Bracketology 101 Update

So far during Championship Week, most teams needing to win to help build their NCAA resume have not done a very good job. Now, there is still 4 days left of basketball and a lot can change as more than half of the conference tournaments have yet to be completed but there were a few changes I did make to my field of 65.

BIG EAST

#7th seeded Notre Dame defeated 10th seeded Seton Hall 68-56 during the quarterfinals of The Big East Tournament. I have decided to move Notre Dame from the “Bubble” list to “Teams that are Close” but let’s face it, Notre Dame is likely getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament today after that win. I did not have Seton Hall in the field before the game and I don’t after it. They finish the year 18-12 with a 6-12 record over the top 100 RPI. Things could always change (my mind that is) before Selection Sunday.

Marquette is about as close of a lock as you can get after barely holding off St. Johns 57-55, as Marquette has now won 12 total games in The Big East, the toughest conference in basketball.

Cincinnati held off Louisville 69-66 to advance to the quarterfinals of The Big East Tournament. The Bearcats had a bad finish to the year and may need wins in both the quarterfinals and semi-finals to get back in the conversation for an at-large berth. Louisville is also likely going to the tourney.

BIG 12

Barring any upset winner, the top 7 teams in the Big 12 tournament are heading to the NCAA Tournament. Even 5th seeded Missouri, who suffered a humiliating 75-60 defeat at the hands of last place Nebraska. The only teams that can steal a bid in the Big 12 right now are Texas Tech and Nebraska; who, I do not think have the staying power to stay in the tournament.

NEC

Robert Morris defeated Quinnipiac 52-50 on Quinn Pac’s home floor to win their conference’s automatic bid.

BIG SKY

Led by Anthony Johnson’s 42 points, Montana defeats Weber State 66-65 to win the league’s automatic berth.

Tomorrow’s Key Bubble Implication Games

ACC

North Carolina (16-15, 5-11) vs. Georgia Tech (19-11, 7-9)
Wake Forest (19-9, 9-7) vs. Miami (18-12, 4-12)

Big East

Marquette (21-10, 11-7) vs. Villanova (24-6, 13-5)
Notre Dame (22-10, 10-8) vs. Pittsburgh (24-7, 13-5)
Cincinnati (18-14, 7-11) vs. West Virginia (24-6, 13-5)

Big Ten

Penn State (11-19, 3-15) vs. Minnesota (18-12, 9-9)

Conference USA

Houston (16-15, 7-9) vs. Memphis (23-8, 13-3)
Southern Miss (19-12, 8-8) vs. UAB (23-7, 11-5)

Mountain West

Colorado St (16-14, 7-9) vs. San Diego State (22-8, 11-5)
Utah (14-16, 7-9) vs. UNLV (23-7, 11-5)

Pac-10

Stanford (13-17, 7-11) vs. Arizona State (22-9, 12-6)
Oregon St (14-16, 8-10) vs. Washington (21-9, 11-7)
Oregon/Washington St vs. California (21-9, 13-5)

SEC

Auburn (15-16, 6-10) vs. Florida (20-11, 9-7)