I’ll review the Bubble again in a bit, but it has to be said that the Top 10 got crushed this week. So, to me, that shows how crazy this March will be. Let’s review it. (Note, this article does not include the late games in the Mountain West on Tuesday night.)

Week in Review

Azubuike and Kansas Are #1
  • Wolfpack Crushes the Dukies – #6 Duke was not ready for mid-week prime time, and NC State got the signature win they needed to help their resume. Duke’s 4 of 17 from 3 and 10 of 22 from the line showed a lack of focus, as the Wolfpack won easily, 88-66 on Wednesday. (And again on Tuesday to Wake.)
  • KU Got Revenge – #1 Baylor was on a roll, but the Jayhawks new look with only Azubuike (23 points, 19 rebounds) in the middle with 4 guards looked good in Waco. Sure, the Bears made a late run, and I think they will be right there with Kansas. However, the big man just dominated them in the 64-61 win.
  • Ducks Steal One in Tucson – Arizona started the week in 1st place, but they blew a real shot in blowing a late lead forcing OT. Then, in OT, more missed FTs (only hitting 10 of 21 for the game) cost them the win, 73-72, including 2 to tie or win the game in the final seconds. The Ducks bounce back from the loss to ASU to get within 1/2 game of the league lead.
  • Rebs Give #4 Aztecs 1st Loss – As San Diego State raised the Mountain West Title banner pre-game (an ill advised move), the Running Rebels gave them the business forcing the Aztecs to shoot only 38.9% from the field. Elijah Mitrou-Long was really good for UNLV with 19 points and 3 boards, as they won, 66-63.
  • BYU Balled Out – The #2 Zags didn’t know what hit them in Provo, as Yoeli Childs dominated the Gonzaga bigs with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Zags made a run in the 2nd half, but the Cougars shut the door getting that signature win that should help their seeding. BYU wins, 91-78.
  • #7 Terps Get Bounced – After rolling for weeks, the Terps didn’t come out early enough in Columbus. The Buckeyes continued their hot play, and get a much needed win to cement their status. Ohio State wins, 79-72.
  • #9 Penn State Loses Twice – Penn State hadn’t been in the Top 10 since 1996, but they got beat at home against Illinois on Tuesday and again on Sunday at Indiana. It was fun while it lasted.
  • Bowling Green Routs Akron – The Zips did not get the revenge I had thought, and the Eagles completely destroyed them at home. With the win, Bowling Green grabs the top spot in the MAC primed for the conference tourney.

Predictions: Not a great week at 1-3, but I did call the BYU win over Zags.

Bubble Watch Continues

Safely In The Field (4 Teams)

Virginia Is Rounding Into Form
  • Florida (17-10, 9-5 SEC, KP 33, Net 3) – Despite losing to Kentucky in Rupp, they stay strong in the ratings. A couple more wins would help. JL – 9 Seed, JP – 10 Seed and Wegs – No doubter.
  • Arizona State (19-8, 10-4 PAC 12, KP 55, Net 41) – Big wins over Oregon and Oregon State move them up to safely in and on top of the PAC 12. JL – 9 Seed, JP- 8 Seed and Wegs – they lead the PAC 12, so…
  • Indiana (18-9, 8-8 Big Ten, KP 37, Net 52) – The Hoosiers had a great week, that was capped by taking out the Nittany Lions. They are in now. JL – 10 Seed, JP – 9 Seed, Wegs – Definitely in.
  • Virginia (19-7, 11-5 ACC, KP 48, Net 51) – They still can’t score, but they keep winning (7 of the last 8). They moved up to safe for me. JL – 10 Seed, JP – 10 Seed and Wegs – Could be a dark horse Sweet 16 team.

Right Side of the Bubble (Last 8 In)

  • Cincinnati (18-9, 11-4 AAC, KP 42, Net 54) – Well, that bad loss came to UCF last week, but they win a season sweep over the Shockers which keeps them squarely on the right side of the Bubble. JL – 10 Seed, JP – First Four Out and Wegs – tied for 1st in AAC, so….
  • Rhode Island (19-7, 11-3 A10, KP 44, Net 37) – The loss against Davidson will hurt seeding, but still in the field easily for me, but not Palm. JL – 9 Seed, JP – First Four Out and Wegs – I’m on Team Rhody.
  • Oklahoma (17-11, 7-8 Big 12, KP 39, Net 55) – The Sooners are teetering on missing the field. I’ve got them in, but really one more loss to being out. The big win over Texas Tech helps out tremendously. JL – 12 Seed (Last In), JP – 10 Seed and Wegs – In barely.
  • Xavier (18-10, 7-8 Big East, KP 43, Net 43) – The loss to Nova may not kill them, but getting to .500 in conference is really important. They drop a peg for me. JL -10 Seed, JP – 9 Seed and Wegs – In for now.
  • USC (19-9, 8-7 PAC12, KP 61, Net 47) – 2 straight losses have dropped the Trojans down a level here. Need more wins for sure. JL – 12 Seed (Last In), JP – 10 Seed and Wegs – don’t like the trend.
  • Utah State (22-7, 11-5 MWC, KP 41, Net 38) – The Aggies are looking like a tourney team again like early this year. JL – 11 Seed, JP – 9 Seed and Wegs – like the team, but need to keep winning.
  • Stanford (18-9, 7-7 PAC12, KP 34, Net 31) – With 2 more wins, the Cardinal have positioned themselves in the field. However, one bad week can put them back out. JP – 11 Seed, but JL (First Out) and Wegs – They are back in for me.
  • Wichita State (20-7, 8-6 AAC, KP 40, Net 44) – The Shockers can play D, but that offense is a major problem come March. JL – 11 Seed, JP – 12 Seed (Last In) and Wegs – In for me.
  • Richmond (20-7, 10-4 A10, KP 52, Net 49) – The Spiders did take a back step with loss at the Bonnies, but with other teams flailing, they have a real shot at the Dance. JL – First Out, JP – 12 Seed (Last In), Wegs – I have them in with NC State loss at UNC.

Wrong Side of the Bubble (First 4 Out)

The Spiders Are Right There
  • NC State (17-11, 8-9 ACC, KP 53, Net 53) – The crushing win over Duke put them in, but then the loss to UNC takes them out. They are a classic Bubble team. JL – 12 Seed (Last In), JP – 11 Seed (Last In) and Wegs – first team out for me.
  • Providence (16-12, 9-6 Big East, KP 49, Net 48) – I’m not on the Friars bandwagon, but they have some good quality conference wins and good metrics. JL – 12 Seed (Last In), JP – First Four Out, Wegs – Out for me.
  • Mississippi State (18-10, 9-6 SEC, KP 51, Net 57) – The Bulldogs are trending the wrong way at the wrong time, but a good win over Alabama was a must win. JL – First Four Out, JP – First Four Out, Wegs – Can’t Back the Bulldogs yet.
  • South Carolina (16-11, 8-6 SEC, KP 70, Net 47) – I can’t see Bama and SC in the Dance together, so maybe one of them gets in and the other is out. The over .500 record in conference saves them and a good Net Ranking. JL – Next Four Out, JP – Not on Radar, Wegs – Not yet.

Need to Make A Run to Make It (7 More)

  • Minnesota (13-13, 7-9 Big Ten, KP 31, Net 42) – Gophers need more wins, but they are going in the right direction. JL – Not on his radar, JP – Not on Radar, Wegs – Need 2 more really good wins.
  • Georgetown (15-12, 5-9 Big East, KP 54, Net 59) – The Hoyas had a bad week, and that puts them down the chain for me. JL – Next Four Out, JP – Not on Radar, Wegs – Not a tournament team.
  • Alabama (15-13, 7-8 SEC, KP 46, Net 40) – The Crimson Tide have made a run in the 2nd half of conference play. Metrics are strong, but 12 losses are rough, but loss at Miss State hurt. JL – Next Four Out, JP – Not on Radar, Wegs – Not yet.
  • UNC Greensboro (21-6, 11-3 SoCon, KP 71, Net 56) – I believe UNC Greensboro and East Tennessee should make the Dance still. Let’s see how they play against Furman at home on Wednesday (2/26). JL – Not on the radar, JP – Not on Radar, Wegs – I still like this team alot.
  • UCLA (17-11, 10-5 PAC 12, KP 84, Net 76) – The Bruins are getting Coach Cronin’s system down. They have been stringing together wins in the PAC 12 and are on the Bubble now. Their metrics are way too low for me. JL – First Four Out, JP – Not on Radar, Wegs – Metrics are not there for me.
  • Arkansas (17-10, 5-9, KP 47, Net 45) – I took them off my list at first, but Jerry Palm has them in, not even in Last In, which is dumb. JL – Not on radar, JP – 11 Seed, Wegs – Not with that conference record.
  • Purdue (14-14, 7-10 Big Ten, KP 25, Net 36) – Purdue can’t make the Dance with this record. It’s a shame, but maybe they will make a run in the Big Ten Tourney. JL – Not on his radar, but JP – Not on Radar and Wegs – Going to miss the Dance.

Feature Match Ups

The Young Cats Are Coming Into Their Own
  • 15 Auburn at 8 Kentucky – Saturday, 2/29 at 3:45 PM Eastern/2:45 PM Central on CBS – The Tigers used a late run to beat the Cats at home, but they have not been playing at the same level since. F Isaac Okoro may help to get them back on track, but Kentucky has reeled off 6 straight since that loss. I think they crush Auburn here to send a message to the Tigers and the rest of the country that they are ready for March.
  • 24 Michigan State at 9 Maryland – Saturday, 2/29 at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central on ESPN – The Terps took out the Spartans in the Breslin Center which was the biggest win in some time for them. Now, that they got their streak broken by Indiana, I’m sure coming home will be welcomed. Conventional wisdom would side with the Terps in this one, but I have a feeling that Izzo and the fellas are going to play their best game of the year here. I like Sparty to get the upset.
  • 12 Villanova at 13 Seton Hall – Wednesday, 3/3 at 8:30 PM Eastern/7:30 PM Central on FS1 – Another rematch where the perennial conference favorite got beat by the new squad in town – they played in Philly on 2/8. The Hall has lost 2 of 4, while Nova has 4 straight wins. I like Villanova (yes, again) here. I think that Seton Hall may be better in the Big East Tourney and in the Big Dance, but Jay Wright will have his team ready to play this time.

Mid-Major Match Up

Battle for Summit Crown

  • SD State at ND State – Thursday, 2/27 at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central on ESPN+ – The Jackrabbits beat the Bison on January 22nd. So, if ND State wants a share of the regular season crown, they gotta get this one. SD State has a pretty bad defense, so it should be a high scoring game. I like the Jackrabbits to win this and lock up the Summit crown.

Yes, I know there are other huge games (like Duke at Virginia, Dayton at URI, and Baylor at Texas Tech), but I only pick 4 games a week to preview.

Enjoy the games, and the clock is ticking to Selection Sunday. 19 days and counting….

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.