Wednesday's College Basketball Matchups

Tonight offers up as good a slate of weekday games as we have had thus far in 2010-2011.  Texas hosting Texas A&M at 9pm EST on ESPN is the headliner, but there are more than a few undercards worth checking out as the plot lines and intrigue begin to ramp up to Selection Sunday.

Here's a few of The Maniac's can't miss games:

Memphis @ Southern Miss - I still think both these teams will make the Field of 68, but there is no denying it is going to be tense for any non-automatic qualifiers from Conference USA.  UAB and UCF have shown flashes of potential and will certainly facor in the race, but the two best teams in the league will be on the floor tonight in Hattiesburg.  For Memphis, it is a chance to reassert their conference dominance, and for Southern Miss it is a chance to move to 4-0 in league play with wins over two of their toughest competitors.  Huge game tonight that probably won't be on tv where you live...

James Madison @ Virginia Commonwealth - The Colonial has long been the best conference no one knows about, though VCU, Old Dominion and George Mason's play in the tournament has opened some eyes the past five years.  Going back through George Mason's miracle run in 2006, the CAA has won seven NCAA tournament games.  This is a mid-major conference that can provide some serious players in March.

This year is no exception, however there is a new team introduced into the mix; James Madison.  JMU enters the game at 15-3 (5-1 in the CAA) and in first place, ahead of Mason, VCU, ODU and Drexel.  This is a quality ballclub that would be a just-missed bubble team if the tournament started today.  Capturing a road win tonight would go a long way to bolstering that profile.  Anyone with 23 or 24 wins has earned the benefit of the doubt with the committee, thanks to the history of success from this conference.

St. John's @ Louisville -- Are the Johnnies for real?  No team in the Big East has run more hot and cold than Steve Lavin's crew.  Well, maybe Louisiville... Tonight is a huge game as teams five thru eleven jostle for position in the BEast.

Duquesne @ LaSalle - The Dukes need to guard against a let-down game after thier surprising dismanteling of Temple.  Their instate rivals aren't much to brag about, but it is a classic trap game, and one the Dukes need to avoid if the aspire to win the A-10.

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