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highlighted matchups for 1/24
-OKLAHOMA STATE AT OKLAHOMA (***pod system spotlight game***), BEDLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In my opinion, this is the greatest rivalry in college sports. It may not be the greatest basketball rivalry, but it is the only one I can think of where both schools are consistently highly ranked in both football and basketball. The intensity of this game isn’t matched by many. It is the Bedlam Series, and as usual the stakes are high off paper as well as on. Both these teams are trying to get to the pod system and be placed in Oklahoma City. At the same time, both these teams are trying their hardest to prevent the other from doing so. Oklahoma just won a big game over Texas this past weekend who had beaten Oklahoma State just a few days prior. Although Texas was shorthanded against Oklahoma, it was still a big win for the sooners. Okie State had an easier time against Baylor. This is the first of two these teams will play during the regular season. Both teams are good underneath. Both teams have good guards, but Okie State appears to have the edge there. However, it’s all out the window in this game.
-WICHITA STATE AT NORTHERN IOWA. This is a game that Northern Iowa desperately needs to win. They were tremendous out of conference, but they have not played well in conference and finishing fourth or lower will probably disqualify them for an at large bid. This is also a chance for them to pick up a much needed quality win. Wichita State won in a thriller against Southern Illinois over the weekend. They are in first place and back on track to get an at large, but they need to continue to win. This is a big game for two pretty good teams that have what it takes to be tournament teams, but haven’t always played up to their potential.
-HAVERFORD AT PRINCETON. This is pretty much a worthless game for Princeton, but we highlight it because they are in the bracket projections. Haverford is not a div1 school. Obviously, this isn’t a conference game either. Since there is no conference tourney in the Ivy League, there is far less pressure to rely on the out of conference schedule to get teams in a position to get an at large. Princeton will not have to worry about winning the conference tourney if they can finish first in the regular season. This game shouldn’t be all that competitive. They call it the Princeton offense for a reason. A well coached, well disciplined Princeton team should role in this one.
-SYRACUSE AT RUTGERS. The RAC is not an easy place for road teams to beat, but Syracuse is not an easy team for home teams to beat. Syracuse had a very close call with Georgetown in their last game, but pulled it out in overtime to remain unbeaten in Big East play and improve to a remarkable 19-1 on the year. Rutgers is just 7-8 on the year. They are at home and this can be a trap for a lot of teams, but they aren’t anywhere near Syracuse’s level.
-AIR FORCE AT UTAH. Utah has been playing excellent basketball lately and appear to be one of the twenty best teams in the country. They are at home in this one where they have not lost a game all year, but Air Force is no pushover. The Falcons have won six of their last seven games. Their one loss was by one point at Saint Mary’s, who as many of you remember beat Gonzaga handily on their floor. Both these teams are 4-0 in conference play, so this is a HUGE game for Utah. If they want to get a good seed, they need to win this conference outright, or at least claim a share of it. It appears as though Air Force, who’s playing their best basketball of the season right now, will be their biggest competition. They DO NOT want to drop this game at home. Both teams play display excellent fundamentals on both sides of the ball. Utah should dominate the boards in this one, but expect a very competitive game.
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IT'S MILLER TIME!!!
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