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 …

ATR: Updates, Big Beast opens play

Four more teams punched dance tickets on Monday night: Virginia Commonwealth (Colonial), Siena (MAAC), Chattanooga (Southern) and Gonzaga (West Coast).  The only surprise was Chattanooga, which upset College of Charleston in the final after Charleston took out Davidson.

With Davidson falling short of the final, it’s hard to see the Wildcats in the NCAAs.  Meanwhile, St. Mary’s provided little resistance to Gonzaga, falling by almost 30 points.  While it’s not fair to evaluate a whole season based on one game, losing badly with Patty Mills back in the lineup hurts the Gaels’ chances.  St. Mary’s has a borderline resume and now must wait to see what happens elsewhere.  Siena’s victory helps potential bubble teams.  The Saints reserved a spot by knocking out Niagara in a very entertaining game.

ATR: Welcome to Championship Week

The second best week in NCAA hoops is here.  Championship Week.  A prelude to Selection Sunday, just a week away.   As discussions heat up, team position’s change, and final decisions are made, welcome to Around the Rim (ATR).  I’ll try to provide daily columns and insights until the Field of 65 is revealed.  Also, Bubble Banter and Bracketology projections will be updated more frequently – sometimes daily.  Thanks for a great first year at Bracketville !

Congratulations to the Big Red of Cornell, winners of the Ivy League and first team to officially reach the NCAA tournament.

In other conference tourneys,  Austin Peay and Morehead State play for the Ohio Valley title … Jacksonville and East Tennessee State meet in the Atlantic Sun final.  Then it’s Radford and VMI matching up in the Big South.

ATR: Reshaping the bubble picture …

Five days into March and the Madness is well underway. Early returns have certainly impacted the bubble picture. Here’s our latest take on how the bubble has been reshaped this week (through games on Wednesday, March 4) …

Let’s start in the SEC: Major drops by Kentucky and Florida. Kentucky lost at home to Georgia (RPI No. 184). No excuses given the circumstances. Kentucky has lost three straight and four of five to see its RPI drop to 78. Even with a win at Florida (big if) it may take an SEC tournament title. Meanwhile, Florida lost at Mississippi State. The Gators haven’t won an SEC road game since January 14 (Auburn) and have also lost three straight and 5 of 7. Florida accomplished less out-of-conference than Kentucky. The Gators’ non-league SOS is 245. Better plan on a long stay in Tampa.

Bubble expands as we enter crunch time

The NCAA Tournament bubble is expanding right now.  That’s probably not a big surprise.  History suggests it might even become more fluid in the next seven days before teams play their way in or out heading into conference tournaments.  More on the tournaments to come.

Bubble Banter is now updated through all games on Sunday, February 22.  See where team’s stand.