Michael Alexander

Rating: 2 Units

Texas saw its hopes for an NCAA Tournament bid fade away while losing five of the last six games and must refocus quickly as the Longhorns open play in the NIT on Tuesday night against high-scoring South Dakota State. Second-seeded Texas accumulated seven wins against teams that made the NCAAs, but averaged just 54.7 points in its last three contests after a 65-57 setback against Kansas in the Big 12 quarterfinals Thursday.

Rating: 2 Units

Colorado is one of the four No. 4 seeds in the 32-team field while Dayton, of the Atlantic 10 Conference, is seeded fifth. The Buffs, who feature five freshmen and sophomores among the top seven in their rotation, have won 10 of their last 13 games, including a pair of wins in the Pac-12 Tournament prior to a semifinal loss to top-seeded Washington.

Rating: 2 Units

The New York Islanders have not been in first place this late in the season in 31 years but they will face one of their biggest nemesis when the Boston Bruins visit Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum  tonight. New York has lost six in a row overall to Boston, including both meetings this season, and seven consecutive matchups at home versus the Bruins.

Rating: 2 Units

Toronto is trying to catch the Bruins for second spot in the East, but it comes to this difficult road venue off a poor 6-2 loss to the Senators. Overall the Leafs average 3.60 GPG, while giveing up 3.00. Nashville is now a point behind Winnipeg for the Central division lead, but it enters having won two straight. The Predators average 2.95 GPG and they allow 2.66. Nashville won 4-0 in Toronto back on January 7th. The clincher: Toronto is 2-5 in their last 7 road games.

Rating: 2 Units

Carolina has the top shot differential in the league. On average, they outshoot their opponeny by 6.3 shots per game. Carolina struggled early in the season, but they've gone 16-5-1 the L22 games. Pittsburgh won't have Malkin in the lineup tonight as he sustained an upper body injury Sunday vs. the Flyers. Last time these teams faced off, Carolina pulled off an impressive 4-0 shutout (on the road!), led by Curtis McElhinney's 28 saves.

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Rockets are no longer just the James Harden show and are rounding into a team that can contend for the Western Conference title. Harden and the Rockets will try to earn their 12th win in the last 13 games and inch closer to clinching a playoff spot when they begin a two-game road trip by visiting the Atlanta Hawks. Harden's 32-game streak of scoring 30 or more points came to an end on Feb. 25 and Houston is 10-1 since that contest, including a 117-102 drubbing of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Harden collected 20 points and 10 assists in the win as one of three starters to record 20-point double-doubles along with point guard Chris Paul (25 points, 10 assists) and center Clint Capela (20 points, 13 rebounds). The Hawks are on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from postseason contention and are struggling to play spoiler with losses in five of the last seven games