Last week took twists and turns reminiscent of March. Last week, twelve unranked teams beat a ranked opponent. What sort of chaos will this week bring? Mid-major conferences are heating up as well, with the potential for multi-bid leagues fading away. What will this week bring? What are the mid-major games to watch? All times are in Eastern time.
Monday: Jackson State Tigers (4-13, 4-0 SWAC) @ Texas Southern Tigers (6-11, 3-1 SWAC)
How about some love for HBCU basketball? Jackson State (KenPom 270) has gone from winless in non-conference play to, for the time being, tied for first in the SWAC. The savior for Jackson State has arrived. His name is Daeshun Ruffin. Ruffin did not play a game until December but he has given the scoring touch Jackson State has desperately needed (336th in adjusted offense). In games Ruffin did not play, Jackson State has averaged 59.2 points per game. In games that Ruffin played in, the average is 76.3 points per game.
They take on their Tiger counterpart in Texas Southern, who has put together a conference dynasty (seven straight conference championship game appearances). These Tigers are also starved of offense (347th in adjusted offense). If anyone will be a hero for Texas Southern, it will be Kavion McClain. The senior leads the team in points per game (13.3) and assists per game (4.4). The offense runs through him, and if he’s shut down, it could be a long day for Texas Southern in Houston.
When and where: 4 p.m. on YouTube
Tuesday: Bradley Braves (16-3, 7-1 MVC) @ Belmont Bruins (14-5, 6-2 MVC)
It will be a big game feel in the Curb Event Center Arena as two of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference butt heads. Bradley (KP 81) hardly needs introduction, but its defense is still white hot. The Braves have allowed no more than 65 points in a game over their last five games and they’ll need another effort like that to stay atop the MVC.
Belmont (KP 136) will do all it can to break through the brick wall. The Bruins possess one of the fastest-paced teams in America (25th in adjusted tempo) and have failed to score 70 points just twice all season. Belmont is on its second five-game winning streak of the season and last time it won five in a row, it won one more. Will Tuesday be the night Bradley’s bubble officially pops?
When and where: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Wednesday: Boise State Broncos (13-6, 5-3 Mountain West) @ Colorado State Rams (11-7, 5-2 Mountain West)
The Mountain West has come back down to Earth after last year’s standout season across the board. Per Joe Lunardi, the Mountain West projects to be a three-bid league and neither of these teams make that cut as it stands. Boise State needs a solid conference win and badly. Its three losses in conference play are to Utah State, San Diego State, and New Mexico. Barring Wednesday being the start of a long winning streak, the Broncos will have to win their way into the dance.
Colorado State has much less leeway. One glance at their non-conference schedule is enough to remove them from at-large consideration. The Rams have non-conference losses to UC Riverside at home, Colorado, Washington, VCU, and Ole Miss. They are sitting pretty tied for third in the Mountain West and a win over Boise State would open up a bit of distance between the Rams and the rest.
When and where: 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Thursday: St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies (15-5, 5-0 Summit) @ Omaha Mavericks (11-9, 5-0 Summit)
St. Thomas (KP 121) appears to be the most likely non-eligible team to win its conference tournament. The Tommies already have wins over North Dakota State and South Dakota State, the tyrants of the league. The impressive part is they’ve done this while only averaging 32.3 rebounds per game, good for 323rd in the country.
Omaha (KP 223) meanwhile has found form at the right time. The Mavericks are now winners of seven in a row after a dismal non-conference slate. Omaha is also a member of the Never Made The Tourney Club and will look to change that on the back of Marquel Sutton. The senior leads the Mavericks in points (16.4) and rebounds (7.3) per game. Can he be the X-factor in this battle of unbeaten teams?
When and where: 8:05 p.m. on Summit League Network
Friday: St. Bonaventure Bonnies (15-4, 3-3 Atlantic 10) @ VCU Rams (14-4, 4-1 Atlantic 10)
VCU (KP 41) took care of business against Saint Louis and Saint Joseph’s last week in its quest to return to the NCAA Tournament. This team is looking more and more like the favorite to win the Atlantic 10, especially with Dayton’s struggles of late.
The first year of the Woj Era in St. Bonaventure (KP 89) has gone swimmingly, even with the Bonnies’ struggles as of late. This week is a major gut check week for St. Bonaventure, as they host league-best George Mason on Tuesday before traveling down to Richmond. The Bonnies have used a team effort strategy when scoring. Five players (Melvin Council Jr., 14.4 PPG; Chance Moore, 14.1 PPG; Noel Brown, 13.0 PPG; Dasonte Bowen, 11.1 PPG; Lajae Jones, 10.8 PPG) are averaging double digits per game, so the Bonnies are never relying on one person to carry. This game has a March feel to it.
When and where: 9 p.m. on ESPNU/ESPN+
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