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Monday, February 17
Updated: February 24, 4:32 PM ET
 
All But 'Busted' ... Already?

By Andy Katz
ESPN.com

Bruce Weber
The Salukis host Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Bracket Buster Saturday, but the winner isn't assured an at-large bid.
While teams settle things on the court during Judgement Week, it's up to the selection committee to judge on March 16 whether both Alabama and Auburn deserve spots in the NCAA Touranment. It's an intersting case study, worthy of plenty of debate over the next three weeks.
Story

Monday
Wyoming at Air Force (ESPN, midnight ET): Air Force is going for the sweep of its nearby rivals, as the Cowboys' at-large chances begin to disappear.

Tuesday
Georgia at Alabama (ESPN., 9 ET): The Tide is clinging to its NCAA hopes. 'Bama is at home, which means beating Georgia is possible. A win would keep the selection committee's eyes open.

Wednesday
Maryland at Duke (ESPN, 9 ET): The best rivalry in the game today takes another turn and, depending what happens with Maryland-Wake Forest, could have a say in the ACC title yet again.

Thursday
Wake Forest at Georgia Tech (ESPN2, 7 ET): The Yellow Jackets are the ultimate bubble team and need to beat a top ACC team to enhance their weak case.

Saturday
Xavier at Dayton (ESPN, 2 ET): This is one of the better rematches of a home-and-home conference series.Dayton needs to beat Xavier to tie the season series. The Flyers are ahead in the standings but not in the head-to-head which would ultimately be the tie-breaker.

Sunday
Kansas at Oklahoma: They meet once and this time in Norman. Texas could have a say in the matter but these look like the two title contenders in the league. The good news for both teams is that they're at full strength for what could be the best game of the Big 12.

  • More games to watch
  • Player of the Week
    Ron Slay F, Tennessee
    The senior forward should create some space on his mantel for the SEC player of the year and comeback player of the year awards. Slay, who sat out most of last season with an ACL injury, scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a win over Georgia on Saturday. Slay led the Vols with 23 points in a win at Arkansas earlier in the week. The folks at Tennessee predicted he would lead the SEC in scoring prior to the season. He's doing just that at 21.8 points a game. Slay has simply put the Vols on his back and all but into the NCAA Tournament, where they'll be a tough out in the first round.
  • Past players of the week

    Team of Week
    Seton Hall
    The Pirates beat Pittsburgh last Saturday for their fifth straight win. Seton Hall also has a win over Notre Dame. But the Hall still has a long way to go to get into the NCAAs. Seton Hall didn't have a marquee, non-conference win and its RPI is climbing. But at 48 entering the week, it needs to get higher. Still, Louis Orr has saved this season and energized the players and the faithful. The Pirates have given meaning to February and maybe March.

  • Past teams of the week

  • Supporting Cast
    TROY BELL, Boston College: Bell has quietly put together one of his best Big East seasons in his last one at the Heights. And remember, he was a co-Big East POY as a sophomore. Bell scored 34 to lead the Eagles to a win over Miami and put up 33 in a win at Providence. Bell is ensuring the Eagles aren't out of the NCAA picture just yet.

    CHANNING FRYE, Arizona: Frye scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the win over USC. He made 11 of 13 shots and re-established himself as a dominant presence in the paint. If Frye can do what he did against the Trojans on a consistent basis, the Wildcats have just one more reason why they should be favored to win the title. This is the same Frye that scored only one point against Texas and two against Kansas.

    ROMAIN SATO, Xavier: Sato lit up Rhode Island for 34 points Saturday. Sato made nine 3s, that's right, a school-record nine 3s. He scored a solid 16 points in the crucial win over Dayton. Sato doesn't get the same love that teammate David West does, but he deserves similar praise.

    REECE GAINES, Louisville: Gaines has the edge for player of the year in Conference USA after hitting a game-breaking 3-pointer from NBA range to beat Marquette. Gaines finished with 20 points and four assists in the win over the Eagles. Gaines showed true composure by taking the shot without being rattled.


    Freshmen Watch
    CARMELO ANTHONY
    Syracuse

    Anthony scored 26 in the win over Notre Dame last Saturday. He has turned his game up a notch and is trying to diversify his scoring ability. He's looking to get to the free-throw line even more often. The more he does that the better the Orangemen will be down the stretch.
    IKE DIOGU
    Arizona State

    Diogu is not only the best freshman in the Pac-10 but he might be the MVP. Diogu scored 26 in the win over UCLA and is the most dominant post player in the league. He is the difference in the NIT and NCAA for the Sun Devils.
    DANIEL HORTON
    Michigan

    Horton has become the most consistent Wolverine. He scored 21 points and dished out five assists in Michigan's win over Ohio State. Horton is making a strong case to overtake Indiana's Bracey Wright for Big Ten freshman of the year. The Hoosiers' slide and Wright's injury might make it moot at this point.
    JUSTIN GRAY
    Wake Forest
    Who's that masked man? Gray came back from a broken jaw to score 18 points in 29 minutes of regulation and two overtimes in the Demon Deacons' win over Duke. Gray took an ill-advised deep 3-pointer at the end of regulation, but he showed moxie throughout the game and was a competent floor leader.

    On Our Radar
    Aaron Hogg, Wichita State: Hogg scored 27 points and grabbed 10 boards in the win over Creighton on Saturday. Hogg scored 19 in a win earlier in the week over Evansville. The junior guard gets no love nationally because the Valley has been all about Creighton's Kyle Korver.

    James Gillingham, Bradley: He scored 20 points in an upset over Southern Illinois. He scored 20 earlier in the week in a win over Illinois State. Gillingham has made Bradley fans forget about the departure of Danny Granger, who quit on the Braves and bolted for New Mexico.

    Brandon Hunter, Ohio: Hunter dominated the backboard again with 14 boards in the Bobcats' upset over Kent State. Hunter has been the nation's most prolific rebounder with an average 13.6 a game. Hunter has calmed down after nearly getting tossed from the team at one point this season for nearly quitting during a game.

    Ron Williamson, Howard: The senior guard is probably one of the best scorers who no one knows about nationally. He averages over 20 points a game and put up 31 in a win over Bethune Cookman, 36 in a win at Hampton and 33 in a win at Norfolk State.


    Good Wins
    Utah 69, Wyoming 56: The Utes came up with a huge win over the Pokes in Laramie to take control of the Mountain West. Utah has been sensational on the road with the only hiccup at San Diego State.
    Oklahoma 63, Texas Tech 58: The Sooners needed this road win to make a statement that they can contend for the Big 12 title, let alone the Final Four. This win should go along way toward helping this team.
    Seton Hall 73, Pittsburgh 61: The Pirates should get a lot of mileage out of this win. Beating the Panthers should keep the Pirates in contention for a bid down the stretch.
    Bad Loss
    Purdue 67, Northwestern 78: If the Boilermakers lose the Big Ten title to Wisconsin, Illinois or Michigan it could be because of this loss.
    Fresno State 77, Louisiana Tech 80: Fresno State might have lost its chances for an at-large berth with this home loss. Louisiana Tech is still within reach, two games behind Fresno State.
    Oklahoma State 72, Baylor 74: The Cowboys' Big 12 title chances could have been crushed by this stunning home loss to the Bears. Oklahoma State is the only top-four Big 12 team to lose a conference home game, so far.


    Caught Our Eye
    Inside the Top 25: Mississippi State is back in the national discussion again after defeating Ole Miss on Saturday. Mississippi State swept the season series from its in-state and SEC rival. Mississippi State won three straight home games to improve its record 16-5 overall 6-4 in the SEC West. The problem is the schedule. Mississippi State finishes with four of six on the road, including at Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee.

    Outside the Top 25: What do the Badgers have to do to get ranked? Wisconsin beat Indiana rather handily and is atop the Big Ten -- yet again. Wisconsin has the most favorable schedule down the stretch of the Big Ten race. The Badgers still have to go to Iowa and Minnesota, but they get Michigan and Illinois at home.

    DAYTON: Win over Saint Joe's establishes the Flyers as the second-best team in the A-10.

    VIRGINIA: The Cavs might have put themselves on the bubble for good with the crushing loss to Duke at home.

    KENTUCKY: The streak continues and the Wildcats are making a strong case for the SEC and national titles -- even in February.

    N.C. STATE: The Wolfpack was downright awful in losing at Temple and is looking more like an NIT team.

    PENN: The Quakers held off Brown to re-establish itself as the team to beat in the Ivy.

    GEORGIA TECH: The Yellow Jackets took a step back with the loss to Florida State.

    KANSAS: Wayne Simien is back and so are the Jayhawks as a national title contender.

    CINCINNATI: The Bearcats will not win Conference USA for the first time. The loss at Charlotte pushed them too far out of contention with Marquette and Louisville playing like they are.

    DUKE: Even though Duke lost to Wake Forest, the Blue Devils picked up a convincing win at Virginia on Saturday.

    MARQUETTE: It's hard to push them too far down because they lost in a great game to Louisville, but now the Eagles will have to steal one at Freedom Hall in order to win the American title.

    WAKE FOREST: The Demon Deacons pulled off one of the best wins of the season in one of the best games when they beat Duke in double overtime. Wake played the final stretch and two overtimes without Josh Howard, who had fouled out.

    WEBER STATE: The Wildcats are still undefeated in the Big Sky and looking like trouble in a first-round matchup.

    Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. His Weekly Watch, a look back at the week and a preview of the week ahead, runs every Monday.








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