Stock Watch: A&M may have locked up a spot

by Jeff Goodman

Updated: March 7, 2008, 1:39 AM EST 6 comments

Joseph Jones of Texas A&M averages 10.7 points a game on 50.2 percent shooting. (Duane A. Laverty / Associated Press)

STOCK WATCH

ABOVE THE MARKET

Tennessee -- The Vols (27-3, 13-2) came storming back to knock off Florida in Gainesville and won their first outright SEC regular-season crown since 1967 in the process. Bruce Pearl's team might have also gained an inside track to a No. 1 seed — especially if they can win the SEC tournament next week in Atlanta.

STRONG BUY

Miami -- The Hurricanes started the year strong and appear to be finishing it in the same manner -- with their sixth win in the last seven games at home against Boston College last night. Frank Haith's team should be the fourth ACC club that has locked up a bid -- with quality wins against VCU, Mississippi State, Duke, Clemson and Maryland. Remember, no ACC team with a .500 record and 20 regular-season wins has been left out since 1985. The 'Canes are 21-8 overall and 8-7 in league play.

Oklahoma -- My apologies to the Sooners for questioning whether they could win without star freshman Blake Griffin. Sophomore Tony Crocker went for 25 points and Jeff Capel's team got past rival Oklahoma State last night. The Sooners (RPI, No. 27), who are tied with Texas A&M and Baylor for fourth-place in the Big 12, have played a schedule that makes them deserving of a spot in the Big Dance.

Texas A&M -- It's been a roller-coaster season for first-year Aggies coach Mark Turgeon, but Wednesday night's road victory at Baylor should have secured a bid. Texas A&M is 22-8 and 8-7 in Big 12 play with home date this weekend against Kansas. They entered the game against Baylor with a No. 42 RPI and are now 5-6 against teams in the top 50.

BUY

Kentucky -- The early-season losses to Gardner Webb and San Diego and the 6-7 start were inexcusable, but first-year Wildcats coach Billy Gillispie has his team at 11-4 in conference play. Also, you've got to take into account that Kentucky was without Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks for much of the season. Now he's without freshman big man Patrick Patterson, but Kentucky won at South Carolina last night --which should have secured a bid.

SELL

Syracuse -- OK, Jim Boeheim's team beat yet another non-NCAA tournament team in Seton Hall. The Orangemen (No. 52, RPI) are now 18-12 and 8-9 in Big East play with a home game against Marquette this weekend. The lone NCAA tournament team that Syracuse has beaten was last month in the Carrier Dome against Georgetown.

UAB -- The Blazers have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA tournament, but this should be a one-bid league. If UAB had Walter Sharpe, they might be worthy of an NCAA tournament bid -- but this team is all about Robert Vaden and that's about it. Who has UAB beaten in terms of NCAA-caliber teams? Kentucky back in December and that's about it.

Temple -- The Owls have come on strong and have earned a first-round bye in next week's A-10 tournament and Fran Dunphy has done a terrific job with a team picked to finish ninth. However, they have also been the beneficiary of a favorable conference schedule. The Owls (No. 65, RPI) struggled early in the season and that'll likely cost them.

HOLD

Baylor -- The last time the Bears met Texas A&M, it was a five-overtime thriller. This time it wasn't so memorable for Scott Drew's team, which lost 71-57 at home last night. It was a physical, emotional contest that didn't exactly send the Baylor seniors out in style. It also put the Bears NCAA tournament hopes in jeopardy. Drew's team, which entered the game with a No. 39 RPI, heads to Texas Tech this weekend.

DEFENSIVE BUY

Florida -- This one is going to come down to the wire. The young Gators were up 16 points midway through the first half at home against Tennessee, but they couldn't hold off the Vols. Billy Donovan's club, which is 21-9 overall and 8-7 in SEC play, could sorely use a road win at Kentucky this weekend. The Gators (No. 61, RPI) have secured the No. 4 spot in the SEC East, which means a date against either Alabama or Auburn next Thursday in the first round.

FUTURES

Arizona State at Oregon, 8:30 p.m. ET -- Neither team is a virtual lock, but Herb Sendek's Sun Devils are pretty close to securing a bid. A win at Oregon (No. 58, RPI) would seal the deal -- while the Ducks are in desperate need of a sweep at home against the Arizona schools to close out the regular-season.

Xavier at Saint Joseph's, 9 p.m. -- This one doesn't mean a whole lot for Sean Miller's Musketeers other than trying to get a firm grip on a No. 2 seed, but Phil Martelli's Hawks need this victory. St. Joe's is 17-10 overall and 8-6 in the A-10.

Stanford at UCLA, 11 p.m. -- This one is all about seeding. If the Bruins close out the Cardinal and Cal at home, they put themselves in a position to get a No. 1 seed. If Stanford wins and then goes to USC and gets another win, don't be shocked if Trent Johnson's club lays claim to a top seed.

Arizona at Oregon State, 9 p.m. -- We know Oregon State is winless in league play at 0-16, but the Arizona Wildcats can ill-afford to slip up here. If they split against the Beavers and Oregon, expect the nation's longest streak of NCAA tournament appearances to continue.