BYU did lose in the West Coast final and once again, must endure the long wait until Sunday. They are still in the field today, but there are a host of bubble teams ready to take the Cougars' spot in the field.
Let's take a look at the bracket, likely the last time minor changes are made with all the tournament action today and the next few days.
Last Four Byes: Georgia, Ole Miss, Colorado State, Purdue
Last Four In: Indiana, Texas, BYU, Temple
First Four Out: Texas A&M, UCLA, Miami (FL), Tulsa
Next Four Out: Illinois, Old Dominion, Stanford, Murray State
Conference Rundown
Big 12 - 7
Big Ten - 7
ACC - 6
Big East - 6
SEC - 5
American Athletic - 3
Atlantic 10 - 3
Mountain West - 3
Pac-12 - 3
Missouri Valley - 2
West Coast - 2
As for the games today...
Patriot League Final
No. 6 American at No. 4 Lafayette, 7:30, CBS Sports Network
After the top two seeds, Bucknell and Colgate, were both defeated in the semifinals, we have the six versus the four in the Patriot final. American looks for their second-straight Patriot League championship while the Leopards have not danced since 2000. The Eagles swept the two meetings in the regular season.
ACC Second Round (in Greensboro, NC)
No. 9 Florida State vs. No. 8 Clemson, 12:00, ESPN
No. 12 Boston College vs. No. 5 North Carolina, 2:00, ESPN
No. 10 Pittsburgh vs. No. 7 North Carolina State, 7:00, ESPN2
No. 14 Virginia Tech vs. No. 6 Miami (FL), 9:00, ESPN2
The Hurricanes are the team to watch, as they sit just around the tournament field and a loss to the Hokies could end Miami's hopes for an at-large. A win gives them a shot at Notre Dame, and a chance to vault themselves right into the tournament.
Atlantic 10 First Round (in Brooklyn, NY)
No. 13 George Mason vs. No. 12 Fordham, 6:30
No. 14 Saint Louis vs. No. 11 Duquesne, 9:00
Here's an example of how things can change quite a bit in just one year in college basketball. Saint Louis was the No. 1 seed in last year's A-10 Tournament. Now they are wearing their road jerseys throughout this year's edition.
Big East First Round (in New York, NY)
No. 9 Marquette vs. No. 8 Seton Hall, 7:00, FOX Sports 1
No. 10 Creighton vs. No. 7 DePaul, 9:30, FOX Sports 1
Quite the group of names in the opening round at MSG. You have Creighton, who was a No. 3 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, now sitting at the bottom of the Big East. You have Marquette, normally a Big East power, struggling in their first year under Steve Wojciechowski. You have Seton Hall, who endured one of the more epic meltdowns during the season. And then there's DePaul. But DePaul isn't at the bottom of the field, so that's a plus for them.
Big Ten First Round (in Chicago)
No. 13 Penn State vs. No. 12 Nebraska, 4:30, ESPN2
No. 14 Rutgers vs. No. 11 Minnesota, 7:00, ESPN
It was certainly a disappointing year for the Cornhuskers. After getting to the big dance last season, they find themselves playing on Day 1 of the Big Ten Tournament.
Big 12 First Round (in Kansas City, MO)
No. 9 TCU vs. No. 8 Kansas State, 7:00, ESPNU
No. 10 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Texas, 9:00, ESPNU
The Longhorns look like they might be in unless they completely crumble, so it is imperative for their tournament hopes that they defeat the Red Raiders. It will be even better for them if they can also defeat Iowa State tomorrow.
Conference USA First Round (in Birmingham, AL)
No. 10 Florida International vs. No. 7 Texas-San Antonio, 1:00
No. 11 Charlotte vs. No. 6 Middle Tennessee, 3:30
No. 12 Marshall vs. No. 5 Western Kentucky, 7:00
No. 9 Rice vs. No. 8 North Texas, 9:30
A new champion will obviously be crowned in Conference USA with last year's champion Tulsa now in the American Athletic. The top four seeds play tomorrow, including bubble contender Old Dominion, who has quietly hung around, but may need to win the auto-bid.
MAC Second Round (in Cleveland)
No. 8 Eastern Michigan vs. No. 5 Bowling Green, 6:30, ESPN Full Court
No. 7 Akron vs. No. 6 Western Michigan, 9:00, ESPN Full Court
The four winners from Monday have joined the top four seeds in Cleveland in a bracket that now resembles those from the Southland or Ohio Valley. Kent State and Toledo await the winners in the quarterfinals while Central Michigan and Buffalo are off until the semifinals.
MEAC Quarterfinals (in Norfolk, VA)
No. 9 Coppin State vs. No. 1 North Carolina Central, 6:00, ESPN3
No. 10 North Carolina A&T/No. 7 South Carolina State vs. No. 2 Norfolk State, 8:00, ESPN3
NC Central puts their undefeated conference season on the line in Norfolk, hoping to get to their second-straight NCAA Tournament. The winners today get tomorrow off before Friday's semifinals.
Mountain West First Round (in Las Vegas)
No. 9 Air Force vs. No. 8 New Mexico, 3:00
No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 UNLV, 5:30
The Mountain's opening round features something we're not used to seeing: New Mexico and UNLV actually playing in this round. But here we are. There are only two games today and ten teams in the field due to the ineligibility of San Jose State.
Pac-12 First Round (in Las Vegas)
No. 9 Washington State vs. No. 8 California, 3:00, Pac-12 Network
No. 12 USC vs. No. 5 Arizona State, 5:30, Pac-12 Network
No. 10 Colorado vs. No. 7 Oregon State, 9:00, Pac-12 Network
No. 11 Washington vs. No. 6 Stanford, 11:30, Pac-12 Network
Just to clarify, the Mountain West tournament is at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV while the Pac-12 is playing at the MGM Grand.
As for the games themselves, the key team is Stanford, whose at-large hopes have all but done up in smoke, but a run to the final just might (and I stress the word "might") get them in the conversation, considering a run to the finals would mean they will have beaten Utah and, likely, Oregon.
SEC First Round (in Nashville)
No. 13 Auburn vs. No. 12 Mississippi State, 7:00, SEC Network
No. 14 Missouri vs. No. 11 South Carolina, 9:25, SEC Network
I never expected Missouri to be in this position at the beginning of the season. But that's how the cookie crumbles, sometimes. The good news for Missouri and South Carolina is that Kentucky is on the opposite side of the bracket.
Southland First Round (in Katy, TX)
No. 8 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 5 McNeese State, 6:00
No. 7 New Orleans vs. No. 6 Nicholls State, 8:30
Early action in Katy where the winners meet No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 4 Northwestern State. The top two seeds, Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State, have a bye to the semifinals.
SWAC Quarterfinals (in Houston, TX)
No. 7 Mississippi Valley State vs. No. 2 Alabama State, 3:30
No. 8 Alcorn State vs. No. 1 Texas Southern. 9:30
Texas Southern is in an interesting position, as both the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, Alabama State and Southern, are banned from NCAA Tournament play, but are allowed to compete in the SWAC Tournament. Yet, for whatever reason, Arkansas-Pine Bluff cannot play in the SWAC Tournament. Nonetheless, TSU may just have to get to the final, especially if Alabama State and Southern meet in the semifinals.
No comments:
Post a Comment