There are some big games on Saturday. The ACC is at the top of the list with perhaps the biggest game. That game is Duke vs Miami Fla. Miami had the worst record in the league for the ACC and knocked off Wake Forrest and Va Tech. Va Tech looks to still get in and Wake was a bubble team. Losing to Miami may have knocked them out. If Miami wins, that would put them into the ACC final against either NC ST or Ga Tech. Ga Tech is a bubble team that could earn a spot with a win today. But either way, a Miami win would give a team that wasn't in the field of 64 a slot, bumping someone else out. Live long Jimmy V.
In the American East, Vermont and Boston battle for the automatic bid.
The Atlatic 10 looks like it has 3 locks with Temple, Xavier and Richmond. Those 3 are still alive in the tourny. Xavier and Richmond are playing each other while Temple takes on Rhode Island. ESPN has Rhode Island and one of the first 4 teams not getting in. A win today could get them back in. A tournament win definately would.
The Big !2 has Kansas vs Kansas St. I beleive win or lose Kansas is a one seed. K State however, may have a chance to get into a one spot with a win.
Georgetown and West Virginia are both in as it appears the Big East will take 8. So, this game is about bragging rights and seeding position.
ESPN has Illinois as one of the last for in and Minnesota and one of the last 8 out. They both are in the semifinals of the Big 10. Ohio St is taking on Illinois. A win for OSU might give them a one seed, while a win for the Fighting Illini would surely secure a spot. Minnesota battles Purdue in the other semifinal. Purdue is slipping and Minnesota must win today to keep there hopes alive.
C USA may have the second most important game today. Houston could get an automatic birth by upsetting UTEP. Houston is a 7 seed in the CUSA. They will not be going to the big dance if they lose. A win knocks another bubble team out.
In the MAC either Akron or Ohio will get to go to the big dance. Kent St looks to get an at large bid and the winner of this will get an automatic bid.
Morgan St and S Carolina St play in the MEAC championship.
The Mountain West conference has UNLV playing SD St. Both are bubbles teams that appear to be getting in. But as you have read the is potential for some uninvited teams to get invited and knock one of these two out. So, that makes today's game a big one.
I find it hard to believe that the PAC 10 would ever just get one bid. But they have flirted with that this year. Arizona St finished 2nd in the conference but lost out early in the tournament. Third place Washington is in the finals against regular season winner California. That may be enough to get the Huskies in. But, it's not a guarantee. A win would seal the deal. California is in and climbing up the poles.
Kentucky can redeem a lost to Tennessee today as they play in the SEC semifinal. Both are locks. Vanderbilt is also a lock. They take on Mississippi State who is on the outside looking in. A win today will get them closer to consideration. But, MSU may have to win it to get in.
Sam Houston St. and Stephen F. Austin go at it in the Southland championship.
Arkansas Pine Bluff and Texas Southern fight each other in the SWAC championship.
The third biggest game of the day is in the WAC. Utah St vs NM st. Utah State is already in and playing for seeding. NM St will not be invited. So, they have to win and in doing so they knock out a bubble team.
Saturday is going to be so much fun!!
Keywords: acc, basketball, big 10, big 12, big dance, big east, championship week, espn, ncaa, ncaa tournament, pac 10, sec
