March is here, and with Selection Sunday just a week away, many bubble teams put themselves in more favorable positions with huge wins yesterday (aka Michigan), while others may have seen their chances slip away (sorry, Baylor). Here's a rundown of the big games that transpired.
#2 Kansas 70, #22 Missouri 66
Kansas wrapped up their seventh consecutive Big 12 regular season title, by beating the Tigers in Columbia, behind 21 points and 10 rebounds from Marcus Morris. Missouri, which will be the #6 seed in the Big 12 tournament and play 11th-seeded Texas Tech on Wednesday, shot just 29% from the field.
#13 North Carolina 81, #4 Duke 67
The Tar Heels jumped on their rivals early, scoring 51 first half points to win the ACC regular season title and avenge their earlier season encounter with Duke. Kendall Marshall had 15 points and 11 assists and freshman Harrison Barnes added 18 points for UNC, whose fans stormed the court at the end of the game.
#4 Pittsburgh 60, #19 Villanova 50
The Panthers win the Big East regular season title for the first time in seven years, and send struggling Villanova to its fourth straight defeat to end the regular season. With Corey Stokes out and Corey Fisher limited, the Wildcats got a career-high 27 points from Maalik Wayns, but it was not enough to prevent a season-sweep by Pitt, which was led Ashton Gibbs, who had 18 points.
Iowa 67, #6 Purdue 65
In the biggest shocker of the day, the Boilermakers blow a chance to share the Big-10 title and maybe a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament by falling to the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. The loss gives the Big-10 championship to Ohio State, which hosts Wisconsin later this afternoon.
#8 Notre Dame 70, #16 Connecticut 67
The Irish keep themselves in the conversation for a #1 seed in the NCAA's with a huge win in Stoors. Ben Hansbrough had 21 points, but fouled out with 8 minutes left, opening the door a Huskie rally. However, despite Kemba Walker's 34 points, he turns the ball over in the final seconds, to force UConn to have to play in the first day of the Big East tournament on Tuesday as the #9 seed.
#7 Texas 60, Baylor 54
The Bears are in big trouble as they head to the Big 12 tournament this week. Needing a marquee win to separate themselves from other bubble contenders, Baylor plays hard but gets destroyed on the backboards, getting outrebounded 44-29 and falling in Waco on a night senior guard LaceDarius Dunn became the Big 12's all-time leading scorer by passing Andre Emmett. As the #7 seed in the Big 12, Baylor will play Oklahoma Wednesday, and will probably need a deep-run in Kansas City (probably to at least the championship game) to make the NCAA's.
West Virginia 72, #11 Louisville 70
The Mountaineers clinch a first-round bye in the Big East tournament by beating the Cardinals in a wild-finish in Morgantown. Down three with less than 10 seconds left, senior Casey Mitchell hits a game-tying three. As Louisville hurried to try to win the game in regulation, Preston Knowles misses a three, then commits a foul on the rebound, setting up two game-winning free-throws by Truck Bryant.
Cincinnati 69, #17 Georgetown 47
The Hoyas lose their third straight without guard Chris Wright in blowout fashion, falling to the Bearcats by 22, which most likely punches Cincy's ticket to the Big Dance. Austin Freeman had 21 points for G'Town, which will try to right the ship in the Big East tournament, starting Wednesday as the #8 seed.
Stick with The Sports Scene throughout this week, as I cover all the conference tournaments, in advance of Selection Sunday a week from today!
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