Bubble Buster – 3/5 Edition

In need of a good laugh? Check out this old article from ESPN via 2006. It seems like so long ago now that the Coaches recommended to the NCAA that 65 teams simply wasn’t enough. There’s no way to choose only 65 teams that are worthy for the dance. That was the coaches argument.

Now think about the mess we’re in today. After about UNLV, nobody deserves to make the dance. In fact, can we just give the 1 and 2 seeds byes and just cut out 8 teams? Is that ok? Any other year and you wouldn’t see Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, UAB, or paper giant New Mexico in the dance. At this point, it’s a “who sucks the least” question when rounding out the field of 65. The fact is, there are plenty of spots there for the taking. Right now, if you’ve got at least 17 wins, you’re alive. Just string together a few wins, and you’re in the dance! But what does each bubble team need to do to make it in, let’s take a look-

*The MAGIC NUMBER is the projected number of wins, including in conference tournament play, a team needs to lock themselves in the dance. Achieving that number should lock that team in the field. One less leaves them on the bubble, two less and they’ll have some extra time to study for finals. Wins over teams considered locks, espically teams in the Power 16, can knock 2 off the magic number. Wins over other bubble teams goes a long way as well

A10

Locks: Xavier

Bubble Teams-

Umass: The Minutemen are one of the only teams to get the memo that actually winning games you should this time of year is a good way to keep your bubble intact. They’re inching closer to locking themselves in the field. MAGIC NUMBER: 3

Saint Joseph’s: The Hawks loss to Temple on Sunday should have been devastating. However, when everyone else is losing, they manage to stay in the conversation. MAGIC NUMBER: 4

Rhode Island: The Rams recent skid hasn’t been forgotten yet, but a run from here and they might manage to wiggle themselves back in the field. MAGIC NUMBER: 5

Temple: The Owls enter the at large conversation after their win over St. Joe’s. At 9-5 in A10 play, and the only conference team to knock of Xavier, the Owls might be able to make the A10 a three bid league once again with a strong finish. MAGIC NUMBER: 5

Dayton: The Flyers need to close out with back-to-back wins in order to make it back to .500 in the A10. They’re still a long ways away from making it back in the field. MAGIC NUMBER: 5

ACC

Locks: Duke, UNC

Solidly In-

Clemson: The Tigers just can’t afford a total meltdown, but they should be in come Selection Sunday. MAGIC NUMBER: 1