Seed List: ASU enters as OSU falls; Nevada slides

First, let’s welcome Arizona State.  The Sun Devils climb into the final at-large spot this morning following Oklahoma State’s home loss to Baylor.  Now it’s up to ASU to hold its position.  They finish with road trips to UCLA and USC.  A split would be a good way to wrap up the regular season.

Seed List

Think you have college basketball figured out?  Think again.  Monday is a perfect example: West Virginia entered its tilt at Iowa State having won just twice on the road.  Until recently, Iowa State rarely lost at home.  So the outcome fits, right?  WVU picked up a road win in Ames and ISU dropped its third home game of the season (and has lost 3 of 4 at home).  It’s been a rather dramatic fade for the Cyclones, losers of four straight and six of seven.  It could get even worse this weekend as ISU travels to Waco to take on Baylor ahead of the Big 12 tournament.

Then we have Nevada.  Nicely positioned for an at-large bid.  Well, that position regressed a bit following Monday’s surprising loss at Wyoming.  It would be a good idea for the Wolf Pack to beat UNLV this weekend and avoid entering the Mountain West tournament with a reduced seed line position.

Tuesday’s Bubble Impact Games:

Bracketology: Big Ten, Big 12 bubble battles

As we enter the final week of the regular season, drama is building for some Big Ten and Big 12 bubble teams.  Wisconsin, Michigan and Penn State all sit along the bubble this morning.  Same for West Virginia and Oklahoma State in the Big 12.  And we can’t eliminate Texas Tech.

Bracketology

There’s also some drama in the Mountain West.  Boise State is trying to hold on and Utah State remains in play.  New Mexico likely needs a strong finish after a rough patch.  Let’s not overlook Memphis or NC State, either.  Both of those teams currently own one of the Last 4 Byes.

Along the No. 1 seed line, it’s looking more and more likely that Alabama, Houston and Kansas will be No. 1 seeds.  The final spot figures to be between Purdue, UCLA or perhaps Texas.

Expect more frequent updates this week.  March arrives Wednesday.

Bracketology: Interesting twists on the Bubble

We’ll save the No. 1-seed ordering debate for another day.  Right now, some interesting twists have developed along the bubble heading into the final week of the regular season.

Bracketology

Once buried, both Michigan and Texas Tech have climbed enough rungs to find themselves among the Next Four Out this morning.  The Wolverines posted a road win at Rutgers Thursday night to add a little more punch.  If it feels like we’ve seen this before, it’s probably because we have some deja vu when it comes to the Maize and Blue.  Late-season charges seem to be a mantra.  While Texas Tech’s non-conference schedule remains a significant hurdle, additional Quad 1 opportunities await in the Big 12.  Climbing or fading are both yet possible.

Seed List: Alabama survives, UVA slips, Bubble holds

Let’s get to it!  Alabama survived at South Carolina.  Virginia absorbed a bad loss at Boston College.  Wisconsin held off Iowa to keep the current Bubble intact.  That’s a quick synopsis of Wednesday’s action.

Seed List

Virginia barely survived recent games against Louisville and Notre Dame.  They weren’t so fortunate against BC.  Given the tight race among three and four-seed contenders, it’s a tough blow.  Now, UVA needs to  regroup or risk falling from its protected seed status.

Wisconsin had to hold serve at home against Iowa and did.  The Badgers remain among the Last 4 IN this morning but are no longer on the immediate chopping block.  That position now belongs to USC.  New Mexico fell at Boise State, but it’s a loss that keeps UNM in the same spot among the first four teams out.

Thursday’s notable Bracket Impact Games:

Seed List: Marquette, SEC teams rising

Marquette put itself in the driver’s seat to win the Big East regular season title Tuesday night by beating Creighton in Omaha.  Resonating road win for the Golden Eagles.  Since Saturday’s reveal, Tennessee, Iowa State and Baylor have all lost twice.  This morning, the Golden Eagles climb onto the three-seed line, with ISU falling to a four-seed.  The home-win, road-loss disparity for Iowa State is something to watch.  It didn’t seem to bother the Selection Committee last weekend; we’ll see if that holds.

Seed List

In the SEC, Texas A&M upended Tennessee, Missouri edged bubbly Mississippi State in overtime and Arkansas routed Georgia. Combined with Kentucky’s recent surge, Tuesday’s three winners are making strong cases to be above the dreaded 8/9 line.

Regarding the bubble: Mississippi State’s close road loss at Missouri simply puts a “hold” on their position.  The Bulldogs remain among the last four in this morning.

Wednesday’s notable Bracket Impact Games: