College Basketball Daily – February 3

Team that helped itself most yesterday: Oklahoma St.

The Cowboys desperately needed a quality win and beating Missouri sufficed. Combined with the continuing recession of much of the bubble, it was a great night for Oklahoma St.

Team that harmed itself most yesterday: Michigan St.

Losing by 20 at Iowa is just awful. The Spartans didn't win any of their big non-conference games except Washington and the overall record isn't going to be strong enough to overcome the likely below .500 conference record that seems likely now. This team is such a mess that they might as well start prepping for the Big Ten Tournament now since its the only route into the NCAA's

Other notable wins yesterday:

Kansas St. over Nebraska – The bleeding stops temporarily for the Wildcats and even better, it was at the hands of another bubble contender.

Georgia over Arkansas – It was a one-point win, but wins are wins and a loss would have been a very bad one.

Syracuse over Connecticut – The losing streak ends for the Orange and Syracuse can go back to being a mortal lock to make the tourney.

Villanova over Marquette – The usual hard-fought Big East game with Villanova continuing to solidify a high seed and Marquette sliding closer to the bubble once again.

UCLA over USC – The Bruins got the needed win over the inferior opponent. They need five more before the finishing kick to feel really good.

Other notable losses:

Xavier to Charlotte – This one hurts for the A-10 leaders. Charlotte is just a bad team, nothing more.

Memphis to Tulsa – This one hurts more for Memphis as this loss sends C-USA closer to one-bid irrelevance once again.

Clemson to Virginia – Bubble teams shouldn't lose to teams like Virginia if they want to stay on the right side of the bubble.

Maryland to Duke – Terps lack quality wins and laid a big egg in this best chance to get a signature one.

Minnesota to Indiana – Hoosiers are improving rapidly, but Minnesota still should not be losing to them unless the point guard problems are even worse than feared.

Colorado St. to San Diego St. - Not a bad loss, but the Rams were close and really need another big win or two to make the tourney field.

Game of the night tonight: Cleveland St. vs Valparaiso

First place in the Horizon is on the line as Cleveland St. tries to make a case for an at-large bid. Valpo, while in contention for a conference championship, is no at-large threat. May the Pac-10 get good again soon so games like this aren't the game of the night anymore.

Team that can help itself most tonight: Michigan

The Wolverines head to Ohio St. needing to win to have any chance at an at-large bid. It's not likely, but there is no way the Wolverines climb into the field without a victory.

Team that can harm itself most tonight: Arizona

The Wildcats are at Stanford and considering the Cardinal are just 11-9, losing would not be a good idea.

Other notable games tonight:

Gonzaga at Portland

Georgia Tech at Miami

Washington St. at Oregon