Three’s Company

There’s a team in California that no one is talking about. This team not only plays after most of the country is asleep, it doesn’t even play on TV. The UC Davis Aggies are 21-4 and 11-1 in the Big West and it’s in large part because they’re the best in the nation in three-point shooting percentage.

Senior guard Corey Hawkins, son of Hersey, leads one of the most efficient offenses in the country. UC Davis is 25th nationally in points per possession. That’s a good stat to watch as people search for a team to pull off an upset in the Big Dance.

Hot shooting, low possessions and veteran leadership is the hallmark for this team.  The Aggies are certainly a team to watch approaching March.

Stock Up: Purdue. The Boilermakers are doing everything a bubble team is asked to do. Get top-50 wins, win on the road and do them both at the same time. Good turnaround for Matt Painter’s team.

Stock Down: Louisville. There are some weird things going on there right now. Rick Pitino kicked Chris Jones of the team and the Cardinals have been struggling.

Stock Up: North Carolina Central.  The Eagles are rolling through the MEAC at 13-0. No conference opponent has come within single digits this month.

Stock Down: Seton Hall. This is a team with player leaving the program near the end of the season and another takes a cheap shot at an opponent. The Pirates haven’t won a game since January 31.

On to the bracket.

Last Four In: Stanford, UCLA, Texas, St. John’s

Last Four Out: Pittsburgh, Colorado St, Tulsa, Boise St.

This bracket is good for games thru 2/22.

MIDWEST

1.Kentucky16.St. Francis(NY)/Bucknell Louisville

8.Iowa9.Cincinnati

5.Louisville12.Valparaiso Columbus

4.Wichita St13.Harvard

6.West Virginia11.Georgia Columbus

3.Notre Dame14.North Carolina Central

7.Georgetown10.Michigan St Omaha

2.Kansas15.Florida Gulf Coast

WEST

1.Virginia16.South Dakota St Charlotte

8.Indiana9.Dayton

5.SMU12.Texas/UCLA Jacksonville

4.Arkansas13.Kent State

6.San Diego St11.St. John’s/Stanford Seattle

3.Iowa St14.UC Davis

7.Xavier10.Illinois Portland

2.Arizona15.Albany

EAST

1.Duke16.New Mexico St Charlotte

8.Ohio St9.Temple

5.Northern Iowa12.Wofford Louisville

4.Oklahoma13.Iona

6.Providence11.Oregon Pittsburgh

3.Maryland14.Stephen F. Austin

7.Oklahoma St10.Texas A&M Pittsburgh

2.Villanova15.High Point

SOUTH

1.Wisconsin16.Georgia Southern/Texas Southern Omaha

8.Mississippi9.Purdue

5.Baylor12.Murray St Jacksonville

4.North Carolina13.Louisiana Tech

6.VCU11.LSU Portland

3.Utah14.Eastern Washington

7.Butler10.NC State Seattle

2.Gonzaga15.William & Mary