Ness’s Notes (March 10)
No. 1 U Conn lost in overtime to Syracuse 86-85, when Gerry McNamara hit a 3-pointer late in regulation for the second straight game. No. 6 George Washington saw his 18-game winning streak and perfect A-10 season come to an end, when the Colonials lost to Temple, 68-53. The Colonials were the only team in the nation with a single loss and their loss will open a second bid for the A-10 (shipped only to GW last year), excluding a school to be named later (Sunday).
My free game on Friday is a total weird CBB. Take Nebraska/Oklahoma below at 9:20 ET. You may have missed my Las Vegas Insider (Mia-Fl/Duke) as I go to a 3-0 start in tournaments and my early 15* in South Carolina/Tennessee, but there’s plenty of time for my 20* Big – 12 GOY Tournament and my evening CBB 15*. Also tonight, I will throw my first LEGEND play of the conference tournaments. Previously only available to my personal clients, these exclusive releases are now available online and have gone 3-0 since mid-February! In the NBA, it’s my biggest three-game report of the season, my Triple Play of the year, as I look to continue my 63% NBA streak since February 3rd.
The only other teams in the top 25 to lose Thursday were No. 12 Washington against Oregon (84-73) and No. 19 West Va against No. 15 Pittsburgh (68-57). No. 2 Villanova didn’t have that problem, as the Wildcats easily handled Rutgers (87-55), No. 3 Duke plays today at 12:00 noon ET against Miami-Florida, No. 4 Memphis will He took charge of Tulane (75-56) and No. 5 Gonzaga is done with his season and awaits a potential No. 1 seed (unlikely).
Featured by conference
Georgetown beat Marquette 62-59, in the only other Big East game on Thursday. Marquette’s loss left former C-USA teams 0-3 in their Big East tournament debut this year. Temple’s win over GW sets up a classic “Big Five” matchup today, as St Joe’s beat St Louis, 56-37. In the ACC, Clemson’s remote hopes of a bid ended with a 66-63 loss to Miami-Fla, and while Florida State can still get in, the Seminoles’ loss to Wake (78-66) didn’t help. Maryland likely clinched a ticket to the dance by beating ill-fated Ga Tech, 82-64.
Michigan played out of any chance of an at-large bid, losing to Minnesota 59-55 in the Big-10 tournament. The MAC has been a one-bid conference since 1999 and regular-season champion Kent State advanced with a 76-67 win over Buffalo. In the Big-12, Colorado outscored Baylor 65-61, setting up a showdown with Texas A&M on Friday. UTEP and Houston needed wins at C-USA yesterday and they got them, but now they face the top two teams in the league (Memphis and UAB) on Friday.
The MWC conference had three 20-game winners in the regular season, but two lost on Thursday. The Air Force was defeated by Wyoming (57-55), as was BYU by Utah (74-70). Regular-season champion San Diego State is looking good, coming off a 64-52 win over Colo St. Arizona (73-68 over Stanford) and Cal (82-67 over USC) posted big wins in the Pac- 10, while Washington lost to Oregon (no damage, no foul to the Huskies). In the WAC, both La Tech (75-64) and Utah St (76-69) won, setting up a semifinal matchup tonight.
It’s a 33-game college basketball ‘board’ tonight. ESPN2 will broadcast all four ACC games on Friday and during the afternoon break, will broadcast the Patriot League championship game between Bucknell and Holy Cross (4:30 ET). Bucknell, playing on his home court, is favored by 9 1/2 points (114). ESPN airs the first games in the Big-10, then covers the Big East semifinals tonight. Late-night viewers will see Wyoming/Utah at MWC (12:00 PM ET).
ESPNU airs all four Big-12 games, then also airs late at night, with the Long Beach St/Cal-Irvine meeting in the Big West (also at 12:00 p.m.). FSN covers both semifinal games in the Pac-10, beginning at 9:00 ET.
These are just a few of the games (and lines) that teams could play for their NCAA ‘lives’. Indiana vs. Wisconsin in the Big-10 (2:20 ET), where the game appears in ‘selection’ (132). Colorado vs. Texas A&M in the Big-12 (2:50 ET), where the Aggies are favored by 1 1/2 points (129). Kentucky vs. Alabama in the SEC (3:20 ET), where the Wildcats are favored by 2 1/2 points (128 1/2).
Temple vs. St Joe’s at the A-10 (6:30 ET), where the Owls are one-point favorites (114 1/2). Houston vs Memphis at C-USA (4:30 ET) with the Tigers favored by 11 1/2 points (1453 1/2) and UTEP vs UAB (7:00 ET) with the Blazers favored by 4 1/2 points ( 121). The Tech vs. Utah St in the WAC (9:00 ET), where the Aggies are favored by 1 1/2 points (137).
It may not have been a “fair fight,” but the Spurs will take last night’s 117-93 win over the Suns. Nash did not play for Phoenix (and neither did Barbosa), as the Spurs ended the Suns’ 11-game winning streak while holding the Suns under 100 points for the first time in 23 games. However, Dallas kept pace with the Spurs last night, beating the Blazers in Portland, 109-92. Both teams are 48-13, with San Antonio going 21-4 since their home loss to the Pistons (Jan. 12) and Dallas going 26-5 since Jan. 1.
Tonight’s NBA card features 10 games. Some notes of interest are Cleveland at Orlando at 7:05 ET. The Cavs have rebounded from a five game losing streak (0-5 ATS) to go 4-0 SU and ATS. Meanwhile, the Magic have lost six in a row and 18 of 20 (6-13-1 ATS). The Cavs are favored by 4 1/2 points with a total of 189. The Celtics have ridden the hot hand of Paul Pierce (seven straight games of at least 30 points) to win eight of their last 12 (9-3 ATS). Tonight they host the Bucks (7:35 ET), whom they are chasing for the last spot in the Eastern playoffs. Milwaukee has lost seven of nine (2-7 ATS) and Boston is a 3 1/2-point favorite (204 1/2).
The Heat have won 10 straight games and host Golden State tonight at 7:35 ET. Miami is a nine-point favorite (210). The Spurs play at home against the Lakers (8:35 ET) and are favorites by 8 1/2 points (190 1/2). The Spurs are 26-3 at home but just 16-13 ATS. The Kings are trying to get to .500 (30-31) for the first time since they were 7-7. This from a team that has won more than 50 games in each of the past five seasons. Since opening 0-2 under Artest, Sacramento has gone 12-5 SU and 13-3-1 ATS, including 7-0 SU and ATS at home. The Kings host the Grizzlies tonight at 10:05 ET and are favored by five points (192).
Ness Notes is available at 1:00 ET Monday through Friday. A special story (Countdown to Madness Part 2) airs on Saturdays and Sundays.