Florida St

Early 2012-13 Ranking: Teams 16-30

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:45:04 -0700

With most teams eliminated from competition, its time to start looking ahead to the 2012-13 season. Following up on yesterday's Early 2012-13 Top 15, here are teams 16 to 30.

I had to make many assumptions about the NBA Draft in compiling the following list, and I've noted which assumptions I've made. Once players make their official Draft decisions later in the summer, this ranking will be updated. Also uncertain is where some remaining unsigned recruits will end up. In particular, Shabazz Muhammad (#1 by Rivals.com), Anthony Bennett (#7), Devonta Pollard (#9), and Nerlens Noel (#3 in 2013) remain up for grabs. I purposely made no assumptions about where unsigned prospects will end up. (All prospect rankings are according to the Rivals 150 ranking.)

Early 2012-13 Ranking: Teams 16-30

16 Kansas St Kansas State had a solid season, but they were always a step behind the elite teams. With Jamar Samuels being the lone senior of note, they should be able to take another step forward next year. A pair of solid bigs including 43rd ranked Robert Upshaw join the fray.

17 Memphis The key for Memphis is whether Will Barton decides to enter the Draft. Assuming he doesn't, the Tigers return a talented squad that only loses Wes Witherspoon. Three more 4-star recruits also enter the mix. With Barton back, Memphis has top 10 talent, but it remains to be seen whether Pastner is a top 10 coach.

18 Gonzaga While Robert Sacre graduates, the question remains whether Elias Harris goes pro. If Harris bolts, the roster would be deep, young, and talented, but thin up front. Little used guys like Hart and Spangler would need to emerge as legit contributors. Even without Harris, Gonzaga has top 20 potential.

19 Texas With such a young squad this year, simply making the tournament was an accomplishment. Veteran bigs Chapman and Wangmene graduate, but they'll be replaced by better prospects such as big man Cameron Ridley (#21 on Rivals) and Prince Ibeh (10th ranked center). I'm assuming J'Covan Brown returns, but that's no guarantee.

20 Saint Mary's Rob Jones graduates after a great career, but the rest of this squad returns intact. Freshman Brad Waldow has the potential to be even better than Jones, and so long as Dellavedova is around, Saint Mary's will be fine. They also have solid a solid PF prospect on the way who can help ease the Jones loss.

21 Notre Dame The Irish endured a lot of difficulties to put together a surprisingly fine season. If Tim Abromaitis is granted a redshirt season, Notre Dame could even exceed this ranking. Scott Martin graduates, but the 3-person recruiting class is full of solid forwards.

22 New Mexico Drew Gordon is a huge loss, as he was by far the Lobos best player. But 3 of their 4 next highest scorers were sophomores who should improve substantially. UNM's recruiting class is solid but unspectacular.

23 Florida Erving Walker is the Gators lone senior loss, but I'm assuming that both Brad Beal and Patric Young go pro in this projection. If even one of them returns, they could move up the ranking. Either way, Boynton, Murphy, and Rosario are solid players who will be joined by a 3-man class that lacks a blockbuster name (although 62nd ranked PG Braxton Ogbueze could be underrated).

24 Marquette In Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette loses its two best players and 36 ppg. But although they'll take a step back, don't expect Marquette to be complete irrelevant. There are emerging talents on the roster and the 4-person recruiting class will add scoring punch.

25 VCU Unlike most schools that will be awaiting NBA Draft decisions, the big x-factor for VCU is whether Shaka Smart returns. Brad Burgess was the lone senior on a team that looks very dangerous next year. There are even 3 solid newcomers, led by Jordan Burgess, an underrated wing.

26 florida St the Noles will take a step back after a surprise ACC title. They lose the core of the team in James, Dulkys, and Louks. However, a quality 4-person class full of Top 100 prospects will provide added depth. The real key is whether Michael Snaer decides to go pro. As of now, I'm assuming he's back.

27 Saint Louis The Bills lose their leading scorer in Brian Conklin, but the rest of this deep roster remains intact. There is no help on the way in terms of major recruits, but many of this year's sophomores could take major steps forward.

28 Alabama While losing senior JaMychal Green hurts, the bigger question is whether Anthony Grant returns as head coach. He did a fine job this season despite many distractions. However, if he leaves, the Tide would have to drop.

29 Drexel The dragons do lose their leading rebounder in Samme Givens, but the rest of the roster returns. Its been 13 years since Bruiser Flint has made the NCAA Tournament, this should be the year.

30 UCLA Despite a seemingly disastrous season, UCLA remained competitive in the Pac-12. Senior's Lazeric Jones and Jerime Anderson depart, but those losses are more than made up by the entry of Kyle Anderson, the country's 2nd best prospect. If UCLA were to also add Shabazz Muhammad, they'd jump even higher.

>> Continue to 2012-13 Ranking: Teams 31 to 45

<< Return to 2012-13 Ranking: Teams 1 to 15

Florida St vs Cincinnati: Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:14:58 -0700

(3) Florida State vs. (6) Cincinnati: East Region

Records

Florida State 25-9, 12-4 ACC (Conference Tournament Champions)

Cincinnati 25-10, 12-6 Big East (At large)

Time: 9:40 p.m. Sunday

TV: 9:40 p.m.

Location: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

First round results

Florida State def. St. Bonaventure, 66-63

Cincinnati def. Texas, 65-59

Winner will face: (2) Ohio State or (7) Gonzaga, Thursday in Boston

Rankings

Florida State No. 10 AP; No. 12 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

Cincinnati No. 27 AP; No. 29 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

RPI Ratings

Florida State 10

Cincinnati 36

Line: Florida State -2½ (O/U 127)

Players to Watch

Florida State: F Bernard James, 6-10 Sr. (10.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 60.9% FG); G Michael Snaer, 6-5 Jr. (14.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 42.1% FG); G Luke Loucks, 6-5 Sr. (6.7 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.2 rpg). James was outstanding Friday, particularly during the Seminoles second-half comeback in the win over St. Bonaventure. James finished with 19 points, nine rebounds (four on the offensive end), three blocks and he helped hold St. Bona star Andrew Nicholson in check late in the triumph.

Cincinnati: G Sean Kilpatrick, 6-4 So. (14.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg); F Yancy Gates, 6-9 Sr. (12.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 47.2% FG); G Dion Dixon, 6-3 Sr. (13.1 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 spg). Kilpatrick showed signs of brilliance as a freshman and he has lived up to the promise as a sophomore. On Friday, the White Plains, N.Y., native didn’t score much, but he finished with eight points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot, and he continues to show great court leadership.

Why Each Team Dangerous

Florida State: The Seminoles did what they do in Friday’s win, holding the Bonnies to 23-of-57 from the field and blocking nine shots in the win. For the year, teams manage just 38.1 percent from the floor and 30.9 from the 3-point line against FSU. The ‘Noles force 15.2 turnovers and block six shots per game. There’s no doubt this is the top handful of defensive squads in America. And FSU has proven more offensively capable this year than last year when they made a trek into the Sweet 16. On Friday, it shot 45.3 percent and made seven of its nine 3s. That came on the heels of a 58.9 percent shooting performance against North Carolina in the ACC championship game. FSU has shot at least 45 percent in five of its last six outings.

Cincinnati: Like Florida State, the Bearcats win with defense. Opponents shoot just 41 percent overall and 31.8 percent from deep against Cincinnati. And the Bearcat defense has been even better of late, holding their last 13 opponents to 46.4 percent or worse from the field. On Friday, Cincy held Texas to 20-for-57 from the floor and 7-for-20 from the 3-point line. The Bearcat offense has been pretty good lately, as well, scoring at least 65 points in five of their last six games.

Why Each Team is Vulnerable

Florida State: Despite the recent offensive “outbursts,” the Seminoles are not a stellar offensive team and are prone to long draughts. For the year, they are shooting just 45.8 percent from the floor and 35.4 from the 3-point line. They turn the ball over 16 times per game to just 12.2 assists per outing. Cincinnati’s defense could give Florida State all kinds of trouble.

Cincinnati: Despite scoring pretty well of late, Cincinnati’s offense isn’t very good. The Cats shoot just 42.1 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from the 3-point line and have allowed opponents to get to the free throw line 500 times this season. The Bearcats can also be beaten on the boards. They have just a 0.4 rebounding margin per game and that could get them beat against the big, bulky Seminoles.

The Bottom Line: This game could have fewer than 100 points scored. With that said, it would be foolish to bet the line. My advice is take the under instead. Since it’s my job to pick the line, I’ll take FSU to win and the Bearcats to cover.

The Pick: Florida State 47, Cincinnati 46

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 216-165-6 (Through Friday, March 17)

Round of 32 Against the Spread: 19-12-1

Florida St vs St Bonaventure: Prediction

Greg Mengelt — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:08:07 -0700

3) Florida State vs. (14) St. Bonaventure: East Region

Records

Florida State 24-9, 12-4 ACC (Conference Tournament Champions)

St. Bonaventure 20-11, 10-6 (Conference Tournament Champions)

Time: 2:45 p.m. Friday

TV: CBS

Location: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Winner will face: (6) Cincinnati or (11) Texas, Sunday

Rankings

Florida State No. 10 AP; No. 12 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

St. Bonaventure No. 38 AP

RPI Ratings

Florida State 10

St. Bonaventure 73

Line: Florida State -7 (O/U 131)

Players to Watch

Florida State: F Bernard James, 6-10 Sr. (10.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.3 bpg); G Michael Snaer, 6-5 Jr. (14.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.2 spg); G Ian Miller, 6-3 So. (10.9 ppg, 1.3 spg, 35.2% 3s). Snaer finished off a nice junior regular-season with 18 points on 7-of-13 from the floor in the Seminoles’ 85-82 championship game victory over North Carolina. Snaer, who was second-team All-ACC, led FSU in scoring and was second on the team in assists (66).

St. Bonaventure: F Andrew Nicholson, 6-9 Sr. (18.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 57.6% FG); F Demitrius Conger, 6-6 Jr. (12.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 50.6% FG); G Matthew Wright, 6-4 So. (7 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.5 rpg). Nicholson was a monster in the A-10 Tournament. He led the Bonnies to the league title with 70 points, 30 rebounds and 16 blocked shots during the 3-game run.

Why Each Team Dangerous

Florida State: The Seminoles are big and tough. They play solid – and sometimes spectacular – defense, both in the paint and on the perimeter. Opponents shoot just 38.1 percent against FSU (fifth in the nation) and 30.5 from the 3-point line 26^th nationally). They also block 5.9 shots and average 7.6 steals per game. James, Xavier Gibson and Jon Kreft combine for 4.1 blocks between them. There are few – if any – better defenses in the country. FSU’s offense has also improved slightly. It averaged 70.3 points while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor.

St. Bonaventure: Nicholson is a game-changer. He completely dominated the A-10 Tournament. With him controlling the paint, St. Bona is capable of beating anyone on a given night. Behind Nicholson, Conger and Da”Quan Cook, the Bonnies are a fantastic rebounding team. They out-rebounded opponents by 5.8 this season and eight per game in league play.

Why Each Team is Vulnerable

Florida State: While the Seminoles offense has improved, it is still prone to draughts. Florida State is shooting just 35.3 percent from deep and just 70.3 from the foul line. Despite a great size advantage most nights, FSU out-rebounded its opponents by just 2.9 per game and allowed almost 12 offensive boards per game. That could be a big concern against Nicholson and the Bonnies.

St. Bonaventure: The Bonnies have struggled to hang on to the ball all season. They average 14.2 turnovers per game, 1.7 more than they force. They had double-digit turnovers in all but one game (nine in an overtime with over St. Joe’s) and had at least 12 errors 25 times. St. Bonaventure is far from explosive. It shoots just 34.1 percent from 3 and plays at a very slow pace. That could play right into the hands of the Seminoles.

The Bottom Line: Interesting matchup with Nicholson against FSU’s strong front line. The Seminoles defense should prevail, but seven points is too many in what should be a slow, low-scoring game.

The Pick: Florida State 64, St. Bonaventure 60

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 198-150-6 (Through Tuesday, March 14)

NCAA Tournament Preview: Frontcourts to Watch

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:27:34 -0700

While you definitely need guards to win a national title big men are very important in their own right. Whether a team has projected lottery picks or guys who have been solid throughout their careers, a team has to be able to hold their own in the paint. If not a tournament experience that can last two or three weeks gets derailed far sooner. Here are some front courts you'll need to know this week.

South Region

1. Kentucky
This one's pretty simple. The Wildcats have the nation's best freshman in Anthony Davis (who may also be the best player in the country regardless of class) and a wing in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who is one of the best leaders as well as a very talented player. Terrence Jones has played well of late, and while the effort may still wane on occasion he's extremely talented. This group is a big reason why the Wildcats are the overwhelming favorite to win it all.

2. Baylor
The Bears aren't that far behind Kentucky as they can go five deep with a few lottery-caliber talents mixed in. The two lottery guys are Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller, with the former needing to remain engaged in the action consistently if the Bears are to make a deep run. Quincy Acy is the toughest of the bunch, a guy likely to enjoy a long pro career based on his effort and rebounding ability alone, with Cory Jefferson and Anthony Jones rounding out the group.

3. Connecticut
The Huskies may not win the vote in the South for best front court but it's a safe bet that they'd win for most frustrating. Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi get the most minutes while Tyler Olander and Roscoe Smith will also rotate in. If they all play consistently the Huskies can do some damage this week. If not, Iowa State's Royce White will put on a show in Louisville.

Biggest question mark: Ryan Kelly's foot (Duke)
Kelly missed the ACC tournament due to his foot injury, and the Blue Devils have been preparing for Lehigh as if they won't have him. Kelly's absence changes things offensively, as he's able to play on the perimeter. That opens things up for their guards, and without him Duke has two guys inside (Mason and Miles Plumlee) instead of one.

Guys you'll love: UNLV's Mike Moser and Wichita State's Garrett Stutz
Moser can play both inside and out for the Runnin' Rebels, and the UCLA transfer was instantly one of the best players in the Mountain West. As for Stutz, he played well enough to earn first team All-MVC honors, and the seven-footer is a tough matchup in the paint for most teams.

The difference-maker: Cody Zeller (Indiana)
Other than the improvement of their returning players a big reason for Indiana's return to the national stage was the play of Zeller, who with Michigan's Trey Burke was the best freshman in the Big Ten. He opens things up for the Hoosiers' capable shooters, and he'll need to be at his best against a New Mexico State team that can hit the boards.

West Region

1. Michigan State
Two words, one man: Draymond Green. The Big Ten player of the year is the biggest reason why the Spartans won a share of the Big Ten regular season crown and followed that up with the Big Ten tournament title. But with Branden Dawson done for the year with a torn ACL the play of Derrick Nix and Adriean Payne has become even more important. They've done well to to this point, and if they can do so four more times a trip to New Orleans is more than possible.

2. Davidson
Surprised, huh? Don't be. De'Mon Brooks is one of the best players in the country who isn't a staple on "SportsCenter", winning SoCon Player of the Year as well as MVP of the conference tournament. Alongside him is Jake Cohen, whose game has progressed a great deal due in part to a stint with the Israeli national team over the summer. If the Wildcats beat Louisville it's a safe bet that these two are a big reason why.

3. BYU
Whether or not the Cougars reach the main field remains to be seen, but in all honesty their two big men are far better than what you'd generally find on a 14-seed. Noah Hartsock is effective either inside or out, and Brandon Davies is a handful in the paint. The key for BYU is to make sure they get the ball consistently, which can be an issue on occasion.

The X-factor: Tarik Black and foul trouble (Memphis)
This was a serious problem for the Tigers earlier this season, and there's no coincidence that as he's remained on the floor the Tigers have played their best basketball. Ferrakhon Hall helps but when Black gets the ball around the rim he's tough to stop. Keep him on the floor and Memphis can win multiple games in the tournament.

Guys you'll love: Drew Gordon (New Mexico) and Mike Scott (Virginia)
Both guys are familiar names by this point, which means that the choices could have been Julian Boyd (LIU Brooklyn) and T.J. Robinson (Long Beach State). But both Gordon and Scott had very good cases to win Player of the Year honors in their respective conferences but neither did. Virginia needs Scott to be the best player on the floor against Florida as they're low on numbers, and Gordon't the kind of interior presence that can lead a team to the Sweet 16 and beyond.

The difference-maker: Patric Young (Florida)
Young is a player talented enough to merit comparisons to Dwight Howard as a McDonald's All-American, and with his physical strength it's easy to see why. The key for Young: getting enough touches. That means no wild shot attempts from the Florida guards.

East Region

1. Ohio State
With Syracuse losing their most important piece Ohio State is now the favorite to win the East Region in the eyes of most people. Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas are both tough to slow down, but Thomas will need to exercise good shot selection on a consistent basis. On the wing there's Lenzelle Smith Jr., a player most tend to underestimate offensively, and Evan Ravenel gives them solid defense off the bench.

2. Florida State
The Seminoles may not have an All-America candidate along the lines of Sullinger but they do have athleticism and depth, two factors that helped them win the ACC tournament. Bernard James and Xavier Gibson are the starters while Jon Kreft and Okaro White provide depth off the bench. FSU is one of the biggest teams in the country and all of these guys can move as well.

3. Kansas State
The Wildcat front court is the big reason why many are picking them to go to the Sweet 16, as they hit the offensive boards with the best of them and top-seed Syracuse is a subpar defensive rebounding team. Jamar Samuels was a big reason why they swept the season series with Missouri, and both Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts have improved as the season's worn on.

Biggest question mark: Syracuse without Fab Melo
The Orange have plenty of front court talent without the sophomore from Brazil (and would have a very good argument to be on the above list), but on a team blessed with so much depth Melo was the closest to being indispensable. Without him both Rakeem Christmas and Baye Keita will have to pick up the torch in the middle of their 2-3 zone.

Guys you'll love: Andrew Nicholson (St. Bonaventure) and Keith Wright (Harvard)
Vanderbilt's Jeffery Taylor deserves some mention here as well, but we'll go with the A-10 Player of the Year and one of the big reasons why Harvard's back in the Dance for the first time since 1946 instead. Nicholson finished two blocks short of a triple-double in the A-10 tournament final and his name will be called in June. Wright is the man the Crimson run their offense through and he's been extremely productive as a result.

The workhorse: Kevin Jones (West Virginia)
There are few players in America more valuable than Jones. Without him the Mountaineers most likely aren't playing in any tournament much less the Big Dance. The senior from Mount Vernon, NY led the Big East in both scoring and rebounding this season. "Money earnin'" indeed (that's the nickname for Mount Vernon).

Midwest Region

1. North Carolina
The expectation is that John Henson's left wrist is ready to go this week, and his presence on the court beside ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller makes UNC a much better defensive team. Henson's averaging more than three blocked shots per game, and when that's missing the Carolina perimeter defenders can get exposed some. James Michael McAdoo and Justin Watts will also see some time, with the undersized Watts more than willing to fill in wherever needed.

2. Kansas
If Anthony Davis doesn't win a particular National Player of the Year award it should go to Robinson. That's how much those two have separated themselves from the rest of the country. Robinson is essentially an automatic double-double for the Jayhawks, who also need Jeff Withey to show on the big stage that his improved play throughout the conference slate wasn't a mirage. It's highly likely that he will, although their battle with Detroit will provide a good test.

3. Creighton
The Bluejays have one of the best players in the country in sophomore Doug McDermott, who can score both inside and out for the Missouri Valley tournament champs. But there's also banger Gregory Echenique to account for, and those two have the ability to lead Creighton on a special run. The key for them will be defense, especially with a matchup with North Carolina awaiting them should the Bluejays take care of Alabama.

Most Improved: Henry Sims (Georgetown)
For three seasons Sims was essentially an afterthought for the Hoyas. Now he's an essential figure, leading the team in assists while also proving to be a capable scorer out to about 15 feet or so. If he's playing well the Hoyas offensively will prosper as a whole.

Guys you'll love: Rob Jones (Saint Mary's) and C.J. Leslie (NC State)
Jones has been a double-double machine this season for the Gaels, and while he's undersized at the four the senior can put opposing teams at a disadvantage regardless of his height. As for Leslie it would have been difficult to imagine him being in this spot a season ago, but that only displays how much he's improved. And he can finish well above the rim as well.

One last hurrah: Robbie Hummel (Purdue)
Hummel's absence last season due to a torn ACL was a major reason why the Boilermakers were bounced by VCU (but by no means should that take away from how well the Rams played). No JaJuan Johnson or E'Twaun Moore but the fifth-year senior can still get it done, and he'll have to if the Boilers are to get past Saint Mary's.

NCAA Tournament Preview: Backcourts to Watch

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:28:55 -0700

It's stated all the time this season. Guard play makes all the difference in the NCAA tournament, and to be honest it's hard to argue with that statement. So who are some of the top guard groups in this year's field? Here are 12 below along with a few superlatives. Not all of the usual suspects make the list, but try not to automatically dismiss the less heralded names either.

South Region

1. Duke
While this group does struggle at times on the defensive end of the floor there's no doubt that the Blue Devils' guards can fill it up. Austin Rivers is their best playmaker, and as long as the ACC Rookie of the Year can properly balance scoring with creating for his teammates he's very tough to stop. Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins are both dead-eye shooters, and Tyler Thornton is the best defender. But as noted above, if the defense isn't there Duke could find themselves in trouble.

2. Xavier
The Musketeers have to get past a tough Notre Dame team before a possible matchup with Duke (don't sleep on Lehigh's C.J. McCollum), but despite their struggles throughout the season Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons aren't to be ignored. Holloway runs the show and Lyons mans the two, and they can also call on Brad Redford for perimeter shooting.

3. UNLV
Most are likely going to wonder why the Runnin' Rebels are on this list and not, say, UConn but the fact of the matter is that Dave Rice's group has been more consistent throughout the season. Anthony Marshall is one of the best athletes in the country and Oscar Bellfield's impact tends to be overlooked by many. Add in a very good defender in Justin Hawkins and shooter Kendall Wallace and Dave Rice has a corps of guards capable of winning multiple games in the tournament.

Guards you'll love: C.J. McCollum (Lehigh) and Nate Wolters (South Dakota State)
Both are among the nation's best scorers, and Wolters leads the Jackrabbits in points, rebounds and assists. Each one has a matchup in which they could become household names, with McCollum taking on Duke and Wolters matching up with Baylor.

Best defender: Victor Oladipo (Indiana)
Good luck getting past the athletic Oladipo, whose offensive game has gotten closer to his defensive skills as the season's progressed. At the least the sophomore could be a first team All-Big Ten player next year.

The difference-maker: Marquis Teague (Kentucky)
If Kentucky's to reach their full potential (win a national title) the play of Teague will be key. He had an inconsistent SEC tournament but played his best basketball as the regular season came to a close.

The enigmatic group: Connecticut
Talent-wise there may not be a better group in the region. But despite the talent of Ryan Boatright, Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier there are questions, most importantly will they be "there" for the entire 40 minutes. Drifting in and out of a game will get you beat this time of the year.

East Region

1. Syracuse
The Orange at the least can go three deep with starters Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche with one of the nation's best reserves in Dion Waiters coming off the bench. The key to a national title will be Jardine, because while the Orange can easily plug someone into his role skill-wise if the fifth-year senior's struggling they can't replace the experience. And with Fab Melo out the guards become even more important.

2. Ohio State
This region has two elite defenders with the Buckeyes' Aaron Craft being one (more on the other later), and William Buford could become the program's all-time leading scorer with a deep run in the tournament. The Buckeyes aren't particularly deep on the perimeter (Jordan Sibert backs up Craft) but they are talented.

3. Florida State
If Luke Loucks takes care of the basketball this group has the ability to be even better than third best in the region. Michael Snaer has beenvery good all season long and the midseason addition of Ian Miller definitely helped on the offensive end. Deividas Dulkys can get hot from deep, as he did in their regular season win over North Carolina, and all can defend.

Guards you'll love: Will Cherry (Montana) and Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga)
Cherry's the other defensive star in this region, as he was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Sky and is among the best in the country in steals. Pangos is just a freshman, and his first introduction to college basketball came in the form of his impressive shooting performance in Gonzaga's tip-off marathon appearance.

Best defender: Craft

The difference-maker: Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin's been a team some have pegged as a possible upset victim, and if the Badgers are to not only avoid that but win multiple games their senior point guard will have to be at his best.

The enigmatic group: Cincinnati
The Bearcats were able to make a shift to a smaller lineup comfortably with the emergence (and return to health) of Jaquon Parker, and they've been a better team as a result. But given the number of threes that Dion Dixon, Sean Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright get to take, the Bearcats need them to be on if they're to make a run.

Midwest Region

1. Temple
North Carolina has Kendall Marshall and Kansas can point to Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson. But the three-headed attack that Fran Dunphy has could be the best backcourt in the region. Juan Fernandez, Ramone Moore and Khalif Wyatt can all do a variety of things, making them interchangable in a sense. If they're on the Owls have the ability to not only reach the Sweet 16 but possibly go even further.

2. Kansas
Tyshawn Taylor shouldn't be questioned at this point, as the senior's matured and made better decisions with the basketball at this point in the season. The guy the Jayhawks need to be a factor over the next couple of weeks is Elijah Johnson, as he can relieve some of the pressure on the shoulders of Taylor and Thomas Robinson. Travis Releford has also been a key cog this season, and that will need to continue if Kansas is to reach New Orleans.

3. San Diego State
The Aztecs go four deep on the perimeter and all four can hurt you in different ways. Xavier Thames runs the show at the point and Chase Tapley is a solid scorer at the two, and all Jamaal Franklin did was win Mountain West Player of the Year. Last but not least is James Rahon, a key reserve in their Elite 8 run last season who can not only knock down perimeter shots but also do the little things.

Guys you'll love: D.J. Cooper (Ohio) and Kerron Johnson (Belmont)
Cooper was a key figure in the Bobcats' whipping of Georgetown in the 2010 tournament, and he's improved as a scorer while remaining a very good distributor. Johnson leads the way for Belmont, a team that's been a popular selection when it comes to teams that can pull off an upset (or two).

Best defender: Jorge Gutierrez (California)
Gutierrez won Pac-12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts and with good reason. The senior is one guard few will be looking forward to seeing on the other side of the floor, beginning with USF on Wednesday night.

The difference-maker: Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)
The best passer in the region will be the guy who determines the winner of the Midwest. Marshall has also been more willing to punish sagging defenders by way of the jump shot, an aspect of his game that's improved over the course of the season.

Emerging star: Lorenzo Brown (NC State)
For a short time some asked if Brown was in fact the best point guard in the ACC. He's that talented, and with his size the sophomore has the potential to be a matchup problem for teams this week. And he's only going to get better with more experience.

West Region

1. Missouri
The Tigers navigated Laurence Bowers' torn ACL quite well thanks to their guards, going 30-4 and winning the Big 12 tournament title. Phil Pressey runs the show while Marcus Denmon and Kim English are the leading scorers. There's also Phil's older brother Matt and off the bench Michael Dixon Jr. is one of the best sixth men in the country. English's ability to produce at the four is tough to match, and unless a team has Jamar Samuels-like presence (Kansas State beat the Tigers twice for this reason) Mizzou could be headed to New Orleans.

2. Florida
The Gators are also deep on the perimeter but the key for them will be the decision making of Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker. If those two are unselfish and get the ball to Bradley Beal and Patric Young then Florida has the look of a team that can get to a Final Four. When they don't things tend to go wrong. Virginia's pack line defense will force Florida to make perimeter jumpers, but that's one of the things they do best.

3. Murray State
We all know about Isaiah Canaan by this point and rightfully so as the OVC Player of the Year is also an All-American. But Donte Poole can play as well, averaging 14.2 points per game. Add in senior Jewuan Long and you've got a nice group of guard capable of leading the Racers to the second weekend of the tournament.

Guys you'll love: Jason Brickman (LIU Brooklyn) and Casper Ware (Long Beach State)
Tried to go a bit off the radar with one of these selections, and with the high tempo that the Blackbirds prefer the sophomore from Texas will be fun to watch against Michigan State. Ware's been outstanding for four years and finally gets his shot at the game's biggest stage after two straight losses in the Big West tournament final.

Best defender: Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette)
If Long Beach State's Larry Anderson were 100% he could qualify as would teammate James Ennis. But DJO, who is also one of the best scorers in the field, is also a good defender who can get out in passing lanes. With the Golden Eagles lacking a defensive presence in the paint the defensive effort of Johnson-Odom on the perimeter becomes even more important.

The difference-maker: Joe Jackson (Memphis)
One of the reasons why Josh Pastner's team has played so well down the stretch is that they've allowed Chris Crawford to take on more of the distribution duties. That in turn has relieved some of the pressure on Jackson, but he's still going to have to play well if the Tigers are to go out and prove that they were underseeded.

Another difference-maker: Peyton Siva (Louisville)
The question of which Siva will we see in Portland is similar to which Louisville team will we see: the one that was inconsistent during Big East play and struggled to score, or the one that won four games in New York City last week. If Siva's on and making good decisions the Cardinals are capable of beating anyone. If not then they're also capable of losing to anyone.

Syracuse Gets a Tricky Road to New Orleans: East Region Thoughts

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:19:37 -0700

.pdf bracket

Just like Kentucky, there was an assumption that Syracuse would find themselves on the one line regardless of what happened this weekend. And not only is that the case but Jim Boeheim's team will get the travel path expected, beginning in Pittsburgh with a trip to Boston on the horizon if they reach the Sweet 16. First up for Syracuse are the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville, who are led by Big South POY Matt Dickey and J.P. Primm. Eddie Biedenbach's club was a 16-seed last year as well, falling to another Big East team (Pittsburgh) after winning a game in Dayton.

The key for Syracuse this weekend will be to get Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph going as both played poorly in New York. Likely won't be an issue against UNC Asheville but that, along with their struggles with defensive rebounding, could be in a possible third round matchup with Kansas State. Frank Martin's Wildcats are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country, and their guard play has improved down the stretch as well. If Angel Rodriguez can keep the turnovers down and Jamar Samuels and Rodney McGruder are scoring efficiently, K-State can get to the Sweet 16.

Ohio State earned a two seed as a result of their sharing of the Big Ten regular season crown and getting to Sunday's title game, with wins over Duke and Florida helping their non-conference slate. The Buckeyes saw their season come to a painful end in the Sweet 16 last year, and despite losing some key cogs from that squad there's more than enough talent to get to New Orleans. Loyola (MD) is deep and will have the most entertaining coach in the field (Jimmy Patsos) but a third round matchup with either Gonzaga or West Virginia will likely be of more concern for Buckeye fans.

The Mountaineers have one of the nation's best players in Kevin Jones, and he's had to carry this team throughout the year. The majority of their guards are young and Truck Bryant needs to be more consistent with his decision-making if WVU is to make any kind of noise. Gonzaga finished second in the WCC and their non-conference schedule prepares them well for this time of the year. But if Elias Harris and Robert Sacre' don't answer the bell against Jones and Deniz Kilicli they may not be in Pittsburgh very long.

The three-seed is ACC tournament champion Florida State, who has defeated Duke and North Carolina twice apiece for the first time in school history. Leonard Hamilton's team is a tough group to crack defensively due to their athleticism and effort on that end of the floor, but turnovers have been a problem for much of the season. If Luke Loucks and Ian Miller take care of the basketball the Seminoles can go a long way. St. Bonaventure will counter with A-10 Player of the Year Andrew Nicholson, but the Noles may have too much depth for the Bonnies (who are a great story, by the way) in the paint.

Cincinnati and Texas has the potential to be an interesting 6/11 matchup, but outside of J'Covan Brown and Clint Chapman the Longhorns are a very young basketball team. Losing Alexis Wangmene to a broken wrist hurts in the depth department, as even though the Bearcats play small they've got depth inside led by Yancy Gates. Mick Cronin's guards will take a high number of three-pointers, and if they're falling Cincinnati can do more than win just one game.

And the East is also a region where more folks would line up to pick the five-seed as opposed to the four. Vanderbilt's the five, and despite their recent issued in the Big Dance this feels like a different group. The main reason being their SEC tournament crown, won by beating Kentucky on Sunday. Jeffery Taylor and company displayed a confidence level not seen in previous Vanderbilt teams this past weekend, and that could very well get them to New Orleans. Harvard has the depth and experience to give Vandy trouble, but with Festus Ezeli inside and sharpshooter John Jenkins also on the floor the Commodores will be tough to beat.

As for Wisconsin, the Badgers live and die by the three. Bo Ryan's team shoots just 32% from beyond the arc but scores 36% of their points by way of the shot, making it very important that Jordan Taylor and company are knocking those down at a solid clip. Enter 13-seed Montana, who allows opponents to score just 24% of their points from three. Guards Will Cherry and Kareem Jamar are two of the best in the western United States, and big man Derek Selvig has the ability to match up with Wisconsin's big men as they like to play inside or out in the swing offense.

Syracuse has a good route to New Orleans, where they won their lone national title back in 2003, from a travel standpoint. But matchup-wise there are some possible roadblocks, be it the rebounding prowess of Kansas State or the perimeter skill of a Vanderbilt. And that's just on their side of the bracket, as an Elite 8 battle with Ohio State could be an issue as well.

Winner: Syracuse

Best second round matchup: Wisconsin vs. Montana

All-Region Team
G Dion Waiters (Syracuse)
G Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin)
F Jeffery Taylor (Vanderbilt)
F Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)
F Kevin Jones (West Virginia)

ACC, A10, Big Ten, SEC Finals Predictions

Greg Mengelt — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:35:45 -0800

This is it, the final day of the regular season, Selection Sunday. Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year and will continue picking each game of the NCAA Tournament.

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP: AT ATLANTA

(1) North Carolina (29-4, 14-2) at (3) Florida State (23-9, 12-4)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Florida State 90-57. RPI: North Carolina 3, Florida State 17. Analysis: The absence of John Henson puts the Heels at a disadvantage. Even if he plays, the Seminoles will cover. Line: North Carolina -6. Pick: Florida State 69, North Carolina 65.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP: AT NEW ORLEANS

(1) Kentucky (32-1, 16-0) at (3) Vanderbilt (23-10, 10-6)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: ABC. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 11 – Kentucky 69-63*; Feb. 25 – Kentucky 83-74. RPI: Kentucky 1, Vanderbilt 22. Analysis: Taking Vandy to win. Expect the Commodores to at least cover. Line: Kentucky -7½. Pick: Vanderbilt 71, Kentucky 70.

ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIP: AT ATLANTIC CITY

(3) Xavier (21-11, 10-6) at (4) St. Bonaventure (19-11, 10-6)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: CBS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Xavier 77-65. RPI: Xavier 38, St. Bonaventure 76. Analysis: I am all-aboard the Andrew Nicholson bandwagon. Line: Xavier -3½. Pick: St. Bonaventure 69, Xavier 67.

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP: AT INDIANAPOLIS

(1) Michigan State (26-7, 13-5) at (2) Ohio State (27-6, 13-5)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: CBS. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 11 – Michigan State 58-48*; March 4 – Ohio State 72-70. RPI: Michigan State 4, Ohio State 7. Analysis: The whole college basketball world – not just the Spartans – should be concerned about the way OSU is playing. Line: Ohio State -1½. Pick: Ohio State 66, Michigan State 60.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 195-147-6

Conference Semifinals Predictions: ACC, A10, Big Ten, SEC

Greg Mengelt — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:48:37 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. Here are is predictions for Saturday's conference semifinals game. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

ACC SEMIFINALS: AT ATLANTA

(1) North Carolina (28-4, 14-2) vs. (5) North Carolina State (22-11, 9-7)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 26 – UNC 74-55; Feb. 21 – UNC 86-74*. RPI: UNC 3, NC State 44. Analysis: Don’t know what to make of the Henson wrist injury. Stay away from this game. If you must, take the Heels. Line: North Carolina -11. Pick: North Carolina 87, North Carolina State 74.

(2) Duke (27-5, 13-3) vs. (3) Florida State (22-9, 12-4)

Tipoff: 3 p.m. TV: ESPN. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 21 – Florida State 76-73*; Feb. 23 – Duke 74-66*. RPI: Duke 4, Florida State 22. Analysis: FSU covers and could beat the Devils again. Pick: Florida State 63, Duke 59.

ATLANTIC 10 SEMIFINALS: AT ATLANTIC CITY

(4) St. Bonaventure (18-11, 10-6) vs. (8) Massachusetts (22-10, 9-7)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 8 – UMass 76-67. RPI: UMass 71, St. Bonaventure 86. Analysis: No clue what to make of this line, but St. Bona’s Andrew Nicholson and Minutemen PG Chaz Williams are both really good. Williams is clutch. Line: St. Bonaventure -3. Pick: Massachusetts 73, St. Bonaventure 72.

(2) Saint Louis (25-6, 12-4) vs. (3) Xavier (20-11, 10-6)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: CBS Sports Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 25 – Saint Louis 73-68*; Feb. 28 – Saint Louis 70-59. RPI: Saint Louis 29, Xavier 59. Analysis: The Billikens will be facing a desperate Xavier squad. They’ll pass the test. Pick: Saint Louis 68, Xavier 61.

BIG TEN SEMIFINALS: AT INDIANAPOLIS

(1) Michigan State (25-7, 13-5) vs. (4) Wisconsin (24-8, 12-6)

Tipoff: 1:40 p.m. TV: CBS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 3 – Michigan State 63-60*; Feb. 16 – Michigan State 69-55. RPI: Michigan State 5, Wisconsin 20. Analysis: Baffled by this line. Rob Wilson isn’t going to score 30 points again. Line: Michigan State -4. Pick: Michigan State 58, Wisconsin 48.

(2) Ohio State (26-6, 13-5) vs. (3) Michigan (24-8, 13-5)

Tipoff: 4:05 p.m. TV: CBS. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 29 – Ohio State 64-49; Feb. 18 – Michigan 56-51. RPI: Ohio State 7, Michigan 10. Analysis: When the Buckeyes play well, they’re really good – and they’re playing well now. Pick: Ohio State 74, Michigan 61.

SEC SEMIFINALS: AT NEW ORLEANS

(1) Kentucky (31-1, 16-0) vs. (4) Florida (23-9, 10-6)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: ABC. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 7 – Kentucky 78-58; March 4 – Kentucky 74-59*. RPI: Kentucky 1, Florida 21. Analysis: After the regular-season finale, it is obvious this is a bad matchup for the Gators. Line: Kentucky -9½. Pick: Kentucky 79, Florida 66.

(3) Vanderbilt (21-10, 10-6) vs. (7) Mississippi (20-12, 8-8)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: ABC. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 16 – Vanderbilt 102-76*. RPI: Vanderbilt 28, Ole Miss 48. Analysis: No contest. Pick: Vanderbilt 81, Mississippi 66.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 182-141-5

Is Virginia Testing Their Luck?

Raphielle Johnson — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:00:31 -0800

At first glance it would be extreme to think that Virginia could find themselves on the wrong side of the bubble given their play for much of the season. But as the injuries have increased for Tony Bennett's team so have the struggles, with the Cavaliers having now dropped four of their last six games.

Thursday's loss may have been the toughest to stomach, as Florida State used the ejection of their best big man as a spark that resulted in a game-ending 16-2 run. Ian Miller's three-pointer with eight tenths of a second remaining gave the Seminoles a 63-60 victory, and it also means that unless they get another shot in the ACC tournament Virginia went winless in games against teams above them in the ACC standings.

"We just gave that one away. That was our last chance to play one of the top teams in the ACC," lamented Mike Scott after the game. "That was our last chance to beat one of the best teams and we had it, but we gave it away."

Scott led the Cavaliers with 28 points and ten rebounds and Jontel Evans added ten, but they would be the only double-figure scorers for the home team as Joe Harris and Sammy Zeglinski shot a combined 5-for-16 from the field. Not having Malcolm Brogdon due to injury essentially cut the Virginia rotation down to six players with Darion Atkins being the sixth man, and with two of their most important players struggling Virginia was unable to close the door.

The ejection of Bernard James, who kicked Joe Harris following a scramble for a loose ball, ended up sparking the visitors as opposed to the home team. Following four Scott free throws to make the score 58-47 Virginia with 4:33 remaining, Florida State executed better offensively while clamping down on the defensive end of the floor. Virginia would tally more turnovers (four) than shot attempts (two) over the final 4:33, with a pair of Evans free throws with 3:01 remaining being the final points of the night.

"Verbally they were saying that we've got to pick it up, we've still got enough time to win," said FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton. "Any time you hear those types of things coming out of your kids' mouths, their body language and communication changed totally realizing that we lost our big guy and so now everybody else had to step it up." (quotes courtesy of VirginiaSports.com)

One a solid option in the "third-best team in the ACC" conversation, Virginia now finds themselves in a four-way tie for fourth place with a trip to Maryland remaining before the conference tournament. But earning a first-round bye is probably of little concern for the Cavaliers, as their resume is devoid of any victories over Duke, Florida State or North Carolina.

Virginia has just two Top 50 wins (Michigan and Miami) on the season and two of their losses came against teams ranked below 100 (Virginia Tech and Clemson) in the RPI. Is Virginia one of the 37 best teams? They likely are, even with the recent personnel issues, but they need to make sure their resume can make that case. Thursday night's loss most likely magnified the importance of next week's ACC tournament for Virginia.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Tim Hardaway, Jr. (Michigan)
25 points and 11 rebounds in Michigan's 72-61 win at Illinois.

2. G Johnny Dee (San Diego)
30 points and five rebounds in the Toreros' 76-54 win over Pepperdine in the second round of the WCC tournament.

3. F Mike Scott (Virginia)
28 points and ten rebounds in the Cavaliers' 63-60 loss to Florida State.

Oregon vs. Colorado: Thursday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:42:15 -0800

Thursday's Conference Tournament Primer

Thursday night features a very important matchup in the Pac-12 of teams that are hoping to make a good case that they should be in the NCAA tournament field. Oregon (20-8, 11-5), who is 13-3 at Matthew Knight Court this season, hosts Colorado (19-9, 11-5) in a matchup of two teams who staged a tight (and controversial) contest about a month ago. A foul call on E.J. Singler with less than a second remaining proved to be the difference in Colorado's 72-71 win in Boulder, and a sweep of the season series would definitely help the Buffaloes when it comes to a possible bubble pecking order.

The officiating was a point of contention throughout the game for Duck fans as Colorado attempted thirteen more free throws (30-17), but the bigger issue was a combined 29 turnovers. One of the biggest culprits for either team was Colorado senior guard Carlon Brown, and frankly he had a February to forget. Brown reached double figures three times but hasn't shot better than 41.6% from the field since a late January win over USC, and if he can't make better decisions the Buffaloes can end up in trouble. The good news for Tad Boyle: he's got other guys who can step up, most notably a freshman named Spencer Dinwiddie.

Dinwiddie's fourth on the team in scoring with an average of 10.6 points per game, and after a pair of rough games against Utah and Stanford the California native rebounded with 15 points in the win over Cal on Sunday. Nate Tomlinson has steadily improved running the show and freshman Askia Booker (17 points in the first meeting) has been a capable reserve for much of the season. CU's got some talent on the perimeter but they'll have their hands full with the Oregon backcourt, which is led by Minnesota transfer Devoe Joseph. Joseph, who some believe to be a Pac-12 Player of the Year candidate, leads the team in scoring and ranks second in assists.

The addition of Joseph as a mid-year transfer has done a great deal for Dana Altman's team, as his ability to create has boosted the likes of Singler and Garrett Sim. Singler has been one of the Pac-12's most versatile players and he put up 13 and 13 in the first meeting, and while Sim struggled (six points) he is a 1,000-plus point scorer over his career. The play in the front court will also be worth watching, because while the Ducks have an edge in height Colorado's the better rebounding team thanks in large part to Andre Roberson. Roberson leads the Pac-12 in rebounding with an average of 11.4 rebounds per game, a number that places him in the Top 10 nationally.

Senior Austin Dufault has been the anchor in the middle but he's grabbing just 4.6 rebounds per game, as Colorado tends to rebound by committee outside of Roberson. Oregon has seven players averaging between 3.0 and 5.4 rebounds per game, with Singler leading the way and bigs Olu Ashaolu and Tony Woods being the starters inside. The high-flying Carlos Emory is a key reserve, as are Tyrone Nared and Jeremy Jacob. The problem for Oregon: they allow opponents to grab 31.6% of their misses, but they did a good job of keeping the Buffs off the glass in the first meeting (four offensive rebounds).

There wasn't much separating these two teams on February 4th and there likely won't be on Thursday night either. If Oregon can keep Roberson off the glass and knock down a few three-pointers they'll be in good position to pick up the win. Colorado on the other hand needs Brown to snap out of his funk, or at the very least be sure not to become a hindrance due to questionable shot selection. A win won't do a great amount for either team's resume in regards to the computer numbers, but it could serve the victor well if the two should be compared in the selection room.

Virginia is likely in good shape for an at-large bid but it never hurts to pick up another win against a ranked team, and the Cavaliers will have the opportunity to do so with #22 Florida State visiting Charlottesville. Mike Scott has been one of the best players in the ACC but he's going to need some help from the likes of Sammy Zeglinski and Jontel Evans against one of the nation's best defensive teams. FSU won a tight affair between the two in Tallahassee, and the return meeting should be along those lines as well.

Illinois still has plenty of work to do in regards to simply making the tournament, and a win over #16 Michigan would do wonders for a resume that was nearly ripped to shreds during their recent skid. If Brandon Paul can score and be efficient while doing so the Illini are more than capable of knocking off the Wolverines, and it's important that they remember Meyers Leonard inside as well. And in the WAC the matchup of New Mexico State and Nevada could be a preview of next weekend's WAC tournament final. Deonte Burton and the Wolf Pack have been the best team in the WAC all season long, and a win over the Aggies would mean an outright regular season title.

Top 25 Games
9:00 PM Georgia at (1) Kentucky (ESPN)
7:00 PM (16) Michigan at Illinois (ESPN)
7:00 PM (22) Florida State at Virginia (ESPN2)

NCAA Division I Games
2:30 PM North Florida vs East Tennessee State* (ESPN3)
6:00 PM VMI vs Winthrop* (ESPNU)
7:00 PM North Carolina Central at Hampton
7:00 PM Sacred Heart at LIU Brooklyn
7:00 PM Monmouth at Robert Morris
7:00 PM Quinnipiac at St. Francis (NY)
7:00 PM Southeast Missouri State vs Tennessee Tech*
7:00 PM Central Connecticut State at Wagner
7:05 PM Southern Illinois vs Indiana State*
7:30 PM Morgan State at Florida A&M
7:30 PM Coppin State at Bethune-Cookman
7:30 PM South Carolina State at Delaware State
7:30 PM Savannah State at Maryland-Eastern Shore
8:00 PM Texas Southern at Alcorn State
8:00 PM Charleston Southern at UNC-Asheville (ESPNU)
8:00 PM Norfolk State at North Carolina A&T
8:15 PM Binghamton vs UMBC*
8:30 PM Jackson State at Alabama A&M
8:30 PM Grambling State at Alabama State
8:30 PM Mississippi Valley State at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
8:30 PM Prairie View A&M at Southern
8:30 PM Florida Gulf Coast vs USC Upstate* (ESPN3)
9:00 PM Villanova at Rutgers (ESPN2)
9:00 PM Virginia Tech at Clemson (ESPN3)
9:00 PM Jacksonville State vs Morehead State*
9:00 PM Portland vs San Francisco* (ESPN3)
9:35 PM Bradley vs Drake*
10:00 PM UC Davis at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Utah at Oregon State
10:00 PM Pacific at UC Santa Barbara
10:05 PM Utah State at San Jose State
10:30 PM Washington State at UCLA
10:30 PM Washington at USC
10:30 PM Colorado at Oregon (FSN)
11:00 PM Louisiana Tech at Fresno State
11:00 PM Pepperdine vs San Diego* (ESPN3)
11:00 PM New Mexico State at Nevada (ESPN2)
12:00 AM Idaho at Hawaii