It looks like it's that time of year again when all we start hearing about is who's on the "bubble" for receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament. Well, SportsGamer's compiled its own list of 15 teams that can't afford a slip-up in their respective conference tournaments this week. We're down to crunch time and one mis-step from anyone of these programs could send them dancing into the PIT instead of the big dance. The "bubble" is as weak as it's been in a long time, so just one more win could be exactly what the doctor ordered for these teams. Check out the list below!
| Syracuse OrangeRecord - 19-12RPI - 46Non-Conf. SOS - 15Last 10 - 5-5
| This seems like it's a yearly debate with the Orange when it comes to whether they should be in the tournament or not. However, this season I think the Cuse are in good shape right now, but a win against Villanova in the first round of the Big East Tournament would all but lock up a bid. Syracuse would've been on the bad side of the committee if they had not won their last two conference games to get them to a .500 record in league play. Typically, if you don't have a .500 or above record in league play, then you don't get in. In this case though the Orange took care of business and they will most likely be rewarded come selection Sunday. Prediction: IN - 8-10 Seed Likely |
 | Texas A&M AggiesRecord - 21-9RPI - 47Non-Conf. SOS - 222Last 10 - 5-5 | The Texas A&M Aggies will be one of the more difficult teams to judge for the committee. The reason this team is so tough to judge is because despite all their faults they still have a decent RPI (47). The negatives related to this team include losing five of their last seven, having the 222nd overall non-conference schedule, and playing mediocre basketball over their last ten games (5-5). The Aggies did have wins earlier this season against Texas and Baylor to help their cause. However, they must win their first game in the Big 12 Conference Tournament against the Iowa State Cyclones if they want to assure themselves of a bid. Prediction: IN - 10-12 Seed Likely |
| | Kentucky WildcatsRecord - 18-11RPI - 48Non-Conf. SOS - 89Last 10 - 8-2 | The Kentucky Wildcats have hit their stride at the right time. This team has possibly had to go through more obstacles than any other team in the land. However, some of the biggest problems for the Cats were self-inflicted with early season loses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego. Fortunately, the loss to San Diego doesn't look quite as bad now that the Torreros have won the WAC Tournament by beating Gonzaga in the final. The worst break Kentucky has had to deal with was the loss of rising star center Patrick Patterson to a season-ending injury. Patterson was clearly Kentucky most-feared player on the team, but Billy has held the troops together and I think they earned their ticket to the dance with the win over Florida. Plus, I'm sure the committee would like to include Kentucky in the field if there's anyway possible the way those fans travel. I think they're in, but if the Cats want to be safe they'll need to win their opening round game in the SEC tournament. Prediction: IN - 8-10 Seed Likely |
 | Ohio State BuckeyesRecord - 19-12RPI - 49Non-Conf. SOS - 13Last 10 - 4-6 | Unfortunately, I think it's getting easier and easier for people to begin saying the Buckeyes are on the outside looking in due to the fact that they've lost four of our their last six games. However, if the committee truly takes the full body of work, as they should, then I think Ohio State has a solid case. The Buckeyes beat Michigan State and Purdue in their final two games. More importantly, the Bucks won what now becomes a huge matchup for the committee to look at when they beat Syracuse back in November. Ohio State has almost the same RPI and played a slightly tougher out of conference schedule than Syracuse did. The bottomline is if Syracuse gets in, which I think they will, then OSU should be there as well because they beat them. Again, an easy way to clear up confusion for the NCAA suits would be to win their upcoming first round game in the Big Ten Tournament. Unfortunately, a Michigan State team they beat just five days ago will be the opponent waiting for them. Prediction: IN - 10-12 Seed Likely |
 | UAB Blazers | Too many bad losses is the reason that the Blazers are right now on the outside looking in. With losses to Georgia Southern, Wichita State, South Florida, and Marshall it's hard to imagine UAB getting the nod. Unfortunately, the difference of this team being in right now instead of out is 1 point. One point is the amount by which the then #1 Memphis Tigers came in stole a victory from the Blazers because they couldn't close the game out. The only significant win on their entire schedule was an early season victory against Kentucky. Still, with all of those bad losses there's no way the committee going to put this squad in the dance over the Cats. UAB has to at least reach the Conference USA Championship game, if not win the whole thing if they want to start dancing. Prediction: OUT - *NIT Bound |
 | New Mexico Lobos | It's hard to make a case for the New Mexico Lobos getting a bid into this year's tournament. However, I think it's even harder to make a case against them to not be in the field because they haven't really done anything wrong. This is a team that hasn't beaten anybody great other than UNLV. However, they also haven't lost to anybody that bad, so I'm not sure that we should penalize them for that. This is going to be another tough one for the committee, but the fact that this team has won eight out of their last ten games makes me believe that they'll be in this year's field of 64. Prediction: IN - 10-12 Seed Likely |
 | Oregon Ducks | The Oregon Ducks were clearly out of the tournament less than a week ago. However, with back to back wins over Arizona State and Arizona the Ducks have placed themselves in a position to snatch a bid. Throughout the season, Oregon has also beaten Kansas State, Stanford, and Arizona once before earlier this season. Unfortunately, bad losses at Nebraska and at Oakland will leave the committee scratching their heads a little bit. In the end, I think the Ducks season boils down to their opening round game in the Pac-10 Tournament against Washington State. Oregon has got to find a way to beat the Cougars in order to get in, but I just don't see that happening. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | St. Joseph's Hawks | The St. Joe's Hawks got their one and only marquee win March 6th when they beat Xavier 71-66 at home. They have a couple other decent wins against Villanova and Massachusetts twice. The bad news is they also have losses against some of the basement dwellers of the conference. LaSalle, St. Louis, and Duquesne all have beaten the Hawks within the past month and a half. To make matters worse, the Hawks have lost seven of their last nine games at a time when the committee likes to see teams moving in the other direction. I actually believe that St. Joe's can get in if they make it to the championship game of the A-10 Tournament this weekend. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Villanova Wildcats | The Villanova Wildcats's resume is a lot like the New Mexcio Lobos. The only two wins that Nova can show the committee are against Syracuse (also on the bubble) and UConn at home. The problem that I think this team runs into in terms of whether they should receive a bid or not is the fact that their RPI is simply just lower than New Mexico's. Also, New Mexico has 24 total wins and has won 8 of their last 10. Nova falls just short here as well as they finished with 19 wins and have only managed to win 6 of their last 10. A Spirited run of two wins or more in the Big East Tournament gets the Wildcats into the big dance. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Virginia Tech HokiesRecord - 18-12RPI - 57Non-Conf. SOS - 139Last 10 - 6-4 | I recently wrote in my breakdown of the ACC that the Virginia Tech Hokies would have to win the final three games on their regular season schedule if they wanted a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hokies managed to get by BC and Wake, but heartbreak hit as they fell 70-69 at Clemson. Still, if Virginia Tech can win their first round game in the ACC Tournament against who will most likely be the Miami Hurricanes it gets them closer. Then, the Hokies will probably be matched-up with a North Carolina team that will essentially be holding their ticket to the NCAA if they get past them. Va Tech has had a strong year, but it looks like they may end up falling just a single victory short of the dance. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Temple Owls | The Temple Owls come howling into the A-10 Tournament as they've won four straight games now. Earlier this season, the Owls handed Xavier a 78-59 loss, but that is the lone signature win for this squad. Unfortunately, with 12 losses and an RPI on the lower end I think it's safe to assume that the Owls need to run the table and win the A-10 Conference Tournament. The committee should appreciate the strength of schedule from Temple, but typically 18 wins is onyl enough if you're a team coming from one of the power conferences. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Florida Gators | We all had the feeling that the matchup last week between Kentucky and Florida was to decide who was getting in to the big dance. Florida fans' hearts began to sank as the Cats ended up getting past the Gators and moving into the drivers seat on selection Sunday. Further damaging Florida's case for a bid was their weak out of conference schedule and their late season collapse. Even with all that said, I think if the Gators make a massive run and get to the championship of the SEC Tournament they'll see their name come up when it matters the most. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Houston Cougars | The Houston Cougars definitely still have some work to do if they want to get in. The bad news for them is that two other teams that many people are saying are on the bubble (Virginia Commonwealth and Massachusetts) already beat them earlier this season. What's got to have Cougar fans optimistic as they head into the CUSA Tournament is that the rest of the competition other than Memphis is pretty weak. Furthermore, Houston played Memphis well twice, losing by 12 the first time and just 9 the second time. If the Cougars get another chance (and they'll need it) to face the Tigers in the CUSA Championship Game they'll have to get it done to receive a bid from the committee. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Maryland TerrapinsRecord - 18-13RPI - 69Non-Conf. SOS - 72Last 10 - 5-5 | It's hard to say that there's been a more disappointing team towards the end of the season than the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland has lost five of their last seven, including home losses to Clemson and Va Tech. The other two losses came at Miami, at Virginia, and at Duke. Obviously, there are very few teams that can run through all five of these games. However, I don't think it's to much for the committee to ask that you win at least two of four winnable games during this stretch. The Terrapins are in a position that makes me believe they will have to at least make it to the championship game of the ACC Tournament, if not win the whole thing outright to get in. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
 | Arizona State Sun DevilsRecord - 19-11RPI - 76Non-Conf. SOS - 307Last 10 - 5-5 | With wins over Stanford, USC, Arizona, and Xavier you would think that Arizona State is in a good position to make the big dance. However, inconsistent play from the middle of the season to where we are today had led to 11 Sun Devil losses and now a longshot to make the tourney. Arizona State got off to a great start this season as they jumped out of the gate with a 14-2 record. Unfortunately, since that time they've managed to go just 5-9. Anything short of reaching the Pac-10 Championship game won't be enough to get this squad in. Prediction: OUT - NIT Bound |
*NIT=National Invitational Tournament
