Last week was an exciting week, as we have a new #1 team for the third straight week after Wake stumbled and Duke soared. Those two will get to settle things the old fashioned way - on the court - Wednesday night in one of the week's highlight games.
By no means are they the only show in town however as a full slate of fantastic games are on tap for this week. Here is your guide to some of the finest:
Monday:
Marquette takes their unbeaten conference record and #8 ranking into South Bend this evening facing a Notre Dame squad that has taken a tough tumble from grace. They entered the season touted as a Final Four contender. They are a few losses away from once unfathomable "bubble" territory. Marquette's string of Big East wins doesn't include any of the true big boys. Sadly for Marquette fans (and Irish fans), a win tonight might not quite validate them yet still.
Oklahoma has been great all year, save for a one night stumble to the nation's most perplexing team, Arkansas. Oklahoma State has put themselves squarely in position to Dance, and a win tonight would go a long long way. I don't think they get it.
Tuesday:
BYU @ Utah - The battle of Utah takes on extra significance as both school are in decent but compfortable tourney position. Utah is only 12-7 but their strength of schedule buoyes their RPI. BYU looked respectable in their loss to Wake but compunded it with a blowout loss to New Mexico. The winner takes a huge step forward in an underrated Mountain West conference.
Kentucky takes their unblemished conference record to Ole Miss. Someone has to win that damn SEC West, the Rebels think it could be them. The Maniac thinks the Patterson-Meeks Roadshow continues to impress with a big win in Oxford.
Wednesday:
Wake heads in Duke fresh off their first defeat of the year. Look for the Devils to smother Jeff Teague all night with one of the best man-to-man defenses in the nation. Wake has vastly exceeded all expectations of them to this point, so it is ironic how disspointed many fans will be when they lose AT Duke...
Ohio State v. Michigan has a little more luster on the gridiron, but it is a good rivaly on the hardwood as well. Both started the year fantastic and have backslid a little into "bubble" territory. The loser of tonight's game shrinks their remaining margin for error significantly.
Syracuse finds themselves a half-game behind the Friars as they head into Wednesday nights game against Providence. Don't let records fool you; schedule is everything. Syracuse's loses are to Louisville, UConn and Georgetown. Look for them to snap that losing streak empatically.
Pitt travels to Villanova to take on the nation's least-deserving ranked team. Pitt will brutalize them inside all night. Villanova will soon take their annual seat on the bubble (but wind up sliding in as the Big East's 9th). I think most people decided before the season the Big East deserves 9 bids. It is going to take a lot to change their minds...
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