The 36 At-Larges (through Jan. 31)

[SelectionSunday]

College basketball's penultimate month has arrived. As we hit the stretch drive, here's a look at the Field of 68, starting with the 36 at-larges. Current RPI rank (courtesy of warren.nolan.com) is noted in parentheses.

THE 36 AT-LARGES
American: (3): Wichita State (26), Houston (48), SMU (60)

ACC (7): Duke (4), Clemson (5), North Carolina (10), Louisville (19), Miami (20), Florida State (44), NC State (65)

Atlantic 10 (1): Saint Bonaventure (50)

Big East (5): Xavier (3), Seton Hall (18), Butler (25), Creighton (27), Providence (34)

B1G (3): Ohio State (22), Michigan State (23), Michigan (32)

Big XII (6): Oklahoma (11), Texas Tech (17), TCU (21), West Virginia (33), Texas (36), Kansas State (67)

Conference USA (1): Western Kentucky (38)

Pac 12 (3): USC (37), Arizona State (39), Washington (49)

SEC (6): Tennessee (12), Kentucky (13), Arkansas (29), Missouri (35), Alabama (41), Florida (42)

WCC (1): Gonzaga (57)
_____________________________

Last 4 In: Saint Bonaventure (50), SMU (60), NC State (65), Kansas State (67)

First 4 Out: Texas A&M (30), Boise State (40), Georgia (55), Virginia Tech (68)

Keep An "8" On: Syracuse (43), Temple (46), Utah (47), Marquette (53), Nebraska (59), Mississippi State (61), South Carolina (62), UCLA (66)

Non-Power 6 At-Larges (6): Wichita State (26), Western Kentucky (38), Houston (48), Saint Bonaventure (50), Gonzaga (57), SMU (60)

Movin' On In (2): Missouri (at-large), UCSB

Movin' On Out (2): Long Beach State, Syracuse (at-large)

Conference Leaders (32)
ACC: Virginia (1)
Big East: Villanova (2)
Big XII: Kansas (6)
SEC: Auburn (7)
B1G: Purdue (8)
Atlantic 10: Rhode Island (9)
Mountain West: Nevada (14)
American: Cincinnati (15)
Pac 12: Arizona (16)
Conference USA: Middle Tennessee (24)
WCC: Saint Mary's (28)
MAC: Buffalo (31)
WAC: New Mexico State (45)
America East: Vermont (51)
Missouri Valley: Loyola (52)
Sun Belt: Louisiana (54)
Southern: East Tennessee State (63)
Summit: South Dakota State (71)
Horizon: Wright State (72)
Colonial: Northeastern (75)
OVC: Belmont (76)
MAAC: Rider (77)
Big West: UCSB (80)
Patriot: Bucknell (83)
NEC: Wagner (98)
Big Sky: Montana (117)
Big South: NC-Asheville (133)
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast (149)
Ivy: Harvard (156)
MEAC: Savannah State (195)
Southland: New Orleans (220)
SWAC: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (290)

 

[bizzle22]

Looking pretty bleak this year for the B1G. Will definitely get the 4 that are in right now, but I'm not sure who joins them. Only realistic possibilities are Nebraska or Maryland.

Terps B1G schedule eases up quite a bit to end the year so I think they should get to at least 9-9 in conference, but they have whiffed on just about all their chances for quality wins in conference play. Only remaining opportunity is Michigan in the last game of the year. They only have one real quality win and that is vs Butler. Going to have to tear through the rest of conference play and probably win a couple in NYC to have a good chance.

Huskers also have a pretty advantageous remaining schedule so they should rack up some more wins, but only 2 over the RPI top 100 and no more quality games on their schedule except for maybe Maryland.

This could be a really interesting situation with Nebraska. Say they go 4-2 to finish out the conference regular season, which is very likely. Their overall profile would still really be lacking at that point. If they lose their first B1G tournament game would the committee leave out a 12-6 B1G team? It looks very possible.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I think, yes, very real possibility Nebraska could go 12-6 and get left out. Best win other than Michigan (in Lincoln) is Boston College (also in Lincoln). Doesn't help that they're 1-3 vs. Michigan/MSU/Ohio State/Purdue quartet.

 

[golfing18now]

I think, yes, very real possibility Nebraska could go 12-6 and get left out. Best win other than Michigan (in Lincoln) is Boston College (also in Lincoln). Doesn't help that they're 1-3 vs. Michigan/MSU/Ohio State/Purdue quartet.

Their resume certainly isn't helped by the fact they only play the four best teams in conference once each.

Is the worst collective Big Team conference resume in the last twenty years (since you have been tracking the tournament this closely)? Seems like it must be in the bottom three.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Is the worst collective Big Team conference resume in the last twenty years (since you have been tracking the tournament this closely)? Seems like it must be in the bottom three.

It would be right up there. Ohio State a couple years ago is the one that immediately comes to mind. Finished 11-7 in the B1G, and Buckeyes were not even close to being worthy of an at-large bid. I do think the Huskers have a shot, but they can't lose any more than 1-2 games down the stretch, and it's probably mandatory they knock off at least 1 of the top 4 in New York City, especially if it were Purdue or MSU.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Nebraska and Boise State

These 2 are similar bubble teams, in my opinion. Look like, and are playing like NCAA teams, but their resumes are really suspect. Neither team has a Quadrant 1 win, though Boise State does have a chance for one vs. Nevada on Valentine's Day. Two squads I'm really focusing on down the stretch. Pretty safe bet both will need to advance deep in their conference tournament to get a sniff at an at-large bid.