The Green Board

Very bad loss for Nova tonight. ISU missed its chance to become a lock through a combination of a bad no-call, compounded by a sudden decision to call a foul after "letting them play," some ridiculously clutchlucky threes, and an 80% ft shooter missing in the final seconds against KU for the second time this year.

I've watched ISU play a good bit and they certainly pass the "eye test". They've got a really "clean" resume, that is, they only have one bad loss to Texas Tech. Their issue is that they don't really have any big wins (which is why they would've been a lock had they won last night). They've probably gotta win out to really feel safe. If they can add wins @OU (who is playing very good basketball right now) and agains Ok. St. , that would make their resume much stronger.

Xavier just earned a nomination for stupidest play of the year. Up 65-61 with 5 seconds, it was inbounding from the side, level with the basket it was defending. Memphis with only one timeout. Just lob it down court, and even if Memphis gets the ball, it won't have time to bring it up, get a shot and force another turnover or foul and get a rebound and a second shot off.

So the Xavier player threw a lob toward the basket he was defending. Steal Memphis and layup with 2.1 seconds to go. Xavier inbounded, was fouled, made one of two. Memphis chucked the inbounds pass into the paint, foul called. Memphis shooting a pair. Made first, missed everything on the second when trying to get it off the rim, so Xavier pulled it out, anyway, but why Xavier didn't throw a deep pass on the first inbound play is unknowable.

Indiana State, Arkansas and Charlotte are finished with losses tonight

Maryland getting closer to joining them

Power conference schools with big opportunities to make claims today

Alabama @ Florida. Florida rallying late in the second half to take a 56-47 lead. That was a 15-0 run. Alabama looks to have just blown its best chance to make a claim.

ISU @ OU. Teams are tied at 9-6 in the Big 12. ISU without many quality wins and a bad road record.

Baylor hosting KSU. Baylor has wins over Oklahoma State, and BYU, and @ Kentucky, and has to get a quality win (or two) in its last two home games (KSU, KU). Baylor is 3-6 over its last 9 games, with all the wins being against Texas Tech and West Virginia (x2).

Cincy hosting UConn. Cincy has some great wins, but is on such a horrible slide that it has to be concerned about needing a quality win at the end of the year.

Kentucky @ Arkansas. Kentucky is alive. Arkansas all but dead, but hasn't quite flatlined just yet. Winning out (including winning @ Missouri) and it maybe has a glimmer of hope.

Colorado @ California. Colorado has the much stronger rpi, but Cal is a game up in conference standings already

I know many aren't saying it now, but Gottlieb has Iowa as a "last 5 in" today. He believes they lose tonight at IU, win vs. Illinois, and Nebraska, and one game in the BTT. I don't see them getting in without at least 4 more wins (so 2 wins in the Big Ten tournament). It'd take that just to move their RPI around the high 60s or low 70s, and even then its a tough call.

The bubble is such garbage that would definitely get them in the conversation I would think.

I posted an insanely long breakdown of their path to get there on our main board. I wouldn't advise reading it because it will take a year. The two top teams in the Big Ten that I think Iowa has a shot at, MSU and Wisconsin, are the most likely opponents in the second round. I don't think it works out this year, but its nice to be close to the bubble unlike recently.

I feel the UVA bubble just burst with that loss to BC

Rough OT loss for Villanova today at Pitt. They would have been a lock with a win but now a home loss to Georgetown to end the season and a first round Big East tournament loss could have them sweating on Selection Sunday.

Sure they might sneak in with that. Who knows what things will look like with some of these teams in another week.

Iowa State just took down Oklahoma State. They're in with that.