"What a day for a daydream...."

Opening thoughts: Today in Oxford, the temperature reached 68 and it was absolutely gorgeous. If I didn't have afternoon classes, I would've been heading to the driving range to enjoy the day. Unfortunately, winter and 30 degree temperatures return, but for one day, spring came and teased us. It was a legit 68, with a nice SW breeze and sunshine. Ahhhhh. Also, I'm guaranteed to have a good weekend now that I won't get my time series test back until next week.

Let's talk hoops:

• Miami 59, Marshall 51. The Redhawks survived their sandwich game and kept their 2 game lead in the MAC over the winner of tomorrow's Akron/OU game. The Hawks got some help with Buffalo's win over Kent tonight that puts the Flashes 3 behind with 4 to play. Marshall started fast in both halves, but the Hawks gradually reestablished control and played well enough to win. Key stats for the Redhawks tonight: 14/18 at the foul line, and outrebounding a bigger, more athletic Marshall team 36-20. For Miami, it's onto Bracket Buster Saturday and their audition for the NCAA Selection Committee against Wichita St.
• Ohio St. 57, Indiana 44. Just as the Hoosiers got back on the bubble, they fell off. 44 points, are you kidding me??? The Hoosiers only attempted 3 foul shots the entire game. 3!!!!! The rest of the stats were pretty close, but the Bucks made 13/16 at the line, which ultimately was the difference. D.J. White should be Freshman of the Year in the Big 10. He did his part scoring 17 tonight.
• Wake Forest 68, Miami 63. The U is now 6-6 in the ACC, putting them squarely on the bubble. I think they have to win 3 of their last 4, one of them being at Virginia Tech on Saturday to get in. Guillermo Diaz stepped up for the Canes, scoring 20, but the team only shot 39% from the floor, 3/18 from 3. For the first time all year, Wake has posted back-to-back stellar defensive performances. If they can play any defense, they're a Final 4 team. Chris Paul: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, great floor game.
  
• Iowa St. 57, Kansas St. 42. 6 in a row for the Cyclones has them now at 6-5 in the Big 12, good for 5th place currently. If they win 4 of their last 5, which would include splitting their upcoming road trips to Kansas and Texas A&M, they would be 10-6 in the Big 12, which would make them a lock. 9-7 may be good enough, but 10-6 would get them in for sure. Curtis Stinson continues to be on a tear, going 7/12 from the floor scoring 16 tonight.
• South Carolina 73, Kentucky 61. If they can play like this the rest of the year, the Gamecocks will get the 4th bid from the SEC. At the time of the game in the 2nd half when UK's depth has taken control, it was SC that found an extra gear, pulling away from UK. Carlos Powell and Terrence Kinsey were superb inside and the Gamecock defense was also as a whole, forcing the young Cats into 19 turnovers. SC is now 14-8, 6-5 in the SEC East, with a tough finish that includes going to Alabama Saturday, a home game with Florida, followed by a road trip to Vanderbilt next week. With this win, and a win in one of the three games I just mentioned plus winning their other two should put them in. Kentucky is vastly overrated with a #3 national ranking. They're a 2 seed in my mind. Great depth and great defense, but they're tough to watch offensively. They're so young and inexperienced, but Tubby Smith will have them ready.

The NHL has rejected the owners' final offer to play a shortened regular season, so tomorrow's news conference appears to be one of cancellation. Drew Bledsoe was released by the Buffalo Bills, making the Bills J.P. Losman's team, which should be interesting. The Bengals placed a franchise tag on Rudi Johnson giving them a month to negotiate the long-term deal he wants. Finally, I don't tallk much about the NBA because it doesn't compare to college ball, but this performance is deserved of recognition. Grant Hill in Orlando's 99-94 win over the Clippers, scored 39 points, going 12/16 from the field, 15/16 from the foul line. Great job Grant, and it's great to see you playing well.

Have a good night everyone.