NCAA Notables - 3/10

Missouri made its case for a top seed, Kentucky and North Carolina survived feisty challenges, and Colorado's run through its first-ever Pac-12 tourney earned the Buffaloes one of the twelve automatic bids handed out on Saturday.

KUDOS

#5 Missouri
The Tigers are the Big 12 tourney champs in their final year in the conference. Phil Pressey, Marcus Denmon, and Ricardo Ratliffe each scored 15 points, Big 12 tourney MVP Kim English had 19, and Missouri topped #11 Baylor 90-75. Mizzou also made a play for a top seed in the NCAA tournament, now armed with a Big 12 tourney crown to go with a split against Kansas and three wins over Baylor. As for the Bears--they've been much more impressive in this tournament, especially considering how uncompetitive they were for long stretches against Kansas and Missouri earlier this season.

Louisville
The Cardinals entered the Big East tournament as the 7-seed, having lost four of their past six. But they won four straight games against NCAA tournament-caliber teams (Seton Hall, Marquette, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati) to win the Big East championship over the upstart Bearcats 50-44. Louisville's stifling defense and strong rebounding continue to make up for its offensive sluggishness. Cincinnati, meanwhile, was haunted by poor shooting from the charity stripe and beyond the arc. Both teams made a big statement in this tournament, though.

#1 Kentucky
Four Wildcats scored at least 15 points as Kentucky advanced to the SEC championship game. John Calipari's team got Florida's best shot--the Gators shot 50% from behind the arc--but survived by dominating the glass and hitting late free throws. Kentucky has been challenged in each of its postseason games so far and that trend will likely continue in the finals against Vanderbilt.

#4 North Carolina and N.C. State
The two North Carolina schools fought a controversial back-and-forth affair that the Tar Heels eventually won 69-67 on Kendall Marshall's basket with 10 seconds remaining. UNC advanced to the ACC finals without John Henson, who missed the game with a wrist injury. N.C. State deserves a lot of credit too--C.J. Leslie fouled out with eight minutes to go (having already scored 22 points) but the Wolfpack were in this one until the end. N.C. State has really played its way into the field of 68 during this ACC tournament.

#17 Florida State
On the other side of the ACC bracket, the Seminoles outplayed #6 Duke for much of their semifinal contest but couldn't exhale until the final buzzer sounded. When it finally did, FSU had its victory over the Blue Devils, 62-59. Tenacious defense held Duke to poor shooting percentages and forced a bunch of turnovers. UNC will have its hands full in the ACC championship game--Florida State's experience, toughness, defense, and depth make it one of the country's most dangerously underrated teams.

#7 Ohio State and #8 Michigan State
The Big 10's top programs showcased their impressive talent on Saturday by handily beating some really, really good teams. The Buckeyes exposed #13 Michigan's lack of interior size, with Jared Sullinger and DeShaun Thomas combining for 46 points in a 77-55 beatdown. The Spartans took care of business against #12 Wisconsin, with Draymond Green's 14 points and 16 rebounds leading Michigan State to the 62-55 victory. The two powerhouses will face off in the Big 10 championship game, with the winner staying in the running for a #1 seed.

New Mexico
The Mountain West has been topsy-turvy all year long, but New Mexico may have finally established some order to the league. The Lobos beat both UNLV and San Diego State (their second wins against both teams) en route to the MWC tourney championship. Tournament MVP Drew Gordon's double-double in the finals helps New Mexico establish itself as the conference's best team.

Memphis
The Tigers bludgeoned Marshall 83-57 in the Conference USA championship game, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Future NBA draft pick Will Barton had 18 points and 13 rebounds, but wasn't even the tournament's MVP--that honor went to Joe Jackson (16 points, 6 assists) for the second year in a row. Memphis has always been uber-talented, and has now won seven games in a row. This could be a scary team next week.

Colorado
If your at-large profile isn't good enough to warrant inclusion in the field of 68, you have to take matters into your own hands. Colorado did just that by winning the Pac-12's automatic bid over Arizona in the Buffaloes' first season in the conference. The 53-51 victory caps a triumphant four-day run for Colorado, snubbed by the Selection Committee last year and picked to finish second-to-last in its new conference this year. The other Pac-12 bubble teams--Arizona and Washington--will be forced to sweat it out on Sunday.

St. Bonaventure and Xavier
St. Bonaventure continued its unlikely run to the Atlantic 10 finals by beating Massachusetts 84-80. The Bonnies will face the Musketeers, who earned their best win in months by beating Saint Louis 71-64 in their semifinal matchup. Xavier essentially clinched its at-large bid with that win, so bubble teams everywhere will be rooting for the Musketeers in the championship game--a St. Bonaventure win will result in one less spot for those at-large hopefuls.

Long Beach State
The 49ers finished the job this year, winning their conference tournament and ensuring an NCAA tournament bid. This veteran LBSU team has played in some difficult venues already this season and will be a tough out in the first round. Bubble teams everywhere were thrilled with the 49ers' 77-64 victory over UC Santa Barbara, as Long Beach State's body of work might have been strong enough to steal an at-large bid from someone else had they lost the game.

New Mexico State, Ohio, Mississippi Valley State, Lamar, Norfolk State, Vermont
These five teams all earned bids to the NCAA tournament, too, by winning their conference tournaments on Saturday. Lamar's victory was perhaps the most intriguing. Two weeks ago, the Cardinals lost to Stephen F. Austin and coach Pat Knight, son of former coach Bob Knight, publicly called out his seniors in a well-publicized postgame rant. His players then reeled off six straight wins, capped off by a 70-49 dismantling of McNeese State in the Southland championship game, to send the team to the NCAA tourney.