Storyline: Conference tournaments will get underway this week. As Selection Sunday approaches, let’s look at 15+ teams that are On The Bubble.
A bit premature? It may seem so, but not really. Conference tournaments will get underway this week. That means the Madness of March is right around the corner!
Courtesy: piedmont-hoops.net
As Selection Sunday approaches teams are finding themselves in a variety of positions, from being the favorite, to winning it all, to being a possible sleeper team, to even wondering if they’ll even get in.
Let’s look at 15+ teams that are in the last category. They’re On The Bubble.
ACC
Pittsburgh: The Panthers have not solidified their resume with a solid win, but they’ve also never lost when favored. With a decent SOS and winning record in ACC play expect them to come in as a #10 seed.
Syracuse: The ‘Cuse have a winning record in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. They’ve beaten Duke and Texas A&M but, unfortunately, they’ve also lost to St. John’s and Georgetown. Jim Boeheim’s club will need to notch another signature win before Selection Sunday. Right now I think Syracuse is on the very edge of the Bubble, a #12 seed, with a play-in game looming.
Big 12
Texas Tech: Six teams are a lock from the Big 12. Tubby Smith’s Red Raiders are the 7th. With solid victories over Iowa State, at Baylor, and Oklahoma the Red Raiders are officially off the Bubble. I see them receiving a #9 seed.
Big East
Butler: With an awful strength of schedule and without a signature dub (outside of Purdue), the Bulldogs will be enjoying this year’s tournament from the comfort of their dorms.
Kris Dunn, Providence College (linemakers.sportingnews.com)
Providence: Early in the season the Friars were a team that I thought had a chance for a deep tournament run. I still believe that, but the Friars need to right the ship. After the upset win at Villanova, Providence has gone 3-6 in conference play with two of those losses coming to mediocre teams–Marquette and DePaul. The Friars right now are a #12 seed, but by only by a razor’s edge.
Seton Hall: Losing to Long Beach State and George Washington hurt the Pirates, but then they knocked off Providence on the road when the Friars were #12 in the nation. The Pirates have also taken ‘Nova to the wire in both meetings–an accomplishment that the Selection Committee will take into deep consideration. Seton Hall will be dancing as a #11 seed this year.
Big Ten
Wisconsin: “See ya!” That was basically what Bo Ryan said to the Badgers at the beginning of the year. It was appearing grim for the Badgers; they suffered early losses to Milwaukee and Marquette. But, now, Wisconsin finds itself in second place in the Big Ten with solid road wins over Maryland and Iowa. Expect the Badgers to slide in as a #9 seed.
Michigan: Outside a home victory over Maryland, Michigan’s resume is not very impressive. That good win over the Terrapins is offset by a 24-point beatdown from Larry Brown’s SMU. As of today the Wolverines are on the outside looking in. That said, a victory against Iowa today could do wonders.
Pac 12
Jordan Mathews, Cal Bears (sltrib.com)
California: With an impressive SOS and wins over Arizona, Utah, and Oregon, the Bears will be Dancing comfortably as a #8 seed.
USC: The Trojans suffered an early loss to Monmouth, but they’ve upset Arizona and have beaten UCLA twice. With a SOS ranked in the Top 25 the Trojans should find themselves a #10 seed on Selection Sunday.
Colorado: I watched Colorado play earlier in the year against Auburn. They’re not a tournament team. Sure, they beat Arizona, but who else have they beaten? Nobody. Don’t worry, Buffaloes’ fans, the atomic clock in Boulder will keep moving even after your team doesn’t make the cut.
Oregon State: The Beavers have the toughest SOS in the nation and that’s a big reason for ten losses. But with that being said, they’ve also failed to mount a signature win. Only a deep run in the Pac-12 tournament can save them now.
Washington: 16-12. No signature wins. Losses to UCSB and Oakland on their resume. Why the Huskies are even considered to be a bubble team baffles me.
SEC
Alabama: With wins against Notre Dame and Texas A&M the Crimson Tide look like they could be an NCAA tournament team. Unfortunately they’ve also lost to Auburn and Mississippi State–SEC bottom dwellers. The wins against Florida and LSU didn’t help much because both squads are Bubble teams, too. Avery Johnson and his club need a deep run in Bridgestone Arena to have a shot.
Florida: The Gators have played a fairly tough schedule and they’ve never lost when favored. The win against Huggy Bear’s Mountaineer’s club is the main support for Florida. Like Alabama, though, Florida would benefit greatly from a deep run in Nashville.
Courtesy: nola.com
LSU: I don’t think the Tigers deserve to be in. Yeah, they beat Kentucky and A&M, but those wins are offset by losses to The College of Charleston, Houston, Marquette, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The only reason the Bayou Bengals might make it is because of freshman sensation, Ben Simmons. In a perfect world the Tigers would be in the NIT. However, because the world isn’t fair expect the Tigers to be handed a #8 seed–even though they don’t deserve it.
Vanderbilt: After beating Kentucky this past Saturday, Vandy is IN. End of story.
WCC
Gonzaga: The Zags started out the season in the Top 10, but now find themselves fighting for dear life to get a NCAA tournament berth. With a horrendous SOS and no signature wins, the team from Spokane are looking at a rare absence from the Big Dance. The WCC trophy is their only salvation at this point. Kyle Wiltjer: You should have stayed at Kentucky.
