For those of you unfamiliar with the term “bubble” as it relates to college basketball, it means that if a team is on the bubble it is on the verge of making the NCAA tornement. It could be 10 and 11 seeds, or teams just missing out that would be NIT top seeds if they chose to participate.
North Carolina
North Carolina has played a top 10 strength of scedule. Unfortunitely their best oppourtunities for quality wins are behind them with the ACC being worse that normal. With the exeption of a couple Quad 1 oppoutunities UNC wont have the same potenial to improve their resume compared to other bubble teams like Texas in the SEC or Ohio State in the BIG 10.
If UNC losses all of their remaining Quad 1 games I find it hard to believe they crack the feild of 68. Right now they sit at an ugly 1-7 in quad 1 games. On the positive side, they get 2 cracks at Duke. Their best win is vs UCLA on a neutral at Madison Square Garden. UNC currently ranges from an 8 seed to last 4 byes from reliable bracketologists.
Ohio State
It seems like every time I watch Ohio State they are in a competitive close game. Their last 6 games have been decided by 7 or fewer points We would probably be having a different conversation if enstead of winning 2 out of those 6 games they won 4 and got 2 more quad 1 wins. They are buzzing as of late with a win @purdue. However if the season ended today they would likely be NIT bound. There is so much to play for in this conference that year after year produces teams in the feild of 68.
Experienced bracketologists have Ohio State on the outside looking in. They an underwhelming 3-6 in Quad 1 games with 10 more Quad 1 oppoutunities remaining none the less. In the BIG 10 there is upportunity but with that comes risk for the Buckeyes. With the bulk of the attention going to the national champion football program, the fans in central Ohio need to start paying attention to the baskeball program. They have big game after big game coming from now to early march.
San Diego State
Being in a weaker Mountain West conference compared to the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, and ACC, there is less oppoutninity for San Diego State to stack their resume. They have only 2 more Quad 1 oppurtunities the rest of the way, @Utah State and @Nevada. This means they have to win a a majority of their league games to present the selection commitee with a strong enough resume. However at just 5-3 in conference, it wont be easy for the Aztecs who made the national title game in 2023.
Utah State is projected to make the field, Boise State is on the bubble with the Aztecs, and New Mexico is also on the bubble. San Diego State Need to avoid the ugly Quad 3 and Quad 4 losses that are looming in their scedule. Its the way life is for mid majors trying to get an at-large bid
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is in a similar situation to North Carolina, In the ACC with low potential to build a solid resume. Pittsburgh is just 1-5 in Q1 and has lost 4 straight. They are clearly trending in the wrong direction.
In their remaining scedule their Q1 oppourtunities are @North Carolina, @SMU, and @Louisville.
Texas
According to most bracketologists, Texas is in the last 4 in, first 4 out category. They dont have a single loss on it’s resume, and they have a remaining scedule of only Q1 and Q2 opponents.
It could get tough for Texas if other bubble teams rack up wins against lesser opponents and a result build their resume to the point where the commitee has no choice but to give them bids. They are 2-5 in quad 1. They had a chance against Tennessee and Auburn 2 games that could end up hurting them on selection sunday.
Maryland
Maryland is coming off a Q1 road win against Illinois on thursday. Projected by bracketologists as a 8, 9, 10 or 11 seed or one of the teams barely missing.
This team has no bad loss on their resume, a blowout quad 1 win vs fellow bubble team Ohio State. A knock for this team is their very weak out of conference strength of scuedule (OOC SOS). They have 7 more Q1 oppoutunities in the remainder of league play. This team, although projected by some as an 8 seed, is by no means a lock to make the feild of 68. Maryland is led by freshman center Derik Queen who averages 16 points and 8 rebounds a game.
Vanderbilt
They dont have a bad loss, but they also only have 2 Q1 wins, recently upseting Tennessee. Compared to a better part of the SEC Vandy’s resume is underwheming.
Vanderbilt is projected as a 9 seed give or take a seed in each direction. Vandy is competing with the rest of these teams and there are only so many at large bids available. The good news is the SEC is the conference if you want the chance at big time wins. Although it might be hard for vandy to go on a win streak or find their rhythm. They can get quad 1 wins that simply are not available in most other conferences.