February fever leads to March Madness

CINCINNATI - Welcome to February!  For some it means you are one day closer to soaking up some sun on a Florida beach during spring break. For others it may mean baseball is right around the corner.  However, if you are a college basketball coach or player, it has an entirely different meaning.

February means it's time to show what you are made of as a team. It is time to show those that matter, that you are tournament worthy. It is time to play some of your best basketball of the season. February is the month that has been known to make or break a team as they travel down that "well know road".

Clicking in February puts a team in the spotlight. Not only in the spotlight of the media, but also in the spotlight of that committee that has the final decision if you play in that "big" tournament come March.

For both UC and Xavier, February could not have any bigger meaning. Each team is looking to find that certain mix that will all but guarantee them an invite to "the dance". The wrong mix, however, could make their bubble burst easier than a piece of Bazooka Joe's gum.

First let's look at UC.  Mick Cronin's team has nine remaining games all in the Big East. At home they have Depaul, Providence, Seton Hall, Louisville and Marquette. One would like their chances against Depaul and Providence, while the others could be a challenge. But then again in February they can all be a challenge.

Even though UC lost at Rutgers last week they have been a good road team this season.  Their remaining road games are with St. John's, Marquette, USF and Villanova.  Guess I can only imagine what it must be like to play in the Big East. What a tough stretch of games.

Xavier's story is much the same.  The Muskies have eight remaining games in the regular season. They step out of the A -10 on Saturday to take on Memphis. This will be a true test for the Muskies on the road. The Tigers out of C-USA are 15-6 on the season.

Once Xavier gets back into A -10 they will play home games against Rhode Island, Dayton, Richmond and Charlotte. Road games will take them to Temple, UMass and St. Louis. With Xavier you really never know which team is going to show up. At times they have looked really good, other times they have looked really bad. There is really no other way to put it.

How about those Racers..... What a season the Murray State Racers are having.  At 22-0, they are the only remaining undefeated D-I team left.  What does February hold for Murray State?  They have seven remaining regular season games on the schedule. OVC home games with Tennessee St., Austin Peay and the ESPN Bracket Buster game against St. Mary's. Road games will take them to UT Martin, SEMO, Tennessee St. and Tennessee Tech.

Each time the Racers take the court they are wearing the bullseye. Every team they play wants to be the first team to beat them. Wouldn't you?  As much as I would love to see the Racers go undefeated, I don't think it will happen.

Traditionally, the OVC only gets one team into the tournament. That is the team that wins the conference tournament.  Say Murray State does not win the conference tournament, I say this is the year that will change that selection process and reward the Racers for their "body of work"!  Count how many times you here that term used over the next month.

Enjoy February everyone!