If you are interested in participating in our ATB2 feature, send in your submissions to rushthecourt@gmail.com. We will add to this post throughout the day as the submissions come in so keep on sending them.
Top 25 Games
- #8 Purdue 72, Indiana 61: “The Boilers took yet another step tonight, demonstrating how focused and prepared they are able to be following the biggest win of the season. Purdue allowed no semblance of a letdown tonight, taking care of business at the lovely Assembly Hall and winning by 11, 72-61.” (Boiled Sports or Inside the Hall: Recap, Player Interviews, and Tom Crean Interview)
- #10 Wisconsin 53, Michigan 52: “A month ago today, Minnesota beat Michigan in Crisler Arena. The final score was 69-64, but down the stretch the outcome was never really in question. It was Michigan’s seventh loss in eight games and a once promising had derailed and was hurtling toward abyss. Michigan’s turnaround over the last month has surprised even the most optimistic Michigan fans, but it also forces us to suffer through a deflating loss like this. The pain of losing a coin flip game like tonight’s is infinitely harder to manage than a loss like Minnesota, where you simply get outplayed.” (UM Hoops: Recap, Player Interviews, John Beilein Interview, and Final Shot; Bucky’s Fifth Quarter: Wisconsin Drinks Michigan’s Milkshake)
- Cincinnati 58, #11 Georgetown 46: “Georgetown had its toughest night of the season tonight. The Hoyas shot a woeful 25% from the field, while Cincinnati played its best game of the year. It was one of those nights where the Hoyas could not get anything to drop. The Bearcats, on the other hand, could do no wrong as they played themselves off the bubble, winning 58-46 in the Verizon Center. Chris Wright, the Hoyas senior tri-captain point guard, went down with an injury to his left hand early in the second half, and Georgetown could not recover. Wright, who has been the heart and soul of this team, was seen visibly crying on the bench in pain after coming off the floor for the final time tonight. Multiple sources have reported that Wright broke his hand.” (Casual Hoya)
- #14 UNC 75, NC State 63: “I’ll say this for Sidney Lowe – he goes out swinging. In what was most likely his last home game against Carolina, he brought his team in fired up and playing with heart. It turns out that heart manifests himself in a lot of rough play under the basket that put Tyler Zeller to the floor multiple times, and eventually a technical foul for Lowe when he objected to a clean double block from Henson and Zeller. Said foul, coming with 1:29 remaining, extended a run that Harrison Barnes sparked with two dunks and a dagger of a three, and pretty much ended any hope of a Wolfpack comeback. But before that, it was a pretty good game.” (Carolina March)
- Arkansas 77, #19 Kentucky 76 (OT): “Tell me if you’ve heard this one before. Close game, on the road. Kentucky is playing well enough to win, and has the lead. A sudden failure of execution by a tired point guard, and the opponent gets a steal that sends it into overtime, where they hang on to win by one. Ladies and gentlemen of the Big Blue Nation, that has been replayed at least five times this year for the Kentucky Wildcats. This one, though is unquestionably the killer. Losing this game to Arkansas is the equivalent of a thermonuclear detonation on the confidence of both this team and the Kentucky fans who support them (well, at least this one, anyway). It doesn’t seem to matter who the opponent is, or how well or poorly Kentucky plays. There are three things that are always the same: It’s always close, it’s always a failure of stretch execution, and it’s always a loss.” (A Sea of Blue)
Other Games of Interest
- Maryland 78, FSU 62: “I thought Dino Gregory was playing pretty well. Apparently, I had no idea just how well he was capable of playing. Gregory scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half as he helped captain Maryland to a crucial 78-62 win over Florida State at the Comcast Center. Terrell Stoglin led all scorers with 17 points, while Jordan Williams had yet another double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.” (Testudo Times: Part 1 and Part 2)
News/Analysis
- Cliff Ellis, Coastal Carolina Gamble Big On Troubled Players: “Will it lead to an NCAA Tournament bid or blow up in his face?” (Lost Letterman)
- What would it take for Tennessee to let Bruce Pearl go?: Questioning whether Tennessee should fire Bruce Pearl in light of the likely show-cause penalty that is headed his way. (Rocky Top Talk)
- Can BYU Or San Diego State Snag A No. 1 Seed?: Attempting to answer the question that many college basketball fans are asking right now. (Rock Chalk Talk)
- Kansas Basketball: Ball Movement 101: Analyzing the Jayhawks offensive sets and where they go wrong. (Rock Chalk Talk)
- Defend the three, defeat the Gaels?: “For as long as I care to remember, Gonzaga and inefficient perimeter defense have been synonymous. The three point shot has become the great equalizer in all levels of basketball and plays a key role in virtually every major upset that takes place. The Zags have suffered their fair share of three point barrages this year and over the past few seasons. With their most important game of the season on the horizon, Gonzaga has very little room for error. Against a strong offensive team like Saint Mary’s, this starts with defending the three point shot.” (The Slipper Still Fits)