It’s crunch time for teams on the bubble in the NCAA men’s tournament as conference tournament week is here. While winning league titles would eliminate uncertainties, it’s a tough task. The next best thing is to go on a run with multiple wins to impress the committee. Conversely, losing early in the league tournament could prove disastrous for a team’s chances of making the field.
Teams on the bubble will start their conference tournament journey this week, aiming to secure the final spots in March Madness. Let’s take a look at some of the teams on the bubble:
San Diego State:
– Record: 21-8 (14-6)
– NET Ranking: 51
– Projected seed: No. 11
The Aztecs need to bounce back after a dip in their projected bracket. Facing Boise State in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament is a crucial opportunity for them to boost their chances of making it to the big dance.
Virginia Commonwealth:
– Record: 25-6 (15-3)
– NET Ranking: 33
– Projected seed: No. 11
VCU faces pressure to perform well in the conference tournament after losing to Dayton in their regular-season finale. The team’s record in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games will be key in determining their fate.
Ohio State:
– Record: 17-14 (9-11)
– NET Ranking: 36
– Projected seed: No. 11 (First Four)
Ohio State needs to secure wins in the Big Ten tournament to solidify their spot in the NCAA field. A tough road lies ahead, starting with a game against Iowa and a potential challenge against Illinois.
Oklahoma:
– Record: 19-12 (6-12)
– NET Ranking: 45
– Projected seed: No. 11 (First Four)
Oklahoma had a strong week with important wins against Missouri and Texas. They need to continue adding quality wins to their resume to stay in the tournament picture. The SEC tournament presents another opportunity for the Sooners to strengthen their case.
As the bubble teams battle it out in the conference tournaments, every game becomes crucial in determining their March Madness fate.
The road to securing their first tournament bid since 2021 for the Texas Longhorns starts with a strong performance against Kentucky in the second round. Guard Chendall Weaver (2) of the Longhorns and forward Jalon Moore (14) of the Oklahoma Sooners battled for a rebound during the second half at Moody Center.
Xavier:
– Record: 21-10 (13-7)
– NET Ranking: 44
– Quad 1 record: 1-8
– Projected seed: No. 11 (First Four)
– Quality wins: at Marquette, vs. Connecticut, vs. Creighton
– Bad losses: at TCU, at Georgetown
Xavier finished strong, winning their last seven games to stay in the bubble. However, they need to improve their Quad 1 record, starting with their game against Marquette in the Big East tournament quarterfinals.
Indiana:
– Record: 19-12 (10-10)
– NET Ranking: 52
– Quad 1 record: 4-12
– Projected seed: No. 11 (First Four)
– Quality wins: at Michigan State, vs. Purdue
– Bad losses: at Iowa, at Northwestern
Indiana is currently holding the final spot in the projected tournament. They need to perform well in the Big Ten tournament, with their second-round matchup against Oregon being crucial.
Boise State:
– Record: 22-9 (14-6)
– NET Ranking: 47
– Quad 1 record: 2-5
– Projected seed: First four out
– Quality wins: vs. Clemson, vs. St. Mary’s (neutral), vs. Utah State
– Bad losses: vs. Boston College (neutral), vs. Washington State
Boise State was on the rise but a loss to Colorado State knocked them out of the tournament picture. They must now win in the Mountain West tournament, starting with a tough matchup against San Diego State.
Texas:
– Record: 17-14 (6-12)
– NET Ranking: 42
– Quad 1 record: 5-10
– Projected seed: First four out
– Quality wins: vs. Missouri, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Kentucky, at Mississippi State
– Bad losses: at South Carolina
Texas had a tough loss against Oklahoma, pushing them out of the bracket. They need to make a strong comeback in the SEC tournament, starting with a win against Vanderbilt.
Colorado State:
– Record: 22-9 (16-4)
– NET Ranking: 54
– Quad 1 record: 1-5
– Projected seed: First four out
– Quality wins: at Boise State, vs. Utah State
– Bad losses: vs. UC Riverside, vs. Washington (neutral), at Colorado
Colorado State finished the regular season strong with a seven-game win streak,
North Carolina’s Record is 20-12 (13-7) with a NET Ranking of 40. They have a Quad 1 record of 1-11 and are projected to be the First four out. Their quality wins include victories against UCLA (neutral) and SMU, while their bad loss was against Stanford. Despite missing an opportunity against Duke at home, the Tar Heels are still holding on to their tournament hopes. They will need a strong showing in the ACC tournament, where they are the No. 5 seed, in order to be considered for an at-large bid. To read more about the NCAA tournament Bubble Watch and find out who’s in and out of the March Madness race, check out the original article on USA TODAY.
