Men’s Basketball Games of the Weekend 2/18 – 2/19
If you’re wondering why the college basketball schedule features such strong non-conference matchups just before the tournament, then wonder no further. This weekend marks the 10th annual edition of Bracket Busters, games which are designed to show strong programs from different conferences playing against each other. In addition to the Bracket Buster games, regular showdowns abound from the Mountain (West) to the Prairies (Big Ten) to the Oceans (ACC and Pac-12), white with foam.
No. 10 UNLV at NEW MEXICO (1 p.m. Saturday at University Arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico)
A straight showdown between two of the top teams in the Mountain West Conference puts UNLV right in enemy lines. After UNLV and San Diego State battled all season for first place, New Mexico (21-4, 7-2) has stolen the lead away and threatens not to give it back. The Runnin Rebels did score an 80-63 victory over New Mexico earlier this season, part of back-to-back losses the Lobos suffered in league play. For the record, the other loss was to San Diego State, and New Mexico beat the Aztecs on the second go-round. New Mexico has guaranteed itself no worse than a tie for the MWC regular-season title, barring any setbacks along the way. UNLV (22-5, 6-3) has lost two of three and shown signs of wavering as of late with losses to Wyoming and TCU.
No. 18 FLORIDA STATE at NORTH CAROLINA STATE (1 p.m. Saturday at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina)
There may be a three-way tie atop the Atlantic Coast Conference, but one team could play serious spoiler in the coming days. Florida State (18-7, 9-2) is tied with Duke and North Carolina in a three-way logjam atop the league with four games yet to play. This could be a trap game for Florida State because Duke is up next on the Seminole schedule and it might be caught “looking ahead”, so to speak. That’s even more dangerous because these teams have not met this season. Florida State is in the top 50 in rebounding but that’s all, as it is down the board in other categories. North Carolina State (18-8, 7-4) is two games behind the competition in fourth, having fallen behind thanks to a 78-73 loss to Duke. Keep in mind the Wolfpack had a 20-point lead in that game. If NC State wins here, North Carolina is next and the race could get even more exciting.
AKRON at ORAL ROBERTS (2 p.m. Saturday at Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma)
This Bracket Buster game pits one of the top Mid-American Conference teams against the leader of the Summit League, and on paper this sounds like a strong contest. Akron (19-7, 11-1) isn’t flashy in the scoring column, led only by Zeke Marshall’s 10.5 points per game, but the Zips are two games up in the MAC East with four games left, including contests against Kent State and Buffalo. Akron has had very close losses this season against Cleveland State and Virginia Commonwealth, which may cost them come NCAA tournament time. Oral Roberts (24-5, 16-1) only has one game remaining on the regular-season schedule after this one, against Southern Utah. The Golden Eagles lost to South Dakota State in league play and to teams like Oklahoma and Gonzaga out of conference, but they have beaten Xavier.
ARIZONA at WASHINGTON (3 p.m. Saturday at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, Washington)
National pundits have said the Pac-12 is one of the most disappointing conferences in the nation, what with California the only team that has over 20 wins and teams with three losses atop the league. The analysts may be half-right. The league seems like it’s lost in a fog, and that’s partially because most games are played when half the nation is in bed or watching other TV shows. Arizona (19-8, 10-4), led by Kyle Fogg at 12.9 points per game, is one game behind California and Washington in the standings and has a five-game winning streak coming in. Arizona just faced Washington on January 28 and lost 69-67, but a win here might have incentive with it as Arizona faces teams in the bottom half of the league during the final three games. Washington (18-8, 11-3) could use a victory to boost its tournament hopes. The Huskies have won seven of eight but have a glaring 82-57 loss to Oregon staring at them and the selection committee. Even though the Ducks share the same record overall as Washington, how would the selection committee justify taking Washington over Oregon unless the Huskies won the league?
No. 21 SAINT MARY’S at No. 16 MURRAY STATE (6 p.m. Saturday at CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky)
This might be the most eagerly anticipated Bracket Buster matchup of them all. The leaders of the West Coast Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference meeting in what would be an awesome tournament game to enjoy. Saint Mary’s (23-4, 12-2 WCC) has lost to Denver, Baylor, Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount, and none of those losses really are embarrassing to the Gaels. Against ranked teams Saint Mary’s has been even, so a win here would really give the Gaels a lift in the standings. Murray State (25-1, 13-1) has big contests remaining against Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech, but the Racers locked up the OVC title and should have an NCAA bid with 25 wins.
YALE at HARVARD (7 p.m. Saturday at Lavietes Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts)
Harvard Yard is getting a lot of attention in the news recently, what with Jeremy Lin seemingly coming out of nowhere to take the NBA over by storm. The Crimson do have a reason to celebrate, and that’s because Tommy Amaker has this team on the verge of an Ivy League championship. Yale (17-6, 7-2) won’t be out of contention for the title if Harvard wins this game, but it would be two back with four games remaining. The bad news for Yale is the last time the Bulldogs faced Harvard it turned ugly, as in a 65-35 loss. Harvard (22-3, 8-1) has won 10 of 11, punctuated by a loss to Princeton. The Crimson have four games left against middle of the road competition in the Ivy, so if Yale wins this race is not over.
No. 5 OHIO STATE at No. 13 MICHIGAN (9 p.m. Saturday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan)
The big matchup of the day that has nothing to do with Bracket Busters could still bust a bracket, or at least a team’s hopes to win the Big Ten title. There are four games remaining following this one for the Big Ten’s teams, and Ohio State (22-4, 10-3) and Michigan State are tied with Michigan one game behind. The Buckeyes lost 58-48 to Michigan State to fall into that tie atop the league, and Ohio State beat Minnesota 78-68 afterwards as William Buford accounted for 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Michigan (19-7, 9-4) may have lost to Ohio State 64-49 earlier this season, but here’s a sobering statistic for those wearing red today. Six of the seven losses have been on the road, with Duke the only team to knock Michigan off at Crisler. A win by Michigan would give the Wolverines a boost, because Purdue (7-6) is the best team in the Big Ten on Michigan’s remaining schedule.
LONG BEACH STATE at No. 25 CREIGHTON (10 p.m. Saturday at Century Link Center in Omaha, Nebraska)
Another strong Bracket Buster game features teams from the Big West and Missouri Valley Conferences. Long Beach State (19-6, 12-0) has been unheralded for most of the season while playing in the Big West, despite the nation’s 49th-best offense (74.1) and strong field-goal shooting. The team started 4-5 before winning 15 of its next 16 and hasn’t backed away from tough competition. Long Beach State has losses to Louisville, Kentucky and North Carolina, and the losses were by an average nine points. In short, this team isn’t getting blown out. Creighton (22-5, 12-4) broke its three-game losing streak with a win over Southern Illinois and could use a hand here. Should the Bluejays win and then beat Evansville and Indiana State in its remaining games, they would finish 25-5, and the selection committee would find them hard to ignore.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY at LOYOLA-MARYLAND (12 p.m. Sunday at Reitz Arena in Baltimore, Maryland)
This isn’t quite a Bracket Buster game, but it’s still an intriguing one on a Sunday that Is devoid of a lot of action. Boston (14-14, 10-4 America East) is two games behind Stony Brook and Vermont and it is fighting for some sort of recognition following a horrendous 4-11 start. The team is still capable of some head scratchers, like a 56-54 loss to New Hampshire in a game it should have won. Loyola (19-7, 12-4) is one game behind Iona in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference but has two big MAAC games left against Rider and Manhattan. The problem for Loyola is it is on a two-game losing streak of its own, following losses to Fairfield and Marist.
