Loyola and Drake have tipped off, and the fate of the known world hangs in the balance. If Loyola wins, Drake will become marginally more NIT-likely. If Drake wins, Drake will become marginally less NIT-likely. Both have a lot of time to do other things. They play each other again tomorrow, even. But the fate of the known world does hang in the balance, so please respect that.
Other notes for today:
- VCU beat St. Bonaventure in Richmond, which was expected, so no real changes in the A-10 picture. Both still likely just above the NIT but in the NITuation.
- Clemson beat Georgia Tech at the buzzer in a game in which Josh Pastner slammed his faceshield down on the scorer’s table, got T’d up by TV Teddy, then wore a damaged faceshield for the rest of the game because evidently they don’t keep an extra one around? Josh Pastner continues to top himself. We think he’s peaked. He’s never peaked. This is going to end with him in a bathrobe with a dog taking a piss on Coach K’s leg in the ACC Tournament. Who will be taking the piss, you ask? We’ll find out in a month.
- UC-Riverside destroyed UC-Irvine, which is great news for both their NIT hopes and the future of athletics at Joe Kelly’s alma mater. There’s a non-zero chance UC-Riverside needs to make one of the postseason tournaments (probably the other one, if we’re being honest) to justify keeping the athletic department around, so we are fully on board if they decide that to be necessary. Rematch in this series today.
- Keep an eye on Akron. Our darlings last year won a game last night in which Loren Cristian Jackson did this. The Zips are one game back of Toledo in the MAC, having split with the Rockets. We could get a two-bid MAC. WE COULD GET A TWO-BID MAC.
- UAB lost to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, which might pull the latter into the NITuation while forcing out the former. Rematch in that one today too.
- Cleveland State has fallen, and the Horizon League is in disarray. I did not know this but the Horizon League is using a “formula” that results in “standings” like these (those were entering last night). I have no idea who will be in first place when they release the next standings. Provided Cleveland State and Wright State produce the same result today. Which is not guaranteed.
- Arkansas visits Missouri today, and I know Arkansas’s more likely to make the NIT, but I’m still holding out hope for Mizzou. Musselman’s obviously always a goal, but do love me a good collapse, and a Mizzou collapse would be a good collapse.
- Oregon visits Arizona. If the Ducks sweep the AZ road trip they’re in trouble and not in the good way. I will ground Dana Altman so help me fates.
- UConn visits Xavier and every marble is on the line (they both want to lose).
- Michigan State hosts Iowa. Michigan State can afford a win. Just saying.
- Indiana’s at Ohio State. Indiana cannot afford a win. That game has already tipped but I don’t have it on because my Sling TV subscription only lets me watch one screen at once. That or I don’t know how my Sling TV subscription works. Both are equally likely.
- Duke visits NC State, and I think Duke needs to win that one.
- Kentucky hosts Auburn, trying to stay in the peripheral NITuation.
- Mississippi visits South Carolina. I think South Carolina’s bad enough that winning that game wouldn’t hurt the Landsharks, but I don’t know that. I don’t know a lot of things, guys.
- Utah visits Stanford. Not a lot that could hurt either team in that setup, but things that could help both teams. Just a good ol’ game of basketball, folks.
- Saint Mary’s has a tricky one at Pepperdine.
- Toledo hosts Bowling Green. CRUSH THEM, ROCKETS.
- UCLA losing to Washington tonight isn’t impossible…just saying.
- Georgia’s got a free play at Alabama.
- I may have missed a game or three, so apologies for that. I’m distracted by Cameron Krutwig’s mustache. It’s so ugly and beautiful all at the same time. It is perfect for a Jacobs High School alum. That man is making the greater Randall Road ecosystem proud.
