Seed List: Bubble battles heat up
Often, things sort themselves out. That process is now well underway, both with the Selection Committee and on the court. Case in point: Wisconsin lost to Ohio State in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago. It dropped the Badgers to 17-14 overall with a morning NET of 81. That’s a tough spot with a long wait. Oklahoma State is the immediate beneficiary. The Cowboys rolled past rival Oklahoma to keep their hopes alive. The potential problem for OSU is mathematics. It’s rare for teams with 15 losses to earn at-large bids and the Cowboys now sit at 18-14. Visually at least, 19-15 would be a lot more palatable than 18-15, and there is precedent for 19-15 teams (twice). OSU faces Texas today.
Thursday could end up being very decisive. Florida Atlantic takes the court in the C-USA tournament. FAU is likely going to receive a bid regardless, so bubble teams will be rooting for the Owls. Below is a quick peek at some of Thursday’s most critical bubble matchups:
- Penn State (vs. Illinois)
- Rutgers vs. Michigan
- Pittsburgh (vs. Duke)
- NC State vs. Clemson
- Utah State (vs. New Mexico)
- Boise State (vs. UNLV)
- Arizona State (vs. USC)
Weekend games tend to be less relevant to the Committee, or have been in recent years. That’s why Thursday appears to be vitally important for a host of bubble teams. Buckle up!
Bracketville 
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