WASHINGTON– Louisville has been a Final Four fixture under coach Rick Pitino,聽even winning the National Championship in 2013. 聽This winter the Cardinals are off to an 18-4 start and are 7-2 in the ACC, but the only madness this March will be the U of L faithful wondering “What if?”
Amidst an ongoing investigation into recruiting improprieties, the school has banned itself from postseason play. 聽On the cynical side, it means that coach Rick Pitino can go right to the CBS/TBS/TNT/TruTV studio instead of 24 hours after his team loses in the round of 64. 聽It also means we have no 10 vs 15 opening round game in the ACC Tournament (hallelujah!). 聽Meanwhile, it’s the second ACC school in two years (Syracuse took the poison pill last February 4th) to preempt the NCAA. 聽Makes one wonder when the bell will toll for North Carolina.
Saturday’s games:
NOON-
#9 Virginia (18-4, 7-3 ACC) at Pitt (17-4, 6-3).聽聽Now that the Cavaliers have brushed aside their midseason inability to win away from Charlottesville, coach Tony Bennett takes his team into one odd arena. 聽The Peterson Events Center has suites behind the benches and scorer’s table. 聽The Panthers pose a problem on the floor for UVA in the form of James Robinson, who leads the conference in assists. 聽This is a place where good teams lose. 聽Are the Cavaliers a good team or a great one this winter?
George Washington (17-5, 6-3 Atlantic 10) at VCU (17-5, 9-0). 聽The Colonials may be playing gritty ball at this time, but nobody in the A-10 is even close to playing as well as the Rams are right now. 聽Credit a smothering defense that leads the league in turnover margin and steals…and an offense that kills you from 3-point range (conference best 38% from outside the arc). 聽GW needs its big three of Tyler Cavanaugh, Kevin Larsen & Patricio Garino to come up huge if they’re going to sneak out of Richmond with a W.
2pm- American (7-15, 5-6 Patriot League) at Lehigh (7-14, 5-5). 聽So the Eagles win five straight games to secure the nod as HOTTEST TEAM INSIDE THE BELTWAY but only move from 10th to 7th place in the conference? 聽Tough room. 聽Prepare for a matchup of strengths: 聽the Eagles are tops in the league at defending the 3-point shot while the Mountain Hawks lead the conference in shooting from outside the arc.
4pm-
#4 Maryland (20-3, 9-2 Big Ten) vs #18 Purdue (19-4, 7-3).聽聽Both teams bring quite a bit of size into the equation…with Boilermaker 7-foot center AJ Hammons providing quite a test in the post. 聽Purdue leads the league in rebounding margin…and a Terps team that’s 13th in turnover margin can ill afford to give away additional possessions.
Virginia Tech (12-11, 4-6 ACC) vs Clemson (14-8, 7-3).聽聽The Hokies’ slide from curiosity (4-1? 聽Really?) to sympathy (another ranked team on the road?) has them hosting the other early season surprise聽in the league…but one that’s been able to sustain their success. 聽Can the Hokies contain Tigers forward聽Jaron Blossingame (17 points per game, 42% from 3-point range)?
Navy (16-8, 7-4 Patriot League)聽vs Colgate (10-12, 6-5). 聽Two teams both trying to avoid mid-season slides: 聽the Raiders have dropped three straight while the Midshipmen have lost three of four. 聽One game separates third place (and the home quarterfinal game) from seventh place (and having to play in the opening round).
430pm- Howard (10-12, 4-3 MEAC) vs Norfolk State (10-13, 6-2). 聽Bison look to bounce back from consecutive road losses to sub-500 conference clubs while the Spartans try to rebound from a defeat at league-leading Hampton. 聽Will high scoring James Daniel III get the necessary help?
6pm- George Mason (8-14, 2-7 Atlantic 10) vs #24 Dayton (18-3, 8-1).聽聽The Patriots look to build off a win at Richmond…although the offensive stars haven’t often aligned for coach Dave Paulsen in his first winter at the helm. 聽The Flyers allow the fewest points in the league.
9pm- Georgetown (13-10, 6-4 Big East) at Seton Hall (16-6, 6-4).聽 Do I sound old if I say I’m not a huge fan of 9pm games in the Eastern Time Zone? 聽The Hoyas are squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble…and falling at Butler earlier this week was not helpful. 聽The Pirates boast the conference’s best rebounder in Angel Delgado…and Gtown has had trouble on the glass all winter. 聽But the Hoyas have shown they can win on the road in difficult circumstances (like at then #5 Xavier).
