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No, you won't see Hampton on this week's Cinderella Watch. Davidson, Wyoming, Tennessee Tech, Valparaiso and a few others are also noticeably absent.
But, don't be fooled into thinking any one of these teams couldn't become a Cinderella story come March. There just isn't enough room for everyone on the Watch each week. Support for each didn't fall on deaf ears here at ESPN.com. In the end, the eight below just had either better Cinderella credentials, or more compelling Cinderella screenplays waiting to be turned into story lines.
Just as tough was the case of Texas Tech. More and more e-mails arrived each day asking how the Red Raiders could be considered a Cinderella? We've addressed this matter in the past, but get the feeling our case for Tech's inclusion on the Watch isn't holding up in the minds of faithful readers of this column. So, we've removed Bob Knight's Raiders off the Watch, but look forward to watching 'em play come March.
As a result, Tech's spot was opened up by ESPN.com for a "true" Cinderella candidate. Another spot was cleared via ESPN.com users, who voted Pennsylvania off the Watch by a scant 23 votes. Yes, 23 votes!
Of the nearly 42,000 votes cast, Central Connecticut State held onto its spot in the Watch by less than a tenth of a percentage point over the Quakers (1,891-1,868). To view last week's vote results and read e-mails sent in last week in support of teams not on the Watch this week, click here.
The Missouri Valley Conference continues to hold down a spot in the Watch. But for the third straight week, the spot changed hands between Southern Illinois and Creighton after the Salukis' victory over the Bluejays on Super Sunday. Yes, we here at the Watch were paying attention to more than a silly football game.
The other four teams on the Watch kept doing all the right things and retained their spots this week.
For those still new to the Watch, here is how it works: ESPN.com picks eight teams each week leading up to the NCAA Tournament. Teams can move off the Watch for three reasons:
1. Promotion: The team moves from being a Cinderella story to a favorite. Call it the "Gonzaga Rule."
2. Demotion: The team plays so poorly its status of making the tourney is in jeopardy. You can't be a Cinderella if you don't go to the dance.
3. The poll: In the spirit of democracy, the lowest vote-getter each week is removed from the Watch, no questions asked.
But be sure to follow along each week, these lists tend to change quite frequently. And, as always, we want your thoughts, compliments or gripes about this week's Watch. Click here to submit an e-mail. We'll post the best user responses with each week's Cinderella Watch.
Here is this week's list of teams we're watching. The RPI rankings are from Feb. 8 and team records are through Feb. 7 games.
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BUTLER
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 Record
21-3 Overall
8-3 Horizon
RPI
No. 60
Marquee Wins
Indiana, 66-64
Ball State, 75-66
Purdue, 74-68
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Patrick Cork of Indianapolis said it best:
"What, no Butler Bulldogs? The Dawgs are sitting at 21-3 -- tied for the most wins in the country -- and completed a perfect non-conference schedule including wins over Washington and Indiana (in their own Classic Tourney) as well as wins at in-state rivals Purdue and No. 20 (at the time) Ball State. They won the Top of the World Classic which contained Mississippi and Bowling Green. They are the state champs of Indiana having beaten every Division I school in the state except for Valparaiso and Notre Dame, but they defeated teams that beat both of those schools. Two of their losses came on heartbreaking buzzer-beaters at home, and their only defeat otherwise was a nine-point loss at Detroit -- who owns the top home-winning streak in the nation. I guess it's obvious that just like every other major poll or article, the Bulldogs can't get respect from anyone...not even a Cinderella Watch list!"
You're right, Patrick. (But don't forget IUPUI). Welcome to the Watch, Butler fans. But is it just me, or does that RPI worry you, too. Not to mention the three-way logjam atop the Horizon. Just wondering?
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CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE
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Record
18-4 Overall
13-1 NEC
RPI
No. 79
Marquee Wins
None
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Some late networking among Central alumni may be the reason the Blue Devils survived the popular vote and remained on the Watch. But Central hasn't done anything but win in the NEC and deserved to stay on the Watch. Pennsylvania, which Central overtook late in the week in the poll, may have a better overall profile, but isn't nearly the lock to reach the NCAAs out of the Ivy League that the Blue Devils appear to be at this point. Central has a two-game cushion in the NEC standings, and with the No. 1 seed will host the NEC tournament title game if they don't stumble. A player to keep an eye on at Central is sophomore Ron Robinson, who's averaging nearly a double-double as the conference's second-leading rebounder and a nice compliment to senior workhorse Corsley Edwards.
Another win on the mainland (SMU) gets the Rainbow Warriors into the mid-40s, and with Fresno State faltering fast, only Saturday's trip to LaTech and a meeting with Tulsa on the Island look like potential pitfalls until the postseason. Hawaii should avenge its only WAC loss of the season in a week when San Jose State pays a visit to the Island. Tulsa fans continue to complain, but Hawaii has your number for now. Not to mention your spot in the Watch.
Following Monday's win over Bowling Green, it's safe to say the Golden Flashes will enter the MAC postseason tournament with the No. 1 seed. Kent has a two-game lead over both the Falcons and Ohio. Starting March 4, however, it's still anyone's guess who'll win the automatic bid. But should Kent fall short (something we've come to expect from MAC division winners), the at-large resume is getting better and better each week.
A single win over Loyola-Marymount moved the Waves up a single spot in the RPI -- into the 40's! NCAA profile could be considered stronger to that of Illinois, and with Gonzaga cracking the top 10, the win over the Zags gets better every week. Pepperdine has quietly put together a 10-game winning streak and still leads the WCC. But it all comes down to Feb. 16, doesn't it? Splitting with the Zags and sharing the regular-season title would be nice. Beating the Zags twice, either during the regular season or in the WCC tournament, puts Pepperdine in the Dance. No questions asked.
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SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
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 Record
20-4 Overall
10-2 MVC
RPI
No. 68
Marquee Win
Indiana, 72-60
at Creighton, 79-77 |
What better way to get back on the Watch than by going into the gym of the team who took your spot and taking it back. Southern Illinois did exactly that to Creighton this past Sunday, and did so after trailing by 14 points at halftime. The Salukis now stand even with Creighton atop the MVC. The two have separated themselves from the pack, with a rematch on the Salukis' floor Feb. 20. But SIU, right now, gets the spot back. Some could argue both below on the Watch. Some could argue neither belongs on the Watch. We have the final say, for now. So, the Salukis are on the Watch.
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VERMONT
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 Record
16-5 Overall
9-1 American East
RPI
No. 143
Marquee Wins
None |
See, we told you teams could return to the Watch if voted off by the public. Now, it doesn't happen often. But what did the Catamounts do so wrong to be voted off the Watch by those who may not be paying close attention to the little Northeast school and could. While they were away, all the 'Cats did was beat their primary American East threat Boston University in overtime to build a two-game cushion. Vermont will likely have to beat the Terriers one more time in the American East tournament to become a true Cinderella. Hopefully, we'll be watching this time.
15-2 without Chris Marcus ... not bad. Now the 7-1 center is back patrolling the paint for the Hilltoppers, who look poised to become the "next Gonzaga" according to more than a few Western Kentucky faithful. Well, before we get ahead of ourselves, let's get the 'Toppers into the second round. If WKU can pull an opening-round upset, yes, they'll become the team to watch that first weekend. Whether or not they can get to the second week of the NCAA Tournament depends on who they match up with. This much is certain: No team will have a player that matches up with a healthy Marcus.
Ron Buck is the college basketball editor at ESPN.com.
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