Links: What did college basketball’s wild Saturday do to NCAA bracket projections?
Monday’s quick links:
Joe Lunardi on Saturday’s bracket implications: “We ended almost exactly where we started. The top three teams on the morning seed list — Gonzaga, Arizona and Kansas — all lost major road games in hostile environments. Three of the teams in the best position to supplant them — Kentucky, Purdue and Texas Tech — suffered the same fate. Baylor was the only top-10 team to improve its seed. The Bears began the day sixth overall and ended up fourth overall. That gives the defending NCAA champions the final 1-seed. Just don’t write it in ink. Baylor visits Texas on Big Monday.”
Kentucky women win on Rhyne Howard Day: “Star senior guard Rhyne Howard was the source of all the pregame accolades and attention as she played what is likely to be her final game in Lexington with Kentucky, and she was the focus once the game started as well. Howard totaled a season-high 32 points to go with two rebounds and two assists as UK won its sixth straight game, 90-62, over Auburn.”
Ole Miss loses before coming to Rupp: “despite a valiant comeback try, Ole Miss fell to Texas A&M 76-66 Saturday at SJB Pavilion, and the Aggies completed the season sweep over the Rebels (13-16, 4-12 SEC). Ole Miss has lost two in a row and six of its last seven games. The Rebels trailed by as many as 25 points in the game but cut the deficit to nine with just over one minute left in the second half.”
Ole Miss football is committing big money to salaries: “Ole Miss has launched a brand-new facilities fundraising campaign, committed unprecedented money for the contract of record-setting head coach Lane Kiffin — and now, through public records requests from the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion Ledger, the school’s equally unprecedented investment into Kiffin’s assistant coaches is known.”
Arkansas is now 4-0 vs ranked teams: “The Razorbacks beat Kentucky for a second consecutive time, including an 81-80 victory at Rupp Arena last season, and evened their record in Fayetteville against the Wildcats at 8-8. Kentucky had won three in a row at Walton Arena since Michael Qualls’ putback dunk lifted Arkansas to an 87-85 overtime victory in 2014.”
Mistakes cost Auburn in loss at Tennessee: “One of the issues leading to the Tigers blowing an 11 point second-half was poor shooting. Smith and Johnson shot 16 of 34 in front of a crowd of over 21,000 at Thompson-Boling Arena. The rest of the Tigers combined to hit five of their 31 shot attempts.”
Gonzaga won’t go unbeaten in WCC: “No. 23 Saint Mary’s denied No. 1 Gonzaga its 35th straight West Coast Conference victory on Saturday, handing the Bulldogs their first loss since Dec. 4 with a 67-57 upset that will send the Zags into the postseason on a sour note. Tommy Kuhse scored 14 points and Matthias Tass added 13 to lead the way as the Gaels snapped Gonzaga’s 17-game winning streak.”
Kentucky baseball improved to 7-0: “Kentucky moved to 7-0 for the first time since 2012 and Coach Nick Mingione won his 150th career game as the Wildcats wiped out Western Michigan 16-5 in eight innings on Sunday. The game ended in the mercy rule when UK went ahead by 10 runs after the seventh inning.”
Alabama reportedly hiring Todd Grantham: “Todd Grantham has guided Florida’s defense with mixed results since the 2018 season. He also has experience at Mississippi State and Georgia during his lengthy coaching career. But, Grantham was let go from Florida during the disappointing 2021 season, leaving him looking for a new job.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 7:15 AM.
