MRISports.com: Couch Musings

March 1, 2006

A few notes on the action last night and a look ahead at who can guarantee themselves a berth somewhere in the post-season with a win tonight.

Well, so much for my sleeper team in the Ohio Valley conference. Tennessee State lost to Samford last night, and it should have been no surprise. That is why my reasoning mentioned that they had to get past this first game to have a shot at pulling the big upset. Why? Samford, after last night's win, beat the Tennessee State Tigers all three times they met this season. You would have thought that the Tigers were due, but no such luck.

Give Dan Monson and the rest of the University of Minnesota, including the students, some credit for making the Barn a tough place to play over the last month. Last night, the Golden Gophers almost took out Big Ten contender Illinois before succumbing late. Amazingly, it seemed that Illinois was getting the "home court" advantage on some of the foul calls even though they were on the road. The loss extended the Minnesota losing streak against Illinois to 15 games. After an 0-6 start in the Big Ten, Minnesota started to turn the tables. The Gophers had won their last four home games, dating back to a victory over then ranked Indiana on January 29th. During that span, Minnesota also defeated Michigan State, Iowa, and Purdue, at home. Congrats to the fans of the University who definitely gave their seniors all the support they needed to end the season strong and put themselves in position for a possible NIT bid with a win or two in the Big Ten tournament.

Some conference titles can be won tonight if the right circumstances occur:
- Kent State can win the MAC regular season title tonight if Akron loses at Buffalo. If the Zips get a win tonight, it will come down to the final game of the year for the two teams. Akron hosts the Golden Flashes Saturday in the last game of the regular season.
- A Texas win tonight means at least a share of the conference title. If Kansas loses along with a Longhorn win, Texas will win the outright Big XII title.
- A Tennessee loss to Kentucky tonight guarantees LSU the SEC conference title. The Tigers clinched at least a tie for the title by beating South Carolina last night.
- A San Diego State win tonight against Wyoming at home will clinch the Mountain West title for the Aztecs. If San Diego State loses, the final standings will be decided by how the current 2nd and 3rd place clubs do in their remaining games. Air Force has a single game remaining in the league at Colorado State on Saturday. A win in that game would clinch a tie with San Diego State should the Aztecs lose. BYU has two games remaining, both at home. Tonight the Cougars take on Colorado State and they close the season against New Mexico. BYU would need to win both their remaining games and hope for a San Diego State loss to have a shot at tying for the title.

If all the underclassmen players stay at LSU for another season, they are my early pick to be playing in Atlanta, GA, in the Final Four in 2007. After watching them defeat South Carolina last night, I now have the visual proof that this team is for real. This is a very good team that should go far this year in the tournament and next year will be even better. Head coach John Brady has his work cut out for him though trying to convince "Little Shaq", Glen Davis to stay for his Junior season. I think that if the coaches can convince him and his family that another year of passing and shooting the college ranks would improve his NBA prospects, they may get at least one more season out of him. After next year though, it will be tough to keep the scouts away.

Posted by bmiraski at March 1, 2006 12:00 PM

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