Conference Tournament Preview: Big East

Big East Tournament - New York City - Wednesday-Sunday

Storylines: You seriously may never see a better conference tournament than the one taking place at the Garden. Any one of nine teams is capable of winning it. Wednesday's first round has four games that are all worth watching. You can't say that about any other conference quarterfinals let alone first round. Thursday's quarterfinals will have four games where any team can win. There are great coaches, great traditions, and great players. Plus, it all takes place in the world's mot famous arena. We can honestly say we will be glued to the TV watching this event.

Wednesday's first game between #8 Villanova and #9 Syracuse is an elimination game for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They both finished at 9-9 in conference and split their two games, each winning on the other's home floor. You know Jim Boeheim's club will be in their trademark 2-3 zone attempting to slow down 'Nova guards Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher while trying to stay fresh. They only play six guys and PG Jonny Flynn, SF Paul Harris, and PF Donte Greene never come out. The question for the Cuse will be can they finish. They have choked away several games this year which would have already put them in, instead, for like the 90th year in a row, they are America's bubble team. The loser of this one heads for the NIT.

Awaiting either Villanova or Syracuse in the quarters is #1 Georgetown. The Hoyas come in after their last second win over Louisville where they captured the Big East crown. Unlike the Cuse, Georgetown has the knack for finding ways to win in the end. Whether it's the veteran smarts of Jonathan Wallace, Roy Hibbert, and Jesse Sapp, or the youthful exuberance of DaJuan Summers and Vernon Macklin, JT3's club always seems to be there in the end. Interestingly, the Hoyas lost just three games in conference play, one was to Syracuse. They beat Villanova on a controversial call with less than a second remaining, 70 feet from the basket.

Game two Wednesday features Bob Huggins #5 West Virginia team and the #12 seeded Providence Friars. West Virginia has locked in an NCAA bid with 11 Big East wins and a 22-9 record overall. They are a vintage, tough minded Huggins club. They don't shoot it extremely well, but have three capable scorers in Joe Alexander, Alex Ruoff, and Da'Sean Butler. Through in the Senior who drives the bus, Darris Nichols, and you've got a dangerous team. Watch out for Joe Mazzulla, the Football team's backup QB is one heck of an athlete. The Friars on the other hand don't feature any household names, but they are extremely capable. They have five players that average in double figures, led by Guard Jeff Xavier, but are very streaky. They were swept this year by West Virginia, but strangely, they beat UConn twice.

Waiting for the winner of this game on the other side are those #4 Connecticut Huskies. After a slow start, the Huskies won 10 straight in January and February and really hit their stride. They dominate the post thanks to the duo of PF Jeff Adrien and C Hasheem Thabeet. Adrien is a double-double machine and ultra-strong. Thabeet is a one-man zone. You flat out cannot drive the lane against home without him blocking or severely altering your shot. PG A.J. Price has made this team his own and could be first team all-Big East. Glue guy Stanley Robinson averages 10 and six and defends the other team's best player. Veterans Doug Wiggins and Craig Austrie coming up big when they need it. We flat out love this team.

As loaded as the top half of the Big East draw is, the bottom ain't to shabby either. The evening session starts with #7 Pittsburgh facing off again Mick Cronin's #10 Cincinnati Bearcats. We were big Pitt fans early in the year, but injuries derailed them. Remember, a healthy Panthers club beat Duke in this same building. Big man Dejuan Blair is an absolute stud in the post and when he gets going, he can be unstoppable. PG Levance Fields, the heart and soul of the team, has returned from the foot injury that sidelined him for the first 11 conference games. Ronald Ramon got valuable time running the team, sliding over from the SG position and opening up minutes for Keith Benjamin. The guy to watch on the Panthers is Sam Young. If he gets on a role, the Panthers could end up playing into Saturday. The Bearcats come in on a five game losing streak including the weather delayed debacle against UConn where they were smoked by 45 and at one point had a 30-0 run dropped on them. Deonta Vaughn and John Williamson must get the inside/outside game going or their season will end. At 13-17, they are not eligible for the NIT.

The #2 Louisville Cardinals will get the winner of Cinci/Pitt. The have to be smarting after the heartbreaking loss at Georgetown that cost them the Big East regular season title. You can be sure they will see a lot of zone the rest of the way, as it seems to be the best way to defend them. They have two legit post men in David Padgett and Derrick Caracter that keep the defenses honest, while opening up the perimeter for Andre McGee, Terrance Williams, Edgar Sosa, and Jerry Smith. The key guy is Williams. He is always the best athlete on the floor whenever he plays and at 6'8, is a tough matchup for opposing teams wing players. Padgett is their coach on the floor, despite being their Center. A Big East crown could put them in range for a 2-3 seed.

The late game Wednesday night should be a good one as #6 Marquette gets the #11 Seton Hall Pirates. The Golden Eagles are playing for seeding. A run to the finals could put them in the 4/5 line, especially if they are able to knock off Louisville and Notre Dame in the process. Tom Crean's team is guard-centric, with Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, and Wesley Matthews making them go. Lazar Hayward has been inconsistent all year as their lone post threat and as he goes, so goes the team. He must play well or they can lose to the Pirates. Bobby Gonzalez's team can run with anyone, but have been banged up most of the year. Brian Laing leads four Pirates in double figures at 19 a game, but have lost eight of their last 10.

The surprise of the conference this season has to be #3 Notre Dame. Mike Brey should win coach of the year and PF Luke Harangody should be the Big East Player of the Year. We love the way Kyle McAlarney runs the point and Rob Kurz is a perfect compliment to Harangody in the post. They come in hot, winners of 11 of 13 and could win this tournament if they shoot it well.

Best First Round Matchup

#8 Villanova vs. #9 Syracuse - Probably the best first round game of any conference tournament. So much on the line. Scottie Reynolds vs. Jonny Flynn battling at the point. The Nova shooters against the Cuse 2-3 zone. The winner has a great shot to get in the big dance. The loser is 100% NIT bound.

Juiciest Potential Matchup

#3 Notre Dame vs. #2 Louisville, #4 Connecticut vs. #1 Georgetown - If these are the Big East Semifinals, we are all in for a big treat on Friday night.

Players To Watch

Donte Greene, Syracuse - The uber talented Freshman cannot spend his time camped out at the three point line if the Cuse is going to win a game or two. He must stay in the post and use his superior quickness to his advantage.

Edgar Sosa, Louisville - The single most important key to Louisville winning this tournament. If the up and down Sosa can find his game from last year's NCAA Tournament, the Cards are Final Four good. So far this year, that hasn't happened and he has been relegated to the bench.

Lazar Hayward, Marquette - The best big man Tom Crean has must play like it, or the Eagles could be one and done. When he plays big, Marquette can beat anyone.

Sam Young, Pittsburgh - While Dejuan Blair gets all the love in the post, it's Young who is the key guy. He can beat you inside and out. He has to be the man if the Panthers plan on playing this weekend in the Garden.

Jerome Dyson, Connecticut - When he was suspended for 30 days, he left the team as the leading scorer. He returned to a team who won 10 in a row without him and really hit their stride. As he has come back into the fold, he has yet to fit back in 100%. If he gets going, look out.

Predictions

First Round

#9 Syracuse 80 #8 Villanova 77

#5 West Virginia 68 #12 Providence 56

#7 Pittsburgh 70 #10 Cincinnati 54

#6 Marquette 89 #11 Seton Hall 75

Quarterfinals

#1 Georgetown 65 #9 Syracuse 62

#4 Connecticut 74 #12 West Virginia 71

#2 Louisville 62 #7 Pittsburgh 60

#3 Notre Dame 90 #6 Marquette 78

Semifinals

#4 Connecticut 68 #1 Georgetown 65

#3 Notre Dame 71 #2 Louisville 68

Finals

#4 Connecticut 76 #3 Notre Dame 74

Conference Tournament Preview: SEC

NOTE: This will be the first in a series of previews for the major conference tournaments that begin this week. SEC Tournament - Atlanta, GA - Thursday - Sunday

Storylines: The league is full of bubble teams who could use a big week in Atlanta to enhance their status or play their way into the big dance. Perhaps no league has more teams squarely on the bubble than the SEC. The top two teams in each division receive a first round bye.

It's Tennessee's world, and the rest of the SEC teams are just squirrels, trying to get a nut. The Volunteers ran through the league at 14-2 and are essentially trying to play themselves towards lock status of a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With Senior SG Chris Lofton, the three Smith's (Tyler, JaJuan, Ramar), and Wayne Chism in the post, we just cannot see this team losing to anyone in this tournament unless they get bored. Their style of play is extremely tough to play, unless you have heady veteran ball handlers, which many in this conference do not possess. They are obviously the #1 seed coming out of the SEC East.

Awaiting a loss to Tennessee in the quarters will be either West #4 LSU or East #5 South Carolina. We'll be honest; these are two teams not worth discussing really. LSU fired coach John Brady in midseason, but finished up winning four of five, including a win at South Carolina. They have NBA talent Anthony Randolph in the post and near 20 point per game scorer Marcus Thornton on the perimeter. South Carolina will also be looking for a new coach at season's end, with Dave Odom stepping aside to retire. He thought it would be a big year, with transfers Devin Downey (Cincinnati) and Zam Frederick (Georgia Tech) coming in, but it didn't translate. They lost five of their last six and finished 13-17.

The second quarter final bye team is one of our favorites, the bubblicious West #2 Arkansas Razorbacks. We ranked them 13th preseason and with talented Patrick Beverley and Sonny Weems back to lead the way, we expected more than a 20-10, 9-7 record. With that said, they are probably in, but must win their quarterfinal matchup to feel safe. This team goes as PG Gary Ervin does. The turnover machine must be in control or it could be a short stay for the Razorbacks.

The two teams looking to knock them off in the quarters will be East #3 Vanderbilt or West #6 Auburn. Vandy has an RPI rating in the top 10 and spent the majority of the season ranked in the top 10. They boast the odds on SEC Player of the Year in Shan Foster and a beast of a post presence in Aussie big man A.J. Ogilvy. Like Tennessee, they live and die by the three, and have the capability to win this tournament if they are hot. They must get consistant guard play from Jermaine Beal and Alex Gordon and something off of their much maligned bench. Kevin Stallings club won't have any problems with Auburn, who finished last in a down SEC at 4-12, including 10 of their last 12. On top of that, they Tigers are without their best player, Kovotney Barber, who has a broken hand.

The Bottom half of the draw features the West #1 seed Mississippi State. This is a team nobody wants to play right now. Perhaps nobody has a better inside/outside scoring game than the Bulldogs, who have two first-team all-SEC type performers in Wing Jamont Gordon and PF Charles Rhodes. Both scored 17 a game and can take over. Add in the double digit scorers Barry Stewart and Ben Hansbrough (yes, Tyler's brother), and the best shot-blocker west of Hasheem Thabeet in Jarvis Varnado, and you've got a special team.

East #4 Florida needs a first round win over West #5 Alabama and probably an upset of Mississippi State if they plan on getting a shot to defend their back to back titles. The Gators looked good a few weeks back, but lost their last three games and finished 8-8 in the SEC. They have two great talents in Freshman Wing Nick Calathes and big man Marreese Speights, but their penchant for close losses has really hurt them. Bama is really playing for nothing more than an NIT bid and even that seems iffy at 16-15. They do have a great big man in Richard Hendrix and a sharpshooter in Alonzo Gee, but all yera they struggled with a lack of a true point guard.

Anyone else have East #2 Kentucky finishing 12-4 in the SEC after they lost to Gardner-Webb, San Diego, UAB, and Houston in December? We know we didn't. What about almost beating Tennessee on the road without Patrick Patterson? You have got to give it to Billy Gillispie. People were calling for his head two months ago, and he could end up SEC Coach of the Year. Right now, they are living and dying by what guards Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford do. They are playing four guards a lot now with Patterson lost to injury, along with ultra-thin PF Perry Stevenson. Again, we don't know how Gillispie is doing it, but he has UK playing their best ball of the season.

Disappointing bubble-team West #3 Ole Miss will face East #6 Georgia for the right to face Kentucky. When people were plotting the end of Kentucky's season two months ago, everyone was lauding the Rebels, who we had ranked as high as #10. Then the gigantic collapse hit, they finished 7-9 in conference and 21-9 overall, but come into the SEC tournament winner of three straight. They have a solid frontcourt with Dwayne Curtis (14 and nine a game) and banger Kenny Williams, plus capable guards in Freshman Chris Warren, the team's leading scorer, and Eniel Polynice. They meet Georgia in the rematch of Saturday's Ole Miss 76-62 win in Athens. It's been an extremely tough year for Dennis Felton's club, losers of 11 of their last 13. Rumors are swirling that his next loss could be his last. It's going to happen Thursday.

Best First Round Matchup

East #4 Florida vs. West #5 Alabama (Thursday 7:30, Full Court) - This is like choosing the hottest of four ugly women. The opening round of the SEC Tournament is loaded with trash. There is no doubt the Gators have the most to play for, so we are going with their first game, since Bama is capable of pulling the upset, as they did against Vandy this past weekend.

Juiciest Potential Matchup

East #1 Tennessee vs. East #3 Vanderbilt (Friday 1, Full Court) - The two in-state rivals split a pair of games during the regular season and Vandy's win knocked the Vols off of the #1 spot in both polls. You just know Vandy would love to ruin their chances at a #1 seed as well. Plus, anytime two of the most clutch shooters in the country, Chris Lofton amd Shan Foster, meet, its must see TV.

Players To Watch:

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State - One major advantage the Bulldogs have is that Varnado is a game-changer in the post. The disadvantage when they play Tennessee is he gets drawn away from the basket.

Gary Ervin, Arkansas - If the Razorbacks PG stays within himself, his team usually wins. If he is out of control, turning the ball over, it could be one and done for Arkansas.

Dan Werner, Florida - Everyone knows Nick Calathes is the main guy for the Gators, but for them to spring the upset they will need to get into the NCAA Tournament, Werner must not disappear like he has over the last three games, all losses.

Derrick Jasper, Kentucky - The talented Sophomore has been thrusted into being the third option on offense now that Patrick Patterson is hurt. Everyone will be keying on Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford, opening things up for him.

J.P. Prince, Tennessee - The X-factor for the Vols attack. If he gets going, they are awfully tough to beat.

Predictions

First Round

(W4) LSU 65 (E5) South Carolina 57

(E3) Vanderbilt 85 (W6) Auburn 62

(E4) Florida 78 (W5) Alabama 77

(W3) Mississippi 75 (E6) Georgia 60

Quarterfinals

(E1) Tennessee 65 (W4) LSU 50

(E3) Vanderbilt 80 (W2) Arkansas 75

(W1) Mississippi State 85 (E4) Florida 82

(W3) Mississippi 62 (E2) Kentucky 61

Semifinals

(E1) Tennessee 90 (E3) Vanderbilt 81

(W1) Mississippi State 72 (W3) Mississippi 67

Finals

(E1) Tennessee 85 (W1) Mississippi State 78

The MTAC Power 16

Your friends at MTAC are back healthy and ready to give you full access into the best month of of our year. It’s Championship Week, which to us, is as underrated as a week in sports as there is. Monday and Tuesday you have leagues the Horizon, Summitt, and Sun Belt punching their tickets to the big dance. Wednesday you have the Big East Tournament starting at Madison Square Garden with four games. Thursday the rest of the Big conferences join in the fray. No year in recent memory have there been more high seeds up for grab with so much uncertainty. So many questions are still un-answered.

Will North Carolina or Duke be able to grab the covered Raleigh/Charlotte road to San Antonio? Last year it certainly helped UCLA get to the Final Four as they never had to leave the state of California and essentially played four home games. Will Texas or Kansas be able to jump up and grab a #1 seed if they win the Big 12 Tournament? How will the horrific officiating in LA affect Stanford’s seeding? Is Georgetown a #2 or a #3? What will the committee make of the Big 10 powers Wisconsin, Purdue, and Indiana? How high of a seed does Butler get?

The Conference Tournaments will hopefully help answer a lot of those questions. We waited until the regular season ended to give you our weekly overview. Later this week you will see previews of the Big conference tournaments and what we are watching for. Instead of our usual schedule for the week, we gave you where we think the Power 16 teams will be seeded, a long with a glimpse at some of the bubble teams and the reasons they are in or out.

Get ready folks, it’s our favorite time of the year. March Madness has arrived.

#1 North Carolina (29-2) – The Heels went into Cameron Indoor Stadium with the ACC title on the line and controlled the game from start to finish. Whole Duke made a run to take a lead with less than six minutes to go, UNC hunkered down and held the Devils scoreless for the last five and a half minutes and avenged the earlier season loss. The Tar Heels bugaboo is supposedly their D, but if they defend the way they did late in the game Saturday night, you’d have to say they are favorites to win it all as of today. But that is always subject to change. Projected Seed: #1

#2 Tennessee (28-3, #2) – Barring a strange first loss in the SEC Tournament, we think with the wins last week over Kentucky and at Florida, the Vols have locked up a #1 seed and are the SEC Champs. The Florida win was especially impressive as the Gators came out smokin’ hot, nailing their first nine shots and led most of the way. In the end, Tennessee’s veteran savvy and the board work of Tyler Smith saved them. We are this close to voting Bruce Pearl as our coach of the year. Projected Seed: #1

#3 Kansas (27-3, #6) – Now this was the KU team we love to see. Three games; three big time performances. First they avenged their loss to Kansas State, completely shutting down everyone in a Black uniform that wasn’t named Michael Beasley. Two days later came the annihilation of Texas Tech by 58; the same Tech team who beat Texas two days earlier. Bill Self’s bunch seemed to have begun to play its best ball at the right time. There is only one key to discuss: The return of Sherron Collins to 100% health. There is no more important role player to any team in the country than the lightning-quick point man. If they win the Big 12 Tournament and beat Texas in the final, can they grab a #1 seed? Projected Seed: #2

#4 UCLA (28-3, #1) – Our #1 team 10 days ago drops to #4? Shows you how fickle this whole thing can be and how two average performances can affect you from week to week. The bottom line is that thanks to two horribly officiating finishes against Stanford (the Lawrence Hill block on Darren Collison which was cleaner than the board of health) and Cal (Ryan Anderson was mugged for a no call before Josh Shipp’s illegal over the backboard shot was allowed) have clinched the Pac-10 and a #1 seed for the Bruins who look very beatable all of a sudden. Projected Seed: #1

#5 Memphis (30-1, #3) – Back to the normal week of boring, blowout, Conference USA basketball games. The Tigers could have slept through games at Southern Miss and at home with SMU and still won. The home thrashing of bubble team UAB deserves respect. They are a lock #1 seed in the South, and will go into the tournament at 33-1, yet we just don’t give them a shot to win it all. Sorry Coach Cal, those are the facts. Whoever their #2 seed is will feel good with their chances of getting to the Final Four. Projected Seed: #1

#6 Texas (25-5, #5) – Why did we drop them below KU when the Horns beat them straight up? Well, they lost to Texas Tech who then got pounded by KU by 58. The truth is that these two teams are on a collision course for their third straight Big 12 Tournament title game. The last two were in Dallas, both won by KU. This year, the scene will turn to Kansas City, with a possible #1 seed on the line. Projected Seed #2

#7 Duke (26-4, #7) – ESPN’s Jay Bilas made the assumption that if Duke and North Carolina meet again in the ACC Finals that it will be for a #1 seed. Come on dude. Duke’s signature win over UNC was when they were playing their first game without Ty Lawson. When Lawson did play, the Heels took down the Devils on their home floor. Their other signature win was over Wisconsin in early December when the Badgers were nothing. Don’t forget to add in the fact that the ACC is the weakest it has been in 10 years by a long shot. That said, an ACC Finals appearance locks them into a #2 seed. Projected Seed: #2

#8 Xavier (26-5, #9) – Sean Miller’s club was streaking to the finish line before getting tripped up at St. Joe’s Thursday night. Not a bad loss though; Phil Martelli’s bunch is fighting for an NCAA bid, it was Senior Night at Hawk Hill, they were honoring former coach Dr. Jack Ramsey and the legends of St. Joe’s hoops were all in attendance. What is a concern is the ankle injury to PG Drew Lavender. He clearly was not himself in the loss and the coaching staff chose to sit him in the regular season finale win over Richmond. The A-10 tournament will be a great test for the Musketeers and prepare them for the big dance. Win that and you get a #2 seed. Projected Seed: #2/3

#9 Stanford (24-6, #8) – Maybe to you, they should drop lower than one spot after losing both games in LA, but not us. Realistically they were robbed by the officials at UCLA and seemed shell shocked by the USC changing defenses two days later. In our heads, they get the W against UCLA. The key for the Cardinal in going deep in the NCAA is going to be their guard play. Can Anthony Goods play like a star? Projected Seed: #3

#10 Georgetown (25-4, #13) – Have you ever seen a team come up big at the end of close games thanks to big shots and timely whistles for an entire season the way the Hoyas have in 07-08? When it came down to the showdown for it all in the Big East, Roy Hibbert failed to show, but DaJuan Summers three with 16 seconds left beat Louisville and bailed the Hoyas out. It was an out and out slug-fest, defensive struggle that was the type of game Georgetown will have to win with in the Tournament. Let’s see how they do in New York this week. Projected Seed: #2/3

#11 Louisville (24-7, #12) – Tough loss for the Cardinals who had Georgetown on the ropes but couldn’t finish. A couple of things we learned about them during said game; They run the perfect system to beat a zone, especially with David Padgett moving the ball so well in the middle, but unless Jerry Smith, Edgar Sosa, and Terrance Williams hit shots, they can be beaten. They don’t have that zone buster the way they have had in the past with a guy like Francisco Garcia. Also, Williams is a superior talent who can play for us anytime. Winning the Big East Tournament could vault them to a possible two seed if things shake out their way. Projected Seed: #3

#12 Connecticut (24-7, #10) – Come on Huskies, you don’t want to start regressing at this time of year. Had the Tournament started three weeks ago, they’d be everyone’s sheik pick to get to the Final Four. But the last three/four games they haven’t shown their best, including being manhandled by Providence for the second time this year. Maybe Jim Calhoun shouldn’t have brought back Jerome Dyson after all. Oh, but then Sunday happened and everything we said below could have been erased. They absolutely destroyed Cincinnati. We still love their frontcourt and want to see the Huskies meet Georgetown in New York this weekend. Projected Seed: #3/4

#13 Wisconsin (26-4, #15) – Can’t fault the Badgers for their schedule. They played everyone in front of them and won 26 regular season games including just two losses in the Big Ten. Pretty impressive since nobody had them higher than third in the preseason. We still don’t but them for some reason. The last two years they flamed early in the NCAA’s with more talent than they have now. More good fortune: They won’t have to see both Purdue and Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament. Projected Seed: #3/4

#14 Indiana (26-5, #11) – Have to say that we are very disappointed in the way the team has played since Dan Dakich has taken over. The loss at Penn State shouldn’t have happened. But we get this underlying feeling that the Hoosier players are still sulking over the loss of their coach. Jamarcus Ellis was left behind on the trip to Happy Valley for a violation of team rules. Will they turn back into the team we saw in the last three weeks of the Sampson era? We cannot wait for the rematch with Purdue in the Big Ten Semi’s Saturday. Projected Seed: #4/5

#15 Butler (28-3, NR) – Nobody nationally is talking about Butler/Cleveland State III, but we will. The two are both playing for huge stakes. The Bulldogs are vying for a high seed in the NCAA’s and the Vikings are looking to get back into the Tournament for the first time since 1986. The two teams split this season, each winning on its home floor, but the Vikings hung with Butler in Hinkle for 38 minutes. Win or lose, Butler will be a team that high-major programs want no part of in March. Horizon League Player of the Year Mike Green is playing out of his mind right now. Projected Seed: #5

#16 Notre Dame (24-6, NR) – You know we love Bruce Pearl, but maybe the most underrated coaching job of the year was done by Mike Brey. Raise your hand if you had Notre Dame 24-6 with a bye in the Big East Tournament? They lost starting SG and leading scorer Russell Carter and got better? Luke Harangody will be Big East Player of the Year and the smart Irish club will be a tough out in March. This is another Big East team we will be curious to watch in New York this week. Projected Seed: #4/5

On The Cusp of a Top Four Seed:

Drake – The Bulldogs literally bulldozed their way the Missouri Valley regular season, and then won the conference tournament smoking Illinois State by 30 in the final.

Vanderbilt – Shan Foster locked in SEC Player of the year when he dropped 42 on. Losing in OT on the road to Mississippi State won’t hurt them. Neither will a top 10 RPI number.

Mississippi State – Nobody talks about the Bulldogs, but this is their best team since their 1996 Final Four team with Erick Dampier and Donta Jones. We love the frontcourt duo of Jarvis Varnado and Charles Rhodes. If they win the SEC Tournament and beat Tennessee, shouldn’t they be considered for a top four seed?

Marquette – Not that this will happen, but get to the title game of the Big East Tournament, and a Top four seed isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Looking For Their Dancing Shoes:

Syracuse (19-12, 9-9 in conference) – Best Wins: Georgetown, Marquette. Key Losses: Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island. The classic part about the Cuse is that youth/stupidity combined with below average coaching from Jim Boeheim is what is keeping them on the bubble. The Pittsburgh loss where they led by double digits with three and a half minutes left at home could be the killer. They also lack a decent road win and are 5-5 in their last 10. The Big East Tournament first round game against Villanova should be viewed as an elimination game for both teams.

Villanova (19-11, 9-9) – Best Wins: Connecticut, Pittsburgh. Key Losses: Five Game losing streak in January. The Wildcats have been much better of late and because of two bad calls, they are 19-11 instead of 21-9. The screw-job at Georgetown has cost them a key resume building win and an over .500 record in the Big East, which would have put them in. Spilt with Syracuse, both teams winning on the road. Have to beat Syracuse Wednesday or they have no shot.

Arizona (18-13, 8-10) – Best Wins: at USC, at Houston. Key Losses: Swept by Arizona State, Stanford, Oregon, and UCLA. Normally you would look at a team at 8-10 in conference and with 13 losses and say they are out right away. The Cats however are #1 in strength of schedule and were 14-5 with both Nic Wise and Jerryd Bayless in the lineup together. Without them: 4-8. They have the talent to beat anyone, yet can also be one and done. It wouldn’t be advisable to lose their first game in the Pac-10 tournament.

Oregon (18-12, 9-9) – Best Wins: Stanford, Arizona (twice). Key Losses: at Nebraska, Oakland. With their late season win over Arizona, they fought back to .500 in the best conference in basketball. Still have some work to do, but two wins in the Pac-10 tournament would give them 20 wins, you cannot deny them a bid at that point. The one that will keep them out was the loss to Oakland in Detroit. Look up bad loss in the dictionary and that box score is the definition.

Florida (21-10, 8-8) – Best Wins: Vanderbilt, Kentucky. Key Losses: at Ohio State, at Arkansas, LSU. The young Gators bubble may have burst Sunday with their loss at Kentucky, playing without their best player, Patrick Patterson. Nobody expected them to even be this close after losing their entire rotaion. A strong run in the SEC Tournament could save them.

Arkansas (20-10, 9-7) – Best Wins: Vanderbilt, Mississippi State. Key Losses: Appalachian State, lost five of six on road. Like Michigan State, this is a completely different team away from home. Wins over Vandy and Mississippi State show they can hang with the big boys, but they are so schitzo sometimes. Remember, they lost to Appalachian State and not only do they lose on the road, they get blown out.

Virginia Tech (18-12, 9-7) - Best Wins: Maryland (twice). Key Losses: at Penn State, at Richmond. The #4 seed in the ACC Tournament may needs two wins to get in after their tough loss at Clemson Sunday. The Hokie resume lacks sizzle, but they finished winning four of five.

Maryland (18-13, 8-8) – Best Wins: at North Carolina. Key Losses: Va Tech (twice), Ohio, American. More proof how weak the ACC is, but because of the name, teams are on the bubble. Maryland, to us, is out. Take the UNC win away and their resume is empty. Last night’s loss to last place Virginia is not going to help them one bit.

St. Joseph’s (18-11, 9-7) – Best Wins: Xavier, UMass (twice). Key Losses: at Syracuse, at Dayton. How many teams should the A-10 get? Four? Well, the Hawks finished in the meaty middle at 9-7 where Eight teams reside between 7-9 and 9-7. The sweep of UMass is something the committee cannot ignore, but losses to fellow bubble teams Syracuse and Dayton hurt; especially the loss to the Flyers just two days after beating Xavier. Make a Semi’s run in the A-10 Tournament and we think you’ll be fine.

Ohio State (19-12, 10-8) – Best Wins: Syracuse, Purdue, Michigan State. Key Losses: at Michigan, Texas A&M lost four straight before beating Penn State in OT. No signature wins on the road, inconsistent play all season, and faltering at the end of the season won’t help them. Yes, they beat Syracuse, but that was in mid-November. If both OSU and Florida fail to make the NCAA Tournament, this will be the first time since the field expanded in 1985 that neither finalist from the previous year made it the big dance.

Apologies

To all of our loyal readers, we must apologize to you for the lack of posts this week. MTAC, is 95% written by one man. That one man has been in bed with the flu for three straight days. We can't seem to break this fever and our energy level is at 10%. We will do our best to get you new material when we feel better, but consider this week a "vacation."

Lazy Monday Blogging

MTAC us sick as a dog...AGAIN...in bed with a 101 fever. Going to the dr today. That is why you saw no morning link-fest. There is a lot going on between the Browns free agency, the last home game for five Kansas Seniors, the Cavs injury bug, and the Tribe Spring Training action. Here is a quick breakdown, lazy man style, full of links, and we will be back with opinions and insight tomorrow.

Browns

Browns Re-tooling Highlights - Peter King, SI.com

At about 8:15 Saturday night, I asked Cleveland general manager Phil Savage (The Man Without A 2008 Draft) how he felt after completing one of the craziest 48 hours in free-agency history.

This offseason, Savage has locked up better-than-anyone-thought running back Jamal Lewis for three years, signed quarterback Derek Anderson for three years and a pricey $24 million in the early hours of free agency, sent a second-round pick to Green Bay for franchised defensive tackle Corey Williams, traded a third-round pick plus underrated cornerback Leigh Bodden to Detroit for defensive lineman Shaun Rogers and then shocked general managers all over football by throwing a $35 million contract ($10 million guaranteed) at peripatetic wide receiver Donte' Stallworth, who will be wearing his fourth uniform in 27 months when he suits up with the Browns.

"We've worked hard at filling some holes,'' Savage said via the cell phone. "It's an unorthodox way of filling the holes; but at the end of the day, I think we answered an awful lot of questions we had about our team, and we put ourselves in position to be a pretty good team.''
But he didn't feel great about his answer, and I asked him to get back to me if anything else happened -- specifically if he got the last gem on his list: Tennessee defensive end Travis LaBoy.

The Browns entered free agency thinking the right signings would help them play along the defensive front the way the Giants did in beating New England in Super Bowl XLII. They envisioned sending waves of rushers at Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger over the next few years.

The LaBoy deal, though, wasn't forthcoming Saturday night; and an hour or so later, Savage sent me a text message that read: "Relieved would be the word, I think. Our roster looks pretty good on paper -- QB, Jamal and DL were the priorities, and that's what we did. Thanks, Phil.''

*****

So Cleveland, having fixed the running game by re-signing Lewis, progressed to fixing its quarterback depth chart the night before free agency began. Savage was at the office until 5 Friday morning, making sure Anderson didn't get away.

Though Anderson had spit the bit in the biggest game of the year, playing poorly in a Week 16 loss at Cincinnati that cost the Browns a playoff spot, he clearly was the first big-time quarterback Cleveland had suited up since resuming its NFL life in 1999.

Signing him for three years means the Browns still have the ability to have two promising quarterbacks (Anderson and Brady Quinn) for at least one more year before deciding to keep one or both for the 2009 season. "The war that we won was the three-year deal,'' said Savage. "We didn't have to sign him for four or five years. And we still keep the Brady Quinn flame alive.''

Coach Romeo Crennel wanted to add at least two pieces to the defensive line. Once the Browns found they could get the up-and-coming Corey Williams from defensive-line-rich Green Bay for a low-second-round pick, they focused on Rogers.

At one point Friday, it looked like rival Cincinnati had Rogers in the fold for third- and fifth-round picks. But when the Bengals balked at paying Rogers a $1 million roster bonus for being on the team on Feb. 29, the trade got nixed. Cleveland was back in the game.

The Browns offered a third-round pick plus cornerback Leigh Bodden. Now, on his own, Bodden, at $1.75 million in 2008, was as valuable to the team as the terminally inconsistent Rogers. But Bodden wanted more money. Lots more money. And Cleveland wasn't willing to pony up.
Plus, a couple of Cleveland coaches loved Rogers, and Savage felt strongly that Crennel could get more out of Rogers than any Detroit coach ever could. (Dubious thinking, but that's what happens on the first weekend of free agency.)

"It's a change of scenery for a guy who had a lot expected of him,'' said Savage. "It's a new lease on life. Is he going to live up to the expectations that everyone has had for him over the years? Maybe not. Is he going to be better than what we had? Absolutely.''

The Browns plan to play Rogers at defensive end in the standard 3-4, and move him inside when they go to a four-man front. They hope the versatility of Williams -- who has been a good interior and exterior rusher for the Packers (one Green Bay official told me Williams "loves football, is one of those first-guys-off-the-bus types, and was available only because we had so much depth on the line") -- will make teams not focus so heavily on Rogers. We'll see. There's a reason Rogers' nickname was "Big Baby'' in Detroit, and it had something to do with his maturity and passive approach to football.

It's going to be fun to watch the Browns this year.

Browns Moves are Inspired - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Then you have to be impressed by them trading veteran cornerback Leigh Bodden and second- and third-round picks for defensive linemen Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. Both of them are in their late 20s and should be in the prime of their careers.

As Savage said: "We were not going to get guys like this in the second and third rounds. And we had to do something about the defensive line."

Williams had seven sacks for Green Bay last season. Rogers had seven for Detroit. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley led the Browns with five last season. The Browns went from having only two viable starters on the line (Shaun Smith and Robaire Smith) to four for the three spots in coach Romeo Crennel's defense.

They actually have . . . depth!

Terry's Talkin' - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

General Manager Phil Savage knows the Quinn/Anderson situation can get heated with the fans and media, especially if Anderson has a couple of bad games early. He knows that eventually someone (probably Quinn, although he won't say it) will take over and the other will leave. But he'd rather deal with those possible distractions and be sure he's safe at quarterback than see all the momentum built up from the 10-6 season in 2007 drain away with one injury to a quarterback.

Because he was the 22nd pick, Quinn's contract is salary-cap friendly. He'll make about $2 million as a backup next season, and that's about what most veteran backups are paid. That's why money is not an overriding concern in terms of keeping both. It's hard to criticize the Browns for keeping Anderson at their price.

While Anderson's agents said they had possibilities of trades, none apparently were willing to give the Browns the required first- and third-round picks. And Savage was not backing off that price. If someone really wanted Anderson, they would have offered a $40 million deal and paid the price with the Browns. You can be sure that Anderson did not walk away from a lot of money to stay with the Browns. You also can know that the Browns are able to retain two young quarterbacks without busting their salary cap, which is critical to the future.

Not only is the three-year $24 million deal good for the Browns' cap (and it brings Anderson more than $12 million guaranteed), but it also makes him very tradable now or a year from now. The team is in excellent position with two quarterbacks at a reasonable price.

Kansas Basketball

Hello, Goodbyes - Gary Bedore, Lawrence Journal World

The fan support has helped this senior class total 107 victories against 23 losses. The seniors have won three straight regular season Big 12 titles, two straight postseason tourney crowns and are currently tied with Texas atop the league with two games left.

“They’ve won 82.3 percent of their games. That’s a ridiculous amount for any class to do that well,” coach Bill Self said of his first recruiting class (Case is a fifth-year senior; Stewart arrived as transfer from USC in 2004-05).

“You always hope guys will pan out to be what you thought. Out of Russell, Darnell, Sasha .. all have equaled and exceeded what I originally had planned for them when we recruited them. I knew they’d be good. I had no idea they’d be as good as they are and represent the university as well as they have. All will graduate in four years and are great ambassadors for the school.

“There were no McDonald’s All-Americans,” Self added. “These guys came in and gave their heart and soul to this place. It’s been a fabulous class. I hope everybody ... our fans, players and coaches need to make sure they go out right on Monday. It won’t be easy. We’re playing a team in Texas Tech (16-12, 7-7) that is coming in very confident after the way they played against Texas. They controlled that game,” he said of the Raiders’ 83-80 victory over the Longhorns on Saturday.

Seniors Embody Class - Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal World

When Robinson, Case, Stewart, Jackson and Kaun start, it won’t be the force job it is on most Senior Night games. The five played together for a stretch early in November. Look for them to get off to a strong start, fueled by a grateful crowd that appreciates the effort this class of seniors put forth.

Robinson, missing New York, hung tough and grew up in a hurry after a frustrating freshman season. Every team needs a glue guy. Robinson makes the all-Elmer’s team. Case never did earn a spot in the rotation, and never did complain about that. Stewart, a transfer after a year at USC, rode the pine his first two seasons at Kansas, never stopped trying to get better and finally earned a spot in the rotation. Jackson’s year-by-year growth, in the face of so much personal tragedy, embodies all that is good about college basketball. Kaun went from starter to reserve this season, a demotion, at least in name, that didn’t poison his passion.

After tonight, they’ll be gone from the Fieldhouse. Gone and not soon forgotten.

Cavaliers

Trade Looking Better Everyday - Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer

You'd trade Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes and the rest for a Joe Smith, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and Ben Wallace. You'd not worry if Hughes averages 20 points for the Bulls -- and he might -- because it wasn't going to happen here.

Especially when Hughes said before the game: "We had 50-plus wins, made the Finals and I learned from it. I was unhappy, I wasn't myself. I'd rather enjoy the game than all that."

Hearing that, you absolutely, positively would make the trade. Because the Cavs need players willing to sacrifice parts of their games for the good of the whole team. That's how teams contend for a title.

Yes, they needed this trade -- desperately.

It seems the injuries never end. Now Zydrunas Ilgauskas is sidelined for at least two weeks with back problems.

He joins Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic on the Cavs' hurtin' real bad list.

So it's a relief for coach Mike Brown to turn to Smith, to Szczerbiak, to Wallace, to West. And he did in the fourth quarter Sunday when the Cavs outscored the Bulls, 30-18.

A Star's Time To Shine - Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon-Journal

''Trying to stop LeBron, I kind of got the other end of the stick,'' said new Bull Drew Gooden, who has seen James carry the Cavs to numerous such victories. ''You know how it goes.''
Both Gooden, who had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Larry Hughes, who had 23 points, though he needed 20 shots, played well in their return. For a while, as the Cavs struggled on offense without the services of injured center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, it looked like they might be able to get the win.

Caught in a gamelong malaise with the exception of James, the Cavs and the old Bulls broke out late. After not being involved in the offense much in the first three quarters, the Cavs remembered Joe Smith.

Smith made three shots to help with the comeback in the fourth quarter and fellow former Bull Ben Wallace drew a key charge, came up with a steal and made a block down the stretch to make difference.

Now That Was Fun

The Recap: The Kansas Jayhawks got their revenge and then some Saturday night in front of a national TV audience, blowing out the Kansas State Wildcats 88-74 in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated, yet had a feel of a closer game. Brandon Rush had a season-high 21 to pace KU, including five three-pointers. Sherron Collins had his best game of the season with 18 off the bench in an extremely productive 29 minutes. Russell Robinson was solid as well, with 14 points, five assists, and four steals. The consensus #1 pick and resident K-State stud Michael Beasley had 39 points, despite spending nine first half minutes on the bench with two fouls. No other Wildcat scored in double figures. It was a solid and inspiring performance from the Jayhawks who fed off the crowd and looked focused and ready to put their February struggles behind them. “The reasons why we were better tonight, we’re running the same stuff, just guys had energy and bounce and they played with a little bit of a swagger tonight,” said coach Bill Self.

The Whup

Allen Fieldhouse in a Fever Pitch - Take it from someone who was there, the Fieldhouse was as loud as it has ever been. The opening video before they announce the team's starters never gets old and mad props to Lew Perkins and his staff for feeding the beast that is the Allen Fieldhouse crowd. New this year (to me at least) was just before tip when they played a quick montage of highlights with Bob Davis' play by play call that ended with Darrell Arthur urging the fans to get ready and go nuts. It was phenomenal. Also during a big time out in the second half, they did the same thing with highlights from the game and played ACDC's "Thunderstruck" which the crowd went crazy for as well. They have modernized the AFH experience without going overboard and respecting the traditions. There is still nothing better than the Rock Chalk chant and the alma mater. As for the game, the players fed off the emotion of a fan base and crowd who wanted this one as badly as they players seemingly did.

The X Factor was Back - Man, was it nice to see Sherron Collins turn in his signature performance of the season. With Mario Chalmers struggling, Collins stepped up his game with 18 points (three triples) and four steals. It was good to see he was on equal standing in the minutes department with Chalmers and Russell Robinson as well - Collins played 29 while the other two got 28 each. The second half was where he really took over. Sherron's 13 point outburst helped bury the Cats. In the first half, his shot looked short and he lacked legs, but that all changed after the break. "I thought he was great tonight," said Self. "That’s what we’ve been missing for the most part of the entire year to have somebody that’s that explosive who can change a game, and he certainly was a great spark tonight.”

Balance, Balance, Balance - We sound like a broken record, but the KU balanced attack was huge all night long. The offense started through Arthur early and it opened up shots on the perimeter for Rush, Robinson, and Collins. Five Jayhawks scored in double figures and Sasha Kaun just missed with nine points. Arthur and Jackson had 10 a piece despite both being saddled with foul trouble because as we found out last night, if you breath on Beasley, the whistle blows.

Let Beasley Get His and Shut Everyone Else Down – That was the game plan and it worked. Bill Walker, who torched KU with 25 in the loss at Bramlage, was a complete non-factor. Seven of his nine points came in garbage time with KU up comfortably. The unsung hero of that game, Jacob Pullen, scored just three points and played 11 minutes, an interesting move by Sopranos cast member/head coach Frank Martin. Pullen’s dribble penetration killed the Jayhawks in Manhattan and he had 20 that night. Other than Beasley, no Wildcat scored in double digits. KU also forced 20 turnovers with Robinson and Collins each collecting four steals.

The Zone Appears! – We called for it, and we got it. Bill Self showed some 3-2 zone with Brandon Rush at the top and the Wildcat shooters didn’t respond. They shot just shot just 6-21 from deep. They have seen a ton of zone lately and it’s no wonder they have now lost four in a row and five of six.

K-State’s Uniforms – We LOVED those all black “K-State” uni’s the Cats were in last night. Straight thug style, like their coach and the ball they play.

The Weak Beav

The Officiating – On both sides, the officiating in last night’s game was as bad as we can remember seeing. The first half felt like it took an eternity, since Rick Hartzell, Mike Thibodeux, and John Higgins called a ridiculous 24 first half fouls. Both teams were in the bonus seven minutes into the game. Even more ridiculous were some of the block calls on KU defenders while attempting to guard Beasley. He should have been called for three charges in the first half that were blocks when he had two fouls. It was almost as though the refs thought “Oh, it’s Beasley? He has two fouls? It’s a block then.”

Cole Aldrich’s Offensive Game is Offensive – My man Cole needs to stick to defense and rebounding. He was awful again during his six minute first half stint where he committed two fouls, turned the ball over once and missed two shots. Next year he is going to be needed big time, but this offseason is going to be extremely important for him. He has got to develop and offensive game.

Mario’s Control Problem – While we are huge Mario Chalmers people here at MTAC, he was back to the out of control, turnover machine last night. He scored just six points and had four turnovers and overall seemed a little out of it last night. Hopefully it was just an aberration.

Bill Walker’s Attitude Issues – No wonder this kid was bounced from his high school team and left high school early. When things don’t go his way, the talented red-shirt Freshman tunes out and sulks. That’s exactly what happened last night. His third foul was a cheap-shot push in the lower back to Sasha Kaun as he was going to the glass. During a scrum for a loose-ball in the first half, Walker was right in the middle of all the action and had to be separated from KU players as he looked as though he was ready to throw down. “I don’t think he is a real tough-minded guy,” said Russell Robinson. “He got on a bad track and stayed on it.” “In the second half, he didn’t want to be out there,” said Brandon Rush of Walker. “He sat on the bench because he lost his composure, lost his poise.”

Analysis: The Jayhawks played well and got a big time confidence boost with the way they played on both ends. The offense worked inside out, but Shady and Darnell Jackson both went a half literally doing nothing. Shady came out firing and nailed three jumpers early, but after that, he wasn’t really involved. When K-State went zone, with Shady on the bench, the Hawks had real trouble scoring. In the second half, with the threat of him in the middle, KU’s offense expanded. Rush’s jumper was on, Collins was “back,” and Robinson played the type of game we want to see out of him, playing stifling defense and making good decisions at the point. Do we think KU has their swagger back? Maybe a little, but we’ve got to see this all the way through the Big 12 Tournament. To us, both Texas and KU will win out and tie for the regular season title. Whoever wins the Tournament will get that coveted #1 seed in the NCAA’s. The goals are all within reach now, thanks to the Texas loss at Texas Tech. The Hawks just have to reach out and grab them.

Game Quotes (courtesy of kusports.com)

Russell Robinson on the crowd: “The crowd in Manhattan was good, and our guys were 10 times better. And it was so loud, I couldn’t even hear coach Self. Just a lot of emotions, and Game Day, all that stuff was in it. We just came out and played with a lot of energy...my ears were ringing, as well, and I love it. It just kept us intense. And since we had so much energy, it made up for a lot of our mistakes.”

Russell Robinson on taking Bill Walker out of the game mentally: “We got him in foul trouble, which got him thinking a little. And I don’t think he’s a real tough-minded guy, and once he got on a bad track, he stayed on it. And we were able to just not let him get back into it.”

Sherron Collins on the progress of his right knee: “Once you get the energy going, the adrenaline flowing, you forget about a lot of stuff, especially injuries. I probably felt it twice, pain-wise. Other than that, everything was going good. I’m a little bouncier right now...I wouldn’t say (it feels like) years (since feeling at full-strength), but I’d say it feels like months. It was just good to get out there, get a little bit back and finally turn the corner on getting healthy.”

Bill Self on the home crowd: “The crowd was fabulous. It was a good setting for a basketball game. Matter of fact, you could take the game in Bramlage and the game here and combine it, and it’ll be the best atmosphere in a rivalry game in the country this year. Hands down.”

Bill Self on Sherron Collins: “The last two days, he’s moved better, the doctor says he’s just going to keep getting better, the bruise is going to continue to heal and he’ll be where he’s pain free here real soon. But I thought he was great tonight. That’s what we’ve been missing for the most part of the entire year to have somebody that’s that explosive who can change a game, and he certainly was a great spark tonight.”

Bill Self on what was different Saturday from late February: “The reasons why we were better tonight, we’re running the same stuff, just guys had energy and bounce and they played with a little bit of a swagger tonight.”

Bill Self on the Texas loss at Texas Tech: “I don’t think we needed that as motivation, but there’s no question we caught a break today. This is how geeked-up our players were. At pregame meal, after we eat, we always turn on the TV and watch the games while we eat, we always do that. We turn on the Texas Tech game, I asked the guys if they want to watch it, they said no...It may have been a little bit of motivation, but I don’t think it had anything to do with us playing well.”

Bill Self on Brandon Rush: “He was terrific offensively. He looked like a pro jumping up and shooting the ball. He was aggressive, he looked good shooting it, if you look at his stats, he still didn’t shoot an unbelievable percentage, but he was good beyond the arc.”

Bill Self on Russell Robinson: “Russell, that’s Russell. Russell was good defensively and created havoc and also made some shots, we just haven’t had consistent perimeter play like we got tonight. And so hopefully this can kind of springboard our guys into better performances closing out the year.”

Bill Self on Michael Beasley: “He’s hard to guard because I don’t really know how you guard him because he creates contact. And when you create contact and shoot a lot of free throws, he’s hard to guard. We saw Durant last year probably have if not his two best games, two of his best four games against us both times. And I think that’s fair to say when he had outscored us 20-12 both games 10 minutes into it. So I feel like we’re kinda experts on good performances, and tonight ranks right up there with what Kevin was able to do last year against us. He’s a fabulous guard, and he’s the best player in the country. He may not win National Player of the Year, but he’s the best player. Hansbrough’s having a fabulous year, and you can make a strong case for him, but from a talent standpoint, this guy’s got some stuff that there’s not a lot of guys in the (NBA) that have everything he’s got.”

Bill Self on the senior class, which will finish its home career Monday: “It’s an unheralded class. There’s no McDonald’s All-Americans, there’s just guys that came and basically gave their heart and soul to this place...107-23, which isn’t the winningest class ever at KU, but it ranks right up there pretty high. A lot of guys get more attention, but this has been a fabulous class. I hope that everybody - all our fans and of course our other players and coaches - we need to make sure they go out in style on Monday, and it won’t be easy because we’re playing a team obviously that should be pretty confident because of the way they performed today.”

Up Next: Monday Night, Texas Tech, 9 PM ESPN. Senior Night at Allen Fieldhouse as we say goodbye to Sasha Kaun, Russell Robinson, Darnell Jackson, Rodrick Stewart, and Jeremy Case. Will this also be the last Fieldhouse appearance for Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, and Mario Chalmers as well?

What to Watch

West Virginia (20-8) at #16 Connecticut (22-6) – Saturday Noon – This won’t be an easy task for Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers, but a road win here you would have to think would lock them in a bid.

#10 Georgetown (23-4) at #21 Marquette (21-6) – Saturday 2 PM – Here’s a chance for Marquette to jump up and get into that top four in the Big East tournament where the first round bye is so important. The Hoyas still have to show us they can beat a decent team on the road.

#22 Washington State (22-6) at #8 Stanford (23-4) – Saturday 4 PM – The Cougars will be out for revenge after the Cardinal stole one in OT in Pullman a month ago. They also are trying to distinguish themselves from the seven teams bunching up in the middle of the conference.

Kansas State (18-9) at #7 Kansas (25-3) – Saturday 9 PM – The Jayhawks will be out for blood after the Wildcats ended the 26 year losing streak in Manhattan in January. There are two questions that will make all of the difference in this one: 1. Can Kansas figure out how to stop Michael Beasley? 2. Can Darrell Arthur stay out of foul trouble? Tune into ESPN to watch this one as you won’t see a more hyped up crowd that the one inside Allen Fieldhouse. Included in that crowd will be yours truly.

Pittsburgh (20-8) at Syracuse (17-11) – Saturday Noon – The Orange must have this one at home as they sit squarely on the bubble. The Panthers are still trying to find themselves now that Levance Fields is back.

Texas A&M (21-7) at Oklahoma (18-10) – Saturday 2 PM – This could be a play-in game for the sixth Big 12 spot in the tournament, though the Aggies have to feel a little more safe than the Sooners do. Blake Griffin will go off in the post for OU. You will see.

USC (18-9) at Arizona State (17-10) – Saturday 3 PM – Another battle of the middling Pac-10 teams who are looking for their dance ticket. Southern Cal has grabbed the #4 spot after their huge road win at Arizona and are now looking for the state sweep. ASU needs this one desperately.

#23 St. Mary’s (24-4) at Gonzaga (22-6) – Saturday 8 PM – This one is for all the marbles in the WCC. The winner gets the regular season title and the #1 seed in the conference tournament. These are both NCAA Tournament locks, but interestingly it’s been St. Mary’s who’s spent the season in and out of the top 25, not the Zags.

Kentucky (16-10) at #1 Tennessee (25-3) – Sunday Noon – The Vols will have revenge on their mind after UK handed them a loss earlier in conference play. Not to mention they are coming off the tough loss at Vandy. This one is in Knoxviile. Not a great recipe for a Wildcats upset win.

#12 Indiana (24-4) at #15 Michigan State (22-6) – Sunday 2 PM – Boy have the Spartans gone south of late, but they a much different team at home. The Hoosiers meanwhile have been dealing with their own turmoil, but just keep on winning. That said, they are so due for a loss and Spartans PG Drew Neitzel is even more due for a big game.

#4 UCLA (25-3) at Arizona (17-11) – Sunday 4 PM – This is danger time for the Wildcats who were dominated at home by USC Thursday night and now have to see the best team in America (by our standards) come to town; the same UCLA club that thrashed them a month ago in Westwood. The Cats need PG Nic Wise back badly.

Clemson (20-7) at Maryland (17-11) - Sunday 7:30 PM – Maryland may have saved their season with the win at Wake Thursday night, but it is of the utmost importance that they hold serve over the third best team in the ACC if they want that fourth ACC bid.

Pittsburgh (20-8) at West Virginia (20-8) – Monday 7 PM – The Backyard Brawl Part II. Round one went to Pitt as Ronald Ramon’s buzzer-beating three sunk the Mountaineers earlier this season.

#19 Purdue (22-6) at Ohio State (17-11) – Tuesday 7 PM – Here is the Buckeyes last chance to make a statement to the committee on a resume that really lacks quality wins. Purdue needs this one to stay with Indiana and Wisconsin in the race for the Big Ten title.

UNLV (21-6) at New Mexico (22-7) – Tuesday 9 PM – The Rebels are quietly putting together another solid season. If the Mountain West is going to get two bids, its BYU and one of these two teams. Watch out for the Lobos J.R. Giddens who is reborn in his fifth year.

Mississippi State (19-8) at #14 Vanderbilt (24-4)– Wednesday 8 PM – Everyone is loving the Commodores again right now, but do not sleep on the Bulldogs who have stars in Jamont Gordon in the backcourt and Charles Rhodes up front. Watch Jarvis Varnado D-up Vandy’s AJ Ogilvy all night long.

#1 Tennessee (25-3) at Florida (21-7) – Wednesday 9 PM – A brutal stretch continues for the Vols who played at Memphis, at Vandy, home to Kentucky, and now at Florida. Winning three of four here would be extremely impressive to us. Florida is squarely on the bubble and a win over a top three team would go a long way with the committee.

Texas A&M (21-7) at Baylor (19-8) – Wednesday 9 PM – The Big 12 deserves 12 teams, but like A&M’s game against Oklahoma, the winner here gets a big push from a resume standpoint. Baylor’s four guard attack will give the big time Aggies trouble. Acie Law ain’t walkin’ through that door.

#11 Xavier (24-4) at St. Joseph’s (17-8) – Thursday 9 PM – The Red Hawks are another bubble team who could use a win over one of the hottest teams in the country to improve their standing. Not likely. Xavier is supremely talented.

#8 Stanford (23-4) at #4 UCLA (25-3) – Thursday 11 PM – In a conference full of great games, this would be the game of the year. UCLA took down Cardinal in January in Palo Alto, but Brook Lopez and company matchup about as well as anyone does against the Bruins. We salivate at the thought of the Lopez/Kevin Love low post matchup. Too bad this one starts at 11 PM and nobody East of the Mississippi will see it.