MVC Tournament; Pac-10 Basketball Update;
Indiana State vs Missouri State
After a tough loss to Morehead State, Indiana State was spiraling downhill at 15-13. But 5 wins later, Indiana State has a tournament bid.
Aaron Carter scored 15 as Indiana State rallied from down 9 to upset top-seeded Missouri State 60-56 and claim the MVC title and their first tourney bid in 10 years.
The game seemed to be a blowout early when Missouri State took a 9-0 lead early, but a few triples and some free throws helped turn a 9 point deficit into a 2 point lead for the Sycamores. However, Missouri State was the one on top at halftime, leading 31-28.
Early in the second half, with the game tied at 38, Aaron Carter went on a scoring spree. First, he made a three, then on the Sycamores next possession he took it to the hole and made a lay-up. 3 free throws later, Indiana State held a 46-38 lead.
However, Missouri State came back and cut the deficit to 57-56 with less than a minute to go. With 2 seconds left the Bears had a chance to win, but tourney MVP Jermaine Mallett turned the ball over. 2 Jake Kelly free throw clinched the Sycamore win.
Pac-10 Basketball Update
Standings
1. Arizona
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. USC
5. Cal
6. Washington State
7. Oregon
8. Stanford
9. Oregon State
10. Arizona State
Pac-10 Tournament games
Wednesday, 6 PM PT: Stanford vs Oregon State.
Wednesday, 8:30 PM PT: Oregon vs Arizona State
Thursday, 12 PM PT: California vs USC
Thursday, 3 PM PT: UCLA vs Oregon/Arizona State
Thursday, 5:30 PM PT: Arizona vs Stanford/Oregon State
Thursday, 8:30 PM PT: Washington vs Washington State
Review: Arizona is basically a lock for the tournament, assuming their close games against Cal and Northern Arizona and their loss to Oregon State are flukes. UCLA seems poised for a tourney bid as well, with wins against #18 Arizona, #15 St. John's, and #3 BYU on their resume. Washington seems headed in the same direction as well, but a 3rd loss to Washington State may have the Huskies needed some luck to get into the tournament.
USC has done well, with wins over Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Tennessee, and Texas, not to mention a 2 point loss to Kansas, but losses to Bradley, Rider, and TCU may prevent the Trojans from entering unless they surprise the Pac-10 and win the tournament. Cal looks the same way as well, unless they win the Pac-10 tournament or pick up a decent win or 2. However, the Bears have beaten Temple, New Mexico and UCLA, so don't count them out just yet.
Although they are a 6 seed in the Pac-10 tournament, a win over Washington and UCLA should probably elevate the Cougs into the NCAA Tournament. They swept Washington, beat Baylor and came so close against UCLA and Arizona. Right now Washington State is out of the tournament, but just 2 wins later I see them in the tournament.
Now, the bottom 4. Each team clearly needs to win the Pac-10 tournament to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Oregon went 7-11 in the Pac-10 but looked strong at one point, after they had finished a sweep over USC and Oregon State and jumped to 7-7 in Pac-10 play. But tough losses to the Bay Area schools and the Arizona schools have them down to the play-in rounds of the tournament. Stanford has a decent win over Washington but nothing else. They will need to take down Oregon State, Arizona, and the remaining 2 teams to make the tournament.
10-19 Oregon State is the same way. A Joe Burton lay-up powered them past Arizona in January to complete a 2 game sweep of the schools by the desert and it seemed to spark a good season, but the Beavers went 3-13 in their last 16 games. Arizona State started the Pac-10 season 1-1, but they lost 11 in a row and finished 4-14 in Pac-10 play, their only decent win a 71-69 contest against Washington State.
Prediction: Arizona, UCLA, and Washington are in right now, and a few decent wins could power Washington State, USC, and maybe Cal into the tournament.
Auto Tourney Bids so far
Missouri Valley Conference: Indiana State 60, Missouri State 56
Ohio Valley Conference: Morehead State 80, Tennessee Tech 73
Atlantic Sun: Belmont 87, North Florida 46
Big South: UNC-Ashville 60, Coastal Carolina 47
Tournament Finals on tonight
MAAC: St. Peters vs Iona, 4 PM PT
Colonial: Virginia Commonwealth vs Old Dominion, 4 PM PT
West Coast: St. Mary's vs Gonzaga, 6 PM PT
Southern: Wofford vs Charleston, 6 PM PT
Predictions
Iona 58, St. Peter's 54
Old Dominion 67, VCU 58
Gonzaga 67, St. Mary's 62
Charleston 62, Wofford 57
After a tough loss to Morehead State, Indiana State was spiraling downhill at 15-13. But 5 wins later, Indiana State has a tournament bid.
Aaron Carter scored 15 as Indiana State rallied from down 9 to upset top-seeded Missouri State 60-56 and claim the MVC title and their first tourney bid in 10 years.
The game seemed to be a blowout early when Missouri State took a 9-0 lead early, but a few triples and some free throws helped turn a 9 point deficit into a 2 point lead for the Sycamores. However, Missouri State was the one on top at halftime, leading 31-28.
Early in the second half, with the game tied at 38, Aaron Carter went on a scoring spree. First, he made a three, then on the Sycamores next possession he took it to the hole and made a lay-up. 3 free throws later, Indiana State held a 46-38 lead.
However, Missouri State came back and cut the deficit to 57-56 with less than a minute to go. With 2 seconds left the Bears had a chance to win, but tourney MVP Jermaine Mallett turned the ball over. 2 Jake Kelly free throw clinched the Sycamore win.
Pac-10 Basketball Update
Standings
1. Arizona
2. UCLA
3. Washington
4. USC
5. Cal
6. Washington State
7. Oregon
8. Stanford
9. Oregon State
10. Arizona State
Pac-10 Tournament games
Wednesday, 6 PM PT: Stanford vs Oregon State.
Wednesday, 8:30 PM PT: Oregon vs Arizona State
Thursday, 12 PM PT: California vs USC
Thursday, 3 PM PT: UCLA vs Oregon/Arizona State
Thursday, 5:30 PM PT: Arizona vs Stanford/Oregon State
Thursday, 8:30 PM PT: Washington vs Washington State
Review: Arizona is basically a lock for the tournament, assuming their close games against Cal and Northern Arizona and their loss to Oregon State are flukes. UCLA seems poised for a tourney bid as well, with wins against #18 Arizona, #15 St. John's, and #3 BYU on their resume. Washington seems headed in the same direction as well, but a 3rd loss to Washington State may have the Huskies needed some luck to get into the tournament.
USC has done well, with wins over Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Tennessee, and Texas, not to mention a 2 point loss to Kansas, but losses to Bradley, Rider, and TCU may prevent the Trojans from entering unless they surprise the Pac-10 and win the tournament. Cal looks the same way as well, unless they win the Pac-10 tournament or pick up a decent win or 2. However, the Bears have beaten Temple, New Mexico and UCLA, so don't count them out just yet.
Although they are a 6 seed in the Pac-10 tournament, a win over Washington and UCLA should probably elevate the Cougs into the NCAA Tournament. They swept Washington, beat Baylor and came so close against UCLA and Arizona. Right now Washington State is out of the tournament, but just 2 wins later I see them in the tournament.
Now, the bottom 4. Each team clearly needs to win the Pac-10 tournament to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Oregon went 7-11 in the Pac-10 but looked strong at one point, after they had finished a sweep over USC and Oregon State and jumped to 7-7 in Pac-10 play. But tough losses to the Bay Area schools and the Arizona schools have them down to the play-in rounds of the tournament. Stanford has a decent win over Washington but nothing else. They will need to take down Oregon State, Arizona, and the remaining 2 teams to make the tournament.
10-19 Oregon State is the same way. A Joe Burton lay-up powered them past Arizona in January to complete a 2 game sweep of the schools by the desert and it seemed to spark a good season, but the Beavers went 3-13 in their last 16 games. Arizona State started the Pac-10 season 1-1, but they lost 11 in a row and finished 4-14 in Pac-10 play, their only decent win a 71-69 contest against Washington State.
Prediction: Arizona, UCLA, and Washington are in right now, and a few decent wins could power Washington State, USC, and maybe Cal into the tournament.
Auto Tourney Bids so far
Missouri Valley Conference: Indiana State 60, Missouri State 56
Ohio Valley Conference: Morehead State 80, Tennessee Tech 73
Atlantic Sun: Belmont 87, North Florida 46
Big South: UNC-Ashville 60, Coastal Carolina 47
Tournament Finals on tonight
MAAC: St. Peters vs Iona, 4 PM PT
Colonial: Virginia Commonwealth vs Old Dominion, 4 PM PT
West Coast: St. Mary's vs Gonzaga, 6 PM PT
Southern: Wofford vs Charleston, 6 PM PT
Predictions
Iona 58, St. Peter's 54
Old Dominion 67, VCU 58
Gonzaga 67, St. Mary's 62
Charleston 62, Wofford 57
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