For Div. I basketball teams, the next two weeks serve as a big audition, culminating in the most anticipated day of the season: Selection Sunday.
Now that the dust has settled from this weekend's play, it's time to take a look at the teams that most helped - and harmed - their causes heading into the Big Dance.
In a Big Ten match-up, featuring the nation's top-ranked teams, No. 1 Ohio State took down No. 2 Wisconsin and locked up an undisputed one-seed with a gritty 49-48 victory. Freshman point guard Mike Conley, Jr. provided the late-game heroics for the Buckeyes, slashing into the lane and coaxing in a 12-foot floater with less than four seconds remaining. Wisconsin's final attempt was rejected at the buzzer to preserve the win. The loss for the Badgers was their second-straight, while Ohio State has won 13-consecutive games and remains undefeated at home this season.
In ACC play, unranked Maryland knocked off No. 5 North Carolina 89-87 in College Park, Md. Senior guard D.J. Strawberry, the Terrapins' leading scorer, dropped a career-high 27 points on the Tar Heels, and Maryland triumphed despite trailing by 12 points with seven minutes left. Three weeks ago, Maryland was dead in the water at 3-6 in the ACC, but a five-game winning streak has all but assured the school its first tournament berth in three years.
Boston College took care of business in a must-win game against Clemson, winning 59-54 to snap a three-game losing streak. Despite consecutive losses to No. 17 Duke, UNC and Virginia Tech, the Golden Eagles are perched just half a game out of first place in the ACC and have solidified their tournament hopes. Meanwhile, no team in the nation has fallen off more precipitously than the Tigers. After opening the season 17-0, Clemson has lost nine of its last 11, including four-straight.
In a match-up of Catholic rivals in the Big East, No. 23 Notre Dame upset No. 16 Marquette 85-73 behind career highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds from Luke Harangody. The Irish finished their season undefeated at home, and they can clinch a first-round bye in the Big East tourney with a victory over Rutgers this week. Slumping Marquette has lost four out of its last five, and the road doesn't get any easier with a season-ending game against No. 12 Pittsburgh.
Despite grabbing 22 offensive rebounds, Pitt could not overcome No. 10 Georgetown's stifling defense, falling 61-53 in a sloppy game. The Hoyas took over the sole possession of first place in the Big East with the victory, their 11th-straight. The winning streak is Georgetown's longest in more than 12 years.
Former SEC juggernaut Florida suddenly looks vulnerable, losing its second game in three contests 66-56 to LSU. The Tigers were missing their leading scorer and rebounder, preseason All-SEC center Glen Davis, but an inspired defensive effort - holding the No. 3 Gators to 24 points below their season average - catalyzed the victory. Florida ends its season with games against solid opponents in Tennessee and Kentucky, and while the team has already locked up the SEC title, stumbling against either opponent would be less than ideal in gearing up for the NCAA tourney.
The Wildcats continued their slide against No. 21 Vanderbilt on Sunday, losing 67-65 on a late heads-up play from SEC Player of the Year favorite Derrick Byars. Shooting two free throws with eight seconds left, Byars sunk the first, grabbed his own miss on the second, and nailed a 10-foot jumper to give the Commodores (19-9, 9-5) the victory.
The Wildcats have lost four out of their last five and need to win at least one game against Georgia or Florida to ensure a tournament berth.
