Giving Fans a Forum and Going Beyond Mainstream Media
If you enjoyed our first release of BeyondU Bracketology a couple of weeks ago, stay tuned for another, but first we need some movement in the bubble this week after a couple of non-events last night, namely Baylor’s loss to Texas and Cincinnati’s expected loss to Louisville.
As thin as the bubble is right now, there are still some important games on this week’s slate, starting tonight. First, Iowa (Odds: -3.5) needs to beat Illinois. Let me remind you the Fighting Illini have beaten Indiana, Ohio State, Minnesota, Gonzaga and Butler already, so good luck Hawkeyes. Boise State (Odds:+7.5)
image credit: collegehoopsdaily.com
can move closer to the Big Dance with a victory at UNLV. While still suspect, the Broncos have a top 25 rated offense in the KenPom.com ratings. Lastly, Ole Miss (Odds:-4.5) will Alabama. This is an absolute must win for the Rebels if they are to dance, considering their loss against a depleted Mississippi State team on Saturday.
Presently, the bubble is ridiculously thin which is unusual for this time of year, considering conference tournaments haven’t even begun yet and we’re less than two weeks away from selection Sunday. There are about 18 teams on the bubble vying for 11 spots (see below) in the Big Dance. This doesn’t include the 31 automatic bids among Div. I conferences. Alright, lets get to it then!
BeyondU Bubble Watch – March 5
2013 NCAA Tournament Locks: 19
Indiana, Miami (Fl), Gonzaga, Florida, Georgetown, Duke, Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Michigan, Michigan State, Arizona, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, New Mexico, Arizona
Ink them in: 11
St. Louis, Minnesota, Colorado State, UNLV, North Carolina, NC State, Memphis, Missouri, Notre Dame, UCLA, San Diego State
Pencil them in: 7
Cincinnati, Illinois, Oklahoma, Butler, Creighton, Oregon, VCU
On The Bubble: 18 (11 overall bids)
Virginia, Maryland, St. Mary’s, Villanova, Iowa State, Temple, Iowa, Ole Miss,
Boise State, Wichita State, Colorado, Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Kentucky, Alabama, La Salle, UMass, Cal
Outside The Bubble: 20 Baylor, Arkansas, Richmond, St. Joe’s, Xavier, Akron, St. John’s, Southern Miss, Arizona State, Charlotte, Providence, Florida State, Stanford, Washington, BYU, LSU, Middle Tennessee, UTEP, Texas A&M, Air Force
Check out BeyondU Bracketology.
Raju Kansagra
Teams that definitely do NOT belong in the tournament that seem like they’ll get in based on the analysis above: Colorado State, Memphis, and San Diego State
Teams that DO belong in the tournamnet: Illinois, St. Mary’s, Villanova, Colorado
It would be a travesty if Virginia doesn’t get into the tourney. As the Cavaliers get healthy w/ Jontel Evans at full strength Virginia make life difficult for ANY opponent in the nation. That’s right. Sure, they’ve lost so some awful teams, but who hasn’t this season. Those bad teams won’t be in the tournament and they’ve shown you what they can do in the lime light already. Oh, and there’s Mr. Joe Harris, who should be a finalist for player of the year even though ESPN and the rest of America probably don’t care to talk about him.
Harris is one of the most efficient, underrated guards in America and he’s built like a power forward. I’d be shocked if Virginia doesn’t make its way in.
Mihir, I couldn’t agree with you more. Joe Harris belongs in the same conversation as Trey Burke, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, and the rest of ‘em. Harris isn’t a good player, but he’s a great one. The kid is big and strong for a two guard, and he is incredibly effective in the paint, not to mention on the perimeter. Until Ryan Kelly’s Willis Reed-esque performance, Harris’ 36 points against Duke was the best ACC performance of the season without question.