was Ken Barer, who was hired in 2001 and won 28 games in his 2nd year on the sideline. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ken about turning down Coach K and playing pro basketball. Today marks the 35th anniversary of the final game of Ken’s playing career in college on March 5, 1988, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishments.

You played basketball at GW: what made you choose the Colonials? The final 3 schools in the mix were GW/Stanford/Duke. Duke came on late and said that they were interested but their top choice was a player from North Carolina and they were going to wait for him even if he did not sign a national letter of intent. I told Coach Mike Krzyzewski, “Thanks but no thanks.” I did not want to wait and wait and then have that player choose Duke after I no longer had the offers from GW/Stanford. That is what actually happened: he finally ended up signing with Duke. When it came down to GW/Stanford (I did take a visit to Palo Alto!) my high school coach said something important to me. He said that God forbid, if I got hurt, would I want to go to that school for 4 years? I was/am very close with my older brother and felt that going across the country was too far. However, I will admit that if I had to do it all over again I may have chosen Princeton. Coach Pete Carril really wanted me to go there and is 1 of the greatest coaches of all time. I loved going to school in DC as well as being around my teammates…but I was not in love with my head coaches.

1 of your teammates was Mike Brown, who later spent a decade in the NBA: could you tell at the time that he was going to make it to the next level? I absolutely knew that Mike would play at the next level. He was a hard worker, knew how to use his size, and was very smart. He was also one of the nicest guys I have ever known. He ended up playing with Michael Jordan as well as John Stockton/Karl Malone, which made for some great stories!

Your coach was John Kuester, who was 1977 ACC tourney MVP at UNC under Dean Smith and later an assistant to Rick Pitino at BU: how much of an advantage is it to play/work for a pair of Hall of Famers? To be honest I do not feel it was an advantage at all: it may have even been a disadvantage. I had a lot of respect for how tough Coach Kuester was as a player: my issue was that I am not sure if he was ready to be a head coach at that level. What I mean is that he tried to make us play as if we were North Carolina even though we clearly were not: we did not have guys up front who were 6’10”/6’11”/7’ tall. I think that he would have been better off taking his knowledge and creating his own style.

After graduating you played pro basketball in France for several years: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? There were several significant differences in the basketball played in France vs. what I was used to in the US. One of the biggest differences I noticed was that the practices were not nearly as intense and the French players were not as schooled in the fundamentals. Remember I am talking about France: I am sure that it was different in some other countries. For the most part the French players were not as physically tough as the Americans so they would not be used to a more physical game (for the most part). I was a point guard in the pros (after playing off-guard in college) because I saw right away that there were some intricacies of the game that I had been taught that the other players were lacking and I was able to use that to control the game. Being bilingual was a bonus, especially for a point guard!

As a member of team USA at the 1993 Maccabiah Games in Israel you won a silver medal and were named MVP: how close did you come to winning the gold, and what did it mean to you to be named MVP? The first time I played in the Maccabiah Games was in 1985, which was the summer after my freshman year of college. We had a phenomenal team and won the gold medal. Representing the US in Israel was very special. I played in the Maccabiah Games again in 1989 but this time with the French team. Since I have dual citizenship and was playing there at the time I thought that it would be fun to do. Unfortunately, they were not as serious about it as I wanted, so I said to myself that if I was still playing in 4 years then I would try out for the US team again. In 1993 I had just “retired” at age 27 but was still in the best shape of my life. We all had poor games in the finals but still had a chance to win at the end: it was disappointing. I can honestly say that though it was an honor to be named MVP of the Games I would have gladly traded it for a gold medal.

You later served as an assistant coach at LIU/Wright State: what made you want to become a coach? I did not grow up wanting to become a coach: as a matter of fact it was quite the opposite. Aside from my freshman/varsity high school coaches I had not been coached by guys who I particularly liked. What I did learn along the way were some very important things that would become a major part of my coaching philosophy: things I knew that I would not want to do if I coached! While in college and during my time as a professional, I would come home over the summer and work at the Five Star Basketball Camp run by the late Howard Garfinkel. It was there that I was exposed to some of the greatest coaches I have ever been around. Near the end of my time in France I began to realize that I really enjoyed the idea of coaching and basketball was my passion. I wanted to give back and make a positive impact on the lives of young players. My best friend Ed Schilling (who I met at Five Star the summer before our senior years in high school) was a high school coach in Indiana (he is currently an assistant at GCU). I became his JV coach/varsity assistant coach and he was a great mentor to me. It was from there that I went on to coach high school basketball in Connecticut for 3 years before rejoining him at Wright State as his assistant.

You were hired as head coach at D-2 UMass-Lowell in 2001: why did you take the job, and what is the biggest difference between D-2 and D-1? The reason I took the job at UMass-Lowell was simple: I wanted to be a head coach. When I came back from France I had a couple of offers to be a “restricted earnings” assistant (that is what they used to call the coaches who could not coach on the floor but were still part of the staff) at two different major D-1 programs…but I wanted to learn how to coach, design my own practices, and call my own timeouts. Getting the job at UMass-Lowell was great for me. The biggest difference between D-1 and D-2 was size. The guard play at the D-2 level was excellent: the difference was that there were 6’1”/6’2” guards at the D-2 level while D-1 had 6’5”/6’6” guards who were bigger/stronger/quicker. It was also rare to find an inside player with size who was very good because those types of players would almost always find a home at the D-1 level. However, there were some very good undersized interior players.

In 2003 your team went 28-5 and broke the school record for wins in a season: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? That team was very special. We actually won 28 games the next year as well and returned to the Elite 8 for the second straight season. It will be hard to break that record at this point because the school is now D-1 so it will be a very hard number to reach.

You won back-to-back regular season and conference tourney titles in 2003/2004: what made you such a good coach? Hahahaha! “Good coach”? Having great players helped a great deal! I was fortunate to have had a team full of ultra-competitive players who were unselfish and wanted to win. They bought into the system and sacrificed any individual goals for the greater good of the team. My assistants were fantastic, which allowed me to really focus my efforts on what I felt was most important at any given time. It was really a total team effort.

You currently work as Athletics Director of the Mohawk Day Camp & Country Day School: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? Right now I am part owner/Associate Director/Athletic Director at Mohawk Day Camp. It allows me to take advantage of my skill set to do outreach and the “recruiting” of families to come to the camp. Over the summer I wear the hat of Athletic Director and run the athletic programs. It has been a great job and has allowed me the flexibility to coach my kids in AAU basketball, which I might add was just as fun and rewarding as coaching at the college level. As part owner of the camp I see this being my job for the rest of my career…barring a winning lottery ticket!

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It is the last day of the regular season, it is one week before Selection Sunday, and we are full blown into conference tournaments!!

-For our CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – which contains a run through of all of yesterday’s and today’s conference tournament action along with links, brackets, and more – CLICK HERE

NEWS AND NOTES:

-This is just a rundown of the regular season action. If you want the conference tournament info check out the links posted above.

-Alabama had been winning, but they just hadn’t looked the same since all of the off the court issues surfaced. Yesterday at Texas A&M, they didn’t win. They did fight back after being behind on the road against a really good team, but it wasn’t enough to get the win. TAMU has silenced all the critics that were questioning how good they were when they were racking up wins against a backloaded schedule. Well, they now racked up enough wins on the back end to convince me, including their 67-61 win over the Tide yesterday.

-Texas did to Kansas at home what Kansas did to Texas when Kansas was at home. They won handily 75-59, and it shouldn’t really be a surprise. Texas can still get up to the #1 line, but they’ll have to win the Big 12 Tournament to do it. The thing is, I think the Horns are good enough to do just that.

-UCLA did to Arizona at home what Arizona did to the Bruins when the Wildcats were at home, and that’s win the game handily. It wasn’t a blowout, but at no point were the Bruins really sweating. UCLA puts a nice ribbon on the end of their regular season, and many feel they can get a #1 seed if they do the double and win the Pac 12 Tournament.

-Iowa State, who had looked like a top ten team at times this year, but who had recently been in an absolute tailspin, went into Baylor yesterday and for 40 minutes looked like perhaps the best team in the nation. They controlled the entire game and won 73-58, and the score probably doesn’t indicate just how dominant the Cyclones were. Baylor had been on an absolute roll going into yesterday, so this was a surprise.

-West Virginia needed a huge win yesterday, and got it. They knocked off Kansas State 89-81, and while it was at home, it’s still a big win against a protected seed and may be enough to put the Mountaineers into the field.

-Auburn also got a big win at home against Tennessee 79-70. After several close calls they finally got a win that they needed. Their season and resume have not exactly been overwhelming, and yesterday’s win was at home against a Tennessee team that just lost one of their best players to an injury, but even with all that I still think it’s enough to put Auburn on the right side of the bubble. At least that’s what I think the committee will think.

-UConn got an impressive 71-59 win at Villanova that’s probably a much better when than what most people will initially think given how well Nova had been playing recently, and given that it was on the road, and given that they won rather handily.

-Providence completely slept through their alarm yesterday and were blown out 82-58 at home by a Seton Hall team that’s looked underwhelming more often than not this season.

-Kentucky got yet another nice win at Arkansas 88-79. I now this season wasn’t as good as what many Kentucky fans were hoping for, but they are unquestionably a better team now than they were just six or seven weeks ago, and they’ve put together a fairly decent profile. I don’t think the teams facing them in the early rounds of the tournament will be all that excited to see them.

-Nevada, who was squarely on the bubble, lost 69-67 at home to UNLV, who is so far outside the bubble that they need binoculars to see it. This is NOT a good loss for the Wolfpack.

-Oklahoma State got a win that they very much needed as they knocked off Texas Tech on the road 71-68. If they can win their opening round Big 12 Tournament game against Oklahoma that may be enough to just sneak them into the field. If they can win two games then I think they’re a lock.

-Duke, who I had been picking on all year for not being a good road team, got a good road win yesterday as they knocked off rivals North Carolina 62-57. North Carolina is a team I’ve picked on even more than Duke, but the Tarheels have been very good at home this year, so Duke deserves legit credit for this win.

-Florida Atlantic ended the regular season with a 76-72 nail-biter at Louisiana Tech. I think they’ve done enough to go in on the first ballot, although some will say they at least need to win their quarterfinals game in the CUSA Tournament.

-Vanderbilt, despite losing their best player to an injury, still got the win over Mississippi State yesterday 77-72. Mississippi State is straddling the bubble and probably needs a win in the SEC Tournament to get them into the field, whereas Vandy has finished the season very strong and might be able to play their way into the discussion. Had Vandy played all season like they have the last 3-4 weeks, they’d be in the top half of the bracket right now.

-Utah State knocked off Boise State at home yesterday 86-73. Had Boise State won I think it would have all but locked them into the field, but seeing as they didn’t, they are now floating around the area that is very close to the bubble. Utah State is also floating around the bubble, but I think they’re still on the outside part of it.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-HOUSTON AT MEMPHIS (American). I think Houston is a lock for a #1 seed, and while Memphis may not be locked into the NCAA Tournament yet, I think they’re a virtual lock even if they lose this game. If Memphis can WIN this game, then they’ll be a complete lock and will move themselves up the seedlist.

-MARYLAND AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Maryland has been a terrible road team and while I do think they’ll make the field, I don’t think they deserve that good of a seed. I will change my mind a little bit if they’re able to win today. But I simply cannot ignore the fact that they have no decent road wins. The only two they have are against Minnesota and Louisville and both of those teams are so bad that I wonder if those should even count as road wins. They’ve lost on the road to multiple teams that won’t even make the NIT. They NEED this win to convince me that they even belong. I think they’ll get in regardless of what I think, but a win today would certainly help their resume because it would give them at least one decent road win, and one is infinitely more than zero (mathematical fact!).

-ILLINOIS AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Both teams are locks to make the dance and are just playing for seeding. Purdue is trying to finish with a #1 seed, and Illinois is trying to improve their resume and move up the seedlist, and a win in a game like this would help them out big time.

-NEBRASKA AT IOWA (Big Ten). Iowa should be able to hold serve without too much trouble.

-MICHIGAN AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Michigan has been making all kinds of noise lately. A win today gets them to 18-13 on the year, 12-8 in the Big Ten, and puts another high quality win on their resume. They will be seriously considered, and perhaps even selected, if they can manage a win today and avoid an early exit from the Big Ten Tournament.

-NORTHWESTERN AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). I think both teams are in, but both can certainly do a lot to improve their seed with a win today and a strong showing in the Big Ten Tournament.

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Your final daily update on who has clinched a regular season title:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU has clinched
America East: Vermont has clinched
ACC: Miami/Virginia both finished season 15-5 in league play
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette has clinched
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue has clinched
Big 12: Kansas has clinched
Big West: UC-Irvine/UCSB both finished season 15-5 in league play
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic has clinched
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Princeton/Yale both finished season 10-4 in league play
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MAC: Toledo has clinched
MEAC: Howard has clinched
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State has clinched
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama has clinched
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has clinched
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
SWAC: Alcorn State/Grambling both finished season 15-3 in league play
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play
WAC: Utah Valley has clinched

View Details

WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We are here to guide you in the right direction!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

It was a crazy day of conference tournament action with two huge upsets in the Sun Belt which knocked out Southern Miss and Marshall. Texas State, who finished 11th, is now in the semifinals. We also saw a couple of upsets in the Southern with UNC Greensboro and Samford both going down. We also had our first conference champion!! Congrats to Southeast Missouri who won an overtime thriller against Tennessee Tech to win the Ohio Valley Championship. Fairleigh Dickinson also locked up an automatic bid with their semifinal win over Saint Francis U. They’ll face Merrimack in the Northeast Conference Championship game, who is not eligible for the NCAA Tournament. We discuss all that, and more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-6-Audio-Only.mp3

MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP:

ATLANTIC SUN CHAMPIONSHIP:

BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP:

SUN BELT SEMIFINALS:

SOCON SEMIFINALS:

PATRIOT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS:

COLONIAL QUARTERFINALS:

SUMMIT LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS:

BIG SKY QUARTERFINALS:

SOUTHLAND OPENING ROUND:

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place in Washington, DC, this weekend and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with a recap of the 2nd round quadruple-header on Saturday.

The pregame meal was perfectly mediocre: chicken wrap/chips/chocolate chip cookie/lemonade.
Let’s tip off a LONG day of games:

GAME #1: William & Mary vs. Elon
Elon big man Sam Sherry kept his team in it during the 1st half by getting to the rim for a ton of put-backs/dunk/layups and finished the game with the 1st double-double of his career (15 PTS and a career-high 12 REB). William & Mary 3-PT specialist Gabe Dorsey missed his 7th straight game due to injury but the Tribe appear to have found a reputable replacement in SR Miguel Ayesa. After making the very 1st start of his career last Saturday, the Spanish Sharpshooter made 4 threes in the 1st half to give his team a 34-27 halftime lead. In the 2nd half Ayesa remained “en fuego”, racking up his 3rd straight game with 5+ 3PM (after going 0-9 combined from behind the arc vs. Stony Brook/Northeastern last month). It was hard to keep up with all of his accomplishments: he tied his career-high with 23 PTS and tied his school’s all-time tourney record for 3PM in 1 game that dates back to 1988. The Tribe pulled away in the final 20 minutes to win 73-51, and also won the award for best performance by a band/cheerleaders as they had 1 of the latter surf over a rolling mass of many of the former:

In the postgame press conference I asked Miguel how he was able to regain his confidence over the past 3 games. He smiled, patted his coach on the shoulder, and said “This guy!” He gave credit to Coach Fischer for telling him to keep shooting, and it also helped that he saw some shots go in during practice.

I tried to see if Coach Fischer would give me an injury update on the only player who scored in double-digits during their loss to Hofstra in January (Dorsey). He admitted that he had been optimistic in the past…but has gotten less and less so over time, as all of his injured players have been “day-to-day” for the past 3 weeks.

GAME #2: Drexel vs. Monmouth
The good news for Monmouth is that they scored 100 PTS in Friday’s win over Hampton. The bad news is that they did not score a single point today until Jack Collins made a jumper with 9:15 left in the 1st half…at which point they were trailing 18-2. The Hawks missed 19 of their 1st 20 shots and trailed 29-6 before making a nice run before halftime to close the gap to 35-19. It was an ugly war of whistles that saw the 2 teams commit a combined 30(!) fouls in the 1st 20 minutes. The Hawks finally got some offense going in the 2nd half in the form of Myles Foster, who kept getting into the lane for layup after layup. Unfortunately, Coach King Rice did not stick around to see the end of the game, as he was ejected during the under-8 timeout. Fortunately for the Dragons, they had 2-time conference DPOY Amari Williams, who also showcased his all-around game en route to a double-double with 16 PTS/6-7 FG/11 REB/2 STL/1 BLK. They also have the 2nd-best basketball player in Philly named Justin Moore (Villanova’s version has a slight edge) as Drexel showed some Philly Pride with an easy 64-45 win.

In the postgame press conference I wondered if Amari was excited for the revenge game after his team’s 1-PT 2-OT loss to UNCW 16 days ago that included a blown 22-7 1st half lead. He agreed that it was painful because it was their 1st loss at home all season, but they have put it behind them and know what they have to do to come out with a win this time around.

Coach Rice brought his son to the interview room so I was curious what lesson he wanted his son to learn today. He said that “you gotta keep your cool” and have to be there for your playees, which he did not do today. He watches plenty of games on TV and sees that every coach cusses the refs out…but he does not.

GAME #3: North Carolina A&T vs. Stony Brook
The pregame dinner was delicious: make-your-own-fajitas (although they ran out of tortillas)/rice/tres leches cake/lemonade. The Aggies came out of the gate red-hot, building a 10-0 lead before Stony Brook coach Geno Ford was forced to call a timeout to slow them down less than 4 minutes into the game. It was 14-0 after 6 minutes until Frankie Policelli finally made a corner 3 to stop the bleeding, followed by his team making a nice run of its own to make it 14-10. North Carolina A&T SR Kam Woods did a little of everything in the 1st half, heading into halftime with 11 PTS/5 REB/3 AST/3 STL…and a 31-28 lead. However, it did not last long because the 2nd half belonged to Policelli. After making a pair of trifectas in the 1st 20 minutes he made 4 more in the final 20 minutes to tie his career-high with 6 3PM. In the battle of stars Woods performed very well with 25 PTS/8 REB/3 STL…yet it somehow paled in comparison to Policelli’s 30 PTS/16 REB/3 STL. Stony Brook dominated the 2nd half and won 76-61.

In the postgame press conference I begged Coach Ford to share what he told his team during the timeout he called when they were down 10-0. He joked that his players do not listen too often to him anyway! He claimed that he just talked about having a “next play” mentality and that when his leadership does its thing is on the floor it really helps everyone. The Aggies sped his team up a little bit but they hung in there. Their last tourney game took place during COVID so he can talk about intensity all he wants but his guys will still need to play much better tomorrow.

Also, a special shout-out to CAA Assistant Commissioner for Communications Miles McQuiggan, who confirmed how historic Policelli’s performance was. The last player to have a 30/15 game in the CAA tourney was some guy at Navy back in 1986…named David Robinson!

GAME #4: Delaware vs. Northeastern
I am sure that it was an enjoyable game…for people who had not spent the past 10 hours at the arena! That is a wrap for today, but check back tomorrow for the quarterfinal quadruple-header featuring each of the top-4 seeds.

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For our latest CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK where we recap and preview all of the conference tournament action that’s going on, as well as links to all the brackets, the Survival Board, and more – CLICK HERE

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-KANSAS AT TEXAS (Big 12) (Spotlight Game). Both teams are in the top ten and Kansas is solidly on the #1 line. This would be their single most impressive win of the year if they’re able to pull it off, which is saying a lot because of how many good wins they already have. Texas can still get to the #1 line with a win today and a strong showing in the Big 12 Tournament next week.

-ALABAMA AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). This is a big showdown between Alabama, who most have as the overall #1 seed but who has also struggled in their last few games, and Texas A&M who has been red hot who can continue to move up the seedlist with a win today. This one should be a lot of fun!

-IOWA STATE AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Baylor has been playing like one of the better teams in the country since the end of January, and Iowa State is a complete tailspin and while they’re in no danger of missing the field, they may not end up anywhere close to a protected seed if they lose this game and then don’t win a single game in the Big 12 Tournament.

-KANSAS STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). K State is pretty much assured a protected seed and is just playing to get as high on the seedlist as they possibly can, and West Virginia is just trying to get into the field. They’re coming off a big road win at Iowa State, and a near huge upset at Kansas before that, so they are in a stretch where they are playing really well.

-TENNESSEE AT AUBURN (SEC). Tennessee pretty much has a protected seed locked up, but is still trying to get used to not having their point guard for the rest of the year due to an injury. Auburn is simply trying to make the field. They’ve had several near big wins, including their last game where they lost to Alabama on the road, they still don’t have enough actual wins on their resume yet to assure them a spot in the NCAA Tournament, so a win today would be huge.

-KENTUCKY AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Kentucky is coming off a bit of a surprising loss to Vanderbilt, but is still in the middle of a stretch where they’ve been playing well and have looked as good as they have all year. They can shine up their profile even more if they can get this one on the road. Arkansas is probably solidly in the field as well, but this is a chance for them to make their resume look a little better.

-TCU AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). TCU has dealt with injuries throughout the year, but when they’ve been healthy they’ve played as good as anyone. This is a chance for them to add another road win to their resume. Oklahoma has shown they can play with the very best in the nation at times, but they’ve also shown they’re an NIT caliber team most of the time.

-PITTSBURGH AT MIAMI FL (ACC). Both teams are solidly in the field, but both of them also can improve their seed with a strong finish to the season. Miami FL recently lost to Florida State, which is a bit of a setback, but they’re still really good and I think they can actually win out through the ACC Tournament and end up with a protected seed. Pitt also has some head-scratching losses, but also has some really good wins and to get this one on the road would improve their seed in They Big Dance.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). This is a very bubblicious game between two teams that can still make the NCAA Tournament, but who are right on the cut line and and need some big wins between now and the end. A win today doesn’t lock either team in, but it certainly helps. A loss doesn’t totally end their hopes, but it will make it exceedingly difficult.

-DUKE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). 8 miles apart!!! And have never met in the NCAA Tournament in a round prior to the Final Four!! Duke is in the field, but has a lot of room to move up the seedlist and getting this one on the road would certainly help. North Carolina is squarely on the bubble, but has been really strong at home and a win today would certainly help their case. Either way I think they need some notable wins in the ACC Tournament next week, though.

-UCONN AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Nova is finally healthy, and they are on an absolute rampage right now. It took them too long to start playing like a top 25 caliber team for them to make The Tournament without the auto-bid, but they are in fact playing like a top 25 caliber team right now. It wouldn’t shock me to see them win today and do quite a bit of damage in the Big East Tournament next week. UConn is also playing really well and can probably lock up a protected seed if they’re able to win this one today.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT VANDERBILT (SEC). Mississippi State is a team that we have inside the bubble, and while they’ve played well over the past month or so they still don’t have it entirely locked yet. A road win against a Vanderbilt team that’s also been playing really well lately and who perhaps has an outside shot at reaching the bubble if they can win this and win a few big games in the SEC Tournament, but will now have to do it without Liam Robbins, who was probably their best player and will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

-BOISE STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). A bubblelicious game between a Boise State team that is squarely on the cut line and who could come very close to locking up a spot if they can get a road game tonight, and a Utah State team that needs to win this and win multiple games in the MWC Tourney next week just to get solidly in the discussion.

-ARIZONA AT UCLA (Pac 12). A massive showcase game for the Pac 12, and perhaps a preview of next week’s Pac 12 Championship game. UCLA is within reach of the #1 line, and if they win out, which I think they are good enough to do, they could end up with a 1 seed.

-ARIZONA STATE AT USC (Pac 12). This is a hugely important game for both teams. We have USC just inside the bubble and Arizona State right on the bubble. Today’s game is extremely pivotal for both teams and could make the difference as to whether or not they end up making it.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Seton Hall @ Providence (Big East) – Providence is solidly in the field and is very tough to beat at home, so they should be able to hold serve in this one
-Ohio State @ Michigan State (Big Ten) – Sparty has played well for a lot of the year, but has also lost some really close games that they were right in that could have made their resume look even better. They should be able to get this one at home
-Saint John’s @ Marquette – Marquette has locked up 1st place in the Big East and has a chance to end up as high as a #2 seed if they can win out through the Big East Tournament
-Louisville @ Virginia (ACC) – UVA has been in a bit of a tailspin, but they did look good in their last game and should have no trouble winning this one at home today
-UNLV @ Nevada (Mountain West) – it’s a rivalry game, but it means a lot on paper as well as Nevada is squarely on the bubble and losing at home to a team that’s nowhere near the bubble will hurt them
-Butler @ Xavier (Big East) – Xavier is coming off one of their biggest wins of the year after knocking off Providence on the road. Strangely enough, Butler won the first meeting between these two, so X will look to get revenge for that today
-Notre Dame @ Clemson (ACC) – Clemson has been all over the map this year as far as the quality of their wins and the awfulness of their losses. They need to hold serve at home tonight in order to remain on the bubble.
-Creighton @ DePaul (Big East) – Creighton is a team that will go into the NCAA Tournament on the first ballot and should be able to hold serve today.
-Wyoming @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – San Diego State will be wearing white in the Round of 64, and is basically playing to sustain their seed for the rest of the year

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Your daily update on who has clinched a regular season title and who is close to doing so:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU has clinched
America East: Vermont has clinched
ACC: Miami/Pitt/Virginia are each 14-5 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette has clinched
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue has clinched
Big 12: Kansas has clinched
Big West: UC-Irvine/UCSB are each 14-5 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic has clinched
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Penn/Princeton/Yale are each 9-4 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MAC: Toledo has clinched
MEAC: Howard has clinched
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama has clinched
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has clinched
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
SWAC: Alcorn ST/Grambling are each 14-3 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play
WAC: Utah Valley has clinched

View Details

WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We are here to share our knowledge with you!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

The HoopsHD Crew is back again with another late-night podcast. They review all of the day’s exciting conference tournament action, including semifinals in the Ohio Valley and quarterfinals at Arch Madness and in the Big South! They then update the Survival Board and more!

Audio only version:

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-5-Audio-Only.mp3OHIO VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP

BIG SOUTH SEMIFINALS

MISSOURI VALLEY SEMIFINALS

NORTHEAST SEMIFINALS

AMERICA EAST QUARTERFINALS

SOUTHERN QUARTERFINALS

SUMMIT LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS

SUN BELT QUARTERFINALS

WEST COAST QUARTERFINALS

COLONIAL SECOND ROUND

BIG SKY OPENING ROUND

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with Towson trumpet section leader Grace Kaminski, who talked about being a leader and her prediction for the Tigers.

You are from Philadelphia: what made you choose Towson? I had a friend from my area who came here and really liked it, which made me want to come here.

How did you 1st get into trumpet, and what is the best part? I got into it through the whole environment of marching band. I think the trumpet has a lot of cool melodies and gives you the ability to play everything.

What do you think the role of a college band is today, and how has it changed over time? I think the general role is to entertain the audience regardless of the sport. It has grown more into a creative art to tell different stories/ideas.

You are the leader of the trumpet section: what is the key to being a good leader? For me it is about knowing how to be a good follower. Back in the day I looked up to our leaders and have used that experience in my own leadership, such as expecting what they might need from me.

You are majoring in music education: why did you choose that subject? Music has always been a really important part of my life and has helped me throughout much of my life. I want to be that person for someone else.

What is the post-college plan? Ideally I will become a music teacher. I want to work with older kids and advance their enrichment.

Your basketball team only won 4 games in 2021 but has now had back-to-back 20-win seasons: what is the atmosphere like on campus now that the conference tournament is finally here? It is a lot more lively/energetic. You can see the difference in the crowd reaction: it is so much more fun even for a person like me who does not know basketball as well as other people do.

How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our director sends out a sign-up sheet and almost anyone can go, which is really cool. It will be a really meaningful thing after seeing our team excel all year, and now they get a chance to show what they can do on a higher level.

Does your band have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? Not that I know of: just going to the game.

Any predictions for your 1st game on Sunday night? I think that we will win regardless of who we end up playing.

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Your daily update on who has clinched a regular season title and who is close to doing so:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU has clinched
America East: Vermont has clinched
ACC: Miami/Pitt/Virginia are each 14-5 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette has clinched
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue has clinched
Big 12: Kansas has clinched
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic has clinched
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Penn/Princeton/Yale are each 9-4 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MAC: Toledo is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
MEAC: Howard has clinched
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama has clinched
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has clinched
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play
WAC: Utah Valley is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play

View Details

WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We are here to share our knowledge with you!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Check out our latest Bracket Rundown show!!!

Chad, John, David and David once again review an exciting day of conference tournament play, including the ASUN Semifinals, Horizon and Patriot League quarterfinals and more! They then preview Friday’s games, update the Survival Board, and try to find out of Griggs can escape the Puppet Bunker!

For audio only:

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-4-Audio-Only.mp3

OHIO VALLEY SEMIFINALS

MISSOURI VALLEY QUARTERFINALS

BIG SOUTH QUARTERFINALS

WEST COAST SECOND ROUND

SOUTHERN OPENING ROUND

SUMMIT LEAGUE OPENING ROUND

COLONIAL FIRST ROUND

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, February 2nd, and the seedlist was created prior to 8pm, est. No games that were played that day were factored in

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BR-3-2-23-Audio-Only.mp3

View Details

Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with Charleston Cougarette Deja Nicholes, who talked about being a captain and her prediction for the Cougars.

You grew up in Utah: what made you choose Charleston? I am actually a transfer student. I wanted to venture out and COVID gave me the opportunity to research some good dance teams in this region and Charleston kept popping up. I moved here on a whim so it was a very impulsive decision but I came here to join the dance team.

How long have you been a dancer, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since age 3. The best part is the people who are brought into your life: the friends I have made here are truly like family.

You have been captain of the Cougarettes Dance Team for each of the past 2 seasons: what is the key to being a good leader? Communication with my teammates and always trying to set a good example. I try to think about how I would want someone to be leading me.

This will be your 2nd time attending the CAA Tournament: what do you remember about the 1st time? The tourney last year was truly the trip of a lifetime. It was so fun to represent our school in a new area. We got to check out the town during the day and then come together for a big celebration.

You are graduating in a couple of months: what is your major, and what is the post-college plan? I am majoring in Sociology so the plan is to get my masters’ degree and then do some social work. I would love to dance on a pro team or on a cruise ship and keep getting my education.

What has been your favorite moment so far this season: upsetting Virginia Tech back in November, your 20-game winning streak in the middle of the season, Senior Night, other? You just hit all 3 on the head! The entire season and the environment that we created is something that I will take with me forever. The final 2 home wins over Towson/Stony Brook were electric so it was nice to end it in a big way.

Your basketball team had a few mediocre years before exploding this year with a record of 28-3: what is the atmosphere like on campus now that the conference tournament is finally here? I can tell that everyone is super-invested: I know so many people who have plans to watch the tourney. Last year was an average season but I love that I got to go out this year with a great student section. It is really cool to see everyone coming together and wanting us to win.

How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It is based on seniority…which is perfect because we have 3 seniors/3 juniors. I love the chance to be on TV so that we can show off our school with dance/cheer/band. It is fun to get a glimpse of the spotlight.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? We are doing a routine choreographed by our 3 seniors, which will be really special. This is a huge tourney and we have some really good dances up our sleeves.

Any predictions for your 1st game on Sunday? I think we will definitely win that game and then move on to the next round.

View Details

Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with Elon cheerleader Aidan Casey, who talked about being a captain and his prediction for the Phoenix.

You grew up in Georgia: what made you choose Elon? I had a childhood friend whose older sister went to Elon, which is how I 1st learned about the school. I had toured a lot of small schools but something about this campus/faculty just stood out to me.

You only started cheering last year: how did you get into it, and what is the best part so far? I started during the COVID quarantine era and remember watching the 2021 CAA tourney title game between Drexel and Elon. Some guy came up next to me and we began talking and he told me to come check out the cheer team because of the community/team environment. I went to a couple of practices and thought that it was really interesting. The best parts are seeing my improvement and getting to know the people on the team.

You are captain of the cheer team: what is the key to being a good leader? I do not have a lot of “cheer background” knowledge so I just want to be there for the team as someone who has their best interests at heart. My forte is people skills so I try to make interpersonal connections.

What do you think the role of a college cheer team is today, and how has it changed over time? I grew up as an Ohio State football fan and have been to at least 1 game almost every year. I never grasped what cheer teams did in the past so I cannot speak to the evolution of it, but from an administrative standpoint we have been told by people that they love seeing us at events. We try to get the crowd involved but there seems to be less crowd engagement than before.

You are majoring in Biology and minoring in Neuroscience: why did you choose those subjects? I have always found animals interesting: my mom was a zoo member when I was a kid so I went to the zoo all the time. I came in as a biology/psychology dual major but took a behavioral science class as a sophomore and really enjoyed the idea of linking the brain to biology.

You are planning to attend graduate school to study Zoology: what is the long-term career plan? I do not graduate until next year but the long-term plan is to become a professor. I had a fantastic professor last year who made me want to be someone like that.

2 of your hobbies are visiting national/state parks and watching movies: what is your favorite park, and what is your favorite movie? My favorite park is Acadia National Park…but Yosemite is a close 2nd. My favorite movie is The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise. I also liked Free Solo about Alex Honnold and his climb of El Capitan without any ropes/technology helping him.

How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Generally the co-ed team goes to the men’s tourney but this year we are bringing a couple of other members. We had a late game a few weeks ago on national TV and it definitely felt different: we seemed more upbeat and it was a lot more fun knowing that everyone was watching us and finally recognizing us for all of our hard work.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? We have been working on a few pyramids that we have not done during a game all year. However, the league said that we are not allowed to be on the court during halftime, which is a change from last year.

Any predictions for your 1st game on Saturday afternoon? We split the season series with William & Mary last month. We have been an underdog all year but had a nice run in February so I think that we will surprise some people!

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with Towson pom squad member Samantha Dunn, who talked about being a captain and her prediction for the Tigers.

You grew up on Long Island: what made you choose Towson? I knew that I wanted something away from home but not too far and Towson is the perfect distance. I can go home when I need to but it also gives me the chance to experience life without my parents.

How did you 1st get into pom, and what is the best part? I started dancing when I was 2 and have danced competitively since 2nd grade. I am thankful that my parents let me try it because it helped shape me into the person I am today. I could not imagine not dancing in college. The best part is all of the relationships I have made throughout the years. The bond you make with your teammates and accomplishing your goals together is something that any athlete can appreciate.

What do you think the role of a college pom squad is today, and how has it changed over time? Our main role is to show our school spirit by cheering on our sports teams and competing at nationals. Dancing has definitely gotten more competitive over time and involves a lot more crowd engagement.

You are captain of the team: what is the key to being a good leader? I feel that it is important to communicate with the whole team and push them to be their best. You need to ensure that everyone feels welcome: it can be intimidating to join a new team. It is also crucial to have an open mind so that you can focus on the betterment of the team.

You are an exercise science major: why did you choose that subject? I came into college as a biology major but after the 1st semester I realized that it was not what I wanted. I tried exercise science instead and quickly learned that it was something I could enjoy in the future.

You are graduating in a couple of months: what is the post-college plan? I plan on moving back to Long Island and taking a gap year to prepare for grad school. I want to attend PA school and eventually become an orthopedic physician’s assistant.

How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It means a lot: we love showing our school spirit and do not take this opportunity for granted. It is based on availability: you do not know what it is really like until you are there.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? Not really: just showing our Towson spirit.

Any predictions for your 1st game on Sunday night? I am hoping that we win and can watch the Tigers keep fighting while they take it to the next level.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

– The Iron Bowl, Part II looked like it was going to be a signature win for an Auburn team that had a profile lacking such wins of late. The game featured a pair of Alabama players being ejected in the 2nd half for leaving the bench for a fracas and ended up seeing Auburn blow a 2nd-half double-digit lead en route to an overtime loss against the Tide. Alabama is now the outright SEC regular-season champion and Auburn now has to quickly turn around and try to beat Tennessee in their regular season finale.

– As for Tennessee, their win on Tuesday night at home against Arkansas turned out to be a real expensive one. Zakai Ziegler left the game with an injury and it turned out to be a torn ACL; that is a huge setback for the Vols.

– Xavier got off to a fantastic start at Providence and led by as many as 20+ in the first half before Providence mounted a serious run wrapped around halftime to get back within 2 of the Musketeers. Despite mounting foul trouble on the floor, Xavier survived for what was the first win by a road team at Providence this season. While the Musketeers may have done enough to get back into protected-seed territory; the Friars are advised not to stand pat and try to make a little noise in the upcoming Big East Tournament; otherwise they may not get in on the first ballot when it comes to at-large bids.

– Maryland did not have a good night at Ohio State. The Terps blew a major opportunity to get a true road win and now face a game at Penn State that becomes even more pivotal. The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, got a much-needed road win at Northwestern; if they beat Maryland at home and possibly get a win or two in the B1G Conference Tournament, they’ll merit some serious discussion.

– Despite a frantic comeback late against Notre Dame, Pittsburgh also had a setback on the road against the Irish. The Panthers will now have to win on the road at Miami to clinch a share of the ACC regular season title. For Notre Dame, it was a big win in Mike Brey’s home finale as the Irish head coach.

– While Kentucky was suddenly looking like a Top 10 team at home against Auburn on the weekend, they did take a step backward after losing a game at home to Vanderbilt in the closing seconds. It obviously will not be a fatal wound for Kentucky, but it gives Vandy another lifeline and the Commodores will be a team to watch in the SEC Tournament next week. Still, their home finale against Mississippi State is a must-win game.

– TCU also got out to a big lead against Texas en route to a significany victory and are looking better now that Mike Miles Jr. is healthy again for the Horned Frogs.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Michigan is outside our bubble right now, but they are definitely within reach of it. A road win like this could be enough to get them right on it, and perhaps even inside of it. There are some good things on their profile, and between this game and the upcoming Big Ten Tournament they will get the chances they need to put themselves in the field.

-ARIZONA STATE AT UCLA (Pac 12). Arizona State went from outside the bubble to right on the bubble with their last-second-beyond-halfcourt-shot-win at Arizona. If they can win at UCLA, I think they go dancing! It’s much easier said than done as UCLA actually has a path to a #1 seed, but it is possible that the Sun Devils make the field.

-PURDUE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Purdue has actually lost five out of their last seven, and while they’re still very good and could even still get a #1 seed, they have not looked like a #1 seed caliber team during that stretch. They will be tested again today against a Wisconsin team that can play well, but doesn’t always do so, and has been doing so less and less down the stretch. Purdue needs this win to get back within reach of a #1 seed, and Wisconsin needs this win just to get back within reach of making the NCAA Tournament.

-MEMPHIS AT SMU (American). Memphis is on the bubble, and while SMU is nowhere near it, we are highlighting this because if Memphis can avoid losing this game I do think that will be enough to make the NCAA Tournament. They won’t need to beat Houston in their final regular season game, and they won’t need to win American Tournament. If they can just avoid losing to bad teams then that should be enough.

-ARIZONA AT USC (Pac 12). I think Arizona will almost assuredly end up with a protected seed, but has almost no shot at ending up with a #1 seed. Still a road win here would help move them up the seedlist. USC is on the bubble, but after winning two straight road games they’re in much better shape than they were a week ago. If they can win one of these last two games then I think that’s enough. Beating Arizona won’t be easy, though. Even at home.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Wichita State @ Houston (American) – Houston can lock up a #1 seed if they win out through the regular season regardless of what happens in the American Tournament
-Rutgers @ Minnesota (Big Ten) – Rutgers has been somewhat schizophrenic this year, but when they’re good they’re really good, and when they’re bad they’re still better than Minnesota
-Middle Tennessee @ North Texas (Conference USA) – if North Texas can win out to the CUSA Championship Game I think the committee will take a long look at them
-Florida Atlantic @ Rice (Conference USA) – FAU is very close to being a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and almost assuredly will be if they win their last two regular season games

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Your daily update on who has clinched a regular season title and who is close to doing so:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU has clinched
America East: Vermont has clinched
ACC: Miami/Pitt/Virginia are each 14-5 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette has clinched
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Big 12: Kansas has clinched
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Penn/Princeton/Yale are each 9-4 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MAC: Toledo is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
MEAC: Howard is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama has clinched
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has clinched
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play
WAC: Utah Valley is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play

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WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We are here to share our knowledge with you!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

It was quarterfinal night in the Northeast Conference, and we also had opening round action in the OVC, Horizon League, and Big South Conferences. We recap all of that action and preview all of tomorrow’s games as well.

Audio only version:

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-3-Audio-Only.mp3

ASUN SEMIFINALS:

HORIZON LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS

PATRIOT LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS:

OHIO VALLEY QUARTERFINALS:

SUN BELT 2ND ROUND:

MISSOURI VALLEY OPENING ROUND:

WEST COAST CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND:

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel keeps things going with Stony Brook Director of Bands Justin Stolarik, who talked about his band’s Spotify playlist and playing at Carnegie Hall.

You conduct the Marching and Varsity Bands for the Stony Brook Athletic Bands Program: what instruments does that include? A LOT: piccolo/clarinet/alto sax/tenor sax/trumpet/mellophone/trombone/baritone/sousaphone/drum set. A marching band has a full drumline but we have the same kind of instrumentation. It is almost like a big band vibe with your brass/woodwinds.

You have a pair of degrees from Texas/Florida and worked for athletic bands at other schools including Oklahoma/Wisconsin: what is the biggest difference between bands at a small school vs. a large school? Resources are often the biggest difference. I come from systems that have been around for 100 years, but the band at Stony has only been around less than 20 years. However, I run it like a band from a Power 6 conference: we are no less and should not be treated any differently.

You have been a musician/conductor for several different groups: what is it like to play at Carnegie Hall? It was pretty special the 2 times I played there. I played once as a grad student at Texas doing a world premiere of a very famous composer’s piece. I played again several years later with the Brooklyn Wind Symphony. It is a special place: the groups who have performed on that stage are so outrageously impressive that just to be within those walls was pretty extraordinary.

You have worked with some amazing performers including Will.i.am (of the Black Eyed Peas) and Everlast (of House of Pain): who is the best person you have collaborated with in the past, and who is at the top of your wish list for the future? Will.i.am was a great experience and he is the nicest person. We did a pep rally performance at LA Live with the Wisconsin Band before the Rose Bowl. The Lakers were playing that night and during intermission fans are able to walk outside and hang out on the plaza. Everlast did “Jump Around” and Will did another song and the timing was perfect so there were a lot of Laker fans watching us. I also worked with Ed Shaughnessy, who was the original drummer on The Johnny Carson Show. When I was in Texas I did a gig with a local Austin band called Ghostland Observatory that was great. I would LOVE to do a gig with Lizzo…which is an understatement! She has taken her celebrity and showcased the importance of playing in a band. Middle schoolers who see her playing flute with her instrumental talent must be amazed: she has been such an incredible advocate for music education. We do a 2-hour spring concert every April (www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF2vbKMW3os&t=369s): I call it “Vegas meets rock concert meets Broadway”. It is put on by us for people who want to see us, rather than our usual effort to support our school sports teams or school president. This will be the 5th year we do it and my elementary school music teacher (Ann Abbate Van Cleef, who got me started in band at East Quogue Elementary School in the 1980s) attends every year.

What do you think the role of a college band is today, and how much time/energy is involved? The role is to support our teams and encourage school spirit by the crowd. I tell the band all the time that when the team wins we have a part in that…and if the team does not win then we have a part in that too. We try to create an environment that is conducive to getting the team hyped up to win. Our band rehearses anywhere from 4-7 hours/week. Football game days are an 8-hour day but basketball games are only a 3-hour commitment. It is also a class so they do get credit for it.

What kind of music does the band play at basketball games during the season? We have a rotation of about 100 tunes. Since we are so deep into the year I can choose any 1 of them and the band is ready to play them. We have a Spotify playlist of 136 original tunes (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2n296MA4KOA4ytp44kXL2t?si=609abf4da71042f9&nd=1): Chicago, AC/DC, Lady Gaga, Blondie, etc. We are not there just to appeal to 1 generation of music: we have current students/parents/alums/children so we need to have a diverse playlist.

How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? The NCAA requirement for postseason basketball tournaments is 29 musicians plus 1 director. The numbers are limited for NCAA/conference tourneys so I keep it safe at 29 band members/1 director. My #1 priority is instrumentation: you do not want to have 1 sousaphone and 10 kazoos there! Availability is also important so I do not care as much whether you are a freshman or senior. The band needs to sound the way it should with a certain # of clarinets/trumpets/etc. Our full band is split into 2-3 smaller groups so they do not need to attend every single home game during the normal season. Every member has to attend a minimum of 7 games this semester and (as you might expect) the ones who really love basketball go to all of them. If everything else is equal but somebody attended more events…then that is the tiebreaker/reward.

Does your band have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? Not really. We do not get to travel a lot so the band is super-excited to go to a neutral-site tourney and help control the environment of the arena. We will even have some DC-area alums in attendance! When we were in the America East we would just do a day trip to the gym of the higher-seeded team since all the games were held on campus sites. I come from Power-6 schools so events like the Big 10 tourney would involve a bunch of pep rallies/fan events. Hopefully we will have some free time so the students can enjoy DC when we are not playing.

Any predictions for your 1st game on Saturday night? No…but that is not because I am playing games with you. It is called “March Madness” for a reason so it does not always matter what you are ranked. I do not even do a bracket anymore because it is useless! What makes it so special is seeing all of the teams take on the challenge of winning their tourney. That being said, the more we win then the longer we get to stay. We will support our team so that they can do what they need to do to get a win.

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While The Madness has already started, today is the first official day of March, so….HAPPY MARCH MADNESS EVERYBODY!!!

-All the Championship Week Info you need is RIGHT HERE!! CLICK HERE FOR OUR LATEST CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK with brackets, links to the Survival Board, and much more!!

-For Jon Teitel’s Title Updates – CLICK HERE

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Let’s see…where to start?? Oh yeah!! A dog took a dump on the floor at the Virginia Tech v Louisville game. It was one of the more notable things that’s happened at Louisville all season!!

-It was a close call, but Kansas escaped Texas Tech 67-63 in a game that came down to the final couple of possessions. Kansas led the whole way, but it was very close all throughout. I don’t want to say this hurt Texas Tech because a loss on the road to a team like Kansas is never going to set anyone back, but I will say that it was the kind of win that they needed in order to get selected for the tournament. As of now it looks like they’re still on the wrong side of the bubble.

-Virginia got a 64-57 win against Clemson which may have meant more off paper than on paper. The Hoos had really not looked good their last few games, so perhaps yesterday will snap them out of it. Clemson has a scattershot resume and remains hovering around the bubble.

-Indiana had their heads in the clouds after beating Purdue on the road for the season sweep. Unfortunately it looks like they weren’t able to get their feet back on the ground. They were at home against Iowa, and just got blown off the floor 90-68. The Hawkeyes were coming off of a crazy win of their own, so they must have had a lot of energy coming into this one.

-Boise State is right on the bubble, and really needed a big win, and got it last night against San Diego State 66-60. It was a home win, but they’ll still get some credit for it given how good San Diego State is.

-Duke got a 71-67 home win against rivals NC State to go perfect on their home court this year. I don’t think this result really moves either team’s place on the seedlist right now.

-Villanova continues to rack up wins and got another one at Seton Hall yesterday 76-72. They are currently too far outside the bubble to reach it by the end of the season, but they are really playing well and can make some noise in the Big East Tournament. I’m not going to go so far as to pick them to win it, but I will say that it wouldn’t shock me at all if they did given how well they’re playing. As for Seton Hall, I now think they’re only way into the NCAAs is to win the Big East Tournament. They’ve fallen to a very modest 16-14 on the year.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-XAVIER AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). There have been a lot of great Big East games this year, and it seems whenever Xavier and Providence get together it’s always some crazy, back and forth, multiple overtime game, so hopefully we are in for another good one tonight. Both teams are safely in the field and are really just playing for seeding the rest of the way. Xavier is fighting for a protected seed and Providence is fighting to move up the top half of the bracket.

-AUBURN AT ALABAMA (SEC). Round 2 of the Hoops Iron Bowl. Alabama is almost a unanimous #1 seed and perhaps the consensus overall #1 seed, but they have struggled in their last couple of games (understandably so) and may still be a little vulnerable. Auburn is squarely on the bubble and needs a big time win to help ensure they end up on the right side of it.

-MARYLAND AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Maryland has been a terrible road team this year. As good as a lot of their season has been, none of those good things have happened on other teams’ floors. Ohio State has been horrible since Big Ten play started, and if Maryland can’t get this win on the road, then it could really end up hurting their seeding.

-FORDHAM AT GEORGE MASON (Atlantic Ten). I highlight this game only to point out that Fordham is going for their 24th win of the season! If you don’t think that’s amazing then don’t bother visiting Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon. Those won’t impress you either.

-TEXAS AT TCU (Big 12). Both teams are probable protected seeds, and Texas has a shot at ending up as a #1 seed depending on how things play out. This storyline seems to be a recurring theme in the Big 12 this year.

-UTAH STATE AT UNLV (Mountain West). I suppose Utah State still has a chance?? But it’s a very steep and narrow path if they want to land inside the bubble.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-DePaul @ UConn (Big East) – UConn’s Big East record is somewhat lagging compared to everything else on their resume due to a slump back in January, but they are playing as well as anyone else in the league right now
-Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (SEC) – It took it a lot longer than usual for it to happen, but Kentucky is playing at a high caliber and can improve their seed between now and the end
-Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame (ACC) – Pitt is in the rankings, safely inside the bubble, and barring a collapse should go in to the field on the first ballot
-Oklahoma @ Kansas State (Big 12) – I wouldn’t call this an easy game because Oklahoma has shown they can beat really good teams, but it is perhaps the most winnable conference game K State will play all year. At home against the Sooners
-Georgetown @ Creighton (Big East) – a conference buy game for the Bluejays
-Chicago State @ Gonzaga – buy game
-Penn State @ Northwestern (Big Ten) – an NIT team is on the road against an NCAA Tournament team
-Missouri @ LSU (SEC) – Missouri is a solid tournament team, but more road wins will help them get a better seed

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Your daily update on who has clinched a regular season title and who is close to doing so:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU has clinched
America East: Vermont has clinched
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette has clinched
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Big 12: Kansas is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Penn/Princeton/Yale are each 9-4 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MAC: Toledo is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
MEAC: Howard is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play

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WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We know your job is tough, which is why we are willing to do it all for you!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Lots of action tonight as the Atlantic Sun Quarterfinals gave us two pretty exciting games, including Kennesaw State barely holding on at home to beat 9th seeded Queens. It was also opening round night in the Patriot League where we saw two really exciting games, the Horizon League, and the Sun Belt. We discuss all the games that were played, and preview the Big South, Ohio Valley, and Northeast Conference games that are set to tip off tomorrow.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CWVN-Day-2-Audio-Only.mp3

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS:

BIG SOUTH OPENING ROUND:

OHIO VALLEY OPENING ROUND:

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Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the action so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel starts things off with Towson cheerleader Alex Simpler, who talked about being a captain and her prediction for the Tigers.

You grew up in Maryland: what made you choose Towson? Being from Maryland, Towson was my back-up option. However, once I toured the campus and looked more into their nursing program I knew that it was the right school for me. Being so close to home, I also knew of a lot of people that went here, which made the transition fairly easy. Towson also gave me the luxury of having the independence of a college freshman without ever feeling homesick; if I ever wanted to see my family it was a quick drive home. I came to Towson solely for academics but realized very quickly that I missed the competitive atmosphere cheer gave me. I decided to try out for the team my sophomore year, which just confirmed that I had made the right choice.

You have been a cheerleader for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I started cheerleading after my parents let me watch the movie Bring It On, but I would have never expected a movie to bring me where I am today. My parents did not know much about cheer and skipped the sideline aspect of it by putting me right into Allstar. The moment I stepped on the blue 9-panel mat I knew that it was home. I had a natural passion for this sport that never went away. Over the years I have completely submerged myself into what it means to be a cheerleader and have loved watching the industry grow and become more recognized. My favorite part about cheer is the connections you make with your teammates. It is a bond like nothing else I have ever experienced. You see your teammates at their lowest and their highest. To be able to accomplish all of your goals after you all worked so hard together is one of the best feelings.

What do you think the role of a college cheerleader is today, and how has it changed over time? The role of a college cheerleader has changed in so many ways. It is not just waving around pom-poms and screaming a corny cheer for the football team. The scope of college cheerleading requires much more work. At Towson, we cheer at every home football game and some select away games, all men’s and women’s home basketball games and CAA championship, the volleyball CAA championship, and all home gymnastics meets. We also do a lot of community events to promote the school like our uptown rally, prostate walk, autism walk, and spring festival. We also make appearances throughout the year at events like the president’s dinner, when they introduce the new football coach, or just working with other cheer gyms in our area. To be a college cheerleader you have to be completely dedicated and make a lot of sacrifices to stay on top of everything. It is not waving poms-poms anymore: it is routines, crowd interaction, and non-stop jumping around to keep everyone engaged for the duration of the game.

You are captain of the team: what is the key to being a good leader? Something that I have found that makes a good leader is the ability to separate friends from teammates. You create a bunch of friendships, especially when you are on the team with most of these people for a couple of years. It can be hard at times when someone you are close with outside of practice is slacking. You do not want them to think you are calling them out to be rude, but as a leader you have to know that it is not personal and your true friends will understand that it is just for the betterment of the team.

You are a nursing major: why did you choose that subject? I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a nurse. My mom is a nurse and she always told stories about what happened at work that day which always fascinated me. I have a younger sister as well so I have always had a caring heart. I just want to look out for others and make sure they are the best version of themselves.

You are graduating in a couple of months: what is the post-college plan? After I graduate in May I will officially become Towson Cheer’s biggest fan! I did not cheer during my freshman year so most of my rookie class (who are some of my best friends) are going to be seniors next year. I will definitely be visiting throughout next year to support them in their final year as Towson Cheerleaders. As for academics, I plan to move back home to continue studying and take the NCLEX (nursing licensure exam) to transition into a new grad nursing position. The goal is to go back to school after working to become a nurse anesthetist.

Your basketball team only won 4 games in 2021 but has now had back-to-back 20-win seasons: what is the atmosphere like on campus now that the conference tournament is finally here? The students have been great at the games this year, which makes it so much more fun to cheer at! Having SECU Arena filled for almost every home game has created such an electric atmosphere, making the arrival of the championship something to look forward to!

How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? For the most part we volunteer for the games we cheer at but for championships our coach has the final say. She bases it on our performance at games throughout the year, if our schedule allows us to go, and if academics permit. To see Towson on national TV is such a surreal feeling. You think of schools like Kentucky and Alabama on national TV but not your own. We are a smaller school compared to most but are making a name for ourselves and it just makes the experience that much better.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? Not only is this weekend the championship tourney but it is also our senior game. In years past the cheerleaders were usually announced at the football senior game, but this year we will be announced at the women’s basketball senior game on Saturday before we play in DC.

Any predictions for your 1st game on Sunday night? As far as predictions go…I hope that Towson gets to play Delaware in the quarterfinals. The Delaware-Towson games are my favorite to cheer at: it is always a high-energy game that is impossible to take your eyes off of!

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NEWS, NOTES AND CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK RELATED LINKS:

-Championship Week OFFICIALLY got underway yesterday with the start of the Atlantic Sun Tournament, so we have now begun to record our nightly CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOKS. Check that out, along with our latest HOOPS HD REPORT where we recap a crazy weekend and look ahead to the big games this week. – CLICK HERE

-For our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT PAGE, which includes all 32 conference tournament brackets, schedules, and TV information – CLICK HERE

-For the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which is updated throughout the day, and where w show who we feel is a lock, who is under consideration, and who is still playing but needs to win the automatic bid – CLICK HERE

-For our latest BRACKETOLOGY, which includes Jon Teitel’s projections who is among the best in the world at guessing the actual Selection Committee – CLICK HERE

As for what happened on the court last night…

-Baylor got yet another nice road win as they knocked off Oklahoma State 74-68. Baylor is 11-6 In Big 12 play, but many forget that they started off 0-3 and since then have not just been one of the best teams in the conference, but one of the best teams in the nation. As for Oklahoma State, it was their 5th straight loss, and they’ve gone from looking like a team that had turned it around to looking like a team that will probably end up in the NIT if they keep sinking into the quicksand.

-West Virginia got a really big win at Iowa State that they really needed. They are squarely on the bubble, and whenever a bubble team wins on the road against a team that’s squarely in the field, it helps them out. As for Iowa State, they are squarely in the field, but are no longer a protected seed caliber team. They’ve now lost 8 of 11 and are sliding down the seedlist.

-Nevada did something that IS NOT good for teams that are on the bubble, and that’s lose to a team that is nowhere near the bubble. They fell on the road to a Wyoming team that is just 9-20 on the year, and suddenly their tournament hopes are in jeopardy.

SURVIVAL BOARD WATCH (courtesy of Chad Sherwood):

-AMERICA EAST – Albany is out with a loss (at Vermont) or an NJIT win (at New Hampshire). If Albany wins and NJIT loses, NJIT is out instead.

MAC (up to 4):

-Western Michigan is out with a loss (home vs Miami-Ohio) or wins by Eastern Michigan (at Northern Illinois) and Central Michigan (home vs Toledo)

-Bowling Green is out with a loss (home vs Eastern Michigan)

-Miami-Ohio is out with a loss (at Western Michigan) and an Eastern Michigan win (at Bowling Green)

-Central Michigan is out with a loss (home vs Toledo) and an Eastern Michigan win (at Bowling Green)

HIGLIGHTED GAMES:

-CLEMSON AT VIRGINIA (ACC). Clemson’s resume is all over the map. They have some really nice wins that outweigh most of what the rest of the bubble has, but they also have several really bad losses and have shown very little consistency this year. This is yet another very pivotal game for them. Virginia is solidly in the field, but they are sliding down the seedlist and haven’t looked all that good in their last several games. A win tonight is more about turning things around on the court than shoring up their resume.

-IOWA AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Iowa is coming off an amazing and improbable come from behind win against Michigan State, and Indiana is coming off what is perhaps an even more improbable road win at Purdue. Both are solidly in the field and Indiana looks to me like a solid protected seed. Both these teams are more or less just playing for seeding tonight.

-NC STATE AT DUKE (ACC). Both teams are in the bracket with Duke being around or 6 or 7 line, and NC State hovering around the 8 line. Both have opportunities to improve their seeding between now and the end of the ACC Tournament, and a win tonight for either team would help. Oh yeah, and this is also one of those Tobacco Road rivalries that are always so much fun!

-TEXAS TECH AT KANSAS (Big 12). Kansas has a path to a #1 seed, and while Texas Tech still does have a path to the NCAA Tournament it is considerably more narrow now than it was before their last loss, and would likely require a win tonight. Obviously, winning at Kansas is a VERY tall order.

-ARKANSAS AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Tennessee has been inconsistent throughout the season, but they’ve played really well enough of the time to remain a solid protected seed and can be dangerous. Arkansas is probably inside the bubble either way, but they will definitely be MUCH safer if they can find a way to win tonight.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State is moving up the seedlist, and some believe they are as high as a 5 seed and even have a shot at a protected seed if they can win out. They are good, and they did pick up a really nice and tough road win in their last game against San Diego State, and I will give them even more props if they can win tonight, but I cannot agree with anyone who likes them so much that they think the deserve a protected seed. As for Boise State, they are squarely on the bubble and really need this win tonight to help ensure that they end up on the right side of it.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Marquette @ Butler (Big East) – Marquette looks like the best team in the Big East and is cruising toward a protected seed
-Boston College @ Wake Forest (ACC) – If Wake wins out to the ACC Championship game then perhaps they’ve got a shot at getting selected
-Saint Louis @ VCU (Atlantic Ten) – VCU almost assuredly needs the auto-bid to get in, but if they win out the regular season they will likely at least get looked at
-Texas A&M @ Ole Miss (SEC) – TAMU is on a roll despite coming off of a loss, and should safely make it into the field barring a complete collapse
-Michigan State @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – Sparty is safely in the field and can add another road win to their resume tonight. I think they are good enough to improve their seed between now and the end of the B1G Tourney
-South Carolina @ Mississippi State (SEC) – we have Mississippi State in, but they are also close to the bubble and need to hold serve tonight
-Fresno State @ New Mexico (Mountain West) – New Mexico is in a tailspin and just missed what would have been a big win against San Diego State when they lost on a last second shot. They need to hold serve tonight and pick up some wins between now and the end of the MWC Tourney

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Your daily update on who has clinched a regular season title and who is close to doing so:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
America East: Vermont has clinched
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Penn/Princeton/Yale are each 9-4 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MEAC: Howard is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas AM-Corpus Christi is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play

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It is our final Hoops HD Report of the regular season!! We’re not going anywhere, though. We will be posting our Hoops HD Championship Week Video Notebooks every night until Selection Sunday.

It was a crazy weekend, and we look back at wild day in the Big Ten where Iowa had one of the most ridiculous comebacks you’ll ever see against Michigan State, Indiana upset Purdue on the road, Rutgers came from way behind in the second half to knock off Penn State, and that was just the Big Ten!! Arizona State needed a big win to help them get on the right side of the bubble, and they got it via a 60 foot buzzer beater to knock off rivals Arizona on the road. Kentucky and Texas A&M are continuing to look really strong in the SEC, and Mississippi State is right on the bubble. Gonzaga avenged their loss to Saint Mary’s and the two finished in a tie for first place in the WCC. We discuss all that, and more!!

We’d also like to welcome all the Selection Committee Members for the Championship Week Video Notebook!!

Check out the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

Also, don’t miss our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

Finally, be sure to keep an eye on our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HHD-Report-and-CWVN-2-27-23-Audio-On.mp3

ATLANTIC SUN QUARTERFINALS:

HORIZON LEAGUE OPENING ROUND:

PATRIOT LEAGUE OPENING ROUND:

SUN BELT 1ST ROUND:

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HoopsHD kicks off the greatest time of the year with a 2-part preview of every single conference tourney in the nation. Jon Teitel commences our coverage with his predictions for the 15 conference tourneys that will be getting underway before March 6th. Tweet us if you have any comments, and check back next weekend for his picks concerning the 17 other conference tourneys.

America East tourney predicted champ: Vermont (#1 seed)
Dates: March 4-11
Location: Campus sites
2022 tourney champ: Vermont (#1 seed)
Fun fact: Vermont has won this tourney 3 times in past 5 years that it was played
Seeding: 5 of past 7 champs were #1-seed
The Catamounts struggled out of the gate by losing 2 of their 1st 4 in conference play but have been rolling since then and should pick up their 12th straight win since mid-January on Tuesday vs. Albany. Coach John Becker has made the title game 5 of the past 6 years that this tourney has been played so nobody will be able to out-coach him in March. Since the higher seed will host each tourney game in which they play, Vermont cannot wait to welcome teams to Patrick Gymnasium where they have lost exactly 1 home game all season. Experience counts in March and a team that starts 5 seniors knows the importance of playing your best basketball at the end of the season, as well as holding onto the ball: their 9.6 TO/game is top-5 in the nation.

Atlantic Sun tourney predicted champ: Kennesaw State (#1 seed)
Dates: February 27-March 5
Location: Campus sites
2022 tourney champ: Bellarmine (#2 seed)
Fun fact: New format this year with re-seeding in all rounds rather than set bracket
Seeding: Each of past 6 champs were top-2 seed
Liberty and Kennesaw State are the best 2 teams in this league by far so it will probably come down to 1 of them. They only played once this year and the Owls won by 7 PTS at home on February 16th so the pick is Kennesaw State. Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim was 1-28 in his debut season in 2020 but 3 years later he has already shattered the school’s record for most wins in a season during the D-1 era and is actually the only coach in the past 2 decades to have a winning record in Kennesaw. I thought this team was a little too young/too short to win it all this year, but if they can beat the Flames while letting Darius McGhee score 43 PTS then I guess anything is possible. Give me Liberty or give me death…on 2nd thought just give me Kennesaw State!

Big Sky tourney predicted champ: Eastern Washington (#1 seed)
Dates: March 4-8
Location: Boise, ID
2022 tourney champ: Montana State (#1 seed)
Fun fact: 5 different champs in past 6 tourneys
Seeding: Each of past 11 champs were top-2 seed
This tourney likes top-2 seeds and Eastern Washington swept Montana State this year so I guess we have to go with the Eagles. In fairness, the Eagles have looked unstoppable recently due to an 18-game winning streak that had been the longest in the nation until they stubbed their toe at Idaho last Saturday. Coach David Riley had never even been a head coach as of 2 years ago, but since replacing Shantay Legans in 2021 he has proven that a 34-year old can come in and win games right from the start. 1 of the “biggest” factors in his success is the size of his roster, with each of his top-8 scorers standing 6’5” or taller. That is also why they are so good around the basket: their 58.4 2P% is top-5 in the nation.

Big South tourney predicted champ: UNC-Asheville (#1 seed)
Dates: March 1-5
Location: Charlotte, NC
2022 tourney champ: Longwood (#1 seed)
Fun fact: 4 different champs in past 5 years
Seeding: 5 of past 6 champs were top-2 seed
UNC-Asheville has not won this tourney since 2016, which was also the last time they made the title game. They have been rising to the level of their competition all year, sweeping the season series against each of the other top-3 seeds (Longwood/Radford). Coach Mike Morrell lost 27 games when he took over in 2019 but has been improving every single year and could become the 1st coach in school history to win 75% of his games in a season. The Bulldogs have been living by the 3 all season: their 39.5 3P% is top-5 in the nation. Unlike a lot of other teams that have a well-balanced lineup, the star of the show is SR PF Drew Pember: the Tennessee transfer and defending conference POY has become an all-around threat with 20.4 PPG/9.2 RPG/2.3 BPG/38.8 3P%.

CAA tourney predicted champ: Towson (#3 seed)
Dates: March 3-7
Location: Washington, DC
2022 tourney champ: Delaware (#5 seed)
Fun fact: 6 different champs in past 6 years
Seeding: Each of past 2 champs were not top-4 seed
The sentimental pick (as always) is the Tribe because they are 1 of only 4 original D-1 schools (along with Army/Citadel/St. Francis NY) who have never made the NCAA tourney. This is 1 of those fun leagues where you get to pick someone WAY under the radar because that is who often wins it all. Towson coach Pat Skerry has been in this league for a dozen years and has a bunch of seniors who returned from last year’s 25-win squad. It has been a rollercoaster of a season: the Tigers won 8 of their 1st 9, then lost 5 in a row, but have looked pretty solid since then by winning 12 of their final 17 games. 7 of their 11 losses this year were by 7 PTS or less so if their opponents ever stop making 75.1% of their FTs then perhaps Towson will make its 1st NCAA tourney since 1991.

Horizon tourney predicted champ: Northern Kentucky (#4 seed)
Dates: February 28-March 7
Location: Campus sites and Indianapolis, IN
2022 tourney champ: Wright State (#4 seed)
Fun fact: only 3 champs in past 6 years are Cleveland State/Northern Kentucky/Wright State
Seeding: 6 of past 7 champs were not #1 seed
Youngstown State has been the class of the league all season but the Penguins have never even made the title game so perhaps they are not ready to ascend to the summit this year. The Norse and Vikings have been hot on their heels all year and both of them split their season series with the Penguins. Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky also split the season series with each other in as close a fashion as possible, with each winning on their home court by a single point. Since I do not like 1st-year coaches, I will give the edge to Darrin Horn over Daniyal Robinson. Northern Kentucky has had 7 straight winning seasons thanks to JR G Marques Warrick having his 3rd straight year with 15+ PPG. The key to their success is defense: 9.5 SPG and 63.3 PPG allowed are both top-30 in the nation.

MVC tourney predicted champ: Drake (#2 seed)
Dates: March 2-5
Location: St. Louis, MO
2022 tourney champ: Loyola Chicago (#4 seed)
Fun fact: only champ since 2018 who is still in this conference is Bradley
Seeding: 3 of past 4 champs were not top-3 seed
Loyola-Chicago has won this tourney in 3 of the past 5 years but they have no chance to make it 4 out of 6…since they now play in the A-10! Drake lost to the Ramblers in each of the past 2 title games so it appears that the path is now clear for them to emerge victorious. They destroyed Bradley in January at home by 25 PTS but lost by double-digits on the road in the regular season finale yesterday. The DeVries family will be well-represented: Coach Darian has won 20+ games during each of his 5 years in charge, while SO SG Tucker is the league’s leading scorer who is shooting better than 37% from behind the arc. The Bulldogs are also not afraid of a close game, as their 77.7 FT% is top-15 in the nation: Love the Drake!

NEC predicted champ: St. Francis PA (#3 seed)
Dates: March 1-7
Location: Campus sites
2022 tourney champ: Bryant (#1 seed)
Fun fact: 5 different champs in past 5 years
Seeding: 3 of past 5 champs were #4 seed
This tourney has worked out well for #4 seeds recently…but Sacred Heart lost 6 of its final 10 games so let’s pencil in St. Francis PA. The bad news is that they lost all 3 of their games vs. Merrimack/Stonehill this month. The good news is that neither of those 2 schools are eligible to make the NCAA tourney this year. The best news is that JR big man Josh Cohen is the best player in the league: 22 PPG/8.1 RPG/59.1 FG%. Coach Rob Krimmel scheduled several non-conference opponents from power conferences to test his team including Butler/Miami/Ohio State. FR PG Landon Moore has been sidelined since mid-January with a left hand injury but could return any day now to try to save the season.

OVC predicted champ: Morehead State (#1 seed)
Dates: March 1-4
Location: Evansville, IN
2022 tourney champ: Murray State (#1 seed)
Fun fact: only champ since 2002 who is still in this conference is Morehead State
Seeding: each of past 5 champs were top-2 seed
Morehead State is the only champ from the past 2 decades who is still even in this league after the recent exodus of former winners like Belmont/Murray State. The Eagles won 23 games and made the title game during each of the past 2 seasons and if they can stay hot then they should make it 3 in a row. Coach Preston Spradlin started conference play 3-3 but then flipped the switch and won 11 of his final 12. Road trips to Bloomington/Morgantown toughened up this team in early-November and could pay nice dividends in March.

Patriot predicted champ: Colgate (#1 seed)
Dates: February 28-March 8
Location: Campus sites
2022 tourney champ: Colgate (#1 seed)
Fun fact: Colgate has made title game in each of past 5 years
Seeding: each of past 6 champs were top-3 seed
Army is the sentimental favorite: it would be quite a sight to see the Black Knights make the NCAA tourney for the 1st time in their 121-year basketball history. However, my own sentiment lies with my fellow Penn alum Matt Langel, who has been in the title game during each of the past 5 years. The play “Hamilton” was a smash hit on Broadway and the home-cooking that the Raiders will get while playing each of their postseason games in the city of Hamilton as the higher seed should receive rave reviews. They only lost 2 home games all year by a combined 12 PTS and their 3-PT shooting remains the best in the nation at 40.7%. Their scoring balance has also been a key as all 5 starters are averaging 10-15 PPG.

SoCon predicted champ: Samford (#2 seed)
Dates: March 3-6
Location: Asheville, NC
2022 tourney champ: Chattanooga (#1 seed)
Fun fact: 4 different champs in past 4 years
Seeding: 7 of past 8 champs were #1-seed
This is a 3-team race and Furman/UNC-Greensboro certainly have strong cases. This tourney likes #1 seeds so the Paladins are certainly a wise choice…but the pick is Samford. Coach Bucky McMillan only won 6 games in his debut season in 2021 but has now won 21+ games in back-to-back seasons. The Bulldogs lost 7 in a row from Thanksgiving to Christmas but have been near-unstoppable since then with 15 wins in 18 games. A lot of teams from non-power conferences have to depend on small guards to succeed but Samford has a powerful pair of big men in Logan Dye/Jermaine Marshall who have combined for 26 PPG/12 RPG.

Southland predicted champ: Nicholls State (#3 or 4 or 5 seed: TBD on Wednesday)
Dates: March 5-8
Location: Lake Charles, LA
2022 tourney champ: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (#4 seed)
Fun fact: 4 different champs since 2017
Seeding: each of past 4 champs were not #1 seed
Northwestern State/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi have been the class of this league all season, but I have a hunch that the Colonels’ chances of winning it all are finger-lickin’ good! Coach Austin Claunch tested his troops in non-conference play with road trips to Arizona/Baylor/Mississippi State/Texas Tech. They did get swept by the Islanders in conference play but split the season series with the Demons. Nicholls State has a defense that can best be described as “active”: the good news is that their 9.7 SPG is top-8 in the nation…but the bad news is that their 20.8 fouls/game is also top-8 in the nation.

Summit predicted champ: Oral Roberts (#1 seed)
Dates: March 3-7
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
2022 tourney champ: South Dakota State (#1 seed)
Fun fact: North Dakota State has made title game each of past 4 years
Seeding: 3 of past 6 champs were #4 seed
Oral Roberts was good enough to win this tourney in 2021 as a #4 seed…so just imagine their chances this year as the #1 seed. Since starting the season 3-3, Coach Paul Mills has won 24 of 25 with only a 1-PT road loss at New Mexico to finish non-conference play in early-January. The offense is on-point as they are top-25 in the nation from each of 1-PT/2-PT/3-PT range, which is no surprise due to SR PG Max Abmas. He should reach the 2500-career PT mark in his tourney opener (placing him among the greatest scorers in the history of this conference), and his FT shooting this year was a career-best 91.4%. For those opponents who think they can outscore the Golden Eagles by getting to the rim on offense, they are in for a sizable surprise in the form of 7’5” big man Connor Vanover, as the Arkansas transfer’s 3.2 BPG is #3 in the nation.

Sun Belt predicted champ: Marshall (#3 seed)
Dates: February 28-March 6
Location: Pensacola, FL
2022 tourney champ: Georgia State (#3 seed)
Fun fact: Georgia State has won 3 of past 4 tourneys
Seeding: 4 of past 5 champs were not #1 seed
This tournament has not been kinds to #1 seeds, but since Southern Miss/Louisiana have both been fading down the stretch I feel that we are Marshall. Coach Dan D’Antoni lost 21 games last year but has made an amazing 1-year turnaround by winning 24 regular season games. The X-factor has been FT shooting: 1 reason the Thundering Herd has a scoring margin of almost 11 PPG is that their opponents have combined to shoot a worst-in-the-country 63.9 FT%. There are only 26 players in the nation averaging at least 20 PPG…and Marshall is the only school with 2 of them in Taevion Kinsey/Andrew Taylor.

WCC predicted champ: Gonzaga (#2 seed)
Dates: March 2-7
Location: Las Vegas, NV
2022 tourney champ: Gonzaga (#1 seed)
Fun fact: Gonzaga has won 19 titles in past 24 years and finished 2nd each of the other 5 times
Seeding: 22 of past 24 champs were top-2 seed
While St. Mary’s deserves a ton of credit for having 1 of the greatest seasons in school history (including an OT win over Gonzaga on February 4th), Coach Mark Few’s dominance of this conference since taking over in Spokane in 1999 remains almost incomprehensible: 22 straight NCAA tourney appearances (not counting the COVID cancellation), 21 regular season titles, and 18 conference tourney titles…which is why he is a 14-time conference COY. Since losing to Purdue on the day after Thanksgiving the Bulldogs have lost 2 games by a single point and a 3rd game in overtime so the smart money in Vegas is not on the rest of the field. SR F Drew Timme has played 127 games in his college career and lost exactly 12 of them so if you like guys who know how to win then this is your guy.

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By David Dorman, Hoops HD Senior Staff Member

This bracket reflects what I would do if I was a committee of one if the season ended today. I am not trying to guess the real committee.

DAVID DORMAN’S BRACKET COMMENTS:

-Arizona fell a seed line with a home loss to Arizona State on Saturday. The only way I see Arizona getting up to the 1 line on Selection Sunday is wins over both UCLA and USC in LA over the upcoming weekend and win the PAC 12 Tournament in Vegas.

-I debated long and hard over the final #1 seed. It was very tight between Purdue and UCLA. In the end it came down to all the Tier 1 wins for Purdue and a much tougher conference schedule between the two schools. If UCLA wins the PAC 12 Tournament the Boilermakers might need to win the BIG 10 Tournament to hold off the Bruins for that last 1 seed.

-Michigan was my last team in the field and bumped out Wisconsin with the OT win yesterday in Ann Arbor.

-How important is a protected seed for UConn? Enormous. If UConn can make a run at the Big East Tournament Title in Madison Square Garden the Huskies can secure a top 4 seed and get placed in the East Regional located in Madison Square Garden. They can travel to the Final Four without leaving the state of NY. New York and more specifically MSG has become UConn’s home away from home over the years. UConn can play the first two rounds in Albany then head to Madison Square Garden for a shot to punch their ticket to the Final 4. The Husky faithful would love to gobble up all the tickets in Albany and the Garden and back their team all the way to Houston.

-Auburn better be careful and start winning a few games down the stretch. It will not be easy as they travel to Alabama on Wednesday and their final game is Tennessee at home on Saturday. If they lose both those games they might need to win a game in the SEC Tournament which sounds crazy considering they have been safely in my brackets all season.

-Kansas State was the beneficiary of the Arizona loss as K St. moved up a line and now sits on the 2 line.

-Some of the last teams left out of my bracket but still very much alive to make a late season push to the dance:

Clemson
Arizona State
Texas Tech
Penn State
North Carolina
Utah State
Wisconsin

-The month of March is the best month on the sports calendar every year. The win or lose format of our UTR conference tournaments is can’t miss competition. The excitement, intensity and energy in these gyms is incredible. These athletes put everything on the line as they try and make their childhood dreams of making the NCAA Tournament come true. Make sure you follow all the action with us at HoopsHD.com all March long.

-Enjoy Conference Tourney Time!

COMMENTS FROM THE PUPPET:

-This is more of a general comment than it is a specific comment on David’s bracket. If you’ve been doing this for a while, which I have (almost 20 years if you can believe it), you cannot help but make some selections and seedings due to categorical reasons. As a rule, I try to avoid this and remind myself that the real committee does something every year that they have never done before, but sometimes I still can’t help it.

If the standard is the 36 BEST, then Texas Tech belongs in. The only reason to not take them is for a categorical reason (conference record and too many Big 12 teams). Other than that, they are one of the 36 best non-champions. Don’t believe me?? Who would you rather play if it were a game you absolutely had to win?? Texas Tech or anyone else on David’s 10 or 11 line??

-I’m still not sold on Kansas. How can you give them a #1 seed? They just haven’t done enough!! (that was a joke).

-Indiana has been staying on most people’s #4 line. I was far more critical of Indiana at the start of the year than most people, and I think I may have been the last among the Hoops HD staff to buy into them. What’s strange is that I now seem to like them more than anyone else. Road wins at Xavier and at Purdue are incredible. Their resume seems to me like they belong on at least the #3 line, and perhaps even higher than that.

COMMENTS FROM CHAD:

– I don’t have any issues with the top 6 seed lines in Dorman’s bracket. It matches every team I would have within 1 line of where I would have them, and it is way to close to quibble over Purdue vs UCLA for the final 1 seed.

– I do not understand Maryland (not a single road win of note despite some great home wins) and Arkansas (only 2 road wins, one of which was by 2 at South Carolina) on the 7 line. I would have both teams behind the likes of Iowa (12 wins against the top two tiers), Texas A&M and even your ACC leader, Pittsburgh.

– I do not agree with the Puppet and do agree with Dorman on his last teams in. Texas Tech had a very narrow path to a bid, and it required a home win over TCU. They did not get it, and now have to find a way to win at Kansas this week. The Red Raiders have only 4 wins against any teams projected into the field as at-large caliber, and 3 of those 4 came at home. The one road win was at West Virginia, a team squarely on the Bubble. Using the Puppet’s own logic, this is not a tournament resume. But, given their conference, they will get the chances this week to prove their worth.

– I also have no idea why Dorman did not even consider College of Charleston for an at-large bid with Hofstra as his CAA auto bid team. The Cougars will be at 30 wins if they lose in the CAA finals, and no team in history with 29 or more wins has ever been left out!

COMMENTS FROM STALICA:

– A case can be made if you’re talking about Purdue or UCLA for the last #1 seed, but Texas should be considered for the #1 line as well. What is surprising to me is that Texas now has as many losses in conference play as Purdue does; the Big 12 is much more difficult to navigate than the B1G this season.

– I still don’t understand how Iowa State continues to remain in protected-seed territory. The Cyclones have fallen to .500 in the Group of Death known as the Big 12 and only have 4 wins away from Hilton Coliseum (two of which came during the PK Invitational in Portland). I would have chosen the Canes over Iowa State, even with a tough come-from-ahead loss at home against Florida State over the weekend.

– Had Virginia not beaten Baylor and Illinois in the Las Vegas Invitational, they would have a profile that would actually be worse than what North Carolina is bringing to the table right now. Let that sink in if the Hoos cannot get out of their current slump.

– It’s not out of the question to have Arkansas wearing white in Round 1, although I suspect they scream more 8-seed right now. Their wins away from home against San Diego State (in Maui) and at Kentucky are looming pretty large now; they seem to have stabilized their roster after a rash of injuries earlier in the year.

– As unbelieveable as this sounds, we could very well be looking at only 6 teams getting in the field from the Big 12 if teams like Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Texas Tech just stand pat and are unable to add more quality wins to their profiles. Clemson and Arizona State are finally playing with some urgency and could be potential bid thieves in their conference tournaments. But every bubble team is frightened of what Villanova poses in the Big East now that they’re completely healthy and finally clicking on all cylinders.

– Charleston is going to be a hot debate should they advance to the CAA Championship, lose to Hofstra and require an automatic bid. The only real wins of note were Virginia Tech, Kent State and a sweep of UNC-Wilmington. Getting swept (2 games) by Hofstra would be a near-fatal wound and a loss to any team not named Hofstra WILL be a fatal wound. I do think that winning the CAA would put the Cougars above the First Four, though.

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For today’s UTR Game of the Day and Hoops HD Daily Rundown – CLICK HERE

Your daily update on who has clinched a regular season title and who is close to doing so:

AAC: Houston has clinched
A-10: VCU is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
America East: Vermont has clinched
Atlantic Sun: Liberty/Kennesaw State both finished season 15-3 in league play
Big East: Marquette is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Big Sky: Eastern Washington has clinched
Big South: UNC-Asheville has clinched
Big 10: Purdue is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
CAA: Charleston/Hofstra both finished season 16-2 in league play
C-USA: Florida Atlantic is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
Horizon: Youngstown State has clinched
Ivy: Penn/Princeton/Yale are each 9-4 in league play with regular season finale on Saturday
MAAC: Iona has clinched
MVC: Bradley has clinched
MWC: San Diego State is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
NEC: Merrimack has clinched
OVC: Morehead State has clinched
Pac-12: UCLA has clinched
Patriot: Colgate has clinched
SEC: Alabama is 2 ahead of everyone in loss column with 2 to play
SoCon: Furman/Samford both finished season 15-3 in league play
Southland: Texas AM-Corpus Christi is 1 ahead of everyone in loss column with 1 to play
Summit: Oral Roberts has clinched
Sun Belt: Southern Miss has clinched
WCC: St. Mary’s/Gonzaga both finished season 14-2 in league play

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-For our CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK VIDEO NOTEBOOK – DAY 0 – CLICK HERE

Montana State (21-9, 14-3) at Eastern Washington (22-8, 16-1) – 9:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Cheney, Washington for a potential preview of the Big Sky Championship Game to be played next week; the Montana State Bobcats visit the Eagles of Eastern Washington. EWU missed their shot at perfection in conference play with a weekend loss at Idaho State; this now means that Oral Roberts will be the only team in the country to finish perfect in conference play during the regular season. Steele Venters leads the Eagles with 14.9 points a game.

Montana State enters tonight assured of 2nd place in the upcoming Big Sky Tournament. In the first matchup played at home, the Bobcats had a narrow 70-67 loss against Eastern Washington. As of right now, MSU has won 9 out of their last 10 games; the only slip-up was a 73-63 loss at Weber State. RaeQuan Battle averages 17.1 points a game for the Bobcats.

HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN (from The Puppet):

-After nearly picking up a big road win at Illinois a few days ago, Northwestern was beaten rather handily on the road at Maryland 75-59. Both teams are safely in the field, and while I personally don’t like Maryland’s profile as much as most people because of how poorly they’ve played away from home, they have been outstanding on their home court this year.

-Illinois, who is still solidly in the field, had a bit of a setback yesterday when they lost 72-60 to an Ohio State team that’s been absolutely atrocious since Christmas.

-Michigan picked up a nice(ish) win against Wisconsin at home 87-79. These two teams are heading in complete opposite directions. Wisconsin appeared to be safely in the field but has now fallen outside the bubble, whereas Michigan has strung together a few nice wins and can perhaps land inside the bubble if they keep it up.

-Rutgers was getting blown off the floor at Penn State early in the second half, but came all the way back to win on the road 59-56. This game was a microcosm of Penn State’s season. It started off really good, but in the last 1/3rd of it they just fell completely apart.

SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE: Florida A&M will be eliminated from being able to qualify for the SWAC Tournament with either a loss tonight (home vs Southern) or wins by both Texas Southern (at Alcorn State) and Bethune-Cookman (home vs Grambling).

-NORTH CAROLINA AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). Both teams are coming off big wins. UNC beat Virginia at home, which is a win they desperately needed for their NCAA Tournament chances, and Florida State is coming off a surprising road upset at Miami FL. UNC is still squarely on the bubble and needs this one as well.

-BAYLOR AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). Baylor appears to have a protected seed all but sewn up. It’s just a matter of where on the seedlist they end up. Oklahoma State has lost four straight and has fallen back onto the bubble. They could really use this one tonight because they need a few more big wins to secure them a spot in the field.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). West Virginia is coming off a near upset win at Kansas, which would have been huge for their NCAA Tournament chances. They’ve got another shot at a big win tonight, but it won’t be easy. Having said that, Iowa State has lost five of their last six and while they are still safely in the field they are sliding down the seedlist. A win could help them get things turned back around.

-NEVADA AT WYOMING (Mountain West). Nevada is hovering around the bubble, so every game for them is a big game. This is one that they should be able to win on the road, but at the same time they can’t totally sleepwalk through.

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WELCOME SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS!!! We are here to help!! We are here to tell you everything you should be doing!!

CLICK HERE for the HOOPS HD SURVIVAL BOARD, which shows who is a lock, who is on the bubble, and who needs the auto-bid

CLICK HERE for our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE, which has brackets, times, and viewing information for all 32 conference tourney

CLICK HERE for our most recent BRACKET PROJECTIONS

Championship Week officially gets underway tomorrow with the Opening Round of the Atlantic Sun Tournament!! The Survive and Advance portion of the season is officially here!! We’ve got a FULL PANEL to break down the two opening round Atlantic Sun games tomorrow because when it comes to the opening round of the ASun, we at Hoops HD DO NOT MESS AROUND!!!

ATLANTIC SUN OPENING ROUND:

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CWVN-Day-0-Audio-Only.mp3

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The end of the regular season means that it is time to recognize the best players/coaches in college basketball this season. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has reviewed all of the numbers and is ready to announce his picks for the 5 best players from each conference based on their all-around stats. Players are listed in a traditional 5-position lineup (G-G-F-F-C) whenever possible with several exceptions, plus special awards for each conference’s Player of the Year (POY), Rookie of the Year (ROY), Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), 6th Man of the Year (6TH), and Coach of the Year (COY). If you think he has overlooked anyone then feel free to tweet us your comments, and check back next week for the rest of the conferences in Part 2.

America East
G: Jacob Falko (Binghamton)
G: Kellen Tynes (Maine)
G: Charles Pride (Bryant)
F: Clarence Daniels II (New Hampshire)
F: Gerald Drumgoole Jr. (UAlbany)
POY: Clarence Daniels II (New Hampshire)
ROY: Jonathan Beagle (UAlbany)
DPOY: Kellen Tynes (Maine)
6TH: Aaron Deloney (Vermont)
COY: Pat Duquette (UMass-Lowell)

Atlantic Sun
G: Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas)
G: Kenny Dye (Queens)
F: Devontae Blanton (Eastern Kentucky)
F: Carter Hendricksen (North Florida)
C: Elijah Hutchins-Everett (Austin Peay)
POY: Kenny Dye (Queens)
ROY: Jacari Laine (North Alabama)
DPOY: Isaiah Cozart (Eastern Kentucky)
6TH: Jacari Laine (North Alabama)
COY: Amir Abdur-Rahim (Kennesaw State)

Big Sky
G: Cameron Parker (Portland State)
G: Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado)
F: Isaac Jones (Idaho)
F: Dillon Jones (Weber State)
C: Callum McRae (Sacramento State)
POY: Isaac Jones (Idaho)
ROY: Nigel Burris (Idaho)
DPOY: Darius Brown II (Montana State)
6TH: Great Osobor (Montana State)
COY: David Riley (Eastern Washington)

Big South
G: Taijon Jones (UNC-Asheville)
G: Ricky Clemons (Campbell)
F: Drew Pember (UNC-Asheville)
F: Kelton Talford (Winthrop)
F: Zack Austin (High Point)
POY: Drew Pember (UNC-Asheville)
ROY: Anthony Dell’Orso (Campbell)
DPOY: Drew Pember (UNC-Asheville)
6TH: Justin Bailey (USC Upstate)
COY: Mike Morrell (UNC-Asheville)

CAA
G: Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)
G: Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware)
G: Kam Woods (North Carolina A&T)
F: Jyare Davis (Delaware)
F: Jordan Nesbitt (Hampton)
POY: Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware)
ROY: Max Mackinnon (Elon)
DPOY: Amari Williams (Drexel)
6TH: Pat Robinson (Charleston)
COY: Pat Kelsey (Charleston)

Horizon
G: Antoine Davis (Detroit Mercy)
G: Trey Calvin (Wright State)
G: Jalen Moore (Oakland)
F: Trey Townsend (Oakland)
F: Kahliel Spear (Robert Morris)
POY: Antoine Davis (Detroit Mercy)
ROY: Brandon Noel (Wright State)
DPOY: Enoch Cheeks (Robert Morris)
6TH: Trevon Faulkner (Northern Kentucky)
COY: Bart Lundy (Milwaukee)

MVC
G: Ben Sheppard (Belmont)
G: Jace Carter (Illinois-Chicago)
G: Tucker DeVries (Drake)
F: Marcus Domask (Southern Illinois)
F: Ben Krikke (Valparaiso)
POY: Ben Sheppard (Belmont)
ROY: Cade Tyson (Belmont)
DPOY: Malevy Leons (Bradley)
6TH: Chance Moore (Missouri State)
COY: Josh Schertz (Indiana State)

NEC
G: Demetre Roberts (Fairleigh Dickinson)
G: Grant Singleton (Fairleigh Dickinson)
F: Jordan Minor (Merrimack)
F: Nico Galette (Sacred Heart)
F: Josh Cohen (St. Francis PA)
POY: Josh Cohen (St. Francis PA)
ROY: RJ Greene (LIU)
DPOY: Jordan Minor (Merrimack)
6TH: Zion Bethea (St. Francis NY)
COY: Chris Kraus (Stonehill)

OVC
G: Phillip Russell (Southeast Missouri State)
G: Jr. Clay (Tennessee State)
G: Isaiah Swope (Southern Indiana)
F: Jacob Polakovich (Southern Indiana)
F: Jaylen Sebree (Tennessee Tech)
POY: Jr. Clay (Tennessee State)
ROY: Cameron Haffner (Eastern Illinois)
DPOY: Cam Burrell (Lindenwood)
6TH: Branden Maughmer (Morehead State)
COY: Ryan Ridder (Tennessee-Martin)

Patriot
G: Tucker Richardson (Colgate)
G: Jalen Rucker (Army)
F: Gerrale Gates (Holy Cross)
F: Walter Whyte (Boston University)
C: Alex Timmerman (Bucknell)
POY: Gerrale Gates (Holy Cross)
ROY: Braeden Smith (Colgate)
DPOY: Gerrale Gates (Holy Cross)
6TH: Jeff Woodward (Colgate)
COY: Brett Reed (Lehigh)

SoCon
G: Mike Bothwell (Furman)
G: Vonterius Woolbright (Western Carolina)
F: BJ Mack (Wofford)
F: Stephen Clark (Citadel)
F: Jalen Slawson (Furman)
POY: Mike Bothwell (Furman)
ROY: Jackson Paveletzke (Wofford)
DPOY: Jalen Slawson (Furman)
6TH: Mikeal Brown-Jones (UNC-Greensboro)
COY: Bucky McMillan (Samford)

Southland
G: Demarcus Sharp (Northwestern State)
G: Jordan Johnson (New Orleans)
F: Christian Shumate (McNeese State)
F: Isaac Mushila (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)
C: Bonke Maring (Houston Christian)
POY: Demarcus Sharp (Northwestern State)
ROY: Nate Calmese (Lamar)
DPOY: Demarcus Sharp (Northwestern State)
6TH: CJ Roberts (Texas A&M-Commerce)
COY: Corey Gipson (Northwestern State)

Summit
G: Max Abmas (Oral Roberts)
G: Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State)
G: Trenton Massner (Western Illinois)
F: Grant Nelson (North Dakota State)
F: Connor Vanover (Oral Roberts)
POY: Max Abmas (Oral Roberts)
ROY: Andrew Rohde (St. Thomas)
DPOY: Connor Vanover (Oral Roberts)
6TH: Paul Bruns (South Dakota)
COY: Paul Mills (Oral Roberts)

Sun Belt
G: Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)
G: Andrew Taylor (Marshall)
F: Jordan Brown (Louisiana)
F: Felipe Haase (Southern Miss)
C: Essam Mostafa (Coastal Carolina)
POY: Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)
ROY: Terrance Ford Jr. (Arkansas State)
DPOY: Micah Handlogten (Marshall)
6TH: Linton Brown (Coastal Carolina)
COY: Jay Ladner (Southern Miss)

WCC
G: Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara)
G: Cam Shelton (Loyola Marymount)
F: Drew Timme (Gonzaga)
F: Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)
C: Mitchell Saxen (St. Mary’s)
POY: Drew Timme (Gonzaga)
ROY: Aidan Mahaney (St. Mary’s)
DPOY: Anton Watson (Gonzaga)
6TH: Rudi Williams (BYU)
COY: Randy Bennett (St. Mary’s)

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For today’s HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN, where we recap all of yesterday’s action and take a look at the big games today – CLICK HERE

We are only 2 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming weeks predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: UCLA (Pac-12)

2: Purdue (Big 10)
2: Baylor (Big 12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Kansas State (Big 12)

3: Arizona (Pac-12)
3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Tennessee (SEC)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)

4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Virginia (ACC)
4: Xavier (Big East)

5: Iowa State (Big 12)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Miami (ACC)
5: San Diego State (MWC)

6: Creighton (Big East)
6: TCU (Big 12)
6: Northwestern (Big 10)
6: Illinois (Big 10)

7: Maryland (Big 10)
7: Providence (Big East)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Duke (ACC)

8: Texas A&M (SEC)
8: Kentucky (SEC)
8: Iowa (Big 10)
8: Arkansas (SEC)

9: Missouri (SEC)
9: Rutgers (Big 10)
9: NC State (ACC)
9: Auburn (SEC)

10: Nevada (MWC)
10: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
10: Pittsburgh (ACC)
10: Mississippi State (SEC)

11: Boise State (MWC)
11: Memphis (AAC)
11: West Virginia (Big 12)
11: USC (Pac-12)
11: Oklahoma State (Big 12)
11: North Carolina (ACC)

12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Drake (MVC)
12: VCU (A-10)

13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Southern Miss (Sun Belt)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: Toledo (MAC)

14: Iona (MAAC)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Vermont (America East)
15: Samford (SoCon)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)

16: UNC-Asheville (Big South)
16: Morehead State (OVC)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
Clemson (ACC)
Oklahoma (Big 12)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

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Eddie Holbrook was hired as head coach at Gardner-Webb at the tender age of 24 and it turned out to be a good fit for all of the parties involved. He went 344-67 during 14 years on the sideline, won 4 conference titles during his 1st 5 years, and had 5 players make it to the NBA. He later spent 4 years at Furman where he made the 1980 NCAA tourney. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Eddie’s former assistant Ron Hooper about coaching a future Hall of Famer and averaging 100+ PPG. Today marks the 8th anniversary of the school officially dedicating “Eddie Holbrook Court” on February 26, 2015, so we take this time to honor his life/legacy.

How did Eddie 1st get into coaching? After college I think he got a job with a high school in North Carolina. He had coaching in his blood: he did not just fall into it.

His offensive philosophy was based on running a fast break: how did he come up with this strategy, and what made it so successful? When I worked for him we recruited to a double-post offensive system so we always knew that we would have at least 2 really good rebounders. We always went for speed at the PG and wing positions. We just figured that we would press a lot defensively and keep the heat on our opponents. We never walked the ball up the floor and tried to defeat the other team in the 1st half based on our physical conditioning and then have our way with them in the 2nd half.

In the late 1960s he recruited future Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore to Gardner-Webb: how did he do it, and where does Gilmore rank among the best players that you have ever seen? He was recruited the year before I got there. That was a time when you could find lesser-known players before other schools got in on recruiting and Coach Holbrook found him early in the process. We were only a 2-year JC school at the time and Coach just pursued him and convinced him to come there because there would be better things for him down the road. It was a win-win. His transition from a raw product was amazing. I do not think that Artis ever missed a class or was late for practice. He worked as hard as anyone on the floor both at practice and during games. He was a shy person but did the work. He was not just tall: he could run and jump and was a very good athlete. We did not just lob the ball to him down in the low post: he would work aggressively to get in the right position so that he did not have to make a difficult offensive move. He was a smart player and a super athlete. He could rebound the ball, make the outlet pass, and still fill the lane. He had a lot of raw ability but really developed his innate abilities. He dedicated himself to the classroom despite not being pushed academically in high school: I never had a single issue with him.

He oversaw the program’s transition from JC to NAIA: what was the biggest difference between the 2 levels? At that time there was not a whole lot of difference because JC basketball was terrific: we had highly skilled players so it was not a huge transition for our team. Our fast break was organized and orchestrated: find the PG, advance it on the 1st pass, and then everyone was off and running. If we did not have the advantage then we would set up our offense. It affects the other team’s offense because they know that if they miss a shot then they will have to bust their butts back down the floor. We had a 12-man fast break drill that began during the 1st day of practice: we did not stop for 5 straight minutes. When you bring a freshman into that environment and give them a few games like that, they will learn that this is the way to play basketball. Our opponents were often not excited to come back out for the 2nd half!

In 1972 his team averaged more than 109 PPG: how on earth did you ever lose a game?! We did not lose that many! We did not get caught up in statistics that much: we just tried to play the game. I recall 1 year in 1977 when we went 30-3: it would have been nice to go undefeated but a loss can also provide motivation to keep your players focused.

What are your memories of the 1972 NAIA tourney (he won 3 straight games before losing to eventual runner-up Wisconsin-Eau Claire)? Our tallest player that year (George Adams) was about 6’5” but was a stud who could really run. That was where our defensive and running philosophy really paid off. The glory days of the NAIA were from the late-1960s into the 1980s with some great teams like Georgetown College, Fort Hays State, and Kentucky State. That year Eau Claire was very good. Teams cherished the chance to go to the national tourney: there were 8 games/day in Kansas City. The Chiefs had some great teams back then and some of their players would show up to watch the tourney. Some of the NAIA teams could compete with the NCAA boys: there is no question about it.

After 14 years at Gardner-Webb he became head coach at Furman in 1978: why did he make the change, and did he have any regrets? Furman came after him very hard so it would have been awfully difficult for him to turn them down. I do not think that he has any regrets. He had good teams for his 1st 3 years there before recruiting became much more competitive but he had a good run. He never changed his coaching philosophy but it was very hard to get kids who were as dedicated as the ones we had at Gardner-Webb. That was the start of AAU summer travel teams in high school with the really good players starting to become pampered. It is not all bad but it does not always serve the players well when they play a lot of 1-on-1 basketball: in college you have to fit into a structure of team play.

What are your memories of the 1980 NCAA tourney (Jonathan Moore had 22 PTS/17 REB in a loss to Tennessee)? That game was in Greensboro, NC. We had a freshman named Tobe Jackson who was a terrific shooter but had a rough night (1-5 FG). It was a very competitive game and if we had made a few more buckets then I honestly think that we would have won the game.

His son Chad is head baseball coach at Charleston: why did he choose baseball over basketball, and how much of an influence was his father on his own decision to become a coach? Chad was a really good high school athlete: he was an option QB and may have won a state title or 2. He was also a really good basketball player and a terrific ball-handler. He was a left-handed hitter who could really run: all he had to do was hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield! UNC recruited him as a baseball player and he set a couple of stolen base records while playing 2nd base. His dad might have had a little influence on him becoming a coach but it was a pretty natural transition to become a baseball coach. I used to babysit Chad and his sister Nicole on weekends because I was single and lived in a dorm. Eddie’s late wife Bobbi worked in the PE department and coached the women’s basketball team: we would kid him that his wife was a better coach than him because she was a heck of a coach! You cannot be a good coach unless your family understands the schedule that must be kept so the kids would spend a lot of time at the gym. Bobbi was always ready to help out and there was a lot of family/fan participation, which made it easier to win games. We took teams to Hawaii, Rio, Rome, London, Mexico City, etc. We would offer our fans a chance to fly with us and the ones who signed up knew that they were helping us cover our transportation costs: we would sell out within 1 hour. It was very impactful and a really good recruiting tool. We would go for big kids anywhere we could find them, New York/DC for PGs, and Indiana for shooters. When you recruit a kid from Indiana and then word gets back that he is scoring 25 PPG for us, you can probably go back there in the future to get some more players! I made a point of getting introduced to Howard Garfinkel at a camp in Long Island: he got a kick out of my North Carolina accent and called me “Coach Hoop”. After a couple of years he would know your style of play and knew which kids would be a good fit from both a basketball and attitude standpoint. Howard was not just trying to make money by selling publications: he worked hard at his job and was a very good reporter on high school basketball players. Howard played a role in our success as well.

When people look back on his career, how do you think he should be remembered the most? When the players came through there they did not love him because he just wanted them to do their job. If they missed class or broke the team rules then there was a penalty. I do not recall any practice that was shorter than 3 hours: it was tough. I was a decent athlete but I do not know if I could have done that. However, the court was named for him several years ago. To a man the players had such a high respect for him and said that playing for him changed their lives. He made them do what they did not want to do but it was something that they needed to do. We have some very successful men who used to play for us: IBM employees, high school coaches, etc. He was very demanding and made sure that our team was always the aggressor on both ends of the floor: that philosophy never changed. There was no standing around in practice or games. I have seen a lot of good coaches who tried to change things here and there…but Coach Holbrook never changed.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-If you are at all a fan of college basketball, and you wanted to pick a day to sort of take a break from it, then I hope to hell that day wasn’t yesterday!!

-Alabama had to sweat out yet another opponent. This time it was at home against an Arkansas team that REALLY could have used a win of this caliber, but Bama managed to come from behind in the second half and escape with an 86-83 win.

-West Virginia went to Kansas, and it looked to be a game where they were shooting at the moon. The thing is, they almost hit the moon! WVU played what was perhaps their most impressive games of the season, and had a chance to tie or win on their final possession of the game, but came up just short 76-74. This would have been a huge difference maker and likely virtually locked WVU into the field had they been able to pull it off.

-Indiana had beaten Purdue earlier this season, but that was at home and not many people expected them to be able to do it again at Purdue. Well…they DID do it again! In what was one of the more impressive singular wins of the season for any team, they totally controlled the second half and upset their rivals 79-71 for the regular season sweep. It’s a win that gives them bragging rights, and that should shoot them way up the seedlist!

-Arizona was (and still is) a solid protected seed, and they were at home against rivals Arizona State who was outside the bubble and who needed a monster win just to get a look. This game was close all throughout, but Arizona appeared to win it in the final seconds and deny Arizona State a huge rivalry road win that they really needed on their resume. And then…as time expired…Arizona hit a last second desperation heave from beyond mid court for an 89-88 win that puts them back within reach of making the NCAA Tournament.

-Miami FL struggled at home against rivals Florida State, who have not been good at all this year, but who played a great game yesterday. Miami hit what appeared to be a winning shot in the final seconds and were set to escape with a win and stay within reach of a protected seed, but then….Florida State hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull off the 85-84 upset.

-San Diego State managed to pick up one of their best wins of the season as they went on the road to New Mexico, and faced a team who desperately needed a big win to help build up their resume and to pull themselves out of the quicksand they had been sinking in to. This was another really good game that was played at a high level, and New Mexico hit a shot to put them ahead with just 6 seconds to go. San Diego State then came down….and….hit a shot at the buzzer for the 73-71 win!! This one wasn’t quite as dramatic as the others, though. It was just a regular shot and not a half court heave. On paper it’s a really nice win for San Diego State and a big missed opportunity for a New Mexico team that needed a big win.

-There was a FOURTH buzzer beater yesterday in a de facto Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game where Lindenwood and Little Rock were playing for the final spot in the OVC Tournament. The winner would qualify, and the loser’s season would end. It went into overtime, and as time was expiring Lindenwood hit a deep 3 for the win. I don’t know this for sure, but I think Little Rock may be leading the nation in most losses either in overtime or by 3pts or less. They’ve got 8 of those, BTW.

-Kansas State got another nice 73-68 road win against an Oklahoma State team that REALLY needed to win this game. The Pokes have now lost four straight, and have the kind of resume that really could go either way right now as to whether or not the committee will select them.

-Baylor held of Texas 81-72 in a battle of top ten teams that could both end up on the #2 line or better.

-Gonzaga avenged their early season loss to Saint Mary’s 77-68. They actually had a big lead early in the second half and SMC fought back, but could not come all the way back. The two are tied in the standings, and the tiebreaker will be the NET, so SMC will still likely end up with the #1 seed in the WCC Tournament.

-Creighton was upset at Villanova yesterday, which was a bit of a surprise considering how well Creighton had been playing recently, and how much Villanova has been struggling this year. Nova has had quite a week! They’ve managed to beat two top 20 opponents. Its’ not nearly enough to get them within eyesight of the bubble, but it was a damn good week and they are now a very respectable 9-9 in the Big East.

-Virginia’s stretch of playing poorly continues. It’s not easy to win at North Carolina, but prior to two weeks ago Virginia was playing at the caliber of a protected seed, and it was the kind of game you’d expect them to be able to win. They ended up losing 71-63 and picking up their second straight loss. As for UNC, it was probably their biggest win of the season and a win that puts them from being outside the bubble to perhaps right on it.

-Oklahoma pulled off an upset against Iowa State on the road 61-50, and suddenly the Cyclones are looking a lot less shiny than they were looking just a few weeks ago.

-TCU got a huge 83-82 road win against a Texas Tech team who had been playing really well and was starting to look like they might make the NCAA Tournament, but who also needed to keep stringing together wins. This helps pull TCU out of a bit of a slump, and knocks Texas Tech a little further outside the bubble.

-Texas A&M had been on a rampage, and had put together two really big wins last week, but couldn’t keep it up yesterday as they fell on the road 69-62 to a Mississippi State team that is squarely on the bubble, and who has played really well at home, and who really needed the win themselves yesterday.

-Clemson has lost multiple games this year that should have been as easy to win as a typical buy game. They’ve also played games where they’ve looked absolutely fantastic. Yesterday it was the latter. They went on the road to face a good NC State team that’s been even better at home, and absolutely blew them to the moon. The final score was 96-71, and the game was over well before the first half ended.

-Michigan State and Iowa was a double overtime thriller where neither team could miss in the second half. It was tied at halftime, tied at the end of regulation, and tied at the end of the first overtime. Iowa finally prevailed 112-106, and it is a win that will help their resume some, but both teams appear to be solidly inside the bubble right now.

-Kentucky absolutely thrashed Auburn 86-54. It was a game that could have really helped out Auburn had they won, but they came up just 32 points short. Is Kentucky FINALLY starting to play at the caliber a lot of us were expecting to see back in October?

-Boise State, who has been straddling the bubble for weeks, suffered a costly loss yesterday at San Jose State 74-68. It was a road game, and San Jose State isn’t terrible, but it’s still a game that a team who is on the bubble needs to win if they want to land on the right side of the cut line.

-USC picked up their second road win of the week as they knocked off Utah 62-49. Neither Colorado or Utah are teams that are inside the bubble, but to go on the road and beat both of them is a big deal for a USC team that is on the bubble and who needs to land on the right side of it.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-NORTHWESTERN AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Northwestern blew a big second half lead at Illinois, and had they held on to win they’d have shot up the seedlist, but they’ve got another chance to get a big road win today against a Maryland team that I’m not as big on as most others because of how poor they’ve been away from home, but AT home has looked like a protected seeded caliber team. It’s a win the Wildcats should get a lot of credit for if they can somehow pull it off.

-CINCINNATI AT MEMPHIS (American). Cincinnati has been playing much better, but winning on the road at Memphis will be a very tall order. Memphis is inside our bubble, but they are right on the edge of it and really can’t afford to lose to anyone that isn’t Houston the rest of the way.

-WISCONSIN AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Wisconsin is also right on the edge of our bubble and this game, along with all their remaining games, has a pivotal feel to it. Michigan is very schizophrenic. Sometimes they play at a really high level, and other times they just sort of wet the bed. But, while we don’t have them inside our bubble right now, they are close enough to it to reach it if they finish the season strong and pick up some notable wins in the Big Ten Tournament.

-DRAKE AT BRADLEY (Missouri Valley). This is also John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day. CLICK HERE to read his take on it. This is for first place in the Missouri Valley and a chance to lock up at least an NIT bid, but more importantly than that it’s a game between two teams who are both capable of winning a game in the Round of 64 if they are able to get there. It’s also a resume builder, which can help improve their seed and get a more winnable game in the Round of 64. These two may be facing each other again a week from today, and that will obviously be a much bigger game, but today is still really big.

-RUTGERS AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Some have Penn State floating around the bubble, and I suppose there is a chance they make the field, but it will take a very strong finish. Rutgers is safely in the field and has some really big wins on their resume, but they’ve also lost four out of five and have not been the best road team, so a win today would actually help make their resume look a lot better.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Illinois @ Ohio State (Big Ten) – Illinois should be riding high after a come from behind win to beat Northwestern, whereas Ohio State is riding so low that they are under the ground right now
-Providence @ Georgetown (Big East) – Providence has not been the best road team, but they should be able to get this one today
-UCLA @ Colorado (Big 12) – it’s not the easiest road game, but it’s a road game a solid protected seed like UCLA should be able to win

UTR WATCH:

-SIENA AT IONA (Metro Atlantic). Iona will clinch an outright first place finish with a win

-Hofstra won their game against Northeastern, which means they end the season tied for first place in the Colonial with Charleston, but will be the #1 seed in the tournament due to having the head to head win against them earlier this year

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Drake (24-6, 15-4) at Bradley (22-8, 15-4) – 4:00 PM ET (ESPN2)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Peoria, Illinois for the Game of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference; today’s winner between the Drake Bulldogs and the Bradley Braves will clinch the outright championship and #1 seed in the MVC Tournament that takes place next weekend in St. Louis. In the blue corner are the Drake Bulldogs – they have won 10 straight games. They also hammered Bradley 86-61 in the first matchup; Tucker DeVries had 28 points in that victory.

In the red corner are the Bradley Braves; they enter today with a 9-game winning streak of their own. Belmont managed a sweep against Bradley earlier in conference play, but they are 15-2 against the rest of the league. Rienk Mast averages 14.0 points a game and 7.8 rebounds a game for the Braves.

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SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATES ( click here to view):

Courtesy of Chad Sherwood

-AMERICA EAST – Albany out if they lose at home to NJIT

-IVY LEAGUE – If Cornell wins at Yale OR Brown wins at Columbia then Harvard and/or Dartmouth are eliminated if either team loses (Harvard home vs Princeton, Dartmouth at Penn)

-MAC – Western Michigan out if they lose at Akron AND Central Michigan wins home vs Northern Illinois

-OHIO VALLEY – Little Rock is out with a loss at Lindenwood. If Little Rock win, Lindenwood is eliminated from the OVC Tournament, but they are already off the Survival Board.

-SWAC – MVSU out with a home loss to Ark-Pine Bluff

Last night had a couple games of note involving NCAA Tournament-bound teams; Xavier got off the mat after getting out to a 19-point lead at Seton Hall at halftime. The Pirates got out of the gates with a 12-1 run, but Xavier answered with a 12-0 run of their own and the Musketeers ended up with a 22-point win. There were a few fireworks at the end of the game, but ended up with no more than offsetting technicals and one ejection for a Seton Hall player leaving the bench. The Pirates now have to win the Big East tournament to go dancing.

Nevada avoided stubbing their toes at Fresno State, which is more than can be said for other teams in the Mountain West. The Wolf Pack end their regular season with a game at Wyoming and a home game against UNLV. They would be well advised to win both games before the Mountain West tournament.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-CREIGHTON AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Creighton is solidly in the field and is pretty much just playing for seeding the rest of the way. They could even end up as high as a protected seed if they can finish strong. They’re clearly the superior team here, but playing on the road is never easy, but in saying that it is a chance to add another road win to their resume. That said, Villanova is every bubble team’s nightmare – this team is finally healthy and showed Tuesday at Xavier that they are still perfectly capable of doing major damage at the Big East tournament in a couple of weeks.

-TCU AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). This is a huge game for Texas Tech, as are all their remaining games, as the Red Raiders actually have a shot at landing inside the bubble. TCU has dealt with injuries this season, and dropped a lot of games during that stretch, but they are healthy again and they are dangerous. Texas Tech is at home, they have also had their own injury problems and they’ve been playing really well lately. So, it’s a high stakes game between two teams that are playing well and who could really use the win.

-CLEMSON AT NC STATE (ACC). Clemson has some really stinko losses on their resume and is currently outside our bubble, but they can still end up landing inside of it if they can finish strong. This is a huge opportunity that they really kind of need. As for NC State, they’re hovering around our 8/9s seed lines and should remain there so long as they continue to hold serve in games like this.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT IOWA (Big Ten). Both teams are inside the bubble, both are safely inside the field minus a meltdown, and both have a chance to build up their resume and climb the seedlist between now and the end. I really like how Michigan State has been playing lately, but they will definitely be tested in this one today.

-ARKANSAS AT ALABAMA (SEC). Alabama has a path to being the #1 overall seed, and Arkansas appears to be far enough inside the bubble that they will likely stay there, but the Hogs could REALLY shoot up the seedlist if they were to pull off this upset today.

-ARIZONA STATE AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). Arizona is a solid protected seed who some feel could reach the #1 line, whereas Arizona State is outside our bubble and won’t be able to get inside of it unless they’re able to pick up a win like this.

-TEXAS AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Both teams are ranked in the top ten, both appear to be headed toward protected seeds, and both still have a chance at ending up on the #1 line, especially Texas if they can pick up a massive road win like this. It’s more of a showcase game between two highly ranked teams than it is a must-win game between teams playing for their tournament lives, but as far as the final seedlist goes it’s a big game for both teams.

-KANSAS STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). Another big game in the Big 12. K State is looking to lock up a protected seed, and Oklahoma State is looking to simply land inside the bubble and make the field. The Pokes have lost three straight after appearing to be on a pace to where they’d continue to climb the seedlist and coast to a place in the field, but now they are in a position to where they probably need to win two of their last three in order to feel safe heading into the Big 12 Tournament.

-TEXAS A&M AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Texas A&M is on an absolute rampage. They had won a lot of games, and when their schedule suddenly got harder about a week ago, they kept winning games. They’ve gone from being on the fringe of the bubble to looking at a possible 5 seed if they keep it up, and perhaps even better depending on what happens between now and the end. This will not be an easy game. It’s on the road against a good Mississippi State team who’s been very good at home and who really needs this win to help ensure they land on the right side of the bubble.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT KANSAS (Big 12). A bubble team is visiting a likely #1 seed. This is probably too tall of an order for a West Virginia team that needs to some how find a few more wins between now and the end of the season, but if they were to pull it off, it would probably make the difference in regards to them getting into the field.

-AUBURN AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Auburn is solidly on the bubble and a win in a game like this on the road and against a team that now appears to be solidly in the field, would go a very long way. Kentucky still has a lot to play for as well. If they want to improve their seed then they need a strong finish to the season.

-VIRGINIA AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). Virginia has not looked good at all in their last three games. They struggled to beat two really weak teams, and then failed to beat Boston College, who is also a weak team. North Carolina has failed to win any games at all that indicate they belong in the tournament. A win today may not be enough to get them there, but it would at least be a huge step in the right direction. They are at home, they’ve have played well at home all year, and Virginia has not played well in their last three games, so golden opportunities do not get more golden than this.

-INDIANA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Indiana won the first battle between these two, and they’ve shown multiple times that they can win big games on the road, but winning THIS game on the road is just an entirely different level. Purdue is still in the hunt for a #1 seed and will likely get it if they win out through the regular season, which is something they are definitely good enough to do. If IU were to win this, then they’d jump from being a possible protected seed to an almost assured protected seed.

-USC AT UTAH (Pac 12). USC is squarely on the bubble and they are coming off a really nice (and decisive) win at Colorado the other night. If they can follow that up with a win tonight, it would probably have them sweating a whole lot less in regards to them making the field. Utah is outside the bubble, but to beat them on their court would still be considered a solid win.

-SAINT MARY’S AT GONZAGA (West Coast). Saint Mary’s won the first meeting between these two, and throughout most of conference play actually looked like the better team, but for the past two weeks the Zags have been on a rampage. I cannot foresee the Zags not being amped up for this game. They don’t want to not finish in first place, they don’t want to finish behind their rivals, and they don’t want to be swept by their rivals. Tonight should be a crazy atmosphere. As for Saint Mary’s, if they were to somehow win this, I will go from liking them to REALLY liking them!

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). San Diego State is solidly in the filed, but I personally don’t like them quite as much as most everyone else seems to. Most of the rest of Hoops HD has them around the #6 line whereas I have them in the 8/9 range. Having said that, if they get this win on the road tonight, I will like them a lot more. As for New Mexico, they are right on the bubble and really need this win just to end up on the right side of it.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-UConn @ Saint John’s (Big East) – UConn has really come to life having won five of their last six, and they should be able to continue that string today
-Oklahoma @ Iowa State (Big 12) – Iowa State is just 3-7 in their last ten games, and while they are safely in the field, and could even still end up as a protected seed, they need this one today if for no other reason than it is probably their most winnable remaining game
-Missouri @ Georgia (SEC) – a challenging, but winnable, road game for a Mizozu team who can make their profile look a little bit better by picking up another road win
-UTEP @ Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) – we say this every time, but if FAU wins out they should go into the field on the first ballot
-Florida State @ Miami FL (ACC) – Miami has had a fantastic season, is high in the rankings, and could end up as a protected seed if they’re able to finish strong
-Syracuse @ Pittsburgh (ACC) – I like how Pitt has been playing and think they should be able to hold serve and get this one at home. Syracuse still has a very slim chance at making a run at the bubble, but they’d basically need to win out until the ACC Championship Game
-Florida @ Vanderbilt (SEC) – it’s not likely, but Vandy is currently 8-7 in SEC play and this is a winnable game. If they can win out they’d be at 11-7, and if they can then win a game or two in the SEC Tournament, then….maybe they get looked at?
-Notre Dame @ Wake Forest (ACC) – Wake is outside the bubble, but they are at least close enough to it to reach it with a strong finish to the season and a good showing in the ACC Tournament
-Boise State @ San Jose State (Mountain West) – Boise State is inside the bubble, but still pretty close to the edge of it. They can’t afford to lose games, even on the road, to teams that are nowhere near the bubble.
-DePaul @ Marquette (Big East) – Marquette has been outstanding and is on pace to be the first place finisher in the Big East, and could end up as high as the #2 line if everything falls into place. This should be a layup win for them
-Houston @ East Carolina (American) – Houston is on pace to get a #1 seed, and will almost be assured of it if they win out through the regular season
-Virginia Tech @ Duke (ACC) – Duke is solidly in the field and is unbeaten at home. I look for them to remain solidly in the field and unbeaten at home after tonight

UTR WATCH:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-STONY BROOK AT CHARLESTON (Colonial). Charleston is tied with Hofstra with just one game to go. A win today clinches at least a share, but they need Hofstra to lose in order to get the #1 seed.

-IVY LEAGUE – Princeton, Yale, and Penn are tied for first place with just two games to go, whereas Cornell, Brown, and Dartmouth are in a three-way tie for 4th place, and the final spot in the Ivy League Tournament. It looks like it’s going to come down to the final game of the season next week regardless of what happens today. Princeton will play at Harvard, in a game that Harvard needs to win in order to stay alive for a spot in the Ivy League Tournament. Penn hosts Dartmouth and Yale hosts Cornell

-FURMAN AT SAMFORD (SoCon). If Samford can win this game, then they clinch an outright first place finish. If Furman wins, then it’s at least a two-way tie with the possibility of a three-way tie if UNC Greensboro beats East Tennessee State.

-BUFFALO AT TOLEDO (MAC). Toledo has a one game lead with three left to play. They can clinch a share of first place with a win today and a Kent State loss.

-NORTHEASTERN AT HOFSTRA (Colonial). With a win, Hofstra clinches at least a share of first place, and the #1 seed in the conference tournament via the tiebreaker over Charleston. Hofstra beat Charleston earlier in the year.

-ORAL ROBERTS AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (Summit League). Oral Roberts has already clinched an outright first place finish, but this is perhaps their toughest conference game, so it’s more of a litmus test for ORU than anything else.

-UT MARTIN AT MOREHEAD STATE (Ohio Valley). Morehead State has already clinched an outright first place finish and a bye into the semis of the conference tournament. Today is just a warm-up game and a final home send off.

-HOWARD AT NC CENTRAL (MEAC). Howard has a one game lead over Norfolk State with three games to go. They can clinch at least a share of first place with a win today and a Norfolk loss to South Carolina State (which, admittedly, isn’t likely).

-VERMONT AT BRYANT (America East). Vermont has clinched first place and will have home court advantage throughout the conference tournament. This will probably be one of their tougher conference road games, but win or lose it doesn’t matter. They’ve already clinched.

-COLGATE AT NAVY (Patriot League). Colgate has already clinched first place and will have home court advantage throughout the conference tournament.

-UNC ASHEVILLE AT LONGWOOD (Big South). These are the top two teams in the conference, but UNC Asheville has already clinched first place. Having said that, this league no longer plays the tournament at campus sites, so all 1st place really means is that they get to wear white uniforms throughout the tournament.

-HORIZON LEAGUE – it’s the last day of the season, and we’ve got a two-way tie for first place between Cleveland State and Youngstown State. Milwaukee and Northern Kentucky are just a game behind them and could both still win at least a share of first place. Cleveland State and Youngstown State split the season series, but if one wins and the other loses, then whoever wins ends up being the outright first place finisher. If they both win or both lose, it gets a little crazy after that. Youngstown goes to IUPUI, which is about as winnable as a game can possibly be, and Cleveland State goes to Milwaukee, who is just a game behind them and can tie them in the standings.

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Oral Roberts (26-4, 17-0) at South Dakota State (18-11, 13-4) – 3:00 PM ET (Midco Sports)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Brookings, South Dakota for a matchup between the hometown South Dakota State Jackrabbits and the Oral Roberts Eagles. Oral Roberts is one of two teams in the country vying for a perfect conference record (Eastern Washington being the other) and their toughest test remains today. The Eagles do have a faint chance at an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, though such a path requires a victory today. Max Abmas averages 22.6 points a game and 3.7 assists a game.

South Dakota State comes into today’s game on a 7-game winning streak; they are already assured of the #2 seed in the Summit League conference tournament that starts next weekend. SDSU lost their first meeting at Oral Roberts 79-40 earlier in the season. Zeke Mayo averages 18.3 points a game and 3.6 assists a game.

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If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced in January after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Nate Oats how he likes having 2022 honoree Brandon Miller at Alabama! Kentucky seems to be the big winner so far as Coach John Calipari will have a quartet of 2023 honorees joining him in Lexington next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jared McCain about being named a McDonald’s All-American and going for the 3-peat.

You helped lead your Centennial High School team to state championships during each of the past 2 years: is it harder to win a title or defend a title, and do you think you will make it 3 in a row this spring? It is harder to win a title. Once we won the 1st 1 we knew what it took to win and what to expect the following season. I do feel that we will 3-peat this year because we have some great players/coaches.

You received offers from several great schools including Gonzaga/Houston but signed with Duke last March: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how far do you think the Blue Devils will go in March? It was based on the playing style and the platform that I can play on. The coaching staff (including Coach Jon Scheyer) has always been there for me. I think they will win the national title this year: their record does not matter.

You are 6’3”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I can play either guard spot. My game has definitely transitioned to more of a PG but if someone else is hot then I can play SG instead.

You are part of a great recruiting class that includes Mackenzie Mgbako/Sean Stewart: how well do you know either of them, and what makes them such great players? I got to meet them at a bunch of different basketball camps and we have created a good bond. I am really excited to play with them because they all bring something special to the table.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? That has been a goal of mine since I 1st learned about the McDonald’s Game back when Collin Sexton was in it several years ago. Kobe/LeBron/KD have all played in it before so it is surreal for me to finally make it.

2 of your fellow honorees (Stephon Castle/Brandon Garrison) joined you last summer on team USA at the FIBA U-18 Americas Championship in Mexico: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? That is a different type of feeling. I was so excited just to make the team. It was like “American Idol”: you have to perform and then you get judged. Some guys stayed and some guys had to leave the room. Playing with 3 guys who are potential lottery picks this summer (Anthony Black/GG Jackson/Cam Whitmore) was crazy. My uniform/gold medal are both framed in my bedroom.

There are 2 other players from California who were selected (Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James/Carmichael Jesuit’s Andrej Stojakovic): have you had a chance to play with/against either of them in the past? Andrej and I actually went to the same middle/elementary school in Sacramento so I played with him a lot in the past. I have not played with Bronny but have gotten to know him while we attended some camps together.

You have a 4.0 GPA: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I find it pretty easy: my parents have instilled in me since I was young that academics come 1st.

You have around 2 million TikTok followers and some of your video dance performances have been viewed more than 15 million times: what role does social media play in your life? People think it plays a bigger role than it actually does because I post a lot. It can be toxic at times but I have always had fun dancing.

You have your own clothing brand as well as 1 of the highest NIL valuations of any high school basketball player, which has allowed you to sign deals with Champs Sports, Lemon Perfect, and Crocs: what have you been doing with all of that money?! Just saving it: I am not trying to do too much with it now but will still bless my family when I can.

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For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN where the seedlists of all the staff members are cross country scored and ranked to create a master seedlist which is then bracketed, and that bracket is revealed via Selection Sunday Style – CLICK HERE

SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (click here to view)

-ATLANTIC SUN – A Jacksonville loss or FGCU win eliminates the Dolphins while FGCU can be eliminated by losing and having Jacksonville win.

NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Northwestern was looking like a Final Four caliber team in the first half against Illinois last night. They were up 18pts on the road. The problem was that after halftime, they still had to play another 20 minutes, and Illinois came from behind, got it close, then went ahead, and then held on to win 66-62 as the game came down to the seconds. It was a big win for the Illini! Perhaps the first time in all of history that a home win against Northwestern can legitimately be called a “Big Win.”

-Neither Penn State or Ohio State are likely to make the NCAA Tournament (although I suppose Penn State does have a chance), but if you missed the end of their game yesterday, you should watch it! It was an exhibition of what it is like to be totally braindead and unfamiliar with the game’s situation – CLICK HERE

-Rutgers had what appeared to be a routinely winnable game at home against Michigan last night, but they didn’t play all that well in the first half, and played even worse in the second half. To their credit, Michigan did play a good game and picked up a nice road win, and they appear to be building up some momentum late in the season.

-USC, who is squarely on the bubble, picked up a really important, and somewhat impressive 84-65 road win against Colorado. Beating Colorado in and of itself isn’t that great, but to beat them on the road by that margin at a time of the year when USC really needs road wins…that was a good win!

-XAVIER AT SETON HALL (Big East). Xavier has had some really good wins and some very impressive moments this year, but they’ve also had their share of head-scratching moments, particularly their last game where they lost at home to Villanova. Seton Hall is outside the bubble, but could still technically reach if with a strong finish. A win today may not be enough in and of itself, but it would certainly be a big help.

-RICHMOND AT VCU (Atlantic Ten). VCU has very little shot of being selected without the auto-bid, but I suppose they do have at shot if they can win out. They have a 1 game lead with 3 games to go in the A10, and can get one step closer with a win over their rivals tonight.

-NEVADA AT FRESNO STATE (Mountain West). Nevada is inside the bubble and is fairly safe barring a collapse between now and the end, but Fresno has proven to be a tricky road game this year, and it would be a bit of a setback for Nevada if they lost to a team that is just 10-17 overall on the season.

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Kennesaw State (22-8, 14-3) at Central Arkansas (9-21, 4-13) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Conway, Arkansas for a game between the Kennesaw State Owls and the Bears of Central Arkansas. An 88-81 win over Liberty capped a stretch for the Owls where they won 11 out of 12 games and put them in prime position for the #1 seed in the Atlantic Sun and at least a share of the regular season title. They would need a win and a Liberty loss to clinch the outright regular season title. Chris Youngblood averages 15.1 points a game for Kennesaw State.

Tonight will be the regular season finale for Central Arkansas; they failed to qualify for the Atlantic Sun tournament and have therefore been eliminated from the Hoops HD Survival Board. In fact, we would also ask that you begin monitoring the conference tournaments tab at the top of the page as we begin to get matchups announced for the conference tournaments beginning later tonight. (We may or may not begin revealing the 2023 Puppet Bunker as well)

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, February 2nd, and the seedlist was created prior to 8pm, est. No games that were played that day, particularly Northwestern vs Illinois or Rutgers vs Michigan, were factored in

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And below is an audio only version of the show, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!!

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BR-2-2-23-Audio-Only-1.mp3

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SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (click to view):

-OHIO VALLEY – Eastern Illinois fell to Morehead State yesterday, so they fall a half game behind Little Rock for 8th place and the final spot in the conference tournament. Little Rock will face SIUE tonight and can get a one game lead with one game to go with a win. I THINK Little Rock currently has the tiebreaker. The two teams split during the regular season, and they also split with the two teams that are tied for second, but Little Rock has the next highest win in the conference standings for now. Either way, it is a very tight race.

-We discuss more of this, as well as the rest of the UTR teams in our final UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast of the season. To check it out – CLICK HERE

NEWS AND NOTES:

-I am not going to talk about Alabama’s off the court issues other than to say I’m not going to talk about them. If that’s what you want to read about, there are thousands of other things out there you can easily find. They had to sweat last night at South Carolina, and needed overtime, but escaped with a 78-76 win, which should keep them atop the seedlist as the #1 overall.

-Virginia lost 63-48. At Boston College. Virginia has been asleep for the last couple of weeks. They had to sweat out both Louisville and Notre Dame in their two games prior to this one. What is going on in Hoo-Ville?

-UConn actually ran away from Providence in the second half, and ended up winning 87-69. I know they were at home, but it was one of the more impressive 20 minute stretches that we’ve seen out of UConn in quite some time.

-North Carolina really had to sweat, but they did escape from Notre Dame 63-59. It wasn’t the kind of performance that instills a lot of confidence that the team is actually any good, but it was enough to at least keep them within reach of the bubble. For now.

-Auburn also survived at home against Ole Miss 78-74. It wasn’t the kind of performance that instills a lot of confidence that the team is actually any good, but it was enough to at least keep them within reach of the bubble. For now.

-Wisconsin, who had been playing really poorly and slipped pretty far down the seedlist (and perhaps outside the bubble), got a 64-52 home win over Iowa that they DESPERATELY needed. All of their games from here on out will have a pivotal feel to them.

-Boise State needed a big win, and got it against New Mexico 82-77 at home last night. New Mexico is in very serious trouble as they are now just 7-8 in Mountain West play. the Mountain West isn’t exactly an Under the Radar conference, but it’s not exactly the Big 12 either. New Mexico needs a strong finish to their season.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN AT RUTGERS (BIG TEN). This should be a game where Rutgers is able to hold serve. Michigan can in theory make a run at the bubble, but they’d need to win tonight, finish the regular season strong, and then make a big run in the Big Ten Tournament.

-NORTHWESTERN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). This series has always had a little bit of heat to it, and I suppose some would consider it a rivalry, but RARELY has it ever had this kind of storyline to it. Northwestern (not Illinois) is ranked in the top 25 and should land comfortably in the top half of the seedlist. This would be another nice road win and improve their resume even more if the Wildcats are able to pull it off. Illinois has a strong resume as well, and while they’ve lost three of their last five they have still shown they can play at a high level and will also have the chance to move up the seedlist between now and the end.

-UCLA AT UTAH (Pac 12). UCLA is up to 4th in the rankings, and while they don’t have quite as much at the top of their profile as some of the other teams that are in the hunt for a #1 seed, I definitely think it is possible, and definitely think that regardless of what their seed is they’re good enough to go deep into the NCAA Tournament. Having said that, this won’t be an easy road game. Utah still has NCAA Tournament hopes that are barely flickering, and a win tonight could kindle them up some more, but I think it’s pretty much the consensus that they are much more of an NIT team than an NCAA Tournament team at the moment.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Memphis @ Wichita State (American) – Memphis is on the bubble. If they can avoid losses to all of the teams other than Houston the rest of the way then I believe they will make it into the field
-UTSA @ Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) – if FAU wins out through the regular I think they’ll be selected on the first ballot regardless of what happens in the CUSA Tournament
-North Texas @ Charlotte (Conference USA) – it would be a stretch, but North Texas should get at least a look from the committee if they win out until the CUSA Championship game, but then fail to beat FAU
-Towson @ Charleston (Colonial) – Towson is capable of playing at a high level and be able to test Charleston tonight
-USC @ Colorado (Pac 12) – USC is on the bubble, and Mountain Roadtrip is a difficult one, but it’s one that they need to come out of with wins.
-Pacific @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – should be a layup win for Saint Mary’s right before the big finale with Gonzaga
-San Diego @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – should be a layup win for Gonzaga right before the big finale with Saint Mary’s

UTR WATCH:

-FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT SAINT FRANCIS, PA (Northeast). These are the 3rd and 4th place teams, but they are also the top two teams that are eligible for the NCAA Tournament and are separated by just one game. If Merrimack wins the conference tournament, then the highest eligible team in the standings is who will get the auto-bid, and tonight’s game could play a big role in determining that.

-ORAL ROBERTS AT SOUTH DAKTOTA (Summit League). Oral Roberts has already clinched first place in the conference and is now just warming up for the conference tourney.

-SOUTHLAND – TAMUCC has a one game lead over Northwestern State and can clinch at least a share of first place if they win their game at home against TAMU Commerce and Northwestern State loses at Incarnate Word.

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There are not a lot of players from the America East Conference who get drafted by an NBA team but Al McClain was 1 of them. After setting career records at New Hampshire for PTS/STL he was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1984 (along with some other guy named Hakeem Olajuwon). A decade later he was inducted into the New Hampshire Athletics Hall of Fame. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Al about being a great scorer/defender. Today is Al’s 63rd birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

Your nickname is “Ski”: who gave you the nickname, and how do you like it? I had that name for so long it is hard to remember where I got it from. I must have got it while I was in Boston and just carried it to UNH.

You grew up in Massachusetts: what made you choose New Hampshire for college? I went to prep school in Maine and the UNH coach was calling me every day because he was highly interested. Other schools got involved later like Louisville/UNC but I wanted a coach who would put me in the best place to succeed…and that was Coach Gerry Friel. Louisville brought in a couple of great high school players in Milt Wagner/Lancaster Gordon. I scored 28 against Milt in a game so I knew that I was at his level, but I just wanted playing time.

You scored 22.8 PPG as a senior and you remain the all-time leading scorer in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I did not think about the record when I was there but I played both guard spots: if I had only played SG then I would have scored even more. We had a chance to go to the 1983 NCAA tourney but I was hurt for most of the year. I am grateful to be 1 of the best players ever at UNH and it is a good feeling just to be in the conversation. Records are made to be broken: I broke my brother-in-law Robert Dixon’s record!

You also have the most STL in school history: what is the secret to being a great defender? Hard work/dedication. I had fun playing PG because my job was simple: try to disrupt the other team’s offense. I had good stamina and tried to deny passes from the opposing PG. I kind of made it an art by staying in the passing lanes to deflect the ball. I do not think that anyone will break that 1 for a while: it was a lot of fun.

You are also #2 on the career AST list: how were you able to balance your scoring with your passing? I had the green light to make those decisions but I knew that I had to put some points on the board for us to win. I tried to make the right decisions and my coach gave me the freedom to do so: it was not that stressful. I was literally a combo guard but a little more unselfish than I had to be. Looking back, if I had shot more I think we would have won more games.

In the summer of 1984 you were drafted in the 5th round by Houston: could you tell at the time that your rookie teammate Hakeem Olajuwon was going to become a Hall of Famer? Oh yeah: he is the Dream! He was a freak of nature even back then. If I had made the team then I think I would have been very helpful. I played against most of those guys during high school but there is a lot of luck involved depending on which team you go to. The Rockets were a championship-level team and Coach Bill Fitch was 1 of the toughest coaches ever who went with some bigger guys like 7′ Hakeem/6’10” Jim Petersen.

You work as a counselor with the Dorchester Youth Collaborative and run your own developmental basketball and mentoring program: why did you decide to dedicate your post-basketball career to helping kids? I think it was because of my NBA story. We had a broken home growing up but my mother worked around the clock to take care of our family. It led me to think that if my father had been there then he could have helped me get over the hump. I needed a strong mentor to take me under his wing and help me figure things out so I took it upon myself to help anyone who needed it. The Dorchester Youth Collaborative was the best thing to ever happen to me: I still performed NBA-type duties by taking all of my energy to be a fixture in the community. In my heart everything turned out fine. I received a lot of praise from the Celtics, who were instrumental in acknowledging the work that I have done: they have been unbelievable. I was named Junior NBA Coach of the Year for the work that I have done: they have been the backbone for me to keep working with youth. I have helped send kids to charter schools/college: it has been a great journey. Hyde Prep School also inducted me into their Hall of Fame.

You still play in the Living Legends Adult Basketball League (for players over age 40): how competitive are the games, and how long do you think that you can keep playing for? I am done now: we stopped playing several years ago. I played in another league up in Harlem that a lot of NBA greats played in like Charles Smith/Allan Houston/Gus Williams. I also played in a league in Greater Springfield that was unbelievable: we won the championship and I hung it up after that at age 53! All I play now is H-O-R-S-E against the kids.

Your sister Almanda/brother Wes also played basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? I was the best athlete but all of my brothers played high school basketball. Wes played at FAMU and my twin brother toured the US with Bobby Brown!

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I want to be remembered as a great teammate: 1 who cared about others more than himself. My numbers/Hall of Fame inductions speak for themselves. I am a legend in my community both on/off the court and love every kid in the Boston area and try to help them out in any way that I can. The new thing I am trying to do is recreate the Boston Shootout, which was 1 of the best high school tourneys ever. Paul Pierce played in it, as well as Dominique Wilkins. The Boston team won it last year with 8 players who ended up at D-1 schools. Check it out this spring: Battle New England.

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Fairleigh Dickinson (16-13, 9-5) at Saint Francis U (11-16, 8-6) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN3)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Loretto, Pennsylvania for a pivotal matchup in the Northeast Conference between the FDU Knights and the hometown Saint Francis Red Flash. With the top 2 teams in the conference being transitional teams who are not yet eligible for the NCAA Tournament, we look instead to tonight’s matchup between the 3rd and 4th place teams to see who could potentially clinch an NCAA Tournament bid in the event that Merrimack wins the NEC Tournament (bear in mind that Stonehill cannot participate as a 1st-year transitional team, but Merrimack as a 3rd-year transitional team can play in the NEC Tournament).

Coming into tonight, FDU is in 3rd place by a full game against Saint Francis. Should they end up tying Merrimack in the conference standings, FDU would clinch the #1 seed in the NEC Tournament and at worst a spot in the NIT. Saint Francis could also get as high as the #2 seed should they be able to finish a game ahead of FDU in the standings; they cannot get the #1 seed since they were swept by Merrimack in the regular season.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the Ivy League, which currently has a three way tie for first place, and four teams that are still fighting for the last spot in the conference tournament. We discuss what a wild year it has been, and how important it is as we head into the final two games of the season.

From there we run through the other 22 UTR leagues and look at who has clinched first place, who has a path to first place, and how the last few games of the season impact the upcoming conference tournaments. Charleston and Hofstra are neck and neck in the Colonial, and while Charleston has had the better overall season, we think Hofstra might be playing better right now. Drake has finally come to life in the Missouri Valley, and they’ve got a huge game against Bradley this Sunday that will decide first place. North Texas is looking real strong out of Conference USA, and we discuss the chances of that league getting two teams into the NCAA Tournament. We talk about all that, and more. And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/UTR-2-22-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (Shout out to Chad Sherwood for Tracking):

up to 4 teams could be knocked out Wednesday night:

-ASUN: Loser of Jacksonville State @ Central Arkansas is out no matter what. If either FGCU (home vs Lipscomb) OR Jacksonville (home vs Bellarmine) win, both Jax State and UCA are out. If FGCU wins AND Jacksonville loses, the field will be set and Jacksonville will be out as well (swept by FGCU this season)

-AMERICA EAST: Albany is out if NJIT wins (home vs Bryant)

NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Xavier continues to baffle me. They recently lost on the road at Butler, which was surprising, but easy to dismiss as a fluke loss. Or…was it a fluke?? Because they also lost at DePaul. Then they went into Marquette, who I thought was the best team in the Big East, and despite being short handed took Marquette to the wall. They didn’t win, but it was a very impressive showing on the road against a really good team. So, of course, Xavier was hosting Villanova last night in a game that appeared to be a layup win for them…and they lost 64-63, and seemingly appropriately missed a layup in the final seconds that would have won them the game. This Xavier team might go to the Final Four! Or, they may lose in the Round of 64.

-Texas blew Iowa State off the court 72-54. Texas is looking like they may belong on the #1 line, and while Iowa State is in no danger of missing the field they are looking less and less like a protected seed. It’s not that they failed to win at Texas, but that they failed to compete for even the first half.

-Marquette got a HUGE road win at Creighton 73-71. Creighton had been playing really well and was in the rankings, and Marquette getting this one on the road is probably one of their best singular wins of the season in terms of how impressive it was.

-We knew Texas A&M had rattled off a lot of SEC wins, but that their schedule was extremely backloaded. We basically thought “Well, let’s see what they can do when they start playing the tough games.” Well…they’ve shown us. They followed up their win at Missouri last night with a home win against Tennessee. Not only is TAMU solidly in the field, they should be wearing white in the Round of 64.

-Miami FL got a nice 76-70 win at Virginia Tech. On the surface that may not seem like much, but VA Tech has been very tough at home this year so the Canes deserve some credit for that win.

-Michigan State picked up a nice win over Indiana 80-65, which is important both on and off paper. You certainly feel for what the Michigan State community has been through, and while winning a basketball game in and of itself isn’t that big of a deal, it is at the very least a positive community experience for a community that needed it. Indiana is still in good shape and still has a path to a protected seed despite the loss.

-Missouri held off Mississippi State 66-64 in a close, and intense, and exciting game that both teams really needed. Mississippi State probably needed it more than Missouri because they are just squarely on the bubble and a game like this could make the difference as to whether they get in or not. Every game the rest of the way will have a pivotal feel to it for the Bulldogs.

-Texas Tech, a team I had pretty much written off, has now won four straight, and now has a very visible path to the bubble. They won at Oklahoma last night 74-63, which in and of itself isn’t jaw dropping, but it’s still a road win, it’s still their fourth straight win, and the previous teams they had beaten in that stretch are either protected seeds or also fighting for a spot inside the bubble. So….I’m about to say something I didn’t think I’d be saying a week ago. Texas Tech can make the field. They have three games left prior to the conference tournament. If they win two of them, they’ll be right there in the discussion.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PROVIDENCE AT UCONN (Big East). Both teams are ranked, UConn is within reach of a protected seed, and Providence is looking to add what would probably be their best win of the season to their resume. Road wins against ranked teams tend to make resumes look better! It’s a Big East game, and there have been very few Big East games that haven’t been awesome this year.

-WAKE FOREST AT NC STATE (ACC). NC State appears to be rather safely inside the bubble, and it would take one hell of a collapse for them to miss the field, so they are largely just playing for seeding the rest of the way. Wake is outside the bubble, and I suppose it’s possible for them to get inside of it, but they’d need to win tonight. And they’d need to win their next one too. And the one after that. And…so on.

-NORTH CAROLINA AT NOTRE DAME (ACC). I’ve had UNC outside the bubble since Christmas, but as rough as I have been on them, they can still reach the bubble. Or, if they fail to win tonight, they may be so far away from it that nothing short of a run to the ACC Championship Game could get them there.

-IOWA AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Iowa seems to be safely in the field, but a road win in a game like this would still look good on their profile. Wisconsin has sort of crashed into a mountain and needs to string together wins just to get back inside the bubble. It is still within reach, but they probably need to win three of their last four regular season games.

-NEW MEXICO AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). This is a super bubblicous game. Both teams really need this one. New Mexico State has some good things on their resume, but they’ve lost four of their last five and have slid down both the seedlist and the MWC standings. Boise has been playing much better than New Mexico recently, but you still get the sense that they have some work to do, and a win tonight would certainly help.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Virginia @ Boston College (ACC) – this should be a winnable road game for the Hoos, who should end up with a protected seed so long as they hold serve the rest of the way
-Syracuse @ Clemson (ACC) – Clemson is now outside the bubble, and in order to get back into it they basically need to…well…win out and stop losing games to teams that are nowhere near the bubble
-Minnesota @ Maryland (Big Ten) – Maryland’s biggest problem is that they are a terrible road team, and winning at home against Minnesota isn’t going to help that at all, but they still need to hold serve
-Vanderbilt @ LSU (SEC) – Some say that Vandy can make a run at the bubble, and while I’m not predicting that to happen….I do think that it is at least possible! They need to win tonight, though
-Kentucky @ Florida (SEC) – Kentucky is inside the bubble right now and will stay there so long as they don’t fall apart down the stretch. This is a chance at another winnable road game
-Tulane @ Houston (American) – Houston has a very wide path to a #1 seed, and will get there so long as they hold serve. Tulane is improving as a program and has had a good year, but is way overmatched tonight.
-Alabama @ South Carolina (SEC) – Alabama is the #1 overall seed and will likely stay there so long as they hold serve.
-Ole Miss @ Auburn (SEC) – Auburn is squarely on our bubble, and can’t afford to lose a home game to a team that’s nowhere near the NIT tonight

UTR WATCH:

-CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT UNC ASHEVILLE (Big South). UNCA has already clinched first place and their last two regular season games are just warm ups for the Big South Tournament.

-BINGHAMTON AT VERMONT (America East). Vermont can clinch first place, and home court advantage in the America East Tournament, with a win tonight.

-SAMFORD AT CHATTANOOGA (SoCon). I’m about to say something that I never expected to say. Samford can clinch at least a share of first place in the SoCon tonight with a win! An INCREDIBLE season for the Bulldogs this year!

-SOUTHERN MISS AT OLD DOMINION (Sun Belt). Southern Miss had a bit of a surprising blowout loss last Thursday at South Alabama, but all and all it has been an amazing season for the Golden Eagles that certainly exceeded any expectations I had for them coming into this year. They can clinch at least a share of first place in the Sun Belt with a win tonight.

-MARSHALL AT JAMES MADISON (Sun Belt). I highlight this because both are still technically mathematically alive, and while they’ve been inconsistent this year, both are capable of playing really well and both are fun to watch.

-LIBERTY AT QUEENS (Atlantic Sun). Liberty is tied with Kennesaw State with two games to go, and while most would say they feel Liberty is the best overall team in the conference, Kennesaw State actually has the tiebreaker. Still, they are guaranteed at least a tie for first if they can win their last two games, which strangely enough are back to back games against Queens.

-KENNESAW STATE AT NORTH ALABAMA (Atlantic Sun). As mentioned above, Kennesaw State is in a tie for first place with Liberty, and has the tiebreaker due to a head to head win. If they win their last two games they will earn the #1 seed and have home court advantage throughout the ASun Tournament.

-ILLINOIS STATE AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley). Drake is tied with Bradley with just two games to go, and the two will face each other on the final game of the regular season this Sunday. I like how this Drake team is now playing and feel if they had been playing at this level all along they wouldn’t need to win the MVC Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament.

-MOREHEAD STATE AT EASTERN ILLINOIS (Ohio Valley). Morehead State can clinch an out right first place finish with a win tonight, and earn a bye into the semifinals of the OVC Tournament.

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Marshall (23-6, 12-4) at James Madison (20-9, 11-5) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Harrisonburg, Virginia (hometown of the esteemed Ralph Sampson) for a matchup of two of the newest Sun Belt teams as the Thundering Herd of Marshall visit the James Madison Dukes. In one of their recent contests, Marshall came thundering back from an 11-point deficit against Georgia Southern with 1:36 remaining; Andrew Taylor hit the game-winner with 14 seconds left to give Marshall the win. That win keeps the Herd one game behind Southern Miss in the conference standings.

Oh, what a difference a year makes for the Dukes. One year ago, they were unceremoniously banned from the CAA conference tournament after notifying the conference they were leaving to move on to the Sun Belt Conference. This year, the Dukes are 2 games back of Southern Miss in the conference standings and a leading contender to potentially win the Sun Belt conference tournament in Pensacola. In their last game, Vado Morse led the Dukes with 24 points in a 74-68 victory at home against Louisiana.

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We have not even reached the end of the college basketball regular season but can already start wondering about the stars of tomorrow as the best high school players in the country prepare to receive some national exposure. The McDonald’s All-American Game will take place in Houston on March 28th in Houston, TX, and the Nike Hoop Summit will tip off on April 8th in Portland, OR. Several of this year’s college basketball super-freshmen played in last year’s McDonald’s Game including Gradey Dick (Kansas)/Keyonte George (Baylor)/Jarace Walker (Houston). Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Isaiah Collier about trying to win a 3rd state title and choosing the Trojans.

Your coach at Wheeler High School is your uncle (Larry Thompson): what kind of bond have you 2 formed over the past few years? The bond was formed well before high school: he has been there for me every step of the way.

Your school won back-to-back Class 6A state championships in 2020/2021 but lost in the title game in 2022: do you think that you can make it back there again this year? That is definitely the goal and we have the team to do that. We are working hard but just taking it 1 game at a time.

You suffered a meniscus injury while working out with team USA last spring: how is your health at the moment? I am doing really well: I did not rush myself to get back onto the court.

Your cousin, Khalil Hardison, who also played basketball at Wheeler, drowned last August during a kayaking trip on the Chattahoochee River: what impact has this tragedy had on your own life? It had a huge impact. I had just came back from the Elite 24 Camp when it happened: he was my best friend.

You received offers from several great schools including Cincinnati/Michigan but signed with USC last November: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and do you think the Trojans will make the NCAA tourney next month? I built a great relationship with all of the coaches and got to know them really well. I think that if they can beat Arizona next week then they will make the tourney.

Your brother lives out in Los Angeles: what does he do out there, and are we going to see him at the Galen Center attending all of your games? He is in the film industry and should be there for sure. He has been out in LA for a few years now.

1 of the other highly-ranked recruits heading to Los Angeles this fall is your high school teammate Arrinten Page: is this a happy coincidence or had the 2 of you been planning to attend the same college all along? It was just a nice coincidence.

You are 6’4”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play the PG right now but will play whatever position they put me at in college.

In the past couple of months you were named to both the McDonald’s All-American Game as well as the Nike Hoop Summit roster for Team USA: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It means a lot, especially after losing my cousin. It has been a blessing and something to smile about for sure.

Another player who is both a McDonald’s/Nike honoree is Bronny James, who scored 22 PTS against you last month in a win by Sierra Canyon and has not chosen a college yet but reportedly has the Trojans on his short list: will you be doing any recruiting when you get to see him again in the months ahead?! Definitely!

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast, where we run through the major conferences and discuss all the teams – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Kansas picked up another big win as they knocked off TCU 63-58. This avenges a blowout home loss from earlier in the year, and it also gives the Jayhawks what may arguably be their best true road win of the season so far.

-Oklahoma State, who I was super big on, has now been blown out in back to back games. Granted, none of these games are easy, but they still have some work to do. West Virginia, who also has some work to do, did do some work last night with the decisive 85-67 win.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-BAYLOR AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Both these teams are on pace to earn protected seeds, and while Baylor did lose over the weekend to Kansas they could still end up on the #1 line if they can have a really strong finish to the season. If they pull off this one on the road they would certainly belong in the discussion.

-TENNESSEE AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). TAMU has played amazingly well in SEC play, but their schedule is backloaded with their toughest tests coming in the last couple weeks. Having said that, they did get a huge win against Missouri this past weekend, and will be tested again at home today by a Tennessee team that, while they’ve dropped some games recently, is still on pace to get a solid protected seed and possibly go far in the tournament.

-MIAMI FL AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). I really like this Miami team and despite them being ranked as high as 13th I still think people are overlooking them. Having said that, this won’t be an easy one tonight. VA Tech is likely headed to the NIT, but they can still be very tough to beat at home.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT MISSOURI (SEC). This is a really important game for both of these teams because both of them could really use some more good wins on their resume. That’s especially true for a Mississippi State team that is right on the bubble.

-MAC. Again, a strange way to write up some games, but the top four teams in the MAC all square off tonight as Akron visits Toledo, and Kent State travels to Ball State. Both games have first place implications, and I still think that Kent State will get at least a look from the committee if they can win out through the regular season, but fail to win the conference tournament.

-MARQUETTE AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Marquette has looked like the best team in the Big East for the past several weeks, but even for them road wins against other top level teams in the conference have not come easy, and this will certainly be a challenge tonight against a Creighton team that’s 9-1 in their last ten games with the only loss being in overtime at Providence. Both teams are solidly in the field, and Marquette could still make a run at the #2 line if they can put together a really strong finish.

-IOWA STATE AT TEXAS (Big 12). Iowa State has slipped a little bit in recent weeks having lost four of their last six, but can still end up as a protected seed if they can turn things around. Tonight is a tall order, though, seeing as how Texas still has a #1 seed within their reach.

-INDIANA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Indiana was given a protected seed by the committee in the bracket reveal over the weekend, but they need to hold serve in order to keep it, and perhaps do a little bit more. Michigan State appears to be safely in the field, but they could give their resume a HUGE boost if they could some how pull this one out tonight.

-TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). As nuts as this is to say, we are starting to think that Texas Tech may actually have a path to the bubble. They have to keep winning, though, and they can’t afford to drop this one tonight.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Villanova @ Xavier (Big East) – Xavier is capable of playing as well as anyone in the Big East, and is on pace to end up with a protected seed if they keep winning at the clip they have been
-Georgia Tech @ Pittsburgh (ACC) – Pitt is coming off a loss, but they’re still in a stretch where they’ve played really well and should be able to get this one without too much trouble
-VCU @ Saint Joseph’s (Atlantic Ten) – if anyone from the A10 can get a look from the committee, it’s VCU, but they need to win out in order for that to happen
-Georgia @ Arkansas (SEC) – Arkansas is inside the bubble, but not safely. They can’t afford to drop a game like this
-Utah State @ Wyoming (Mountain West) – Utah State is outside the bubble, but may be able to reach it if they can really finish the season strongly
-San Jose State @ Nevada (Mountain West – Nevada is clinging to the bubble and can’t afford to lose a game like this at home
-Colorado State @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – San Diego State appears to be safely inside the field and should go in on the first ballot so long as they hold serve

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Kent State (22-15, 12-2) at Ball State (19-8, 10-4) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Muncie, Indiana for a matchup between the Kent State Golden Flashes and the Ball State Cardinals (home to distinguished alumni like David Letterman). Ball State had been on a 6-game winning streak in the MAC going into the weekend, but they were caught looking ahead to tonight after a surprising stumble at Western Michigan over the weekend. Jarron Coleman averages 14.9 points a game and 3.7 assists a game for Ball State.

Since losing the first round of the Wagon Wheel at Akron, the Golden Flashes have won 4 straight games that includes a 72-65 win at Buffalo. The Akron and Northern Illinois losses have probably ended Kent’s at-large chances, but as we saw in December against Houston and Charleston, the Golden Flashes are going to be a dangerous draw should they end up winning the MAC Tournament. Sincere Carry averages 16.3 points a game and 5.1 assists a game for the Golden Flashes.

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Chad and the panel start off in the Big Ten tonight and take a look at Northwestern, who has been one of the bigger stories in all of college basketball this year. Purdue and Indiana are both still looking really good, and we look at Nebraska who has gotten hot all of a sudden, and while it’s a long shot we think they could get a look from the committee if they can avoid a loss before the Big Ten semifinals. The Big 12 continues to look incredibly strong with as many as six teams still fighting for protected seeds, and nine out of ten who are still within reach of making the NCAA Tournament. Every game is a huge match-up. Marquette still looks to be the best team in the Big East, and Xavier is right on their heels despite some fluke losses to the likes of DePaul and Butler earlier in the year. UCLA and Arizona are solid protected seeds out of the Pac 12, and Houston continues to string together wins and is good enough to win it all out of the American. We also look at all the bubble teams in conferences like the SEC, ACC, and Mountain West. We discuss all that and more!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HHD-Report-2-20-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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With our colleague David Dorman out of town as of this writing, it has fallen onto our colleague John Stalica to submit the Hoops HD Staff Bracket for this week. This is not to be confused with what Jon Teitel posts every week; that is where he attempts to guess what the Selection Committee will do as of that week’s checkpoint of games. Rather, this is how Stalica feels the field should look like.

And here is the bracket below:

First Four Out: West Virginia, Utah State, Texas Tech, North Texas

Worth a look: Wake Forest, North Carolina, Clemson, Seton Hall, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Santa Clara, Arizona State, Utah, Oregon, Saint Louis, Nebraska, Vanderbilt

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

– I still believe that Alabama, Kansas, Purdue and Houston are the #1 seeds among all the teams, but Purdue is starting to lose its stranglehold it enjoyed at the top after losing 3 out of their last 4 games. I would have seriously considered adding Baylor to that group had they finished the season sweep of Kansas, but alas that did not happen.

– The real Selection Committee had 5 Big 12 teams when they submitted their list; they debated their list on Monday, Tuesday and early Wednesday. That tells me that they probably didn’t consider Marquette’s win at home against Xavier to take control of the Big East conference lead. Likewise, had Xavier not swept UConn in the regular season, the Musketeers would probably be hanging around the 5-line after surprise losses at DePaul and at Butler.

– Had Northwestern not lost at home against Ohio State and gotten swept by Michigan, the Wildcats would be looking at a protected seed themselves right now. They can actually get there with a strong performance in the B1G Conference Tournament in a couple weeks.

– Texas A&M is now becoming a fast riser up the list now that they have season sweeps of Auburn and Missouri on the books. They can rise up even faster if they can beat either Alabama or Tennessee at home in the final 2 weeks of the regular season.

– When we do our scrub of the Survival Board, one of the questions we ask when listing teams Under Consideration is: Should they win all their remaining games and lose in the conference championship, should they be considered a potential at-large NCAA Tournament team?

– Teams like Nebraska and Vanderbilt would have been preposterous a couple weeks ago. But the Huskers have suddenly won 3 straight games at home against Wisconsin, AT Rutgers and at home against Maryland. (Also keep in mind they’re the only opposing team to win at Creighton.) Vanderbilt is even hotter with a 5-game winning streak and could actually sneak into the Top 4 of the SEC – meaning a double-bye in the conference tournament.

CHAD’s COMMENTS

– The Selection Committee has Houston #2 overall, and I believe they got it right. The metrics love this Cougars team, and they just do not have the chances for wins in conference play that the other teams on the top line have. Their win this weekend over the second best team in the conference, Memphis, emphasized that they deserve to be at or near the top of the overall seed list, not #4 overall.

– I still need someone to explain to me why Duke belongs in the top half of the bracket. The only thing that I see on their profile that gets them in that discussion are the letters D-U-K-E on the top. This team has no road wins over anyone close to making the field. They beat Iowa when Iowa was playing awful. The only thing decent they did was beat Miami at home and Xavier on a neutral court. That is enough for a bid, but not for a top 8 seed. I would have the Blue Devils in a 7/10 game — as the 10 seed.

– FAU on the 11 line is a sin. Yes, they lost this past weekend, but this team is still a solid at-large team and belongs at least in an 8/9 game.

– Wisconsin is now 15-11 overall with bad metrics. That is an NIT resume. New Mexico has 3 wins over at-large worthy teams and 4 losses to teams nowhere near the field. I think they are at least close, but would have left the Lobos out (a 2-0 week at Boise and home vs San Diego State this week would change my opinion however).

– Given who he put in, I love John’s top four out. I would have BOTH Big 12 teams in right now (yes 9 out of 10 teams from the league IN). This conference is insane and Texas Tech is quickly rising up. Their win at West Virginia was huge this weekend. I also love the North Texas at-large bid case (given how bad the rest of the choices are). Utah State is a team that I simply do not think is very good, but is probably right now where John has them due to a resume with a lot of wins and not much bad on it.

– At the bottom of the bracket, where is the SWAC love? Alcorn State was two road wins in Tier 2 (at Wichita State and at SFA) and only two Tier 4 losses. Texas A&M-CC has no wins above Tier 3 and five Tier 4 losses. Let’s get Alcorn out of Dayton and send Corpus Christi instead!!!

DAVID’S COMMENTS

-I concur with Alabama being the #1 overall team. I know they lost at Tennessee this week, but I believe all their losses have been on the road against protected seed caliber teams, and they are perhaps the only team in the country that is able to say that.

-The selection of Wisconsin really has me holding my nose, but it’s a 68 team tournament and you have to take SOMEONE. I do like that North Texas was considered as strongly as they were, and I actually like them more than Wisky. I would have probably selected them over all the other teams Stalica has on his bubble.

-I agree with Chad, which is something I hate doing, that Florida Atlantic on the #11 line is too low. I think they’re a little further inside the bubble than that.

-Texas A&M on the 7 line is perhaps a little higher than I would have had them, and I’m someone that’s been big on TAMU for a while now, but I actually don’t have a huge issue with it. They deserve a lot of credit for their win at Missouri, and can move up the seedlist even more if they can pick up wins against the likes of Alabama and Tennessee.

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-For J0hn Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Yesterday was actually pretty chalky.

-NC State got a win over North Carolina and the Tarheels have still struggled to put quality wins onto their profile.

-Chicago State will finish the season with a perfect 8-0 record at home!! They knocked off Hartford 75-53 in what will be Hartford’s final game as a D1 program.

-Maryland has been a terrible road team all year, and yesterday they showed yet again that the road just is not their thing. They fell at Nebraska 70-66.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA. Oklahoma State had been playing better, but after two straight losses they need to start stringing together wins, and taking care of business in the winnable games. This is a tough road game, but for it’s a game that the Pokes really need to win given the situation they are currently in.

-LOUISVILLE AT DUKE (ACC). Duke should win this easily, but in Louisville’s last two games (albeit both were at home) they took Virginia to the wall and beat Clemson, so they are suddenly playing at a much higher level than what we’ve seen all season.

-KANSAS AT TCU (Big 12). Kansas was on the #1 line this past week, and can keep themselves up there with what may be one of their higher quality wins of the season considering that this is a true road game. TCU blew them out at Kansas in the first game, but has since dealt with injuries and has gone through a bit of a decline. A win today would certainly start to reverse that.

-MINNESOTA AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Illinois has lost three out of their last four, but their most recent loss was a close one at Indiana, so things aren’t entirely off the rails and this should be a very winnable conference game for them.

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Rawle Marshall had a long journey to the NBA. Born in Guyana, he began his college career at Ball State before transferring to Oakland University. He was named MCC Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, MCC conference tourney MVP in 2005, and graduated as the school’s all-time leader with 101 BLK. He later played a couple of years in the NBA before heading overseas to play pro basketball for a decade. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with former Oakland SID Max King about Rawle being a great defender and making the NBA. Today is Rawle’s 41st birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

(photo credit: draftexpress.com)

In 2003 Rawle was named conference DPOY: what did it mean to him to receive such an outstanding honor? Coach Greg Kampe’s teams are typically known for their offense so to be a DPOY is not something that was talked about a lot but it still had a pride factor. It showed how good a player he was on both sides of the ball.

He led the conference in SPG in 2003 and in PPG in 2005: how was he able to balance his offense with his defense? Just using his size: he had great length. He was not the strongest player but had a great motor, which really helped him.

He graduated as the all-time leading shot-blocker in school history (101) despite only playing 90 games: what was his secret for playing good defense? He was a great athlete who could get above the rim. He also had good timing/recognition to block shots.

Take me through the magical 2005 MCC tourney:
Despite entering the tourney as the #7 seed with a record of 9-18, the Grizzlies had a 4-PT win over UMKC, a 3-PT win over Chicago State, and a 1-PT win over #1 seed Oral Roberts in the title game thanks to a 3-PT shot by Pierre Dukes with 1.3 seconds left (his only shot of the 2nd half): how big a deal was it to win the 1st-ever MCC tourney title in school history? It was a wild couple of days for Oakland basketball. Pierre actually left the team at 1 point because he did not feel like playing any more but Coach asked him to come back because they needed the depth. Thank God he did because he hit 1 of the biggest shots in school history!

Marshall scored 18 PTS in the title game en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how was he able to play his best when it mattered the most? Big-time players make big-time plays when they need to. He was a leader of that team and helped us string together some good wins. It just snowballed and it was contagious as they tried to continue that momentum.

He finished his college career at the 2005 Final 4 as part of the NCAA Dunk Contest: how good of a dunker was he back in the day? I remember that he was not afraid to attack the rim and did not back down from anyone. You need to have that mindset if you are a great dunker.

He was not selected during the 2005 NBA Draft but played so well in the summer league that Dallas eventually signed him to a 1-year contract: what did it mean to him to become an NBA player? It was huge! He is a player of many “firsts” for Oakland: 1st NBA player, 1st NCAA tourney, 1st tourney win, etc. He helped put Oakland on the map.

He spent most of the following decade playing pro basketball overseas: how proud are you of all that he has accomplished? He is a great ambassador for the team and paved the way for the guys who came after him. He is a great example that putting in the work can pay off.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? As a trailblazer: his list of “firsts” is so long. They had only been in D-1 for a couple of years before he arrived and he helped put a stamp on the program.

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NC Central (13-11, 6-4) at Maryland-Eastern Shore (15-10, 7-3) – 7:30 PM ET

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Princess Anne, Maryland for a MEAC matchup between the NC Central Eagles and the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks. NC Central has recently done something rather odd – they have had 2 3-game winning streaks that have sandwiched a 3-game losing streak in between. More recently, Justin Wright led the Eagles in a 66-58 victory at Delaware State.

In the first meeting, Eastern Shore finished the game on an 8-0 run to escape Durham with a 59-58 win against the Eagles; both Zion Styles and Donchevell Nugent led the Hawks with 13 points apiece in that game. At their peak, the Hawks won 11 out of 12 games to become a season-long contender in the MEAC.

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For the HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN where we recap all of yesterday’s action and preview all of today’s big games – CLICK HERE

We are only 3 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming weeks predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Purdue (Big 10)

2: Texas (Big 12)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)

3: Virginia (ACC)
3: Tennessee (SEC)
3: Marquette (Big East)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)

4: Kansas State (Big 12)
4: Iowa State (Big 12)
4: Connecticut (Big East)
4: Xavier (Big East)

5: Indiana (Big 10)
5: Miami (ACC)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Creighton (Big East)

6: San Diego State (MWC)
6: TCU (Big 12)
6: Illinois (Big 10)
6: Northwestern (Big 10)

7: Iowa (Big 10)
7: Maryland (Big 10)
7: Providence (Big East)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)

8: Duke (ACC)
8: Rutgers (Big 10)
8: Auburn (SEC)
8: Missouri (SEC)

9: Arkansas (SEC)
9: Oklahoma State (Big 12)
9: NC State (ACC)
9: Nevada (MWC)

10: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
10: Boise State (MWC)
10: Kentucky (SEC)
10: Texas A&M (SEC)

11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: West Virginia (Big 12)
11: USC (Pac-12)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Memphis (AAC)
11: Texas Tech (Big 12)

12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Kent State (MAC)
12: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)

13: Drake (MVC)
13: Southern Miss (Sun Belt)
13: VCU (A-10)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)

14: Iona (MAAC)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: UC-Irvine (Big West)
14: Samford (SoCon)

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
15: Vermont (America East)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)

16: UNC-Asheville (Big South)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Morehead State (OVC)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)
16: Howard (MEAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Clemson (ACC)
New Mexico (MWC)
North Carolina (ACC)
Wisconsin (Big 10)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which features a Chicago State team that’s trying to stay unbeaten at home – CLICK HERE

-Baylor played what I thought was one of the most impressive halves of basketball that any team has played all season as they went into the break at Kansas with a 45-32 lead. I guess they felt so proud of themselves that they decided to call it a day. Kansas played the second half as if they were playing in a buy game, and ended up blowing out a Baylor team 87-71 who was in completely control at the halfway point.

-Texas A&M, who had been tearing up the SEC, but had been doing so with a very backloaded SEC schedule, went on the road to Missouri, which was a tougher game to win than any they had won so far this season and got the 69-60 win. I think this SUBSTANTIALLY improves their resume. After a sluggish start TAMU now has just two losses since Christmas. Their remaining schedule is Tennessee, @ Mississippi State, @ Ole Miss, and Alabama. Three of those four are pretty tough, and if they can win just two of their remaining four (and perhaps just one) I think they’re a virtual lock to make the field.

-Kentucky is not allowed to hate Tennessee anymore. Kentucky is likely safely inside the bubble barring a total tank-out for the rest of the season, but that is largely because of Tennessee. Kentucky beat them for the second time this year, and did so rather impressively 66-54. Without those two wins Kentucky would likely be outside the bubble.

-Texas actually needed overtime at home against rival Oklahoma, but held on to win 85-83. Oklahoma can play really well against good teams, and really poorly against average/bad teams. That’s the one thing I’ve learned about the Sooners. They won’t make the NCAA Tournament without the auto-bid, but if they do get there they may go as far as the Final Four.

-Virginia has been in a slump. They haven’t been losing, but they’ve barely been beating really bad teams. After sweating out Louisville, they had to sweat out Notre Dame yesterday 57-55.

-Kansas State and Iowa State squared off in a battle of potential protected seeds with Kansas State getting the 61-55 win. Iowa State has now lost five out of seven, which is a little concerning, but most of those losses were to really strong opponents so they can still easily end up as a protected seed if they start stringing together wins again.

-Indiana beat Illinois in a tight one 71-68. The committee put them on the #4 line yesterday, and the Hoosiers have a clear path to a protected seed if they can keep holding serve.

-Oklahoma State, who was a team I was really starting to like, lost their second straight game yesterday to TCU, and they did not mess around doing it. They had their doors blown off 100-75.

-Texas Tech and West Virginia both need big wins and big finishes to the season in order to end up on the right side of the bubble, so yesterday’s game was huge. Texas Tech won 78-72 on the road at WVU, which is a HUGE win for the Red Raiders, and a HUGE loss for the Mountaineers.

-Rutgers had a good resume that I think got a little better yesterday. They picked up their third road win of the season as they knocked off Wisconsin 58-57 in a game that came down to the final seconds. Wisky is still in a tailspin, and they could have really used this win to pull themselves out of it. As it is, I think they’re continuing to slide further and further outside the bubble.

-Pittsburgh fell on the road to Virginia Tech 79-72. A win would have done more to help Pitt than a loss would have hurt them, but having said that VA Tech, while very good at home, is probably still not close to landing inside the bubble.

-Duke, who has not been good on the road this year, was fantastic on the road yesterday as they blew out Syracuse 77-55. Syracuse is not a tournament team, so some may not consider this a big win, but it was a dominant road win, which is something Duke does not have a lot of, and Syracuse has at least been decent at home, so I think this helps the Blue Devils out more than most may realize.

-I don’t believe Clemson is on the bubble anymore. They fell at Louisville 83-73 for what is just Louisville’s 4th win of the entire season, and that’s not the kind of loss a team that’s on the bubble needs. As for Louisville, they had a hell of a week! They nearly beat Virginia, and then did beat Clemson. Are they starting to hit a bit of a stride? Could they do some damage down the stretch and in the ACC Tournament? They obviously can’t get in without the auto-bid, but after a very frustrating year perhaps they can have a little fun just breaking as much of other people’s stuff as they can between now and the end.

-Michigan State fell to Michigan 84-72. Michigan has not always been great this year, but they have at times, and when they do play up top their ceiling, especially at home, they can be tough to beat.

-Nevada, who is playing around the inside part of the bubble, didn’t do themselves any favors with their 75-66 loss at Utah State yesterday. It is hard to win at Utah State, but it’s also the kind of game that a solid NCAA Tournament team needs to be able to win.

-Auburn, who is playing around the inside part of the bubble, didn’t do themselves any favors with their 67-65 loss at Vanderbilt. It is hard to win at Vanderbilt, but it’s also the kind of game that a Solid NCAA Tournament team needs to be able to win.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-NORTH CAROLINA AT NC STATE (ACC). North Carolina’s profile is very bland right now and I personally feel they don’t even belong in the field right now. But if they win today, my opinion will change. NC State isn’t exactly a protected seed, but they are a team that appears to be solidly in the field, and they’ve been very tough at home this year. If The Tarheels get this one, I will likely change my mind as to whether or not they belong in.

-MEMPHIS AT HOUSTON (American). Memphis is squarely on the bubble, and Houston is on the #1 line as of now as per the committee’s reveal yesterday. Obviously if Memphis can win this, then they are no longer on the bubble, but that will be much easier said than done. It would be one of the better wins any team has managed this season. A loss shouldn’t set them back, though, so it’s a chance to shoot at the moon and see if they can hit it.

-IOWA AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). I believe both teams are solidly in the field (barring a total meltdown) and are now just playing for seeding. This is a chance for both teams to boost their resumes.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Ohio State @ Purdue (Big Ten) – Purdue is solidly on the #1 line and should be able to hold serve against a team that doesn’t appear to be heading toward any sort of postseason tournament
-Bemlont @ Drake (Missouri Valley) – Belmont is just one game behind Drake in the standings, so this is a very pivotal game. I also think Drake will be one of the teams that’s on the committee’s board. I don’t think they’ll be selected without the auto-bid, but I think they will be discussed if they win out
-Maryland @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – Maryland is solidly inside the field, but one of the things that I think can make their resume look a lot better is a few more road wins, and this is a winnable road game
-UNLV @ Boise State (Mountain West) – Boise State is hanging on to the bubble by their fingernails and can’t afford to lose this one at home

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Hartford (2-22) at Chicago State (6-18) – 3:00 PM ET

Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the Windy City for the second matchup of the season between the nation’s two independent programs in Division I as the Hartford Hawks visit the Chicago State Cougars. Chicago State won the first meeting 62-49 at Hartford thanks to 13 points from Wesley Cardet Jr. That game capped a 3-game winning streak for the Cougars in mid-season as they also beat non-D1 Aurora at home and Citadel on the road.

This will also be the farewell game for the Hartford Hawks this season as they prepare to move down to NCAA Division III next season. It’s been a stunning fall from grace from a program that won the 2021 America East championship and made their lone NCAA Tournament appearance in their brief Division I era. Fairleigh Dickinson and Stonehill were the only D1 opponents that the Hawks have been able to defeat this season. As it is, the Hawks remain as a potential candidate to walk off with the Centenary Award this year given that they’ve only won the aforementioned 2 D1 games this season.

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For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which could be part of a historic season for Fordham in the Atlantic Ten – CLICK HERE

SURVIVAL BOARD WATCH:

-ALBANY AT MAINE (American East). Albany will be eliminated with a loss today and an NJIT win over Vermont. They could still tie either Maine or NJIT for 8th place, but would not have either tiebreaker if they lose their next two.

–ATLANTIC SUN – Austin Peay was eliminated from the Atlantic Sun on Thursday. Central Arkansas and Jacksonville State could possible be eliminated today if they lose and either Queens or Jacksonville wins.

-HARVARD AT CORNELL (Ivy League). Harvard is eliminated with either a loss today.

–MAC – Miami OH will be eliminated due to tiebreakers if they lose at Northern Illinois and Central Michigan beats Ohio U. Western Michigan could also be within one game of elimination of they lose and Central Michigan wins

-EASTERN ILLINOIS AT LITTLE ROCK (Ohio Valley). Little Rock will be eliminated if they lose.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-ILLINOIS AT INDIANA (Big Ten). I like this Illinois team and how they’re playing, but I like this Indiana team more. Indiana is also at home, and I believe as a path to a protected seed if they can keep winning at the clip they have been. Illinois has a good profile, and a loss today won’t hurt them much (if at all), but a win would really help them.

-SETON HALL AT UCONN (Big East). UConn is coming off a close loss at Creighton, but the had won four out of five before that and after a slump back in January seem to be playing at a high level again. They’re at home against a Seton Hall team that is squarely on the bubble. A win in a game like this for the Pirates could make their season and be the difference as to whether they make it or not.

-TEXAS TECH AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). West Virginia’ schedule and season has been brutal. They need wins down the stretch, and this is perhaps their most winnable remaining game. It comes against a Texas Tech team that has started to play better these past couple of weeks and has beaten Kansas State and Texas in their last two games, but who has struggled on the road and against the strength of the Big 12.

-RUTGERS AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Rutgers has two really strong road wins this year, but that’s all they done on the road. They’re safely inside the bubble, but I think they can help their resume and their seed if they can manage a win today. Wisconsin is squarely on the bubble, and while they’ve looked good at times throughout the season, they’ve looked not good more often than not these last few weeks and need some wins just to help them land in the field.

-TENNESSEE AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Tennessee is a solid protected seed who is coming off of a big win against Alabama after two straight losses, and will want to keep that momentum going. Kentucky is also coming off one of their biggest wins of the season at Mississippi State, which they needed just to help themselves secure a spot in the field. They can help themselves out a lot more if they’re able to win this one today. The Wildcats won the first meeting between these two down in Knoxville, which is the only reason we are projecting Kentucky into the field at all, so the Vols will be up for this one to get some payback.

-IOWA STATE AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Iowa State had been slumping, but they are coming off a big win against TCU. Still, as good as they Cyclones have been this year, they haven’t been the best team on the road, and they face a Kansas State team that looks to be on their way to a protected seed. It’s possible that they both end up with protected seeds, especially if Iowa State can pull off this win today.

-WAKE FOREST AT MIAMI FL (ACC). Wake is outside the bubble, but if they were to get a road win in a game like this it would be a huge step in the right direction. Miami FL is a top 25 team that’s really just playing for seeding at this point, and who still has a shot at a protected seed if they can finish strong.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT TCU (Big 12). Oklahoma State is coming off a loss at home to Kansas, but they’ve still been playing at a really high level these past few weeks and continue to build up a good resume and climb the seedlist. TCU was having a fantastic year, but has been setback by injuries and could really use a big win to resuscitate things a bit after four straight losses.

-FLORIDA AT ARKANSAS (SEC). For a few minutes I thought Florida was starting to come on strong and was about to make a run at the bubble, but only for a few minutes. Arkansas is in that 10-12 seed range (or at least that’s how it feels) and cannot afford to lose a game at home to a team that’s outside the bubble.

-KANSAS AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Both teams are ranked in the top ten, it’s the two most recent national champions, and both are within reach of a #1 seed. So while this is obviously a big showcase game with #1 seed implications, it’s not like either team is playing for their Tournament lives today. In fact we are at a point to where even if one of these teams fell completely apart and lost all of their remaining games they’d probably still end up making the NCAA Tournament, so it’s also a match-up of two teams that we think are total locks.

-PITTSBURGH AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). VA Tech is not within reach of the bubble, but they are extremely difficult to beat at home. I think Pitt is solidly in the field right now, and will deserve a fair amount of credit if they’re able to win this one today, which would improve their seed. The Panthers have just kept getting better and better as the season has gone along.

-UTAH AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). Aside from winning out and then getting several rounds into the Pac 12 Tournament, these two teams are pretty much out of chances. I think if either of them wants any chance at all then they have to win this one today.

-DUKE AT SYRACUSE (ACC). Duke has not been a good road team, and therefore can really help out their resume today if they’re able to win at Syracuse. Syracuse isn’t a tournament team at all, but they’ve played well enough at home to where Duke will deserve (and get) some credit if they’re able to pull this off.

-TEXAS A&M AT MISSOURI (SEC). TAMU is still on most people’s bubbles despite being 11-2 in SEC play. They did get off to a slow start for the season, and they haven’t played the roughest of schedules in conference, but I still think they deserve to at least be inside the bubble at this point. Well, if they win today, then I think most people will agree. Mizzou hasn’t always been good this year, but when they have been good, they’ve been REALLY good! There have been times where they’ve also been REALLY bad, but they’re inside the bubble and if TAMU can win on their floor, then TAMU will be inside of it too.

-NEVADA AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). We have Nevada on the bubble, but inside it and Utah State outside the bubble and needing to string together a lot of wins in order to reach it. A road win like this would really help strengthen Nevada’s profile and go a long way toward them making the field, and a win for Utah State keeps their NCAA Tournament hopes flickering for a little while longer.

-AUBURN AT VANDERBILT (SEC). I’m highlighting this because I think it’s more important than what most may realize. Auburn’s resume is still kind of flimsy despite their recent blowout win against Missouri. Prior to that, they had lost five of six. They need wins, and they need road wins, and while Vandy is not a tournament team, they can be kind of tough to beat at home.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Notre Dame @ Virginia (ACC) – Notre Dame had to sweat out Louisville in their last game, but did get the win will remain a solid protected seed so long as they continue to hold serve
-Oklahoma @ Texas (Big 12). Texas is coming off a bit of a surprising loss at Texas Tech, but they are still a very strong team and still have a shot at reaching the #1 line
-Mississippi State @ Ole Miss (SEC). Mississippi State is a bubble team that needs to avoid losses to non-bubble teams in order to end up on the right side of the bubble
-DePaul @ Xavier (Big East) – DePaul actually win the first meeting between these two, and Xavier would be in control of the Big East if they could just take care of business against the likes of DePaul and Butler
-Villanova @ Providence (Big East) – Nova has been playing better, but Providence is solidly inside the bubble, has been very tough at home all season, and should be able to win this one
-Georgia @ Alabama (SEC) – Bama is coming off a road loss to Tennessee, but is still on our #1 line should be able to cruise at home through this one
-Gonzaga @ Pepperdine (West Coast) – I normally say there are no easy road games, but this should be an easy one for Gonzaga
-Clemson @ Louisville (ACC) – I normally say there are no easy road games, but this should be an easy one for Clemson, who is right on our bubble and who needs to finish strong
-Creighton @ Saint John’s (Big East) – Creighton has been on a roll, they are climbing the seedlist, and can keep adding to their resume if they keep stringing together wins. This should be a winnable road game for them
-Colorado @ Arizona (Pac 12) – Arizona is a solid protected seed and should be able to hold serve at home tonight
-Michigan State @ Michigan (Big Ten) – it can be tough to win at Michigan, and this is a rivalry game, but Michigan State is clearly the superior team and can get one step closer toward locking up a spot inside the bubble
-North Texas @ UTEP (Conference USA) – If North Texas wins out and avoids an early loss in the CUSA Tourney, and if the teams on the bubble continue to crash and burn, I think the committee will look at them. Maybe SERIOUSLY look at them.
-BYU @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – Saint Mary’s still has an outside shot at a protected seed if they can win out, which would mean beating Gonzaga one more time
-Stanford @ USC (Pac 12) – Stanford has suddenly become kind of tough to beat after knocking off Arizona and nearly knocking off UCLA in the past week or so, but it’s a game that USC cannot afford to lose
-California @ UCLA (Pac 12) – UCLA is cruising and is on pace to get a protected seed, and depending on how things shake out they could end up as a #1 seed

UTR WATCH:

-FORDHAM AT VCU (Atlantic Ten). These are the top two teams in the A10 and they are separated by just one game. While there are still five games to go, it is an extremely pivotal game in regards to first place.

-LINDENWOOD AT MOREHEAD STATE (Ohio Valley). Morehead State can clinch a share of first place and a bye into the semifinals of the conference tournament with a win today

-HOWARD AT COPPIN STATE (MEAC). Howard has a one game lead with 5 games to go and is trying to hold on to 1st place

-SOUTHERN VS GRAMBLING (SWAC). This game is actually being played in Salt Lake City as part of the NBA All Star Weekend, and will be getting extensive media coverage. It’s obviously a big rivalry game, and it’s also important to the SWAC standings as both teams are trying to catch Alcorn State. This game is being televised on ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV.

-SOUTHLAND – Northwestern State and TAMUCC are tied atop the standings, and both are in action today.

-BIG WEST – UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine are tied atop the standings with 4

AMERICA EAST – Vermont has a two game lead with just four games to go, and is at NJIT today.

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Fordham (21-5, 9-4) at VCU (19-7, 10-3) – 2:00 PM ET (USA Network)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day features a pair of top teams in the Atlantic 10 as the resurgent Fordham Rams travel down to Richmond to take on the VCU Rams. Since getting blasted by Dayton at home, Fordham has won 8 out of their last 9 games; their only loss in that span was a 68-58 defeat at Richmond two weeks ago. More recently, Fordham came back from an early deficit to defeat St. Bonaventure 78-63; Darius Quisenberry led the Rams with 15 points in that game.

VCU is in the last game of a 4-game stretch that will for better or worse determind whether or not they win the Atlantic 10 title. Following a win at Saint Louis, the Rams lost at home to Dayton to give them a season split with the Flyers. In their last outing, VCU trailed Rhode Island for much of the game before finally escaping with a buzzer-beating 55-54 win thanks to Zeb Jackson’s game winning shot.

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SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE:

-IVY LEAGUE – Harvard is 3 games back of 4th place with 4 games to go. If they lose tonigh to Columbia (not likely), and if both Penn and Brown win their games tonight they will be eliminated tonight. I’m expecting them to make it through tonight, but not through Saturday.

NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-College basketball has been on one hell of a bender this week! The whole thing is just drunk!!

-It was as if Purdue forgot to come out for the second half in their game at Maryland. The Terps just got complete control and ran the Boilers off the floor. Purdue, as good as they are, have now lost three of their last four and are showing that they can absolutely be beaten.

-Florida Atlantic suffered their third loss of the season as they fell to Middle Tennessee. It was close for most of the game, but MTSU was in the lead the whole way, and held on to win 74-70. This is a setback for FAU, but I still think they are inside the bubbler.

-Memphis had a lead over UCF for most of the game, but almost blew it in the final minutes, and It actually came down to the final possession after a sloppy second half, but Memphis escaped 64-63.

-Oral Roberts, who all year long had been destroying the Summit League in their sleep, got a big scare from a rather underwhelming North Dakota State team yesterday, but managed to hold on 73-70 after blowing a huge second half lead.

-Saint Mary’s BARELY escaped at San Diego 62-59. This would have been a loss that would have likely knocked them down several seed lines.

-LMU made a huge mistake when they beat Gonzaga earlier this season. It made the Zags REALLY mad!! They absolutely blew LMU off the floor, and dominated the first half in a way that we really haven’t seen since some of the ridiculously mismatched buy games from early in the year.

-Southern Miss, who we really liked as an Under the Radar team, and who we thought even might get some sort of look from the committee if they didn’t win the auto-bid even if they weren’t selected, has basically no shot of being selected now. They were blown to the moon by South Alabama 85-54 in a game that has me scratching my head as much as any others that we’ve seen this week, and we’ve seen some CRAZY stuff this week!

-Morehead State and UNC Asheville both won their games, and both can clinch a share of first place in their conferences if they win on Saturday.

-Kennesaw State also came from behind to beat Liberty, which gives them a one game lead in the standings with three games to go. They have not clinched yet, but they have the tiebreaker if the two teams end up tied, which means they are on track to have home court advantage throughout the entire ASun Tournament.

-NEW MEXICO AT SAN JOSE STATE (Mountain West). After a great start to the season, New Mexico has gone into a tailspin and is at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament entirely if they can’t get things turned back around. Tonight’s game won’t be easy against a San Jose State team that’s been playing really well these past few weeks and is actually ahead of them in the standings.

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Most people think that the history of UMBC basketball began in 2018 when the Retrievers upset #1-seed Virginia in the NCAA tourney…but most people are wrong. Larry Simmons played at UMBC back in the 1980s and finished his career with a school-record 1805 PTS. He finished 3rd in the nation with 90.2 FT% as a junior, was named to the D-1 All-Independent Team as a senior, and even played 2 years of varsity soccer during his free time. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Larry about playing multiple sports and being a great scorer. Today marks the 33rd anniversary of Larry breaking the school’s scoring record on February 17, 1990, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishment.

You grew up in Indiana: what made you choose UMBC? That is very simple to answer: Coach Jeff Bzdelik. I had received many offers but narrowed my choices down to 5 schools. I visited Alabama, Northwestern, UNC-Wilmington, Ball State, and UMBC. Most of the larger schools had upperclassmen so I knew that I would have to probably redshirt during my 1st year. Being the competitive person that I am, I wanted the opportunity to play right away and make a significant impact at the school I was going to go to, plus I wanted to make sure it was a great fit with the coach who was going to be leading the program. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with Coach Bzdelik before I made my decision. I knew I could trust that my aspirations to play D-1 basketball and his desire to excel as a D-1 head coach would be a perfect fit at UMBC as they were entering D-1 for the first time in 1986.

What made Bzdelik such a good coach, and could you have ever imagined that he would keep going strong in the NBA for the next 3 decades? I absolutely could see him coaching to this day! His love for the game of basketball is unquestioned. His passion/dedication/ability to have a strong connection with all of the players that he coached was an incredible asset. He had an incredible desire to see his players not only excel on the basketball court but also in life.

You played both basketball/soccer in college: which sport were you best at and which 1 did you enjoy the most? That is a very hard question to answer as I absolutely love both sports. I think that if they would have let me play soccer for the 1st 2 years then I might have had a chance at being the leading scorer in both soccer AND basketball! I was All-State in basketball/soccer/football and enjoyed playing all sports. However, basketball and soccer were definitely my 2 favorites, by far.

As a junior you finished #3 in the nation with 90.2 FT%: what is the secret to making FTs? It took many years of being taught the correct fundamentals and practicing every day how to shoot the basketball. I would spend extra time at every practice shooting hundreds of free throws and jump shots. I was also fortunate enough to grow up in the town of Noblesville, IN, which had a great high school basketball program. Noblesville had a great high school coach named Dave Nicholson who was very passionate about focusing on the fundamentals of basketball so we worked on free throws every night. I believe that Scott Haffner, 1 of my high school teammates (who ended up making it to the NBA) was 1 of the best in the nation that year as well (90.1 FT%)!

Your PPG/SPG/FG% increased during each of your 4 years on campus: how were you able to keep improving every single year? With a lot of hard work and off-season practice! I cannot tell you how many days/afternoons/nights that Bobby Mills and I were out practicing our shooting, playing 1-on-1, looking for pick-up games, etc. I also think that as I matured throughout my 4 years of playing D-1 basketball: the game started to slow down for me. I was able to see/understand what was happening quicker and my ability to perform steadily improved each year.

In 1990 you were named an All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was an awesome honor for all of the hard work I had put in during my entire life. Just being blessed to play D-1 basketball and then to be recognized for all of the hard work/dedication I had put in over the years as an All-American felt amazing. I never had the opportunity to play in a conference as UMBC was just entering D-1, so that made the honor even more special!

In 1996 you were inducted into your school’s Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I have been very fortunate to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Silver Anniversary Team, the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame, the Hamilton County Basketball Hall of Fame, and Noblesville’s Athletic Hall of Fame. I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to play both basketball and soccer at UMBC. To be recognized for all of my hard work at such a great institution is right there at the top: Go Retrievers!

You remain the all-time leading scorer in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? Did I ever think that I would be the all-time leading scorer at UMBC when I 1st started: absolutely not! All I knew was that if I worked hard every day to improve my game, I would be given the same opportunity as every other player who was on the team. I was fortunate enough to never miss a game during my 4 years of playing at UMBC but I am amazed that the record has lasted this long. I was so rooting for Jairus Lyles to break the record with the amazing run UMBC had in the 2018 NCAA tourney! Since we were not in a conference during my 4 years at UMBC we only played 28 games/year. Now that UMBC is in the America East and has a conference tournament they can play 32+ games/year. They also had an incredible coach in Ryan Odom who developed a formidable program so I am sure that someone will break the record.

You also have the most STL in school history: how did you balance your offense with your defense? I have always been a very competitive person: if my opponent had the ball then I wanted it! I think that playing both basketball/soccer gave me the ability to see offenses/defenses/plays before they happened. I believe this gave me the ability to put myself in situations where I had the opportunity to steal the ball from the opposing player. I have never really believed in luck: I believe that if you work hard, have the right fundamentals, and put yourself in the right situation then success will happen.

What have you been up to since retiring from basketball, and what do you hope to do in the future? It is hard to believe that it has been almost 3 decades since I graduated from UMBC! I have been working in the world of banking for most of that time and am currently back home again in the great Hoosier state of Indiana! I have coached both youth basketball/soccer for the last quarter century and my wife made me “officially” stop playing both sports when I turned 50: wow, life goes fast! I have 4 beautiful children/2 grandchildren and just plan on watching them all grow up. Who knows: maybe I will go into coaching high school basketball here in Indiana?!

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Yale (17-6, 7-3) at Pennsylvania (14-11, 6-4) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPNEWS)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the historic Palestra in Philadelphia where the Penn Quakers will host the Yale Bulldogs in a pivotal Ivy League matchup. Yale is tied with Princeton for first place in the Ivy and brings a 6-game winning streak into what has been one of the most difficult road trips in all of college basketball: the Princeton-Penn back-to-back doubleheader. Matt Knowling averages 14.9 points a game and 5.2 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs.

Penn had a 3-game losing streak in midseason against Dartmouth, Princeton and Yale, but now they get a chance to avenge all three losses in the final 4 games of the regular season. The Quakers have since won 5 straight games, most recent was a win at Harvard last weekend. Jordan Dingle is one of the most prolific scorers in the NCAA – he averages 24 points a game.

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The HoopsHD panel gets together again to reveal their current consensus NCAA Tournament bracket heading into the day on February 16, 2023, as well as discussing how the upsets tonight would change the results. The final bracket is below, but don’t look at it until you have watched the podcast!

Here is the bracket:

And here is an audio only version:

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BR-2-16-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast, where we discuss and assess all of the non-major D1 conferences – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which has major first place implications in the Atlantic Sun – CLICK HERE

-The bad taste of losing back to back games on last second buzzer beaters was probably washed out of Tennessee’s mouths last night as they got a huge win at home against top ranked Alabama 68-59. Defensively they just controlled the game, especially in the second half. I know it was a home game, but it was still an impressive performance and it will help move them back up the seedlist after the last two losses.

-Louisville almost pulled off what may have been the most improbable upset in the history of American Sports. Virginia just barely escaped with a 61-58 win. To put this into perspective, the two teams are further apart in the NET Rankings than any other upset we could ever come up with in the history of either the NET or the RPI. Some will say “Well, it wasn’t as big as the time Chaminade beat Virginia.” I disagree! That Chaminade team was a highly ranked D2 team. Louisville lost an exhibition game to a D2 team with a losing record, and nearly lost another one. This Louisville team probably wouldn’t even qualify for the D2 NCAA Tournament if they were to transition down for a year, so for them to nearly beat Virginia, that may have not just been the biggest upset of the year, or of the decade, or in the history of college basketball, but it may have been the biggest upset in the history of EVERYTHING!!

-Xavier went into Marquette, and after multiple lead changes in the final minute of play Marquette escaped with a 69-68 win. It seems as though the Big East has given us more thrilling games this year than most of the rest of the conferences, and Xavier has been in a fair number of them. As for Marquette, they once again look to be the Big East frontrunners.

-Northwestern sprinted out to a big first half lead and lead by 19 at the half, but Indiana put together a very impressive second half and came all the way back against a really good team, and did it on their floor. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers Northwestern managed to escape and pick up yet another big win after hitting a shot at the buzzer.

-Iowa State and TCU were both in a bit of a tailspin, so it was kind of a big game for both teams when they faced each other last night, and Iowa State got the 70-59 win. After looking as strong as any team in the country for a while, TCU has been plagued with injuries.

-San Diego State really had to sweat on the road at Fresno State, but barely held on in a rock fight 45-43.

-Remember when people were saying Virginia Tech could make the Tournament?? Well…they can’t! They lost at Georgia Tech last night 77-70. They’ve been absolutely pitiful on the road, and this should pretty much cement their place outside the bubble minus a complete turnaround and run to the ACC Championship game.

-Kentucky needed a big win in the most desperate way, and got it at Mississippi State 71-68. Mississippi State had been playing really well, especially at home, so it’s a win that Kentucky should get a fair amount of credit for, and I think it puts them back on the right side of the bubble for now.

-Texas A&M held off Arkansas 62-56, and TAMU continues to win games and continues to look impressive. They are now 11-2 in SEC play, and by now should be inside most people’s bubbles. As for Arkansas, they continue to hover around the bubble and are right on the cut line. Both teams still have work to do between now and the end, but at least TAMU appears to be doing said work.

-Oregon, who is a team that we thought had been playing well and were starting to keep an eye on, gave us a reason to take their eyes back off of them. They fell on the road to Washington 72-71 in a game they really could not afford to lose.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PURDUE AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). This will be a tough road test for Purdue, but if they feel they belong on the #1 line then this is the kind of road game they should be able to win. Maryland is probably safely inside the bubble, but I personally think their resume is a little flimsy and that a win like this could really help them out. They are 13-1 at home, but none of their wins have been as good as this one would end up being.

-HOUSTON AT SMU (American). Should be yet another routine road win for the Cougars, who have a pretty wide path to a #1 seed.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (Conference USA). This could be a bit of a trap game for FAU, but they’ve managed to get it done on in most of their road tests so far. If they win out through the regular season, which they are good enough to do, they should go into the NCAA Tournament field on the first ballot.

-CHARLESTON AT ELON (Colonial). If Charleston wins out, they will get a serious look from the selection committee if they don’t win their conference tournament. The problem is that Hofstra will own the tiebreaker, so CofC will not be an outright first place team.

-UCF AT MEMPHIS (American). Memphis is squarely on the bubble and absolutely needs to hold serve in all their remaining games when they’re not playing Houston. UCF can play at a high level, so Memphis needs to be on upset alert tonight.

-COLORADO AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). Arizona State needs to string together a lot of wins down the stretch just to make it into the field. Right now we have them on the outside looking in.

-SAINT MARY’S AT SAN DIEGO (West Coast). SMC is very far inside the bubble and should end up on no worse than the #5 line if they hold serve the rest of the way and don’t lose to anyone other than Gonzaga (whom they have already beaten once).

-OHIO STATE AT IOWA (Big Ten). Iowa appears to be in good shape as far as a bid goes and will remain that way so long as they don’t tank out down the stretch. For now, the rest of the regular season is just about maintaining and improving their spot on the seedlist.

-UTAH AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). Utah has some decent stuff on their resume, but they’ll need a win like this in order to really get the committee’s attention. They did win the first meeting between these two, but that was at home. Winning on the road is a completely different deal.

-CALIFORNIA AT USC (Pac 12). USC is squarely on the bubble. If they lose at home to a Cal team that is worse than most of the opponents teams typically face in home buy games, they will likely get knocked way off the bubble.

-STANFORD AT UCLA (Pac 12). I think UCLA is looking like the best team in the Pac 12 right now, and they perhaps even have a shot at ending up as a #1 seed if they’re able to win out. They should hold serve at home tonight against a Stanford team that did beat Arizona in their last game, but has done pretty much nothing else all season long.

-GONZAGA AT LMU (West Coast). This one could be a tough one since it’s on the road, and since LMU has managed wins against both Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s already this year. They will be way up for this one, but I have a feeling the Zags will as well. Gonzaga still has a really good chance at ending up as a protected seed if they can win out, which they are good enough to do.

UNDER THE RADAR/SURVIVAL BOARD WATCH…

-To see the SURVIVAL BOARD, which was just recently updated last night – CLICK HERE

-FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT SACRED HEART (Northeast Conference). FDU is tied with Stonehill and Merrimack in the NEC standings, but neither of those two teams are eligible for the NCAA Tournament (although they can play in the NEC Conference Tourney). With just four games to go, FDU has a two game lead over Sacred Heart, SFPA, and Wagner. They can widen that lead today.

-UNC ASHEVILLE AT RADFORD (Big South). UNCA has a one game lead on Radford with four games to go, so this one is extremely pivotal. If UNCA wins they can clinch at least a share of first place this weekend. If Radford wins it’s deadlocked heading into the final week.

-MILWAUKEE AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE (Horizon League). Both teams are tied for 1st place with just four games to go, so this one is hugely pivotal

-SOUTHERN MISS AT SOUTH ALABAMA (Sun Belt). Southern Miss has a two game lead with just four games to go, and can come within a game of clinching at least a share of 1st place with a win tonight. They should also get a serious look from the committee if they win out, but fail to win the SBC Tournament.

-SOUTHERN INDIANA AT LITTLE ROCK (Ohio Valley). Little Rock is one game out of 8th place with just four remaining. A loss tonight and a loss to Eastern Illinois on Saturday would eliminate them.

-SELA AT NORTHWESTERN STATE (Southland). Northwestern State is tied with TAMUCC for first place with five games remaining

-TENNESSEE STATE AT MOREHEAD STATE (Ohio Valley). Morehead State has a two game lead with just four games to go, and Tennessee State is among five teams that are tied for second behind Morehead. If Morehead wins tonight and wins Saturday they clinch at least a share. If they lose tonight then it is potentially a complete logjam heading into the final week.

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We have not even reached the end of the college basketball regular season but can already start wondering about the stars of tomorrow as the best high school players in the country prepare to receive some national exposure. The McDonald’s All-American Game will take place in Houston on March 28th in Houston, TX, and the Nike Hoop Summit will tip off on April 8th in Portland, OR. Several of this year’s college basketball super-freshmen played in last year’s Nike Hoop Summit including Amari Bailey (UCLA)/Gradey Dick (Kansas)/Jarace Walker (Houston). Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Blake Buchanan about trying to go undefeated this season and choosing the Cavaliers.

You were born/raised in Idaho: what is the basketball scene like in the great Northwest? It is not as competitive as other states that have a ton of D-1 players but it has gotten a lot better recently. We can still accomplish what we want to get done and have done well on the AAU circuit.

You left Moscow High School after your freshman season: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Lake City High School? The main factor was COVID: Moscow shut down all of its sports but I still wanted to play so we moved 90 minutes away to Coeur d’Alene.

Last year you earned 1st-Team All-State honors and were the North Idaho POY after leading your team to a 23-3 record, then were named Defensive MVP at the 2022 Idaho state tournament: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was great…but at the end of the day we did not reach our goal, which was to win the state tourney. At least I got to showcase all of my hard work.

You received offers from several great schools including Gonzaga/Iowa but signed with Virginia last July: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how far do you think the Cavaliers will go this March? The biggest factor was the coaching staff: they put a lot of time into me and when I showed up for my visit it just had a family feel. The facilities are great and the academics are also a huge part: it just felt right. Gonzaga is only 30 minutes from my house so that was the main thing keeping me here. I think Virginia can go far next month if they are hitting their shots.

1 of the other highly-ranked recruits heading to Charlottesville this fall is Elijah Gertrude from New Jersey: I know you guys live on opposite ends of the country but how well do you know each other? We took our official visits to Virginia at the same time and we still call/text each other occasionally. We got to play together a little while we were on campus and he is a super-good athlete so I am happy to be in the same class as him.

You are 6’10”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? Right now I play the 5 because I am the tallest person in Idaho! Once I get to Virginia I think that I will have to become a stretch-4 so I am working on my perimeter game.

Your high school team is currently 21-0: is it too early to start thinking about an undefeated state title? That is the goal! We finished our regular season and just need to keep doing the same thing on defense because the offense will come for us.

Earlier this week you were named to the Nike Hoop Summit roster for Team USA: where does that rank among the highlights of your career so far, and what will it mean to you to represent your country? I think this is the highest honor of my career so far. Just having the chance to wear the USA jersey with my name on the back as 1 of only 12 guys on the team is super-cool.

Many of the other guys on the roster are also McDonald’s All-Americans: do you know any of them or is there any 1 that you are most excited to play with? I have played with a few of them at different camps but do not know any of them too well. We all have the same goals to be playing at a high level so it will be fun to be out there on the court together.

Your mother Debbie earned a volleyball scholarship to USC before a knee injury ended her career, your father Buck played tight end at Idaho, and your brother Austin won an NCAA volleyball title at Hawaii last year: who is the best athlete in the family? That is a tricky 1: my dad had speed and my mom could jump. We are all good athletes but we all do different things. Personally, I think I am better than Austin…but that is what all little brothers would say!

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Liberty (21-6, 12-2) at Kennesaw State (20-7, 12-2) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

A lot of leagues have potential Top 2 matchups tonight (Big South, Horizon and the OVC come to mind), but our UTR Game of the Day goes down south for a matchup in the Atlantic Sun between the Liberty Flames and the host Kennesaw State Owls. Liberty came into conference play with faint NCAA Tournament at-large hopes; they beat Bradley and Bryant as some of their notable at-large victories, and their only nonconference losses came against Alabama, Northwestern, Southern Miss and Oral Roberts. Darius McGhee continues to be a handful to defend; he averages 21.1 points a game for the Flames.

Both Kennesaw State and Liberty had losses in the regular season against Eastern Kentucky, but both teams are 2 games ahead of the Colonels at this point. More recently, the Owls had a pair of heart-stopping wins against their travel partner Jacksonville State by a grand total of 5 points. Chris Youngblood leads the Owls with 14.5 points a game.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the SoCon, which has three teams fighting for first place in the latter part of the season. Samford, who hasn’t finished in first place of any league since 1999, has a chance to win the SoCon this year, but will have to hold off Furman and UNC Greensboro in order to do it.

From there we run through the other 22 UTR leagues and take a look at who is on the verge of clinching 1st place, and who all could be eliminated from qualifying for their conference tournaments this week. Youngstown State continues to be a great story in the Horizon League. Hofstra actually holds the tiebreaker over Charleston in the Colonial and will lock up the #1 seed in the CAA Tourney if they win out. The MAC and Ivy League races are exciting as some of the top teams are slated to face each other this week. Southern Miss is looking better and better and could be a very dangerous team if they can get to the Round of 64, and Drake is continuing to play at a high level as they’re in a race to win the Missouri Valley. We discuss all that, and much more. And, as we do every week, we close the show with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/UTR-2-15-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which is a FANTASTIC one out of the Big West tonight – CLICK HERE

Almost nothing went as expected yesterday…

-Kansas State was on the road at Oklahoma, and while road games are tough, K State was a solid protected seed and Oklahoma was, at best, an NIT team. Oklahoma won 79-65. When Oklahoma is playing highly ranked teams at home, they look amazing!! They’ve now managed wins against both Alabama and K State at home. The problem for them is all the other games they’ve played.

-Oklahoma State has been on a rampage, and is good as Kansas is, they had struggled on the road against teams who were playing at a top 25 caliber level (well, who doesn’t?). Last night, in front of a loud and lunatic level crowd, and against a good Oklahoma State team, Kansas controlled the second half and picked up a VERY impressive 87-76 win.

-NC State had been playing extremely well and was even looking like the best team behind Virginia in the ACC, especially in recent weeks. Syracuse looked like a team that should make the NIT, but perhaps still had some work to do just to get that far. NC State lost at Syracuse 75-72 last night.

-Illinois had been on an absolute tear and appeared to be climbing the seedlist, whereas Penn State was in such a freefall that it looked like they’d land somewhere in the middle of the NIT. Penn State knocked off Illinois 93-81 and was in control for pretty much the entire game.

-Missouri was soaring! They just picked up a HUGE road win at Tennessee and appeared to be playing like a top 25 caliber team! Auburn, who had played well against some tough teams recently, but still came up short in all of them, was looking like a bubble team. Auburn absolutely blew Mizzou’s doors off 89-56. By the first media timeout, the game was basically over.

-Rutgers is having to deal with injuries, but is still having a fantastic season and had what appeared to be a night off last night at home against Nebraska. they were behind pretty much the entire way and lost 82-72 to a Nebraska team that basically needs to win out just to get onto the NIT bubble.

-New Mexico, who has some solid wins on their resume that are keeping them inside the bubble, but was also just 6-6 in Mountain West play coming in to last night’s game. The good news (or so we all thought) was that they were at home against a pitiful Wyoming team, and it was essentially a buy game. So of course New Mexico trailed the entire game, and lost handily 70-56. This should have been a predictable way to end the evening considering how the rest of the day had gone. Now you start to wonder if New Mexico even belongs in the field at all.

-Duke won at home against Notre Dame, and keeps their perfect home record in tact, but they BARELY won. It was 68-64 and came down to about the final minute of play.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-ALABAMA AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Tennessee has lost two straight games on buzzer beaters, and had those games gone their way they’d almost assuredly be in the hunt for a #1 seed. Right now it looks like Alabama could end up with the top overall #1 seed, and a win tonight would certainly be a huge step toward earning that. As strong as Alabama’s profile is, a win tonight would probably be one of their single most impressive wins of the season considering that it’s on the road against a Tennessee team that’s likely to end up as a protected seed.

-XAVIER AT MARQUETTE (Big East). These are the top two teams in the Big East, and the first game was a classic. Xavier is now dealing with injuries, and that is a big concern, and Marquette is an extremely impressive 13-1 at home. Xavier has just three conference losses, but two of those are complete headscratchers at DePaul and at Butler, so on top of not being completely healthy Xavier isn’t always the best team away from home.

-KENTUCKY AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). This is a massively important bubbilicous game for both teams. Mississippi State has suddenly come to life with five straight wins, but they need to keep piling them up in order to finish inside the bubble, and they need this one at home against a Kentucky team that’s also on the bubble, and who hasn’t been overly impressive in true road games. If Kentucky were to win it would actually be one of their more impressive wins on the season, and a huge (and much needed) boost to their profile.

-INDIANA AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). Both teams are red hot. Both (at least I believe) are top 25 caliber teams, and Indiana can even make a run at a protected seed if they can continue to rack up wins. A road win today would go a long way for the Hoosiers.

-TCU AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). Since conference play began we’ve said we thought as many as six Big 12 teams could end up as protected seeds. While that could still happen, for the last couple of weeks these two have been slipping. TCU has been dealing with injuries, and Iowa State has just hit a skid. Still, both are solid top 25 teams, and both still have paths to protected seeds if they can get back to winning at a strong clip. Tonight’s game is as important from a momentum perspective as it is from a paper perspective. Both teams could just really use a big win right now.

-ARKANSAS AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). Arkansas has probably moved up the seedlist and is relatively safely inside the bubble, but they could really help themselves out with a win tonight over their old SWC rivals. TAMU got off to a slow start this season, and while they’ve played really well for the last several weeks or so and are definitely headed in the right direction, they still aren’t quite to their destination yet. A win tonight would be yet another big step forward.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Virginia @ Louisville (ACC) – these two have had some classic battles in recent years, but it shouldn’t be that way this year. This is about as close to a buy game as a road game can seem
-Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech (ACC) – if VA Tech is going to reach the bubble they pretty much need to win out. They definitely can’t afford to lose a game like this
-Florida State @ Clemson (ACC) – Clemson is right on the bubble, and like all bubble teams every game is critical. They cannot afford in a game like this at home
-Boise State @ Colorado State (Mountain West) – Boise State is on the bubble and can’t afford to lose games to teams that are nowhere near the bubble, even if it is on the road
-San Diego State @ Fresno State (Mountain West) – San Diego State is starting to separate themselves from the rest of the MWC. They need to hold serve on the road tonight.
-Oregon @ Washington (Pac 12) – this is a rivalry with more heat to it than what most may realize. It’s also a big game for an Oregon team that needs a strong finish the regular season in order to reach the bubble

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UC-Irvine (17-8, 10-3) at UC-Santa Barbara (20-4, 11-2) – 10:00 PM (ESPN+)

On certain nights, the best game gets saved for last – this is one of those nights in which we get a Top 2 matchup in the Big West between the UC-Irvine Anteaters and the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos. UCSB won the first round of the Gauch-Eater Cup 73-65; Andre Kelly had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Gauchos in that win. That was the beginning of a stretch in which the Gauchos have won 7 of their last 8 games to take a 1-game lead over Irvine in the Big West.

UC-Irvine had a 5-game winning streak at the beginning of conference play until the aforementioned first game against UCSB. The only other stumbles in conference play came against Cal State-Fullerton and Long Beach State, both of which were on the road. Dawson Baker averages 15.1 points a game for the Anteaters.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest HOOPS HD REPORT, where we discuss all of the teams from the major conferences, recap last week, and preview this week – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-About 24hrs after I had professed that Texas should be on the #1 line, they go on the road and lose to a Texas Tech team that isn’t even inside the bubble. I know this rivalry is heated, and is especially heated recently because of the storyline, but still. A #1 seed caliber team should win that game on the road. As for the Red Raiders, they have a long way to go to reach the bubble, but is it now at least possible?

-Miami FL got a nice road win at North Carolina, and Baylor didn’t really have to sweat West Virginia

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-GEORGETOWN AT SETON HALL (Big East). Seton Hall is hovering around the bubble and can end up in the field if they finish the season strong. This is more or less a buy game for the, so if they slip up in this one they’re really in trouble.

-CREIGHTON AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). Both teams are in the rankings and both appear to be solidly in the field right now. Creighton in particular has been on an absolute rampage, but Providence has proven to be extremely tough to beat at home, so this should be a showcase and it’s a chance for both teams to continue to boos their resumes and climb the seedlist.

-NC STATE AT SYRACUSE (ACC). NC State is 9-2 in their last 11 games, and they’ve racked up that record against ACC opponents. This should be a winnable road game for them, but Syracuse is good enough to where you can’t overlook them when you’re playing htem on their floor. Still, NC State is looking more and more like a team that will go in on the first ballot and who should be able to get this one tonight.

-NOTRE DAME AT DUKE (ACC). Duke kind of got punched in the mouth over the weekend after losing a close one at Virginia and some poor officiating mixed in, but they need to (and should be able to ) bounce back from that tonight and keep themselves in the top half of the bracket.

-ILLINOIS AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Penn State was looking like a solid team for a while, but that was also a while ago. Illinois is a team that I feel has been playing really well and may actually be better than their resume indicates. They have a chance to move up the seedlist between now and the end of the year, and should be able to get his one even though it’s a road game.

-MISSOURI AT AUBURN (SEC). Missouri just picked up what was easily their biggest win of the year, and in doing so moved themselves much further inside the bubble. They’ve got a chance at another big road win tonight. Auburn is playing with fire and needs some notable wins to stabilize their resume. Therefore, they really need this one tonight.

-KENT STATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN (MAC). Kent State MIGHT get a look from the committee if they win out, but even with that they may not get selected.

-NEBRASKA AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). This should be some low hanging fruit for Rutgers, and they should be able to get this conference win at home.

-KANSAS AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). If there was one game I wish I could be at this week, or perhaps even this month, it’s this one! Oklahoma State has been playing very well, they have a ton of momentum built up, and believe it or not they can actually pull even with Kansas in the conference standings if they pull off this win tonight. Not to mention add another big win to their resume and climb the seedlist even more. Many feel like Kansas is sitll a #1 seed despite some of their recent losses. I think a win tonight would go a long way toward them ending up with a 1 seed.

-KANSAS STATE AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). There are eight really solid teams in this conference, and Oklahoma isn’t one of them. They do have some big wins this season, though, including a win over Alabama at home, so K State can’t just overlook them.

-BOSTON COLLEGE AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). This current ACC/Former Big East game should be a routine win for a Pitt team that has been getting better and better as the season has gone along.

-MICHIGAN AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Wisky is drowning in quicksand, and they need to turn things around in a hurry and start stringing together wins just to get back inside the bubble so they can make the field.

-WYOMING AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). New Mexico is inside the bubble, but in that 10-12 seed range where they aren’t exactly safely inside of it. They need to hold serve tonight.

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Akron (17-8, 9-3) at Eastern Michigan (6-19, 3-9) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

With today being Valentine’s Day, we don’t really get matchups between top UTR teams today, but there is somewhat of a showcase game between the Akron Zips and the hometown Eastern Michigan Eagles. Emoni Bates has singlehandedly made Eastern Michigan somewhat interesting to watch, if only to see what stat line he’ll offer up night in and night out. Against Toledo on January 24, he scored 43 points in the Glass City in an 84-79 loss against the Rockets. However, he was limited to a season-low 4 points in the Eagles’ most recent outing – a 70-63 loss against Toledo.

Akron looked like they were flying high and the team to beat in the MAC after beating Kent State in the first leg of the Wagon Wheel against Kent State 11 days ago. Since that game, the Zips have lost back-to-back games against Toledo and Ohio to fall down to 3rd place by a full game against Kent State and Toledo. Xavier Casteneda averages 21.7 points a game for Akron this season.

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We begin tonight by spending a few minutes on the situation at New Mexico State. They have cancelled all their remaining games and continuing to internally investigate some allegations of a serious nature within the program.

After that, we move on to look back on what was a crazy busy week in college basketball. We begin in the SEC where Tennessee had to losses at the buzzer to Vanderbilt and Missouri, and discuss how that win for Mizzou completely changes the complexion of their resume. We also talk about how Alabama is now the overall #1 team and how they’ve go ta big game coming up at Tennessee this week. The Big 12 continues to look historically strong, but some of the teams like TCU and Iowa State are starting to slip a little bit. Other teams, particularly Oklahoma State, are starting to look better and better. In the Big Ten Purdue lost on the road to Northwestern, but still appears to be set up for a #1 seed if they can win out, Arizona had a surprising loss to Stanford in the Big 12, Saint Mary’s fell to LMU in the West Coast but is still in control of first place, and several teams from the Mountain West are hovering around the bubble. We discuss all that, and more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HHD-Report-2-13-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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THIS BRACKET REFLECTS GAMES PLAYED THROUGH FEBRUARY 12TH

I want to make sure everyone knows what they are looking at. This IS NOT an attempt to guess what the actual Selection Committee is going to do. I am not trying to win the Bracket Matrix. This is simply what I personally feel the NCAA Tournament should look like if the season ended today, and what the field would look like if I were a committee of one.

If you want to see a bracket that tries to guess what the actual selection committee would do, then this bracket and article are not for you. For that, you should check out JON TEITEL’S BRACKET BY CLICKING HERE. He is as good of a Selection Committee Guessing Expert as anyone else on the planet.

My comments are below, and the rest of the staff’s comments are below that. If they disagree with anything I have done, then THEY ARE WRONG!!!!

OTHERS CONSIDERED: USC, Arizona State, Boise State, Oregon, Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Virginia Tech, Utah, North Texas, Wake Forest

COMMENTS FROM DAVID (the creator of the bracket):

As far as how I go about doing this, or what it is that I look for when assessing the teams, I’m really just asking myself one question. How hard was it for each team to win the games that they’ve won and post the record that they have?? That’s really it. I use all of the metrics and data and everything that is available to the real committee to help me answer that question, but at the end of the day that’s really all I’m really looking at when selecting and seeding the teams.

-Alabama is my overall #1 seed, and while that may not be the unanimous #1 at Hoops HD, that is probably at least the consensus #1 right now.

-I know most people will probably have Houston on their #1 lines, and truth be told I think the real committee would give them one at this point as well. A strong case can be made for them, but I just think that both Texas, and now Baylor, have multiple wins that are more impressive than Houston’s best win. Texas does have a loss to Illinois and Baylor has one to TCU, but both of those teams are solidly in the field, and those are the only two losses they have to teams that aren’t protected seeds. Houston has a loss at home to Temple in addition to not topping out quite as high.

-A lot of people also have Arizona on their #1 line. The top of their resume is pretty good, but it’s not as good as the four teams that I’ve put up there. They also have two losses to teams with losing records, whereas Texas’s and Baylor’s losses, as noted above, are to far better teams.

-I love how Oklahoma State is playing, and while they do have some garbage on their resume, they’ve also put together an impressive stretch of wins in a very tough conference, and are actually in a logjam in the conference standings where nearly all of the other teams they’re jammed up with are protected seeds.

-I also like Pitt a lot. I don’t know what there is not to like with wins against Virginia, and on the road against NC State and North Carolina, both of whom are really strong teams at home. They do have one loss that sort of has you holding your nose, but to me considering all of the other things they’ve done, a loss to Florida State may be a disqualifier for a protected seed, but certainly not for being in on the first ballot and seeded in the top half of the bracket.

-Getting back to the central question I am always asking myself of how hard it was for teams to win the games that they’ve won and post the record that they have, when you look at North Carolina (who I didn’t select), Maryland (who I did select but seeded way lower than where most people would have them), and Auburn, I believe the answer to that question is…not very.

Nothing North Carolina has done was exceptionally hard to do. They’ve beaten some decent teams, but they did so at home, and beating a team at home that is good overall, but that isn’t good on the road, does not qualify as “hard.”

Same with Maryland, who does have a couple of wins that I like, but also believe has had chance after chance after chance after chance and only managed a couple. They’re also not a good road team, which is sort of a must for me.

COMMENTS FROM JOHN

– I am prepared to agree that Alabama has now earned the #1 overall seed after getting a win against Auburn on the road in a tough environment. However, I’m not quite ready to pull the trigger on Texas getting a #1 seed. They’re close but I do think Kansas should be on the 1-line. Baylor I would have #6 overall behind Kansas and Texas.

– I also give the Puppet credit for bringing Northwestern up to the #6 line; they have continued to pile up wins home and away. Rutgers is a home-court hero, and while they do have 2 quality wins away from the JMA (Purdue and Northwestern), that is it. If that trend continues, they may slide down to the 7-9 lines, but they are still a solid first-ballot team.

– While other bubble teams are wetting the bed, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State are making the biggest cases for themselves right about now. MSU had a very front-loaded SEC schedule with 4 games against Alabama and Tennessee. They’ve made up ground fast and now have added wins against TCU and at Arkansas to their resume. Personally, I would have had Mississippi State as the 7 and Oklahoma State as the 9, but I don’t have a huge beef with where they’re at.

– As much as I like the Big East, I need to hear the case for Seton Hall. They have 3 solid wins at Rutgers, against Memphis on a neutral court and at home against UConn. That gets negated when they have 3 iffy losses on their profile and only one more real chance at a win against a tournament team when they play Xavier at home in a couple of weeks. They really, really needed a win at home against Creighton to make their case.

– Clemson is another team where I suspect the Puppet just spun the roulette wheel and chose them instead of the “Others Considered” teams. I would have held my nose and chose Boise State, but the Tigers have gone in completely the wrong direction with losses in their last 3 games.

COMMENTS FROM CHAD

– I don’t like agreeing with John, but I like agreeing with the Puppet even less, so what John said about the #1 and 2 lines is, in my opinion, 100% correct. I would have the same 6 teams in the same order as him to start my bracket, with Houston and Kansas on the 1 line and Texas and Baylor atop the 2 line.

– I also agree with John about the inclusion of Seton Hall. I just don’t get it, and to have them a line above the First Four is ridiculous. This team is 14-11 against D1 competition, and does not play in the Big 12 where that might get you in. They have one true road win against a tournament team (at Rutgers) and have as many wins against tournament teams (Uconn, Rutgers, Memphis) as they have losses against teams not in this field (Oklahoma, Villanova, Siena). That is just not good enough.

– I can actually live with Clemson being in, only because the bottom of the bracket is awful right now. They would be my second team out right now, in fact — however, my first team out would be North Carolina. I agree about leaving Boise State out, but would have had USC and Oregon in my field (though both going to Dayton).

– I don’t often pick fights about the bottom of the bracket, but I will take anyone on David’s 13 line over Kent State, a team on the 12. Kent State does not have a single win against the top two tiers, and 12 seeds have to be able to beat someone who is at least good enough to qualify for the CBI.

– All in all, this actually was a fairly solid bracket from the Puppet, and I had to work a bit to find things to take issue with (other than his awful Seton Hall 10-seed pick). I guess that even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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Michael Finley is 1 of those guys who succeeded at every level of basketball. As a senior at Proviso East High School he won the 1991 IHSA Class AA boys basketball tournament. At Wisconsin he was a 2-time 1st-team All-Big 10 pick and set the school’s all-time scoring record. In the NBA he was named to the All-Rookie 1st-Team, made back-to-back All-Star appearances, and won a title in 2007. He currently works for Dallas as assistant general manager/vice president of basketball operations. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with him about being a great scorer and winning an NBA title. Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Michael’s 1st NBA All-Star appearance on February 13, 2000, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishments.

In 1995 you completed your Wisconsin career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2147 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer, and how did you feel when Alando Tucker passed you in 2007? There is no secret: it is just a matter of hard work/determination. Being part of a team/culture that believes in you also helps. Alando is a good player who had a good career…but it took him a few more games to do it!

That summer you were drafted 21st overall by Phoenix (3 spots behind Theo Ratliff): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was a dream come true. Growing up on the playgrounds of Maywood, IL, everyone wants to make the NBA. It was a celebration of all my hard work and great for both me/my family.

You played all 82 games as a rookie, scored 15 PPG, and were named to the 1996 All-Rookie 1st-Team: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? I was prepared both on and off the court by staying 4 years in college. My college coaches (Stu Jackson/Stan Van Gundy) had NBA experience, which gave me a step up on some other guys. My NBA coaches (Paul Westphal/Cotton Fitzsimmons) believed in me and gave me a chance to produce.

You were traded to Dallas in 1996: how long did it take for you to figure out that your new teammates Steve Nash/Dirk Nowitzki would turn into Hall of Famers? At the time I did not see Hall of Famers: just a pair of guys who could become the best players from their respective countries and perennial All-Stars. I am so proud of both of them: I just wish that we could have played together longer in Dallas.

You were named an All-Star in 2000/2001: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was a great accolade: I was not voted in by the fans but to have the coaches select me made me feel even better.

On January 23, 2001, you tied an NBA record with 8 STL in a half in a 16-PT loss to Philly: what is the key to being a great defender? Playing against bad offensive guys! I was just in the right place at the right time in an unusual game. You need the intent to defend the best players in the game and hopefully your good nights will outweigh your bad nights.

Take me through the magical 2007 NBA playoffs with San Antonio:
In Game 5 of the Western Conference 1st round against Denver you scored 26 PTS and set a team record by making 8-9 3PM in a series-clinching win: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Every shot I took that night I thought was going in. My teammates gave me great looks at the basket: you wish you could have that every single night.

In the closing minute of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, your former teammate Nash was shoved into the press table by Robert Horry, Amare Stoudemire/Boris Diaw left the Suns’ bench, and they were subsequently suspended for Game 5 (which you won by 3 PTS): how big a deal was it at the time, and do you think that incident changed the outcome of the series? I still feel that we had the better team and would have beaten them anyway. It was an unusual situation for me because Steve was 1 of my best friends in the league: most of my career was spent protecting him but that night I was going against him.

In the NBA Finals you swept Cleveland to win the title: what did it mean to you to finally win a title? To receive the trophy and celebrate with my guys in the locker room was surreal and something that I will always cherish.

You played 15 years, led the league in games played during 5 different seasons, and your 37,996 minutes remains in the top-60 all-time: how were you able to stay healthy and stick around for such a long time? Just taking care of your body and maintaining your work ethic on and off the court. Eat right, get the proper rest, and take pride in being a professional athlete at all times. To compete at the highest level comes with a great deal of responsibility.

After retiring in 2010 you became a producer for many films (including Lee Daniels’ The Butler and American Made): how did you get into the movie industry, and what is your next project? I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and wanted to be sure that I was ready for the next step. I talked to someone in the industry and wanted to become part of it. It has been a great experience and hopefully I can continue to do it. We have a documentary that debuted on Fox called “They Fight”, the 1st time that they featured a documentary. It is about African-American kids in Philly and their life inside/outside the ring.

You are currently the VP of Basketball Operations for the Mavericks: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? It has been great to work for Mark Cuban/Donnie Nelson while learning as much as I can from a front office perspective. As a player you think that you know everything but I continue to try to put the Mavericks on the map and work as hard as I can.

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Maryland-Eastern Shore (14-9, 6-2) at Howard (15-10, 7-1) – 7:30 PM ET

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to The Burr in Washington, DC where the Howard Bison host the Hawks of Maryland-Eastern Shore in a matchup of two of the top teams in the MEAC. UMES had a 7-game winning streak snapped on Saturday; they lost a game at home against Norfolk State 76-73. Kevon Voyles leads the Hawks with 12.1 points a game and 1.8 steals a game.

Thanks to a tougher-than-expected 86-85 win at Delaware State on Saturday, Howard is now on a 7-game winning streak and is now in sole possession of first place in the MEAC. The last loss on the schedule was an 82-73 loss at Maryland-Eastern Shore in the first meeting between both teams. Elijah Hawkins is averaging 13.1 points a game and 5.9 assists a game for the Bison.

HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN (From the Puppet):

-After trailing Purdue for most of the game, but keeping it within reach, Northwestern got control in the last couple of minutes and actually pulled off a huge 64-58 upset win in front of an absolutely bonkers crowd! It was a really fun game to watch, and it’s exciting to see Northwestern, a team that has only been to one NCAA Tournament in its entire history, seemingly to be solidly inside the bubble and perhaps even in the top half of the bracket.

-Everything else was pretty chalky.

-MIAMI FL AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). Miami FL is well placed in the top half of the bracket and still has an outside shot at a protected seed (although that will take quite a bit more work). They’ll be challenged tonight by a UNC team that I’ve been underwhelmed by overall, but who has been very solid at home. Still, this would be one of the better wins for the Tarheels on the season if they’re able to pick this one up, and it’s a game I think they kind of need.

-NORTHEASTERN AT CHARLESTON (Colonial). CofC is probably done because if they do lose in the conference tournament then it would be yet another loss to a team that’s nowhere near the bubble, but if they win out the committee will give them a serious look and perhaps even still select them.

-TEXAS AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Texas appears to be a solid protected seed and even has a shot at a #1 seed if they can finish strong. That would mean taking care of business on the road in this one in what should be a winnable game, but also very hostile game.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Baylor is another team that I think is within reach of the #1 line, but needs to continue to win at the clip they have been in order to reach it. West Virginia is simply trying to get into the NCAA Tournament, and a win today would go a long way, but that’s far easier said than done.

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For today’s HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN, where we recap all of the weekend’s action and preview today’s games – CLICK HERE

We are only 4 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming weeks predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)

2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Baylor (Big 12)

3: Tennessee (SEC)
3: Virginia (ACC)
3: Xavier (Big East)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)

4: Marquette (Big East)
4: Gonzaga (WCC)
4: Iowa State (Big 12)
4: Connecticut (Big East)

5: Indiana (Big 10)
5: TCU (Big 12)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Miami (ACC)

6: Illinois (Big 10)
6: San Diego State (MWC)
6: Rutgers (Big 10)
6: Creighton (Big East)

7: Duke (ACC)
7: Iowa (Big 10)
7: Maryland (Big 10)
7: Auburn (SEC)

8: Providence (Big East)
8: NC State (ACC)
8: Michigan State (Big 10)
8: Missouri (SEC)

9: Arkansas (SEC)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
9: Northwestern (Big 10)

10: Pittsburgh (ACC)
10: Nevada (MWC)
10: New Mexico (MWC)
10: Boise State (MWC)

11: Oklahoma State (Big 12)
11: North Carolina (ACC)
11: USC (Pac-12)
11: Memphis (AAC)
11: Clemson (ACC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: VCU (A-10)
12: Southern Miss (Sun Belt)

13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Kent State (MAC)
13: Drake (MVC)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)

14: UCSB (Big West)
14: Samford (SoCon)
14: Rider (MAAC)
14: Princeton (Ivy)

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)
15: Vermont (America East)

16: UNC-Asheville (Big South)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Morehead State (OVC)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Howard (MEAC)
16: Alcorn State (SWAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Kentucky (SEC)
Texas A&M (SEC)
Wisconsin (Big 10)
Texas Tech (Big 12)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-We will start with a SURVIVAL BOARD update. Columbia has been mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the Ivy League Tournament after their loss to Yale, and has been the first team to be eliminated. We now have 349 teams remaining!!

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

Saturday was another insanely busy and eventful day…

-Alabama picked up yet another road win as they held off Auburn 77-69. By #1 seed standards it’s a win that’s pretty much par for the course, but it was against a heated rival, and a rival that really needed the win for their own resume purposes, and a rival who had played exceptionally well at home this year, so for Bama to come out of there with a win (after actually being behind for most of the game) I think at the very least meets the expectations of a #1 seed.

-Arizona, another team that is being floated around for a #1 seed, did not look like it yesterday. They fell on the road to Stanford 88-79. This is NOT par for the course for a #1 seed. It’s their second loss to a team with a losing record this season. I don’t have the encyclopedia level of knowledge when it comes to NCAA Basketball trivia that our colleague John Stalica has, but I can feel very safe in saying that losing two games to teams with losing records and ending up with a #1 seed is not a common thing. Has it even ever happened before?

-Tennessee has had a 2pt lead and been on the freethrow line with less than ten seconds to go in their last two games. THEY’VE LOST BOTH THOSE GAMES!! Missouri hit a near half court shot after a missed Tennessee freethrow to escape with a much needed 86-85 win. Mizzou had nothing anywhere close to this caliber of win before yesterday, so this does a ton to improve their standings. As for Tennessee, they’ve suffered two very swift and very hard kicks to the stomach, and a #1 seed is probably out the window. But…they’re actually okay. They’ll be a protected seed, and while this is a huge ego bruising experience at this point in time, it’s February 12th, not March 12th. They’ll safely make it into the field, and this is not indicative of what they’ll be like a month from now. They’re just as dangerous today as they were a week ago.

-I’ve been hard on Duke this year for not winning on the road. Well, while they didn’t get the win at Virginia yesterday, they probably should have. A foul at the end of regulation was not called, but should have been. Time had expired, but the ball was released and still in flight, and by rule the game isn’t over until the ball hits the rim or backboard. It was as if the referees didn’t know the rule. Even the ACC League Office has stated the referees got the call wrong. Virginia got the win in overtime, and Duke missed out on what would have been a season defining and resume defining win.

-UCLA got a 70-63 road win at Oregon, and it’s a game that they should probably get more credit for than what most will probably give them. Oregon is outside the bubble, but they’ve been playing well lately, especially at home, and for the Bruins to come out of there with a win is pretty impressive.

-Oklahoma State keeps stringing together big wins, and they got another one yesterday at Iowa State 64-56. Iowa State has now lost four out of five, but we still feel they are within reach of a protected seed, and Oklahoma State should (and will) get a TON of credit for this. They’re now 7-5 in Big 12 play, and the conference is an absolute meat grinder. They’ve also won seven of their last eight. Their start to the season was a little slow, but they’re playing like a top 25 caliber team right now, and I expect their resume to keep getting better and better. They’re at home against Kansas on Tuesday and that is gonna be a show!!

-Kansas State, who for a while I was touting as a #1 seed…is a team that I am no longer touting as a #1 seed. They lost at Texas Tech yesterday 71-63. I know Texas Tech isn’t exactly the worst team out there, and I know that every team has bad games, but when you’re talking about a #1 seed I feel K State has exceeded (and surpassed) the ‘bad day limit’ that 1-seeds are allowed. They’re still a good team with some great wins, and should still be a solid protected seed, but probably not a #1 seed. But as for Baylor…

-The Baylor Bears have now won nine of their last ten, and are doing it against Big 12 teams. That is as good as anyone in the country right now, and with a road win at TCU you almost have to start asking whether or not they should be in the discussion for a #2 seed, or perhaps even a #1 seed. Their only loss during that stretch was a very close game at Texas. They go on the road to face Kansas and Kansas State in the next couple of weeks. If they win both of those then we could be discussing them for the #1 line.

-Indiana, who had been playing very well, held on to beat Michigan 62-61, but barely! Still, at the end of the day, it was another road win for the Hoosiers and their resume continues to look very strong.

-Providence could not get it done against Saint John’s yesterday and fell 73-68. It’s not the easiest game to win, but it’s the kind of game you would expect a solid first ballot team to be able to win more times than not.

-Creighton continues to roll as they knocked off a pretty good UConn team (that had been starting to play better again) 56-53. The Bluejays have now won eight straight and are playing as well as anyone else in the Big East right now.

-Rutgers vs Illinois was a hard fought game, but the Illini finally got control of it in the last few minutes and held on for a 69-60 win. I think both teams are solidly in the field, and Illinois is continuing to climb the seedlist.

-Kentucky, who I was starting to believe in again, has now given me another reason to question whether or not they belong in the field at all. They fell at Georgia 75-68. I know it’s hard to win on the road…BUT THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT!!! In order to make the NCAA Tournament and be inside the bubble, teams must win games that are hard to win! Kentucky, with the exception of their win at Tennessee (which IS a legit huge win) has not. They routinely come up short. And yesterday they did so again.

-Clemson could have really used a nice road win at North Carolina yesterday, and came up about 20pts short. North Carolina is not a team that I’m big on at all, but they have been very strong at home this year, and our Selection Committee guessing expert Jon Teitel seems to think the committee values them…and he’s probably right. I personally don’t agree, but I always disagree with something that the committee does, and this year it will probably be North Carolina. Clemson, on the other hand, is now hanging on to the bubble by their fingernails and needs a strong finish just to make the field at all.

-Wisconsin…OUCH!! They had a nice win earlier in the week against Penn State on the road, and one would think that they were finally getting things turned around. Well, they’re once again facing the complete wrong way. They are NOT turned around! They lost to a bad Nebraska team 73-63 in overtime, and that might sink them all the way outside the bubble.

-USC….OUCH!!! A team that was stringing together wins, and building their resume, and climbing the seedlist, totally shot themselves in the foot yesterday with a 61-58 loss to a really bad Oregon State team.

-Arkansas, who finally won a big road game, followed that up with a home loss to Mississsippi State, which was a game they really should have won. It’s actually the fifth straight win for Mississippi State, and it looks like they’re heading in the right direction after being in a complete nose dive just a few weeks ago.

-Seton Hall, who had been on a streak where they appeared to be playing really well, could not get the win at Villanova yesterday and fell 58-54. Nova has been playing better, but for a team that’s hovering around the bubble like Seton Hall was it was a game that the Pirates really needed to win.

-Florida, who I thought was playing their way inside the bubble, is now a team that I no longer think is playing their way inside the bubble. They lost at home to Vanderbilt 88-80 yesterday. Vandy has had themselves one hell of a week! But they are still so far from the bubble that they need high powered binoculars to see it.

A few quic Under the Radar notes…

-Keep an eye on the Drake Bulldogs. They were a team that back in October many of us (myself included) expected to see in the top 25 at some point this season. That’s not going to happen because it simply took them too long to get rolling and they lost a lot of games they shouldn’t have, but for the last couple of weeks they’ve been playing like the caliber of team we thought they would be, and they absolutely blasted a pretty good Southern Illinois team yesterday 82-59.

-Oral Roberts has now clinched at least a share of first place in the Summit League with their 82-73 win against Western Illinois yesterday. One more win and they win it outright.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-TEMPLE AT MEMPHIS (American). It simply took Temple far too long to get their motor started this season, and even after they started playing at a higher level they’ve still dropped some winnable games, but they are definitely good enough to beat Memphis on the road if Memphis overlooks them. Memphis is squarely on the bubble. Memphis BETTER NOT overlook them.

-IOWA AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). Iowa has been through steep peaks and valleys this year, but all and all they appear to be very safely inside the bubble, and will remain there so long as they avoid bad losses the rest of the way. A loss today would absolutely be a bad loss.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Michigan State is pretty solid and should end up in the top half of the bracket with a strong finish. It’s never easy to win on the road, but Ohio State has now lost ten of their last eleven and this is a game that the Spartans should win handily.

-PURDUE AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). This is the kind of game that’s always fun. A #1 seed caliber team on the road against a solid NCAA Tournament team that’s looking to become even more solid and who’s fans should be jacked way up for this one!

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Youngstown State (20-6, 12-3) at Cleveland State (15-11, 10-5) – 1:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day heads up to the shores of Lake Erie where the Cleveland State Vikings will host the Youngstown State Penguins in a Horizon League matchup. For a school that has actually won football national championships at what was the I-AA level, Penguin Fever is finally spreading to the hardwood this season as YSU is a serious contender for their first Horizon League championship. The Penguins have won 10 out of their last 11 games that includes a sold-out home win against Oakland in front of a national ESPNU audience. Former Dayton player Dwayne Cohill leads YSU with 18.1 points a game and 4.9 assists per game.

While Cleveland State did have a winless trip to the Michigan schools in league play, outside of that they have won 10 out of their other 13 league contests. In their last game, Dante Johnson hit a game-winning layup at the buzzer to give the Vikings a 57-55 win at home against Robert Morris. But today is about revenge – Cleveland State lost at Youngstown State 85-71 earlier in the season.

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has spent the past few months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming next month. After finally seeing them beat DePaul last month to snap the all-time record losing streak of 29 Big East games in a row, he decided to return to the scene of the win. See below for his photo essay to see if he has become the Hoyas’ lucky charm.

The pregame meal scored points for variety (scrambled eggs/sausage/French toast/biscuit/pasta/tomatoes) but included the worst food I have ever had at a sporting event: cold grits. Let’s tip it off:

Once again we have a case of 2 coaches heading in very different directions: since winning the Big East tourney in March of 2011, Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing (standing on the left) has gone 12-45. In contrast, Marquette coach Shaka Smart (kneeling on the right) has gone 39-19 and is on pace to make his 2nd-straight NCAA tourney since taking over in Milwaukee:

1 of the very few consistent pieces for Coach Ewing this season has been big man Qudus Wahab, who had started each of the 1st 25 games before missing this 1 due to what Ewing called “personal family issues”. In Wahab’s absence, JR SG Jay Heath made his 1st start since December and looked good with a team-high 18 PTS after getting to the rim over and over for a variety of layups/scoops:

Marquette had an inside presence of its own in SO F Oso Ighodaro, who scored 12 PTS in the 1st half on nothing but dunks/layups:

Unfortunately for the Hoyas, the Golden Eagles ALSO had an outside presence in SO SG Kam Jones, who knocked down a trio of 3-PT shots to help his team build a 45-33 halftime lead:

During halftime I got to spend a few minutes chatting with Big East commissioner Val Ackerman, who was in DC as part of her season-long journey to all 11 arenas in the conference. Her resume is too long to list here but hopefully I will get to interview her sometime before the start of her conference tourney.

Give Georgetown a lot of credit for not throwing in the towel despite a double-digit deficit to the #10 team in the nation. The 2nd half Hoya hero was JR F Akok Akok: he converted an old-fashioned 3-PT play, had a big dunk, and finished with a season-high-tying 5 BLK (his 3rd game this year with that many):

Marquette had 5 guys finish in double-figures as they coasted to an 89-75 victory but the star of the show was SO PG Tyler Kolek. After only scoring 7 PTS in a win at Seton Hall 3 weeks ago, he has now put together 5 straight games of 13+ PPG, and based on his season stats against Georgetown (a total of 23 AST/1 TO in a pair of wins during the past 5 weeks) the Hoya faithful must be thrilled that they do not have to see him again this regular season:

In the postgame press conference I asked Coach Ewing how impressed he was with Akok’s defense. He said that he loves the energy/effort and that Akok made a lot of key blocks down the stretch:

After noting that Coach Smart is 12-3 in Big East play this year and has 5 regular season games remaining to try to break his own record for most conference wins in 1 season (he went 15-3 in the CAA as coach at VCU in 2012), I pressed him on whether it was too early to call this 1 of (if not) the best teams that he has ever coached. He admitted that it is 1 of the top-2 favorite teams that he has ever coached because they really care about 1 another and are dedicated to their teammates. He recalls being picked 9th in the preseason poll and his team feels they can be a lot better than people think because they have a lot of hunger:

That is a wrap for now, but check back in a couple of weeks for the regular season finale when Providence comes calling.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Xavier went on the road for what should have been a winnable game at Butler, but ended up coming up short 69-67. They trailed for pretty much the entire game, and by as many as 15 in the second half, but came back to tie it before Butler went ahead on a goaltending call in the final seconds.

-New Mexico, who was inside our bubble but close to it, did themselves absolutely no favors last night when they were beaten rather handily on the road at Air Force 89-77.

– And yet that was not even the most notable thing that happened yesterday. Not by a longshot. New Mexico State’s off-court woes took an even more bizarre turn yesterday with the entire coaching staff being put on paid administrative leave and their season now being suspended. Their game against California Baptist has been cancelled (NOT postponed). This was completely separate from the incident in Albuquerque that led to the cancellation of the New Mexico-New Mexico State games; Jeff Goodman (via Stadium) reported last night that there are hazing allegations within the NMSU program that led to the program now in complete limbo. California Baptist was able to scramble and get an emergency game with West Coast Baptist added to their schedule for today.

– Also some sad news out of East Carolina; their broadcaster Jeff Charles passed away unexpectedly while on the road with the team; their game at Tulane scheduled for today has been postponed and no makeup date as of yet has been scheduled. Charles was the voice of the Pirates for 30 years and was named the North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year in 2000. Our condolences go out to his family and the ECU community.

SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (Click Here to View the Board):

-COLUMBIA AT YALE (Ivy League). If Columbia loses this game, and Penn beats Harvard, then Columbia will be the first team (outside of Chicago State and Hartford) to be eliminated from the Survival Board. It will be mathematically impossible for them to finish in the top 4 and make the Ivy League Tournament.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS (Big 12). Texas is in the hunt for a #1 seed, and West Virginia is just trying to end up on inside the bubble. A win today for WVU, while a VERY tall order, would skyrocket them up the seedlist.

-ALABAMA AT AUBURN (SEC). Alabama has been on our #1 for pretty much the entire calendar year of 2023, whereas Auburn, while (presumably) good, can’t seem to get any big wins on their resume. Well, if they can pull off the upset in this one it would fix a lot of that. It’s a huge rivalry game, it means a ton on paper, the place is always bonkers and should be EXCEPTIONALLY bonkers for this one, and…well…truthfully I can’t wait!!

-CONNECTICUT AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Both teams are suddenly playing really well, both are in the rankings, and both went through stretches during the season where they went into an absolute tailspin, but both have come out of it and appear to be solidifying their resumes and climbing up the seedlist.

-RUTGERS AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). I really like how Illinois has been playing, but still think they have room to improve their resume. As for Rutgers, as good as they’ve been this year, they also have room to move up. In short, this is a game between two good teams who can make their resumes look even better with a win today.

-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley). Neither team has much of a chance at getting into the field without the auto-bid, but they are two of the better teams in the MVC, and both could be very dangerous in the Round of 64.

-CLEMSON AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). Clemson doesn’t have many wins in Chapel Hill in the last…oh…century or so, but they’ve got a chance to get one this year. This is a HUGELY important game for both teams as we have both of them straddling our bubble right now, and both really need this win.

-DUKE AT VIRGINIA (ACC). As much as I’ve criticized Duke this year for being overvalued and not being good on the road, if they are somehow able to win this one I will concede that they have addressed all of my concerns, and that they belong well inside the top half of the bracket. But…that’s much easier said than done. I think Virginia is 2-seed-ish good and should roll at home.

-BAYLOR AT TCU (Big 12). It’s yet another Big 12 game between two teams that are battling it out for protected seeds. Baylor actually has a path (albeit a steep one) to a #1 seed if they can keep winning at the rate that they are. They’re 9-1 in their last ten games, and given the difficulty of their schedule that is utterly remarkable. Winning at TCU, who is another team that could end up as a protected seed and who has some high caliber wins of their own, won’t be easy, though.

-MISSOURI AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Missouri continues to land in that area of the seedlist that’s between the 9 line and the bubble. A win in a game like this would give them a lot more stability. Tennessee is coming off a somewhat surprising (and rather stupid) loss at Vanderbilt, but they’re still a solid protected seed and even have a path to a #1 seed if they can really finish strong.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). Oklahoma State has put together an impressive string of wins after a rather sluggish start to the season, and is definitely playing like an NCAA Tournament caliber team, but they need to keep it up in order to make the field. Iowa State has had an excellent season, but they’ve lost three of their last four, and some of those were rather surprising like a loss at Texas Tech (where they blew a huge lead) and to West Virginia. Still, they’ve been solid at home and should be way up for this one.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT ARKANSAS (SEC). After an entire season of coming up short in games against tournament-caliber opponents, Arkansas finally seems to have their motor going. This should be a winnable game for them. We actually selected Mississippi State in our field last night, and while they could end up making it I think they’ve got a ton of work to do. They have won four straight, and prior to this winning streak they had lost eight of nine, but they need to keep it up in order to be safely in. A road win in a game like this would certainly go a long way.

-UMASS LOWELL AT VERMONT (America East) – If Vermont wins, they’ll have a 3 game lead over UMass Lowell with just five games remaining and if Lowell can win they’ll just be a game back. Lowell has been one of the stories in college basketball this year, but a first place finish could be out of reach if they can’t get this one.

-UCLA AT OREGON (Pac 12). Some feel UCLA could still end up as a #1 seed, and if they win out perhaps they can, but that’s easier said than done. This will be a very tough road test for the Bruins. It took Oregon a while to get rolling, and it perhaps took them a little too long because in order to get inside the bubble they’ll pretty much need to win out, but they are suddenly playing really well and will be jacked way up for this one. They’ve won six of their last eight and are very tough to beat at home. And if they can keep stringing together wins all the way until the end, they may have a shot at a bid.

UC RIVERSIDE AT UC IRVINE (Big West). THE RIVER-VINE CUP!!!! One of our favorite made up rivalries!!!

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Marquette @ Georgetown (Big East) – should be a winnable game for Marquette and keep them in the race for 1st in the Big East
-Providence @ Saint John’s (Big East) – Providence is in a position to go in on the first ballot, and should be able to hold serve in this one
-NC State @ Boston College (ACC) – this should be some low hanging fruit for NC State and enable them to pick up a winnable road game
-Pittsburgh @ Florida State – Pitt appears to be safely inside the bubble and will remain there so long as they continue to hold serve
-Penn State @ Maryland (Big Ten) – I personally think Maryland is being a little overvalued, but I do believe they are inside the bubble and expect they’ll be able to hold serve in this one
-Kentucky @ Georgia (SEC) – Kentucky is right on our bubble and needs to hold serve in this game in order to stay there
-Kansas @ Oklahoma (Big 12) – Kansas is still very much in the hunt for a 1 seed and for 1st place in the Big 12, but they need to hold serve in games like this in order to stay there
-Vanderbilt @ Florida (SEC) – Florida is outside the bubble, but can reach it with a strong finish to the season. They can’t afford to drop a home game to a team that’s nowhere near the bubble
-UL Monroe @ Southern Miss (Sun Belt) – Southern Miss is playing really well right now, and should get a look from the committee if they’re able to win out
-UNLV @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – I’ve been critical of San Diego State, but they have absolutely put together a string of wins that is both long and impressive. They should be able to continue that at home today, and will safely land inside the bubble and probably go into the field on the first ballot if they keep holding serve
-Wisconsin @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – Wisconsin is right on our bubble. I think they’re good enough to make the field, but they need to hold serve in games like this
-Georgia Tech @ Wake Forest (ACC) – Wake needs to string together wins between now and the end in order to make the field
-Saint Mary’s @ Portland (West Coast) – SMC is coming off a somewhat surprising road loss to LMU, which was their first in conference play, but is still in great shape and should be able to get this one on the road
-Indiana @ Michigan (Big Ten) – I really like how the Hoosiers are playing and believe they have a path to a protected seed. They should be able to hold serve in this one
-USC @ Oregon State (Pac 12) – USC is coming off a blowout loss to Oregon and continues to hover around the bubble. This is a road win that they have to get
-Kansas State @ Texas Tech (Big 12) – there aren’t many ‘gimme games’ in the Big 12, and even this isn’t an easy game to win, but it’s easier than most of the rest of the games in the league. K State is on pace to get a protected seed, and may even still have a path to a #1 seed
-Louisville @ Miami FL (ACC) – Miami is rolling and could end up as a protected seed. They should have no trouble holding serve in this one
-Arizona @ Stanford (Pac 12) – many think Arizona has a shot at the #1 line. I don’t think their resume tops out quite that high, but I could see the committee giving it to them, especially if they’re able to win out
-Arizona State @ California (Pac 12) – Arizona State is outside the bubble and needs a strong finish to get back in. A loss in a game like this could all but kill them
-Seton Hall @ Villanova (Big East) – Seton Hall is coming off a loss, but they are still definitely trending in the right direction and could easily end up inside the bubble if they keep it up. It’s never easy to go on the road and win, but this is the kind of game that an NCAA Tournament caliber team is expected to be able to win.
-Wyoming @ Boise State (Mountain West) – We’ve got Boise in our field, but close to the bubble. They need to hold serve in this one
-Texas A&M @ LSU (SEC) – TAMU is trending in the right direction after a very unimpressive start to the year, but they still have a lot of work to do and all their games have a pivotal feel to them. They need this one on the road tonight
-BYU @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – The first meeting between these two was a thriller, but the Zags are at home for this one and should roll
-Utah State @ San Jose State (Mountain West) – If Utah State has any shot at all of landing inside the bubble they basically need to win out

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Morehead State (16-10, 9-4) at Southeast Missouri State (13-13, 8-5) – 5:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day heads to the Bootheel of Missouri for a matchup of OVC heavyweights (or flyweights when you consider the conference winner is likely headed to Dayton for the First Four) between the Morehead State Eagles and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. The Eagles recently had a 6-game winning streak and looked like they were starting to gain separation from a 6-way tie for first place a few weeks ago. However, they stumbled at Little Rock 72-68 to fall to 1 game above 3 teams for second place in the OVC. Mark Freeman leads Morehead with 16.1 points a game and 3.7 assists a game.

SEMO is another team that looked like they were starting to get momentum with a 4-game winning streak that included wins against Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State at home. However, thanks to back-to-back losses on the road against both of the above-mentioned Tennessee schools, the Redhawks are now a game back of Morehead in the standings. Phillip Russell averages 19.0 points a game and 5.7 assists a game for SEMO.

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For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN, where we build a seedlist on the air and discuss all the teams as we go – CLICK HERE

Saint Louis (16-8, 8-3) at Dayton (16-9, 8-4) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN2)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day is a sacred day on the Hoops HD Calendar as the first leg of the Arch Baron Cup takes place with the Dayton Flyers hosting the Saint Louis Billikens. Saint Louis snapped a 2-game losing streak at home with a 76-71 victory against Rhode Island. Prior to that game, the Billikens lost a pair of games against A-10 contenders Fordham on the road and at home against VCU despite a “Billiken Blizzard” promotion for the fans. Yuri Collins averages 11.7 points a game and 10.1 assists a game for SLU.

Dayton began the year ravaged with injuries and got off to a slow start thanks to losses at UNLV and an 0-3 trip to Atlantis during Thanksgiving. In their last game, the Flyers snapped a 3-game road losing streak with a 62-58 win at VCU in which Toumani Camara had 26 points and 15 boards. This game moved the Flyers to 1 game behind VCU in the standings and a half-game behind Saint Louis. DaRon Holmes is another potential candidate to win the Harewood Horse trophy as game MVP; he leads the Flyers with 17.6 points a game this season.

HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN (From the Puppet):

-LMU is nowhere near the bubble, but they’ve pulled off two of the biggest upsets of the season this year. First with a 68-67 thriller on the road against Gonzaga back in January, and last night they defeated Saint Mary’s in overtime 78-74. SMC had a lead for most of regulation, but it was close all throughout, and they just couldn’t put the Lions away.

-USC had been playing really well, but they ran into a brick wall last night as Oregon just blew them off the floor 78-60. Oregon still has a lot of work to do, but they’ve now won six of their last eight and while their profile is still very questionable due to a subpar start to the season, they now are at least looking like an NCAA Tournament caliber team. They still have a ton of work to do to get their resume up to the level it needs to be at, though.

-KENT STATE AT BUFFALO (MAC). If Kent State win out and be the outright first place team in the MAC they could get a serious look from the committee, but even that may not be enough to get them in without the auto-bid.

-XAVIER AT BUTLER (Big East). Xavier has a very wide path to a protected seed and just needs to hold serve in games like this.

-SAINT LOUIS AT DAYTON (Atlantic Ten). There are three teams in the Atlantic Ten that could potentially be dangerous in the Round of 64 and these are two of them, but the real reason we are highlighting this game is because IT IS THE ARCH BARON CUP!!!!!! The Greatest and Most Intense Rivalry in Human History!!!!

-NEW MEXICO AT AIR FORCE (Mountain West). This should be a winnable conference road game for a New Mexico team that is inside the bubble and needs to hold serve in order to stay there.

-FRESNO STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). This should be a winnable conference home game for a Nevada team that is inside the bubble and needs to hold serve in order to stay there.

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, February 9th. No games that went final after that, particularly Saint Mary’s vs LMU or Oregon vs USC, were considered when creating this bracket.

Chad and the panel build a seedlist line by line and debate, discuss, and assess each team as they go. Find out who they have on the #1 lines so far, who is safely in, who still has work to do, and who on the bubble just made it in and just missed it.

And below is our special Bracket Build Podcast, where we show you exactly how the seedlist is converted into a bracket and how all of the different bracketing rules come into play

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the Bracket Rundown Show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BR-2-9-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast, where we run through all of the non-major conferences – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which is a BIG one between Louisiana and Southern Miss and may not just be the Under the Radar Game of the Day, but the Game of the Day PERIOD – CLICK HERE

-For Jon Teitel’s interview with Charles McClelland, who is the SWAC Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee – CLICK HERE

-Tennessee struggled throughout the entire game at Vanderbilt, but appeared to have it won in the final seconds…until they didn’t. Up 65-63 and with the ball, the Vols passed up what would have been a wide open dunk, which would have given them a 4pt lead, in order to force Vandy to foul. This is simply NOT thinking through how a 4pt lead is a two possession lead. I think by now you all know how this one ended. A couple fouls later, Tennessee misses the freethrow and Vandy hits a game winning 3 to pull off the huge 66-65 upset.

-I had been saying for over a week I like how Florida has been playing, and I was half expecting them to be very competitive at Alabama last night. They were not. WOW!! Bama blew them off the floor 97-69, and that score probably understates just how dominant Bama was.

-West Virginia desperately needs wins, and given the strength of their remaining schedule they are going to be extremely hard to come by, but they got a BIG one last night knocking off Iowa State 76-71. Iowa State now in a bit of a slump having lost three of their last four, but are in absolutely no danger at all. The one game they did win in that stretch was a blowout win over Kansas.

-Creighton went on the road and got a huge 75-62 win against a Seton Hall team that had been playing really well. This is actually probably a better win than what it looks like on paper because Seton Hall is in the middle of a stretch where they’ve been looking really good, and for Creighton to go on the road and win in the fashion that they did is really impressive.

-San Diego State held on for a nice 63-61 road win at Utah State. They had a commanding lead at the half, but almost gave it up. The game was exceptionally heated, and in the first half exceptionally poorly played and overly officiated. Several technicals and even ejections were issued, and after what seemed to be a 15 minute pause for replay the game finally resumed, but the flow was completely gone. Nevertheless, it is a nice road win for the Aztecs and they remain safely inside the bubble.

-Wisconsin and Penn State both really needed the win last night when the two faced each other, and Wisconsin got it. A 79-74 road win will hopefully (for their sake) help the Badgers start to turn things around.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-IOWA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Purdue is still the top overall #1 seed in most peoples’ fields, including our own, and they will remain there if they can hold serve tonight. Iowa is relatively safe despite having some holes in their resume, but they could REALLY boost the value of their profile if they could somehow pull off the upset tonight. That is much easier said than done, though.

-RICE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Conference USA). FAU is safely inside the bubble and will likely go into the field on the first ballot if they can win out through the regular season, which they are good enough to do.

-NORTHWESTERN AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Northwestern continues to hover around the bubble, but right now I think they are inside of it. They need this win on the road in order to stay inside it. It’s not easy winning on the road, but this is still the kind of game that a tournament caliber team should be expected to win.

-UCLA AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12). UCLA is will within the range of a protected seed and should be able to hold serve tonight.

-SAN FRANCISCO AT GONZAGA (West Coast). Gonzaga is hovering around the 4/5 seed range in our brackets and should stay there so long as they hold serve the rest of the way

-SAINT MARY’S AT LMU (West Coast). Saint Mary’s is now in sole possession of first place in the WCC and could even end up with a protected seed if they can finish running the table.

-ARIZONA STATE AT STANFORD (Pac 12). Arizona State is outside the bubble and needs to string together some wins down the stretch just to reach the field.

-ARIZONA AT CALIFORNIA (Pac 12). Even though this is a road game it should still be a cakewalk for Arizona, who still has an outside shot at a #1 seed if they can win out.

-USC AT OREGON (Pac 12). This could be a tough road game for a USC team that has been playing better and who has also played their way inside our bubble, but who would also be much more safer if they’re able to pick up a win like this one.

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Louisiana (20-4, 10-2) at Southern Miss (21-4, 10-2) – 8:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Hattiesburg, Mississippi for a matchup of the top 2 teams in the Sun Belt; the Southern Miss Golden Eagles host the Louisiana Rajun’ Cajuns. The Cajuns are in the midst of a 10-game winning streak and includes a 75-61 home win against Southern Miss earlier in the season. More recently, Jordan Brown had 26 points in Louisiana’s 77-67 win at home against fellow league contender Marshall.

Southern Miss started off the season 8-0 before losing against co-Southland leader Northwestern State on the road. The Golden Eagles did get off to a relatively slow 3-2 start in the Sun Belt, but the two losses were on the road against Louisiana and Marshall. Since then, Southern Miss has won seven straight games in conference play. Felipe Haase had 26 points in the Golden Eagles’ last outing – a 79-71 victory on the road at Georgia State.

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This week’s featured conference is the Big West, which as it is most years has been hugely exciting all year long. UC Santa Barbara has been the frontrunner for most of the year, and we thought they might actually be able to get a serious look from the committee if they were able to win out, but they suffered a very surprising loss to Cal State Northridge this week. UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Hawai’i and Long Beach State are other teams that are right up there in the conference race.

After that, we move on and look at the other 22 UTR leagues and start off with a rather bizarre night in Maine as their game against Vermont was delayed because the floor was crooked and needed to be re-laid. Teams like Oral Roberts and Colgate are getting very close to clinching first place bids, the Ivy League and SWAC races are heating up both at the top of the standings and to make the cutline for the conference tournaments. Hofstra is actually tied with Charleston in the Colonial, and although their season profile isn’t as strong as CofC’s we feel that they may actually be more dangerous right now. We discuss all that, and more. And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/UTR-2-8-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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For Today’s Hoops HD Daily Rundown – CLICK HERE

For those of you who simply cannot wait until Selection Sunday to find out what the Selection Committee is thinking, the top-16 teams will be revealed in a sneak preview later this month. This is not a crystal ball showing exactly which schools will become protected seeds on March 12th…although 3 of the #1 seeds from last year’s preview DID end up as #1 seeds last Selection Sunday (Arizona/Gonzaga/Kansas). Rather, it served as a peek behind the curtain at what the committee was thinking and what criteria they were using in their analysis of everyone’s body of work. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Selection Committee member Dr. Charles McClelland about Quad 1 wins and becoming committee chairman next year.

There were several topics on the agenda at your annual selection committee meeting last summer: what sort of broadcast/media issues were discussed? The executives from CBS/Turner/TNT met with the committee about different strategies and how to improve in any areas. It is a great way to learn what is most important in terms of TV timeouts, talent, game windows, tip-off times, etc.

How many hours/day will you be working on selection stuff this month? We watch a lot of games but it is tough to put an exact time limit on it: I would say I dedicate a minimum of 4-5 hours/day. We each have 3 primary conferences and 3 secondary conferences. We watch games live and on Synergy and on replay. We have some interaction with all of our conferences and also meet with the women’s selection committee.

If a team wants to make the NCAA tourney, are they better off scheduling decent teams who they think they can beat, or great teams who they can only hope to upset, or a nice mix of both, or other? It definitely helps to schedule teams who are “competitive”. My league is the SWAC and we schedule a lot of guarantee games on the road. 1 thing I learned early on is that the NET is made up of factors such as efficiency, who you play, and whether you won. It helps to play good teams but also to play competitive ballgames. It is hard to know from the start exactly which opponents will be good or bad but you can look at a team’s history in KenPom/Sagarin to get a good idea of how they will do this year. Playing outside of D-1 is definitely not something we want to do in the SWAC, but at the same time you do not need to play all of the traditional powerhouses. If you play competitive/efficient basketball you will significantly help yourself.

Committee members are able to see many modern rankings on the official team sheets (such as BPI/KPI/KenPom) in addition to the traditional ones: how have you made use of these advanced metrics, and do you have a favorite 1? I do not think that any 1 takes precedence over another: they are all part of our toolbox. We have some that are predictive and some that are results-based: we use all of the tools at our disposal to make the best recommendation. The NET is 1 tool of many that we utilize.

A couple of years ago the committee implemented a 4-tier system that emphasizes the location of wins/losses: is there a specific quadrant that you are drawn to the most (lots of Quad 1 wins, any Quad 4 losses, other), and why? Your 1st attention is drawn to Quad 1 wins because that shows that you beat 1 of the top 50-75 teams in the nation. However, it can fluctuate: a Quad 1 win today can become a Quad 2 win tomorrow. Conversely, Quad 4 losses show that you are playing the bottom of the schedule and have not been successful. If I had to hone in on 1 quadrant it would definitely be Quad 1.

How do you measure a team from a high-major conference (who have an entire season to get Quad 1/Quad 2 wins) vs. a team from a less-prestigious conference (who only have a couple of months to get such wins, and often not with any home-court advantage), and does that truly help you find the 36 best at-large teams? 1 of the things that has been synonymous with this tournament is winning the games you play. Our committee believes that a win in November is as good as a win in March so you have to capitalize on all of your opportunities. Power conference teams do have more opportunities for Quad 1/Quad 2 wins, but if you look at a team like FAU, they are a top-20 NET team and have become a Quad 1 opportunity for all of their C-USA opponents.

The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) includes metrics such as scoring margin and net offensive/defensive efficiency: do you think that a team should receive extra credit for a victory greater than 10 PTS, and why should anyone care how efficient a team is as long as they are winning games? I do not have a position either way as to scoring margin. The NET matrix has proven to be relatively effective: if you look at the past 2 years it has been as good as any other matrix. We debated internally whether the number of points you win by matters but I think good offensive efficiency means that you are scoring at a very acceptable rate without missing a lot of shots or turning the ball over. On the defensive side, if you stop opponents from scoring then the margin is already baked into that. It is my humble opinion that the NET is not perfect…but it has been pretty effective.

What role do injuries (for example, Ryan Kalkbrenner at Creighton/Kris Murray at Iowa) play on the seeding of a team? Injuries are a critical part of what we look at, including during our conference monitoring. If you are missing 1 of your best players and you lose a game then that is something that we need to know. We want to know when a player comes back and whether he is healthy when he does so: it was very tough to keep track of these things during the peak of COVID.

I know that you try to spread out teams from the same conference into different regions but what happens if a league like the Big 12 ends up with 6 of the top-16 teams in the nation? There are procedures in place to ensure that teams do not play each other until a certain point after the 1st/2nd rounds. It is rare to have so many great teams in 1 conference in the top-16 so it would be an unusual occurrence. A lot of the bracketing is computer-based so it will let us know if something pops up but sometimes it is impossible to avoid it once you reach the Sweet 16/Elite 8.

Next year you will become the 1st person from an HBCU league/school to chair the men’s basketball selection committee: how big a deal is it, and how excited are you? I think it is a really big deal and I am extremely excited! From an overall growth perspective our teams have continued to evolve: Southern University made back-to-back tourneys in the late 1980s with Avery Johnson/Bobby Phills and Norfolk State pulled off a 1st round upset back in 2012. It is a humbling experience to be a part of the greatest collegiate sporting event in the world.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Marquette, who had been looking like the best team in the Big East, did not look like it last night. Winning on the road at UConn is tough, but they were absolutely blown off the floor. UConn played what was probably their most impressive game since before Christmas and picked up the 87-72 win in a game that wasn’t even as close as that score indicates.

-Kansas State blew out a TCU team that’s good, but that’s also still dealing with injuries 82-61. The Wildcats are one of several teams that are still in the hunt for a #1 seed, and yesterday’s win certainly helps.

-Indiana kept Rutgers at arms length for pretty much the entire game, and while Rutgers did make it close in the last couple of minutes, they couldn’t quite pull off the upset on the road. The Hoosiers continue to cruise with the solid 66-60 win.

-North Carolina trailed by as many as 25 (I believe) in the second half at Wake Forest, but actually did go on a run late to make the final score look respectable. Still, they lost 92-85 and their resume continues to be void of any wins that indicate that they are a tournament caliber team.

-Auburn’s resume was flimsy going in to last night, and despite playing a good game at Texas A&M, they didn’t get the win and their resume still looks flimsy. TAMU, on the other hand, is sprinting toward the bubble, and may actually be inside of it by now. If not, then they are certainly getting close. After a somewhat so-so start to the season, they’ve now won 11 of their last 13 with much of that coming in SEC play.

-Arkansas, who I’ve been beating up on for weeks for not having a road win and lacking any real quality wins at the top of their resume, got a very impressive quality win on the road at Kentucky last night 88-73. I now have to do a complete 180 and start to give Arkansas some props. They played very well at Baylor just over a week ago, and while they didn’t win it was still an impressive showing on the road against a very good team, and was an indication that they had it in them to play at a high level. Last night at Rupp Arena, they finally did it.

-One of the biggest games of the night happened very late at night as Nevada, who was squarely on the bubble, picked up a hugely important road win against a very good New Mexico team 77-76. This was just a great game. Both teams are good, both played well, and both could have really used this win so there was a lot at stake. It was close the entire way, and Nevada won the game 77-76 on a last second shot.

-Last, and perhaps least, the race in the Atlantic Ten would actually be really exciting if it only meant something. For the first time in the last 30 years or so, it doesn’t. Five teams are logjammed at the top of the league and separated by just one game, and one of those teams is Fordham! Dayton’s 62-58 win at VCU last night tightened up the race even more. While both Dayton, VCU, and Saint Louis, have all shown they can play at the level of an NCAA Tournament team at times, the key words there are “AT TIMES.” More often than not, they haven’t played at that level and none of those three (along with the rest of the A10) have done enough to make the field without winning the auto-bid.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-CREIGHTON AT SETON HALL. Both teams have really been playing well lately. Creighton has won six straight, and Seton Hall has won seven of their last eight. Creighton is much further up the seedlist, but Seton Hall has the opportunity to get waaaay inside the bubble if they keep playing the way that they have been. It’s a game between two teams that are red hot and that can improve their resumes even more with a win.

-IOWA STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). Iowa State is one of six Big 12 teams that is within reach of a protected seed, so every game has a pivotal feel to it for them if they want to end up getting one. West Virginia is simply trying to get inside the bubble, and we think needs five more wins in order to make it happen, so every game they play from here on out will have a pivotal feel to it.

-WISCONSIN AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Penn State is in a complete and total free fall and they need to string together some wins just to pull themselves out of it. Wisconsin isn’t doing well either having lost seven of their last nine. Both of these teams need this win just to get the process started of getting turned back around.

-FLORIDA AT ALABAMA (SEC). I like how the Gators have been playing and think they can end up in the field if they keep it up….but I don’t think they can beat what is probably one of the two best teams in the country on the road. If they do, then of course the value of their resume will skyrocket, but that’s a very big if.

-OKLAHOMA AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Baylor is continuing to look like a solid protected seed and even has an outside shot at making a run at the #1 line, whereas Oklahoma is looking more and more like an NIT team despite their big win against Alabama a little while back.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State is coming off an impressive blowout win against a pretty good Boise State team, but that was at home. Going on the road is always tough in this league. Having said that, this is a game that they should be able to win. Utah State has a good record and a good net, but they don’t have any wins that really jump off the page and they’ll need to win out or come close to it in order to be seriously considered.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Tennessee @ Vanderbilt (SEC) – should be a winnable road game for a team that’s solidly been within the range of a protected seed all year long
-Memphis @ South Florida (American) – Memphis is coming off a loss and really can’t afford any more to any teams that aren’t Houston
-Boston College @ Virginia Tech (ACC) – Some feel that VA Tech can make a run at the bubble. If they want to do that then they better start doing it now
-Tulsa @ Houston (American) – it’s a conference game, but it could end up looking very much like a buy game
-Georgetown @ Providence (Big East) – it’s a conference game, but it could end up looking very much like a buy game
-Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State (Big 12) – Oklahoma State is red hot and has played their way onto the bubble. If they keep stringing together wins they’ll be very safely inside it
-LSU @ Mississippi State (SEC) – Mississippi State has a ton of work to do, but if they can finish the season strong then they can still make the field

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UNC-Wilmington (19-6, 9-3) at Charleston (22-3, 10-2) – 7:00 PM ET (FloHoops)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to the Low Country where the Charleston Cougars return to Under The Radar and host the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks in a pivotal CAA matchup. Charleston beat the Seahawks 71-69 in the first game in Wilmington and cracked the Top 25 shortly afterwards. However, back-to-back losses to Hofstra and Drexel dropped the Cougars into a first-place tie with Hofstra and back down to a 1-game lead over UNC-W. Dalton Bolon had 18 points in the Cougars’ last game – an 84-67 win at Delaware.

UNC-W also had a bit of a hangover after the Charleston loss – the Seahawks had a surprising loss at William & Mary before losing on the road to Hofstra shortly thereafter. The Seahawks have since won four straight games, including a revenge win at William & Mary. Trazerian White averages 13.4 points a game and 5.6 rebounds a game for the Seahawks.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast, where we recap and assess all of the major conferences – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-It wasn’t a busy night, and the games of note ended up kind of chalky. Miami FL jumped out to a double digit lead against Duke within minutes of the tip and at no point after that was the game even close. Texas trailed Kansas for most of the game, but did make a few runs at them before falling 88-80.

-The most exciting game of the night was one that was so far under the radar that it was practically off the radar. Jackson State knocked off Arkansas Pine Bluff 88-84 in double overtime, and the reason the game was actually meaningful is because only eight teams make the SWAC Tournament, and just one game separates 4th place from 10th place, so every game involving teams within that logjam has a pivotal feel to it.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MARQUETTE AT UCONN (Big East). Marquette is looking like the best team in the Big East right now, and is up to 10th in the polls. They’re 10-1 in their last 11, which is remarkable when you consider the bulk of that stretch has been in Big East play, and the only loss was a close on at Xavier. They’ll be tested on the road tonight against a UConn team that has a strong resume, and that had been in a slump but has now won three of their last four. This one should be a good one.

-RUTGERS AT INDIANA (Big Ten). It’s a showdown between the two teams that have beaten Purdue!! Both teams are in the rankings, and have a chance to buildup their resumes even more. Indiana is coming off a huge win over rival Purdue, and Rutgers could pick up what would probably be their biggest win of the season other than their win against Purdue on the road.

-CHICAGO STATE AT DELAWARE STATE. Every time Chicago State plays in what looks like could be a winnable game I want to highlight it This could by their 9th overall win of the season, and their 4th true road win if they’re able to pull it off!

-NORTH CAROLINA AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Both of these teams, especially North Carolina, need to string together wins and add some quality wins to their profile in order to make the NCAA Tournament. This would be UNC’s best win of the season considering that it’s against a semi-decent team and since it’s on the road. Wake is outside the bubble, but could get back inside it if they’re able to string together some wins. It’s a bubblicious game on Tobacco Road!

-AUBURN AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). We have TAMU just outside our bubble, but given how well they’ve been playing after a somewhat sluggish start to the season, they can definitely play their way safely into the field. Auburn needs a big win just to shore up their resume, and even though TAMU is just on the bubble right now, this would still be one of their biggest wins of the season if they’re able to pull it off.

-NC STATE AT VIRGINIA (ACC). NC State has really come to life and has actually won eight of their last nine and is suddenly one of the hotter teams in the ACC right now. They’re not quite to the level that Virginia is, though, who is looking like a solid protected seed despite a loss in their last game at Virginia Tech. If NC State wins this, it’s a chance for them to shoot WAAAAY up the seedlist.

-TCU AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Both teams are in the rankings and both are within reach of a protected seed. Both have managed two road wins against teams that are also in the hunt for a protected seed, so both teams have very strong resumes. TCU has lost two of their last three, and has dealt with injuries, so this could be a really rough test for them tonight seeing as how they’re the road team, but as a whole they’re still having an incredible season.

-MARYLAND AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams are close to making the field, but both still have work to do, especially Maryland who could really give their resume a boost with a win like this on the road. Chances are both will be dancing come March, but both have room to improve and this one is a big resume building opportunity.

-ARKANSAS AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Kentucky has played much better over the span of their last seven games and has almost assuredly put themselves inside the bubble (for now). If they keep winning they’ll keep climbing the seedlist. Arkansas is getting beaten up by the criticus (including myself) for not having any road wins and for not having that many quality wins. A win tonight can address both of those deficiencies in a big way, so this is a HUGE opportunity for the Hogs.

-NEVADA AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). Nevada is hovering around the bubble and New Mexico is fighting to stay inside the bubble. That makes this a hugely important game for both these teams.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-Louisville @ Pittsburgh (ACC) – Pitt has been playing really well and should be able to win what is basically a buy game at home tonight
-Dayton @ VCU (Atlantic Ten) – If VCU wants to even be looked at by the committee for a bid they basically need to win out

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Toledo (17-6, 8-2) at Akron (17-6, 9-1) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day returns to the Rubber Capital of the World as Akron hosts the Toledo Rockets in yet another battle of top teams in the MAC. Akron is coming off of a 67-55 win against Kent State in which Xavier Casteneda led the Zips with 24 points in front of a nationally televised audience. Tonight’s game will be pivotal for Akron in that they will be playing three of their next four games on the road, including an eventual rematch with Toledo in a couple weeks.

Whereas Akron comes into tonight with an 8-game winning streak, Toledo comes in almost as equally hot with a 7-game winning streak. Even a 43-point performance from Emoni Bates was not enough for Eastern Michigan to knock off the Rockets a couple of weeks ago. More recently, both RayJ Dennis and JT Shumate scored 18 points apiece to lead Toledo over Central Michigan.

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We take a look back at another busy week in college basketball, and discuss Saint Mary’s big win over Gonzaga and which team belongs higher on the seedlist, Purdue picking up their second loss of the season at Indiana, and Duke’s win over North Carolina. We take an extensive look at the Tarheels and discuss whether or not they belong in at all. The Big 12 continues to be very strong with as many as six teams within reach of a protected seed, and as many as three who are within reach of a #1 seed. It’s a big week in the SEC with Texas A&M, Florida, and Arkansas all being on the bubble and all needing to string together wins. We discuss all that, and more!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HHD-Report-2-6-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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It is Chad’s turn this week to take a shot at the Staff Bracket — a projection of what he feels the NCAA Tournament should look like if it was selected after all games of Sunday, February 5 were complete. Please note that this is simply his projection, and not an attempt to guess where the actual committee will be on Selection Sunday — rather it is where they SHOULD be if today was Selection Sunday! Also note that Chad presumes that his personal pick for “best team in the conference” for each league is its auto-bid winner, which may not necessarily be the current first place team.

Below is the Bracket followed by Chad’s notes. After those are comments and reactions from other HoopsHD panelists.

CHAD’s NOTES:

– Despite the loss at Indiana, I still have Purdue ranked #1 overall. Their body of work is simply still the best, although the gap has certainly closed a bit. Alabama, Houston and Texas round out the 1 seeds, with Texas moving to the top line after a huge win this weekend at Kansas State.

– Baylor is now up to the 2 line, even though they split their two games this week. The first of those games was a close loss at Texas (1 seed), which they cannot be faulted for. In addition, having Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua back this weekend is huge for this team, and they should now be considered a serious national championship contender.

– I ended up with St. Mary’s and Gonzaga back-to-back at 16 and 17 on my seed list. Given that the Gaels just beat Gonzaga Saturday night, the choice was simple. St. Mary’s is now a protected seed, just barely cracking the 4 line!

– Arkansas somehow found a way to finally get a road win, albeit against the worst team in the SEC (South Carolina) and only by 2 points. That is enough to keep the Razorbacks in the field — for now.

– My last two teams in were West Virginia and Mississippi State. I get that there are 4 teams above Mississippi State in the SEC standings that did not get in, that the Bulldogs are only 3-7 in conference, and that I left out a team (Texas A&M) that is 8-2 in that same league. The fact is that Miss State has no bad losses and has two huge non-conference wins over teams that are protected seeds (Marquette and TCU). I just like that better than anyone that I left out — although honestly I am seriously holding my nose when I look at their profile.

– My top four teams out, in order, were Wisconsin (I love the wins, but they have too many losses), Seton Hall (this team is rising fast and may make my field by next week), Texas A&M (plenty of chances ahead to jump into the field) and North Carolina (I hate to admit that David Griggs was correct, but I just think their profile…well…sucks; however, 6 of their last 8 regular season games are against top 100 teams and that can quickly change with some wins). Also considered were Virginia Tech, Penn State, Arizona State, Florida, Oregon, Utah State, Wake Forest, Michigan, Loyola Marymount, Utah, Tulane and Kent State.

– Among the “Under the Radar” leagues, Florida Atlantic remained inside the bubble, on the 10 line, despite the loss at UAB. VCU and College of Charleston have profiles that are not too far behind the last teams in, despite CofC losing another game this past week. I also greatly appreciate a complete lack of Tier 4 losses for Maryland-Eastern Shore — a fact that has a real good chance to get them above the First Four and out of Dayton.

– Finally, if you look at the matchups, you will see a few possible conference games in the second round with Virginia-Duke and Alabama-Kentucky. These teams only play once in the regular season. Therefore, unless they meet in their conference tournament, this is perfectly acceptable and the committee would not move either team to a different region to avoid this rematch.

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

– While I must congratulate Saint Mary’s on taking a commanding lead in the WCC, one home win does not make them a protected seed by itself. Their only other win against a solid NCAA Tournament was against San Diego State on a neutral court, but they are a #7 seed per Chad. Gonzaga still has neutral court wins against Alabama (1), Xavier (4) and Michigan State (9) along with a “neutral” home win against Kentucky.

– We are really in a parallel universe this year when it comes to Northwestern. They have a resume that includes wins at Michigan State, at Indiana and at Wisconsin. And yet they have three losses combined against Ohio State and Michigan that are not sniffing an NCAA bid unless they get the auto bid on Selection Sunday. Yet they are 6-3 away from home, so this is one of the more difficult teams to place.

– If we’re talking about two teams that seem to load up on Tier 2-type wins, Boise State and North Carolina seem to lead that list. Yet Chad has Boise State on his 9-line and apparently has allowed the Puppet to compromise his bracket to the point where North Carolina is not included. I would really be curious to hear what Joby says about Carolina, yet I’m not seeing any wins by the Heels against NCAA teams outside of NC State and Charleston at home.

– Virginia Tech is another compelling team to look at when it comes to injuries; 4 of the Hokies’ losses came when Hunter Cattoor was injured. When healthy, they have a win against bubble buddy Penn State on a neutral court. I should also add that North Carolina, Duke and Virginia failed to storm the Cassell this season. And I should also add that their record right now is very similar to last season when they ended up getting the auto bid out of the ACC.

– We all owe a debt of gratitude to Richmond for their win yesterday; I am convinced that Chad would have found a way to get Fordham in his field had the Rams won yesterday.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID GRIGGS:

-It seems like every year there are one or two teams that in the preseason the consensus of the people is that they will be good. Then the team isn’t good, but the people just can’t let go of them. One of those teams this year is North Carolina, who Chad did not select (THANK GOD!!). The other is Arkansas. Arkansas has done a few things, and I suppose if this were debate class and my assignment was to make a case for Arkansas it wouldn’t be a complete impossibility. In addition to having a flimsy profile (at best), they just aren’t that good on the court. They did look good in their game at Baylor. That may be the most impressed I’ve been with them all season despite the loss. But they did not look good AT ALL against South Carolina, and barely beat a team that is so far from the bubble that they couldn’t see it with a high powered telescope. I think by the end of the year, teams like Florida (who wasn’t selected but was apparently looked at) will clearly be ahead of the Razorbacks in most seedlists.

-I don’t know about Texas on the #1 line, but they Horns are definitely in the debate. They have a very strong case. If they win at Kansas tonight it is no longer a debate. In fact they should probably be the close to the #1 overall seed if they can pull that off.

-Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga is also interesting. In looking at the WCC, SMC is clearly better. They are two games ahead of the Zags in the standings, they’ve won their games more convincingly, and..oh yeah…they won the first head to head game. But Gonzaga’s overall resume tops out way ahead of SMC’s. I personally still have Gonzaga ahead of them, but I understand the case that Saint Mary’s is better.

-But, I still have A LOT of problems with this bracket!! Mostly because CHAD IS WHO MADE IT!!!

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Grambling (14-8, 7-3) at Alabama A&M (9-14, 5-5) – 8:00 PM ET

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to the northern part of Alabama where the Alabama A&M Bulldogs host the Grambling Tigers in Monday Night SWACtion. A&M comes into tonight’s game in a 3-way tie for 5th place in the SWAC; the Bulldogs have won 3 out of their last 4 games. The big win of their season came on Saturday where they throttled Southern 82-61 to knock the Jaguars out of sole possession of 1st place; Messiah Thompson had 20 points in the Bulldogs’ win.

Thanks to the efforts of Alabama A&M, Grambling suddenly finds themselves within a game of first place in the SWAC standings. The Tigers are coming off of a 73-60 win at Alabama State on their first leg of the Alabama road trip in conference play. Virshon Cotton had 22 points in the win against Alabama State.

HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN (From the Puppet):

-The only notable results from yesterday were Penn State’s loss at Nebraska, which basically places them very far from the bubble, and Northwestern’s 54-52 road win at Wisconsin, which was a game between two teams that were right on the bubble. Wisconsin’s tailspin continues to get more and more out of control.

-DUKE AT MIAMI FL (ACC). Duke is coming off the big win against North Carolina at home, but tonight would be even bigger on paper since it’s on the road against a much better team. Miami FL is still very much in the top half of the bracket and could end up with a protected seed if they’re able to finish strong.

-TEXAS AT KANSAS (Big 12). Both teams are solidly protected seeds, and even though Kansas has lost four of their last six (and didn’t look at all like a #1 seed in their last game) it is still possible that they end up with one. Winning on the road at Kansas is never easy, but if Texas is able to do it I think they will blow past Kansas in our next seedlist. The Longhorns are having an incredible year and are coming off a huge win at Kansas State.

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For Today’s HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN, which recaps all of yesterday’s action and takes a look at today’s big games – CLICK HERE

We are only 5 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)

2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Tennessee (SEC)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)

3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Baylor (Big 12)
3: Virginia (ACC)
3: Iowa State (Big 12)

4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Gonzaga (WCC)
4: Marquette (Big East)
4: St. Mary’s (WCC)

5: TCU (Big 12)
5: Connecticut (Big East)
5: Rutgers (Big 10)
5: Indiana (Big 10)

6: Illinois (Big 10)
6: Miami (ACC)
6: Duke (ACC)
6: Providence (Big East)

7: San Diego State (MWC)
7: Creighton (Big East)
7: Iowa (Big 10)
7: NC State (ACC)

8: Auburn (SEC)
8: Missouri (SEC)
8: Michigan State (Big 10)
8: North Carolina (ACC)

9: New Mexico (MWC)
9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)
9: Maryland (Big 10)
9: Boise State (MWC)

10: Arkansas (SEC)
10: USC (Pac-12)
10: West Virginia (Big 12)
10: Kentucky (SEC)

11: Clemson (ACC)
11: Memphis (AAC)
11: Northwestern (Big 10)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)
11: Nevada (MWC)
11: Wisconsin (Big 10)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: VCU (A-10)
12: Kent State (MAC)

13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Southern Miss (Sun Belt)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)
13: UCSB (Big West)

14: Southern Illinois (MVC)
14: Samford (SoCon)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: Colgate (Patriot)

15: Siena (MAAC)
15: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)
15: Vermont (America East)

16: UNC-Asheville (Big South)
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Southern (SWAC)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Mississippi State (SEC)
Florida (SEC)
Virginia Tech (ACC)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

It was another busy Saturday of college hoops!

-Top ranked Purdue fell at Indiana, which was a big win for the Hoosiers, and a bit of a setback for the Boilers, but only a bit of one. Considering how Purdue was totally dominated in the first half it was actually kind of impressive how they came back in the second half and put themselves in a position to win the game, but ended up coming up short 79-74. Purdue will still be very high in the rankings and is still our overall #1 seed, but this would have been their most impressive win of the season on paper considering they don’t have any true road wins against anyone who’s ranked as high as Indiana.

-Tennessee and Auburn were both in the top 25! So that means the game should have been great!! But…it wasn’t. Yesterday’s game was an absolute rock fight with Tennessee holding on to win 46-43. Auburn had a 3pt shot at the end of regulation to tie it and force overtime, and the shooter was clearly fouled on the play, but there was no whistle. My theory is that the game was such a rock fight that the referees had seen enough and didn’t want to run the risk of giving Auburn three freethrows and extending the game for five more minutes. It would have been a HUGE road win for Auburn, and probably moved them up several seed lines had they been able to pull off the upset.

-Virginia fell on the road to their rivals Virginia Tech 74-68, which is a bit of a setback for the Hoos, but not a huge one. It was a nice win for Virginia Tech, but their biggest problem is how much they’ve stunk on the road. Their next true road win will be their first, and if they don’t get a few I’ll be shocked if the committee selects them even though they have some decent wins at home.

-Texas got a HUGE win at Kansas State in another great game between two Big 12 teams that are looking like solid protected seeds. Whenever a team gets a road win against a probable protected seed, the value of their resume skyrockets. Texas is now 8-2 in the Big 12, which is the strongest conference in the country, and they have some big time wins on their resume, and now they have a massive road win on it as well.

-Iowa State beat Kansas rather handily 68-53. They maintained a lead for the whole game, and at no point in the second half did it ever look like they weren’t in control.

-Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s was a bit of a slug fest for the first half, and Gonzaga appeared to be in control, but in the second half SMC started making big plays to pull closer and closer, then drew even, and then forced overtime. They controlled the overtime and got a huge win over their rivals, which now gives them a two game lead in the WCC standings. Gonzaga did way more out of conference than SMC did and still looks to have the stronger profile despite being two whole games (and a head to head tiebreaker) behind them in the standings, but SMC has looked like the better team since conference play began.

-Oklahoma State keeps getting closer and closer to landing inside the bubble, and took another huge step forward with a 79-73 home win over TCU yesterday. The Pokes are now 5-5 in league play and have won five of their last six. If they win five of their next six, they won’t only be inside the bubble, but they’ll be closer to a protected seed than they will to the bubble.

-Miami FL got a big road win at Clemson 78-74, which will help strengthen their resume. Clemson has had a good year. They’re in the ACC, they’re near the top of the standings, and they’re in the rankings. If you say that a team is doing all that you’d probably assume they were a protected seed. But in the case of this year’s Clemson team, their resume is still a little flimsy and I feel they need a strong finish in order to remain inside the bubble.

-Memphis was (and still is squarely on our bubble). Teams that are on the bubble can really hurt themselves when they lose games to teams that are nowhere near the bubble. They hurt themselves even more if this happens at home. Yesterday Memphis lost at home to Tulane in overtime 90-89. That is NOT good!!

-Iowa and Illinois gave us some great theater with Ticket Gate!! They gave us a great game too, with Iowa holding on for a big and much needed 81-79 win.

-Arkansas picked up their first road win of the season as they knocked off South Carolina 65-63. Even though they won the game, South Carolina is so weak that people are finally starting to loudly question whether Arkansas belongs in the field at all.

-Mississippi State knocked off Missouri at home 63-52, which isn’t that big of a win considering they were at home and Mizzou isn’t exactly a road warrior, but at the very least Mississippi State is still treading water and hasn’t drowned yet.

-North Carolina and Duke, the rivalry that so many people still insist on gushing over, actually had a rather unique storyline yesterday in that both teams really needed the win to help build up their resume instead of it being a showcase rivalry game between two highly ranked teams. UNC played well in a place that’s very tough to win, but came up just short 73-67. North Carolina’s best win on the season is Ohio State. People continue to project them into the field. WHY!!???? Had they won yesterday, then yes, I’d say they belonged, especially when you consider that Duke is unbeaten at home. But, they didn’t! and they haven’t won a single game all year that’s on the level of what an NCAA Tournament caliber team should be able to win.

-Kentucky jumped out ahead of Florida, and while the Gators made a run late in the game Kentucky held on to win. Both teams are playing at a solid level right now, but both still have a lot of ground to make up after a somewhat sluggish start to the season.

-One of the bigger upsets of the day was perhaps one you missed. Cal State Northridge, who is having an absolutely atrocious year and was just 5-18, beat UC Santa Barbara, who was having a fantastic year with an 18-4 record and while their schedule wasn’t strong enough to get them big time consideration for an at-large bid, I thought the committee would at least look at them if they won out. Well…the Gouchos lost to an AWFUL CSUN team yesterday 72-67.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-DEPAUL AT SETON HALL (Big East). Seton Hall can reach the bubble if they finish strong and keep winning at the clip they’ve been winning at. They’ve won six of their last seven, and if they keep that up in the Big East they’ll make the field.

-OHIO STATE AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Neither team is near the field and it would take a complete transformation for either of them to make it. I highlight this game simply to point that out.

-PENN STATE AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). Penn State is still just outside our bubble and needs to hold serve in their winnable games in order to stay within reach of it.

-HOUSTON AT TEMPLE (American). This should be a winnable road game for a Houston team that’s still up on our #1 line, but Temple did win the first meeting between these two.

-NORTHWESTERN AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). This is perhaps the most important game of the day. Right now Teitel has both of these teams in his First Four, and as good as he is at guessing the committee I think it’s safe to say that both of them are just barely inside the bubble, and both need wins to help strengthen their resumes. The fact that they’re playing each other tonight gives this game an extremely pivotal feel.

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Niagara (12-9, 7-5) at Siena (15-8, 9-3) – 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day goes to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference where the Niagara Purple Eagles head east on the New York Thruway to take on the Siena Saints. There have been both prolonged winning and losing streaks for Niagara this year; they have had a 4-game winning streak, a 4-game losing streak and 2 3-game winning streaks (and a few travel delays/postponements mixed in). Jacco Fritz had 11 points and 9 rebounds in Niagara’s last outing – a 76-73 win against crosstown rival Canisius.

Siena is tied with Rider for first place in the conference as of today; they are also a half game ahead of Iona thanks to their dominant home win against the Gaels just 9 days earlier. However, a 71-66 loss at Manhattan dropped the Saints from sole possession of first place. Jackson Stormo averages 13.8 points a game and 5.5 rebounds a game for Siena.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which happens to have MASSIVE Centenary Award Implications – CLICK HERE

-Something that happened on Thursday that I just flat out forgot to mention yesterday’s was Charleston losing a second consecutive game, this time on the road at Drexel. Charleston’s record is solid, but their strength of schedule and the overall strength of the Colonial is not. If they need the at-large bid, then it will mean that they will have lost in the conference tournament, which would add a third damaging loss to their resume and that may not be enough despite the fact that just about a week ago they were ranked in the teens.

-Kent State, another UTR team that we’ve been championing, lost their big rivalry game on the road at Akron last night. Winning at Akron isn’t easy, but that’s precisely why Kent State needed to do it. They’re still a dangerous team, but chances are they’ll need to win the MAC Tournament to make the Round of 64.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-VIRGINIA AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). Virginia is a protected seed and VA Tech is an NIT team at best right now, but it is a rivalry game and it is on the road against a VA Tech team that’s played really well at home this year.

-KANSAS AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). It’s yet another Big 12 game between two teams that are within reach of a protected seed. Kansas is back on our #1 line, but this will be an exceptionally difficult road game. Iowa State was on fire, but they’ve now lost three of their last four, and two of the games in that stretch were rather surprising. Having said that, they should be amped WAAAY up for this one.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT RUTGERS (Big Ten) (Game in New York, NY). Both teams are inside our bubble, but it’s still an opportunity for both to add another nice win to their resume and to move up the seedlist. This game isn’t being played on Rutgers’s campus, but it will still count as a home game.

-AUBURN AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Tennessee has risen as high as #2 in the rankings and was once again receiving some chatter for a #1 seed, but they had a somewhat surprising loss on the road to Florida earlier this week. Still, they’re a very good team, especially when they’re at home. Auburn doesn’t have a win that totally blows you away yet, but it goes without saying that a win today would fall into that category.

-TCU AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). The Pokes are now squarely on our bubble, and appear to be playing their best basketball of the season right now. They’ve won four of their last five, and a win today would be another huge step toward making the field. TCU is dealing with an injury, and even though they have an amazing profile and have still won three of their last four, they do seem to be a little shorthanded, so this could be a very difficult game for them.

-ILLINOIS AT IOWA (Big Ten). So this game already has some great theater mixed in! If you don’t know the story of the Illinois students buying group tickets to this game and then having them revoked for claiming to be a non-profit charity, Google that story!! As far as what the game means on the court, it means quite a bit. Illinois is absolutely on fire right now having won seven of their last eight, and today they have the chance to add another quality road win to their resume. Iowa is inside our bubble, but their resume is a little more flimsy and they could use a win like this to help shore it up.

-MIAMI FL AT CLEMSON (ACC). This is a bit odd to say about a team that’s ranked in the top 5 and that’s in a tie for first place in the ACC…but this is kind of a pivotal game for Clemson. While they have a lot of good wins, they have some really bad losses as well, including their last game where they lost on the road to Boston College. Miami FL has gone through a spotty stretch, but they still have a shot at ending up as a protected seed and getting this win on the road would be huge for their resume.

-ARKANSAS AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). Arkansas is talented, they have a few decent wins (albeit the key word there is “FEW”), but they don’t have a true road win yet. If they don’t get this one, I believe a strong case can be made that they don’t belong in the NCAA Tournament at all right now.

-PURDUE AT INDIANA (Big Ten). This is going to be a blast!! Purdue is the unanimous #1 team and unanimously at the top of our seedlist, but what they don’t have is a road win against a team that’s in the top 25. This would arguably be one of their biggest wins of the season up to this point if they’re able to pull it off. It won’t be easy. Indiana is 11-1 at home, and while they are coming off a loss at Maryland, they had been playing really well prior to that.

-TEXAS AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Another game between two teams that both appear to be solid protected seeds right now, and who could even reach the #1 line if they can finish the season strong. K State is coming off a loss at Kansas, but that is hardly a setback. They’d bounce right back with a win today. As for Texas, winning a road game like this would strengthen their case for a #2 seed (and possibly a #1 seed) even more.

-MISSOURI AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Mississippi State is starting to inch their way close to the bubble, but they still have a ton of work to do. Missouri has been inside our bubble for most of the season, and we were certainly impressed with their recent win over Iowa State. A road win in a game like this will strengthen their resume even more.

-NORTH CAROLINA AT DUKE (ACC). These two schools are just EIGHT MILES APART!!! And…they’ve NEVER met in the NCAA Tournament (in an even numbered year)!!! North Carolina’s resume is very bland. Most who follow college basketball and who forecast brackets (including many at Hoops HD) still think of them as a tournament team, but I don’t see why. If UNC can win this one on the road, my opinion of them will change, but without this win there is just nothing there. Duke is safely in the top half of the bracket, but has quite a bit of room to improve as well. So, this is a rivalry game that means a lot to both teams both on and off paper.

-MARSHALL AT LOUISIANA (Sun Belt). The chances of either team landing inside the bubble are small, but they’re not quite zero either. Both teams have had good years, both could be dangerous in the Round of 64 if they’re able to get there, and this should be a fun game tonight.

-FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Our mock committee did not select Florida in our most recent bracket, but we had them very close, and I personally had them in my field (not that my personal opinion matters, but still). Neither of these teams really got their motors started until about mid-January, but both have been playing at a high level since then. Florida has won six of eight with the only losses being a close road loss to Texas A&M and another to a very good Kansas State team. They have some pretty solid wins in that stretch, including one against Tennessee in their last game. Kentucky has won five of six with the only loss being to Kansas, and also has a win at Tennessee in that stretch. Both can make the field, and both could really use this game on their resume, so it should be a fun one!

-MARYLAND AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). I highlight this to emphasize just how much Maryland needs a road win, and just how much they cannot afford to fail to get one against Minnesota.

-GONZAGA AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast). Gonzaga clearly has the better profile and is within range of a protected seed (and a win tonight would certainly help with that). but Saint Mary’s has been playing really well since conference play began and actually appears to be the better team on the court right now despite not getting the big OOC wins that Gonzaga got. This one is always fun, and it’s always important on paper, and it once again appears to be both of those things tonight.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-UConn @ Georgetown (Big East) – should be a winnable game for a UConn team that needs to start stringing together wins again
-Texas Tech @ Baylor (Big 12) – Texas Tech just picked up their first conference win earlier in the week, but are likely way overmatched tonight
-Wake Forest @ Notre Dame (ACC) – Wake is in a tailspin and if they want to get back inside the bubble they need to start stringing together wins
-Georgia Tech @ NC State (ACC) – should be a winnable game for an NC State team that appears to be heading toward The Dance
-Butler @ Marquette (Big East) – Marquette is playing as well as anyone in the Big East right now and should have no problems holding serve tonight
-Tulane @ Memphis (American) – Memphis is inside our bubble, but barely. They need to hold serve in this one
-Alabama @ LSU (SEC) – Bama crushed Vanderbilt in their last game and I expect them to win decisively again today
-Florida Atlantic @ Charlotte (Conference USA) – this is a big game for FAU because they need to bounce back after their loss at UAB
-Saint John’s @ Xavier (Big East) – Xavier has had to deal with some injuries, but they should be able to hold serve at home in this one
-Washington State @ UCLA (Pac 12) – Wazzu is probably the hardest team in the country with a losing record to beat, but UCLA should still be able to hold serve
-Villanova @ Creighton (Big East) – Villanova is starting to play better, but Creighton must hold serve at home as they are a team that is hovering around the bubble
-Utah State @ Colorado State (Mountain West) – Utah State had a nice win against New Mexico, and they can still reach the bubble, but their string of wins between now and the end of the season needs to be long in order for that to happen
-Georgia @ Texas A&M (SEC) – TAMU can reach the bubble and even get inside of it, but they need to keep winning
-Oregon State @ Arizona (Pac 12) – it’s a conference game, but it could end up looking like a buy game. Arizona should cruise
-Washington @ USC (Pac 12)- USC has put together an impressive stretch and string of wins, and the value of their resume keeps going up and up. They should be able to hold serve in this one.
-Oregon @ Arizona State (Pac 12) – Arizona State is now outside our bubble and needs to hold serve in this one and finish strong in order to make the field

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Ken Epperson did it all at Toledo, as he remains the school’s all-time leader in PTS (2016)/REB (960) and is top-5 in almost everything else. He was named MAC ROY in 1982, led the Rockets in scoring in 1983/1984, and was a unanimous 1st-team All-MAC selection during his final 2 years. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ken about being a great scorer and playing abroad. Today is the 39th anniversary of Ken playing a career-high 49 minutes in a win over Eastern Michigan on February 4, 1984, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishments.

You grew up in Louisville: what made you choose Toledo? I did not know it at the time but they were the first school to offer me a scholarship. Coach Greg Kemp was my camp coach and 1 Tuesday afternoon after a game we were walking back to the dorms and he told me that he wanted me to play at Toledo. He had to confirm it with his boss but was 99.9% sure that Toledo would offer me a scholarship. The other schools that recruited me were good but only Toledo offered me the chance to play as a freshman…but only if I worked for it and proved that I belonged in the starting 5. Toledo had a forward who was a senior so they needed to fill that position during my freshman year. After going on an official visit I saw the campus, the playing facilities, how the players interacted with each other, and how the community embraced the university. It was kind of a no-brainer that I chose Toledo.

As a freshman you averaged 16.2 PPG/8.5 RPG en route to being named 1982 MAC ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I asked myself that same question! The only way to describe my freshman year was a combination of good teammates, coaches who believed in me, and lots of luck. Tim Reiser was a great passer: if you got a half-step advantage on your man then he would deliver the ball on time and without breaking stride. There were a lot of obstacles to overcome but my high school coach Mike Durham taught me to play hard/smart. You should always be thinking 2-3 moves ahead because the minute you stop working is the minute you will get beat. In high school I would get double- or triple-teamed but they did not do that during my freshman year of college. I was pretty much left alone in the post to make a move, run the floor, and hit the glass for offensive rebounds. Toledo ran a motion offense, which we also ran in high school, so I was pretty comfortable right away. I knew how to get open and get my shot.

In the 1985 MAC tourney you had a 2-PT loss to Ball State in the final game of your college career: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? That would rank as my top loss in college because it was the last game I played in college. We were a good team but lost our way in the second half and could not get back on track. Everything we tried just did not work: we did not play well during the final 20 minutes.

You remain your school’s all-time leader with 2016 career PTS/960 career REB: how were you able to balance your scoring with your rebounding, and do you think that anyone will ever break your records? I think that scoring and rebounding go hand in hand because getting offensive rebounds gives you more chances to score. I have always been told to go get the rebounds on both offense and defense. Every time I got the ball my first thought was: how could I score? If I did not have the ball then I asked what could I do to get a teammate open or how could I get the ball to score

After graduation you played pro basketball in Australia: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? Basketball in the US is more structured: the players are very athletic and there is a big emphasis on defense. Overseas it is much more free-flowing: players do not worry too much about defense until the end of the game. In the US you practice every day but overseas you might only practice twice/week and play 2-3 games/week.

You scored 29.6 PPG in your 1st year abroad: what is the secret to being a great scorer? There is really no secret: as an American player you were expected to score a lot of points…and if you did not score then you were more than likely on the next plane back to the States! It was an offensive league so you ran the floor, attacked the basket, and went for offensive rebounds. To be a scorer you have to be in better shape than your opponent. Scoring is hard work so that means hours in the gym shooting jump shots. In practice you have to work as hard as you would during a game, and the games are twice as fast as practice.

Did you ever get to play against FIBA Hall of Famer Andrew Gaze, and where does he rank among the greatest players that you have ever seen? I played many games against Andrew. He was great at moving without the ball and also a very good shooter: his range was when he crossed over the half-court line! I learned a lot by watching him play: coming off screens, when to go back-door, and how to set back screens to get open. He is the best scorer/pure shooter who I ever played against. His dad Lindsay is the father of Australian basketball. Speaking to Lindsay about basketball and his experience of playing/coaching would be like speaking to Adolph Rupp. He has so much knowledge of the game: it is amazing what he knows.

After retiring you became a coach and won a couple of COY awards: how did your history as a good player translate into your ability to become a good coach? Having played and having a lot of expectations put on you helps with coaching. As the coach you make all the decisions from when you hold tryouts to when you have practice and what things you practice. There is a whole lot of planning involved. Players have to worry about playing but coaches have to worry about every single aspect of the game. Just like when I was a player I coached to win, and if that meant extra practice sessions then that is what we would do. I started holding shooting practice on Saturday mornings before every game. This improved our shooting throughout the season and even helped us win a game in overtime. My teams were not the most talented but they worked hard and played as a team. Coaching is an art: you have to be able to reach inside your players to get every ounce of talent out of them. A lot of players do not like to be coached: they just want to play and do not care if they win or lose. I told my players that coaching them was my main focus and winning a championship was our goal. I was lucky to have a group of guys who were underachievers: once they were shown how to play together they took it to a new level.

In 2016 you were named to the Rockets’ All-Century team: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? Making the Hall of Fame was a great honor but being named to the All-Century team was truly unexpected due to all of the great players that played for Toledo during the 20th century. I still think about how blessed I was to play for the University of Toledo: I was just happy to get a scholarship to play basketball.

Your son Jacob played basketball at Creighton and your daughter Britney played basketball at North Dakota State: who is the best athlete in the family? I asked Britney that question and she said Jacob was the better athlete. He has a lot of natural talent and picks things up really quickly. We are very happy that Jacob played at Creighton because Coach Greg McDermott is a great coach/person. Britney had to work at everything twice as hard as Jacob but she knew that she had to work at it to be competitive. My wife Kathy and I are very proud of both of them and the way they play the game of basketball. They both played the game hard and played it as part of a team.

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Green Bay (2-21, 1-11) at IUPUI (3-21, 0-13) – 12:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day features two leading contenders for the Hoops HD Centenary Award – in other words, the winner of the award is given to the worst team in all of NCAA Division 1 basketball. Both of these teams already met in the regular season; Green Bay won the first matchup 68-61 at home earlier in the season. The only other win that the Phoenix have managed all season was a 70-64 victory against Kansas City at home. Even Georgetown managed to beat Green Bay by 34 points earlier in the season.

While the IUPUI Jaguars have more victories overall, two of those wins came against non-D1 foes Franklin and Spalding. Other than that, the average fan might think they don’t have any wins against D1 competition; their only official win came against a Texas A&M-Commerce team that is in their first season of Division 1 basketball. Strangely enough, the Jaguars by and large haven’t been getting blown out; only 5 of their losses have been by 20 or more points. Cleveland State and Youngstown State are the only two teams in the Horizon League to pull off such a feat this season.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast, where we cross country rank our seedlists, build a bracket, and release that bracket on the air team by team and line by line – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Florida Atlantic suffered just their second loss of the season as they fell at UAB 86-77. I don’t think the loss will set them back THAT much though, so long as they hold serve for the rest of the year. UAB is suddenly playing really well, and this would have been a very tough road game to win. They’ve got enough on their resume to where they should remain inside the bubble for now.

-Wisconsin snapped their losing streak with a much needed 65-60 win at Ohio State. Ohio State’s slump continues. They are in real trouble.

-Northwestern, who had been playing well, did not play well at all last night as they were beaten handily on their own home floor by Michigan 68-51. Michigan has played well at times this year, but not enough of the time to place them anywhere near the bubble.

-Utah was also hovering around our bubble. Stanford was so far from the bubble that they can’t see it with a telescope. Yet, Stanford won at Utah last night 78-72, and that might all but kill the Utes.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-THE IVY LEAGUE. This is a strange way to write this up, but right now just one game separates 3rd place from 7th place and only the top four teams make the conference tournament, so every game has a pivotal feel to it. Harvard and Yale are both in that logjam, and they both face each other tonight. So do Brown and Dartmouth. Cornell and Princeton are tied for first, and they play each other tonight. Penn faces Columbia in what should be a winnable game for the Quakers, but they are in that mix as well. The Ivy League has become destination programming for Friday nights!!

-VCU AT SAINT LOUIS (Atlantic Ten). If VCU runs the table they’ll get a serious look from the committee, but anything short of that and they’ll likely need the auto bid to get in.

-BOISE STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). Both of these teams are inside our bubble right now, but both still have a lot of work to do in order to strengthen their position. Not only is this a pivotal game that is highly important for both teams, it should be a really good game as well.

-KENT STATE AT AKRON (MAC). The Wagon Wheel!!!! This is one of the better rivalries not just for Under the Radar teams, but really in all of college basketball. And, like it does most years, it involves what appear to be the two best teams in the conference and Kent State is perhaps in a position to land inside the bubble if they can run the table. This would probably be their best win of the year given that it’s a road game and how well Akron has played. And…oh yeah! It’s a BIG rivalry game!

-AIR FORCE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). Nevada is hovering right around our bubble and needs to avoid losing to teams like Air Force who are nowhere near it in order to stay there.

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Kent State (18-4, 8-1) at Akron (16-6, 8-1) – 9:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features a rematch of last year’s MAC Championship Game between the Akron Zips and the Kent State Golden Flashes. Akron took the deciding game in the Wagon Wheel rivalry last year and a subsequent trip to the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Akron has won 13 of their last 15 games; their only stumbles in that period were losses at Bradley and at Ball State. Enrique Freeman averages a double-double (15.1 PPG, 10.7 RPG) for the Zips.

Kent State had been cruising since a tough stretch of losses against Charleston, Houston and Gonzaga; the Golden Flashes had won 10 games in a row before a surprising 86-76 loss at Northern Illinois. Since the loss, Kent State has defeated Buffalo and Central Michigan at home. In the 81-69 victory against CMU, 6 different players for Kent State scored in double figures.

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, February 2nd, and the seedlist was created prior to 8pm, est. No games that were played that day, particularly Florida Atlantic’s loss to UAB and Charleston’s loss to Drexel, were considered when creating this bracket.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And below is an audio only version of the show, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!!

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BR-2-2-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast, where we run through all the conferences that normally get just one bid – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Tennessee followed up their highly impressive win against Texas with a bit of a head-scratching loss at Florida last night 67-54. The Gators have won six of their last eight and are looking noticeably better than they did early on, but it was still a little shocking to see them kind of run a way in the last few minutes against a Tennessee team that many of us were thinking could end up on the #1 line.

-Whenever Xavier and Providence play, the game is awesome. It should be no surprise that it went into overtime last night, and that Providence missed what would have been a game winning shot at the buzzer. Xavier gets the big 85-83 win, and they did it without Zach Freemantle who is out for several weeks with an injury.

-Pittsburgh and North Carolina were both very bubblicious teams last night. Both really needed the win, and Pittsburgh got it 65-64 after North Carolina failed to get up a shot at the buzzer (that was blocked anyway). Pitt has now won on the road at UNC, they have 6 overall road wins to UNC’s 2, they have a better record in the ACC, Pitt has 4 quad 1 wins and another really good win against Miami FL whereas North Carolina has a win over Ohio State. Essentially Pitt has COMPLETELY outperformed UNC, yet people will probably still be forecasting as being a head of Pitt. What can I say? People are stupid!

-Oklahoma State got a big road win against Oklahoma to take a big step toward the bubble. They still have work to do, but they can still get there. Oklahoma just blew out Alabama over the weekend, but at no point last night did it look like they were going to win the game.

-Utah State opened up a big halftime lead over New Mexico and held on to win 84-73. Utah State’s profile is very bland, sot his win will certainly help them even though it was at home.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT UAB (Conference USA). UAB was a team we had very high expectations for this year, but while they’ve been good, it’s FAU that has reached the levels we thought UAB might reach. Having said that, UAB is coming off what is perhaps their best performance of the season, and they’re at home against a top 25 team with a ton of momentum built up. This will be a harder test for FAU than what most people realize.

-WISCONSIN AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). This game is VERY bubblicious. Wisconsin is in a complete tailspin having lost six of their last seven and needs any sort of a win to pull them out of it. Ohio State is even worse with losses in seven of their last eight. They need to string together some wins just to reach the bubble.

-OREGON AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). Oregon won the first meeting between these two rather handily, but winning that handily on the road is an entirely different deal. Arizona is good enough to win out, and if they do they’ll be very much in the hunt for a #1 seed. Oregon has won four of their last five and is playing a lot better, but they need to continue to put together a long string of wins just to reach the bubble.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Michigan @ Northwestern (Big Ten) – Northwestern is coming off a loss, but they’re still having a good year and should be able to hold serve at home.
-Southern Miss @ Troy (Sun Belt) – I don’t think Southern Miss will make it all the way inside the bubble, but they could at least get very close if they win out. A win today gets them to 20-4 on the season, and would make them (I believe) just the third team to reach 20 wins this year
-Charleston @ Drexel (Colonial) – Charleston is looking to bounce back from just their second loss of the season. If they win out they should be inside the bubble
-Stanford @ Utah (Pac 12) – Utah needs to really finish strong in order to make the field
-Houston @ Wichita State (American) – This should be an easy road win for Houston…if they decide to show up
-Washington @ UCLA (Pac 12) – UCLA has lost two straight, but has what should be a very winnable game at home tonight.
-Santa Clara @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – The Zags should be able to hold serve at home in this one
-San Francisco @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – The Gaels should be able to hold serve in this one
-Washington State @ USC (Pac 12) – USC has been playing a lot better, but they need to keep stringing together wins and avoid home losses to teams that are nowhere near the field

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Towson (16-7, 8-2) at Hofstra (15-8, 8-2) – 7:00 PM ET (FloHoops)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes up to Long Island for a matchup of two teams tied for 2nd place in the Colonial Athletic Association; the Towson Tigers travel up I-95 and the Long Island Expressway to meet the Hofstra Pride. Hofstra scored one of the biggest wins last week when they went on the road and beat Charleston 85-81 to temporarily end the Cougars’ run in the Top 25. It just wasn’t one night either – Hofstra has still won 7 out of their last 8 games. Aaron Estrada averages 21.3 points a game and 5.4 rebounds a game for the Pride.

Towson started the season 8-1 and looked like they themselves might be a possible at-large NCAA team until hitting a 5-game rough patch in December that included losses against Clemson and Charleston. Since that stretch, the Tigers have won 6 straight games (and 8 of their last 9). Nicolas Timberlake averages 15.9 points a game for Towson.

And since this is Groundhog Day, it is decreed that if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, we will get six weeks of the Puppet Bunker starting in March. And if he does not see how shadow, then we will get six weeks of the Puppet Bunker starting in March.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the MEAC, and one of the great stories in college hoops this year is Maryland Eastern Shore, who for a decade was one of the worst teams in all of D1, but who this year is within reach of first place. We discuss them and how we expected Norfolk State to run through the conference, but who now finds themselves a game out of 1st place.

From there we run through the other 22 UTR conferences and talk about how Colgate and Oral Roberts are getting close to clinching first place in their standings, how tight leagues like the Ivy, Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, WAC, Southland, and Missouri Valley are. We take a look at Fordham, who is on the brink of winning 20+ games for just the fourth time in their entire history and how they are just a game out of first place in the Atlantic Ten. College of Charleston suffered a loss to Hofstra and fell out of the rankings, which means they are back on the show. We take a long look at them and discuss their chances of getting a bid if they lose in the conference tournament. We discuss all that, and much more! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/UTR-2-1-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced in January after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Nate Oats how he likes having 2022 honoree Brandon Miller at Alabama! Kentucky seems to be the big winner so far as Coach John Calipari will have a quartet of 2023 honorees joining him in Lexington next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Aden Holloway about being named a McDonald’s All-American and looking to the heavens.

You were born/raised in North Carolina: how did you end up at Prolific Prep? Coming from “La Lu” (high school basketball powerhouse La Lumiere) I just wanted to challenge myself with a bigger role and give myself a chance to prepare for college.

You have known your backcourt teammate Trey Green since you were both in kindergarten: why do you 2 work so well together on the same team? Our friendship/bond off the court helps us on the court. It is bigger than basketball: we are like brothers and have a lot of confidence in each other so it is easy to play with him.

Your team won 21 games in a row to start the season before a 3-PT loss to Dream City Christian in the “Crush in the Valley Showcase” (in which you scored 32 PTS): how impressed were you by Alejandro Aviles (who scored 24 PTS)? I was very impressed by his game. He made a lot of tough shots that not many high school guys are willing to take: he has great touch.

Your school has several alumni who will probably make the NCAA tourney this year (Adem Bona at UCLA/MJ Rice at Kansas/Coleman Hawkins at Illinois): how does your coach (Ryan Bernardi) and his staff prepare the guys to succeed in college? He pushes us very hard in practice and emphasizes every last detail. He prepares us every single day.

You received offers from several great schools including Miami/Tennessee but signed with Auburn back in August: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how far do you think the Tigers will go this March? The biggest factor is that it was the best fit for me. My relationship with Coach Bruce Pearl was the most genuine/honest of anyone.

Can you give me an idea of how Coach Pearl’s plan for you was the most thorough (how much playing time you will get/how you fit into his team philosophy/how to prepare for a pro career/other)? It was just the best opportunity that presented itself. Auburn has had smaller guards who have thrived there and he is giving me the chance to be great.

You weigh 165 pounds: do you feel comfortable playing at that weight in college or do you feel that you need to get a little stronger/heavier? I definitely need to get a little stronger and more physical. I do not want to gain too much weight but enough to hold my own against bigger defenders when I drive into the lane and get bumped…but I still need to keep my quickness.

Last week you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was definitely a blessing and dream come true.

How excited were you to see that 1 of your former teammates at La Lumiere (Jeremy Fears) was also named to the McDonald’s team? I was proud of him: he was my roommate for a year so we have a different kind of bond than just being teammates. He is like my brother and I am happy for him.

I heard that you are really into “stargazing”: is that due to the beauty of the night sky/wondering what else is out there in the universe/other? It is a little of both! I like nature because it is so beautiful and I am always trying to chase a nice view.

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NEWS AND NOTES

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Alabama bounced back from their blowout loss at Oklahoma by doing things to Vanderbilt that I am pretty sure are against the law. The final score was 101-44. After barely beating Mississippi State and then losing badly to Oklahoma, whatever nap Bama decided to take…well…they’ve woken up from it.

-Kansas got revenge on rival Kansas State at home last night with a 90-78 win. The Jayhawks have bounced back from a three game losing streak by beating Kentucky on the road, and a highly rated K State team at home. Not a bad way to respond!

-West Virginia, who needs road wins and who needs conference wins, came close (again) at TCU last night, but couldn’t quite get the win as they fell 76-72. The 2-7 conference record is an issue. I think they need to be within 4 games of 500 with their final conference record (this includes conference tournament games) to be seriously considered.

-Clemson fell on the road to Boston College 62-54. Every time we want to say something nice about Clemson they seemingly go out and do something like this. I still think they’re inside the bubble (for now), but it goes without saying…losing games to teams that are nowhere near the NIT is NOT GOOD!

-Maryland picked up a nice win at home against Indiana 66-55. It’s not THAT much of a setback for the Hoosiers, but it may also not be THAT much of a step forward for the Terps. The resume still looks a little flimsy. Indiana is just 3-5 in road games, and most of Maryland’s “good” wins have come at home against teams that aren’t exactly road warriors. They need to do a little more in order to be safely inside the bubble.

-Nevada got a win they really needed at home against San Diego State 75-66. This win alone won’t get them safely inside the bubble. They still have some work to do. But, it DEFINITELY helps.

-Duke got a scare from a Wake Forest team late in the game that REALLY could have used the win, but held them off 75-73 and is still perfect at home. They’re far from perfect away from home, but they are perfect at home.

-Arkansas got an 81-70 win against a Texas A&M team that had been playing really well. TAMU still has a lot of work to do because of a slow start to the season, and a win last night would have been huge for them. Arkansas just needs some wins to strengthen their resume and get them up in the range of being a first ballot team.

-Iowa pulled away from Northwestern late for an 86-70 win and added what should be a decent win to their resume.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PENN STATE AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Penn State is squarely on the bubble and Purdue is the top ranked team in the nation and probably on top of nearly every s curve out there. Geez…what is something Penn State could do to help get them inside the bubble?? The thing is, it’s FAR easier said than done, but if Penn State CAN do it, they’ll shoot up everyone’s seedlists, including ours.

-PROVIDENCE AT XAVIER (Big East). Both teams are easily in on the first ballot and Xavier is fighting for a protected seed. If Providence can pick up a road win like this they’ll also be in the hunt for a protected seed, so it’s a big opportunity for both. (Note from Stalica – Zach Freemantle is expected to be out approximately 4 weeks with a foot injury, so it becomes critical for Xavier to show they can still get quality wins in Freemantle’s absence, especially if for whatever reason he is unable to come back this season.)

-CREIGHTON AT GEORGETOWN (Big East). Creighton is starting to pick up some momentum and play their way inside the bubble. This should be a very winnable road game for them tonight.

-TENNESSEE AT FLORIDA (SEC). Florida has been playing a little better, but it would still be surprising if they’re able to knock off this Tennessee team that is coming off a huge win against Texas and well within reach of a #1 seed.

-GEORGIA AT AUBURN (SEC). Auburn is sinking further and further down the seedlist, and while they don’t have that many bad losses, they’re just one or two losses to teams outside the bubble away from being knocked outside of it themselves. They need to hold serve tonight.

-PITTSBURGH AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). I think both of these teams, yes BOTH of them!, have a lot of work to do and could REALLY use this win tonight. Both can make the field, but neither are safely inside the bubble yet.

-VILLANOVA AT MARQUETTE (Big East). Marquette is perhaps playing better than anyone else in the Big East right now, and should be able to hold serve tonight. It wouldn’t shock me if they ended up finishing atop the conference. However, with Villanova getting closer to full health, they can’t look at tonight as a gimme, either.

-SETON HALL AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). Seton Hall is trying to make run at the bubble, but they need to keep stringing together wins in order to do it.

-MINNESOTA AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). Rutgers has lost two of their last three, but is still in very good shape. They’ll remain that way so long as they hold serve tonight.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). BEDLAM!!!!!! Both teams are trying to reach the bubble, and both are perhaps good enough to do it. Oklahoma took a HUGE step toward it when they blew out Alabama over the weekend. But, both still have work to do, and both could really use this win tonight. Oh yeah, and it’s a rivalry game!!

-FLORIDA STATE AT NC STATE (ACC). NC State is in relatively good shape, but they still are far from completely safe and a loss like this could knock them all the way outside the bubble.

-LSU AT MISSOURI (SEC). After playing at a C- level by NCAA Tournament standards, meaning they were passing, but barely, Mizzou is suddenly on fire. They’ve won three of their last four, the only loss was to Alabama, and they blew Iowa State into orbit in their last game. They need to hold serve tonight in order to keep moving further and further inside the bubble.

-NEW MEXICO AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). New Mexico is solidly in our field, but hovering around the middle of the bracket in that 8-10 range, and Utah State has a bloated record and a high net, but nothing much at all in the way of good wins and still has some work to do.

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Southern Illinois (17-6, 9-3) at Bradley (15-8, 8-4) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes place in Peoria, Illinois for a top-flight matchup in the Missouri Valley between the conference leader Southern Illinois Salukis and the Bradley Braves. SIU has now won 5 games in a row and remains in a tie for 1st in the standings with Belmont. Kendall Lewis hit a shot with 32 seconds remaining that put the Salukis up for good in their last outing against Murray State.

Bradley has not gone streaking in conference play like Southern Illinois has, but they have scraped together enough wins to remain a game behind SIU in the conference standings. The Braves were undefeated at home until Ben Sheppard’s game-winning shot with 3 seconds remaining gave Belmont a clutch 2-point win back on January 21st. Up until that game, Bradley had won 17 straight games at home.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Texas bounced back from their loss at Tennessee by snapping Baylor’s six game winning streak with a 76-71 win. Texas had a lead for most of the game, but in the final minute Baylor was right in there and had multiple chances to tie or go ahead, but just couldn’t get over the hump. Since it was a loss on the road to a probable protected seed, this loss won’t set Baylor back THAT much (if at all).

-Iowa State fell on the road to Texas Tech in overtime 80-77, and that WILL set them back. The Cyclones led by as much as 23 in the second half, but blew the lead. It was Texas Tech’s first Big 12 win, and Iowa State’s second straight loss, both of which were games you would have expected them to win.

-A couple of shout outs! One to Chicago State who picked up yet another win as they knocked off The Citadel 76-75 with a shot that just beat the buzzer, and another to Florida A&M who picked up their second win of the season as they knocked off Alabama A&M 69-58, which was a big step in avoiding the Centenary Award.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-WAKE FOREST AT DUKE (ACC). These Tobacco Road games are always fun! Wake was getting closer and closer to being safely inside our bubble, but they’ve now lost three straight. Having said that, a win at Duke would absolutely turn things around for them. Duke is a team I’ve been critical of all year, but they picked up a decisive road win over the weekend so I’m feeling a little better about them. They have been really strong at home and could roll in this one.

-TEXAS A&M AT ARKANSAS (SEC). This game is of huge importance to both teams. A lot of people are still big on Arkansas, but their resume is incredibly flimsy and while they played well over the weekend at Baylor, they still didn’t pick up the win. Texas A&M is right on our bubble, but is playing at a high level right now and will move inside of it if they keep it up. A road win tonight would certainly continue their surge forward.

-KANSAS STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12). The first game was a classic, and I’m really excited about this one as well. Many probably feel that Kansas is still the superior team because while K State won the first meeting, they won it at home and it was a very close game. If K State can somehow win this one, I think it amplifies their case for a #1 seed. If Kansas can win it, I think it puts them solidly back in the mix for a #1 seed. So, what we have here is a rivalry game with #1 seed implications.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT TCU (Big 12). TCU had a somewhat surprising loss to a so-so Mississippi State team this weekend and will look to bounce back from it and keep themselves in the conversation for a solid protected seed. They face a West Virginia team who had a nice win over the weekend and is trying to keep themselves in the conversation for any sort of a bid. A road win like this would help WVU immensely.

-INDIANA AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Maryland’s resume still has some holes in it, but they’ve been unbelievable at home with an 11-1 record on the year. Indiana appeared to be in a tailspin a few weeks ago after losing three straight, but they have since won five straight and have some VERY impressive wins in that stretch. This would be yet another impressive win for their resume if they can pull this one off on the road.

-NORTHWESTERN AT IOWA (Big Ten). I think this Northwestern team is being a little undervalued. They’ve won five of their last seven, have some very solid wins on their resume, and are playing really well. They’ll be tested today by an Iowa team that has some very nice wins on their resume, but also has some holes to fill as well and who could really use this win to help shore things up a little bit and insure that they are safely inside the bubble.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). San Diego State is a good team that is solidly in our field (for now), but their resume is a little bland. This is a tough road game and it would help give them a nice nudge upward if they’re able to win it. As for Nevada they are squarely on the bubble and need to string together some wins in order to get inside of it, so this is a big one for them tonight.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Mississippi State @ South Carolina (SEC) – I don’t know why anyone would have Mississippi State on their bubble, but we seem to! If they lose this they’ll be off of it, though
-Clemson @ Boston College (ACC) – Clemson continues to string together wins and shouldn’t have too much trouble picking up this one tonight
-Virginia Tech @ Miami FL (ACC) – Miami FL has lost four of their last seven, but has a winnable home game tonight against a team that’s outside the bubble
-Nebraska @ Illinois (Big Ten) – Illinois is 6-1 in their last seven games and shouldn’t have too much trouble picking this one up tonight
-VCU @ Davidson (Atlantic Ten) – VCU should get seriously looked at if they win out, but anything short of that and their only hope will (probably) be the auto-bid
-Central Michigan @ Kent State (MAC) – Kent State should get seriously looked at if they win out, but anything short of that and their only hope will (probably) be the auto-bid
-UConn @ DePaul (Big East) – UConn is just 2-6 in their last eight games and needs to win this one on the road (and they should) in order to snap out of that slump
-Vanderbilt @ Alabama (SEC) – Bama got blasted over the weekend, but should be able to regroup and bounce back tonight
-Ole Miss @ Kentucky (SEC) – Kentucky is looking to bounce back after their loss to Kansas and should be able to take care of business in this one
-Boise State @ Air Force (Mountain West) – Boise State is hovering around our bubble, but I believe they’ll make it if they keep holding serve. They can add yet another road win to their resume tonight.

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Saint Louis (15-6, 7-1) at Fordham (17-4, 5-3) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

We close out the month of January with a trip to historic Rose Hill Gym where the Fordham Rams will host the Saint Louis Billikens. Fordham looked like their carriage was turning into a pumpkin when they started conference play with 3 losses in their last 4 games, but a 3-game roadtrip saw 3 straight victories for the Rams, including a win against upstate foe St. Bonaventure. In their last game, Khalid Moore had 30 points in Fordham’s 85-70 win against George Washington.

The lights for Saint Louis were flickering on and off during their early season; they had wins against Memphis and Providence but also had a surprising home loss to SIU-Edwardsville in late December. The Billikens would start A-10 play with a 1-1 road trip that included a loss at UMass, but they have since won 6 straight games to take over sole possession of first place in the conference. In their 74-70 win against Davidson last Friday night, Javon Pickett had 14 points off the bench for Saint Louis.

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A full panel has been assembled tonight, including Bryan Black who was finally able to join us. We review a very busy week in college basketball, including this past Saturday which had more than its share of surprises. Alabama was absolutely creamed by Oklahoma, Iowa State fell against a Missouri team that needed a big win, and TCU endured injuries and lost in overtime to Mississippi State just to name a few. We once again look at the overall strength of the Big 12, which still has six teams that are separated by just one game and all of whom are within reach of a protected seed. Purdue has a big week coming up as they face Indiana this weekend. We take a look at Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Arkansas from the SEC and talk about whether or not they belong in the field right now, and what they need to do in order to make it. The Mountain West has several teams who are on pace to make the field, most notable Boise State, New Mexico, and San Diego State, and we take a look at their upcoming games. We discuss all that, and more!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/HHD-Report-1-20-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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This week, it is our colleague John Stalica’s turn to do the Staff Bracket here at Hoops HD – this is not to be confused with the bracket that our colleagues Jon Teitel and Rocco Miller do where they try to guess the Selection Committee. Rather, this is what Stalica feels the bracket should look like after this checkpoint of the season.

Without further ado, here is the bracket:

First Four Out: Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Charleston (if they were at-large) – next in line would be Arizona State

Worth a cursory look: Nevada, Utah State, Mississippi State, Utah, VCU, Seton Hall

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

– Now it starts to get a little harder picking the four #1 seeds. I don’t think Kansas State continues their current pace as the Big 12 gauntlet rears its ugly head, but they do in my mind deserve the final #1 spot over teams like Arizona and Houston for now. Houston, like Gonzaga, has been playing with fire in a lot of their games and were fortunate not to have losses like Kent State and Cincinnati on their profile.

– Illinois is a little schizo, but you could also argue that wins like UCLA and Texas away from home offset some of the stink of some of their blowout losses like Penn State and Missouri. Not unexpected considering the Illini are a pretty young team.

– I expect to get skewered for having teams like Saint Mary’s and San Diego State lower than most of my colleagues, but they don’t have a plethora of wins against teams in this field. San Diego State, Duke and North Carolina can’t be pleased with Ohio State’s collapse this season.

– Teams like Creighton and West Virginia have really stabilized their profiles quite a bit the past couple of weeks; a win or two away from home would really help solidify them further. Arkansas and Wisconsin are going in the wrong direction and could be in bigger trouble if and when bid thieves surface during the Championship Fortnight.

COMMENTS FROM CHAD:

– I do NOT agree with Alabama still being on the 1 seed line. The Tide now have a loss to a team that did not make John’s field. Further, their only true top-caliber win was at Houston. David Griggs like to say that road wins are great because it is so hard to win at certain buildings. Quite frankly, winning at Houston has not been difficult this year. The Cougars now have a home loss to Temple and single-digit wins at home over Cincinnati, Kent State, South Florida and UCF — none of which are inside the bubble. Houston only deserves their great ranking because they are a dominant 8-0 AWAY from home. I personally would rank Tennessee, Kansas State, Houston and even Baylor higher than the Tide.

– Speaking of Baylor, it is a complete sin for this team to be a 4 seed. The Bears have won 6 in a row, have beaten UCLA, Gonzaga and Kansas (all of whom John rated higher than them) and have no bad losses. I could honestly make a case for them as the fourth #1 seed right now.

– I do not understand Providence as a 5 seed. The Friars are a good team, but they have no wins away from home against anyone in the field. They have only beaten two tournament teams overall (UConn and Marquette), and both wins came at home. They need to be a few lines lower.

– Clemson belongs in a 7/10 game, but probably as the 10 seed. They almost suffered their third Tier 4 loss this weekend at home to a bad Georgia Tech team. I get that first place in the ACC looks flashy, but a backloaded conference schedule will likely have this team sweating out Selection Sunday.

– Maryland as an 8 seems a stretch to me as well. The Terps have exactly one road win, and it was at NET 337 Louisville. I need to see something more away from home before I can justify giving this team the right to wear white in the first round.

– I have belied all season that Missouri’s wins and record were a fluke, but no longer. After their huge win over Iowa State this weekend, I am completely buying stock in the Tigers. They have no bad losses and have won a couple of road games (and a pair of neutral court ones as well). I would have Mizzou 2-3 seed lines higher than a 9.

– Arkansas would be my first team out right now. The Razorbacks have been hurt by injuries, but there is no current sign of this team getting healthy again. They have not won a single road game and only have 2 wins against anyone in the field. Couple that with bad losses to LSU and Vanderbilt, and I think the NIT awaits.

– I would also have USC and Kentucky above the First Four, probably by a couple of lines each. USC’s win over UCLA (combined with how close they came earlier this year at UCLA) completely changes the complexion of their profile. And Kentucky really only has one bad loss to go with one of the best wins anyone will get all season (at Tennessee). I expect the Wildcats to start piling up wins and climbing the seed lists with their remaining schedule being a lot easier than the first half of conference play was.

– I think decent cases can be made for Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State being in the field, and a weak one for Texas A&M. However, all in all I am not offended by John’s choice of teams to include — my biggest issues had to do with seeding decisions. At least he did way better than the bracket Griggs posted a few weeks back!

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-A case can be made that Kansas State doesn’t belong on the #1 line. A strong case. In fact if I were trying to guess the actual Selection Committee I probably wouldn’t have them on the #1 line because I know the committee will gag on how weak their OOC schedule was, but I LOVE how they have TWO wins against likely protected seeds on the road. To me, that would put them ahead of an Arizona team that, while good, doesn’t have any wins as good as that, and has their share of questionable losses (particularly Wazzu at home).

-I kind of believe in the Elo Chess concept. If you don’t know what that is, basically it means you can’t move up by beating teams (or I guess chess players in terms of ELO) that are behind you, and you can’t get knocked down by losing to teams that are ahead of you. I don’t think that concept should be applied absolutely, but I do think it should be applied to a point. Kentucky lost to Kansas. I know it was at home, but it was still to Kansas. I don’t think that would drop them all that far, yet everyone now seems to have them just barely in the field, or not in the field at all.

-I don’t know what to make of Charleston. I do think the real committee will take them if they win out, but lose in the conference tournament. What I’m not sure of is whether or not I personally agree. John has them just outside his bubble, but in the field as the auto-bid winner. They have about three wins that I would rate as (at best) decent. Every other team on the bubble will almost assuredly have better wins than CofC does, and that includes everyone Stalica selected, and even a few that he didn’t. That’s tough. But, I guess it doesn’t matter. An outright first place team with just one league loss and a reasonably healthy NET will almost always be selected by the real committee. In fact they’d start the process off on the Nomination Board by virtue of being a first place team, and it isn’t likely that they would ever be removed.

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Maryland-Eastern Shore (12-8, 5-1) at Morgan State (11-10, 4-2) – 7:30 PM ET

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features a pair of Maryland rivals as Eastern Shore travels to Baltimore to face off against the Morgan State Bears. The Hawks are on a tear right now where they have won 9 out of their last 10 games; it was highlighted in the beginning with an 86-78 win at Temple. In conference play, UMES is tied for first with Howard; they beat the Bison by 9 and their only loss has come on the road at Norfolk State. Zion Styles averages 11.4 points a game and 3.4 rebounds a game for the Hawks.

Morgan State came into conference play winning their first three games; after getting a nonconference tuneup win against Hartford, the Bears have lost two of their last three games. They appeared to get back on track with a home win against Norfolk State, but they lost in the closing seconds at Delaware State 64-62 on Saturday. Isaiah Burke averages 20 points a game for the Bears.

DAILY RUNDOWN (Monday, Jan 30th):

-For Jon Teitel’s latest Bracket Projections – CLICK HERE

-After a crazy Saturday (that you can read about by CLICKING HERE) yesterday was rather un-cataclysmic. Purdue, Providence, and Penn State all won games they were expected to win, Iowa got a nice win at home against Rutgers, and Memphis held serve on the road to beat Tulsa.

-VIRGINIA AT SYRACUSE (ACC). This could be a bit of a road challenge for Virginia, but they’ve answered pretty much every challenge they’ve faced this season and should be able to knock off an NIT-ish looking team on the road.

-CHICAGO STATE AT THE CITADEL. I’m highlighting this because I am genuinely impressed with the progress Chicago State has made this year and how they continue to play hard. This would be their 7th overall win of the season if they can pull it off on the road. This will be Chicago State’s 19th road game.

-BAYLOR AT TEXAS (Big 12). Texas is looking to rebound from their loss at Tennessee over the weekend and has a hard but winnable game tonight against a Baylor team that’s been playing really well. Oh yeah, and it’s yet another Big 12 game where both teams are within range of a protected seed.

-IOWA STATE AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Texas Tech is perhaps the weakest team in the league, but they’re still good enough to where it’s hard to win on the road. Iowa State is in the hunt for a protected seed and is looking to bounce back from a loss this past weekend.

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CLICK HERE for Jon Teitel’s LATEST BRACKETOLOGY, which is among the most accurate in the world!!

College basketball scoring has finally picked up this month: Trenton Massner of Western Illinois and Marcus Tsohonis of Long Beach State each scored 46 PTS in late-January, followed by Drew Pember of UNC Asheville becoming the 1st player this season to score 48 PTS last Wednesday in an 8-PT OT win over Presbyterian. 1 guy who knows a little about scoring 48 PTS is Carvin Melson, who set a school record when he did so for Oakland back in 1972. He still holds a few school records (including 2408 career PTS/1204 career REB) and was inducted into his school’s Hall of Honor in 1984. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Carvin about many things…including bees. Today is the 51st anniversary of Carvin’s 48-PT game so we take this time to remember his remarkable achievement.

You were an All-State selection at Murray-Wright High School in 1969: what made you choose Oakland? I was actually honorable mention All-State. We won the city championship in 1968 and I was heavily recruited by some big programs. My high school coach got the job at Oakland and I felt some loyalty because he had coached me from the time I was a young boy: I knew that he would care about me personally and professionally. When I 1st arrived I met a senior named Eddie Holloman who introduced me as a guy who would set a record that would stand for over 50 years: he was mighty prophetic!

On January 29, 1972, you scored a school-record 48 PTS vs. Grand Valley State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? That was really interesting. I scored 32 PTS in the 1st half and after halftime the crowd would start calling out how many points I had every time that I scored! After scoring 48 my coach took me out. 1 of our opponents scored close to 40 as well so it was 1 of those back-and-forth games.

After having some mediocre stats as a freshman you shot 59.1 FG%/81.4 FT% as a senior: how were you able to turn yourself into such a great shooter? Every year I would practice 1 particular thing and try to improve on that area. I prided myself on being an all-around player but I definitely tried to improve my shooting. If you look at my stats I scored 19 PPG as a freshman but kept scoring more PTS every single year.

You remain the school’s all-time leader with 2408 PTS: what was your secret for being a great scorer? I did not rely on any 1 thing: I tried to play defense, get some steals, and grab a lot of offensive REB. I was a double-double machine. I got my points in a variety of ways rather than just taking a bunch of jump shots. We faced some of the best defensive teams in the nation and there was no shot clock back then. My best play was coming around a pick at the top of the key: if there was a 3-PT line back then and more than 25 games/season I would have scored even more! We were not in a conference back then but I made a generic all-star team and also made the all-tourney team in every tourney that I played in. It has been 50 years since I played there and I cannot believe that I still have that record with all of the run-and-gun offenses today.

You also hold the school record with 1204 REB: do you think that anyone will ever break your records? Nobody has come close to that and I do not think that either of my records will be broken. Anybody that would have so many points by their junior year would probably turn pro. Travis Bader (2351 PTS) came close to my scoring record several years ago but fell a little short.

In 1984 you were inducted into the school’s Hall of Honor: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? Really high because I was the 1st basketball player to be inducted. They were trying to make Oakland into the “Harvard of the Midwest”. We were not known for basketball at the time but we beat some good teams like Eastern Michigan and even beat UAB handily in a scrimmage.

After your basketball career came to a close you took etymology classes at Purdue and then founded a pest control company, where you have become an expert at solving bee nesting problems: what caused you to make such a big career change? I went to the Pistons training camp in 1973 with Coach Ray Scott. I thought that I should have made it but Ben Kelso had a no-cut contract. After they cut me I spent 1 year in the ABA before going to camp with New Orleans…then getting cut again. I was a tweener back then: I could rebound very well even though my natural position as a 6’4” player was at guard. I wiped the floor every day with a guard from Central Michigan named Jim McElroy, who had played with Dan Roundfield in college (so he had a lot of scouts come to see his games), and he ended up making the team over me. I started a pest control business and had a lot of customers who were having bee problems, which allowed me to specialize in bees and carve out my own niche. I still work on it to this day and help people implement prevention procedures. It was something I had wanted to do all along after giving basketball everything I had: I love what I do. I also spent some time working with youths at a boys’ club but I did not enjoy sitting behind a desk all day. I have a lot of repeat customers so my goal now is to franchise: there is not a lot of written material on how to treat bees. I have put together a package over the past 30 years: nobody really talks about prevention so I am just trying to put it all down on paper.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? As someone who dedicated himself to the cause and gave everything he had. We came into Oakland as “The Pioneers” with very low expectations. 1 thing Coach Gene Boldon does not get credit for was upgrading our schedule from junior college opponents to better teams even though we did not have scholarships. It was not so much me standing out: I was a part of a team that led our program to the next level. We would have buses break down on us and they did not want to put the money into basketball…but we had a vision and came out really respectable. The guys before us set the tone for my group to come in and we just went out and did our thing.

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CLICK HERE for today’s HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN where we review a very busy day from yesterday, and preview all of today’s meaningful games

We are only 6 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Tennessee (SEC)
1: Alabama (SEC)

2: Kansas (Big 12)
2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Kansas State (Big 12)

3: Texas (Big 12)
3: Virginia (ACC)
3: Iowa State (Big 12)
3: Baylor (Big 12)

4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Gonzaga (WCC)
4: Marquette (Big East)
4: TCU (Big 12)

5: Connecticut (Big East)
5: Rutgers (Big 10)
5: St. Mary’s (WCC)
5: Indiana (Big 10)

6: Miami (ACC)
6: Auburn (SEC)
6: Duke (ACC)
6: Providence (Big East)

7: Illinois (Big 10)
7: San Diego State (MWC)
7: North Carolina (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)

8: NC State (ACC)
8: New Mexico (MWC)
8: Missouri (SEC)
8: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

9: Arkansas (SEC)
9: Clemson (ACC)
9: Iowa (Big 10)
9: Creighton (Big East)

10: Boise State (MWC)
10: Memphis (AAC)
10: Northwestern (Big 10)
10: Maryland (Big 10)

11: Wisconsin (Big 10)
11: USC (Pac-12)
11: West Virginia (Big 12)
11: Oklahoma (Big 12)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Pittsburgh (ACC)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Kent State (MAC)
12: VCU (A-10)
12: Oral Roberts (Summit)

13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Marshall (Sun Belt)
13: Siena (MAAC)
13: UCSB (Big West)

14: Southern Illinois (MVC)
14: Utah Valley (WAC)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: Colgate (Patriot)

15: Samford (SoCon)
15: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
15: UNC-Asheville (Big South)
15: Vermont (America East)

16: Youngstown State (Horizon)
16: Southeast Missouri State (OVC)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Southern (SWAC)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)

1ST 4 OUT
Arizona State (Pac-12)
Kentucky (SEC)
Nevada (MWC)
Ohio State (Big 10)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

So even by ‘Saturday Standards’ yesterday was a pretty busy day. So, grab a cup of coffee because this is a bit long…

-Alabama, who had been blowing people’s doors off on the road, got their own doors blown off at Oklahoma yesterday. The final score was 93-69, and that probably understates just how much the Sooners dominated this game. It probably won’t knock Alabama off the #1 line, but to have three losses now, one of which was to a bubblish type of team, makes it hard for me to continue to argue (at least for now) that they are the top overall #1 seed.

-Houston, another team that has been flirting with the #1 line all year long, had a scare at home to a Cincinnati team that’s an NIT team at best, but held on to win 75-69 in a game that came down to the last couple of possessions.

-Tennessee had one of their more impressive showings of the year as they beat Texas 82-71. I don’t want to call this a blowout, but at no point in the game were the Vols ever not in control.

-Kansas has looked like a #1 seed for most of the year despite coming into yesterday’s game at Kentucky with three straight losses. Kentucky had been playing much better, and looked like a team that belonged somewhere between the 7 and 10 lines. And I’d say that’s exactly what it looked like yesterday. Kansas looked like a #1 seed that picked up a solid 77-68 road win against a Kentucky team that’s in the 7-10 range.

-TCU had been on an absolute rampage and who was actually considered for a #1 seed in our last Hoops HD Bracket Rundown (well, OK, I had them on my personal #1 line and everyone told me I was nuts). They did not look like it yesterday. Not at all. They lost 81-74 (albeit in overtime) to a Mississippi State team that was looking like they needed to hold serve just to make the NIT.

-Iowa State had been destroying the planet! They went on the road to face a Missouri team that looked like they could end up in the NCAA Tournament, but only because the rules say you have to take 68 teams. Mizzou absolutely blew away the Cyclones (bad pun not intended) 78-61. It was a surprising result to say the least.

-Xavier went on the road to face a Creighton team that has some work to do in regards to safely making the field, but who did a lot of work yesterday. Creighton won rather handily 84-67 and has now won 7 of their last 9 after going through a rather deep slump back in December.

-West Virginia got a huge win that they really needed 80-77 over Auburn. WVU is clinging to the bubble by their fingernails and every game that they play for the rest of the way will have a pivotal feel to it.

-Arkansas, who has not won on the road all season and who desperately needs to do so before the year ends, went into Baylor yesterday and played what was perhaps one of their best games of the season, but still came up just short against a very good Bears team 67-64. Still, if Arkansas can play at that level the rest of the season, they’ll get the road wins they need before March.

-We all thought Charleston’s game against Hofstra yesterday was their toughest remaining game of the season, but still thought they would win it. Well…they didn’t. They fell 85-81 for what was just their second loss of the season. The thing with Charleston is that the rest of their schedule is so weak that another loss will likely knock them outside the bubble. But if they win out, I think they will get selected even if they don’t win the Colonial Tournament.

-Pittsburgh is another team that’s been flirting with the bubble, and they picked up a huge 71-68 win at home against a very good Miami FL team yesterday. The Canes are now just 3-4 in their last 7 games, but they’ve still got a strong resume and should still go in on the first ballot. If they get things turned around they could even still end up as a protected seed.

-Saint Mary’s, who has been dominating the West Coast Conference, got a big scare on the road yesterday against BYU, but barely held on for a 57-56 win after a missed BYU shot at the buzzer.

-NC State, who I had been beating up on for a lack of quality wins and a lack of road wins, managed to improve in both of those categories yesterday as they beat a very solid Wake Forest team 79-77. This is a huge win for NC State given how well Wake has played at home this year.

-Duke, who had also been pitiful on the road all season, went in to Georgia Tech and blew them out yesterday 86-43. Now I can no longer criticize Duke for having just one very lucky road win which came at Boston College.

-Illinois picked up a big road win at Wisconsin yesterday 61-51. This will help bolster the value of Illinois’s resume, and it will continue to sink Wisconsin further down into the quicksand. Wisky has now lost six of their last seven and has fallen to just 12-8 on the year after looking like a potential protected seed just a few weeks ago.

-VCU, who was the one team out of the Atlantic Ten that was starting to look like they might belong inside the bubble, and who might be able to get there if they continued to blow through the schedule, lost at home to Saint Bonaventure last night 61-58. This is a damaging loss. When a team is on the bubble, losing to a team that’s nowhere near the NIT is not good. Losing to that team at home is worse. Losing to that team at home with no remaining games against anyone who is inside the bubble that would allow you to make up for the loss is worse still. VCU should (and likely will) get very seriously looked at if they win out, but even that might not be enough to get them selected without winning the Atlantic Ten Tournament.

-Utah, who keeps flirting with the bubble, also keeps missing chances to help get them inside of it. They fell on the road at Oregon yesterday 68-56. I know it’s not easy to win at Oregon, but it’s not easy to make the NCAA Tournament either. Doing so requires winning games that are hard to win.

-Nevada, who had been right on our bubble, will in all likelihood be outside of it now. They lost on the road to their rivals UNLV 68-62. I know it’ snot easy to win at UNLV, but it’s not easy to make the NCAA Tournament either. Doing so requires winning games that are hard to win.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PROVIDENCE AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Providence is solidly in on the first ballot and is just playing to maintain/improve their seed. Adding another road win to their resume would certainly help.

-MICHIGAN AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Penn State is squarely on our bubble, and needs to hold serve in games like this. Michigan has played well a few times, but has not played well most of the time.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT PURDUE (Big Ten). When these two teams met about two weeks ago it was a classic! It was so good, that it seems like no one wanted the game to end, and the last minute of overtime took over 20 minutes to play. Purdue won a 64-63 thriller, and is now back at home for the rematch. Michigan State appears to be far enough inside the bubble to where they’ll be safe so long as they hold serve, but if they could somehow win a game like this today the value of their resume would skyrocket.

-IOWA AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). Both teams are being projected rather safely into our field, but both could give their resume a nice boost today if they were able to pick up this win, especially Iowa who has been a little more schizophrenic than Rutgers has this year. Some of their wins are great, and some of their losses are headscratchers, and they are just 12-8 on the year so padding the record some should help them out as well.

MEMPHIS AT TULSA (American). We have Memphis just inside our bubble, and Jon Teitel had them on his #10 line today (CLICK HERE to view). They definitely have a path to making the NCAA Tournament, but their margin for error is small and they absolutely need to hold serve in games like this.

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Furman (16-6, 7-2) at UNC-Greensboro (14-8, 8-1) – 3:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the SoCon where the UNC-Greensboro Spartans host their neighbors in the Furman Paladins. Greensboro won the first matchup between the two teams in Greenville, SC by an 88-80 score; Keyshawn Langley had 24 points in the victory for the Spartans. This came shortly after a tough home loss against Samford; since that loss UNC-G has won 5 straight games to take over first place in the SoCon.

After dropping a tough road game at Western Carolina, Furman themselves has won six out of their last seven games; the highlight of that streak was snapping Samford’s unbeaten streak in league play. Jalen Slawson had 26 points in the Paladins’ win against Samford.

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For today’s rundown of Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE

For Jon Teitel’s interview with 1988 Olympic gold medalist Andrea Lloyd – CLICK HERE

Alcorn State (9-10, 6-1) at Southern (10-10, 6-1) – 6:30 PM ET

There are multiple conferences like the OVC, Horizon and SWAC that have first and second place matchups today, but we go to Baton Rouge today for the top two teams in the SWAC; the Alcorn State Braves visit the Southern Jaguars. The Braves started their season on a high note with wins at Wichita State and Stephen F. Austin; bad weather forced the cancellation of what could have been a winnable game at Minnesota. Alcorn State started off the SWAC with a tough home loss against Jackson State but have since won 6 straight games and are a game away from the .500 overall mark this season. Dontrell McQuarter had 20 points in the Braves’ most recent win against Bethune-Cookman.

Southern also got a pair of nonconference wins at California and at home against Loyola-Maryland. Some of the more notable losses they had in nonconference play were at Arizona, at Saint Mary’s and at Xavier. The Jaguars started SWAC play with a road sweep at Prairie View A&M and at Texas Southern; their only slip-up in conference play came at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Festus Ndumanya came off the bench to score 17 points in Southern’s 84-70 win against Mississippi Valley State.

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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-AUBURN AT WEST VIRGINIA (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). West Virginia has struggled in conference play, but this is a winnable home game against a good opponent, and they kind of need to win it because of how difficult it will be to get wins in conference play. Auburn is in the rankings and should be safely inside the bubble, but if you look at their team sheet there is certainly room for improvement and this would arguably be one of their best overall wins of the season to date.

-XAVIER AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Xavier is on a roll and is on pace to end up as a protected seed. Creighton’s resume is still a little flimsy and a win in a game like this could certainly help shore it up. They weren’t at full strength for a lot of their losses, but that makes games like this even more important because they have to demonstrate that they can beat good teams when they are at full strength.

-NC STATE AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Most of the rest of Hoops HD likes NC State more than I do. I think this would arguably be their best win of the year considering it’s on the road against a Wake Forest team that’s right on the bubble and that’s a very impressive 10-1 at home. If NC State wins this, I’ll start to come around to believing in them a little more.

-ALABAMA AT OKLAHOMA (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). If the match-ups for this event were done two or three weeks prior to the event and not before the start of the season, these two probably wouldn’t be playing each other. Bama is within reach of the overall #1 seed and Oklahoma is trying to get inside the bubble. An upset win for the Sooners today would be a huge step in the right direction.

-IOWA STATE AT MISSOURI (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). Iowa State is having a fantastic year and is within reach of a protected seed. They take on their old Big Eight and Big 12 foes in Missouri, who is hovering around the bubble and who could give their resume a nice boost if they can pull off the win at home today.

-DUKE AT GEORGIA TECH (ACC). I highlight this because it is far more important than most realize. To date, Duke’s only true road win is at Boston College. If they can’t win this game today, then they’re going to struggle to win any of their remaining road games because they all appear to be harder than this one. No team has ever been selected for an at-large with fewer than two true road wins. EVER! Duke needs to beat the Bees today, because winning at Miami FL, Syracuse, Virginia, or North Carolina will be MUCH harder than winning at Georgia Tech.

-ILLINOIS AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). We have both teams inside the bubble, but both also have room to improve. Wisconsin in particular has been in a bit of a tailspin and just needs to win a game like this to help pull them out of it.

-TCU AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). TCU looks like a solid protected seed and Mississippi State looks like a solid NIT team. But, like I always say, it’s tough to win on the road.

-ARKANSAS AT BAYLOR (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). Arkansas’s next road win will be their first, and it isn’t likely to come today against a Baylor team that is suddenly playing really well with five straight wins and a lot of those wins coming against teams that appear to be better than this Arkansas team.

-MIAMI FL AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). Pitt is right on our bubble, and was actually in our First Four when we built our latest seedlist last night, so a win like this would help shore up their resume and move them up the seedlist. Miami has hit a bit of a skid with three losses in their last six games, but they are still in very good shape and have a good chance of ending up as high as a protected seed.

-TEXAS AT TENNESSEE (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). Both teams are ranked in the top ten, both are on pace to earn protected seeds, and depending on how things play out it’s not too far of a stretch to think one or both could end up as a #1 seed. The best way to get up to the #1 line is to win against other protected seeds in games like this. It’s also a Rick Barnes Derby!! This one should be fun!

-KANSAS AT KENTUCKY (SEC/Big 12 Challenge). This is one of the more intriguing games of the day. Kansas is on a three game l0sing streak, but is so good that they could still end up as a #1 seed at the end of the year if they can turn things around. Kentucky was heading toward an abyss, but seems to have pulled themselves out of the quicksand and has strung together several nice wins. “Nice” is an understatement for how good this win would be if they can pull it off against Kansas.

-OHIO STATE AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Ohio State is on our bubble, and right now I feel like they belong outside of it, but my mind will certainly change if they can win a road game like this one. Indiana had gone through a bit of a slump, but has won four straight and appears to be playing well now.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Boston College @ Virginia (ACC) – could end up looking a lot like a buy game even though it’s a conference game
-Minnesota @ Northwestern (Big Ten) – Northwestern is inside the bubble, but they are close to the edge of it and need to hold serve in games like this
-Marquette @ DePaul (Big East) – I think Marquette looks as good as anyone else in the Big East right now, and that this should be a winnable road game for them
-Cincinnati @ Houston (American) – Houston, despite a recent loss to Temple, is still within reach of a #1 seed and should be able to hold serve today
-Texas State @ Southern Miss (Sun Belt) – Southern Miss has an outside shot at best of landing inside the bubble, but if they win out they should at least get a look
-Hofstra @ Charleston (Colonial) – this is likely Charleston’s toughest remaining regular season game, but it’s one they should still manage to win
-Western Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) – WKU has some talent and could give FAU some fits, but FAU is just on an absolute rampage and should be able to hold serve in this one
-Seton Hall @ Butler (Big East) – Seton Hall is trying to play their way onto (and I suppose inside of) the bubble, so they need to hold serve in games like this
-Nebraska @ Maryland (Big Ten) – I’m not as big on Maryland as most others are, but I certainly think they’ll be able to hold serve in this one
-Clemson @ Florida State (ACC) – Florida State is playing better, but this is still a road game that Clemson should be able to win
-Arizona @ Washington (Pac 12) – I won’t go so far to say that this will be an easy road win for Arizona, but it is absolutely a game that a protected seeded caliber team is expected to win
-Florida @ Kansas State (SEC/Big 12 Challenge) – Florida has been playing better, but not so much better that I think they can knock off K State on the road, who’s playing as well as anyone in the country right now
-Saint Bonaventure @ VCU (Atlantic Ten) – If VCU wins out, I think they land inside the bubble. I also think they are good enough to win out
-Gonzaga @ Portland (West Coast) – this should be an easy road win for the Zags, but they’ve been sweating more than normal these past few weeks
-Utah State @ Fresno State (Mountain West) – I am becoming less and less of a believer in Utah State, but the opportunities for them to make a run at the bubble are there if they can finish strong
-Arizona State @ Washington State (Pac 12) – Arizona State is on the bubble and needs to win all the games they play against teams that are nowhere near the bubble
-Utah @Oregon (Pac 12) – both teams are outside the bubble and would need a very strong finish in order to get there, but both will have the chances they need to do it
-Colorado State @ Boise State (Mountain West) – I think Boise State is inside the bubble, but most at Hoops HD feel they are squarely on it. Nevertheless, we will all agree that they can’t afford to lose a game like this
-Ole Miss @ Oklahoma State (SEC/Big 12 Challenge) – Oklahoma State is outside of our bubble, but we still feel they may be good enough to make a run at it. They need to hold serve today, though
-Vanderbilt @ Texas A&M (SEC) – TAMU is playing much better and will end up in the field if they keep it up
-San Jose State @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – San Diego State is safely inside the bubble and should be able to hold serve against a San Jose State team that’s improving as a program, but still has a very long way to go
-Saint Mary’s @ BYU (West Coast) – I really like how this SMC team is playing and think they can continue to climb both the rankings and the seedlist
-Nevada @ UNLV (Mountain West) – it’s a rivalry game, but it’s a road game that Nevada needs to win if they want to stay within reach of the bubble

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 16 gold medals in the 19 tournaments they have participated in during the past 87 years, while the women have won 9 gold medals in the 11 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 47 years. While we have to wait 1 more year until the 2024 Olympics in Paris, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Andrea Lloyd about winning a gold medal in 1988 and being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

You were born in Idaho: what made you choose Texas for college? I also spent a good deal of my childhood in Alaska because my dad worked up there. 1 of my grandparents was from the Denton, TX area so I had at least 1 connection to that state. I remember sitting in my living room reviewing letters containing scholarship offers: I was going to set aside the 1 from Texas but my mom said that I HAD to open that 1! I chose them because they were far away from home and I knew that they would challenge me.

You went 125-8 while playing for Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt: what made her such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from her? I was just going over those 8 games in my mind the other day! Jody was demanding/gracious and knew what she wanted from us on the court. The core of her team was players from the state of Texas. It was such an elite program so I was fortunate to have tremendous teammates. Every single day we did the same thing because we were determined to out-work and out-defend our opponents. Jody was the perfect fit for the school and is a big part of women’s basketball history. She was a huge disciplinarian, which caused us to demand a lot out of ourselves.

You are 6’2”: how much of an advantage was your size on the court? Absolutely! I grew up mostly playing against guys. At 6’2” I was apparently not supposed to be dribbling…but I wanted to get the most playing time possible so I did whatever I needed to do to get extra minutes. It was unusual back then to have someone my size who could handle the ball. When I was young I did a lot of tryouts/camps on the West Coast. I remember rebounding the ball 1 day and dribbling down the court when my 6’2” teammate (and future Olympic teammate) Cindy Brown screamed at me to pass the ball to a guard!

As a junior you helped lead the Longhorns to the 1st undefeated season in NCAA history: how were you able to beat a USC squad (featuring Cheryl Miller/Cynthia Cooper) by 16 PTS in the 1986 NCAA title game? We had a special team that year. We were ranked #1 during my freshman year but had several injuries, and then in my sophomore year we got upset by Western Kentucky on a last-second shot. We had a lot of pain after losing in each of the previous 2 tourneys so we had a real sense of urgency in 1986 and would not be denied.

You entered the 1987 Final 4 as the #1 team in the nation and were playing on your home court with more than 15,000 fans in attendance (the largest crowd in the history of the sport): could you tell at the time that Louisiana Tech G Teresa Weatherspoon (who scored 19 PTS and set a Final 4 record with 11 AST) was going to become a superstar, and did she remind you of the final score when she became your Olympic teammate the following year?! I do not think she reminded me of the score. We knew that she was a star back then: she was the “head of the beast” and an amazing competitor. I was pretty quiet at the time but maybe some of my other teammates got that smack-talk treatment.

You played for team USA at the 1988 Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? I never imagined that I would play in the Olympics while growing up on a farm in Idaho so it was just an honor. I was 1 of the last cuts on the 1984 team when I was just 17 years old so I did not want that to happen to me again. We had a terrific team led by an amazing woman in Kay Yow: she brought all of us together over the course of 2 weeks and built our chemistry. She spent a lot of time on team-building so I have a lot of great memories of getting to know the other players really well. The entire McConnell family was with us in South Korea to support Suzie: I had never been around that kind of a group before. It was pretty cool as a 21-year old: I still have boxes of stuff that we received from our sponsors! We did not have cell phones back then so we got to spend a lot of time together on the bus rides.

After spending almost a decade playing professionally in Italy you spent a few years in the ABL/WNBA: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? Overseas they use a club system so you could end up playing with teammates who ranged from ages 14-40. After a game the teenagers would go do homework while the older veterans would go smoke a cigarette! What could be better than being paid to play a game you love? The ABL had a traditional season and felt more like basketball. The WNBA had back-to-back games where we sat in middle seats on commercial flights so it was not as fulfilling.

You won championships at the high school/college/pro/Olympic levels: what is the secret to being a winner? Surround yourself with great people and never be afraid to be challenged. Our NCAA title team would not back down an inch even during practice. Do not be threatened by other people’s success because when you are on a team you do it all together. You need a system that has a specific goal that everyone keeps their eyes on.

After retiring from basketball you became a TV analyst: how do you like it, and what do you want to do in the future? I learned that a “normal” job is just not something I am cut out for. I am a task-oriented person and I love going to practice and talking about the game. It is really fun to continue to teach people and showcase the current amazing athletes. My husband retired last year so we do the RV thing. I have changed paths many times because when you have a 7-month gig you always have other opportunities that come along.

In 2007 you were named to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It feels like a long time ago! It really brought into focus all of the people who supported me through the years. It is not just about you because you stand on the shoulders of so many great administrators/teammates. I remember when Jody called me to tell me about it: I never thought about those kinds of things growing up so I was completely stunned.

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For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast where we build a seedlist line by line on the air and debate each of the teams as we go – CLICK HERE

Iona (13-6, 6-2) at Siena (13-7, 7-2) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Albany for one of the more anticipated matchups in the Metro Atlantic between the Iona Gaels and the Siena Saints. Iona got off to a quick 4-0 start in conference play, but they have leveled off a bit with a 2-2 stretch that has seen a home win against Fairfield and a road win at Manhattan mixed in with a blowout loss at Quinnipiac and at home against Rider. Daniss Jenkins has averaged 16.3 points a game and 4.8 assists a game for Iona.

Siena has also hit a bit of a rough patch in conference play with losses in 2 of their last 3 games, but they are in first place by a half game over Iona going into tonight. Both losses were a bit surprising – the first one being a road loss at Canisius and the second one being a home loss against Fairfield sandwiched around a home win against Mount St. Mary’s. Javian McCollum averages 15.8 points a game and 3.8 assists a game.

-NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES (From the Puppet):

-USC got a big (and much needed) 77-64 win over UCLA. The Trojans completely dominated the second half outscoring the Bruins by 25 and actually blew the game open in the final minutes after being down double digits for much of the first half.

-Michigan State held off Iowa 63-61 and is slowly making their resume look more and more impressive. Iowa’s overall record is just 12-8, and they do have one really bad loss to Eastern Illinois, but there is still enough good on their resume to where they should stay inside the bubble if they can just hold serve the rest of the way.

-One of the most exciting games of the night was one you probably slept through. UC Santa Barbara went out to Hawaii and scored in the final seconds to pick up a 65-64 road win at a place that is not easy to win at. The Gouchos are now 17-3 on the year, and yesterday was probably their most impressive win of the season. They probably still need to win the Big West Tournament to make the field, which won’t be easy, but they will potentially be a very dangerous team in the Round of 64.

-Kent State is back home tonight against Buffalo and if they want any shot at all at landing inside the bubble they need to win out. New Mexico is also at home against Air Force tonight.

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, January 26th. No games that went final after that, particularly UCLA vs USC or Arizona at Washington State, were considered when creating this bracket.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BR-1-26-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

EDIT: I think the combination of a staff worker, player, or just some regular fan that’s at a basketball game that just brazenly orders DoorDash, and then a delivery guy that is such an airhead that he is genuinely oblivious to the fact that he’s disrupting a the game is both hilarious and kind of cool. However, I think staging this stunt just so they can go viral on TikTok is actually kind of pathetic. This went from being my favorite thing that happened yesterday (and perhaps all season long) to me thinking everyone involved is stupid in a far less personable way than it originally appeared. So, I’ve deleted the link

-Alabama trialed Mississippi State at home for most of the game, but held on to win 66-63 in the end. It would have been a huge win for Mississippi State had they pulled it off and perhaps gotten them back within reach of the bubble, but as it stands now they’ve lost eight of their last nine.

-Xavier picked up a really nice road win at UConn last night 82-79. It may be the biggest win of the year for Xavier so far considering that it was on the road. UConn is in a tailspin having lost six of their last eight after starting off the season 14-0, but as our friend John Stalica observed Xavier is a big reason as to why they’ve lost six of their last eight.

-Texas A&M picked up a HUGE 79-63 win at Auburn that in my opinion flips the switch from them being outside the bubble to being inside of it. TAMU is the only team that has won at Auburn (my favorite stat), and while they were very sluggish prior to Christmas they’ve won all but one of their games since then (the loss at Kentucky), and are starting to build a profile that looks like a tournament caliber profile.

-Pittsburgh and Wake Forest squared off in a bubblicious match-up that had a pivotal feel to it for both teams, and Pitt held on to win at home in a close one 81-79.

-Wisconsin has not just stubbed their toes, but has slipped on the ice and broken their ankle. After looking really good for a stretch, they’ve now lost five of their last six, and last night they were just completely blown out 73-55 at Maryland. That cannot be confidence inspiring.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MIDDLE TENNESSEE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Conference USA). FAU is in the rankings and inside the bubble and should go into the NCAA Tournament on the first ballot so long as they keep holding serve.

-SMU AT MEMPHIS (American). Memphis is squarely on the bubble and it is crucial that they do not slip up in games like this, which are home games against teams that are nowhere near the bubble.

-IOWA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams are in our field right now, but both still have some work to do in order to become more stable. This game is a good opportunity for both teams to build up their resumes by picking up another notable win.

-SEATTLE U AT SAM HOUSTON (WAC). It’s not likely that either team will reach the bubble, but both could be dangerous in the Round of 64 if one of them happens to win the automatic bid. Sam Houston racked up wins against Oklahoma and Utah out of conference and while they’ve dropped some games in league play they are still capable of playing at a high level. Seattle U is trying to hang on to first place in the standings and will be tested in a big way tonight.

-PURDUE AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). I keep thinking it’s time to write Michigan off, but whenever I do they win a notable game. This would be VERY notable considering Purdue is the #1 overall team and on pace to get a #1 seed.

-UCLA AT USC (Pac 12). Lots going on in this one. It’s a rivalry game, UCLA is on pace to get a protected seed and depending on how things play out may still have an outside shot at a #1 seed, and USC is trying to get back into the field. USC’s profile needs some work, but on the court the team appears to be getting better and they almost upset UCLA at Pauley Pavilion the first time they played.

-UTAH VALLEY AT SOUTHERN UTAH (WAC) (Bee Hive). Utah Valley is having an outstanding year and are in the hunt to win the WAC and perhaps get a serious look from the committee if they can win out.

-ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac 12). At first glance Arizona should win this one easily, but it’s not a slam dunk. Wazzu actually won the first meeting between these two at Arizona and has proven to be very tough to beat.

-ARIZONA STATE AT WASHINGTON (Pac 12). Arizona State is squarely on the bubble, so every game they play seems to have a pivotal feel to it.

-UTAH AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12). Utah is outside of our bubble, but they are definitely close enough to it to reach it and they need to take advantage of what appears to be a winnable road game tonight.

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UC-Santa Barbara (16-3, 7-1) at Hawai’i (15-5, 6-2) – 12:00 AM ET (ESPN+)

Some days you save the best for last – tonight’s UTR Game of the Day leaves the mainland and goes to Hawai’i where the Rainbow Warriors host the UCSB Gauchos. Even after a 9-game winning streak was snapped with a 65-64 home loss to UC-Riverside, the Gauchos have gotten back on track with a 3-game winning streak. It began with a win at UC-Irvine and more recently included a 76-58 win against Bakersfield where Miles Norris led the Gauchos with 24 points.

Since winning the Diamond Head Classic, Hawai’i has held serve at home with four straight wins in the Big West. They are only 2-2 on the road in conference play, but the last game was a 67-63 road win that knocked UC-Riverside out of a first place tie in the conference. Jovon McClanahad had 19 points to lead Hawai’i in the aforementioned win against Riverside.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the Horizon League, which is having a bit of a down year collectively, but has two great stories in Milwaukee who’s having their best year in a long time, and Youngstown State that’s having their best year in history that we can remember. Both teams are neck and neck at the top of the standings, and Northern Kentucky is in the mix as well.

From there we move on to the other 22 UTR leagues and discuss how Vermont has played their way back to the top of the America East, Liberty appears to be asserting themselves in the ASun, and a hugely exciting race is heating up in the Sun Belt with Marshall and Southern Miss near the top, but with as many as five other teams that could win the league. There is now a six way tie for first place in the Ohio Valley after SIUE had a week where they lost two straight at home. Oral Roberts is dominating the Summit League, and Kent State, who we thought had a chance of landing inside the bubble, suffered a damaging loss on the road to Northern Illinois. We discuss all that, and more! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UTR-1-25-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the upcoming months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. He has spent most of the past 2 years watching them lose 29 Big East games in a row, many of them in person…but see below for his photo essay about a funny thing that happened when DePaul came to DC last night.

After bagels/water at GW last weekend it was nice to get a filling pregame meal again: Chick-fil-A sandwich/nuggets, mac & cheese, and a brownie/chocolate chip cookie for dessert! Let’s tip it off for the hundreds and hundreds of folks in attendance:

The Big East always rises to the occasion for Coaches vs. Cancer. This year was no different as the entire Georgetown contingent of players/coaches donned pink sneakers for the big night:

Even the mascot has gotten tired of cheering for this team and needed to catch his breath…but did he have to sit down right in front of me?

Hoyas JR SG Wayne Bristol Jr. has been inconsistent this year but remains a good shooter. He had a very nice 1st half with 7 PTS on a 3/jumper/layup but went scoreless in the 2nd half:

His backcourt teammate Primo Spears was coming off of the game of his life (37 PTS/11 AST at Xavier last Saturday) and his jump shot kept going in as Georgetown built a 36-30 lead with 2 minutes left before halftime:

Unfortunately, those final 2 minutes belonged entirely to DePaul. SR PG Umoja Gibson helped lead his team back, and his 3 from the top of key helped his team finish a 7-0 run to take a 37-36 halftime lead, which is a bigger deal than you might think because the Blue Demons are 7-0 this year when leading at halftime:

DePaul SR F Javan Johnson had a big 2nd half to finish with 13 PTS before fouling out, but he and Gibson were the only 2 visitors in double-digits:

I assumed that Hoyas coach Patrick Ewing would just give the ball to Spears and hope that he could win it all by himself, but it turned into a total team effort, with Qudus Wahab hitting the boards (10 REB):

…and Jordan Riley getting into the lane for layups/scoop shots:

…and Brandon Murray having his best all-around game of the month with 12 PTS/5 AST/4 STL:

Georgetown built a double-digit lead late and ALMOST blew it but they hung on to win 81-76 and secure their 1st Big East victory in 693 days. I left my seat in the final minute so that I could get some nice video of the impending court storm…but it never came to pass. Ewing walked over for a quick postgame interview and it was nice to see him smiling after finally getting a W:

In the postgame press conference I asked Akok Akok (who had 12 PTS/6 REB/4 BLK) whether this was just another win or if it felt different/special. He claimed that it was just another win and that they are trying to flip the page. His team is ready to work hard and is looking forward to its next game vs. St. John’s in New York City on Sunday:

There was also a nice moment after the game when Ewing congratulated Rich Chvotkin, who has been the “Voice of the Hoyas” for the past 49 years, on winning the 2023 Woody Durham Voice of College Sports Award:

That is a wrap on the Hoyas’ historic win, and was also their final home game of this month, so check back in February to see if I can actually work the phrase “winning streak” into my next game recap!

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Iowa State knocked off Kansas State 80-76 in last night’s edition of ‘Big 12 Protected Seeds.’ K State hit a field goal drought in the second half and Iowa State appeared to be in control, but K State fought back, but just couldn’t come all the way back.

-Kent State, who was unbeaten in the MAC and who we figured could get inside the bubble if they ran the table or came close to it, suffered a HUGE setback last night when they lost at Northern Illinois 86-76. It’s tough to win on the road in the MAC, but Northern Illinois is not the toughest place in the MAC to win at, so this was a bit of a disappointing loss. I don’t know if it completely eliminates them, but even for someone like me who has been championing Kent State all year long, I’ve got to admit that it at least MOSTLY eliminates them, and that one of the games Kent State needs to win is that last MAC Conference Tournament game if they want to make the field.

-North Carolina picked up a road win at Syracuse 72-68 and while the game was close the Tarheels held the lead for most of it. This is a bigger deal than what most may realize because up until last night North Carolina’s only road win was at Louisville, and I’m not sure that even counts as a road win this year.

-Other than that, it was a mostly chalky night last night with no surprises or cataclysmic results.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-XAVIER AT UCONN (Big East). Both teams are still in the hunt for a protected seed. UConn just recently ended a stretch where they had lost five out of six, and the start of that skid was a loss at Xavier back on New Years Eve, so it’s a chance for the Huskies to add to their resume, climb the seedlist, and climb the rankings. As for Xavier, this would probably be their best win of the season to date if they’re able to pull it off.

-HOUSTON AT UCF (American). I would have thought this would be Houston’s toughest remaining game, and it still might be, but UCF has gone into the tank a little bit with two straight losses to teams that are nowhere near the field. In fact the only way UCF can probably play their way back inside the bubble is if they can get this win today. Houston is coming off a somewhat surprising loss and probably won’t be caught sleepwalking, though.

-GEORGIA AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Georgia has been playing a lot better, but if they want to get all the way inside the bubble they’ll need to win a game like this. Tennessee is still within reach of a #1 seed, especially with opportunities against Texas, Auburn, and Alabama still on their schedule, but they’ll need to hold serve today.

-WAKE FOREST AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). This is a hugely important bubblicious type of game where both teams have played well, but both still have some work to do if they want to land safely inside the bubble. A win tonight would certainly help.

-WISCONSIN AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Wisconsin has dropped two straight games, but we still believe to be very safely inside the bubble even though they are currently going in the wrong direction. Maryland is coming off a game where they nearly won at Purdue, which would have been huge, but as it is they still need to do some work if they want to land safely inside the bubble and a win today at home would certainly help.

-TEXAS A&M AT AUBURN (SEC). TAMU is 5-1 in SEC play after a rather unspectacular start to the season. The thing is they haven’t exactly faced the top teams in the conference, and while they played well at a loss at Kentucky their last time out, they didn’t get the win. If they want to get the committee’s attention, they need to win a game like this.

-UTAH STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). A lot of people like Utah State, but we at Hoops HD have pretty much had them outside the bubble for the entire season. In order for that to change they need to win a game like this one. San Diego State is solidly in our field and will remain there if they keep holding serve in what is turning out to be a rather competitive Mountain West Conference.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-West Virginia @ Texas Tech (Big 12) – This isn’t an easy game for WVU to win, but it’s probably less hard than most of the games remaining on their schedule, so they need to find a way to do it if they want any shot at all of making the field
-Northwestern @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – this is a winnable road game for a Northwestern team that’s been playing really well
-South Carolina @ Florida (SEC) – the Gators have been playing better and some believe they still have a chance to make a run at the bubble. They can’t afford to drop this one tonight
-George Mason @ VCU (Atlantic Ten) – if anyone from the A10 has any shot at all at landing inside the bubble it’s VCU, and they basically need to win out to do it
-Butler @ Providence (Big East) – Providence is solidly in the top half of our bracket right now
-Mississippi State @ Alabama (SEC) – Bama is solidly on the #1 line and will stay there so long as they hold serve and don’t drop any losses at home to teams that are outside the bubble
-Saint John’s @ Creighton (Big East) – Creighton is on the bubble and I would advise them not to lose this one
-Indiana @ Minnesota (Big Ten) – this is a very winnable road game for an Indiana team that is suddenly playing very well

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Samford (14-7, 8-0) at Furman (15-6, 6-2) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Two of the top teams in the SoCon tip off tonight as the Samford Bulldogs travel east to face the Furman Paladins tonight. Samford has gone streaking all season – for better or worse. They started the season 6-0 (with three non-D1 wins) and immediately followed that with a 7-game losing streak in nonconference play. Since SoCon play started, they have won eight straight games that included wins at UNC-Greensboro and at East Tennessee State. Ques Glover averages 14.4 points a game for the Bulldogs.

Furman had a bit of a choppy start with a 7th place finish in the Charleston Classic, but around that they also picked up nonconference wins against Belmont, Winthrop and Stephen F. Austin. Unlike Samford, they haven’t done as well against the top of the SoCon; they already have losses against UNC-Greensboro and Western Carolina which has relegated Furman to 3rd place in the conference. Mike Bothwell averages 19.4 points a game and 3.6 assists a game for the Paladins.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

Kansas has now lost three straight, and Baylor picked up another huge win 75-69. Baylor had also lost three straight games before going on the five game winning streak that they’re on now. A three game losing streak may seem like a death knell for a team that’s hoping to get a #1 seed, but two of those three losses were on the road to likely protected seeds, so I still think Kansas is very much in the hunt for the #1 line.

-New Mexico was in another thrilling high stakes game, and this time they came up a little short. They fell in overtime 97-94 on the road at a Nevada team who is right on the bubble and who could really use the win. While this was a missed opportunity at a big road win for New Mexico, I wouldn’t call it much of a setback. They’re still very solidly in the field, and perhaps even in on the first ballot.

-Northwestern was back in action after a pause due to temporary health issues within the program, and they got a big win over Wisconsin 67-64. Even though the win was at home, I think they’re solidifying themselves more and more as a team that belongs in The Dance.

-Duke lost on the road. Again. Some will say this was a big win for Virginia Tech. I say beating Duke on your own home floor isn’t a big win at all. All but one of the teams they’ve played on the road have done it, and the only one that failed to do it was Boston College. That’s because BC blew an opportunity to win the game in the final seconds. If the season ends with that being Duke’s only road win I will personally strongly feel they don’t belong in the field.

-A shoutout to Chicago State who won their first D1 road game yesterday and their 5th overall game of the year. I do not mean this as back-handed praise. I like what this program has done this year under Gerald Gillion. They are not in a conference and one could say they have absolutely nothing to play for, yet they still play hard and are actually noticeably better than they have been in years past. I’d like to see them land in the Horizon League, or the Ohio Valley, or some place in their geographic region.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PENN STATE AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). Rutgers is solidly inside the bubble and while they’ll be tested today, they should be able to hold serve. Penn State is squarely on our bubble and could really use a win in a game like this in order to help them land on the right side of it.

-MIAMI FL AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). Miami has lost their last three road games, including a very close road loss at Duke over the weekend, and could use a win tonight simply because it is likely their most winnable remaining road game. It won’t be a cakewalk, though, given how much better Florida State has been playing in recent weeks.

-NOTRE DAME AT NC STATE (ACC). NC State shouldn’t have too much trouble bouncing back from their loss at UNC over the weekend and picking up a win tonight.

-OHIO STATE AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Ohio State ended a five game losing streak with a somewhat impressive win over Iowa this past weekend, but they’ve still got some work to do if they want to end up inside the bubble. Having said that, winning at Illinois would constitute doing quite a bit of work, so…

-LSU AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Arkansas ended a four game losing streak this past weekend with a win over Ole Miss, and this should be another winnable home game over an LSU team that isn’t bad, but also isn’t inside the bubble right now.

-OKLAHOMA AT TCU (Big 12). TCU is coming off their hugely impressive blowout win at Kansas where it was perhaps the best single game that any team has played this season. They’re at home tonight against an Oklahoma team that’s floating around the bubble and who needs to string together some wins, but doing that in a conference like the Big 12 isn’t easy given how good the entire top half of the league is.

-KENT STATE AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (MAC). Kent State is inching closer and closer to the top 25 and should be able to land inside the bubble if they can continue to dominate MAC play.

-KANSAS STATE AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). Both teams are protected seeds in our projections right now, and K State may actually have a shot at a #1 seed if they keep winning like they have been. They have some very impressive road wins on their resume already and will certainly be tested again tonight by an Iowa State team that’s been playing very well at home.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS (Big 12). Oklahoma State is starting to string together wins and has played their way very close to our bubble, and while they’ll certainly have the opportunities they need to get inside of it, winning the games they need to win won’t be easy given how strong the conference is. They have a chance tonight against a Texas team that’s one of the many Big 12 teams that’s in contention for a protected seed.

-GEORGIA TECH AT CLEMSON (ACC). This should be another winnable home game for a Clemson team that is inside the bubble and should stay there so long as they hold serve the rest of the way.

-NORTH CAROLINA AT SYRACUSE (ACC). This game is a bigger deal than most may realize because to date they have just one true road win, and that was at Louisville which may arguably not even count. Syracuse is on a stretch where they’re 10-3 in their last 13, which is a lot better than they were when they started the season, but they’ve still got a long way to go to reach the bubble.

-KENTUCKY AT VANDERBILT (SEC). Kentucky has now won three straight and has looked noticeably better in that three game stretch than they have at any previous point in the season. This is a road game against a Vandy team that isn’t anywhere near the bubble, but that also isn’t an SEC doormat either.

-FRESNO STATE AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). Boise State is having a really good year and should be able to bounce back tonight from a close and hard fought overtime loss to New Mexico over the weekend.

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Murray State (11-9, 6-4) at Southern Illinois (16-5, 8-2) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the Missouri Valley where Murray State crosses the Ohio River to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis. The Racers have won two out of their last three games; their last game was an 82-73 home win against Indiana State. Brian Moore Jr. had 19 points for Murray State; with the win they jumped into a 5-way tie for fourth place.

The Salukis are on fire right now with wins in 11 out of their last 12 games; they won the first matchup against Murray State 63-57 on the road. In their last game, they won the Barry Hinson Classic against Missouri State 61-57. Four players for the Salukis scored in double figures at MSU; Lance Jones led the way with 11 points.

And speaking of Barry Hinson, this classic video came after an SIU-Murray State matchup about a decade ago:

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We’ve got a stacked panel tonight to review a busy week in college basketball and look ahead to yet another busy week. We spend a little time debating whether Alabama or Purdue should be the top ranked team, we look at the Big 12 and how as many as six teams could end up as protected seeds, we discuss TCU’s huge blowout win at Kansas, we look at two other shocking losses with Houston losing at home to Temple and Gonzaga losing at home to LMU. We preview a big week for the SEC as they go into the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Mountain West has several teams hovering around the bubble, and we debate what the actual strength of the league is with some of us thinking it’s a mirage and others thinking it’s strong. All that, and more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show….

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/HHD-Report-1-23-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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David Dorman’s comments on the bracket are posted below…

NOTES ON THE BRACKET (From David Dorman):

We are under 50 days until Selection Sunday and there are a ton of games this week that will shape this year’s bracket.

I had a really hard time placing the teams right on the cut line. The resumes look similar. Some good wins at home, not much on the road. With teams right on the cut line I like to look for road wins that are tough to get. I like to see a team win in buildings where most visitors walk out losers. Show me something on your resume no one or few others have. Northwestern went to Bloomington and beat Indiana and went to East Lansing and beat Michigan State. Only Northwestern and Purdue have gone into Michigan State this year and left victorious.Northwestern is the only team in the country this year to win at Indiana this year. To me this shows Northwestern can win big tough games. I gave the Wildcats one of my last at large berths because of these road wins.

The last 4 schools to make my bracket today were:

Maryland
West Virginia
Arizona State
Northwestern

Just missed my bracket:

Penn State
Pitt
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State

There are 3 Big Ten teams and 3 Big 12 teams on those 2 lists. These teams can’t afford to lose at home and pulling off a stunner on the road is highly advised.

I had Houston on the 1 line until last night’s home stunning loss to Temple. The Tennessee Volunteers moved up to 1 line with Houston’s loss.

LOOK OUT 5 seeds, the best under the radar teams are coming after you. Oral Roberts, Charleston, Kent State all currently sit on the 12 line and are very capable of winning multiple games in the NCAA Tournament. If any of these 3 team’s stumble in their conference tournaments there will be long and difficult decisions in the committee room. Should they receive an at large bid? What seed line do they deserve? They all have resumes worthy of at large bids.

Maybe the best under the radar team is Dusty May’s Owl’s from Florida Atlantic. They are 19-1 and running away with Conference USA’s regular season title. I have them as a 7 seed today and I could see them receiving a 5 or 6 seed if they win out. 1 loss will not change my thoughts on this team, they are at large worthy today and a loss or two won’t change that.

Teams that have risen in my bracket lately:

Kansas State
Marquette
TCU
St. Mary’s
Indiana
Rutgers
Iowa State

Teams in my bracket but cold lately:

Illinois
Gonzaga
Wisconsin
Arkansas

Huge games for the bracket this week:

Wisconsin @ Northwestern 1/23

Ohio State @ Illinois 1/24

Kansas State @ Iowa State 1/24

Xavier @ UConn 1/25

Iowa @ Michigan State 1/26

UCLA @ USC 1/26

Enjoy the games, Selection Sunday is coming fast.

COMMENTS FROM CHAD:

– I have said it before and I will say it again — I just don’t get all the love for Tennessee’s profile. The Vols have only one win over a team solidly in the field (Kansas — so it is a very good win). They have a loss to a team that is near the bottom of the at-large field (Kentucky) and a team nowhere near the field (Colorado). That’s a solid profile, and a top 4 seed, but nowhere near the 1 line in my opinion.

– I like TCU better than the 5 line, maybe as high as a 3 seed. Yes, they have a very bad home loss to Northwestern State, but they won AT Kansas, AT Baylor, and beat Kansas State as well. That is three wins over protected seeds, to go along with wins over Iowa and Providence. Quite frankly, that is way more than Tennessee has done.

– I think Boise State belongs in the field, but not as an 8 seed. The Broncos have three losses to teams that are not in the field (one is a horrible one at home to South Dakota State). They do not have a single win over a team that actually made the field. Yes, their 7 Tier 2A wins is impressive, but that gets you in as an 11 or 12 seed at best, and probably going to Dayton for the First Four.

– Illinois has not lost to anyone that missed David’s field other than his top team out, Penn State. They have neutral court wins over UCLA and Texas. That is deserving of several seed lines higher than a 9. I could see them as high as a 5 or 6 seed right now.

– I also feel Wisconsin is undervalued. The Badgers don’t have any really bad losses (most of them were to teams that made the field). They won at Iowa and at Marquette as well. I think they deserve to be 3-4 seed lines higher than a 10.

– I really cannot argue too much with the choices of teams. I probably would not have Ohio State in right now, but it is hard to pick someone to replace them. I like that Dorman left Pitt out — the Panthers are fading fast. All in all, I think this was a good bracket — way better than the nonsense that Griggs posted last week.

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

-Dorman was right in that Houston was not going to be a #1 seed after a bedwetting at home against Temple. I also agree with Chad in that it should not have been Tennessee getting the last #1 right now. I would actually have made the case for Kansas State given that they now have 2 road wins against protected seeds Texas and Baylor.

-Saint Mary’s is one of those teams that probably looks like a 5 seed when you see them play in person, but when I look at their resume they scream 7 or 8 seed to me. Their win against San Diego State is the only team that I feel confident putting in the field, and they also have losses against Colorado State and Washington that are eye-gougingly bad this year. Maybe split the difference and make them a 6?

-Arizona State picked a bad week to go winless; they are now 0-3 against 3 of the top teams in the Pac-12 at home (losses against USC, UCLA and Arizona). Now they almost have to get a road win against at least one of those teams just to feel safely in the field; I’m getting a lot more bearish against the Sun Devils. But not as much as Teitel probably is.

-We talk about 12 seeds being giant killers; #13 Marshall and #14 Seattle would also be good upset picks in a field like this. #14 Princeton would be pushing your luck.

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Darrell Corwin worked his way up the ladder at Kansas City: he started as an assistant professor in the Health and Physical Education Department in 1966, then became JV coach in 1969, then took over the varsity squad in 1973. By the time he left the sideline in 1980 he had won the most games in school history (118) and led the Roos to their 1st postseason tourney (in 1977). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Corwin about making the 1977 NAIA national tourney and being the winningest coach in school history. Today marks the 8th anniversary of his enshrinement into the UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame on January 23, 2015, so we take this time to honor his life/legacy.

How did you 1st get into coaching? At 1st I thought that I was going to become a football coach. I had a job lined up as a high school assistant but I got my Masters’ degree and there was an opening as a junior high school basketball coach. I later won an award there as assistant coach of the year and the head of the Physical Education department at UMKC offered me a job. I became an assistant to head coach Bill Ross and head of the JV team while also coaching the baseball team.

You became the varsity coach at Kansas City in 1973: why did you take the job? I was going to take a job at Longview JC. I told our athletic director that I was going to leave but he told me to give him 2 weeks: he decided to make me an offer so I stuck around.

You were known for having a fast-break offense and pressing defense: why did you choose to play that way, and what made it so effective? Our very 1st game was against a team that pressed us…and they beat our butts! From that point on we decided to always run: I was very much into conditioning and we were in very good shape. We were able to beat a lot of teams in the 4th quarter when our opponents would run out of gas. We pressed all the time, even if we were leading late in the game, but that was the only thing that we knew how to do.

In 1977 you led the team to the NAIA national tourney (the only postseason trip in school history): how close did you come to beating Grand Valley State? We were up on them until about 8 minutes left. Back then there was no 3-PT line or shot clock: I decided to keep running but our shots did not go in. Grand Valley ended up in the Final 4, which is where we thought we could reach. They had an All-American named Paul Peterman who got hot.

In 1980 you received the UMKC Chancellor’s Special Citation for athletic achievement: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? There were not too many of those given out so it meant a lot. I was retiring and I appreciated it a lot.

You remain the winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? Oh yes, it will be broken someday. The AD and I always told each other that you had to dominate D-2 before going into D-1. I still wonder what the program could have done at the D-2 level…but the administration wanted to get into D-1 in a hurry.

After retiring you worked with the Special Olympics: how fulfilling was that part of your life? It was great. I worked 18 years for the county’s special recreation administrator. We started with 800 kids and soon ended up with 2400 kids. It was very fulfilling and a lot of fun.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? That is hard to answer but I hope they look at me as a guy who could win. When we went on the road as an Independent it was very difficult because the other schools had their own Frank and Jesse James officiating crews! I really enjoyed the players: it was tough to not see them any more after I retired.

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Norfolk State (13-6, 3-1) at Morgan State (10-9, 3-1) – 7:30 PM ET (ESPNU)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to Charm City in Baltimore where the Morgan State Bears host the Norfolk State Spartans in a battle of MEAC leaders. The Spartans have won their first two road games in conference play, but those were against Delaware State and Coppin State. Sandwiched in between those two wins was a tough home loss against Howard – while it appeared that Joe Bryant Jr. hit a game-winning shot against Howard, a subsequent foul led to the Bison hitting 3 free throws in the final seconds to escape with an 86-84 victory.

Morgan State was on a 6-game winning streak that included wins in their first 3 conference games; that streak also came to an abrupt end against Howard. But one of the 3 wins did come against NC Central; Morgan State is one of 5 teams tied for first in the conference along with Norfolk State, Howard, NC Central and Maryland-Eastern Shore. Malik Miller averages 17.5 points a game and 9.8 rebounds a game for the Bears.

HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN (From the Puppet):

-The most jaw dropping result from yesterday was Temple’s win at top ranked Houston 56-55. Despite managing one of the best singular wins that any team will manage this season, Temple is probably still far too far from the bubble to actually reach it, but they have won six of their last eight and are playing really well, so they may be a dangerous team in the conference tournament. Houston was terrible from the freethrow line and wasn’t all that much better from the floor. They could still end up with a #1 seed if they win out, but as Rocco Miller observed, regardless of what seed they get, they will not be a fun tteam to face at any point of the NCAA Tournament.

-Purdue got a scare from Maryland at home, but held on to win 58-55, and Indiana got another nice win as they held of Michigan State 82-69.

-WISCONSIN AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). Northwestern is hovering around getting a protected seed, and winning a game like this on the road should help give their NET a boost as well as boost their overall profile. Northwestern is inside our bubble, but a win like this could certainly help to move them further inside of it.

-DUKE AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). Duke has just one road win on the season, so even though beating VA Tech may not seem all that exciting, it actually does add something to their resume that needs adding.

-KANSAS AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Kansas has lost two straight and will be challenged again tonight, but even with the two losses they are still one of the top teams in the country and can still end up earning a #1 seed. Baylor has been playing really well and is among the many teams in the Big 12 that’s within reach of a protected seed. A win today puts it even more within reach.

-NEW MEXICO AT NEVADA (Mountain West). New Mexico has been playing really well and is coming off a come from behind overtime win against a pretty good Boise State team. They’ll really be challenged tonight by a Nevada team that’s unbeaten at home and that’s sitting squarely on the bubble. A win like this could help make the difference as to whether or not they make the NCAA Tournament.

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the upcoming months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. Since the Hoyas were out of town this weekend, he decided to see how the other half lives at GW, so see below for his photo essay about the Colonials’ game yesterday against Dayton.

Based on the pregame meal the other half lives less well: bagels and water…plus they ran out of cream cheese! The good news is that I got to sit on the baseline, but the bad news is that the mop guy sat right in front of me. GW 1st-year head coach Chris Caputo did not beat a single top-200 team in non-conference play but has single-digit wins over UMass/George Mason this month as he prepared to face the highest-ranked team on his schedule all year in Dayton:

The Flyers are known for having great fans and there is a LOT of red in the crowd so let’s tip it off:

Dayton F Toumani Camara has only made 4 threes combined in his past 7 games but knocked down a pair of them in the 1st half while the rest of his team was struggling to score:

I had not seen GW FR F Maximus Edwards play at all this year but he was fantastic in the 1st half with a pair of dunks and a trio of shots from behind the arc. The last 1 came from the top of the key right before the buzzer to give his team a stunning 36-22 halftime lead:

Nope, wrong Maximus…

Nope, still the wrong 1…

There we go!
Flyers’ PF DaRon Holmes II (from the great state of Arizona) was bottled up in the 1st half due to getting double-teamed in the post. For some reason the Colonials stopped doing that after halftime and Holmes’ teammates found him inside for a variety of layups/dunks/put-backs as he finished with 14 PTS/10 REB:

I can make sense of most stats but here is 1 that boggles my mind: Dayton is just 1-3 this season when guards Kobe Elvis/Malachi Smith are both in the lineup but 12-3 when at least 1 of them is out, which has been the case since the day after Thanksgiving due to the injury bug hitting both guys. Smith finally got back onto the court this week and had a pair of 3-PT plays in the 2nd half while making all 5 of his FTs to finish with 12 PTS in 21 minutes:

Elvis has returned to the building…and looked good in his very 1st appearance in 2 months with a pair of threes and a layup to finish with 8 PTS in 13 minutes. I just hope that big brace on his right leg can keep him healthy:

After letting his freshman teammate take care of business in the 1st half, SR PG James Bishop took over in the 2nd stanza and was unstoppable on offense. He made a couple of long jump shots but mostly relied on his speed to get to the basket for a bunch of lefty layups as GW hung on to win 76-69 and improve to 4-2 in A-10 play:

In the GW postgame press conference (home team only this afternoon), I asked both Edwards and Bishop if they really thought they could win this conference (after finishing 8-9 in league play last year). The young stud jumped right in and said, “100%: everyone in the locker room thinks we can win it.” In contrast, the latter veteran explained that they just focused on 1 game at a time and would try to get better every day:

After someone else asked Coach Caputo about rebounding I followed up by noting that his team is now 9-1 when they out-rebound their opponent and 1-8 when they do not. He smiled and claimed that he would use that stat in practice on Monday, then shared a paraphrased version of 1 of his favorite Pete Carril quotes: “If you want good rebounders then recruit players who live near the train tracks.” He admits that some guys just have a knack for rebounding but if you cannot get the ball then at least box out your opponent so that 1 of your teammates can rebound instead:

That is a wrap from Foggy Bottom, but check back in a few days as I head back downtown for DePaul-Georgetown.

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For today’s HOOPS HD DAILY RUNDOWN, where we preview all of today’s action and recap all of yesterday’s – CLICK HERE

We are only 7 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we continue to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

NOTE FROM DAVID GRIGGS: In a previous version of this post, Albany was listed as the #6 seed in the West instead of Duke. This was my mistake when I built the bracket, and it was a rather silly one!! I mean…Albany CLEARLY cannot be placed in Albany if the committee gives them a #6 seed!! It has since been corrected.

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Kansas (Big 12)

2: Tennessee (SEC)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Texas (Big 12)
2: Gonzaga (WCC)

3: Arizona (Pac-12)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)
3: Xavier (Big East)
3: Iowa State (Big 12)

4: Virginia (ACC)
4: Marquette (Big East)
4: Baylor (Big 12)
4: TCU (Big 12)

5: Connecticut (Big East)
5: Miami (ACC)
5: Auburn (SEC)
5: Rutgers (Big 10)

6: Duke (ACC)
6: Providence (Big East)
6: St. Mary’s (WCC)
6: Illinois (Big 10)

7: San Diego State (MWC)
7: NC State (ACC)
7: Michigan State (Big 10)
7: Arkansas (SEC)

8: North Carolina (ACC)
8: New Mexico (MWC)
8: Indiana (Big 10)
8: Iowa (Big 10)

9: Clemson (ACC)
9: Missouri (SEC)
9: Wisconsin (Big 10)
9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

10: Arizona State (Pac-12)
10: Boise State (MWC)
10: Creighton (Big East)
10: Maryland (Big 10)

11: Ohio State (Big 10)
11: Memphis (AAC)
11: West Virginia (Big 12)
11: Northwestern (Big 10)
11: Oklahoma (Big 12)
11: Kentucky (SEC)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Kent State (MAC)
12: Oral Roberts (Summit)
12: Dayton (A-10)

13: Marshall (Sun Belt)
13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Iona (MAAC)
13: Southern Illinois (MVC)

14: Utah Valley (WAC)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: UCSB (Big West)
14: Youngstown State (Horizon)

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Samford (SoCon)
15: UMass-Lowell (America East)
15: SIU-Edwardsville (OVC)

16: Eastern Washington (Big Sky)
16: Longwood (Big South)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Southern (SWAC)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Pitt (ACC)
Nevada (MWC)
Penn State (Big 10)
Utah State (MWC)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-So TCU…..

The Horned Frogs did something yesterday that might happen once a year, but perhaps not even that often. They not only won a road game against one of the top two ranked teams, they absolutely blew their doors off!! They had an injury to a key player and it looked like Kansas had momentum going into the half despite being down double digits, but TCU STILL blew Kansas to the moon!! I do need to point out that Kansas did have a similar result a year ago to Kentucky where they got blown off their own floor, and as I recall Kansas still ended up having a pretty decent season, so it’s not game over by any means, and perhaps it isn’t even a reason to be overly discouraged if you’re a Kansas fan. But…WOW!!!!!!!

-Missouri, who looks to be an NCAA Tournament caliber team, was all jacked up yesterday to host Alabama. And….they got absolutely killed 85-64. It was an impressive road win and margin of victory for the Tide, who in my opinion look like the best overall team right now.

-UCLA’s winning streak came to an end as they fell at Arizona 58-52, but Arizona is a team that’s likely to end up as a protected seed so this loss won’t hurt UCLA all that much. Had they won it, then we’d probably be looking at them as a potential #1 seed, but a loss is hardly a setback.

-Oklahoma State got a big 61-59 win against an Iowa State team that had been playing well and that appeared to be heading toward a protected seed. This gives the Cowboys a much needed boost. Even thought hey were at home it’s still a big win for them. They’re not quite inside the bubble, but they took a step toward it with this win yesterday.

-Miami FL came up just short at Duke when they fell 68-66. A win for the Canes could have helped strengthen their case for a protected seed because while Duke isn’t in that range, they’re still very tough to beat on their floor. In fact, they’re still unbeaten on their floor.

-Marquette picked up a VERY impressive 74-53 win at Seton Hall yesterday. It may not sound overly impressive on the surface, but Seton Hall had been playing very well in recent weeks, and Marquette hadn’t beaten anyone that was as good as them on the road so far this season. Well, they won yesterday, and they didn’t mess around while doing it. Considering they’ve won 7 of their last 8, and the only loss was a close road loss at Xavier, Marquette might be playing as well as anyone in the Big East right now.

-Both Xavier and Providence won at home yesterday, but were not particularly dominant in doing so. The Musketeers begin their stiff road tests this week with trips to UConn and Creighton coming up this week; they will be the team to beat if they pick off 1 or 2 of these games.

-Baylor really had to sweat, but they picked up a 62-60 road win against a pretty solid Oklahoma team, which keeps them within range of earning a protected seed.

-Ohio State had been going in the complete wrong direction, and Iowa had really been playing well these past few weeks. So of course the Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes rather handily yesterday 93-77. It was a win that Ohio State DESPERATELY needed because they really were sinking into the quicksand.

-Pittsburgh, who had been playing very well and appeared to be looking like a tournament caliber team, really stubbed their toes yesterday by losing 71-64 at home to a Florida State team that is…well…BAD!

-North Carolina really needed a big win, and they got it against rival NC State 80-69. NC State’s Terquavion Smith was injured during the game after a foul that occurred under the basket and had to be taken off on a stretcher, so we certainly wish him the best. It was a scary scene to say the least. Reports are that he is okay.

-Saint Mary’s won at home against Santa Clara. That may seem like a ‘Dog Wags Tail’ type of announcement, but I really liked how Santa Clara had been playing and to see Saint Mary’s absolutely blow them off the court 77-58 was impressive. Gonzaga is high in the rankings, and given their resume they should be, but over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen Gonzaga have to sweat out their conference games, and Saint Mary’s has been blowing through them. It is probably time to start paying a lot more attention to the Gaels!

-Arizona State is squarely on the bubble, and yesterday they showed us why. They lost 77-69 at home to a USC team that’s actually outside the bubble. Teams on the bubble need to win home games against other bubble teams.

-Northwestern has been out of action due to health issues with the team and has had two key games postponed. ~~They have not yet been cancelled, but they also have not yet been rescheduled. We hope that those can be made up because as fans of the sport, we want to see them!~~ (Update from Stalica – Northwestern has rescheduled their game at Iowa on Tuesday, January 31; no word on the Wisconsin game yet.)

-One noteworthy UTR game from yesterday – after a pair of free throws from Cal Poly against UC-Davis yesterday at the 4:49 mark, the Mustangs led UC-Davis 63-50. However, the Aggies would close the game on a 15-0 run and topped it off with a layup by Ty Johnson with 8 seconds remaining to escape with a 65-63 victory.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-BUTLER AT UCONN (Big East). UConn is in a tailspin, but they are still have a strong resume due to all their big early season wins and will be okay so long as they can pull themselves out of it. Having said that, if they drop this one at home, then they will be in even more trouble.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT INDIANA (Big Ten). I’ve been very critical of Indiana for…well…most of the season, but they’ve really impressed me in their last two games, and as well as Michigan State has been playing this is still yet another game they can win, especially at home. This would be a nice win for whichever team pulls this off.

-MARYLAND AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Maryland is NCAA Tournament level good, and Purdue is #1 seed level good. And they’re at home. So…

-MEMPHIS AT CINCINNATI (American). Memphis is solidly on our bubble, and Jon Teitel actually has them as one of the last teams in right now. They can get there, but their margin for error is small and they need this one on the road today. (There will also be 70s uniforms from both teams as this will be the last matchup in Cincy between these two teams before UC goes to the Big 12)

-TEMPLE AT HOUSTON (American). This should be more low hanging fruit for the Cougars.

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Stonehill (8-13, 4-3) at Fairleigh Dickinson (12-9, 5-1) – 6:00 PM ET (NECFrontRow)

We at Hoops HD love the Northeast Conference, and today’s games conclude with a matchup of two of the top NEC teams as the Stonehill ~~Skyhawks~~ Stoners visit the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson. Stonehill, as expected, has had a lot of struggles in their first season of Division 1 competition, but they did have a last-second win against a Binghamton team back in December that suddenly finds themselves at the top of the America East standings. More recently, Andrew Sims had 24 points as the ~~Skyhawks~~ Stoners won at Long Island 73-66.

Fairleigh Dickinson got off to a 5-0 start that included 3 wins away from home – one of those wins was a 65-57 victory at Stonehill that featured a 21-point performance from Demetre Roberts; despite a bad shooting night from the field, he was 10-for-12 from the foul line that helped ice the win for the Knights. Sacred Heart, however, did finally put a stop to the Knights’ 5-game NEC winning streak with a 92-85 win on FDU’s home court.

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For today’s News, Notes and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE

Hawai’i (14-5, 5-2) at UC-Riverside (14-6, 7-1) – 4:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day goes to the West Coast (well, maybe the Inland Empire) where the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors travel to the UC-Riverside Highlanders. Hawai’i grabbed people’s attention with their first Diamond Head Championship with wins against Pepperdine, Washington State and SMU during Christmas break. Since then, Hawai’i has largely held serve with their only losses coming at Cal State-Fullerton and at UC-Irvine in their last game. Noel Coleman leads Hawai’i with 14.4 points a game.

UC-Riverside had a pedestrian 7-5 out-of-conference record; their only win of real note was against LMU but were tested with road losses against Colorado, Creighton, Oregon and crosstown rival Cal Baptist. Following a loss at home against Cal State-Fullerton, the Highlanders have now won 5 straight games, including a huge road win against UC-Santa Barbara. In their last game, Zyon Pullin hit a game-winning shot with 2 seconds remaining to give UC-Riverside a 74-72 victory against UC-Irvine.

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NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

New Mexico won an overtime thriller against a really good Boise State team 81-79. I think both teams are good enough to end up inside the bubble. For New Mexico it adds another notable win to their resume. For Boise State, it was a missed opportunity to pick up a huge road win, but was hardly a setback.

-MIAMI FL AT DUKE (ACC). Miami is a really strong team that is flirting with a protected seed, and Duke is solidly inside the bubble but has room to improve. I think whichever team pulls off this win will be nudged forward a little bit, and it should be a good game.

-TCU AT KANSAS (Big 12). The Big Twelve gives us multiple games each week between teams that are within reach of a protected seed. Kansas, despite the loss at Kansas State, is still probably on pace to get a #1 seed and should be able to rebound today even though TCU is really good. A win on the road at Kansas would is a tall order, and a failure to do so will not set TCU back at all. If they were to pull it off, though, it would shoot them WAAY up the seedlist and the rankings!

-THE CITADEL AT VMI (SoCon). We are highlighting this simply because of how much fun this game usually is!! Check it out!! It’s a very unique and very great rivalry!

-NAVY AT ARMY (Patriot League). If we’re going to highlight Citadel @ VMI, then we might as well highlight this one as well for the same reason!

-UCLA AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). This is perhaps one of the better games of the day. UCLA has been on a rampage for most of the season, but this would by far be their highest caliber win if they are able to pull this off. Arizona had been in a bit of a funk (at least by protected seed standards), but they looked like their old selves last night against USC and should be jacked way up for this one!

-VIRGINIA AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Virginia is a solid protected seed, but they will be tested on the road today by a Wake team that is squarely on the bubble and who could really use this win. Wake is unbeaten at home, and even though it would be a home win it would still give their resume a much needed boost. This one should be fun. It’ll probably be better than what most are expecting.

-IOWA STATE AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). Iowa State has been playing fantastic and is looking more and more like a protected seed as the season goes on. Oklahoma State is outside the bubble, but they can get within reach of it in a hurry if they can just string together some wins given how strong this conference is. They should have some momentum built up after their big win in Bedlam earlier this week.

-IOWA AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Ohio State is on life support and could really use a win so they can snap their five game losing streak. Iowa had been on life support, but has bounced back. They’ve not got a solid tournament profile and look like a solid tournament team on the court. A road win in a game like this would add another piece to it.

-TEXAS A&M AT KENTUCKY (SEC). TAMU is unbeaten in SEC play, but they are also untested in SEC play. They will be tested today against a Kentucky team that appeared to be in free fall, but who has seemingly found themselves in the last week and is now playing at a noticeably higher level.

-MARQUETTE AT SETON HALL (Big East). Marquette is having a great year, but this would be their biggest road win of the year to date, so it’s a bigger game than what it may look like at first glance. It’s also perhaps a harder game than what it looks like at first glance. Seton Hall is outside the bubble, but they’ve won four straight, two of those were on the road, and one was against UConn. They are suddenly playing really well and can make up quite a bit of ground rather quickly if they keep stringing together wins.

-BAYLOR AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). Baylor is a team that I think is being a little undervalued. They did lose three straight games, but two were games that came down to the final seconds against highly ranked teams, and they have followed up that stretch by winning three straight games. This won’t be an easy road game, but it’s a game they’re certainly capable of winning against an Oklahoma team that appears to be sliding down the seedlist.

-NORTH TEXAS AT UAB (Conference USA). North Texas may be out of strikes. If they lose this game, there will be no “may be” about it. Their only way win will likely be the auto-bid.

-COLORADO STATE AT WYOMING (Mountain West, Front Range). We at Hoops HD LOVE the Front Range!!!!!

-NC STATE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). North Carolina has no wins of any real substance other than perhaps a home win against Charleston. Despite this being a home game, it would arguably be their best win of the year if they pull it off. NC State has won seven of their last eight and picked up some nice road wins in that stretch. They’ll be challenged again today, and this is a rivalry game which adds a little more to it. In short, it’s a rivalry game between two teams that could really use this win on their resume.

-ALABAMA AT MISSOURI (SEC). We all agree that Alabama is a #1 seed right now, and I feel that they should be the top #1 seed, but others feel that they need to do a little more. Well, winning at Missouri would fall under the category of “a little more.” Missouri could really use a win like this as well. They are inside the bubble, but not so far inside of it that they are incapable of slipping off out of it. A win today over a team that’s as good as Bama would be huge even if it is a home game.

-TEXAS AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). Texas keeps racking up wins and keeps looking like a protected seed. West Virginia is probably a legit top 40 team. The problem is that so many teams in the Big 12 are legit top 20 teams and racking up any sort of wins is tough. They need this one, even though they are at home. If they can’t get to 7 conference wins I don’t think they have much of a shot at beings elected.

-SANTA CLARA AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast). I think Saint Mary’s is not just safely in the field, but safely in the top half of the bracket. I also like how this Santa Clara team has been playing. If they can win a game like this, they’d be making a serious case for themselves. This one should be fun!!

-USC AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). Right now we have Arizona State inside the bubble, and they need to win this game in order to stay there. We also have USC outside the bubble, and they need to win this game in order to get there. With Arizona State and UCLA coming up, this is a HUGELY important stretch for USC and their Tournament chances.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Georgetown @ Xavier (Big East) – Georgetown is looking for their first conference win and Xavier is looking to hold serve
-Charleston @ Northeastern (Colonial) – Charleston should be able to hold serve and pick up yet another conference road win
-Ole Miss @ Arkansas (SEC) – Arkansas is in a tailspin and needs to take advantage of what should be a very winnable home game to help pull themselves out of it
-UCF @ South Florida (American) – UCF is outside of our bubble, but they do have a path to landing inside of it. They need to hold serve in games like this, though, even though it’s a road game
-Vanderbilt @ Georgia (SEC) – Georgia may be in a position to make a run at the bubble, but they need to hold serve in games like this
-Texas Tech @ Kansas State (Big 12) – K State should be able to hold serve in this one without too much trouble
-DePaul @ Providence (Big East) – DePaul is coming off a big home win against Xavier, but winning on the road at Providence is an entirely different level of hard. Providence is still within reach of a protected seed
-Nebraska @ Penn State (Big Ten) – Penn State is squarely on our bubble and needs to hold serve in games like this in order to keep from being knocked outside of it
-Florida State @ Pittsburgh (ACC) – Pitt is inside our bubble and we believe they’ll be able to stay there so long as they keep holding serve
-Auburn @ South Carolina (SEC) – Auburn has won 4 straight and can pick up their 4th road win of the season today
-Tennessee @ LSU (SEC) – Tennessee had the setback against Kentucky, but they’re coming off a nice road win at Mississippi State and have another winnable road win today, which should keep them solidly around the 2/3 lines
-Virginia Tech @ Clemson (ACC) – Clemson is coming off a loss, but they’ve held serve in the ACC and looked impressive enough to where it looks like they’ll make the field. I expect that they’ll hold serve again at home today
-San Jose State @ Utah State (Mountain West) – Utah State has a lot of wins, but nothing else about their resume really jumps out at you yet. They need to hold serve in this one and keep stringing together wins, though. They do have a chance to get in
-Washington @ Utah (Pac 12) – We’ve got Utah on the outside looking in, but we have them close enough to where they can get in if they play well down the stretch
-Florida @ Mississippi State (SEC) – Mississippi State is just 1-6 in their last seven games and needs to pull themselves out of the tailspin that they’re in
-Florida Atlantic @ UTEP (Conference USA) – FAU is really playing well, and has a long string of wins going, and should be able to continue that today even though UTEP can be tough to beat on the road
-Gonzaga @ Pacific (West Coast) – Gonzaga should be able to bounce back from their somewhat (but only somewhat) surprising loss to LMU earlier this week
-San Diego State @ Air Force (Mountain West) – this could be a tricky road game for San Diego State, but it’s still a game they should win
-Cal State Bakersfield @ UC Santa Barbara (Big West) – If UCSB can win out, which won’t be easy but it’s something they’re good enough to do, then I think they’ll end up getting a serious look from the committee

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-For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast, where we build a seedlist line by line and discuss/debate each team as we go – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Gonzaga had been playing with fire for weeks and had several games come down to the final minute, and even the final seconds, but always found a way to win. Last night, they didn’t find a way to win. LMU was ahead for most of the second half, but with less than a minute to go Gonzaga tied it, and even had the ball in the final seconds of the game with a chance to win it. We had seen this so many times that it actually was a bit of a surprise when they came up empty, and LMU picked up a HUGE win for their program at the Kennel 68-67.

-UCLA got a nice road win at Arizona State, which is a win they should get a lot of credit for considering that Arizona State has some big wins, has played well at home, and hovering around the bubble. Now, if they can win at Arizona on Saturday, then that would REALLY be big!

-Michigan State pulled away from Rutgers and picked up yet another notable win. They seem to be doing it a piece at a time, but they are climbing the seedlist and building up a pretty good resume.

-Indiana, who had looked very pedestrian when playing on the road, picked up a VERY impressive 80-65 win at Illinois yesterday, which is probably as impressive as any win they’ve managed this season outside of their big win at Xavier earlier in the year.

-BALL STATE AT KENT STATE (MAC). Kent State has yet to lose in conference play and if they can continue to dominate the conference I think the committee is going to give them one hell of a look. They need to keep winning, though.

-VILLANOVA AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). The Johnnies are outside the bubble, but they do have some notable wins and would be able to reach it if they can start stringing a few more together. They need to hold serve in this one tonight.

-VCU AT RICHMOND (Atlantic Ten). If any team from the A10 has any chance at all of landing inside the bubble, it’s probably VCU, and they pretty much need to win out to do it.

-BOISE STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). Both teams are inside our bubble right now, and both are looking to grow the value of their resumes, so tonight’s game is a big opportunity for both teams.

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The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 16 gold medals in the 19 tournaments they have participated in during the past 87 years, while the women have won 9 gold medals in the 11 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 47 years. While we have to wait 1 more year until the 2024 Olympics in Paris, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will fill the void by interviewing as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible. We continue our coverage by chatting with Juliene Brazinski Simpson about winning a silver medal and being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Today is Juliene’s birthday so let us be the 1st to wish her a happy 1!

You were a 4-time AAU All-American PG at John F. Kennedy College and also won a national softball title as a 3rd baseman: which sport were you best at, and which sport did you enjoy the most? Basketball was my 1st love starting when I was very young. My older brother gets all the credit for my love of the game because he would drag me everywhere to play. However, I also enjoyed playing baseball so my brother encouraged me to try out for the softball team and plan third base. In college, I showed up a week early to try out for the softball team and made the roster. Our college won three World Series in a row: I was proud to be on the team for one of those College World Series titles. I had played baseball before but never softball so it was a learning experience. Thank god I had good reaction time after figuring out where I should stand!

After graduating in 1974 you and your husband became the 1st people in New Mexico to teach co-ed physical education: how did people feel about a woman coaching a high school boys’ basketball team? Mike and I were the first teachers to lead a co-ed physical education class in the state of New Mexico. We trained together and the staff and parents at Cathedral High School saw how hard we trained. They took the time to get to know us as people so we had their support. However, opposing coaches would often not shake my hand and our players would get heckled on the court for having a female coach. I always praised them for their strength and for hanging in there. We made it to the playoffs during my very 1st year. As time went on, I became more accepted as a woman coaching boys and eventually other schools began to follow suit. We had an amazing time in Gallup: I still keep in touch with a lot of my former players.

In 1975 you won a gold medal with team USA at the Pan Am Games: how big a deal was it to win the country’s 1st gold medal in 12 years? I played on 11 teams in my career that represented the USA: the 1976 Olympics, World University Games, Pan American Games, international tours, etc. I never went into a game thinking about winning a medal…but any time you win a medal it is a big deal. The camaraderie we had on the Pan American team is what I believe led us to win the gold medal. I felt a responsibility to give my best and show other women what was possible.

Take me through the 1976 Olympics as a player for team USA:
You were a co-captain along with Pat Summitt: could you tell at the time that she would end up becoming 1 of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport? She played with such passion and determination so it was no surprise to me that these qualities helped her become an extraordinary coach. However, I am unsure if I knew that at the time.

What did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a silver medal? First, it was an honor to make the Olympic team and be selected as a co-captain. Every time that I put on the USA uniform to represent my country it was a wonderful feeling. To this day, I still wear a lot of USA clothing and gear because I am proud to have been selected to represent our country. It was not easy to make the final roster: there were about 10-12 people on the selection committee. Tryouts were held throughout the US and there was a lot of competition so you never felt secure. When I finally saw my name on the list I felt so proud and humble: it was a dream come true. If I close my eyes I can still remember that feeling. Even 4 years prior to the 1976 Olympics the IOC was still in discussions about including women’s basketball. Once the team was selected the players had to select 2 teammates as co-captains: they chose me and Pat. I pinch myself because even though I knew I was a good leader I was just thrilled to make the team, let alone be selected as a captain. Pat and I both took our roles very seriously and worked very well together. For example, when difficult things needed to be said, being from New Jersey, I was very direct and the kids from the Midwest would just stare at me! Pat would use her sweet Southern accent to say the same thing in a different way than I did. My hometown newspaper did not even think that we would make it out of the pre-Olympic tournament so standing on the podium I just said a little prayer thanking everyone who believed in me from the bottom of my heart. After we won, there was a small room full of media who was finally interested in our team. A reporter asked what we thought would happen after winning the silver medal: Coach Billie Moore said that we would impact women’s athletics for the next 25 years.

You set an Olympic record by making all 16 of your FT attempts: what is the secret to being a great FT shooter? Practice, practice, practice! NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry lived four houses away from me and held the highest percentage for free throw shooting at the time. I would shoot 100 FTs and say to myself that Rick would have made 96, so if I missed 4 before making 96 then I would start over and try to make 97. At JFK, we played Wayland Baptist in the Women’s NIT 1 year: after getting fouled I missed a couple of FTs and we lost by 1 PT. I was devastated and vowed that it would never happen again. I did not set out to be perfect in the Olympics but I developed a lot of confidence under pressure. Another statistic you see published is that Lusia Harris scored the very 1st bucket in Olympic women’s history: I passed her the ball! I was at a basketball camp last year and reminded everyone that I am at the top of the FT list with Diana Taurasi right below me.

You spent more than 2 decades as head coach at Cincinnati/ASU/Bucknell/Marshall: what is the key to being a good coach? One of many things that Billie Moore taught us was to have high standards both on and off the court. When I got into coaching I would call her to ask advice: I modeled myself after her. You need to have the total package…or else find an assistant who possesses the strengths that you do not have. The key to being successful is setting standards for yourself and working to achieve your goals by utilizing the people who came before you. As a young coach, sometimes I would get frustrated with players who would not buy into my system: Billie said that I could not change everyone but that if I kept working hard then someday they might buy in.

In 2000 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It was a great honor. When I received the call I was elated because being inducted was something that I never dreamed of.

You later spent more than a decade as athletic director at Saint Elizabeth University: how did you like being an administrator compared to being a coach? You have to be a creative problem solver. If I had to decide an ending to my career I could not have come up with a better situation. When I arrived at CSE, an all-women’s college, they only had 4-5 sports. During my time there the college went co-ed and I led the transition to having both men’s and women’s sports. I am proud to say that the very 1st year for men’s athletics our department enrolled 100 men to compete in 3 sports. Now there are 6 men’s sports and the athletic program is booming. It was a great end to my career in athletics to make such a significant impact on the college and the student-athletes.

You retired in 2020: what have you been up to since then? I have focused on my family. For over 30 years, I worked hard to shape the lives of other people’s children and now I am completely on my own. We have a daughter here in New Jersey and another daughter in Texas. When you are a coach you often miss a birthday or other special event so now I am enjoying life, having fun, and never missing a birthday or special event. I still remain active in athletics by speaking throughout the U.S. and by volunteering locally at basketball camps. I remember Billie telling me that I would enjoy retirement and will never forget that she called me the day after I retired and said, “Welcome to the Saturday Club!” because in retirement everyday you wake up is Saturday and you can do whatever you want.

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Ball State (13-5, 4-1) at Kent State (15-3, 5-0) – 6:30 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features a matchup of the top two teams in the MAC as the Ball State Cardinals head east to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes. Ball State has only stumbled once in conference play with a loss at Ohio University, but they did need a last-minute and a 3-point play by Mickey Pearson to defeat Western Michigan 71-70. This was on the heels of a strong start to MAC play with wins at Toledo and a win at home against defending MAC champion Akron.

Kent State has now won 9 games in a row after a loss at Gonzaga back in December; this is a stretch of games that includes wins against New Mexico State and UTEP in the Sun Bowl Classic in El Paso in December. The Golden Flashes did struggle a bit in their first two road games in MAC play against Miami and Ohio U, but they did get a more decisive win at Eastern Michigan in their last outing. Sincere Carry had 14 points and 5 assists in that win against EMU.

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 9:30pm, est on Thursday, January 19th. No games that went final after that, particularly LMU vs Gonzaga or UCLA vs Arizona State, were considered when creating this bracket.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BR-1-19-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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Stephen F. Austin (13-6, 5-1) at Sam Houston (13-5, 3-3) – 7:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features the Battle of the Piney Woods between the SFA Lumberjacks and the Sam Houston Bearkats. Both teams were old conference rivals in the Southland Conference before migrating to the WAC. Sam Houston had gotten off to a terrific start in nonconference play with wins at Utah and Oklahoma, but they have leveled off in WAC play. It is worth noting that all 3 teams that beat the Bearkats (Utah Valley, Grand Canyon and Southern Utah) are all at or near the top of the conference. Qua Grant averages just under 14 points a game for Sam Houston.

Things did not start promising for SFA in their out-of-conference schedule; the Lumberjacks were 8-5 in conference play. They also won their first five WAC games before finally losing at Southern Utah 67-58 in their last game. The loss left the Jacks in a 3rd-place tie with Southern Utah in the conference standings. Sadaidriene Hall averages 13.5 points a game and 6.6 rebounds a game for SFA.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-Xavier had been on an absolute rampage and hadn’t lost since November 27th, but they went into DePaul last night and it was one of those games that was close all throughout and you kept waiting for Xavier to get control of it, but they just never did. After missing several close looks on their last few possessions, they lost 73-72 in a somewhat surprising upset even though Xavier was the road team. This isn’t that much of a setback, and Xavier is still very much on pace to earn a protected seed, but it is at least a bit of a setback for a team that was so red hot.

-TCU fell way behind at West Virginia last night, then came back and it looked like they were going to pull off a big come from behind win on the road, but West Virginia regained control and ended up with the 74-65 win, which was their first Big 12 win of the season. The Mountaineers still have a lot of work to do, but this was a big first step.

-In just a few weeks UConn has gone from looking like a #1 seed to looking like a team that won’t get out of the Round of 64. They’ve now lost five of their last six, and their last two losses were to teams that look like NIT teams at best. They appeared to be in control at Seton Hall last night, but floundered down the stretch after having a 14pt lead at the half, and ended up losing (again) 67-66.

-Marquette continues to play really well and beat a very good Providence team at home yesterday 83-75 to get some revenge from an overtime loss earlier in the year. Both teams are playing at a high level, both are in the rankings, and both are looking very much like first ballot teams that could even end up as protected seeds if they keep it up.

-Arkansas continues to slide. They fell 79-76 at Missouri last night and are now just 1-5 in SEC play. Losing at Missouri in and of itself isn’t bad, but it’s the overall string of losses that is really starting to hurt the Razorbacks and move them down the seedlist. They need to start stringing together wins if they want to even stay inside the bubble. As for Missouri, their resume was a little flimsy as well, so this was a really nice home win for them.

-Last, and least, Ohio State is in real trouble. They fell on the road to Nebraska last night 63-60, which really hurts because Nebraska doesn’t appear to be anywhere near the NIT, much less the NCAA. Ohio State is now just 10-8 on the year with five straight losses, and two of those are coming to teams that are just smell really bad. The committee is not going to be impressed by a resume like that.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-RUTGERS AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Rutgers has won eight of their last night, is now in the rankings, and continues to climb the seedlist. A win tonight should give them yet another big win on their resume. It won’t be easy, though. Michigan State nearly upset Purdue in their last home game and while they’ve lost two straight they had won seven in a row before that. They are also trying to position themselves to where they are safely inside the bubble.

-MICHIGAN AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Maryland is probably inside the bubble right now, but they can’t just put it on cruise control just yet. They need to hold serve in games like this, which is never a given because one never knows what Michigan is going to do. The Wolverines are outside the bubble, but have shown the ability to play at a high level this year and if they can just start consistently doing that they have the opportunities they need to build up their resume.

-INDIANA AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Indiana has had issues with injuries, and that will be taken into consideration if they can get back to full strength by the time of the tournament, but right now they need some wins. They did snap a three game losing streak in their last game against Wisconsin, but now they go on the road for a tough one against Illinois (who could also use some wins to boost their resume) and are just 1-4 in true road games so far, so a win today for the Hoosiers could really pivot them in the right direction.

-USC AT ARIZONA (Pac 12). Arizona has lost two of their last three, and neither loss was to a team that’s likely to make the field. They’re still in excellent shape and will in all likelihood end up as a protected seed, but they are in a bit of a midseason funk right now. USC is hovering around the bubble and a road win in a game like this would certainly help land them on the right side of it.

-UCLA AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). Arizona State is hovering around the bubble and this is the kind of win that could really help them out even though they’re at home. UCLA is a protected seed that is now up to 5th in the rankings and has a real shot at ending up as a #1 seed if everything lands right. They’re 4-0 on the road this year, but this would actually be one of their better road wins.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Purdue @ Minnesota (Big Ten) – should be a winnable road game for a Purdue team that is on pace for a #1 seed
-Charleston @ Monmouth (Colonial) – This is almost like a road buy game. Charleston should win easily
-Wichita State @ Memphis (American) – Memphis is outside the bubble right now, but also within reach of it. They need to hold serve in games like this
-Florida Atlantic @ UTSA (Conference USA) – FAU shouldn’t have too much trouble tonight despite being on the road
-Rice @ North Texas (Conference USA) – the margin for error for North Texas is basically zero, but they are good enough to win out and if they do they should at least get a serious look from the committee
-LMU @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – Gonzaga should cruise in this one
-Washington State @ Utah (Pac 12) – it is important that Utah hold serve in this in order to stay within reach of the bubble
-Saint Mary’s @ Pepperdine (West Coast) – this is a road game that SMC should be expected to win
-BYU @ Santa Clara (West Coast) – I like how Santa Clara is playing, but think they need to do just a little more between now and the end in order to land inside the bubble

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Tonight’s feature conference is the Missouri Valley, which is traditionally one of the most successful Under the Radar conferences and has routinely placed teams inside the bubble, and has even made some Final Four runs (albeit not with current members), but that didn’t have the collective out of conference success this year that they normally do. Still there are several teams like Drake, Indiana State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, and even Belmont (and a few others) fighting for first place, so it’s as exciting as ever!

From there we run through the other 22 UTR leagues and discuss how strong Kent State has been and what their chances are of landing inside the bubble, how crazy leagues like the Sun Belt are with so many teams tied or close to tied at the top of the standings, how exciting the WAC and Conference USA are shaping up to be, Youngstown State as a surprise team in the Horizon League, and more!! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UTR-1-18-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Let’s start off with some news mixed in with a rant….

Kansas and K State lived up to the hype with the game going into overtime and K State holding on to win 83-82. Kansas had a disallowed 3 pointer in the final minute that would have counted had a timeout not been called from the Kansas bench. They also had a chance to win it on their last possession with a HUGE mismatch in the post, but then yet another timeout was called from the Kansas bench. Out of the timeouts K State was able to regroup defensively and come up with two big stops. Now, is there a lesson here?? I hope so. As a fan, no one likes watching multiple committee meetings in the final minute of a game, which is what timeouts ultimately are. As a player, no one likes having the flow of the game disrupted over and over and over again in the final 60 seconds of play, and it seems like it’s very rare when a team comes out of a timeout in a better position to convert on offense than they were in before the timeout was called. I hate that this is now how games typically end. And…this is NOTHING!! The final minute of Michigan State vs Purdue the other day took about TWENTY minutes!!! You know who was a really good coach who almost NEVER called timeout?? JOHN WOODEN!!!

But a HUGE win for a Kansas State team that is having a very special year! Congrats to the Wildcats.

-Other than that it was a fairly chalky night. Iowa State got a big win against Texas at home 78-67, Tennessee was sleepwalking in the first half against Mississippi State but picked up the 70-59 road win, Wake Forest got a nice 87-77 win over Clemson which is the first ACC lost for the Tigers, Baylor got an 81-74 road win at Texas Tech, Wisconsin really had to sweat at home but held off Penn State 63-60, and Kentucky got control of the game late in the second half to hold off Georgia 85-71.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-TCU AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). West Virginia is still looking for their first conference win, and despite the fact that they are a good team they won’t make the field if they keep losing games, even if they are to high caliber teams like TCU, who looks to be on pace to get a protected seed.

-AUBURN AT LSU (SEC). Auburn has a solid resume, but it still has room to improve and picking up road wins in conference is one way to do that. LSU has been strong at home, but they still need some notable wins to get them on the right side of the bubble.

-PROVIDENCE AT MARQUETTE (Big East). Both teams are in the rankings. Both are playing well. Both are within reach of a protected seed. And both are looking to bounce back from a loss in their last game. Providence can really boost their resume if they can pick up some high caliber road wins.

-ARKANSAS AT MISSOURI (SEC). Both these teams are heading in the wrong direction and could really use this game to get things turned back around. This game actually has a pivotal feel to it because you get the sense that whoever wins it will have gotten a much needed notable win, and whoever loses it will continue to be on the decline.

-OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). BEDLAM!!!!!!! God, I love this rivalry!!! I hope they keep it going after conference realignment even though it doesn’t look like they will. Oklahoma can use a big road win to move them further inside the bubble, and Oklahoma State needs some big wins just to reach the bubble, so this game means quite a bit both on and off paper.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-UConn @ Seton Hall (Big East) – UConn has lost four out of five and needs to pull themselves out of the tailspin they’re in. This SHOULD be a winnable conference road game
-Virginia Tech @ Virgniia (ACC) – this is a rivalry game, but it’s also a big mismatch in favor of the home team. UVA is a protected seed and VA Tech will have to do better just to make the NIT
-Xavier @ DePaul (Big East) – Should be a winnable road game for a Xavier team that is absolutely on fire right now
-Pittsburgh @ Louisville (ACC) – this is almost a buy game on the road
-Ohio State @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – this isn’t quite a buy game on the road, but it’s a game that Ohio State should absolutely be expected to win
-Florida @ Texas A&M (SEC) – TAMU has strung together quite a few wins, and if they keep it up Uncle Buzz can get his team back on the right side of the bubble!!
-San Diego State @ Colorado State (Mountain West) – it’s almost always tough to win on the road, but this should be a winnable road game for a San Diego State team that just fell back out of the top 25, but who we still believe is a top 25 caliber team

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UMBC (13-6, 3-1) at UMass-Lowell (15-4, 3-2) – 6:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day returns to eastern Massachusetts for a matchup in the America East between the UMBC Retrievers and the UMass-Lowell River Hawks. UMBC has won 10 out of their last 12 games; their only losses in that span were at Maryland and at Vermont in their conference opener. Last time out, UMBC beat one-time conference foe Hartford 87-62; Jacob Boonyasith had 19 points in the win against the Hawks that included a 4-for-6 performance beyond the 3-point arc.

However, it is UMBC that is in a tie for first place and not UMass-Lowell; the River Hawks had increased expectations after a surprising 12-2 start in nonconference play that included a road win against the flagship UMass across the state. They’ve lost 2 of their last 3 games against Albany on the road and Binghamton (the other co-leader in the America East) on the road. Everette Hammond averages 12.7 points a game and 5.4 rebounds a game for the River Hawks.

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NEWS, AND NOTES:

For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Purdue survivied a scare at Michigan State in a game that was close all throughout (and that the final minute seemed like it took an hour to play), and held on to pick up yet another impressive road win 64-63.

-Miami FL survived a scare from Syracuse, but escaped with an 82-78 win after trailing most of the game. Syracuse has been playing better, but to get all the way back into a position to where they are on the bubble they’ll need to keep stringing together wins.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-HOUSTON AT TULANE (American). It’s a showcase game for Tulane, they’re going to be way up for this one, and they have been playing well lately. But at the end of the day Houston is a #1 seeded caliber team and Tulane looks more like an NIT team than an NCAA Tournament team. But, a win tonight would be HUGE for them, so it should be fun.

-KANSAS AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). When it comes to game atmospheres this one tonight may be among the best we’ll see all season. K State is having a monster year, it looks like they’ll be a protected seed, and they’re hosting their big rivals who many feel should be the #1 overall seed right now. Kansas certainly has a shot at becoming the #1 overall seed and a win tonight would be a huge step toward that. This one is going to be tons of fun!!

-TENNESSEE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Tennessee is fighting to end up as a protected seed, and Mississippi State is fighting just to get into the field. Tennessee is still ranked in the top ten and is looking to bounce back from a somewhat surprising home loss to Kentucky, and Mississippi State has lost five of their last six and are trying to snap out of that tailspin.

-NC STATE AT GEORGIA TECH (ACC). NC State has been playing really well and can continue to secure a spot inside the bubble. This should be a winnable road game for them.

-BOSTON COLLEGE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). UNC appears to be safely inside the bubble for now and just needs to hold serve in games like this where they’re playing teams at home that are nowhere near the bubble.

-CREIGHTON AT BUTLER (Big East). Creighton is just 10-8 on the year and still doesn’t have a true road win this season. This is perhaps the most winnable road game they have remaining and if they can’t take care of business tonight then they are in legitimate danger of missing the field entirely.

-KENT STATE AT EASTERN MICHIGAN (MAC). I still think there is a place for Kent State inside the bubble if they can either win out or come close to winning out.

-TEXAS AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). It’s yet another Big 12 matchup between two teams that are high in the rankings and competing for protected seeds. That seems to be the storyline for nearly every Big 12 game this year. Iowa State is coming off a close loss at Kansas, and Texas is also on a complete tear where they’ve strong together a lot of wins against a lot of good teams.

-ALABAMA AT VANDERBILT (SEC). Alabama has proven they can win tough games, and they should be able to get this one on the road tonight, but Vandy isn’t a cakewalk when they’re at home, and they just beat a fairly decent Arkansas team their last time out.

-PENN STATE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Penn State is hovering around the bubble, and winning a road game like this against a very good Wisconsin team is a very good way to get inside the bubble. Wisky has lost three in a row and needs this win tonight to help get things turned around.

-CLEMSON AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). Wake is just a bubble team, but this might be Clemson’s toughest game of the year so far considering it’s on the road, and that Wake is unbeaten at home, and that they also really need this win to help them land on the right side of the bubble. On paper this means quite a bit to both teams.

-BAYLOR AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Baylor is one of the many teams in the Big 12 that’s fighting for a protected seed, and Texas Tech is still simply looking for their first win in conference play.

-GEORGIA AT KENTUCKY (SEC). With the win at Tennessee, Kentucky seems to have pulled themselves out of the tailspin and has things turned around, but they need to keep stringing together wins in order for their stability to be…well…stable. Georgia is fighting for a spot inside the bubble and a road win like this would be huge for them.

-UNLV AT UTAH STATE (Mountain West). Both teams are on the outside looking in, but both could still reach the bubble if they can string together some wins.

-SAN JOSE STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). New Mexico’s win at San Diego State changed the entire complexion of their season, and they now look like a team that is solidly inside the bubble and will remain there so long as they hold serve in games like this.

-NEVADA AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). I think Boise is inside the bubble and is good enough to remain there. Nevada is fighting for a spot in the field and a win in a game like this would be huge for them.

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Murray State (10-8, 5-3) at Belmont (13-6, 6-2) – 9:00 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)

For several years, the fate of the Ohio Valley Conference hung in the balance with the Murray-Belmont rivalry. Tonight will be the first time they face off as conference rivals in the Missouri Valley as the Racers travel to Nashville to face Belmont. Murray State did come back to earth in the conference after a winless road trip against Drake and Northern Iowa. Rob Perry leads the Racers with 14.9 points a game.

Belmont is currently in a 3-way tie for first place in the Valley alongside Southern Illinois and Indiana State. The Bruins are currently in a stretch where they have won 7 out of 8 games overall; the only loss in that stretch was against the aforementioned Salukis on the road. They only play Indiana State once and Drake twice, so there is a bit of an easier schedule for the Bruins as they contend for the Valley regular season title. Ben Shepard averages 18 points a game and 4.8 rebounds a game for Belmont.

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We’ve got a bit of an extended edition tonight because it was such an eventful week in college hoops, and there is a ton to get to. We had nine ranked teams lose over the weekend, which included Tennessee losing at home to a Kentucky team who picked up not just a good win, but an elite level win, which will really help their resume. The Big 12 has as many as six teams that could end up as a protected seed, and each week is chuck full of elite games. We look back at a busy week from last week, and look ahead to all the exciting games this week. The Big Ten is also hugely competitive with Purdue looking like a #1 seed, Michigan State and Iowa playing a lot better, and Rutgers and Northwestern are also looking like Tournament caliber teams. New Mexico had a big win at San Diego State out in the Mountain West, and Boise State is also putting together a strong resume. We discuss all that, and more…

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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This bracket was complete on Monday, January 16th, at 12pm, est. No games that were played after that time were considered.

For today’s Hoops HD Daily Rundown – CLICK HERE

READ BEFORE VIEWING: I want to make sure everyone knows what it is they are looking at. This is my own personal bracket, and it is based on what I think the field SHOULD look like if the season ended TODAY. I am NOT trying to guess the future, nor am I trying to speculate as to what the actual committee would do if today were Selection Sunday. If that is the kind of bracket you want to look at, then what is below isn’t for you at all. Check out Jon Teitel’s bracket by CLICKING HERE. He is one of the best people on the planet at guessing what the actual selection committee will do.

Below the bracket are some comments from me, and below that are some comments from the staff. I do not know why the staff is allowed to comment on my work!! It is PERFECT!! And NOTHING I do should be allowed to be disputed!!!

OTHERS CONSIDERED: Nevada, Maryland, Saint John’s, UCF, Memphis, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Utah, USC, Mississippi State, UNLV, Utah State, Sam Houston State, Virginia Tech, North Texas, Oklahoma State

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-Alabama is my overall #1 seed. They’ve won at Houston, and at Arkansas. Of all the teams on the #1 and #2 lines, they are the only one that’s actually beaten another #1 seed on the road.

-Gonzaga puzzles me. When I watch them play, they don’t scream #1 or #2 seed, yet I have them on my #2 line. The reason is because when I looked at their profile, it simply looks amazing with so many high caliber wins, including wins against other protected seeds, away from home. And when you look at their losses, none of them really make you hold your nose. So, there they are.

-You may notice Duke and North Carolina are squarely on the bubble. Allow me to explain. North Carolina’s only true road win was at Louisville, and Duke’s only true road win was at Boston College. Beating a non-protected seed at home, even if that team is ranked in the top 25, is something that NIT caliber teams can routinely do. It’s arguably as hard or harder to beat an NIT team on the road than it is to beat a non-protected seeded team at home, even if that team is solidly in the field. North Carolina and Duke have beaten no one in true road games.

To build on that, if a team’s key wins are at home against teams that can’t win on the road, I don’t think they particularly deserve a lot of credit for that. Beating Duke and North Carolina at home is not that hard to do. All but one team that they’ve played have done it! So that’s why you see some of the teams that have beaten them a little lower in the seedlist.

COMMENTS FROM STAFF:

FROM CHAD:

One marquee win is not enough to be the #1 overall team. Alabama won at Houston, a team whose own profile is lacking in key wins, won at an Arkansas team that I feel David has way overseeded, and beat some bubble teams. Plus they have twice as many losses as the true #1 team — Kansas. The Jayhawks have 11 wins against the top two tiers, 6 if those coming away from home. They are 5-0 in the best conference in the country. Alabama is a very good team and a 1 seed (albeit with a current significant off-court distraction), but is not #1 overall right now. I would probably have Purdue over the Tide as well.
I was one of the first to call Kansas State a 2 seed. But they did not look good at all in their loss at TCU this week. Griggs may still have them on the 2 line, but I think they are closer to the 4.
I also still cannot figure out why everyone loves this Tennessee team this much. I would have them down on the 4 line also. Yes, they beat my #1 overall team (Kansas on a neutral court). After that they have not beaten anyone that is solidly in the field. And they have a loss to a Colorado team that is not even close to being in. Plus, they only have 2 true road wins, neither of which is of any note (Ole Miss and South Carolina). Given how much David values road wins, I am shocked to see the Vols on his 2 line.
As for the teams that should be on the 2 line — UCLA is 4-0 on the road and has won 13 games in a row. Xavier is 4-0 on the road and has won 11 in a row. Both these teams are criminally low on the 4 line.
I mentioned it earlier, but Arkansas seems to be in freefall and is probably a 7 seed at best right now. The Hogs have ZERO road wins and only one win of any note (neutral court vs San Diego State). They have now lost 3 of 4 games, including against a pair of teams not very close to the field (Vandy and LSU). I don’t understand their seeding one bit.
Ohio State is not deserving of a 7 seed. This team is now 10-7 overall with a Tier 4 home loss to Minnesota. Their only wins against teams in or near the field are home vs Rutgers and at Northwestern. Like it or not, the Buckeyes belong on the bubble.
West Virginia not only does not belong on the 10 line, they do not even belong in the field. The Mountaineers are 10-7 overall and their only win against the field is at Pitt. In fact, that is one of only three wins they have against the top three tiers combined. I get that their SOS is #4 in the nation — but you do have to beat teams to make the field. They simply have not done so yet. I don’t even have them in my top 12 teams out.
I can at least understand the reason was North Carolina is so low, even if I do not agree with it. The Tar Heels have a resume that blow many of David’s higher choices out of the water with their wins over Charleston and Ohio State, and all of their losses being in Tier 1 (and the #11 SOS). Duke’s position on the #11 line is just flat out stupid. The Blue Devils have wins over 4 teams in the field, and all of their losses were to teams that David included. Maybe they belong in a 6/11 game, but as the 6 seed! (Actually, I would have them on the 5 line!)
Not even a consideration for Michigan? The Wolverines seem to be turning things around and have 4 wins against the field while only one bad loss (albeit a horrible home one to Central Michigan). But David ignores bad home losses anyhow (see Ohio State).
All in all, I would give David a solid F+ grade for this bracket. I was going to give him a D-, but Longwood and Youngstown State belong on the 15 line, not the 16, so he lost the final half grade. Better luck next time, Griggs.

FROM JOHN:

I’m going to try not to repeat what Chad said about the teams he mentioned earlier, but UConn is another team that has gotten off to a fast start but is slowly regressing to the mean in conference play. I understand that trying to win at Xavier, Providence and Marquette are very difficult to do. Losing at home to St. John’s (who is maybe NIT at best) is not what protected seeds do. (Now, if Griggs used the workbook like Chad does, we could at least see if UConn is #13 overall or #16 overall)
I know I’m the outlier on our committee when it comes to Michigan State, but if you did a blind resume involving both Michigan State and Baylor, could you really tell me one team is a 4 and the other a 7? If we’re valuing Kentucky as an NCAA Tournament-caliber team again, keep in mind that I would value wins away from home against Kentucky (neutral court), Penn State and Wisconsin. Losing at Notre Dame should carry a bit of a penalty, but not 3 seedlines.
I also look at profiles like Saint Mary’s and Boise State and would agree that they could end up as a 7 seed and 10 seed, respectively IF we are doing projected finishes and not the checkpoint that Griggs mentioned at the top of the article. The real meat is not there yet.
Creighton could end up like Georgia in 2001 and Vanderbilt in 2017 in that they could have a cra pton of losses but still get in the field because their schedule has been insanely tough. It was frontloaded with road games at Marquette, Xavier and UConn, so there are chances for the Bluejays to get more wins at home later in the season. They better not slip up against the Seton Halls and the Johnnies in the league, though.
And what about the Johnnies all of a sudden? They embody everything weird about this season. They’re 13-6 and suddenly have a win at UConn that gives their resume a much-needed boost. Losing against Iowa State, Xavier, Providence and Marquette are forgivable. But losing to Seton Hall and even Villanova are dragging down their profile where, if they just win 1 of those 2 road games, I could even make a case that they should be IN the field.

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NEWS, NOTES, AND LINKS:

-When it comes to people who try and guess the Selection Committee, Jon Teitel is one of the best people on the planet at it!! For his latest Bracket Projections, which were posted yesterday morning – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-We will be recording this week’s Hoops HD Report tonight. I will also be posting my own personal bracket projection later today, so be on the lookout for both of those.

-UConn has gone from being ranked 2nd in the nation to now losing four of their last five. None of those losses looked all that bad individually, but yesterday’s 85-74 loss at home to Saint John’s, who had at best looked like an NIT team, was rather alarming. UConn travels to Seton Hall next in a game they need to win in order to pull themselves out of the tailspin they’re in.

-Xavier and Marquette gave us another Big East thriller that came down to the final seconds before Xavier held on 80-76 to remain unbeaten in Big East play. They are looking more and more like a solid protected seed.

-Northwestern fell at Michigan 85-78 . Michigan can play at a high level at times. They can also play at a level that makes you think they wouldn’t finish in the top half of the MAC.

-Rutgers held serve a home against Ohio State and Iowa picked up a solid win against Maryland.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PURDUE AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Purdue is looking like they can end up with a #1 seed, but they will be tested on the road against a Michigan State team that has been playing really well, but that did have a 7 game win streak snapped in their last game at Illinois. This would give the Spartans a huge boost if they’re able to win it even though they’re at home.

-WILLIAM & MARY AT CHARLESTON (Colonial). This should be an easy win for CofC, but Bill & Mary did shock UNC Wilmington on the road in their last game.

-ILLINOIS AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). Illinois has now won three straight and this should be another winnable road game for them.

-SYRACUSE AT MIAMI FL (ACC). Miami is coming off a tough loss to a really good NC State team on the road that would have been a really big win had they been able to pull it off, but the loss wasn’t that much of a setback. They should be able to hold serve at home in this one, but Syracuse has won 10 of their last 12 and is quietly starting to play a lot better.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT WESTERN KENTUCKY (Conference USA). FAU’s dream season continues, but this one may be slightly more challenging than it appears. Western Kentucky is a very talented team that has fallen way short of expectations, but in a situation where they get way up for a game and come together they can play really well. Getting to play a team at home that’s on the brink of cracking the top 25 may cause them to pull together.

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UC-Santa Barbara (13-3, 4-1) at UC-Irvine (12-5, 5-0) – 9:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes west to the Big West for one of the conference’s marquee matchups between the UCSB Gauchos and the UC-Irvine Anteaters. It’s not the heyday of the Big West where UNLV was king of the mountain and teams like New Mexico State, UCSB and Long Beach State got occasional at-large bids, but there’s a good chance of the conference at least getting multiple postseason bids. Last time out, the Gauchos missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer against UC-Riverside at home before losing their first game in conference play 65-64.

UC-Irvine had a slump in December where they lost 4 out of 5 games (and this was after a decisive win at Oregon), the most devastating being a close loss at San Diego State. Since then, the Anteaters have won 5 straight in Big West play going into the toughest homestand of the year where they host UCSB and Hawai’i. Dawson Baker had 11 points in UC-Irvine’s 71-57 win at Cal State-Northridge.

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For Today’s Hoops HD Daily Rundown – CLICK HERE

We are only 8 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we begin to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Alabama (SEC)
1: Houston (AAC)

2: Connecticut (Big East)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)
2: Gonzaga (WCC)
2: Texas (Big 12)

3: Tennessee (SEC)
3: Arizona (Pac-12)
3: Xavier (Big East)
3: Kansas State (Big 12)

4: Virginia (ACC)
4: Iowa State (Big 12)
4: TCU (Big 12)
4: Miami (ACC)

5: Arkansas (SEC)
5: Marquette (Big East)
5: Duke (ACC)
5: Baylor (Big 12)

6: Auburn (SEC)
6: San Diego State (MWC)
6: Providence (Big East)
6: Rutgers (Big 10)

7: Ohio State (Big 10)
7: St. Mary’s (WCC)
7: North Carolina (ACC)
7: NC State (ACC)

8: Missouri (SEC)
8: Wisconsin (Big 10)
8: Illinois (Big 10)
8: Michigan State (Big 10)

9: Indiana (Big 10)
9: Maryland (Big 10)
9: West Virginia (Big 12)
9: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

10: New Mexico (MWC)
10: Iowa (Big 10)
10: Northwestern (Big 10)
10: Arizona State (Pac-12)

11: Creighton (Big East)
11: Clemson (ACC)
11: Pitt (ACC)
11: Mississippi State (SEC)
11: Memphis (AAC)
11: Penn State (Big 10)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Kent State (MAC)
12: Dayton (A-10)
12: Iona (MAAC)

13: Oral Roberts (Summit)
13: Marshall (Sun Belt)
13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
13: Utah Valley (WAC)

14: Indiana State (MVC)
14: UCSB (Big West)
14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: Samford (SoCon)

15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: UMass-Lowell (America East)
15: SIU-Edwardsville (OVC)
15: Longwood (Big South)

16: Montana State (Big Sky)
16: Youngstown State (Horizon)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)
16: Southern (SWAC)

1ST 4 OUT
Boise State (MWC)
Nevada (MWC)
Oklahoma (Big 12)
Kentucky (SEC)

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NEWS AND NOTES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-We all thought Iowa State had been playing really well lately, but I don’t think any of us were expecting them to win at Kansas yesterday. They were right in there for the entire game and had a chance to win or force overtime on the final possession of the game, but came up just short in a 62-60 loss. Winning at Kansas is about as difficult a game to win as any team can play. Beating a Final Four caliber team on their home floor is harder than beating a Final Four caliber team in the Final Four. At least the Final Four is a neutral site. So, while Iowa State did come up short, I think I’m even more impressed with that team and the level they’re currently playing with than I was before yesterday.

-Kentucky had barely done enough to indicate that they belonged in the NIT, but they went on the road to Tennessee and picked up a very impressive, very important, and much needed 63-56 win. Beating a protected seed on the road can make the difference as to whether or not a team safely makes the field or gets left out. Kentucky still has work to do, but yesterday was HUGE, and they’ll probably be in our next NCAA Tournament projection.

-Arizona was blown off the floor at Oregon 87-68. Oregon had been a bit of a disappointment so far this season, but they still had a very talented team, and when they actually get up for a game they can be very tough to beat. The Ducks are just 10-8 on the season, but they’re 6-2 in their last eight games, and they have opportunities at big wins between now and the end, so a run at the bubble is not an impossibility for them.

-Texas looked sluggish against Texas Tech, and Texas Tech, who had been struggling, appeared to be playing the game of their season, but the Longhorns got control late and ended up escaping with a 72-70 win. This should keep Texas in the top ten, and as for Texas Tech they are still looking for their first Big 12 win.

-Kansas State had been red hot and had picked up some monster road wins, but couldn’t quite pull off what would have been a third true road win against a ranked team. TCU held serve and took care of business in an 82-68 win.

-Arkansas is in a bit of a tailspin. They lost 97-84 at Vanderbilt yesterday, which is never good, and have dropped four of their last five, which is also never good. Their next game is on the road at Missouri, so things aren’t about to get any easier for them.

-Miami FL and NC State was an overtime thriller with NC State holding on 83-81. I still think Miami can end up as a protected seed, and being able to get this one on the road against an NC State team that keeps getting better and better would have helped, but it wasn’t a huge setback. NC State is now 14-4 on the season and has won six of their last seven. They are arguably the best team in the state of North Carolina right now.

-Indiana, who has looked underwhelming pretty much all season long, was not underwhelming at all yesterday. They blew a pretty good Wisconsin team off the floor 63-45 and picked up a win they really needed.

-Providence, who has improved quite a bit as the season has gone along, couldn’t get it done on the road at Creighton yesterday. The Blue Jays really needed a big win, and even though this one came at home, it still helps out a team that was hovering around the bubble.

-Missouri will make us think they’re good, and then after doing so will come out, look terrible, and lose a game that a good team has no business losing. They fell at Florida yesterday 73-64.

-New Mexico picked up what is hands down their best win of the season, and what will perhaps be their season defining win, as they knocked off San Diego State 76-67 in incredibly impressive fashion. I had been critical of New Mexico all season long and thought their bloated record was more due to a weak schedule than anything else, but when a team knocks off a legit top 25 caliber team on the road, they absolutely prove themselves, and that’s what the Lobos did yesterday.

-Duke’s only road win this season was a 1pt win at Boston College in a game they were lucky to win. They went on the road to Clemson yesterday, and lost again. Clemson is playing well and is now 7-0 in the ACC. Having said that, a win at home against a team that can’t win on the road in and of itself isn’t the kind of win that skyrockets you up the seedlist. So, if there isn’t a whole lot of upward movement for Clemson after beating Duke, that’s why. I still like this Tigers team, though, and think they will be in the NCAA Tournament and will be in a position to do some damage once they’re there.

-UCF, who I had been super high on all season long, could not get it done at Tulane yesterday and fell 77-69. It’s hard to argue that they belong inside the bubble when they lose games to teams that are nowhere near it.

-Florida Atlantic picked up a huge win against North Texas. The Owls are now 16-1 on the year and have some pretty nice wins on that resume, including two against a very good North Texas team. The game was exciting, and North Texas actually held a lead throughout most of it, but FAU pulled it out in the end. They are having a fantastic season and are one of the most intriguing stories in college basketball this year.

-Utah Valley, a team from the WAC that I thought could make a run at the bubble, fell at home to Seattle U yesterday 85-80. Seattle is a good team, but not on the level of being so good that an NCAA Tournament caliber team shouldn’t be able to routinely beat them at home.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-SAINT JOHN’S AT UCONN (Big East). The Johnnies showed some signs of life in non-conference play, but are just 2-5 in the Big East. UConn has lost three of their last four, but they’ve still got a very strong profile and all three of those losses were tough road losses, so they should be able to bounce back at home today.

-MARQUETTE AT XAVIER (Big East). Both teams are in the rankings, and Xavier is looking more and more like a team that could end up as a protected seed. They’ve won ten straight and are unbeaten in conference play. Marquette is also red hot. They’ve won eight of their last nine, have picked up several big wins in that stretch, and continue to climb the rankings and the seedlist. So, this one should be a fun one today.

-NORTHWESTERN AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Northwestern is hovering around our bubble and could use a road win like this to help strengthen their resume. Michigan is outside our bubble and needs to string together some wins just to be able to get close enough to it to reach it.

-OHIO STATE AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). We’ve got both teams inside our bubble, but both have room to strengthen their resumes and move further inside it. Both have shown signs of being able to play at a very high level, but both have also lost some winnable games which is why they’re inside the bubble right now, but not near a protected seed.

-MEMPHIS AT TEMPLE (American). Memphis has played really well at times this season, but they really need to finish strong between now and the end if they want to be in the field. Losing a winnable road game to a team that’s nowhere near the NCAA Tournament isn’t going to help them.

-MARYLAND AT IOWA (Big Ten). Iowa appears to have rebounded from a really bad slump they were in a few weeks ago, but they still have some work to do in order to be safely in the field. Maryland has a solid profile, but has just one win away from home and is just 3-5 in their last eight games, so a win today would help them get things turned back around.

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Rider (6-9, 3-3) at Iona (12-5, 5-1) – 1:00 PM ET (ESPN3)

Almost all of today’s UTR action takes place in the Metro Atlantic; we head to New Rochelle where Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels host the Rider Broncs. Last week, Iona’s perfect record in league play came to a screeching halt with a 23-point loss at Quinnipiac; they did rebound with a 75-69 win at home against Fairfield. Three players average over 15 points a game for the Gaels; as a team they average 76.5 points a game.

Rider did get off to a 3-0 start in conference play; this consisted of wins against Mount St. Mary’s, Marist and Canisius. But as the schedule got tougher, they now have lost 3 straight games and are now finishing a stretch where they play 3 out of 4 games on the road. Dwight Murray Jr. averages 16.6 points a game and 3 assists per game.

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North Texas (14-3, 5-1) at Florida Atlantic (15-1, 5-0) – 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day offers a rematch of the top 2 teams in Conference USA as North Texas begins their Florida road trip with a visit to Boca Raton and the Florida Atlantic Owls. FAU won the first matchup 50-46 in the Super Pit at North Texas. More recently, the Owls needed overtime to beat FIU 77-73 earlier in the week. 4 players average double figures for the Owls; Alijah Martin averages 13.1 points a game and 5.3 rebounds a game.

UNT has won 4 straight games since their home loss against FAU. They did need a game-winning shot from Kai Huntsberry with 4 seconds remaining to get a 67-65 win at home against Louisiana Tech. Prior to that game, the Mean Green swept one of the harder road trips in conference play with wins at Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.

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HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MIAMI FL AT NC STATE (ACC). This is a tough road game for a Miami FL team that’s on the cusp of getting a protected seed in our seedlist, and an NC State team that’s been playing really well lately and that is very tough to beat at home. This one should be fun.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). Both teams are inside the bubble (for now), but both have a lot of room to move up and both need to string together some wins if they want to stay there, so this is a big game for both teams.

-WISCONSIN AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Indiana is in a tailspin and if they don’t pull themselves out of it they may end up sliding all the way outside of the field. They have been dealing with injuries, but still. Wisconsin has had a strong year overall, but they’ve lost two straight and are looking to bounce back from that. In short, both teams could really use this game.

-KANSAS STATE AT TCU (Big 12). Both look to be within reach of earning a protected seed, so like what seems to be the majority of Big 12 games, this is a great opportunity for both teams to pick up a big win and build their resume.

-PROVIDENCE AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Providence is on the cusp of being within reach of a protected seed, but they haven’t done much on the road. This isn’t an easy road game to win, but it’s the kind of game that a protected seed should be able to win. Creighton is just 9-8 on the year and while many still think of them as being a tournament caliber team, they’ve got some work to do if they want to even make the field at all.

-NORTH TEXAS AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Conference USA). This is one of the premier regular season match-ups of the season in CUSA. FAU is on the cusp of cracking the top 25 and is close to being a first ballot team as well. North Texas is hovering around outside the bubble, but if they pick up a road win like this it would greatly boost the value of their resume. Simply put, I can’t wait for this one!!

-MISSOURI AT FLORIDA (SEC). We’ve got questions about Missouri. We still have them in our field, but aren’t quite decided just how good they actually are yet. This isn’t the easiest game to win, but it’s the kind of game that the 20th ranked team should be able to win. Florida has had a blah season, but they’ve racked up two straight decent wins against Georgia and LSU, so it won’t be a cakewalk for the Tigers.

-IOWA STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12). Iowa State is on the cusp of getting a protected seed in our next projections, and Kansas is currently being projected as a solid #1 seed. It looks like yet ANOTHER game in the Big 12 between two protected seeds that could end up boosting either team’s resume.

-DUKE AT CLEMSON (ACC). Duke has not been the best team away from home this year, and they’re once again in for a tough road test against a Clemson team that’s won nine of their last ten, is unbeaten in the ACC, and appears to be getting better as the year goes on.

-ARIZONA AT OREGON (Pac 12). Arizona is still within reach of a #1 seed if they can blow through the rest of their schedule. Oregon has been disappointing this year, but they’re still a talented team and they could be way up for this one, so it won’t likely be a cakewalk for the Wildcats.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT BAYLOR (Big 12). Oklahoma State is within reach of the bubble, but they need to string together some wins in order to get there. A win at Baylor would be a huge step forward for the Pokes. Baylor just snapped a three game win streak, and playing a team at home that’s just outside the bubble maybe be one of their easiest remaining games. That’s how strong this conference is!

-TEXAS TECH AT TEXAS (Big 12). Texas Tech has lost four straight, and is just having a hard time finding any sort of a win in Big 12 play. It won’t be any easier tonight as they go up against a Texas team that’s ranked in the top ten and appears to be heading toward a protected seed.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT AUBURN (SEC). I’m not quite as enamored with Auburn as most of the rest of the Hoops HD crew, and I’m certainly not as enamored with them as the voters. I think they’re a top 40 team and inside the bubble, but I’m not sure I’d even have them in the top half of my bracket. Having said that, I thin they can hold serve in this one against a Mississippi State team that’s a respectable 12-4, but still has some work to do.

-NEW MEXICO AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). New Mexico has a bloated record against a weak schedule. If they want to impress people, a win tonight would shut up everyone, including myself, that’s always pointing that out. San Diego State is back in the rankings and will stay there for the rest of the year so long as they can hold serve for the rest of league play.

-UTAH AT USC (Pac 12). Both of these teams were hovering around the bubble of our last field, and both could use some notable wins. This is a bubblicous game, and whenever you get that it’s really important for both teams.

-SAINT MARY’S AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). This is a really good Saint Mary’s team, and they face a Dons team that started the season off looking pretty strong, but they’ve been in a funk since conference play started and are now just 12-8 on the year. They’re still talented, though, so SMC better not overlook them.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Kentucky @ Tennessee (SEC) – Kentucky is an NIT team and Tennessee is a solid protected seed. They just need to hold serve at home
-Georgia @ Ole Miss (SEC) – Georgia’s profile is pretty bland, but they have a shot to make a run at the bubble. Picking up some road wins would certainly help
-Arkansas @ Vanderbilt (SEC) – should be a winnable road game for the Hogs
-UCF @ Tulane (American) – UCF is right outside our bubble, but continuing to string together wins should get them there
-North Carolina @ Louisville (ACC) – should be some low hanging fruit for UNC
-Pittsburgh @ Georgia Tech (ACC) – we’ve got Pitt inside our bubble, but they need to hold serve in games like this in order to stay there
-LSU @ Alabama (SEC) – Alabama is good enough to end up as a #1 seed, and should be able to hold serve at home
-Virginia @ Florida State (ACC) – This is a winnable road game for the Hoos
-Elon @ Charleston (Colonial) – this should be like a buy game
-Arizona State @ Oregon State (Pac 12) – a winnable road game for the Sun Devils where they need to hold serve
-Texas A&M @ South Carolina (SEC) – TAMU appeared to have slid out of the picture, but they’re playing better now and can get to 4-0 in the SEC with a win today
-Colorado @ UCLA (Pac 12) – should be a manageable game for the Bruins
-Portland @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – should be a winnable home game for the Zags
-UC Riverside @ UC Santa Barbara (Big West) – a win for UCSB gets them to 14-2 on the year
-Boise State @ Wyoming (Mountain West) – we like this Broncos team and feel they should be getting more attention. This should be yet another winnable road game for them

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CLICK HERE for our latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast

VCU (12-5, 3-1) at Dayton (12-5, 4-0) – 9:00 PM ET (ESPN2)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to the Gem City where the hometown Dayton Flyers will attempt to win their 5th game in the row in the A-10 against the VCU Rams. UD came into the season with lofty expectations, but injuries and a bad showing in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament hampered the Flyers’ effort to build a strong out-of-conference profile. DaRon Holmes II did have a 32-point outing in the Flyers’ blowout win at Fordham earlier in the week.

VCU did manage a split against Arizona State and Pittsburgh during the Legends Classic back in November; the win against Pitt is gaining momentum for the Rams as the season progresses. After splitting their first games in conference play against La Salle and Duquesne, the Rams are coming off of double-digit wins against Davidson and Loyola-Chicago. Ace Baldwin Jr. leads the Rams with 13.3 points per game.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES (From David):

-In the past we’ve seen Gonzaga dominate the West Coast Conference and rarely even having to sweat. This year, they’re still winning, but they are definitely sweating. For the third game in a row it came down to the final seconds, but they held on to beat BYU after trailing late in the game 75-74. Yes, they won. Yes it was on the road. But, it was also close.

-Ohio State had a sub-NIT caliber team at home….and lost 70-67 to Minnesota. That hurts. It’s a setback, but it’s not a death sentence.

-Iowa seems to have come out of whatever funk they were in and had a big win in overtime against Michigan last night. Iowa’s resume, minus one really bad week back in December, doesn’t look bad at all. Their chances of making the field are quite good.

-Marshall blasted Southern Miss 89-67, which makes Southern Miss look very much like not an NCAA Tournament caliber team.

-NEBRASKA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). The Boilers are heading toward a #1 seed and should be able to hold serve at home in this one

-ILLINOIS AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams are inside the bubble, but both are good enough to improve their resumes between now and the end, which is what makes this game kind of appealing.

-UTAH STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). A bubbilicous game between two teams that could really use this win

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 9pm, est on Thursday, January 12th. No games that went final after that were considered when creating this bracket.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BR-1-12-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Charleston at UNC Wilmington was one of the more important games of the night and it’s unfortunate that a lot of people probably didn’t get to see it. FloHoops had the rights, it is a pay service, and the general fan just doesn’t subscribe. Charleston was incredibly impressive in the first half and appeared to be in control. UNCW made a run in the second half to close the gap, and then got the lead very late in the game with the crowd going nuts. Charleston was able to make big plays in the final minute despite being on the road and having all the momentum against them, and held on to win 71-69. UNC Wilmington had a chance to win at the buzzer, but a would be game winning shot was blocked. A foul as time expired gave Charleston two freethrows where they made the first, then missed the second, and then UNCW had a three-quarters court shot that actually hit the rim, but didn’t go down. A lot happened in the last second of play!!

-Houston had to sweat a lot more than we expected, but they held on to beat a rather weak South Florida team 83-77 at home.

-Alabama is a #1 seed caliber team. I am now convinced of that. Earlier in the year they won at Houston, who’s ranked #1 right now. Last night, they won at Arkansas, who is a possible/probable protected seeded caliber team. They’re not perfect. They do have losses to UConn and Gonzaga, but the collection of good wins that this team has at the top of their profile is as good as what anyone else in the country has done. They didn’t just win at Arkansas, but won handily 84-69.

-UConn has now lost 3 of their last 4 after starting the season off 14-0. While that’s aggravating for the Huskies, I’m not sure it’s anything more than that. All three of those losses were against ranked teams on the road, and all three were competitive games. Perhaps UConn isn’t the #2 team in the nation, but they’re probably still one of the ten best teams. They seesawed back and forth with Marquette last night before coming up short 82-76. Marquette has now won eight of their last nine, is 14-4 overall, and is climbing both the rankings and the seedlist themselves.

-TCU appeared to be handling Texas at Texas last night, and on their way to one of the more impressive road performances we’ve seen all year. Then the second half started, Texas chipped away, then drew even, then went ahead and held on for a 79-75 win.

-Creighton could have really used a massive road win, and they came real close to getting it at Xavier last night. The Bluejays held a lead for most of the second half, but Xavier kept it close and finally got control with less than a minute to go and held on (after nearly giving it away in the final seconds) 90-87.

-Missouri was blown out at Texas A&M 82-64. This doesn’t break Missouri’s back, but it sure as hell stubs their toes. They have a really good 13-3 overall record, but when they’ve lost games, they have not messed around in doing so.

-Pitt seemed to be in control of Duke for about 25 minutes, but then Duke caught fire and ended up getting a much needed 77-69 win. Duke still has some holes on their resume that needs patching up, but holding serve against a good Pitt team certainly helps with their stability.

-It’s time to start having questions about Mississippi State. They lost at Georgia last night 58-50 and that bloated early season record that they racked up against a somewhat weak schedule is not looking all that impressive.

-Baylor had been in a bit of a tailspin, and picking up a road win at West Virginia last night was huge. None of their losses were bad, but it was a bit of a death by paper cuts situation to where they were starting to pile up. It’s their first Big 12 win, so it was one that Baylor kind of needed to get momentum shifted back in the right direction.

-Memphis and UCF were two teams that were hovering around the bubble that really needed some big wins, and last night they faced off against each other in a double overtime thriller that was close all throughout. UCF finally held on for a much needed 107-104 win. Memphis could have really used this win for their resume as well, especially since it was a road game.

-Indiana no longer looks anything like a top 25 team, and one needs to start wondering if they even look like an NCAA Tournament team. They were basically blown out at Penn State last night 85-66, and are now just 1-4 in Big Ten play.

-UAB lost at home to Western Kentucky 80-78. This is their third close loss in a row, but it’s also a second loss in a row to a team that is nowhere near the NIT right now, much less the NCAA Tournament. UAB still has a high ceiling, but unless they win the Conference USA Tournament I don’t see them making the NCAAs.

-Boise State got a hugely impressive road win at UNLV last night 84-66. UNLV was a team that we thought was on the bubble, but they’ve now lost 3 of their last 4 and are going in the wrong direction. Boise State, on the other hand, has our attention after winning that decisively on the road.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN AT IOWA (Big Ten). Both teams have shown that they can play at a high level, but both have only done so a limited number of times this season. Both still have work to do, and both could use this win tonight.

-ARIZONA STATE AT OREGON (Pac 12). Some say they feel that Arizona State’s 13-3 record is a bit of a mirage, and while I agree that it could be a BIT of one, I don’t agree that it is a COMPLETE one. Like most road games this will be a tough one to win, but it’s a game that they can and should win if they really are a solid tournament caliber team.

-SOUTHERN MISS AT MARSHALL (Sun Belt). Both teams are good, but both are outside the bubble and seem to be sliding further and further away from being able to reach it. Nevertheless, this is an important game on paper for that reason, and it should be a fun and exciting game on the court as well.

-GONZAGA AT BYU (West Coast). Gonzaga has struggled in their last two road games, but won them both. BYU isn’t in our field right now, but a win tonight would result in them taking a big step forward. They’re also 7-1 at home, so it won’t be a cakewalk for the Zags at all.

-UTAH AT UCLA (Pac 12). Utah has some really good notable wins, but they haven’t always been consistently good. I still think they’re a tournament team, and even though they’re overmatched tonight it’s a chance to really boost the value of their profile if they can pull off a huge upset win against a top ten UCLA team.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Minnesota @ Ohio State (Big Ten) – Ohio State shouldn’t have too much trouble holding serve at home
-Colorado @ USC (Pac 12) – The Trojans have had their ups and downs, but as of now the ups seem to be outnumbering the downs, and they should be able to hold serve tonight and stay inside the bubble
-Sam Houston @ Southern Utah (WAC) – Sam Houston is a good team, but their resume can’t handle too many more losses. If they can blow through the rest of league play the committee should give them a serious look, though
-LMU @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – This SMC team is really good and they should be able to hold serve at home tonight
-Arizona @ Oregon State (Pac 12) – this should be a winnable road game for an Arizona team that’s looking to bounce back from a rather surprising home loss to Washington State

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Northern Kentucky (10-7, 5-1) at Milwaukee (11-5, 5-1) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day offers a matchup of the top two teams in the Horizon League as the NKU Norse travel northwest to take on the hometown Milwaukee Panthers. NKU got off to a 4-game winning streak before losing a tough 64-63 contest to Oakland. In fact, 4 out of 6 games in Horizon play have been decided by 4 points or less for the Norse; they have won 3 of them and did rebound with a 2-point win against Detroit Mercy. Marques Warrick averages 19.2 points a game for NKU; no one else averages double figures as of today’s game.

Milwaukee gets some well-deserved home cooking after completing a season-long 4 game road trip in conference play. It started a bit rough with a loss at the Blacktop against Oakland, but they won their last 3 games in a row against Detroit Mercy, Cleveland State and Purdue-Fort Wayne. Kentrell Pullian had 19 points for the Panthers against PFW.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the Northeast Conference, which is perhaps the weakest overall league in D1, but still one of the most exciting. The majority of the games last week came down to the final minutes, which seems to be how it always goes in this conference. Fairleigh Dickinson and Saint Francis U are off to good starts, but they will both continue to be challenged throughout the season.

From there we run through the other 22 UTR leagues and discuss UMass Lowell’s blowout win against Vermont which puts them back on top of the America East, UNC Wilmington’s thrilling near upset over College of Charleston tonight in the Colonial, UC Santa Barbara’s strong start in the Big West, Florida Atlantic’s great start in CUSA and how they’re nearing the top 25, Oral Roberts’s great start out in the Summit League, and strength at the top of both the Sun Belt and the WAC. We discuss all that, and more! And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Kansas, Tennessee, Kansas State, and Virginia all had to sweat a little bit at home, but all hung on to win conference home games. Tennessee and Virginia didn’t sweat quite as much, but Vanderbilt did keep it close against the Vols, and Virginia was in control for most of the second half against North Carolina. Oklahoma State was in the game the whole way with Kansas State before the Wildcats pulled away in the final couple of minutes, and Kansas actually trailed most of the game against Oklahoma before finally getting control in the last minute of the game.

-Michigan State picked up a huge 69-65 road win at Wisconsin, which puts them back on the map and should move them back up the seedlist. The Spartans have now won seven in a row, and the win last night was by far the most impressive in that stretch.

-Things just keep getting worse for Kentucky. Last night they lost at home to South Carolina 71-68. South Carolina jumped out to a big lead before the first media timeout, and then pretty much held it for the rest of the game. Kentucky did have three chances to force overtime at the end of regulation, but even if they had done so, and even if they had won, things are not well in Kentucky. South Carolina’s NET is in the 260s. Any tournament caliber team should be able to handle them in the same way they’d handle an opponent in a buy game.

-I had started to ignore Florida, but perhaps I should start paying attention again. They had a nice 67-56 road win at LSU last night and might be starting to turn it around. Having said that, they still have a ton of work to do to get back within reach of the bubble.

-Dayton has now won seven straight games, and has won each one of them handily, and is finally starting to look like the top 25 caliber team we thought they’d be at the beginning of the year. They absolutely pasted Fordham last night 82-58 on the road. The problem is they didn’t do enough out of conference to get the attention of the committee, and the Atlantic Ten is so weak this year that they won’t get the opportunities they need in conference to impress the committee either, so chances are they’ll need to win the Atlantic Ten Tournament to get into the NCAAs. But they are getting healthy after suffering injuries early on, and are really good. They may win a game or two in the NCAA Tournament if they’re able to get there.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-VERMONT AT UMASS LOWELL (America East). This is an odd game to highlight because neither team will likely be near the bubble, but it’s still an interesting game because UMass Lowell has the bloated 14-3 record and is having perhaps their best season ever, and Vermont is talented enough to still win the league, and if they can get this one on the road you have to figure they’re going to be running down hill the rest of the way. Since first the first place team has home court advantage in the conference tournament, this game has some stakes to it.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT GEORGIA (SEC). This is going to be a tough road game for a Mississippi State team that’s trying to stay inside the bubble. They’re playing a Georgia team that’s having a decent year and that’s trying to get inside the bubble themselves.

-ALABAMA AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Both teams are in the rankings, and Alabama has some incredible wins this year already. Both are in the hunt for a protected seed, and if Bama can pick up yet another massive road win like this one you have to start thinking that they’ve got a chance of getting a #1 seed.

-UCONN AT MARQUETTE (Big East). UConn has lost their last two road games, and they’ll face yet another tough test today against a Marquette team that’s won seven of their last eight with the only loss being a close on at Providence, and who is really looking for a high caliber win to shine up their resume.

-CREIGHTON AT XAVIER (Big East). Creighton appears to be out of whatever slump they were in, but they still have some ground to make up. Xavier is looking like they’re good enough to get a protected seed, and they seem to be getting better and better, so a road win like this would help Creighton make up that ground.

-CHARLESTON AT UNC WILMINGTON (Colonial). This is perhaps Charleston’s toughest remaining game, and if they can pick this one up they have a real shot at winning out. It won’t be easy, though. UNC Wilmington is 12-3 on the year, has won 11 straight, and will be jacked way up for this one. You almost have to wonder if UNCW has an outside shot at making a run at the bubble if they can win out or come close to it.

-PITTSBURGH AT DUKE (ACC). Duke has not played as well as expected and appears to be in a bit of a tailspin. Pitt, on the other hand, has been a big surprise this year and even though they’re coming off a loss to Clemson they appear to be improving as the year goes on. If they can get this win at Duke, which isn’t impossible given how both teams have been playing, then it would give their resume another boost and move them up the seedlist even more.

-BAYLOR AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). Both teams are solidly inside our bubble (for now), but both have also been struggling some and could use a win in a game like this to give them some stability.

-MEMPHIS AT UCF (American). Neither team is solidly inside the bubble right now, but both are good enough to get there. I like this Memphis team some, and this UCF team some more. If UCF can blow through the rest of their schedule they should get the attention of the committee, but they need to win this game in order to do it.

-INDIANA AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Indiana has a really nice win at Xavier, but other than that their resume is very bland. A win like this would certainly give them some stability. Penn State is within reach of the bubble as well, and a win like this could help them get a step closer.

-MISSOURI AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). TAMU has won four in a row, but they really weren’t tested in any of those games. Mizzou is good, but if TAMU wants to make a statement that they belong in the tournament then they need to win home games like this one.

-TCU AT TEXAS (Big 12). Both teams are in the rankings, both have a legit shot at ending up as protected seeds, and if TCU can some how get this win on the road, that will especially be true for them. This one should be fun!

-RUTGERS AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). Both teams are looking like tournament teams, and both appear to be getting better as the season goes along, and whenever two teams like that end up playing each other it’s usually a lot of fun. It’s another chance for both teams to improve their resumes even more.

-BOISE STATE AT UNLV (Mountain West). Both teams have good records, both are within reach of the bubble, and both could really use this win in order to help get them there.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Boston College @ Miami FL (ACC) – The Canes are having a fantastic year and should be able to hold serve in this one
-Virginia Tech @ Syracuse (ACC) – This should be a winnable road game for VA Tech
-Florida Atlantic @ FIU (Conference USA) – FAU is a team that has been inside our bubble for a while, and they should stay there so long as they take care of business in games like this
-South Florida @ Houston (American) – Houston will probably make this look like a buy game
-Louisiana Tech @ North Texas (Conference USA) – North Texas is 13-3 and should have a chance to make a run at the bubble if they keep winning at the clip they have been
-Louisville @ Clemson (ACC) – this should resemble a buy game for Clemson
-Florida State @ Wake Forest (ACC) – this should resemble a buy game for Wake
-Western Kentucky @ UAB (Conference USA) – UAB may be out of strikes, but if they can win out until the conference tournament the committee should still give them a serious look
-Utah Valley @ Cal Baptist (WAC) – not many have noticed Utah Valley yet, but if they can keep stringing together wins I think they’ll get the committee’s attention
-UC Santa Barbara @ Cal State Bakersfield (Gig West) – A win for UCSB will get them to a very impressive and very notable 13-2 on the year

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Utah Valley (13-4, 4-0) at California Baptist (10-7, 2-2) – 10:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to the Inland Empire where the Lancers of California Baptist host the Utah Valley Wolverines. It has been a banner year for UVU; they started off league play with home wins against Sam Houston and Beehive rival Utah Tech. They started off their current 3-game road trip with wins at UT-Arlington and UTRGV. Le’Tre Darthard led the Wolverines with 19 points in their last win at UTRGV.

Our one-time Team of the People is eligible for the NCAA Tournament at the Division 1 level this season; while the Lancers have gotten off to a 2-2 start, they’ve already gotten most of their tough road games out of the way after starting WAC play with losses at Grand Canyon and Seattle. Since then, CBU has rebounded with a home win against Utah Tech and a road win at New Mexico State. Taran Armstrong leads the Lancers with 10.4 points a game and 4.8 assists a game.

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-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). K State had one of the best weeks of the season that anyone will ever have after beating two ranked teams on the road. They’re playing at a really high level all of a sudden and should be able to hold serve at home against an Oklahoma State team that really needs some big wins if they want to make the field.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Michigan State has won six straight and is coming off a feelgood win over rival Michigan, but no game in that stretch was as tough to win as this one will be. Wisconsin is in the rankings and although they’re coming off a loss at Illinois they’re extremely difficult to beat at home.

-TEXAS TECH AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). Iowa State has won five in a row, and shot up the rankings after winning two games on the road last week. They should be able to take care of business against a Texas Tech team that’s good, but that’s also struggling and really needs a big win. They’ve lost three straight, but all were close losses to really good teams. A win on the road in a game like this would quickly turn things around for them.

-OKLAHOMA AT KANSAS (Big 12). Oklahoma is a team that appears to be inside the bubble, and Kansas is a team that appears to be within reach of the #1 line. The Jayhawks should hold serve at home.

-NORTH CAROLINA AT VIRGINIA (ACC). North Carolina is still looking for their first true road win of the year, and based on how these two teams have been playing it doesn’t appear very likely it will happen tonight. Virginia is highly ranked and solidly in the hunt for a protected seed.

-AIR FORCE AT COLORADO STATE (Mountain West) (Front Range). WE AT HOOPS HD LOVE THE FRONT RANGE!!!!!

-NEVADA AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State is into the rankings, on pace to land solidly in the top half of the bracket, and appears to be the best team in the Mountain West. Nevada is looking for some statement wins that would get the attention of the selection committee, and a win tonight would certainly do the trick.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Butler @ Saint John’s (Big East) – The Johnnies are starting to slide off the bubble and can’t afford to lose at home to a Butler team that’s nowhere near it
-South Carolina @ Kentucky (SEC) – Kentucky doesn’t have much in the way of big wins, so failing to hold serve in a game like this would be highly damaging
-Florida @ LSU (SEC) – LSU is good enough to land inside the bubble, but they need to hold serve in games like this in order to do it
-Toledo @ Kent State (MAC) – I say this before every game, but I think there is room for Kent State inside the bubble if they can blow through the conference
-Vanderbilt @ Tennessee (SEC) – Tennessee appears to be a solid protected seed caliber team
-Auburn @ Ole Miss (SEC) – This should be a winnable road game for the Tigers. It’s the kind of road game that a tournament caliber team should be able to win
-Villanova @ DePaul (Big East) – Nova looked like they were getting better, but at just 8-8 they need to start stringing together wins if they want any sort of a chance of making the field
-Illinois @ Nebraska (Big Ten) – Nebraska isn’t the easiest team in the world to beat, especially at home, but it’s still a road game that Illinois should be expected to win
-Wyoming @ Utah State (Mountain West) – Utah State shouldn’t have too much trouble holding serve in this one

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Toledo (10-5, 1-1) at Kent State (12-3, 2-0) – 7:00 PM (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day offers up a potential preview of the MAC Championship as the Toledo Rockets travel down the Ohio Turnpike to visit the Kent State Golden Flashes for their only regular season meeting. We featured Toledo in the UTR Game of the Day last Tuesday and ended up losing a shootout to Ball State at home 90-83. They did rebound with a 102-74 win against Western Michigan at home with 2 UT players scoring over 20 points in the game.

Kent State finished their first week of league play against two of the worst teams in the MAC and barely escaped with a pair of wins. They won by 8 points at home against Western Michigan and ended up with a tougher-than-expected 69-66 win at Miami University over the weekend. Following this game will be a 2-game road trip against Ohio University and Eastern Michigan. Sincere Carry continues to lead the Golden Flashes with 17.3 points a game and nearly 5 assists a game.

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Chad and the panel are back to recap a very busy and very upset heavy (especially in the Big Ten) week of college basketball. We start off in the Big 12 and talk about how as many as six teams appear to have a legit path to a protected seed, including Kansas State who seemingly came out of nowhere and won two games against ranked teams on the road. In the SEC, we talk about how much Kentucky has struggled, and how strong both Alabama and Tennessee have been this year. The Big Ten remains top heavy, especially with Purdue, but with Iowa and Northwestern both picking up key road wins on Sunday a lot of teams are looking like they can land inside the bubble. Arizona suffered an upset over the weekend in the Pac 12, Gonzaga almost suffered two upsets in the West Coast, and several teams in the Mountain West is still battling to get inside the bubble. We discuss all that, and more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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It is January, which means Chad is finally going to be taking his normal spot in the rotation posting the weekly Staff Bracket. Below is his current bracket through all games of Sunday, January 8. After the Bracket is Chad’s comments as well as potentially a few from other members of the HoopsHD staff.

CHAD’S NOTES

– Despite their home loss to Rutgers (R!U!), Purdue is still the #2 overall team. Four tier 1A wins, all of which are away from home, is just way too impressive at this point in the season.

– Has any team this season, or honestly in recent memory, had a better first week of January than Kansas State did? The Wildcats turned a mediocre profile whose best highlight was only one loss into my #5 overall team by winning at Texas and at Baylor. That is a pair of 1A road wins, 4 Tier 1 wins overall, a 6-1 road/neutral record, and only one loss back in November. K State was not ranked in either national poll heading into the week, but I don’t care. I simply love their profile right now.

– Despite suffering a weak loss at Georgia Tech, Miami is still a protected seed and my highest rated ACC team. The ‘canes actually benefitted from Rutgers win at Purdue, making their home win over the Scarlet Knights look even better. Plus, they have already defeated the ACC’s second best team, Virginia.

– There are five Big 12 teams on the top 4 seed lines, which is why TCU and Kansas ended up in the same region.

– Another team that notched a huge week was NC State. I would not have had the Wolfpack in last week, but beating Duke and winning at Virginia Tech this week boosted them not only into the field, but all the way up to an 8 seed.

– I have not heard a lot of talk about Oklahoma’s profile, but they have 5 wins in the top two tiers, all of which were away from home. The Sooners are one of 8 Big 12 teams currently in my field.

– The ACC also got 8 teams in, but the Big 10 leads the way with 10 teams. Northwestern has wins at Indiana and at Michigan State to go along with a home win over Illinois and no bad losses. The Wildcats are IN as of right now.

– The ACC’s 8 teams were not solidly in by any means. Pittsburgh and Wake Forest were the last two teams above the First Four and Clemson is in the First Four.

– My top four teams out, in order, were Penn State (Big 10 team #11!), Utah, Boise State and New Mexico. The next four out were LSU, Virginia Tech, Creighton and UCF. Also considered were UNLV, Utah Valley, North Texas, Kentucky, UNC-Wilmington, BYU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, USC, Santa Clara, Texas Tech and Utah State. Yes, Kentucky is on the “Also Considered” list. They are not in. They are not in the top four or even top 8 out. They just got a passing consideration and nothing else. I personally like Utah Valley’s profile better than UK’s!

– Among the auto-bid winners, I choose my personal highest rated team in each league, which is not necessarily the league leader, for the auto bid. That is why Sam Houston is in for the WAC, for example. I have both Florida Atlantic and Charleston inside the bubble and in position for at-large bids right now. Kent State is close, but did just barely fall below my First Four.

– Finally, a quick shout out to one of our favorite conferences here at HoopsHD, the Northeast. As of Sunday, only one NEC team is ranked in the top 300 of the NET, and that is Stonehill (290), a team that is ineligible for postseason play as a transitional school. We may be able to ink the NEC champion not only into the First Four, but maybe even into the #68 spot on the final seed list. Yet, despite all of this, I can’t get enough of watching these teams! #NECFOREVER!!!!!

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

– Kansas State has had quite the meteoric rise thanks to the aforementioned pair of road wins at Texas and at Baylor. I don’t know if it will last, nor do I know that they should be on the doorstep of a #1 above Alabama and UConn.

– Mississippi State turned out to be part of a better-than-expected exempt event that included wins against Marquette and Utah. It’s a good thing, because they’ve started to get exposed a bit by Drake (not to mention a pair of heavyweights in Tennessee and Alabama). With a nonconference SOS of 294, it is not recommended that they acquire too many strikes in the SEC.

– The Clemson test could be applied to see how many strikes are acceptable for them in the ACC – their nonconference SOS of 343 and pair of Tier 4 losses (Loyola-Chicago and South Carolina) means that they best not be a bubblish team when the Hoops HD Selection Committee meets in a couple of months to assemble their bracket.

– UAB had a real missed opportunity this week to make some noise for their own at-large case. Missing an opportunity to knock off Florida Atlantic was bad enough, but notice that Chad did not consider them after they lost against FIU. 100% agree that North Texas deserves consideration instead.

COMMENTS FROM DAVID GRIGGS:

-I don’t know if I’d have Kansas State as high as the#2 line, but I’d definitely have them as a protected seed, and the #2 line is not overshooting it by that much (if at all). Their resume is amazing, and what they did this past week is more than what a lot of teams do in an entire season.

-I also agree with Florida Atlantic and Charleston being inside the bubble, and Florida Atlantic actually being ranked higher.

-I know Iowa just won a big game at Rutgers, but I’m still not sold on them being in the field at all, much less being in the top half of it. They also have a loss on their resume that’s so bad that I’d venture to say that no one has ever been seeded 8th or better with a loss that bad in the history of the tournament, and I look at some of the teams on his 10, 11, and even 12 line and think to myself that those teams are better than Iowa.

COMMENT FORM JON:

1-seeds do not lose at home…with a healthy roster…to an opponent that entered the game 6-10 including a double-digit loss to Prairie View: #sorrywildcats

COMMENTS FROM DAVID DORMAN:

You have Fran McCaffrey sitting comfortable as an 8 seed. I have Iowa right on the cutline as my last team in the field. The Hawkeyes have plenty of work ahead of them starting with two big home games this week, Michigan & Maryland.

I like the Hurricanes getting a 3 seed, Miami is very deserving. My concern is the front court where they are not big and not deep. To make a March push they will need to shoot light’s out from the perimeter and Isaiah Wong can catch fire.

I can live with Tennessee as a 3 seed but I think they are closer to the 1 line than the 3.

I love the inclusion of NC State, they are playing terrific as of late. Recently hammering Duke at home and winning on the road at Va Tech are solid resume builders. I can see the Wolfpack in the Sweet 16 if they continue to develop under Kevin Keatts.

I like this year’s Cyclone team but I do not have them with a protected seed as of today. Iowa State’s road win at TCU this weekend was huge but I have them on the 7 line today.
Did Chad move to Iowa recently?

I still have Illinois safely in my field but a 5 seed is too high with their inconsistency. The Illini’s last 2 road/neutral games have both been blowout losses to Northwestern and Mizu.

You have Florida Atlantic and College of Charleston bracketed right where they should be. I have them both receiving at large bids if needed. “Needed” meaning as of today the Cougars & Owls are both in my bracket even if they don’t win their respective Conference Tournaments.

Nice work Chad & enjoy Iowa!

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NEWS AND NOTES:

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Kind of a crazy day in the Big Ten. Multiple teams that were hovering around the bubble and needed notable wins on their resumes ended up getting them. Northwestern picked up a huge road win at Indiana, which was the first home loss of the season for the Hoosiers. Northwestern is now 12-3 and is looking more and more like they will make the field. Maryland got a nice win at home against Ohio State which helps them out. Iowa, who had been in a funk, got a road win at Rutgers, who had been red hot, and that really helps them out. So, it was a good day to be a bubble team in the Big Ten!

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-EAST WEST UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO STATE (Spotlight Game). There are very few games being played at all today, which is completely understandable given that no one wants to schedule a game on the same day that these two teams are playing!! Tonight, ESPN is showing the same thing on all of its networks! It’s some sort of football game or something. They don’t even want to bother putting on a bunch of different shows on a bunch of different networks when they know no one is going to be watching anyway!! East West University is located in Chicago, and if for whatever reason you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know about it, you need to check out the Wikipedia Page. There is an East Building and a West Building, and in 2014 a third building was added!!

On the East West Actual Athletics page, which you can view here, the most recent schedule we can find is a PDF document from the 2019-2020 season, and the last update of any kind appears to be from August 2022 announcing that anyone interested in trying out can go to the 2nd floor of the East Building…(that’s the EAST Building!! Not the West Building!!!) and report for an open tryout. Their school mascot is the Phantoms. That seems appropriate since apparently whoever works in media relations is also a phantom.

Chicago State is seeking their fourth win of the year. It’s been a rough season for them being an independent. Hopefully they can find conference membership soon. All kidding aside, their effort deserves to be applauded. Nearly all their games have been road games, and they were actually competitive in a lot of them, and nearly beat both Minnesota and Murray State, and actually gave a really good showing against Marquette as well.

-ORAL ROBERTS AT NEW MEXICO. It’s a bit of a strange timing for an OOC game, but it’s a good one. Oral Roberts is looking like the early favorites out of the Summit League, and it’s not a team that New Mexico wants to overlook. They’ve lost two straight games and need to bounce back, but will likely be challenged today.

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Colgate (9-7, 3-0) at Army-West Point (9-7, 3-0) – 7:00 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day will pit two of the top teams in the Patriot League and may or may not have the eyes of the nation perched upon it; all it’s missing is radio feeds from Colgate and Army and a live marching band feed. Colgate has already gotten out of the “gate” with a pair of road wins against Loyola-Baltimore and Lehigh. Most recently, they held off Navy 87-73 at home despite facing an 18-point deficit at one point during the first half.

Army has had a similar path to Colgate in their first 3 games – only they have played Lafayette so far along with the aforementioned Lehigh and Loyola teams. Jalen Rucker went off for 35 points (including 6 3-pointers) in Army’s most recent 78-55 victory against Loyola. The Black Knights begin a stretch tonight where 4 of the next 5 games will be played in the comfortable confines of Christl Arena.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

Jon Teitel is our Selection Committee Guessing Expert, and he’s as good at it as anyone else in the world! To check out his latest latest BRACKET PROJECTIONS – CLICK HERE

-Kansas picked up a quality road win at West Virginia. On the surface this may not have looked like much, but to win a true road game against what appears to be a solid tournament team without really even having to sweat is a HUGE statement. Kansas is atop our seedlist, which is where they belong.

-Washington State is deceivingly dangerous. They won’t make the NCAA Tournament (at least I don’t think), but there are some really good teams that have really struggled with them over the past several weeks. Utah needed overtime to beat them, UNLV barely escaped, Baylor barely escaped, UCLA won by just a single point, USC LOST to them, and Arizona State had to sweat them out at home. Yesterday Arizona, the #5 team in the nation who we all thought had a chance to get a #1 seed, did more than just struggle. They lost rather handily. At home! The final score was 84-71 and while Arizona did make some runs, at no point was Wazzu not in control of this game. We will be discussing this phenomenon that is this Wazzu team tomorrow on the Hoops HD Report! Hopefully our good friend and Hoops HD regular Rocco Miller from bracketeer.org is able join us

-Prior to the season starting, my pick to win it all was Kentucky. I know this is almost impossible to believe, but I may not have been correct in making that pick. It’s not that losing at Alabama is bad. Alabama is a legit top ten team that beat Houston on the road. But losing at Alabama in a game that resembled a buy game is objectively bad. And having no wins of note is objectively bad. We put Kentucky into our bracket on the Thursday night BRACKET RUNDOWN podcast. I don’t know why (I was unable to join when it started), and if I’m able to join this week I will strongly argue against selecting them at all. At no point his season has Kentucky looked like a top 40 team.

-Gonzaga once again had to sweat it out on the road, but once again held on for an 81-76 win at Santa Clara. Santa Clara is a decent team, and while a top ten team should go on the road and win there, it’s more difficult to do than what most casual observers may realize. Santa Clara is now 9-3 at home, and has a good chance of winning all the rest of their home games.

-Auburn needed a big win, and got one over a really good Arkansas team 72-59. It was a home game for the Tigers, but it still gives their resume a nice boost, which they kind of needed.

-Duke almost lost at Boston College, but held on to win 65-64 after BC missed what would have been a game winning layup at the buzzer. Duke has not been impressive this year. They held on to win this one, but it hardly leaves you with that “WOW! THIS TEAM IS GOOD!” feeling.

-Iowa State picked up a huge 69-67 road win at TCU in a battle of top 25 teams. That’s back to back road wins for the Cyclones, so their resume is looking much better than it was a week ago. This was also their first win against a team that’s currently ranked, and since it came on the road that’s even bigger.

-Xavier just keeps winning and just keeps moving up the rankings and up our seedlist. They picked up another nice road win against Villanova yesterday 88-80 and are looking more and more like a team that could end up as a protected seed.

-Kansas State finished off a huge week with yet another road win against a ranked team. They knocked off Baylor in an overtime thriller 97-95. K State was criticized for a somewhat weak out of conference schedule. When you win two road games against ranked teams in a single week, you’ve had a hell of a week!! Kansas State is now 14-1 on the year with some really high caliber wins on their profile, and perhaps it’s time to start taking seriously about them being in the hunt for a protected seed.

-UNLV picked up a really impressive road win at New Mexico 84-77. New Mexico has now lost two in a row after a 14-0 start, and it may be time to start questioning whether nor not the 14-0 record was a bit of mirage. This conference has a lot of teams that are floating around the bubble, and so far New Mexico really hasn’t shown out when they’ve faced any of them.

-I’ve been big on Kent State all season long, and yesterday they didn’t almost shoot themselves in the foot, but they nearly blew their entire face off. They hung on to beat Miami OH 69-66 in a game that had they lost, their chances of landing inside the bubble may have been totally gone.

-Clemson and Pittsburgh was an awesome game between two teams that are better than expected and probably deserve more attention than what they were getting. Believe it or not both were 4-0 in ACC play and the winner of this game was to be atop the standings. Clemson picked up the win on the road in a 75-74 thriller in a game that was a bigger deal than what most were giving it credit for. Clemson is now 13-3 on the season with a couple of decent wins, and one really good win, on their resume.

-Many were big on Utah State because of their bloated record, and they definitely deserved some attention, and while we were certainly giving them attention we weren’t ready to give them a ton of praise just yet. And, after yesterday, we still aren’t. Boise State (another team that deserves more attention than what they’re getting) absolutely blew Utah State out of the gym 82-59 and is now 12-4 overall with a chance of making a run at the bubble if they can keep playing like that throughout conference play.

-Every time I make up my mind that Utah is a solid team, they lose to a non-tournament team. Yesterday they lost at home to Oregon 70-60, and once again we are questioning whether or not they belong in. I guess they have a thing for bubbles or something.

-UAB lost a close game at Florida Atlantic earlier in the week, which was a missed opportunity at a much needed big win. Yesterday they lost at Florida International, which is a very damaging setback. As talented as UAB is, and as good as they are, their resume just doesn’t show out like it needs to. Unless they run the table, it’s looking more and more than one of the games they’ll need tow in is that last Conference USA Tournament game.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-NORTHWESTERN AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Northwestern has a fairly decent resume and is well within reach of the bubble. This would be their biggest win of the year so far if they were able to pull it off, and would almost assuredly move them inside the bubble. Indiana is having a good year and is looking to bounce back from a loss at Iowa earlier in the week.

-IOWA AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). Rutgers is playing out of their minds all of a sudden and has another winnable game at home today. Iowa has gone over a cliff, but they did win their last game at home against Indiana so perhaps they’re starting to snap out of the funk they’re in, but this is a very tall order today.

-OHIO STATE AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Both teams (so far) have looked like tournament teams, and any win against a tournament team looks good on the resume, so this is an opportunity for both of them. Ohio State nearly knocked off Purdue in their last game, and is looking for what would just be their second true road win of the season.

-HOUSTON AT CINCINNATI (American). Houston is on pace to earn a #1 seed. If they win out, they’re almost assured of it, and they are certainly good enough to win out. They may be challenged a little bit today, but it’s not likely.

-WASHINGTON AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). Arizona State is well within reach of making the NCAA Tournament, but despite the 12-3 record it still seems like they have a lot of work to do when you look at their resume, so this is a game where they need to hold serve.

-PURDUE AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Penn State is having a good year, but we still have them a little bit outside our bubble. Having said that, I think it goes without saying that a win today on the road at Purdue would certainly move them INSIDE of our bubble. In fact, very safely inside. Purdue, despite the loss to Rutgers, is still in a position to get a #1 seed.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-SMU @UCF (American) – I like this UCF team and still think there is at least a decent change that they can play their way inside the bubble, but they need to hold serve in games like this one to have any chance of doing that
-Iona @ Quinnipiac (MAAC) – Iona has a very slim chance of landing inside the bubble, but they basically need to win out in order to do it, and this might be one of their tougher remaining games of the season
-UMass Lowell @ Albany (America East) – A win for Lowell gets them to 15-2 on the year

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We are only 9 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we begin to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Connecticut (Big East)

2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Tennessee (SEC)
2: Alabama (SEC)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)

3: Texas (Big 12)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)
3: Virginia (ACC)
3: Arkansas (SEC)

4: Xavier (Big East)
4: Duke (ACC)
4: Miami (ACC)
4: Baylor (Big 12)

5: Iowa State (Big 12)
5: Ohio State (Big 10)
5: Wisconsin (Big 10)
5: Kansas State (Big 12)

6: Indiana (Big 10)
6: San Diego State (MWC)
6: West Virginia (Big 12)
6: TCU (Big 12)

7: Auburn (SEC)
7: Marquette (Big East)
7: Missouri (SEC)
7: North Carolina (ACC)

8: Rutgers (Big 10)
8: St. Mary’s (WCC)
8: Providence (Big East)
8: Illinois (Big 10)

9: New Mexico (MWC)
9: Virginia Tech (ACC)
9: Kentucky (SEC)
9: Mississippi State (SEC)

10: Maryland (Big 10)
10: Memphis (AAC)
10: Michigan State (Big 10)
10: Creighton (Big East)

11: Arizona State (Pac-12)
11: Utah State (MWC)
11: Pitt (ACC)
11: Utah (Pac-12)
11: Penn State (Big 10)
11: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Utah Valley (WAC)
12: Kent State (MAC)
12: Southern Miss (Sun Belt)

13: Dayton (A-10)
13: Iona (MAAC)
13: Oral Roberts (Summit)
13: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)

14: Princeton (Ivy)
14: Indiana State (MVC)
14: UCSB (Big West)
14: UMass-Lowell (America East)

15: Furman (SoCon)
15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Longwood (Big South)
15: SIU-Edwardsville (OVC)

16: Montana State (Big Sky)
16: Northern Kentucky (Horizon)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: Grambling (SWAC)
16: Fairleigh Dickinson (NEC)

1ST 4 OUT
Oklahoma (Big 12)
Oklahoma State (Big 12)
LSU (SEC)
NC State (ACC)

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Iona (11-4, 4-0) at Quinnipiac (11-5, 2-3) – 2:00 PM (ESPN+)

This afternoon, the UTR Game of the Day heads to Quinnipiac where the hometown Bobcats host the Iona Gaels in a battle between two MAAC contenders. Rick Pitino’s team had a decent nonconference slate with wins against the likes of St. Bonaventure, Saint Louis and Seattle before getting off to a 4-0 start in conference play. The Gaels allow only 66 points a game and typically force about 15 turnovers a game while only averaging about 11 a game themselves.

After beginning the season with a win at Rhode Island, Quinnipiac also got a pair of wins against Stephen F. Austin and Montana State in the Northern Classic (a non-bracketed MTE) up in Montreal back in November. It didn’t immediately translate into success in the MAAC with an 0-3 start, but the Bobcats have won a pair of road games against Manhattan and Rider to try to get their train back on the rails. Quinnipiac has 3 players who average about 11 points a game and they allow only about 68 points a game on average themselves.

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For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-CREIGHTON AT UCONN (Big East). Creighton has started to string together wins, but this is a MUCH higher level win than anything they’ve managed so far. UConn is trying to snap a tough two game losing streak of their own.

-TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). Oklahoma State is starting to look better, and perhaps evens starting to look like an NCAA Tournament team, but they’ve still got a lot of work to do. A win today over a really strong Texas team would be a good start. It would be a solid road win for Texas as well, who despite some off the court issues still look like they could end up as a protected seed.

-SAINT JOHN’S AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). I’m really impressed with what Providence has done in the early part of conference play and think they’ve already indicated they can be a force in the Big East. Their resume is currently a little bit flimsy due to a really weak OOC schedule, but if they keep going like they have been they should be able to shore it up. Saint John’s has dropped four in a row and is falling further and further outside the bubble.

-KENTUCKY AT ALABAMA (SEC). Kentucky has no real notable wins, and while our mock committee took them in our recent staff bracket, I would argue that as of now Kentucky doesn’t belong in the field at all. Now, if they can win today, then they will ABSOLUTELY belong in there. Alabama is ranked in the top 10 and at times has looked so good it makes me think they could even end up as a #1 seed if everything falls right.

-GEORGIA AT FLORIDA (SEC). No one is really talking about Georgia, but they’re 11-3, they just beat a pretty good Auburn team, and this looks to be a winnable road game for them. So…let’s start talking about them.

-WISCONSIN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Wisconsin just keeps winning games, keeps making their resume look better and better, and keeps climbing the rankings. Illinois had a huge win against Texas back on December 6th, and has done absolutely nothing since then other than win a couple of home buy games. This is a tall order, but Illinois is in a tailspin and they need some sort of notable win to pull themselves out of it.

-IOWA STATE AT TCU (Big 12). Another Big 12 match-up between two top 25 teams. We’re going to see this a lot between now and the end of the year. TCU just picked up a really nice win at Baylor and is looking like they could end up as a protected seed. A road win like this for Iowa State would give them a huge boost as well.

-CHARLOTTE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Conference USA). It’s past time to start talking about Florida Atlantic as a legit NCAA Tournament team that, if they keep this up, should go in on the first ballot. They just beat a pretty good UAB team earlier in the week, and can improve to 14-1 on the year with a win today. Charlotte won’t be a cakewalk, but FAU should be able to beat them.

-MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams could end up in the NCAA Tournament. Hell, by the time the season is over both could be in the top 25, but at present day both still have a ton of work to do. Michigan has looked good in their last two games, but both were at home. Going on the road to face a rival is at a bit of a higher level. Michigan State has won five straight, but every single win other than perhaps Penn State came against an objectively bad team, so this is a bigger test than what they’ve had for a while.

-CLEMSON AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). Prior to the season started this was never a game I expected to be highlighting, but Clemson is off to a 4-0 start in ACC play with a 12-3 overall record and some pretty good wins on their resume. Pitt is actually showing signs of life and seems to be improving as the season progresses. They’ve had back to back home wins against North Carolina and Virginia and has a chance to pick up another big one today.

-NEVADA AT SAN JOSE STATE (Mountain West). Nevada is another team that’s squarely on our bubble. This will be a bit of a tough road test for them, but San Jose State has a pulse this year and it’s a win that Nevada should get some credit for if they’re able to pull it off.

-XAVIER AT VILLANOVA (Big East). I do think Villanova is getting better, and is good enough to get the wins that they need between now and the end in order to make it into the field, but they’ve still got a lot of work to do. A win today would be a nice start. Xavier has looked so good that you have to wonder if they could end up as a protected seed. A road win in a game like this would certainly help their case.

-KANSAS AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). This will not be an easy road game at all, but it’s still a road game that Kansas is good enough to win. West Virginia is a solid tournament team that has some room to move up the seedlist, and a win today would enable them to do that.

-KANSAS STATE AT BAYLOR (Big 12). More and more people are starting to believe in this Kansas State team. After questioning their record because of their strength of schedule, their last two wins came against West Virginia and at Texas, which indicates they can do more than just beat cupcakes. They can beat protected seeds on the road. This is another big road test against a Baylor team who’s in the top 25, but that isn’t having quite as good a year as many were expecting and could really use a win like this to help build themselves up a little more.

-LSU AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). At 12-2 LSU is starting to make a little noise, but they need to make a little more. A road win against a decent (but not great) TAMU team should help some.

-UTAH STATE AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). Both teams are on our bubble, both need to string together wins and add some quality wins to their resume, and because of that both of them could really use this win today. Utah State has just two losses on the year, but they don’t really have any wins that are as good as this one would be today.

-OKLAHOMA AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Both teams are tournament caliber teams, but both have room to move up the seedlist and this is a resume building opportunity.

-NC STATE AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). Similar to the previous game, both teams appear to be tournament caliber teams (NC State sure looked it the other night against Duke), but both have room to move up the seedlist, and this is a good resume building opportunity.

-ARKANSAS AT AUBURN (SEC). While both teams are ranked, this game has a bit of a pivotal feel to it for Auburn. They haven’t done much this year to deserve that ranking, and if they don’t win today chances are they’ll lose it. Arkansas is coming off an exciting win against Missouri, but they’ve only played one true road game this season and they didn’t win it, so this is a test for them as well.

-UNLV AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). Both teams have bloated records, and while they have a few decent wins, neither team has that many and both could really use this one. This game has the feel of two teams that are hovering around the bubble and trying to get inside of it, which is what makes this so important for both of them.

-GONZAGA AT SANTA CLARA (West Coast). Gonzaga survived a scare the other night at San Francisco, and will be tested again tonight by a Santa Clara team that’s off to a very respectable 14-4 start and who could really get the committee’s attention if they’re able to pull off the upset tonight.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Notre Dame @ North Carolina (ACC) – UNC looks to be safely in the field, but nowhere near a protected seed at the moment. They don’t want to drop a game at home to a non-NIT team
-Vanderbilt @ Missouri (SEC). – Should be a winnable home game for Mizzou
-Duke @ Boston College (ACC) – should be a rather easy road win for Duke, and it would be their first of the season
-East Carolina @ Memphis (American) – simply put, this is a winnable game for Memphis, and they need to win it
-Georgetown @ Marquette (Big East) – a winnable home game for Marquette
-Ole Miss @ Mississippi State (SEC) – this is a rivalry game, so you don’t want to assume anything, but Mississippi State should be able to hold serve at home in this one
-Wake Forest @ Louisville (ACC) – should be a winnable road game for a Wake team that’s hovering around our bubble right now
-Southern Miss @ UL Monroe (Sun Belt) – Southern Miss needs to bounce back from a loss to Louisiana from earlier in the week. They can still get inside the bubble, but are running out of strikes
-Tennessee @ South Carolina (SEC) – I love how Tennessee is playing, and this should be a winnable road game for the Vols
-Kent State @ Miami OH (MAC) – I still think Kent State is good enough to run through the MAC and get inside the bubble
-San Diego State @ Wyoming (Mountain West) – San Diego State is a top 25 caliber team that for whatever reason the voters aren’t voting for right now. This should be a rather easy road win for them. Although, you know what they say about Wyoming! No one gets higher!
-Washington State @ Arizona (Pac 12) – Wazzu has been playing better lately, but not so much better that I think they can stay on the court with Arizona on the road
-Syracuse @ Virginia (ACC) – it’s a team that’s below the NIT visiting a team that appears to be a solid protected seed
-Delaware @ Charleston (Colonial) – Charleston will land inside the bubble so long as they don’t stub their toes too many times in games like this between now and the end
-Tarleton @ Sam Houston (WAC) – Sam Houston needs to blow through the rest of their schedule in order to have any shot at landing inside the bubble
-North Texas @ Middle Tennessee (Conference USA) – I think there is a chance North Texas could make a run at the bubble, but they basically need to dominate the rest of their schedule
-Oregon @ Utah (Pac 12) – Utah is inside the bubble, but could certainly stand to move a lot further inside of it. They need to hold serve in this one today
-UAB at FIU (Conference USA) – UAB is a super talented team that could do some damage if they make the NCAA Tournament, but they may be out of strikes. Anything short of winning out will probably mean needing the auto-bid
-Portland @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – in order to end up inside the bubble, SMC can’t afford to lose home games to teams that are nowhere near it

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Winthrop (7-9, 2-1) at Longwood (11-5, 3-0) – 4:00 PM (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day is one of our favorite matchups of the college season with the initial round of the 2023 Winwood Cup betweed Winthrop and Longwood. Last year, the Winwood Cup also had a bonus 3rd round in the Big South championship game with Longwood winning 79-58 to claim their first Division 1 NCAA Tournament bid. This year the Lancers come into this game on a 6-game winning streak. Isaiah Wilkins (a one-time Virginia Tech and Wake Forest player) leads Longwood with 13.3 points a game and 5.1 rebounds a game.

Winthrop comes in with an overall losing record, but the schedule includes tough games against potential NCAA Tournament teams Penn State, Auburn, Southern Miss, Furman and LSU. They did lose their Big South opener at USC-Upstate, but they rebounded with back-to-back home wins against UNC-Asheville and Presbyterian. Kelton Towford averages 17.3 points a game and 7.8 rebounds a game for the Eagles.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-So, we saw four top ten teams really sweat yesterday, but all four still ended up winning by 3pts or less.

-Purdue bounced back from their loss to Rutgers with a hard fought road win over Ohio State. The game was close all throughout and Purdue hit a 3pt shot in the final seconds to go ahead, and ultimately win, 71-69.

-Arizona had to really sweat at home against Washington. They fell behind early, and every time it appeared they were about to get control, Washington had an answer. Arizona ended up winning 70-67, which should secure their top five ranking (for now), but it wasn’t their most impressive performance of the year. As for Washington, you kind of have to wonder where this type of play suddenly came from.

-Gonzaga had to sweat even more in San Francisco, and was basically behind for the entire game before some big plays in the final minute, and one in particular in the final seconds, gave them a 77-76 win. San Francisco had looked good at times this year, but wasn’t playing at a high level consistently enough, which is why they weren’t really near our bubble. They played at a high level last night, though.

-UCLA also got a scare from crosstown rival USC. The Bruins appeared to be in complete control In the first half, then couldn’t get anything going offensively in the second half, but they still held on to win (just barely) 60-58.

-Whatever funk Iowa was in, they may have finally snapped out of it last night. They went from looking like a top 25 team to looking like they may not win a game for the rest of the year in a span of about a week, but they beat a good Indiana team 91-89 at home last night, and hopefully for them this is will be the start of a turnaround.

-Florida Atlantic improved to 13-1 after their big win over a really good UAB team. The game seesawed back and forth and was close all throughout, but FAU got control in the final seconds and held on for the 88-86 win. This FAU team has a good record with some pretty decent wins on their resume and should absolutely have the attention of the selection committee. It’s a shame they don’t have the attention of the AP voters, but at least the committee should recognize them.

-Sam Houston, who has some impressive wins on their resume, is off to a slow start in conference. They lost at home to Grand Canyon yesterday 72-68 and are now just 1-2 in WAC play. Grand Canyon is good, but for a team that’s trying to show that they belong in the bubble, it’s the kind of game that you need to be able to win at home.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-Some good Ivy and MAAC games tonight, but nothing really jumps off the page as having any huge implications for the NCAA Tournament

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Akron (9-5, 1-0) at Ball State (10-4, 1-0) – 8:30 PM (CBS Sports Network)

The school that gave us David Letterman will host tonight’s UTR Game of the Day with the Akron Zips traveling to Muncie, Indiana to play the Ball State Cardinals. Following a 3-game losing streak earlier in the season, the Zips have now won 6 of 7 games. Enrique Freeman scored 27 points for Akron in their blowout win at home against Northern Illinois.

Ball State extended their winning streak to 6 games following a 90-83 win on the road against MAC preseason favorite Toledo. Jarron Coleman had 26 points and Demarius Jacobs added 25 points in the victory against the Rockets.

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NOTE: This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, January 5th. No games that went final after that were considered when creating this bracket.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BR-1-5-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the upcoming months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. You can find Parts 1-4 at:

http://hoopshd.com/2022/11/12/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-1-2
http://hoopshd.com/2022/12/03/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-2-3
http://hoopshd.com/2022/12/17/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-3-3
http://hoopshd.com/2023/01/02/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-4-3

See below for his photo essay about the Hoyas’ game last night against Villanova.

Delicious pregame meal: make-your-own chicken/pork BBQ sandwiches with mac and cheese! Let’s tip it off:

I was hoping that Villanova G Justin Moore would get to make his triumphant return to the DMV after starring at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD, but he is still recovering from surgery last March to repair his torn Achilles tendon. The injuries continued piling up for the Wildcats when Jordan Longino crumpled to the court with 2 minutes left in the 1st half and then had to be carried off by his teammates because he could not put any weight on his left leg:

I was excited to see 2022 McDonald’s All-American Cam Whitmore in person. There were certainly some flashes of offense/athleticism…but 4-11 FG/0 FTA/0 AST/0 BLK/0 STL did not give me the impression that he will be a 1st round pick…yet:

The more impressive freshman was his teammate Mark Armstrong. After scoring just 12 combined PTS in his past 4 games and getting demoted from starter to sub, he bounced back in a big way with a career-high 14 PTS off the bench and continued his perfection at the FT line, where he is now 13-13 in his short college career:

Georgetown G Brandon Murray was able to get to the basket at will and provided the dunk of the night:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2BPdVgmNK0
In contrast, Villanova G Caleb Daniels did damage from the outside, knocking down a trio of trifectas in the 1st half: more on him later. Hoyas’ F Akok Akok has an inside game so nice they named him twice, and his layup/pair of dunks kept it close as the score was tied 35-all at halftime:

With his teammate Primo Spears continuing his trend of being a great facilitator (25 AST in past 3 games) but poor shooter (8-28 FG in past 3 games), I expected Murray to try to win this 1 all by himself. Unfortunately, he injured his right shoulder early in the 2nd half and was taken to the locker room after the under-16 media timeout with his team trailing 42-38. The Wildcats went on an immediate 15-5 run to extend their lead to 57-43 and by the time Murray was back in the huddle for the under-4 media timeout it was too late:

Daniels kept raining in threes and tied his career-high with 6-13 3PM after making just 10-38 3PM during his previous 6 games:

Villanova also continued its fantastic FT shooting: after missing just 1 FT in each of its past 4 games (48-52) they knocked down all 18 of their attempts from the charity stripe vs. Georgetown and are now an unthinkable 66-70 (94.3 FT%) since mid-December! The Wildcats won 73-57 and gave the Hoyas’ their 25th straight Big East loss to break the record for the longest losing streak in conference history.

In the postgame press conference I asked Villanova coach Kyle Neptune how he has been able to assemble the greatest FT shooting team in the history of the sport. I expected him to sing the praises of his team’s intense focus or detail the long hours of practice spent in the gym…but all I got were 3 words: “Really good recruiting!” When he saw the stunned response on my face he followed up with “That’s it.”

After someone else asked Patrick Ewing about his coaching future I played it safe by checking on Murray’s health. He admitted that they were unsure at the moment but that the medical staff would keep looking at it. While it was an uphill battle after Murray and teammate Bryson Mozone both had to be helped off the court due to injury, he was proud that his team did not quit:

That is a wrap for now..and for the foreseeable future. I am going to take a few weeks off to see if my presence is what has been jinxing the Hoyas, but will return later this month when DePaul visits DC.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR VIDEO PODCAST – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which may be the OVERALL game of the day – CLICK HERE

-UConn suffered their second straight loss as they fell at Providence 73-61 yesterday. The Friars pretty much had a lead for the entire game and while it was never really out of reach for UConn until the final minute or so, it never looked like Providence wasn’t in control either. The Friars are really good. Again. As for UConn, while they have lost two in a row, both were on the road to really good teams, so it won’t set them back too badly.

-Miami FL had been one of the hotter teams in the country, but they lost just their second game of the season yesterday in a bit of a surprise at Georgia Tech. It was close, but GA Tech led for most of the way and ended up pulling it out 76-70. Winning on the road is tough.

-Missouri had been red hot, but also lost their second game of the year 74-68 on the road against a really good Arkansas team in a highly entertaining game that seesawed back and forth. While Missouri didn’t win, they were able to be competitive against a really good team on the road, which was one of the questions I had about them, so my opinion of them hasn’t been lowered at all. If anything, it may have been raised a little bit.

-Duke went on the road to NC State, and WAS NOT competitive. They were down 16-0 to start the game and never got any closer. It was actually quite pitiful. Having said that, it was a nice win for NC State.

-Auburn went on the road to Georgia, and while they weren’t blown out like Duke was, they weren’t really ever in control of the game either. Georgia picked up a really nice 76-64 win over the Tigers.

-TCU got a monster road win at Baylor 88-87 in a hard fought game that was close the whole way. Baylor had a chance to win on their last possession, but was unable to convert. It was a big win for TCU because it came on the road against a ranked team, and it was also their first Big 12 win.

-Iowa State is in the top 25, and showed they were deserving of it after they picked up a really big road win against Oklahoma 63-60. Any conference road win against a team that’s within reach of the NCAA Tournament is a good win.

-Michigan has now won two straight and looked impressive in both wins since their loss to Central Michigan. They were in control for pretty much the entire game against a fairly good Penn State team and ended up with a 79-69 win.

-Clemson picked up a hard fought win over Virginia Tech 68-65 and is now off to a 4-0 start in ACC play. Clemson hasn’t been garnering all that much attention, but at 12-3 overall, and 4-0 in the ACC, and with some pretty solid wins on their resume, they look like an NCAA Tournament team to me.

-Northwestern bounced back from their pitiful showing against Ohio State with a very impressive showing against rival Illinois. They were at home, but it was still an impressive looking win. Northwestern looks like they can be in the discussion come March.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MARYLAND AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). Rutgers picked up their biggest win of the year at Purdue earlier this week, so I think we now all think of them as being a solid NCAA Tournament team. Maryland also looks to be on their way to landing in the field, and a road win like this would really help out their resume. In short, this is a game between two good teams and winning it would look good on either resume.

-PURDUE AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Purdue is coming off their first loss of the season, and this won’t be an easy bounce back by any means. It’s a game they can win, but it’s against a top 25 team on the road. Still, if they want a #1 seed, then this is the kind of road game that #1 seeds are expected to be able to win.

-UAB AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (Conference USA). This is perhaps the most important game of the day, at least in regards to what the stakes are for making the NCAA Tournament. Both teams are good enough to make a run at the bubble, but both also have limited chances at the kinds of wins that would impress the committee, which is what makes this game today so important for both of them.

-SOUTHERN MISS AT LOUISIANA (Sun Belt). Southern Miss is off to a fantastic start, and while this is a game they can/should win, it’s not an easy game, and the committee likely knows it. Louisiana has lost their last two, but they were really strong out of conference and won’t be easy to beat at home. Then again, if a team wants to make the NCAA Tournament, they need to be able to win games that aren’t easy to win, and that’s what Southern Miss needs to do tonight.

-INDIANA AT IOWA (Big Ten). Iowa has come completely off the rails. They don’t even look like an NIT team. I keep waiting for them to bounce back, but am also questioning whether or not it will actually happen. This should be a winnable road game for the Hoosiers.

-USC AT UCLA (Pac 12). It’s a rivalry game between a USC team that’s played really well at times and is overall good enough to make the Tournament, and a UCLA team that’s played outstanding at times and has looked good enough to make a run at the Final Four. It’s always fun when these two match up, and it should be fun tonight. I like the contrasting styles, the rivalry, and the stakes of the game!

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Maine @ UMass Lowell (America East) – A win for UMass Lowell gets them to 14-2 on the year
-SMU @ Houston (American) – should be a winnable conference home game for the Cougars
-Texas State @ James Madison (Sun Belt) – James Madison has an outside shot at making a run at the bubble, but their margin for error is basically zero
-Grand Canyon @ Sam Houston (WAC) – I still think Sam Houston can make a run at the bubble despite a recent loss to Utah Valley. They can’t slip up tonight at home against a GCU team that’s also pretty good
-Washington State @ Arizona State (Pac 12) – Wazzu has shown they can be tough to beat at home, but not so much on the road. Arizona State should be able to hold serve int his one
-Louisiana Tech @ Rice (Conference USA) – I don’t think Rice will end up inside the bubble, but a win tonight gets them to 12-3 and the conference will give them some opportunities at good wins, so it’s not impossible
-North Texas @ Western Kentucky (Conference USA) – this is a challenging, but winnable, road game for North Texas who has a shot at making a run at the bubble
-Santa Clara @ Pepperdine (West Coast) – a winnable road game for Santa Clara that would get them to 14-4 on the year
-Washington @ Arizona (Pac 12) – Arizona looks to be among the teams that are good enough to make a run at a #1 seed, and they should be able to hold serve at home in this one
-Gonzaga @ San Francisco (West Coast) – I was excited about San Francisco for a while, but they have not looked good lately. Gonzaga should roll in this one

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UAB (12-2, 3-0) at Florida Atlantic (12-1, 2-0) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day is a featured Conference USA matchup between the UAB Blazers and the Florida Atlantic Owls. UAB came into the season with expectations of winning the conference and have won their first 3 games in C-USA on their home court against Charlotte, UTEP and UT-San Antonio. This week is their first road trip in conference play and they get their toughest road game right out of the bat. Jordan Walker leads the Blazers with an incredible 25.2 points a game.

The Owls’ winning streak has now reached 11 games and are coming off of a grinding 50-46 victory at North Texas last week. Against the Mean Green, Vladislav Goldin had 11 points and 13 rebounds to give FAU a resume-boosting victory. Tonight’s game is the beginning of a 5-game stretch that includes games against Charlotte, North Texas and a road trip to Western Kentucky.

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This week’s feature conference is the MAC. We talk about Kent State’s chances of making the bubble if they can dominate the league, but also discuss just how hard it will be for them to dominate it because of all the rivalries and tough road games that exist in this league.

From there we run through the other 22 UTR leagues and discuss how much better Dayton has been playing and how dangerous they could be if they can win the Atlantic Ten and make the NCAA Tournament, the strength of conferences like Conference USA, the Sun Belt, and the WAC and how we could see multiple teams from all of those leagues making runs at the bubble, how disappointing some of the conferences like the Horizon League, the SoCon, and Missouri Valley have been, and more. And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

Audio Only version:

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UTR-1-4-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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Instead of calling this “News, Notes, and Highlighted Games” I’ve decided to rebrand this as the “Hoops HD Daily Rundown.” When you’re a puppet, you have that kind of administrative authority!!

NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s Under the Radar Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-There simply aren’t very many nights that aren’t crazy. Even when you’re expecting a normal night, you almost never get it.

-Kansas held a lead at Texas Tech for most of the game, but the Red Raiders kept chipping away and chipping away, and appeared to have a chance to win it with the shot clock off, but a big defensive play by Kansas gave them a breakaway dunk to seal up the 75-72 road win, which looks really nice on the resume of a team that’s fighting for a #1 seed.

-Kansas State’s defense was AWFUL last night at Texas! But the offense was out of their minds. If you’d have told me Texas was going to score 103 points AT HOME against K State, I would have wondered just how much they blew them out by, but K State held a lead for pretty much the entire game, diced up the Texas defense (which is really good), and seemingly scored on every possession in their 116-103 road win. This will look fantastic on K State’s resume and probably vault them into the rankings.

-Pitt was down double digits to Virginia about midway through the second half, and then Virginia’s offense went through a stretch where it looked a lot like the offense of a team that was playing against Virginia. Pitt pulled even, then went ahead, and then it was close the rest of the way with Pitt making some big plays in the final minute to pick up the 68-65 win. It’s a huge win for the Panthers despite it being a home game, and it follows up another big win against North Carolina (also a home game). One thing we can say for certain is that Pitt is VERY tough to beat at home!

-New Mexico suffered their first loss of the season in a 71-67 game to a Fresno State team that is just 6-8 on the year. It was a road game, but it’s the kind of road game that a legit top 25 team should be able to win. I like New Mexico’s team and think they can finish inside the bubble, but I also wonder how much of their 14-0 record was due to their strength of schedule being in the 280s rather than them being a legit top 25 team. With teams like San Diego State, Nevada, and UNLV in their league they will be tested multiple times between now and the end.

-Marquette picked up a decent road win at Saint John’s 96-85 and improves to 4-1 in conference play and appears to be moving further and further inside the bubble.

-Kentucky had to sweat at home against LSU, but held on for the 74-71 win. It’s not a win that screams “protected seed!!” but it is arguably (and perhaps not even arguably) Kentucky’s best win of the season so far.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-AUBURN AT GEORGIA (SEC). This is a game that a protected seed should be able to win on the road, but it’s still not an easy game to win. Georgia is 10-3 and looking for some notable wins of their own, so Auburn will definitely be tested.

-DUKE AT NC STATE (ACC). Like the game previously mentioned, this is a road game that a protected seed should be able to win, but it will be a tough test against an NC State team that should be fired up for this one and who needs some notable wins of their own.

-PENN STATE AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Michigan has been very schizophrenic this year. One week they look like they don’t even belong in the NIT, and then they’ll go out and absolutely blitz a pretty good Maryland team. Penn State is having a good year and this would be a very good conference road win for them to get on their resume, so there is something at stake for both teams.

-UCONN AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). I really like how Providence has been playing, but if you look at their resume it’s a little light when it comes to big time wins. Tonight is a chance for them to get a big time win. Even though it’s a home game, it would still look really good. UConn is coming off a tough loss to Xavier and will be tested in a big way again tonight. They are still a solid protected seeded caliber team, and they could still even end up as a #1 seed, but to get there they need to win these types of games.

-MISSOURI AT ARKANSAS (SEC). No one expected much out of Missouri, then they racked up a big record but people questioned their strength of schedule, and then they started beating some quality opponents and now people are wondering if they can do it on the road. They keep making themselves look better and better, but this will be a HUGE test tonight against a very good Arkansas team. Both teams are in the rankings, and this win would look really good on both teams’ resumes.

-TCU AT BAYLOR (Big 12). This is a showcase game between two top 20 teams, both of whom may be better than what they’ve shown us so far this season. As good as Baylor is, they did lose their conference opener and some may even say they’ve underperformed this year. A win tonight would certainly be big for either team.

-CLEMSON AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). Both teams are 11-3, both appear to be within reach of the bubble, but neither team seems to be making that big of a splash on the national radar, and both could really use this game tonight.

-ILLINOIS AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). I think this Northwestern team has a lot of potential, but when they have a bad game, they certainly go all out!! they were absolutely clobbered by Ohio State a few nights ago. They’re at home tonight against a rival and this would be a great way to bounce back, but it would also be a really nice road win for Illinois. In short, it’s a rivalry game that could help out both teams’ resumes, so it should be fun.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Charleston @ NC A&T (Colonial) – Charleston should land inside the bubble so long as they hold serve the rest of the way in games like this
-Villanova @ Georgetown (Big East) – This is a winnable road game for Nova that they kind of need to not lose
-Miami FL @ Georgia Tech (ACC) – Miami appears to be good enough to earn a protected seed and should be able to get this one on the road
-UCF @ East Carolina (American) – I still think UCF is a Tournament caliber team, but their margin for error the rest of the way is incredibly small
-Texas A&M @ Florida (SEC) – both teams need to start stringing together wins to get back into the picture
-Drake @ Southern Illinois (Missouri Valley) – Drake can be good, and they’ll need to be for the rest of the year. Anything short of winning out may not be enough to get them inside the bubble

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VCU (10-4, 1-0) at Duquesne (11-4, 1-1) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

For the first time since the Atlantic 10 was relegated to Under The Radar, the conference will be featured tonight as the Duquesne Dukes host the VCU Rams in an early-season conference matchup. The Rams just finished a 6-game homestand going 5-1; they concluded with an 80-67 win against La Salle to open up league play. Ace Baldwin had 19 points, 6 assists and 4 steals in their win against La Salle.

Duquesne opened A-10 play with a loss against preseason favorite Dayton, but quickly rebounded with a win at home against Rhode Island. In nonconference play, the Dukes got off to a 7-1 start that included a win against UC-Santa Barbara and a buzzer-beater against Ball State. They did come back to earth a little bit with home losses against New Mexico State and Marshall. Dae Dae Grant leads the Dukes with 17 points a game.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-For Jon Teitel’s All Conference Midseason Awards – CLICK HERE for Pt.1 and CLICK HERE for Pt.2

-The biggest news on the court last night was Rutgers’s huge upset win on the road against top ranked Purdue. It’s one of the better singular wins that any team has managed this season, and it suddenly makes their resume look tons better than what it did before yesterday. Rutgers had played really well against some really good teams, but came up just short. Yesterday they played really well against the #1 ranked team, and got the win, so I’m glad for them that they finally picked one up.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MARQUETTE AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). Both teams are well within reach of the inside of the bubble, but both still have some work to do in order to actually reach it. The Johnnies have lost three straight and need a win like this in order to bounce back. Marquette has actually won five out of their last six with the only loss being a double overtime thriller against Providence and is coming off really nice win at Villanova, so for them to pick up another road win would really have them on a good path.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT TENNESSEE (SEC). Mississippi State has lost two straight games since building up a big 11-0 record against what was mostly a pastry cart. They do have a couple of good wins, but they still have a lot of work to do. Tennessee has lifted some pretty heavy weight and appears to be on pace toward a protected seed. But to stay on that pace they need to be able to hold serve in games like this.

-NEBRASKA AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Michigan State appears to be outside the bubble right now and needs to string together some wins just to get back in the picture. This is a winnable conference home game and they need to take care of business.

-WESTERN MICHIGAN AT KENT STATE (MAC). I still think there will be room for Kent State inside the bubble if they can blow through the MAC. I know that’s easier said than done, but I do think they’re good en0ugh to do it.

-LSU AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Kentucky doesn’t have any notable wins yet, and a win today may actually be their best of the season so far, but they don’t have any damaging losses either and are talented enough to where they should safely reach the field so long as they hold serve. LSU has built up a big record, but mostly done so by going to the bakery and ordering cupcakes. They will certainly be tested tonight, though, and they are coming off a really nice win against Arkansas, so we can’t just brush off this LSU team.

-SETON HALL AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Both teams have to make up some ground, and both could really use this one tonight. Creighton just hasn’t looked good at all since their 6-0 start and needs to get things turned around. This is a winnable home game for them and they need to take advantage.

-KANSAS AT TEXAS TECH (Big 12). Kansas survived a battle at home against Oklahoma State, and like every conference road game they play they’re going to be in for another battle tonight. Texas Tech can really help out their resume with a win tonight even though they are at home.

-KANSAS STATE AT TEXAS (Big 12). K State has just one loss on the season, but they didn’t amass that record by playing in games that will test them as much as this one will. Texas is 12-1, ranked really high, has some high caliber wins, and has been really good at home this year.

-OLE MISS AT ALABAMA (SEC). Alabama has some of the best wins of any team in the country, and depending on how well they do between now and the end I don’t think a #1 seed is out of the question. They do need to hold serve in games like this, which I expect they’ll be able to.

-VIRGINIA AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). Pitt has won nine of their last ten and, as crazy as this is to say, they’re playing really well with some decent wins on their resume. If they can get this one tonight, they’ll REALLY get the attention of the committee. Virginia is one of the teams that appears to be contending for a #1 seed, and for teams like that road wins in games like this come with the territory, but Pitt has reason to be optimistic.

-MINNESOTA AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). Wisconsin is up to 14th in the rankings, and they are well deserving of it and in contention for a protected seed. They should be able to hold serve in the basketball version of Paul Bunyan’s Axe tonight

-UTAH STATE AT AIR FORCE (Mountain West). I really like this Utah State team and feel they can land inside the bubble. Air Force can be a tricky team to play against, especially on the road, but it’s still a winnable conference road game that they can add to their resume.

-SAN JOSE STATE AT BOISE STATE (Mountain West). I think this is a good Boise State team, but I also realize they still have a ton of work to do if they want to reach the NCAA Tournament and can’t afford to drop games like this at home.

-NEW MEXICO AT FRESNO STATE (Mountain West). New Mexico is the last unbeaten and this should be another winnable road game for them.

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Ball State (9-4, 0-0) at Toledo (9-4, 0-0) – 7:00 PM ET (CBS Sports Network)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day kicks off MAC play in the Glass City between Ball State and the hometown Toledo Rockets. Ball State comes into tonight’s game on a five-game winning streak; their last game was a 70-63 win against Chicago State. Payton Sparks averages 13.5 points a game and 8 rebounds a game for the Cardinals.

Toledo started off the season with a 93-85 neutral-court victory against UAB and was looking like one of the better UTR teams going into the season. Expectations were tempered after back-to-back losses against Kansas City and East Carolina in the Gulf Coast Showcase, but they did rebound with a 12-point win at Vermont during nonconference play. Both RayJ Dennis and JT Shumate are tied for 4th place in the MAC with a 19.1 PPG average.

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Conference play is underway in all of the major conferences and we look back at what was a busy week over the Holidays. We begin by talking about Rutgers’ huge upset win at Purdue, and how it will likely end up being one of the bigger singular wins that any team manages this season considering it was on the road against a potential #1 seed. Xavier also picked up a huge win against UConn, and Houston had a close call at home against UCF, so the teams at the top of the polls were tested. We talk about that, how Pitt and LSU have bloated records, but still need some big wins to prove themselves, how strong the Big 12 is from top to bottom, and much more! And, at the end we also discuss Charleston, who finally cracked the Top 25 this week.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/HHD-Report-1-2-23-Audio-Only.mp3

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After our holiday break, we resume our Staff Bracket projections this week. This is not to be confused with the brackets that our committee-guessing expert Jon Teitel posts; he is simply guessing what the Selection Committee would likely pick at this stage. With John Stalica’s turn this week, this is how he sees fit at this checkpoint of the season.

COMMENTS FROM JOHN:

– With UConn losing this weekend, we now have a clear-cut #1 overall seed with Purdue taking control. Kansas and Arizona continue to impress and UConn still has the edge over Houston for the final #1 spot for now.

– Both New Mexico and Xavier tied for #22 in the AP Poll last week and both teams have been rising fast in the seed list. The Musketeers have an opportunity to rise up a little faster given the level of competition in the Big East versus what the Mountain West offers for the Lobos.

– If not for their win at home against Yale, Kentucky would be 0-4 against the top two tiers in the NET. Notice they are not in the bracket right now.

– I think that Charleston and Florida Atlantic deserve to be above the First Four right now, but teams like North Texas and UAB also have a chance to crash the party as at-larges if things break right for them in C-USA. Southern Miss is not above the First Four but I do have them as a #12 seed at this point.

– Creighton is a team that will likely get healthy and get in the field later on in the season, but right now the resume isn’t there. Villanova may not get to that point and will really be behind the 8-ball should they not kick into gear soon.

First Four Out: Creighton, Utah State, Northwestern, NC State

COMMENTS FROM DAVID: Stalica mentioned this in his write-up, but to the question of “Where’s Kentucky?” the answer should be “Right next to Oklahoma State.” I do think Kentucky will be there in the end, but right now despite multiple chances, they just don’t have enough wins against the top 100, much less tournament caliber wins, to be selected. I applaud John for the omission!!

-Sam Houston is in his field, but on the #12 line. I’m starting to think that I’m the only person that I’m the only person that respects the hell out of their resume. The wins at Oklahoma and Utah have got to be worth something. Granted Stalica only has both of those teams in the First Four, so…

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the upcoming months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. You can find Parts 1-3 at:

http://hoopshd.com/2022/11/12/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-1-2
http://hoopshd.com/2022/12/03/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-2-3
http://hoopshd.com/2022/12/17/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-3-3

See below for his photo essay about the Hoyas’ game last night against Butler.

I am starting off the new year with the pregame meal of the year: make-your-own steak sandwiches for dinner with chocolate chip cookies and mini-churros in caramel sauce for dessert! Let’s tip it off:

Our coaching matchup features 2 guys with very different resumes. Standing on the left is Coach Patrick Ewing, who has lost 23 conference games in a row entering tonight; sitting on the right is Coach Thad Matta, who has the 4th-best winning percentage among active D-1 coaches (minimum 10 seasons):

Tonight marks Matta’s 1st game vs. the Hoyas since he beat them 67-60 in the 2007 Final 4 in Atlanta as coach at Ohio State. His current director of basketball operations (Greg Oden) scored 13 PTS that night and along with Ewing gives us 2 former NBA 1st overall picks (1985 and 2007) in the arena:

Just when you think Georgetown’s problems could not get any worse, it turns out that JR G Jay Heath is out for the foreseeable future due to a left hand injury:

Butler G Eric Hunter finished his 4-year career at Purdue last spring by going out on top with a 29-win season and a trip to the Sweet 16 before losing to St. Peter’s. It must be weird for him to see his former team sitting on top of the college basketball world this season with a 13-0 record so far, but it did not seem to bother him as he made a bunch of layups and a corner 3 in the 1st half:

Another transfer who looked great in the 1st 20 minutes was Manny Bates, who only played 1 minute for NC State last season after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the very 1st minute of his season-opener vs. Bucknell, but was unstoppable in the paint with fadeaway jumper after dunk after turnaround baby hook:

SO G Jayden Taylor only had 3-17 3PM during the month of December and lost his spot in the starting lineup, but made a trio of threes off the bench in the 1st half: more on him later. Georgetown G Brandon Murray was coming off a career-high 29-PT performance at DePaul last Thursday and continued his hot streak with a 3 from the top of key and several successful drives to the hoop to keep his team in it for a while:

Butler led 38-30 at halftime, which is a bigger deal than you might think because the Bulldogs are 8-0 this year when leading at halftime. Taylor duplicated his hot start with 3 more shots from behind the arc in the 2nd half, finishing with a career-high 24 PTS and not a single turnover in just 21 minutes of action:

Georgetown was ice-cold from the field and finished with just 28.8 FG% as Butler pulled away to win 80-51, giving the Hoyas their 24th loss in a row to tie DePaul for the longest conference losing streak in Big East history. In the postgame press conference I asked Taylor how he was able to have the game of his life. He said that his success was due to the energy of the team becoming contagious, as their goal entering the game was just to win:

I knew that other media members would ask Ewing about the losing streak so I decided to inquire about whether Primo Spears might be hitting the proverbial wall due to playing almost 38 minutes/game (3rd-most in the nation). He confirmed that while Primo is banged up a bit his motor is just fine. His PG tries hard to be a facilitator (he only attempted 5 shots tonight), but Ewing feels he needs to give Primo some more scoring opportunities:

That is a wrap for now but check back later this week as Georgetown hosts Villanova on Wednesday.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-A big thanks to John Stalica for helping out with the daily write-ups the last two days! I was out celebrating, and one thing led to another, and…well…let’s just say that I don’t think local law enforcement has been very fair to puppets!!!

-We will be recording our Hoops HD Report tonight as we are now back on our normal schedule. John Stalica will also have his first Staff Bracket of the New Year later today!

-Providence won handily at DePaul to stay unbeaten in Big East play and improve to 12-3 on the year. The voters have got to start noticing this team. They lost a ton from last year’s team and many dismissed them in the preseason, and it seems as though they actually haven’t notice that once again Providence is damn good!

-Washington State isn’t likely to make the tournament, but they are good enough to be considered a snake-pit when playing at home. They nearly beat UCLA just a few nights ago, and beat a really good USC team last night. Their only other home loss was in overtime to Utah, so they can play with, and even beat, good teams at home.

-Drake lost another game that they should have won, this time at Missouri State, 52-49. I’m very close to saying that one of Drake’s win better be that last Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game, because they are out of strikes and can’t get inside the bubble. They basically need to win out to not need the auto-bid.

-Michigan looked like a directional Michigan school against Central Michigan earlier in the week, but looked like a Final Four team yesterday against a Maryland team who had been playing well, but I guess spent too much time partying on New Years Eve. I believe it was 23-4 at one point, and the game was never really close as Michigan blew them away.

-Memphis, who had been playing well, had a tough road game against a Tulane team that has somewhat underperformed but is still having a good year…and lost 96-89. This loss doesn’t sink think by any means, but it was one of those road games that, while not easy to win, that a tournament caliber team needs to be able to win.

-Iowa’ suckiness improved a little bit yesterday, but they still didn’t get the win at Penn State as they fell 83-79. Penn State is looking more and more like a solid tournament caliber team, whereas Iowa just needs to beat ANYBODY to pull themselves out of the tailspin they are in.

-Ohio State went into Northwestern and got an impressive and decisive 73-57 road win. Northwestern had been looking like a fringe bubble team, but they looked like utter crap yesterday. The 73-57 score isn’t a close margin, but it’s a much closer margin than how close the game actually was. Ohio State just dominated.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-RUTGERS AT PURDUE (Big Ten). I’ve beens saying for weeks that Rutgers looks like an NCAA Tournament team, but that their resume needs some boosting. Well, tonight is a chance for them to boost it through the roof!! The problem is that while they look like Tournament team, they don’t look like a Final Four team, which is what Purdue has looked like, so to win there on the road might be a little bit out of their reach.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12). After a ho-hum start, Oklahoma State looked fantastic in their last game at Kansas, but could not pick up the win. Still, they FINALLY looked like the caliber of team that we were expecting coming into the year, they’ve got a winnable game at home tonight, and if they can start stringing together wins they can play their way in. WVU is in the rankings, but could use a few notable wins away from home of their own to polish up their resume too.

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Southern (4-9, 0-0) at Texas Southern (4-9, 0-0) – 8:30 PM ET

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features the SWAC opener for both Southern and Texas Southern. The Southern Jaguars’ highlight of the nonconference portion of the season was a 74-66 win at California; they also had a brief 2-game winning streak when that was followed up with a win against Loyola-Maryland. Bryson Etienne (a one-time Texas Southern player) leads the Jaguars with 12.1 points a game.

Texas Southern also comes into tonight’s game with 2 wins so far in the year against D1 foes. They also beat Arizona State at home back in November in what was part of the official SWAC-Pac 12 Legacy Series (note that the Southern win at Cal was not part of the official series). The Tigers begin a tough stretch where both Southern and Grambling visit Houston; Davon Barnes averages 14.6 points a game for TSU.

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We are only 10 weeks away from Selection Sunday as we begin to make our NCAA tourney predictions. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel correctly picked 67 of the 68 teams that made the 2022 tourney and each of his 67 of were within 1 spot of their actual seed, including 49 right on the money. He will spend the upcoming months predicting which 68 teams will hear their names called on March 12th. See below for his list of who would make the cut if they picked the field today and if you agree or disagree then feel free to tweet us. To see how he stacks up with other websites (ranked 12th out of 148 entries over the past 5 years), check out: www.bracketmatrix.com

SEED: TEAM (CONFERENCE)
1: Purdue (Big 10)
1: Kansas (Big 12)
1: Houston (AAC)
1: Connecticut (Big East)

2: Arizona (Pac-12)
2: Tennessee (SEC)
2: Alabama (SEC)
2: UCLA (Pac-12)

3: Texas (Big 12)
3: Virginia (ACC)
3: Gonzaga (WCC)
3: Duke (ACC)

4: Baylor (Big 12)
4: Arkansas (SEC)
4: Indiana (Big 10)
4: Wisconsin (Big 10)

5: Xavier (Big East)
5: West Virginia (Big 12)
5: Kentucky (SEC)
5: Miami (ACC)

6: Virginia Tech (ACC)
6: Mississippi State (SEC)
6: Maryland (Big 10)
6: Auburn (SEC)

7: Iowa State (Big 12)
7: North Carolina (ACC)
7: Illinois (Big 10)
7: Ohio State (Big 10)

8: Memphis (AAC)
8: San Diego State (MWC)
8: New Mexico (MWC)
8: Marquette (Big East)

9: TCU (Big 12)
9: St. Mary’s (WCC)
9: Kansas State (Big 12)
9: Missouri (SEC)

10: Michigan State (Big 10)
10: Arizona State (Pac-12)
10: Utah State (MWC)
10: Iowa (Big 10)

11: Creighton (Big East)
11: Penn State (Big 10)
11: Utah (Pac-12)
11: Texas Tech (Big 12)
11: Oklahoma (Big 12)
11: Florida Atlantic (C-USA)

12: Charleston (CAA)
12: Southern Miss (Sun Belt)
12: Kent State (MAC)
12: Sam Houston (WAC)

13: St. Louis (A-10)
13: Iona (MAAC)
13: Yale (Ivy)
13: Bradley (MVC)

14: Oral Roberts (Summit)
14: UCSB (Big West)
14: Liberty (Atlantic Sun)
14: UMass-Lowell (America East)

15: Furman (SoCon)
15: Colgate (Patriot)
15: Youngstown State (Horizon)
15: Montana State (Big Sky)

16: Longwood (Big South)
16: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland)
16: SIU-Edwardsville (OVC)
16: Norfolk State (MEAC)
16: Grambling (SWAC)
16: Wagner (NEC)

1ST 4 OUT
Rutgers (Big 10)
Northwestern (Big 10)
UAB (C-USA)
LSU (SEC)

View Details

For Jon Teitel’s 2nd part of the Midseason All-Conference Awards – CLICK HERE

For Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

For Jon Teitel’s first Bracket Projection of the season – CLICK HERE

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Xavier finished off December with a bang and knocked UConn out of the ranks of the unbeaten with a 10-point win at home. The Musketeers are getting closer to looking like a protected seed and UConn is suddenly looking up at teams like Xavier and Providence in the Big East standings.

-Marquette is starting to solidify their postseason status with a win at Villanova yesterday. The Golden Eagles have now won 3 straight against Nova and the Wildcats really need to get a sense of urgency if they want to make any postseason right now.

-Kansas missed their alarm clock and was down by 15 at home against Oklahoma State before mounting a late comeback to escape an upset bid from the Pokes.

-Houston also had to sweat out a home game against Central Florida, but it’s not terribly surprising when you consider how both teams have been playing this season. The Knights have a lot of missed opportunities on their resume and not enough actual wins for the Committee.

-Arizona got out to a big lead against Arizona State on the road and thwarted a late Sun Devil comeback to beat their in-state rivals. The Wildcats are looking like they are a 1-seed caliber team at this stage of the season.

-Only Texas managed to get a win on the road in the Big 12 against Oklahoma; Iowa State beat Baylor, TCU beat Texas Tech (with actual fans in the stands, unlike Clemson) and Kansas State managed to beat West Virginia. Any road win in the Big 12 is going to be gold.

-New Mexico’s winning streak was put to the test in the thin air of Wyoming, but held on for a 1-point win after a pair of free throws in the closing seconds gave them the lead for good. How long the Lobos remain undefeated will be a question that gets asked week in and week out.

-Wake Forest is checking off boxes where they can beat good ACC teams at home, and added Virginia Tech to that list yesterday. Now they just need a good road win or two in conference play.

-Charleston needed overtime against Towson, but their win yesterday should finally vault them into the Top 25 and a spot on tomorrow night’s Hoops HD Report.

-The A-10 desperately needs Saint Louis and Dayton to get separation from the rest of the conference and got that with SLU winning at Saint Joe’s and Dayton winning at a Davidson team coming off of a road win at Fordham. They still have a lot of work to do just to get above the First Four line.

-We’ll have to do some crack research, but we are pretty sure this is the first time San Jose State starts Mountain West play 2-0 thanks to their win at Colorado State yesterday. Chad will not silence the nonbelievers anymore.

-The San Francisco Dons are an inexplicable 0-2 in the WCC thanks to a home loss against Steve Lavin’s San Diego squad yesterday. It’s looking more and more like the WCC will be the Big 2 of Gonzaga/Saint Mary’s and everyone else.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

PROVIDENCE AT DEPAUL (Big East). Providence can pick up their eighth straight win, get to 4-0 in the Big East, and pick up their fourth true road win. Their resume keeps looking better and better, and this is certainly a winnable game for them.

-CINCINNATI AT TEMPLE (American). Cincinnati has won four straight and improved to 10-4 on the year, but they still have a lot of work to do before we declare them NCAA Tourney worthy. They do appear to be improving, though. This would be their first true road win of the year if they’re able to pull it off.

-USC AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac 12). This should be a winnable road game for a USC team that appears to be improving as the season goes along.

-DRAKE AT MISSOURI STATE (Missouri Valley). Drake had to sweat (again) the other night against an inferior team in Valpo, but Drake (again) held on to win. They’re 11-3, which is not a bad record, and you just get the feeling that they’ve amassed it while playing nowhere near their ceiling.

-MARYLAND AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). You get the sense that this is a road game that Maryland should win. They’re a top 25ish team, they’re on the road against an NITish (at best) team in Michigan, and should be able to pull it out.

-MEMPHIS AT TULANE (American). Memphis has strung together quite a few wins, and they’ll be tested a little bit by Tulane today, but it’s still a winnable conference road game for them and it will give the value of their resume another little boost if they can pull it off.

-UCLA AT WASHINGTON (Pac 12). UCLA is playing as well as anyone right now, and while winning at Washington isn’t a cakewalk, it’s the kind of road game that a protected seeded caliber team like UCLA should be able to win.

-OHIO STATE AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). Northwestern is looking like a tournament team to me, but I know they still have work to do. They’re at home against an Ohio State team that also appears to be a tournament caliber team, and a win today would really help boost their resume. This is actually a nice opportunity for both these teams.

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Belmont (9-5, 2-1) at Southern Illinois (10-4, 2-1) – 5:00 PM ET (ESPNU)

Happy New Year from everyone on the Hoops HD Staff – our UTR Game of the Day goes to Carbondale, Illinois where the Salukis of Southern Illinois hosts the Belmont Bruins in the Missouri Valley Conference. This is the 2nd Belmont game in a row we have highlighted; they moved up to 2-1 in league play after beating Bradley at home to knock the Braves out of the ranks of the unbeaten in MVC play. Drew Fribert led the Bruins with 21 points.

SIU has wins at Evansville and at Murray State in league play; their only loss so far in the MVC was at home against Indiana State. The Salukis are also on an overall 5-game winning streak that includes a win at SEMO along with 3 other buy-game wins. Marcus Domask (17.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG) leads the way for SIU.

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The end of the calendar year means that it is time to recognize the best players in college basketball during 2022. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has reviewed all of the numbers and is ready to announce his picks for the 5 best players from each conference based on their all-around stats. Players are listed in a traditional 5-position lineup (G-G-F-F-C) whenever possible with several exceptions, plus a special award for Player of the Year So Far (POYSF). If you think that he has overlooked anyone then feel free to tweet us your comments, and if you missed the remaining conferences yesterday in Part 1:
http://hoopshd.com/2022/12/30/handing-out-the-hardware-all-conference-players-of-2022-part-1-of-2

MAAC
G: Dwight Murray Jr. (Rider)
G: Javian McCollum (Siena)
F: Supreme Cook (Fairfield)
F: Nelly Junior Joseph (Iona)
C: Patrick Gardner (Marist)
POYSF: Dwight Murray Jr. (Rider)

MAC
G: RayJ Dennis (Toledo)
G: Xavier Castaneda (Akron)
F: Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan)
F: Setric Millner Jr. (Toledo)
C: Payton Sparks (Ball State)
POYSF: Emoni Bates (Eastern Michigan)

MEAC
G: Sam Sessoms (Coppin State)
G: Malik Miller (Morgan State)
F: Joe Bryant Jr. (Norfolk State)
F: Steve Settle III (Howard)
F: Kris Bankston (Norfolk State)
POYSF: Sam Sessoms (Coppin State)

MVC
G: Ben Sheppard (Belmont)
G: Bowen Born (Northern Iowa)
G: Tucker DeVries (Drake)
F: Marcus Domask (Southern Illinois)
F: Ben Krikke (Valparaiso)
POYSF: Bowen Born (Northern Iowa)

MWC
G: Steven Ashworth (Utah State)
G: Jaelen House (New Mexico)
G: EJ Harkless (UNLV)
F: Taylor Funk (Utah State)
F: Morris Udeze (New Mexico)
POYSF: Steven Ashworth (Utah State)

NEC
G: Demetre Roberts (Fairleigh Dickinson)
G: Grant Singleton (Fairleigh Dickinson)
G: Landon Moore (St. Francis PA)
F: Nico Galette (Sacred Heart)
F: Josh Cohen (St. Francis PA)
POYSF: Josh Cohen (St. Francis PA)

OVC
G: Phillip Russell (Southeast Missouri State)
G: Jr. Clay (Tennessee State)
G: Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. (Tennessee State)
F: Myron Gardner (Little Rock)
F: Jaylen Sebree (Tennessee Tech)
POYSF: Jr. Clay (Tennessee State)

Pac-12
G: KJ Simpson (Colorado)
G: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA)
F: Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona)
F: Keion Brooks (Washington)
C: Oumar Ballo (Arizona)
POYSF: Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona)

Patriot
G: Tucker Richardson (Colgate)
G: Xander Rice (Bucknell)
F: Gerrale Gates (Holy Cross)
F: Walter Whyte (Boston University)
C: Andre Screen (Bucknell)
POYSF: Gerrale Gates (Holy Cross)

SEC
G: Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M)
G: Kobe Brown (Missouri)
F: Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky)
F: Brandon Miller (Alabama)
F: KJ Williams (LSU)
POYSF: Brandon Miller (Alabama)

SoCon
G: Mike Bothwell (Furman)
G: Jackson Paveletzke (Wofford)
F: BJ Mack (Wofford)
F: Stephen Clark (Citadel)
C: Jake Stephens (Chattanooga)
POYSF: Jake Stephens (Chattanooga)

Southland
G: Demarcus Sharp (Northwestern State)
G: Jordan Johnson (New Orleans)
F: Christian Shumate (McNeese State)
F: Isaac Mushila (Texas A&M CC)
C: Bonke Maring (Houston Christian)
POYSF: Jordan Johnson (New Orleans)

SWAC
G: TJ Madlock (Alabama State)
G: Zion Harmon (Bethune-Cookman)
G: Ken Evans Jr. (Jackson State)
F: Carte’Are Gordon (Grambling)
F: Joirdon Karl Nicholas (Texas Southern)
POYSF: Joirdon Karl Nicholas (Texas Southern)

Summit
G: Max Abmas (Oral Roberts)
G: Shemarri Allen (Kansas City)
G: Trenton Massner (Western Illinois)
F: Grant Nelson (North Dakota State)
F: Connor Vanover (Oral Roberts)
POYSF: Max Abmas (Oral Roberts)

Sun Belt
G: Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)
G: Andrew Taylor (Marshall)
F: Jordan Brown (Louisiana)
F: Felipe Haase (Southern Miss)
C: Essam Mostafa (Coastal Carolina)
POYSF: Taevion Kinsey (Marshall)

WCC
G: Brandin Podziemski (Santa Clara)
G: Cam Shelton (Loyola Marymount)
F: Drew Timme (Gonzaga)
F: Maxwell Lewis (Pepperdine)
C: Mitchell Saxen (St. Mary’s)
POYSF: Drew Timme (Gonzaga)

WAC
G: Cameron Gooden (Utah Tech)
G: Will Johnston (UTRGV)
F: Gabe McGlothan (Grand Canyon)
F: Sadaidriene Hall (Stephen F. Austin)
C: Aziz Bandaogo (Utah Valley)
POYSF: Will Johnston (UTRGV)

View Details

For Jon Teitel’s Part 1 of his Midseason All-Conference Awards – CLICK HERE

For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day in the Bee Hive – CLICK HERE

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Both the ACC and the Pac-12 had some notable games yesterday. Pitt is looking more and more like a legit NCAA Tournament contender as they kicked things off with a home win against North Carolina. The Tar Heels are now 0-2 in true road games and are looking less and less like a protected seed team, but more of a first-ballot NCAA team at least.

-Miami continues to look like a legit ACC contender themselves and won by double digits at Notre Dame. While they’re not Florida State-bad or even Louisville-bad, the Irish look like they’ll finish in the bottom third of the ACC right now.

-Clemson has quietly gotten off to a 3-0 start in ACC play with their home win against NC State, but almost nobody was in the house to see it. Something about the Orange Bowl later that night, perhaps?

-UCLA played from behind for almost the entire night at Washington State, but Adem Bona hit a layup with 19 seconds remaining to give UCLA a 1-point lead they would not relinquish and ended up escaping Pullman with a 1-point win. USC won at Washington with a lot less trouble than their intracity rivals.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-UCONN AT XAVIER (Big East). UConn is one of the best teams in the country and appears to be good enough to make a run at a #1 seed. This will likely be one of their toughest remaining games of the season. Xavier is in the rankings and playing extremely well, and their only home loss was to an Indiana team that they had a lead on for most of the game. This one should be fun, and if Xavier can pull the upset you have to start looking at them as a possible protected seed.

-TEXAS TECH AT TCU (Big 12). Both teams have been playing really well, both are likely tournament teams, and this should be a really fun match-up today as it’s the conference opener for both. This is probably Texas Tech’s biggest test of the year so far, so a win for them would really boost the value of their resume.

-LOUISVILLE AT KENTUCKY. It’s a rivalry game, but this year’s edition has an interesting story line. Kentucky fans are fed up because they don’t look like they belong in the top 25. Louisville fans are fed up because they don’t look like they belong in D1.

-VIRGINIA TECH AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). VA Tech is looking more and more like they will be a tournament team, and Wake is looking more and more like they could be a tournament team. Both these teams could use this one because it would look good on either team’s resume.

-CHARLESTON AT TOWSON (Colonial). This is a HUGELY important game for a Charleston team that’s 12-1, on the doorsteop of the top 25, and has a very good chance at landing inside the bubble if they can finish at the top of the CAA standings. Towson has a high ceiling, but they’ve been in a tailspin lately. They’re still talented, and it won’t be an easy road game for CofC to win. This could also finally be the win that could vault Charleston into the Top 25 going into 2023.

-UCF AT HOUSTON (American). UCF is one of the better teams in the American, and I think they have a real shot at an at-large bid. That will certainly be true if they can win this one today, but chances are they’re overmatched. Houston is THE best team in the American, and is perhaps the most talented team in the entire nation. They should end up with a #1 seed if they hold serve the rest of the way.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT KANSAS (Big 12). I’m still wanting to believe that Oklahoma State can have a big year, and they have been playing a little better, but so far they’ve been a bit of a disappointment. A win today would certainly turn things around, but that’s much easier said than done. Kansas is a team that’s in contention for a #1 seed, so they should be able to hold serve at home in this one.

-ARIZONA AT ARIZONA STATE (Pac 12). It’s a rivalry game and it should be a crazy atmosphere. Arizona has looked as good as anyone in the country and looks like they could contend for a #1 seed. Arizona State has looked good for most of the season, but in the two games that they haven’t looked good, they’ve looked REALLY bad. Something tells me that they’ll be way up for this one, though.

-TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). It’s the basketball verison of the Red River Rivalry!! Texas hasn’t missed too much of a beat with their off the court issues, but today will be one of their bigger tests of the year up to this point. They’re on the road against a pretty good Oklahoma team that can really boost their resume if they can pick up a win today.

-BAYLOR AT IOWA STATE (Big 12). Baylor looks like they can be a protected seed, and while this is not an easy road game by any stretch of the imagination, it is the kind of road game that protected seeds are expected to be able to win. Iowa State is 9-2 on the year with some pretty decent wins of their own, and this is a chance to improve their resume even more.

-MARQUETTE AT VILLANOVA (Big East). Villanova is 7-6, but they are also 5-1 in their last six games with the only loss being a very competitive game at Connecticut, so based on how they’ve been playing when you look at the rest of the schedule you feel like there isn’t a game left where they’re so overmatched that they can’t win it. They should be able to get this one at home against a decent Marquette team.

-NEW MEXICO AT WYOMING (Mountain West). New Mexico is unbeaten on the year, in the rankings, and having a bit of a dream season. They may be tested more than people think today by a Wyoming team that has struggled due to injuries, but that is still talented and could do some damage once they’re healthy again.

-WESTERN KENTUCKY AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (Conference USA). WKU is 8-4 and is damn near out of strikes, especially after losing at Rice at home the other night. There is still a chance (albeit slim) for them to make a run at the bubble if they can play up to their ceiling and blow through conference play, but the loss to Louisville is really going to hurt them and they’re basically out of strikes. This won’t be an easy road game for them in the conference opener.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT UNLV (Mountain West). UNLV is looking to bounce back from a very surprising loss the other night at San Jose State, but despite that they’re still in reasonably good shape and have a good chance at landing inside the bubble. A win today would certainly help. Having said that, a win today would look really good for San Diego State as well.

-SAM HOUSTON AT NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC). This will be a tough road game for Sam Houston, but they’ve already won a couple of really tough road games. I like this team’s resume and I love how they play defense. They can make a run at the bubble if they hold serve in league play. It’s a tough road game, but it’s the kind of game that tournament caliber teams need to be able to win.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Both teams have bloated records, and West Virginia has played their way into the rankings, but most (albeit not quite all) of the wins for both teams have come from the pastry cart and they need some meet on their resumes. A win today would certainly help.

-SAINT MARY’S AT SANTA CLARA (West Coast). Santa Clara is coming off a really nice win against San Francisco earlier in the week, and if they can get this one then their resume will be worth a look from the committee. Saint Mary’s could use some good wins on their resume too, and this is one they’d get a decent amount of credit for given that it’s a road game and given how well Santa Clara has been playing.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES/BUY GAMES:

-Virginia @ Georgia Tech (ACC) – this should be a winnable conference road game for UVA, which would be their second true road win of the year
-Yale @ Columbia (Ivy League) – Yale will pretty much have to run the table to get any sort of look from the committee
-Saint John’s @ Seton Hall (Big East) – Both teams seem to be a in a tailspin and could really use this one
-Florida State @ Duke (ACC)
-UMass Lowell @ NJIT (America East) – UMass Lowell will pretty much have to win out to get any serious consideration from the committee
-Fresno State @ Utah State (Mountain West) – A win for Utah State gets them to 12-2 and keeps them on pace to land inside the bubble
-Louisiana @ Old Dominion (Sun Belt) – Louisiana is 10-2 on the year and is amongst a group of teams in the Sun Belt that could land inside the bubble if they can finish at or near the top
-James Madison @ Marshall (Sun Belt) – Marshall is 11-2 on the year and is amongst a group of teams in the Sun Belt that could land inside the bubble if they can finish at or near the top
-Appalachian State @ Southern Miss (Sun Belt) – Southern Miss is 11-2 on the year and is amongst a group of teams in the Sun Belt that could land inside the bubble if they finish at or near the top
-Utah @ Stanford – this should be a winnable conference road game for Utah
-UTSA @ UAB (Conference USA)
-Pepperdine @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – conference opener for both teams
-San Diego @ San Francisco (West Coast) – San Francisco needs to bounce back and start stringing together wins again

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Utah Tech (9-5, 1-0) at Utah Valley (10-4, 1-0) – 4:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

There are a lot of great UTR matchups today (Charleston-Towson and James Madison-Marshall come to mind), but we at Hoops HD will not pass up a top-notch Beehive matchup when it presents itself. The Trailblazers of Utah Tech travel to Orem to take on the Wolverines at Utah Valley. Utah Tech had a close 5-point loss at Utah State in the beginning of December, but followed that game up with a 12-point win at Weber State to improve to 1-1 in the Beehive and spark what is now a 6-game win streak (although only 3 games are against D1 competition). Isaiah Pope had 20 points in Tech’s WAC opener against UTRGV.

Mark Madsen’s Wolverine squad got off to a slow 3-4 start, but they have caught fire of late with a 7-game winning streak of their own. In their last two wins, they defeated Oregon 77-72 in Eugene and also hammered Sam Houston State 80-64 in their WAC opener. UVU was led by Tahj Small (19 points) and La’Tre Darthard (15 points) in their win against the Bearkats.

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The end of the calendar year means that it is time to recognize the best players in college basketball during 2022. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has reviewed all of the numbers and is ready to announce his picks for the 5 best players from each conference based on their all-around stats. Players are listed in a traditional 5-position lineup (G-G-F-F-C) whenever possible with several exceptions, plus a special award for Player of the Year So Far (POYSF). If you think that he has overlooked anyone then feel free to tweet us your comments, and check back tomorrow for the remaining conferences in Part 2.

America East
G: Sherif Gross-Bullock (Bryant)
G: Kellen Tynes (Maine)
G: Earl Timberlake (Bryant)
F: Clarence Daniels II (New Hampshire)
F: Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (UMass-Lowell)
POYSF: Clarence Daniels II (New Hampshire)

AAC
G: Kendric Davis (Memphis)
G: Javon Small (East Carolina)
G: David DeJulius (Cincinnati)
F: DeAndre Williams (Memphis)
F: Kevin Cross (Tulane)
POYSF: Kendric Davis (Memphis)

A-10
G: Foster Loyer (Davidson)
G: James Bishop IV (George Washington)
G: Erik Reynolds II (St. Joseph’s)
F: Tyler Burton (Richmond)
F: DaRon Holmes II (Dayton)
POYSF: Tyler Burton (Richmond)

ACC
G: Caleb Love (North Carolina)
G: Tyree Appleby (Wake Forest)
F: Armando Bacot (North Carolina)
F: Blake Hinson (Pitt)
C: Jesse Edwards (Syracuse)
POYSF: Armando Bacot (North Carolina)

Atlantic Sun
G: Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas)
G: Kenny Dye (Queens)
F: Devontae Blanton (Eastern Kentucky)
F: Eddy Kayouloud (Central Arkansas)
C: Elijah Hutchins-Everett (Austin Peay)
POYSF: Kenny Dye (Queens)

Big 12
G: Mike Miles Jr. (TCU)
G: Marcus Carr (Texas)
F: Jalen Wilson (Kansas)
F: Keyontae Johnson (Kansas State)
C: Tanner Groves (Oklahoma)
POYSF: Jalen Wilson (Kansas)

Big East
G: Primo Spears (Georgetown)
G: Souley Boum (Xavier)
F: Bryce Hopkins (Providence)
F: Adama Sanogo (Connecticut)
C: Joel Soriano (St. John’s)
POYSF: Adama Sanogo (Connecticut)

Big Sky
G: Divant’e Moffitt (Idaho)
G: Dalton Knecht (Northern Colorado)
G: Isaac Jones (Idaho)
F: Josh Bannan (Montana)
C: Callum McRae (Sacramento State)
POYSF: Isaac Jones (Idaho)

Big South
G: Isaiah Wilkins (Longwood)
G: Ricky Clemons (Campbell)
F: Drew Pember (UNC-Asheville)
F: Kelton Talford (Winthrop)
F: Zack Austin (High Point)
POYSF: Drew Pember (UNC-Asheville)

Big 10
G: Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois)
G: Jalen Pickett (Penn State)
F: Tyler Wahl (Wisconsin)
F: Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)
C: Zach Edey (Purdue)
POYSF: Zach Edey (Purdue)

Big West
G: Elijah Pepper (UC-Davis)
G: Zyon Pullin (UC-Riverside)
G: Ajay Mitchell (UCSB)
F: Miles Norris (UCSB)
F: Christian Anigwe (UC-Davis)
POYSF: Elijah Pepper (UC-Davis)

CAA
G: Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)
G: Jameer Nelson Jr. (Delaware)
F: Jyare Davis (Delaware)
F: Jordan Nesbitt (Hampton)
F: Amari Williams (Drexel)
POYSF: Aaron Estrada (Hofstra)

C-USA
G: Jordan Walker (UAB)
G: Quincy Olivari (Rice)
F: Abou Ousmane (North Texas)
F: Isaiah Crawford (Louisiana Tech)
C: Jacob Germany (UTSA)
POYSF: Jordan Walker (UAB)

Horizon
G: Antoine Davis (Detroit Mercy)
G: Trey Calvin (Wright State)
G: Dwayne Cohill (Youngstown State)
F: Trey Townsend (Oakland)
F: Kahliel Spear (Robert Morris)
POYSF: Antoine Davis (Detroit Mercy)

Ivy
G: Paxson Wojcik (Brown)
G: Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (Columbia)
G: Greg Dolan (Cornell)
F: Chris Ledlum (Harvard)
F: Tosan Evbuomwan (Princeton)
POYSF: Chris Ledlum (Harvard)

View Details

NEWS AND NOTES:

-For Jon Teitel’s Interview with Mark Montieth about Scott Kyles – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Providence continues to look more and more like a solid NCAA Tournament team. Butler isn’t exactly setting the world on fire this year, but for Providence to go on the road and totally blow them off the floor was something. The final score was 72-52 and the game wasn’t really even that close.

-Rice picked up a really nice win at Western Kentucky 81-78 and is now 10-3 on the year. They’re still a long way from the bubble, but the top of CUSA is good enough to where if they can pick up a few more wins like this one they may find themselves on the board.

-Iowa absolutely stinks all of a sudden. They have gone from looking like a top 25 team to looking like they don’t even belong in D1. After losing to Eastern Illinois at home, they were blown off the floor by Nebraska 66-50 last night.

-Michigan appeared to be pulling themselves together, but after losing 63-61 at home to Central Michigan last night and falling to 7-5 overall, they’ve looked like an NIT team or worse more than they’ve looked like an NCAA Tournament team so far.

-UAB and Southern Miss both needed to sweat, but both held on for the wins. UAB beat UTEP in double overtime 79-73 and Southern Miss held off Troy 64-60. Both teams are in a position to make a run at the bubble, but they can’t slip up in games like these and both had close calls last night.

-Santa Clara got a really solid win in their conference opener against a San Francisco team that had been playing really well. They’re now 13-3 on the year with a smattering of decent wins after their 79-67 win.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-NORTH CAROLINA AT PITTSBURGH (ACC). North Carolina has won four straight and picked up a nice win against Michigan in their last game, but they’re currently 0-2 in true road games, so getting this one against a Pitt team that’s actually halfway decent would be one of their more important wins of the year so far.

-MIAMI FL AT NOTRE DAME (ACC). Miami FL continues to string together wins, build a strong resume, and climb the rankings. Notre Dame, for the most part, continues to disappoint. This should be a winnable conference road game for the Canes.

-NC STATE AT CLEMSON (ACC). Both teams have good records, but neither has any high caliber wins yet so both have work to do. A win today for either team would help out their resume.

-USC AT WASHINGTON (Pac 12). USC is starting to play better, but this will be a tough road test for them. It’s just their second road game of the year and while they should win, it won’t be a cakewalk.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES/BUY GAMES:

-Buffalo @ Michigan State
-Western Michigan @ Wisconsin
-Coppin State @ Rutgers
-UCLA @ Washington State (Pac 12) – UCLA is playing as well as anyone in the country right now

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There are a lot of NBA records set my big men that have lasted for decades: Wilt Chamberlain’s 55-REB game in 1960, Wilt’s 100-PT game in 1962, and Elmore Smith’s 17-BLK game in 1973. 1 of the few records not held by a 7-footer is the all-time AST record, which was set by 6’1″ PG Scott Skiles more than 30 years ago when he had 30 AST for Orlando in a win over Denver. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with author Mark Montieth about Scott’s career and his record-setting night. Today marks the 32nd anniversary of Scott’s fantastic feat so we take this time to remember his life/legacy.

In 1982 as a senior at Plymouth High School, Skiles led the state of Indiana with 30.2 PPG, scored 39 PTS (including a 20-foot buzzer-beater at the end of regulation) in a 1-PT 2-OT state tourney title game win over Roosevelt High School, and was named tourney MVP: how good a player was he back in high school, and where does that title game rank among the most memorable in Indiana history? I would rank it 2nd to Bobby Plump’s championship with Milan (featured in the movie “Hoosiers”). Plymouth is the smallest school to win the state championship in the single-class tournament since Milan: they only have around 800 kids. Skiles’ shot is well-remembered: people swear that it curved from left to right. He was certainly respected but not highly recruited due to his size/athleticism. He was originally planning to go to Purdue because he had attended their camps while growing up. Prior to his senior year he did not play well at the camp because he was injured and assistant coach Clarence Glover wrote him a letter saying that they were no longer recruiting him. Coach Gene Keady found out and tried to fix it but it was too late…so Glover was fired the following year! Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote watched Scott in 1 game and he did not play great, but after leaving the gym he decided to return and Scott played very well in his next game so Jud gave him a scholarship. He was a great passer/shooter and was quick enough: you do not have a long NBA career without being athletic. He was 1 of the most entertaining players that I have ever seen due to his passing.

What impact did Heathcote have on him (if any)? Jud gave Scott a lot of freedom as he previously did for Magic Johnson. They were playing against Indiana 1 year and Jud just told Scott to go out and freelance, which he loved because that played to his strengths. Jud could get on his players’ cases and be demanding but he put up with Scott’s personality: it was the right place for him to play.

As a senior he scored 27.4 PPG and was named All-American/Big 10 POY: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? I think he really enjoyed that: even more than the honors was the chance to stick it to all of the opposing coaches who had passed over him. He had a chip on shoulder so he was proud of the career he had. He had a lot of pride about his game but did not have a lot of ego. I think the memories are more important to him than the awards.

He graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer (2145 PTS)/FT shooter (85 FT%)/passer (645 AST): I assume that Magic Johnson is the best PG to ever play in East Lansing…but is Skiles that far behind him? Not too far, but you have to give props to Scott. Magic was 6’8” while Scott was listed at 6’1”, which is a big difference. As far as a true PG who could run a team and be a leader, Scott could do that. He was every bit as good a passer as Magic and in college he was a better shooter. Shaquille O’Neal once said that Scott was his favorite PG, which was quite an endorsement.

In the summer of 1986 he was drafted 22nd overall by Milwaukee (5 spots ahead of Dennis Rodman): did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? He was probably offended that he went as late as he did since he was an All-American. However, being drafted in the 1st round should be considered a great accomplishment. It did not work out for him in Milwaukee as he only played in 13 games because of an injury. He was traded to the Pacers the following summer for a 2nd round pick, which was a good deal for the Pacers.

On December 30, 1990, as a player for Orlando he had 22 PTS and set an NBA record with 30 AST in a 155-116 win over Denver (whose entire team had 14 AST): how was he able to get so many AST as part of a starting lineup featuring Nick Anderson/Terry Catledge/Greg Kite/Dennis Scott, and do you think that anyone will ever break his record? He played 2 years for the Pacers but 1 of GM Donnie Walsh’s rare mistakes was not protecting Scott in the expansion draft. Scott was a backup PG and Donnie protected SG Randy Wittman instead…and I am sure that he regretted it. Even though Scott did not have the greatest talent around him he was still playing with pros who knew how to score. It just speaks to his ability as a playmaker and the way that he approached the game. He was there to be a true PG and deliver the ball to the right place. And, in fairness, Denver was a poor defensive team. The assist record could be broken due to the full-court game now but I cannot recall anyone even coming close to breaking it (note: nobody in the 21st century has had more than 25 AST in a game).

He only started 371 games in his pro career but remains in the top-50 in NBA history with 6.5 APG/88.9 FT%: do you think that he deserves more credit for being a solid PG for a decade in the NBA? Probably so: his name does not roll off your tongue when you mention the best PGs, but he became a great 3-PT shooter and always had a good AST-TO ratio. He had great intangibles: he was cocky and willing to fight anyone, which made an impact on his teammates. Guys loved playing with him.

In his 1st season as head coach of Phoenix in 2000 he went 40-22, upset the defending champs (Spurs) in the 1st round of the playoffs, then lost to the eventual champs (Lakers) in the Western Conference Semifinals: were you surprised that he went into coaching, and do you think that his early success raised the bar too high (he never had a higher winning percentage in any of his 13 subsequent seasons as a coach)? He talked about becoming a coach pretty openly during college. He was a natural and truly loved the game so I thought that he could be a good coach. He is very demanding and is not eager to put up with players who have bad attitudes or management that has a different plan for the future: he was not a politician. I remember speaking with him when he was an assistant coach in Phoenix. I asked him how it was going and he said, “It would be better if I was the head coach!” He knew how to set up a team and get things going but he has made it clear to me that he does not want to become a head coach again. He reminds me of Larry Brown, who always moved on to get a fresh start somewhere else.

In 2009 he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of his career? He is very proud of that because he knows what Indiana high school basketball is all about. He took great pride in winning a state title with a bunch of teammates who did not go on to play D-1 basketball: it was a real Cinderella story.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? For his fiery attitude and the way that he approached every game. You never had to worry about his effort because he was such a hard-nosed guy. He also played with a confidence level that affected his teammates in a positive way. When he played at Michigan State there was 1 game in Ann Arbor against Michigan. Antoine Joubert was a highly-publicized player for Michigan who was a little chubby. Right before tip-off Scott slapped him on the butt and said something like, “Show me what you got, fat boy”…and then Michigan State went out and won the game. Another story is that a few years after the expansion draft he came back with Orlando to play the Pacers and scored 41 points. Pacers coach Bob Hill called a timeout at one point and as Scott ran by the Indiana bench he yelled, “Call all the timeouts you want; you got nobody who can stop me!” He was a lot like Larry Bird: a cocky rural kid who could dominate a game with his skills. He got into some trouble in college, and even had to spend a few days in jail because of marijuana possession, but never got into any kind of legal trouble after that. He was the underdog who got by on his savvy, skill, and hustle.

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North Alabama (8-5, 0-0) at Jacksonville State (7-6, 0-0) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day matches a pair of schools from the state of Alabama – North Alabama travels to Jacksonville State for the Atlantic Sun opener for both teams. The Lions of UNA have won 4 out of their last 5 games; this includes a win against Ole Miss on the road as well as a double-digit comeback in the 2nd half against Morehead State on the road. Daniel Ortiz averages 13.2 points a game for the Lions.

Much like the Wright State-Northern Kentucky rivalry, there is a lot of history between UNA and Jacksonville State that took place in the NCAA Division II era. The Gamecocks lead the rivalry series 58-35 that dates back to 1950. Demaree King (16.0 PPG) and former Wright State/Morehead State standout Skyelar Potter (15.1 PPG) lead JSU in scoring this season.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Villanova didn’t get the win at UConn, but they were right in there for most of the game in the 74-66 loss and it wasn’t until the last couple of minutes that UConn got complete control of the game. After a 2-5 start, Nova has looked much better, and given that this was probably their hardest remaining game of the year, they’re playing well enough to get the wins they need to get between now and the end to land inside the bubble. Their record is just 7-6, but I’m betting that by the end of the year their resume will be just fine.

-Tennessee picked up their first road win of the season in a 63-59 battle at Ole Miss.

-Alabama picked up yet another really good road win as they held knocked off Mississippi State 78-67 in a game where they pretty much led the whole way. The Tide haven’t been perfect this season, but when you look at the quality of their wins they’re of as high a quality as anyone else in the nation right now.

-LSU improved to 12-1 after knocking off a really strong Arkansas team at home 60-57. LSU’s schedule had been a little weak, but after picking this one up they should be getting quite a bit more attention.

-Missouri is also now 12-1 after beating Kentucky rather handily 89-75. They seemed to sustain a double digit lead for the entire game, and considering they’ve now blown out Illinois and didn’t even really sweat Kentucky it’s probably time to start ranking Missouri higher than…well…not ranking them at all.

-Xavier is good this year. They picked up a very nice road win at Saint John’s 84-79 and were actually in control for pretty much the entire game. At 11-3 with their only losses being close games to Duke, Indiana and Gonzaga, Xavier has shown that they may be good enough to earn a protected seed. They will face UConn on New Years Even in a game that should be completely off the hook.

-Fordham, who appeared to be having a dream season after a 12-1 start, came back down to Earth a little bit last night. They really weren’t ever in the game against Davidson last night despite being at home, and only scored 14pts in the first half before losing 57-43.

-UNLV suffered their second lost of the year as they fell to San Jose State 75-72 in overtime. San Jose State probably won’t land inside the bubble, but at 10-4 on the year with some fairly nice wins they are much improved. This was one of the worst non UTR programs prior to Tim Miles taking over as head coach.

-Boise State lost a close and exciting one at Nevada 74-72. Both teams are good, and both could have really used this win. At 11-3 on the season Nevada is starting to make some noise and deserves some attention.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PROVIDENCE AT BUTLER (Big East). Providence appears to be within reach of the bubble, but to get safely inside it this is the kind of road game they need to be able to win. Butler is 6-1 at home, but they’re nowhere near the bubble and right now the chances of them even making the NIT don’t seem that good.

-RICE AT WESTERN KENTUCKY (Conference USA). Both teams come in 9-3, and while the margin for error is small both appear to be good enough to possibly make a run at the bubble. But, both would have to basically really blow through the conference, and that would mean getting a win tonight.

-IOWA AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). Iowa went on Christmas Break a little early and needs to bounce back from what was a historically bad loss against Eastern Illinois. This is a road game they should be able to pick up.

-LOUISIANA AT COASTAL CAROLINA (Sun Belt). Louisiana is an impressive 10-2, but they need to hold serve in road games like this one if they want any shot at all at landing inside the bubble.

-APPALACHIAN STATE AT MARSHALL (Sun Belt). At 11-2, Marshall hasn’t always looked perfect, but they’ve looked good enough to where they’ll stay on the radar until they give us a reason to take them off of it. They need to hold serve in games like this one, which is actually the story for nearly all of their remaining games.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT NORTH TEXAS (Conference USA). This is a HUGELY important game between two teams with bloated records who both look like they could land inside the bubble, but who both also need notable wins and have limited opportunities the rest of the way. That’s what makes this one so important.

-SAN FRANCISCO AT SANTA CLARA (West Coast). I like how both teams have played so far, and think it’s possible for both of them to land inside the bubble with a strong showing in conference. This is a big opportunity and an important game for both of them tonight.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES/BUY GAMES:

-Brown @ Northwestern
-Delaware State @ Penn State
-Alabama A&M @ Ohio State
-Florida A&M @ Purdue
-Central Michigan @ Michigan
-UMBC @ Maryland
-Hampton @ Charleston (Colonial)
-UTEP @ UAB (Conference USA) – UAB is building a resume that will get them a serious look so long if they can continue to hold serve.
-South Florida @ Memphis (American) – I like how Memphis is playing and think they appear to be a solid tourney caliber team
-Sam Houston @ Tarleton (WAC) – this is a chance for Sam Houston to pick up yet another true road win and improve to 11-2 overall
-Troy @ Southern Miss (Sun Belt) – Southern Miss is having an incredible year and they have a chance to land inside the bubble if they keep playing the way they have been
-Bethune Cookman @ Illinois
-Tulane @ Cincinnati (American) – both teams have work to do just to get back into the discussion
-Valpo @ Drake (Missouri Valley) – Drake is pretty much out of strikes, but they are talented enough to blow through the MVC and get on the committee’s radar
-San Diego @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – SMC should be able to hold serve in this one
-Utah @ California (Pac 12) – This is some low hanging fruit for Utah. It is about as winnable as conference road games will ever be for them

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Florida Atlantic (11-1, 1-0) at North Texas (10-2, 1-0) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day figures to be one of the best matchups we’ll see all year in Conference USA with Florida Atlantic paying a visit to the Super Pit at North Texas. FAU comes into the game on a 10-game winning streak that includes a win in their conference opener against rival FIU about 2 weeks ago. Head coach Dusty May became the all-time winningest coach in FAU history with the Owls’ win against Northern Kentucky in their last year. Did we mention this is only the fifth season for May?

Since losing to UNC-Wilmington in the championship game of the Baha Mar Bahamas championship game, the Mean Green of North Texas have now won five straight games. They look to be peaking going into the new year; they won by 18 points against UMass in Springfield, MA and also won their conference opener on the road against UT-San Antonio by 24 points. Abou Ousmane had a dominant game against the Roadrunners with 37 points and 11 rebounds.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-For the latest (and first of the season) Hoops HD Bracket Rundown – CLICK HERE

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-TENNESSEE AT OLE MISS (SEC). So far Tennessee has looked like a protected seed and Ole Miss has looked like an NIT team. It is a conference game, and Tennessee is still looking for their first true road win, so this will add something to the Vols’ profile that they will in fact (eventually) need.

-VILLANOVA AT UCONN (Big East). Nova is healthy, playing really well, and has won five straight since a sluggish 2-5 start. Winning today against one of the best teams in the country on the road may be too tall of an order, though, but if they somehow do pull the upset I think it’s pretty clear that they are all the way back.

-KENTUCKY AT MISSOURI (SEC). Mizzou is 11-1 and is coming off an absolutely dominant win against a pretty good Illinois team. They should be jacked for this one against a Kentucky team that has done well, but still underperformed by their standards. Then again, Kentucky often underperforms until the winter break. This is a huge test for both teams, and it’s a win that both of them could use both on paper and bor the momentum that it will build up.

-FLORIDA AT AUBURN (SEC). Florida has been kind of meh this year, and Auburn has looked somewhere between a first ballot team and a protected seed depending on the day. They should be able to pick up this one at home.

-DAVIDSON AT FORDHAM (Atlantic Ten). Fordham has just one loss on the year, which is amazing, and they have a chance to win the Atlantic Ten, which is amazing. The problem is the league is so weak that their margin for error in terms of landing inside the bubble is very small.

-ALABAMA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Alabama has shown they can win big games away from home, whereas Mississippi State has mostly shown they can win buy games at home. This is a test for both teams, and it’s a win that would help both of them out. Mississippi State does have a couple of nice wins against Marquette and Utah on a neutral floor, but this would probably be their biggest of the season even though it’s at home.

-ARKANSAS AT LSU (SEC). Both teams have just one loss, but LSU hasn’t lifted any heavy weight and this is by far their biggest test of the year to date. Arkansas has won eight straight, and while most has been against lighter competition they do have a couple of decent wins in that stretch.

-XAVIER AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). Xavier has cracked the rankings, and has been tested both at home and on the road. They will likely be tested tonight again against a Saint John’s team that has a bloated record, but that is lacking in notable wins and who could really use this one. Their best win on the season so far is probably against Syracuse, and Xavier is a lot better than Syracuse is.

-COLORADO STATE AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). New Mexico is unbeaten, in the rankings, their fans are excited, and they’ve beaten some decent teams so far. Colorado State has been a little disappointing this year at just 8-5, but they’re still not a team that the Lobos will want to overlook.

-UNLV AT SAN JOSE STATE (Mountain West). UNLV is 11-1 on the year with some pretty decent wins, but this is just their second true road game. While they should win it, it won’t be a cakewalk. Then again, making the NCAA Tournament is not a cakewalk either, and this is the kind of game they need to be able to win.

-BOISE STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). I think both of these teams are good, and it wouldn’t shock me if both ended up inside the bubble, but both still have work to do, which is what make this game so important to both of them.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-UNC Wilmington @ Monmouth (Colonial). UNCW will be a contender in this league and it’s strong enough at the top to get them a serious look from the committee if they can somehow run away with it.
-Houston @ Tulsa (American) – Houston should roll and add another road win to their resume
-Air Force @ San Diego State (Mountain West) – San Diego State should be able to hold serve at home

BUY GAMES:

-Eastern Oregon (nonD1 @ Gonzaga)
-Central Arkansas @ TCU
-Albany @ Virginia
-Nicholls @ Baylor

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Bradley (9-4, 2-0) at Belmont (8-5, 1-1) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today marks the return of the UTR Game of the Day from our annual Holiday Break; we go to Nashville where the Belmont Bruins will host the Bradley Braves. Bradley comes into today’s game already having won games against Northern Iowa and Missouri State into league play; more recently, they are coming off of a 74-55 win against Akron prior to the holiday break. Rienk Mast averages 13.9 points a game and 8.6 rebounds a game for the Braves.

Belmont won their Missouri Valley debut against Valpo in the beginning of December, but they lost their next league contest at Illinois State to fall to 1-1 in conference play. More recently, the Bruins finished noncon play with a pair of wins against SoCon schools; they needed overtime to win at Chattanooga and also got a decisive win against Samford at home. As a team overall, Belmont is shooting at a 41% clip from long range and averages roughly 77 points a game.

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It’s our first Bracket Rundown of the season! We’ve done this one a little differently than we normally do by cross country ranking the major predictive and merit based rankings (NET, KenPom, JNG, KPI, etc) and coming up with a master seedlist. We reveal the bracket line by line and discuss, debate, and assess each team as we go. We are still at a point in the season where some of the data is kind of scattershot, so some of the selections and seedings are definitely interesting, and the panel does not agree with where some of the teams landed. See who the #1 seeds are, who’s in early contention for a protected seed, who’s inside the bubble, who just barely made it, and who just missed it. We also cover the teams on the 13, 14, 15, and 16 lines in a little more depth since we aren’t doing an Under the Radar Podcast this week.

Below is the completed bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/BR-Holiday-12-26-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS, NOTES, AND HOLIDAY WISHES:

-There are only a smattering of games over the next few days, so Hoops HD will be transitioning into Holiday Mode. I want to thank everyone who reads, watches, and follows, and also thank everyone else who writes, podcasts, and contributes, and hope that everyone has a safe and happy Holiday Season!! I also understand that for many people the Holidays can be more miserable than enjoyable. If you feel this way you may think you’re alone, but believe me, you are not!! Whether you’re unable to travel to see friends and loved ones because of the winter storms, or if it’s your first Holiday season without friends or loved ones, or if your family just drives you so crazy that you’re already counting down the days until it’s over, we understand that too. We will be following all the games, so if you need to escape for a few minutes, tweet at us!

-We are (tentatively) planning to do a Hoops HD Report Monday Night, so be on the lookout for that as well.

-The Braggin’ Rights Game was never really a game. Missouri sprinted out to a big lead and it held it the entire game as they blew Illinois off the court 93-71. It’s a big statement for Missouri as they had a bloated record, but were a little light when it came to quality wins.

-Iona, who went into the Diamond Head Classic needing to do well and/or pick up some notable wins away from home, did not do well yesterday against SMU. They were shooting the lights out for the first 30 minutes or so, but could not completely pull away, and a late SMU run allowed them to tie, then get the lead, and then hold the lead for the 85-81 win. This really hurts Iona. In fact short of winning out this may finish them off.

-Santa Clara got a big 73-58 win against a Boise State team that had been playing well. Boise State will get some chances in conference play, and they’ve looked good enough to be capable of making some noise, but they really could have used this one yesterday. As for Santa Clara, they’re now 12-3 on the year, and while they don’t have any high level quad 1 wins, they have enough decent ones to where they are worth paying attention to.

-Utah State blasted Seattle U to bounce back from the surprising loss to Weber State earlier in the week. They have just one loss on the year, have looked good all year long (minus the one loss) and I think are one of the 25 best teams in the country.

-Western Kentucky lost at South Carolina 65-58. Western Kentucky is, once again, a talented team that can beat good teams, but doesn’t always do it and has now lost multiple games like this one. This isn’t an easy game to win, but it’s the kind of game that a tournament caliber team should be able to routinely win.

-UAB didn’t blow out Charlotte yesterday, but at no point did it ever feel like they weren’t in control of the game. There are a lot of good teams in Conference USA, and these are two that are likely to finish near the top, so it was a big win for the Blazers who, once again, look dangerous.

-Kent State really had to sweat, but they avoided the road loss to a decent (but not great) UTEP team with the 47-46 win. Their only losses on the year are at Houston, at Gonzaga, and at Charleston, and they were highly competitive in all three of those games, so Kent State is a team that the committee likely has their eyes on.

-UNLV is now 11-1 on the year after knocking off a really good Southern Miss team in one of the bigger games of the day. It is just Southern Miss’s second loss, and while it was a missed opportunity for the Golden Eagles to pick up a really high level win, it is by no means a setback. They can still make a run at the bubble if they can keep playing like they have been. The Sun Belt has some strong teams in it this year, too.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

Friday, Dec 23rd:

-IONA VS SEATTLE U (Diamond Head Classic). Both teams lost yesterday, and Iona’s loss to SMU was particularly damaging. This is perhaps the last chance for either team to get any sort of a win of note in this event. The loser will end up in the 7th place game, which is not where either team expected to be.

-SMU AT UTAH STATE (Diamond Head Classic). Utah State is now 10-1 after their impressive blowout win over Seattle yesterday and is looking like they may blow through this event and remain undefeated. Sooner or later (and I can’t believe it hasn’t happened already) the voters are going to start to notice how good they are.

-Bucknell @ Rutgers
-Kennesaw State @ Indiana
-Washington State @ Hawaii (Diamond Head Classic) – winner goes to the championship game

Saturday, December 24th:

-No Games Scheduled

Sunday, December 25th:

-DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC – The 7th, 5th, 3rd, and 1st place games will be taking place. Assuming. The 5th place game. Iona, Seattle U, and Utah State were the good teams coming into this tournament, but it doesn’t look as if any of them will be playing each other on the final day.

-DEPAUL AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Creighton finally snapped a six game losing streak, and has perhaps one of their most winnable remaining conference games today. If they drop this one then it’s a sign that the major tailspin that they’re in is getting worse.

Monday, December 26th:

-No Games Scheduled

Tuesday, December 27th:

-NORTHWESTERN STATE AT TEXAS A&M. Northwestern State is having a big year and they’ve already got some big wins. They have a chance to pick up yet another one today, and if they can pull this off one has to think that the committee will have their eyes on them and will seriously consider selecting them if they blow through Southland play. TAMU, on the other hand, has been a bit of a disappointment at just 6-5, and has all kinds of work they need to do just to get back within reach of the bubble.

-SETON HALL AT MARQUETTE (Big East). Marquette is coming off a double overtime thrilling loss at Providence and is looking to bounce back. They should be able to get this one at home against Seton Hall, but they will still be tested. If they don’t win this, then it’s not time to panic, but it would perhaps be time for alarm.

-TAMU Commerce @ Texas
-SC State @ Texas Tech

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Ken Shields accomplished quite a lot during his 16-year career at Northern Kentucky: 300+ wins, a national COY award in 1995, and back-to-back D-2 national championship game appearances in 1996/1997. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ken about being a successful coach and a faithful person. Today is Ken’s 81st birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

In 1960 you were named most outstanding athlete at Covington Catholic High School after playing baseball and basketball: which sport were you best at and which 1 did you enjoy the most? I enjoyed them equally. It was an all-boys school and they only gave away 1 trophy for all of the sports…and I won it!

You won more than 450 games in 23 years as a high school coach: what made you get into college coaching? I played baseball against Pete Rose before he signed with the Reds and wanted to stay around athletics after my playing career ended. I came from a humble background and was encouraged to get my degree and take a job as a high school coach. 1 of the basketball coaches I worked with was Hep Cronin, whose son Mick is now the coach at UCLA. I coached at a couple of different schools and made several trips to the state tournament. When the Northern Kentucky job opened up only 15 minutes away from me in Fort Thomas, the school was growing fast and I was the 3rd coach they hired. I had a good 1st year but my job was on the line after a few losing seasons. We brought in some great players in the early 1990s including Paul Cluxton, who remains the greatest FT shooter in college basketball history (career 93.4 FT%). I am still the winningest coach in our high school region and ended up with another 300+ wins in college.

In 1995 you were named D-2 national COY at Northern Kentucky: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was very special. I accepted the award at the Final 4 in Washington and had my photo taken with my good friend Skip Prosser, who was then the head coach at Wake Forest. I am in 11 different Halls of Fame.

In the 1996 D-2 title game you had a 7-PT loss to Fort Hays State as they finished the season 34-0: where does that Tigers team rank among the best that you have ever seen? They were a really good team but 1 of my best players injured his leg early in the game so it was a tough loss. Bruce Pearl’s Southern Indiana team was ranked #1 and was the defending national champ but we upset them on their own floor. We then beat the 2nd- and 3rd-ranked teams in the nation before losing in the title game.

In the 1997 D-2 title game tourney MVP Kebu Stewart had 18 PTS/21 REB in a 1-PT win by Cal State Bakersfield: do you think that the Roadrunners were out for revenge after you beat them by a single point in the 1996 tourney, and do you think that Andy Listerman was fouled while missing a 5-footer at the buzzer? The play was right in front of me: they could have called a foul. The play was set up for Cluxton and they had a foul to give so they just held him. The Bakersfield coach was a nice guy who had already won a national title but it was a cleanly-played game and I did not feel any animosity. Looking back, I probably should have put a different guard on their opposing guard who hurt us.

You retired in 2004: what have you been up to since then? I was only 62 years old but was having some medical problems. I continued teaching a few classes at the university and every year I get to coach a different grandchild.

You spent several decades running a free summer basketball camp: how fun was it to see your grandkids and your former players’ kids participate? I did 3 camps a year and paid for all of them to attend. Each of my 16 grandkids have been to my camp and all live within 5 minutes of me. I love basketball but I also teach them about life.

How did your faith impact your job as a coach? I have always shared with my students that almighty God needs to be #1, family #2, academics #3, and everything else comes after that. With the recent drug epidemic I have tried to move combatting that up to #3 ahead of academics. I have talked to more youngsters at camps/speaking engagements than anyone else in the city of Cincinnati. We would have 1000 campers each summer and I would never take a dime from any of my speaking engagements.

You remain the winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? Coaches no longer stick around as much as we did in the past so while it might happen I do not know if it will occur anytime soon.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I want to be remembered as a good coach/teacher because I do not think that you can do 1 without the other. I genuinely cared about my students/athletes. John Wooden was my icon when I started my career: I read all of his books and heard him speak so that I could get some good quotes. I run into some of my players from decades ago and they still use some of my quotes every day! I was not a screamer and did not embarrass my players. I collaborated on a book about my life that was released in 2017 called “Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else”, which has to do with the effort you give and was Coach Wooden’s definition of success. I always tried to be myself and have no regrets whatsoever.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-The biggest surprise of the day, and perhaps one of the biggest surprising results of all time, was Eastern Illinois’s 92-83 win at Iowa. The two teams were more than 300 spots apart in nearly ever metrics rating, which makes this the biggest upset we could ever identify at least in regards to how far apart the two teams were. Eastern Illinois was also a terrible offensive team, but statistically and in actuality, so to see them hang 92 total points, 55 of which were in the second half, on the road at Iowa is simply preposterous. You’ll want to go back and watch at least the second half of that game, as it was perhaps the most improbable half of college basketball ever played.

-TCU picked up a nice 75-71 win at Utah, which gets them to 10-1 on the year and puts a nice win on their resume. They’re now 10-1 on the year and playing like the Sweet Sixteen caliber team that we thought they’d be.

-Virginia Tech, who had been on a roll, stopped rolling yesterday. They fell on the road 70-65 to a Boston College team who is, to put it nicely, not very good.

-Arizona State had also been on a roll, and they just got completely blown off the floor by San Francisco 97-60. The Dons sprinted out to a big lead early and just never looked back. It’s probably the best win of the season so far for USF, and we need to once again start to think of them as a tournament caliber team.

-Villanova knocked off Saint John’s 78-63 and is starting to look more and more like a solid tournament team. That’s now their fifth straight win, they have some decent wins in that stretch, and they controlled the game yesterday against what had looked like a pretty good Saint John’s team.

-Michigan State knocked off Oakland 67-54. That’s hardly worth mentioning. But Tom Izzo was assessed a technical foul during the game, and there is nothing funnier than seeing a man wearing a ridiculous outfit totally flipping out!! If you haven’t seen it yet, then CLICK HERE!!!

-North Carolina knocked off Michigan 80-76 in a game that had a bit of a pivotal feel to it for both teams. Neither are in serious danger, but both still have a lot of work to do if they want to end up safely inside the bracket, so yesterday’s win really does help out UNC.

-Notre Dame, who we were just beginning to get excited about again, lost at Florida State 73-72. This is not a good Florida State team, and is therefore not a good loss for the Irish to have on their resume.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-BOISE STATE AT SANTA CLARA. Both of these teams are probably being under-appreciated right now. Having said that, both still have work to do. Boise has won nine in a row, but this will arguably be their toughest game in that stretch. Santa Clara is a very respectable 10-3, but their schedule strength has been weak and really need a win like this on their resume.

-SEATTLE U VS UTAH STATE (Diamond Head Classic). Utah State is coming off a surprising loss to Weber State, which was their first of the season. They should be able to take care of business at home in this one, but Seattle U is having a really good year as well and appears to be one of the top teams in the WAC. They have just two losses, and if they can get a win like this away from home, and pick up one or two others in this event, it would really give their resume a boost.

-CHARLOTTE AT UAB (Conference USA). Both teams are 9-2, both have a shot at making a run at the bubble, and both could really use this win in order to help make it happen. This one should be fun. It’s arguably the most intriguing game of the day.

-BUTLER AT CREIGHTON (Big East) Creighton has followed up their 6-0 start and top ten ranking with six straight losses. This should be a winnable game for them, but it’s hardly a given. Butler has looked pretty good at times this year. Both teams need to string together some wins in order to land inside the bubble, and could really use this one tonight.

-ILLINOIS VS MISSOURI (Saint Louis MO). BRAGGIN RIGHTS!!! Missouri is 10-1 on the year, but their schedule has been a pastry cart, and the one game where they did play a top 25 team, Kansas blew them off the floor. They need a win in a game like this in order to be taken seriously. This one is almost always fun!

-KENT STATE AT UTEP (Sun Bowl Invitational, El Paso TX). Kent State is really good and should be able to land inside the field if they can blow through the rest of their schedule. Winning games like this on the road isn’t easy, but it’s the kind of game they’ll have to routinely win the rest of the way in order for the committee to seriously consider taking them.

-SOUTHERN MISS AT UNLV. This is a HUGELY important game between two teams with bloated records and a couple of good wins who need to add some substance to their resume. Both are good enough to make a run at the bubble, but both will have limited opportunities the rest of the way at high caliber wins.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES

-Towson @ Bryant – Towson has lost three straight and is probably out of strikes
-VMI @ Fordham
-Iona vs SMU (Diamond Head Classic) – Iona needs to do well in this event if they want to be in a position to where the bubble is within reach
-Quinnipiac @ Penn State – Quinnipiac is 9-3 with four true road wins, but they’ll need a win like this to put them on the map. Penn State should win, but they better not overlook them
-Stony Brook @ West Virginia
-Saint Peter’s @ Maryland
-Harvard @ Kansas
-Louisville @ NC State (ACC) – winnable home game for NC State, which would get them to 11-3, but be their first ACC win
-Western Kentucky @ South Carolina – WKU needs to bounce back after a really bad loss at Louisville
-Morgan State @ Arizona
-North Texas @ UTSA (Conference USA) – North Texas has a shot at making a run at the bubble, but they need to blow through the conference in order to do it
-Harford @ San Francisco
-Weber State @ BYU (Beehive)
-Pepperdine @ Hawaii (Diamond Head Classic)

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Charlotte (9-2, 0-0) at UAB (9-2, 0-0) – 7:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Birmingham, Alabama for the Conference USA opener for both the Charlotte 49ers and the UAB Blazers. Charlotte started the year 4-2 with a 2nd place finish in the Myrtle Beach Invitational that included a loss in the championship game to UMass. Since then, a “Miner miracle” has led to a 5-game winning streak that included a game-winning OT shot against city rival Davidson. Jackson Threadgill led the 49ers with 14 points in an 80-46 blowout win against Monmouth.

UAB has also began the season 9-2 that includes a pair of wins against South Florida and Georgia in the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Florida. Their only losses were in respectable fashion – they had a neutral-court loss against Toledo and a home loss against West Virginia. Jordan Walker had 25 points and 6 assists in only 22 minutes against Southern in their latest game – a 92-66 win for the Blazers.

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We have two featured conferences this week! The first is the Atlantic Ten, who we relegated down to Under the Radar for the rest of the year. I was not in favor of this move, but when I filled out my UTR Top Ten and no Atlantic Ten teams were in it, it began to make sense. Fordham and Duquesne continue to play well, Dayton is improving, and Saint Louis has some notable wins and might be able to get within reach of the bubble if they can blow through the league.

We also highlight the Ohio Valley due to Eastern Illinois’s huge upset win at Iowa. The two teams were over 300+ spots apart in all the metrics, making it the biggest upset on paper that we can ever remember.

From there we run through all the other UTR leagues and talk about the strength at the top of the Colonial with Charleston continuing to win, Kent State from the MAC who has a big week and may be good enough to make a run at the bubble if they can dominate the conference, the strength and depth of the Sun Belt with Louisiana, Southern Miss, and Marshall all looking really good, UC Santa Barbara looking really good out of the Big West, and more. And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/UTR-12-21-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-We will be recording our Under the Radar Video Podcast tonight, so be on the lookout for that. Speaking of Under the Radar, for John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-We’ve been saying all along, really since ACC Media Day, that the Miami Hurricanes are good this year, and now maybe some others will be saying it as well. They knocked off Virginia 66-64 yesterday in a game where they pretty much had a lead the whole way, but UVA almost fought back and stole it at the end. It’s the second straight loss for the Hoos after being ranked as high as 2nd in the polls, but I have no concerns as to whether or not they’ll bounce back.

-Baylor did get somewhat of a battle from a really good Northwestern State team, but held on to win (as expected) 58-48. I think Northwestern State may absolutely blow through the Southland and enter the NCAA Tournament with a ridiculously bloated record.

-It’s hard to win on the road, and last night Duke didn’t do it. Wake Forest pretty much led the entire game and ended up with an 81-70 win. It was Duke’s first true road game of the season. They didn’t play any out of conference. Psst…the committee notices things like this.

-Drake, who we were big on coming into the season but who we were starting to give up on, has now given us a reason to be believers again. They knocked off Mississippi State 58-52 for what is clearly their biggest win of the year so far, and may finally be starting to look like the team that we thought could dominate the MVC and land inside the bubble. It was the first loss of the year for Mississippi State, so it’s a win that Drake should get a lot of credit for.

-Providence needed two overtimes, but they held off Marquette 103-98 in a game that was close and exciting the entire way. That’s a nice win for the Friars who are suddenly 10-3 on the year.

-Texas A&M is a team we were all big on coming into the season. Last night TAMU lost at home to Wofford and fell to 6-5 on the year. We are no longer big on Texas A&M.

-Pittsburgh got a nice 84-82 win at Syracuse. They’ve now won eight of their last nine and have three true road wins. They’re definitely someone we need to keep an eye on.

-Every time I think Oregon might be turning it around, they do something that clearly demonstrates that they are, in fact, not. They lost at home to Utah Valley last night 77-72, and were actually getting blown out and had to come back just to make the score respectable. The Ducks are now just 7-6 on the year and look nothing like the top 25 team many were expecting them to be.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-Some games tonight have been cancelled due to the winter storms. We will keep you up to date if they are rescheduled.

-SAINT JOHN’S AT VILLANOVA (Big East). The Johnnies are 11-1 on the year, but they’ve built that record against a mostly weak schedule, and will be tested today by a Villanova team that’s won four in a row after getting off to a sluggish 2-5 start and who seems to be trending in the right direction.

-MICHIGAN VS NORTH CAROLINA (Jumpman Invitational, Charlotte NC). Both teams could really use this one. North Carolina is coming off a much needed win over Ohio State, which was probably their first real notable win of the season, and will want to keep that momentum going. Michigan’s best win to date is probably against Pittsburgh, so a win like this on a neutral floor would give their resume a boost as well.

-KENT STATE AT NEW MEXICO STATE. Kent State has had a lot of strong showings this year, and while their margin for error is small, landing inside the bubble is not an impossibility if they can really blow through the rest of their schedule. That would mean winning this one on the road.

-LOUISIANA AT TEXAS. Louisiana is 10-1 on the year, and while they’ve caught our attention on Under the Radar, they haven’t catapulted themselves onto the national scene yet. Well, if they could somehow win tonight, then that would happen. They’re probably swinging over their heads, but Texas better not totally overlook them. The Cajun can play!

-SAINT MARY’S VS WYOMING (Jerry Colangelo Classic). Saint Mary’s feels like they’re hovering around the bubble and needs to string together some wins to solidify their resume. Wyoming isn’t anything like what we thought they’d be due to injuries, and this is the kind of game SMC should be expected to win.

-TCU AT UTAH. This is big for both teams. TCU has strung together a bunch of wins, but the schedule hasn’t been the strongest and a road win like this could really make their current resume look a lot better. Utah has the big win at home against Arizona (which is no small thing), but they don’t have much else and are coming off a loss to a very average BYU team that they need to bounce back from.

-AUBURN AT WASHINGTON. This is a tough road game for Auburn, but it’s the kind of road game that a solid top 25 team should be able to win. Auburn has lost two of their last three and is trying to pull out of a bit of a tailspin. Washington is trying to pick up a big time win for their resume and make a statement that they can be a tournament caliber team. They’re a respectable 9-3, but don’t have any wins of this caliber yet.

-ARIZONA STATE AT SAN FRANCISCO. Arizona State keeps winning and will be tested on the road again today against a really good San Francisco team that has some nice wins of their own. The Dons are coming off a really bad and somewhat inexplicable loss to UT Arlington, which does not look good on their resume, but if they can pull this win off today it will go a long way toward offsetting that.

-COLORADO STATE VS USC (Jerry Colangelo Classic, Phoenix AZ). USC should be able to hold serve in this one. They’ve won five straight and are coming off a nice win against Auburn, so they should be starting to get some national attention.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Saint Ambrose (nonD1) @ Drake
-Houston Christian @ Texas Tech
-Radford @ Kansas State
-Chattanooga @ Georgia
-Eastern Illinois @ Iowa
-Boston U @ UMass Lowell
-UC Davis @ UCLA
-Norfolk State @ Nevada
-Austin Peay @ Tennessee
-UC Santa Barbara vs Appalachian State (Jerry Colangelo Classic) – UCSB has won six of their last seven and is suddenly looking as good as anyone in the Big West
-Virginia Tech @ Boston College (ACC) – This should be a winnable conference road game for VA Tech and get them to 12-1 on the season
-Oakland @ Michigan State
-Florida A&M @ Kentucky
-Northern Kentucky @ Florida Atlantic – FAU can improve to 11-1 on the season with a win
-Stetson @ UCF
-Clemson @ Georgia Tech (ACC). A win for Clemson gets them to 10-3 on the year, 2-0 in conference play, and would be their first road win of the season
-McNeese @ Houston
-Alabama State @ Memphis
-East Tennessee State @ LSU
-Notre Dame @ Florida State (ACC) – Notre Dame seems to be hovering around the bubble and needs to be able to win this kind of game on the road
-Maine @ Ohio State
-New Orleans @ Purdue
-UNC Asheville @ Arkansas

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Kent State (8-3) vs. New Mexico State (6-4) – 7:30 PM ET

Today’s UTR Game of the Day heads to El Paso, Texas for the opening game of the Sun Bowl Tournament (not an exempt event according to Chad Sherwood) between Kent State and New Mexico State. Kent State comes into tonight’s game having won three of their last four games, but are more noteworthy for the games they did not win; they led at Houston for most of the way before eventually losing 49-44. Ditto Gonzaga; the Golden Flashes narrowly lost that one 73-66 against a team with one of the longest winning streaks against nonconference foes at home.

New Mexico State had a 3-game road trip following the cancellation of their home game against New Mexico; they lost both games in the Bay Area against Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s, but they did manage a win at Duquesne at a time when the Dukes had lost only a pair of games all season. However, the only other wins the Aggies have against D1 competition were against San Diego and I-10 rival UTEP. Deshawndre Washington has averaged 13.5 points a game and 7.8 rebounds a game through the Aggies’ first 10 games.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-For the latest Staff Bracket Projections from David Dorman – CLICK HERE

-Utah State lost their first game of the season, and it was in a big upset at home against Weber State 75-72. Utah State appeared to have complete control in the first half, but then Weber dominated the second half, drew even, went ahead, and held a close lead for the remainder of the game. BEEHIVE ACTION BABY!!!

-San Francisco, who appeared to be about as hot as anyone in the nation, lost inexplicably at home to UT Arlington 68-63. This appeared to just be a blah buy game going into it, but the Dons were pretty much behind the whole way and looked nothing at all like the team we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-DRAKE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE. Mississippi State is unbeaten, but a lot of their wins have been quad 4 wins and they need some better ones to really solidify themselves. Drake is a team we were big on coming into the year that has underperformed somewhat. They’ve lost two straight, and neither team looks like they’re going to end up inside the bubble. A win today would go a long way for Drake turning things around, but even with the win they’ll still have more work to do.

-GEORGETOWN AT UCONN (Big East). UConn is unbeaten on the year and this is a game where they shouldn’t have too much trouble holding serve.

-DUKE AT WAKE FOREST (ACC). At times Wake has looked like a good team, but they’ve lost three of their last four and haven’t looked good at all during that stretch. This is a winnable road game for a Duke team that will likely, once again, end up with a protected seed.

-MARQUETTE AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). Marquette has been playing really well this year and has cracked the rankings. They still have just one true road win on the season, so they’ll likely be tested by Providence today who is unbeaten at home, 9-3 overall, and who can also start to get the attention of the selection committee if they can string together some wins.

-NORTHWESTERN STATE AT BAYLOR. This is a buy game, and it will likely end up being a mismatch, but Northwestern State has made a fair amount of noise this year with a win at TCU and another at home against Southern Miss. Baylor isn’t going to want to overlook them, and if Northwestern State were to somehow pull this off we’d have to start thinking of them as a team that can land inside the bubble.

-VIRGINIA AT MIAMI FL (ACC). Virginia is looking to bounce back from their first loss of the year, but this is a very tall order. It’s a road game against a really good Miami team that is probably still being undervalued even though they’ve cracked the rankings. Miami is also looking for some respect, so they should be fired up for this one.

-SETON HALL AT XAVIER (Big East). Xavier should be able to hold serve in this one. They’ve shown all the signs of looking like an NCAA Tournament caliber team so far.

-PITTSBURGH AT SYRACUSE (ACC). Pitt has shown some signs of life. This isn’t an easy game to win, but it’s the kind of game that tournament caliber teams should be able to win, so it will be interesting to see what they can do.

-FLORIDA VS OKLAHOMA (Jumpman Invitational, Charlotte NC). You get the feeling that both teams really need this one. Both have potential, but neither has big wins on their resume yet that cement that they belong inside the bubble, so tonight is a much needed opportunity for both of them.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Wofford @ Texas A&M
-TAMUCC @ Oklahoma State
-North Alabama @ Ole Miss
-Arlington Baptist (nonD1) @ Sam Houston
-Jackson State @ Alabama
-Elon @ Indiana
-Dartmouth @ UMass
-Montana State @ Arizona
-Montana @ Gonzaga
-Prairie View A&M @ New Mexico
-UIC @ Northwestern – UIC is a respectable 8-4, but Northwestern should roll in this one
-Harvard @ UC Irvine – UC Irvine should get the attention of the committee if they can hold serve in games like this and blow through the Big West, but as good as they are they’re running out of strikes
-UC San Diego @ San Diego STate

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For our latest Hoops HD Report – CLICK HERE

For our latest staff bracket from writer David Dorman – CLICK HERE

Harvard (7-4) at UC-Irvine (7-4) – 10:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to the West Coast and warmer weather for a matchup between the hometown UC-Irvine Anteaters and the Harvard Crimson. Harvard had won 3 straight games after Thanksgiving but are now on a 2-game losing streak thanks to close losses against Fordham and UMass. Chris Ledlum averages 18.9 points a game and 7.6 rebounds a game.

Things were looking up for UC-Irvine after winning at Oregon in November and also winning a pair of games in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic against Nicholls and New Mexico State during Thanksgiving Break. Since then, the Anteaters have dropped 3 of 4 games – one of which was a loss against a bad Fresno State team at home. DJ Davis averages 15.2 points a game and is nearly automatic from the field; he shoots 45.6% from 3-point range and is a 91% free-throw shooter.

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The panel looks back at a very busy weekend that saw six match-ups between top 25 teams, and some other great games as well. Kentucky has a history of not being as good before Christmas as they are after Christmas, and they fell to UCLA over the weekend. It will be interesting to see if they start turning things around. UCLA, along with Arizona and Arizona State in the Pac 12, are off to incredible starts and it’s shaping up to be a really exciting race in the Pac 12. Many teams in the ACC continue to struggle, but North Carolina got a big win and some other teams are starting to play well in the top half of the league. The Big 12 has a lot of good teams, but none appear to be able to catch Kansas. UConn looks like they’re poised to run away from the Big East, and the Big Ten has topped ranked Purdue, but some surprise teams in both Wisconsin and Northwestern who continue to exceed expectations, along with some other top 25 teams. The Mountain West has two unbeaten teams in Utah State and New Mexico, and couple of other strong teams in UNLV and San Diego State, and Memphis in the American is starting to make some noise. They aren’t likely to catch Houston, but they can probably still make the field. We discuss all that, and more…

And, if you’re looking for the Atlantic Ten, we do not discuss it! They have been relegated to the Under the Radar Show.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HHD-Report-12-19-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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Bracket reflects all games played through December 18th. David Dorman’s comments are below the bracket…

This is what the committee should do if the season ended today. These teams have earned spots for what they have accomplished on the court.

My last 1 seed came down to Kansas & Houston. I have been highly impressed with both squads but I gave the nod to Houston with the big road victory over the weekend in Virginia. Road wins in gym’s that rarely see the road team escape with victories goes a long way in my book. Not just on the top line but all seed lines and teams on the cut line. Some might think UCLA is a little high with the 2 early losses in Las Vegas but the win over Kentucky in MSG over the weekend got them to the 3 line.

Teams I am very impressed with that I did not think would be in my bracket 1 month ago (for either leading conference or at-large bid): Charleston, Florida Atlantic, Sam Houston State, Mississippi State, James Madison, Yale, UMass Lowell, Southern Mississippi and Bradley.

Teams that I am stunned that are not in my bracket today: Drake, Oregon, Michigan, USC, Oklahoma State, Florida and UAB.

The non conference schedule is coming to an end here with Exam Week and conference jockeying will begin in full next week.

Teams on the bubble that need to make noise quickly in my eyes are: Oklahoma, Boise State, LSU, Ole Miss, Central Florida and Colorado.

Happy Holidays and a Healthy New Year to everyone and their families. Have fun and enjoy the games as we are in the home stretch of 2022.

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Grambling (6-4) at Liberty (7-4) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Lynchburg, Virginia is the place to be tonight for our UTR Game of the Day between the Grambling Tigers and the hometown Liberty Flames. Grambling began their D1 season with a bang with a win against Colorado in the Pac-12/SWAC Legacy Series, and they have subsequently shown that result was not a fluke, either. They also had a 3-game winning streak that included a win at Vanderbilt, although that streak came to an end with a loss at Virginia Tech. One-time Saint Louis player Carte’are Gordon leads the Tigers with 13.6 points a game and 7.6 rebounds a game.

While Liberty has put together a decent record, their only real wins of note so far have come against Bradley (in the Cancun Challenge) and against Bryant in Springfield, Massachusetts. No one could blame Liberty for losses against Alabama and Northwestern, but they missed out on what could have been quality wins against Southern Miss and at Oral Roberts. Darius McGee comes into tonight’s game averaging 21.5 points a game for Liberty.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES (From the Puppet):

-Both Baylor and Texas had to sweat a little bit against some inferior competition, but both managed to hold serve and pick up the wins.

-USC knocked off Auburn 74-71, and is now back in the national spotlight. Since losing their season opener to FGCU, they’re 9-2 with the only losses being close games to ranked teams, and they now have an impressive win against Auburn to add to their resume. As for Auburn, they’ve now lost two of their last three after an 8-0 start.

-Georgia knocked off Notre Dame 77-62 and was pretty much in control for the whole game. The Bulldogs are now 8-3 and are at least worth paying attention to as we wind down OOC play.

-New Mexico is now 11-0 as they beat Iona at home 82-74 to win this year’s edition of the Pitino Shootout. They never really blew this game open, but it did feel like they were in control the entire way and every time Iona would go on a run or build up some momentum New Mexico would answer.

-Saint Mary’s, who had been playing really well, fell at home to Colorado State 62-60 in a bit of a surprise game. It was a much needed win for a Colorado State team that had been a little disappointing, and a bit of a setback for SMC who appeared to have some momentum built up after winning three straight and playing really well against Houston just before that.

-Glenville State (nonD1) @ Marshall
-Charleston @ Coastal Carolina – Charleston can get to 12-1 on the season and pick up their 3rd true road win
-Weber State @ Utah State (Bee Hive) – Utah State looking to remain unbeaten on the season
-UT Arlington @ San Francisco

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Purdue actually had to sweat out Davidson, but finally got control late in the game and held on for the 69-61 win. This should keep them at the top of the polls for now.

-Houston followed up their home loss to Alabama with one of the more impressive singular wins of the season that any team has managed. They went into Virginia and in a tough defensive struggle had a lead for pretty much the entire game and escaped with a 69-61 win. Virginia was ranked 2nd in the country and had some really big wins of their own, so for Houston to beat them on their floor is a statement that the Cougars are a legit #1 seed/Final Four caliber team.

-Gonzaga, who hadn’t looked quite as good as what most were expecting coming into yesterday, looked that good yesterday. They knocked off an Alabama team in Birmingham 100-90 that was fresh off a win against Houston and had risen as high as 4th in the rankings. It’s more of a boost for Gonzaga than it is a setback for Alabama.

-Tennessee had a lead for much of the game out at Arizona, but the Wildcats got control late and ended up with the 75-70 win. It was still a good showing for Tennessee and failing to win on the road against a top ten team really isn’t that much of a failure.

-Kansas smashed Indiana 84-62 in a game that the Jayhawks pretty much controlled from tip to buzzer.

-UCLA is having a hell of a week. After blowing out Maryland at Maryland they knocked off Kentucky 63-53 yesterday in MSG. Every time Kentucky put together a run to shift momentum their way, UCLA had an answer. UCLA’s only two losses are close games to highly ranked teams, and they’ve since dominated a couple of highly ranked teams, so I’d say UCLA is about as good as anyone this year.

-Nicholls nearly upset Mississippi State, and actually had a lead for a lot of the game, but the Bulldogs held on for a 68-66 win and remain unbeaten.

-North Carolina, who had been in a bit of a tailspin, got a much needed win yesterday as they held off Ohio State 89-84 in overtime. It was a game that seesawed back and forth and after Ohio State hit what appeared to be a game winning shot at the end of regulation with 2 secs left. North Carolina was able to tie it, and then got control in overtime.

-Missouri bounced back from their blowout loss to Kansas with a big win at UCF 68-66. The game was close all throughout and Mizzou actually won it at the buzzer. They’ll get more credit for this win than what most might realize because UCF is better than what most probably realize and they won’t lose too many games at home.

-Northwestern absolutely boat-raced DePaul 83-45 and continues to look like a tournament-caliber team. Beating DePaul at home isn’t anything to get excited about in and of itself, but blowing them out and improving to 8-2 on the year is certainly noteworthy.

-San Francisco was behind UNLV for most of the game, but went on a late run to pull even, then pull ahead, and then stay ahead for a HUGE 75-73 win. This is the best win of the year for San Francisco, and once again makes a statement that they are a tournament-caliber team. It’s the first loss of the year for UNLV, and while it’s a setback, it hardly sinks them. They’ll have a lot of really good chances at good wins once conference play starts.

-Utah fell at BYU 75-66. They still got a good profile, but it could use some shoring up. BYU, who we had kind of written off, has now won two straight and may be starting to turn themselves back around again.

-Memphis picked up another nice win as they held off Texas A&M 83-79. The more I see from Memphis, the more solid I think they are.

-Saint Louis really needed a big win, and they held off Drake yesterday 83-75. Both these teams have potential, and both had underperformed, so both really needed this one yesterday. SLU got it, and while Drake still has the pieces to run through their conference, their margin for error is getting smaller and smaller.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-AUBURN AT USC. USC has been playing better having won eight of their last ten with the only two losses being close games to Tennessee and Wisconsin, but they still don’t have a big time win on their resume yet. This is a chance for them to really make a much needed statement. As for Auburn, as good as they’ve looked this is their first true road game, so there is something at stake for them as well.

-NOTRE DAME VS GEORGIA (Holiday Hoopsgiving, Atlanta GA). Both teams have shown signs of having potential, but both need more notable wins on their profiles.

-IONA AT NEW MEXICO. On paper, it’s a game between a really good Iona team that needs a strong road win on their resume to get the attention of the committee, and a New Mexico team that comes into this one undefeated. The obvious added spice is that it’s Rick Pitino vs Richard Pitino. This one is important and it should be fun!

-COLORADO STATE AT SAINT MARY’S. SMC has won three straight, and prior to that they nearly knocked off both Houston and San Diego State, so they are playing really well right now and should be able to hold serve in this one at home. Colorado State is a team we thought had potential coming into the year, but just hasn’t shown it yet. A win in a game like this could turn their whole season around, though.

OTTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Canisius @ Penn State
-Stanford @ Texas – this looks to be a big mismatch, but Texas’s off the court issues may continue to play a roll
-Western Michigan @ Iowa State
-Long Island @ James Madison
-McNeese @ Southern Miss – Southern Miss still with just one loss on the season
-Oakland @ Boise State
-Southern @ UAB
-Northern Colorado @ Colorado (Front Range) – We at Hoops HD Love the Front Range!!!
-California @ Santa Clara – Santa Clara shouldn’t have too much trouble getting to 11-3
-Buffalo @ West Virginia
-Mississippi Valley State @ TCU
-Alcorn State @ Seattle U
-San Diego @ Arizona State
-Washington State @ Baylor

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High Point (8-2) at UNC-Wilmington (8-3) – 2:00 PM ET (FloHoops)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day features a pair of teams along Interstate 40 in North Carolina; the Panthers of High Point hit the road to take on the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington. HPU is coming off of a tough 87-79 loss; Zack Austin just missed out on a double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds in that game. Prior to that contest, the Panthers had a 5-game winning streak that included wins against Central Michigan and Tennessee State in the SoCal Challenge.

With all the attention that Charleston and Towson have gotten in the Colonial so far this season, the Seahawks have established themselves as another contender for the league crown this season. They got off to a 1-3 start, but those losses came against North Carolina, UConn and Oklahoma. Since then, the Seahawks have a championship in the Baha Mar Nassau Championship and a 7-game winning streak. The best win out of those games was a 55-51 win against North Texas in the championship game of the Baha Mar tournament. Trazarien Wright leads the Seahawks with 13.0 points a game and 5.8 rebounds a game.

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the upcoming months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. You can find Parts 1&2 at:

http://hoopshd.com/2022/11/12/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-1-2

http://hoopshd.com/2022/12/03/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-2-3

See below for his photo essay about the Hoyas’ conference opener yesterday against Xavier.

I finally got to attend an evening game for the 1st time this year after a couple of afternoon starts. Pregame meal was decent: Mexican food featuring make-your-own-burritos with chicken/steak/cheese/surprisingly-good guacamole. On a very sad note, there was a moment of silence for former Georgetown Special Assistant to the Head Coach (and former Xavier assistant coach) Louis Orr, who passed away on Thursday due to cancer at age 64 and was like a brother to head coach Patrick Ewing:

There was no moment of anything for PG Dante Harris, who went from Big East Tourney MVP in March of 2021 to entering the transfer portal just 21 months later. Let’s tip it off…despite the arena being quite empty for a Big East conference opener:

We have 2 former Big East players-turned-coaches on the sideline tonight who are heading in very different directions. Standing on the left is Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing, who is 1-4 since November 30th. Crouching on the right is Xavier coach Sean Miller, who is 5-0 since November 30th and is coaching a Big East game for the 1st time since he played in this conference for Pitt more than 30 years ago:

Georgetown came out of the gate strong on defense, picking up 5 STL in the 1st 7 minutes, and had some nice ball-handling as well with only 2 TO in the entire 1st half. Early on we had a battle of big men. 6’11” Qudus Wahab did all of his damage inside for the Hoyas with a REB/put-back, a baby hook, a layup, and a dunk to keep his team in it:

In contrast, 6’9” Xavier F Zach Freemantle (who possesses 1 of my favorite nicknames in the world of sports: “Big Frosty”!) mixed in a 3-PT shot along with a baseline hook and scoop to help give his team a 43-38 edge at halftime (not pictured: 7’ Jack Nunge, who finished with 18 PTS/12 REB):

Georgetown ended up with a huge advantage in both FTA (32-12) and TO (11-6) but neither seemed to affect the outcome. Hoya G Primo Spears tied his season low with 1 AST but remained unstoppable on offense with 8-16 FG including a pair of threes as he finished with 22 PTS…but could have used a little more help from his teammates on defense:

Xavier only scored 79 PTS in a home win over Southern last Tuesday and the most that a Georgetown opponent has scored in regulation all year was 84 PTS so I figured that the Musketeers would end up with around 80-85 PTS…but thanks to their SR backcourt I should have taken the over. SG Adam Kunkel only made 1 shot in the 1st 20 minutes but nailed 4 more from behind the arc in the 2nd half before fouling out late with 15 PTS/5-7 3PM:

The star of the show was PG Souley Boum, who entered the game with 21-41 3PM this year and was somehow able to take it up a notch. Midway through the 2nd stanza he took matters into his own hands with a STL/jumper, then a 3-PT shot, then a STL/layup, then another 3, then another jumper. Those 12 PTS in a row gave his team a 12-PT lead with just under 7 minutes to go, and his final 3 of the game with 65 seconds left gave him a season-high 28 PTS and put his team over the century mark as Xavier won it 102-89. Put your hands up if you are the 2nd-best player in the Big East behind Adama Sanogo!

In the postgame press conference I was curious how Coach Miller felt about winning his 1st Big East game as a coach more than 30 years after winning his last Big East game as a player. He said that he was grateful to be back at Xavier: for the guys who played back in the 1980s/1990s it remains a badge of honor even decades later. He thinks about all of the legendary coaches in the league back then: from Jim Calhoun to Rick Pitino to John Thompson it seems like all of them are in the Hall of Fame. He has so many memories including “1 of the craziest fights that I have ever seen” back in 1988:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m71Z_vH3JKY
Even so, he is thrilled to be part of this great conference again:

In light of the passing of Coach Orr, I asked Wahab how close they were and what his reaction was when learning of the news yesterday. He stated that they were very close and that Orr was actually the person who recruited him to Georgetown. He was really sad to hear of Orr’s passing and wanted to win for him today. Even though they could not emerge victorious, the team will continue to play for their former coach throughout this season:

That is a wrap for 2022 as the Hoyas will finish up the calendar year with 2 road games, but check back in January as Georgetown hosts Butler on New Year’s Day!

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For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-There were only two games of note that were played last night; both of them involved the Big East. Xavier outran Georgetown 102-89 and could have been even more had the Musketeers not been sloppy in the 1st half. Our own Jon Teitel was in the house and will have more to say about this game later on.

-Marquette still seems angry about being picked to finish ninth in the conference and ended up getting a double-digit win against a Creighton team that has literally and figuratively flown south for the winter in the absence of Ryan Kalkbrenner. At least the Jays have Butler and DePaul at home before the holiday break mercifully arrives.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-INDIANA AT KANSAS. Indiana has looked really good this year and is laying the ground work for getting a protected seed. Kansas has looked even better and appears to be laying the ground work for a #1 seed. Protected seeds rarely lose at home, even when they’re playing other protected seeds, so this would be one of the more impressive singular wins that any team manages this entire season if Indiana were to somehow pull it off.

-MISSOURI AT UCF. UCF is a team that’s good enough to land inside the bubble. Missouri is coming off their first loss of the season and is looking to rebound, but it won’t be easy. One of the things that both teams could use right now is notable wins on their profile and this game gives both of them that opportunity.

-WAKE FOREST AT RUTGERS. Both teams have shown the potential to be good, but both also have work to do. This is a game between two teams who could both land inside the bubble, but who still need some notable wins.

-PROVIDENCE AT SETON HALL (Big East). It’s the conference opener for both teams, but this game still has a bit of a pivotal feel to it as both teams still have a lot of work to do if they want to get the committee’s attention.

-ALABAMA VS GONZAGA (CM Newton Classic, Birmingham AL). Alabama is coming off a huge win at Houston, has risen as high as #4 in the rankings, and is starting to show that they can contend for a #1 seed. Gonzaga has probably fallen short of expectations so far, but they are still a really good team and a win today would almost immediately get their season turned back around and they’d once again be looking like a top ten caliber team.

-HOUSTON AT VIRGINIA. Both teams are in the top five. This is the toughest game on Houston’s schedule by far, and they are looking to bounce back after the home loss to Alabama. If they can beat Virginia on the road, it is clear sign that they are a #1 seed caliber team and good enough to win it all. It should be a defensive battle, as that’s what both teams are known for.

-INDIANA STATE AT DUQUESNE. Indiana State is starting to stand out as being one of the best teams in the Missouri Valley, but the margin for error is small if they want to land inside the bubble. Duquesne is having a much better year than what they normally do and it won’t be easy to win on the road there, but if the Trees want to land inside the bubble then they need to be able to win games that aren’t easy to win.

-DEPAUL AT NORTHWESTERN. Northwestern is 7-2, has played pretty well and picked up some decent wins, and are showing signs of being a possible tournament team. They need to hold serve in this one against their in-town rivals.

-NORTH CAROLINA VS OHIO STATE (CBS Sports Classic, New York NY). North Carolina has gone into a bit of a tailspin, and while they have won their last two they weren’t tested in either of those games like they will be today. For Ohio State it’s a chance to put another notable win away from home on their resume.

-NORTHWESTERN STATE AT RICE. Had you told me before the season started we’d be highlighting this game I’d have said you were nuts, but Northwestern State is 8-2 with the big win at TCU, and Rice is a very respectable 7-3 and played really well at Texas in their last game, so both teams are making some noise this year.

-UMASS VS NORTH TEXAS (Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, Springfield MA). Both teams are 8-2 and both have a shot at making a run at the bubble, but both need wins in games like this one in order to do it.

-CORNELL AT SYRACUSE. Cornell is off to a surprising 7-2 start and took Miami FL to the wire on the a short time ago. Syracuse has struggled some this season, and if Cornell can knock them off we really need to start looking at the Big Red.

-SAN FRANCISCO AT UNLV. This is a hugely important game between a San Francisco team that has played well, but could still use a really big win like this to really boost the level of their resume, and a UNLV team that’s unbeaten but still looking for a little bit of respect. Both teams have played well and both have some decent wins, but this would be one of the better wins so far for whichever team is able to pull it off.

-UCLA VS KENTUCKY (CBS Sports Classic, New York NY). UCLA just blew Maryland to the moon on the road earlier this week, and is looking as good as any team in the country right now. Kentucky hasn’t hit their stride yet, but this is usually about the time of year where that starts to happen. This is a showcase game between two likely protected seeds who are each looking for a really big win.

-UTAH AT BYU. This is perhaps the most bitter rivalry in the country. Utah is off to a really good start and on paper this would be a really nice road win for them, but this game probably means more off the court than it does on paper.

-TEXAS A&M AT MEMPHIS. Memphis has played really well this season and nearly knocked off Alabama in their last game. Texas A&M has struggled this year, but they still have a lot of talent and a win in a game like this would completely turn things around for them. You get the sense that both teams kind of want/need this one so they can make a statement.

-DRAKE AT SAINT LOUIS. Both teams had high expectations coming into the year, and while both teams have played fair, neither have played as well as expected. Both still have the potential to blow through their leagues and and inside the bubble. This game is between two teams who need to play better, and that gives this a bit of a pivotal feel.

-TENNESSEE AT ARIZONA. Both teams are in the top ten, both have looked really good and earned those rankings, and both have some big wins already. This is another showcase game between two possible protected seeds who are looking to add a big time win to their resume. That would especially be true for Tennessee since they are the road team.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Saint John’s vs Florida State (Orange Bowl Classic) – The Johnnies have just one loss on the year and they need to hold serve in this one against the Noles.
-Sam Houston @ Texas State – Sam Houston can get to 9-2 on the year and pick up their 4th true road game. Their metrics are still really good
-Toledo @ Marshall – two really good UTR teams, so this one should be fun (also the UTR Game of the Day)
-Tulane vs George Mason (Legends of Basketball Showcase) – Tulane needs to start stringing together wins if they want to get back on the committee’s radar
-Bradley @ Arkansas (Game in Little Rock AR) – Bradley is decent, but Arkansas is a likely protected seed
-Grambling @ Virginia Tech – this is a buy game, but as well as Grambling has played this year it’s at least worth paying attention to and seeing how they play today
-Villanova at Saint Joseph’s (Big Five) – it’s probably the signature rivalry in the Big Five, but it’s also a huge mismatch and Nova is still a ways from the Bubble
-Temple @ Ole Miss – Ole Miss needs to hold serve in games like this if they want to keep the bubble within reach
-Davidson @ Purdue – Purdue is the top ranked team and will almost assuredly stay that way so long as they hold serve in this one
-UConn @ Butler (Big East) – it’s never easy to win on the road, and Butler is at least a decent team, but UConn has looked as good as anyone in the country so far this year and this is a winnable conference road game for them
-Nebraska vs Kansas State (Wildcat Classic, Kansas City MO) – K State has just one loss and should be able to hold serve in this one
-Richmond vs Clemson (Greenville SC) – Clemsons should be able to hold serve in this one and get to 9-3
-Portland @ Oregon – Oregon needs to start stringing together wins if they want to get their season turned back around
-Oklahoma State @ Wichita State – I had high expectations for Oklahoma State this year and so far they haven’t lived up. A road win today would help, but they really need to put together a string of wins
-UC Santa Barbara @ Portland State – a win for UCSB gets them to 8-2 on the year and gives them their 2nd true road win
-Vanderbilt @ NC State – NC State is perhaps within arms length of the bubble and needs to hold serve in games like this

BUY GAMES:

-Saint Francis U @ Miami FL
-Northern Iowa @ Towson – Towson can’t afford too many more losses
-North Florida @ Pittsburgh
-Nicholls @ Mississippi State
-Central Arkansas @ Oklahoma
-Alabama A&M @ Illinois
-Lipscomb @ Michigan
-Jackson State @ Texas Tech
-Winthrop @ LSU
-SEMO @ Iowa
-Idaho State @ Washington

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Toledo (7-3) at Marshall (9-2) – 3:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

With exam week finally over for just about every college and university at the D1 level, we will now get a heavier schedule of games before the holiday break begins next week. As for today, we get a one-time matchup of conference mates as the Toledo Rockets travel down to Huntington to meet the Marshall Thundering Herd. Toledo started off their season real well with a neutral-court win against UAB, but a bad MTE showing in the Gulf Coast Showcase that included losses to Kansas City and East Carolina have hampered the Rockets’ at-large NCAA hopes. Nonetheless, they are still the preseason favorites to win the MAC and are a serious challenger for the conference’s auto bid.

Marshall stumbled out of the gates with a loss at Queens in Charlotte, but immediately went on a 9-game winning streak to show that performance may have been an aberration. That winning streak was snapped on Tuesday with a 75-67 loss at UNC-Greensboro. After tonight’s game, there will be one final nonconference game (a non-D1 game) for the Herd before making their Sun Belt debut against Appalachian State. Both Taevion Kinsey (21.2 points a game) and Andrew Taylor (18.6 points a game) lead a Marshall offensive unit that averages just over 80 points a game.

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Delaware (6-4) at Princeton (8-3) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to historic Jadwin Gym where the Princeton Tigers will host area rival Delaware. The Blue Hens come in to tonight’s game with a 3-game winning streak that includes wins against Davidson, Siena and in-state rival Delaware State. However, the Blue Hens are already 0-2 against the Ivy League; they have losses against Penn and Cornell on their ledger. Jameer Nelson Jr. has averaged just under 20 points a game for Delaware this season.

Princeton did get off to a slow start this season with close losses against Hofstra and Navy, but then went on an 8-game winning streak that included wins against Army and Northeastern in the London Basketball Classic during Thanksgiving weekend. That winning streak was put to an end with their loss against Iona on a neutral court in Union, New Jersey. Tosan Evboamwan leads the Tigers with 13.3 points a game and 6.7 rebounds a game.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

-Last night was a pretty chalky night. Santa Clara did hold on to beat UC Irvine and had control of the game late. Seattle U also fell at Oregon State 73-58.

-Big East play gets underway tonight as Xavier travels to Georgetown and Creighton heads to Marquette. Xavier is looking for their second true road win of the season and can get to 9-3 overall with a win, and Creighton is trying to snap a losing streak, but it won’t be easy against a Marquette team that has played really well at home this year.

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For last night’s legendary Hoops HD Under The Radar podcast – CLICK HERE

Southeastern Louisiana (5-5, 0-0) at Nicholls (4-5, 0-0) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Thibodoux, Louisiana for the Southland Conference opener for both the Lions of Southeastern Louisiana and the Colonels of Nicholls. SELA has a bit of a deceptive record with 3 non-D1 wins, but they do have a win at Wyoming and a neutral-court win against Campbell in the win column. Only against Xavier did the Lions look overmatched thus far in the season. Boogie Anderson has averaged 11.8 points a game for SELA in their first 10 games of the season.

The Colonels of Nicholls have won back-to-back regular season titles in the Southland, although they have not appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 1998. Nicholls also has 3 non-D1 wins that are included in their 4-5 record, although they do have a decent win against San Diego that was part of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic in the 3rd place game. Latrell Jones averages 15.8 points a game and 5.0 rebounds a game for the Colonels.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES (From the Puppet):

-UCLA went on the road to face a Maryland team that is really good, and who’s fans were really psyched, and by the first media timeout they were totally in control of the game and they absolutely blew the Terps off the floor. The final score was 87-60. That was not indicative of just how dominant UCLA was. It was probably the single most impressive performance of the year considering the strength of the opponent, the location of the game, and the margin of victory.

-Charleston, Auburn, and Mississippi State all had to sweat a little bit, but all ended up with wins.

-Wake Forest had to do more than just sweat. They were behind with less than 2 seconds to play to Appalachian State and didn’t have the ball. Generally in that situation the game is over, but somehow Wake forced a turnover, got the ball back, and on the inbounds play got a shot up that went in. Wake won 67-66. Barely.

-UCF picked up their first true road win of they year as they pretty much controlled the whole game and knocked off Ole Miss 72-61. UCF is for real this year! This gets them to 8-2 on the year.

-Last, but certainly not the least notable, Louisville picked up their first win of the year as they pretty much controlled the entire game against Western Kentucky and ended up winning 94-83. WKU was a team that we thought could land inside the bubble, and a loss like this absolutely torpedoes their chances. While Louisville did look good last night, they hadn’t looked like a top 300 team at any point this season, and this loss is going to hurt the Toppers.

-UC IRVINE AT SANTA CLARA. UC Irvine has looked really good at times this season and can add another notable win to their resume if they’re able to knock off a pretty good Santa Clara team, that’s 6-1 at home on the year so far. These are the kinds of games the Eaters need to win if they want any shot at all of gettin the committee’s attention.

-SEATTLE AT OREGON STATE. Seattle is a very impressive 7-1 on the year with the only loss being at Washington. Oregon State isn’t great, but they’ve shown at times that they are capable of playing well and they are 4-1 at home, so this would be a really nice win for Seattle who appears to have their best team in recent memory.

-Lehigh @ Wisconsin
-Westmintster (nonD1) @ Utah State

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Tonight’s featured conference (after a comedically poor on-air start by the panel) is the Colonial, which has four really strong teams in College of Charleston, Towson (despite a recent loss to Navy), UNC Wilmington, and Hofstra who still has a lot of potential. Charleston is inching closer and closer to the Top 25, and we may see more than just one team from this conference in the NCAA Tournament come March.

From there we run through the other 21 Under the Radar conferences and talk about UMass Lowell’s good start in the America East, and how Vermont and Bryant could also give them a run, Conference USA has multiple strong teams in UAB, North Texas, Western Kentucky, and FAU, Kent State continues to look really impressive out of the MAC, Iona is starting to make quite a bit of noise out of the MAAC, we like the season Northwestern State and Southern Miss are having, and think Seattle U and Sam Houston will be an interesting battle in the WAC. We discuss all that, and much more…

And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/UTR-12-14-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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Stetson (5-3) at Charleston (10-1) – 7:00 PM ET (FloHoops)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day returns to Charleston where the hometown Cougars host the surprising Stetson Hatters. To recap, Stetson began their season with wins at Florida State and at South Florida, although they were not able to claim a trifecta after losing at Florida shortly thereafter. The Hatters also split a pair of games in Dublin, Ireland; they beat Rider but lost to Niagara in the A-Sun/MAAC Dublin Basketball Challenge. Luke Brown averages 11.8 points a game for Stetson through their first 8 games.

Charleston enters tonight’s game on a 9-game winning streak; their season has been highlighted by wins against Davidson, Colorado State and Virginia Tech to claim the championship of the Charleston Classic. Prior to a home win against non-D1 North Greenville, the Cougars won back-to-back road games against Citadel and Presbyterian. Dalton Bolon averages just over 12 points a game for Charleston.

OTHER NEWS NOTES AND GAMES (From the Puppet):

-I’ve been critical of Memphis all year. I’ve been critical of Memphis for the last several years. I know they didn’t win last night, but after beating Auburn over the weekend, and taking Alabama to the wire ON THE ROAD I am now a firm believer in Memphis! Alabama won 91-88, but there are probably less than five teams in the entire country that would even have a one-in-four chance of beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I don’t want to say it was a moral victory, but I will absolutely say it is an indication of just how good this Memphis team is capable of being.

-UMass Lowell didnt’ get the win at Rhode Island, and fell to 11-2 on the season after losing 77-75 in overtime. It was a game many of us were expecting Lowell to win. Still, it’s been a good season for the River Hawks.

-Other than those two games it was a pretty chalky night. As for tonight…

-JACKSON STATE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE. A different sport, but we at Hoops HD are all very sad at the passing of Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach. We know this will be an emotional night for them as they try to remain unbeaten.

-UCF AT OLE MISS. These are two teams that have shown some signs of life, but still have some work to do in order to prove themselves. Tonight is a good opportunity for both teams as both come in at 7-2.

-UCLA AT MARYLAND. This is what I like to call a ‘Protected Seed Caliber Game.’ If a team wants to get a protected seed, this is the kind of game they ned to be able to win. It’s a VERY tough road challenge for UCLA, but they’ve been tested this season already. As has Maryland. This one should be fun!

-NEW MEXICO STATE AT SAINT MARY’S. Saint Mary’s will likely be tested a little bit tonight, but they should be able to hold serve and pick up the win.

-Stetson @ Charletson – Charleston can improve to 11-1 and keep inching toward the Top 25
-DePaul @ Duquesne – likely a bit of a tough road game for the Blue Demons against a Duquesne team that isn’t good, but that doesn’t stink either
-Drexel @ Seton Hall – The Pirates need to hold serve at home
-South Carolina @ UAB – The Blazers need to hold serve at home
-Appalachian State @ Wake Forest – I’m still a bit of a believer in this Wake team, but they need to hold serve at home tonight
-Sam Houston @ UL Monroe – a winnable road game for Sam Houston, which would be their 3rd of the season and get them to 8-2 overall
-Georgia State @ Auburn
-Western Kentucky @ Louisville – WKU can get to 9-1 on the year and pick up their third true road win
-UC San Diego @ Nevada
-Long Beach State @ USC

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For our weekly Hoops HD Report podcast – CLICK HERE

For the latest JNG bracket projection – CLICK HERE

For Jon Teitel’s interview with former Eastern Illinois coach Rick Samuels – CLICK HERE

UMBC (7-4) at Loyola-Maryland (4-7) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to Charm City for the Baltimore City-County rivalry between the UMBC Retrievers and the host Loyola Greyhounds. Loyola got off to a decent 4-4 start, but are currently on a 3-game losing streak that includes losses against Coppin State, Hampton and Mount St. Mary’s. The Greyhounds were held to a season-low 34 points against The Mount in their last outing on Saturday; tonight will be the final game before final exams begin on Loyola’s campus tomorrow.

The Retrievers already have gone 2-0 against other Baltimore teams; this includes wins against Coppin State and Morgan State that are part of their current 4-game winning streak. Colton Lawrence has averaged over 15 points a game for UMBC thus far in their season. They will still have a pair of nonconference games against William & Mary and Maryland before beginning America East play.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES (From the Puppet):

-Texas needed overtime to get by Rice, but managed to get the win despite all the off the court controversy that’s surrounding the program right now.

-Arizona State picked up their tenth straight win as they knocked off a Creighton team that’s fallen to 6-5. The game seesawed back and forth with both teams going on big runs, but Arizona State held on 73-71. Both these teams appear to be going in different directions right now.

-New Mexico remains unbeaten after picking up an exciting 67-64 win over a pretty good San Francisco team.

-FURMAN AT NC STATE. If NC State wants to establish themselves as a tournament caliber team then they need to hold serve in games like this. Furman is good and should make quite a bit of noise in the SoCon, but this is still the kind of game that a team that lands inside the bubble should routinely win.

-MARSHALL AT UNC GREENSBORO. A win for Marshall gets them to 10-1 and gives them their 4th road win of the year.

-UMASS LOWELL AT RHODE ISLAND. UMass Lowell is off to a really good start and this looks to be another winnable road game for them. They’re coming off a big win at UMass, can get to 12-1 on the year, and pick up their sixth true road win of the season.

-PRINCETON VS IONA (Union, NJ). These are both really good UTR teams that may have an outside shot at making a run at the bubble.

-SOUTHERN MISS AT LAMAR. A win for Southern Miss gets them to 10-1 and gives them their third true road win.

-MEMPHIS AT ALABAMA. Memphis is coming off a big win against Auburn, and Alabama is coming off a massive win at Houston, so both teams are coming in with tons of confidence and momentum. Memphis could probably benefit from this more than Bama can, but it should turn out to be a huge win for whoever pulls it off.

-NC Central @ LSU
-Southern @ Xavier
-The Citadel @ North Carolina
-NC A&T @ Houston
-Eastern Washington @ Texas Tech
-TAMUCC @ Arizona
-New Orleans @ Boise State
-UTSA @ Utah
-Cal Poly @ Washington

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We begin (unfortunately) discussing the news that broke today with Chris Beard at Texas. He has been suspended without pay after being arrested for a domestic disturbance and his future is unknown.

From there we discuss Kansas’s blowout win at Missouri and how impressive they’ve looked this year, Purdue being atop the polls after Houston’s home loss to Alabama, Virginia and Connecticut also putting together strong cases that they should be ranked #1, how there are three unbeaten teams from the Mountain West in Utah State, UNLV, and New Mexico, all of whom have looked impressive so far, and much more…

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HHD-Report-12-12-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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We sort of switch things up with each week’s Bracket Projections, especially in the weeks prior to Christmas. This week we are featuring our remarkably accurate JNG RANKINGS, which are the creation of Joby Fortson. Basically, he set out to create a metric that can accurately predict what the actual selection committee is going to do. I’m personally not sure how someone can quantify a process that is done by a committee, but Joby has pretty much found a way to do it!!

The Bracket is below, and Joby’s comments are below that.

COMMENTS FROM JOBY:

So, what conferences come out well. The SEC sends 7 teams as well as the BIG but who comes next? Why the Mountain West! While this will almost assuredly not hold it does show as we enter conference play that like last year, the Mountain West will get more than a pair of teams in. Through a combination of producing overall strong records (3 teams – Utah St, New Mexico & UNLV are undefeated) and high NET ratings (all 6 of those teams are in the top 52 with one of the strongest of those teams IMO, San Diego St, the one at 52. Those bids seemingly will come out off the hide of their western counterparts parts as the Pac-12 produces 4 (Arizona, UCLA, Utah and Arizona St) and the WCC sits at 2 (Gonzaga and St. Mary’s). The A-10 also underperfroms with only 1 team barely in the at large pool.

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Rick Samuels spent a quarter-century on the sideline for Eastern Illinois and had a lot of success: more than 350 wins, the 2001 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association D-1 Coach of the Year award, and the 2nd-longest D-1 tenure in the nation when he left in 2004 (behind only Jim Boeheim at Syracuse). Off the court, he made sure that most of his seniors completed their eligibility, as the Panthers were among the top 10% in the nation for graduation rate. HoopsHD got to chat with Rick about making a couple of NCAA tourneys and writing a couple of books. Today is Rick’s 74th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

You played basketball at Chadron State: how good a player were you back in the day, and how did you get into coaching? I was a decent player on a pretty good NAIA team. I was a PG who acted as a floor general. I always enjoyed being around sports teams so I volunteered to coach a 7th grade team, which got me started in the business.

You took over for Lynn Nance as head coach at Iowa State in January of 1980: how strange was it to make such a transition during the middle of the season? It was shocking: the other assistant and I were named co-head coaches but we did not consult with each other during games so it got to be entertaining. The kids rallied and we were able to upset a ranked Kansas State team and also win at Oklahoma.

In 1981 you became head coach at Eastern Illinois, where you stayed for almost 25 years: why did you take the job, and how were you able to stick around for such a long time? I went to Iowa State as a grad assistant before taking over and I struggled to find another assistant position. A friend suggested that I apply for the job at EIU: I told my wife that if I did not get it I would try something else…and then I got a phone call to interview. I was 1 of 4 guys they interviewed and probably a distant third, but after the top choice withdrew the 2nd choice (Gene Davis) took the job and they wanted him to keep 1 of the assistants. When Gene changed his mind and they called me to take the job I said no because I had already sold my house and planned on getting into business, but my wife changed my mind. I stayed so long because I loved the environment. I have seen many coaches try to climb the ladder and the effect it had on their family but I was happy.

In the 1992 NCAA tourney Alan Henderson had 19 PTS/11 REB in a win by Indiana: what was it like to face Bobby Knight in March? It was scary to try and match up against Henderson with a 6’5” PF of our own. We were happy to be there but we could not have had a worse matchup. Back then there was an 8-year wait until you could be an automatic qualifier for the tourney. When we had Kevin Duckworth in the mid-1980s we won our conference…but had nowhere to go.

In the 2001 OVC tourney title game Theanthony Haymon was called for goaltending on Jan Thompson’s last-second jumper in a 1-PT win over Austin Peay: did you think that the refs made the correct call, and how on earth were you able to overcome an 18-PT deficit over the final 6 minutes? Of course they made the right call! If you look at the replay it was a goaltend, even in the final second. I remember calling a timeout with about 8 minutes left and 1 of my assistants suggested trying to get it under 10 PTS with 5 minutes and under 6 PTS with 4 minutes. I had a kid named Kyle Hill who was an excellent player: when he got into his extra gear he was exceptional. Austin Peay started taunting him and you could see it in his eyes before he took control of the game: we scored on every single possession the rest of the way.

In the 2001 NCAA tourney Hill scored 32 PTS in a loss to Arizona: could you tell at the time that the Wildcats were good enough to make the title game? We missed 2 dunks to start the game, including 1 by Hill. We played with them through most of the 1st half until Henry Domercant sprained his ankle. Arizona tried guarding Hill with 2-3 different guys but they could not stop him. We were a #15-seed both years we made it…and both of our opponents ended up making the title game. The 1st time we were sent to Boise but the best part of getting sent to Kansas City is that a lot of our fans got to attend. It was the only time that a D-1 team has had 2 kids among the top-5 scorers in the nation with Kyle (23.8 PPG)/Henry (22.8 PPG).

Your career record at EIU was 360-360: how frustrating was it to not get 1 more win on your resume?! You can imagine how many games I have replayed in my mind trying to get that 1 win! Our league changed 3 times so it was difficult to build an identity.

During your career the Panthers were among the top 10% of the nation in graduation rate: how much importance did you place on academics? That is 1 of the reasons I liked the school: I recruited kids who were interested in getting a college scholarship and we emphasized the value of a degree. Looking back now it is quite impressive to see where my players are today.

You wrote a couple of books about the “Open-Post Motion Offense”: what is it, and what makes it so effective? The players make it so effective! We had a pair of big guys who could handle the ball on the perimeter and sacrificed their own scoring to set screens for our other shooters. We were able to open up the floor for good shots and driving, while also allowing us to move the ball from side to side. The mind behind that was current Purdue head coach Matt Painter, who was 1 of my assistants at the time.

You later worked as a development officer for Lincoln College: how did you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? It was challenging but I enjoyed it: it is a transformational place. This was it for me: I do miss coaching but I just enjoy watching games and several of my former players are now coaches.

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Liberty (6-3) at Oral Roberts (7-3) – 8:00 PM ET (Live Stream)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to Tulsa where the hometown Oral Roberts Eagles hosts the Flames of Liberty University. The Flames come into the game ranked 27th in the country at allowing only 60.3 points a game, yet they have one of the top scorers in the country in Darius McGhee (21.3 PPG) who has already cracked the 2,000-point club in his career. The Flames are currently on a 4-game winning streak; their last loss came against Northwestern in the Cancun Challenge.

While Liberty has a stout defense, Oral Roberts will test it with their prolific offense; the Eagles have scored 86 points a game on average and is #8 in the country in that regard. Max Abmas averages about 19 points a game and is the preseason pick for Summit League player of the year; three other players average in double figures in PPG as well. ORU also has a 4-game winning streak that includes a win against Tulsa in the Mayor’s Cup for the second straight season. (Chad will show everyone the trophy for that game on Wednesday night in the UTR Podcast.)

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES (from The Puppet):

-We will be recording our Hoops HD Report Video Podcast tonight, and posting this week’s Bracket Projections tomorrow (a day later than usual). Keep an eye out for both of those.

-Maryland and Tennessee played in a game where the offense wasn’t exactly pretty all the time, but it was still exciting down the stretch. Maryland controlled the first half, Tennessee fought back in the second half, but the Terps held on for a 56-53 win, which is one of their biggest wins of the season so far.

-The offense was also lacking in the Seton Hall @ Rutgers game, although the intensity sure wasn’t. It was down to the wire, Rutgers had mutliple good looks at the basket on their last possession that could have sent the game into overtime, but Seton Hall held on for a huge win both on and off paper 45-43.

-The surprise of the day was Towson, who we thought was a team that may be good enough to make a run at the bubble, losing at home in overtime to Navy 71-69. A loss like this is almost like an arrow through the balloon. It’s going to be VERY hard for Towson to recover to the point of the committee taking a serious look at them. It’s still possible, and they’ve shown this year that they can be a really good team, but this does not help.

-Marquette won decisively at Notre Dame 79-64, which is yet another impressive win for Marquette. They’re not 8-3 on the year, and this was their first true road win.

-Wisconsin picked up yet another impressive win as they knocked off Iowa in overtime 78-75. Wisky appeared to have the game in hand at the end of regulation, but a combination of big plays from Iowa and turnovers from Wisconsin sent the game into overtime. The Badgers got the win in the end, though, and if they aren’t in the Top 25 later today, then we need a new slate of voters!!

-Virginia Tech got a battle from Oklahoma State, but held on for the 70-65 win and improves to 10-1 on the season.

-RICE AT TEXAS. Rice comes in at 6-2, which is a much better year than what we are used to seeing from them, but they are likely way overmatched tonight.

-ARIZONA STATE VS CREIGHTON (Las Vegas NV). Creighton has dropped to 6-4 and is suddenly not looking like the Final Four contender that they were right out of the gate. Arizona State has jumped to 9-1 and not looking like the team that was going to be a total bust that they did right out of the gate. Both teams appear to be going in different directions, and both could really use this win.

-NEW MEXICO VS SAN FRANCISCO (Las Vegas NV). New Mexico is unbeaten on the year with some notable wins on their resume, and they’ve got a chance to pick up another one tonight against a San Francisco team that’s been a bit of a surprise considering all the roster turnover they’ve had, but that’s won some big games and that may be able to make a case that they belong back in the NCAA Tournament.

-Louisiana Christian (nonD1) @ Louisiana – Louisiana can get to 9-1 on the year

-Monmouth @ Syracuse

-Northern Illinois @ Gonzaga

-Kennesaw State @ San Diego State

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Alabama played a tough first half against Houston, and then fell behind early in the second half, and I think everyone’s thinking at the time was that Houston would control the rest of the game. Well, they didn’t. Alabama fought back, then pulled even, then pulled ahead, and then stayed ahead for the 71-65 win. To date, it’s the single most impressive win that any team has managed this season. They beat the #1 team on their floor. Wins don’t get any better than that. Last year at about this time, Alabama beat Gonzaga out in Seattle. I guess December is just Alabama’s month!

-Penn State over Illinois was another shocking result. We knew Penn State was good, but for them to go into Illinois and absolutely control that game the way that they did was not something we were expecting. Penn State picked up the 74-59 win, and to say that they look like a tournament caliber team would be an understatement.

-Purdue needed overtime, but survived at Nebraska 65-62 and will almost unquestionably remain ranked in the top 4.

-The Boarder War (or whatever they’ve renamed it) between Kansas and Missouri resumed last year. In both games Kansas was pretty much up by about 20 when the game tipped off. Yesterday, they went into Missouri who was unbeaten, and within minutes had complete control of the game despite a bonkers crowd. It wasn’t bonkers for long. Kansas absolutely rolled (again!) 95-67.

-Arkansas got a battle from Oklahoma over in Tulsa, but picked up the solid 88-78 win. Arkansas is a talented team that appears to be gelling more and more as the season goes on.

-Arizona controlled Indiana for most of the game out in Las Vegas, and held on for an 89-75 win. Every time the Hoosiers appeared to be mounting a run, Arizona would answer. The Wildcats have a VERY impressive resume with some big time neutral floor wins right now.

-Kentucky got a battle from a Yale team that’s really good, but held on for the 69-59 win. This game was very close late into the game, and Kentucky is probably receiving some criticism for not dominating this one, but I don’t think most of those critics understand just how good Yale actually is. We said yesterday that we thought this might be close.

-We were starting to nail BYU’s coffin shut, but yesterday they picked up a hugely important and hugely surprising win over Creighton 83-80. This is a bit of a setback for the BlueJays who have fallen to 6-4 after once being ranked in the top ten (and looking like a top ten team), but it is perhaps a season saving win for a BYU team that really needed it. Ryan Kalkbrenner was out of the game due to non-Covid illness for Creighton, though.

-Saint Mary’s also needed a really big win. Saint Mary’s also got a really big win. They knocked off San Diego State 68-61 in Phoenix and that suddenly changes the entire complexion of their resume. As for San Diego State, they’re still a good team, but they suddenly aren’t looking like the top 25 team that we all thought they were. When you lose to multiple teams that aren’t ranked, then you yourself probably shouldn’t be ranked either.

-Miami FL had to come from behind to beat NC State, but picked up the 80-73 win. Both teams still have work to do, but both have also shown that they have the potential to be good teams (especially Miami), and we need to keep our eyes on both of them.

-I am no longer touting Drake. They lost yesterday, by 30, to Richmond. It’s hard to make a case that they belong inside the bubble when they get blown out by a team that doesn’t appear to be anywhere near it.

-LSU improved to 8-1 after beating a good Wake Forest team in a really exciting 72-70 game. The Tigers are now worthy of some praise and attention.

-Xavier absolutely dominated the first half against crosstown rivals Cincinnati, but Cincinnati came back in the second half, made some big shots, and actually tied the game in the final minute. A foul with less than two seconds to go, and a technical foul after calling timeout when Cincinnati had no more, allowed Xavier to win it at the line and escape with an 80-77 win. It was a nice road win for Xavier, and their first of the season.

-Oregon, for perhaps the first time all season, looked like the Oregon team that we were all expecting to see in the preseason. They pretty much controlled a really good Nevada team for a 78-65 win, and pulled their record to an even 5-5. They are getting out of the starting gate a little late, but there is still plenty of time for the Ducks to end up having a big year.

-Boise State got a really nice win out at Saint Louis 82-80. It’s their first true road win of the season, and it’s a pretty good one and it improves the Broncos to 8-2 overall. As good as this was for Boise State, things are looking really bad for Saint Louis. They’re now 7-4 on the season after losing their second consecutive game, and haven’t looked anything like an NCAA Tournament team.

-Memphis picked up what was probably their best win of the year so far knocking off Auburn 82-73. Memphis was at home, but it was still good for them to play that well against a highly ranked team and show that their talented players could play that well together. This one may mean just as much off paper as it does on paper. If nothing else, it silenced one of their critics. ME! (Note from Stalica – the win was actually in Atlanta. It’s actually the most notable win by anyone in the American this year – even Houston doesn’t have a Top 25 win yet, much less a win against a team just outside of the Top 10.)

-UNLV remains unbeaten after knocking off Washington State 74-70. We figured UNLV might be tested int his one, and they were.

-Utah State also remains unbeaten on the year after knocking off a fairly decent LMU team 79-67.

-Seattle U is now 7-1 on the year with three true road wins and the only loss being at Washington. They knocked off North Dakota on the road yesterday 80-78.

-UMass Lowell improved to 11-1 with their 68-59 win over Saint Francis Brooklyn.

-West Virginia got a battle from UAB, but held on to win 81-70. They played each other last year as well, and both games were fun to watch.

-Marshall won their ninth straight game since losing their opener, and picked up their 3rd road win, as they knocked off Robert Morris 69-60.

-Western Kentucky is now 8-1 after really having to sweat out Wright State, but holding on for the 64-60 win.

-Louisiana is now 8-1 on the year after they beat Samford 75-58.

-Additional note from Stalica: With Central Connecticut State’s win against Dartmouth yesterday, we are now down to 2 remaining winless teams in Division 1. Both Louisville and California are still winless and both got blown out against Florida State and Butler, respectively.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-IONA VS SAINT BONAVENTURE (Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational, Brooklyn NY). Iona made quite a bit of noise after their blowout win against Saint Louis, but they still have a lot of work to do (and a very small margin for error) if they want to end up inside the bubble.

-OKLAHOMA STATE VS VIRGINIA TECH (Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational, Brooklyn NY). Virginia Tech is 9-1 on the year, and while they don’t have any wins that completely blow you away, they have a lot of decent ones and are probably being undervalued a bit. Oklahoma State was my preseason dark horse, and so far they have failed. A win today could really do a lot to turn their season around, though.

-NEW MEXICO STATE AT DUQUESNE. New Mexico State is still dealing with all the off the court issues surrounding the program. Duquesne is a very respectable 7-2 on the year and has yet another winnable game today.

-MARQUETTE AT NOTRE DAME. Both teams are good, both have managed some decent wins, and both are looking for another one that would look good on their resumes. I wouldn’t go so far to call this a big rivalry, but it is a series with some history and it does have at least a little bit of heat to it.

-MARYLAND VS TENNESSEE (Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational, Brooklyn NY). Both teams are high in the rankings, both have managed some really good wins this year, and both are putting together the types of profiles that protected seeds typically get. This is the kind of game teams need to win in order to get a protected seed.

-OREGON STATE AT TEXAS A&M. TAMU still has a lot of talent and a lot of potential, but they have been disappointing so far. They really can’t afford to lose this one at home. Oregon State doesn’t look like a tournament team, but they are better than what we were expecting and are good enough to beat teams that overlook them.

-WISCONSIN AT IOWA (Big Ten). This is a very good Wisconsin team, and quite frankly it’s almost laughable that they’re not in the top 25 right now. Earlier this week they beat a highly ranked Maryland team, and that followed up an overtime win on the road against a really good Marquette team. Today, they’ve got another tough road test against an Iowa team that’s also good and that’s probably on an emotional high after their blowout win against rivals Iowa State.

-SETON HALL AT RUTGERS. Rutgers comes in at 6-3, and in their last game they lost on a desperation 3 at the buzzer at Ohio State that somehow went in. Still, this Rutgers team is really good and I have to think big wins will start coming. They should win this one against rivals Seton Hall today at home.

-HOFSTRA VS UMASS (Basketball Hall of Fame Inviational, Brooklyn NY). Hofstra is a fairly tough team out of the Colonial and UMass is off to a decent 7-2 start. They still have a ton of work to do in order to be considered a tournament team, but they’re having a much better year than what many of us were expecting.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT MINNESOTA. Mississippi State comes in 8-0 and ranked in the top 25. This is their first true road game of the year, though. It’s the kind of game that a tournament caliber team should be able to win, so we’ll see what they can do.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Tarleton @ UCF – This is a good UCF team and a win gets them to 7-2
-Central Connecticut @ Fordham – a win for Fordham gets them to 11-1 on the year
-North Greenville (NonD1) @ Charleston – Charleston is getting closer and closer to the top 25
-Prairie View @ Northwestern
-Incarnate Word @ Kansas State
-Indiana State @ Southern Indiana – Indiana State can improve to 10-1 on the season and pick up their third road win
-Navy @ Towson
-McNeese @ Iowa State

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Lipscomb (6-3) at Tennessee State (5-4) – 3:30 PT ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Nashville for an intracity matchup; while we didn’t get to feature the Battle of the Boulevard between Belmont/Lipscomb, we do get the intracity matchup of Lipscomb and Tennessee State. The Bisons of Lipscomb were on a 4-game winning streak at one point this season, but that was put to a halt with a surprising 63-59 loss at Alabama A&M on Friday. Jacob Ognacevic averages 17.9 points a game for the Bisons.

With the departures of Belmont and Murray State to the Missouri Valley and a sluggish start by OVC favorite Morehead State this year, Tennessee State is one team that will be looking to contend for the league crown this season. Since winning their opening game in the SoCal Challenge against Cal State-Northridge, the Tigers have lost their last 3 games against D1 competition against High Point, Saint Louis and Austin Peay, respectively. TSU did get back on track with a 103-49 win against Boyce last Tuesday; six Tigers scored in double figures with Zion Griffin leading the way with 23 points.

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For today’s News, Notes and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE

Grand Canyon (7-3) vs. North Texas (7-2) – 5:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day is part of the Jerry Colangelo Classic at the Footprint Center in Phoenix (home of the Suns and Mercury) – while it is technically a neutral-court game in the eyes of the NCAA, it is a de facto home game for the Grand Canyon Antelopes. While teams like Seattle, Sam Houston and New Mexico State have grabbed headlines for various reasons in the WAC, it is the Lopes who are the preseason favorites to win the conference. Loyola Marymount beat Grand Canyon 69-65 in their last game; it was a rare noncon loss for the Lopes at home. Jovan Blacksher Jr. leads the Lopes with a 12.7 PPG average.

North Texas ended up finishing 2nd in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship with wins against San Jose State and Long Beach State before losing to UNC-Wilmington in the championship game. More recently, the Mean Green got back on track with back-to-back wins against Omaha and next-door neighbor UT-Arlington on the road. Tylor Perry averages 17 points a game for the Mean Green.

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NEWS AND NOTES

-The story of the night last night, and what’s shaping up to be one of the stories of the year, Is Grambling. They went into Vanderbilt, held a lead for most of the game, appeared to be losing it at the end, but battled for a 64-62 win. Grambling is now 5-3 against D1 competition with wins over Arizona State (ASU’s only loss) and now at Vanderbilt. I don’t think they’ll end up landing inside the bubble, and we at Hoops HD always seem to measure teams by the that standard, but this program was one of the worst in all of D1 for decades, and to see them turn it around like they have is spectacular!

-Gonzaga won without too much trouble against Washington.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PENN STATE AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). Penn State looks like they may be able to land inside the bubble. A road win in a game like this would certainly go a super long way. Illinois is showing the early signs of being a protected seed.

-OKLAHOMA VS ARKANSAS (Tulsa OK). Oklahoma is 7-2 with some decent wins, but nothing that would be nearly as good as this one would be if they’re able to pull it off. As for Arkansas, they have a nice win over Creighton, but this would also be one of their better wins to date if they’re able to pull it off.

-YALE AT KENTUCKY. this is a buy game, but Yale is a likely Ivy League frontrunner who has looked good so far this season. Kentucky should win, but they don’t want to overlook them.

-GEORGETOWN AT SYRACUSE. This used to be a rivalry that was event television in the heyday of the original Big East, but only Syracuse has shown any faint signs of life the past season and a half. Still, one never knows what can happen in a rivalry game like this (and Stalica insists on highlighting this for some reason), so here we are.

-LOUISVILLE AT FLORIDA STATE (ACC). This game is mentioned only because it may be the only conference game that either of these teams is able to win this year.

-NC STATE AT MIAMI FL (ACC). I still think Miami FL is being undervalued and should be ranked in the top 25. They’re 9-1 and although they don’t have any great wins, they have a smattering of good ones. NC State is an impressive 8-2 , but this would be their best win of the year up to this point, so something at stake for both teams.

-DRAKE AT RICHMOND. This isn’t an easy road game for Drake, but it’s one they got to have, and it’s one they could lose if they don’t play up to their ceiling.

-LSU VS WAKE FOREST (Holiday Hoopsgiving, Atlanta GA). Both teams have good records, and Wake actually has some decent wins. They’re certainly having better seasons so far than what we were expecting. This is a chance for each of them to pick up a decent win on a neutral floor and help build their resumes.

-PURDUE AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten). Purdue is unbeaten and not just looking like a potential protected seed, but looking like a potential #1 seed. It’s not easy to win on the road, but #1 seeds should be able to do it in games like this.

-ALABAMA AT HOUSTON. Both teams are in the top ten, both have some really good games, and both appear to be protected seed caliber teams. Despite this being a home game, it may be one of Houston’s better games on the schedule. They just won’t face as high a caliber of competition once they get into conference play. Alabama’s only loss on the year is to UConn. Beating the #1 team on the road…wins just don’t get any better than that. That’s the kind of win that can distinguish you as a #1 seed.

-DENVER AT UCLA. Denver is off to an 8-2 start, but the teams they’ve been playing aren’t quite on the level of UCLA. Still, it’ll be interesting to see what they can do in a game like this.

-SAN DIEGO STATE VS SAINT MARY’S (Jerry Colangelo Classic, Phoenix AZ). Both teams are good, but you also get the sense that both of them could REALLY use a win like this, especially Saint Mary’s. But both could stand to build up their resumes, and this game is a chance for whoever gets the win to do it.

-KENT STATE AT CLEVELAND STATE. Kent State is a really good team who’s resume could turn out to be a very interesting case. They took both Houston and Gonzaga to the wall, but didn’t get either win. If they can blow through the rest of their schedule, will the committee take them?? Of course, they need to get this one on the road today, which isn’t the easiest road game to win.

-XAVIER AT CINCINNATI. Both teams are 6-3, but both could use some good wins on their resume. Xavier does have the home win against West Virginia, and showed they could play against Duke, Gonzaga, and Indiana even though they lost all three, but they actually do need some wins, and this one being on the road would help their resume. Oh yeah, and this is a rivalry game too!

-GEORGIA TECH AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). North Carolina has lost four straight. This is a winnable game at home. They need to win it. That’s really all there is to it.

-UNLV VS WASHINGTON STATE. UNLV is unbeaten with some decent wins, and today they have another game that they should win so long as they don’t overlook Wazzu.

-AUBURN AT MEMPHIS. Memphis is talented, and they do have a nice win against Ole Miss at home, but I’m still not completely sold on them being a tournament caliber team. That being said, if they can win this one, I probably will be! Auburn is unbeaten and really good, so it would be a huge win for Memphis even though they’re at home.

-KANSAS AT MISSOURI. THE BORDER WAR!!!! This rivalry resumed last year, and it was such a blowout that you even wondered if it was worth it. This year Mizzou is unbeaten, and they’re at home, and this may be the biggest home game that they’ve had since the last time they played Kansas on their campus. I’m expecting a bonkers atmosphere. As for Kansas, it’s their first true road game, so it would be a big win on paper as well as being a win over a rival.

-UAB AT WEST VIRGINIA. This is a hugely important game for UAB. They are perhaps good enough to land inside the bubble and not need to win the conference tournament to make the NCAAs. If they can win today, it would be HUGE for their tournament resume. It’s easier said than done, though. This is a very tough WVU team that’s also trying to put together a good tournament resume.

-NEVADA AT OREGON. Oregon is just 4-5 and has been rather disappointing this year. They need to string together some wins in order to get things turned around, and they’ll likely be challenged again tonight. Nevada is 8-2, has looked pretty good, and can win their third road game tonight if they’re able to pull this off.

-ARIZONA VS INDIANA (Las Vegas Clash, Las Vegas NV). Indiana has looked good this year, but this is by far their biggest test of the year. Arizona won the Maui Invitational and beat some pretty good teams while doing it, so they are certainly battle tested. Both teams are potential protected seeds, so this is just a good resume building opportunity for each of them.

-BOISE STATE AT SAINT LOUIS. SLU is coming off a blowout loss at Iona, and this game has a sense of urgency to it. If SLU doesn’t win it, you get the sense that they’re slipping further and further away from the bubble even though it’s only December. If Boise State wins it, it’s a solid road win (their first of the season) and they improve to 8-2 on the year, and suddenly more eyeballs from the committee are going to be on them.

-CREIGHTON vs BYU (Las Vegas). It’s normally tough to win at BYU, but they are really down this year. A tournament caliber team, and certainly a team that’s good enough to get a protected seed, should be good enough to win this one on the road. (Note from Stalica: This one is actually in Vegas, so BYU would actually get a little more credit for this win should they upset the Jays. That said, Creighton is going to be going into this game in a bad mood after getting outhustled and outfought at home against archrival Nebraska back on Sunday.)

-TCU AT SMU. The basketball version of the Iron Skillet!! TCU is clearly the superior team, and should roll in this one even though they’re on the road.

-UTAH STATE VS LMU (Jack Jones Hoopfest, Las Vegas NV). Utah State is unbeaten on the year with some pretty good wins. Picking this one up against a fairly decent LMU team that’s won six out of seven with some notable wins in that stretch. This appears to be a game between two teams that are on their way and who are looking to continue to build up their resumes.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Tulane vs Buffalo (Holiday Hoopsgiving) – Tulane is off to only a modest start and needs to start stringing together wins
-UC Irvine @ South Dakota – two pretty good UTR teams. UC Irvine needs wins like this if they want any chance at landing inside the bubble
-Lamar @ Southern Miss – a win for Southern Miss gets them to 9-1
-Seattle U @ North Dakota – a win for Seattle gets them to 7-1 on the season, and gives them their third true road win
-UL Monroe @ Northwestern State – a bit of an in-state rivalry. Northwestern State’s resume (at least for now) is solid and a win gets them to 8-2.
-San Jose State @ Santa Clara – it’s a winnable home game for Santa Clara, which would get them to 8-2 on the year
-Butler @ Califorinia – this is a winnable road game for Butler, which would get them to 8-3 on the year and give them their first true road win
-Villanova vs Boston College (Newark NJ) – It’s a winnable road game for Nova, which would even their record at 5-5 on the year
-Grand Canyon @ North Texas – North Texas has sort of been overlooked this year, but they’re worth keeping an eye on. A win gets them to 8-2 and they could be dangerous in CUSA. (UTR Game of the Day)
-Marshall @ Robert Morris – Marshall can pick up their 3rd road win and improve to 9-1 on the year
-UC Santa Barbara @ Pepperdine. Both teams are good enough to make some noise in conference, but both could use some good OOC wins as well

BUY GAMES:

-Long Island @ UConn
-Arkansas Pine Bluff @ Texas
-Albany @ Providence
-Valparaiso @ Ole Miss
-Sacred Heart @ Pittsburgh
-UTSA @ New Mexico – New Mexico looking to stay unbeaten on the year
-Brown @ Michigan State
-Saint Francis Brooklyn @ UMass Lowell – not a buy game but might as well be
-UMES @ Duke
-New Hampshire @ Saint John’s
-Wright State @ Western Kentucky
-Loyola Chicago @ Clemson
-Samford @ Louisiana – a win for Louisiana gets them to 8-1

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CLICK HERE for Today’s UTR GAME OF THE DAY, as well as today’s NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

Ja Morant was the 2nd overall pick in the 2019 draft, but he is not the only former OVC player to be selected that high. Jim Baechtold was a 3-time All-OVC player at Eastern Kentucky before being taken 2nd overall by Baltimore in 1952. He spent several years in the NBA, then returned to his alma mater in 1957 as an assistant to Paul McBrayer before taking over as head coach in 1962. Jim passed away in 2011 but HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jim’s son (also named Jim) about his fantastic father. Today is the 95th anniversary of Jim’s birth on December 9, 1927, so we take this time to remember his life/legacy.

Your dad was a 3-time All-OVC performer at Eastern Kentucky: how was he able to remain so consistent throughout his college career? I think 1 of the main reasons my father was able to maintain his consistency was his level of maturity. When he graduated from Moon Township High School (the same school that John Calipari attended!) he was only 6’ tall/180 pounds. Per the advice of his coach he enlisted in the Army for 2 years and was stationed in Japan during the post-WWII occupation from 1946-1948. Based upon dad’s athletic abilities he received detached service and literally spent most of his service playing basketball/football for the Army. During those 2 years he grew another 4-5” and bulked up to 220 pounds. He received a full football/basketball scholarship to Alabama but when he was traveling to college he stopped to visit friends at Eastern Kentucky. He ended up playing in a scrimmage against their varsity and was immediately offered a full scholarship from Coach Paul McBrayer. That essentially made him a 21-year old freshman who (along with several other veterans) were men playing against boys. In his freshman year he came off the bench against Western Kentucky and then started every game for the rest of his career. I would attribute his consistency to his work ethic…and his 37” vertical leap! Additionally, my father was 1 of the first true jump shooters. He also led his team in rebounding/scoring. Dad gave 110% in every game and was very quick, which earned him the nickname “Big Cat”. As a senior he received a standing ovation from the crowd at Western Kentucky.

He was also a 2-time All-American: did he realize at the time how prolific a player he was? That is a tough question to answer. Dad was quiet/fierce but I do know that he had complete confidence in his abilities. The Rochester Royals held a training camp on campus and he held his own against their pros. I think he knew that he could compete at the pro level and the Rochester coach/players spread the word out about his abilities.

In 1952 he was drafted 2nd overall by Baltimore (1 spot ahead of Dick Groat): did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? Dad never felt the need to be validated by anyone. I believe he viewed his draft status as a lifelong dream to play in the NBA and eventually have the opportunity to fulfill that dream by playing in Madison Square Garden.

In 1955 and 1956 he finished in the top-10 in the league in FT%: what was his secret for FT shooting, and do you feel that he was 1 of the best FT shooters in the league? Practice/consistency were his keys for good FT shooting: he shot at least 200/day. I do think that he was 1 of the better shooters in the league…but Bill Sharman of the Celtics shot close to 90%. Dad was always frustrated by the modern players who were unable to make a high % of their FTs.

In the early 1960s he served as head coach at his alma mater: why did he decide to take the job, and how did he like it? He came back to serve as an assistant under Coach McBrayer because he always wanted to coach and had a great deal of respect for McBrayer. Dad took over the head coaching job in the middle of the season after McBrayer unexpectedly resigned. He loved coaching but experienced a great deal of frustration that his team was often overlooked. For example, Kentucky refused to play them when Dad was a player/coach. Recruiting was also an issue: Dad recruited Dan Issel and came very close to signing Dave Cowens before ultimately losing out on him to Hugh Durham at Florida State. Dad also recruited the 1st African-American guys to play at the school.

In 1965 he won the conference title: where does that rank among the highlights of his career? The conference title was definitely a highlight. Dad was also proud of the fact that he was the only Eastern Kentucky coach to have a winning career record against Western Kentucky. He also beat Louisville in the very 1st game at Alumni Coliseum.

He was also named OVC COY that year: what made him such a great coach, and what did it mean to him to win such an outstanding honor? Dad was a great coach because he had the ability to adapt during a game and make the necessary adjustments to “turn the tide” in a game. He appreciated the honor of that award but was much prouder of his team: he was not much into individual accolades.

In the 1965 NCAA tourney Eddie Bodkin scored 21 PTS in a 47-PT loss to DePaul: was it as bad as it sounds? That game haunted my father to his dying day. The team came out flat and nothing went right. Bodkin was among my Dad’s favorite players and became a lifelong friend of our family.

After retiring from the sideline he spent several years as a professor in the Parks and Recreation Department: why did he decide to become a professor, and how did he enjoy it? Dad became a professor for several reasons. First, he wanted to raise a family and spend more time with my mother: they were married for almost 57 years! Second, Dad saw the “handwriting on the wall” about what it would take to recruit the best/most talented players. He was unwilling to sell his soul or commit violations to land the top recruits who began requesting “incentives” to sign.

Your dad passed away in 2011: when people look back on his career, how do you want him to be remembered the most? I would like my father to be remembered as a humble/fierce competitor who used his abilities to the fullest. He was a pioneer of the modern jump shot. As a matter of fact, Marv Albert was the president of his fan club at the Knicks! Both Marv (in his book) and David Stern made comments stating their admiration for his jump shot. I want my Dad to be remembered as an underrated player/coach who never gave up, a dedicated father/husband, and a man who was adored by the players he coached.

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Miami-Middletown at Taylor University – 6:00 PM ET (Live Stream)

Records need not apply for our UTR Game of the Night – this is the 25th annual Silent Night game hosted by Taylor University (located in Upland, Indiana). It’s almost a mix of Halloween, Christmas and a sense of relief that final exams are done; students come dressed in a variety of costumes. But once the game tips off, everyone remains silent until Taylor scores their 10th point. At this time, wild cheers erupt and teams rush the floor (prearranged by both teams and game management). There has even been a successful marriage proposal one year.

This is a video of Silent Night from last season; it was put on hiatus due to Covid protocols in 2020-21 before making its triumphant return last season.

OTHER NEWS, NOTES, AND GAMES:

-The game of the night last night was Rutgers at Ohio State. It was close from tip to buzzer, Rutgers had a lead for a lot of the game, and was up 3 with less than 10 seconds to go. They fouled with about 5 secs to go rather than give Ohio State a chance to tie with a 3-pointer. Ohio State made both freethrows, then fouled Rutgers who made one-of-two, then fired up a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer….and hit it! The Buckeyes escaped with a thrilling 67-66 win. For Rutgers, it’s the second game where they played amazingly well on the road against a really good team, but just couldn’t get the win. Having said that, I’m sold. Aside from fouling with too much time to play (or fouling at all) Rutgers looked like a top 25 team last night, they looked like a top 25 team earlier this week against Indiana, and they looked like a top 25 team on the road at Miami FL. I think Rutgers is a top 25 team and will be in the rankings before the end of the year.

-Iowa jumped out to an 18-0 lead on rival Iowa State, and the game never really got any closer than that. The Hawkeyes rolled over their rivals 75-56

-UMass Lowell was in control for pretty much the entire game at UMass, but the Minutemen made a run late and cut it to 1. Lowell was able to hold on for an 85-80 win, which is their fifth road win of the season and gets them to 10-1 overall. That is impressive!!

-Marshall was in control for pretty much the entire game at Duquesne, and picked up another nice road win of their own. Duquesne had just one loss on the season and was unbeaten at home, so this win will really help their NET.

-GRAMBLING AT VANDERBILT. Grambling is off to their best start in…well…it’s been so long I can’t even remember. It’ll be fun to see what they can do tonight.

-WASHINGTON AT GONZAGA. This is a rivalry game, and it is not a friendly rivalry!! Washington has looked good this year, but lost their only road game, and this is a TOUGH road game. Gonzaga is 6-3, which isn’t quite as good as what they’re used to, but they have played an absolutely killer schedule.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-It was a busy night last night, but for the most part it was a chalky one as well. Purdue, UConn (at Florida), Tennessee, Indiana, Saint John’s, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Drake, Providence, Seton Hall, Arizona State (at SMU), Saint Mary’s, UNLV, San Francisco, and USC all won games that they were expected to win.

-Michigan State had a really nice 67-58 win at Penn State. Michigan State is now 6-4 on the year, but they’ve played an absolutely brutal schedule and their overall resume looks really good. Winning at Penn State isn’t easy, but it still wasn’t anywhere close to some of the tough games Michigan State has already played.

-Florida Atlantic absolutely blew FGCU out of the gym last night 85-83. FGCU had made some noise with their season opening win at USC, but has essentially just held serve since then. FAU, on the other hand, is now 7-1 on the year with three true road wins, including one at Florida, so they are starting to make quite a bit of noise. CUSA is going to be interesting this year.

-The game of the night, and perhaps the craziest game of the year, was Cornell at Miami FL. The halftime score was 66-52 Miami, and the Canes actually built up a 21pt lead in the second half, but the pace of the game stayed uptempo, and Cornell started to come back, and actually had a shot at the buzzer to win the game, but it was blocked. Still, it was a VERY impressive showing, and it was a style of play that we rarely see out of the Ivy League, which will make that conference a lot more fun to watch this year.

-Texas Tech got a surprising challenge from Nicholls, but held on to win 78-71.

-Virginia Tech received no challenge whatsoever from Dayton. They blew the Flyers off the court 77-49. Dayton was in the preseason top 25, but has been impacted by injuries, but even with those injuries they still seem to be underperforming.

-Utah Valley beat BYU for the second year in a row. Yesterday they actually blew it open late for the 75-60 win. Not to take anything away from Utah Valley, but at just 5-5 and with some really underwhelming showings, BYU doesn’t look to be anywhere close to an NIT team this year, much less an NCAA Tournament team.

-Pittsburgh, who had been playing well, went into Vanderbilt last night with a chance at what looked to be another winnable road game, but came up just short 75-74. Pitt is still very much improved and has some decent wins on their resume, and while this one would have been nice, they will still get plenty of chances between now and the end.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-RUTGERS AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten). Rutgers is coming off a nice win against Indiana, but this is probably a bigger test and a tougher game since it is on the road. It is just their second true road game of the year, and they played well at Miami earlier this season. Ohio State is in the rankings with some decent wins and while it’s early they’re showing all the signs of being a solid tournament team.

-UMASS LOWELL AT UMASS. This one is going to be fun!! UMass Lowell is off to a 9-4 start and has already won four home games, but this is by far their toughest test of the year so far. UMass is a very respectable 7-1 and plays with quite a bit of intensity. There should be a buzz around this game as it’s a regional match-up between two teams that haven’t been good recently, but appear to be good this year.

-MARSHALL AT DUQUESNE. Marshall has won seven straight since losing their season opener and has looked really good in that stretch. Duquesne is also out to a very surprising 7-1 start with the only loss being at Kentucky. Neither team has been super tested yet, but they’ll test each other tonight.

-IOWA STATE AT IOWA. I’m REALLY looking forward to this one!! Both teams have looked like Tournament teams early on, and this is a SUPER heated rivalry. It’s a resume building opportunity that is mixed in with a ton of bragging rights!

-MICHIGAN AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten). Michigan has somewhat underperformed so far this year and they’ll be tested again tonight. They need to be able to win games like this if they want to demonstrate that they are a solid tournament team.

-COLORADO STATE AT COLORADO (Front Range). Both teams have shown signs of solid play this year, but both have also been inconsistent all season long. This is also a big rivalry game, and both teams kind of need this on their resume at the moment to try and sustain some stability.

Jacksonville State @ Utah – buy game

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For last night’s UTR Podcast – CLICK HERE

St. Thomas (7-3) at Montana State (4-5) – 9:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight has a very small number of games going on, but we do have a good game between St. Thomas and Montana State that is part of a challenge series between the Big Sky and the Summit League. The Big Sky is currently leading 4-1; they can clinch the series win tonight should the Bobcats of Montana State win tonight. MSU broke a 3-game losing streak with an 86-83 win in the closing seconds at Southern Utah; Raequan Battle capped a 29-point effort with a steal and a 3-point play to put the Bobcats up for good with under 4 seconds remaining in the game.

The Tommies of St. Thomas are currently in their second transitional year in Division 1; they are 5-3 against D1 competition so far this season. They’ve won their two most recent games against D1 competition, but they lost 95-66 at Utah in their last game against D1 competition. Prior to that game, they had a 3-game winning streak against Troy, Merrimack and Milwaukee.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the WAC, where we start off discussing the unfortunate events surrounding New Mexico State and the impact it is having on them on the court. We also discuss Sam Houston and how they started off ranked really high in the NET after beating Utah and Oklahoma on the road.

After that we run through the other 21 Under the Radar conferences and discuss the great start UMass Lowell is off to and their big upcoming game against UMass, Kent State’s near upsets of both Houston and Gonzaga and what their at-large chances could may end up being, the strength of the top of the Colonial with teams like Charleston and Towson, Cornell and Yale being off to good starts in the Ivy League, and some really good teams out of the Sun Belt with James Madison and Southern Miss. And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/UTR-12-7-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-We will be recording our Under the Radar Video Podcast tonight, and there is A LOT to get to, so be on the lookout for that. Speaking of Under the Radar…

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

Last night was another very busy night…

-2nd ranked Texas fell to Illinois in overtime 85-78 in the Jimmy V Classic in a game that seesawed back and forth. Every time it looked like one team was controlling the game, the other had an answer. Texas appeared to be putting the game away at the end of regulation, but the Illini made some big plays to get it to overtime, and then ultimately got the win. I’m about to state the obvious. Wins against the 2nd ranked team on a neutral floor are very good wins! I don’t know if Texas will be ranked that high at the end of the year, but they’ll probably at least be hovering around the top ten. This is the kind of win that can get a team a protected seed, so it was a HUGE result for Illinois.

-Duke held serve and beat Iowa 74-62 in the other Jimmy V Classic game.

-Virginia had to sweat out James Madison at home. With a minute to go JMU was right in there, but the Hoos just made a few more big plays and held on for the 55-50 win. For JMU this would have been the kind of win that gets them inside the bubble, and while it’s tough to come close to getting a win like that on their resume and falling just short, the loss will hardly set them back at all.

-Arkansas played with their food against UNC Greensboro, and actually trailed late into the second half, but held on for a 65-58 win.

-Wisconsin held off Maryland 64-59 to pick up a big conference home win. It’s one of many nice wins for the Badgers, who are now 7-2 overall. I think it’s time for the voters to start noticing them and start ranking them in the top 25.

-Iona absolutely trashed Saint Louis 84-62. The one team from the Atlantic Ten that I thought looked like they belonged inside the bubble did not look like it last night. Iona is good. It’s not easy to win there. But a tournament caliber team should be able to, and SLU…well…didn’t. They SPECTACULARLY didn’t!!

-Charleston had to sweat at Presby, but held on to win 67-62. They now improve to 9-1 on the year and pick up their second road win. They are also getting very close to cracking the top 25. I believe they were 28th in the AP poll this past week.

-Boston College fell to New Hampshire last night 74-71. BC is now 0-2 in home games against America East teams that will likely not finish in the top half of the America East.

-Oklahoma State held off a good Sam Houston team 65-51 in a game where they really didn’t have to sweat that much. Sam Houston is a legit good defensive team, but just couldn’t get enough offense going to stay with the Pokes. Still, with wins at Utah and at Oklahoma, Sam Houston’s resume is pretty solid and the committee will take a serious look at them if they can hold serve throughout WAC play.

-Nevada got a nice road win at Pepperdine 85-77. It’s the first home loss for Pepperdine, and the second road win for Nevada.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-PITTSBURGH AT VANDERBILT (Stallings Award Showcase!!). Pitt is suddenly playing basketball at a level that is way above “suckiness”!! It’s been a while since we’ve been able to say that, but they are!! Pitt was so bad that while we couldn’t give them the Centenary Award, we decided that we had to do SOMETHING, which is why we created the Stallings Award in honor of Coach Kevin Stallings, who coached at both Pitt and Vanderbilt. But right now they’re in the midst of a five game winning streak, and they’ve won two straight road games against Northwestern and NC State..both of whom are good at home! If they can get this one at Vandy tonight, then that’s a hell of a run!!

-TOWSON AT CLEMSON (The ACTUAL Spotlight Game). We like this Towson team, we feel they are one of the best Under the Radar teams, and we feel they have a shot at landing inside the bubble. This is an IMMENSELY important game for them. It’s the kind of road win that would jump out at the committee. Clemson is 7-2 on the year, they’re currently 6-0 at home, and they are starting to shape up as a team that could land inside the bubble themselves, so this one is HUGE!

-DEPAUL AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). It’s the Big East opener between two teams with decent/good records and decent resumes who still have a lot of work to do. This game kind of has a pivotal feel to it even though it’s just the conference opener.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). Michigan State is just 5-4, but they’ve played such a brutal schedule and have some really good wins that I think their overall Tournament Resume is shaping up just fine. They’ve got another tough game tonight against a Penn State team that could use some quality wins of their own.

-FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT FGCU. These aren’t the two best teams in the state of Florida. That’s probably Miami FL and UCF, but both of them appear to be better than Florida and Florida State, and it’s not too of a stretch to think that it’s possible for one (or both) of them to make a run at the bubble. Tonight is a big one! This is also Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, and it’s a good one.

-DAYTON AT VIRGINIA TECH. Dayton had very high expectations coming into the year, but multiple injuries to key players have grounded the Flyers and so far this season they haven’t even looked like an NIT team. VA Tech is off to an impressive 8-1 start with some decent wins and should be able to hold serve in this one.

-NEBRASKA AT INDIANA (Big Ten). Nebraska is off to a decent start and is coming off a shocking road win at Creighton, so you can’t help but sit up and take notice of the Huskers. If they can somehow win this one then you’ll REALLY need to take notice of them. That’s back-to-back top 15 road wins! Indiana has looked as good as advertised this year, but they are coming off a road loss to Rutgers and will be looking to rebound.

-UCONN AT FLORIDA. UConn has looked fantastic this year, and Florida…well…hasn’t. Still, it’s a tough road game for UConn, and it’s actually their first true road game of the season, so it’s a chance to add something to their resume that isn’t on there yet.

-LMU AT GRAND CANYON. It’s not likely that either team will end up on the bubble, but both are off to really good starts, and if they can keep it up they’ll have a chance. LMU has a few decent wins over Georgetown and Wake Forest from their MTE down in Jamaica, and if they can win at a place like Grand Canyon, that resume will be starting to look awfully good!

-ARIZONA STATE AT SMU. Arizona State just keeps winning. They’ve done more than enough to offset the loss to Texas Southern with wins over VCU, Michigan, and Colorado, and they’ve got a chance to add another road win to their resume tonight.

-NEW MEXICO STATE AT SANTA CLARA. New Mexico State is dealing with some off the court issues, but as for the storyline on the court Santa Clara is 7-2, looking pretty good, and will continue to have our attention so long as they continue to string together wins. So far as we know this game has not yet been cancelled.

-HAWAII AT UNLV. UNLV is unbeaten and has a smattering of decent wins. They don’t have any huge caliber wins yet, though, so it’s important that they hold serve in games like this. Hawaii isn’t having a bad year at all. They come into this at 5-2 and if they pick up this win it may be time to start paying a little bit of attention to them.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Hofstra @ Purdue – Hofstra should make some noise in the CAA, but they’re overmatched tonight
-Eastern Kentucky @ Tennessee
-Navy @ West Virginia
-Boston U @ Notre Dame
-Cornell @ Miami FL – Cornell comes into this one at 7-1 and with three road wins, so while they appear to be overmatched it’s still worth paying attention to
-Omaha @ Drake
-Nicholls @ Texas Tech
-Manhattan @ Providence
-Lincoln PA (nonD1) @ Seton Hall
-Utah Valley @ BYU (Bee Hive) – We at Hoops HD LOVE the BeeHive!!
-Missouri State @ Saint Mary’s – SMC is coming off a strong showing against Houston in a game that they lost, but they should be able to bounce back tonight
-Merrimack @ San Francisco
-Cal State Fullerton @ USC

-Davidson, Saint Bonaventure, and VCU all play tonight, but it dawned on me that those games don’t even seem like they’re worth mentioning. But then I thought that it was worth mentioning that they didn’t seem worth mentioning. Either way, the Atlantic Ten is in rough shape this year.

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Florida Gulf Coast (7-2) at Florida Atlantic (7-1) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Boca Raton, Florida – home of the surprising Florida Atlantic Owls. They will host the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University in a matchup of the state’s two best UTR teams tonight. FGCU has won five straight games going back to the Gulf Coast Showcase played in nearby Estero. Most recently, they got a 9-point win at home against FIU. Isaiah Thompson is averaging 13.4 points a game so far for the Eagles.

The Owls are currently on a 6-game winning streak that started with a win at Florida prior to Thanksgiving. Other road wins include UAlbany and their last game at Eastern Michigan. Alijah Martin currently averages 12.6 points a game, but defense has been a calling card for FAU with the Owls only allowing on average 64 points a game.

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CLICK HERE for the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-For the latest Hoops HD Staff Bracket Projections (from yours truly) – CLICK HERE

-The biggest news in college basketball yesterday is the situation at New Mexico State and the details that are coming out in regards to a shooting that a current player was involved in. We don’t really know anymore than what most other people know, and actually may know less than what other people know. When things like this happen it always comes with a lot of speculation and rumors. Two things – I feel this site is more about analysis than it is reporting, so off the court issues like this are outside of our scope anyway, but even if it wasn’t outside our scope, we don’t know enough at present to have what would be considered a fair and solid take on things. We know what’s going on, we are sorry that it is happening, we may have more to say about it in the future depending how it effects what happens on the court, but for now that is all we will say.

On the court, Kent State battled Gonzaga just as they did Houston. Kent State had a lead late in the second half at Gonzaga just as they did Houston. Kent State ended up losing a close game just as they did against Houston. But, there is something to be said about a team that goes on the road against two highly ranked teams, which are places that most other highly ranked teams aren’t able to win at, and takes both of those teams to the wall. Kent State is 5-3, but two of those losses were close games at Houston and at Gonzaga. When you look at the rest of their schedule, it looks as though they’re good enough to rampage through it, and if they do the committee needs to seriously consider selecting this team. One thing that may be missing is that ‘Wow!’ win that teams typically need, but hopefully holding serve the rest of the way combined with two battles against very highly ranked teams on the road will be enough “Wow!” for the committee.

-YALE AT BUTLER. Yale has been a bit of a surprise this year. They come in at 8-1 and their only loss was at Colorado in a game where they played really well. Butler is off to a respectable 6-3 start and are unbeaten at home, so if Yale is able to get this one it will spice up their resume even more.

-ILLINOIS VS TEXAS (Jimmy V Classic, New York NY). Both teams are in the rankings and both have picked up some pretty big wins already. As for Texas this is their first really big test away from home so it will be interesting to see how they do. Illinois has a nice win against UCLA, but this would probably be their biggest win of the year to date if they pull it off.

-SAINT LOUIS AT IONA. SLU has a decent resume, but they still don’t have a true road win, and this won’t be the easiest game in the world to win on the road. It’ll actually be tough. Iona isn’t likely to lose too many at home, so the committee will probably give them a little more credit for this than what most might think if the Billikens.

-HIGH POINT AT FURMAN. I know this is a bit of a strange game to highlight. Neither team has done anything that qualifies as “WOW!” but both have still been very solid. High Point is 7-1 on the year, and Furman is unbeaten at home and will likely make quite a bit of noise in the SoCon, so…it’s worth keeping an eye on this one.

-GEORGIA AT GEORGIA TECH. Both teams have respectable records, but neither really has a good win yet and could really use a win tonight in a rivalry game to get their season jumpstarted.

-JAMES MADISON AT VIRGINIA. This is perhaps a bit of a mismatch, but James Madison is a pretty good team and should be one of the front runners in the Sun Belt. They’re kind of shooting at the moon tonight, but if they win this they’ll absolutely explode onto the national scene. The chances of UVA overlooking them are quite small, since they’re coming off a really poor performance and since JMU beat them last year.

-MARYLAND AT WISCONSIN (Big Ten). I really like how both of these teams have been playing, and am particularly impressed with Wisconsin’s win at Marquette in their last game. I don’t know why there hasn’t been more love for the Badgers. Maryland is unbeaten with some nice wins of their own and is climbing the rankings, but this will be a HUGE test for them tonight on the road at Wisky.

-SAM HOUSTON AT OKLAHOMA STATE. Sam Houston has wins at Oklahoma and at Utah, and entered the NET yesterday ranked #7, so of course none of the national media or AP voters are paying any attention to them at all. Oklahoma State has been a bit of a disappointment so far this year, but I still think we’ll see quite a bit of improvement as the year goes on. It’s still a tough place to win at, and if Sam Houston does it, then will people FINALLY start to give them some national love??

-IOWA VS DUKE (Jimmy V Classic). This is a resume building opportunity for both teams. Iowa has a solid record, but they don’t have anything that’s anywhere close to a win of this caliber yet. Duke has some decent wins over Xavier and Ohio State, but this would be one of their better wins to date as well.

-NEVADA AT PEPPERDINE. An interesting game between two teams that have shown sparks of being good early on, and who might be good enough to make a run at the bubble, but will have to string together a lot of wins to do it.

-Oakland @ Syracuse
-UNC Greensboro @ Arkansas
-Charleston @ Presbyterian – Charleston can get to 9-1 on the year and pick up their second road win
-Wagner @ Fordham – a win for Fordham gets them to 9-1
-Coppin State @ NC State
-North Florida @ Houston
-Tarleton @ Baylor
-Jackson State @ TCU
-Little Rock @ Memphis
-Kansas City @ Oklahoma
-Abilene Christian @ Kansas State
-NC Central @ Marquette
-Eastern Oregon (nonD1) @ Boise State
-Western New Mexico (nonD1) @ New Mexico

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For our most recent Hoops HD Report podcast – CLICK HERE

For the Puppet’s most recent checkpoint bracket projection – CLICK HERE

High Point (7-1) at Furman (6-2) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

We head to the Carolinas for today’s UTR matchup between the High Point Panthers and the Furman Paladins. High Point has now won four straight games after losing at UNLV last month. In their 93-88 win against North Florida, Zack Austin led the way with 25 points. This is also the beginning of a 3-game stretch that includes Queens at home and a road game at UNC-Wilmington.

Furman is looking like the team expected to win the SoCon this year; they are also on a 4-game winning streak following losses against Penn State and Old Dominion in the Charleston Classic. Mike Bothwell has scored a combined 39 points in their last two wins – a 65-61 win at Appalachian State and an 88-76 win against South Carolina State.

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We review all of the action from a busy week last week and talk about Marquette’s big win against Baylor and how they followed that up with a close home loss to rival Wisconsin, Purdue’s unbelievably strong start to the season, how Houston was tested by both Kent State and Saint Mary’s but survived, some of Gonzaga’s struggles early this year, the really good start that several Mountain West teams (UNLV, New Mexico, and Utah State) are off to, and how the Atlantic Ten continues to struggle. We discuss all that, and more…

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HHD-Report-12-5-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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Before you go any further, I want to make sure everyone knows what they are looking at. They way I build my bracket is that it is CHECKPOINT of CURRENT MERIT. This IS NOT a prediction of what I think the Selection Committee will do in March, nor is it a ranking of how good I think the teams actually are. It’s really just based on the quality of everyone’s CURRENT resume. If you see things that seem to make no sense, such as North Carolina not being in at all, and Sam Houston being a protected seed, that doesn’t mean I think it’ll end up that way, but at this point in time Sam Houston has won at Utah and at Oklahoma, and North Carolina really hasn’t won anywhere against anyone that’s all that good.

OTHERS CONSIDERED: Nebraska, Saint Mary’s, Memphis, Nevada, Colorado, UAB, North Carolina, Texas Tech, James Madison, Penn State, Saint John’s, NC State, Charlotte, Towson, Butler, Ole Miss, Clemson, UCF, Marshall, San Francisco, Seattle U, Iona

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

-I don’t think Sam Houston will end up as a protected seed in March, but it’s about damn time people started giving them some respect and acknowledge what they’ve done this year. The first edition of the NET came out today, and they are #7. They won at Utah, and won at Oklahoma. Arizona did not only not win at Utah, they were blown off the floor. So when you look at what they’ve done as far as winning games that are hard to win, 7th really isn’t that far off!

-Houston is probably the best overall team if I’m filling out this bracket as far as who wins and advances, but Houston doesn’t quite have the quality of wins that the teams ahead of them have.

-Northwestern State has the big win at TCU, but they have a smattering of other good wins as well. They just beat Southern Miss (who was previously unbeaten, and who has some nice wins of their own), so that’s why they’re currently on the #6 line.

-Northwestern not only belongs in the bracket right now, but they are a team that people need to watch out for. They just won at Michigan State, and they damn near beat Auburn earlier this year. One good game can be an anomaly, but when you play well on multiple nights, that’s more than just a fluke. This may be a dangerous team for the rest of the season.

-I love how bracket gurus post their brackets, and then in their notes list who their “Last Four In” were. I see no need to do that. Anyone with half a brain can look at any bracket and determine on their own which four teams were the last ones in.

-The other staff members can list any comments below if they’d like. If they say anything that criticizes or that is in disagreement with anything I have done…THEY ARE WRONG!!!

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-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-The NET will be released today for the first time this season. Also today I’ll be posting my latest Bracket Projections sometime this afternoon, and we will be recording the Hoops HD Report later tonight.

-The biggest head-scratching result from yesterday, and perhaps one of the bigger surprises of the season, was Nebraska’s 63-53 win at Creighton. Creighton had looked fantastic, and even when they weren’t hitting shots they still managed to stay with Texas earlier in the week, so the idea that they’d lose at home to a Nebraska team that hadn’t looked all that good at any point was sort of shocking. But, they did, and at no point did the Blue Jays appear to be in control. As for the Huskers, it w as a really nice road win! Top ten teams just don’t lose at home all that often.

-North Carolina fell at Virginia Tech 82-70 in the ACC opener for both teams. VA Tech is pretty good, and won’t lose many at home, so the loss isn’t THAT damaging for UNC in regards to remaining safely inside the bubble, but perhaps it is in regards to earning a protected seed. The Tarheels have now lost four on the season after being the #1 ranked team in the preseason polls.

-Northwestern!! 6-2 on the year, one of those losses was a VERY close game against a very good Auburn team, and yesterday they won on the road at Michigan State. That has the makings of an NCAA Tournament caliber resume. No one expected much out of the Wildcats this season, but they have been producing and it’s time to start taking them seriously.

-Kentucky got a nice 73-69 win against Michigan over in London, which is arguably their best win on paper so far this season.

-Saint John’s suffered their first loss of the season as they fell to Iowa State 71-60. Iowa State is, again, a very good team and much better than what we were expecting in the preseason, so the loss isn’t all that damaging.

-Utah followed up their big home win against Arizona with a 67-65 road win at Washington State. Wazzu isn’t the best team 0n the planet, but that’s still a very good week for Utah. They beat a top five team, they pick up a road win, and are off to a 2-0 start in Pac 12 play.

-Utah State blasted San Francisco on the road 82-64 and is looking like one of the most impressive teams in the Mountain West. They could give San Diego State a run for their money once league play starts.

-KENT STATE AT GONZAGA. Kent State has not been shy when it comes to taking on the heavyweights. While Gonzaga is clearly favored, Kent State is legit. They went on the road to Houston and were right in the entire time, they have some nice wins on their resume, and while Gonzaga is both the better team and the home team, they don’t want to just overlook them.

-TROY AT SAN DIEGO STATE. It’s a buy game, but Troy has shown some signs of life and should make quite a bit of noise in the Sun Belt, so San Diego State can’t just sleepwalk through this one.

-Albany @ UMass – buy game
-UMass Lowell @ Long Island – Lowell can get to 9-1 on the year and pick up their 4th road win
-Simon Fraser (nonD1) @ New Mexico State – buy game
-Ecclesia at Nicholls State – this game is an exhibition! It doesn’t even count as a buy game!

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We here at HoopsHD cannot stop talking about Tim Miles…but he has a long way to go to catch Walt McPherson for the most wins in San Jose State history. Walt played several sports at San Jose State, then became basketball coach at his alma mater, and retired in 1960 with more than 250 wins. He was elected to the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and passed away in 2013. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with 1 of Walt’s longtime friends (Dan Glines) and 1 of his former players (Carroll Williams) about all of his accomplishments. Walt was born exactly 106 years ago on December 5, 1916, so we take this time to reflect on his life/legacy.

McPherson went to college at San Jose State where he played football/baseball/basketball: which sport was he best at, and which 1 did he enjoy the most? Dan Glines: I think that he enjoyed basketball the most but he coached a bunch of other sports as well. Carroll Williams: He was a very fine football player before my time. Everyone told me that golf/badminton might have been his best sports as he got older. I would play badminton against him during lunchtime and only beat him once in 3 years! He also ran the table against us 1 night at a pool hall…even though he was a very religious guy.

He became basketball coach at his alma mater in the early 1940s but left for a few years during WWII to serve in the Navy: what impact did the war have on him either on and off the court? DG: He was a strong Christian man and a loyal guy who passed those values onto his players. A lot of coaches went to training school but did not head overseas to battle. CW: I never talked to him about the war, but we would never smoke/drink in front of him because we did not want him to think anything bad about us.

He won a national title in 1948 as coach of the school’s golf team: what did it mean to him to win a title? DG: He was such a humble guy that he would never brag about that but he was a really good golfer. CW: I was gone by then, but I know he would not talk much about himself so I am sure that he gave all of the credit to his players.

After retiring from coaching in 1960 he served as athletic director/PE director: how did he like those gigs compared to being a coach? DG: He had enough of coaching by that time in his life since he had to coach many different sports during the year. CW: He was the definition of a “gentleman” and a wonderful person. I went to San Jose State because of him and his personality: he was a guy who I wanted to play for.

He also served as commissioner of the West Coast Athletic Conference: how did the role of conference commissioner back then differ from the same job in today’s era? DG: There was not as much pressure with such a job back then, but it would not have affected him because he was such a mild-mannered guy. San Jose State was a small school until WWII, at which time the student body expanded to about 20,000. CW: He was more of a facilitator. The conference was purely basketball back then so he would assign officials and handle the scheduling: it was more of a part-time job.

In 2003 the school’s basketball floor was renamed Walt McPherson Court: what did it mean to him to receive such an outstanding honor? DG: His worst swear words were “holy tickle!” so he was not concerned with excesses because he was a down-to-earth person, but I am sure it meant a lot to him and he was proud of that. CW: It was an honor that we were all proud of and probably long overdue. He would just smile when people would praise him and was a wonderful family man.

He passed away in 2013: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? DG: He was a great coach and a great human being. He was self-conscious about receiving honors because he was such a unique person. I never heard him say a bad word about anybody and was a very forgiving person. CW: He had a model temperament and was a very patient guy, so when he got mad during a timeout he would say, “holy snickeltau!” He influenced me to become a coach. I think that he should be remembered as a wonderful teacher, both of basketball and life experiences. I remember him counseling all of his players on various matters. When I got a coaching offer I told him about it and he told me to consider a variety of factors because he had high aspirations for me. He wanted me to wait because something better would come along…and he was right.

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IUPUI (1-7, 0-1 Horizon) at Green Bay (0-7, 0-1 Horizon) – 12:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

There are only 7 games in Division I today that involve exclusively D1 competition and even fewer that involve exclusively UTR teams. With that in mind, we have a top-rate Centenary matchup today with #358 Green Bay hosting #363 IUPUI. The Jaguars of IUPUI do have a non-D1 win to their credit, but in their D1 games have 7 losses and were only really competitive in their 87-84 loss at New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day. More recently, they are coming off of a 74-61 loss at Milwaukee on Saturday night.

Today is also Education Day (aka a Field Trip Day) at Green Bay; they will be looking for their first win of any kind in this afternoon’s game. And if that weren’t bad enough, today is also the first leg of a rare back-to-back for the Phoenix. Tomorrow they also travel to Chicago to take on the Loyola Ramblers. Weirdly enough, their most competitive loss was an 11-point loss against Wisconsin on the road.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Houston is the top ranked team, and I do think they’re the best overall team, or at the very least the team that has the most overall potential. Having said that, they don’t always win pretty. For the second game in a row they were in a rock fight, but held on to beat Saint Mary’s 53-48 and the Gaels were right in there until the very end of the game. Speaking of rock fights…

-Virginia had to sweat out Florida State at home, which was a surprising in and of itself that a team that has looked as bad as FSU could remain in the same neighborhood as Virginia, but the Hoos survived and got the 62-57 win.

-Rutgers, who had looked good all season, now has a good win on their resume to back it up. They beat Indiana rather handily 63-48. It was a home game for Rutgers, but it’s still a win they’ll get a decent amount of credit for. As for the Hoosiers, it was their first loss on the year.

-Last year Fordham was 16-16, and I remember thinking that was an almost inexplicable improvement for a program that has been absolutely terrible for decades. Yesterday, they picked up a 95-90 win at Tulane, which is a team we had some expectations for this year, and improved to 8-1 on the year. The national media hasn’t picked up on them yet, and perhaps they’re still a long way from being considered a top 40ish tournament caliber team, but the fact that Fordham is 8-1 against ANYBODY should be a big story! The Atlantic Ten has not looked all that good this year. They may end up being one of the better teams in the conference! Fordham!! Is this a sign that it is the End of Days??

-And Duquesne, also from the Atlantic Ten and also with a long history of being really bad, beat Ball State yesterday 78-77 to get to 7-1 on the year with the only loss being at Kentucky.

Fordham and Duquesne!! Atlantic Ten Frontrunners!! Just like we all predicted!!!

-Notre Dame, who absolutely blew out Michigan State earlier in the week, lost at home to Syracuse 62-61. Because of course they did.

-Villanova, who got off to a 2-5 start, did look a lot better yesterday against a fairly decent Oklahoma team and got a 70-66 win, but they need to string together several more in order to get things turned all the way back around.

-Marquette, who blasted Baylor earlier this week, hosted rival Wisconsin yesterday with all the momentum in the world on their side, but the Badgers came in, played well early, kept it close the entire way, almost lost it in the end but it did go to overtime, and then got the win in overtime. For the Badgers it was a road win against a rival who had been playing really well. That’s a DAMN good win! The committee should (and almost assuredly will) give them a lot of credit for that one.

-Xavier, who came into the game against West Virginia yesterday with three losses, but all three were close games against highly ranked teams, finally got a notable win on their resume as they knocked off WVU 84-74. West Virginia actually had a lead for most of the game, and it was close all throughout the second half, but Xavier battled and picked up the win. The atmosphere at this game was incredible. WVU coach Bob Huggins used to coach Xavier’s crosstown rivals Cincinnati, and judging from yesterday’s game the X fans have not forgotten him! I’d LOVE it if this became a regular season!

-Coming into the season I was kind of big on Davidson. Yesterday Davidson went on the road to Delaware and lost 69-67, which drops them to 6-3 on the year. I am no longer all that big on Davidson.

-Toledo, another team I was super big on coming into the season and felt we may even see them in the top 25 before the year was over, went into George Mason yesterday and lost 80-73. This is their third loss of the season, and all three came against teams that aren’t likely to be anywhere near the NIT. I am no longer big on Toledo.

-YOTES ALERT!!! South Dakota, who was a team we thought would make sone noise in the Summit League but that had struggled some this season, went to BYU and picked up a 69-68 win. South Dakota actually opened up a big lead in the first half, and maintained it through much of the second half, but BYU came back and almost avoided the upset.

-Northern Colorado got a big upset win at Colorado State 88-83 in that Front Range rivalry game. Colorado State now falling down to 6-3 and can’t really afford too many more losses like that.

-Marshall has now won seven straight after knocking off Ohio U 83-69, and is looking like they may actually be good enough to make a run at the bubble.

-Yale is now 8-1 on the year with the only loss being at Colorado. Their 77-72 win at Stony Brook yesterday was their second road win of the season.

-Uncle Buzz and Texas A&M continue to struggle. They fell at home to Boise State yesterday 86-71. We are about to go into Christmas Break, which means no classes and no restricted practice time, and sometimes that’s when we see teams that haven’t been as good as we thought finally start to look like what we thought they would, and given how good of a coach Buzz Williams is and how talented TAMU appears to be I’m thinking we may see that this year with them. But so far they’ve just stunk.

-UC Irvine, an Under the Radar team we’ve been very big on, lost at home to a very weak Fresno State team yesterday 77-65. So…that’s discouraging. They certainly didn’t need that.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN VS KENTUCKY (London Showcase, London England). One storyline for this is a big game between two likely tournament teams that are off to slower starts than they were hoping for, but still have a ton of potential, and a win today would be a big step toward getting things turned around. Another storyline is that it is a college basketball game in London that’s taking place during England’s World Cup Soccer game. So…national interest over in England for this will be spectacularly low.

-MIAMI FL AT LOUISVILLE (ACC). I really like this Miami team and this is perhaps the most winnable conference road game they’ll ever play. Louisville comes in at 0-7 and is showing absolutely no signs of getting any better.

-NORTH CAROLINA AT VIRGINIA TECH (ACC). North Carolina is 5-3 on the season after starting off being the top ranked team in the preseason, but all of those losses were to heavyweights. That being said, they’re REALLY going to be tested today. They’re on the road against a Virginia Tech team that’s 7-1 and looking for a statement win of their own.

-SAINT JOHN’S AT IOWA STATE (Big East-Big 12 Battle). I said before the season started that I thought the Johnnies would be good this year. They come into this game at 8-0, but still haven’t gotten all that much respect. Well, if they get this win on the road, people will notice. Iowa State didn’t have any expectations either, but with some big wins in their MTE they are up to 23rd in the rankings and have an impressive 6-1 overall record.

-COLORADO AT WASHINGTON (Pac 12). Colorado continues to look like one of the most schizophrenic teams in the nation. They may beat a top ranked team, or lose to a sub200 team. Washington is looking much better than expected, and can improve to 7-2 on the season if they can pick up a win in this conference home game today.

-SOUTHERN MISS AT NORTHWESTERN STATE. We are going to go ahead and highlight this game. Both teams are having MUCH better years than expected. Both have managed some notable wins with Southern Miss winning at Liberty and at Vanderbilt, and Northwestern State getting the big win at TCU. Southern Miss can remain unbeaten and pick up their third road win if they can pull this one off.

-MINNESOTA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Minnesota is off to a modest 4-3 start, and Purdue is off to an incredible 7-0 start with several big wins already on their resume and a deserved top five ranking to go along with it. They shouldn’t have too much trouble holding serve in their conference opener.

-OREGON AT UCLA (Pac 12). Oregon has been a bit of a disappointment this year, but they are still as talented as they were coming into the season, and if they can get a win in a game like this it can turn their season around. UCLA has two losses, but both were to top ten teams and they were competitive in both games, so it’s hardly indicative of them not being good.

-NORTHWESTERN AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Northwestern is a fairly respectable 5-2 on the year, and has looked really good at times, but I think they’re overmatched in this one, especially considering that they’re on the road. Michigan State has really tested themselves early and already has some big wins.

-UTAH STATE AT SAN FRANCISCO. I gotta give credit to the folks at Hoops HD who were big on this Utah State team. They come in at 6-0, and while they haven’t faced any monumental challenges, not all their wins ahve just been home buy games either. They’ll go on the road to face a San Francisco team that’s also exceeding expectations after going through a big roster overhaul from a year ago. At 6-1 they’re looking like a possible tournament team again this year.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Bryant @ Cincinnati – Bryant is off to a good start, already has a big win over Syracuse, and will be a America East frontrunner. Cincinnati needs to be on upset alert
-Youngstown State @ Wright State (Horizon League) – two of the better teams in the HL, so it may be worth keeping an eye on
-Samford @ UCF – I like this UCF team, and while Samford does have a head-scratching loss, I think they can make quite a bit of noise in the SoCon
-South Alabama @ UAB – UAB can get to 7-1 on the year, and continues to look good enough to make a run at the bubble
-Stetson @ Florida – Stetson is an impressive 4-2 and already has a win at Florida State, so the Gators do not want to overlook them
-TAMU Commerce @ Denver – Denver can get to 8-1 with a win
-Utah @ Washington State (Pac 12) – Utah is coming off a decisive home win against Arizona, and can improve to 7-2, pick up another conference win, and pick up their first road win, if they’re able to win this one today
-SEMO @ Missouri – Mizzou is unbeaten and will likely remain that way
-Nebraska @ Creighton – it’s a rivalry game, but this year it also appears to be a huge mismatch. Creighton should roll
-California @ Arizona (Pac 12) – Arizona should have no problems bouncing back from their loss at Utah
-Alcorn State @ Tennessee – buy game
-Oregon State @ USC (Pac 12) – USC cannot afford to lose this one
-Stanford @ Arizona State (Pac 12) – Arizona State can improve to 8-1

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For Jon Teitel’s recap of Georgetown’s loss against South Carolina – CLICK HERE

Southern Miss (8-0) at Northwestern State (6-2) – 4:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to an intraconference matchup between next-door neighbors Southern Miss and Northwestern State. Southern Miss is making probably their first ever back-to-back appearances in our UTR Game of the Day; they defeated Montana 64-54 at home last Tuesday thanks to a 20-point performance from Donovan Ivory. This will be the first of four straight games for the Golden Eagles against Southland teams – they will next begin a back-to-back home and away series with Lamar.

When the season started, the Demons of Northwestern State were blown out 73-49 at Texas Tech and it appeared that they were getting through life as a buy-game opponent. But something funny happened – they got a shocking 64-63 win at TCU and are now on a 5-game winning streak since that game. Last time out, they won at SFA 102-96 thanks to a 34-point outing from Demarcus Sharp.

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HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the upcoming months covering several Georgetown basketball home games, with (hopefully) a very special reward coming in March. You can find Part 1 at:
http://hoopshd.com/2022/11/12/hanging-with-the-hoyas-part-1-2
See below for his photo essay about the Hoyas’ matchup earlier today against South Carolina.

I entered the arena quite hungry and was thrilled to find a delicious pregame meal catered by Einstein Bros. Bagels: egg sandwich/ham & cheese sandwich/chocolate chip cookie/chocolate chip muffin! Everyone in the media room got very excited while watching the US soccer team score to make it a 2-1 game…then got substantially less excited when the Netherlands made it 3-1 just 5 minutes later: klootzak! I know that Georgetown and South Carolina are not exactly NCAA tourney teams but I was still hoping for a decent crowd considering it was a matchup of major conference teams: not so much. Let’s tip it off:

I do not usually care about the opposing team but I was really looking forward to seeing South Carolina star GG Jackson. I do not get to see that many McDonald’s All-Americans in person, much less a super-frosh who is projected to be a lottery pick next June…but after he started 0-5 from the field while going scoreless in the 1st half I wondered what all the hype was about: stay tuned! Fortunately, he had some upperclassmen 3-PT shooters around him in the form of SR Hayden Brown (left: who came into the game shooting 4-21 from behind the arc this year but made a 3 from the corner and another from the top of the key) and JR Meechie Johnson (right: who made a couple of long-range shots in the 1st half…but saved his best for last):

Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing was unhappy with his team’s defense so he switched from a man-to-man to a zone late in the half and it seemed to pay immediate dividends:

The Hoyas transition offense gave them a huge boost in terms of PTS off of turnovers: they had a 23-0 advantage in that category late into the game. The player who you would expect to excel in transition was G Primo Spears, who made a couple of jumpers and was also able to get into the lane for a floater and a tough lefty layup:

The player I did not expect to do anything (but who proved me wrong) was PF Bradley Ezewiro. He had only scored 7 PTS all year but set a career-high with 6 PTS in just 3 minutes of action on a scoop/put-back/layup:

The Hoyas’ lead at halftime (37-26) was their largest of the afternoon and it looked like they might have finally figured things out…and then the 2nd half turned into the GG Jackson Show. The freshman made layup after jumper after 3 after scoop after &1 after dunk after tip-in to tie his career-high with 22 PTS. Georgetown tried a variety of defenses against him and when Ewing assigned a guard to defend him GG would be BEGGING for the ball down low while posting up his smaller opponent. Not a single opposing player had scored 22+ PTS vs. the Hoyas all year (Justin Steers of Coppin State had 21 in the season opener) but Jackson had 22 IN THE 2ND HALF! He may not have been perfect…but he looked a lot like a lottery pick:

Georgetown SG Jay Heath missed the 1st 2 games of the year while awaiting a decision on his eligibility after transferring from ASU, and since getting the good news he has looked pretty good. He scored 25 PTS in a win over UMBC last Saturday and added another 23 PTS this Saturday on a trio of trifectas and a perfect day from the FT line (6-6):

The game went right down to the wire and the final 30 seconds were quite intense. Johnson missed the front end of 1-and-1 with 24 seconds left (he is now 4-10 from the FT line this year), then Spears made what appeared to be the game-winning pull-up jumper with 6 seconds left (which bounced twice on the rim before falling through to give his team a 65-64 lead), but the Gamecocks pushed the ball down the court and Heath was called for a foul on Brown with 3.8 seconds left. With the home crowd screaming their lungs out, Brown made the 1st to tie it at 65…but missed the 2nd so we were headed to OT. Brown ended up fouling out in the final minute of OT and Johnson did not score a single PT in the extra period so I thought that the Cocks were cooked, but Meechie saved the day by drilling the tie-breaking/game-winning 3-PT shot with 25 seconds left, followed by the Hoyas missing a pair of threes in the final seconds as South Carolina emerged victorious by a score of 74-71. In the postgame press conference I asked Jackson how he was able to adapt to all of the different defenses that he had to face. He said that there is no defense that can completely shut him out because he is not a selfish player. He complimented his teammate Meechie and said that they have had a lot of talks together since GG 1st arrived on campus:

After Jackson headed to the locker room I tried to get his coach Lamont Paris to admit that GG was the best freshman in the nation. He was not ready to go that far but rattled off a bunch of his attributes such as “talented, mature, and grateful for the opportunity”. He was impressed that a kid who will not even turn 18 for a couple more weeks could admit that his body language was below-average during the 1st half and commended his ability to learn quickly and have some humility:

Coach Ewing was in a bad mood so rather than pick on his team’s 3-PT shooting (3-18) I wondered whether he would say some nice things about Jackson. He did not appreciate the inquiry after a loss but stated that he recruited GG and thought that he was a special player who stepped up in the 2nd half and got some “big boy” buckets:

That is a wrap for now, check back in a couple of weeks for the conference opener when Sean Miller brings his Musketeers to DC.

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For Jon Teitel’s interview with Keno Davis about his father Tom Davis – CLICK HERE UMass-Lowell (7-1) at Sacred Heart (5-3) – 2:00 PM ET (NECFrontRow.com) Today’s UTR Game of the Day features a matchup of southern New England teams … Continue reading →

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Tom Davis was such a good coach that he was named national COY at Iowa in 1987…and was such a good father that his son Keno was named national COY at Drake in 2008. Tom made a pair of NIT … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -As we expected, Baylor and Gonzaga was a thriller that came down to the final seconds with Baylor holding on for a 64-63 win. They now have wins against UCLA and Gonzaga on neutral floors, so their … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -For John Stalica’s HOT HOT HOT UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Creighton is normally a pretty good outside shooting team, but they were somewhere around 5% from deep last night in their game at … Continue reading →

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Appalachian State (5-3) at Charlotte (6-2) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the Queen City of North Carolina where the hometown Charlotte 49ers will host the Appalachian State Mountaineers in an intrastate … Continue reading →

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For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE NEWS AND NOTES: -Before the season started I stated rather emphatically that I thought Indiana was overrated. I was wrong. They remain unbeaten after knocking off North Carolina 77-65 … Continue reading →

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Tonight’s featured conference is Conference USA. We discuss the great starts that UAB is off to, Charlotte’s big win at Davidson and the Hornets Nest Trophy that they won, and Florida Atlantic’s big start. We talk about how the conference … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for today’s Daily Rundown of News, Notes, and Highlighted Games James Madison is now in the Sun Belt after almost 4 decades in the CAA but 1 of their best players did his best work during their time … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Virginia trailed for most of the game at Michigan, and had to come from behind in the second half and then make a big defensive play … Continue reading →

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Drake (6-0, 0-0) at Indiana State (6-1, 0-0) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day serves as the beginning of conference play in the Missouri Valley for both Drake and Indiana State. The Drake Bulldogs not … Continue reading →

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LINKS HD!!: -For last night’s HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast – CLICK HERE -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -For John Stalica’s Latest Bracket Projections after the busy week that was Feast Week – CLICK … Continue reading →

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For last night’s Hoops HD Report podcast – CLICK HERE Montana (3-4) at Southern Miss (7-0) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Hattiesburg, Mississippi – home of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. … Continue reading →

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Feast Week is over, which is the busiest week of the year other than Championship Week, and the Hoops HD Panel is here to break down all the action. Purdue had a fantastic showing out in the Phil Knight Tournament … Continue reading →

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Now that we’ve gotten through much of the first month of the college basketball season, we’re slowly starting to see some separation of the haves and have-nots. The exempt tournament season has now passed (with the exception of the Sun … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day, which to my knowledge is the first ever Battle for the Alamo!! – CLICK HERE -We’ve had our first Quadrupler of the year!!!! Alabama and North Carolina went into … Continue reading →

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For Jon Teitel’s interview with former Mercer standout James Florence – CLICK HERE Incarnate Word (4-3) at Texas-San Antonio (4-3) – 7:30 PM ET (CUSA.tv) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to the San Antonio Shootout MTE hosted … Continue reading →

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There are plenty of great scorers in college basketball, and plenty of great shooters, and plenty of great stealers…but only a select few who can do it all. James Florence was 1 of those players for Mercer, as he graduated … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Kent State had a lead on Houston with less than a minute to go, and I thought we were bracing for what would be the upset … Continue reading →

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UNC-Wilmington (4-3) vs. North Texas (5-1) – 8:00 PM ET (FloHoops) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day brings us to the championship game of the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship Game between the Mean Green of North Texas and the … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Lots happened yesterday, but I’ll start off with what was probably the biggest surprise/upset of the day that very few people are aware of. Unbeaten Towson, … Continue reading →

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Hofstra (4-2) vs. UNC-Greensboro (3-2) – 2:00 PM ET We’ve seen quite a few international games early in the college basketball season, and Quebec is now playing host to the nonbracketed Northern Classic. Today’s game sees the Hofstra Pride facing … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE We basically had 14 hours of awesome basketball yesterday. -North Carolina had a much tougher time with Portland than what many were expecting, but they held … Continue reading →

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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4-2) at UTEP (4-1) – 4:00 PM ET (CUSA.TV) Today’s UTR Game of the Day returns to the Back Range as the Miners of UTEP host the Islanders of TAMU-CC in a branch campus offshoot of the … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!!!! On days like today, it is important to remember the things that are really important! And the thing that is most important of all is COLLEGE BASKETBALL!! I hope everyone is able to enjoy … Continue reading →

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For Jon Teitel’s recap of Day 2 of the Continental Tire Invitational in Las Vegas – CLICK HERE Manhattan (1-2) vs. Northeastern (0-4) – 12:00 PM ET Happy Thanksgiving from the Hoops HD staff! We feature a unique doubleheader today … Continue reading →

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A lot of in-season tournaments around Thanksgiving feature a couple of big-time schools and a couple of not-so-big-time schools…but this year’s Continental Tire Main Event is not 1 of them. We have 2 of the past 3 NCAA champs (Baylor … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -For the latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Creighton remains unbeaten and continues to pick up big wins. They took care of 9th … Continue reading →

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For last night’s UTR Podcast – CLICK HERE For Jon Teitel’s interview with Dave Corzine about George Mikan – CLICK HERE Florida Gulf Coast (4-2) vs. Kansas City (3-4) – 7:30 PM ET (FloHoops) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day … Continue reading →

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Chad, David, and Rocco take a look at one of the busiest and most crucial weeks of the season for UTR teams. The MTEs are hugely important opportunities for those who are trying to get statement wins that the selection … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for today’s NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES CLICK HERE for the latest HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast When your nickname is “Mr. Basketball” you better have the resume to back it up…and George Mikan certainly did. At DePaul … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT – CLICK HERE -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Creighton is ranked in the top ten, and they knocked off Texas Tech yesterday 76-65 out in … Continue reading →

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For last night’s Hoops HD Report – CLICK HERE For this week’s bracket projection from David Dorman – CLICK HERE Sacramento State (3-1) vs. UC-Davis (3-1) – 10:30 PM ET Gold Country will be hosting the Causeway Cup at Sacramento’s … Continue reading →

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It’s Feast Week!! The panel looks back on what was a very busy week of college basketball which gave us several top 25, and multiple top 10, matchups. We discuss all that as we run through all ten of the … Continue reading →

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For today’s News, Notes, and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE BRACKET REFLECTS GAMES PLAYED THROUGH SUNDAY, NOV. 20TH COMMENTS FROM DAVID DORMAN (Senior Staff Writer)… Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and I want to wish you and your families a … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -We will be recording our HOOPS HD REPORT Video Podcast tonight, so keep an eye out for that. -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Gonzaga had what felt like a comfortable lead … Continue reading →

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For Jon Teitel’s interview with SIU-Edwardsville legend Jason Holmes – CLICK HERE For all of our bracketed In-Season Tournaments taking place – CLICK HERE Drake (4-0) vs. Tarleton (3-1) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN3) Today’s UTR Game of the Day … Continue reading →

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Jason Holmes played more than 100 games at SIUE and finished his career with a school-record 1949 career PTS…but it is his very 1st game that stands out the most. All he did that night was set his school’s single-game … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -Yesterday’s New Mexico State vs New Mexico game was postponed due to yet another senseless campus shooting death. Our thoughts, prayers, and sympathies are with those victims. -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK … Continue reading →

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For Jon Teitel’s coverage of Day 1 of the Continental Tire Classic in Las Vegas – CLICK HERE Boston University (3-1) at New Hampshire (2-1) – 1:00 PM ET (ESPN+) We get off to a traditionally early start with today’s … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -WE ARE DECLARING THE SWAC THE WINNERS OF THE PAC-12/SWAC LEGACY SERIES!!! Southern won at California 74-66 yesterday. This wasn’t an official Legacy Series game, but since the series ended 3-3, we at Hoops HD have declared … Continue reading →

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For Jon Teitel’s interview with former South Dakota head coach Dave Boots – CLICK HERE Kennesaw State (3-1) at Appalachian State (3-1) – 7:00 PM (ESPN+) Today’s Under the Radar Game of the Day takes us to one of our … Continue reading →

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For today’s News, Notes, and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE It takes a special kind of coach to win 500 games at 1 school…and Dave Boots was made for coaching. He was hired at South Dakota in 1988 and retired … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: For John Stalica’s UTR Games of the Day (from abroad!) – CLICK HERE -Murray State didn’t look all that impressive in their season opener against Saint Louis, but they haven’t lost since then and yesterday they knocked … Continue reading →

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MAAC/A-Sun Challenge in Dublin, Ireland (2 Games) Rider (1-1) vs. Stetson (2-0) – 5:00 AM ET (ESPNU) No, you are reading this right – the Under The Radar Doubleheader of the Day goes across the pond to Dublin, Ireland in … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: For our latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast – CLICK HERE For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Texas basically controlled Gonzaga from tip to buzzer and came out with a decisive 93-74 … Continue reading →

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Missouri has gotten off to a great start this year (1 of 8 teams in the nation who are 4-0), which reminds us of the glory days of Tiger basketball when they won 4 straight Big 8 regular season titles … Continue reading →

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For Jon Teitel’s interview about St. Francis University Head Coach Dr. William “Skip” Hughes – CLICK HERE For last night’s Under The Radar podcast – CLICK HERE Tennessee State (3-0) at Southern Illinois (2-1) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+) We … Continue reading →

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Sometimes a coach has a team that is loaded with talent and sometimes a star player can lead his team to victory despite not being on the same page as his coach…but when the coach and the star player create … Continue reading →

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It’s the regular season debut of Under the Radar!! This week’s feature conference is the SWAC in light of how they won three games against the Pac-12 in the Legacy Series, including Grambling’s win over a Colorado team that went … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -We will be recording our Under the Radar Podcast tonight, so be on the lookout for that. Speaking of Under the Radar, for John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -The first game of … Continue reading →

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Oakland (1-2) at Toledo (2-0) – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+) Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day features the Toledo Rockets hosting the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in a battle between two teams separated by approximately 70 miles of I-75. Toledo is … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: –For the latest HOOPS HD REPORT – CLICK HERE -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Virginia’s game against Northern Iowa was cancelled yesterday following the senseless shooting deaths of three members of … Continue reading →

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For last night’s Hoops HD Report – CLICK HERE Alcorn State (1-1) at Stephen F. Austin (2-0) – 7:30 PM (ESPN+) With a rare road win at the Roundhouse against Wichita State on Saturday, Alcorn State vaults themselves into the … Continue reading →

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Chad is joined by David, John, and Rocco, and they recap a very busy first week of the regular season. The Gavitt Games between the Big East and Big Ten are underway, and we discuss each of those match-ups, Gonzaga … Continue reading →

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For today’s News, Notes, and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE Before we go any further, I want to make sure everyone knows what they’re looking at. This IS NOT an attempt to guess what the Selection Committee will do on … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: -For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -So Colorado had quite a weekend. They lost to Grambling on Friday, and then beat Tennessee, who from all accounts is a consensus top 15 team, … Continue reading →

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IUPUI (0-2) at Chicago State – 9:00 PM ET Normally, it would be a slam-dunk to highlight the annual Battle of the Boulevard between Belmont and Lipscomb, especially since this will be their only meeting this season. However, we also … Continue reading →

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NEWS AND NOTES: For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE -Georgetown is 2-0 on the season after beating Green Bay. Beating Green Bay would normally not be noteworthy, but Georgetown won a buy game in the … Continue reading →

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Sam Cash was money for UC Riverside back in the 1970s. He was a 2-time CCAA POY, an All-American in 1971, and the Southern California College Division POY in 1972. He graduated as the school’s record holder for most REB … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: TAMUCC Nicholls New Orleans SELA McNeese Northwestern State TAMU Commerce Houston Christian Lamar Incarnate Word MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHLAND 1ST TEAM: -Latrell Jones … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Kent State Toledo Akron Ball State Ohio U Buffalo Eastern Michigan Western Michigan Bowling Green Central Michigan Miami OH Northern Illinois MEDIA … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: Longwood Winthrop UNC Asheville Gardner Webb High Point Campbell Radford (tied 6th) USC Upstate Presbyterian Charleston Southern MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH 1ST … Continue reading →

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We are less than 1 week away from the tip-off of the college basketball season, which means that we still have time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: Baylor Kansas Texas TCU Oklahoma State Texas Tech (tied 5th) Oklahoma Iowa State West Virginia Kansas State MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM: … Continue reading →

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With the college basketball season only 8 days away from beginning, we now have all the conferences weighing in on who will be predicted to win each conference along with the release of the preseason Top 25 polls in both … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: Indiana Illinois Michigan Michigan State Purdue Ohio State Iowa Rutgers Wisconsin Maryland Penn State Minnesota Northwestern Nebraska MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: UCLA Arizona Oregon USC Stanford Colorado Arizona State Washington State Washington Utah California Oregon State MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12 1ST TEAM: -Tyger Campbell … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: Kentucky Arkansas Tennessee Auburn Alabama Texas A&M Florida LSU Ole Miss Mississippi State Missouri Vanderbilt Georgia South Carolina MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-SEC 1ST … Continue reading →

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Tonight, we have four conference previews in one post. It’s the four conferences that don’t quite fall into the category of being power conferences from top to bottom, but still send multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament every year. This … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: Creighton Xavier Villanova Connecticut Providence Saint John’s Seton Hall Butler Marquette Georgetown DePaul MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST 1ST TEAM: -Ryan Kalkbrenner – … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: UC Santa Barbara Hawai’i Long Beach State UC Irvine UC Riverside UC Davis Cal State Fullerton Cal State Bakersfield Cal Poly UC San Diego … Continue reading →

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We are still a couple of weeks away from the tip-off of the college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: UAB Western Kentucky North Texas Middle Tennessee Florida Atlantic Louisiana Tech Rice UTEP Charlotte FIU UTSA MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-CUSA TEAM: -Alijah Martin … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: San Diego State Wyoming Boise State Colorado State New Mexico UNLV Fresno State Utah State Nevada San Jose State Air Force MEDIA DAY … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL: Iona Manhattan Rider Quinnipiac Fairfield Siena Marist Niagara Saint Peter’s (tied 8th) Mount Saint Mary’s Canisius MEDIA DAY PRESEASON ALL-MAAC 1ST TEAM: … Continue reading →

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Darius Garland may be his on his way to becoming the best NBA player to ever come out of Vanderbilt…but he has not yet caught Clyde Lee. Clyde was a star at Vanderbilt back in the 1960s, setting several school … Continue reading →

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CLICK HERE for All of Hoops HD’s Continued and Extensive Preseason Content MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL: Purdue Fort Wayne Northern Kentucky (tied 1st) Wright State Oakland Youngstown State Detroit Mercy Cleveland State Robert Morris Milwaukee Green Bay IUPUI MEDIA … Continue reading →

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The marketplace for college athletes to engage in Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) deals was created last year after the NCAA v. Alston case and now it seems like every college is ready to start spreading the wealth. There are already more than … Continue reading →

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We are still a month away from the tip-off of the college basketball season this fall, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season … Continue reading →

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We are still a couple of months away from the tip-off of the college basketball season this fall, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series … Continue reading →

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A full Hoops HD panel examines the new transfer rules, particularly the new transfer portal, and the new rules proposals that could potentially allow a player to transfer an unlimited amount of times without having to sit out a year, … Continue reading →

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When you think about Central Arkansas basketball the 1st name that usually pops into your head is Scottie Pippen, but Clifton Bush put up even more impressive stats during his 4 years with the Bears. As a sophomore he scored … Continue reading →

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Tom Green definitely fits into the category of “basketball lifer”. After playing point guard at Syracuse starting in the 1960s, he joined the coaching ranks and spent more than a decade combined at Syracuse/Tulane as an assistant coach. In 1983 … Continue reading →

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A lot of players can dominate on offense OR defense, but when you find a guy who can get it done on both ends of the court you know that you have a special player. Darren Brooks played a whopping … Continue reading →

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You might think that McDonald’s All-Americans only go to the big colleges like Duke/Kentucky but a few decades ago Adonal Foyle decided to break the mold. After winning a pair of state titles at Hamilton Central School he kept his … Continue reading →

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Georgia Southern has only made the postseason twice in the past 3 decades but back in the 1980s they were a frequent participant, with 2 NCAA tourneys and 2 NITs during a 7-year span from 1983-1989. Coach Frank Kerns was … Continue reading →

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Steve Hayes put the “Big” in Big Sky Conference. The 7-foot center led the league in PPG/RPG as a sophomore at Idaho State…then did it again as a junior. As a senior he became the 3rd player in history to … Continue reading →

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Basketball coaches can teach their players almost anything…except size. 7-footer John Edwards made the 2002 Elite 8 as a big man at Kent State, and in 2004 he was named 1st-team all-conference and MAC DPOY. He spent a couple of … Continue reading →

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There have been plenty of great basketball players whose lives were cut short far too early and 1 of the best ever was Reggie Lewis. At Dunbar High School alongside Muggsy Bogues/David Wingate/Reggie Williams he was part of the #1 … Continue reading →

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The marketplace for NIL deals for college athletes was created last summer and Miami attorney John Ruiz appears to be on the cutting edge. In January he announced that he would be spending up to $10 million for NIL deals … Continue reading →

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The average NBA career lasts roughly 4.5 years but Clay Tucker showed that you can have a LOOOOOONG pro basketball career if you are simply willing to work hard. After leading Milwaukee to its 1st-ever NCAA tourney appearance in 2003, … Continue reading →

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Most people are lucky to succeed in 1 occupation but Johnny O’Brien seemed to be great at everything he did. At Seattle University he upset the Harlem Globetrotters and became the first player in NCAA history to score 1000 PTS … Continue reading →

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The National Sports Collectors Convention (https://nsccshow.com) is an annual summer gathering of collectors/dealers who have a passion for trading cards, autographs, and any other kind of memorabilia that you can think of. First formed in 1980, it is now the … Continue reading →

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Indiana is known as “The Hoosier State” and 1 of the greatest Hoosiers ever was Calbert Cheaney. In his junior year he scored 17.6 PPG and helped lead his team to the 1992 Final 4. As a senior he won … Continue reading →

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Oklahoma has had a number of phenomenal coaches in the 21st century. Bob Stoops won an NCAA title in football in 2000, Lon Kruger made the Final 4 in 2016, Ryan Hybl won an NCAA title in golf in 2017, … Continue reading →

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July is not usually a newsworthy month in college basketball but this year it signifies the start of the D-1 transition process for several schools: Lindenwood, Queens, Southern Indiana, Stonehill, and Texas A&M-Commerce. Jaret von Rosenberg is the current head … Continue reading →

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The NBA Summer League is a great place to discover players from smaller schools who you may not have heard of before. Haywood Highsmith is on the Heat’s roster after being named 2018 D-2 national POY at Wheeling Jesuit University, … Continue reading →

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There are only 7 schools in D-1 history that have won at least 37 games in a season: Duke (twice), Kentucky (twice), Gonzaga, Kansas, Illinois, Memphis, and UNLV. The Illini did so back in 2005 after starting the season 29-0 … Continue reading →

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Most basketball fans only know Stu Lantz as 1 of the best color commentators in the business who has covered the Lakers on TV for an incredible 35 years. However, before joining the broadcast booth he was an exceptional player. … Continue reading →

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Eddie Payne spent almost a half-century in the world of college basketball. After playing at Wake Forest in the early 1970s, he was an assistant coach at 3 different D-1 programs (Clemson/ECU/South Carolina) and a head coach at 3 different … Continue reading →

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Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 16th … Continue reading →

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Basketball and religion may seem like 2 very different things but Eric Channing has been able to succeed quite well at both. On the court at New Mexico State he became the all-time leading scorer in school history, played pro … Continue reading →

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The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place tonight so here are our final predictions of where everyone will get selected. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available” but we try to focus on team needs: … Continue reading →

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The Golden State Warriors recently proved that good genes can go a long way: just ask Steph Curry (son of 16-year NBA veteran Dell), Gary Payton II (son of Hall of Famer Gary), or Klay Thompson (son of 2-time NBA … Continue reading →

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There are a LOT of famous people known as “Sugar Ray”, including a couple of boxing superstars named Leonard and Robinson, as well as a band from the 1990s that just wanted to fly. When it comes to basketball the … Continue reading →

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Colt Ryan was 1 of those rare players who helped his team get better every single year. As a freshman he suffered through the Aces have a losing season for the 9th time in 10 years. As a sophomore/junior he … Continue reading →

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Russell Bowers was 1 of the best scorers in the nation at American University: 22.2 PPG as a sophomore, 26.9 PPG as a junior, and 23.5 PPG as a senior. He was named honorable mention All-American and graduated as the … Continue reading →

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While it certainly takes some star power to get to the NBA Finals, it usually takes a total team effort to win it all. Bob Gross was the 4th-leading scorer on the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, and only averaged around … Continue reading →

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The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 23rd and until then we will do our best to predict where everyone will get selected. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available” but we try … Continue reading →

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It is only June but it has already been a heck of a year for Anthony Black. In January he was named a McDonald’s All-American. In March he was named MVP after leading Duncanville High School to a state title … Continue reading →

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The NBA Finals have not started yet but it is time for 28 other teams to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 17th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal is June 1st, and the … Continue reading →

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Bob Hanson was the face of Omaha basketball during his quarter-century of service as head coach, and remains the winningest coach in program history despite retiring almost 3 decades ago. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Bob about playing … Continue reading →

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Roger Brown remains 1 of the best basketball players to never play a single game in the NBA. During his 8-year career in the ABA he appeared in 4 All-Star games, set a Pacers franchise record with 46 points in … Continue reading →

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Chad and the panel are back and are joined by Galen Clavio as they discuss the impact the NIL is having on college basketball. We discuss what we’ve seen so far from the NIL and how we may continue to … Continue reading →

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Bruce Stewart only spent 7 years as head coach at Middle Tennessee but he certainly made the most of it. In addition to winning almost 2/3 of his games (141-75 record), he won 3 OVC regular season titles, 2 conference … Continue reading →

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The Dakotas have featured some quality basketball talent over the past several decades. We have seen North Dakota State upset Oklahoma in the 2014 NCAA tourney and Mike Daum graduate from South Dakota State in 2019 as the 7th leading … Continue reading →

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You do not get the nickname “Dr. Dunk” without having some serious hops. Darnell Hillman played basketball at San Jose State, which you would expect from a guy who stood 6’9″, but he was so athletic that he also cleared … Continue reading →

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The Dakotas have featured some quality basketball talent in the 21st century. North Dakota’s Jerome Beasley was an NBA draft pick in 2003, North Dakota State upset Oklahoma in the 2014 NCAA tourney, and Mike Daum graduated from South Dakota … Continue reading →

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Bill Boylan is arguably the most important figure in Monmouth basketball history, if not the entire Monmouth athletic department. As basketball coach from 1956-1977 he won 6 NAIA district titles and the 1969 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship. He also … Continue reading →

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The conclusion of the college basketball regular season signals the 1st real opportunity to see the best high school players in the country getting some national exposure. In addition to the McDonald’s All-American Game in March, the Nike Hoop Summit … Continue reading →

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There are a lot of great college basketball nicknames out there: Big County, Pistol Pete, etc. 1 of the best coach nicknames was Eugene “Torchy” Clark, the 1st-ever head coach at UCF (then known as Florida Technological University). During his … Continue reading →

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The conclusion of the college basketball regular season signals the 1st real opportunity to see the best high school players in the country getting some national exposure. In addition to the McDonald’s All-American Game on March 29th, the Nike Hoop … Continue reading →

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It has been a rough few years for Vanderbilt basketball but it looks like Coach Jerry Stackhouse finally has things going in the right direction as the team won 19 games this year for the 1st time since 2017. 1 … Continue reading →

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As the NBA regular season comes to a close, 1 person who knows plenty about postseason basketball is Ramon Sessions. At Myrtle Beach High School he led his team to the 3A State Championship as a sophomore. As a player … Continue reading →

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Mike Rose is an excellent example of a player who kept improving during each of his 4 years in college. As a freshman at Eastern Kentucky he only scored 6.2 PPG in 20.4 minutes/game, but as a sophomore he started … Continue reading →

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Tonight Chad and the panel look back at a thrilling National Championship game where Kansas came from behind to beat North Carolina, as well as both Final Four games that each team won with Kansas blowing by Villanova, and North … Continue reading →

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Last night Duke lost to North Carolina 81-77 in the Final 4, which was the final game of Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s incomparable career. And what a game it was for these 2 Tobacco Road foes in their 1st-ever meeting in … Continue reading →

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It has been 15 years since the Rattlers made the NCAA tourney but they had a nice stretch back in the day when they made it 3 times during a 9-year stretch from 1999-2007. The coach responsible for 2 of … Continue reading →

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April is not only a time for basketball players to start creating their legacies (Armando Bacot, Ochai Agbaji, etc.) but also a time to reflect on the careers of those seniors that have finally come to a close. Luke Smith … Continue reading →

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Providence had a nice NCAA tourney run this month: back-to-back wins over South Dakota State and Richmond, then hung tough with #1 seed Kansas before losing by 5 PTS in the Sweet 16 in Chicago. The Friars won 27 games this year (2nd-most in school history), secured the 1st Big East regular season title in school history, and Coach Ed Cooley was named conference COY. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Providence special assistant to the head coach LaDontae Henton about being a great scorer/rebounder and returning to his alma mater.

You were born/raised in Michigan: what made you choose Providence? I was born/raised in Lansing. My college choice came down to Coach Cooley. I wanted a place with a family atmosphere and on my visit he made it feel like that. He is a man of his word.

In the 2014 NCAA tourney you had 16 PTS/11 REB but James Michael McAdoo made 2 FTs with 3.5 seconds left in a 2-PT win by North Carolina: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It is probably #1. I feel we had that game in our hands and played well enough to win it but the Tar Heels just pulled it out in the end. If we had won that game then I think we were built to make a long run that year.

In November of 2014 you scored a career-high 38 PTS/14-19 FG in win over Notre Dame: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes. The rim just looked like an ocean to me. We had a nice crowd and my teammates had my back: every shot felt like it was going in.

You finished that season by leading the Big East with 19.7 PPG and being named honorable mention All-American: what is the secret to being a great scorer? It is about the work you put in that nobody sees. I spent time in the gym putting up a lot of shots and my coach believed in me.

You graduated with 2059 PTS/1054 REB: how were you able to get so many rebounds despite standing 6’6”? Growing up in Lansing breeds toughness. I played against older guys so all I could do was grab rebounds and put it back in the basket.

You later played pro basketball in the G League/overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The style of play and some of the rules. Defenses in other countries are different, as well as the pace of the game, but there is not much of a drop-off in talent level.

Last July you returned to your alma mater as a special assistant to Ed Cooley: what kind of a relationship do you 2 have (after you were originally his 1st recruit at Providence)? He is like a father-figure to me and always took me under his wing. When I played for him he said that I had coaching/leadership qualities and instilled the confidence in me to come back here and coach. The timing was right and it ended up working out for the best.

The Friars were 13-13 last year but started 24-3 this year and finished with the 2nd-most wins in school history (27): how were they able to make such a huge leap in the span of 12 months? The work ethic/camaraderie of the team: they love playing with 1 another, which I think is a key to winning. I saw last summer that they lived in the gym and wanted to get better: it was contagious.

In the 2022 NCAA tourney you made the Sweet 16 before a 5-PT loss to Kansas: how close did you come to pulling off the upset, and who do you think is going to win it all next week? We were close and gave it our all. Kansas is a good team so it would look good for us if the Jayhawks won the title. I am rooting for them to win it all…but Villanova is our Big East companion so I like them as well.

How do you like coaching, and what do you hope to do in the future? I love coaching! It is more of a passion/purpose then a job. I am blessed to be able to give back to kids who had a similar upbringing to me. I will grind my way and hope to become a head coach in college someday.

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Last Saturday Duke beat Arkansas 78-69 in the Elite 8 to advance to the Final 4 this Saturday in New Orleans. The Blue Devils beat the Tar Heels in February, lost to them in March, and will get to play them in April for the 1st time ever this weekend. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Duke cheerleaders Kennedy Sun and Malorie Lipstein about the Tobacco Road rivalry and heading to Louisiana.

What made you choose Duke? Kennedy: I was attracted to Duke my entire life since I lived nearby (growing up 30 minutes away from Durham in Wake Forest, NC). I wanted a school with strong academics that would prepare me for life after college. Malorie: I grew up in New York but had known about the school and was excited to visit the campus, then fell in love with it after doing so. Everyone is friendly and wears Duke clothes. The students are super-smart and the basketball team is incredible.

You have been on the cheer team for the past few years: how did you 1st get into cheerleading, and what is the best part? K: I did cheerleading/dance/gymnastics all the way through high school. Once I got to college I felt that cheerleading was the best option because you can do your sport while still supporting other sports and engaging the fans: it is all-encompassing. The best part is the friendships I have made as well as the unique experiences. M: I started cheering in high school and have loved being able to travel with the team and be on the court for games. The most exciting thing is just putting on the uniform with “Duke” on my chest and representing the school.

You are a senior co-captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? K: Being able to communicate and put yourself in other people’s shoes. It can be hard to lead people who are your friends but I ask them what they are thinking and keep it in mind. M: We are intermediaries between the team and the coach and have to find the middle ground to see what works well for the student-athletes.

How frustrating has it been to be a cheerleader for a great basketball team during a pandemic? K: I remember when COVID started during the spring of my sophomore year and the team was playing so well (25-6 entering the ACC tourney). I remember them running a computer simulation that said Duke would have won it all that spring, which really got to me: missing out on what could have been. I wish that we could have had someone live cheering for them. M: It was definitely tough last year to not go to any games. I LIVE to go to football/basketball games so it was hard to miss out on that, but I was still glad to be part of the team, and it makes this experience even more gratifying now. We are the only 2 cheerleaders here that have been to an NCAA tourney before so we had a notion of the greater purpose.

What are you majoring in? K: I entered college planning to be a chemistry major but changed my mind pretty quickly. I took a Psych class and felt drawn to it: I like the idea of how a person’s mindset impacts their health. I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Chemistry/Biology. I had such a great range of classes/professors and am really happy. M: I entered college completely undecided and did not know what direction I would take. I took a Psychology class with an amazing professor and am interested in how people think/feel/behave. I am majoring in Psychology and Spanish. I was fascinated to learn the scientific terms behind everyday behavior. Spanish just kind of snuck up on me after I studied in Spain for 6 weeks, which was an incredible experience. It is always good to have another language in your pocket.

You have won a Scholarship Award and made the Dean’s List during the past few years: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? K: I actually did my thesis research on balance. It is equally important to prioritize things outside of school because if I am purposeful in directing my energy to my family/friends, then it will give me focus when I turn to academics. I feel really accomplished to have succeeded in many things: everyone wants to do it all and it can take a toll, but it invigorates me.

You have previously worked for several organizations to help respond to problems such as COVID/garbage/cancer: how much importance do you place on community service? M: Everyone at Duke is involved in some kind of organization. 1 thing I do is to help raise money for a summer camp for kids who have a parent that was affected by cancer. In addition to the money I help out as a counselor, which is very rewarding. My aunt started an organization during COVID to bake treats and donate them to 1st responders/hospital workers, and it grew into this huge effort to do acts of kindness. It has been exciting to be a part of it and has made me a well-rounded person.

What is the post-graduation plan? K: I will be attending medical school. I knew that I wanted to stay on the East Coast so I would like to end up in New York or Washington, DC. I am interested in so many different things including anesthesiology, OBGYN, pediatrics, and plastic surgery. I am sure that when I arrive at med school I will get exposed to everything. M: I am moving back to NYC this fall to work in marketing at L’Oréal and am so excited because I was hoping to end up back there. I have done several internships in various industries and think my background will blend nicely for marketing. The Duke alumni network was a huge help.

Last Saturday the Blue Devils had a 9-PT win over Arkansas in the Elite 8: what was the reaction like when you got back to campus, and can you explain the UNC-Duke rivalry to people who have only watched it on TV? K: We got back to campus around 8:30AM on Sunday so everyone was asleep, but I heard that the night before was exciting for everyone else. These are my most favorite games I have ever cheered at. The fact that the schools are so close (like 20 minutes away) is unbelievable. When we play them it seems that the team is so invested and at the top of their game that it brings out such special moments. M: If someone asks me what my happy place is, I would say the 3 seconds before the buzzer goes off at the end of a tourney win! Beating UNC would not just be about going to the next round: it is an overwhelming feeling. Students at Duke will sleep in tents for 6 WEEKS just to get into the rivalry game: when people wake up on UNC game day it feels like Christmas.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the Final 4, and does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this weekend? K: Our coach decides who gets to go: we have a 20-person team but the NCAA only allows us to bring 12 people. M: We have our usual routines planned along with some interviews/pep rallies/open practice: just extra ways to celebrate.

Any predictions? K: After seeing how the Elite 8 played out I think that we are capable of beating anyone: we just need to be prepared. M: More like hopes and dreams! We want it so badly, especially for Coach K. I think if we beat UNC then we will face Kansas in the title game.

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It has been a Cinderella season for St. Peter’s: the Peacocks were 3-6 on Christmas Day and 12-11 in late-February, then won 3 games in 4 days to win the MAAC tourney. After receiving a #15 seed in the NCAA tourney they became the 10th #15 seed to upset a #2 seed, the 3rd #15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16, and the 1st #15 seed to ever make the Elite 8 before losing to North Carolina. However, they have also had some great players in the past such as Rich Rinaldi, who averaged 28.6 PPG as a senior in 1971 before being selected 43rd overall in the 1971 NBA Draft. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Rich about scoring 54 PTS in a game and having several Hall of Fame teammates. Today marks the 51st anniversary of Rich getting drafted by Baltimore on March 29, 1971, so we take this time to reflect on his life/legacy.

In 1971 as a senior at St. Peter’s you scored a school-record 54 PTS in a win over St. Francis: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I missed my first 7 shots…but that did not deter me from shooting 35 more times(!), as I went 21-42 from the field. I had my worst game ever from the FT line (12-19) and 4 of my misses were on the front end of a 1-and-1. Once St. Francis heard that I was close to breaking the previous record (53 PTS by Tom Schwester the year before) they started triple-teaming me. Box-and-1 defenses were the norm when teams played against us during my senior year. Somehow I was able to make a FT with 18 seconds left for my 54th point. I missed the 2nd FT, fouled a guy on purpose, and then walked to the bench.

You averaged 21.5 PPG for your college career, which still ranks #3 on the school’s all-time list: what is your secret to being a great scorer, and could you have ever imagined that someone like Keydren Clark would come along and score over 3000 PTS? Freshman were ineligible to play on the varsity in my day. I started as a sophomore but only played half the time and averaged around 12 PPG. There is no secret to it: you just have to constantly be moving and attacking the defense. I ran a lot and ran fast. I tried to exploit whatever the defense was giving me and the rest I just took. Having a good outside shot and making your FTs is also vital. Someone always comes along to break a record and Keydren was a tremendous scorer…but 3000 points!? I would have never imagined that number.

Your team doctor at St. Peter’s was Anne Robbins: was it weird to have a female team doctor, and how did the players get along with her? It was weird initially but after a while it became the norm. We all got along with her: she was our doctor/friend. There was a tremendous respect for her and what she was doing and how she went about it.

In the summer of 1971 you were drafted in the 3rd round by Baltimore (1 spot ahead of Dave Robisch): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was validation of my college career, although I was hoping that I would have been chosen higher than 43rd overall. My lifelong dream was to be a professional shortstop(!), but even though I took a detour somewhere along the line I have no regrets.

You had several Hall of Fame teammates in Baltimore (Elvin Hayes/Earl Monroe/Gus Johnson/Wes Unseld): what was it like being around such superstars, and who was the best NBA teammate you ever had? Being around such professionals was a learning experience for me: I just observed everyone and took it all in. When all was said and done, I learned not only professional basketball tips but tips about life and how to go about my business. Unfortunately it ended after 3 years for me, but I did incorporate what I learned from them, and those lessons have served me well for the last 4 decades. All of my teammates were good teammates: some were better than others but I can not single out just 1. Wes was a man of few words and led by example. He used to say to me before games, “Think about what you have to do, Rico.” That is all he would say so I would think about what needed to be done. It took more than just physical talent to succeed: I could run all night long and used both my God-given gifts and the skills that I developed through practice. However, if you did not think about your opponents’ tendencies, offensive schemes, etc., then you could get lost on the court and look like a fool. Wes made a young run-and-gun dude think about what he had to do: I still heed his advice. I was at a Wizards game recently and during the national anthem I looked up and saw the 4 retired numbers (Hayes/Unseld/Monroe/Johnson). It dawned on me that I was a teammate of each of them, which had a numbing effect on me. It was a privilege to be in the league for those 3 years.

In 1972 you made the playoffs before losing in 6 games to the Knicks: how close did you come to winning that series, and what is the biggest difference between the regular season and the playoffs? We were never really close to beating the Knicks during my time with the Bullets. They had home-court advantage and were a better team than us, having won more games than we did during the regular season. The intensity escalated during the playoffs,: I recall our playoff preparation practices vividly. Our practices were very intense as our 2nd team ran the Knicks’ offense. I cannot recall if I was Frazier or Monroe, but whoever I was I made sure to go hard at Archie Clark/Phil Chenier.

You scored a career-high 26 PTS on opening night of the 1972 season: how were you able to have such an amazing season debut, and what sort of expectations did that performance create for you? My 1st year was a learning experience and I rode the bench for most of the year. I came into the game mostly to foul people! It was a very humbling experience but a strategy that coaches used in those days. Clark was holding out in 1972 so I took advantage of the opportunity and started the 1st 26 games that year. Once he re-signed with us it was back to the bench for me.

In 1974 you ended up playing 5 games for the New York Nets en route to winning an ABA title: what was it like to play with Dr. J, and did they give you a ring even though you only played a few games? Watching Julius during my short stint with the Nets made my time there worthwhile: he did some amazing things. They did not give me a ring.

You currently work as a Career Counselor for the NBA Players Association to provide quality services and resources to help players achieve their goals both on and off the court: how do you like the job, and why is it so hard for some players to stay out of bad situations? It is a very gratifying job: I get to assist players as they make the transition from basketball to the real world. In my time here it has been very rewarding for me and the other counselors to see guys go back to school, get an internship, participate in our Business/Coaching/Broadcast programs, etc. The only players I can help are the proactive ones who want to help themselves. You eventually get a sense as to which guys will be okay and which guys will not. Bad situations occur when you think that you have too much money and that the paydays will never stop. You cannot keep the wrong company and have people around you who stymie your professionalism and your game. It is no joke when you get to this league: your college days are over. You cannot cheat the game by keeping crazy hours, not eating properly, and not getting your rest. For example, if a player makes $10 million in salary, ½ of that goes immediately to taxes, leaving him with $5 million to take care of his family/friends. When you are done playing, the divorce rate for pro athletes is 83%, so there goes another 50% of your money, with child support on top of that.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? Whether I was the highest scorer or the last man on the bench, I would like to be remembered as a good teammate.

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Chad and the panel look back at all of the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games, including Saint Peter’s improbable run to the Elite Eight, which is one of the biggest surprises in the history of college basketball. We also talk about Arkansas’ big win against Gonzaga, Miami’s first ever Elite Eight appearance, Houston’s big upset against Arizona, North Carolina and Duke facing each other in the Final Four, and more. We close with our National Champion picks, and with a quick look at the NIT, CBI, and College Basketball Classic Tournaments.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/HHD-Report-Final-4-Audio-Only.mp3

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It has been a rough March for teams out West (Arizona, Gonzaga, etc.) but there is still a rich legacy of basketball in the Pacific time zone due to teams such as…Pacific. Bob Thomason helped lead the Tigers to the 1971 NCAA tourney by scoring 17.2 PPG as a player, then took over as coach at his alma mater in 1988 and turned out to be a great fit. In 25 years on the sideline he set a Big West conference record with 437 wins, led his school to 6 conference regular season titles, and was a 5-time conference Coach of the Year. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Thomason about being a great FT shooter and making a bunch of NCAA tourneys. Today is Bob’s 73rd birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

You were an all-conference SG at Pacific, where your 83.7 FT% is still among the best in school history: how good a player were you back in the day, and what is your secret for FT shooting? We had a good team with some great players like John Gianelli. My secret for 5 straight summers was to shoot until I made 100 FT in a row. Every time I stepped to the line I would verbalize my entire routine. I treated every situation as a win/lose opportunity, whether in practice or a game.

You scored a career-high 36 PTS against Loyola Marymount as a senior: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I think so. If we had won that game then we would have clinched the league title: I had a lot of great opportunities that I took advantage of.

What are your memories of the 1971 NCAA tourney (you had 19 PTS/7 AST in a loss to Long Beach State)? I was pretty sick about losing after being up by 13 PTS at halftime. They came out in a half-court trap and we were not prepared to handle it. If we had won then we would have played 4-time-defending-champion UCLA next!

In addition to basketball you also played varsity golf in college: which sport were you better at, and which 1 did you enjoy the most? In college I enjoyed basketball more and I was much better at it than golf. I had fun on the golf course but was not great at it. Now I have a great passion for golf and have even more since retiring.

In 1976 as coach at Escalon your team finished 27-0 and won a state title: how were you able to keep your team focused for every single game, and what did it mean to you to win the title? When I started at Escalon we had a couple of good sophomores, and as they matured over time we became a good team. I remember the fans getting behind us and traveling with us. They allowed me to coach them hard as we kept trying to get better during the season, which is something I have always believed in.

In the 2004 Big West tourney title game Miah Davis scored 11 PTS and made 2 FT with 5 seconds left in a 2-PT win over Cal-State Northridge: how were you able to pull out the win? We were up by almost 20 PTS in the 1st half but they came all the way back to tie it up with 15 seconds left. That team really deserved the title because they were committed to playing defense and being unselfish.

In the 2004 NCAA tourney Davis scored 19 PTS in an 8-PT upset of Providence: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It is 1 of the proudest moments of my career. I remember that after the 1st few minutes I was impressed with how calm we were, which gave me a lot of peace of mind. That win opened the door for the next 2 years.

In the 2005 NCAA tourney Christian Maraker/David Doubley each scored 17 PTS in an 8-PT win over Pitt: how were you able to keep upsetting major conference teams in March? We were actually wearing white uniforms as the #8-seed, which meant we were the favorite even though it was an 8-9 game. We played fantastic basketball that day.

In the 2006 NCAA tourney Maraker scored 30 PTS in 49 minutes in a 2-OT loss to BC: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I saw BC beat UNC in the ACC tourney the week before and recall not wanting to play them. They were so big/strong and set a lot of hard screens. Christian hit a big 3 to get us into OT. It is still the most heart-wrenching loss of my career: the foul call against us at the end of the 1st OT was disappointing.

You became the all-time Big West leader in wins in 2011 before retiring in 2013: do you think that anyone will ever break your record, and what do you hope to do in the future? Records are always there to be broken so I assume that someone will break it at some point, although they will need to stick around 1 place for a couple of decades to do it. As far as my future, I have no idea what I am going to do but I like playing golf and hanging around with my grandkids. I do not want to go somewhere else to be a head coach but would consider being some sort of consultant for a program.

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As I’m sure you all know by now, college basketball history was made at the NCAA Tournament last night!!

Kansas and Providence got off to a bit of a rough first half where neither team could get it going offensively, but the Jayhawks were still keeping them at arms length. After an intense second half where Providence kept it close until the end, Kansas was able to pull it out!! They made history!! It was their 2354th all time win as a program, which is the most wins for any program ever!! Big time congrats to the Kansas Jayhawks!!

But, that wasn’t all!!

The Miami Hurricanes also made history!! They advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time ever!! Their win over Iowa State was a historic moment for that program, and a testament to just how good of a job Jim Larranaga has done since he took over there. He also took George Mason on a miracle run to the Final Four back in 2006, and is just one win away from doing it with Miami!

But there was even more!!

North Carolina knocked off UCLA in another game that came down to the final seconds, and is now just one win away from their 21st Final Four! They already hold the all time record for Final Four appearances and are very clsoe to adding to it!! North Carolina barely looked like an NCAA Tournament team for much of the year, but since the final week of the regular season, they’ve looked like a Final Four caliber team in the ACC Tournament and now in the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournaement.

So, again, what a crazy historical night at the NCAA Tournament last night!!

Hmmm….I can’t help but think I’m forgetting something. Did anything else of note happen last night that I’m leaving out??

I don’t know. So much happened that it’s just hard to keep up with everything. ENJOY THE ELITE EIGHT EVERYONE!!!

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The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The 1st/2nd rounds are taking place in 8 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles and Jon Teitel concludes our coverage from San Diego with a recap of the Arizona-TCU 2nd round game last Sunday.

After I took a pregame photo with my Wildcat friend Mary and our beloved mascot Wilbur I jogged up to the top of the arena to have a quick visit with my Wildcat friend Dave, and then it was back downstairs and back to business.

The Horned Frogs got out to a quick 10-2 lead behind the FT shooting of SO PG Mike Miles Jr. and the 3-PT shooting of SR SF Chuck O’Bannon Jr.

The Wildcats got a much-needed breath of fresh air when Coach Tommy Lloyd subbed PG Kerr Kriisa into the game after he had missed the past 3 games with a sprained right ankle, causing the crowd to roar its approval.

Coach Lloyd implored the fans to keep getting louder, which they did, and instructed his team to get the ball to Christian Koloko, which they did to much success. He scored 14 PTS/6-6 FG in the 1st 9 minutes to help his team take an 18-7 lead.

TCU would not go away and almost took the lead late in the half. Arizona SO G/F Bennedict Mathurin made a corner 3 in the final 2 minutes that caused TCU coach Jamie Dixon to call a timeout to stop the bleeding.

Arizona was 27-1 this year when they have the lead at halftime so Coach Lloyd must have been encouraged to finish the 1st 20 minutes up 39-36.

TCU FR C Eddie Lampkin only scored 2 PTS in their win over Seton Hall on Friday but he plays with so much emotion that it was only a matter of time until he got back on track. He did exactly that on Sunday with 13 PTS/5-5 FG before limping to the bench early in the 2nd half with a right foot injury. He came back shortly thereafter and finished with career-highs of 20 PTS/14 REB but missed a ton of FTs (4-10).

Mathurin was a machine at the charity stripe with 9-10 FTs (after not attempting a single 1 vs. Wright State on Friday) and had a thunderous dunk over Lampkin to give his team a 54-52 lead and cause the fans in red and blue to scream at the top of their lungs. However, O’Bannon kept making threes and frees en route to a career-high 23 PTS. Arizona was 31-0 this year when leading with 5 minutes left, and Coach Lloyd called a timeout after a 7-0 run by the Horned Frogs to ensure that his team would still be up 67-65 as the clock struck 5 minutes to go, which they only maintained after Miles missed a layup at the 5:02 mark.

Miles came right back with a layup to finish a 10-0 run and retake the lead (68-67). The Wildcats were horrible from 3-PT range (5-27) but Mathurin made the biggest 1 of the night with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 75-all. Miles lost the ball on a double-team, then Terry picked it up, drove to the hoop, and dunked it…right after the buzzer, so we are headed for overtime. Lampkin has not played more than 31 minutes in a game this year but would definitely break that record. Mathurin took over in overtime, tied a season-high with 30 PTS, and the Wildcats hung on to win it 85-80.

Coach Lloyd tried to console Lampkin because he was bawling his eyes out after the hard-fought loss:

The postgame celebration was fantastic, with Kriisa waving to the fans and Dalen Terry running around with a huge smile on his face.

In the postgame press conference I asked Mathurin about being undefeated this year when they have the lead with 5 minutes left. He said they came all the way from Tucson to San Diego for a reason: they came here to win. He knew that they had the fans cheering for them to win the game and they did it. I did not get a chance to ask Coach Lloyd any questions because they had a flight to catch.

The star of the show for the 2nd straight game was Koloko. He became the 2nd player in NCAA tourney history to ever have a game with 28 PTS/12 REB/92 FG% (the 1st: San Diego’s own Bill Walton in his famous 21-22 FG performance for UCLA over Memphis in the 1973 NCAA title game) and was simply unstoppable.

I even got to see Mathurin and Kriisa outside the arena before they hopped onto the team bus:

What a wonderful weekend in San Diego, hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved the beach.

I somehow made it to 27 basketball games in a 16-day stretch and have the security bands on my backpack to prove it: enjoy the Madness!

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Montana State made an NCAA tourney appearance last week for the 1st time in 26 years but they have had lots of great players during the past quarter-century. 1 of the best was Tyler Hall: 2016 conference Freshman of the Year, 23.1 PPG as a sophomore, 2518 career PTS (most in Big Sky history) and 431 career 3PM (tied for 10th-most in D-1 history). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Tyler about being a great scorer/shooter and his athletic family. Today is Tyler’s 25th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

You grew up in Illinois: what made you choose Montana State? The coaching staff and the feeling I had during my visit.

In 2016 you were named conference ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I put in a lot of hard work and had a great cast around me. It was pretty exciting to be in such a good situation.

In December of 2016 you scored a career-high 42 PTS/15-25 FG/0 TO in a 5-PT loss to Milwaukee: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Kind of. My teammates got me involved early and I remember getting a lot of easy buckets.

In the 2018 Big Sky tourney you scored 11 PTS in a 2-PT loss to North Dakota after your team blew a 19-PT lead in the final 12 minutes: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It was a long time ago and I took every loss hard…but that 1 was pretty tough.

You made the all-conference team during each of your 4 years on campus: how were you able to remain so consistent throughout your college career? Just my work ethic every summer and having good teammates.

You graduated with a conference record 2518 PTS: what is the key to being a great scorer, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? Being consistent in your game preparation. There are a lot of good players nowadays so I would not be shocked if somebody breaks it.

Your 85.9 FT% is best in school history and your 431 career 3PM remains top-10 in D-1 history: what is the secret to being a great shooter? Being consistent and working on the little things. You must get a lot of shots up every single day.

You currently play for the Westchester Knicks in the G League: how is it going so far, and what do you hope to do in the future? It is going really well. I feel that I am developing my game every day and hopefully I can make it back onto an NBA roster someday.

Your parents Laura/Henry Hall both played college basketball and your grandfather Henry Sr. played minor league baseball: who is the best athlete in the family? We are a very competitive family so I am sure that everyone would say themselves…but I will go with me.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? A knock-down shooter who played hard and had a passion for the game.

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-This will be the first time since 1980 that only one #1 seed has made it past the Sweet Sixteen. That’s if Kansas beats Providence tonight. If Providence wins, then it will be the first time ever that no #1 seeds made it past the Sweet Sixteen.

-People are jumping all over Gonzaga for losing early in the Tournament and calling them underachievers. While that’s not necessarily wrong, it seems like Gonzaga is held to a higher standard than literally all other college programs, and is more quickly called out when they don’t live up to it. They were the national runners up last year. They were also the national runners up in 2017. In the last five NCAA Tournaments, they’ve won 17 games. Thats’ an average of 3.4 wins per year. 3 wins gets you to the Elite Eight, and 4 gets you to the Final Four. That’s a damn good average!! Yet…they are always underachieving and are always overrated in the minds of seemingly everyone. There may be a team that has a higher average of tournament wins per year than that over the last five years, but I can’t think of who it would be, and I guarantee you it isn’t that many teams. They are a legit elite program. And in a way, doesn’t dogging a program for losing in the Sweet Sixteen for “going out early” sort of actually validate their legitimacy??

-Kelvin Sampson should be coach of the year. They have overcome serious setbacks due to losing key players to injuries to make the Elite Eight in very impressive fashion. They did not look this good during much of the regular season (at least not to me), but even then I was still very impressed with what they were able to do given all their setbacks. Now I am simply astounded. They have a very real chance at going to the Final Four for the second year in a row. In 2018, in the Round of 32, we saw Houston lose on a last second three-quarters court shot to a Michigan team that then advanced all the way to the Championship Game. I remember making the point of how great it would have been to see Houston back on the national stage of the Sweet Sixteen, and how the spotlight hadn’t been that bright on them since the Phi Slamma Jamma days. I also questioned whether or not it could ever happen again for them. Well…IT HAS!!!

Strangely enough, unlike Gonzaga, no one seems to be calling Arizona to the carpet for being a fraud or being overrated after they lost to Houston on the same night. Nor should they.

-The Coach K era will continue for at least one more game, and I have to give them credit. Texas Tech is a very difficult team to play against, and Duke was able to figure their defense out enough to get the win. I’m starting to think Krzyzewski may be a half way decent coach after all.

-Villanova had to sweat Michigan a little bit, but is also moving on.

As for tonight’s games…

-North Carolina and UCLA square off tonight. it’s two blue bloods, but it’s also a match-up that I bet many people didn’t predict. As hard as I’ve been on the Tarheels all season long, I am genuinely impressed with what they’ve done in the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

-Saint Peter’s has been one of the biggest stories of the tournament and their place in college basketball history is already pretty indelible, but as much as they’ve done they can become infinitely bigger if they can somehow beat Purdue tonight and become the first #15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight. And while I’m not expecting that to happen, Purdie isn’t the best defensive team in the world either, so….just sayin’

-I’ve liked this Miami team all year, and I’m also impressed with what Iowa State is done. It’s kind of cool that one of them will make the Elite Eight.

-I’m really excited for this Providence v Kansas game as well. Providence was a team that I thought would go out early, but they’ve been one of the many things I’ve been wrong about. I’m really impressed with how they’ve played and think they’ve got a chance at moving on tonight.

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On March 7 Georgia State beat Louisiana 80-71 in the Sun Belt tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Panthers were 2-5 in conference play in early February but won each of their last 10 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #1 seed Gonzaga on Thursday in Portland. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Georgia State SR Eliel Nsoseme about being a great rebounder and winning the conference tourney.

You were born in the Congo and raised in Canada: how did you end up in the US? I was born/raised in Congo but moved to Canada when I was 18 years old. I had the opportunity to play AAU basketball and my team played a lot of games in the United States during the summer. That was when I was offered a scholarship to play for the University of Cincinnati.

How did you 1st get into basketball, and how big is the sport in Canada? I was first introducing to basketball in the Congo. When I got to Canada it was big…but now it has just exploded. All the kids want to play basketball and that is awesome to see.

You began your college career at Cincinnati: why did you decide to transfer, and was it weird to choose Georgia State after beating them in the 2018 NCAA tourney?! It was time for me to explore a different path. I did meet a lot of people that I am still really close to. I remember that game. When it came to Georgia State, Coach Rob Lanier and his staff were honest in my recruitment process and I really appreciated that.

What makes Coach Lanier such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? The way he approaches the game with his patience/understanding/passion. He has a different way to look at it, which is close to mine. I have learned a lot from him and keep learning even today. He always makes sure we understand that it is a blessing to be in this position: to do what we love and never take it for granted because a lot of individuals do not have the same opportunity.

Last year your 10.1 RPG was top-20 in the nation: what is the key to being a great rebounder? The willingness to do it. A lot of people think that it is not important or just do not want to do it. I will do anything to help my team win and rebounding is one of the things that I take great pride in.

You missed the 1st 11 games this year due to a knee injury: how is your health at the moment? It was tough to be unable to help my team on the court but I did my best to support them from the bench. It is getting better day by day. I do what I need to do to ensure I can give my team 100%…even if I am not 100% right now. Shout-out to Vinnie (our strength and conditioning coach)/Bob (our sports medicine guy) for helping me get better and get ready for the next game.

You made the Dean’s List several times during your career: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? For me, school and basketball are always part of my plan: I go as hard as I can on the court and do the same in the classroom. I love learning and majoring in film, which asks for a lot of creativity, and I keep learning every day.

You have already graduated with a degree in Film & Media: what is the post-college plan? I am getting my Master’s right now. I know that when I am done playing basketball it will be an option for me to do something I love just as much…but I definitely want to go pro and help my family as best I can.

In the Sun Belt tourney title game you had 12 PTS/13 REB in a 9-PT win over Louisiana: what did it mean to you to win the title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It means a lot to me. We went through a lot with this group of guys and I wanted it so bad for everyone. We never gave up or gave excuses: just stayed in the gym and got better. It was great to see guys become champions for the first time. It was a collective effort that everyone on the team was happy about it.

How do you feel about getting a #16 seed, and what do you know about Gonzaga? We are excited to be back in the tournament and are ready to play. It is an opportunity to play and we are thankful for it. Gonzaga is a great team with great players and a winning program…but we also have great players and a winning program so it should be a fun game.

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Last Saturday Arizona beat UCLA 84-76 in the Pac-12 tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Wildcats lost 3 road games this year but were unbeaten in all of their home/neutral site games to make the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2018. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Arizona pomline captain Victoria Frank about winning the conference tourney and heading to San Diego.

You grew up in Murrieta, CA: what made you choose Arizona? Tucson felt like a home away from home because it is a smaller town. I felt it would give me a little piece of home when I went away to college.

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? My mom put me in dance when I was young. I did trial and error with a couple of sports but I loved dance the most. The best part is performing and exhibiting joy to everyone around us.

You have been on the Arizona Pomline for 4 years and are a Senior Captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? Leading by example and being someone that people feel comfortable talking to about anything.

What do you think the role of a college pomline is today, and how has it changed over time? To bring the extra energy/entertainment factor to sporting events/pep rallies/alumni events. It has remained relatively similar over the years, but we have become more of a spokesperson for the school and its teams.

How frustrating has it been to be on the pomline for a great basketball team during a pandemic? It definitely has its challenges but luckily it has not affected us too much. However, it would be nice to get back to normal so everyone can support our team.

You are majoring in Special Education Rehabilitation: why did you pick that subject, and what do you hope to do after graduating? I grew up with twin brothers who have special needs so it has always been part of my life. I love to work with that community and would like to become a behavioral technician/analyst.

Last Saturday the Wildcats had an 8-PT win over UCLA in the Pac-12 tourney title game: how excited was everybody to win the conference tourney for the 1st time since 2018? It was very exciting and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our seniors. The fans enjoyed it as well.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tournament, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We allow our seniors to go on tournament travel. It will be very exciting to see both the pom/basketball teams showcased on national TV and we will represent everyone very well.

Your game(s) this weekend are at San Diego State, which is about 1 hour south of your hometown: will you have any family/friends in the stands to support you? Yes. My friends/family from my home dance studio will be there to support me so that will be exciting.

Arizona is ranked #2 in the nation: how far do you think they will go? I think we will go very far and have a really good chance of winning the national championship!

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On March 6 Loyola Chicago beat Drake 64-58 in the MVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Ramblers were swept by the Bulldogs during the regular season but showed that the 3rd time is the charm as they made the NCAA tourney for the 3rd time since 2018. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Loyola Chicago dancer Grace McClain about dealing with COVID protocols and winning the conference tourney.

You grew up in Phoenix and later moved to San Diego: what made you choose Loyola Chicago? I had an aunt who went to Loyola and she told me all about the culture. My mom is from Chicago and I love the city. This is a great school and it invests so much in its students.

How did you 1st get into dancing, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since I was 10 years old and was on the dance team in both high school/college. My favorite part is the team aspect: bonding with everyone and feeling proud of myself and my teammates about what we accomplish every day.

What do you think the role of a college dancer is today, and how has it changed over time? It has definitely changed. In the past it was more stereotypical of just cheering on your team at games (which is something we focus on), but the dance world has changed so much and become more advanced. We are invested in winning a national title every year and are working toward that while growing Loyola spirit. We try to get more recognition for the hard work we put in.

You are majoring in Psychology: why did you pick that subject, and what do you hope to do after graduating? I have always been interested in it, especially social psychology: how people react to/think about certain situations. I have a job set up at a supply chain company so I will be working in customer service, where psychology will definitely help. I will also take some dance classes and keep training.

What does the dance team do at basketball games during the season? We are cheering on the guys the entire time and staying sharp/clean while engaging the crowd because they are just as important as us. We do routines during timeouts/halftime and work with the band/cheer team.

How frustrating has it been to be a dancer for a great basketball team during a pandemic? It was definitely frustrating. We would like to engage as much as we can but COVID protocols do not always allow us to do that. We are trying to stay positive and things are looking up and hopefully we can engage this weekend.

Last Sunday the Ramblers had a 6-PT win over Drake in the MVC tourney title game: how excited was everybody to win the conference tourney for the 2nd straight year? It was the most exciting win that I have ever experienced: I definitely cried! People were not really expecting it but I knew that we would pull it off. The energy was electric and we all believed in the team.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tournament? Our itinerary is not finalized but we will do a send-off for the team, which will be super-fun.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the tournament, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It is based on a point system as well as seniority: did you do extra workouts, extra volunteering, etc. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we will take in every second of it. I am excited: whether we win or lose it will be a great weekend.

How do you feel about going to Pittsburgh to face Ohio State, and any predictions? I think that we can beat the Buckeyes. Everyone is really excited/hopeful. We feel really prepared on the band/cheer/dance team and the basketball team treats every game like the Super Bowl.

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On March 6 Longwood beat Winthrop 79-58 in the Big South tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Lancers finished December 7-5 before winning 19 of their last 20 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #3 seed Tennessee in Indianapolis on Thursday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Longwood cheerleader Makayla Whittaker about being a captain and winning the conference tourney.

You grew up in Virginia: what made you choose Longwood? It was my backup school because I wanted to go out of state, but once I got here it felt like home. The community is so close and the class sizes are smaller.

How did you 1st get into cheerleading, and what is the best part? I did gymnastics/dance when I was younger but in high school I tried out for the cheer team. I wanted to get more involved after coming to college and I ended up making the team as a freshman. I have loved every second of it and the best part is that I have grown so much in terms of my skills.

You have been on the cheer team for 3 years and are now a captain: what is the key to being a good leader? You need to be a role model and act how you would want others to act toward you. There are 4 people in a stunt group and everyone has a job to do so you need to work together and understand each other to make sure that nothing goes wrong. Communication is key so that we are all on the same page and you need to want the best for everyone. I set a high standard for myself and want to elevate the entire team and make sure we are hitting our goals. We have big dreams and want to accomplish them. It does take a lot of time but is totally worth it.

What do you think the role of a college cheerleader is today, and how has it changed over time? Our school is very small so we have been able to show our faces at a lot of events like a send-off or a ribbon-cutting. It is a big duty to represent the school at games so we plan our routines/practice/lift. We are there to support the team as well as get the fans loud so we did more crowd-involvement this season. We got a new coach this year and her key word is “elevate”: we are trying to grow bigger and become more competitive with the bigger schools. Our stunting this year has been more complex.

How frustrating has it been to be a cheerleader for a great basketball team during a pandemic? Last year we could not attend games so it was just a building year to grow stronger as a team. It was a downer to not support our team in person and was very frustrating, but we still did everything we could to show our spirit around campus.

You are majoring in Kinesiology/Exercise Science: why did you pick those subjects, and what do you hope to do after graduating? I was originally a special education major because I love being around children, but deep down I wanted to be in the medical field. There are so many opportunities I will have with this major but I would like to do sports medicine for children. My mom is in the medical field so I guess I got my passion from her: I am very excited about the future. I would love to move out of Virginia: maybe somewhere like Georgia that has a hospital that does sports medicine. I have some big dreams and am very determined to reach them.

Last Sunday the Lancers had a 21-PT win over Winthrop in the Big South tourney title game: how excited was everybody to win the conference tourney for the very 1st time? It was so exciting! I am so grateful that we got to be there to see it in person. It shows you how important our small community is: a lot of fans were there and we helped get them rowdy. There was also a nice welcome-back as the buses rolled back into campus.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tournament, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Since our men AND women both made it we had to divide our own team in half. We would love to all be at both but we want to support both teams: half of us leave today for the men’s tourney in Indianapolis and the other half (including me) leave tomorrow for Raleigh. We will have 2 full stunt groups at each tourney with a couple of floaters. We have been practicing our routines/chants/signs to get the crowd involved.

Your women’s team also won its own conference tourney: is this the greatest week in the history of your school?! We definitely made some history with both teams winning their respective Big South tourneys. It is something you dream of happening and set as a goal, but never thought you would be the one to accomplish this amazing achievement and actually be part of the NCAA tournament. I cannot wait to see how they both do this week!

Any predictions? I think that both teams will win! I would love to see them keep going and see how far they can get: anything is possible so Go Lancers!!

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Last Saturday Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beat Southeastern Louisiana 73-65 in the Southland tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Islanders started conference play 3-6 before winning 7 of their last 8 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face fellow #16 seed Texas Southern in Dayton tonight. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi dancer Lissa Hoelscher about winning the conference tourney and her prediction for tonight.

What made you choose Texas A&M-Corpus Christi? I love the beach and chose the school because I love the professional style of the dance team.

How did you 1st get into dancing, and what is the best part? I watched my older sister take ballet lessons when I was about 2 years old, then took my 1st class soon after that. The best part is the growing process: no matter what level you are at there is always an opportunity to get better as a dancer/person. Performing is an amazing adrenaline rush.

You are captain of the dance team: what is the key to being a good leader? Your confidence and being sure of yourself. If you are unsure then the team will feel the same way, which is the last thing you want as a performer.

What do you think the role of a college dancer is today, and how has it changed over time? I think the world of college dancing: everything is bigger and is becoming more athletic. We look at what dancers for pro teams are doing and trying to mimic their style.

What are you majoring in Biology with a concentration in Education: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? If you want to teach anatomy/physiology then that is what you need to major in. I would also like to teach dance classes and become a drill-team director.

How frustrating has it been to be a dancer for a great basketball team during a pandemic? I am always grateful for the opportunities that we have, but the most frustrating part was the amount of COVID testing: it requires us to allocate a lot of extra time. Dancing with a mask on has also been a huge challenge. We like to be on top of everything during practice but sometimes we do not know how certain events will run due to different guidelines.

Last Saturday in the Southland tourney title game the Islanders had an 8-PT win over Southeastern Louisiana: how excited was everybody to see them make the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2007? I was so excited: I even cried a little bit! It was really cool to see Coach Lutz utilize his players and see them build such great chemistry: it was an incredible feeling.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tournament, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It depends on who has midterms and where we are as dancers. To perform on such a large stage is amazing: I have been dreaming of doing something like this my entire life and it is indescribable. I would like to become an NBA/NFL dancer someday.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA Tournament? We are just going to do our normal gameday thing. We give it our all at every game and will cheer the team on like there is no tomorrow. We will yell loud and dance big and have a very crowd-interactive routine.

How do you feel about going to Dayton to face Texas Southern, and any predictions? I feel amazing because it is a dream come true and I am extremely grateful that the basketball team has allowed us to go this far. My prediction is that we will leave it all out on the floor. I think we will win and have a lot of faith in our team.

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Last Sunday Iowa beat Purdue 75-66 in the Big 10 tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes lost 4 of their final 7 games in January but have been near-unstoppable since then by winning 12 of their last 14 games to make the NCAA tourney yet again, where they will face #12 seed Richmond on Thursday in Buffalo. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Iowa SR Filip Rebraca about the reigning NBA MVP and winning the conference tourney.

You were born in Italy/raised in Serbia: how big is basketball overseas? I sepnt time living in the US/Greece as well. Basketball is pretty huge, especially in Serbia. They have a rich history and the country leans toward the sport during hard times such as during war/hardship.

You are from the same hometown as NBA MVP Nikola Jokic: what is he like, and are we going to see you 2 as Olympic teammates anytime soon? Every time I see him I definitely say hi. He is down to earth and a humble guy who keeps to his own hobbies such as horse racing. It would be a dream come true to be his teammate but 1st I have to make the Olympic team! My dad actually won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics.

You began your college career at North Dakota, where you set a school record with 20 double-doubles: how do you balance your scoring with your rebounding? I focus on both. Rebounding is a key part of the game but not a lot of people understand how important it is. I had teammates who ran a lot of plays for me and they trusted me to score.

Why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Iowa? I had to leave because my masters’ program was online and coming from a foreign country I needed to take an in-person program instead. I also wanted to win games and make the NCAA tourney…and here we are as Big 10 champs! It is great to play in a system where I can develop my game.

You play for Coach Fran McCaffery: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you learned from him this year? His experience/knowledge and the confidence he instills in his players. He talks to me every day about being more aggressive and not being hard on myself. He taught me how to stay positive.

Last Sunday in the Big 10 tourney title game you scored 3 PTS in a 9-PT win over Purdue: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? We lost to them twice during the regular season so it felt really good to get some revenge at the most important time of the season. The locker room was surreal: it is all a blur so I do not think I fully processed it until today.

Your teammate Keegan Murray finished 4th in the nation in scoring with 23.6 PPG, and your teammate Jordan Bohannon has played more games than anyone in the history of the sport (178): how crucial have both of them been to your team’s success? They have been very crucial. Keegan is our leader and we lean on him in crucial moments. He is also 1 of our best rebounders/defenders. Jordan has so much experience that he is our “voice of reason”: he has been through a lot of big-time moments and succeeded so we follow him. Do not forget about Connor McCaffery: he is our unsung hero.

You already have a degree in economics and are now pursuing a masters’ degree in finance: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? Growing up my dad got into business after retiring from basketball, which made me want to learn more about managing money wisely. I was pretty good at it and just stuck with it. I want to play basketball as long as I can because there are only so many years that players are able to do so.

Your father Zeljko is 7’ tall and played pro basketball in the NBA and overseas: who is the best athlete in the family? Definitely him! His success at the club level/national level is great so the younger generation has a lot of work to do to catch up to him.

How do you feel about being a #5 seed, and what do you know about Richmond? Richmond is 1 of the most experienced teams in the country so I know they will give us a battle. I feel that we could have received a higher seed but we won our title about 30 minutes before the Selection Show. We just need to be prepared.

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The best week of the year is finally here! This is the time when we ponder the impact of McDonald’s All-Americans, the importance of having a veteran coach, and exactly how many different “Wildcats” can make the Final 4. For those of you who need some last-minute bracket advice grounded in historical facts/trends, please see below for our Sweetest 16 Suggestions. For the rest of you, enjoy the Madness!!

TIP #1: No team that lost its opening game in its conference tournament has ever gone on to win the NCAA title that same year.
STRATEGY: The extra few days of rest have not proven helpful in the past so take a long hard look at Baylor (lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 tourney quarterfinals) before penciling them in as your champ.

TIP #2: Since 1979 only 3 national champions did not have a McDonald’s All-American on their roster (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor).
STRATEGY: A coach who cannot recruit the best high school players usually fails to win it all so beware of picking Arizona to go all the way.

TIP #3: The last coach to win a title in his very 1st year as coach at a school was Tubby Smith at Kentucky in 1998.
STRATEGY: History is not on the side of Texas Tech coach Mark Adams.

TIP #4: Since UNLV from the Big West won it all in 1990, 29 of the past 30 champs have come from a power-conference (except for UConn from the AAC in 2014): ACC (11), SEC (6), Big East (7), Pac-12 (2), Big 12 (2), Big 10 (1).
STRATEGY: You might want to think twice before picking anyone from the MWC/WCC to win it all.

TIP #5: Only 3 coaches with 4 or fewer prior tournament appearances have won the title since 1985 (Steve Fisher/Tom Izzo/Kevin Ollie).
STRATEGY: Teams like Arkansas (Eric Musselman has 4 prior tourney appearances)/Connecticut (Dan Hurley has 3 prior tourney appearances) might need a little more seasoning before they can win it all.

TIP #6: Each champ since 2002 had a strength of schedule that was among the top-75 in the nation.
STRATEGY: You have to play the best to learn how to beat the best you might want to stay away from Boise State (SOS of 82)/Colorado State (SOS of 85).

TIP #7: There are 5 active coaches who have won at least 70% of their NCAA tournament games (minimum 5 wins).
STRATEGY: Do not expect Chris Beard of Texas (71.4%)/Tom Izzo of Michigan State (70.3%) to be catching an early flight home.

TIP #8: There are 5 schools who have won at least 90% of their games in the round of 64 (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Auburn (9-1)/Duke (30-4) are near-automatic in their opening games.

TIP #9: There are 9 schools who have won at least 75% of their games in the round of 32 (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Arizona (18-4) is looking good vs. the Seton Hall-TCU winner if they can win their 1st round game, and if not then Kentucky (28-7) is not a bad alternative.

TIP #10: There are 7 schools who have won at least 75% of their Sweet 16 games (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Michigan (14-3) Providence (4-1) have played great in their Sweet 16 games so Tennessee/Iowa should beware.

TIP #11: There are 10 schools who have won at least 70% of their Elite 8 games (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Keep an eye out for some upsets in case either Houston (6-0)/Ohio State (11-4) can make it to the 2nd Sunday.

TIP #12: There are 5 schools who have won at least 70% of their Final 4 games (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Kentucky is 12-5 in the Final 4 so if you pick them to survive the East Region then you might want to pick them to get all the way to the title game.

TIP #13: There are 13 schools who are undefeated in their NCAA tournament games in a specific state (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Wisconsin must be thrilled with their trip to Milwaukee because they are 5-1 all-time in the state of Wisconsin.

TIP #14: There are 7 schools who have won at least 70% of their NCAA tournament games as an at-large team (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Do not sleep on San Francisco because even though they did not win the WCC tourney they still have a terrific track record when they do not get an automatic bid (5-1).

TIP #15: Only 3 teams have won an NCAA title after not being in the tournament the previous year it was held (1986 Louisville/2003 Syracuse/2014 UConn).
STRATEGY: Arizona (no postseason in 2021)/Duke (no postseason in 2021) are certainly ready for primetime…but might not be ready to go all the way.

TIP #16: Murray State has played in the most NCAA tournaments (17) without ever making the Sweet 16.
STRATEGY: The Racers have also not been a single-digit seed in a decade so maybe this is the year they break the streak?

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Last Sunday Delaware beat Drexel 63-59 in the CAA women’s tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Dragons did not win a single game in December and lost their regular season finale at JMU but won 3 games in 3 days to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #4 seed Maryland in College Park on Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Delaware SR Jasmine Dickey about being a great scorer and winning the conference tourney.

You were born/raised in Baltimore: what made you choose Delaware? It is close to home and I got attached to the coaches and their family-oriented group.

You play for Coach Natasha Adair: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you ever learned from her? She is very loyal and works very hard. She taught me not to give up and keep working hard everyday because our time is coming.

You are majoring in sports health: why did you pick that subject, and what is the post-graduation plan? I got into it in high school and stuck with it in college. I have a minor in strength/conditioning and would like to get into personal training som.

Last year you were named conference POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was pretty cool! I was working hard to get that.

You did not win a single game in December: how were you able to turn things around in January? Staying in the gym and fixing things that we had to work on (both offensively/defensively) to improve.

Last year you led the conference with 67 STL and were top-10 in the nation with 4.5 offensive RPG, and this year your 25.1 PPG is #2 in the nation: how do you balance all of the different aspects of your game? Just staying positive/humble and feeding off of the energy of my teammates. The biggest key is to put in the work because that is how I got to where I am at today.

Last month you scored a career-high 52 PTS/18-33 FG/13-14 FT in a win over Charleston: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes: the basket seemed wide open and my teammates fed off of that.

Last Sunday in the CAA tourney title game you had 27 PTS/18 REB in a 4-PT win over Drexel: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what did it mean to you to win a title? I just had that winning mindset. Earlier this year we watched Kevin Garnett’s documentary “Anything Is Possible” and it taught me the mentality you need to be a champion.

Your men’s team won its own conference tourney last week: where does this rank among the greatest weeks in school history? It was a pretty cool week. The guys were having their watch party for the Selection Show: when we walked in with our own trophy they gave us a standing ovation!

How do you feel about being a #13 seed, and how many family/friends will you have cheering you on in person at Maryland on Friday? It feels good and is another opportunity for me and my teammates to keep playing. I am excited for everybody to be there and am ready to work hard: I hope we have a really good crowd.

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Last Monday Georgia State beat Louisiana 80-71 in the Sun Belt tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Panthers started conference play 2-5 before winning each of their last 10 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #1 seed Gonzaga in Portland on Thursday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Georgia State dancer Emily Matzick about performing at the Super Bowl and winning the conference tourney.

You grew up in Georgia: what made you choose Georgia State? Growing up I always wanted to live in a big city. What better city or school than Georgia State because it is in the heart of Atlanta.

You are majoring in Early Childhood Education: why did you choose that subject, and what is the post-graduation plan? Teachers made such an impact on me growing up and I wanted to be that role model for other people. I always loved school and my coaches so I wanted to follow in those footsteps to become a teacher/coach. After school, I have a summer teaching job lined up already, but I am considering other outlets within academic advising in athletics.

You have been a dancer for a long time: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? Growing up, I was always playing dress-up and dancing around the grocery store or in my house. There was a studio next to the daycare that I went to and it worked out that I was able to start when I turned three. The best part of dance are the performances because you are able to showcase what you have spent your time working on.

You have been on the Pantherettes dance team for 4 years and a captain for 2 years: what is the key to being a good leader? Being supportive in every aspect. We are dancers who love cheering on our athletes, but there is so much more that goes into being a Pantherette. It is important to be there for the team in many different ways between grades, jobs, and internships. We have to be able to do our best off the court/field to be the best on it!

The Panthers made the 2019 NCAA tournament before losing to Houston: what are your memories of your trip to Tulsa? I was a freshman who was lucky enough to attend as a first-year rookie. I was in awe of the atmosphere as well as trying to soak up every part of the experience. I remember attending the team’s open practice and getting to see the inside of the BOK Center where we would be cheering on our Panthers.

You previously performed at the Super Bowl: what was that experience like? Being a part of the Super Bowl was such a unique experience. It was cool to see the “other side” of the halftime show. To see how they planned and practiced the performance that millions of people watch. We practiced for a full week leading up to the show. We met off-site and then were escorted to the field to perform.

Last Monday in the Sun Belt tourney title game the Panthers had a 9-PT win over Louisiana: what is the atmosphere like on campus this week after winning the title? I am not currently attending classes on campus because of my teaching internship. However, I heard that the campus was excited and happy to see another conference championship be brought home.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? The travel team is picked based on seniority as well as availability. It means so much to us to be able to keep cheering on our Panthers as we continue into March Madness!

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA Tournament next week? We plan to be loud, excited, and ready to help our Panthers keep their momentum going strong to more victories.

Any predictions for next week? Our team is on a good streak right now and our guys have great chemistry! They showed up and showed out at the Sun Belt Conference and I have full confidence they can keep it going.

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Last Saturday Hawaii beat UC-Irvine 59-48 in the Big West women’s tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Rainbow Wahine won exactly 1 game in December but got hot at the right time and won each of their last 8 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #2 seed Baylor in Waco on Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Hawaii coach Laura Beeman about winning 500 games and making it back to the NCAA tourney.

You played basketball at Cal State San Bernardino, where you set school records for AST in a game/season/career: what is the key to being a great PG? Listening to your coach: I am kidding! You have to think about the game a bit: it is a lot about sharing the ball, being a great voice, and making your teammates look good.

How did you 1st get into coaching? It was 1 of those sliding doors and I chose the correct 1. I really had no clue what I wanted to do with my life after graduating. I got a call from the coach at Redlands who invited me to become a grad assistant and they would pay for my masters’ degree. I was there for a couple of years and became a head coach at Mt. San Antonio a couple of years after that.

In the 2011 WNIT title game as an assistant to Michael Cooper at USC you had an 8-PT loss to Toledo: how did you like working for a 5-time NBA champion? I truly loved it because he is an amazing guy who treated me very well. He taught me so much about basketball: as great a player as Coop was, he was never demeaning/degrading and just wanted to share his knowledge. I got to be a fly on the wall and see how he did it.

In the 2016 NCAA tourney as head coach at Hawaii you had a loss at UCLA: what did you learn from your prior trip to the tourney that you think will help you this year? Experience is the best teacher because you do not know what you do not know! My assistant Alex Delanian and I have been there before and know about the excitement/jitters. The hard part is to win more regular season games next time so that we can get a better seed. We only have an upside because there is no pressure on us.

You have won more than 500 games during your career: what makes you such a good coach? I am old! I have been fortunate to have really great players and assistants who are strong where I am weak. They let me do what I am good at and this team has been incredibly special. We had 9 new players and it has been pretty fun down the stretch and rewarding for everyone.

You were inducted into the Cal State San Bernardino Hall of Fame in 2017 and the California Community College Hall of Fame in 2019: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? To be a part of such prestigious organizations means a lot. I was a decent college player but had great people around me to help with my success. I love seeing my players graduate and go on to have great careers/families, which ranks up there as well, as well as my 1st title at Mt. Sac.

You went more than a month this season from December 6-January 7 without winning a single game: how were you able to turn things around 3 weeks ago and win each of your final 8 games? That was a tough time. Our COVID protocols here in Hawaii were very different than in the rest of the US. We were not even allowed to have a scout team, which was challenging. We were wearing masks and could only have a certain # of kids on the floor at 1 time so we could not build chemistry or play 5-on-5 in open gyms. The biggest challenge at the time was to take a deep breath because we had the right pieces, and eventually they saw it work. It took us time to develop/grow because our requirements have been incredibly difficult but the team bought in and believed in what we could be.

Last Saturday in the Big West tourney title game you had a win over UC-Irvine: how were you able to become the 1st Rainbow Wahine team to ever win both the regular season/tournament titles in the same season? We get great support from our fans/administration and they give us everything they possibly can. The 2nd part is the kids: they believe in 1 another and do not want our season to end. We kept preaching that they would have to earn everything because nobody would give us anything: it has been really impressive and they show mad respect to our opponents.

SR F Amy Atwell leads your team in a variety of stat categories this year (PPG/RPG/3PM/FT%/STL): where does she rank among the best all-around players that you have ever coached? I had some great players who turned pro but Amy is absolutely up there. She has overcome an ACL injury and all of the COVID stuff but finally made the commitment to being in the best shape possible. She will leave a huge legacy at our program, which has really set her apart.

How do you feel about being a #15 seed, and what do you know about Baylor? I know they are very good. They have a top WNBA draft pick in NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo will also be a difficult matchup for us. They fly down the court in transition so we will have to play the best basketball we have played all year. Coach Nicki Collen knows what they are doing and playing in Waco will be a challenge for us…but we did not come this far to roll over. I just hope the lights are not too bright for us.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

CLICK HERE for the latest UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast

-For Jon Teitel’s interview with McDonald’s All-American Kel’el Ware – CLICK HERE

-Coming into yesterday Houston was just 3pts away from being undefeated on the season. That number has now shot all the way up to 5pts away. They led at SMU for much of the game, but SMU kept it within reach, then drew even, then went ahead, and managed to pull out the 85-83 upset. For Houston this is a setback, but not much of one. They are still very solidly a protected seed and their potential is every bit the same as it was before yesterday. As for SMU, this gives their resume a huge boost and suddenly the bubble is within reach.

-Oklahoma had been sinking in the quicksand until yesterday when they beat Texas Tech rather handily at home 70-55. Texas Tech has a solid overall resume, but could use a few more true road wins to cement the fact that they deserve a really good seed.

-Rutgers can beat highly ranked teams at home. They are one of the few teams that has multiple wins against the top 25 and multiple losses to teams outside the top 200l they came from behind late in the game to knock off Ohio State 66-64, and you have to think that as crazy as it is, they actually have a shot at making the field.

-Seton Hall had been in a bit of a tailspin, but had a nice win at home against Xavier yesterday 73-71. Xavier played well in the second half, but couldn’t quite get over the hump.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-SOUTHERN MISS AT UAB (Conference USA). UAB has a slim shot at landing inside the bubble, but they basically need to win out in order to do it.

-IOWA AT MARYLAND (Big Ten). Iowa is slipping down the seedlist and needs to resuscitate it. A road win at Maryland isn’t exactly a win that screams #1 seed, but it will at least serve as a stabilizing win.

-DUKE AT CLEMSON (ACC). Duke is coming off a surprising home loss to Virginia, which will probably knock them off the #1 line (at least for now). This is a winnable road game that can allow them to bounce back.

-MOREHEAD STATE AT BELMONT (Ohio Valley). Belmont has a path to landing inside the bubble, but anything short of winning out won’t be enough. One of their losses was at Morehead State earlier this season, so they need to take care of business at home tonight.

-MURRAY STATE AT TENNESSEE STATE (Ohio Valley). Murray State has cracked the rankings and should make the field even if they don’t win the conference tournament barring a collapse.

-PACIFIC AT GONZAGA (West Coast). This is a conference game that should end up looking like a buy game, and with Auburn’s loss earlier in the week Gonzaga should slide into the #1 ranking if they win both their games this week.

-PURDUE AT MICHIGAN (Big Ten). Michigan has been disappointing this year, but is still very talented and still has the pieces to pull off an upset like this if they can just pull themselves together. Purdue is having an crazy good season and is on a current pace to get a #1 seed.

-ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac 12). Wazzu is a team that seems like can be be better than what they are, and that they’re good enough to win a few big games and get themselves onto the bubble, and even inside of it. But until that happens, they’ll remain on the outside looking in. Arizona is clearly a protected seed and has an outside shot at ending up as a #1 seed. This is a tough but winnable road game for them.

-SAN DIEGO AT SANT MARY’S (West Coast). Saint Mary’s has been playing well, but is also coming off a loss to Santa Clara and looking to rebound. They should have no trouble doing that today against San Diego.

-STANFORD AT OREGON (Pac 12). Oregon is inside our bubble but has a lot of room to improve. Stanford is outside our bubble, and seemingly every time they play their way into a good position they end up getting blown out. They need this one tonight.

-NEW MEXICO STATE AT DIXIE STATE (WAC). If New Mexico State wins out they will get a serious look from the committee. Anything short of that and they’ll need the auto-bid, and even winning out may not be enough.

-BYU AT LMU (West Coast). BYU has lost four straight and cannot afford to lose this one. If they do their NCAA Tournament hopes could be in jeopardy.

-PEPPERDINE AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast). San Francsisco’s path to the NCAA Tournament got a little wider when they beat BYU, but then became narrow again when they lost to Portland. Every game the rest of the way will have a pivotal feel to it, and they certainly can’t afford to lose this one tonight.

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If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Kel’el Ware about being named a McDonald’s All-American and turning down a LOT of money.

In the summer of 2020 you were not even a top-100 national prospect but now you are among the best players in the country: how have you been able to improve so much over the past 18 months? Just playing AAU ball and getting some more exposure.

Last spring you had 19 PTS/8 REB and were named MVP of the Class 6A state title game after a 10-PT win over Little Rock Central: what did it mean to you to win a title? It meant a lot because not very many people can say they won a state title.

What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? The breaks we have to take are the toughest part: we cannot always do everything that we used to do.

You received offers from several great schools including Arkansas/Auburn but committed to Oregon last August: what was the biggest factor in your decision? I really liked the environment in Eugene and had a great vibe when I talked with the coaches. I watched film of what they have done with big men in the past and I feel that I can be a great asset.

You are part of a great recruiting class including Dior Johnson/Tyrone Williams: how well do you know either of them, and what makes them such great players? I do not know Tyrone well but am starting to get to know him more and more. I know Dior better: he is a great ball-handler/playmaker so I know that he will be able to get me the ball.

I heard that you allegedly turned down a $900,000 contract with Overtime Elite to attend college next year: is that true, and do you have any regrets? It is true…and I do not have any regrets.

Last November you had 15 PTS/21 REB/18 BLK in a win over Maumelle: where does that rank among the greatest all-around games of your career? It is in the top-5.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to me because there are not a lot of people who can get to that level: it is a great honor.

Your teammate Nick Smith Jr., who Draft Express recently named the top NBA prospect in the Class of 2022, was also named a McDonald’s All-American: how did you guys lose any games this season with so much talent on the court, and how do you think he will do at Arkansas? I think Nick will do great at Arkansas due to how he plays. We are having a great season but need to pick it up.

You are 7’: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play center now and plan to do the same in college but can play anywhere on the floor.

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Tonight’s feature conference is the Northeast Conference, which has always been one of our favorites. Wagner is the standout team, but Bryant isn’t far behind them. It promises to be an exciting finish to the season.

We run through the other 21 leagues and discuss Vermont’s dominance of the America East, how Longwood is still unbeaten in Big South play, the at-large chances of Loyola Chicago, Iona, North Texas, UAB, and New Mexico State, how close the SWAC and Sun Belt are with as many as five teams still being able to win the league, and much more. And, as we do every week, we close with this week’s UTR Top Ten.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/UTR-2-9-22-Audio-Only.mp3

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If you want to win an NCAA title you usually need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The McDonald’s All-American Game has been canceled during each of the past 2 years due to COVID but hopefully the 3rd time is indeed the charm to see everyone back on the court in Chicago on March 29th. The rosters were announced on January 25th after selecting the 24 best high school basketball players in the nation from a list of almost 800 nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact this fall just ask Coach Bruce Pearl how he likes having 2021 honoree Jabari Smith at Auburn! Duke seems to be the big winner so far as Coach Jon Scheyer will inherit a trio of 2022 honorees to join him in Durham next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Nick Smith Jr. about being named a McDonald’s All-American and his future school’s huge upset win last night.

Last summer you scored 31 PTS/10-18 FG for the Brad Beal Elite AAU team in a 3-PT loss to Team Final in the Peach Jam finals: how close did you come to winning it all, and how do you feel about facing your AAU teammate Brandon Miller in the SEC next year when he is at Alabama? We had a very good team and I would not be where I am today without them. It will be emotional to face Brandon because we are best friends but when we get on the court we will both try to win.

You played at Sylvan Hills for your 1st 3 years of high school: why did you switch to North Little Rock for your senior year, and how has it worked out so far? My family made a decision to move districts so I had no choice. It is working out well so far (his team is currently 19-3).

What has been the hardest part of being a high school basketball player during a pandemic? It has not been that hard: you just have to continue to work on your game so that you are prepared when you get to the next level.

You received offers from several great schools including Alabama/Auburn/Kansas but committed to Arkansas last September: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how excited were you to watch them upset Auburn last night? Coach Musselman: he has a great program. I knew that it would be a dogfight yesterday: it was a big game for both the school as well as the whole state. They just have to keep it rolling with home games against Tennessee/Kentucky coming up later this month.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It is a great honor because there are only so many guys who get that opportunity. I feel like I am doing something right but being a McDonald’s All-American it is not my ultimate goal so I will keep working.

Your teammate Kel’el Ware was also named a McDonald’s All-American: how did you guys lose any games this season with so much talent on the court, and did he really turn down a $900,000 contract from Overtime Elite to attend Oregon next year?! I am not sure what he turned down so you will have to ask him yourself. We have had a successful year but it is hard to maintain our focus on winning a state title with all the attention that we have received.

You are part of 1 of the best recruiting classes in the nation thanks to the Razorbacks bringing in another McDonald’s All-American next year in Jordan Walsh: how well do you know him, and what makes him such a good player? He is a versatile guy who can play any position and is a great defender. We both are dogs and we talk to each other a lot on the phone: it will be fun to play with him.

You are 6’4”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? Right now I am a combo guard and it will be the same in college.

Last month Draft Express named you the top NBA prospect in the Class of 2022: what would it mean to you to eventually get drafted by an NBA team? Those are just mock drafts so it does not mean anything right now. I will just keep working hard to try to reach the NBA eventually.

There was a viral video last October of you destroying some fraternity guys in a pick-up game in Fayetteville (www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhB3WRhTuoc): are you going to give them a rematch this fall? No: I am cool on that!

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CLICK HERE for Jon Teitel’s Interview with Phil Martelli in regards to Jameer Nelson

NEWS AND NOTES:

-Auburn’s winning streak is finally over. It took an awful night from the freethrow line, an Arkansas team that was red hot, a crowd that was absolutely bonkers, and overtime, but someone finally knocked off Auburn. Despite the loss, I thought the Tigers played a lot better in this game than they did in their near upset loss at Georgia. I actually don’t even think this knocks them off the #1 line. It was more of a really good win for Arkansas (even though they were at home) than it was a damaging loss for Auburn.

-It was a big night in the big ten with the top four teams all squaring off against each other. All four are in position to earn protected seeds. Purdue ran away from Illinois at home 84-68, which really won’t set the Illini back too much. Winning at Purdue is a Herculean task. Wisconsin got a really big win at Michigan State. The Spartans are backpedalling a little bit while Wisky is looking at potentially landing on the top two lines.

-Villanova had to sweat a little bit, but got the 75-69 win at Saint John’s. Nova has looked great at times this season, but not all of the time.

-Saint Mary’s had a tough game last night at Santa Clara and ended up coming up short. SMC had really been on a tear, and while Santa Clara is outside the bubble (for now) they’ve been tough to beat this year, especially at home, and are playing really well now. They can still make a run at the bubble.

-I’ve been beating up on North Carolina all season long, but I’ll give credit where credit is due. They had a decent win at Clemson last night. Clemson is not a tournament team by any stretch of the imagination, and they need to do a little more than just win at Clemson, but Clemson was 8-2 at home coming into this one, and UNC picked up a decent win, which is something they haven’t done very often this year.

-West Virginia snapped their seven game losing streak in dramatic fashion as they blew Iowa State’s doors off 79-63. Iowa State is now starting to drown a little bit as they are now 3-8 in conference. If WVU can string together a few more wins they should get back inside the bubble.

-Toledo will be a dangerous team in the Round of 64 if they can get there. They’ll probably need the automatic bid to do it, but I get the sense they are an example of an Under the Radar team that’s better than their paper. They beat a pretty good Ohio U team rather handily yesterday 77-62.

-Wyoming’s winning streak continues as they held off Utah State in overtime at home last night 78-76. Had Utah State pulled off this win we’d be seriously talking about them for an at-large bid.

-Indiana lost on the road. Again. This time to Northwestern 59-51. They are still inside the bubble, but their resume is rather flimsy, and the lack of road wins isn’t helping them.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-GEORGIA AT FLORIDA (SEC). Florida is straddling the bubble and can’t afford to lose at home to a team that’s as bad as Georgia.

-HOUSTON AT SMU (American). Houston is in my opinion one of the ten best teams in the country even if the top of their resume is a little light. This won’t be an easy road game to win, and SMU still has an outside shot at making a run at the bubble, but Houston is good enough to win games like this.

-OHIO STATE AT RUTGERS (Big Ten). This would be a good road win for Ohio State. They have a pretty good resume, and Rutgers is nowhere near the field, but Rutgers has proven to be very tough to beat at home this year.

-XAVIER AT SETON HALL (Big East). You get the sense that both of these teams are in a bit of a tailspin. I don’t think it’s quite to the point of either of them needing to panic, but it is to a point to where both teams need to have a sense of urgency coming into this one.

-WAKE FOREST AT NC STATE (ACC). Wake Forest is right on our bubble, and it’s kind of hard to ignore a team that’s cracked the top 25. NC State isn’t that good, so this is a road game that Wake should be expected to win.

-GEORGIA TECH AT MIAMI FL (ACC). We have Miami FL inside our bubble, and they will stay there so long as they can continue to hold serve and avoid losses in games like this one.

-LOUISVILLE AT NOTRE DAME (ACC). Notre Dame needs to finish strong, but they are in a stretch where they have been playing really well and where their resume is steadily improving. They’ve got a winnable game at home tonight and need to hold serve.

-SAINT JOSEPH’S AT DAVIDSON (Atlantic Ten). Davidson is well inside the bubble and should stay there so long as they hold serve the rest of the way.

-BAYLOR AT KANSAS STATE (Big 12). Baylor has fallen down to our #2 line, but their ceiling is just as high now as it has ever been even if they haven’t always played up to it, and this should be a winnable road game for them.

-ALABAMA AT OLE MISS (SEC). Most of Alabama’s resume is solid, but there is one area where it is severely lacking, and that is when it comes to true road wins. This is a winnable road game. They need to win it. It’s as simple as that.

-TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA (Big 12). Oklahoma’s tournament chances appear to be on life support, but they can bounce back really quickly if they’re able to pick up this win. Texas Tech has been playing really well, but could use a few more road wins on their resume to really round it out and make it look like a 100% solid protected seed resume.

-TENNESSEE AT MISSISSIPPI STATE (SEC). Tennessee is in good shape. This is a tough but winnable road game for them.

-LOYOLA CHICAGO AT BRADLEY (Missouri Valley). Loyola has looked really good in their last couple of games and will want to keep that because any loss against non-tournament caliber teams, which is pretty much the whole league, will poke holes in their resume.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State is squarely on the bubble and needs to avoid a loss tonight.

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The national POY award is often given to a player from a major conference (Duke’s Zion Williamson, Kentucky’s Anthony Davis, etc.), but occasionally a guy from outside the top conferences plays so well that there is no choice but to give it to him instead (Dayton’s Obi Toppin, La Salle’s Lionel Simmons, etc.). 18 years ago it was Jameer Nelson from St. Joseph’s, who had a sensational season (20.6 PPG/5.3 APG/2.8 SPG) and won every piece of hardware imaginable: Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award/Wooden Award/Naismith Award/Oscar Robertson Trophy/etc. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jameer’s college coach Phil Martelli about his former star player and what they accomplished together. Today is Jameer’s 40th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

In 2001 Jameer was named national Freshman of the Year at St. Joseph’s: how was he able to come in and be so successful right from the start? He had gifts such as leadership and was a spectacular teammate. He was way beyond his years in terms of how he thought about the game and we had great players around him. It was God-given talent.

In 2004 he helped lead the Hawks to a 27-0 regular season record: how was the team able to stay focused for every single game that year? The players on that team never let it get bigger than a game. They competed every night and had the ability to focus on daily improvement without getting ahead of themselves. Jameer was the captain and we had great internal competition. Delonte West led us in AST for 2/3 of that year. They knew how to practice and knew how to rest.

In the Elite 8 that March he scored 17 PTS but John Lucas III made a 3-PT shot with 6.9 seconds left in a 2-PT win by Oklahoma State: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I do not really rank the wins or losses. That year we lost in the A-10 tourney title game at the end to Xavier: that loss (which snapped a 27-game winning streak) probably stayed with me the longest. We squeezed every ounce of talent out of our players and they deserved to be the champion. We were a little school and we all wanted to experience the Final 4.

He finished that season by being named national POY: what did it mean to him to win such an outstanding honor? To quote him, “I did not come back to school to be POY: I just wanted to be the best teammate I could.” Every award was nice but he always stated that he accepted it on behalf of his teammates. A lot of people say things like that but he really meant it. He had extraordinary grace and to this day is a revered teammate to the guys who played with him.

He still holds several school records including 2094 PTS/714 AST/256 STL: what is the key to being a good PG, and do you think that anyone will ever break his records? Do not forget most career wins! His season records could eventually be broken if they get on a run because that would mean 3-4 extra games each season. In terms of his career records, he was a once-in-a-lifetime player and is the greatest to ever play there. He is the standard in terms of captain/teammate/greatness. I try everyday to find 1 who can do it again, but my sense is that I was gifted by God once in my life.

In the summer of 2004 he was drafted 20th overall by Denver (3 spots behind Josh Smith) and then traded to Orlando: did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I sat there with him: he was the last player in the “green room” and could not believe that he was going to get to put on a hat and shake hands with David Stern. For some guys it is the end of the journey but he saw it as the start of his career. He was in the league almost 15 years and has continued to work since the day he was drafted.

In 2009 he was named an All-Star: how frustrating was it for him to miss the game due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder? He was crushed about that…but had the inner belief that it would happen again.

Take me through the 2009 playoffs:
He beat Cleveland in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals: how was he able to become the only team to ever beat LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals? No idea! LeBron is right there with the greatest ever and his playoff record speaks for itself, but the Magic had Dwight Howard/Stan Van Gundy. They were a tight team despite being banged up.

He lost to the Lakers in the Finals: what was it like to face Kobe Bryant/Phil Jackson with a title on the line? It hurt him to lose that series because to this day he still wants a ring. The Philly flavor of Kobe Bryant vs. Jameer resonated with him and he just tried to be healthy and contribute. He has always been confident rather than cocky, and I bet if you asked him today if they would have won a title if he was healthy that he would say yes.

His 5.2 APG remains in the top-125 in NBA history and his 1119 3PM remains in the top-100 in NBA history: how proud are you of all that he has accomplished? He is extraordinary about being a totally-engaged father and I think that he will be a standard for everyone in retirement. He has a burning desire to emulate his father Pete, who was a great man. He rakes the field for his daughter’s softball games and helps his son work on his basketball game. He will be fully engaged in whatever he does, be it parenting or owning a car dealership or something else. 1 of the greatest honors of my life is to call him my friend. To finish our texts to each other by saying we love each other is a gift that I do not take for granted.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? In the NBA he will be remembered as a pro’s pro: I view him as a guy like Elton Brand. At St. Joe’s he will be the greatest to ever play here, and in Philly he will be on the Mount Rushmore with guys like Lionel Simmons/Tom Gola.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

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-Virginia had not looked good at any point this season, but they looked good last night and picked up one of the more improbable wins all year. They went into Cameron and knocked off Duke 69-68. Virginia pretty much led the whole way, but Duke got the lead in the final minutes and appeared to have control, but a 3pt shot in the final seconds gave UVA the win. They still have a ways to go to make the field, but for the first time since November it seems possible!

-Kansas at Texas was a well played game. Kansas appeared to be in control as they held a 76-72 lead with less than a minute to go, but Texas scored the last 7pts of the game for teh 79-76 win.

-Toccoa Falls was back in action last night, but fell to Charelston Southern 97-60.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-NORTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON (ACC). North Carolina’s resume is one where they haven’t beaten anyone that’s likely to make the field, but also hasn’t lost to anyone that’s likely to miss it. Every game the rest of the way will have a pivotal feel to it.

-MARQUETTE AT UCONN (Big East). Both teams are still in the rankings, and while UConn has dropped two straight I still think they are good enough to earn a protected seed if they can get hot again. As for Marquette, a win today would be another high caliber road win.

-AUBURN AT ARKANSAS (SEC). Auburn struggled their last time out on the road and will have a much tougher test today against an Arkansas team that has been playing well lately and who will be jacked up for this one.

-KENTUCKY AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC). Kentucky has looked like one of the best teams in the country these last couple of weeks and they shouldn’t have too much trouble picking up another road win tonight.

-WISCONSIN AT MICHIGAN STATE (Big Ten). Both teams are good, both are potential/probable protected seeds, and this would be a big win on either team’s resume. Michigan State has struggled a bit with close wins against Wisconsin and Penn State, neither of whom are good, and a loss to Illinois (who is very good). This is a chance for them to pick up a big win at home and kind of snap out out if.

-OKLAHOMA STATE AT TCU (Big 12). TCU is coming off a somewhat surprising loss to Kansas State and needs to rebound, but they’re still trending up and they’ve got a winnable game at home tonight.

-IOWA STATE AT WEST VIRGINIA (Big 12). Iowa State is sinking a little bit and could really use this win tonight. West Virginia is absolutely drowning. They’re on a seven game losing streak and need to win this one tonight, as well as their next two, just to climb back into the picture.

-RHODE ISLAND AT VCU (Atlantic Ten). VCU is outside our bubble, but can make the field if they finish strong and stubbing their toes in games like this.

-SAINT LOUIS AT LA SALLE (Atlantic Ten). Saint Louis is another team that’s outside the bubble, but appears to have a path to making the field if they can finish strong.

-OHIO U AT TOLEDO (MAC). Neither team has much of a chance at getting an at-large, but both are really good teams. They appear to be the two best in the MAC, and either one would be tough to beat in the Round of 64.

-LSU AT TEXAS A&M (SEC). Both teams need this one. LSU has lost six of their last seven and is falling down the seedlist, and TAMU is outside the bubble with no notable wins on their resume right now.

-VILLANOVA AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East). Villanova is well within the range of a protected seed and will stay within that range after tonight if they can hold serve (and probably even if they can’t).

-ILLINOIS AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Illinois has really kicked it into gear lately and is coming off a really decisive and impressive road win at Indiana. If they can pick up this road win tonight their resume goes from looking good to looking DAMN good!

-BUTLER AT CREIGHTON (Big East). Creighton has looked slumpish in their last couple of games, so having a winnable game like this at home should help them out.

-UTAH STATE AT WYOMING (Mountain West). Wyoming has become red hot lately and will look to keep that momentum going with a win tonight. Utah State hasn’t been in the talk for an NCAA bid very much this year, but they can certainly get there if they can pull this win off tonight. It will definitely at least get them on the board.

-INDIANA AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten). Indiana appears to be on their way to making the field, but they could really use this road win as a means of continuing to go that way.

-PACIFIC AT USC. Buy game.

-PORTLAND AT SAN FRANCISCO (West Coast) . The Dons have gotten hot all of a sudden and should be able to hold serve in this one tonight.

-UCLA AT STANFORD (Pac 12). UCLA appears to be pretty safe for a protected seed at this point, and Stanford remains outside the bubble and needs to string together some big wins to get on the right side of it.

-SAINT MARY’S AT SANTA CLARA (West Coast). This one should be fun! Saint Mary’s has cracked the rankings and has been playing really well lately, and Santa Clara has shown signs of being really good as well. They still have a lot of work to do if they want to make the field, but a win tonight would be a big step in the right direction.

-COLORADO STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West). Colorado State is inside the bubble, but they aren’t cemented into it and can fall out of it if they were to go into a tailspin. This is a winnable road game, and avoiding a loss would be advisable.

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We begin tonight in the Mountain West, and how there are four teams that are currently inside the bubble and two more that can get there. Boise State just had their long winning streak snapped, but is still in excellent shape, and Wyoming had a fantastic week with wins over Boise, Colorado State, and at Fresno State.

We look at all of the other major conferences and discuss Duke’s upset loss at home to Virginia and how that probably knocks Duke off the #1 line, if they were even there to begin with. Wake Forest and North Carolina are fighting to improve their Tournament resumes. UCLA had a surprising loss to Arizona State out in the Pac 12, but is still well within the range of a protected seed along with Arizona. In the Big East, Providence continues to be undervalued and we think they should at least be in the discussion for a #1 seed. The West Coast Conference remains strong and still looks like it will get four teams into the field. The SEC and Big 12 are also ridiculously tough from top to bottom and we discuss that as well. All that, and more!!

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

http://hoopshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HHD-Report-Audio-Only-2-7-22.mp3

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Before you look at the bracket, I want to make sure everyone knows what they are looking at. This is the way I think the bracket SHOULD look if today were Selection Sunday. I am not trying to guess what the actual committee will do. I don’t care. If that’s what you’re looking for, then CLICK HERE check out JON TEITEL’S BRACKET. He is objectively one of the best in the world when it comes to guessing what the actual committee will do.

I have some comments below explaining some of what I did, and there are more comments below that from Chad and possibly a few others from Hoops HD.

OTHERS CONSIDERED: Cincinnati, UAB, Florida, Dayton, Belmont, Wake Forest, Utah State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington State, Fresno State

NOTES FROM THE PUPPET:

-I would like to start off by stating the obvious, and that’s that this is a perfect bracket. I am an Expert by trade, and what I have created is so perfect that I don’t think anyone else should even be allowed to comment on it or critique it.

-I have Kentucky on the #1 line. I’m not entirely sure if the real committee would give them one (at least, not yet), and if I were trying to guess the real committee I probably wouldn’t have them up there, but based on what they’ve done away from home the last three weeks, I think that they have shown that they are one of the four best teams on the court, and one of the four most deserving teams on paper. They won at Kansas and at Alabama when they had a full roster. They lost at Auburn without a full roster, but were very competitive against the top ranked team in the country, and they had a lead until they lost a key player in that game. Besides, even had they been at full strength losing on the road to the #1 team in the country does not constitute moving down from the #4 overall spot.

-I don’t have North Carolina in the field. I don’t have them in for the same reason I don’t have Washington State in. They’ve done absolutely nothing to deserve it on paper, and they haven’t looked anything like an NCAA Tournament team on the court. I self explanatory and not requiring any explanation as to why they’re not in. If anything, it’s those that are putting them in who need to explain themselves.

-BYU was a #11 seed, but needed to be switched with San Diego State on the #12 line to make the bracket work.

-I had been beating up on Loyola Chicago in recent weeks, but their win on Sunday at Missouri State was big and they’ve finally started to look good again on the court, so I’ve got them right on the #9 line.

-I have Providence on the #3 line and Marquette on the #4. I just don’t get why they aren’t getting more love. Providence is the first place team in the Big East. That alone should be worth quite a bit. Marquette just keeps adding big wins to their resume. How many good teams do Providence and Marquette have to beat before there is a consensus that they both should be protected seeds?

-I always say that you should never make selections or seedings that are historically categorical. There will be something in every year’s bracket that has never been in a bracket before. That being said, there are some categorical outliers in this one, particularly Iowa State and West Virginia being in the field despite being 4 and 5 games below .500 in conference play. West Virginia is also in last place and on a seven game losing streak. LSU has lost six of their last seven, which isn’t quite as bad, but still much worse down the stretch than any team that I can ever remember making the field. The thing is, when you look at the “entire body of work” there is enough there to where I can’t really seem to replace any of them with any of the teams I left out.

-Let’s go down to the last few teams in. New Mexico State and North Texas are actually sandwiched in between my First Four teams, so I guess they are technically inside the bubble. The problem is when you’re straddling the bubble like that, a loss of any kind could knock you outside of it, so in a way they really AREN’T inside the bubble because a loss in their conference tournaments (or at any other time) would probably knock them below the cutline.

-Last but not least, I agree with Chad’s bracket from a week ago that Carver Bible College belongs in the field!! Like Chad did a week ago, I have included them in the First Four, but UNLIKE Chad, I have opted to put them on the #16 line and have essentially created a sixth First Four game and expanded the field to 69 teams. The rules at Hoops HD for the individual Staff Brackets are that we can whatever we want to do for whatever reason! I am exercising my executive privilege!!

STAFF COMMENTS

From Chad:

– At least David admitted what he did by putting Kentucky on the 1 seed line — completely over-reacted to one single game. At least if you are going to react to a single win, have a team with the overall resume to back it up — and place Kansas there for what they did to Baylor. Rock Chalk has three more Quad 1 wins, and 5 more Quad 1 and 2 combined wins than UK. And one less loss. I know that Kentucky won head-to-head, but Kansas’ overall resume is so much better than Kentucky that head-to-head does not matter. Kentucky should be at the bottom of the 2 seed line.

– Having Duke on the 1 line over Purdue is also pretty stupid. David hates North Carolina, yet he awards Duke for winning at Chapel Hill. Purdue’s resume (including three tier 1A wins away from home) is flat out better and they belong on the 1 seed line, probably at #3 overall.

– Oregon is an 8 seed in David’s bracket. Oregon, but for three days in buildings without fans in Los Angeles, would not even be close to being in the field. They won at UCLA and at USC (the latter not looking that great anymore) and that is it. Add in two Tier 3 home losses to Colorado and Arizona State and the only case that can be made for the Ducks wearing white in their first Tournament game would be as the higher seeded team in a First Four game in Dayton.

– I thought David was an “Under the Radar” guy. Apparently he totally missed Iona’s loss at Niagara yesterday. I do think the Gaels have a path to an at-large bid, but they literally have to win every game until the MAAC tournament now. If they had beaten Niagara, a 10 seed would be reasonable. With the loss, they are a 12 seed at best, and quite possibly below the First Four teams.

– I hate to argue in favor of the Hoosiers, but Indiana is way under-seeded on the 11 line. This team has huge wins over Ohio State and (what should be 1 seed) Purdue. They won away from home against Notre Dame, which is rightfully now in David’s field. They also have a pair of true road wins, so at least they can win against someone away from Assembly Hall. Indiana should be an 8 or 9 seed.

– I was actually ok with most of David’s bracket until I reached his First Four. Iowa is better than the First Four as some of their best wins have actually improved (by those teams playing better) lately. VCU got crushed last week at home by Dayton. They are on the board, but OUT. Saint Louis picked up a nice win over Dayton (at home) but they have not really done much other than winning at Boise State when Boise was playing bad early in the year. The Billikens may be close, but they are OUT. West Virginia has lost 7 in a row and is in last place in their conference. They are NOT EVEN CLOSE. How does a win at UAB (which is not in the field) get you into it?

– Florida deserves to be in right now. Even without Colin Castleton, who should be back, they have won three in a row to improve to 15-8 overall. That is more than enough to overlook whatever happened early in the year against Texas Southern and put this team in.

– Wake Forest also belongs in. The Deacons have 19 wins and are 9-5 in conference. They pickled up another Tier 2 road win at Florida State this weekend. That is enough to be sent to Dayton over the garbage teams that David put in there.

– My last team in would be Stanford, but cases can be made for Belmont, North Carolina (no bad losses is better than the rest of the bubble’s bad losses) or Oklahoma.

– Carver Bible is way better than a 16 seed. In fact, I like them better than a couple of David’s 1 seed choices.

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Before the days of Kentucky big men like Karl-Anthony Towns/Anthony Davis there was Dan Issel. He never won a scoring title or conference POY award since his career overlapped with another decent player at LSU named Pete Maravich but he still won 3 straight SEC titles while putting up some amazing stats. He scored more than 2000 career PTS, grabbed more than 1000 career REB, and averaged almost 34 PPG as a senior thanks to a 53-PT performance in a victory over Mississippi. He later became an All-Star in both the ABA/NBA and won the 1975 ABA title with the Kentucky Colonels before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Dan about playing for Adolph Rupp and being part of the highest-scoring game in NBA history. Today marks the 52nd anniversary of his 53-PT game on February 7, 1970, so we take this time to remember that remarkable record.

You were a 2-time All American for Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp at Kentucky: what made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? Coach Rupp had great power at UK and could give as many scholarships as he wanted: my freshmen year we had 12 players on scholarship. He always had great talent but also was ahead of his time as far as basketball fundamentals were concerned. Every opponent knew exactly what plays we were running but we ran them with such precision they still could not stop us. The best lesson I learned from Coach Rupp was, “The harder you work the luckier you get”.

On February 7, 1970 you scored a school-record 53 PTS/23-34 FG in a win at Mississippi: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? They did not all go in but I suppose that I was in a zone. I also broke Cotton Nash’s career scoring record in that game. The thing I remember most about that game was that my dad was there to witness it.

In the 1970 NCAA tourney you had 28 PTS/10 REB before fouling out of a 6-PT loss to eventual national runner-up Jacksonville: where does your future pro teammate Artis Gilmore (24 PTS/20 REB) rank among the best college players that you have ever seen? I can still see very clearly the scoreboard reading 10:32 remaining in the game as I walked to the bench. Artis was amazing: I was very blessed to have played with him for 4 years with the Kentucky Colonels. He was not only 1 of the best college players I ever saw but 1 of the best pros as well.

Your career 25.8 PPG remains a school record: what was your secret for being a great scorer, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I stayed healthy and got a lot of good shots in Coach Rupp’s offense. I do not know about the scoring average record but I doubt that anyone will break the total points record because anyone who is good enough to do that will be in the NBA very quickly.

After graduating you were picked by Detroit in the NBA draft and by Kentucky in the ABA draft, and after signing with Kentucky you led the ABA with 29.9 PPG and were named ABA co-ROY (along with Charlie Scott): what made you choose the Colonels, and how were you able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? I actually signed with the Colonels before the NBA draft. I fell in love with Kentucky: my wife Cheri is from there so it seemed very natural to go 75 miles down the road and play with my dear friend (and fellow Wildcat) Louie Dampier. The ABA played a more wide-open/up-and-down style, which really suited my game. I am not sure if I would have had the same initial success had I gone straight to the NBA.

In the 1975 ABA Finals you beat Indiana in 5 games: what did it mean to you to win a title after losing Game 7 of the Finals in both 1971/1973? It was the greatest feeling in the world to finally accomplish the goal that we had been seeking for so long. We had some great teams in Louisville and should have won more than 1 championship: it took Coach Hubie Brown to get us over the hump.

On December 13, 1983, you scored 28 PTS in a 186-184 3-OT home loss to Detroit: what are your memories of the highest-scoring game in NBA history? The amazing thing about that game is there were not that many 3-PT shots taken. I remember being very tired and losing the game: it was not until later that we learned it was the highest-scoring game in league history.

You were nicknamed “the Horse” due to playing in 1218 games and missing only 24 during your 15 seasons as a pro: who gave you the nickname, and how were you able to remain such a durable player? I tell people that I did not run fast enough or jump high enough to get hurt! I was just very fortunate that I never sustained a major injury. In 15 years of pro basketball I never even missed 2 games in a row. Bob King was our assistant general manager and gave me the nickname. I played a good game 1 night and the next day the newspaper said that I played like a thoroughbred. Bob said he thought I played like a Clydesdale, and then Clydesdale became “Horse”, and it stuck.

In 1993 you were inducted into the Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was obviously the best individual honor that I ever received…but basketball is a team sport so winning the ABA championship is still #1 on my list.

In the 1994 Western Conference 1st round as head coach of Denver you won Games 4 and 5 in OT to become the 1st #8 seed to ever win a playoff series: how on earth did you do it?! What a lot of people forget is in our next series against Utah we were down 3 games to none but almost came all the way back to win that series, which is something that has never been done in the NBA. We had a great group of players who were tired of losing and sacrificed for one another to win. We also had nothing to lose and I think the further that series went the tighter Seattle got.

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1-seeds do not lose at home…with a healthy roster…to an opponent that entered the game 6-10 including a double-digit loss to Prairie View: #sorrywildcats