Thursday Lay-up Lines

There are some good basketball games on tonight, especially at the mid-major level, as four of the ranked mid-majors are in action. The best game comes out west as Gonzaga (16-4, 7-0) travels to Portland (15-7, 6-1) in what will be a game for first place in the WCC. Gonzaga went through a rough stretch earlier in the season losing four of five, but has bounced back to win eight in a row, including a 67-50 decision over Portland in Spokane. You will recognize one name on Portland. Nik Raivio is the younger brother of former 'Zag point guard Derek Raivio.

For all you bracketeers, there are for other games involving mid-majors for you to keep an eye on tonight:

• 7:00 PM: Temple (12-8, 4-2) @ Xavier (19-2, 7-0): The A-10 looks like it is going to be just a two-bid league this year, but Temple has the horses (namely Dionte Christmas) to make a run at the tourney title again.
  
• 7:00 PM: Davidson (19-3, 12-0) @ UNC Greensboro (3-17, 2-9): If you don't know about Davidson and Steph Curry by now...
  
• 8:05 PM: Butler (19-2, 10-1) @ Detroit (6-15, 1-10): Butler might actually be better than they were last year, when they earned a five seed.
  
• 9:05 PM: New Mexico State (11-11, 5-4) @ Utah State (21-1, 9-0): I have yet to see Utah State play, but they might be the toughest team to judge right now simply because they have a gaudy record with out playing anyone (unless you consider beating Utah impressive).
  

There are three other games of significance on tonight as well:

• 7:00 PM: Penn State (17-5, 6-3) @ Michigan (14-8, 4-6): This Big Ten match-up features teams headed in opposite directions. Michigan owns a win over Duke and UCLA, but has not been able to figure out the Big Ten teams as they have fallen to 4-6 in conference after losing five of their last six. Penn State, on the other hand, has won four in a row, including wins at Michigan State and against Michigan in State College, and looks to be headed for an NCAA tourney bid.
  
• 9:00 PM: Illinois (18-4, 6-3) @ Wisconsin (12-9, 3-6): Another Big Ten match-up, another game pitting teams going in opposite directions. Wisconsin's losing streak as now extended to six games, while Illinois has moved into a tie for second place in the league. Illinois beat the Badgers 64-57 in Champaign earlier in the year.
  
• 10:30 PM: Washington (16-5, 7-2) @ Cal (16-6, 5-4): After winning their first four in Pac-10 play, Cal has lost four of five, falling two games off the lead in the conference. Washington, on the other hand, is a 1/2 game behind UCLA for the Pac-10 lead. The last time these two teams played, Cal beat Washington in triple OT.
  

The rest of the night's schedule:

• 7:00 PM: Georgia Tech (10-10, 1-6) @ Florida State (16-5, 3-3)
• 7:00 PM: Alabama (13-8, 3-4) @ Vanderbilt (13-8, 2-5)
• 8:00 PM: Western Kentucky (15-7, 9-2) @ Louisiana Monroe (7-14, 3-7)
• 8:30 PM: Arizona (14-8, 4-5) @ Oregon State (10-10, 4-5)
• 9:00 PM: St. John's (12-9, 3-6) @ Seton Hall (11-9, 2-6)
• 10:30 PM: Washington State (12-9, 4-5) @ Stanford (13-6, 3-6)
• 10:30 PM: Arizona State (16-5, 5-4) @ Oregon (6-15, 0-9)
• 11:30 PM: San Francisco (9-13, 1-6) @ St. Mary's (18-3, 5-2)