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Monday, February 5, 2007
Rousing of the Wolfpack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The ACC’s bottom feeders bit back over the weekend to clog up the post-season speculation — just a little.
Georgia Tech and Wake Forest practically have to win the ACC Tournament to reach the NCAAs at this point. But N.C. State’s back-to-back upsets, first of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, then its colossal shocker over North Carolina, might be the most intriguing possibility.
The Wolfpack are 13-8 and 3-5 in the ACC and a half-game ahead of Georgia Tech as both teams prepare to meet in Atlanta Tuesday. First-year coach Sidney Lowe’s team was being regarded as the worst in the ACC until just a few days ago.
The former Wolfpack great, donning a red alumni-style jacket that would have made Jimmy V proud, was denounced as a lousy hire in some corners. The return of point guard Engin Atsur from injury has steadied a young lineup that played fearlessly against the Tar Heels.
Is it too late for the Wolfpack, Yellow Jackets and Maryland Terrapins (17-6 and 3-5) to get on a hot run, then do something in the ACC tourney? At least six ACC teams appear to have done enough to earn bids. How many more can the conference get?
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Can Lofton lift Vols?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tennessee proved last week that they don’t need All-SEC hotshot Chris Lofton to beat some teams — like Georgia — but that not even he would have helped the Vols prevent their ambush at the hands of Florida.
But that 1-1 week leaves UT at 15-8 and 3-5, with SEC games running out. Lofton probably will be back for Wednesday’s must-win game against LSU.
LSU is in last place in the SEC West, while Ole Miss and Auburn are a half-game behind Alabama.
In the East, the No. 1 Gators remain unbeaten, but have a big week, visiting Georgia Wednesday before Saturday’s clash with Kentucky. Can Florida run the table? Who’ll win the West? And how many SEC teams will be smiling on Selection Sunday?
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Party Crashers: Bradley, Villanova
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was Doug Collins night at Illinois State over the weekend, but Bradley punctuated its drive for post-season consideration from the Missouri Valley Conference with a 70-61 win to spoil the ceremonies for the ex-ISU and NBA hotshot.
The unmascoted Braves moved to 16-9 and 7-6 in league play, and have an RPI in the low 40s. But with Wichita State and Northern Iowa also on the NCAA bubble, competition is heated for MVC slots that could number as few as two and as many as four. On Wednesday, they get league-leading Southern Illinois.
There’s a bigger clump of teams in bubble range in the Big East after Villanova’s ugly 57-53 verdict over Louisville. The Wildcats have an RPI of 20, but they haven’t had many good wins dotting their 14-7 record, and their 4-5 mark in is good for 8th place the Big East. Winnable games at Seton Hall and Cincinnati are on tap this week before Georgetown and Marquette loom.
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Tony Barnhart’s daily picks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In today’s projected NCAA field, the AJC’s Tony Barnhart first offers his conference-by-conference breakdown, then his 65 daily picks.
Following both of Tony’s forecasts, log your own opinion in our daily blog.
WHO’S IN
• Villanova (15-7, RPI 20), which posted a big win over Louisville (57-53) on Saturday.
• Kansas State (17-6), which posted its seventh straight win when it prevailed at Texas (73-72) on Saturday.
• BYU (16-6, RPI 29) played its way in by destroying UNLV 90-63 on Saturday.
WHO’S OUT
• Louisville’s (15-7) RPI is now down to 61 after its loss to Villanova.
• Hofstra (17-6, RPI 67) will have to win the Colonial Tournament to get in.
• Syracuse (16-7) drops out with an RPI of 58. The Orange has lost three of its last four games.
BY CONFERENCE
ACC (7 teams):
• In: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech.
• Bubble: Georgia Tech, Maryland.
• Game to watch: Duke (18-5) has lost two straight and hosts North Carolina (20-3) at home on Wednesday.
BIG EAST (6):
• In: Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Villanova, West Virginia.
• Bubble: Louisville, Providence, Syracuse.
• Game to watch: Pittsburgh (20-3, RPI 3) may have a tough time Wednesday night at West Virginia (17-4).
BIG TEN (4):
• In: Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin.
• Bubble: Illinois, Michigan.
• Game to watch: Michigan State (17-7), which has lost three straight and seen its RPI drop to 39, needs to win Wednesday night at Purdue (15-8).
BIG 12 (6):
• In: Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech.
• Bubble: Nebraska, Oklahoma.
• Game to watch: Texas A&M, fresh off a huge 69-66 at Kansas on Saturday, hosts Texas tonight. Kansas State, the hottest team in the league, goes to Kansas Wednesday night.
MISSOURI VALLEY (3)
• In: Creighton, Missouri State, Southern Illinois.
• Bubble: Wichita State, Bradley, Northern Iowa.
• Game to watch: Southern Illinois (18-5), a tournament lock with an RPI of 9, has won five straight. But on Wednesday the Salukis host Bradley (15-9) which beat them on Jan. 10 (48-46).
MOUNTAIN WEST (3)
• In: Air Force, BYU, UNLV.
• Bubble: None.
• Game to watch: Air Force (19-3, RPI 14) is now tied with BYU (16-6, RPI 29) for first place in the league. The Falcons face a tough test Tuesday night at San Diego State (13-7). Air Force beat the San Diego State by only five points (56-51) at home on Jan. 20.
PAC-10 (6)
• In: Arizona, Oregon, Southern Cal, Stanford, UCLA, Washington State. Bubble: California.
• Bubble: California.
• Game to watch: Southern Cal (18-6, RPI 45)) has won three straight including an upset over Oregon (71-68) Saturday night. The Trojans play at UCLA (19-2, RPI 1) on Wednesday.
SEC (6)
• In: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Vanderbilt.
• Bubble: LSU, Tennessee, Auburn.
• Game to watch: Tennessee (15-8) has an RPI of 16 but has lost six of its last eight games. The Vols’ next three games are at home beginning Tuesday night with LSU (13-9). Guard Chris Lofton is expected to return from an injury.
WAC (2)
• In: Nevada, New Mexico State.
• Bubble: None.
• Game to watch: Nevada (20-2, 8-1 WAC, RPI 28) plays at Fresno State (16-7) Thursday night).
TONY RANKS THE NCAA FIELD
If he made his bracket today, AJC’s Tony Barnhart would pick these teams to make it to the Big Dance:
1: Florida (SEC champ)
2: North Carolina (ACC champ)
3: UCLA (Pac-10 champ)
4: Pittsburgh (Big East champ)
5: Wisconsin (Big Ten champ)
6: Texas A&M (Big 12 champ)
7: Ohio State (at-large)
8: Kansas (at-large)
9: Kentucky (at-large)
10: Butler (Horizon champ)
11: Memphis (C-USA champ)
12: Duke (at-large)
13: Oregon (at-large)
14: Air Force (Mountain West champ)
15: Nevada: (WAC champ)
16: Marquette (at-large)
17: Indiana (at-large)
18: Southern Illinois (Missouri Valley champ)
19: Texas (at-large)
20: Arizona (at-large)
21: Notre Dame (at large)
22: Stanford (at-large)
23: Oklahoma State (at-large)
24: Washington State (at-large)
25: Virginia Tech (at-large)
26: Southern Cal (at-large)
27: Boston College (at-large)
28: Villanova (at-large)
29: Vanderbilt (at-large)
30: Texas Tech (at-large)
31: BYU (at-large)
32: Michigan State (at-large)
33: Virginia (at-large)
34: Gonzaga (West Coast champ)
35: Kansas State (at-large)
36: Alabama (at-large)
37: Arkansas (at-large)
38: Clemson (at-large)
39: Georgetown (at-large)
40: UNLV (at-large)
41: Creighton (at-large)
42: Georgia (at-large)
43: Florida State (at-large)
44: West Virginia (at-large)
45: VCU (Colonial champ)
46: Davidson (Southern champ)
47: New Mexico State (at-large)
48: Missouri State (at-large)
49: UMass (Atlantic 10 champ)
50: Texas A&M-CC (Southland champ)
51: Vermont (America East champ)
52: Penn (Ivy champ)
53: Winthrop (Big South champ)
54: East Tennessee State (Atlantic Sun champ)
55: Toledo (MAC champ)
56: Holy Cross (Patriot champ)
57: South Alabama (Sun Belt champ)
58: Delaware State (MEAC champ)
59: Oral Roberts (Mid-Continent champ)
60: Austin Peay (Ohio Valley champ)
61: Long Beach State (Big West champ)
62: Jackson State (SWAC champ)
63: Weber State (Big Sky champ)
64: Loyola of Maryland (MAAC champ)
65: Central Connecticut State (Northeast champ)
• What do you think of Tony’s conference choices, along with those on his watch lists?
• And how does his overall 65 picks differ from yours?
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