Early game updates

Conference USA will only get one bid:

And that bid won't be going to either Memphis or UAB. The Blazers simply didn't show up today. Playing for their NCAA Tournament lives, UAB found themselves down 16-2 in the first five minutes and were never able to get back into the game.

Memphis, on the other hand, got nothing out of Elliot Williams or Wesley Witherspoon, but still came within a point of advancing this afternoon. Willie Kemp scored the final five baskets for Memphis to overcome a late eight point deficit, the last of which put the Tigers ahead with 15.7 seconds left. The nation's leading scorer Aubrey Coleman had an answer, however:



Willie Kemp double dribbled on the final possession to end the game.


Wake Forest didn't show up either:

The Demon Deacons must be feeling pretty confident about their NCAA Tournament standings. Coming in, most were saying that, barring a disastrous showing against Miami, Wake was safe. Well, is 22 points disastrous enough for you?

Dino Gaudio's crew has now lost five of their last six to finish the season on just about as poor of a note as possible. The question that will be asked is whether or not this is a trend, as Wake ascended to No. 1 last season before slumping down the stretch and losing in the first round of the tournament. If you believe Pat Forde, the answer was as simple as Wake Forest didn't come to play.

Sounds about right.


Utah State is the only team that wants to play their way in:

The Aggies took care of business against Boise State, rolling in their first game in the WAC Tournament, 84-60. But with all the other bubble teams losing, oppotunities are opening up for teams like William & Mary. The Tribe made the CAA finals, lost a tough one to Old Dominion, and owns wins over Maryland, Wake Forest, and Richmond.

Why not give them a bid?


Arizona's streak comes to an end:

For 25 straight years, the Wildcats were a fixture in the NCAA tournament. But thanks to four coaches in four years, a little bit of scandal, and a lotta bit of early entry to the NBA, Arizona is left with a new coach teaching a new system to a team chock full of freshman.

Arizona lost to UCLA in the first round of the Pac-10 Tournament today 75-69, ending any hope of extending that streak. But hey, 25 years is a good run, right?