Huge Game For Gtown & Cincy

Cincinnati 64, Georgetown 62, OT
This game might have had more bubble implications than any other game played today. Both of these teams just really absolutely needed this game. Cincinnati was getting close to falling off the bubble altogether, but this win turns a lot of things around. They're now 6-5 in the Big East, and looking at their remaining schedule they have at least two more wins in the bag. I think they most likely will finish 9-9, which would probably keep them out of the Tournament, but it will be close. If they can get to 10-8 the computer numbers will be good enough that it's going to be hard to keep them out of the Tournament, especially if they win a game or two in the Big East tournament. Georgetown, meanwhile, is one of the real conundrums in college basketball right now. They have a very talented starting lineup, but they just aren't playing well as a team. If I had to guess what the problem is, I think it's that the older players are trying to be the leaders, and just are not good enough to carry a Tournament team. They need to get over their egos and get Greg Monroe the ball, because he is the one player talented enough to put this team on his back and take them to the Tournament. I think that JTIII figured this out a bit by basically benching Jessie Sapp for the entire second half, but his players didn't get the message and still only got Monroe 12 shots. They really need to run the ball through him every possession, especially since he's already such a good passer that defenses cannot completely collapse on him in the post. But they've got to figure this out soon, because Georgetown is now 4-7 in the Big East with an RPI that was once really good now falling to 37th. They have a good enough resume that they'll probably make the Tournament if they get to 8-10, but I just don't see a 7-11 team making the Tournament from any conference. And I don't see why four wins are a lock in their final nine games. It's definitely gut-check time for Georgetown.

#3 Duke 78, Miami (Fl) 75, OT
I was actually really disappointed in Duke's effort here. I said that I thought Coach K's motivational effort during and after the demolition by Clemson would have this team really fired up for Miami. Instead, they came out just like they played against Clemson, falling behind by 13 points by halftime. Coach K managed to get his kids fired up early in the second half, and they quickly grabbed the lead back, but they couldn't put Miami away. Even a motivated Duke team, coming off what was clearly a fired up Coach K halftime speech, fighting through the last few minutes of a game against a vastly inferior Miami team could not get any separation. It ended up being a three point lead in the final seconds, and a semi-miracle shot by a red hot Jack McClinton sent it to overtime. Duke finally survived by three points in overtime, but color me not at all impressed. They had better come out fired up for North Carolina, because if they play like this the Tar Heels will sweep the floor with them. For Miami, this was a huge missed opportunity. I spoke here about how Miami needed a split with Duke and North Carolina to be in the driver's seat for an at-large bid. If they lose to North Carolina next Sunday then it's going to be an uphill climb to a Tournament bid. They've got eight days to prepare for what is probably the most important game of their season thus far.

#16 Villanova 102, #20 Syracuse 85
Speaking of teams coming slow out of the gate, I've never seen Syracuse look worse this season than they did in the first half of this game. I could go on for paragraphs about their futility, but if there was one play that encompassed the entire half for me it was when Paul Harris missed a three as the first half was ending, and Kristof Ongenaet committed an over-the-back foul on the rebound 12 feet away from the basket with 0.1 seconds left in the half. That might have been the dumbest play I've seen this season that didn't involve Jamelle Horne. To Syracuse's credit, they finally came alive halfway through the second half, dropping a 21 point deficit to 11 before wearing out. But a loss is a loss, and Syracuse has now lost four of their last five games to fall to 6-5 in the Big East. Assuming they don't upset UConn on the road on Wednesday night they'll be 6-6 with some ground left to make up. With their great resume stats (wins over Florida, Kansas and Memphis, with a 7-6 record against the RPI Top 100), they'd probably be a lock for the Tournament if they get to 9-9, but they'd be iffy at 8-10. They've got to get that ninth win. Villanova, on the other hand, is getting close to officially becoming a Tournament "lock." They are now 7-3 with a 9-4 record against the RPI Top 100, with an RPI that is up to 9th in the nation. If Villanova goes 2-6 to close the season they'd be a lock for the Tournament and they only have two games left against a team with a winning record in the Big East - and one of them is Providence, a team which almost definitely will not have a winning Big East record when they play. At this point, Villanova is just playing for Tournament seed.