College Basketball Weekly Look-Back/Weekend Look-Ahead

College Basketball Weekly Look-Back
Syracuse 72, #8 Georgetown 58
Syracuse likely clinched an NCAA tourney bid with this win, and Georgetown slowed down the number of people jumping on their bandwagon. Syracuse was able to get the marquee win they needed. However, I'm not too worried about Georgetown's loss in this game. Their two top scorers, Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert, combined for just 15 points, but as long that doesn't happen again, they are still a final four-caliber team.

Tennesee 86, #4 Florida 76
What has happened to Florida lately? Florida has gone from being the consensus favorite to win the national championship to having almost no chance at a #1 seed in a span of ten days. During those ten days Florida lost to Vanderbilt, LSU, and Tennesee, all by more than ten points. None of these games were even close, and that had to be the most worrying aspect for Florida fans.

Maryland 85, #14 Duke 77
Maryland has really come on strong lately, and they are a team that is capable of making run in March. The Terrapins are now 23-7 overall and have won six games in a row, including two wins over Duke and one over North Carolina. Maryland has three good scorers in D.J. Strawberry, Mike Jones, and Ekene Ibekwe, and they have a stud freshman point guard in Greivis Vasquez.

# 15 Texas 98, #6 Texas A&M 96, 2 OT
This game is probably just behind the Texas-Oklahoma State triple overtime thriller in the race for game of the year in college basketball. The back and forth battle between (should be) first team All-Americans Kevin Durant and Acie Law IV was outstanding to watch. Texas had the game won twice, in regulation and in the first overtime, but Law hit three pointers to tie it up both times. Law's shot at the end of regulation might be the best shot in college basketball this year. Both of these teams are headed for deep runs in March and Texas A&M is a legitimate national title contender. One advantage they have over everyone else is that they have the most clutch player in basketball this year in Law.

Georgia Tech 84, #8 North Carolina 77
The Tar Heels have now lost 5 games during this ACC season and as long as Virginia can take care of business against Wake Forest, UNC won't even have a shot at sharing the ACC title. They are an extremely talented team, but they need to get some things figured out fast if they plan on winning a national championship this season.

#2 UCLA, #13 Washington State
UCLA clinched the Pac-10 title with this win, and if they beat Washington on Saturday, then the Bruins will win the conference by three games. That is an incredible feat for a conference that is probably the best in the country this year. If UCLA wins the Pac-10 they should, and will, be the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Washington State has a chance to win a few games in the NCAA tournament, but it will be difficult for them to make it past the sweet 16 because of their lack of talented and athletic players. However, if they can get opposing teams to play their style, they can stay close with anyone.

Weekend Look-Ahead
#15 Texas at #3 Kansas, 12 pm Saturday CBS
If Texas wins this game, they would be the #1 seed in the Big 12 tournament, which would be an incredible accomplishment for such a young team. Unfortunately I don't know if Kevin Durant can lead his team to a win in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas 75, Texas 69.

#12 Pittsburgh at #20 Marquette, 9 pm Saturday ESPN
Marquette will try to stop a skid of losing 4 out of its last 5 with a home game against a Pittsburgh team they beat in overtime earlier this year. The Golden Eagles have had nine days to prepare for this game, and Dominic James and the rest of the team is hungry for a win. Marquette 71, Pitt 59.

Kentucky at #4 Florida, 12 pm Sunday, CBS
Florida tries to right the ship against a Kentucky team that is in search of a marquee win to hang their hat on. The Gators just barely get a win that will hopefully put them back on track. Florida 68, Kentucky 67.

#14 Duke at #8 North Carolina, 4 pm Sunday, CBS
Even though neither of these teams are living up the expectations this year, it's still Duke-North Carolina and it will an extremely intense atmosphere and game. North Carolina bounces back from a few recent losses and beats a Duke team they are much more talented than. North Carolina 77, Duke 65.

Missouri Valley Conference, 2 pm Sunday
Last year's mid-major darling conference is at it again this year, with three NCAA bids almost a sure thing and four a possibilty. The semi-finals likely will pit Southern Illinois vs. Bradley and Creighton vs. Missouri State. Bradley is the team most in need of a win for an NCAA bid. I predict that Southern Illinois faces off against Missouri State in the final. Southern Illinois 65, Missouri State 58.