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Tuesday, December 24, 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.
For one night at least, it felt like the 1990s or even the early 2000s in Winston-Salem. Plus the Spartans rally to take over second, the Aztecs and Sooners bounce back, and the Titans won’t be in any postseason play this year despite their best efforts.
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.
The Big Ten/ACC Challenge had a couple of its headline games on tap, and both were convincing wins for the ACC school though the series is all tied up. That, and a few other notes from Tuesday night.
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.
For the second week in a row, Kentucky didn’t look quite like the team they did on opening night, but this time didn’t pay the same price for it. Plus the Aggies keep winning without a key player, a Blazer is gone, and a few other games had noteworthy results.
The Mid-American Conference has shown very well so far this season and had a deserved television showcase Friday night. A chance to show off the league’s depth instead saw Ball State and Buffalo deliver authoritative, impressive performances, both on the road.
Alabama and Central Florida apparently aren’t worthy adversaries in football, yet have played a home-and-home the last two years in basketball, with UCF winning both. Plus, Arizona rolls, the Belfast Classic begins and Belmont and Norfolk State among OT winners.
Two more tournaments are in the books, leaving just one standing. Plus another national award, more coaching developments and a couple of players are leaving school to turn pro on the eve of the national semifinals.
We’re getting closer. It’s still only January yet, but with February just around the corner now, we’re nearing the time where talk about things like bracketology and bubbles can actually pick up in earnest as sample sizes finally reach a representative phase.
