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Ken Davis' Jan. 21 national notebook

ACC (5)

In: Duke, UNC, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina State

Worth a mention: Boston College, Wake Forest, Florida State

Notes: Boston College was the final team omitted from the field. The Eagles are off to a fast start in the ACC (3–1), but the recent loss at home to Robert Morris was very difficult to overlook. North Carolina State is in the field for now, but the Pack have some issues. Two of their quality wins — vs. Villanova, Miami — could easily have been losses. Wake Forest doesn’t have a bad loss, but the Deacs haven’t done much to impress, either. Their win over BYU might not mean as much in March as is did in early January.

America East (1)

In: Maryland-Baltimore County

A-10 (4)

In: Xavier, Dayton, UMass, Rhode Island

Worth a mention: Saint Joseph’s, Charlotte

Notes: UMass secured its spot with a productive week that included a win at Dayton and vs. Charlotte at home. The Minutemen have won at Syracuse and at Boston College and gave Vanderbilt a stiff test in Nashville. Saint Joe’s could play its way up the food chain, but right now there isn’t enough on the resume to put the Hawks in the field. They don’t have any horrible losses — with the possible exception of Holy Cross at home — but they simply have too many losses. Charlotte has some really good wins — at Clemson, Wake Forest, Davidson, Saint Joe’s — but some bad losses — Monmouth, Hofstra, Tulsa.

Atlantic Sun (1)

In: Jacksonville

Big 12 (6)

In: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State

Worth a mention: Missouri

Notes: Despite its gaudy record (15–3) and national ranking, Texas A&M wasn’t a slam dunk. While the Aggies have beaten some ‘name’ teams (Washington, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU), they lack a signature win. Kansas State has won two Big 12 games in a row, including a nice win at OU (before Blake Griffin’s injury) and a blowout vs. Texas A&M. Without Griffin, Oklahoma will have a tough time staying Tournament-worthy, but the Sooners have enough on their resume for now (wins over Arkansas, Gonzaga, at West Virginia) to remain in the field. Missouri has played a tough schedule and has a quality win over Texas, but seven losses at this point of the season are simply too many.

Big East (8)

In: Georgetown, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Marquette, Notre Dame, Providence, Louisville

Worth a mention: UConn, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Cincinnati and DePaul

Notes: Connecticut was one of the toughest omissions. The Huskies don’t have a bad loss, but they are 12–5 and only have one really good win (Marquette at home) and one decent win (at Seton Hall). Jim Calhoun’s club is no doubt talented enough to be a Tournament team and likely will play their way into the field at some point. Cincy and DePaul are both off to 4–2 starts in Big East play, but both teams have a ton of work to do because of poor performances in non-conference action. Notre Dame, as usual, is winning at home, but the Irish still lack a true road win. Providence has several wins over bubble-type teams (Arkansas, Miami, Boston College, Florida State, UConn) that could look better or worse in early March. Syracuse has a good RPI (39) but a 13–6 record that includes three home losses was too much to overcome.

Big Sky (1)

In: Northern Arizona

Big South (1)

In: UNC Asheville

Big Ten (4)

In: Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State

Worth a mention: Purdue

Notes: Indiana, Michigan State and Wisconsin were no-brainers; Ohio State just snuck in, while Purdue, despite its 4–1 Big Ten record, just missed. The Boilermakers are hurt by a poor RPI (86) and SOS (152). Ohio State lost at Purdue on Jan. 12, but the Buckeyes’ resume is a bit stronger due largely to a better schedule.

Big West (1)

In: Cal State Northridge

Colonial (1)

In: VCU

Worth a mention: George Mason

Notes: George Mason has some decent wins (Cleveland State, Kansas State, Dayton, South Carolina) but too many bad losses (East Carolina, at Georgia State, at Delaware).

Conference USA (1)

In: Memphis

Worth a mention: Houston

Houston has some talent, but the Cougars failed in their three most significant tests, vs. VCU, at UMass and Arizona at home. (And no, beating a Patrick Patterson-less Kentucky at home doesn’t count as a good win).

Horizon (2)

In: Butler, Cleveland State

Notes: Cleveland State, with a perfect 7–0 mark in the Horizon, receives the automatic bid, with Butler getting in as an at-large. Cleveland State, with wins over South Florida, Florida State, Butler and Valpo, would get some consideration for an at-large bid.

Ivy (1)

In: Cornell

MAAC (1)

In: Siena

MAC (1)

In: Akron

Worth a mention: Kent State, Ohio

Notes: Kent State is an interesting team. The Golden Flashes have a solid RPI (44) and have two decent wins, over Illinois State and George Mason. Also, two of their four losses are to Xavier and North Carolina. Ohio has a strong RPI (33) and a win at Maryland, but nothing else to get excited about.

MEAC (1)

In: Hampton

MVC (2)

In: Drake, Illinois State

Worth a mention: Creighton, Southern Illinois

Mountain West (1)

In: San Diego State

Worth a mention: BYU, UNLV

Notes: BYU made an appearance in the top 25 earlier this year after beating Louisville and giving North Carolina a battle, but the Cougars have struggled of late. UNLV, which beat BYU by 29 points last week and also owns a 17-point win over Minnesota, might end up being the best team in the league.

Northeast (1)

In: Quinnipiac

Ohio Valley (1)

In: Austin Peay

Pac-10 (7)

In: Washington State, UCLA, Arizona State, Stanford, Oregon, USC, Arizona

Notes: USC played its way into the field with a huge win at rival UCLA. Oregon and Arizona both have six losses, but both schools have played difficult schedules and have some nice wins. The Ducks won at Kansas State and at Arizona and beat Cal and Stanford at home. Arizona isn’t quite as secure, but Kevin O’Neill’s team has wins over Texas A&M, at Illinois, at UNLV and at Cal.

Patriot (1)

In: Lafayette

SEC (4)

In: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi State

Worth a mention: Florida, Arkansas

Notes: Mississippi State makes an appearance on the strength of a 4–0 start in the SEC. The Bulldogs have five losses, but most are against quality competition. Arkansas appeared to be in good shape a week ago, but an inexplicable loss at home followed by a lethargic loss at Georgia knocks the Hogs out. Florida likely will make the field when March rolls around, but right now the Gators don’t have enough in the win column to merit a bid.

Southern (1)

In: Davidson

Southland (1)

In: Stephen F. Austin

Summit (1)

In: Oral Roberts

Sun Belt (1)

In: South Alabama

Notes: If South Alabama does not win the Sun Belt Tournament, the Jags could be in position for a possible at large bid. Their RPI is 27 — though it is certain to go down as they dive further into Sun Belt play.

SWAC (1)

In: Southern

WAC (1)

In: Utah State

WCC (2)

In: Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s

Notes: Saint Mary’s would have to collapse in WCC play not to make the field. The Gaels’ RPI is currently No. 7, and they have non-conference wins over Drake, Oregon and Seton Hall.