It’s the final week of February, and we’re nearing the start of conference tournaments, which will help us shape the field of 68 as teams slowly bow out of the bubble race.
Each Wednesday leading up to Selection Sunday, I’ll update the Mid-Major Basketball Bubble Watch. While this could be a lean year for teams meeting the criteria, here’s where things currently stand.
(NET rankings are based on Tuesday’s standings.)
American
Locks: Memphis
Should be In: None
Work to Do: None
Atlantic 10
Locks: None
Should be In: None
Work to Do: VCU, George Mason
On Saturday, two bubble teams, VCU and George Mason, faced off at the Siegel Center in a matchup with major implications for both. The result? A statement 70-54 win for the Rams, adding another quality victory to their resume and helping them climb to No. 29 in the NET. As for the Patriots, their chances of an at-large bid just got even smaller.
Missouri Valley
Locks: None
Should be In: None
Work to Do: Drake
Following a Feb. 16 loss to Bradley, the Bulldogs bounced back with two wins — a 17-point home victory against UIC, followed by a 64-58 overtime win in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Sunday. With a NET ranking of 57 and a BPI in the high 70s, this team will likely need to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Mountain West
Locks: Utah State
Should be In: New Mexico
Work to Do: San Diego State, Boise State
There was a lot to sort out in the Mountain West after a busy week of games. Utah State became the conference’s first lock after defeating San Diego State on Saturday for its second consecutive win, following a sweep by New Mexico.
Speaking of the Lobos, Richard Pitino’s team suffered two tough defeats, keeping them in the “Should be In” category rather than securing lock status.
As for the Aztecs and Broncos, San Diego State picked up a key home win over New Mexico yesterday, while Boise State looks to secure another crucial victory against Utah State this evening.
West Coast
Locks: Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s
Should be In: None
Work to Do: San Francisco, Santa Clara
San Francisco and Santa Clara are trying to push the WCC toward a three-bid year, but neither secured a defining win this week. The Dons defeated Pacific on Saturday, though the win doesn’t carry much weight given the Tigers’ struggles.
Santa Clara, meanwhile, made a statement with a 30-point victory in Pullman, Washington, before falling to Gonzaga yesterday after leading at halftime.
With just one game left in the regular season, the Broncos will close out at Pacific, while the Dons have two major opportunities ahead: a road game at Oregon State and a home finale against Gonzaga.
Other Conferences
Locks: None
Should be In: None
Work to Do: UC San Diego
In what would be one of the feel-good stories to begin another edition of the NCAA Tournament, the Tritons sit firmly in the at-large conversation.
A team well-positioned to make the Big Dance in the first year that they are eligible boasts a NET ranking of 37 while also having a couple of Quad 1 wins to their name.
They’ll have a big one coming up against Cal State Northridge tomorrow night, and we know Eric Olen will want to win the Big West Tournament to put the bubble conversation to rest.
