SPORTS WITH 3

With the college basketball season winding down, people have their minds set on March Madness. With so many Bubble Teams this season, it will make the madness that more exciting. I give you a list of all the Bubble Teams and what they have to do to make it to the Big Dance.

ACC

Locks: Duke, Miami

Should be In: NC State, North Carolina

On the Bubble: Virginia, Maryland

Virginia (10-5, 20-8)

Quality Wins: Wisconsin, North Carolina, NC State, #3 Duke

Bad Losses: Delaware, Old Dominion, Wake Forest, Clemson, Georgia Tech

Remaining Schedule: at Boston College, at Florida State, Maryland

Comments: The huge win aginst Duke helps the Cavs out tremendously. That is a statment win, something that is crucial for Bubble Teams. If they can knock off Boston College and Florida State on the road, they're a lock, otherwise, it will still be close. They're in at the moment though.

Maryland (7-8, 19-9)

Quality Wins: NC State, Duke

Bad Losses: Florida State (2), Boston College, Georgia Tech

Remaining Schedule: at Wake Forest, North Carolina, at Virginia

Comments: The Terps win against Duke will certainly boost their tournament chances, but the 2 losses against Florida State kills them. It will be close, but I think Maryland is on the wrong side of the bubble.

In or Out? Out

Atlantic 10

Locks: VCU, Saint Louis, Butler

Should be In: La Salle

Work Left to Do: Temple, UMass, Charlotte

Temple (8-5, 19-8)

Quality Wins: #3 Syracuse, Saint Louis

Bad Losses: Canisius, Duquesne

Remaining Schedule: Detroit, Rhode Island, at Fordham, #24 VCU

Comments: The win against Syracuse stands out. The upcoming games against Detroit and VCU will be tough, but if they are able to just win one of those games, I have no doubt they’ll get an invite to big dance.

In or Out? In

UMass (7-6, 17-9)

Quality Wins: Ohio, La Salle

Bad Losses: George Washington, St. Bonaventure

Remaining Schedule: at Xavier, #15 Butler, at Rhode Island

Comments: The Minutemen’s quality wins aren’t that impressive, but yet their bad losses aren’t that bad either. Even if UMass picks up a win against Butler, that still wouldn’t be enough to get them over the hump. They are going to have to win out, and go far in the A-10 Tourney if they want a ticket.

In or Out? Out

Charlotte (6-7, 18-9)

Quality Wins: La Salle, #11 Butler

Bad Losses: Florida State, George Washington, Dayton

Remaining Schedule: Dayton, at St. Bonaventure, at Dequesne, St. Joseph’s

Comments: This Charlotte team is very underrated. No Bracketologist’s have them in the field, but let me tell you, the 49ers can surprise many in the A-10 tournament, and be a big giant wrecking ball for brackets in March. I think they should be in, but they are not at the moment. Don’t be surprised to see this team make some noise late in the regular season though.

In or Out? Out

Big 12

Locks: Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State

Should be In: None

On the bubble: Iowa State, Oklahoma, Baylor

Iowa State (9-6, 19-9)

Quality Wins: #11 Kansas State

Bad Losses: Texas Tech, Texas

Remaining Schedule: at Oklahoma, #15 Oklahoma State, at West Virginia

Comments: They got robbed at Kansas, no doubt. If they can recover and pick up a big win against Oklahoma on Saturday, that would make a statement. But right now, they are out.

In or Out? Out

Oklahoma (9-6, 18-9)

Quality Wins: Oklahoma State, #5 Kansas

Bad Losses: None

Remaining Schedule: Iowa State, West Virginia, at TCU

Comments: Sure the 2 OT loss against Texas hurts, but you know what helps the Sooners out a ton? Look at the bad losses they have an that will tell you. NONE. I think that they can very well win the rest of their regular season games, which would make OU a lock. If the Sooners can take care of business the rest of the way, they’re in good shape.

In or Out? In

Baylor (8-7, 17-11)

Quality Wins: #8 Kentucky, Oklahoma State

Bad Losses: Charleston, Northwestern

Remaining Schedule: #13 Kansas State, at Texas, #6 Kansas

When a bubble team loses 6 of their last 9, they find themselves in a hole. That’s exactly what the Baylor Bears have done. With games against Kansas State and Kansas, they might be saying an early hello to the NIT. But good news, those two games are in Waco. If Baylor can manage to win out, they might, just might, be in. But right now, sorry Bears.

In or Out? Out

Big East

Locks: Georgetown, Marquette, Louisville, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pittsburg

Should be In: Cincinnati

On the Bubble: Villanova, St. Johns

Villanova (9-7, 18-11)

Quality Wins: #5 Louisville, #3 Syracuse, #17 Marquette

Bad Losses: Columbia, Providence, Seton Hall

Remaining Schedule: at #23 Pittsburg, #7 Georgetown

Comments: The resent loss against Seton Hall kills Nova’s chances, but with wins against Syracuse, Louisville, and Marquette, hope is not lost. But having to finish up with Pittsburg and Georgetown, puts them in a world of trouble.

In or Out? Out

St. Johns (16-11, 8-7)

Quality Wins: #14 Cincinnati, #20 Notre Dame, Connecticut

Bad Losses: San Francisco, UNC Asheville, Rutgers

Remaining Schedule: at Providence, at #21 Notre Dame, #22 Marquette

St. Johns is one of those desperate bubble teams. If they can knock off Notre Dame or Marquette and go far in the Big East Tournament, they might just do it, but both of those things are extremely hard to accomplish.

In or Out? Out

Big Ten

Locks: Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State

Should be In: Wisconsin, Illinois

On the Bubble: Minnesota, Iowa

Minnesota (7-8, 19-9)

Quality Wins: #19 Memphis, #18 Michigan State, #12 Illinois, #20 Wisconsin, #1 Indiana

Bad Losses: Northwestern

Remaining Schedule: Penn State, at Nebraska, at Purdue

Comments: The win against Indiana sure helps the Gophers out, but there’s still work to be done. If they can take care of business against Penn State on Saturday, the Gophers are a lock.

In or Out? In

Iowa (18-10, 7-8 )

Quality Wins: Wisconsin, Minnesota

Bad Losses: Virginia Tech, Purdue, Nebraska

Remaining Schedule: at #1 Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska

Comments: If the Hawkeyes can knock off #1 Indiana, on the road, they will be on the right side of the bubble. If they can’t, they will probably have to make it to at least the semifinals of the B1G Tournament. Even that might not be enough.

In or Out? Out

Mountain West

Locks: New Mexico, Colorado State

Should be In: UNLV, San Diego State

On the Bubble: Boise State

Boise State (19-8, 7-6)

Quality Wins: #11 Creighton

Bad Losses: Utah, Nevada

Remaining Schedule: Colorado State, at UNLV, San Diego State

Comments: The final 3 games will not be easy for the Broncos. If they win out, they’re in, but having to beat 3 tournament teams in a row to have a chance…ouch…

In or Out? Out

Pac-12

Locks: Arizona, Oregon

Should be In: UCLA

On the Bubble: Colorado, Cal, Arizona State

Colorado (19-8, 9-6)

Quality Wins: #19 Oregon, #9 Arizona

Bad Losses: Utah

Remaining Schedule: at Cal, Oregon, Oregon State

Comments: The upcoming game against Cal is crucial for the Buffaloes. If they can get past them, and Oregon, they will be felling really good about their tourney chances.

In or Out? In

Cal (19-9, 11-5)

Quality Wins: #10 Oregon (2), #7 Arizona

Bad Losses: None

Remaining Schedule: Utah, Colorado, Stanford

Comments: With winning 7 of their last 8 games, the Golden Bears find themselves in outstanding shape. With their 3 remaining games all at home, that just puts them in even better shape. Cal should find themselves in really good position at this point.

In or Out? In

Arizona State (20-9, 9-7)

Quality Wins: Colorado (2), Cal

Bad Losses: DePaul, Utah, Washington (2)

Remaining Schedule: at USC, at #11 Arizona

Comments: With the loss against UCLA, Arizona State finds themselves in a deep, deep hole. They need to win out if the they want to have an at-large bid, which includes a win against their arch rival Arizona on the road…

In or Out? Out

SEC

Locks: Florida

Should be In: Missouri

On the Bubble: Kentucky, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU

Kentucky (20-8, 11-4)

Quality Wins: #16 Ole Miss, Missouri

Bad Losses: None

Remaining Schedule: at Arkansas, at Georgia, #8 Florida

Comments: Who thought that Kentucky would rebound after losing Nerlens Noel? Well they did just that, and know they’re in good shape to go back to the Big Dance to try to defend their title. If the Cats can pick up a pair of wins against Arkansas and Georgia, they’ll be a lock.

In or Out? In

Tennessee (17-10, 9-6)

Quality Wins: #23 Wichita State, #25 Kentucky, Alabama, #8 Florida

Bad Losses: Georgia

Remaining Schedule: at Georgia, at Auburn, Missouri

Comments: The Vols are rolling with 6 straight W’s, including a victory against Florida. With road games against Georgia and Auburn, and then at home against Mizzou, they are in really good shape. If they take care of business, they’re in.

In or Out? In

Ole Miss (21-7, 10-5)

Quality Wins: #10 Missouri, Tennessee (2)

Bad Losses: South Carolina

Remaining Schedule: at Mississippi State, Alabama, at LSU

Comments: Finshing the season against Alabama and a surging LSU team is not an easy thing to do, but with Marshall Henderson on the floor, the Rebs can do anything. I think they will be just fine.

In or Out? In

 Alabama (19-9, 11-4)

Quality Wins: Kentucky

Bad Losses: Dayton, Auburn

Remaining Schedule: at #8 Florida, at Ole Miss, Georgia

Comments: Alabama is going to have to do a lot in a short period of time to have a solid chance. If they can pick up a win against Florida, on the road, none the less, they are in good shape. But otherwise, they are out.

In or Out? Out

LSU (17-9, 8-7)

Quality Wins: Missouri, Alabama

Bad Losses: Auburn, South Carolina

Remaining Schedule: at Missouri, at Texas A&M, Ole Miss

Comments: The trio of Anthony Hickey, Johnny ‘O Bryant III, and Charles Carmouche have really helped the Tigers out lately. After knocking off 2 fellow bubblers Alabama (In 3 OT), and Arkansas, this LSU team is still breathing. If they can pick up a road win against Mizzou on Saturday, something no team has done this season, then LSU will get some respect, and a lot of it. But right now, they are currently out.

In or Out? Out