Last Eight In: Temple, Alabama, California, Mississippi, Minnesota, Maryland, San Diego State, Cincinnati
First Eight Out: Villanova, Arizona State, La Salle, Southern Miss, Boise State, Iowa, Baylor, Stanford
The Big East could be looking at nine NCAA Tournament teams. However, that number could still be as low as six. Right now Cincinnati, Villanova and St. John’s are squarely on the bubble. The Bearcats should lose at Louisville and win at home against South Florida. That puts a lot of pressure on this Saturday’s game against Connecticut. If they win that game, they would be 9-9 heading into the Big East Tournament. And they could run into Villanova or St. John’s in the 8/9 or 7/10 second round game. The Wildcats deserve a lot of credit for beating Uconn and Marquette recently, but they end the season with trips to Seton Hall and Pittsburgh before their finale against Georgetown. Those are not easy games, but they certainly have the opportunities to play their way into the tournament without having too much to worry about at MSG. St. John’s may have the most work to do and, like Nova, the Red Storm have a tough road ahead of them. On Saturday they go to Providence and the next week they head to Notre Dame before hosting Marquette.
See the Projected NCAA Tournament Bracket
ACC: Duke, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Maryland
Big East: Georgetown, Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Marquette, Cincinnati
Big 12: Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oklahoma
Big Ten: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota
Pac-12: Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Colorado, California
SEC: Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama
A-10: Butler, Saint Louis, VCU, Temple
CAA: Northeastern
C-USA: Memphis
Horizon: Valparaiso
MAC: Ohio
MVC: Wichita State, Creighton
MWC: New Mexico, Colorado State, UNLV, San Diego State
WAC: Louisiana Tech
WCC: Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s
America East: Albany
A-Sun: Mercer
Big Sky: Montana
Big South: Charleston Southern
Big West: Long Beach State
Ivy League: Harvard
MAAC: Loyola (MD)
MEAC: Norfolk State
NEC: Robert Morris
OVC: Belmont
Patriot: Bucknell
Southern: Davidson
Southland: Stephen F. Austin
Summit: South Dakota State
Sun Belt: Middle Tennessee
SWAC: Southern
See the Projected NCAA Tournament Bracket
