Running 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Thread

Big bubble games today ...
* TCU at Texas Tech (noon EST, ESPN2) -- Raiders are lurking right around the margins, even at 16-12, at 48 in the NET with a chance at a fifth Q1 win today.
* Clemson at N.C. State (noon, ACCNX) -- Tigers have 12 ACC wins but really can only play their way into the field by winning today in Raleigh and in Charlottesville on Tuesday. Too many awful losses -- Loyola Chicago, South Carolina, Louisville.
* Missouri at Georgia (1, SECN) -- Tigers are still in the bubble hunt because they're 5-8 against Q1 and perfect against the rest of the quads. Must-win today in Athens to keep that going.
* Arizona State at Arizona (2, CBS) -- The Sun Devils are on the wrong side of the bubble now, but they finish with three straight Q1 road opps (LA swing next week) and can absolutely play their way in.
* Syracuse at Pittsburgh (5, ACCN) -- Are the Panthers safe? I don't think so. They're 54 in the NET despite their ACC success. They have two Q3 landmines to dodge, starting with this one. Dangerous must-win.
* Virginia at North Carolina (6, ESPN) -- The Heels really, really, really need a decent win. This would qualify.
* USC at Utah (8, ESPNU) -- The Trojans are right on the cusp, and this would be a really nice road win to bolster the resume.
* San Diego State at New Mexico (10, CBSSN) -- The Lobos have lost five of their last six but if they can right themselves here against the Aztecs (NET 16) and handle business against Fresneck and Colorado State, they'll feel better about things.

I'm also starting to talk myself in to the potential of VCU getting in as an at-large if they win twice next week (Saint Louis home, GW away) and win two games in the A10 tournament to get to the final. They'd be 26-8 in that scenario and will have won the A10 regular season by at least two games. They do have two really stupid losses (Jacksonville and St. Bonaventure at home), but the committee has a history of rewarding regular-season champs from leagues like this and they love teams that end the season hot. I didn't think it was feasible a couple of weeks ago, but as the rest of the bubble softens, I think there may be a path for the Rams now.

 

Spartans can’t miss from beyond the arc in Iowa City. Great shooting, or Iowa’s usual “ole” defense?

These announcers seem certain Iowa is in the NCAA field, but I’m not so sure. They are .500 in the Big Ten with several bad losses (Penn State, Wisconsin twice), and what is the standout among their 17 wins? Indiana or Illinois maybe. I guess the Cyclones in nonconference.

 

I'm not certain about Iowa either. Hawkeyes are 46th in the NET with a 4-8 mark against Q1. They also have the worst loss of the year by a power conference team ... at home to NET 341 Eastern Illinois. They've got work to do. Probably will have to beat Nebraska and win a couple of B1G tournament games to feel safe, unless they can beat Indiana in Bloomington next week.

 

Thanks for reminding me about the Eastern Illinois clunker …

 

OK … Hawkeyes teasing me with a crazy comeback. They hit their last five 3-point attempts to erase a 13-point deficit with 1:30 left to take Michigan State into OT, 101-101.

 

All after an epic, 10-second silent stare down between Fran McCaffery and a ref during a time out.

 

One of the worst collapses in the history of basketball.

 

I knew that would make your day

 

Hawkeyes finish it off, 112-106 in OT. Highest scoring game in the Big 10 this season.

Iowa was down 10 points with 40-some seconds left in regulation.

That’s it — put ‘em in the tournament!

 

Arizona state took the worst best halfcourt shot

 

When did Jim Larranaga become a dead ringer for Jim Boeheim?

 

Iowa WTF? Carolina doing what it needs to do now.