To college basketball fans, the names Creighton, Gonzaga, Tulsa and Kent State mean lost money and ruined brackets during the NCAA Tournament.

Now, thanks to ESPN, these and other top teams from mid-major conferences will be featured in nine nationally-televised games Feb. 22.

Hyped as ‘Bracket Buster Saturday’ by ESPN, teams from the Missouri Valley, Mid-American, West Coast, Western Athletic and Horizon conferences will play throughout the day in matchups decided by conference commissioners and ESPN.

Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said the games, which weren’t scheduled until last weekend, will give national exposure to normally ignored schools.

‘The goal of Bracket Busters,’ Benson said, ‘is to improve the RPI (Rating Percentage Index) and strength of schedule of our conference’s teams.’

ESPN tried to select teams with a history of memorable tournament upsets, Benson said, but in some cases, the unusual midseason scheduling prevented some desired matchups.

Fresno State (15-4), one of four WAC teams featured in Bracket Buster games, will travel to Omaha, Neb., to face No. 13 Creighton (20-2) from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Led by All-America candidate Kyle Korver, the Blue Jays became this week the nation’s first team to win 20 games. For four straight seasons, Creighton has qualified for the NCAA Tournament, where it has become famous for tournament upsets. That includes last year’s win over fifth-seeded Florida on a last-second shot.

‘It’ll be fun,’ Fresno State coach Ray Lopes said, ‘to play a non-conference team of that caliber. It’s a win-win situation, and if we manage to get a victory, it showcases us and the WAC on national TV.’

The day’s marquee game features tournament-regular Gonzaga (16-5) against Tulsa (11-7). Both schools are regulars in the Sweet 16, including Gonzaga’s near-Final Four run in 1999.

Tulsa coach John Phillips dislikes the current Bracket Busters format because it interrupts the conference schedule with a long road trip. But he appreciates the chance to play a quality opponent to boost Tulsa’s tournament chances.

‘I’m glad that we’re in it,’ Phillips said. ‘It will give our guys one more opportunity to prove themselves on a tough court.’

WAC commissioner Benson, a member of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, said the group of conference commissioners responsible for selecting and seeding the field of 64 will watch the games Feb. 22, looking for teams that stand out against tough non-conference opponents.

‘The committee looks at this format as being very unique and innovative,” Benson said. “We have some tremendous matchups throughout the nine games.’

The Bracket Busters concept has a two-year commitment from ESPN, allowing conference commissioners to see if the added exposure results in more tournament bids.

Hawaii (13-5) coach Riley Wallace, whose team will play last season’s surprise Elite Eight team, Kent State (16-2), believes Bracket Busters is a worthy idea and hopes it will succeed.

‘A lot of people were griping about not getting TV games for the WAC (and other mid-major conferences),’ Wallace said. ‘At least this is the start of something.’

NO. 19 SYRACUSE (-4.5) AT WEST VIRGINIA

SATURDAY, 4 P.M., WB (Ch. 7)

Syracuse travels to Morgantown, W.Va., off consecutive momentum-building victories against Pittsburgh and Georgetown. The Orangemen must avoid another road upset against a Big East opponent.

West Virginia has been tough at home this season, including a victory over then-No. 9 Florida in December.

PICK: SYRACUSE 64, WEST VIRGINIA 61

DAYTON (+4.5) AT NO. 20 XAVIER

SATURDAY, 2 P.M., EMPIRE (Ch. 55)

The biggest game in the Atlantic 10 this season features two relatively unknown teams that could make noise come tournament time. Xavier has rolled through the A-10 schedule, led by forward David West.

Dayton is still undefeated in conference and boasts wins over Cincinnati and Marquette, both ranked in the top 20 at the time.

Pick: XAVIER 72, DAYTON 66

NO. 7 OKLAHOMA (+2.5) AT NO. 3 TEXAS

MONDAY, 9 P.M., ESPN

These two Big 12 South powers battle in Austin, Texas, for the division lead. With a win, Texas could take over the top spot in the polls for the first time this season.

This border war features two of the best guards in the nation — T.J. Ford for the Longhorns and Hollis Price for the Sooners.

Look for Oklahoma to pull off the road upset and sneak into the top 5.

PICK: OKLAHOMA 68, TEXAS 65

NO. 4 PITTSBURGH (+2.5) AT NO. 10 NOTRE DAME

SUNDAY, 3:30 P.M., ABC

Notre Dame can take over the lead in the Big East West Division with a home victory.

Two premier point guards, Brandin Knight for Pittsburgh and Chris Thomas for the Irish, could neutralize each other and force the big men to decide the outcome.

Look for Pittsburgh to come out firing and dominate the boards after last weekend’s loss to Syracuse.

PICK: PITTSBURGH 65, NOTRE DAME 62

NO. 22 ALABAMA (+6.5) AT NO. 1 FLORIDA

SATURDAY, 1 P.M., NO TV

Ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history this week, Florida promptly lost to Kentucky. Alabama needs this game to get back near .500 in conference play, an important benchmark for an at-large tournament bid.

Alabama center Erwin Dudley averages a double-double and should challenge Matt Bonner and the Gators.

The Crimson Tide will send Florida to their second consecutive loss and a further drop in the rankings.

PICK: ALABAMA 86, FLORIDA 82

Published on February 5, 2003 at 12:00 pm