College Basketball 3/2-3/8

[Crimson's Ghost]

Pitt 19-11 (8-8 ACC) #76 KenPom

Miami Wednesday 8:00 ESPNU
@ Florida State Saturday 12:00 ESPN2

Pitt came out and got the win against Boston College, and did exactly what they needed to do in part one of the week. Part two did not go as well. Pitt came back from an early deficit and seemingly took control of the game, but faltered down the stretch and ultimately let this one slip away to a bad Wake Forest team. Pitt's week is simple, beat Miami and Florida State. That would give Pitt a 21-11 overall record with a 10-8 ACC record and a top 50 RPI. 9 times out of 10 that gets you into the tournament, but the bubble is different this year and Pitt has a unique case this year with some really bad losses. Win these two, and see what you can do in the ACC Tournament. I think Pitt is heading to the NIT, but they still are in the mix for an at-large big going into the last week of the season.

Penn State 15-14 (3-13 Big Ten) #99 KenPom

Ohio State Wednesday 6:00 B1G
@ Minnesota Sunday 1:00 B1G

Penn State somehow found another way to lose a close game, this time to Iowa in overtime. Penn State probably needs a run just to get into the NIT in all honesty. Luckily for them, I think it's possible. Penn State usually plays Ohio State tough, and Minnesota isn't anything special either.

Duquesne 10-17 (5-11 A10) #210 KenPom

@ Fordham Wednesday 7:00
Davidson Saturday 7:00

Duquesne split a pair of games last week, and they head into the final week of games sitting in 11th place in the league. Fordham is a winnable game, and Duquesne can play spoiler on Saturday. The Dukes have played the league's best very well at home this year, and maybe they can pull another upset over Davidson


Saint Francis 15-14 (9-9 NEC) #233 KenPom

@ Mt. ST. Mary's Wednesday 7:00

Saint Francis split games last week, but they really should have won both. The Red Flash were up 8 in overtime with less than 3 minutes to play, and somehow let Robert Morris come back and win. That win cost SFU a guaranteed winning season, and maybe a home NEC tournament game. The Flash head to Mt. St. Mary's on Wednesday night in the first round of the NEC Tournament, a win sets them back in the semifinals for the second straight year. It could happen, there is a weblink to watch the game I believe - I'll post it if I find it.

[konjo78]

Pitts situation of the bubble is pretty simple... They lost some really bad games in non conference and overall the ACC this year is weaker than i can remember. FSU is nothing special, syracuse and pitt are having bad years and maryland isn't there contributing as well. The only teams that really have looked solid are the top 5 teams and that is even a stretch for UNC

[Crimson's Ghost]

Yeah the ACC has more teams that can make the Final Four than most leagues, but there are some weaker teams at the bottom than most, and the teams on the middle tier/bubble are weaker than usual.

I don't know if Maryland makes a difference, because Louisville replaced them. Either way the league would still have a top 20 team.

Like you said, Pitt and Syracuse not being as good as they usually are hurts the league the most, probably.

If Pitt beats Miami, that will give Pitt another top 100 win.
It would be Syracuse X2, Kansas State, Notre Dame, UNC, and Miami. 6 Top 100 wins, with two of them being top 50 isn't bad.

The wins on Pitt's resume aren't the problem the losses seem to be. If Pitt can get to that 21-11 (10-8) plateau, I don't think they aren't in a horrible position going into the ACC Tourney.

[PLDragons24]

Texas beat Baylor. Not good news for Pitt.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Miami's two best players doubtful for tonight. Good news.

[DragonsDoExist]

Ugh bad loss for Pitt tonight and most likely means win the ACC tourney or NIT bound!

[PortagePride]

And as is par for the course, Penn State blows a few marginal leads against Ohio State en route to losing by 10. Someone still has to tell me how Chambers isn't on the hot seat right now because its ridiculous if he's not.

In sort of related news, anyone see the absolutely ATROCIOUS offensive foul call on Newbill during Travis' breakaway dunk ??? A total overhaul in Big 10 officiating needs to happen in many sports.

[PLDragons24]

Even the big ten twitter account tweeted something about the call. Almost every big ten game I've watched this year has been very poorly officiated no matter who is playing. When you watched a Big 12 or SEC game their refs are so much better and more consistent. Several national analysts and big ten analysts have called them out now. Change will definitely be coming. It's mind boggling that the richest conference in college sports has such poor officiating.

[El-Moldo]

The first 10 words of PortagePride's last post say it all.

[konjo78]

Both coaches need to be on the hot seat. At this rate its going to be more likely seeing both schools in the nit then NCAA the next few years