Another weekend, and the bubble teams keep falling. Xavier, Marquette, Syracuse, Kansas State, TCU, and Georgia Tech all lost, and as a result, Providence moved into the field. It is now very likely that a 14-loss team gets an at-large bid. Will that be Syracuse or Georgia Tech? Saturday’s game could determine that.
Safe, for Now...
Northwestern (9-7, 20-9)
Xavier (8-8, 18-10)
Seton Hall (8-8, 18-10)
Marquette (8-8, 17-11)
Last 4 In:
Syracuse (9-8, 17-13)
Signature wins: Duke, Virginia, Florida State, Miami
Bad losses: Georgetown, St. John’s, UConn, Boston College
You normally don’t see 14 loss teams receive an at-large bid. Cuse will have at least 14 if they fail to win the ACC tourney, so they are firmly on the bubble. However, most 14-loss teams in the past didn’t have the signature wins that the Orange do, so they are in the field for now. The Georgia Tech game on Saturday is a MUST win though.
Providence (8-8, 18-11)
Signature wins: Butler, Creighton
Bad losses: Boston College, DePaul
Providence needed to get a win against Marquette, and they did. The Friars move into the field, and with all the Big 12 and ACC bubble teams losing, they are in good shape if they can take care of business this week and in the Big East tournament.
Illinois State (17-1, 25-5)
Signature wins: Wichita State
Bad losses: Murray State, Tulsa
Illinois State remains in the field after winning against Northern Iowa, which clinched them the top seed in the MVC tournament. If they reach the MVC championship game, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Redbirds don’t make the field.
Kansas State (6-10, 17-12)
Signature wins: Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Baylor
Bad losses: Oklahoma
Kansas State would have been a near lock if they would have beaten a terrible OU team…but they lost. Now they are the last team in, and the game this week against fellow bubble team TCU could determine their Big Dance fate.
First 4 Out:
Wake Forest (7-9, 16-12)
Signature wins: Miami
Bad losses: Clemson (twice)
If Wake beats Louisville on Wednesday, they move into the field. No doubt about it.
TCU (6-10, 17-12)
Signature wins: Iowa State
Bad losses: None
TCU was so close to getting a huge win over West Virginia, but fell just short losing by one. Like I said earlier, the game against Kansas State on Wednesday could very well determine who gets one of the last at-large bids.
Georgia Tech (7-9, 16-13)
Signature wins: North Carolina, Florida State, Notre Dame
Bad losses: Penn State, Clemson, NC State
The Yellow Jackets played their hearts out in South Bend, but it wasn’t enough. They fall out of the field for now. Just like TCU/Kansas State, Georgia Tech/Syracuse on Saturday could be an elimination game.
Utah (9-7, 18-10)
Signature wins: None
Bad losses: Stanford, Oregon State
Utah stays put for now since they didn’t play over the weekend, but with all these other bubble teams losing, should move into the field if they beat Cal and Stanford this week.
Next 4 Out:
Houston (11-5, 20-8)
Ole Miss (9-7, 18-11)
Rhode Island (11-5, 19-9)
Illinois (7-9, 17-12)
Living on a Prayer:
Vanderbilt
Ohio State
NIT Bound:
Memphis
Alabama
Follow me on twitter for updates on the bubble: @WScottSports
