- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,712
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=bluebar colSpan=2>NCAA TOURNAMENT TRACKER</TD></TR><TR><TD id=left>GAME OF THE DAY
Providence at Villanova, 7 p.m., ESPN2: Providence is 10-7 in the Big East but desperately needs another big win. The Friars have just two RPI top-50 wins and just five top-100 wins. They've won four of their past six, including an upset of Pitt, to play themselves onto the bubble. Despite the solid league record, a loss in this one would mean their at-large hopes are a long shot. Villanova has won four of its past five and is playing for seeding in the NCAA tourney; the Wildcats look as if they'll be a No. 3 seed, but there's a chance they could play themselves down into a No. 4 or even a No. 5.
BUBBLE WATCH GAME OF THE DAY
Tennessee at South Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN: Sole possession of first place in the SEC East is on the line. The Vols won by three over South Carolina in Knoxville in mid-January, but the Gamecocks are 16-1 at home this season. The Vols are coming off a big win at Florida, which completed a season sweep of the Gators. The Gamecocks need a big game from Devan Downey, whose quickness will bother UT's point guards.
</TD><TD id=right>NCAA TOURNEY LOCKS (30)
ACC (5): Clemson, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Wake Forest
Atlantic 10 (1): Xavier
Big 12 (4): Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
Big East (7): Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia
Big Ten (3): Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue
Conference USA (1): Memphis
Horizon (1): Butler
Mountain West (2): BYU, Utah
Pac-10 (4): Arizona State, California, UCLA, Washington
SEC (1): LSU
West Coast (1): Gonzaga
ONE-BID LEAGUES REGARDLESS (16)
America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Ivy, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern Athletic, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southland, Southwestern Athletic, Summit, Sun Belt.
<!--KEY RPI FOR TODAY
Arizona:
Dayton:
Penn State:
Providence:
South Carolina:
Temple:
Tennessee:
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=bluebar colSpan=2>OTHER GAMES OF INTEREST</TD></TR><TR><TD id=headbar colSpan=2>Illinois at Penn State </TD></TR><TR><TD id=chatter>Time, TV: 9 p.m., ESPN A big one in the Big Ten. Illinois still is trying to finish second in the league, and it's also playing for NCAA tourney seeding. Penn State, meanwhile, is trying to play itself into the field. The Nittany Lions are 9-7 in the league, good for a fourth-place tie, and they have wins over Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota and Purdue. But they also played an atrocious non-conference schedule. But if they can sweep the season series against the Illini, it helps their at-large possibilities. </TD><TD id=logosmall>
</TD></TR><TR><TD id=headbar colSpan=2>Dayton at Xavier </TD></TR><TR><TD id=chatter>Time, TV: 9 p.m., ESPN2 Xavier wraps up the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 tourney with a win over the Flyers. But Dayton won the first meeting by 13 last month. Both teams are 3-3 in their past six games. Xavier is an NCAA lock and is playing for seeding. Dayton still is trying to secure its spot in the field, which it would do if it wins this game. </TD><TD id=logosmall>
</TD></TR><TR><TD id=headbar colSpan=2>California at Arizona </TD></TR><TR><TD id=chatter>Time, TV: 10:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net Arizona is 8-8 in the Pac-10 and has lost three in a row, but a win in this one likely nails down a spot in the field of 65. Cal is in good shape for an at-large bid despite losing two of its past three. Cal beat Arizona by 14 on Jan. 2 in Berkeley. </TD><TD id=logosmall>
</TD></TR><TR><TD id=headbar colSpan=2>Conference tournaments </TD></TR><TR><TD id=chatter colSpan=2>Two No. 1 seeds are in action tonight. In the Big South, Radford plays host to UNC-Asheville in a semifinal at 8 p.m. on ESPNU; Radford beat UNCA in overtime at home and by one on the road in the regular season. In the Northeast, Robert Morris plays host to St. Francis (N.Y.) in the first round at 7 p.m.; one of Robert Morris' three conference losses was at home to the Terriers. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td id="bluebar">HOW BUBBLE TEAMS PERFORMED XXXXXXXXXX</td></tr><tr><td id="headbar">LOOKING GOOD FOR A BID</td></tr><tr><td id="chatter">XXXXXXXXXXXX</td></tr><tr><td id="headbar">SO-SO CHANCE FOR A BID</td></tr><tr><td id="chatter">XXXXXXXXXXXX</td></tr><tr><td id="headbar">LONG SHOT FOR A BID</td></tr><tr><td id="chatter">Boston College:
Florida:
Kentucky:
Miami:
Minnesota:
San Diego State:
Texas A&M:
Virginia Tech:
Wisconsin: </td></tr></tbody></table> -->
Mike Huguenin is the college sports editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at mhuguenin@rivals.com.
Providence at Villanova, 7 p.m., ESPN2: Providence is 10-7 in the Big East but desperately needs another big win. The Friars have just two RPI top-50 wins and just five top-100 wins. They've won four of their past six, including an upset of Pitt, to play themselves onto the bubble. Despite the solid league record, a loss in this one would mean their at-large hopes are a long shot. Villanova has won four of its past five and is playing for seeding in the NCAA tourney; the Wildcats look as if they'll be a No. 3 seed, but there's a chance they could play themselves down into a No. 4 or even a No. 5.
BUBBLE WATCH GAME OF THE DAY
Tennessee at South Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN: Sole possession of first place in the SEC East is on the line. The Vols won by three over South Carolina in Knoxville in mid-January, but the Gamecocks are 16-1 at home this season. The Vols are coming off a big win at Florida, which completed a season sweep of the Gators. The Gamecocks need a big game from Devan Downey, whose quickness will bother UT's point guards.
</TD><TD id=right>NCAA TOURNEY LOCKS (30)
ACC (5): Clemson, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Wake Forest
Atlantic 10 (1): Xavier
Big 12 (4): Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas
Big East (7): Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia
Big Ten (3): Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue
Conference USA (1): Memphis
Horizon (1): Butler
Mountain West (2): BYU, Utah
Pac-10 (4): Arizona State, California, UCLA, Washington
SEC (1): LSU
West Coast (1): Gonzaga
ONE-BID LEAGUES REGARDLESS (16)
America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Ivy, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern Athletic, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southland, Southwestern Athletic, Summit, Sun Belt.
<!--KEY RPI FOR TODAY
Arizona:
Dayton:
Penn State:
Providence:
South Carolina:
Temple:
Tennessee:
-->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=bluebar colSpan=2>OTHER GAMES OF INTEREST</TD></TR><TR><TD id=headbar colSpan=2>Illinois at Penn State </TD></TR><TR><TD id=chatter>Time, TV: 9 p.m., ESPN A big one in the Big Ten. Illinois still is trying to finish second in the league, and it's also playing for NCAA tourney seeding. Penn State, meanwhile, is trying to play itself into the field. The Nittany Lions are 9-7 in the league, good for a fourth-place tie, and they have wins over Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota and Purdue. But they also played an atrocious non-conference schedule. But if they can sweep the season series against the Illini, it helps their at-large possibilities. </TD><TD id=logosmall>
Florida:
Kentucky:
Miami:
Minnesota:
San Diego State:
Texas A&M:
Virginia Tech:
Wisconsin: </td></tr></tbody></table> -->
Mike Huguenin is the college sports editor for Rivals.com. He can be reached at mhuguenin@rivals.com.
