Bubblicious Weekend (for now Gophers enter the mix)

[SelectionSunday]

Starting this weekend no teams below #74 in the RPI will be considered bubble teams. Am using #74 as the low-end benchmark because that's the worst RPI ever to receive an at-large bid (New Mexico, 1999).

Thursday's Biggest Mover: #37 Ole Miss wins @ Florida (another valuable road win for Andy Kennedy's squad)
Thursday's Biggest Loser: #64 Saint Mary's loses @ BYU (loss drops Gaels entirely off the bubble)

Friday on the Bubble
no games

Saturday on the Bubble (in RPI order)
East Carolina @ #32 Temple, 1 (CBSSN)
Saint Bonaventure @ #36 Dayton, 11:30 (NBCSN)
Arkansas @ #37 Ole Miss, 8 (SECN)
#38 Boise State @ Fresno State, 6
Duquesne @ #39 Massachusetts, 3
#52 Oregon @ #41 UCLA, 2 (FOX)
Florida @ #43 Texas A&M, 5:30 (SECN)
Ohio State @ #46 Michigan State, 11 (ESPN)
#48 Old Dominion @ UTEP, 8
#51 Saint John's @ Xavier, 11:30 (FOX)
Pacific @ #54 BYU, 8
#57 LSU @ Tennessee, 3 (SECN)
Davidson @ #61 La Salle, 1
Vanderbilt @ #63 Alabama, 7 (ESPNU)
#65 NC State @ Louisville, 3 (ESPN)
VCU @ #67 George Washington, 1 (ESPN2)
#69 Seton Hall @ Providence, 3 (FSN/FSN+)
Saint Louis @ #71 Rhode Island, 1
San Jose State @ #74 Wyoming, 5

Sunday on the Bubble
#40 Stanford @ Colorado, 3 (FS1)
#44 Illinois @ Wisconsin, 12 (CBS)
#66 Miami @ Boston College, 5:30 (ESPNU)
#68 GOPHERS @ Indiana, 6:30 (BTN)
Nebraska @ #70 Purdue, 4:15 (BTN)

A Lot to Gain: Ole Miss, Oregon/UCLA winner, Michigan State, Saint John's, NC State, George Washington, Seton Hall, Illinois, GOPHERS

Potential Bad Losses (opponents' RPI 101+): Temple, Saint Bonaventure, Boise State, Massachusetts, BYU, Alabama, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Stanford, Miami, Nebraska

 

[WanderingGopher]

Some teams still above us in RPI -- Iona, Davidson, Alabama, St. Mary's, Yale, La Salle, Wofford, Bowling Green, Boise State ... good grief.

What if we win our last 3 at home, lose the 3 on the road, win the 8/9 game in the BTT, then lose again to Wisconsin. So, split last 8 games, but 3 of those were against a top-5 team. Where's our likely RPI at that point, around #50?

 

[bga1]

I just think we need 9-9 to get any serious consideration. 9-9 would make us legit with some really nice wins down the stretch along with the nice story line that we have lost so many close games to solid teams (and not so solid teams). The good thing is that we at least have some possibility. Beat either MSU or Indy on the road and sweep the home games and I think we'd be in. What a finish that would be! The way we are playing defense and also now able to throw some looks on the floor with size makes it possible.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Here's what I like saying out loud right now because we haven't been able to say it very often:

The Gophers are 2-0 in February.

 

[sconnygopher]

Whatever way you want to slice it the Gophers are gonna need to get to 21 wins to get in IMO

 

[tmvander]

Definitely a tough path ahead to get in but at least we are not mathematically eliminated yet!