Noteworthy Games - Edition: 3.14.10

There were four games yesterday. All four were conference championships. In one game a team was playing not only for a conference championship but for its only chance to get into the NCAA tourney, an automatic bid. Another game featured a team that had beaten three teams, one of them unranked, and the #11 and #5 ranked teams in the nation to reach it's conference championship. By the way, did I mention the team doing so was unranked? Next up, you have a team that is always on the national radar. Finally, a team that has been a NCAA tourney bracketbuster on numerous occasions.

I know that I have had a bit of a love affair for Minnesota lately. I also realize that the last two days, I have started off talking about them. So...why should today be any different? The Golden Gophers took on Big 10 powerhouse Ohio State yesterday and got their asses handed to them in the championship game. Final score, 90-61.

In all fairness though, this was their fourth game in as many days and they had overcome some huge obstacles to make it into the championship game. Those obstacles being the #11th (Michigan State), and #5th (Purdue) ranked teams in the nation. Did I mention that they did all of this as unranked team? Coach Tubby Smith and company, to you I tip my hat. You have nothing to be ashamed of!

Next up we have the nail-biting, barn-burner that featured the University of Kentucky and Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference final. Words really could not do this game justice, and so here are the highlights from ESPN.com.

John Wall scored 7 of his 17 points in overtime as the Wildcats won their 26th SEC tournament title and first since 2004. UK is now 8-0 in games decided by five points or less and/or OT.

Eric Bledsoe led the Wildcats with 18 points and has scored in double figures in four straight games.

DeMarcus Cousins, whose tip-in at the buzzer in regulation sent the game to overtime, finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season.

In short, Kentucky(#2) rallied from five down with 2:28 left in regulation to beat Mississippi State. Final Score: 75-74

Temple beat Richmond to win its 3rd straight Atlantic 10 title. Final Score: 56-52

In a ACC tournament filled with upsets, it took a gritty effort from Duke to hold off a determined comeback from the (tournament) seventh-seeded Yellow Jackets from Georgia Tech, who were trying to become the first team in tournament history to win four games in four days. In the end though, there was just to much Duke. Final Score: 65-61

And the winner is.....(Part 2)

As of noon yesterday, four conferences had yet to crown a conference champion. The following teams won their conference championships yesterday and punched the final four tickets for automatic berths into the NCAA tourney yesterday.

ACC - Duke

Atlantic 10 - Temple

Big Ten - Ohio State

SEC - University of Kentucky

And the winner is...

Twelve more teams punched their tickets and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament yesterday by winning their conference championships.

American East - Vermont

Big 12 - Kansas

Big East - West Virginia

Big West - UC Santa Barbara

Conference USA - Houston

Mid-American - Ohio

MEAC - Morgan State

Mountain West - San Diego State

PAC-10 - Washington

Southland - Sam Houston State

SWAC - Arkansas-Pine Bluff

WAC - New Mexice State

There are several conference championships that will be played out today. Those teams will earn automatic bids to the NCAA tourney.

ACC - Duke vs. Georgia Tech

Atlantic 10 - Temple vs. Richmond

Big Ten - Ohio State vs. Minnesota

SEC - UK vs. Mississippi State

Best of luck to all these teams. I will be cheering on two in particular. Good luck to Tubby Smith and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They have made an improbable run in the Big Ten Conference and win or lose today, I think they have certainly made a case for a bid in the NCAA Tourney.

Finally, best of luck to UK in the SEC Championship game today. They play a very feisty team in Mississippi State whose NCAA Tourney hopes rest on whether or not they can pull out a win today vs. UK and complete a run of the table in the SEC tourney this week.

More later!

- b

More basketball to come!

In just a few hours, conference championship basketball play will resume. Several conferences will be handing out their conference championships today and tomorrow. Along with that hardware, the teams will be taking back home with them, an automatic bid to be one of the 64 teams in the NCAA tournament. Conference championships that will be played out today include:

American East - University of Vermont vs. Boston University
Big 12 - Kansas vs. Kansas St.
Big East - Georgetown vs. Marquette
Big West - UC Santa Barbara vs. Long Beach State
Conference USA - UTEP vs. Houston
Mid-American - Akron vs. Ohio
MEAC - Morgan State vs. South Carolina State
Mountain West - San Diego State vs. UNLV
PAC-10 - California vs. Washington
Southland - Stephen F. Austin vs. Sam Houston State
SWAC - Texas Southern vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WAC - Utah State vs. New Mexico State

Numerous conference championships have already been played out. Those teams with a ticket already punched to the NCAA tournament are: East Tennessee State (Atlantic Sun), Montana (Big Sky), Winthrop (Big South), Old Dominion (Colonial), Butler (Horizon), Cornell (Ivy League), Sienna (MAAC), Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley), Robert Morris (Northeast), Murray State (OVC), Lehigh (Patriot), Wofford (Southern), Oakland (Summit), North Texas (Sun Belt), Saint Mary's (West Coast).

Best luck to all the teams that play today! Especially to UK who plays in the SEC semifinals against Tennessee. It's going to be a tough, hard fought game.

More later!

- b