At-Large Update (Wednesday)

[SelectionSunday]

Wednesday At-Large Update (still at 14 available bids)

As of Wednesday morning I now have 27 teams jostling for the final 14 at-large bids. Biggest developments from Tuesday are Ohio State & Oklahoma State moving from "on the bubble" to "on the verge" (need one more regular-season win to cinch a bid). Okie State plays at Oklahoma this weekend, so I suspect the Cowboys still will have work to do heading to Oklahoma City for the Big 12 Tournament.

Other developments:

(1) New Mexico's win over Utah moves the Lobos from "on life support" to on the bubble. The win over the Utes gives the Lobos a share of the Mountain West lead.

(2) Though sporting a very weak resume, I've added Auburn to the "on life support" list. The Tigers clinched the SEC West's #2 seed and a SEC Tournament bye with their seventh win in eight games.

(3) Georgetown (blows 15-point second-half lead at St. John's) and K-State (losers to Okie State) fall completely off our at-large board.

Conference Leaders/Conference Tournament Top Seed (31)
3. North Carolina (24-3)
5. UConn (27-2)
6. Michigan State (24-5)
7. Kansas (24-5)
8. Memphis (26-3)
10. Utah (20-8)
11. Xavier (23-5)
12. Washington (22-7)
18. Butler (24-4)
24. LSU (25-4)
29. Siena (23-7)
32. Utah State (25-4)
36. Gonzaga (23-5)
55. Western Kentucky (20-8)
64. VCU (21-9)
68. Davidson (24-6)
71. Northern Iowa (19-10)
76. American (21-7)
89. Stephen F. Austin (15-7)
91. Weber State (19-8)
92. Binghamton (19-8)
97. North Dakota State (21-6)
115. Robert Morris (21-10)
120. Cornell (17-9)
132. Tennessee-Martin (20-8)
150. Radford (16-11)
153. Morgan State (18-11)
157. Jacksonville (17-12)
160. Cal State Northridge (13-12)
176. Bowling Green (15-11)
212. Alabama State (16-8)

Locks (20)
1. Duke (25-5)
2. Pitt (25-3)
4. Oklahoma (26-3)
9. Louisville (23-5)
13. Wake Forest (23-5)
14. Villanova (24-6)
15. Mizzou (23-5)
16. Florida State (22-8)
17. Clemson (23-6)
19. Illinois (23-7)
20. West Virginia (20-9)
21. Tennessee (18-10)
22. BYU (21-6)
23. Purdue (22-7)
25. UCLA (22-7)
26. Syracuse (21-8)
30. Marquette (23-6)
33. Arizona State (21-7)
35. Texas (20-9)
40. Cal (21-8)

On the Verge (4) -- a lock with 1 more regular-season win
27. Oklahoma State (20-9): at Oklahoma (Saturday)
28. Dayton (24-5): at Xavier (Thursday)
37. Ohio State (19-9): Northwestern (Sunday)
49. Boston College (20-9): at NC State (tonight)

On the Bubble (20)
31. Wisconsin (17-10): at Gophers (tonight)
34. Texas A&M (20-8): at Colorado (tonight)
38. Creighton (25-6): vs. Wichita State/Missouri State (Friday)
39. GOPHERS (19-8): Wisconsin (tonight)
42. South Carolina (20-7): Tennessee (Thursday)
44. Miami-Florida (16-10): at Georgia Tech (tonight)
46. San Diego State (17-8): Colorado State (tonight)
47. Arizona (18-11): Cal (Thursday)
48. Michigan (17-12): at Gophers (Saturday)
50. Florida (21-8): at Mississippi State (tonight)
51. UNLV (20-8): Air Force (tonight)
52. Rhode Island (22-8): UMass (Saturday)
53. St. Mary's (22-5): vs. Portland/Pepperdine/San Francisco (Sunday)
57. Maryland (18-11): at Virginia (SWaturday)
59. Virginia Tech (17-11): North Carolina (tonight)
61. Cincinnati (17-12): Seton Hall (Saturday)
63. New Mexico (20-10): at Wyoming (Saturday)
66. Penn State (20-9): Illinois (Thursday)
67. Kentucky (19-10): Georgia (tonight)
69. Providence (18-11): at Villanova (Thursday)

On Life Support (3) -- hanging on a thread
41. UAB (20-9): at UTEP (tonight)
43. Temple (17-11): Saint Joseph's (Thursday)
72. Auburn (19-10): LSU (Saturday)

 

[coolhandgopher]

With Cinncy's loss to South Florida, are they still solid enough to be on the bubble, IYO?

 

[SelectionSunday]

Big East looking more like 7 than 8 or 9

Nice to hear from you Coolhand. I think Cincinnati is in serious trouble after that loss. Even if they beat Seton Hall they'll only be 18-12 with a so-so resume heading to New York. I don't like their chances for an at-large at this point.

It's been a damaging few days for the Big East, as 3 of its 4 "perceived" bubble teams (Cincinnati, Georgetown, Notre Dame) suffered crushing losses. And the other one (Providence) probably needs to win at Villanova tomorrow night to be considered a strong candidate. I think Cincy or Providence has to have a really good Big East Tournament (get to the semis) to assure an 8th bid for the Big East.