It’s the ultimate week for bubble teams to make their circumstances for the NCAA tournament.
As the ultimate set of convention tournaments will get underway, there are nonetheless just a few teams needing a win (or three) to solidify their March Madness status. Here’s a have a look at the teams whose performances may have probably the most NCAA tournament bubble influence forward of Selection Sunday.
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Miami (Ohio) (31-0)
The RedHawks are assuredly within the NCAA tournament after turning into the one staff on the high stage of school basketball to go undefeated in the course of the common season. The ceiling for Miami might be a No. 8 seed or so, with the opportunity of the RedHawks falling to a No. 9 or a No. 10 seed in the event that they don’t win the MAC tournament.
And you may be stunned to discover out that Miami is way from a lock to win that tournament, too. In reality, the RedHawks aren’t even the favourite. Akron is -110 to get the league’s computerized bid whereas Miami is at +225 after profitable its final three regular-season video games of the season by a mixed six factors.
If we take these odds at face worth, there’s a really actual probability the MAC will get two teams within the NCAA tournament, with Akron scoring the auto bid and Miami making the sector as an at-large. That will bump a staff out of March Madness.
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Missouri (20-11)
The Tigers also needs to be within the subject however might discover themselves in Dayton for the First Four video games if they’re a one-and-done within the SEC tournament. Mizzou has wins over Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Tennessee in SEC play, however misplaced their final two video games of the common season to fall all the way in which to No. 8 within the SEC tournament after having an opportunity on the No. 3 seed.
Missouri will in all probability play Kentucky within the SEC tournament on Thursday. A second win over the Wildcats probably solidifies the Tigers as a No. 10 seed or so. A loss — particularly an unpleasant one — might ship the Tigers to Ohio.
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Auburn (16-15)
Auburn’s continued presence on the NCAA tournament bubble is a superb instance of how shallow the bubble subject is that this season.
If the Tigers lose to Mississippi State within the first spherical of the SEC tournament, it’s practically not possible to see how a .500 staff that gained seven of its 19 video games in opposition to SEC opponents would get into the NCAA tournament. But if Auburn wins one or two video games within the SEC tournament? The committee might nonetheless put the Tigers in.
Auburn misplaced three of its final 4 regular-season video games and has gone 2-8 in its final 10 video games. But wins over St. John’s, Arkansas and Florida are apparently nonetheless carrying the Tigers despite the fact that it’s clear that Auburn is way faraway from being the staff it confirmed it could possibly be in December and January.
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Indiana (18-13)
Here’s one other bubble staff that has fumbled away its current alternatives to lock into the NCAA tournament subject. The Hoosiers have misplaced 5 of their final six video games and the one win in that span got here in opposition to Minnesota. Four of these losses got here to Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State and a scorching Ohio State staff, however the different defeat got here at dwelling to a Northwestern staff that completed fifteenth within the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers might have an opportunity to avenge that loss to the Wildcats on Wednesday. Indiana performs the winner of Penn State and Northwestern within the second spherical of the Big Ten tournament.
Cincinnati (17-14)
The Bearcats have been one in every of 4 teams that completed 9-9 in Big 12 play and have performed their approach onto the bubble in current weeks. Cincy has gained six of its final eight video games with victories at Kansas and residential in opposition to BYU in that stretch.
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But Cincinnati’s tough begin and its lack of a major non-conference win might finally hinder its NCAA tournament probabilities. The Bearcats performed Louisville, Georgia and Clemson earlier than Big 12 play however went 0-3 in these video games.
The path is there for Cincy to play its approach into the NCAA tournament, nonetheless. The Bearcats have Utah on Tuesday to open the Big 12 tournament after which would play UCF. Win that and Cincy would face regular-season champion Arizona. A victory over the No. 2-ranked Wildcats could possibly be the ticket.
Santa Clara (26-7)
The Broncos scored an enormous win on Monday night time within the West Coast Conference tournament with a 76-71 defeat of Saint Mary’s. Santa Clara outscored the Gaels by eight within the second half to earn a matchup with Gonzaga for the convention’s computerized bid on Tuesday night time.
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A win over the Bulldogs clearly places the Broncos within the tournament. But there’s a compelling case for Santa Clara even with a loss. Saint Mary’s is a lock for the tournament and Santa Clara went 2-1 in opposition to the Gaels this season because the Broncos have been 15-3 in WCC play in the course of the common season. A detailed loss Tuesday night time could possibly be sufficient.
Virginia Tech (19-12)
Hokies coach Mike Young was visibly annoyed after his staff’s 76-72 street loss at Virginia to finish the common season. The Hokies are 4-6 over their final 10 video games and a kind of wins got here in opposition to Clemson.
Thanks to that sluggish end, Virginia Tech completed twelfth within the 15-team ACC and should play Tuesday night time within the ACC tournament. A win over Wake Forest will give the Hokies the chance to take down Clemson once more on Wednesday. Another win over the Tigers might be mandatory for Virginia Tech to really feel higher about its possibilities of making the NCAA tournament.
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VCU (24-7)
The Rams completed in a tie for first within the Atlantic 10 with Saint Louis after going 15-3 within the common season. VCU beat Virginia Tech by 18 early within the season, however two of its three regular-season A-10 losses got here in opposition to the Billikens.
There’s not a compelling tournament case for anybody else within the A-10 apart from Saint Louis, so VCU is the convention’s solely hope at being a multi-bid league. The Rams will in all probability play Duquesne within the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament on Friday, and something lower than an look within the championship recreation will likely be a disappointment.