2/2 Men’s Basketball Bubble Watch
We are now in February, and that is when the bubble talk gets real. There is no clear top dog in college basketball right now, which means any team could contend for the title, even teams fighting to get in. We are six weeks from Selection Sunday, so let the Bubble Watch begin!
Safe, For Now…. (Last 4 byes)
Florida
Clemson
Cincinnati
Seton Hall
Last 4 In:
Syracuse (5-5, 15-8)
Good wins: Texas A&M, Duke, Notre Dame
Bad Losses: St. Johns
Notes: The Orange have been playing well since the return of Jim Boeheim, and have improved to 5-5 in ACC play after starting 0-4. They played a tough non-conference schedule that included a win in the Battle 4 Atlantis, which is a huge bolster to their résumé. Cuse is in good shape.
Washington (6-3, 14-7)
Good wins: Texas, USC
Bad losses: UC Santa Barbara
Notes: The improved Huskies are off to a great start in conference play, and are currently on the right side of the bubble. They could use another signature win, and will have a chance Saturday at home against Arizona.
George Washington (5-3, 16-5)
Good wins: Virginia, Seton Hall
Bad losses: Depaul, Saint Louis, Richmond
Notes: The reason I have the Colonials in is because of their two solid non-conference wins against Virginia and Seton Hall. The reason they are on the bubble to begin with is because of two horrific losses at the hands of Depaul and Saint Louis, and a game they should have won versus Richmond. They really need to have a strong A-10 finish to get in.
Florida State (5-5, 15-7)
Good wins: VCU, Florida, Virginia, Clemson
Bad losses: Hofstra
Notes: The Seminoles have pieced together three straight wins after starting 2-5 in ACC play. They have some quality wins and only one bad loss, and if you can finish .500 in ACC play, usually that would put you in the tournament.
First 4 out:
LSU (6-2, 13-8)
Good wins: Kentucky
Bad losses: Charleston, Wake Forest
Notes: The Tigers could have gotten a huge win against #1 Oklahoma, but decided to not give Ben Simmons the ball in the final minutes and blow a double-digit lead. Their six non-conference losses currently have them on the outside looking in, but if they can finish around 13-5 in SEC play, you can’t keep them out.
California (4-5, 14-8)
Good wins: Utah, Arizona, Saint Mary’s
Bad losses: Richmond
Notes: Cal’s conference record is what’s keeping them out right now. If they can finish strong they should be in. They have a chance to pick up another signature win against #16 Oregon on Thursday.
BYU (7-3, 16-7)
Good wins: Gonzaga
Bad losses: Long Beach State, Harvard, Portland
Notes: Here is the problem with BYU: Look at the number of good wins compared to the number of bad losses. Ouch. However, I still think the Cougars can get an at-large bid, but they have to finish strong down the stretch and can’t afford another bad loss.
Marquette (4-5, 15-7)
Good wins: LSU, Providence
Bad losses: Depaul
Notes: Like Cal, what is keeping Marquette out at the moment is their conference record. They have a tough stretch coming up (@Seton Hall, @Xavier, Providence), and can’t afford to drop all of those. If they can win two of those three, the Golden Eagles are on the right side of the bubble.
Next 4 Out:
UCLA
Butler
Ole Miss
Duquesne
