February Fever is in our rear-view mirrors... meaning three things: it's Shamrock Shake time (at participating locations)... Girl Scout Cookies are out (Tagalongs and Samoas my achilles heels)... and college hoops wraps up its regular season. I liken the conference tournament to a sorbet-- cleansing the regular season palate before the NCAA Tournament feast.
Georgetown's losses to Notre Dame (78-64) and West Virginia (81-68) over a three day span have the team on the wrong end of a stomach virus-- junior guard Austin Freeman missed the game in Morgantown and was limited to 23 minutes against the Fighting Irish. A team that has issues rebounding winds up living and dying with its shooting. When that team's leading scorer and perimeter threat is unable to keep even toast down, it's more than a stomach that has issues. BET Seed--#7 with a second round date against the winner of #10 Cincinnati (Bearcats part of a four team conglomerate that includes Connecticut, South Florida and Seton Hall) and #15 Providence.
Alma Mater update-- can you say #1? The Orange's surgical dismemberment of #7 Villanova (95-77) in front of 34-thousand plus reminded me of the previous Orangemen era of excellence (1985-91) when SU either won the Big East regular season title or reached the Big East Tournament Finals. Big game on tap Saturday with the Orange visiting Louisville in Freedom Hall's final regular season game-- let's hope coach Boeheim will have reason to but won't get on the microphone to announce "Freedom Hall is now officially closed".
Maryland is so hot right now even a water main break couldn't dowse the Terrapins... a 104-100 double overtime win at Virginia Tech solidifies their at-large standing-- and puts them within shouting distance of conference leader Duke (the battle for the ACC lead takes place Wednesday in College Park). Greivis Vasquez is my ACC Player of the Year-- does anyone do as much for and is as important to his team? Take away Scheyer or Singler, and Duke is still near the top of the league. Take away Vasquez-- this is NC State. ACC Seed-- #2 and playing the winner of #7 Georgia Tech-#10 North Carolina in the quarterfinals.
Commonwealth Commotion-- Virginia Tech has dropped three straight... and despite 21 wins has the albatross of a non-conference schedule in the 300's... they must beat NC State and Georgia Tech to bolster a bubble-icious case. Virginia? I think everyone would have been pleased with 5 ACC wins... the surprise was they all came in the first half of the conference season.
George Mason wrapped up its regular season with a 50-48 loss to Northeastern-- the Huskies making a pair of free throws with half a second on the clock. The fourth place Patriots play the winner of #5 Virginia Commonwealth and #12 Delaware in the quarterfinals. Case for a tournament title: GMU has owned the league tournament recently-- having advanced to
the tournament finals three straight seasons... turning Richmond into a Patriot Center South. Case against: leading scorer Cam Long lost his shot on Groundhog Day, hitting just 25% from the field since January... a stretch where GMU's gone 2-6.
Women's window-- thanks to all at Terrapin Sports Marketing for another successful broadcast season of Maryland womens hoops... unfortunately the Terps find themselves on the NCAA bubble after wrapping up the regular season with three straight losses. At 18-11 Maryland needs an ACC quarterfinal win over North Carolina to harbor any hope of making the field of 64. Around the beltway: Georgetown (25-5) is a likely #3 or #4 seed, epending on how they fare in the Big East Tournament... George Washington (6-21) owns the #11 seed in the Atlantic Ten Tournament--anytime your seed is higher than the number in a league's title--there shouldn't be a reason for optimism... George Mason (10-18) resides in the CAA cellar and is at least a year away... American (20-8) tied for the Patriot League title and needs a tourney title to punch its ticket. Howard (15-12) is currently holding down the #4 spot in the MEAC.
George Washington clinched a berth in the Atlantic Ten Tournament with a 75-70 victory over Charlotte-- the key for the Colonials was holding 49ers guard Derrio Green to 3 of 13 shooting. A-10 Seed--#9 with a first round game against Duquesne. Next up-- a Philly two-step with 11th place St. Josephs and league leading Temple to wrap up the regular season.
American meets Navy Wednesday in the Patriot League Quarterfinals. While the Eagles swept the Midshipmen in the regular season, the second game took a double overtime effort in Annapolis. Thankfully for coach Jeff Jones' team-- this one's at Bender Arena where AU is 5-2 against Patriot League opposition this winter. Case for a third straight trip to the NCAA's: the hammer & anvil combination of Vlad Moldoveanu and Stephen Lumpkins provides a 1-2 punch that can take off in a tournament setting... Case against: AU lost both games to Lehigh (the likely semifinal opponent) by double digits-- the Mountain Hawks are just too goo.
Howard has one more regular season game before the MEAC Tournament-- a rare Thursday game with Hampton. A win would place the Bison in the 7-10 game as they won the earlier matchup between the two schools. MEAC Seed--#9 vs North Carolina A&T.
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