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Message: [QUOTE="OrangeXtreme, post: 2109020, member: 41"] [B][URL="http://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/index.ssf/2017/03/bubble_watch_syracuse_basketball_watches_several_key_games_on_thursday.html"]Bubble watch: Syracuse basketball will have to watch key games in conference tourneys[/URL][/B] [B]Wednesday's Games of Note[/B] [B]Duke 79, Clemson 72: [/B]ESPN bracket guru Joe Lunardi had Clemson among his Next Four Out of the NCAA tournament field going into Wednesday's second-round of the ACC tournament. Clemson's loss ends any hopes the Tigers had of making a push and getting an at-large bid. [B]California 67, Oregon State 62: [/B]California was also one of Lunardi's Next Four Out, which means the Golden Bears have some work to do. Cal's win over Oregon State doesn't help its NCAA tourney profile, but it allows the Golden Bears to play another day. [B]Virginia Tech 99, Wake Forest 90: [/B]Lunardi had Wake Forest as one of his Last Four In. The Demon Deacons' loss to Virginia Tech could bump them out of the bracket. However, several other bracket experts think more highly of Wake Forest, so the Deacons will watch games over the next few days. [B]Southern California 78, Washington 73: [/B]Southern Cal was one of Lunardi's Last Four In prior to its game against the lowly Huskies. Washington had gone 2-16 in the Pac-12, but led USC at halftime. The Trojans avoided the potentially distastrous loss. [B]Xavier 75, DePaul 64:[/B] A game much similiar to USC-Washington. Xavier faced a toothless DePaul team that had gone 2-16 in the Big East. DePaul pushed for a while, but eventually fell. [B]Thursday's Games of Note[/B] [B]Illinois vs. Michigan (Noon, BTN): [/B]This game has taken on even more intrigue after Michigan's team plane skidded off the runway on Wednesday. The Wolverines were expected to fly into Washington D.C. on Thursday morning and then bus straight to the Verizon Center. So can Illinois, which is one of Lunardi's First 4 Out, take advantage? A win over Michigan could put the Illini into the NCAA field. [B]Middle Tennessee State vs. Texas-San Antonio (12:30 p.m.): [/B]Syracuse fans want MTSU to win the Conference USA tournament and get the league's automatic bid. The Blue Raiders are a 12-seed according to BracketMatrix.com and probably wouldn't get an at-large bid if they don't win the conference tournament. But why take chances? MTSU faces UT-San Antonio in the quarterfinals today. [B]Michigan State vs. Penn State (2:25 p.m., BTN): [/B]Lunardi has Michigan State well into the tournament, but CBSSports' Jerry Palm has the Spartans closer to the bubble. BracketMatrix has Michigan State as a 10-seed. The Spartans can't afford a loss to Penn State. [B]Seton Hall vs. Marquette (2:30 p.m., FS1):[/B] Lunardi has Marquette as one of the last four teams receiving byes in the NCAA tournament. Seton Hall is ahead of Marquette. However, BracketMatrix puts them both on the 10-seed line. The loser should still be fine, but it'll sweat a little more. [B]California vs. Utah (5:30 p.m.):[/B] As stated above, Cal is on the NCAA bubble. This game is a chance for Cal to make up for an embarrassing 30-point loss to Utah just one week ago. [B]Indiana vs. Iowa (6:30 p.m., ESPN2): [/B]Iowa is one of Lunardi's First Four Out. Same with BracketMatrix. Indiana is even further out of the NCAA field; among Lunardi's Next Four Out. A loss to Indiana might squash Iowa's hopes and still not get Indiana in, so Syracuse fans will have to cheer for the Hoosiers. [B]Vanderbilt vs. Texas A&M (7 p.m., SECN):[/B] Vanderbilt is an 11-seed with a bye, according to Lunardi, but a 12-seed on BracketMatrix. A win might not be enough to ensure a bid for Vandy, but the Commodores can't afford a loss to Texas A&M. [B]Xavier vs. Butler (7 p.m., FS1): [/B]Xavier survived its no-win opening round game versus DePaul; now it's time to see if Xavier really deserves an at-large bid. The Musketeers have not beaten any team other than DePaul since losing star guard Edmund Sumner. [B]Kansas State vs. Baylor (9 p.m., ESPNU):[/B] Kansas State is one of the First Four Out in Lunardi's projection. Same with BracketMatrix. A win over Baylor would give K-State a huge boost. Syracuse fans have to pull for Baylor. [B]Providence vs. Creighton (9:30 p.m., FS1): [/B]Providence is on the 10-seed line on BracketMatrix. The Friars are also one of the last byes on Lunardi's chart. A win over Creighton puts the Friars well into the field. [B]USC vs. UCLA (11:30 p.m., ESPN): [/B]Can Southern Cal get a major win over UCLA? If the Trojans can knock off their crosstown rivals, they bounce off the bubble and into the NCAA field. Syracuse fans will be staying up late to cheer for the Bruins. [/QUOTE]

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