Call them what you want. Statement games. Must-wins. Gotta-have-’ems.
Jerome Dyson’s career night against then-No. 1 Texas gave UConn a crucial win.
For teams without rock-solid tournament resumes, these types of wins can secure an NCAA Tournament bid; they can also jump teams out of the dreaded 8/9 matchup, where a second-round date with a No. 1 seed awaits. Any such win, especially after the calendar shifts into the new year, is important.
Oklahoma State and Connecticut got those types of wins this past week. The Cowboys had a decent resume but lacked a win that separated them from the rest of the teams in bubble land. Then, they won at Kansas State, the same place No. 1 Texas fell just a few days earlier.
Connecticut was 3-3 in the Big East and the previous weekend had lost at Michigan, a .500ish team from the Big Ten. Then, the Huskies beat Texas at home.
Those wins don’t necessarily lock up a berth for Oklahoma State and Connecticut, but they do increase the margin of error for both squads down the stretch.
Field of 65
The projected Field of 65 is based on records and accomplishments through Sunday’s games (update: Georgetown and Missouri fell one seed after Monday’s action), not a prediction of what final seeds will be at the end of conference tournaments. Seeds are listed first; automatic bids are in parentheses.
1. Kentucky (SEC), Syracuse, Kansas (Big 12), Villanova (Big East)
Scottie Reynolds has shot his way onto the short list for player of the year candidates. He’s averaging 18.7 points on 49.8 percent shooting overall—well above his previous career-best mark of 41.2—and 42.4 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
2. Michigan State (Big Ten), Texas, Duke, West Virginia
Rough week for the Longhorns, who went from the undisputed No. 1 team to a squad that almost looks too talented for its own good. Coach Rick Barnes has some tough choices regarding minutes for his players—it’s difficult to find a consistent rhythm with 10 guys averaging at least 13 minutes a game.
3. Kansas State, Georgetown, Purdue, Pittsburgh
In the span of one dizzying week, Kansas State both proved that it could play with the big boys of college hoops — the upset of Texas — and proved there’s work yet to be done — the home loss to Oklahoma State. Brutal week ahead, playing Tuesday at Baylor and Saturday at home against Kansas.
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