SelectionSunday
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By Buzz King (@Fieldof68Freak)
ROAD TO SELECTION SUNDAY -- A look back at the week in college basketball, as always starting with our weekly “Field of 68” projection. Projected automatic qualifiers (best conference record or – if a tie -- best NET ranking) in multiple-bid conferences are noted with a *
FIELD OF 68 PROJECTION (through games played 1/26/25)
America East (1): Bryant (157)
American (1): Memphis (41)
ACC (5): *Duke (2), Louisville (25), Clemson (30), Pitt (34), Wake Forest (71)
ASUN (1): Jacksonville (148)
Atlantic 10 (1): VCU (45)
Big East (4): *Marquette (13), Saint John’s (26), UConn (36), Creighton (39)
Big Sky (1): Northern Colorado (139)
Big South (1): UNC-Asheville (186)
Big Ten (9): Purdue (9), Illinois (10), *Michigan State (17), Wisconsin (18), Maryland (19), Michigan (20), Oregon (27), Ohio State (29), UCLA (33)
Big XII (8): *Houston (3), Iowa State (6), Kansas (8), Texas Tech (11), Arizona (15), Baylor (28), West Virginia (43), UCF (65)
Big West (1): UC-Irvine (50)
Coastal (1): William & Mary (184)
Conference USA (1): Middle Tennessee (98)
Horizon (1): Cleveland State (173)
Ivy (1): Yale (79)
MAAC (1): Merrimack (163)
MAC (1): Akron (94)
MEAC (1): Norfolk State (170)
Missouri Valley (2): *Bradley (64), Drake (66)
Mountain West (3): Utah State (31), San Diego State (42), *New Mexico (56)
NEC (1): LIU (298)
OVC (1): Morehead State (248)
Patriot (1): Colgate (221)
SEC (12): *Auburn (1), Tennessee (4), Florida (5), Alabama (7), Texas A&M (12), Kentucky (14), Mississippi State (21), Ole Miss (22), Missouri (24), Texas (32), Vanderbilt (37), Oklahoma (47)
SoCon (1): Samford (95)
Southland (1): McNeese (58)
SWAC (1): Southern U (209)
Summit (1): Omaha (202)
Sun Belt (1): Arkansas State (91)
WCC (2): Gonzaga (16), *Saint Mary’s (23)
WAC (1): Utah Valley (121)
--------------------------------------
Last 4 In: Ohio State (29), San Diego State (42), UCF (65), Wake Forest (71)
First 4 Out: Georgia (35), North Carolina (40), Xavier (55), Dayton (70)
Next 4 Out: BYU (38), SMU (44), North Texas (46), Stanford (69)
On the Radar O’Reilly (8): Cincinnati (48), Northwestern (49), Penn State (51), UC-San Diego (53), Oregon State (54), Santa Clara (60), Indiana (68), George Mason (72)
Last 4 Automatic Qualifiers: Southern U (209), Colgate (221), Morehead State (248), LIU (298)
Non-Power 5 At-Large Bids (4): Gonzaga (16), Utah State (31), San Diego State (42), Drake (66)
-----------------------------------------
Record vs. the Field (the 37 at-larges)
Drake (2-0)
Utah State (2-0)
Alabama (10-3)
Iowa State (6-2)
Tennessee (7-3)
Florida (4-2)
Texas A&M (9-5)
Kentucky (7-4)
Mississippi State (5-3)
Oregon (5-3)
Purdue (6-4)
Clemson (3-2)
UConn (3-2)
UCLA (4-3)
Missouri (5-4)
West Virginia (4-4)
Wisconsin (4-4)
Maryland (3-3)
Michigan (3-3)
Oklahoma (3-3)
Saint John’s (2-2)
Louisville (4-5)
Ole Miss (4-5)
Creighton (3-4)
Illinois (3-4)
Arizona (4-6)
Texas Tech (2-3)
Kansas (3-5)
UCF (3-5) – last 4 in
Texas (3-6)
Gonzaga (2-4)
San Diego State (2-4) – last 4 in
Vanderbilt (2-4)
Ohio State (3-7) – last 4 in
Baylor (2-5)
Pitt (2-5)
Wake Forest (1-4) – last 4 in
Record vs. the Field (First 4 Out & Next 4 Out)
Dayton (2-1) – first 4 out
Georgia (4-5) – first 4 out
Xavier (3-5) – first 4 out
Stanford (3-4)
North Carolina (1-7) – first 4 out
BYU (0-3)
North Texas (0-3)
SMU (0-3)
Gophers Non-Conference Slate A "League" of Their Own
The Gophers non-conference schedule is ranked #334 (of 364) in the country, but you might be surprised to learn it's littered with 4 opponents residing in this week's projection. And three of them play in a "league", not a conference.
Omaha (Summit League), Yale (Ivy League), and Cleveland State (Horizon League) are leading their respective leagues, and a fourth opponent (Wake Forest, ACC) just slid into the field for the first time this season as an at-large. The Demon Deacons are the last team in my field.
Dozen That Had a Productive Week. …
Creighton, Drake, Florida, Houston, Iowa State, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, New Mexico, Omaha, Texas, Vanderbilt
Dozen That Had a Damaging Week. …
Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia, Howard, Indiana, LIU, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Queens, West Virginia
Heart of Bubblicious (NET #45-55)
#45 VCU (IN)
#46 North Texas (OUT)
#47 Oklahoma (IN)
#48 Cincinnati (OUT)
#49 Northwestern (OUT)
#50 UC-Irvine (IN)
#51 Penn State (OUT)
#52 Boise State (OUT)
#53 UC-San Diego (OUT)
#54 Oregon State (OUT)
#55 Xavier (OUT)
B1G Weakling Wednesday Dropouts – B1G Tournament no-shows?
** The 3 Big Ten teams tracking toward an early end to their 2024-25 season with no invitation to Indianapolis:
#16 Northwestern (3-6)
#17 Nebraska (2-7)
#18 Washington (1-8)
The Local NETters
#96 Minnesota (11-9, 3-6 Big Ten)
#112 St. Thomas (16-6, 6-1 Summit League)
Big Ten +/- Power Rankings (Road Wins – Home Losses)
1 Michigan State (+4)
2 Purdue (+3)
3 Michigan (+3)
4 Maryland (+2)
5 Illinois (+1)
6 UCLA (+1)
7 Wisconsin (+1)
8 Oregon (even)
9 USC (even)
10 Indiana (even)
11 Ohio State (-1)
12 Northwestern (-1) – no road wins
13 Iowa (-1) – no road wins
14 Rutgers (-2)
15 Minnesota (-2)
16 Penn State (-2) – no road wins
17 Nebraska (-2) – no road wins
18 Washington (-4) – no road wins
Gophers Week Ahead
Tuesday: @ #17 Michigan State
Saturday: host #51 Penn State
Gophers Stat Leaders
Dawson Garcia (19.7 points per game), Garcia (7.4 rebounds per game), Lu’Cye Patterson (3.5 assists per game), Femi Odukale (1.4 steals per game), Isaac Asuma (38.8% 3PFG), Parker Fox (1.3 blocks per game)
National Spotlight
St. Thomas will play its first ever nationally televised (CBS Sports Network) home game at 3 p.m. Sunday vs. North Dakota State. Next season the Tommies move from Schoenecker Arena to the brand, spanking new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
Summit League +/- Power Rankings (Road Wins – Home Losses)
1 Omaha (+4)
2 St. Thomas (+3)
3 North Dakota State (+1)
4 South Dakota State (+1) – no road wins
5 South Dakota (even)
6 North Dakota (-2)
7 Denver (-2)
8 Kansas City (-2) – no road wins
9 Oral Roberts (-3) – no road wins
Tommies Week Ahead
Wednesday: host #335 Oral Roberts
Sunday: host #101 North Dakota State
Tommies Stat Leaders
Miles Barnstable (14.9 points per game), Kendall Blue (4.5 rebounds per game), Drake Dobbs (3.8 assists per game), Barnstable (1 steals per game), Ben Oosterbaan (48.6% 3PFG), Nolan Minessale (1 blocks per game)
NET Kings
#1 Auburn (18-1)
Kinda’ Bubble Cutline
#50 UC-Irvine (17-3)
Stuck in the Middle with You
#182 Wyoming (9-10)
Bottom of the Barrel
#364 Mississippi Valley State (0-18)
Pick 2 A Day (games to monitor this week)
Monday
UCLA @ USC, 9 (FS1)
Iowa State @ Arizona, 9:30 (ESPN)
Tuesday
Kentucky @ Tennessee, 6 (ESPN)
Minnesota @ Michigan State, 7 (Peacock)
Wednesday
Xavier @ Creighton, 7 (FS1)
Alabama @ Mississippi State, 8 (SECN)
Thursday
South Dakota State @ North Dakota State, 7
Oregon @ UCLA, 9:30 (FS1)
Friday
Yale @ Princeton, 4 (ESPN2)
Indiana @ Purdue, 7 (FOX)
Saturday
UConn @ Marquette, 7 (FOX)
New Mexico @ Utah State, 8:30 (FS1)
Sunday
Ohio State @ Illinois, 12 (CBS)
North Dakota State @ St. Thomas, 3 (CBSSN)
Next Road to Selection Sunday/Field of 68: Sunday, February 2
ROAD TO SELECTION SUNDAY -- A look back at the week in college basketball, as always starting with our weekly “Field of 68” projection. Projected automatic qualifiers (best conference record or – if a tie -- best NET ranking) in multiple-bid conferences are noted with a *
FIELD OF 68 PROJECTION (through games played 1/26/25)
America East (1): Bryant (157)
American (1): Memphis (41)
ACC (5): *Duke (2), Louisville (25), Clemson (30), Pitt (34), Wake Forest (71)
ASUN (1): Jacksonville (148)
Atlantic 10 (1): VCU (45)
Big East (4): *Marquette (13), Saint John’s (26), UConn (36), Creighton (39)
Big Sky (1): Northern Colorado (139)
Big South (1): UNC-Asheville (186)
Big Ten (9): Purdue (9), Illinois (10), *Michigan State (17), Wisconsin (18), Maryland (19), Michigan (20), Oregon (27), Ohio State (29), UCLA (33)
Big XII (8): *Houston (3), Iowa State (6), Kansas (8), Texas Tech (11), Arizona (15), Baylor (28), West Virginia (43), UCF (65)
Big West (1): UC-Irvine (50)
Coastal (1): William & Mary (184)
Conference USA (1): Middle Tennessee (98)
Horizon (1): Cleveland State (173)
Ivy (1): Yale (79)
MAAC (1): Merrimack (163)
MAC (1): Akron (94)
MEAC (1): Norfolk State (170)
Missouri Valley (2): *Bradley (64), Drake (66)
Mountain West (3): Utah State (31), San Diego State (42), *New Mexico (56)
NEC (1): LIU (298)
OVC (1): Morehead State (248)
Patriot (1): Colgate (221)
SEC (12): *Auburn (1), Tennessee (4), Florida (5), Alabama (7), Texas A&M (12), Kentucky (14), Mississippi State (21), Ole Miss (22), Missouri (24), Texas (32), Vanderbilt (37), Oklahoma (47)
SoCon (1): Samford (95)
Southland (1): McNeese (58)
SWAC (1): Southern U (209)
Summit (1): Omaha (202)
Sun Belt (1): Arkansas State (91)
WCC (2): Gonzaga (16), *Saint Mary’s (23)
WAC (1): Utah Valley (121)
--------------------------------------
Last 4 In: Ohio State (29), San Diego State (42), UCF (65), Wake Forest (71)
First 4 Out: Georgia (35), North Carolina (40), Xavier (55), Dayton (70)
Next 4 Out: BYU (38), SMU (44), North Texas (46), Stanford (69)
On the Radar O’Reilly (8): Cincinnati (48), Northwestern (49), Penn State (51), UC-San Diego (53), Oregon State (54), Santa Clara (60), Indiana (68), George Mason (72)
Last 4 Automatic Qualifiers: Southern U (209), Colgate (221), Morehead State (248), LIU (298)
Non-Power 5 At-Large Bids (4): Gonzaga (16), Utah State (31), San Diego State (42), Drake (66)
-----------------------------------------
Record vs. the Field (the 37 at-larges)
Drake (2-0)
Utah State (2-0)
Alabama (10-3)
Iowa State (6-2)
Tennessee (7-3)
Florida (4-2)
Texas A&M (9-5)
Kentucky (7-4)
Mississippi State (5-3)
Oregon (5-3)
Purdue (6-4)
Clemson (3-2)
UConn (3-2)
UCLA (4-3)
Missouri (5-4)
West Virginia (4-4)
Wisconsin (4-4)
Maryland (3-3)
Michigan (3-3)
Oklahoma (3-3)
Saint John’s (2-2)
Louisville (4-5)
Ole Miss (4-5)
Creighton (3-4)
Illinois (3-4)
Arizona (4-6)
Texas Tech (2-3)
Kansas (3-5)
UCF (3-5) – last 4 in
Texas (3-6)
Gonzaga (2-4)
San Diego State (2-4) – last 4 in
Vanderbilt (2-4)
Ohio State (3-7) – last 4 in
Baylor (2-5)
Pitt (2-5)
Wake Forest (1-4) – last 4 in
Record vs. the Field (First 4 Out & Next 4 Out)
Dayton (2-1) – first 4 out
Georgia (4-5) – first 4 out
Xavier (3-5) – first 4 out
Stanford (3-4)
North Carolina (1-7) – first 4 out
BYU (0-3)
North Texas (0-3)
SMU (0-3)
Gophers Non-Conference Slate A "League" of Their Own
The Gophers non-conference schedule is ranked #334 (of 364) in the country, but you might be surprised to learn it's littered with 4 opponents residing in this week's projection. And three of them play in a "league", not a conference.
Omaha (Summit League), Yale (Ivy League), and Cleveland State (Horizon League) are leading their respective leagues, and a fourth opponent (Wake Forest, ACC) just slid into the field for the first time this season as an at-large. The Demon Deacons are the last team in my field.
Dozen That Had a Productive Week. …
Creighton, Drake, Florida, Houston, Iowa State, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, New Mexico, Omaha, Texas, Vanderbilt
Dozen That Had a Damaging Week. …
Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia, Howard, Indiana, LIU, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Queens, West Virginia
Heart of Bubblicious (NET #45-55)
#45 VCU (IN)
#46 North Texas (OUT)
#47 Oklahoma (IN)
#48 Cincinnati (OUT)
#49 Northwestern (OUT)
#50 UC-Irvine (IN)
#51 Penn State (OUT)
#52 Boise State (OUT)
#53 UC-San Diego (OUT)
#54 Oregon State (OUT)
#55 Xavier (OUT)
B1G Weakling Wednesday Dropouts – B1G Tournament no-shows?
** The 3 Big Ten teams tracking toward an early end to their 2024-25 season with no invitation to Indianapolis:
#16 Northwestern (3-6)
#17 Nebraska (2-7)
#18 Washington (1-8)
The Local NETters
#96 Minnesota (11-9, 3-6 Big Ten)
#112 St. Thomas (16-6, 6-1 Summit League)
Big Ten +/- Power Rankings (Road Wins – Home Losses)
1 Michigan State (+4)
2 Purdue (+3)
3 Michigan (+3)
4 Maryland (+2)
5 Illinois (+1)
6 UCLA (+1)
7 Wisconsin (+1)
8 Oregon (even)
9 USC (even)
10 Indiana (even)
11 Ohio State (-1)
12 Northwestern (-1) – no road wins
13 Iowa (-1) – no road wins
14 Rutgers (-2)
15 Minnesota (-2)
16 Penn State (-2) – no road wins
17 Nebraska (-2) – no road wins
18 Washington (-4) – no road wins
Gophers Week Ahead
Tuesday: @ #17 Michigan State
Saturday: host #51 Penn State
Gophers Stat Leaders
Dawson Garcia (19.7 points per game), Garcia (7.4 rebounds per game), Lu’Cye Patterson (3.5 assists per game), Femi Odukale (1.4 steals per game), Isaac Asuma (38.8% 3PFG), Parker Fox (1.3 blocks per game)
National Spotlight
St. Thomas will play its first ever nationally televised (CBS Sports Network) home game at 3 p.m. Sunday vs. North Dakota State. Next season the Tommies move from Schoenecker Arena to the brand, spanking new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
Summit League +/- Power Rankings (Road Wins – Home Losses)
1 Omaha (+4)
2 St. Thomas (+3)
3 North Dakota State (+1)
4 South Dakota State (+1) – no road wins
5 South Dakota (even)
6 North Dakota (-2)
7 Denver (-2)
8 Kansas City (-2) – no road wins
9 Oral Roberts (-3) – no road wins
Tommies Week Ahead
Wednesday: host #335 Oral Roberts
Sunday: host #101 North Dakota State
Tommies Stat Leaders
Miles Barnstable (14.9 points per game), Kendall Blue (4.5 rebounds per game), Drake Dobbs (3.8 assists per game), Barnstable (1 steals per game), Ben Oosterbaan (48.6% 3PFG), Nolan Minessale (1 blocks per game)
NET Kings
#1 Auburn (18-1)
Kinda’ Bubble Cutline
#50 UC-Irvine (17-3)
Stuck in the Middle with You
#182 Wyoming (9-10)
Bottom of the Barrel
#364 Mississippi Valley State (0-18)
Pick 2 A Day (games to monitor this week)
Monday
UCLA @ USC, 9 (FS1)
Iowa State @ Arizona, 9:30 (ESPN)
Tuesday
Kentucky @ Tennessee, 6 (ESPN)
Minnesota @ Michigan State, 7 (Peacock)
Wednesday
Xavier @ Creighton, 7 (FS1)
Alabama @ Mississippi State, 8 (SECN)
Thursday
South Dakota State @ North Dakota State, 7
Oregon @ UCLA, 9:30 (FS1)
Friday
Yale @ Princeton, 4 (ESPN2)
Indiana @ Purdue, 7 (FOX)
Saturday
UConn @ Marquette, 7 (FOX)
New Mexico @ Utah State, 8:30 (FS1)
Sunday
Ohio State @ Illinois, 12 (CBS)
North Dakota State @ St. Thomas, 3 (CBSSN)
Next Road to Selection Sunday/Field of 68: Sunday, February 2