ATR: Updates from Selection Saturday

A wild evening is under way on Selection Saturday …

Updates …  Temple wins the automatic bid from the Atlantic 10 (7:45 p.m.) |  Southern Cal wins the Pac-10 automatic bid and bursts another bubble (8:15 p.m).   Missouri beats Baylor to end the Bears hopes (8:17 p.m). |  Utah edged San Diego State in the Mountain West title game (9:04 p.m.).

In and Out  …  Arizona and San Diego State are “out” pending a final review and analysis.  Creighton, Penn State, Maryland, Dayton, and Wisconsin are very nervous.  It’s looking worse for St. Mary’s, Utah State if it loses the WAC title game and Auburn after a late run.  Mississippi State is the wildcard in the SEC.

Here are some quick notes from the afternoon …

• Michigan State likely gave up its No. 1 seed aspirations while losing to Ohio State in the Big 10 semis.  But hey, wouldn’t they rather be a potential No. 2 in the Midwest than No. 1 out West?
• Meanwhile, Ohio State likely moved above the 8-9 game.
• Maryland has 23 hours to worry after a loss to Duke.
• The Blue Devils wrapped up a No. 2 seed and will begin NCAA play in Greensboro.
• North Carolina will still be a No. 1 seed (likely No. 1 overall) even after losing to Florida State.  Remember, they rested Ty Lawson and his toe.
• For Florida State, the win means a likely No. 4 seed in Miami.
• Binghamton wrapped up its first-ever NCAA bid by taking out UMBC in the America East final.
• Mississippi State is making someone very nervous until about 3:00 p.m. tomorrow – following the SEC title game.  If the Bulldogs upset Tennessee, nervousness turns to NIT.
• Memphis made it’s case for a No. 1 seed, clobbering Tulsa in the C-USA Championship, finishing 31-3.  If they make it, they’d arguablly be the least accomplished team (in terms of quality wins) to earn a top seed (1-2 vs. Top 25 teams).  That’s not a knock on the Tigers, who could easily make a run to Detroit.

More to come later as evening championships conclude – Dave the Bracketguy.

Bracketology: March 14 update …

Mid-afternoon and bubble teams everywhere are getting more nervous by the minute.  At least one of the teams currently in our projected field will leave once the Atlantic 10 final is complete.  Another could yet be stolen in the SEC (Mississippi State beat LSU to advance to the championship).  There’s also USC in the Pac 10.  Memphis clobbered Tulsa to eliminate the Golden Hurricanes.  Congratulations to Binghamton – winners of the America East conference – on their first ever NCAA bid.

The latest Bracket Projection (3/14) is now posted in Bracketology.  It was posted at 3:10 p.m. (ET).  I may try to provide an update early Sunday before posting my final bracket late afternoon.   Update … You may see a couple of potential rematches in the first two rounds.   The Committee tries to avoid this, but it’s not a hard-and-fast rule.  Some of this will fix itself come Sunday.  Conference conflicts in the Big 10 have created havoc with so many teams bunched on the S-curve.

Some tweaking will occur as final profiles are available.  It will be easier to more thoroughly evalute seed lines and build the bracket.  More quick hitters to come in Around the Rim (ATR) as the day progresses.  As always … Send a Rebound – Dave the Bracketguy.

ATR: Nervous times for bubble teams …

Friday the 13th provided all sorts of bad – and potentially worse – news for teams on the 2009 NCAA Tournament bubble.  As of early Saturday morning, theses are nervous times for bubble teams here at Around the Rim (ATR).   Our next projected bracket (March 14) will be out today.  As a quick note … the Conference Tourney page and Schedule page are updated through Friday’s games. 

Who should be nervous?  Several teams from the Big 10 and ACC, Creighton, Arizona, any SEC team not named LSU or Tennessee, Dayton, St. Mary’s, Texas A&M, New Mexico, and Utah State if the Aggies don’t win the Big West.  Following is a quick take on the updated bubble picture …