Today we’re going to examine the resumes of several teams on the bubble. Central Florida, Colorado St, Connecticut, Loyola Marymount, Miami(FL), NC State, Northwestern, Seton Hall, St. Joseph’s, Texas, Washington, Xavier
Central Florida
RPI: 56
Record: 19-7 (8-4 Conference-USA)
Key Wins: Connecticut, Memphis
Key Losses: Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulsa
Outlook: UCF is just 2-4 against Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulsa and Marshall – the other top teams in Conference USA. Still has a road game at Memphis but will probably need to get to at-least the Conference USA title game to feel good about their chances.
Colorado St
RPI: 29
Record: 16-9 (5-5 Mountain West)
Key Wins: Colorado, Denver, Wyoming, San Diego St
Key Losses: TCU, Boise St
Outlook: The Rams still have a road game at San Diego St sandwiched between home games against New Mexico and UNLV so the opportunity to make a jump is there. It’ll be difficult, but if the Rams can go 3-1 in their last four and get to the semi-finals of the Mountain West tournament then that will probably be enough for a bid.
Connecticut
RPI: 24
Record: 16-10 (6-8 Big East)
Key Wins: Florida St, Harvard, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Seton Hall
Key Losses: Rutgers, Tennessee
Outlook: The Huskies will have one of the top two or three strength of schedules in the country. Despite the issue that have plagued them, they have a favorable schedule down the stretch. A split in their last four and a visit to the quarters will get them to the Big Dance.
Loyola Marymount
RPI: 86
Record: 18-10 (10-4 West Coast)
Key Wins: Saint Louis, BYU, Saint Mary’s
Key Losses: Columbia, North Texas, Morgan St
Outlook: The Lions’ wins over Saint Louis, BYU and Saint Mary’s are better than any wins many of the teams on this list will have. Those losses to Columbia, North Texas and Morgan St give severe pause though. May have to win the West Coast Conference tournament to get in, if they get to final they’ll be seriously considered.
Miami (FL)
RPI: 44
Record: 16-9 (7-5 ACC)
Key Wins: Massachusetts, Duke
Key Losses: None
Outlook: Miami has just one quality win, but a win in Cameron carries a lot of weight. The Hurricanes have a pretty solid strength of schedule, but are just 1-6 against the top 50. They go to Maryland followed by a home game against Florida St and a road game at NC State. Their margin of error is extremely slim.
NC State
RPI: 59
Record: 18-9 (7-5 ACC)
Key Wins: Texas, Miami (FL)
Key Losses: Stanford, Georgia Tech
Outlook: NC State had the worst week ever last week. The Wolfpack lost a game it had won at Duke and then lost at home to Florida St where two of it’s legends were kicked out of the arena. Win those two games and they’re not even on this list. NC State has North Carolina and Miami at home coming up. The opportunity to solidify a tournament berth is still available.
Northwestern
RPI: 37
Record: 16-10 (6-8 Big Ten)
Key Wins: LSU, Seton Hall, Michigan St, Illinois, Minnesota
Key Losses: None
Outlook: The Wildcats have never gone to the NCAA tournament before, but that all can change this season. They have Michigan and Ohio St at home along with trips to Penn St and Iowa. 4-0 definitely, 3-1 probably, 2-2 and they better get to the Big Ten tournament semifinals.
Seton Hall
RPI: 34
Record: 18-9 (7-8)
Key Wins: Virginia Commonwealth, Dayton, West Virginia, Connecticut, Pittsburgh
Key Losses: Villanova
Outlook: Solid Strength of schedule, but still has a lot of work to do. The Pirates have Georgetown at home this week and that will go a long way. Remaining games versus Rutgers and Depaul are more can’t lose than must wins. If Seton Hall goes 2-1, one of those two needs to be against Georgetown.
St. Joseph’s
RPI: 46
Record: 18-10 (8-5 Atlantic-10)
Key Wins: Drexel, Creighton, Duquesne, Dayton, LaSalle, Massachusetts
Key Losses: American, Charlotte, Penn
Outlook: The Hawks are benefitting from a weak bubble. They’re currently 0-3 against Temple, Saint Louis and Xavier, which makes their game against Temple on Saturday uber-important. They lose that game and they’re probably looking at winning the Atlantic-10 tournament to get in.
Texas
RPI: 51
Record: 17-10 (7-7 Big 12)
Key Wins: Temple, Oklahoma St, Iowa St, Kansas St
Key Losses: Oregon St
Outlook: The Longhorns host Baylor tonight and close the season at Kansas. They have four games remaining and I thing going 3-1 in those games will get them in. Under no circumstances can they lose to Texas Tech or Oklahoma.
Washington
RPI: 57
Record: 19-8 (12-3 Pac-12)
Key Wins: Oregon, Arizona (2)
Key Losses: None
Outlook: Washington is going to have to finish at least tied for the Pac-12 regular season title and make it to the championship game to get an at-large berth. Whether the committee wants to admit it or not; winning the regular season title of a power six conference carries weight.
Xavier
RPI: 54
Record: 17-9 (8-4 Atlantic-10)
Key Wins: Vanderbilt, Purdue, Cincinnati, Duquesne, St. Josephs, Dayton
Key Losses: Hawaii
Outlook: While the Musketeers haven’t been playing as well as they had been before the brawl, they still have the same roster. That means this team is still capable of winning big games. One of the best resumes on this list and may have a larger margin for error than other team seen here. Still, I’d go 3-1 down the stretch if I were Xavier.
This Week’s Bracket Projections:
Last Four In: St. Josephs, Connecticut, Miami (FL), Seton Hall
Last Four Out: UCF, NC State, Colorado St, Illinois
Good for games through of 2/19
SOUTH
1.Kentucky16.Vermont/Savannah St Louisville
8.Virginia9.St. Mary’s
5.Louisville12.Northwestern Albuquerque
4.Baylor13.Oral Roberts
6.UNLV11.Mississippi St Columbus
3.Georgetown14.Davidson
7.Creighton10.Memphis Pittsburgh
2.Ohio St15.Belmont
WEST
1.Duke16.UNC-Asheville/Mississippi Valley St Greensboro
8.Saint Louis9.Harvard
5.Wisconsin12.Texas Albuquerque
4.Notre Dame13.Drexel
6.Indiana11.Seton Hall/Miami(FL) Nashville
3.Florida14.Middle Tennessee St
7.California10.Southern Mississippi Omaha
2.Kansas15.Long Island
MIDWEST
1.Missouri16.Bucknell Omaha
8.West Virginia9.Purdue
5.Florida St12.Washington Nashville
4.Temple13.Iona
6.Gonzaga11.Alabama Portland
3.Marquette14.Nevada
7.San Diego St10.Iowa St Columbus
2.Michigan St15.Valparaiso
EAST
1.Syracuse16.UT-Arlington Pittsburgh
8.Kansas St9.BYU
5.New Mexico12.Long Beach St Portland
4.Wichita St13.Connecticut/St. Josephs
6.Vanderbilt11.Xavier Louisville
3.Michigan14.Akron
7.Murray St10.Cincinnati Greensboro
2.North Carolina15.Weber St
Bracketville USA 