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Sunday, December 22, 2024
Part 6 of our year-by-year deep dives looking at the NCAA Tournament bubbles past brings us to the years 2010-14. The 68-team tourney arrives, TV commentators go ballistic about VCU’s selection in its Final Four year, and inspired picks in 2012 and 2013 are followed by a decided shift in committee philosophy the next year.
As conference tournaments get into full swing, the Mountain West takes center stage with its share of drama, including a shocker to end the day. Plus the Huskies get a big win to affect the top of their conference race, the Pac-12 is down to two for its regular season crown, and the Eagles soar above their competitors to control their own destiny in the Big Sky.
The Spartans got a big win with a dramatic finish, but let’s hope both their opponent and the sport didn’t lose a bright young star. Plus a team remains undefeated overall, another stays undefeated in conference, and a traditional power continues to struggle at home.
On a busy Saturday with a wide range of matchups and outcomes, it was one of the last games of the night that stood out for its wild ending – and not a good one for a team that started conference play in a really good place. Plus an ill Gator is able to give it a go, which helps them out.
In a great championship game in the Diamond Head Classic, Washington let one slip away, and Houston was the beneficiary for a quality win. Plus other action in Hawaii, and a little perspective along the way.
The Cougars are coming alive after a slow start, and they have been aided by a talented guard who is close to home and with a better fit. Plus a reprimand from a league office, a new Volunteer in town, and a Seahawk is going home.
On a day where tournament action slowed temporarily, a game outside of tournaments was as good as advertised featuring a young but very talented team. Plus the other results of the day include a couple of monster individual efforts and a big road win for an Ivy League team.
Saint Mary’s continued to bounce back from a loss last week and push toward a second straight NCAA Tournament bid, something that once seemed unthinkable. Plus a Tiger will sit a few more games, while a new Mountaineer will get to play right away.
So much for any talk about one team possibly going undefeated, and given that their conference is better than some think despite its downward trend, there are teams capable of beating them anyway. Plus no surprises in one big conference, while it was a good day to be a road team in another, and a mild surprise in an academic league opener.
Houston showed the poise of a tough, tested team in rallying from 15 down against talented LSU to stay unbeaten. Plus, Chris Mack continues forming Louisville with a tough win over Lipscomb, Murray State impresses on the road, and Temple and UMass resume a classic series.
