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Bubble Watch
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You've read Gary Parrish's Bracket Projections, now here's how CBSSports.com college basketball producer Brian De Los Santos assesses the resumés of teams that may be sweating it out until Selection Sunday.
Teams that should be safe (32):
ACC (4): Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Miami
Big 12 (3): Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma
Big East (6): Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh
Big Ten (4): Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Pac-10 (4): Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington State
SEC (3): Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State
West Coast (2): St. Mary's, Gonzaga
Others (6): Butler (Horizon), BYU (Mountain West), Drake (MVC), Memphis (C-USA), Xavier (A-10), *Cornell (Ivy)
* -- denotes automatic bid
One-bid only leagues (14): America East, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big Sky, Big West, Metro Atlantic, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southland, Summit, SWAC and WAC.
Regular-season conference leaders/winners are not listed below. Current leaders that aren't "safe" that could merit bubble consideration if they fail to win their conference tournament are VCU (Colonial), Kent State (MAC), Davidson (Southern) and South Alabama (Sun Belt).
Taking our one-bid leagues plus our "safe" teams and assuming VCU, Kent State, Davidson and South Alabama claim automatic bids, that would leave 15 spots up for grabs. There are 25 teams currently on our bubble list.
Last updated: March 8, 12:50 a.m. ET
Friday's risers: none
Friday's fallers: Southern Illinois (removed)
Leading contenders ...
Massachusetts Record
20-9, 9-6 Atlantic 10
Pros
Top 40 in the RPI. Five-game win streak. Wins of note: Dayton, Syracuse, Houston and swept Rhode Island.
Cons
A so-so SOS. They were struggling in conference play for a time -- losing five of seven, but current win streak has pushed their record well above .500.
Outlook
They're winning at the right time. As long as they don't take any losses to inferior teams -- and G.W. would fall into this category -- the Minutemen should garner a bid.
Last game
def. La Salle 100-63
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ G. Washington
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Arizona Record
18-12, 8-9 Pac-10
Pros
The No. 2 rated strength of schedule (Oregon State game dropped them down a peg). An RPI hovering around the top 25. Wins of note: UNLV, Texas A&M, Houston, USC, swept Washington State.
Cons
Lost six of past nine games. Swept by Arizona State.
Outlook
The Wildcats could have all but locked themselves into the tournament if they would have beaten UCLA. Is close good enough? How much will having a top five SOS mean to the committee? The game at Oregon now looks very important.
Last game
def. Oregon State 81-45
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Oregon
March 12-15 -- Pac-10 Tournament
Arkansas
Record
19-10, 8-7 SEC
Pros
An RPI and SOS hovering around the top 40. Wins of note: Vanderbilt, @ Baylor, VCU, Mississippi and Mississippi State.
Cons
Losers of five of their past seven games. 4-8 record on the road.
Outlook
The Razorbacks missed a golden opportunity to solidify their credentials with a win at Mississippi. They still have an intriguing resumé, and though they're not playing particularly well down the stretch, they did sneak in a win vs. Vanderbilt. As long as they don't lose at home to Auburn they should be OK.
Last game
lost to Mississippi 81-72
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Auburn
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
West Virginia
Record
21-9, 10-7 Big East
Pros
20+ wins and RPI hovering around the top 40. Won five of past seven games. Two-point loss to Tennessee. Wins of note: Marquette, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
Cons
No marquee out of conference victories. A 62-39 loss to Cincinnati.
Outlook
Picked up a big win vs. Pittsburgh which should just about lock them in. As long as they don't lay an egg at St. John's, consider them safe.
Last game
def. Pittsburgh 76-62
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ St. John's
March 12-15 -- Big East Tournament
Fighting for scraps ...
Baylor Record
20-9, 8-7 Big 12
Pros
20 wins. An RPI and SOS ranked in the top 40. Wins of note: Winthrop, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Kansas State.
Cons
Stretch in which they lost six of seven Big 12 games. A 4-8 mark vs. the RPI top 50.
Outlook
The Bears could have pretty much sealed the deal if they could have managed a sweep of Texas A&M in their home finale. Now they have a little more work to do as the game at Texas Tech becomes all the more important.
Last game
lost to Texas A&M 71-57
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Texas Tech
March 13-16 -- Big 12 Tournament
Kansas State
Record
19-10, 9-6 Big 12
Pros
An SOS that ranks in the top 20. Wins of note: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and California.
Cons
A 4-7 mark away from home. Lost five of last seven games.
Outlook
Rebounded from loss to Kansas with win against Colorado, ending a four-game losing streak. Next they need to take down Iowa State to improve on that road record. They're in an OK position for a bid, but they'd do themselves well to pick up a win or two in the Big 12 tourney.
Last game
def. Colorado 78-72
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Iowa State
March 13-16 -- Big 12 Tournament
Texas A&M
Record
22-8, 8-7 Big 12
Pros
20+ victories. Wins of note: Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor and Ohio State.
Cons
Lost four of their past six games. Weak SOS.
Outlook
The Aggies have fallen like a rock in the past few weeks. Ranked nearly all season, they're in serious danger of missing the Dance unless they can show signs of life. Winning at Baylor was huge. If they can manage to upset Kansas in the regular-season finale, consider the season saved.
Last game
def. Baylor 71-57
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Kansas
March 13-16 -- Big 12 Tournament
Illinois State
Record
23-8, 13-5 Missouri Valley
Pros
20+ wins. An RPI in the top 40. Won five in a row and seven of past eight. Swept Southern Illinois and Creighton.
Cons
Losses at Indiana State, Northern Iowa and Eastern Michgian. Swept by Drake. No marquee victories.
Outlook
The Redbirds received quite a scare from Missouri State in the MVC quarters but lived to see another day. They'll face Northern Iowa in the semis, a game they really can't afford to lose as their credentials remain somewhat questionable. If they had split with Drake or beaten Indiana or Kent State we'd have something to talk about. There's just not a whole lot of substance to their resumé, but their record and RPI merit consideration.
Last game
def. Missouri State 63-58
Remaining schedule
March 8-9 -- MVC Tournament
Florida Record
21-9, 8-7 SEC
Pros
Two-time defending champions with 20+ wins and a winning record in the SEC. Wins of note: Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Temple.
Cons
An RPI above 60 and an SOS in the triple-digits. 1-7 vs. RPI top 50.
Outlook
It's not looking good for the young Gators anymore. They had a couple chances to make a late impression but came up short at home vs. Mississippi State and Tennessee. If they lose at Kentucky, it could spell the end of their at-large hopes.
Last game
lost to Tennessee 89-86
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- @ Kentucky
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
Kentucky
Record
17-11, 11-4 SEC
Pros
An SOS in the top 15. Winners of 10 of their past 12 to reach 11 wins in SEC play. Wins of note: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Cons
All their marquee victories came at home. A dismal out-of-conference mark that included losses to San Diego and Gardner-Webb.
Outlook
Their only losses in the past 12 are at Vandy and at Tennessee. Win at home against Florida to reach 12 wins in the SEC and they'd be hard to pass over for an at-large bid despite their out of conference struggles. Adding a win or two in the SEC tourney certainly wouldn't hurt.
Last game
def. South Carolina 71-63
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- Florida
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
Mississippi
Record
20-9, 6-9 SEC
Pros
An RPI hovering around the top 40. A perfect 14-0 record out of conference. 6-3 vs. the RPI top 50. Wins of note: Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Clemson (in Puerto Rico), New Mexico and South Alabama.
Cons
A dismal 6-9 conference mark. A 20-point loss to cellar-dwelling LSU.
Outlook
Try to ignore the conference mark and look at their overall credentials -- the Rebels have victories over six teams with strong NCAA Tournament resumés, Arkansas being the latest notch in the belt. They have some bad losses -- hello LSU -- but the good may outweigh the bad.
Last game
def. Arkansas 81-72
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Georgia
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
Ohio State
Record
18-12, 9-8 Big Ten
Pros
Strong non-conference and overall schedule. Wins of note: Purdue, Syracuse and Florida.
Cons
Lost four of last five. Only one victory vs. a team in the RPI top 50. Losses at Iowa and Michigan.
Outlook
Their schedule is about as tough as it gets, but it doesn't help that they basically lost most of those tough games on top of losses to Iowa and Michigan. Victory over Purdue was a start toward redemption. But it can't stop there, a victory over Michigan State is just as important to the bottom line.
Last game
def. Purdue 80-77 (1OT)
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- Michigan State
March 13-16 -- Big Ten Tournament
Maryland Record
18-12, 8-7 ACC
Pros
An SOS that ranks in the top 20. Wins of note: North Carolina and swept Wake Forest.
Cons
A weak RPI. Lost four of past six. Losses to Ohio, American, Missouri. Swept by Virginia Tech and lost to Miami (Fla.) in their only meeting.
Outlook
The Terps lost a 20-point lead vs. Clemson and blew a huge opportunity for another statement victory. Now they face a must-win vs. Viriginia and will have to make some noise in the ACC tourney.
Last game
lost to Clemson 73-70
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- @ Virginia
March 13-16 -- ACC Tournament
Virginia Tech Record
18-11, 9-6 ACC
Pros
A 9-6 mark in the ACC. Four-game win streak. Wins of note: Swept Maryland.
Cons
RPI outside the top 50. Aside from Maryland, no other wins to hang their hat on. Lost to Richmond, Old Dominion and Penn State.
Outlook
Picked up a nice win against Wake Forest. A victory over Clemson would be huge, it would be their first win vs. a team in the RPI top 50.
Last game
def. Wake Forest 80-58
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- Clemson
March 13-16 -- ACC Tournament
Villanova
Record
18-11, 8-9 Big East
Pros
Wins over UConn, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and @Syracuse. Close loss vs. Georgetown.
Cons
A weak RPI and average SOS. Losses to DePaul and Rutgers.
Outlook
Never came close to pulling off an upset at Louisville. To keep hope alive for an at-large bid they must beat South Florida (done) and Providence and probably at least reach the Big East semis.
Last game
def. South Florida 72-59
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Providence
March 12-15 -- Big East Tournament
UAB
Record
22-8, 12-3 C-USA
Pros
20+ wins. Close loss at home vs. Memphis (79-78). Beat Houston in their only regular-season meeting. Win of note: Kentucky.
Cons
An SOS in the triple-digits. Losses to South Florida, Georgia Southern, Marshall and Southern Miss.
Outlook
The Blazers have run off five straight wins since their loss to Memphis and next comes the pivotal rematch. Though their credentials are bland at best, a win at the Tigers may be enough to get them in. Short of earning a split with Memphis, it would likely at least take a trip to the C-USA final to keep them on the radar.
Last game
def. Tulsa 84-70
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Memphis
March 12-15 -- C-USA Tournament
Arizona State
Record
18-11, 8-9 Pac-10
Pros
Swept Arizona. Other wins of note: Xavier, USC, Stanford and Oregon.
Cons
Weak RPI and out of conference SOS. Routed by UCLA twice. Losses to Illinois and at home to Washington.
Outlook
Able to avenge earlier losses to Washington and USC, making a possible at-large bid much more reasonable. A sweep of Oregon could have really sealed the deal. Now the pressure is on to pick up a couple of wins in the Pac-10 tourney.
Last game
lost to Oregon 67-61
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Oregon State
March 12-15 -- Pac-10 Tournament
Oregon
Record
17-12, 8-9 Pac-10
Pros
An SOS that ranks among the top 35 in the nation. Wins of note: Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford and Kansas State.
Cons
A weak RPI. A 1-7 mark vs. the top four in Pac-10.
Outlook
The Ducks picked up a key win vs. Arizona State, but an even bigger target looms in the season finale -- the Arizona Wildcats. If Oregon can complete the sweep, it will really enhance their resumé, while putting a real crimp in Arizona's hopes.
Last game
def. Arizona State 67-61
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Arizona
March 12-15 -- Pac-10 Tournament
New Mexico
Record
23-7, 10-5 Mountain West
Pros
20+ wins and RPI hovering around the top 50. Won seven of past eight games. Wins of note: UNLV, Texas Tech.
Cons
SOS in the triple-digits. No marquee victories. Swept by BYU.
Outlook
The Lobos are hot right now with a one-point loss to BYU the lone bump in the past eight games. But their overall profile is not sexy, so a split with UNLV was huge. If they can keep rolling until at least the MWC semis, they may be tough to overlook.
Last game
def. UNLV 59-45
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Colorado State
March 12-15 -- M-West Tournament
UNLV Record
22-7, 11-4 Mountain West
Pros
20+ wins and an RPI that ranks in the top 30. Close loss vs. Arizona (52-49). Wins of note: BYU, New Mexico.
Cons
Weak SOS. Routed by BYU (on the road) and Louisville. No true marquee victories.
Outlook
They have a strong RPI number, but it's not the be-all, end-all. They could really have helped their cause with a sweep of New Mexico. UNLV was in the driver's seat, so a split benefits the Lobos more than the Rebels. With the conference tourney on UNLV's home court, anything short of a run to the final will hurt.
Last game
lost to New Mexico 59-45
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Utah
March 12-15 -- M-West Tournament
Desperate straits ...
Dayton
Record
19-9, 7-8 Atlantic 10
Pros
An RPI and SOS ranked in the top 40. Wins of note: Lousiville, Pittsburgh and Rhode Island.
Cons
Swept by Xavier. Lost to UMass in their only meeting. Losses to four teams outside the RPI top 100.
Outlook
The Flyers were 12-1 before losing key freshman Chris Wright to an ankle injury. They are 7-8 without him in the lineup, but he's expected to return in time for the A-10 tourney and possibly for the game vs. Saint Joseph's. If Dayton makes some noise in the A-10 tourney but fall short of the automatic bid, the committee could take into consideration Wright's injury.
Last game
def. St. Bonaventure 78-73
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Saint Joseph's
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Rhode Island
Record
21-9, 7-8 Atlantic 10
Pros
20+ wins. Victories over Dayton, Syracuse and UAB.
Cons
Losers of six of past eight. An SOS in the triple-digits. Lost to George Washington.
Outlook
If a victory over Syracuse is the only thing the Rams can hang their hat on, they're toast. A win vs. Charlotte is a must. If they can reach the conference final, then they may be worth a look again.
Last game
def. La Salle 91-85
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Charlotte
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Saint Joseph's
Record
18-10, 9-6 Atlantic 10
Pros
7-6 vs. teams in the RPI top 100. Close losses to Gonzaga and at Xavier. Wins of note: Xavier, Villanova, Rhode Island, swept UMass.
Cons
Weak strength of schedule. Lost to Holy Cross and La Salle.
Outlook
Falling to Temple at home wasn't good, but not devastating either, especially after the Hawks were able to rebound with a victory over Xavier. If they can down down Dayton, they should be back on the committee's good side. The Hawks may have swept UMass, but the Minutemen have the edge in PRI and SOS.
Last game
def. Xavier 71-66
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Dayton
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Syracuse
Record
18-12, 8-9 Big East
Pros
An SOS that ranks in the top 15 in the nation. Wins of note: Georgetown, @Villanova, St. Joe's.
Cons
Lost five of past seven games and are just 6-12 vs. the RPI top 100.
Outlook
Loss to Pitt may have been the swan song for the Orange, but they rebounded to beat Seton Hall to keep alive whatever hopes they may have. Marquette at least offers a chance to get a marquee victory.
Last game
def. Seton Hall 85-73
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Marquette
March 12-15 -- Big East Tournament
Western Kentucky
Record
23-6, 15-2 Sun Belt
Pros
20+ wins with close losses vs. Gonzaga (74-71) and Tennessee (88-82). Win of note: Nebraska.
Cons
No true marquee wins. They play in the Sun Belt. Swept by South Alabama.
Outlook
After being swept by South Alabama, the only other worthy team in the league, the Hilltoppers best -- only? -- chance to reach the Dance is probably by winning the Sun Belt tourney. But the Hilltoppers are being helped by other bubble teams' inability to win key games down the stretch.
Last game
def. FAU 88-78
Remaining schedule
March 8-11 -- Sun Belt Tournament
Bubble Watch
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You've read Gary Parrish's Bracket Projections, now here's how CBSSports.com college basketball producer Brian De Los Santos assesses the resumés of teams that may be sweating it out until Selection Sunday.
Teams that should be safe (32):
ACC (4): Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Miami
Big 12 (3): Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma
Big East (6): Connecticut, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh
Big Ten (4): Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Pac-10 (4): Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington State
SEC (3): Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State
West Coast (2): St. Mary's, Gonzaga
Others (6): Butler (Horizon), BYU (Mountain West), Drake (MVC), Memphis (C-USA), Xavier (A-10), *Cornell (Ivy)
* -- denotes automatic bid
One-bid only leagues (14): America East, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big Sky, Big West, Metro Atlantic, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southland, Summit, SWAC and WAC.
Regular-season conference leaders/winners are not listed below. Current leaders that aren't "safe" that could merit bubble consideration if they fail to win their conference tournament are VCU (Colonial), Kent State (MAC), Davidson (Southern) and South Alabama (Sun Belt).
Taking our one-bid leagues plus our "safe" teams and assuming VCU, Kent State, Davidson and South Alabama claim automatic bids, that would leave 15 spots up for grabs. There are 25 teams currently on our bubble list.
Last updated: March 8, 12:50 a.m. ET
Friday's risers: none
Friday's fallers: Southern Illinois (removed)
Leading contenders ...
Massachusetts Record
20-9, 9-6 Atlantic 10
Pros
Top 40 in the RPI. Five-game win streak. Wins of note: Dayton, Syracuse, Houston and swept Rhode Island.
Cons
A so-so SOS. They were struggling in conference play for a time -- losing five of seven, but current win streak has pushed their record well above .500.
Outlook
They're winning at the right time. As long as they don't take any losses to inferior teams -- and G.W. would fall into this category -- the Minutemen should garner a bid.
Last game
def. La Salle 100-63
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ G. Washington
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Arizona Record
18-12, 8-9 Pac-10
Pros
The No. 2 rated strength of schedule (Oregon State game dropped them down a peg). An RPI hovering around the top 25. Wins of note: UNLV, Texas A&M, Houston, USC, swept Washington State.
Cons
Lost six of past nine games. Swept by Arizona State.
Outlook
The Wildcats could have all but locked themselves into the tournament if they would have beaten UCLA. Is close good enough? How much will having a top five SOS mean to the committee? The game at Oregon now looks very important.
Last game
def. Oregon State 81-45
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Oregon
March 12-15 -- Pac-10 Tournament
Arkansas
Record
19-10, 8-7 SEC
Pros
An RPI and SOS hovering around the top 40. Wins of note: Vanderbilt, @ Baylor, VCU, Mississippi and Mississippi State.
Cons
Losers of five of their past seven games. 4-8 record on the road.
Outlook
The Razorbacks missed a golden opportunity to solidify their credentials with a win at Mississippi. They still have an intriguing resumé, and though they're not playing particularly well down the stretch, they did sneak in a win vs. Vanderbilt. As long as they don't lose at home to Auburn they should be OK.
Last game
lost to Mississippi 81-72
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Auburn
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
West Virginia
Record
21-9, 10-7 Big East
Pros
20+ wins and RPI hovering around the top 40. Won five of past seven games. Two-point loss to Tennessee. Wins of note: Marquette, Pittsburgh and Syracuse.
Cons
No marquee out of conference victories. A 62-39 loss to Cincinnati.
Outlook
Picked up a big win vs. Pittsburgh which should just about lock them in. As long as they don't lay an egg at St. John's, consider them safe.
Last game
def. Pittsburgh 76-62
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ St. John's
March 12-15 -- Big East Tournament
Fighting for scraps ...
Baylor Record
20-9, 8-7 Big 12
Pros
20 wins. An RPI and SOS ranked in the top 40. Wins of note: Winthrop, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Kansas State.
Cons
Stretch in which they lost six of seven Big 12 games. A 4-8 mark vs. the RPI top 50.
Outlook
The Bears could have pretty much sealed the deal if they could have managed a sweep of Texas A&M in their home finale. Now they have a little more work to do as the game at Texas Tech becomes all the more important.
Last game
lost to Texas A&M 71-57
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Texas Tech
March 13-16 -- Big 12 Tournament
Kansas State
Record
19-10, 9-6 Big 12
Pros
An SOS that ranks in the top 20. Wins of note: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and California.
Cons
A 4-7 mark away from home. Lost five of last seven games.
Outlook
Rebounded from loss to Kansas with win against Colorado, ending a four-game losing streak. Next they need to take down Iowa State to improve on that road record. They're in an OK position for a bid, but they'd do themselves well to pick up a win or two in the Big 12 tourney.
Last game
def. Colorado 78-72
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Iowa State
March 13-16 -- Big 12 Tournament
Texas A&M
Record
22-8, 8-7 Big 12
Pros
20+ victories. Wins of note: Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor and Ohio State.
Cons
Lost four of their past six games. Weak SOS.
Outlook
The Aggies have fallen like a rock in the past few weeks. Ranked nearly all season, they're in serious danger of missing the Dance unless they can show signs of life. Winning at Baylor was huge. If they can manage to upset Kansas in the regular-season finale, consider the season saved.
Last game
def. Baylor 71-57
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Kansas
March 13-16 -- Big 12 Tournament
Illinois State
Record
23-8, 13-5 Missouri Valley
Pros
20+ wins. An RPI in the top 40. Won five in a row and seven of past eight. Swept Southern Illinois and Creighton.
Cons
Losses at Indiana State, Northern Iowa and Eastern Michgian. Swept by Drake. No marquee victories.
Outlook
The Redbirds received quite a scare from Missouri State in the MVC quarters but lived to see another day. They'll face Northern Iowa in the semis, a game they really can't afford to lose as their credentials remain somewhat questionable. If they had split with Drake or beaten Indiana or Kent State we'd have something to talk about. There's just not a whole lot of substance to their resumé, but their record and RPI merit consideration.
Last game
def. Missouri State 63-58
Remaining schedule
March 8-9 -- MVC Tournament
Florida Record
21-9, 8-7 SEC
Pros
Two-time defending champions with 20+ wins and a winning record in the SEC. Wins of note: Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Temple.
Cons
An RPI above 60 and an SOS in the triple-digits. 1-7 vs. RPI top 50.
Outlook
It's not looking good for the young Gators anymore. They had a couple chances to make a late impression but came up short at home vs. Mississippi State and Tennessee. If they lose at Kentucky, it could spell the end of their at-large hopes.
Last game
lost to Tennessee 89-86
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- @ Kentucky
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
Kentucky
Record
17-11, 11-4 SEC
Pros
An SOS in the top 15. Winners of 10 of their past 12 to reach 11 wins in SEC play. Wins of note: Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Cons
All their marquee victories came at home. A dismal out-of-conference mark that included losses to San Diego and Gardner-Webb.
Outlook
Their only losses in the past 12 are at Vandy and at Tennessee. Win at home against Florida to reach 12 wins in the SEC and they'd be hard to pass over for an at-large bid despite their out of conference struggles. Adding a win or two in the SEC tourney certainly wouldn't hurt.
Last game
def. South Carolina 71-63
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- Florida
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
Mississippi
Record
20-9, 6-9 SEC
Pros
An RPI hovering around the top 40. A perfect 14-0 record out of conference. 6-3 vs. the RPI top 50. Wins of note: Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Clemson (in Puerto Rico), New Mexico and South Alabama.
Cons
A dismal 6-9 conference mark. A 20-point loss to cellar-dwelling LSU.
Outlook
Try to ignore the conference mark and look at their overall credentials -- the Rebels have victories over six teams with strong NCAA Tournament resumés, Arkansas being the latest notch in the belt. They have some bad losses -- hello LSU -- but the good may outweigh the bad.
Last game
def. Arkansas 81-72
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Georgia
March 13-16 -- SEC Tournament
Ohio State
Record
18-12, 9-8 Big Ten
Pros
Strong non-conference and overall schedule. Wins of note: Purdue, Syracuse and Florida.
Cons
Lost four of last five. Only one victory vs. a team in the RPI top 50. Losses at Iowa and Michigan.
Outlook
Their schedule is about as tough as it gets, but it doesn't help that they basically lost most of those tough games on top of losses to Iowa and Michigan. Victory over Purdue was a start toward redemption. But it can't stop there, a victory over Michigan State is just as important to the bottom line.
Last game
def. Purdue 80-77 (1OT)
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- Michigan State
March 13-16 -- Big Ten Tournament
Maryland Record
18-12, 8-7 ACC
Pros
An SOS that ranks in the top 20. Wins of note: North Carolina and swept Wake Forest.
Cons
A weak RPI. Lost four of past six. Losses to Ohio, American, Missouri. Swept by Virginia Tech and lost to Miami (Fla.) in their only meeting.
Outlook
The Terps lost a 20-point lead vs. Clemson and blew a huge opportunity for another statement victory. Now they face a must-win vs. Viriginia and will have to make some noise in the ACC tourney.
Last game
lost to Clemson 73-70
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- @ Virginia
March 13-16 -- ACC Tournament
Virginia Tech Record
18-11, 9-6 ACC
Pros
A 9-6 mark in the ACC. Four-game win streak. Wins of note: Swept Maryland.
Cons
RPI outside the top 50. Aside from Maryland, no other wins to hang their hat on. Lost to Richmond, Old Dominion and Penn State.
Outlook
Picked up a nice win against Wake Forest. A victory over Clemson would be huge, it would be their first win vs. a team in the RPI top 50.
Last game
def. Wake Forest 80-58
Remaining schedule
March 9 -- Clemson
March 13-16 -- ACC Tournament
Villanova
Record
18-11, 8-9 Big East
Pros
Wins over UConn, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and @Syracuse. Close loss vs. Georgetown.
Cons
A weak RPI and average SOS. Losses to DePaul and Rutgers.
Outlook
Never came close to pulling off an upset at Louisville. To keep hope alive for an at-large bid they must beat South Florida (done) and Providence and probably at least reach the Big East semis.
Last game
def. South Florida 72-59
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Providence
March 12-15 -- Big East Tournament
UAB
Record
22-8, 12-3 C-USA
Pros
20+ wins. Close loss at home vs. Memphis (79-78). Beat Houston in their only regular-season meeting. Win of note: Kentucky.
Cons
An SOS in the triple-digits. Losses to South Florida, Georgia Southern, Marshall and Southern Miss.
Outlook
The Blazers have run off five straight wins since their loss to Memphis and next comes the pivotal rematch. Though their credentials are bland at best, a win at the Tigers may be enough to get them in. Short of earning a split with Memphis, it would likely at least take a trip to the C-USA final to keep them on the radar.
Last game
def. Tulsa 84-70
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Memphis
March 12-15 -- C-USA Tournament
Arizona State
Record
18-11, 8-9 Pac-10
Pros
Swept Arizona. Other wins of note: Xavier, USC, Stanford and Oregon.
Cons
Weak RPI and out of conference SOS. Routed by UCLA twice. Losses to Illinois and at home to Washington.
Outlook
Able to avenge earlier losses to Washington and USC, making a possible at-large bid much more reasonable. A sweep of Oregon could have really sealed the deal. Now the pressure is on to pick up a couple of wins in the Pac-10 tourney.
Last game
lost to Oregon 67-61
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Oregon State
March 12-15 -- Pac-10 Tournament
Oregon
Record
17-12, 8-9 Pac-10
Pros
An SOS that ranks among the top 35 in the nation. Wins of note: Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford and Kansas State.
Cons
A weak RPI. A 1-7 mark vs. the top four in Pac-10.
Outlook
The Ducks picked up a key win vs. Arizona State, but an even bigger target looms in the season finale -- the Arizona Wildcats. If Oregon can complete the sweep, it will really enhance their resumé, while putting a real crimp in Arizona's hopes.
Last game
def. Arizona State 67-61
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Arizona
March 12-15 -- Pac-10 Tournament
New Mexico
Record
23-7, 10-5 Mountain West
Pros
20+ wins and RPI hovering around the top 50. Won seven of past eight games. Wins of note: UNLV, Texas Tech.
Cons
SOS in the triple-digits. No marquee victories. Swept by BYU.
Outlook
The Lobos are hot right now with a one-point loss to BYU the lone bump in the past eight games. But their overall profile is not sexy, so a split with UNLV was huge. If they can keep rolling until at least the MWC semis, they may be tough to overlook.
Last game
def. UNLV 59-45
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Colorado State
March 12-15 -- M-West Tournament
UNLV Record
22-7, 11-4 Mountain West
Pros
20+ wins and an RPI that ranks in the top 30. Close loss vs. Arizona (52-49). Wins of note: BYU, New Mexico.
Cons
Weak SOS. Routed by BYU (on the road) and Louisville. No true marquee victories.
Outlook
They have a strong RPI number, but it's not the be-all, end-all. They could really have helped their cause with a sweep of New Mexico. UNLV was in the driver's seat, so a split benefits the Lobos more than the Rebels. With the conference tourney on UNLV's home court, anything short of a run to the final will hurt.
Last game
lost to New Mexico 59-45
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Utah
March 12-15 -- M-West Tournament
Desperate straits ...
Dayton
Record
19-9, 7-8 Atlantic 10
Pros
An RPI and SOS ranked in the top 40. Wins of note: Lousiville, Pittsburgh and Rhode Island.
Cons
Swept by Xavier. Lost to UMass in their only meeting. Losses to four teams outside the RPI top 100.
Outlook
The Flyers were 12-1 before losing key freshman Chris Wright to an ankle injury. They are 7-8 without him in the lineup, but he's expected to return in time for the A-10 tourney and possibly for the game vs. Saint Joseph's. If Dayton makes some noise in the A-10 tourney but fall short of the automatic bid, the committee could take into consideration Wright's injury.
Last game
def. St. Bonaventure 78-73
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Saint Joseph's
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Rhode Island
Record
21-9, 7-8 Atlantic 10
Pros
20+ wins. Victories over Dayton, Syracuse and UAB.
Cons
Losers of six of past eight. An SOS in the triple-digits. Lost to George Washington.
Outlook
If a victory over Syracuse is the only thing the Rams can hang their hat on, they're toast. A win vs. Charlotte is a must. If they can reach the conference final, then they may be worth a look again.
Last game
def. La Salle 91-85
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Charlotte
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Saint Joseph's
Record
18-10, 9-6 Atlantic 10
Pros
7-6 vs. teams in the RPI top 100. Close losses to Gonzaga and at Xavier. Wins of note: Xavier, Villanova, Rhode Island, swept UMass.
Cons
Weak strength of schedule. Lost to Holy Cross and La Salle.
Outlook
Falling to Temple at home wasn't good, but not devastating either, especially after the Hawks were able to rebound with a victory over Xavier. If they can down down Dayton, they should be back on the committee's good side. The Hawks may have swept UMass, but the Minutemen have the edge in PRI and SOS.
Last game
def. Xavier 71-66
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- @ Dayton
March 12-15 -- A-10 Tournament
Syracuse
Record
18-12, 8-9 Big East
Pros
An SOS that ranks in the top 15 in the nation. Wins of note: Georgetown, @Villanova, St. Joe's.
Cons
Lost five of past seven games and are just 6-12 vs. the RPI top 100.
Outlook
Loss to Pitt may have been the swan song for the Orange, but they rebounded to beat Seton Hall to keep alive whatever hopes they may have. Marquette at least offers a chance to get a marquee victory.
Last game
def. Seton Hall 85-73
Remaining schedule
March 8 -- Marquette
March 12-15 -- Big East Tournament
Western Kentucky
Record
23-6, 15-2 Sun Belt
Pros
20+ wins with close losses vs. Gonzaga (74-71) and Tennessee (88-82). Win of note: Nebraska.
Cons
No true marquee wins. They play in the Sun Belt. Swept by South Alabama.
Outlook
After being swept by South Alabama, the only other worthy team in the league, the Hilltoppers best -- only? -- chance to reach the Dance is probably by winning the Sun Belt tourney. But the Hilltoppers are being helped by other bubble teams' inability to win key games down the stretch.
Last game
def. FAU 88-78
Remaining schedule
March 8-11 -- Sun Belt Tournament
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