In this review, the countdown to Selection Sunday and Monday shifts into hyper-drive. With shifting tournament hopes, a buzzer-beater and a record-setting accolade. All within the greater Cincinnati area and all within one week.

The local college basketball weekly roundup

Going into last week, Xavier Basketball seemed to have locked in a bid for the NCAA Tournament. After beating top 25 ranked Creighton Basketball on February 27th. Back-to-back road losses this past week have thrown Xavier’s tournament hopes back in jeopardy. Xavier lost 72-66 to Georgetown Basketball last Tuesday. Xavier pulled into the game after trailing by double-digits at one point. Only to fall flat in the final minute of the game. Xavier closed out the regular season last Saturday; losing to Marquette Basketball 66-59.

This marks the second-consecutive year Xavier wrapped up the regular season with back-to-back losses. In bracketologists eyes, Xavier needs at least a win the Big East Tournament. To be considered a lock for an at large NCAA Tournament bid. The No.7 seed Xavier Musketeers will face No.10 seed Butler Basketball this Wednesday. At the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tip-off is set for approximately 6 PM Eastern on FS1. The winner will play No.2 seed Creighton this Thursday at 6 PM Eastern on FS1.

Cincinnati Basketball had their impromptu home finale last Thursday. Losing 78-64 to Vanderbilt Basketball; in a game added to the schedule last Monday. A day after Cincinnati held impromptu Senior Day festivities. Cincinnati wrapped up their regular season on a high note. Winning at ECU Basketball 82-69 last Sunday afternoon. Clinching a winning conference record (8-6) and a 10-10 overall record. Unlike Xavier, winning the AAC title is considered Cincinnati’s only route into the NCAA tournament this year.

The Cincinnati Bearcats earned a first round bye for the AAC Tournament. The No.5 seed Bearcats will face No.4 seed SMU Basketball this Friday. Tip-off in that game is set for 3 PM Eastern on ESPN2. Cincinnati beat SMU in Texas in their lone match-up of the regular season. It’s a de-facto home game for SMU, with the tournament taking place in their home Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

However, SMU is grappling with a long layoff due to COVID-19. Their last game was on February 8th, Cincinnati was supposed to face them last Thursday. In the Bearcats’ originally scheduled Senior Night game. The winner between Cincinnati and SMU will play in Saturday’s first semifinal. They will face either top seed Wichita State Basketball. Or No.8 seed USF Basketball or No.9 seed Temple Basketball. In a game set to tip-off at 3 PM Eastern on ESPN2.

Northern Kentucky Basketball had one of this March’s first buzzer-beaters. Beating Detroit Mercy Basketball last Tuesday at home 70-69. To advance to the Horizon League semifinals in Indianapolis. NKU clinched the semifinals berth through an electrifying David Bohm last second tip-in. The No.4 seed NKU Norse will face No. 3 seed Oakland Basketball tonight.

That semifinal game is set to tip-off at 9:30 PM Eastern on ESPN2. The winner will face either No.1 seed Cleveland State or No.8 seed Milwaukee Basketball. In Tuesday’s championship game at 7 PM Eastern in Indianapolis. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast by either ESPN or ESPN2.

Meanwhile, several NCAA Tournament automatic bids are already secured. All of the automatic bids clinched going into Monday morning have a few local connections. Xavier alumni Pat Kelsey led Winthrop Basketball is in. Through winning the Big South Conference championship last Sunday. Morehead State Basketball won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament last Saturday.

Liberty Basketball won the Atlantic Sun Conference’s automatic bid. Where NKU played when they moved to the NCAA’s Division I. Plus, Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago Basketball are back in the NCAA Tournament. Through winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The conference where Cincinnati played during the Oscar Robertson and Ed Jucker era’s.

In local Women’s College Basketball news, Cincinnati Basketball senior forward Ilmar’I Thomas earned a major honor. Thomas was named the American Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year. She’s the first Bearcats women’s basketball player to win such an honor since 1985. When Cheryl Cook won the Metro Conference’s player of the year award in 1984 and ’85. Thomas also earned All-AAC first team honors. Winning the honor through a unanimous vote for a second-consecutive season. Becoming the first player in conference history to achieve that distinction.

Thomas scored a record 51 points against ECU Basketball back in February. A record for Cincinnati’s women’s basketball team and the AAC. Thomas joins the previously mentioned Oscar Robertson. As the only Bearcats basketball players to score over 50 points in a game. No.7 seed Cincinnati will start AAC Tournament play today in Fort Worth, Texas. Taking on No.10 seed Memphis Basketball at 5:30 PM Eastern on ESPN+. The winner will take on No.2 seed UCF Basketball Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern on ESPN+.

Northern Kentucky and Xavier Basketball’s conference tournament runs are over. No.9 seed Xavier lost 65-57 to No.8 seed St.John’s Basketball. In the opening round of the Big East Tournament last Friday. Xavier’s 5-10 overall and 2-8 in conference play, ranking ninth in the Big East standings. Northern Kentucky Basketball lost 74-56 at top seed Wright State Basketball. In the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament last Tuesday. The Norse wrap up the season 8-11 overall and 7-5 in conference play.

Beyond College Basketball

Shogo Akiyama is back with the Cincinnati Reds for Spring Training. Akiyama left camp after his wife Akaya was seriously injured in Cincinnati. After a tree fell on her while walking in Sharon Woods. Fortunately, her condition is improving according to a statement from Shogo Akiyama. Shogo returned to action on Sunday; in an exhibition featuring former Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani.

In Cincinnati Bengals news, the team released B.J. Finney last week. He joined the Bengals last year through the Carlos Dunlap trade. Elsewhere, there will not be a Watt brothers reunion in Pittsburgh. News that likely prompted a sigh of relief for some Cincinnati Bengals fans. With J.J. Watt joining the Arizona Cardinals; after spending his career so far with the Houston Texans.