Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Miami (19-7) : beat Duke, Maryland

No team in the country (not even Tennessee) did more to help themselves than the Canes did last week. The Canes’ RPI shot up from 36th to 25th best and went from being just outside the bubble to firmly in. Barring a late season collapse the Canes should be in the NCAA Tournament and as of right now Stewart Mandel has them as a 7 seed and the highest seeded ACC team not named UNC or Duke.

UP NEXT: @ Clemson (Wed, 7:30), UVA (Sat, 2:00)

Florida (20-7) : lost to Vandy, beat South Carolina

The Gators road woes will likely cost them a tournament spot, this team is just 1-6 on the road. After their 22 point win over Vandy the Gators looked like the second best team in the SEC but as often happens with young teams they have struggled on the road. Random side note, for some reason after having the Gators OUT of the tournament last week Joe Lunardi now has the Gators IN the tournament….even though the Gators RPI dropped from last week. I have no rational explanation for this.

UP NEXT: @ Georgia (Wed, 7:30), Miss St (Sat, 4:00)

South Florida (11-16) : lost to Cincy, Seton Hall

Kentrell Gransberry might be the best player on a bad team in the country. Gransberry averages the fourth most rebounds a game in the NCAA (11.2) while averaging 16.8 points and 1.4 blocks a game. Gransberry’s height, 6′ 9″, will likely prevent him from being a lottery pick in the draft but he will be playing in the NBA next season.

UP NEXT: @ Rutgers (Sat, 7:30)

Florida State (16-12) : beat Clemson, Boston College

Not a bad week for the Noles, it was the first time since late December they strung together back-to-back wins. Plus they have the best free throw percentage in the nation, would which actually mean something if this team could even sniff the NCAA Tournament.

UP NEXT: @ NC State (Wed, 7:00)

THE SMALLS SPOTLIGHT
Jacksonville (15-11) : beat Mercer, Kennesaw St

With the second best record in the Atlantic Sun, the Dolphins have a very good shot at getting into NCCA Tournament. To do that the Dolphins have to win the Atlantic Sun Tournament, which begins next week in Nashville.

UP NEXT: @ Florida Gulf Coast (Thu, 7:15), @ Stetson (Sat, 8:15)