Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

Shocker in Gloomtown: ...and then there were none. Or, as the headline at ESPN.com reads, "Nobody's Perfect," as St. Joe's not only lost, but got blown out by Xavier in the A-10 quarters today, 87-67. A loss wouldn't have necessarily knocked SJU out of a #1 seed in the Dance, but a humiliation like this, I think, might. Xavier's "W" puts them at 21-10 on the year - and more importantly, they're winning at the right time, having won 11 of their last 12 games (much akin to Washington, no less). They're off the bubble and in the NCAAs. As for St. Joe's, not only did they lose badly at precisely the wrong time, but with Stanford and Duke likely having locked up top seeds (unless the Cardinal has an equally bad loss in the Pac-10 tournament; with Duke's RPI and sterling schedule, they're a #1 regardless of what transpires in the ACC tourney), Pittsburgh now at 28 wins and counting heading into the Big East semis, Mississippi State and Kentucky possibly heading towards an SEC championship showdown, and Oklahoma State roaring into the Big 12 tourney - and don't forget Gonzaga - I'm in "agreeance" with ESPN's Fran Fraschilla that the Hawks probably get bumped to a #2.

And in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament this afternoon, Indiana likely played themselves into the NIT by reaching .500 (at 14-14) with a 83-69 win over Ohio State. This will be the first year since 1985 when the Hoosiers haven't Danced.

Update: Joe Lunardi, Bracketologist Extraordinaire, on what the numbers say re: SJU. All five of ESPN's college hoops gurus have weighed in, as well.

And don't even talk to me about the Boilers. I still love 'em, and will still root, root, root for 'em in the NIT, but I mean, sheesh: the NIT?! Talk about a Feb/March collapse. Grrr.